"Alright Eliot," the mastermind called, "How are you and Parker doing?"
Eliot stared at the puppy in his arms. It was currently licking his cheeks and trying to make a home with him. And it was working. He was really becoming a softie. He blamed Ford for it too.
"I just pulled off the dog fighting scam," the hitter reported dutifully, "It's all up to the people of San Lorenzo now."
"And the tunnels?" Nate asked.
"I'm currently taking care of them now, sir," Parker explained, "Would you like me to use explosives during the initial attack?"
"No Parker," Nate ordered with a smile on his face, "Not yet. I want you to save them as a back-up plan though. Just break out all of the war criminals and make certain Ribera can't kill our new president."
"How are you and Hardison doing?" Eliot asked softly.
"Well, Mrs. Moreau isn't exactly being cooperative but everything else is ready," Nate sighed, "The divorce papers just need to be planted and we're working on the frame-up now."
"I still don't see why I have to be here!" Charlotte hollered.
She was currently sitting in the armchair in the middle of the room. The curtains had been drawn to make it seem like she wanted privacy. They had planted all the signs of somebody on the run. Now all they had to do was make it appear like that somebody was dying.
"Call me before your flight back," Nate advised clicking the phone shut as he spoke.
"You know the plan," he said.
Charlotte nodded and folded her arms across her chest. Her glare would have been a thousand car bombs and a full machine gun aimed solely at his chest if it were a weapon. She wasn't happy but her weakness was greater than her assets. Besides with her husband taken care of she was free to do whatever she wanted. It was a win-win really.
"Come here," he beckoned, "It's time for you to die."
Charlotte rolled her eyes at the statement. She gruffly huffed a long sigh and continued sitting. She made no move to do as told. The stubborn woman just stared at him expectantly. She didn't even bother to uncross her arms or legs. So Nate decided to improvise.
The mastermind rushed towards the woman and picked her up by her armpits. She struggled of course but surprise was on his side. He pushed her up against the closed curtains and set her down. The look of petulance on her face was hilarious.
"You bastard," she complained slapping him as she did it, "What do you have to make me do this?"
"It's the only way to give you your son," Nate hissed at her, "Or do you want him to be raised by an orphanage because both of his parents are in prison?"
"You wouldn't dare," she howled, "I didn't do anything to your precious Sophie Devereaux!"
"No," Nate agreed sarcastically, "You just had a son with the bastard who took her away from me! You don't even care about the fact that he cheats on you on a regular basis. What kind of marriage is that anyway?"
"It's called a business agreement," she said rolling her eyes, "We both have our affairs."
"You're not the type to cheat," the mastermind growled, "You did when you were younger but not now."
"You really did your research didn't you?" Charlotte sighed, "I'm not going to make this easy on you."
"Good," Nate nodded, "That will only make it more convincing."
Then he grabbed the grifter's neck and pressed her into the window. He grinned at the defiance shining in her eyes. She went into action immediately despite herself. Her left arm shot up and snapped his head back. Then she followed with a quick roundhouse kick. Unfortunately he was prepared for it. He caught up her swinging leg and pulled her towards him. He grabbed her shoulder and scooped her into the air. Then he slammed her onto the ground because she punched him in the solar plexus. She lay there stunned and he lowered himself to grab onto her neck again. She kicked him in the wrong place and rolled away.
"Nice," Nate groaned.
"I never said I'd fight fair," Charlotte said as she rushed towards the door at full speed.
She gasped in surprise when the mastermind blocked her exit. He grinned at her and caught her flying hand. He bent it behind her back and slammed her into the wall. The grifter groaned at the harsh treatment and went for the knee. Nate just moved out of the way and watched her fall forward at the miscalculation. Charlotte used her momentum to roll into a standing position. Then the two continued their little struggle for dominance.
"You're not bad," she reported regretfully, "But you're not going to win."
"Yes I am," he laughed.
"How can you be so sure?" Charlotte demanded angrily.
"I can't afford to lose," Nate replied.
That was when they both went into action. She jumped to kick him and he jumped to get her on the floor. They both collided in the air and fell as expected. Pain flared through every ounce of the mastermind's body but he ignored it. He wrapped his arms around the grifter's tiny, soft, delicate neck and pretended to squeeze tight. Charlotte stared at him and continued to fight against him. Eventually she just stopped. Her eyes went blank and she stopped breathing altogether. The mastermind's heart dropped.
"No!" He shouted in pain.
He pulled the grifter up and shook her. She made no move so he brought her lips to his ear. There was no air coming from her wonderful lips. He delicately placed her back on the floor and quickly checked her pulse. He sighed in relief at the harsh throb beneath his fingertips.
"You bitch," he cursed.
Charlotte giggled and flashed him a smile. Her eyes glowed with warmth and turned chocolate. Nate's breath hitched at how much she looked like his Sophie in that moment. Her smile wasn't cold for once. Her laugh was musical and she actually was enjoying her time with him. If he closed his eyes he could almost picture being home.
"You make it too easy," she chided. Then she kneed him in the leg and giggled louder when he fell on top of her.
"Good lord you're almost as bad as Maggie," Nate sighed.
"Maggie?" Charlotte asked tilting her head in confusion.
"My ex-wife," he replied. Then he closed his eyes in frustration.
"What's the matter?" The grifter demanded. Her voice was suddenly sultry and her arms were moving up and down his back with obvious intention. Her lips were inches away from his ear and her perfume filled his senses as planned.
"I'm not interested in you, Charlotte," he hissed pulling away as he spoke. He picked up a bottle of whiskey and stood in front of the door. He glared at the play.
"You're lying again," she admonished, "You should really stop doing that. Maybe I'm not as bad as you keep making me out to be. You don't have to protect yourself-"
"From you?" Nate finished for her in a growl, "No, you're just trying to con me into giving you information. Everything to you is a con, isn't it? I bet you think the fact that I'm not trying to seduce you is a con."
"Don't even pretend it isn't," she hissed, "You may have your little team fooled, Mr. Ford, but you can't con me. You and are I exactly the same."
"We are not the same!" Nate shouted, "You and I are nothing alike."
"Who are you trying to con?" Charlotte demanded bitterly, "Everything you do is calculated, even the things you share. You're using your past to get me to open up."
"The only reason you allow it is for your son," Nate countered.
"Because I know you're going to kill him," she shrieked.
"I would never hurt an innocent child!"
"And you expect me to believe that?"
"Believe it!"
"Make me!"
"Dammit Lara!" Nate screamed towards the woman, "Why are you doing this?"
"How did you learn my name?" Charlotte asked, "How did you gain all of your information? I burned it all!"
"You're an easy read," he replied. Then he took off his tie and wrapped it around her eyes.
"No peaking," he ordered.
When the blindfold was removed they were back in Charlotte's favorite apartment. The mastermind was putting his tie back where it belonged and there was food in the corner. A bottle of wine was on a table with two plates set and ready for use.
"What's this?" She asked.
Nate laughed. "I figured that you can watch me assemble dinner tonight so you know it isn't poisoned," he said, "You haven't been eating."
"And you think I'll eat this just because you make it in front of me?"
"Why do you think I'm eating it?" Nate shot back.
Dinner was made with little to no comment. Well, there were a few questions shared between them but a comfortable silence was finally theirs to share. They ate as soon as the food was finished. Charlotte gave a more than appropriate moan of pleasure at the food's taste and the mastermind smiled at the accomplishment. He had purposely prepared her favorite dish because he knew she couldn't refuse it.
"Where's that hacker of yours?" Charlotte asked softly, "Hardison I believe his name is."
"He's finalizing the footage of your death," Nate replied, "and then he's going to plant evidence that your son was in the room with us. It will be delivered to the police tomorrow."
"He's going to need proof of life in order for your con to work," she explained, "I heard that you promised him one within forty-eight hours. You have exactly three left."
Nate held up his cell phone and handed it to the grifter. He quickly gathered the dishes and cleared off the table. He placed them in the sink and shooed her to her room. The grifter stood there holding onto the phone and trying to comprehend what was going on.
"You don't want to make certain I don't give away our position or anything?" Charlotte demanded in confusion.
"I trust you," Nate replied.
The look he received was quite entertaining. The grifter looked as though he had grown fifty million heads. She waited for him to take the phone away. Sixty-two seconds later she finally realized what he said was true. Then she shrugged and headed towards her room to talk to her husband and prove that she was indeed alive.