A/N - Hey folks...
Not much to say. Thanks for the reviews!
So, as always..
Read, enjoy and review
:)
Chapter Six – The Man Who Guards The Gates
Nothing much had changed in the lab. Even with the cases slowing, Walter continued to be more at home in the lab. Fringe cases hadn't ceased completely, they were just more manageable. After much discussion after Broyles had left last night, Olivia was more confident in her decision to move forward and take the case. A.J was one person who clearly stirred up trouble with the truth. And both Peter and Olivia were firm believers in the truth. When they had arrived at the lab, Olivia unclipped Etta from the car seat, pausing as she took in the building that had become her second home.
"Walter is going to be excited."
Peter grinned.
"I don't know. We don't have a body. And you know that he's happiest with bodily fluids."
"Then I'll distract him with Etta."
"Pair that with her new word and we'll be fine."
Olivia smiled back, swinging the baby bag over her shoulder. Peter and Olivia had decided to split the difference and spend a few hours here before heading home. Walter was overdue for a visit with Etta anyway. And he could watch her while they pored over the files and found out precisely where to start. When they arrived at the lab, Walter almost ran over to them all bouncy and excited to see Etta. He scooped her out of Olivia's arms and spun her.
"Hello beautiful darling."
"Hi Pop."
They all froze, realizing that technically, that was Etta's first proper sentence. Walter lowered Etta to eyelevel, studying her for a moment.
"Hello Etta."
Etta grinned.
"Hi Pop."
Walter smiled in return.
"Hello Etta."
"Hi Pop."
Peter turned to Olivia.
"This could go on for hours."
"You were doing it when she first said 'Hi'."
Peter shrugged.
"Well, it was pretty spectacular. She's almost five months old and now is apparently talking in complete sentences."
Olivia looked back at Walter and Etta, who were still busy exchanging 'Hi', smiling.
"Yeah, she's brilliant."
Olivia moved deeper into the lab to where Astrid was smiling at them, the files already opened in front of her.
"Hey Liv."
"Hey Astrid. Did you get far before out arrival ruined everything?"
Astrid chuckled.
"No. Just got them an hour ago."
"Hi!"
Etta had turned her attention to Astrid now, whipping out her new word and banishing the powerful, charming tool. Astrid moved around the table taking her from Walter.
"Hey sweetie. How are you?"
Etta grinned and grabbed at Astrid's hair. Olivia didn't know if was the curl, but Etta was fascinated by Astrid's hair. Thankfully, she never tugged to hard, happy to just tangle her hand in it.
"Hi!"
Astrid smiled at Olivia as she jiggled Etta gently.
"She's getting so big."
"I know. Did you happen to see much of the files?"
"Not really. Just unpacked them more than anything else."
"Ok. Well, I need to get started."
She glanced at Astrid with a small smile.
"Do you mind? Rachel will take her tomorrow, it's just-"
"It's fine Olivia. We will keep her entertained. Right Walter?"
Walter smiled widely.
"Of course. We could take her to the park!"
Walter clapped his hands and Etta did the same, mimicking her grandfather. Walter her scooped her out of Astrid's arms.
"Come along beautiful girl, let's go the park."
Olivia watched as Walter, Etta and Astrid left the lab before turning to Peter.
"Well, that was easy."
Peter offered her a grin as he handed her a cup of coffee.
"It always is with Etta. Right, what do we have?"
Olivia sighed.
"Well, I know where we should start."
"How?"
"A.J said she had a meeting with her editor."
"Who's that?"
Olivia shuffled through the paperwork, trying to find the name.
"Here we go. Edward Addison."
"Jesus, he sounds like an inventor."
Olivia smiled slightly.
"He runs the publishing company called DeVries, Kamp and Hicks."
Peter straightened.
"Ok, we will go there."
"Then we talk to Mike Cullen."
"Who?"
"A.J's ex-husband."
"We have two great suspect's right there."
Olivia sighed as she stood.
"If only it was that easy. And after that we speak to the man who reported her missing."
"And that was?"
"Quinton Miller."
When they arrived at DeVries, Kamp and Hicks, Peter let Olivia take the lead as she flashed her badge at the security guard who stood, guarding who knows what in the building. Olivia approached the receptionist, an older woman with hair that was teased to an inch of its life.
"Hi, we need to see Edward Addison."
The older woman gave Olivia a bored glare.
"Sorry but Mr Addison is busy. However, you can make an appointment to see him later in the week."
Olivia gave the woman a smile and flashed her ID.
"Actually, we would rather see him now."
The woman's whole body stiffened and she opened and closed her mouth a few times. Her eyes stayed on Olivia and the badge as she spoke down the phone.
"Mr Addison, the FBI are here to speak to you."
She put down the phone.
"Third floor, the office on the left."
Olivia nodded and they headed to the elevator. Peter smiled as the doors closed on the receptionist frightened face.
"Impressive."
Olivia sighed.
"I'm not in the mood for road blocks today."
Peter gave her had a quick squeeze.
"Let's see what Mr Addison says, shall we?"
When they got to the third floor, they slid to the left and knocked on the door.
"Enter."
Edward Addison looked like a person trying to impersonate a lawyer. His dark suit didn't quite fit his overly round shape and his tie clashed with his shirt stretched over his stomach. He stood, rearranging his suit.
"You are the agents I assume."
Olivia offered her hand.
"Olivia Dunham."
Edward shook Olivia's hand before turning to Peter.
"Peter Bishop."
"Nice to meet you. Please take a seat."
Olivia and Peter settled themselves in the overstuffed seats, watching as Edward sat back down, his hair creaking slightly beneath him.
"I assume you are here about A.J"
"Yes. Did she make her meeting with you the other day?"
"Yes she did."
"What was it about?"
Edward sighed.
"Wage negotiations."
Olivia glanced at Peter.
"Wage negotiations?"
"Yes. Her latest book is set for release and we have two hundred thousand set for first release. We were negotiating an increase in my share."
"What is her latest book?"
Edward turned in his chair to the bookshelf just behind him, pulling out a thick book and handing it to Olivia. Olivia examined the cover that held the now familiar picture. It was Madeline McCann, the little girl who disappeared in 2007 while holidaying with her parents in Portugal.
"This is one of the best accounts of the case to date. She even runs through the possibilities of what happened to Madeline after she was taken and the profile for the man who took her."
"Do you think this will result in death threats as well?"
Edward sighed.
"With A.J's writing, the threats were to be expected. Particularly after the controversy of the Quinton Miller case."
Peter cleared his throat.
"So who would want to hurt her?"
Edward smiled slightly.
"You're looking in the wrong direction Mr Bishop."
"How so?"
"You need to talk to Mike Cullen."
"Why?"
"Do you know why they got divorced?"
Olivia shook her head and Edward smiled.
"Then you really need to do your job and bark up the right tree. I gain nothing from hurting A.J. She's my golden goose. Mike Cullen, on the other hand, had everything gain. He had been pushing and pushing to get half of her earnings. Especially since this book is going to make her a very rich woman. You need to speak to him."