AN: Sorry if this chapter seems like it just keeps going and going. I just couldn't get to a good place to cut it off. Doesn't help that I'm a stickler for details and making sure I have everything covered. Also, if anyone wants to Beta read these for me, that would be awesome. My spell check is being moody and not working. And let's face it, I can't spell for the life of me. Enjoy!
"Alright Jones, they're here. Now tell me what's going on here." Agent Ruiz said from the opposite side of the room, not looking very happy. There was a body on the ground surrounded by crime scene techs. Other than that, nothing in the apartment looked out of place.
"You know," Haley started, turning around to face the Organized Crime agent, "I really have no idea why I'm listed as an organized crime consultant." She turned back towards the white collars, "I've never had anything to do with it. Sure, I have a few friends who are mixed up in it, but I personally never do business directly with them."
She turned and… danced away (that was the only thing Peter could think of to describe the way she moved) till she was standing on her tip-toes in front of Ruiz. The agent actually leaned back from her, to the surprise of the the other agents.
Peter leaned over and spoke lowly to Neal, "That is your Haley?" He asked, shocked. Neal grinned at him.
"Oh yeah. I told you she's good with people."
"Boss." A female voice said from behind them. They turned to see Diana standing there. She gave Peter a questioning look, and he shook his head. Later he mouthed to her and she nodded. The file that was in her hand disappeared into the briefcase she was carrying. Neal and the agents moved further into the apartment.
"Robbi."
Peter turned towards Haley, who was still in a staring contest of sorts with Ruiz.
"Excuse me?" He asked, at the same time as Ruiz. Haley went flat on her feet, spinning towards Peter, her gray eyes flashing with amusement.
"Robbi Robertson." She said, as though that was all the explanation needed. And for Neal and Ruiz, it was. They were frozen, staring at her after she said the name.
"Who's Robbi Robertson?" Dinana asked.
"He is, or was, a suspected gun-for-hire with certain crime families all over the country." Ruiz said, running his hand over his face as he pulled out his cell and started dialing.
"World, actually." Haley said. Ruiz glared at her, "What? You said 'all over the country', which is incorrect. He's done jobs all over the world." Ruiz shook his head at her and hit the send button on his phone as he walked into a different room.
"You know him?" Neal asked her quietly.
"Yeah, I've worked a couple undercovers for him. Building up favors, you never know when you're going to need them… Oh wait, you're not talking about Jackass, are you?"
Neal couldn't help but smile, "Jackass?"
"I told you, I have two categories for Feds. Jackasses and Assholes. Ruiz hasn't really bugged me lately, so he's been upgraded to Jackass status."
"So what does that make me?" Peter asked, walking over by the two. Haley smiled innocently at him.
"Well, from what Neal's said, which has only been nice things, I've come to the conclusion that you're a Jackass. You should be glad, I usually call all Feds Assholes for the first couple months I know them."
"Did you know Robertson?" He asked, in agent mode.
"What? Oh, yeah. Well no, not personally at least. Only by rumor and reputation. He killed a friend of mine once." She explained quickly as she glanced around the apartment, "Anyone got a phone I could use?" She asked loudly. No one moved or said anything, "Fine." She walked into a different room and came back with a cell. Neal reached out and griped her upper arm gently as she walked by him.
"Haley, what's going on?" He asked her.
"This is Gary's apartment. I set it up for him. No one other than him, myself, the Old Man, and whoever Gary decided to tell, and let's face it, the only person he'd tell is Mozzie, should know he's here. So that obviously means someone went through a lot of trouble to find him and paid big bucks to have Robbi come take him out."
Neal released her arm and she pressed a button on the phone before raising it to her ear.
"Why don't you call Mozzie and tell him to start looking for anyone who has a grudge with him and can finance a hit." Neal obliged and dialed the number.
"Hello Neal." Came the short man's voice over the phone, "Where are you two? I thought you guys were going to have an early night and come over to do a wine tasting with us?"
"Yeah, we had a change of plans. Got called to a crime scene."
"Both of you? Are the Vegas guys there?" Mozzie asked surprised.
"No, she apparently does work for the Organized Crime Unit too."
"Huh. She hates organized crime. Far too much violence for her taste."
"I think we all agree on that. Listen, Moz, Robbi Robertson was found dead in Gary's apartment. Haley wants you to see who would have a big enough grudge to go after him and the resources to hire Robbi."
There was a gasp on the other side of the phone and crackling as someone else grabbed it.
"ROBBI WAS IN MY APARTMENT?" A squeaky voice yelled. Neal had to move the phone away from his ear quickly before replacing it, "Give the phone to Haley, Caffrey."
Neal looked around for Haley, seeing she was still on the phone, "Hey Hales, Gary wants to talk to you."
"Tell him I've got a more important call." She said annoyed.
Neal relayed her words through the phone, only to have Gary yell at him again, "He calls Bull."
Haley smiled and rolled her eyes, "Fine, put him on speaker." Neal did so and Gary's squeaky voice filled the apartment.
"HALEY ELIZABETH JONES! Why is Robbi Robertson dead in my apartment?"
All the Feds in the apartment were looking at Neal and Haley.
"The hell are you doing Jones?" Ruiz growled, he had come back into the room and was having a discussion with Peter.
"Networking." Was the reply she gave him, then she addressed the phone, "Hey Gary, you do realize that's not my middle name anymore, right? I changed it."
"And what did you change it to this time?"
" 'Badass Exourdinaire.' "
Everyone except Ruiz and peter, who were still discussing something, snorted out a laugh when she said that. Peter nodded to Ruiz and walked over by Neal and Haley.
"Neal, Ms. Jones; we need to discuss something with the both of you." Peter said. The two looked at him expectantly, "We're giving you two a protection detail."
"What for Peter?" Neal asked.
"Ruiz was just informed there's a hit out on both of you as well as Gary."
Neal's face visibly paled, "You know who put it out?" His thoughts flashing to Keller or Wilkes.
"Not yet. Ruiz's people are working on it. Who are you on the phone with?"
"Gary, he's with Mozzie."
"Greetings suit," Came Gary's squeaky voice from the phone, it was still on speaker, "The boy is very fond of you and speaks of you often, much to my personal disgust."
"Shut-up Gary." Haley called from where she was standing, phone still pressed against her ear.
"Any ideas about this hit?" Mozzie's voice now came from the phone.
"It's not a hit." Haley said absently as she repeatedly spun in a circle, "its recruitment."
"What do you-"Peter started to ask her, but she cut him off, holding a finger up as she started talking on the phone.
"Hey, it's me. I need you to come to Blake Apartments on the Westside. Wait for me outside. The game just got serious." She was quiet for a moment, then she laughed, "Haha! That's funny. You think I'm going to pay you? You owe me waaaaaay to many favors. Just get here as fast as possible and call me when you do." She hung up and grinned at everyone.
"Ms. Jones." Peter started.
"Just Haley. I'm not much for formalities."
"Riiight. Well then, Haley, I want you to stay close to Neal at all times." Haley threw her arms around Neal, clinging to him.
"This close enough? Or should we strip and be skin-on-skin? Maybe you want to make it a little kinky and handcuff us together?" She asked teasingly.
"Uh, no, you'll be fine just staying at his place with him. If that's ok with you and June." He looked at Neal, who was playfully trying pry Haley off him. He nodded and Peter continued, "We're going to give you guys a protection detail.-"
"Not necessary." Haley said, releasing Neal.
"Excuse me?"
"I've got someone coming whose way better than the FBI at the whole 'protection' deal. No offense to your people, but I've had terrible luck with the FBI when it comes to that." She shrugged.
"What did you mean when you said this isn't a hit, its recruitment?" Diana asked sternly. Peter was thankful, once again, that he brought the young agent back onto his team.
"Exactly what I said. What looks like a hit list to you, looks like a recruitment roster for a very dangerous heist to me and anyone who's ever worked with the guy who's organizing it."
"What's the heist?" Neal asked absently.
"No clue. That's always a last minute thing for this asshole. All I know is the list of players he wants for his game." Haley explained, biting her lower lip nervously.
"Haley," Neal said concerned. He'd never seen her like this before, "Who's organizing the heist?"
"I shall explain all I know on this subject later. For now, let us get out of here and somewhere else. I don't know about y'all, but I'm not a fan of hanging around dead bodies." She smiled sweetly and inclined her head towards the body. Peter was about to agree when his phone started ringing.
"Burke." He answered. He walked away as he listened to whoever was on the other side of the line.
" 'Y'all'?" Neal teased, "I didn't realize you were from Texas."
"Oh my gods, I love Six Flags: San Antonio!" She squeaked. Neal just shook his head, smiling.
"So you too seem to know each other." Diana said casually.
"I guess we never did get around to introductions, did we? I'm Haley Jones. Neal's my boyfriend." She held her hand out to Diana who shook it automatically, shocked by the other woman's words.
"I'm Diana, and this is Agent Jones." She said recovering, introducing herself and the other agent. One of Haley's eyebrows shot up in amusement.
"Guess I'm going to have to change my name, huh?" She said with a laugh.
"I'm sorry, did you just say you're Neal's girlfriend?" Jones asked, jaw still hanging. Both Haley and Neal nodded. Peter came back just then.
"Alright, we're getting out of here. Hughes wants us back at the office. Haley, you can ride in my car."
"Hold on then, I need to make a call. I'm not leaving my bike here." Haley stated, getting her phone out.
"No need, we can just put it in the trunk of my car."
"Uh, no we can't."
Peter sighed heavily, "Why not?"
"Cause it's a suped-up Kawasaki Ninja." She said with pride. The number she was calling picked up then, "Hey, I'm going to the bureau. You can follow on my bike. I'm just going to need to grab my bag. Oh would you? Thanks a lot man." She hung up, smiling, "Ok, we can go now."