Chapter Seventeen

The next day they all went to meet with the feds. Piper sat beside Alex and held her hand as they explained what would happen. Nicky would meet with her step father. She will tell him that she and her partner are having a rough time financially and that they wanted to get in to business with some of his colleagues.

"I know nothing about his business and he has gone out of his way to keep me clear of it," Nicky said. Piper noted she was calm as she spoke but she could tell the emotion churning underneath.

One of the Agents was an older African American man with hard eyes. "You can tell him you learned about it from your prison mom. You were close to one Galina "Red" Reznikov while at Litchfield?" He asked it so subtly that Piper knew he already knew the answer. She imagined the conversation he must have had with the warden or former guards to get that information. Nicky didn't show any emotion at all when she heard him confirm her worst suspicions.

"Red never said shit. She knew better and if I tell him that she did, I am setting her up for a world of hurt. So, my half-wit ass brother said he could handle getting Pablo to talk. I agreed to wear the wire, not to this shit." Nicky replied. She looked over and nodded at Alex. They had all agreed that they would walk out and let them do their worse if the deal was changed. Piper stood up with Alex and their lawyer looked over a bit surprised, but rose to leave with his clients.

"Hold up...you do understand this will cost you-" the blonde female agent started to explain.

Alex cut her off, "We are aware you are going to blackmail us and hold our past criminal activities against us. Fine...take the damn stores...ruin us financially. We will not risk anymore than what we agreed to yesterday."

Piper looked them in the eye before turning, "I'll make sure to let anyone know that listens to me when I speak about the great back room deals going on at the FBI. I want mobsters put away and people safe as much as you do; I'm just not willing to use innocent people or their livelihoods as ransom. By innocent, I mean all the companies that Pipex runs and all the employees of their stores. We don't claim to be innocent of the crimes we committed. We are simply done paying for them. Think hard before you freeze any accounts, we will fight this with ANY means at our disposal. My wife worked hard for what she has and I'll not let you take one more thing from her." With that Piper sneered at them some and turned to leave.

"Wait, wait-" the female agent said.

They stopped at the door and turned around. The agents looked at one another and then at the files before them. She nodded and then he seemed to straighten up his body.

"Alright, you wear the wire and go with your brother. See if you can get him to admit to trying to buy the Senator. We will come in and arrest him. Pablo Jr. set up a meeting at their penthouse tomorrow for Brunch. Your mother will be called away as arranged. But, we think it would be more believable if Miss Vause went with her. "

"No way, there is no reason to involve Alex," Nicky responded. Lorna chimed in as well.

"Look, I haven't even met her mother. Don't you think it would be odd to have her best friend come by first? You want to get him suspicious immediately?" Lorna argued with her hands on her hips. Piper noted that Alex was quiet through this exchange.

"The original investment was made on her behalf. He is going to say that the investigation is threatening the money put in to the stores. Pipex put up the capital to purchase one store and lease the others. I think he will believe it more with her there," he countered.

The lawyer started to speak and Alex reached out to touch his arm. He stopped and looked over. They were all still standing by the door and Piper wished they had already walked out. She felt Alex squeeze her hand more.

"The real reason you want me there is that you hope he will offer me a job or a contact in the Russian group, so I can either sell drugs or launder the money through our stores. You think my just being there will give him ideas that you can use later to have me turn state's evidence against this Russian crew." She spoke quietly but Piper could tell as a sudden cold swept over her body that what Alex said was the truth.

"Look, this group brings in most of the Heroin in Benson Hurst, not to mention the racketeering and gun running they do on the side. You will be helping us catch-" the female agent started to explain.

"Fuck that. I did my time and I ratted on enough people. I will not help you with this case. I will not attend the meeting. I will not wear a wire for you. I am done turning state's evidence for a government that locked me up. Your stupid ass drug sentencing laws incarcerate Americans at an astounding rate. Stop using your resources to go after Pot dealers and drug addicts then you may have more luck against the actual criminals. Do your own police work and leave us out of it," Alex responded. The Agent blinked them looked to her colleague. They exchanged a glance that Piper could quiet decipher.

"Alright then, help us get something on your step father and we will keep Pipex out of the investigation. However, you may be called to testify against him Miss Nichols. "Nicky nodded and then the Lawyer stepped forward. He had hashed out a very clear agreement with them. They balked at a few points and had to call someone for approval. It stated that if this attempt failed, no matter the reason, the government would still honor their side. Also, it explicitly stated that no further action would be taken against their business or homes.

After a few more hours, they left. It wasn't lunch yet but Piper wanted a drink. It was terrifying to be involved with the law again in any capacity. Some days she wished for the time when she believed that only bad people were sent to prison and everyone there deserved everything they got. She wished she had trust in the system again.

But she didn't. They exited the building and said goodbye to their lawyer before Alex hailed them a cab. They went back to the Brooklyn store and Lorna made them all some tea. It wasn't a shot of bourbon but with the stress Nicky was under, no one wanted to drink around her.

They didn't really said anything until Lorna sat with the tea. Alex declined hers but got up and made herself a strong espresso. Piper sipped her tea and looked at Nicky. She was really worried about her and she knew Alex was completely frantic with worry. After their bath, Alex had clung to her all evening. She was surprised at the hard line Alex took about wearing a wire. She thought that she'd join Nicky. I mean they did everything together and Nicky had put her life on the line to support Alex at Litchfield.

It then occurred to her that Nicky wouldn't allow it. She had only agreed to do it if Alex was kept out of the limelight. Considering how Red's colleagues had done her a favor ...and they possibly could hold that over her head, Piper was thankful for Nicky's stance.

"So you and Alex planned that whole thing...where she outright refused to help." Piper said as she sat her tea down. Alex immediately looked at her with a blank face. She never looked guilty. Alex didn't do "guilty" but Piper had learned to interpret her lack of expression. She nodded as if Alex had confirmed it. Nicky looked over at Lorna who slammed down her saucer and cup. She got up and stormed in to the office. Nicky shot Piper a look that said "thanks a lot" and then followed Lorna calling her name.

Piper watched her enter the office and waited for the shouting. She looked around and the store was nearly empty. She knew there would be more customers soon as the lunch hour arrived. Each store had a steady lunch clientele that came in to get some coffee and a muffin. Many worked through their lunches but just enjoyed the change of scenery.

"For the record, I wanted both of us to refuse. I knew they wanted to use my past record to get him in the door. Thing is, I have a bigger reputation for being a snitch. There was no way they'd trust me. This is the only way we could think of to save the business where we were at minimal risk." Alex explained. She heard Nicky shout something to Lorna as well. Piper understood how she'd want Alex there with Nicky. They worked well as a team and it was always easier not to worry so much if they were together.

"Lorna is going to say you owe her this," Piper pointed out. Sure enough, as if on cue Lorna shouted something to that effect.

"Yeah I know, but Nicky pointed out that I can't be connected at all with Red's crew," Alex said to her in a hushed tone. Piper nodded and took her hand. She was scared. She was scared and she wanted to know they would be alright.

"I have an idea. Just listen. I want us to our passports, some money in a bag and pack a light bag. Like we used to do when we were about to leave a city," Piper said. Alex leaned over and kissed her. She brought her hand up to Piper's hair and pulled her closer, kissing more deeply than before. Piper felt her body flush and her pulse quicken. It was a hungry, passionate kiss that would have made Piper's knees go if she hadn't been sitting at the table.

Alex pulled lips away and Piper whimpered involuntarily. She blushed a bit with embarrassment that one kiss could make her so completely undone. Alex smirked her sexy, confident smile. "You amaze me and I love that I can make you do that. I packed that bag this morning when you were in the shower. It is in the closet by the back steps. Also, I have arranged by paying cash to some of Lorna's family, to have a car fueled and parked in a secure location. We can drive up and cross over to Canada with relative ease. From there...well I know a few people and we could fly out to where ever you want to go."

Piper kissed Alex again and brought both her hands up to gently touch her face. Her woman would take care of her and she'd take care of her woman right back. They'd be okay because they will be together. The sounds from the office stopped being so angry and started sounding a bit more like the showers used to sound when she first arrived at Litchfield. Alex laughed and they both decided to go. She left a message at the counter for them to call later. It would be a long night for Nicky and Alex wanted to make sure they caught a NA meeting.

As they walked down the block, towards the Park, Piper leaned in to Alex and asked what she thought they were both thinking. "Is Nicky going to warn Red?"

Alex sighed and walked more. Piper knew they'd talked about it. It was frustrating sometimes how close those two could be. Once, maybe before Finn and Prison, she'd been that close to Polly. She was still her best friend and she knew Piper better than Alex sometimes, but they didn't share everything anymore.

"Nicky is torn. She assured me she could get her the information safely but who knows. They'll be watching her to make sure she doesn't tip them off. It is risky and Nicky feels betrayed by her. She feels like all the connection she had with her at Litchfield was just business to Red. I told her she went far beyond just business when looking out for Nicky...hell for me as well, but Nicky is hurt. I don't know, kid. Whatever the decision, we'll be there for her...unless they come for you. It wasn't smart to threaten them in the meeting." Alex warned. Piper knew she'd bring it up.

She just shrugged in response. "No one said I was smart, I mean look who I married," Piper observed. Alex laughed and had to agree with her. She took Piper by the hand and steered her towards a certain bridge. It was chilly out. Winter still held on with its long and icy grasp. Yet, it was warm enough for some indecent exposure.

"I see where we're going. Tempting fate a bit, eh Vause? Barely avoiding the FBI at breakfast and now you want to barely hide our naked asses from the NYPD Park patrol," Piper quipped. Alex just grinned and stretched her legs some.

"Yep...race you to the bridge. First one there doesn't have to lean against the cold rock!" And with that Alex took off sprinting down the path. Piper laughed and took off after her wife.

*** Oh, the joys of having a play close. I got great reviews and can now tweak the play for a final edit and put it to rest. I should be able to post a bit more now. I do want to finish this story BY JUNE 6th! Please review as it inspires me to write more and more. What do you think of the current circumstances? Peace, Fae***