After recently rereading Sheer Luck I was horrified at the errors I had made and decided to make a project of fixing my baby up.
x-X-x
Captain Danny Ross of the Major Case Squad wasn't quite sure what to make of the note when it was first handed to him. He wasn't sure who Special Agent Sophie Rooks was, but the name Nicole Wallace would ring a bell. The aforementioned special agent would be arriving at their offices in an hour and requested to speak to one of his own detectives. From what he had heard Nicole Wallace was the Professor Moriarty to Goren's Sherlock Holmes. After working with Goren it was impossible to think that there was actually a criminal that could elude the bright detective, but this woman had managed.
Danny simply shook his head; he knew what that kind of defeat could do to a detective, even the good detectives. Knowing that a criminal is still free, even though you've tried your damnedest, with Goren it meant his damnedest and then some. Picking up the phone he began to dial the familiar cell number.
"Goren," the gruff voice answered.
"It's Ross, you need to be in my office within the hour." There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line.
"A case?"
"Or something, just be here."
"Okay."
An hour later Ross looked up at the door to see a tall brunette approaching, followed by an older man in a clean-cut suit. Even if he hadn't been forewarned Ross would have been able to identify the pair as feds. Sophie Rooks was an ideal young agent, about 5'8" with generous curves on an otherwise fit frame. Soft brown curls were pinned back in a ponytail, her bangs settling just above bright hazel eyes. Her clothing was professional, black pants and white three quarter length shirt.
"Captain Ross?" She spoke first.
"Yes, you must be Agent Rooks?"
"Nice to met you," she smiled politely, shaking the captain's offered hand. "This is my supervisor, Agent Harris."
"Detective Goren should be here shortly, the note said that you wanted him present for this," Danny explained, gesturing for the pair to sit.
"That's correct," Harris answered. He had a very dull tone of voice, which matched a face that was quickly losing a war to wrinkles. Were Danny to wager a guess he'd say that the man had been in the FBI since Hoover's days. "We figured it was only right, the majority of the information we have on Nicole Wallace came from Detective Goren."
"Speak of the devil," Danny commented, gesturing for the tall detective to come in. "Detective Goren, Agents Harris and Rooks of the FBI."
"It's nice to meet you, Detective." Sophie smiled, as he took her offered hand. "I've heard a lot about you."
"Mostly good I hope," Bobby smiled in return; releasing her hand after realizing that he had been holding it a moment longer than was necessary.
"Mostly," she teased.
"Agent Harris was about to explain why they're here."
"Yes, I was." Harris shot a scolding glance at Sophie before continuing, "Nicole Wallace." Goren's eyes lit up at the mention of her name. "Agent Rooks has been working undercover in small town in upstate New York. We can't get into the details of the original case but through certain sources it has been revealed that Nicole Wallace should be arriving within the next month or so to join the gang that we've been targeting."
"Are you certain it's her?" Goren asked from the window ledge he was leaning against, his arms crossed over his chest, all mirth gone at the mention of the woman. He watched as Rooks opened the case by her feet and pulled out a folder.
"This is from one of the interview with a man we detained."
"Question: Do you know who is in charge of the operation?
Answer: No. I get my order and do what I'm told.
Question: What kind of orders?
Answer: A variety of things. I do whatever I'm asked. Last time I was in the city I had to pick up some foreign chick that was involved with one of the higher up guys.
Question: Do you know who the woman was?
Answer: Nikki something, she had an accent, British or Australian, who can tell the difference. One of the other guys I worked with said she was a tough bitch. Managed to avoid being arrested over and over again. Said she had no hesitation when it came to murder." Goren stopped reading aloud but continued to look over the page he was holding. "Certainly sounds like her. Nicole never showed hesitation when it came to murder, as long as she could rationalize what she was doing. Is she still set to arrive next month?"
"As far as we know. However, these people have a tendency to act on the fly," Sophie began to explain. "A lot of what we have gotten so far has been pure luck. My cover was almost blown a few times because we didn't know that plans had been changed."
"May I ask, what does any of this have to do with Detective Goren?" Danny interjected.
"We would like to bring Detective Goren in on this case. We could use his knowledge on Nicole and hopefully close the current investigation at the same time. Not to mention we would finally have Miss Wallace in custody, she could stand trial," Harris explained. Danny glanced over at Goren, finding that he was listening closely to the offer. After six years of failed attempts he could get her, put her behind bars. Six years… nineteen murders that they knew about. A month under cover would be well worth it.
"It's up to Detective Goren, if he's willing, by all means."
"I'll do it," Goren answered without a moment of hesitation.
"Great," Sophie said almost a little too eagerly, prompting Harris to shoot her another look.
"We have had an identity set up for a while, should we need to use it," Harris gestured to Sophie, telling her to pull the other file from her bag and give it to their newest recruit. "This identity is as Sophie's husband. When we first put her undercover it was important that they knew she was spoken for—to avoid certain—complications shall we say? Do you have any problems with this?"
"None, no problem at all," Goren shrugged, portraying an air of nonchalance, he glanced at the woman in front of him for a moment before looking back to the file in his hands.
"All right, you leave in two days." Harris stood, pulling a business card out of his pocket and handing it to Goren. "If you need any assistance getting things in order before leaving."
"Thanks."
"Could I have a moment alone with Agent Harris please?" Danny requested. Sophie and Goren nodded before leaving the room.
"So, I guess we're going to be working together," Sophie ventured as they stood outside of the office.
"Guess so," Goren nodded.
"Uh—if you want to—you know, talk a little, maybe get to know each other before we start playing house—here's my cell number." She pulled her card from her back pocket and handed it to him.
"That would be helpful. I'll give you a call later?"
"I look forward to it, Detective Goren."
"Bobby, please."
"Sophie."
"Hey Bobby, you've got a call," Eames announced coming to stand beside him.
"I'll be right there," he answered looking to his partner before turning his attention back to Sophie. "We'll talk later?"
She nodded and watched him walk back to his desk. Eames looked back and forth from her partner to the woman across the room. Something was going and she wasn't sure she liked it. Considering that her partner was involved it was bound to be something interesting.
"Eames," Danny startled her coming to stand beside her desk. "We'll need to discuss your new partner."