A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews. It's really nice to know that people are actually reading this. Okay, on we go. This chapter was pretty difficult to write ... lots of stuff going on in different places at once. I hope it's not too confusing.

"So, how do you want to play it?", Sophie asked, when she and Nate approached the building where Farnham's office was located with the van.

"We'll draw him out of his office, so that Parker can copy his hard drive and snoop around in his office for further information", Nate explained innocently and extra patient. Sophie rolled her eyes.

"I know that. I didn't ask for the 'what' I asked for the 'how'"

"Yeah, and explain to me again why you wanted to change cars for this one?" Hardison chimed into the conversation via earbud.

"Do you have any objections to driving the Roadster?", Nate asked.

"No, it's cool. It just is a bit crammed with the equipment and such. Plus it attracts more attention than the van. So I just don't get it."

"What does Farnham drive again?", Nate wanted to know.

"A blue Chevy, what does that have to do with anything?"

"Massachusetts license plate, 465 IFW?"

"That's the one."

"Got it. Sophie, hold on tight!"

Without further ado Nate swerved to the right and rammed into Farnham's car. Sophie screamed as the airbag blew up and threw her back on her seat.

"Nate!" she screamed.

"You all right?"

"You could have warned me", she complained.

"I kind of did."

Hardison's voice pitched up a notch.

"Did you just crash the van? Is that what this is about? You let me drive your car so that you can go ahead and crash my van?"

"So, it's your van now?" Nate asked.

"Well, our van, the team's van. But I'm attached to it most. This van is my second home."

"I thought the office is your second home", Sophie said.

"No, the office is my first home."

Nate ignored Hardison's nagging and got out of the car. Some pedestrians had stopped and looked at him accusingly. Nate lifted his arms in a helpless gesture.

"I don't know how this could happen. The power steering failed, I lost control."

He went over to the office building and entered the lobby.

"Excuse me", he asked the doorman. "I think I just caused an accident. Do you know whose car that is?"

The doorman craned his neck to see where Nate was pointing.

"The blue Chevy? That would be Mr. Farnham's car, Sir."

"Could you maybe call him up and tell him what happened?", Nate asked. "I would like to apologize in person and settle things with our insurance companies."

The doorman picked up a receiver and after a short low voiced conversation nodded towards Nate.

"Mr. Farnham will be down here instantly."

"Oh, there's no rush", Nate assured him while Sophie joined him.

"Parker, go", he said in a low voice.

Parker stood beside the huge drum which held the elevator cable and looked down the shaft.

"Hardison, did you deactivate the elevator yet?"

"Yeah, you are ready to rock'n'roll"

With a happy cry Parker jumped into the shaft. As calculated the rope caught her on the level of the second floor. Dangling upside down she forced a big screwdriver into the slit between the metal doors and levered them open wide enough for her to squeeze through.

"What way?" she asked through the com.

"Left. Third door down on the right should be Farnham's office", Hardison directed.

The lock was of the kind you could open with a credit card if you were so inclined. Parker used a short piece of wire instead. She closed the door silently behind her. The office was small, holding only a desk which faced the door, a few filing cabinets and two extra chairs. Every flat surface and even parts of the floor were cluttered with files, notes, empty cigarette packs, candy wrappers and the occasional pizza box. Parker sighed audibly.

"What?" Hardison wanted to know.

"Farnham seems to be a messy. Seriously, I never saw a place that chaotic. It will take me a while to find anything here. Nate, Sophie, stall as long as you can!"

"Start with the computer and the hard drive. Then just work your way from there" Hardison suggested. Parker had already connected the external hard drive she brought with her to the computer and inserted the USB stick holding the alternative operating system which would allow her to bypass Farnham's login and password. While the system booted she scanned through the papers which were lying around.

Hardison saw a young man approaching the back entrance of the building.

"Parker, someone is about to get into the building through the back", he announced.

"So?"

"What if he is on his way to Farnham's office?"

"What if he isn't?" Parker answered tensely. "I need at least five more minutes."

"Okay, I'll try to find out where he is going and hold him off if he ..." Hardison was interrupted by a knock at the car window.

"Excuse me, Sir, this is a no parking zone", a female parking enforcement officer informed him. "I have to ask you to move your vehicle."

Hardison pulled a grimace which he managed to morph into a pleasant smile.

"Yes, Ma'm, I am aware of that. It is an emergency. My wife is picking up her medication which she left at the office. She will be back any second now." Hardison put a little emphasis on the last words, hoping that Parker was picking up on it.

The officer sighed.

"If you'd know how many emergencies like that I encounter every day on my round", she said impatiently.

"Please. Just a few moments and I'll be gone", Hardison promised.

"Two minutes. If you're still here on my round back, I will fine you."

"Yes Ma'm. Thank you, Ma'm"

She walked off.

"Parker, I lost track of the guy. You have to get out of there now. Plus we'll have the wrath of the Boston Traffic Clerk on ourselves if we don't get lost, soon."

"Almost done", Parker said.

"See, I told him not to drive under the influence of his medication", Sophie said smiling apologetically at Mr Farnham.

"What do you mean?" Nate raised his voice. "I did not take medication" He grabbed Sophie's arm and pulled her to the side.

"How can you mention the medication", he stage whispered dramatically. "Do you know how much trouble I will be in? I cannot afford another DUI charge."

He turned back towards Farnham.

"Listen, Sir, I am sure we can find a way of settling this like gentlemen. No need to involve the police or the insurance companies in this. Why don't you just tell me how high you estimate the damage to be and I'll double that."

"No you won't", Sophie cut back in. "This is my money you are giving away so generously."

"Your money? You mean your father's money."

Farnham stared as the strange couple who had just crashed his car entered into a marital row of the first degree.

"Hm ... excuse me ...", he tried to interrupt, but was brushed aside by Sophie who lunged at Nate and slapped him in the face.

"I'll divorce you, you cheating, worthless piece of scum", she screamed.

Parker was just wrapping up and about to leave the office when the door was suddenly pushed open. A young men with a baseball cap entered. Parker slipped the USB drive back into her pocket and looked up with a smile.

"Hello, how can I help you?" she asked.

The man looked at her confused.

"I am looking for Mr Farnham", he said.

"Do you have an appointment?" Parker wanted to know.

"He is expecting me. Who are you?"

"I am Maggy, his new assistant. And you are?"

"Pretty sure that Bill does not have an assistant", he said and came threateningly close.

"Well, he does now. And looking at this place wouldn't you agree he desperately needs one." Parker tried to keep her voice light and carefree. The attack came fast and unexpected. His fist connected with her face right on her left cheekbone, knocking her back against one of the filing cabinets. With a cry of pain Parker slid to the ground.

Hardison heard Parker scream and was out of the car and on his way to the building in an instant.

"Parker? What's going on? Are you alright?"

"No, I did not marry you for the money, I married you because ... could you tell me what is going on here?" Nate changed the topic in midsentence without changing the tone of his voice.

"Parker? Hardison? What's going on there? Was that Parker screaming? Nate? Sophie? Can anyone tell me what's going on?" Eliot cut in.

"I lost contact to Parker. I think she got caught by that guy", Hardison explained. "I'm going in. Prepare for a rapid exit"

He tried the back door and found it locked. Cursing he began to run along the building, looking for another way in.

"Nate? Hardison? I'm on my way over. I should be there in five minutes", Eliot reported.

"Yeah, man, hurry. We have to get Parker out of there."

Still not sure how to proceed, Hardison took a look around. He groaned in frustration when he saw the parking enforcement officer standing beside the Tesla, fixing boots to it.

"This is the crappiest job ever", he announced.

Eliots truck pulled up beside him.

"What's the situation?" the hitter asked.

"Parker is still in the building, I have no way in and that woman over there just booted my car. Well, Nate's car. Which is only fair after he crashed my van ..."

He was interrupted by a loud impact.

"What the hell?"

Parker stood up in the bed of the truck and jumped off beside a totally startled Hardison.

"Let's get out of here", she suggested, as she opened the passenger door and climbed in. Hardison looked up to the open window overhead and then followed without objection. Eliot stepped on the accelerator.

"Nate, we're clear. Parker is with us. Get out"

He looked at the blond thief. Even under the baseball cap she was wearing, he could see a large bruise was forming on the left side of her face and her eye was beginning to swell shut, but she smiled.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah. That sweep you showed me worked real nice. And you are right, once you have the opponent level with you, the hitting becomes a lot easier."

"Yes, Parker is alright. Let's regroup at the office" Eliot informed Nate via earbud.

"Why did you not talk to us?" Harsidon asked. "We were worried sick for you."

"Oh, right", Parker carefully pulled her earbud from her left ear wincing a little. "I think it most have broken when he punched me or something. I couldn't hear you any longer."

"That must have been quite a blow you took", Eliot commented. "I wear those things in a fight all the time, they don't break easily"

Parker just shrugged it off.

"So how did you know the truck would be there?" Hardison asked.

"I didn't."

"She didn't"

Parker and Eliot chorused.