The End of the Game - 2
"Sorry Reese, he got the drop on me" said Shaw, glowering at Lambert who just smiled.
"Please" said Lambert "I'm not here to do you any harm, rather to offer some assistance. We seem to have a mutual problem in Henry Peck. Samaritan thinks he is about to reveal the existence of your Machine"
"Why is that your problem?" questioned Reese "Anything that degrades the Machine's capability must be to Samaritan's advantage"
"Normally yes" replied Lambert "But if the news gets out, there'll be another media and political frenzy. Northern Lights was revealed and cancelled months ago but no one got to know the full details. Peck has been busy and now knows a lot more than he did when you and Finch helped him. If the Machine is revealed then Samaritan fears that people will pick up his trail too, just because everyone's turning over stones looking for things"
"You and Greer are not normally shy about taking 'robust' action when required" said Shaw suspiciously "Why haven't you just killed Peck?"
"I honestly don't know" frowned Lambert "As you say that's Samaritan's usual response but Mr. Greer asked me to convey this message and I assume it originally came from Samaritan. We won't interfere with whatever actions you take over Peck, assuming you persuade him not to talk. It's a shame the lovely Miss Groves isn't here, she seems to be more tuned into how our respective masters think"
"Do you know where Peck is now?" enquired Reese.
"I'm afraid not, he's rather good at avoiding cameras" replied Lambert "If he turns up I'll let you know"
ooooooooooo
Back at the subway Reese and Shaw found Root tapping away at a keyboard.
"We met an admirer of yours today, Root" said Shaw "Mr. Lambert sends his regards, he seems to quite like you"
"Urgh!" said Root "I'd pick Fusco any day"
"He's not a bad looking guy though" teased Reese "Don't you think so, Shaw?"
"Definitely" replied Shaw enthusiastically, with a glint of mischief in her eye "That British accent is kinda cute. If you aren't interested Root, maybe I'll look him up when I need to"
Root puffed out her cheeks, swelling with indignation, and stood up. "I hate you both" she declared loftily "So I am going out to lunch and won't be bringing back any goodies". She made a dignified exit, slightly spoiling it by muttering rude things under her breath, and Reese and Shaw grinned at each other – it wasn't often that they bested Root verbally.
"Do you really think she won't bring anything back?" enquired Shaw anxiously, looking around for something to eat.
"I reckon so" said Reese seriously "She seemed pretty upset". "Hey, look!" he exclaimed, shaking a box "Bear hasn't eaten all his biscuits"
Reese gave a rare laugh at Shaw's stricken face "Relax, I'll go out in a bit and get something to stop you wasting away" he said.
"Maybe not" he said as his phone pinged to indicate that text message had arrived. Reese viewed it and was disturbed to see "Peck back. L". How had Lambert got his number?