Disclaimer: I do not own Person of Interest or its characters.
A/N: Sorry this one is a little short, but I decided to go ahead and post since it had been so long. Thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate you all sticking with me. I will finish both of my current stories so don't worry! And I may have a new one in the works.
Chapter 3
"The man Ms. Shaw spotted with Ms. Jacobsen is Dimitri Rehkopf. He is a known associate of Peter Yogorov. Yogorov has been moved from a facility upstate to Rikers to finalize his deal to testify against Alonzo Quinn," Harold explained as he took another sip of his lukewarm green tea.
"So what's the school teacher's connection to Yogorov? She seems pretty straight-laced so why is she associating with the Russian mob?" Shaw questioned. She paced in front of Finch's desk waiting for him to continue.
"This is a perplexing case, Ms. Shaw. Ms. Jacobsen has clearly been hiding from something all of these years and she has done a good job of burying her true identity."
"Simply following her isn't working, Finch. This is taking way too long," John stated. Finch looked up from his computer screen and eyed John. He knew this was wearing on his colleague.
"I understand, Mr. Reese, that this has been a frustrating assignment, especially considering your current situation. However, the Machine would not have given us Ms. Jacobsen's number if there was not an imminent threat. With the added complication of Ms. Jacobsen seeking out Detective Carter, we cannot be too cautious. That is why we need eyes and ears on Ms. Jacobsen's meeting with Peter Yogorov." Finch paused and then continued. "I have determined that there is one visitation room Rikers will use for Yogorov because he is under special protection. It is on the third floor in the east wing."
"And am I just supposed to walk into Rikers, Finch and say 'Excuse me Warden, mind if I bug one of your visitation rooms?'" Shaw responded sarcastically.
"Of course not, Ms. Shaw." Finch reached across his desk and handed Shaw an ID badge. Shaw grimaced at the picture. "Your shift on the maintenance crew starts in 45 minutes. I suggest you hurry." Without another word, Shaw huffed, tapped Bear on the head and exited the Library."
"Perhaps, Mr. Reese, you should go home and see if Detective Carter has determined whether she might have some connection to Ms. Jacobsen. I have Detective Fusco tailing our number," Finch suggested.
"No, Finch, I have a better idea. There is one person in this town who keeps closer tabs on the Russians than even your Machine. If anyone knows what's going on, it's him."
"Mr. Reese, do you think that is wise?" Harold questioned. When he didn't get a response, Harold lifted his gaze from the computer screen to find the room empty. "I hate it when he does that, Bear." Bear groaned and laid his head back down on the floor.
After knocking on the oaken door of the Brighton Beach townhouse, John was led through the darkened halls to a wood-paneled study. A fire crackled warding off an unusual chill in the spring air. He paused in front of the leather wingback chair and faced its occupant who sat sipping a glass of red wine.
"John, what a surprise? I was expecting Harold or perhaps the lovely Detective Carter. How is Jocelyn? She's what? About five months along?" Elias questioned as he swirled the wine in his glass and lightly placed it on a side table.
"Elias, I'm not here for a social call. I need information," John replied curtly, stepping closer to the mob boss.
"Pleasantries were always lost on you, weren't they John?" Elias responded with a light chuckle.
"Boss, you want me to show him out?" Marconi asked as he strolled into the room.
"No, Anthony. Now, John has piqued my interest. If you'll leave us," Elias stated. Marconi eyed John warily and reluctantly exited, closing the door behind him. "You'll have to excuse Anthony. He's protective and of course, you irk him more than most. You know he is quite fond of Detective Carter," Elias said raising an eyebrow at John.
John didn't take the bait and pressed on for information. "Have you heard anything about the Russians preparing to stir up trouble?"
"Ahh. I have heard some rumblings now that Peter Yogorov has been transferred to Rikers and then of course, there is the interesting reappearance of Gina Belton. My sources are telling me that she's working for whomever HR still has out of custody. Apparently, some important information slipped through their fingers that they very much want to recover."
"And that would explain the interest of the Russians. Anything to one up HR. So they are both still in play," John said thinking aloud.
"Very good, John. I must tell you this entire war between HR and the Russians has been exceedingly entertaining." John turned to leave when Elias called out. "Do give my regards to Harold and Jocelyn."
John continued out of the door and glanced briefly at Marconi before exiting onto the quiet street in the breaking light of dawn.
"The camera is working well, Ms. Shaw," Harold stated through his connection with Sameen.
"And our girl just cleared security," Shaw responded.
"Where are you, Detective Fusco?" Finch asked.
"I'm about to go through security. Said I needed to make a Detective's visit to a low-level drug dealer about a homicide in Brooklyn," Lionel explained as he checked in his service weapon and proceeded through the heavy steel door into the more secure area of the prison.
"Very well, Detective. We'll be in touch," Finch said as he disconnected his call with Fusco and focused on the computer screen image.
"You summoned?" Natalie spat as she seated herself on the other side of the glass partition and picked up the phone receiver. She shifted uncomfortably in the hard plastic chair as she glared at the man on the other side of the glass partition.
"This is not a game, Natalya. You have no idea what you have gotten yourself into," Peter replied as he wearily rubbed his eyes and ran his hand over the two-day stubble on his chin.
"Don't pretend like you care about my well-being. I have something you want. Let's not pretend this is brotherly concern for your little sister," Natalie stated.
"You seem to forget, Natalya. You are the one who turned your back on your family. It wasn't the other way around. You betrayed us. Left us and never looked back," Peter replied through gritted teeth. He made a fist and then flexed his hand trying to quell his growing frustration.
"Stop calling me Natalya. She died years ago," she said her voice rising. The guard raised an eyebrow at her and she hunched closer to the receiver.
Peter leaned nearer to the glass and growled into the phone. "I know that boy gave you some important information, Natalie," he said placing emphasis on the last syllable of her name. "You need to give that information to Laszlo. You've placed yourself in the middle of a war and HR will not hesitate to make you its latest casualty. Perhaps Mikael thought this information might be some insurance policy for you—some kind of protection. He was wrong. He placed a target on your back, Natalya."
"Well, as much as I've enjoyed this family reunion, I have places to be. Goodbye, Peter," Natalie said as she pushed back in the chair and stood.
Peter banged on the glass and yelled. "Don't do this, Natalya. You have no idea what you are dealing with. Don't get yourself killed over this," he screamed as she exited the room.
Natalie rested against the door and took several deep breaths. Her heart was pounding. She squeezed her eyes shut to prevent any tears from falling. After a few minutes she left the visitation area, making her way to the exit.
Joss Carter stood lost in thought as she waited on the elevator at the U.S. Attorney's Office after finishing a meeting with the lead prosecutor on the Quinn trial. She was disappointed to learn that Quinn intended to go to trial, which left Carter in a precarious situation. As of now, no one but the U.S. Attorney assigned to the case and a few federal agents knew she was the star witness against the former head of HR. She assumed that Quinn had figured it out when the court documents referred to Jane Doe, but for some reason he had kept his mouth shut. Joss took a deep breath as a feeling of dread almost overwhelmed her. She was walking a fine line of half-truths in an attempt to seek justice but to also protect those she held dear. Gone were the days of black and white, right and wrong. She was trapped in a gray area for which she was wholly unprepared.
The ding of the elevator brought her back to the present. As the door opened, she was shocked to see Iris Nelson. "Why, Joss! What a surprise! Twice in one week. It must be fate," Iris said in a saccharine sweet voice.
"Iris, what a coincidence. I better be going. I have an appointment," Joss replied hurriedly trying to enter the elevator. Before the door closed, Iris slid back through the doors.
"Didn't you have business at the U.S. Attorney's Office?" Joss asked trying to hide her desperation to escape Iris's prying.
"Oh, it can wait a few more minutes. What brings you to the federal side?" Iris questioned, quirking a perfectly plucked eyebrow at Joss.
"Just a case, Iris. Sometimes we have joint cases with the Feds," Joss explained. "What brings you over here? A civil case?" Joss asked trying to deflect Iris's questions.
"Oh, no. I started doing primarily criminal work three years ago. I'm assisting in Alonzo Quinn's representation. It is going to make my career. This will be the biggest trial since O.J. Simpson, Joss," Iris said gushing.
As the elevator continued to descend, Joss felt as if the walls were closing in on her. She stared as the lights blinked 3-2-1. Without a word, she careened out of the elevator doors and crashed into a solid body, sending the man's briefcase flying.
"I'm so sorry," Joss stuttered as she tried to apologize. She lifted her eyes when she heard a warm chuckle.
"How are you, Carter? It's been awhile," Agent Jackson Moss asked.
"Agent Moss, I'm so sorry. I really have to get going," Joss said hurriedly as she made her way to the revolving door of 26 Federal Plaza. She ignored Iris as she continued to call her name.