Author's Note: I am so sorry for the delay in updating. I hit a major writer's block in this chapter. It was so frustrating because I know where the story is going, have scenes outlines and how it's going to end (I practically have the epilogue already written) but for some reason the words just didn't want to come to me. I hope the next few chapters go better and I sincerely hope you all still enjoy this chapter.

The Blue Line Job

Chapter Six: The Line of Duty

Jo watched her mother move effortlessly around the kitchen. With her arm in a sling, she had been demoted to the burger flipper for that afternoon's cookout and nothing more. As much as she hated just sitting at the table sneaking pickle slices, at least Amber had made a complete turnaround. The seventeen year old had greeted Jo at the door yesterday afternoon sobbing and apologizing. This morning, Jo returned the phone and allowed Amber to reschedule her dress shopping for that afternoon but she had to take Meg with her. Thankfully, Amber agreed without grumbling and the two girls were getting ready to go to the mall now.

"Why are you sending the girls out?"

"Because Mr. Ford and his team are coming over, Mom. They're going to want to discuss their plan and I don't want the girls involved in this."

Her mother shrugged elegantly as she tossed a salad. "I don't see any harm in allowing them to get to know the people helping them."

"The people that are helping them are liars, thieves and worse. They are the last resort, the ones you go to when the good guys can't help you anymore." Jo felt slightly guilty saying those thoughts out loud because Ford and his team were helping her. It bothered her even more to know that by being good and following rules wasn't enough to make it in today's society.

"Eliot seems nice."

"He's the worst one of the bunch."

"How do you know?"

Jo shifted uncomfortably in her chair. "I know a killer when I'm looking at one."

Her mother emitted a short laugh. "Nonsense. He may be rough around the edges but far from a killer. He's an army man."

Jo didn't want to argue with her mother, not with the girls still in the house and Nathan and crew on their way. She had watched Eliot during a couple of rough calls and saw how fighting came more naturally to him than carrying on a conversation. It wasn't such a leap to think of him as taking lives, maybe not recently but definitely at some point in his life. And it could be true that he was in the army but the few skills she had seen him use had been more than just basic military training.

"Anyway," her mother continued, "if they really are as bad as you think, why are they helping us?"

"I don't know, Mom. Maybe they're trying to change themselves, become better people. Even bad guys can have fits of conscience."

A fresh plate of pickles was set down in front of her on the table. "Maybe Eliot and the others unsettle you because you all are looking for the same thing."

"Justice?"

Her mother smiled sadly. "No, dear. Happiness."

"I'm happy."

Her mother patted her hand. "Of course, honey."

"We're off to the mall, Aunt Jo," Amber came in and gave Jo a gentle one armed hug.

"Behave, girls," Jo told them half heartedly. Her mother's words cut much deeper that she wanted to admit. She watched the two girls climb into Amber's car and pull out of the driveway. She was happy...wasn't she? She had a job and did it well. She had two wonderful nieces and her mother, with whom she was close. She had problems but didn't everyone?

"Maybe we should tell them to call the whole thing off," Jo murmured. "Maybe this was a mistake."

Her mother sighed heavily and stood up, going over to the sink. "That's your call, Jo. If you want to tell them that, go ahead. Mr. Dodge just pulled up."

"Ford, Mom. His name is Ford. Why do you keep calling him Dodge?"

"Dodge's are more reliable." Her mother winked at her. "But we called them for help and they're giving it to us. You can't judge people on their past, only what they're doing now, in the present. And now," her mother looked back out the window, "they're bringing in a bunch of food for us."

Eliot had to hand it to Jo for keeping it together the entire night. It was only when her mother went inside to see what the girls bought at the mall that Jo let her facade slip ever so slightly. Her eyes dulled over, her shoulders dropped a couple centimeters and her posture slipped into a slouch. He wondered if anyone else noticed it or if he was the only one. He was slightly disturbed at how well he was becoming at reading Jo's body language.

"Is my family in danger?"

Eliot looked at Nate's face and realized he didn't have the answer so Eliot fielded the question. "Possibly. Do you have any friends on the force or retired that would be willing to take shifts outside your home?"

"A couple. I'll have to make some calls."

Hardison stood up. "I brought a security system with me with motion detectors and everything. Parker and I can install it before we leave."

Jo nodded in tired agreement. "Thanks."

"Take one of your sick days tomorrow," Nate added. "Use that day to contact people who can help with surveillance. Eliot will help you."

Normally whenever Nate volunteered his services, it raised Eliot's hackles. He waited for the slight sting of insult but it didn't come. There was nothing, no emotion, so he just shrugged. Hardison's laughter echoed out from the house, interrupting the somber pall that had settled over those who stayed around the picnic table. Eliot knew Sophie and Parker were inside helping Susan put away leftovers. The back door opened and Sophie re-emerged with a pot of coffee and a smile.

"Hardison just found a new friend."

"Oh?" Jo looked less than enthused.

"Apparently there's this online game called Warcraft-"

Jo groaned. "Meg lives for that game."

"And so does Hardison," Sophie added. "They just found out that their in the same group or something, I didn't quite catch it all."

"Guild," Hardison appeared with a tray full of mugs. "It's called a guild. Honestly people, pick up a history book."

"That's okay, Mr. Hardison," Meg said, taking a seat next to Jo. "Warcraft isn't for everyone."

"That's right!" Hardison responded. "That's why we have to stick up for each other, girl. Stand proud in the midst of these close minded simpletons. Fist bump." Hardison held out his closed fist and Meg grinned widely and bumped her own fist with his. "That's what I'm talking about. You stay strong, WildKard."

Susan touched Jo's elbow. "Amber wants to show you the dress she got for graduation."

Jo looked at Nate, who nodded and she quickly excused herself. Susan handed out the coffee mugs and sat down with a weary sigh. "Meg, honey, why don't see if you can help Mr. Hardison with the security system when he's ready?"

"Really?" She turned towards Hardison with wide eyes. "Can I help you with it?"

"If it's okay with your Nana there, then sure." Hardison stood up from the table. "Let's get started."

Eliot watched the two head off in the dusk towards the van. Their voices still carried back to the porch, Hardison's with a bunch tech speak followed by Meg's "Awesome"s and "cool"s. But Susan didn't send Jo and Meg away without reason. "What's going on, Susan?"

"Did Jo ask you to call this off?"

Nate's eyes widened a bit. "No. Was she intending to?"

Susan smiled slightly. "Jo is a very...conflicted person right now. Her father was a police officer, a great one. That's why she went into law enforcement herself. She was a true Daddy's girl. She thinks in very black and white contrast. The good will win because they're good and the bad will be caught and punished. She knows life doesn't work like that but when you play by the rules, do the right thing and you're treated like one of the bad guys, it confuses her. I was surprised she even agreed to calling you, Mr. Ford, let alone allowing you to help."

"So what exactly do you want us to do?" Nate asked.

"I want you to continue with whatever plans you have already made. I want you to prove to her that the good guys still can win. I want you to nail these bastards. Jo being shot in that convenience store wasn't by coincidence. That was where her father was shot and killed eight years ago. So bring down these people for her and for me."

Jo ran the silver pendant through her hand once more. She had done it 53 times since she heard Nathan Ford and his team pull out of her driveway. Amber had bought more than just a dress at the mall that day. When Jo had gone inside to see the dress, Amber had shoved the necklace and pendant into her hand. Jo had been too shocked to say anything and by the time she had found her tongue again, Amber was already asleep. And so she went into her own bedroom, sitting on the side of her bed and feeding the chain and pendant through her fingers like they were a rosary. A quiet knock at the door momentarily froze her fingers.

"Come in." She watched the mirror, waiting to see her mom reflected there but was surprised at seeing who she least expected. "Eliot?"

He gave a half wave. "I just saw your light was still on and thought I'd check on ya."

"I thought everyone had left already."

"They did but your mom invited me to stay since we were going to head out tomorrow and recruit some surveillance. Is this a problem?"

Jo shook her head. "No."

He stood there for a few uncomfortable seconds before seeing the flash of silver in her hand. "What's that?"

Jo held up the pendant so he could see it clearly. "It's St. Michael, the patron saint of police officers. Amber gave it to me to-tonight." Her throat constricted and she felt tears burning her eyes but she couldn't find it in herself to care that he was the first stranger to see her cry since her father's funeral. Instead, she continued to hold up the necklace. "Do you know what this means? It means my girls are scared. They've lost their mother, father and grandfather and they haven't graduated high school yet. And now they're scared of losing me." Once again, she felt like an angry teenager pitching a fit over not going to a party. "It's not fair."

She felt Eliot tug the necklace out of her hands. "That's why we're here. To make things fair again for people who have suffered losses. To set things straight for good people that are being taken advantage of by the bad." His fingertips brushed the back of her neck as he fastened the necklace for her. "That's what we do."

Jo angrily swiped at her tears. "That's what you do, make promises?"

"No," he smiled. "We keep them."

Sophie waited until Hardison and Parker had turned in for the night before sitting down on the couch next to Nate. "Are you sure it was wise to let Eliot stay behind tonight?"

Nate turned on the local news. "Yeah, why?"

"Safety issues, for one. What if Reilly-"

"Reilly? We haven't even entered into the con yet. Reilly doesn't know us from Adam. Jo's family, now that's a different matter. Until Jo can get some other people to keep an eye on the house, Eliot's the best man to do the job."

Sophie rubbed her forehead absently. "Nate, he's taking the job too personally. And you know how Eliot gets when a pretty damsel-in-distress is our client. The Fiddle job, remember how that ended?"

"It ended with Kaye Lynn getting her song back and a bunch of offers from agents. And Jo is the farthest thing from a damsel-in-distress. She depressed and lost some hope but she can take care of herself. She not helpless."

"Yes," Sophie drawled, "we all know how Eliot hates a challenge."

"What do you want me to do, Sophie? Go back to the house and play chaperon? Make sure they're sleeping in separate rooms and not holding hands under the table?"

"I just want you to keep in mind what you've done to us, Nate. You took in four people who had ridiculously low morals and gave us back our conscience. And with that conscience comes little pieces of our hearts. Each job we complete gives us another piece of ourselves that we lost before you took us on as a team."

Nate turned the television off and sighed. "You think he's in love with her?"

"No, nothing that serious. Not yet anyway." Sophie pulled her legs underneath her. "You did notice he didn't fuss over you offering his services to track down help tomorrow or say anything about being left behind tonight? What I am saying is all the pieces are there for this end badly."

"Oh come on, Soph. Falling in love isn't so bad, is it?"

She hated moments like this, where he baited her to see what type of ground she was standing on at that moment. Well, she wouldn't take it tonight, not when losing Eliot to a client was the foremost worry in her mind. It might not be a problem but she had been reading people for too long not to pick up on subtle signs of affection and loyalty. "No, it isn't so bad as long as both people are on the same page. If not," she stood up and started for her room, "it can be absolutely devastating for all involved."