Redemption

Chapter Fifty-Five

Today was certainly more eventful than yesterday, Jack concluded as he leaned back in his chair and making it rock back and forth while he stewed over the bio from NYPD. Danni certainly had done something good, here, though what that something was, he couldn't be sure. Discovering that their main suspect was dead was certainly something new and Myles and D had gone to talk to the former Mrs. Palmerro to get even more information from her. Perhaps Richard had a double. Of course, perhaps he was Dessa in disguise. He'd gotten plastic surgery to hide himself once before, how could Jack think otherwise that he wouldn't go to such an extreme just so he could save his own hide?

He sighed heavily as he shifted his gaze between the photograph in the file and the photograph on the white board. The facial features matched perfectly, which either meant there really was a twin or they'd been had. At least, this time, he wasn't having chips and dip with the Prince of Terror, but it was war. He was determined to win out, this time. He wasn't going to let him get away, again.

His gaze flickered to Sue and he couldn't help but smile. Being with her was the light at the end of the very dark tunnel they were traveling through. It was because of her that he could wake up every morning and face this case and even if he never got to taste her sweet lips today, he would know it was a good day, because she'd made everything seem brighter.

He glanced behind him and watched as Bobby and Danni worked together, their heads barely inches apart as he muddled over the file in front of him, while she checked a few facts in the NYPD databank. Having her get authorized access to this file was the best thing that could have happened and there was still more that she had yet to dredge up.

Their morning had certainly been much better than yesterday; Danni's meeting with her parents certainly much more heartwarming than any other encounter they'd had. Now, things were going in the right direction and they could celebrate the engagement properly. With the realization that Palmerro was dead, becoming engaged had completely slipped her mind until Myles had brought it up and everyone had left for the day.

When they'd arrived, this morning, they didn't hesitate to announce it, to which Danni was surrounded by screaming women who wanted to see the ring and Bobby was pulled into a few bone-crunching hugs with a few hearty handshakes on the side. The compliments came in droves when the rumor spread around the building as well. Agents from other units had heard before it had even left their mouths, which was most likely Lucy's doing after the shock had subsided.

Things were certainly better, today, he sighed, his gaze flickering over the close-knit, extended family that seemed to have sprouted. DeMarco was the only one missing from the picture, though Jack wasn't really surprised. He was out doing something important, Jack was sure, so he wouldn't worry about it unless they didn't hear back from him. Yup, today was going to be a good day—he could feel it.

He laced his fingers together and leaned back in his chair, reveling in how things were finally coming together. Dessa would be in their hands before any of them realized it and then, this nightmare could finally end. Until then, though, he would have to crack down and get back to work, even if everything seemed like it was falling into place.

He sighed contently, which Bobby happened to notice and looked up from his file and raise a questioning eyebrow at. "You okay, Sparky?" he asked, moving slightly so Danni could take a glimpse at the fact that was next on their list.

For a second, Bobby wasn't sure Jack had heard him, but then his head turned to him and nodded. "Yeah. I'm great," he said sincerely, a smile gracing is lips. But, as soon as the smile had appeared, it just as quickly dissipated at the voice that interrupted his and everyone in the bullpen's attention.

"Hudson!" Assistant DA, Ted Garrett's baritone voice echoed through the bullpen. Multiple pairs of eyes all turned to the dark man who seemed ready to blow his top if any of them said a word. The only one who didn't look at him was Sue, until Levi, who'd sensed it was an urgent matter, retrieved her attention when he pawed at her pant leg. She was just as surprised as any of the others to see Ted standing there. He wasn't supposed to be back until the end of the week and here he was, standing before them. If it caused his vacation to run short, it must have been extremely important.

"Ted?" Jack asked, his arms falling around him and his feet planting firmly upon the floor. His brown eyes were wide and he was glad that he'd only been able to get the man's name out. If he had to hold up a conversation with him right there in the bullpen, he knew it wouldn't have been possible.

Ignoring the puzzled glances from his agents and their guests, he stared Jack down and hoped he was reducing him to a puddle. He wasn't happy, right now and the only way to relieve his stress was to do what he'd come to do. "I need to see you and Thomas in my office, now." He emphasized the word to show that he meant business before he turned and exited the room, not looking at anyone else as he passed their occupied desks.

Bobby shared a look with Danni, the same expression of fear in their eyes as there were in Jack and Sue's. It was obvious what this was about; Garrett had found out and the outcome was not going to be as ceremonious as they'd hoped.

Sue glanced to Danni as if asking her if she or Bobby had said anything, but she knew the answer immediately. Neither of them would have, she knew, which led her to believe that someone else had found out, but who? And why?

"Jack, what's this about?" Lucy asked her eyes full with concern for her friends. There was something going on here that she wasn't clued in on; that was rare. Perhaps she'd been wrapped up in other matters to notice, but if it was something as severe as it seemed, she more than likely had to know something about it. The problem was that her mind wouldn't reveal to her the knowledge that she wanted.

Jack cleared his throat and slowly got to his feet. He knew what it was concerning, but he wouldn't voice it. He would lie before everyone found out this way, so that's what he did as he adjusted his jacket. "I'm not sure." His heart was pounding wildly in his chest as he felt the heat of everyone's gazes on him and Sue as she joined him at his side. Her eyes were full with fright and her hands were obviously shaking, which meant she wouldn't be able to hold onto Levi's leash as tight if they took him, so they left him behind and he curled up next to Bobby's desk, a low whimper escaping him as he saw his two favorite humans leaving the room without him.

Bobby turned his gaze back to Danni who looked like she was going to be sick. She knew what was going to happen, she just knew it and there was nothing neither she nor anyone else could do to remedy the situation. Jack and Sue had dug their own hole and now they needed to pull themselves out of it without help from anyone else. She just wished that she could help them overcome this. Hey, she'd done it once; sometimes she was a better counselor than a cop.

Her thoughts were interrupted by her cell phone ringing which she quickly grabbed and opened it with frustration. "Talbot," she answered.

Lucy looked at Bobby and it was obvious that he knew something about what was going on. The problem was getting him to spit it out. "Bobby, do you know anything about this?"

He opened his mouth to say something, but stopped himself when he saw the don't-say-a-word look that Danni shot him, so he only shook his head. "Not a clue," he lied, though he knew neither Lucy nor anyone else believed it.

"Make sure he doesn't leave," Danni said forcefully as she got up from her chair, grabbing her coat in the process, which signaled Bobby to do the same. He shrugged his shoulders as an apology to Lucy, though he wasn't highly positive about what was happening. He had no clue who she was on the phone with or who they were talking about, but if she was eager to leave if only to escape the curious stares, he would follow suit.

Levi, noticing the humans getting up, rose to his feet as well, his tail wagging in hopes that they were taking him with them. "Sorry, Buddy," the Aussie said when Danni hung up the phone and turned his full attention to her. "Where are we going?"

"Found him," was all she said before rushing out of the bullpen, the Aussie on her heels.

"That was… strange," Price said as he turned to Myles for an explanation, but the Bostonian could only shrug and turned to Tara with hopes that she could clear some things up.

"I don't even know which part makes me even more confused," she replied with a shrug of her own.