Misconceptions pt. 16
"Rex! What the hell are we doing here?" Natalie glanced around the cluttered dock nervously. She followed her brother blindly, but was beginning to kick herself for the act. They were at the river, weaving among crates and other large obstacles to avoid detection. And she could see her office from here. Buchanan Enterprises was way too close.
He placed his finger to his lips, knowing that she was quickly losing patience with him and his leadership skills. She was never really one to follow anyway. "We're here alright? Just keep your voice down." The angry look that she was pinning him with made him pause. "Come on." He walked out from behind a stack of large, wooden barrels. From the smell of things, they were full of fish. Then he slipped quickly into the front door to a tiny bait shop.
When they were inside, Natalie grabbed his arm and turned him sharply. "What? You want to go fishing?"
He frowned, annoyed by her impatience. He was about to tell her exactly how annoyed he was when the door locked behind them, sealing them in. A blinding white light shone in their faces. His hand rose, shielding his eyes from the intrusive brightness. "Knock it off, Jack," he shouted.
The beam of light disappeared, but it took Nat a moment to blink the spots away. She saw a man walk toward them. He was nothing impressive to look at. In fact, he seemed skittish, as though the slightest loud noise would send him bolting for the shadows. She saw Rex grin and shake his hand eagerly. Then his eyes were on her, scanning her slowly. He obviously appreciated the dress, and she wanted to slap the audacity out of him. "Who the hell are you supposed to be?"
"Be nice," Rex interjected, still smiling, "this is one of the guys who's going to help us out."
She wanted to laugh. "Him?" The man called Jack was glowering now, clearly irritated by her outright dismissal of him. "No offense."
He turned to Balsom. "Do you have my money?"
Rex looked wounded. "You'll get it." He kept the smile on his face. "Come on, you know you'll get it. I sort of got derailed, that's all."
He turned back to the redhead. "I can see that."
"Gross. This is my sister, man." He watched him glancing at Natalie again with interest. "Listen, we need your help." It took a few moments, but they were finally led further into the room and away from the door. "I need some computer geeks, so naturally I thought of you guys."
Jack stopped and looked at Balsom. "You're an ass."
"Yeah, but you love me."
Natalie watched their weird interaction, but finally lost her patience completely. "Look, apparently you know computers and we need help with mine." Her fingers gripped the laptop tightly. "Can you help us or not?"
He grinned in amusement. "Undoubtedly, but can you afford my services?"
"Jack, meet Natalie Buchanan."
It was her turn to grin. Sometimes being a Buch was a good thing. "So? I don't have all day."
He shook his head, still amused, and then walked casually behind the cash counter of the shop. He reached out and turned the thermostat on the wall to its highest setting. A panel of the wall at his side slid open. He looked at Rex. "Let's not keep the lady waiting."
She felt like she was in some trashy, two-bit mystery novel. A hidden passage? "Hold up, Skippy!" He faced her. "Rex said, you guys." He laughed and disappeared, and she blew out a breath. Her brother was on his heels. "Keep it together, Natalie," she muttered, finally following them into the damn wall. She felt ridiculous.
They went down a flight of metal stairs, and emerged into a much larger area. It was the biggest secret computer room she's ever seen. "mm..wow." She blinked, observing the space, and all the electronics that filled it.
Jack looked at her, smiling. "Impressed?" He wished all his clientele wore their clothes as well as she did.
She stared into his eyes. "It's not the size that counts Jack, it's how you use it." She looked past him, noting three other people on the far side of the large room. "Who are they?"
"No names!" one of them shouted in a panic.
She watched him stand from his chair, ready to bolt at the first sign of trouble. Jesus! Who the hell are these people? The kid looked to be around 18 years or so, and was a skinny, pimple-faced wreck. He obviously spent way too much time in this hole in the ground, and not enough with three-dimensional people. She flashed a less than happy expression toward her darling brother. He shrugged. She took a breath and approached the trio, needing to get a little control back into her life. "Hello," she greeted, smiling. "I'm..."
"Natalie Buchanan," the woman finished for her. "We know who you are. We've known since you stepped through our front door."
There was a blank projection screen on the nearest wall, and Nat watched as an enlarged photo of her mug shot was placed onto the space, filling it. Her arrest regarding the embezzlement at B.E. was on the wall and as large as life. She turned back to the woman, who was clearly distrustful of another female being in the vicinity.
"No names!" the kid shouted again, inching further away from them.
Rex laughed. "Relax, man. It's just me." He gestured toward Natalie. "And this is my sister." He stared, waiting to see whether his words would prove calming or more disruptive. Finally, the young man walked back toward his station at the console.
He frowned. "Do you have my money?"
Rex laughed again. "No, but you'll get it."
"Where have I heard that before?" Jack said, doubting the sincerity of his friend's words. He focussed on the redhead at his side. "So, Natalie? If you want our help, then you're going to have to give us that computer." He watched her grip tighten over the laptop. "We're good, but we're not that good."
She glared. "Jack, right? Well, I don't know you from Jack!" She was mad. This wasn't supposed to be happening, and she wasn't supposed to feel so alone in this. Rex meant well by bringing her here, but this was just too weird. "This is a mistake." She turned to leave.
"Stop, Natty." She did, but he knew that he needed to get serious if he was going to keep her here. "No more games. No more banter, alright?" He approached her. "This is as real as it gets and you know that." She nodded slowly, looking very tired. He reached out and grabbed her hand, leading her back to the group. "Nat, this is Jack Douglas and Jennifer Montell. The nervous one is Kevin. He's odd, but very, very good with computers." He watched her smile softly and relax a bit. "And this guy in the corner is Preston. Another genius. He doesn't talk a lot, but he's cool." He faced his sister. "Now give them the computer, Natalie." She frowned and held firm. "Do it. We don't have a lot of option here, so just trust them. Trust me."
Her heart was beating pretty fast. She watched her hands stretch out as Jack took the computer from her hold. She watched the geeks plug it in and start to deconstruct it, but her heart was still pounding. Rex put an arm around her, and she leaned her head against his shoulder. She was tired, and wanted this all to be over. Her watch told her that this was going to be a long day because it was only noon.
Four more hours! she thought, counting down to when she had to be at Rodi's. Just four more hours.
John quickly glanced at the man at his side, before pulling into the parking lot of Rodi's Bar & Grill. He stepped from the vehicle and took a deep breath, scanning the perimeter slowly and carefully. He was nervous. Being here with Cameron made him very nervous. It was early yet, only 2:30 in the afternoon, but what if she was here? He shut his door and leaned on the roof, continuing to checkout the dirt lot.
He wondered whether he should have come, but it was too late to up and leave now. That would be even more suspicious, if that was at all possible at this point. The good detective didn't trust him, and the feeling was very mutual. He looked toward the side of the small building, and stared at the narrow road that led to the employee parking in back. To where Natalie was attacked! he thought, frowning. The sound of the passenger door finally opening caught his attention. He met the brown eyes that were glaring at him in irritation. "So? What did he have to say?"
Cameron was more certain than ever that this McBain was up to something? First the clandestine meeting at Angel Square, and now Rodi's? "Not much. Buchanan's car was impounded and the tech geeks are going over it, but nothing so far." He leaned on the metal and stared hard. It felt warm to the touch from the constant shine of the sun. "Are you going to take my word on that?"
John actually grinned. He couldn't help it. This guy was too much. "Your word doesn't mean a damn thing to me. I'll talk to my brother when I finish up here." He began to walk toward the entrance to the restaurant.
"When we finish up here, McBain. You keep leaving that part out." He quickly caught up to the agent.
"It's intentional."
They both walked into the establishment and scanned the space and its patrons. "So why are we here?" He wanted an answer, though he already knew without a doubt that it had to do with the redhead. Everything this man did had something to do with the redhead.
John ignored him, which got easier with every painful minute spent in his company. He needed to focus, and he needed to do what he came here to do and then get the hell out. Cameron couldn't be here when four o'clock rolled around. It was too risky to Natalie. He spotted Mac, and headed over to him. He watched the big man grin widely and hold out his hand, and he took it.
"Agent McBain. You got some more questions for me?"
John smiled. "Just the same one actually. Is he here?"
Mac nodded toward the kitchen. "He's here." Then he focussed on the cop who was with him, and watching them both pretty closely. "You're welcome to have that chat."
"Thanks."
Jason saw the looks that were passing between the two men, and he didn't like it. "Unless you're looking for Rex Balsom, this is a waste of time. We should be looking for your girlfriend." He turned toward the burly manager. "Do you know a Natalie Buchanan?"
Mac frowned, not liking this little man at all. "No," he answered, crossing his arms over his wide chest.
"Really, because she used to work here a few years back?"
He turned to the agent, who was standing very silent. His demeanor spoke volumes though. He was trying not to lose his temper. "If you knew that I knew her, then why did you ask me?"
Jason shook his head. "Because I wanted to see whether you would lie for her, and now I know. Where is she?"
"She's not here, and she hasn't been here since she helped me out a couple of nights ago."
Cameron looked at John. "A couple of nights ago?"
"Yeah," John answered, joining the conversation, "when she was attacked and then tried to get some help from you."
He let the insult slide right over him. It wasn't his fault that the woman spent her life lying. Of course he would think that she was crying wolf! Anyone who read her jacket would come to the same conclusion. "So she is capable of telling the truth then?"
John stood straight and got in the man's face. "I have something to do, and you're going to stay right here while I do it."
"Is that so?" He wanted to laugh, but it might prove more beneficial to let this little drama unfold. Whatever was going on he was going to find out, and McBain was going to lead him straight to the woman. "Fine. I'll stay right here." He watched him walk through the kitchen door, before refocussing on the manager...Mac. "So? What can you tell me about Rex Balsom?"
John observed the staff hustling around the tight space, trying to organize plates of food. Some were for the lunch crowd out front, and others were heading toward the freezer for later this evening. He stood for several moments before anyone even realized that he was in the room. "I'm looking for Max Carpenter," he said evenly, trying to the read the expressions that were staring back at him.
No one spoke for a moment. "My name is John McBain, and I'm a Federal Agent for the FBI." The wide-eyes and silence were typical after an official introduction. Someone cleared their throat, and he stared at a man in the back of the kitchen. Then the guy was bolting into the alley and he was following, catching him quickly. He grabbed him and pinned him up against the wall, knocking over some empty crates that were stacked near the door. "Max, I presume." He stared hard.
"Let me go, man. You have no right to touch me."
John grinned, but stepped back, releasing him. "Why'd you run, Max?"
He didn't answer. "What do you want?"
McBain grew very serious, and reminded himself not to hurt this boy. The one who kicked Natalie while she lay on the ground beneath his feet. "Where were you two nights ago?"
"I don't have to tell you anything."
He had no patience, not with a warrant out on an innocent person. His hand wrapped around his prey's throat and squeezed a little. "You might want to reconsider the tough guy act? You're going to tell me who hired you to attack Natalie Buchanan."
Max stared into a set of very cold, very determined eyes. "I don't know what...?" The pressure on his throat got tighter.
John frisked him, pulling out his wallet and pocketing it. He turned to the kitchen door, and found several eyes on them. "Go back inside please." He was giving a very clear order, and the people slowly disappeared again. "You should talk to me, Max."
He swallowed. "I didn't attack anyone!" he forced out, pushing the words through a restrictive throat. "Let me go."
John eased up on his grip, and stepped back again. "Who hired you?" Still stoney silence. His stomach and his jaw clenched, and he pulled his gun from his holster, clutching it in his palm. "Tell me what I want to know, Max, or this could end very badly for you." He flicked the safety off and waved it around nonchalantly, letting the boy get a good look at it. "Who hired you?"
"No one," he squeaked out, mezmerized by the weapon in the Agent's grip. "No one, I swear."
"See, I know you're lying Max." He grabbed his throat again and pushed him flush against the building. "I'm not very fond of liars. Especially those who beat on women. Women that I care about."
"Why would I hurt Natalie?"
"For the money. Now, one last time." He raised the gun and placed the end of the cold barrel against his forehead. "Who hired you?"
"I don't know who it was, alright? Please? Just let me go."
John stepped away and put his gun back in its holster. "See? Doesn't it feel good to tell the truth?" He stared hard. "Don't disappoint me kid. Keep talking."
Max rubbed his sore throat. "I don't know who it was? Some woman approached me and offered me a whole lot of money to knock the chick around a bit." He swallowed, nervous about the anger in the officer's eyes. "I was only supposed to leave a few marks on her, so that everyone could see that she was attacked, but not get too rough with her."
"Too rough!" John snapped, wanting to grab for his gun again. He punched the punk in the gut hard instead, and it felt really good. "You put bruises all over her. You KICKED her when she was on the ground!" He grabbed the white chef uniform that he was wearing, and pulled him back to the familiar position against the wall. "You hurt her!" he snapped, quickly losing his temper.
Max shoved him away, trying to catch his breath. "I'm sorry, okay? I needed the money!"
John grabbed the hair on his head and held him firmly, staring into his wide eyes. "Who was it? Who was the woman?"
"I told you, I don't know man! But I can tell you that she's not who you're looking for."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
He swallowed again, wincing at the pain in his scalp. "She was just dropping off the instructions and the cash. That's all."
He studied the kid closely. "You don't know that."
Max actually grinned. Jeez, cops could be stupid! "I do know. She was sweet, and nervous, and very much a mule. That's it. There is no way that she had anything to do with the job, no way!"
John released his hold. "What did she look like?"
"What did who look like?" Jason stepped through the door and found McBain shaking down some shady-looking guy in kitchen attire.
John blew out a breath. He grabbed Max and pulled him away from the wall. He forced his hands behind his back and put handcuffs on him. "You're going downtown and you're going to tell him what you told me."
Max saw an opportunity. "Yeah? You sure you want that man?"
John spun him around, glaring. "I'm sure."
"Hell, I'll tell him right now! Natalie Buchanan is a whore and a slut!"
Jason watched McBain's face grow red. He also watched the look of surprise and confusion roll over him. "Why exactly are you arresting him? For calling your girlfriend names?"
John shoved him up the stoop, until they were both staring at Cameron. "Do not piss me off, Max!"
"What? She used to wrap her legs around me after work, until you came along to take my place that is!"
John's head hurt. This little weasel was going to do and say anything to get out of this. He stared at his current partner. "I don't suppose you would believe me if I told you that he's lying? And that he was hired by someone to beat up Natalie? Probably the same someone who embezzled the money from Buchanan Enterprises?"
"No. I definitely wouldn't, but I will help you haul your big, bad criminal into the station. I'd love to hear more about what he has to say?"
John sighed, leading the man back inside and out through the front doors. He shoved him into the backseat of the cruiser. His elbows rested comfortably on the roof of the car. "You know, I don't like you Cameron, but you haven't struck me as stupid until just now." He watched the man mimick his stance and stare back. "Why would I have come here, if what he's saying is true? To prove you right? Think about it." Then he got into the car.
Jason blinked, remembering everything about McBain since he got to town. He knew that the kid was lying, and he knew that there was more to this story. John was right, he wouldn't have come here for these particular answers. But he was sleeping with Natalie Buchanan, and he couldn't trust him because of that. He took one last look at the building and then got into the car.