Misconceptions pt. 17
Natalie was ready to jump out of her skin. Her legs paced the large space, carrying her around the room and allowing her to get a good look at her surroundings. The geek squad were trying to solve the mystery of the computer, with Rex standing vigil. He seemed genuinely interested in what they were doing, but she just found it boring. The only thing that was of any interest was getting the damn answers that she needed. She sighed, and finally took a seat near the metal staircase that had led her here in the first place.
The fact that she was putting her life in several hands was not sitting well at all. Rex was now dragged into this mess, and she was forced to trust that these computer...experts, would pull off a miracle and prove her innocence. She frowned, closing her eyes for a moment. And then there was John? She wanted him to stay away, and out of her life so that he didn't completely bulldoze his own, but she also needed him. He was FBI and she was a fugitive, so if he gave her information that could keep her from jail, what choice did she have but to take it?
Her eyes opened slowly. She was a liar. She missed him. Stop it, Natalie! she scolded, standing from her chair. She glanced at her watch, and felt the smooth, even pumps of her heartbeat. It was nearing 3:30. She had to go. "Rex!" she shouted, walking toward him as he turned to face her. "What's taking so long?" She had hoped that they would have found something, anything by now, and that she could take it to John. Then this could all be over.
He shrugged, noticing the bite in her tone and the anxiety in her eyes. "This is gonna take some time."
"How much time?" There was no answer, so she continued to push. "Any idea?" Her hands went to her hips. "At all?"
Jack looked up from his screen and spun his chair around, jumping into the conversation. "Relax, Natalie. Why don't you grab a cup of coffee," he paused, "decaf, and then sit over here with me?" He couldn't help it. It was fun to watch her get her dander up. It was sexy.
Natalie took a deep breath and ignored the little man at her side. "Does anyone know anything useful?"
Jennifer grinned. "I can tell you that the Federal Agent on your tail is hot." She typed a command onto her keyboard, and an enlarged photo of John McBain sprung to the wall for everyone to see. She looked at the redhead. "Do you want to know about him?" she offered, still grinning.
Natalie felt her heart swell. A sadness washed over her, making her feel very uncomfortable. As though she were laid bare. "No," she answered, quietly. "I want to know who's setting me up?"
"Are you crazy?"
She glared at the mousy blonde. "How do you know about John anyway? You're supposed to be working on my computer, not budding into my life!"
Jenn hit the escape key, and the photo vanished from view. She stood, pissed off. "You need our help, so if I were you I'd lose the attitude!"
Rex stepped in between the two women. This needed to end before it had time to escalate. "Nat, take it easy." He watched her eyes flare for a moment, before dropping to her wrist watch. "What?"
"I have to go."
"Like hell you do!"
She stared, breathing evenly. "I have somewhere important I need to be. I'll be back." Then she turned to leave. Her attempt was short-lived though, because a hand was on her arm and wrapping around her elbow.
Rex was mad. "In case you've forgotten, the Llanview Police Department is scouring the city for you as we speak."
She waited for him to release his hold before answering. "I haven't forgotten, but I'm still leaving."
He frowned. "What the hell is so important?" He studied her expression carefully. "Oh, no. Tell me this doesn't have anything to do with your boyfriend?" His heart was beginning to pound.
She licked her dry lips. "I'll be back as soon as I can." Then she walked toward the staircase.
"I'll go with you." He caught up to her quickly, only to be stopped by a firm hand on his chest. She was shaking her head.
"You need to stay with the computer. That could be the key to our freedom." He was frowning, but didn't argue the point. "Stay," she repeated softly. Her feet climbed the stairs. She left the tiny building and heard the sound of the lock at her back. The glare of the sun was harsh on her sensitive eyes. She quickly disappeared into the shadows of the increasingly active docks, and then disappeared altogether.
Thomas stood frozen in the doorway to his office, staring wide-eyed. He quickly glanced at the clock on the wall. "What are you doing here, babe?" He joined his wife in the room and shut the door behind him. Then he walked toward her slowly, taking a comfortable seat on the edge of his desk. His arms crossed over his chest while he waited for her to speak. He knew that she would.
"You didn't call."
He smiled softly. "There's nothing new yet." He reached out and brushed a strand of hair from her forehead.
Eve could see the amusement in his face. "Where the hell is John? And what about Natalie Buchanan? Any leads?"
He took a slow, deep breath and stared into his wife's bright gaze. "I can't talk about a case, and you know that."
She stood, glaring hard. "Don't give me the company line, Tom. This involves our son." Her eyes dropped to the smooth surface of the desk and found the family photo that stood proudly in its frame. Her fingers removed it, holding tight. She focused on the blue eyes that were watching her. "This is our family."
He took the photo and placed it back in its spot, crossing his powerful arms over his chest. She was right, and he knew it. "Buchanan and her brother are still AWOL, and John is downstairs."
"He's here?"
Thomas nodded. "He's using the interrogation room to question a suspect."
Eve felt the beat of her heart as it increased with every new pump. Maybe this nightmare was ending? "Have you talked to him?"
He blinked. "I don't know what he's found out yet."
She placed her hand on his shoulder. "That's not what I meant." She could see him fighting the emotion that was tucked inside. "Have you talked to him?"
He stood straight, moving around his desk before facing her again. "No. I can't afford to talk to him. I've already told you the consequences of his actions, babe."
She blew out a quick breath. "I know, but I also know that you're his father. This can't be any easier on him."
"I can't talk to him." He couldn't, he just couldn't.
Eve stood straight, and looked her husband in the eyes. "Well then, I guess I need to have a chat with my son."
"You can't..."
"No, you can't," she interupted sharply, "but I think our boy needs to know that his family is here for him, don't you?"
They stared at one another for a long while. Without warning, Tom came around and hugged his wife tightly. "I can't, Eve," he whispered against her ear. "I could really hurt him."
She squeezed her eyes shut. "I know." Then she walked from his office and shut the door behind her. If her son wouldn't come to her, she would go to him, but they were going to have their long overdue reunion. She walked out of the squad room and headed down the cement steps that lead to the interrogation rooms. The hollow sound of her heels echoed in her ears, making her heartbeat pick up its pace again. Despite the circumstance, a small smile broke across her face. She was finally, finally going to see her boy.
Jason stood silently behind the two-way glass, and watched as McBain worked over the fry-cook. The kid wasn't changing his story, and he could see the frustration in the lines of the good agent's face. He was beginning to feel a little frustrated himself.
On the one hand, he had McBain. No matter what anyone said about the matter, he was definitely involved with the redhead. Involved in the biblical sense, there was no doubt, and so he couldn't trust him or his judgement regarding this case. On the other hand, he had the kid. There was no doubt here either, he was lying through his teeth. That fact became glaringly obvious sometime ago, but what the hell was he supposed to do with that information? If the kid beat up Buchanan, then she had been telling the truth and he had turned her away. Only that didn't make her innocent, and it didn't clear her of embezzlement. He blew out a soft breath, wishing he could figure out what it was that he was supposed to believe?
A knock snapped him out of his head, and he turned. "Hey?" To say he was surprised, would be a vast understatement. "The Commissioner isn't here," he offered, standing from his chair and moving closer to the tiny woman in the doorway.
Eve smiled. "No," she answered, confidently. "He's right where I left him." Then she stepped over the threshold and turned to watch her son. He was leaning heavily on the tabletop and intimidating a young man in a kitchen uniform. She found Cameron's brown eyes. "I'm going to need a moment with my son."
He blinked, not entirely sure how to handle this situation? "Mrs. McBain, we're in the middle of a police investigation." She nodded, but didn't speak. "John's with a suspect." Still nothing. He cleared his throat. "Maybe you should talk to..."
"...I've already spoken with my husband, thank you. Now I need to speak with my son." She paused, unwavering in her decision. "Privately, Jason."
He stared a moment longer, before moving to the door and waving a uniformed officer over. "Take Carpenter to holding. We'll finish the questioning later."
The young officer did not look pleased with his order. "Agent McBain is in there with him now."
Cameron frowned. "Just do it, Sampson. I'll deal with McBain." He watched the man sigh and leave the room.
"Thank you," Eve said quietly, still looking at John. He was as handsome as ever.
Jason turned his attention to his new partner, who was more than a little angry at the intrusion. He saw him storm from the room, and then took a deep breath and turned for the inevitable. It didn't take long.
"What the hell are you doing?" John barked as he entered the tiny surveillance space. He didn't find what he expected though. Instead, he found his mother and he froze on the spot. The tension in the room was suffocating, and he dropped his eyes to the floor. He steeled himself and refocussed on the detective. "I was in the middle of questioning that..." he bit his lip, suddenly very aware that his mother was two feet away. "My suspect," he finally finished.
"So you're just going to ignore me?"
John forced himself to look at the beautiful woman who was staring at him with wide, expectant eyes. "I'm working, mom."
Jason glanced from one McBain to the other, and made his way to the door. "Well, this is a family thing, so..." He exited the space and shut them in, anxious to shake the tension from his muscles. He stood in the empty hallway and clutched the knob for another moment, once again getting lost in his head.
"Besides, I have something to check out," he mumbled into the air. Then he walked toward the staircase.