Time for a little humor as we lead up to some critical "meetings" in the next few chapters

Sam shook his head mumbling "noodles?" and then looked at G while saying "I really don't wanta know what those 2 talk about- -or do on their own time!" 1 hour later they were pulling up outside the bar. Kensi called for a comm check on the way in. Dressed as Max would like her to-black leather jacket, skin tight tank top and sprayed on jeans, leaving no doubt just how well Kensi was put together. Sam opined "we're gonna have to pull her out just cause of the outfit G."

"Nah, she's not in a mood to be nice. Woe be unto the 3 or 4 that try to get close to her. They will regret it for a long time" chuckled G and they both smiled.

Inside Kensi literally 'flowed' to the bar and purred "Is my Maxie here. This was always his favorite place when he was in town." Then looking at the bartender she said "give me a draft and some information. I need to find Max. If not him, he said Nicole would know where he is. You know where either one is?" and gave the bartender a $5 spot and a look that would melt steel. "Keep the change sugar."

"Haven't seen Max since the trouble with Ray but Nicole must have just gotten out of the joint cause she was in here the other day with some big moke. Throwing some heavy cash around also. Got the impression she was shacking up with him. He was a big raw boned guy about the size of a small redwood. Kinda thought he might have been a marine or Navy SEAL for some reason. All he did was set at the bar and watch Nicole 'operate'. Found out later she was asking around about the LAtin Kings maybe lookin' to score. Not sure about where they are staying but with that kind of cash, I'd check uptown not the fleabag hotels around here. That's all I got."

Slapping another $10 on the bar she said "If Maxie comes in you tell him his Melissa needs him bad so come a running. Thanks again sugar" and she blew him a kiss as she left the bar.

As Kensi got in the car G opined "I have a whole new respect for Deeks after that show. Did he ever take you out in public or did he keep you hidden?" At that all 3 agents laughed.

"Oh we used to have some fun with it even before we were together-together." After a moment of silence, thinking about some of the things she and her partner had done over the years together a smile crossed her face as she announced "I screwed up guys. I hurt the one man in the world that didn't deserve to be hurt and he's still trying to make it right. He's just gotta come back. I can't make it without him." Then she simply hung her head, a silent tear running down.

Back at OPS, Eric had started looking thru hotel registrations for Nicole Martindale or something that would cause him to pause. After finding nothing on first run thru, he expanded his search for couples that had registered within the last few weeks.

TWO DAYS BEFORE THE MEETING

The agents were looking over the current plans for the raid of the meeting. They couldn't do much more than look at what they had already planned. All they knew at the time was they had to get a certain Detective out of it alive and at any cost. All of a sudden Eric was yelling "all hands on deck NOW!"

As the agents literally stormed into OPS like they were clearing a building. "Two things" stated Eric even before he was asked. I have found positive linkage between the victims and a former marine sniper. It included references to 'wanting no part of the drug trade'. That was sent from Jackman to our Afghani connection. I finally managed to trace his ip address half way around the world. It finally ended up back here in California. Specifically the Desert Palms hotel. Here is a picture of the owner of this account." Jack Simons face appeared on the big OPS screen.

"Oh my God" snarled Kensi "he is sniper qualified but when he converted to Islam he turned in all his weapons to follow the way of peace. What's the second thing?"

"Surveillance indicates Kensi's house was entered about 3 hours ago. They used a key. A picture of a wide open door to her house flashed on the screen. I have dispatched CSI techs to the location with orders to fast track all information. LAPD is being held off for now and they are not happy since Deeks is technically one of theirs. They got notified same time we did. Deeks wired the notification system into both locations. How many people have keys to your place Kensi?"

Me, Hetty of course, plus Deeks, Sam and G. We all have keys to each other's place as a matter of protocol. Oh shit, wait a minute. The day he tried to rape me he unlocked the door. He stole my key and made a copy damn it! Tell the techs to check to see if dad's rifle is there. They know where my other guns are also. Check them too. Also have them grab the man's shoes by the door. Match those treads to the ones we have from the shooting. He is really picky about his shoes. They can also get DNA from them if he isn't in the USMC database. Damn, Deeks is probably compromised before he even gets started since Nicole is with Jack" growled Kensi. We need to alert Bates immediately since these cases have crossed." Kensi pulled out her cell and started to dial.

"Kensi hold on that, we have 2 days. Let's see what the techs give us. It may tie somethings together. Then we still have 2 days to rework our plan after getting the added information. Our edge is that we know about the meet but they don't know about us yet. It could also be a set up to get Deeks and/or you or they could be unaware of Deeks. Surprise is on our side either way. Besides, even if they are together they don't really know about Deeks unless Jack has told her about you which I highly doubt given what we know."

"Guys pl- -"

"No Kens. I hate to say it but that's final. We will get him back and you two can work out whatever it is that's wrong but we do it this way Kensi snapped in a firm voice to the distraught woman. "We are only gonna get 1 shot at it and we need to know all we can first. Hetty did you get thru to Bates."

"Cheeky bastard refused my call. He won't have that option this time. I will make sure he gets the message, personally" she growled with emphasis on that last word and set out. Everyone knew she was headed to LAPD HQ and not at all happy about it.

Bates vs. Hetty-and the winner is? How we doing?