Chapter 4- Tell Me, Mechanist
Agent Cabe Gallo didn't trust many people. He had spent enough time working cases for FBI and Homeland that it made him mistrustful.
And for some reason, he didn't trust this young woman.
Brunette, about 5'7" or maybe 5'8", she carried herself well. She was used to fighting. He could by her stance when confronted with the wannabe gangster. She was defensive.
And she didn't trust Cabe.
"I told you my name, what's yours?" he asked, watching her sit at a table in the office. Deputy Director Cooper had called him minutes before the woman popped her tire near their garage to tell him that somebody had broken into the Homeland Security Office to look him up. He now had his guard up and this woman was number one on his list.
"Oh, uh. Leah," she answered, somehow almost tripping over the name.
Cabe turned to Tobias Curtis, the psychologist of the group, who was standing next to him. The younger man was watching the woman carefully, analyzing her as he does everyone.
"She's telling the truth. Probably thought about lying, but decided against it," he said as he leaned over to stare at her more closely. "Wonder why?"
"The fuck?" Leah muttered, her eyes dancing between Cabe and Tobias. "Who are you people?"
"We're Scorpion," Tobias answered, as if it was the most obvious answer.
Leah narrowed her eyes at the Doctor. "Wow, that explains so much," she said sarcastically.
"These guys are geniuses," Cabe explained. "They help Homeland solve some of the trickier cases."
Leah sat back in her chair, studying the two men in front of her. "Geniuses? Interesting."
"Oh, look Cabe, she's studying us. Wonder what she's looking for?" Tobias said out loud.
"I'm looking for the door because you're all insane," she said in a matter of fact tone.
"Far from it, in fact," Walter said as he walked through the room, not even sparing the woman a glance.
Her eyes followed him briefly, before looking back at the two in front of her. "Oh boy, I always wanted to meet a genius," Leah said sarcastically. She locked eyes with Cabe, almost pleading with him. But for what? "How did you get involved with these-no, you know what? Forget I asked. It's none of my business. I just want to go back to Michigan," she rambled.
"Where in Michigan are you from?" Tobias asked her, standing up straight finally.
"Motor city," she replied. "Where are you from?"
"So you like sports?"
Leah scrunched up her face. "So because I'm from Detroit suddenly I like sports?"
"You phone case is the Red Wings logo," Tobias pointed out.
Leah looked down at the table where her phone was laying. The red and white cover was face up. She looked back up, her eyebrows raised. "Oh. Touché. No, I don't like sports. I like hockey, but only because I grew up in Detroit. It's pretty hard to grow up in Detroit and not like the Wings, even during their so called 'Dead Wings' era. Still loved them."
"I'm a hockey fan too," Cabe said, trying to relate to her so she would relax.
Leah chuckled. Far from being pleasant, the laugh was almost sarcastic. "Haha, no, sir. No, you are not. Being a Kings fan does not make you a hockey fan. They are…no." She shook her finger at him.
"Hey, the Kings have two Stanley Cups and are older than you, young lady," he gently admonished her.
Leah laughed, sitting back in her chair and looking at the ground. "Oh my god."
"What?" he asked in confusion.
She shook her head as a slight blush hit her cheeks.
"Oh, she's embarrassed. Why be embarrassed? Don't like Grandpa calling you young lady?" Tobias pushed, greatly enjoying the turn in the conversation, goading both of the other occupants of the room.
"Grandpa?" Cabe nudged the younger man.
"Oh, um. No, it's just that it's been a while since someone called me young lady. Years, in fact."
"You can't be that old," Tobias commented. His eyes narrowed as he eyed her closely again.
"She did say she remembered the Dead Wings era. That's generally up until the 1980s, I think, maybe 90s," Cabe added.
"Technically the Dead Wings era is like 67 to 82, when the Illitch family took over as owners. And then we drafted The Captain in 1983. But really, I consider the Dead Wings up until the 90s just because we didn't really have what I consider success. The current Playoffs streak began in 1991, so that's about when I think we started to hit our stride," Leah explained.
Tobias and Cabe stared at her in surprise. Cabe didn't know many women who enjoyed sports that much, but he knew it was far more common these days.
"I'm older than 40, let's just leave it at that," Leah said. "I'm not a young lady, but also not a Ma'am. I hate being called Ma'am." She shuddered.
"The Kings are still older than you, Leah," Cabe said.
"This is very interesting," Tobias muttered.
"What is it that you do, genius?" Leah asked, her brown eyes staring him down.
"I'm a behavioral scientist. I study people," he answered, ignoring her look.
"That is very interesting. Tell me, behavioral scientist, what am I thinking?" she asked, her tone starting to get dark.
"Probably that you want to punch me. Not unusual. I get that a lot."
"Oh, close. But I'm not thinking about punching you. I don't like to hurt my hands," she said with a wink, waving her fingers. "I've got delicate hands meant for delicate work."
Cabe chuckled. He sort of liked this woman. She had spunk.
"Ok, well." Tobias turned to Cabe. "You're on your own now, Cabe. I don't need to get hurt." The young man walked off, leaving Cabe and Leah alone.
The woman watched Tobias walk away, then turned to Cabe. "Weak as water," she joked, winking again.
Cabe laughed lightly as he sat down across from her. "Tell me, Leah, why are you in this part of Los Angeles?"
"Interrogating me?" she questioned, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"No, sweetheart. You'd know if I was interrogating you. Just talking."
Leah relaxed slightly. "I'm a tourist, Agent Gallo."
"Tourists don't come this way."
"No, you're right. But idiots do," she said. Leah's shoulders fell. "I had a boyfriend and things got serious and I balked when he wanted to move to L.A. for his job. My first marriage didn't end well and I wasn't sure, even at my age, I could do it again. So I let him leave and now I regret it. I came here to find him." She didn't meet his eyes as she told her story, instead staring at the ground. She shifted uncomfortably in the hard plastic chair.
"I've heard of dumber things, Leah. We all make mistakes when it comes to love," he said in a kind voice.
Leah smiled softly at him, but crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Sweet, but it is incredibly dumb. Even at my age, there's still plenty of fish in the sea."
"Love is love. If you love someone, you generally do crazy things," Cabe pointed out.
She shook her head, a few locks of her hair falling out from her ponytail. "It's illogical to act on such base instincts. If a few of us choose not to follow love, the world survives."
"Illogical? You sound like my guys. You a secret genius?" Cabe joked.
"Nah," she said, laughing. "I just watched a lot of Star Trek growing up. Spock and his distance from human emotion was my favorite. Just get the job done."
Cabe opened his mouth to respond, but the door opened and Happy walked through.
"All done, Cabe. New tire on, old tire off. Good as new," she announced.
"Great. Thanks so much, Agent Gallo," Leah said as she stood up and began heading for the door. Happy tossed her the keys as they passed one another, a silent word between the women.
Cabe quickly followed her out of the garage, shooting Happy a grateful glance. Leah was already halfway across the street by the time Cabe was out the door. She looked like she wanted nothing more than to get away from him and Scorpion. He couldn't say he was surprised. The guys tended to have that effect on people.
"Be careful, hmm?" he said as he jogged up to her.
Leah turned back to him, still eyeing him carefully. "Yeah, I'll be fine, Agent Gallo. Thanks, by the by." She started to turn back to her car, then stopped and turned to face him again. "How much do I owe Happy?" she asked cautiously.
"Don't be silly. On the house. You just take care, okay?" he said.
Surprised by the gesture, Leah smiled. "Thanks. I, uh, appreciate it. You and the genii stay safe, hmm? Working for Homeland is dangerous, I'm sure."
He stepped back as she opened her door and got in the car. "We'll be fine. We always are."
Leah gave him one last glance before shutting the door and starting her car.
Cabe walked back towards the garage, watching as she drove off. Something didn't sit right and yet he couldn't help but be drawn to her. She was attractive. And at least she was remotely close to his age.
And at least she wasn't the one who had gotten into the system to track him down. Too bad he'd never see her again.
