Sylvia

Chapter 20

It was almost too easy…all she had to do was put on the scared and helpless female routine and the boy practically fell all over himself to assure her that the danger was minimal to the towns folk and to impress her with details of his day spent with the Federal agents. She had to give his academy training credit, his description of the day was very vivid and concise…not leaving out any detail.

She could almost picture the day in her mind as Riley described it….

(flashback)

They had been walking for miles and the hours were slowly fading the afternoon sun into early evening twilight…they had searched six cabins already and were heading towards a remote area near the edge of the property.

"This cabin was built by the original owner…Mr. Gray, he used it to during hunting season. He built it sturdy to last…" Riley explained.

"Why so far out…?" Sam asked.

"There are still working farms and this is right at the edge of his property and state property…less chance of accidently shooting someone's stray cow and a better chance of deer or maybe bear coming down out of the hills," the young deputy replied as he walked up on the porch to unlock the door.

"You think she knew about her grandfather's cabin…?" Sam asked Deeks.

"I don't know…as much as she hated this whole place I can't imagine her every coming out this far…" the detective replied.

Despite it being the object of their search and expecting it, the team was, none the less, unsettled by what they found inside the cabin…it was indeed being made ready for habitation. The place had been cleaned and they could see where a couple of crude repairs had been made to some of the furniture. They found non-perishable food stuffs in the small pantry and toiletries in the bathroom. The bed was made and most disturbing of all, they found both female and male clothing in the small wardrobe…some, exact duplicates of Deeks clothes.

But it was finding a dog dish and a large bag of dog food in the corner that sent Deeks over the edge and he fled the confines of the cabin. The team followed close behind to see the detective stop some twenty yards or so away and stoop over to rest his hands on his thighs, his breathing hard and fast as he tried to settle his racing heart and reign in his growing fear.

"Is he okay…" Riley asked with some curious concern.

"He will be…" Sam said, hustling the young man back towards the cabin to give Deeks some semblance of privacy while the detective tried to pull himself together.

Kensi put a comforting hand on his back and shoulder while Callen unscrewed a water bottle and handed it towards Deeks, "you gonna be alright…?"

Deeks just shook his head vigorously as though trying to dislodge the memories of what he just saw, or maybe what he remembered of his time before with his stalker. Ignoring the water bottle held out to him, he said hoarsely, "this is too much…to much like bef…god…"

The last was said in an almost primal growl as the detective straightened suddenly and began to pace around in a circle, frustration pouring off him in almost palpable waves.

Kensi and Callen exchanged concerned looks before Callen stepped in Deeks path, abruptly stopping the detective's pacing, "Calm down…this is a good thing…"

Deeks looked at the team leader in stunned disbelief, waving towards the cabin as he sidestepped around the man, "Good thing…good thing," he practically shouted, "how in the hell is this a good thing…she really was trying to kidnap my dog…she hates dogs too…"

"Don't you see what this means…we know where she's been all this time…we're closing in on her…" Callen countered, "We know where she's eventually going to end up…"

"Doesn't help us find her now…we don't know if she is heading back here or is still in the city to…to try again…" his words cracking with emotion, as he ran his hands through his hair. He was exhausted, he was frustrated and he no longer had the energy to hide his fears from his team.

"We'll find her partner…it's only a matter of time now…" Kensi avowed.

Deeks sighed heavily and slowly nodded, his eyes drifting back towards the cabin with a shudder he couldn't quite quell as he said quietly, "I…look, I don't think I can go back in there…"

"You don't have to, we can stay outside…Sam and Callen can finish up and we can get out of here," Kensi said gently, as she stepped up to her partner and turned him so he was facing away from the cabin, "it's getting dark anyway, she won't be coming out here this late…and we need to head back to town and let the sheriff know what we found."

She looked over Deeks shoulder to get a nod of confirmation from her team leader, who then headed back towards the cabin.

At the porch, Callen turned back out towards the yard to see Kensi leading Deeks to sit under a nearby tree and coaxing him to take the discarded water bottle.

Once inside the cabin, he and Sam debated their next step.

"Deeks is right, we can't be in two places at once…" Callen commented.

.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,

Sylvia was on the edge of her seat, she didn't need to feign her interest at what the young sheriff's deputy was telling her, "Must have been exciting. But weren't you scared…what if this-fugitive, would have been there…?"

"Nah, I wasn't scared…after all, we're trained to go after these dangerous fugitives," the young man said with self- importance, "besides, they already knew she most likely wasn't gonna be out there…"

"How could they know that…?" Sylvia asked.

"See…these agencies, they got all these fancy computers and satellite's…what would take a whole team of deputies a whole day or more to do, they can do in hours…sometimes minutes, even…" the boy explained excitedly, nodding his head thoughtfully he commented, "I ought to get me some more schooling in those computer gizmos…get myself set up with one of those fancy agencies…"

Sylvia just nodded, "sounds just fascinating… how do they ever hope to catch this woman…?"

Getting serious, and adopting an air about him, Riley explained what he had overheard the agents discussing….

(flashback)

"How is he, G…?" Sam asked as Callen entered the cabin.

"Not good…he is really spooked; just seeing all of this is bringing it all back to him…not too sure that wasn't more of a flashback than just realizing how close she is to finishing what she started…" Callen explained, looking around the cabin he asked, "So what have we got here…?"

"Place is well stocked…move in condition…think that was her intention when she went after the dog…" Sam said as his eyes trailed around the cabin, "my guess…go after the dog first…" nodding towards the door, "and the master next…"

"So she's set up and ready for him…she's done planning and hiding in the shadows…" Callen commented in agreement.

"Well, with us traipsing all over the property, it's a good guess she hasn't come back after what she tried this morning...but it begs the question-is she coming back here to regroup or staying in LA until she can try again?"

Pulling out his phone, Sam dialed ops for an update on both ends.

"So you found Ms. Gray's base of operations…" Hetty commented.

"Stocked and ready to use…" Callen commented with a grim look towards his partner.

"And Mr. Deeks…?" Hetty inquired.

"Spooked…he's not handling it well…" Callen replied.

"Understandable…so what is your next move…?" the operation's manager asked.

"We're not sure on this one Hetty…there are still too many variables to consider…" Callen again exchanged a look with his partner before asking, "We were hoping you might have a suggestion."

"Indeed I might…what are the options you are considering…?" she asked.

"Do we stay here and wait to see if she returns or come back to the city and wait for her to try again for Deeks…?" Sam asked.

"Mr. Gertz, might be better equipped to tell us what our next course of action should be." Hetty commented.

"Nate, what have you got for us…?" Callen asked.

"You say the cabin is set up and ready for habitation…" Nate inquired.

"Right down the dog dish and kibble…" Sam commented.

"Clothes in the wardrobe match what Deeks wears…" Callen interjected grimly.

"Since she actively tried for Deeks just this morning that means she's done planning and hiding; and since she failed…Sylvia has yet to gain her objective. And we all know from past experience that she does not give up on her goals." Nate reiterated.

"So she's definitely going to try again…" Sam commented.

"And soon…she really has no need to return to the cabin without her, well…prize," Nate said, "she has proven herself very resourceful at getting by with limited resources or in finding the resources she needs to further her goal; the fact that the cabin is well stocked attests to that…"

"Yeah, somehow she managed to do all of this without alerting any of Eric and Nell's searches," Sam commented as he looked around the cabin again, "or, apparently, anyone in town…"

"She does have resources, but they still have to be limited…and the eight hour round trip has to be taxing not only her resources, but also her patience…" Nate added.

"So, then, we come back to the city…" Callen put forth hesitantly.

"I think she's still here, just bidding her time to try again…" Nate replied.

Exchanging another grim look with Sam, Callen commented with frustration, "So we make him a target just a little while longer…"

"No, Mr. Callen, we keep Mr. Deeks safe just a little while longer-Ms. Gray is the one making him the target." Hetty interjected firmly, "he is not to leave your sight again until this is over, as of now, Mr. Deeks is under 24-hour protection by this team…"

Nodding at Sam, Callen replied, "Understood. We're going to finish up here and head back to LA…we'll crash at the boat shed tonight…"

"Be safe and be careful. See you in ops in the morning…" Hetty instructed before ending the call.

"I still don't like leaving this place without eyes…Eric's satellite won't be back around until tomorrow…"

"I can watch it…" Riley suddenly piped in, causing the two agents to start with some mild embarrassment.

.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.

Riley just chucked as he fell back into the couch, "I guess they didn't hear me come in…the big guy, Agent Hannah, sent me to take pictures all around the inside and outside of the cabin for evidence; that's how I overheard the agents outside talking. I think it was just to get me out of the way and all…seeing as how they went around and practically took the same pictures I did."

"This is just all so fascinating, but how did Deeks…" the name sounded foreign to her lips as she said it, he was her Marty; Deeks just sounded harsh and unpalatable, "manage to escape from her…?"

"Now that's where all their high tech gadgets come in…" Riley stated, "they talked more about their plans while we were driving back to town…even talked more to their tech guy…Beale. Man, that guy must have a sweet deal…all that tech right there, he can practically see anything…do anything, without ever leaving the office."

A little impatient with Riley's obvious hero worship, she prodded him to continue, "…what kinds of things can he do?"

"They almost caught her early this morning…Beale was running this awesome facial recognition program that he had tied into the city's traffic cams…when she got to close to the detectives apartment it sent out a warning…but she still managed to get away from them…"

A thoughtful look crossed Sylvia's features as she contemplated this new piece of news…went a long way in explaining why her plan had failed that morning. "So, this Beale guy, he can see everything that goes on…knows where Deeks is all the times…."

"Anywhere in the city where there are traffic cameras…" Riley replied, adding, "and from the sounds of it, they're gonna have every camera in the city pointed at the guy until they catch this psycho flake…bet they even have his GPS activated in his phone too…anywhere the guy goes they can pinpoint it on a map in seconds. Anyone gets to close, they can ID them in thirty seconds…"

"Hhmm, bet without all their toys they wouldn't be able to find her…" Sylvia commented absently, anger creeping into her tone.

Riley snorted, "that's fer sure…can't imagine doing police work even twenty years ago…when you had to put out APB's and rely on some civilian eye witnesses to get a glimpse of your suspects and setting up road blocks and hopin' you guessed the right route your guy was gonna take out of town…when fingerprint and plates matches had to be combed through by hand instead of coming up instantly on a computer…No, sir, much better today; those criminals don't stand a chance…can't hide from our new gadgets and gizmos…"

Sylvia only half listened as Riley went on and on about the high tech of modern law enforcement. It wasn't fair…they weren't playing fair. It was bad enough they had managed to find the connection to the farm…had found her cabin. How could she reach her prize when these people were going all "1984"-Big Brother'* on her…how dare they pry into her private affairs. This was between herself and her lover, not for the prying, voyeuristic eyes of his meddlesome team. This needed to stop, and soon, before Marty totally slipped through her grasp for good. She needed to take away their eyes…they were catching up to her too quickly; wouldn't do her any good to claim her prize if they could simply follow and take him from her. No, cut out their eyes, make them blind to her and her actions, and the rest would fall away like nothing more than a bad dream-but how?

The more she thought about it the angrier she became. They just needed a reason to stop looking…if he came to her willingly they would have no reason to look for her, no need to interfere…

"Layla, are you alright…?" Riley asked as he noted the tight angry look that crossed Sylvia's features.

"You say they've already searched most of the cabins on the property…?" she asked suddenly.

Riley shrugged, "yeah, they know which one is hers…"

"So then, they're done searching…?"

"Yeah, I guess…don't have any reason to really go back out there, except to gather evidence if they need it…" Riley explained, adding a little smugly, "and since I'm their eyes and ears out this way…they would be waiting for my call to act...they think she had to have come into town at least a few times in order to get some of her supplies and to find out about the property. I'm gonna 'canvas' the neighborhood tomorrow…find out if anyone has seen her."

She eyed the young man curiously as he pulled out his cell phone and continued with an air of self-importance, "I'm their new liaison officer…they rely on me to keep them updated on any of the goings on around here…wouldn't make a move without me…"

Raising a brow, Sylvia commented, "Impressive…"

"I've got a direct line to the operations center…and this Beale guy…" the young man boasted.

Sylvia nodded and smiled at the clueless man…a new plan forming in her mind.

…..NCIS LA…..

The day dawned to a clear skies and bright sunshine. The warmth of the early morning sun quickly penetrating the forest canopy, causing Sylvia to wipe the sweat of her brow.

She had worked through the night and was now as prepared as she would ever be; it was a stop gap solution at best, but it was all she had time for. It didn't really matter anyway, they wouldn't be here for long. It was obvious that in order to start her new life with her lover they would have to start over somewhere else. Sounded good to her anyway…a new, fresh start in a new place where no one knew them. The women looked over her handiwork, a self-satisfied smirk crossing her features.

'Just shows what they know…' she thought smugly. While they had no doubt spent the evening jumping at shadows and staring into their precious and intrusive computers for something that wouldn't appear she had been making rather frenzied adjustments to her plans.

She would need to get to town soon…she needed to get to the diner before the sheriff came in for his midmorning coffee and pie and let the fat old bastard know that his newest deputy and liaison was out 'canvasing' the area for clues. She couldn't help but snort as her eyes rested on the trunk of the said same man's car…actually the only 'canvas' the poor boy was engaging now was what was wrapped around his cold, dead body in the trunk of the car.

It had made if far easier, this time, to move supplies from one cabin to the next using Riley's car…no one would question or suspect the young deputy being out here as, by now, rumor had spread about the fugitive…who would suspect a bright, enthusiastic deputy of any wrong doing…certainly not that idiot of a sheriff and certainly not those federal agents that were relying on any information the boy might dig up for them. She decided she'd keep the car for a while longer…use it to get back to LA. The prying eyes of Marty's team would not be looking for this car.

Now, even if the team returned to the property, they would only find an empty cabin, would not doubt believe that she had moved on. But with equal certainty, she knew even if her lover came to her willingly, these interlopers would continue to use Beale to thwart their love: but, soon she would cut off all other contact they had with Marty; soon no GPS, satellites or cameras would interfere with her being reunited with her one true love.

She brushed off her hands and attempted to straighten her tousled hair…she needed to hurry if she was to make it back to town an put the next phase of her plan in action….