Megan began to wriggle in Paige's arms and began to utter Da,Da.
" Ok little one , Walter i think your daughter wants you . "
Walter moved closer to Paige who passed Megan into his safe arms . Big smiles appeared on both of their faces , Megan began uttering Da, Da.
" Shall we get back in the car and eat lunch , i have something to talk to you about . " Paige said a big smile on her face .
Walter placed Megan gently back into her bassenet , but today she would not settle and began kicking her legs and moving her arms and calling Da,Da, Da, Da. Paige leaned over and quietly said to Walter .
" It appears she wants you today , i think you had better pick her up and bring her into the front seat . I am sure you will manage a sandwich with one hand . "
" Ok my little princess , but i will have to go back to work soon . " As he spoke to Megan , she calmed down and as he picked her up a large smile came on her face .
After about ten minutes Walter had managed to eat a sandwich and drink a cup of coffee . Megan contented lying in his arms .
Paige gave him a little smile and began to speak . " I have not been to the house today , i have been doing some research . You mentioned that two of the companies that had made deposits into the account , imported furniture from Asia . Did you know one way they smuggle drugs is inside the hollow parts of furniture , especially items made of bamboo . "
Walter looked at her the pride he had for her showing in his face . " That is very interesting , the first ever deposit made was from a drug importer , so he may still have contacts in that trade . I would imagine as a lot of drug trafficing is controlled by major criminal organizations . Part of Homeland's mission is to investigate , disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations , which most likely involve drugs . You have done well today . " Walter leaned over and kissed her .
" i just hope it will help the investigation into Carlson . " Paige replied as she returned the kiss .
" I am still a little confused just why someone who owns a number of construction companies would be paying into Carlson's account . " Walter told Paige .
" If you like i can spend a couple of hours on the internet this afternoon , to see if i can find anything out about the companies . " Paige suggested .
" Can you remember the name of all the companies ? " Walter asked .
" I am not the genius here , so i am sure you can write them down for me . " Paige replied a cheeky smile on her face , she reached into her bag and removed a small pad and pen , handed them to Walter .
Walter looked at Megan , who was content in his arms . " I am going to pass you to mommy so i can write some information down for her . "
The smile vanished from Megan's face and this time it was more of a mutter of Mo, Mo . He gently passed Megan to Paige , who ensued she was in her arms . Megan's face showed a small smile and and somewhat half hearted Mo, Mo.
Paige smiled at her . " You can go back to daddy in a moment . "
The smile on Megan's grew a little bigger . "
Walter scribbled as much information as he could on the pad for Paige . He immediatly past the pad and pen back to Paige , then gently removed Megan from her , a big smile returning to her face .
For the next ten minutes very little conversation took place , all three of them happy to be in each other's company .
At 1.25pm. Walter put Megan in her bassenet , this time she settled and giggled at daddy as he gently rubbed her chest .
He walked around to the drivers door , opened it , leaned in and kissed Paige .
Walter was home by 5.45pm. , after being welcomed by both Paige and Ralph and a quick check on Megan who was asleep , he went to wash up ready for the evening meal .
Once the meal was over and everything put away , Walter sat on the sofa . Paige one side , holding onto to his arm her head resting on his shoulder , Ralph on the other side , both keen to know how his meeting with Katherine went .
Both listened in silence while Walter went through what had happened . Ralph had a few questions for Walter , which he was only to pleased to answer .
Once everyone was happy about what had been said at the meeting . Paige began to tell them about her research . She quickly filled Ralph in about the furniture importers and the possibilty of drugs being bought into the country that way . She began to explain about Jake Summers Empire .
" They have a very impressive web site and there is some activity on other social media sites . It would seem from the information on their web site , a lot of the business comes from Goverment contracts . Could Carlson help them with that ? "
Walter stayed silent for a time then with a big smile on his face said . " Homeland have no control over goverment building contracts , but i suppose he could know someone in the correct department , who may have collaborated with him , but somehow i think that is not likely . "
Ralph had been listening intently to his mom and dad . " It may be something you will have to wait for until the agents begin interrogating Carlson . "
" You might be correct but i really would like to find out the information before they get the chance to talk to him . "
Paige her arm through Walter's , pulled him towards her . " I think you and Ralph have done enough , let Homeland deal with it now . "
" But you know i like to see a job through to the end . " Walter replied a smile on his face .
" You no longer work for Homeland and although i know you and Ralph have had a good time with your investigation . So unless Homeland request more help , i think you should just take a back seat . "
Walter leaned into Paige and gently kissed her on the lips . " I will still need to talk to the agents from Washington . But that will be on Richards time . "
Paige gave a laugh . " I will give you that one . " She said as she returned the kiss .
They all sat there for a few minutes in total silence . Walter broke the silence .
" We are going to have to sort out the computers at the garage . The problem at the moment is , were to store them once we remove them from the garage , the house is still really out of bounds , or at least the area were we are going to put the computers . "
Ralph turned to Walter . " How about the building in the garden ? There are plenty of worksurfaces were we can put the computers . "
" That would work , the only real area of that building Homeland may be interested in would be the computer , storage lockers and the three D printer . I will speak to Richard tomorrow and arrange to remove the computers over next weekend . How about you Paige did you leave anything you would like to remove from the garage . " Walter said .
" I could have a look when you go on Saturday . I might remove some of the clothes i left there . "
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Next morning Walter again dropped Ralph off at school , by 8.30am he was at his desk .
At 9.00am. he received a call from Susan , with a request that Richard wanted to see him . Five minutes later he was standing in front of Susan .
" Richard is waiting for you , please go in . "
Walter nodded at Susan , turned walked over to the door of Richard's office , knocked and entered .
" Good morning Richard , " Walter said as he made his way to a chair by his desk .
" Morning Walter , Scott phoned at 8.00am this morning , he as got together a team of eight trusted agents . My pilot and crew are at present getting a plane ready to fly to washington . The flight is due to take off at 10.30am. so it should be landing at around 18.30pm Washington time . They will stay overnight , however it would appear there is some industrial problems with a strike planed for baggage handlers from 19..00 hours today until 12.00noon tomorrow. the earlist slot that is available for them to take off is 3.00pm DC time , that means they will arrive at Van Nuys at 5.00pm LA time . I have arranged two limousines to meet the agents , they will be taken to a small motel close to the airport . Then bought here by 9.00am Thursday morning . Do you want me to get hold of Katherine and get her here today on a similar excuse ? "
Walter thought for a moment . " Yes it should be ok , just tell Susan not to sound to excited when she phones . "
" Of course . " Richard said as he picked up the phone and asked Susan to contact Katherine and ask her to come back into the office . Susan buzzed the phone a few moments later , to tell him Katherine would be there in about ninty minutes . Walter went back to his office to wait for a phone call from Richard .
Just ninty minutes later , Walter's desk phone rang . " Hello , ok Susan i am on the way ."
A few minutes later Walter was back in Susan's office , who instructed him to go straight into Richard's office .
" Morning Katherine . "
" Morning Walter . "
Walter sat down on a chair next to Katherine .
Richard smiled at both of them and for Katherine , he again went over what was going to happen over the next few days . Once he finished the explanation , he asked .
" Will you want to be here at 9.00am Thursday to meet the agents ? "
A some what forced smile came onto Katherine's face .
" I need to be , i will tell my secretary i have an early appointment at Police headquarters so phone will be switched off . "
" That sounds as if it will work , because you cannot keep using Richard as an excuse to leave the office . " Walter replied .
" I wish i could get Cabe involved , he is the only one i know i can trust at Homeland at the moment . But Carlson as him so tied up with the stats office , he seems to know if he even leaves the office for a comfort break . "
A big smile came across Walter's face . " It may not sound pleasant , but how about Cabe gets food poisoning from eating badly cooked clams . So bad in fact he as to be admitted to hospital . " Suggested Walter .
Katherine began to laugh , so it took her almost a minute before she could speak . " That could very well work , especially if we do get Cabe admitted to hospital were i could pick him up from . Just one problem getting the message to Cabe , Stats is an office i never need to go to and i cannot trust the phones . "
" I can get Paige to ring Cabe and invite him and Allie for a meal tonight . Even if Cabe's phone is compromised it will not sound unusual to anyone . " Walter said a big grin on his face .
" Ok , i will arrange a hospital stay for Cabe and then pick him up at 8.00am. on Thursday morning . " katherine replied .
" I can explain everything to Paige when she comes for lunch and tell her not to serve clams ."
Walter told them .
" As soon as i have the details on the hospitals , i will ring Richard and give him the details . I think for the time being that is just about everything covered , so i am going to go . " Katherine said , a rather somber look on her face .
Before she had a chance to get out of her chair , Walter put his hand on her arm . " I would suggest you visit the hospital in person to make the arrangements . There is less chance of being discovered , leave your phone at a resturant maybe three or four miles away from the hospital , just in case you are being tracked , you can go back and pick your phone up once you leave the hospital . Use a public phone at the hospital to contact Richard . "
Katherine looked a little shocked at this . " You think my phone may be bugged ? "
Walter a small smie on his face , shrugged his shoulders . " Just a precaution . "
At 12. 30pm. Walter was sitting in Paige's car , she started the car and moved to an unoccupied part of the carpark . Once they had parked up , Megan began to grumble , so Walter got out of the car and fetched her from the back seat and settled her in his arms , were she lay content in daddy's arms .
Once Walter was happy Megan was safe , he began to explain to Paige about the meeting he had with Katherine and Richard . Paige was more than happy to be involved in a little bit of Cloak and dagger work .
" Let me ring Cabe now , he may be on his lunch break . "
Cabe answered the phone on the third ring . " Hello sweetheart . "
" Hi Cabe , could you and Allie come for a meal tonight at the condo . Ralph as some questions he wants to ask you , about the work Homeland does , it is for a special project he his doing at college . - Great see you around 7.00pm . "
" All sorted , he is sure Allie will be pleased , but he is just going to phone her now to be certain . " Paige explained .
They both enjoyed the food Paige had bought , Walter again managed to eat and drink while keeping Megan safe and secure in his arms .
Once Paige left , Walter made his way back to his office . at 3.15pm. Susan phoned him , Richard wanted to see him .
" Good afternoon Richard . " Walter said as he sat on the chair .
" Good afternoon Walter , Katherine as just phoned . She as arranged for an ambulance to go to pick up Cabe from his house at 6.00am tomorrow and transfer him to hospital . He will be put in a private room . Thursday morning Katherine will pick him up at 8.00am. and bring him here . Will you be able to get the information to him ? "
A small smile appeared on Walter's face . " Paige as phoned him and invited him and Allie for a meal tonight . She used the excuse Ralph had some questions about Homeland for a special project he as to do for college . "
" Cute ! " Richard said a smile on his face " Of course it was , it was so simple yet most effective for you to have come up with . Now get out of here . "
Walter got up from his chair and with a quick . " See you tomorrow . " He left the office .
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Walter was back at Paige's condo at 5.45pm. Paige had given Walter his own key , so he opened the door himself . As he walked through the door , Paige appeared from the kitchen and rushed over to him , pulled him into a hug and planted a kiss on his lips .
" That is the best thing about coming home to you , the way you like to welcome me . "
Paige smiled and replied . " I hope it never changes . Now go wash up and change into some more casual clothes , Cabe and Allie will be here at 7.00pm. "
Walter gave her a quick kiss . " Yes Mam , on my way . "
Walter was back in the living area by 6.15pm. to be met by Ralph , who ran up to him and put his arms around him .
" Hi Ralph good day at college ? " Walter asked as he ruffled Ralph's hair .
" Not bad . " Ralph answered as he released Walter .
Walter walked over to Paige in the kitchen , pulled her into a hug and kissed her .
" I was as quiet as i could be in the bedroom , so as not to disturb Megan . But i could not resist kissing her on the brow before i came out . She is still asleep though . " A big smile on Walter's face as he spoke to Paige .
" Good , now can you get a couple of bottles of red wine and open them so they can breath a little . "
With another quick kiss on her lips Walter went to collect two bottles of wine from the wine rack .
Just on 7.00pm. there was a knock on the door . Paige asked Walter to answer the door , while she checked on the meal .
Walter opened the door and greeted Cabe and Allie .
As they walked through the door , Ralph ran across to them .
" Good to see you again grandpa and grandma . " he said as he hugged both of them .
" Hi Ralph , good to see you to . " Cabe and Allie told him together .
They sat down on the sofa , Paige said hello from the kitchen .
" The meal will be ready in about ten minutes . " She told them .
Cabe could not contain his curiosty any longer . " Have you got anything on Carlson ? "
Walter smiled and simply said . " Yes ! But let us wait until we have had our meal . "
Cabe gave a gruff . " Ok. " But he knew Walter must have a lot to tell him .
Once the meal was completed , Walter and Paige cleared away everything and loaded the dishwasher . Cabe and Allie were talking to Ralph who was telling them all about what he had been doing at college .
Once Walter and Paige joined them , Cabe began to question Walter . Walter's face broke into a smile and put his hand up to stop Cabe talking .
" It is better we start at the begining which will mean going back to the Monday , after you visited the house on the Sunday , "
Walter began to explain to both Cabe and Allie all that had happened on the Monday and Tuesday , including the information Paige and Ralph had found . Cabe was surprised at the fact that Richard was the owner of the garage . Walter then went into detail about the success both he and Ralph had at the garage over the weekend . He then went on to tell him about his meeting on Monday and Tuesday with Katherine and Richard . But did not reveal all that had been said . Once he had finished that part of the story he stopped talking to give Cabe a chance to ask any questions .
" So what is Katherine doing about Carlson now ? "
Walter again put his hand up to calm Cabe . " Well i have not yet told you all of the meeting . Ruchard is actually a friend of Scott Walters , head of the Washington office . "
At the mention of Scott Walters name Cabe interrupted . " The Scott Walters , the head honcho of Homeland ? "
Walter just nodded his head and carried on speaking . " Once he reached him , Katherie asked me to explain everything to Scott . After hearing the story , he agreed to put a team together to handle the situation . Richard agreed to send one of his jets to conllect the agents , in fact it shuld have landed by now . However due to some sort of industrial dispute at Washington airport they cannot leave until mid-afternoon tomorrow . So the agents are being put up at a motel till Thursday morning when they will be brought to Richard's office to meet Katherine . Katherine wants you at the meeting as well . "
Cabe gave a laugh . " Carlson would never allow me out of the office . "
" We are well aware of that , which is why tonight , you are going to get food poisoning . "
Cabe's face dropped . " Paige would never do that to me . "
Walter a big smile on his face . " Paige would never cook clams badly . "
" Clams ! I have just eaten lasagne . "
It was Paige's turn to smile . " This is just part of the plan , let Walter finish . "
Cabe smiled at Paige , then nodded to Walter .
" Tomorrow morning at 6.00am. an ambulance will arrive to collect you from home . You will be stretched out and then taken to Cedars hospital and put in a private room . Allie could you follow in your car and phone Homeland around 8.00a.m. to tell them Cabe will not be in work because he is in hospital with food poisoning after eating clams .
You will remain there until Thursday morning when Katherine will pick you up at 8.00am. and bring you to the meeting . " Walter explained .
" Does that mean i will be involved in Carlson's arrest ? " A smiling Cabe asked .
" If Katherine as her way , you will be . But i expect Scott will have the final decision . "
" Then it will be worth it spending a night in hospital . " A laughing Cabe said .
All the talking in the room , must have disturbed Megan , as Paige heard her crying over the baby monitor . She never had a chance to fetch her , as Walter was off the sofa and rushing to the bedroom , before she had a chance to move .
He returned a few moments later , with a now smiling Megan in his arms .
Paige smiled at Walter . " You certainly have the magic touch when it comes to Megan . "
Allie immediatly asked if she could hold Megan . With a little reluctance Walter gently placed Megan into Allie's waiting arms . Megan's smile disappeared , but as Allie started to talk to her , a small smile appeared .
About a hour later , Cabe and Allie left , Cabe feeling happier than he had for almost twelve months , with regard to his position at Homeland .
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Grykon Glad you enjoyed the chapter , more about the agents in the next chapter .
Pearligirl Thank you .
LouBe96 He cetainly was , more secrets , if the plan works there is no way Carlson can escape , LoL . I have used that team in two other stories ( With Grykon's permisson . ) so now it is time for a new team .