WELCOME BACK READERS! I am dusting off a chapter that has been waiting to be posted for some time now. I do not have any more completed, but I promise Mac and Jo have a lot more adventures ahead so please keep checking back for new chapters and please feel free to provide feedback!
SISSYGIRL28…This is a belated birthday present for you! Enjoy!
Chapter 61: Sold!
The man's cell phone rang twice. He glanced at the caller ID and answered before it could ring a third time.
"Whatcha got for me, Willis?"
"Everything, sir."
"Everything?!"
"Yep. Time, date...everything. Meet me at the usual place? Same time?"
"Sure thing. Thanks Willis."
"No problem."
The two men disconnected the call without saying good-bye.
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MacGyver and Joanna walked into Challengers to find Geena amicably conversing with a gentleman neither of them recognized.
"Well, speak of the devil! Here he is now," Geena declared with a smile, her gaze finding Mac's.
The stranger turned around and MacGyver's hackles immediately rose. He knew this guy. His hair was blonder and shorter on the sides and back, almost like a military cut. He had also lost weight and gained a more athletic physique which was showcased by his snug-fitting jeans, and tailored blazer with suede elbow patches. A pair of worn but well-cared-for cowboy boots completed the outfit.
"Shouldn't you still be in prison, Minton? Or should I say 'Gun Man'?" Mac snarled, stepping protectively in front of Jo.
Geena gasped. "Is that anyway to greet a visitor?!" she scolded. "And who is 'Minton'? This fine-looking young man is Jon Baker, a lieutenant from the California Highway Patrol." Geena produced a business card to hand to MacGyver who refused to take it.
"Go to your office," Mac muttered to Jo without taking his eyes off the stranger. He knew she didn't like it when he got overprotective, but he hoped she would understand this was a special situation. She hesitated a moment before quietly heading down the hallway and out of sight, leaving MacGyver to breathe a small sigh of relief.
"Look, man, I know what you're thinking," Baker said calmly.
"You have no idea what I'm thinking!" MacGyver spat. "You go from dealing guns to gangs to impersonating a law enforcement officer?!"
"I can explain everything if you give me a chance. Can we talk in your office?"
Mac looked around the recreation area that was quickly filling up with teens seeking to escape the boredom of another hot summer day. He was responsible for their safety. "No," he replied. "We'll go to the diner down the street."
The two men settled at a table in the back of the small restaurant. Jon Baker ordered a cup of coffee while MacGyver ordered a glass of milk in the hopes that it would calm the fire burning in his stomach. Whether it was from the orange juice he had quickly gulped for breakfast or the presence of the man seated across from him he couldn't say.
"Okay, start talkin'," Mac commanded once the waitress had delivered their beverages and disappeared into the kitchen.
Baker took a sip of his coffee before leaning back in the booth. "My name really is Jon Baker. I worked as a California Highway Patrol Motorcycle Officer until 1982 when I went home to my family's ranch in Wyoming to help out my dad. I returned to the CHP about six years later. Almost immediately I was approached by the Los Angeles Police Department and asked to join their gang task force."
"Why you?" MacGyver interrupted.
Jon shrugged. "I had been off the streets for years. I was a fresh face. I joined a bunch of guys from various agencies and we spent three years deep undercover infiltrating some of the biggest gangs in L.A. Since that proved harder for an older white guy, we spread the rumor that I was a disgruntled cop who got fired for beating up a kid. Anyway, all those years of hard work and sacrifice finally paid off and we were getting ready to bring down two gangs and their big players when you and your friends from Challengers got involved."
"But you shot a kid in the back in an empty alley and killed him!" Mac protested.
"Player G," Baker sighed. "He was a plant. Probably had the hardest job of any of us. We got word that his cover might have been blown. We didn't know if we were being watched, so we set up that confrontation. The responding cops, the coroner, they were all in on it."
"Your stupid stunt got an innocent kid arrested!"
"It goes with the job!" Jon replied, raising his voice for the first time since the conversation began.
"Just like knocking me unconscious, locking me up in a storeroom, kidnapping me in a van rigged with dynamite and then beating me up again?!" MacGyver countered.
"Look, man. If I was a real weapons dealer, you wouldn't be around to complain. I was trying to keep you out of my way and I had to make it look good in case there were eyes on me!"
"But you were gonna blow up a van!"
"What you saw in there was fake. If I would've flipped the switch it wouldn't have been anything more than a smoke bomb to create a diversion so our team could move in. But I never got that chance because you shoved me out a window!"
"I pulled you back in!" Mac exclaimed.
Silence reigned as the waitress approached to offer refills which both men declined and waited until she disappeared again before speaking.
"Okay, say I believe you. What are you doing here?" MacGyver asked.
"I need your help on a case. You can call Willis and verify everything."
"Wait a minute," Mac shook his head in disbelief. "You got Willis involved in this?!"
"Back when we first, um, met and I knocked you out in my office, I went through your pockets and found your Phoenix ID and did a little research. I'm currently on a case that's about to go cold if I don't show some results so I reached out to them. Willis has been assisting with surveillance and some other stuff. He said my best chance of closing this case is in a few days in Chicago and he gave me your contact information if I needed help. Since the powers-that-be have determined I'm chasing my tail and wasting taxpayers' money, I don't have a whole lot of backup and could use a guy like you on my side."
MacGyver couldn't help but chuckle at this last line. "That'll be switch. So, tell me about this case."
"Does that mean you're in?"
"You bet." But Mac made a mental note to call Willis as soon as he got back to Challengers.
Jon surreptitiously glanced around the diner. "Can we meet later? Someplace else?"
Understanding the officer's caution, Mac agreed. "Come on over to my place for supper and we'll talk," he said, scribbling his address on a paper napkin and handing it to Jon. "See ya later."
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Later that afternoon, MacGyver leaned against Joanna's refrigerator, watching her pad around the kitchen in her bare feet as she prepared supper.
"Thanks for not gettin' mad this morning when I told you to go to your office," he said a bit sheepishly.
"No problem," she responded.
"And thanks for cooking dinner."
"Well, we can't feed your guest that horrid tofu casserole you make."
"It isn't that bad...is it?"
"Babe, even Frog won't eat it."
"I'm gonna pay for all this later, aren't I?"
"You betcha," she replied with a wide smile before stopping in front of him. Standing on tiptoe she kissed his frowning lips firmly but quickly. "Now get outta my way."
An hour later, the trio gathered around Joanna's small kitchen table and savored the chicken parmesan she had served with a side of garlic-roasted cauliflower for several moments before MacGyver broke the silence.
"So tell me about this case, Baker."
Jon took his napkin, wiped marinara sauce from the corners of his mouth, and leaned back in his chair. "It started about eighteen months ago. The Los Angeles Police Department noticed a higher-than-average uptick in vehicle theft reports. All classic cars, many owned by wealthy collectors. The LAPD requested assistance from the highway patrol to keep an eye out for the stolen autos, but there were no verified recoveries. It was like they vanished into thin air."
"It's been known to happen," Mac interjected. "A quick paint job, falsified registration."
"Yeah, but this is where things get weird." Jon leaned forward, arms crossed on the edge of the table. "Normally, when someone reports a theft, even if it's just a television or VCR, they constantly hound the police department to see if their property has been found or, more often than not, to complain that the cops aren't doing enough to find their stuff. But the owners of these cars filed a police report within hours of the theft and never bothered to follow-up. No phone calls...nothin'."
"You're thinking insurance fraud," MacGyver deduced. "The 'victim' modifies the car, stashes it somewhere, files a theft report and collects the insurance. Sounds like a pretty straight-forward case."
"Right," Jon agreed. "Only, as quick as the theft reports rose, a few weeks later they fell drastically. Then we get notified by the Portland PD that the same thing is happening up there. A couple weeks later, a different city has the same issue. That's when we realize this goes beyond your basic insurance scam. The brass takes notice, calls in the FBI and forms a task force. We manage to get some viable intel, but just when we think we're ready to make the bust, the operation moves. Months later, the leads, along with the funding, dry up."
"And that's when you asked Phoenix for help," Mac concluded.
"Yeah," the officer confirmed.
"So what happened?"
"To make a long story short, after several weeks of working with Willis and a few field agents, things started to come together. Ya see, the collectors reporting their cars stolen and collecting the insurance money was just the surface of a nationwide black market auctioning ring. Turns out, the collectors were approached by members of this operation who encouraged them to relinquish their prized autos for the insurance money. The perps would then take the cars, modify them, and conduct very exclusive underground auctions with invitations being issued to some very rich people. They would then sell the cars for much more than they were worth and move on to another city."
MacGyver watched Joanna pull a face. "No collector is gonna pay for a car that isn't original," she observed.
Jon swallowed the last bite of his supper. "The people who attend these auctions aren't your typical collectors. They're young, very wealthy, and looking for a fun, flashy way to spend their money. For them, it's strictly entertainment."
"Do the buyers know they're buying cars illegally?" Mac asked.
Baker shook his head. "Not to the best of our knowledge. It's just an evening out for them. You see, the perps have connections nationwide and send invites to the demographic they're targeting. The event itself is a fancy dinner followed by the auction. To add to the intrigue, as well as disguise, it usually takes place in an abandoned factory or warehouse set up to look like an exclusive restaurant."
"So it looks like a game to the guests? Like one of those murder-mystery dinner theater shows?" Jo asked.
"Exactly. And at the end of the night, everyone walks away happy. The original car owners have their insurance money, the auction guests have a new toy, and the perps have a boatload of cash. Unfortunately, we've always been one step behind, until now."
"This is where Chicago comes in," Mac surmised.
Baker nodded. "From what Willis could find, this is gonna be the last auction in the United States. They plan on moving the operation to Canada so it's our last chance to catch these guys on our turf. As a bonus, the mastermind of this scheme is expected to attend. We could shut this whole thing down right then instead of relying on his minions to sell him out."
"When is this happening?"
"Friday night. Willis was able to hack into the perps' computer and get us invitations. I've arranged to meet up with two female Chicago police detectives who'll assist us. Like most attendees, we'll go as couples to blend in. You still on board with this?"
"You bet!" Mac replied.
"Oh, and don't forget to dust off your tux. It's black-tie only."
MacGyver sighed inwardly and glanced at Joanna who seemed to be having a difficult time containing a smile.
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Noon on Friday found MacGyver, Joanna, Geena, Rosie, and a few other adult volunteers gathered around the large, weathered, multi-purpose table in Challengers rec room, sandwich wrappers from various fast food establishments the only remains of their midday meal. Most of the teens had gone outside to play ball or simply just enjoy the mild summer weather. While the others chatted amicably, Mac thought about the evening to come. He had studied the grainy surveillance photos of the perps that Willis had somehow managed to obtain for them as well as memorized the year, make, and model of the cars reported stolen that were expected to be up for sale that night, but he still felt unsettled about their plan, or lack thereof. There was a time, not that long ago, when this would not have bothered him. In fact, it would get his adrenaline flowing with anticipation. But now he yearned for more. More intel, more strategy, more certainty. Suddenly, the main door opened and Jon Baker stepped in. He was greeted with cheerful hellos, but a frown stood steadfast on his lips.
"We need to talk," he said quietly as he approached Mac.
"My office okay?" MacGyver asked.
Baker nodded and headed in that direction as Mac quickly rose from his chair. Joanna's curiosity-filled eyes collided with his and he shrugged before turning his attention to their visitor.
"What's up?" he asked, closing the door behind him as Jon was already leaning up against the desk.
"The female detective I planned to partner you with got assigned to another case. We may have to scrap the whole plan for tonight," Jon explained morosely.
"Can't you replace her?" MacGyver asked.
Baker shook his head. "Not with such short notice."
"So it'll be the three of us instead," Mac concluded.
Again Baker shook his head and this time he audibly sighed. "I really didn't want to take the chance of sticking out in the crowd like that."
"Hey, I'm sorry, man," MacGyver replied. "Maybe you just need to let this one go."
"Unless…"
Mac followed Jon's laser-focused gaze and his stomach fell to his toes when his eyes landed on Joanna.
"No. No way. We are not gonna make her a part of this."
Jon turned to look at him, confusion written across his features. "From what Willis told me about you two, I was under the impression she helped you out on stuff like this from time to time."
"She has," MacGyver replied much to his chagrin. "But she's a civilian. Those were special circumstances."
"And this isn't?" Jon challenged.
"She's my fiancé! I'm not gonna put her in harm's way."
"C'mon Mac," Jon pleaded. "She was there when we planned this whole thing and knows what to do. She just has to look the part of your rich wife. She'll be fine."
"You can't guarantee that," MacGyver argued.
Jon took a deep, calming breath. "I know you're just trying to protect her. But don't forget that there'll be about a hundred other civilians there tonight. You and I can't guarantee everyone's safety, but if we do our job right, we'll all get outta this okay." After a long pause he added, "Don't you think you should at least let her decide whether or not she wants in on this?"
MacGyver raked his fingers through his hair. Life had been so much easier when the only person he had to worry about was himself. He also knew Jo would happily skin him alive if she knew he was making decisions for her.
"Okay. Fine. I'll ask her," he conceded.
Moments later, Joanna sat on the worn couch in Mac's office, Jon crouched in front of her explaining the circumstances and what her role would be if she decided to help, which was basically to look pretty, act rich, and stay alert in case things got interesting. MacGyver stood behind Jon, arms crossed in front of his chest and a frown tugging at his lips. He couldn't help but notice that Jo never once even attempted to make eye contact with him while all he could do was stare at her and will her to tell Baker she didn't want to get involved.
"Could I talk to Mac alone for a minute?" he heard her ask as her gaze suddenly met his.
The CHP officer simply nodded, stood, and left the office, closing the door behind him.
Joanna slowly got to her feet, her eyes never leaving MacGyver's. "I won't do this if you don't want me to," she said.
Mac's heart melted and he fell more in love with her, if that was even possible. He knew she understood how much he wanted to protect her regardless of what she wanted to do, and she was putting the opportunity right in his hands. He just had to say the word.
"No," he said around a lump that had formed in his throat. "It's your call."
"I'd really like to help, but I don't want to be a distraction and compromise your safety," she replied, her large, doe eyes almost his undoing.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Of course. Anything."
"Why would you want to be part of this?"
Joanna lowered her gaze and walked slowly to the other side of the room before turning to face him again. "Ever since you came to Milwaukee, you've been living in my world. I want a chance to live in yours."
"But that's not my world anymore!" Mac exclaimed.
Jo rolled her eyes and scowled.
"All right," MacGyver recanted. "Maybe I haven't been able to completely change my ways, but I'm trying."
The expression on Joanna's face softened as she reached out and gently cupped his cheek with her hand. "I don't want you to change," she said softly. Now it was his turn to scowl. "Okay, maybe in the beginning I did, but I know how important this is to you. I just want to be a part of it."
"Look, Joanna," he said, stepping back from her touch. "This isn't some hobby we can share on the weekends. This is dangerous, life or death stuff we're talkin' about!"
He watched as disappointment flitted across her face before fire sparked in her eyes. She took a deep breath and he steeled himself. When she spoke, her voice was calm but firm. "When I got hired at the correctional facility, none of my childhood friends could understand how sweet, shy, little Joanna could be successful working in a place like that, much less enjoy it. Buy ya know what? I worked my butt off and did a darn good job and I loved it! I'm a lot stronger than most people think."
Now it was MacGyver's turn to reach out and gently caress Jo's cheek with the back of his index finger. "You know you don't have to prove anything to me. I already know how amazing you are."
"Then you're okay if I do this?" she asked.
Mac's lips tugged upward into a soft grin. "Yeah. I'm okay with it. But there is one problem."
Joanna immediately frowned. "What is it?"
"Baker said this thing tonight is formal and we only have a couple hours before we have to leave for Chicago. Do you think you can be ready?"
Jo turned to look out his office window and smiled. "I'll be ready. With a little help from my fairy godmother."
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MacGyver ran his finger around the inside of his starched collar and looked at his watch...again. "Are you almost ready? Baker's gonna be here any minute to pick us up," he called through the adjoining door into Jo's apartment.
"Your man needs to learn some patience!" Geena commented loudly from the other side.
"I'll be right there!" Jo promised.
Mac's chin fell to his chest as he huffed out a frustrated breath. When he looked up, what he saw caused him to lose his breath altogether. Joanna stood in their shared doorway, a sleeveless, floor length, shimmery light blue sheath dress hugging her body in all the right places with a side slit up to her knee exposing a tantalizing view of her leg. Strappy silver sandals completed her ensemble. Her silky bobbed hair was strategically rolled in an updo exposing her neck and making MacGyver want to skip the auction and spend the evening alone with her.
"Wow!" he exhaled.
"I'll take that as a compliment," she said, smiling coyly.
Mac barely heard the knock on his front door as he stood drinking her in.
"You gonna get that?" she asked.
He felt a flush creep up his neck just as Jon Baker let himself in through the unlocked door. "You guys ready?" he asked.
"Yeah...um...sure. Right behind ya," MacGyver choked out in reply before collecting himself and offering Joanna his arm like a proper escort.
"You kids have fun tonight!" Geena called.
"We will!" Joanna answered with a smile.
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Joanna held lightly to MacGyver's arm before sliding into the back seat of Jon's rented sedan. Mac closed her door, making sure it was secure before settling himself in the front passenger seat.
"So what does Geena know about tonight?" Mac asked, turning his head sideways.
"I told her we were going to a fancy charity fundraiser in Chicago," Jo replied.
"And she bought it?" MacGyver queried.
Jo shrugged, "Who knows. But at least she doesn't know enough to put her in any danger." She watched as Mac turned to gaze out the windshield and then addressed the two men. "So, what can I do to help?"
"Nothing!" MacGyver responded immediately which caused her to frown at the back of his head.
"Actually, you could help us identify the 'stolen' vehicles," Jon contradicted, earning him a sweet smile. "There's a file on the seat next to you. It contains pictures and descriptions of the cars we expect to be auctioned off tonight. You can study them while we drive."
Jo grabbed the file as Mac shifted in his seat and ran a hand through his hair. Keenly aware of his unease, she reached out and put her hand on his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Don't worry. It'll be alright," she tried to assure him before focusing her attention on the glossy pictures now on her lap.
Before she knew it, Jon pulled the car up to the front entrance of a ritzy downtown Chicago hotel.
"What are we doing here?" she asked. "I thought the cover for the event was an abandoned building?"
"It is," Jon confirmed. "But first I have to pick up my date."
How had she forgotten?! Jon's 'date' was a Chicago police detective. Jo smiled politely as valets opened doors and ushered them into the plush lobby. Across the way, an elevator yawned open and out stepped a tall, athletic woman in a black, strapless mini-dress bedecked with sequins. Long, blonde hair fell in loose curls around her shoulders and down her back. She headed straight towards them, her eyes locking with Jon's. This was a cop?! Joanna felt like sinking into the floor when she felt MacGyver's arm snake around her waist and pull her close to his side.
"She's got nothin' on you," he whispered into her ear, his feather-light breath causing her to shiver. How did he always know just the thing she needed to hear?
Once introductions were made, Jon slipped his hand into the inside pocket of his tuxedo jacket and produced two envelopes, handing one to Mac who immediately opened it.
"What's that?" Jo asked.
"Your official invitation, complete with aliases, courtesy of Willis," Jon replied.
Joanna craned her neck to read the form Mac held. "Rick and Deanie Anderson?" she said, scrunching her nose in distaste.
"What's wrong with that?" MacGyver asked. "I think it has a nice ring to it."
She looked up at him dubiously. "Well, you kinda look like a 'Rick', but I am not a 'Deanie'!"
"And what, exactly, does a 'Deanie' look like?" Jo couldn't miss the mischievous gleam in his eye nor the fact that his lips were begging to be allowed to break into a teasing grin.
"That!" Jo replied firmly, her eyes honed in on the blonde detective before turning back to the invitation. "What's this barcode for?" she asked.
"It's an identification system," Jon answered. "Each invitation has its own, unique code. You have to be scanned in to prove you're an invited guest before you can enter the party."
"What happens if it doesn't work?"
"Let's hope Willis did a good enough job on it so we don't find out," Mac replied.
"Now everyone remember," Jon instructed, "We have to wait for a sale to go down before we attempt a bust, and I don't want any of us acting as a buyer. Don't want to give a lawyer the chance to argue entrapment. Understand?"
Three heads nodded.
"One more thing before we head out," Jon said, holding up two sets of car keys. "Do you want the BMW or the Jaguar?"
Joanna's jaw dropped and he snickered. "Rich people drive expensive cars," he reminded her.
"Go ahead...pick," Mac encouraged her.
Jo's indecisiveness kicked in and she looked up at him. "You're driving. It's your choice."
"I've always admired large cats," MacGyver grinned.
"Then the Jag it is!" Jon laughed, tossing the keys to Mac. "It's on level three of the parking structure. You can't miss it. You'll find a map and directions in the glove compartment."
"Courtesy of Willis?"
"Who else?! You and Jo leave first. We'll follow a few minutes later. Remember, once we get there, we're strangers."
"Got it. See ya soon!"
Joanna sighed in appreciation as her body sank into the buttery soft leather seat of the luxury automobile.
"Not bad, eh?" Mac asked, tossing her a crooked grin as she reverently smoothed her hand over the dashboard. "Kinda makes you wanna get rid of that Chevy."
Jo's eyes turned cold and she crossed her arms over her chest in mock defiance. "Never!" she shot back before turning the tables on him. "You gonna trade your Jeep?"
MacGyver gasped, dramatically putting his hands over his heart. "That car and I have been through a lot together!" And then they both broke out laughing at their antics.
"We better get going or Baker'll wonder where we are," Mac said, sobering as he turned the key, the finely tuned engine purring to life.
As Mac made his way out of the parking structure, Joanna found the map and read off the directions to him. They rode the relatively short distance in silence, the seriousness of the matter taking precedence over small talk. At the abandoned warehouse a few blocks from Lake Michigan, a line of expensive cars waited to pass through the gates. MacGyver pulled the Jag up behind a brand new Corvette to await their turn.
Looking out the car window at their less-than-stellar surroundings, Jo felt a lead ball take up residence in the pit of her stomach as adventure turned to reality. She didn't realize she was nervously picking at her fingernails until she felt Mac's large, warm hand cover both of hers and give a tender squeeze.
"You okay?"
"Yeah."
"You're sure? 'Cause if you aren't I need to know now."
She turned to find his eyes boring into hers. "I'm positive," she replied. "I won't let you down."
"I know," he said softly, bringing one of her hands to his lips and gracing it with a whisper of a kiss. In his other hand he held their invitation and tapped the corner rhythmically on the steering wheel.
"Are you okay?" Joanna asked, observing his nervous energy.
"Yeah. Just the adrenaline, ya know? I used to live for this kinda thing."
"And now?"
Before MacGyver could answer, a man dressed as a security guard motioned them to move forward. Jo held her breath and sensed Mac tense beside her as he handed over the invitation to be scanned. Seconds seemed like an eternity before the guard's hand-held device beeped once and the small light blinked green.
"Welcome to the auction, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson. Enjoy your evening."
They both immediately relaxed as MacGyver thanked the guard and drove into the parking lot. "Thank you, Willis!" she heard him whisper and silently echoed his words.
Valets waited under a canopied entrance to assist Mac and Joanna from the Jag before parking the vehicle. Making their way to the door, MacGyver tucked the invitation carefully into the inside pocket of his tux and pulled out a small, velvet box. "I forgot something," he whispered in Jo's ear just as he clasped her elbow and pulled her into the shadows. He opened the box to reveal an ostentatiously large diamond ring.
"What's that for?" she asked.
"We're supposed to be married, remember?"
"But I'm already wearing your engagement ring. Won't that do?"
"We're supposed to be rich, reckless spenders," he reminded her.
Quickly slipping her own ring to her right hand, she donned the giant stone he offered and allowed him to escort her through the entrance where doormen greeted them. She looked around in awe at the inside of the abandoned warehouse that now was decorated like a ballroom at Buckingham Palace.
"Wow," she whispered, trying desperately to look like she was not impressed by their surroundings. Waiters in white shirts with black vests and pants circulated among the growing crowd with trays of champagne flutes and various hors d'oeuvres. Elegantly set tables with fine linens graced one end of the large hall while the cars up for bidding were displayed in all their glory on the opposite side. Men in tuxedos and women in sparkling cocktail dresses milled about, some chatting casually while others admired the classic automobiles.
"Let's split up and make a solid ID on these cars." MacGyver's breath tickled her ear as he spoke softly into it.
"What about Jon and his partner?" Jo asked, carefully looking around.
"We'll catch up with 'em at dinner. Willis made sure we're all seated together."
With a slight nod to show she understood, she broke away from Mac's side and watched him snag a crab puff from a passing waiter before sauntering toward what she recognized to be a 1969 Dodge Charger. Darn! She had wanted to check out that car herself. Sighing inwardly, she turned and headed off in the opposite direction.
For the next half hour, Joanna sipped champagne and was able to recognize many of the cars that had been in the file Jon had given her on the drive down. All had been painted a different color and some had modifications such as spoilers or customized tire rims, but the uniqueness of each vehicle couldn't be that easily disguised. She smiled when she happened upon a red and white '57 Chevy Bel Air not unlike MacGyver's own Nomad. Perhaps he should have posed as a seller instead. As she continued to meander through the cars and crowd, she found herself in a darkened corner. Velvet ropes cordoned off an area where vintage foreign automobiles sat low to the ground, shining under the glow of well-positioned spot lights. Having a vague idea of what a legal dealer would sell these cars for, she shuddered at the thought of what someone might pay for one tonight. Suddenly, she felt a presence beside her and knew instinctively it was Mac.
"How's it goin'?" he asked casually.
She turned to look at him, still amazed at how his too-long, unruly hair and formal tuxedo made a perfect combination. "Good," she replied. "I recognized a lot of the cars from those reported stolen."
"Yeah, me too."
Before more information could be exchanged, one of the waiters, sans hors d'oeuvres tray, escorted them to a table where Jon and his partner already sat. They greeted each other with somewhat stilted introductions for the benefit of the other two couples at the table. Unfortunately, the strangers' presence meant they couldn't speak freely, but Joanna recognized the moment between Mac and Jon when subtle looks and gestures conveyed that the vehicles had been identified. After a scrumptious dinner and decadent dessert, guests were once again invited to peruse the classic autos before the auction began. This time, Mac and Joanna strolled together. She had just bent down to peek in the tinted window of a Mustang when she felt MacGyver go stiff beside her.
"Uh oh," he murmured.
"Uh oh?" she asked, quickly straightening to her full height, a frown on her lips. "That doesn't sound good."
"It's not," Mac said flatly as she followed his gaze directly to a short, wiry, gray-haired man in an expensive designer suit who was glaring back at them with steely eyes as he stalked their way.
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"Who's that?" Joanna whispered urgently while MacGyver tried to calm his runaway heartbeat.
"Someone Sam and I had a run-in with while we were on the road," he explained through gritted teeth. "We helped authorities put him away for extortion."
"Well, well, well, Mr. MacGyver! Small world, isn't it? But I don't recall seeing your name on my guest list," the man greeted them.
"I thought you were still in prison, Bensch," Mac replied coolly, slowly regaining his mental composure.
"Yes, well, if you have enough money...which I do...interesting things can happen." When the man turned his attention to Jo, MacGyver's blood ran cold. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your lady friend?"
"Leave her out of this," Mac demanded.
"She's already in it," Bensch parried. "Now let's take a walk outside so we can have some privacy."
As if from out of nowhere, two armed guards appeared beside them to escort them away. MacGyver was careful to avoid eye contact with Baker and he hoped Joanna knew to do the same. He couldn't blow this for Jon, so it had to look like he was acting on his own. Walking across the parking lot, Mac's heart thudded with regret. He never should've let Joanna and Baker talk him into letting her get involved. Oh, she would've been upset with him, but at least she'd be safe.
"Okay, that's far enough," Bensch stated when they reached an area shrouded in shadow where a '59 Cadillac waited. "Cuff 'em," he instructed his guards, pulling out and training his own pistol on Jo and Mac. As the guards secured their hands behind them, Bensch opened the trunk. "Get in," he commanded.
Knowing that compliance was the smartest, and pretty much only, thing to do at the moment, MacGyver reluctantly took a step toward the car.
"Hey boss, why don't we let her ride up front?" one of the guards asked, caressing Joanna's cheek with the back of his fingers as she grimaced and tried to turn her head away from his touch.
"Get away from her!" Mac growled, lunging at the man. A second later, he felt the butt of a gun connect with the back of his head. He was falling and couldn't stop himself. He hit the ground and his world went black.
MacGyver's head pounded and his mouth felt like it had been stuffed with cotton as consciousness ebbed and flowed. He fought to wake up and focus. Slowly peeling back his eyelids, he saw nothing but darkness. Where was he? Where was Jo? What had happened after he had blacked out? Thoughts he didn't want to entertain struggled for purchase in his brain, but he pushed them away.
"Mac?"
A tidal wave of relief washed over him. Wherever they were, whatever had happened, Joanna was with him and alive.
"Are you okay?" he whispered in a raspy voice.
"Yeah."
"They didn't hurt you?" MacGyver held his breath, afraid of the answer.
"No. They were perfect gentlemen," she replied firmly, sarcasm dripping off every word causing him to grin. "How's your head?"
"Fine. How long have I been out?"
"About ten minutes, maybe," she guessed.
"Any idea where we are?"
"The trunk of a '59 Caddy," she grunted.
He then realized he was looking at the backside of the back seat. He also realized he had been conscious for several minutes but hadn't felt any movement. Were they still in the warehouse parking lot? "Care to add any details?"
"They drove us around for five minutes or so. Then they slowed and it felt like we were going up ramps. The car stopped and I heard voices but couldn't make out what they were saying. Doors slammed and it's been quiet ever since. My guess is they abandoned us in a parking structure."
Despite their situation, Mac's heart filled with pride. Jo had kept her head, paid attention, and gathered some very helpful information.
"Do you think they'll come back?" The worry creeping into her voice made him want to hold her, but words would have to do for now.
"Doubtful. Bensch is a snake, but he's not into hurting people. Best I can figure is he had one of his goons follow us in a second car and they're headed for the border. By the time someone finds us they'll be in Canada."
"Speaking of which, I assume you have a plan to get us out of here in a more timely manner. I'm starting to have great sympathy for sardines."
Mac bit back a laugh, glad to know that Joanna hadn't lost her sense of humor. "I'm facing the backseat. How about you?" he asked to determine their respective positions.
"I'm facing the latch. We must be back-to-back."
MacGyver wiggled himself backwards and found her hands with his. He gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. "I think I have an idea. Just hold still for a minute."
Encumbered both by his tuxedo as well as his hands clasped behind him, he bent his knees slightly, dug his feet into the floor of the trunk, and with the help of his shoulder, gained enough leverage to twist his body so that he was on his back. Going through the motions one more time he flipped to his other side so that he was now facing Jo's back.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"We gotta get outta these cuffs," he said. "I need you to try and get my knife."
"They took it after they knocked you out," she told him.
"Aw man," he groaned, at the same time inhaling the scent of her hairspray as his face was practically buried in her updo. He coughed, but another idea started to form. "Please tell me you have bobby pins in your hair."
"A ton," she snorted.
"Good. I'm gonna try and pull one out with my teeth. When I got it, I'll get it as close to your hands as I can and you take it from me." Using his nose, he probed for one of the pieces of metal. It didn't take long before he felt one at the nap of her neck. Angling his mouth in position, he felt her shudder as the tip of his tongue touched her sensitive skin. Ignoring the acrid taste of hairspray, he carefully bit down on the end of the pin and slowly moved his head back, pulling the pin with him. "I got it," he told her through clenched teeth. She immediately moved to try and bring her hands up as he scooted against the backseat to give him more room to bend his long frame and get his mouth down to her fingers. After a couple of awkward attempts, he felt the tip of her nails on his lip and the bobby pin was suddenly snatched from his mouth. "Okay, that was the hard part," he told her.
"No kidding," she replied. "Now I suppose I have to get this into your hands so you can pick the locks."
"You got it," he confirmed with a smile she couldn't see. "I'm gonna roll back over. Find my hands just like we did before."
After more contortions, grunts and groans, mostly on his part, he had the coveted bobby pin grasped firmly between his long fingers and he set to work blindly picking the locks on the handcuffs. When they were both free, he turned onto his back, took a few deep breaths, and allowed his muscles to relax. Beside him he felt Joanna do the same.
"What's next?" she asked.
"We kick out the backseat." He turned his head to look at her, his eyes now accustomed to the darkness. Her face was a study in determination.
"Tell me what to do."
Moments later, they repositioned themselves, an easier task with the use of their hands, so they were both on their backs, their knees bent and their feet flat against the back of the back seat.
"You sure you don't want to take your shoes off?" Mac asked, wary about Joanna's strappy heels.
"I'm good. Let's get this done," she replied.
On the count of three, they both pushed hard with their feet. Nothing happened.
"They sure don't make cars like this anymore," MacGyver mumbled. "Okay, let's try again."
Two more tries and he felt a little give, but not much movement. "I think we need to get a little rougher," he said. "This time, pull your legs back and kick as hard as you can."
As the two of them kicked, the seat finally released and fell away. Maneuvering back to their stomachs, they crawled out of the trunk through the hole where the back seat had been. MacGyver made his way to the driver's seat with Joanna behind him, struggling with her long dress, into the passenger seat beside him. Taking a moment to survey their surroundings they discovered that they were, indeed, in a parking structure.
"We need to get back to the auction," Mac said as he reached under the dashboard and pulled down some wires. In no time at all he had the engine running. "We can't be that far away so maybe we can still catch them."
MacGyver drove the classic car down several stories before turning onto a familiar street that would lead back to the warehouse. As they approached the building they saw several police cars, blue and red lights flashing through the night. Mac pushed the brake hard and parked the car. He and Jo quickly swung open their doors and headed for a group of people standing by one of the squads. Jon Baker and his partner stood talking to a uniformed police officer. When he saw them, he quickly broke away.
"Hey, I was just about to form a search party for you two. I saw you leave with Bensch and his goons. Are you alright?"
MacGyver glanced at Joanna who was nodding. "Yeah, we're fine," he assured Jon. "I'm sorry I blew this bust for you."
"You didn't blow it," Baker said with a broad smile. "After you left and things settled down, the auction continued as planned. Your 'friends' returned shortly afterwards and we were able to arrest the whole gang after the first sale."
"I was sure when Bensch made me that the whole thing was shot," Mac confessed.
"Well, it wasn't," Jon clapped him on the shoulder. "Now, tell me what happened to you two. I have a feeling we'll be adding more charges to the list including kidnapping."
XXXXX
MacGyver sat at his kitchen table, his head in his hands. His tuxedo jacket pooled on the seat of the chair next to him, his bowtie still hung around his neck though undone. The events of the evening ran in a continuous loop through his mind. Contrary to what Baker had said, Mac had blown it big time. The CHP officer had counted on him to pull his weight and help take down the criminals. Instead, he got himself and his fiancé kidnapped. He had been lucky this time. Had the situation been different, he could've gotten them killed. Just the thought sent acid churning through his stomach. He was the guy people counted on to help them, not bring them more trouble. Was he losing his edge? Had he already lost it and just didn't realize it? Did he have any business running to the rescue if it turned out he would be the one needing rescuing? The tropical scent of coconut wafted from across the room and he looked up to find Joanna standing in the doorway that connected their apartments. Her hair, styled so impeccably hours before, hung damp and straight. But her face, now scrubbed clean of make-up, glowed and she looked relaxed and refreshed in her comfy bathrobe.
"Hey," he greeted her. "How're you doin'?"
She smiled at him as she walked toward the table. "It's amazing what a long, hot shower can do," she said, sitting down across from him and eyeing him scrupulously. "Maybe you should try it."
Mac sighed and scrubbed the back of his neck with his hand. "It's late. You should try and get some rest," he said, deflecting her suggestion. She had to be exhausted. He was. After arriving back at the warehouse and talking to Jon, they both were taken to the police precinct to give their official statements and positively identify their captors. Once allowed to leave, a squad took them to the hospital to have a doctor evaluate MacGyver's injured head before returning them to the hotel where they had picked up Jon's partner earlier to retrieve the rental car and drive back to Milwaukee. Baker stayed behind, explaining that now that the case was closed he'd be flying from Chicago back to L.A. the next day.
"Jon was right, ya know. You didn't blow it," Jo told him softly as she reached across the table, offering her hand.
He took it and squeezed it tight before caressing it with his thumb. Pete Thornton had been the only person in his life that could read his mind...until he had met and fell in love with Joanna. At times their connection soothed him, and at other times it scared him because he knew he could never hide anything from her. "I know," he sighed heavily. "I just sure didn't help."
Jo frowned at him. "You had no way of knowing the leader of this scam was someone you knew."
"It's not just that," he replied, his frustration rising. "Don't you get it? I got us kidnapped! I got myself knocked unconscious leaving you to deal with whatever would happen! I couldn't protect you and I couldn't help Baker break the case. I'm nobody's hero."
"No. You're not," she said firmly. "And nobody expects you to be, except maybe yourself."
Mac stared at her rich brown eyes trying to process what she was saying.
"You don't always have to be the one to save the day," she continued. "Jon came to you because he trusted you and knew he could count on you. That allowed him to stay at the auction and make the bust and not have to come running to our rescue instead. People don't need you to be their hero. They just need you to be who you are."
MacGyver gave her hand one last squeeze before releasing it. He understood what she was saying and, for now, that was enough. He just wasn't sure if he was still enough. But that was something to be dealt with after he cleaned up and got some sleep. He pushed back his chair, stood up, and walked over to where she now stood as well.
"Thanks for the pep talk," he said.
"You're still doubting yourself," she gently challenged.
"I'll be fine after a long, hot shower. I hear they can do amazing things."