Author Note: Sorry I'm so late in posting this here.
"This has to be an organized operation." Susan Fairfax held up her tablet. "Each gift must be categorized and listed: presenter...description...estimated price range."
"Susan," Emma scolded, "that's kinda cold. What does the price have anything–"
"Oh, don't be so stuffy." Susan waved a dismissive hand. "Of course price is important, it's expected. Those who go above and beyond should be recognized, not only for their generosity, but for their impeccable good taste."
"I just think they're just trying to kiss Red's ass." Amanda shared her point of view.
"Whatever is wrong with that?" Susan was confused.
"It's possible they're just letting Mr. Reddington know they're not cheap ass bastards, too... right?" Lily suggested in that sweet, angelic voice. Her wide, innocent eyes lifted to state the proverbial question which had been presented.
Harper jerked his head about, his look a comically awry one.
Red held his grin, hiding it with a well-placed hand, for Harper's look implied...perhaps his woman was spending way too much time with these new, more worldly friends she had found.
Lily went back to sipping her tea.
"Well put, Lily." Susan approved. "Now, let's get crackin'." She motioned to the first few gifts set before Lizzy.
Red's grin widened as Lizzy clasped joyous hands together, eagerly reaching for the nearest present loaded on the coffee table before her.
Liz smiled, taking the card that came with the gift. "Oh, it's from Maria and Antonio!"
Opening the envelope, Liz held the stunning card aloft for all to see. Lifting the edge of the stiff paper, she scanned the beautiful flowing script.
"Dear Elizabeth," Liz began, reading the message aloud, "I noticed on our many shopping excursions, you hesitated when you passed by this display in the window. I hope I interpreted your infatuation correctly, and you and Raymond will cherish the gift that keeps on giving for years to come." Swallowing at the knot in her throat, she read the last line. "Love, Maria and Antonio. P.S: Nora has the rest with her."
Blotting her eyes for the lovely sentiment and thoughtfulness, Liz smiled wistfully at her friends.
"This should be good," Susan knew well enough. "Maria has the most exquisite taste."
"Especially in men." Lily demurred politely.
Harper's mouth fell agape, his scowl a sternly scolding one which was totally missed by Lily, who was pouring Emma another cup of tea.
Emma tried ever so hard to hold her giggle because, unlike Lily...she had seen Harper's reaction to the innocently stated observation.
"Lily." Harper didn't especially want to be ignored in this instance, Red noted, the man's expressions flittered between shock and perhaps a smidgen of jealousy. "You pay attention to this man... okay?" He pointed pointedly to himself.
Lily blushed prettily. "Oh!" She blinked her dismay. "I-I didn't m-mean...I just, Antonio is such a... nice man."
"Good save..." Amanda muttered under her breath at Lily's side.
Lily hastily went back to being all prim and proper, flustered beyond scope to Red's great amusement. "I'm sorry, honey."
"Yeah, well." Harper's ego was slightly bruised, and each man present knew as much, taking great delight in the other man's predicament. Most tried not to show it, as they had been in his shoes where Antonio was concerned.
Waving off the interruption, Liz eagerly returned her attention to the gaily wrapped gift.
"Whoa!" she grunted unexpectedly, sliding the rather large box onto her lap. "It's heavy!"
Her hands hastily, but gingerly, peeled back the layers of tissue paper inside. Susan leaned, peering into the sedately layered sheets covering the prize Liz sought.
"Oh, my gosh..." Liz gasped, her hands flying to her flush cheeks. Overwhelmed by Maria and Antonio's generosity and attentiveness, tears suddenly dotted her lashes.
"What is it!" Emma brightened, noting her friend's emotional response. "Let's see!"
Red's eyes softened as the woman carefully lifted the fragile china aloft, a look of utter disbelief on her pretty face. Cautiously turning the delicate plate, she presented the precious gift for her friends to see.
"They're so pretty!" Amanda gushed over the stately plate before recognition set it. "I remember you looking at those!"
"I-I can't believe she remembered that." Liz batted wet eyes as she stared down at the finely speckled grey and monochromatic looping floral elements.
Her old wedding china had been garish and overpowering in their colors; Liz had hidden them away the first moment she could.
When she had first caught a glimpse of these in the window... she had been captivated by how elegant, stately, and pristine the set looked on display. It had truly been love at first sight.
Now that she held it in hand, she loved them more than she could express.
Red's mouth lifted into a jaunty tilt as he watched Lizzy reread the note, before recognition set in. He knew it had when her stunning blue eyes darted upward and widened in shock.
"Oh, my god... there's more in the kitchen!" She jerked upright, darting startled eyes towards Amanda. "Hurry..." she flapped shaking hands to do just that, "go, go," she stammered, "see what Nora has with her!"
Doing as bid, Amanda bolted from her seat, rushing for the kitchen.
Shifting comfortably in his seat, Red turned to better witness his flustered wife fluster frantically about.
It was such a rare event to see Lizzy truly stunned, he wished to watch the experience unravel to its fullest, for it was sure to be a memory to cherish.
If he knew Maria, and he liked to think he did, what awaited Elizabeth in that kitchen was more than the typical twelve-piece place setting gifted a new bride.
Shifting his eyes to his left, Red bit the inside of his cheek, staving off a gurgle of laughter when a harried Amanda came bursting back through the doorway, her eyes as wide as Elizabeth's.
"H-How many?" Liz stuttered.
"At least a hundred!" Amanda gasped.
"A hundred plates!" Liz clutched the precious porcelain to her chest.
"A hundred settings!" Amanda corrected. Though accustomed to Maria's generosity, the enormity of the lavish gift stunned even a seasoned Amanda Crocetti.
"Are you shitting me!" Liz squawked.
The woman's genuine reaction amused Red to no end. Apparently, Maria had chosen well. In fact, he would go so far as to say... as expected, the gift was exceedingly spectacular and far above expectations.
Leaning into her line-of-sight, Red garnered the woman's attention. "What's wrong, sweetheart?"
"Do you know how much these plates cost?" The woman's voice lifted to a feverish pitch.
Red opened his mouth to wager a guess, but his stupefied wife waylaid the attempt.
"I'll tell you how much!" Liz practically shouted the words. "At least a thousand a place setting," she gaped. "That's not including tax! Which is why I didn't buy them!" She confessed. "Red, we can't... shouldn't accept this! It's too extravagant, even for them!"
"Then you tell them." Red countered, knowing what an unwise move it would be to refuse.
"Okay, so...china settings, Maria Crocetti." Susan decided, jotting down the information in Lizzy's gift journal, moving things along.
Liz was torn, clearly wanting to allow such generosity of spirit to sink in. "I-I can't believe they–"
"Well, they did, and you graciously... accept." Susan calmly reassured.
Smiling, Amanda sat beside Elizabeth, hugging her. "Susan's right..." she assured.
"I don't know..." Liz hedged, her brow furrowing.
"They love you like their own, Lizzy." Amanda knew well enough. "On behalf of the family," she smiled warmly at her friend, "please accept them."
Red's smile softened when Lizzy's shimmering eyes looked longingly back at the place setting. Hesitantly complying, she returned Amanda's tight embrace, tears dotting her cheeks.
By the warm glow on Amanda's own cheeks, Red knew she understood it wasn't so much the gift, but their acceptance of Elizabeth into the family... that meant so damn much.
"Now," Susan took the next gift Emma handed her, and slid it Lizzy's way, putting the matter to rest, "this is from Alicia Bennet."
Red took great delight watching how excited and jubilant his wife became with each passing gift. She loved it all, no matter if they were toasters, mixers, electronics...
The mountain of fancy bows and wrapping paper grew beside Liz. Amanda dutifully kept it to a small molehill, delicately folding and storing items in provided boxes.
"I get through these things by drinking to access." Michael explained his good mood to the others of his kind.
"It's before lunch." Red dutifully picked up his tumbler, "but...sure, why not."
"Michael, what happened to your eye?" Francis had been eyeing the dark purple bruise now for a while.
"He told an Irish joke." Red explained the way of things. "After I expressly advised him not to do so."
"I thought you were jesting." Michael nursed the black eye lovingly, holding the cold glass of scotch to the tender flesh surrounding the shiner. "And you were correct. That large bastard of an Irishman cannot take a joke concerning his own birthright."
"Next time, listen to me," Red stated. "Save yourself some grief."
"Susan says it gives me character." Michael defended his actions.
"I said," Susan corrected, "you needed character. I said nothing about the eye."
"Well, that makes eight and counting." Emma interrupted the good-natured teasing, holding up another gift Lizzy hurriedly fostered off her way.
The women rolled expressive eyes, for the play toy was an overly exaggerated facsimile of a part of a man's anatomy better left unstated in mixed company.
"Now, ladies...it's not the size remember, it's the effort behind the action that counts." Daniel Courtland cautioned on any other mode of belief.
"You don't have to worry on either count, baby." Emmy winked salaciously to her man's great delight.
"This is so heavy!" Liz held up, or attempted to, the loveliest crystal vase she had ever seen.
"Oh, that one is exquisite." Susan agreed with Lizzy's opinion. "The last crystal object looked like a replica of the left tower on that movie about towers."
"She is referencing, of course," Michael saved everyone the trouble of trying to decipher such an obscure reference. "Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers."
"I knew that." Francis pulled a face. "Who wouldn't know that?"
"Why do all the sex toys keep heading my way?" Emma held up yet another questionable gift, then glanced at Lily, who relieved Lizzy of a stunning platter.
"You're more likely to appreciate its finer qualities?" Amanda tittered.
Turning the object in hand, Emma looked over the intricacies of the toy, her brows lifting curiously after a brief hesitation. "Well... now that you mention it."
Snorting quietly, Amanda dutifully returned to her task, folding the paper Lizzy handed her.
"Hey, wait." Red's interest was caught. "Even I don't know that one. Hand it over, girl."
Snickering, Emma obeyed and tossed it his way. Red examined it closely, sharing the object with a curious Francis Holbrook.
"Don't look at me, Lads." Michael hefted his scotch cheerfully. "We English are much too staid to attempt operate such devices. I've never seen anything like it in my entire days."
"Sure...okay." Susan scoffed openly.
Red flipped a switch, and the object sparked to life, jumping about in his hand, vibrating noisily, startling the man somewhat. He grinned over at Francis.
"It's oddly hypnotic." Red stared blankly at the device, his eyes glazing over.
"Sorta like a lava lamp." Francis concurred.
"Red, put that down." Liz chided, flushing prettily.
"Hey, check it out." Francis had latched onto yet another of the more risqué gifts, holding the box for the guys to read along. "Says...it swivels, thrusts and rotates."
"Too bad you men can't make such a claim." Susan put a halt on any further comments concerning sex toys for a while.
"I could if I had enough of this shit in me." Michael mentioned sotto voce after his wife had gone back to listing gifts, having held his scotch glass aloft yet again.
Appreciative male chuckles met with his effort.
Susan cast a dismissive look her man's way, but otherwise, said nothing.
"Red?" Liz was suddenly stumped by a problem having arisen. "There's no card with this one."
She held up a bottle of wine and two heavy crystal glasses.
"What's the label read, baby?" He asked.
"Montross Vineyards." She read carefully. "Nineteen sixty-six."
"It's from John Montross." He supplied. The bottle was passed over from hand to hand.
"Thank you, John..." Red drawled as he perused the selection with a connoisseur's eye. "People can be exceedingly kind on occasion. First...those." He indicated the array of adult play toys. "And now this."
"It's everything a man needs for a wonderful evening." Michael agreed. "Perhaps besides a good rugby match on the telly."
"We haven't even made a dent." Liz took the next gift Lily handed her. "I'll never get through all the thank-you notes."
"I can help." Lily offered. "I'm very good at such things. It's about all I was allowed to do without the butthead's input."
"We're so glad you're out of that asshole's grasp." Emma lay a gentle hand on Lily's shoulder. "And you are so much more capable than he ever gave you credit for! Take that to the bank."
Lily smiled happily.
"I'm going to hold you to that promise, Lily." Liz said with a laugh. "I'm kinda overwhelmed here."
"Well, I'm bored to tears." Danny arose. "Think I'm going to mosey on down to the guards' place. See what they've got on the burner."
"Yeah, you've seen one sex toy, you've seen 'em all. And believe me, I've seen most of them out there on the market." Francis arose as well. "Maybe there's a poker game in progress."
"We don't care if you vacate." Susan piped up. "This is women's work."
"They're my gifts too." Red took exception.
"Sure, honey," Liz smiled politely over, "but if you guys really want to go play some poker, it's really okay."
Red held his amusement. "They are mine, as well, right?"
"Of course they are, silly." Lizzy was suddenly very solicitous and reassuring. "Of course they are." She placated delicately. "...Of course."
"Then I can open a few, I guess." Red held his hand out to accept one... that was not forthcoming.
"Eh...well." Liz hurriedly turned to Susan for assistance.
"It's totally bad luck for the guy to do that." Susan's active brain did not fail her. "It's like walking under a ladder, breaking a mirror and kicking a black cat running in front of you, all at once."
Liz cut doubtful eyes her friend's way, but she kept quiet.
"Really," Red kept a perfectly straight face, "...I've never heard of that superstition before."
"It's just that, it's really hard for Susan to keep track if two people are opening gifts at the same time." Emma chimed in helpfully.
"Uh huh..." Red mused, even as he watched Emma pop a box-top open for Lizzy's convenience. "Not even one little one? Maybe that one ther–"
"You don't want to chance it." Susan was relatively certain, shaking her head woefully. "Your life isn't exactly charmed as is...is it."
"But some of these are mine, too." Red had to tease Lizzy or die. He just had to. "It says right here," he showed everyone, "Mr and Mrs Reddington."
"They're all ours, honey." Liz smiled brightly. "Each and every one."
"Hum." Red arose, shifting the woman a knowing look. "Sure they are. Well, there are some papers we should look over from Marvin. Can you spare–"
"Oh, Red," Liz grimaced, and seemed genuinely sorry, "it's just that there are so many gifts and there is a time limit on the thank-you notes."
"I see." He narrowed his eyes, hiding his mirth. "Say...are you women trying to get rid of me?" He feigned shock. "That would make you all decidedly devious and cunning and just down right...mean."
"Go play with your friends." Susan ordered in that no-nonsense tone she often used on her husband.
"Before you banish us." Harper had reluctantly approached, hanging back for a goodly spell. "I wonder if I can have a moment of your time, Elizabeth." He motioned awkwardly. "While everyone is still here, I mean."
The woman exchanged puzzled glances with Red. "Well, of course." She offered over a smile. "...Is something wrong? Are your rooms not to your liking..."
"No. No, it's nothing like..." He trailed away.
Lily approached, a worried look on the pretty face. Harper smiled reassuringly, offering his hand, which she instantly took, coming close, holding tightly.
"Maybe this isn't the time or place," he returned his attention to a patiently waiting Elizabeth, "but our first meeting was something I'm not...especially proud of."
Liz's brow furrowed slightly at the odd topic of conversation.
"It's been weighing on my mind and I think, since it was so public a spectacle at the time," the man lowered his head sheepishly, "it's only right and proper I should..." he sought Lizzy's blue eyes, "offer over a public apology for how I behaved toward you."
The man swallowed his uneasiness. "Perhaps offer an explanation of sorts." He cleared his throat. "I was a colossal ass and I am very sorry for how I acted that day...very sorry. Red should have shot me in the ass for my behavior."
"Thought about it." Red relaxed totally, his developing mood finally allowed to pass. He was ready to be upset if the talk had gone another direction. He, in truth, had no idea why Harper would approach Lizzy in such a manner, but now he understood, and wholeheartedly approved.
"I need to include you in this too, Red." Harper motioned plaintively. "You guys have been nothing but supportive, kind and hospitable to me and Lily. Which means everything to me."
Liz sent Lily a kind look of empathy.
"I don't know how to do these things very well." Harper was feeling his inadequacies deeply, an awkwardness about him that usually was not there. "I just knew, I had to attempt it."
Recalling the day of the poker game, Liz's opinion of the man had not been especially good. In the days which passed...it had altered considerably for the better.
"You did it just fine, Harper." Red offered his hand. "You had things on your mind." He motioned to Lily. "Our relationship, for lack of a better term, was not always one of congenial compatibility, either." He shrugged any concerns away. "Shit happens, things change. For my part, consider it forgotten."
Red turned to Lizzy for her take on the matter.
"Oh, for goodness sakes." Liz waved the matter off. "I'm not one to hold grudges unless it's with Silas. Let's just get on with our lives. As long as you treat Lily as you have been? I have no problem with you, whatsoever."
Lily lay her head on the larger man's shoulder, sighing blissfully. "I love this place and I love the people who live here."
Harper looked at her gently. "And I..." he caught himself just short of saying the words, but everyone present knew how that sentence was about to end before the big, burly man came to his senses. "I...am glad you like it here, Lily. I want you to be happy."
"I know you do, Eric." She smiled serenely up at the roughed face.
"We can't stay here forever, though. Imposing on Red's hospitality." He turned to Lily to face him. "I thought you might like to come with me tomorrow to see an apartment I'm thinking of leasing for a time. To see if we want to settle here in D.C. or not."
The woman's expression lit with happiness and excitement.
"Would you like that, do you think?" Harper held his breath.
"I would love that, Eric." Lily beamed a smile. "If you will be there with me, that is."
"I wouldn't be anywhere else, baby." He nuzzled her nose lovingly.
"Well, I'm going to be violently sick." Michael announced rather loudly. "Oh...not because of any display of affection offered over here." He grimaced. "Really... truly."
Susan's head fell back, a long, drawn-out groan escaping her lips. "Michael, I'm going to kill you dead. You spoiled a lovely moment."
"It was getting pretty deep in here, my angel. I was only the voice of reason." Michael stated emphatically. "You're welcome."
Shaking his head, Red pulled the vibrating phone from his pocket. "Excuse me a moment." He said, stepping off into the hall.
Harper grinned, shaking his head. "Enough said, evidently." He quipped, taking Lily in tow, with a sedate nod of acknowledgment Lizzy's way. "You ladies can get back to your gift sorting."
Liz relaxed visibly, diving into yet another pile of gifts Emma had set before her.
"Are we going to play poker or not?" Was Francis' only concern.
"Shouldn't you be over apologizing to Melissa or something instead?" Mark brought up a point on everyone's minds. "Trying to smooth over ruffled feathers?"
"My feathers are ruffled just as much as hers." Francis pointed out in no uncertain terms. "Why isn't she here apologizing or smoothing?"
"Good question." Danny thought, but at Emma's sour expression, changed his tune hastily enough. "...Although, a real man would make the first overture at reconciliation."
"Good save... kiss ass." Francis was impressed, having noted Emma's expression as well. "...No, I'm gonna go play poker and I'm going to bet big. If I lose, I lose, but I'm not gonna lose cause I feel lucky tonight."
"That's what you said last time you lost big," Mark reminded. "But sure, let's go lose some money. I think those guards just wait for us to show up."
"We all have sucker written on our foreheads." Danny put a 'L' to his own forehead, unmindful of what he had done until Francis started laughing. "What?"
"You guys make me feel better." Francis realized.
"You make us feel better too, Francis. Just by being." Mark held his amusement, for the boy's mood did indeed seem very much improved from this morning's fiasco with Melissa.
Closing his phone, Red sighed before sauntering back to Lizzy's side.
"I'll see you in a while then?" Red leaned, kissing Lizzy gently. "I actually do have to get them together...but not for poker, unfortunately." He straightened slightly, still keeping his words for her alone. "I just got an interesting and somewhat troubling call."
"Cooper?" She was instantly concerned.
"Not yet." He calmed. "Enjoy your time here. It may be interrupted sooner than we thought."
LIZZINGTON
"Gentlemen," Red turned to his guests, "if I could have a moment of your time." He gestured them to follow him.
Shrugging, they fell in line, trailing after their host.
"What's going on?" Daniel frowned curiously. "Was it–"
"Nothing from the Feds yet, it's not that." Red held his hand up when he sensed the questions would be forthcoming. "Something more troubling, actually."
The men found seats around the room, sensing there would be no poker games in their near futures by Red's manner and tone, which had turned serious.
"The phone call was to inform me," he sat opposite them, "Sean McSha has been sighted in and around D.C."
"The Trinity?" Mark sat up, his attention definitely caught. "What's the little fucker doing here?"
"Not only here." Red continued. "He's traveling a path clear across the globe, buying up his favorite product as he goes. Each market has been literally wiped clean of surplus."
"That's one fucking big bomb." Danny whispered his awe. "What's he up to? Anyone got any clue?"
"Everyone's keeping on the down low for the time being." Red passed on what was told to him. "Apparently, he's been going around, buying up whatever supply was available in any given area, setting up whatever he's got planned and moving on from there."
"That little Irish prick scares the hell out of me," Mark told his point of view. "He's from the old school. His grandfather was part of the original IRA membership in the sixties."
"It's hit the grapevine, then?" Harper asked. "Everyone's putting out the warning?"
"Everyone's running scared and staying away from major city hubs. Let's just say that much." Red said.
"So he started here?" Danny was getting it straight in his head.
"No, the first cities he visited were Sydney and Tokyo." Red shook his head. "More recently, Los
Angeles and Las Vegas."
"And in each city, he buys up the tools of his trade." Francis scowled. "Why? So someone else can't beat him to whatever he's got planned? Because it's just that mammoth a job?" He used his considerable powers of deduction at present. "Doesn't make any sense."
"There's only three major players in that arena, correct?" Harper asked for input.
"There's no one else that comes to mind, but I know Max Ruddiger and Brian Eckard are not involved." Red had asked the same question with his phone contact earlier. "They're accounted for."
"This is a global thing, whatever it is." Francis could see the writing on the wall. "So several targets."
"Michael, what do you know about this guy?" Daniel asked.
"Red knows McSha as well as I do." Michael reminded.
"Let's try to map some theories as to what the little bastard's up to." Red suggested.
"McSha is wiping out the supplier's stockpiles." Harper ticked off on his fingers. "He's moving fast. He's now on the West Coast."
"A contact out of LA said his associate in Oregon said McSha arrived the day after they spoke." Red nodded. "So, yeah...he's moving fast."
"And D.C. was on the list of cities he visited?" Francis wanted it straight in his mind.
"Yes." Red supplied the information. "We weren't alerted to the fact as we had yet to leave Texas."
"So, the premier bomb maker of our day is active and has plans in the works." Mark was trying his own hand at the puzzle. "But no one is certain of his target...or targets... but it's a big target due to all the product being gathered."
"What's so important and that large a target that would be of interest to anyone we know?" Was the question on everyone's minds and stated succinctly by Michael Fairfax.
"McSha isn't a vengeful person, pe se." Red mused.
"He wouldn't take on anything this big, firstly," Michael shared his thoughts on the matter, "and secondly... he only fights for causes last I heard."
"Maybe he's found one." Danny suggested.
Michael shook a doubtful head. "Doesn't jive with what I know about the man." He fell silent.
Red knew, from past experience, Michael was sorting and sifting past information from his vast repertoire of pertinent and important shit that filled the man's head.
"Lizzy will want me to notify the Feds...especially her unit." Red wasn't sure that was the best thing to do at present.
"I can get the ball rolling." Danny went to seek out his computer equipment. "I can get real time access to some live feeds. See what's buzzing on the dark web, at least."
"I'm going to make a few calls." Michael obviously had a direction to pursue as well. "Clive Ostman out of Dublin should have a notion of what's in the wind. If not him...his cousin, Angus. Who grew up with McSha. They're tight still."
"Will he talk about his friend?" Harper doubted as much. "Rat on him?"
"For a price, he'll talk about anything or anyone." Michael knew how to get around the honor among thieves' theory. "You just have to know how to approach the man."
"Red, I can get in touch with Matt Sayer." Francis offered. "He's my explosive expert. Maybe he's caught something through his circle of acquaintances. It's a long shot, but..."
"Do that, Francis." Red approved.
"I'll try to get a location on our boy." Mark had some contacts as well. "It might help if we could get to him before he gets to...whatever it is he's going to do."
"Find him." Red suggested...strongly. "Even though this may have nothing to do with our organizations, we know for certain, someone, somewhere is going to be affected, maybe permanently."
"With that said," Harper offered his own services, "until the situation here blows over," the man shrugged, "pardon the pun... I will see to securing a safe spot for the ladies."
Envisioning the usual suspects, Red mentally calculated a goodly distance away from any government building and major tourist attraction he could.
"Yes," Red agreed, "at least twenty miles outside the city center." He suggested, but cautioned. "Keep them in arm's reach, however."
Nodded his agreement, Harper pulled his phone free. "Will do."
"It appears we may show the Feds what we're capable of by a practical demonstration." Red said. Pushing from his seat, he took a bracing breath... heading for his wife.
LIZZINGTON
Having dragged the woman away from her preoccupation with the wedding gifts, Red filled Lizzy in on the most recent developments.
"Normally when we hear McSha's in the neighborhood, we all seek an underground shelter until the coast is clear." Red told the truth. "Considering the scope of the issue this time... that doesn't appear an option."
"What does that mean, exactly?" Liz frowned, folding her arms tight around her middle.
"We are trying to locate him and bring him in to understand the gravity of the situation," he assured his wife, "... but we need to tread lightly everywhere we turn, as to not trip a wire."
"You're remaining discreet in your enquiries to not tip him off." Liz understood his meaning.
"...Yes." Red confirmed. "Like I warned Michael earlier about O'Flynn and his Irish temper," he continued. "I'm warning you, it could turn catastrophic for all involved if McSha is not approached correctly."
"I've never heard of this guy." In the time she had worked with Red, she had been introduced to some characters, and downright psychopaths.
It wasn't until this moment, however, she truly realized just how badly the federal government remained blind to important developments happening all around them.
"He's the bomb maker. It's his specialty. He's an expert and knows how to use anything to get his point across." Red could not stress how urgent the matter was.
"And you don't know what he's got his hands on now?"
"All we know for sure, he's traversed the globe, sucking the supply dry."
She didn't need a map to be drawn for that one. There was no good outcome to an explosive expert having whatever he wanted on hand.
"He's not just going to sit around and twiddle his thumbs." Red knew Sean McSha's modus operandi. "Whatever's going on is going to end with one big fucking bang."
"And since we don't know his target, we can't give out any warnings." Liz understood the enormity of the issue before them. "What have his past objectives been?"
"Nothing on this scale." Red advised. "Michael says, these days he hires out to private citizens with a grudge to settle. Mostly, in truth, it's been big businesses that shaft their clients, say...or CEOs that embezzle millions from an annuity fund."
"To be truthful, it sounds like he's kinda small potatoes."
"Really?" Red laughed. "He took down one big pharma company by targeting each branch of their divisions. Simultaneously."
"He's one guy, right? How did he do that?"
"Careful planning, which is this guy's forte." Red sat, motioning for the woman to take a seat in one of the wingback chairs placed before his desk. "Each explosion was timed to their respective time zones. It was quite impressive."
"Why did he do that particular job? Do you know?"
"Some man trustingly poured his life savings into securing a cure for his little boy," his eyes darkened, "one the pharmaceutical assured would work wonders."
"In reality..." Liz thought she knew where this was going.
"It did more damage than good." It still bothered him, he had been too late to offer the man assistance. "He lost everything... but more importantly, he lost his child."
"How could he afford McSha's price?" Liz wondered aloud.
"Life insurance policy." Red exhaled heavily.
"Everyone preyed on that kid and his family." Liz lowered sad eyes.
"No, Sean wouldn't take it," Red said. "He suggested, instead, the man focus on his family, mourn... and to not think another thing about it."
Liz's brows lifted, her shock apparent.
"The guy thought Sean was trying to make him see reason... and left." Red explained. "It wasn't until later, when the company was hit... the grieving father realized–"
"McSha had secured the man an alibi," Liz surmised, "but also found a worthy cause to stand behind."
"Yes." Red knew, for Sean had confided his reasons after the fact.
"We can get Aram working on this." Liz offered.
"You won't find anything." Red shook his head. "You will see the remnants of his work, but the man himself... he wouldn't be in your system."
"Of course he wouldn't." Liz sat back, sighing heavily.
"If you did have anything, it would show him to be an upstanding citizen." He reminded. "McSha keeps a low profile for a reason."
"Can you guys find this man, Red?"
"Michael has some leads...Danny's doing what he can and Mark is pretty sure he can narrow down McSha's location." Red relayed the information to date. "We've only had about an hour, Lizzy. We'll find him, but even if we do...it's not any guarantee he'll give over the information needed."
"But...what about Brimley?" She had heard Silas and Joe telling some harrowing tales about that man. "Can't he pretty much persuade anyone to talk if he really puts some effort into it?"
"I can't use Brimley on this one." Red sighed. "Wish I could, but Brimley is having a hernia operation."
"He's going to kill people, Red." Liz was aghast. "Lots of people, apparently."
"Believe it or not, McSha is an honorable man."
"That means shit." Liz was getting upset. "I reiterate...he's going to kill people."
"Michael thinks something else is happening we don't know about," Red explained the holdup in the proceedings. "If we can find Sean, we can reason with him."
"If you find him before the Big Bang?" Liz ran a frustrated hand through her dark hair. "We have to get the team in on this. Our systems are not exactly antiquated, Red."
"Neither are Danny's." He arose, coming to sit on the desk edge. He looked down into the dour little features. "Mark can find Sean. We just need a few hours."
"This man has a massive head start on us." She tried reason herself. "Do we really have that much time?"
"My team is better than your team." He held his smile for the immediate scowl of denial on her brow. "I'll wager on it."
Elizabeth was not a happy camper, he knew.
"I'll make you a deal." He could compromise. "If we haven't found Sean by this evening, I'll pull in your team."
Liz was torn.
The phone rang, and Red rolled his eyes. "Does it ever fail?" He asked the Cosmos rather than his companion, glancing at the screen. "...Well, maybe the Fates are trying to tell me something." He answered, arising slowly. "...Hello, Harold."
Liz jumped up, her face a mask of indecision. She wrung her hands in an unconscious display of anxiety as she listened to the exchange.
"Okay, let me get this straight in my head." Red glanced out to the gardens. "Your people are giving me ultimatums when they haven't got one leg to stand one? What did I say about bullshitting me?"
Liz closed her eyes to the stupidity of her own breed.
"You tell your little friends in high places, there is something developing right now that is so massively destructive in nature, it will make their collective little empty heads spin when the shit hits the fan."
Knowing damn well he had an audience listening in, he tried to keep the edge from his tone. "Do they have any inkling at all to what I refer? I don't think so, but it's very real and very dangerous."
Red listened, his face showing his impatience and growing anger. "The threat is imminent, Cooper."
Liz jerked her attention upright, her heart pounding in her chest. If Red's warning wasn't enough, she hoped Harold had heard that subtle clue.
Red never called Cooper anything but Harold. That he hadn't... was a very loud and clear alert: they had a very serious situation on their hands.
"My people are on it." He seethed. "Yours? They don't even know it's in the works...do they?"
Liz put her fingertips to her throbbing forehead.
"This is all the information you'll get from me...it's a bomb. It's several bombs." Red snipped. "Until your people get off their collective asses and give me what I want...let them figure the rest out." He hung the phone up.
Liz gasped her shock, staring at the object in disbelief.
The phone rang immediately. Red held her stare, refusing to answer.
"Red...please." She pleaded.
Sighing, Red closed his eyes. "...What?" He snapped off the word.
Liz tried to read his expression, but...there was nothing to read.
"They don't know their asses from a hole in the ground... which has been made very apparent in just the last few minutes speaking with you." Red scoffed. "It has nothing to do with anyone out of Oklahoma. That is just so passé. The world has moved on, Harold. Too bad your organization hasn't."
Red's gaze fell on Lizzy's face, his heart softening a tad. He looked away, focusing on what he needed most... his aggravation.
"How many cases have I closed for you again..." He asked pleasantly, a bite to the barb, for all that, "while they sit on their asses, scratching their heads?" He continued. "They're idiots, you know it...I know it."
Red leaned, kissing Lizzy's mouth gently, pulling her close as Cooper blathered on.
"This is the deal, and it's a final one." Red cut the tirade short. "Give me what I requested." He suggested strongly. "I will bring my people in, we will coordinate... you continue to do what I tell you to do, go where I tell you to go... and we may just end the threat looming on the horizon."
Red ran a soothing hand over Liz's back several tender sweeps.
"You're one to talk about upholding promises kept...what about the ones you continuously promise the public you supposedly answer to?" Red laughed mirthlessly. "My way, Harold, or your unit can go back to shuffling paperwork."
Red held the phone away from his ears, grinning at the obscenities flying about. "...Harold, remember your blood pressure."
After a few more colorful metaphors singed Red's ear, a compromise was proposed. "No compromises."
Silence met with Red's efforts for a long beat, but then...
"Dembe will arrive shortly to take possession of the paperwork." Red advised. "After I receive them, and assure all is signed and stamped accordingly, I will be at the Site in one hour. Have your team up and ready to run." Hearing what he wished, Red nodded succinctly, snapping the phone shut.
"Come with me, baby..."
Taking his hand, Liz followed docilely, sensing the problem was about to be addressed by all concerned.
Entering the library where everyone had set up a make-shift operations room, Red squeezed Lizzy's hand reassuringly as all activity halted upon his entrance.
Seeking each man in turn, a slow smile graced his lips.
"Gentlemen... welcome to the Blacklist."