The Perfect Team (2nd half)
"You want to do what?" Peter's voice was almost a yell.
"You heard me, Peter." Simon countered calmly. "We need a way to draw Santiago out into the open. This is it." He paused for a moment, then continued. "When Santiago gets Peters' message he's going to want proof."
"Which means a meeting." Peter said, catching on.
"Exactly!" Simon said with a grin. "Before this is over, it may leak to the media and I wanted to make sure you and Mr. Addington knew what was really going on."
"Thank you. We should be there soon anyway."
"What? How soon?"
"Late tonight, your time, or early tomorrow. After Suzy called here, Alex rescheduled most of his meetings. He has one to get through in the next couple of hours and then we're on our way to Cascade." Peter could be heard shuffling papers. "You've got the number for the Addington jet's fax, right?"
Simon checked his notes. "Yeah."
"Good. Fax Santiago's file there. We'll look at it on the way over. I trust you won't mind my people crashing the party?"
"By my people you would be referring to Mr. Stone and Ms. Germont?"
"I would be." Peter affirmed.
Simon sighed heavily. "They'll be following my orders, right?"
"Of course."
"And you?"
"It is your department and your operation." Peter noted smoothly.
"Fine. You're in." Simon said. "But the slightest misstep and..." He cautioned.
"Yes, yes, I know." Peter almost laughed. "You'll kick us off the investigation so hard we'll land in Paris before the jet does."
"Exactly." Simon agreed, a note of laughter creeping into his voice. "See you when you get here."
"Agreed." Peter said firmly before hanging up.
Simon grabbed a post it note, scribbled the fax number on it then slapped the note onto the Santiago file. Picking the file up, he left his office, crossed the bullpen and presented the file to Rafe. "Detective, see that this gets faxed, in its entirety, to Peter Sinclair. The number's on top."
Rafe accepted the file and nodded. "Yes, Sir."
"Thank you." Spotting Jim entering the bullpen, Simon nodded at Rafe and headed over to the Sentinel. "Peters agreed to it?"
Jim nodded. "Yeah, the DA's gonna work a deal out with him if he does. One problem, Sir."
"And that is?" Simon asked as they walked toward Jim's desk.
" The proof. Peters is going to need something to show Santiago." Jim frowned. "And its not like we can produce a corpse for Peters to use."
Simon grinned. "Not a real one, no. Pictures, however..." He trailed off as Jim caught on. "Didn't Sandburg date a special effects artist a few months back?"
Jim nodded. "Kristy something or other."
"Get him to call her, while I explain this to Ms. Addington."
"You ok?" Blair asked as Suzanne stepped out of the ladies room, her eyes slightly red from crying.
"Yeah. It just..." Suzanne leaned back against the wall and stared at the ceiling for a moment. "Sometimes I wish I could just give it all up. Be someone else." She sighed. "People think being rich is some kinda joyride." She looked over at Blair, her eyes tearing up again. "They've never lost their mother because of their father's political activities or had to live surrounded by guards for fear it could happen to them too."
Blair laid a hand on her shoulder and smiled encouragingly. "No, but you seem to handle it well."
"Training." Suzanne said with a wry smile. "All those diplomats around when I was growing up. I learned pretty quickly how to be the perfect daughter when they were around. Always smile, never look upset or angry. Be pleasant and friendly." She smiled at him. "You're not too bad at it yourself."
Blair did his best to look blank. "What?"
"Oh, come on." Suzanne said with a wry smile. "You're a master at deflecting people's attention from your real feelings. I may not have known you very long, Blair Sandburg but I've seen you do it. You seem very emotive and very much on the surface, but the truth is you give away very little about what the real Blair Sandburg is feeling. You'd make a great politician." She finished her statement with a teasing smile.
Blair half-smiled. "Takes one to know one, hmm?"
"Quite true." Suzanne said with a nod.
"Sandburg!" Jim called out, appearing in the corridor.
"Yeah, Jim?" Blair turned to look at his friend.
"About six months ago you went out with a woman named Kristy, didn't you?"
Blair nodded. "Yeah. Kristy Davenport. Why?"
"She works with special effects and make up right?" Jim asked.
"Yeah." Blair grinned over at Suzanne. "I look way cool with Trill spots."
Suzanne giggled. "Bet you'd make a really wacky Vulcan."
"You have no idea." Blair countered.
"Uh, Sandburg?" Jim interrupted. "I'll take that as a yeah. Things ended well, right?"
"Yep. I occasionally serve as guinea pig when she's trying something new out." Blair answered, getting suspicious. "Why?"
"Simon wants you to call her." Jim explained. "And Simon wants to talk to you." He added, addressing Suzanne.
Suzanne nodded and started to walk past then she stopped and grinned back at Blair. "Jim'd make a great Klingon, doncha think?"
Laughing, Blair nodded.
"Trill spots?" Jim gazed inquisitively at the younger man as Suzanne rounded the corner.
"Oh, yeah." Blair nodded. "And she counted every last one."
Jim rolled his eyes and let out a resigned sigh. "You are incorrigible."
"Yep. And its fun!" Blair countered.
Suzanne looked at Simon as if he were growing a second head. "You want me to do what?"
"Let Sandburg's friend paint you up to look like a corpse so we can fake a few pictures for Peters to give to Santiago." Simon explained patiently.
"Did you talk to Peter about this?"
"He's all for it." Simon said, casually omitting the fact he hadn't mentioned the make up to Peter.
"I don't believe this." Suzanne said, dropping into a chair. "When Papa asked me to come here ahead of him to check out Rainier I don't think me pretending to be a corpse was what he had in mind."
"I don't think so either, but we need a quick way to lure Santiago out into the open, and this is the best one we could come up with." Simon explained, sitting down at his desk.
"This should be interesting." Suzanne acquiesced with a sigh.
The hotel was more than cooperative about letting them use the suite again. They were horrified that an attempt had been made on Ms. Addington's life in their hotel. That sort of thing just didn't happen there, and they were falling all over themselves to make sure Ms. Addington got whatever she asked for.
Kristy showed up at the hotel with a kit under her arm and a smile on her pretty face. It wasn't hard to see why Blair regularly submitted to being her guinea pig.
To Jim's dismay she took one look at him and noted with a huge smile. "You know, you'd make a great Klingon!"
Fortunately, Jim didn't noticed the conspiratorial smile that passed between Kristy and Blair when they stepped into the elevator.
Suzanne was waiting for them, dressed in the same sleep wear she'd been wearing that night.
After brief introductions Suzanne and Kristy moved into the bathroom where Kristy went about the business of turning Suzanne into her own corpse.
While they were doing that, Jim and Blair waited for the crime scene photographer.
"Has anyone told him that its not a real corpse?" Blair asked of his partner.
"Nope." Jim grinned. "They left that to us."
"Oh, Man," Blair sighed. "This is going to be interesting."
"Yep." Jim straightened up slightly. "Here he comes."
The elevator dinged then and the doors slid open to release the crime scene photographer.
"Detective Ellison?" He asked, looking automatically to the taller man.
"Good day, Mr. Halloran." Jim nodded.
"Where's the body?" He inquired.
Blair couldn't resist. He had to say it. "In the bathroom getting her face done. You know women. Always have to spend an hour putting on their make up before they get their picture taken." He said cheerily, holding in his laughter as the photographer boggled at him.
"WHAT!"
Jim tossed a reproachful look at his partner who merely grinned and bounced slightly. "She's not really dead." He explained, leading the photographer into the suite.
"I should hope not." Suzanne said in greeting. "If I am, and this is heaven, I want out now."
She turned slowly for their inspection. "So, do I look dead?" She asked of the three men.
"If you took the grin off your face you would." Jim said smoothly.
Suzanne stuck her tongue out at him. "Ha, ha. Hilarious, really." She joked. "Ever think about a career in standup?"
"Naw, I get enough humor from Shecky over there." Jim countered, nodding at Blair.
"So, can we get this over with?" Suzanne prompted. "It's not fun looking like you've been hacked to death."
Which she did. Suzanne's back was covered with, what looked like very real stab wounds and blood. Kristy had done an excellent job.
Jim nodded. "Yeah sure."
Kristy grabbed a few more packets of fake blood from her kit and followed them into the room.
"Ok, Suzanne, lie down like we discussed and I'll add some blood to the sheets." She instructed opening one packet.
Suzanne nodded and did as Kristy instructed. The FX artist manoeuvred around the bed, periodically adding blood to the sheets around Suzanne.
Jim watched with a frown, occasionally commenting to Kristy, drawing on the memories of various crime scenes he'd been on.
When Kristy was finally done they all backed away from the bed and the photographer stepped forward.
"Y'know," Suzanne commented wryly, from where she was lying on her stomach. "When I considered trying a modeling career this was not what I had in mind."
They all laughed, grateful for the break in the tension that had built in the room.
"Oh, I dunno, Suze. You look pretty cool." Blair commented.
"Yeah, for a house of horrors." Suzanne countered.
"Children, please," Jim broke in. "Let the photographer do his work."
"Yes, Dad." They chorused.
Jim shook his head. "Incorrigible."
"And proud of it." Suzanne countered. She glanced over at the photographer. "Eyes open or closed?"
"Open." Jim called back. "If Peters was the one taking these pictures he wouldn't stop to close them."
"True." Suzanne agreed, laying her head back down on the pillow and staring off into space.
In a matter of a few seconds it was over. The photographer snapped several pictures from different angles. Making sure one of them got Suzanne's face.
When he was done he spun off the roll of film and removed it from the camera then passed it to Ellison.
"Thank you." Jim said nodding gravely. "Now remember, you were never here."
"Corpse?" Halloran blinked his eyes widely. "What corpse?"
"Good." Jim grinned as the photographer left. "Ok, Suzanne, you can go clean up now."
"Gee thanks." Suzanne grimaced. "So anyone going to explain that to the hotel?" She questioned, gesturing at the 'blood covered' sheets.
"Naw," Blair grinned. "Leave 'em for the maid to find."
"Blair!" Suzanne looked at him in mock-horror. "You're cruel."
He shrugged. "Years of knowing Jim."
Jim rolled his eyes. "We'll take care of the sheets." He looked over at Kristy. "Thanks for your help, Ms. Davenport."
"No problem." Kristy said with a smile. "Hey, Blair, I've got this new alien face I wanna try out. Drop by my place next week...say Tuesday?"
"Sure." Blair grinned. "Seven ok with you?"
"Seven's fine." Kristy said, before slipping past them into the living room where she gathered up her equipment. "See ya!" She waved jauntily before slipping out.
"Filling the little black book again, I see." Jim commented, just loud enough for Blair to hear.
"Better than living the life of a monk." Blair teased. "I mean the meditation stuff isn't so bad, but the abstinence thing?"
Jim aimed a swat at his friend's head but the smaller man neatly avoided it, laughing.
After a quick stop at the University to get the film developed, the trio headed back to Major Crime.
"Simon," Jim stepped into the captain's office and held up the envelope. "Pictures are ready."
Simon held out a hand.
Jim passed him the envelope then dropped into a chair to wait.
Simon looked the pictures over and whistled. "Blair's friend did a good job. If I didn't know better, I'd swear Suzanne was really dead."
"Yeah, lets hope Santiago thinks so." Jim said with a nod.
"Oh, Jim?" Simon looked up at the detective with a slight feeling of apprehension.
"Yes, Sir?" Jim responded, warily. There was just something in the captain's tone that set his nerves on edge.
"Suzanne's father is coming to Cascade sooner than expected."
"How soon?"
"Well, according to Peter, either tonight or tomorrow." Simon hesitated then plunged ahead. "His security team will be with him."
"And?" Jim queried, noticing the slight increase in Simon's heart rate.
"They'll be involved in the Santiago operation." Simon said, waiting for Jim's reaction.
The Sentinel did not disappoint.
"WHAT!" Jim groaned. "Sir...Civilians?"
"Civilians with a very interesting background." Simon reminded him. "Peter is a former Scotland Yard inspector, Ms. Germont is a top investigative Journalist and Mr. Stone is a former Navy SEAL."
"That's all well and good, Simon, but do they know who's in charge here?" Jim questioned straightening up. "The last thing I need is one of them acting out of turn and screwing the entire operation up."
Simon held up a hand. "Relax, Detective. Peter has assured me of their complete cooperation. He is quite aware of what I'll do if they step out of line."
Jim sighed heavily. "Just the same..."
"Jim, Peter knows the rules and I trust him to follow them. I expect you to do the same, got it?" Simon fixed the detective with a stern look that brooked no arguments.
Jim didn't like being forced to work with a team he'd never met but he shelved all his arguments for later venting and nodded. "Yes, Sir."
"Good. Now, get to work. I want this thing completely planned out by the time Mr. Addington and his team arrive." Simon ordered, turning his attention back to his computer.
Jim nodded. "Very good, Sir." He turned to go.
"Oh, Jim?"
"Yes, Captain?" Jim asked, turning back to face Simon.
"You might want to inform Ms. Addington that her father will be arriving a little sooner than she expected."
Jim nodded again. "Of course, Sir." At that, he left.
Simon relaxed back against his chair and exhaled loudly. 'That went well'. He thought in relief.
Jim left Simon's office and went straight to the break room where Blair and Suzanne were talking.
"Simon ok'd the pictures." He announced.
Suzanne nodded while Blair asked. "What's next?"
"We wait for Suzy's father and his security team to arrive then, we set up the meeting." Jim responded, placing the envelope on the table and heading for the coffee maker.
"But, that won't be for..." Suzanne trailed off as the realization set in. "He's on his way now, isn't he?"
"If not right now, then in a couple of hours." Jim clarified, sitting down next to Blair.
Suzanne sighed. "I hope you're used to bluster." She smiled fondly. "Papa can be quite bullheaded and loudmouthed when he wants to be."
"And, right now, he wants to be?" Blair prompted.
"Well, if Captain Banks sent information on Santiago to Peter and my father has read it...than, yeah. He wants to be."
Jim grinned. "We can handle bluster. You haven't seen Simon angry."
Blair mock shuddered. "Now there's bluster."
Suzanne laughed. "I'd like to see that."
"No, you wouldn't." Jim countered. "It's a scary sight."
Suzanne grinned cheekily. "Right up there with Psycho, huh?"
"Totally." Blair agreed.
Suzanne shook her head. "This has to be one of the most unconventional police departments I've ever been in."
Blair grinned. "Great, ain't it?"
With a couple hours to kill before Suzanne's father and company arrived, Blair and Jim decided to take Suzanne sight seeing.
To say it was an unusual trip would be putting it mildly. Blair and Jim's idea of landmarks were not in the Cascade Tour Guide.
And where did they finish their tour?
The Mr. Tube Steak Stand, naturally.
Suzanne raised an eyebrow at that one.
"Tube Steak?" She queried, looking from Blair to Jim.
"You'll love it." Blair assured, as Jim ordered three Smokeys.
"Well, if I can stomach Poutine....Tube Steak shouldn't be that bad." Suzanne said, her tone philosophical.
"Poutine?" Jim looked at her. "What's Poutine?"
"Its something they eat in Quebec." Blair piped up. "Its ok, I guess. Um...fries covered with gravy and cheese curds."
Jim made a face. "Fries? Covered with gravy and cheese?"
Suzanne nodded.
"And they eat it?" He inquired.
Suzanne nodded again.
Jim shook his head. "And I thought Sandburg had weird tastes in food."
"Dare I ask why you said that?" Suzanne inquired as Jim passed Frank the money for the food and accepted their order.
Jim promptly launched into an explanation of Blair's eating habits, while Blair countered with an explanation of why he liked to experiment with the cuisine of other countries and cultures.
By the end of it Suzanne was laughing so hard she couldn't take a bite of her tube steak.
Jim and Blair watched her with grins on their faces.
"Personally, I didn't think it was that funny." Blair noted, working hard to keep a solemn expression on his face.
"Oh, it wasn't." Suzanne giggled. "Its just you two are the craziest people I've ever met."
Jim grinned. "You should see us on vacations."
Blair matched his friend's grin with one of his own. "Our fishing trips are the best."
"Fishing trips?" Suzanne raised an eyebrow. "Why? Do you guys use bazookas to catch the fish or something?"
"No, I prefer the traditional method of fishing." Jim responded with a wry smile. "However, Hiawatha over there prefers to use a spear."
"A spear?" Suzanne raised her eyebrows and laughed. "Blair, he's kidding, right?"
"Nope." Blair shook his head. "I wanted to try it."
Suzanne shook her head. "You two are priceless."
"Naw...Jim can be bought easy." Blair announced. "All you need is a value meal from Wonder Burger."
"Very funny, Chief." Jim said with a smile.
"Well, you can." Blair countered.
Jim's reply was cut off by the ringing of his cellphone. He handed his tube steak to Blair and pulled out the phone. "Ellison?" He listened for a few moments. "When? Ok, we'll be right there."
"What?" Blair asked, as Jim replaced the phone on his belt.
"Suzanne's father is due to land in ten minutes. Simon wants us back at Major Crime." The Sentinel explained.
"And so it begins." Suzanne muttered.
Arriving back at Major Crime, Blair and Suzanne went back into the break room to wait while Jim went into Simon's office.
"Are they here yet?" He queried of the tall man sitting behind the desk.
"Just landed." Simon responded. "They're coming straight here."
"No stop at a hotel?" Jim frowned.
"No. Alexander's more concerned with seeing his daughter than checking out his accommodations." Simon answered. "So, did Suzanne enjoy her tour of Cascade?"
"She had fun." Jim nodded. "So did we, actually. She's pretty funny when she lets her guards down."
Simon nodded. "Good, the next day or so is going to be pretty hard, she needs the relaxation."
"Where's Peters?" Jim asked, glancing out at the bullpen.
"On his way up from lockup." Simon responded. "I just called down."
"He'd better cooperate." Jim grumbled.
"You don't trust him?" Simon asked, lighting a cigar.
"Do you?" Jim countered smoothly.
"Touche." Simon said with a wry smile. "No, I don't trust him. Which is why you'll be monitoring call along with our tech guys." Simon's phone rang then. "Banks?" He paused, listening. "Put him in the interrogation room."
"Peters?" Jim prompted when the captain hung up.
Simon nodded. "Let's go make sure Mr. Peters understands the details of the situation."
"Mr. Peters." Simon said almost cordially, as they walked into the interrogation room.
"What's takin' so long?" Peters demanded. "Santiago's gonna be worried if I don't call soon."
"We're waiting on a few associates." Simon responded smoothly. "And as for Mr. Santiago, I'm sure you can come up with a reasonable explanation for the delay."
Peters glared at him. "Easy for you to say," He grumbled. "Its not your neck on the line."
"Its not yours, either." Jim countered. "Its Suzanne Addington's."
Peters looked away at the ceiling.
"Now, you do understand the plan, right?" Simon prompted, leaning forward on the table.
"Yeah." Peters said, his voice sullen.
"Humor me and tell me how its supposed to play out." Simon instructed.
Peters gave him a weird look but complied. "I call Santiago on my cellphone and set up a meeting. Somewhere in Cascade within twenty four hours. I'm wearing a wire when I go to the meeting with the pictures. Once I'm paid, you guys move in and arrest Santiago."
Simon nodded. "Good. Glad you're clear on it." He leaned into Peters face and spoke in a low tone. "If you even so much as hint to Santiago that it's a set up, so help me, I'll throw you out to the highest bidder."
Peters shrank back slightly, obviously intimidated.
"Are we clear?" Simon asked, not caring in the slightest how Peters reacted.
"Crystal." Peters managed.
"Captain?" Rafe stuck his head into the room. "Mr. Addington just arrived."
Simon and Jim shared a look.
"Keep an eye on him, Detective." Simon ordered, moving out through the door.
Rafe nodded. "Of course, Captain."
Suzanne and Blair were talking quietly when Blair happened to glance up at the window that looked out into Major Crime. "Suzy..." He said quietly.
Suzanne turned in her chair and smiled. "Papa."
Quick as a wink, she was on her feet and out of the room.
Alexander spotted his daughter hurrying across Major Crime and a huge smile broke out over his face. "Suzanne!" He moved forward, abandoning the entourage following him.
All anger was forgotten as Suzanne hurled herself at her father. "Papa." She said quietly, as he hugged her to him.
"You're sure you're all right?" Alexander asked, his voice filled with a mixture of relief and worry.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Suzanne said, stepping back. "How was the flight?"
"Fast." Alexander chuckled. "I think JJ replaced the jets engines with rockets."
Suzanne smiled slightly. "Either that, or you spent most of the flight telling him to hurry up."
"And complaining that he was taking too long, not to mention pacing, muttering and thumping his cane." Stone commented with a grin at Suzanne. "You're sure you're ok?" He asked, his eyes revealing how worried they'd all been about her.
"For the last time," Suzanne said, looking at them all with a mock-stern look in her eyes. "I am fine. Not a scratch on me."
"Good." Gabrielle, a pretty blonde woman, smiled at her. "The last thing we wanted to do was hunt your killer."
"Well, they've got my would-be killer." Suzanne said nodding at the detectives. "Now, all we have to do is catch the guy who hired him."
"Which we shall do in short order." Peter informed her before collecting a small hug. "Now, where's Simon?"
"Right here!" Simon called out, walking into the room. "Good to see you again, Peter."
The former Scotland Yard inspector smiled at his old friend. "And you."
The two men shook hands then Peter turned to his employer. "Alexander Addington, this is Captain Simon Banks, Cascade Police."
Alexander nodded at Simon. Then, after switching his cane over to his other hand, offered his hand to the Captain. "A pleasure, Captain Banks."
"Likewise, Sir." Simon answered in a respectful tone.
"Nonsense, call me Alex." Alexander said, a wide smile on his face.
"All right, Alex." Simon returned the smile, liking the man instantly. "And please, feel free to call me Simon."
"Well, Simon, these are the other two members of my team. Ms. Gabrielle Germont and Mr. Hector Stone." Alexander gestured to each of them in turn and Simon stepped forward to shake their hands.
"Ms. Germont, Mr. Stone." Simon nodded at them both. "Welcome to Cascade."
"Thank you, and its Gabrielle." Gabrielle corrected in her soft accent.
"Its just Stone for me." Stone responded with his usual informality.
"All right. Gabrielle and Stone." Simon filed the information away for later use.
"Papa," Suzanne spotted Jim and Blair hanging back slightly from the crowd. Moving to them she directed them both into the thick of things. "This is Detective Jim Ellison and his associate, Blair Sandburg. They're the ones who got stuck with me." She grinned at Jim and Blair who both laughed slightly.
"Detective," Alexander shook Jim's hand then Blair's. "It would seem I owe you both a tremendous debt." He smiled over at his daughter. "You saved my little girl's life."
Suzanne rolled her eyes at the 'little girl' comment, but let it slide nonetheless.
"You're welcome, Sir." Jim smiled. "But no debt is owed. Suzanne's a friend."
"Good to hear it!" Alexander answered with a grin. "But you'll humor me if I decide there's a debt anyway?"
Jim smiled, then nodded.
"And, Mr. Sandburg," Alexander directed his attention at the anthropologist. "I believe you were originally to be the one who escorted my daughter around the University?"
Blair nodded. "We did get a tour in, but that was as far as we got before this whole thing got started."
"Well, Suzanne?" Alexander looked over at his daughter. "Think Rainier deserves the donation?"
"Oh definitely. And it seems to me the Anthropology department in particular." Suzanne's grin was infectious. "Don't you agree, Blair?"
For what was probably one of the first times in his life, Blair Sandburg was speechless. "Umm...ah...er...I...wha..."
Jim grinned and placed his hands on his friend's shoulders. "What he means is thanks."
"Yeah," Blair managed. "Thanks."
They laughed then Peter cleared his throat. "As much as I know we're all enjoying this, we should really get started." He smiled wryly. "Can't keep Mr. Santiago waiting, now can we?"
Peters pressed the number in then lifted the cellphone to his ear, acutely aware of the people watching him through the glass, not to mention the detective sitting across from him.
He left his message then closed the cellphone.
To their surprise, the wait lasted only five minutes.
When the cellphone rang again, Peters snatched it up.
A heavily accented voice spoke. "Senor Peters?"
Jim automatically turned up his hearing, listening to the conversation.
"Mr. Santiago?" Peters forced his voice to be smooth and controlled. He was a professional after all.
"Si, Senor Peters, where have you been?" Santiago asked suspiciously. "The media has been suspiciously quiet as of late. Why is that?"
"Well, I've been laying low, and as for the media, the police are keeping things quiet. They want a suspect before they go public."
"She is dead then?"
Jim gritted his teeth, resisting the urge to grab the phone away and scream at Santiago.
"Quite." Peters responded. "Now, when do I get paid?"
Santiago laughed. "Ah, you Americans. Always concerned with your money."
"I'm not the one who ordered the death of an innocent woman in order to make sure my profits stayed high." Peters snapped.
"Be careful, Senor." Santiago cautioned. "I am not a man who enjoys being insulted."
"My apologies, Senor Santiago." Peters said, his tone businesslike. "But you must understand my position. The target is a well known woman. I require a certain amount of money in order to escape. The longer I stay in Cascade the more risk there is of you and I being exposed."
"You more than me I should think." Santiago's voice was smug and self-assured. "Of course, you know I will require proof of her death."
"I thought you might." Peters answered, working hard to keep his tone calm. "Which is why I have pictures."
"Of the body?"
"As you would say, Si."
"Excellent. We shall meet to view them and discuss payment."
"No discussion about it. Ten million."
Santiago laughed. "You are crazy, senor."
"No, I'm quite sane. You clear several hundred million every year. Ten million is little more than pocket change to you."
There was silence for a moment.
"All right. Ten million. Now, we will meet tonight. Half past twelve at the waterfront."
Peters glanced at Jim and mouthed, 'Twelve thirty, waterfront.'
Ellison nodded his approval.
"Fine. I'll see you there."
"Excellent. And, Senor?"
"Yes?"
"I would advise you to be alone. I am not fond of large crowds."
"Yeah, well keep the bodyguards to a minimum and we'll do fine." Peters responded shortly before slapping the cellphone shut. "How's that?"
"Good boy." Jim said smoothly, taking the cellphone away. He stood and walked to the door. "Take Mr. Peters here back to his cell." He instructed the guard waiting outside.
The guard nodded and hustled Peters away.
"Well, that's done." Jim announced to the people waiting outside. "Where're Stone and Ms. Germont?"
"They've returned to the plane. We brought some of our own surveillance equipment with us. They're going to bring it here, see if you'd like to use any of it." Sinclair explained, from where he stood with Alexander.
Jim nodded. "All right."
"Now what?" Suzanne prompted.
"Now, we get you and your father under wraps." Jim informed her.
"I thought we'd stay here." Suzanne said, surprised.
"No. I want you two somewhere out harm's way." Jim said, as the group began walking toward the elevator.
"Back to the loft, huh?" Blair prompted.
Jim nodded. "Yes, its back to the loft for Suzanne and back to the plane for Mr. Addington."
"Why separate us?" Suzanne inquired.
"Jim subscribes to the 'never put your eggs in one basket' theory." Simon informed her. "And frankly, so do I. Your father is safer on his plane with his guards."
"Then why don't I go there with him?" Suzanne frowned.
"Simple," Jim responded. "Santiago has to know your father's in town. Which means he has people probably watching the plane. If you suddenly show up there..."
"We'll lose him." Suzanne finished.
"Exactly," Jim nodded. "And we can't afford to let that happen. If we do, he could come after you again, plus he'll keep doing business."
"What kind of arms does he sell?" Suzanne queried, looking from Jim to Simon to Peter and back to Jim again. "Guns, bombs, what?"
"Anything and everything." Simon answered. "Which is why he's so threatened by the current backlash against land mines. He sells them on the black market to drug lords who plant them around their crops and their homes, to any criminal who's got enough money to pay and the contacts to reach him. He doesn't care where they're used as long as he gets paid. A real monster."
Suzanne frowned. "I'll go to the loft."
Jim grinned. "Knew you'd see it our way."
After hugging her father, Suzanne went back to the loft with Blair while Alexander was hurried off to the jet by Gabrielle and Stone.
Meanwhile, Jim, Simon and Peter stood around the table in the Operations room, staring at the section of the waterfront Peters had pointed out for them as the meeting place.
"Well, we can't hide a full scale SWAT team anywhere particularly close to the site." Simon grumbled.
"No, but maybe we won't need to." Peter mused looking at Jim.
Ellison nodded, catching on. "Sinclair's right. That section is mostly for shipping. Lots of crates, and the like, lying around. We can dress some of our guys up as say bums, dock workers, anything that would normally fit in down there."
"Hide in plain sight." Peter agreed with a nod. "We can keep a team a few blocks away for when we make the arrest."
Simon nodded. "Yeah, that's good. Jim, how long before the meet?"
"An hour, Sir." Jim responded, glancing quickly at his watch.
"An hour." Simon frowned. "Not much time."
"We'll pull it off." Jim said confidently.
"We'd better." Simon said sternly. "Or you're explaining to the mayor how we managed to lose one of the biggest arms dealers in North America."
Jim shuddered. "No, thank you. I like living."
Simon rolled his eyes.
"Mayor that bad?" Peter inquired.
"Worse than that bad." Simon answered. "And with the stunts Ellison and his little buddy keep pulling I end up doing a lot of tap dancing for our honorable mayor."
"Captain?" Rafe poked his head into the room. "There's a call for you...it's the Mayor."
Simon rolled his eyes. "Speaking of tap dancing."
When he ducked out of the room Jim spoke. "Bet he looks good in the shoes."
Peter snorted, trying to cover his laughter.
"Everyone ready?" Jim whispered into the tiny microphone on his earpiece.
Receiving affirmatives from all the team he uncuffed Peters and pressed the envelope into his hands.
"All right, get going. And remember, one wrong move and its bye-bye to the DA's deal." He cautioned, glaring at Peters.
The hitman nodded slightly and moved forward.
Jim ducked into the shadows of the nearest building and ghosted along, keeping a few paces behind Peters. When he reached the end of the wall he ducked into a crate and peered out through the slats.
His eyesight automatically adjusting to the darker crate, he was easily able to keep track of Peters as he advanced toward the dock.
"Sinclair, where are you?" He questioned, beginning a check on all team members.
"A crate around ten feet from Peters." Came the crisp reply.
"Simon?"
"A pile of crates three feet from Sinclair."
"Megan?"
"Just inside a shed about ten feet from you."
"Rafe?"
"With Megan."
Jim grinned at that then checked on the rest of the team. All were within ten or twenty feet of Peters. The secondary team was setting up a perimeter around the area which would close in when Santiago arrived.
"Jim." Joel's voice came through his earpiece.
"Yeah, Joel?"
"Santiago's coming in from the north side." Joel was in command of the secondary team. Simon had wanted one of his people in charge so the two teams would mesh well.
"Got it. Close up the perimeter as soon as he's through."
"Affirmative."
"Ok, guys," He said, addressing the rest of the team. "Santiago's on his way in from the north end so keep an eye out." Pulling his gun Jim felt all his senses go on alert. Frowning, he made sure they were all firmly under control. It wouldn't do for him to zone now, especially with Blair back at the loft with Suzanne.
Jim felt his lips tug up slightly in a smile as he wondered who was more worried. Suzanne or Blair.
At that moment, both were nervously trying to watch a movie but neither one was paying much attention to the story.
"What is taking them so long!" Suzanne finally burst out, abandoning her popcorn on the couch and moving to the balcony doors.
"Its only quarter past twelve, Suze. Santiago probably isn't even there yet." Blair said, trying to reassure her and himself.
Suzanne, hugging herself, stared out at the city's skyline. "This is beyond nerve-wracking." She spoke with more than a tiny quaver in her voice. "How do you do it?" She asked suddenly, turning to face him.
"Do what?" Blair, caught off guard, looked confused.
"Your best friend is a cop, you work with cops, they're your friends too, how do you deal with the stress of it?" She returned to the couch, drawing her knees up to her chest and hugging them. "I mean, I know you're a consultant to the department and everything, but there have to be times when they end up in dangerous situations and you're left, waiting somewhere, worrying if they're going to come back alive or not."
Blair nodded. "Sure, sometimes."
"How do you deal with the stress? The fear? I'm about ready to fall apart."
Blair put a hand on her interlaced ones. "Well, for starters, don't wear yourself out worrying about the what ifs. They don't do anyone any good. Especially not you."
Suzanne nodded, drawing in a shaky breath. "No what ifs. Got it. Anything else?"
Blair smiled. "A cup of hot herbal tea, chamomile especially, soothes the nerves. How about I make us some?"
Suzanne nodded again. "Yes, please. Anything to calm me down."
Blair rose and walked into the kitchen. "They will be fine." He called back. "Jim really knows what he's doing."
"So does Peter." Suzanne countered. "But there have still been times when he's almost died."
"Well, this won't be one of those times." Blair said firmly. "Jim'll see to that."
The dark blue car eased up to where Peters waited. When it came to a complete stop, the driver got out and walked around to the rear door. Opening it, he stood to one side as Ramon Santiago stepped out.
Santiago, contrary to what his reputation would have others believe, was a small man. Small, with thinning hair and an expanding waistline. He looked more like a used car salesman than a wanted felon.
"Senor Peters," He nodded at the hitman. "I see you made it. Do you have the pictures?"
"Of course." Peters countered. "Do you have the money?"
"Si." Santiago glanced back at his driver, who moved forward with a briefcase in his hands.
Peters passed over the envelope then accepted the briefcase. Checking the money inside he nodded. "Nice doing business with you, Senor. I trust the job was done to your approval?"
Santiago opened the envelope and pulled out the pictures. "Si, you handled the contract very efficiently. This should get my message across to Mr. Addington quite nicely."
"All right, he's got the pictures." Jim whispered into the mike. "Everybody ready to move?"
Within seconds whispered replies came back from the team.
"On my mark..." Jim checked his gun. "Three...two....one...MOVE!"
Like lightening, the team exploded from their hiding places, yelling almost as one. "Cascade Police! Freeze!"
Santiago spun, his eyes widening with shock. "Police?" He turned back to Peters, murder in his eyes. "You!"
Peters shrugged. "It was you or execution. I like living, Senor."
"Traitor!" Santiago hissed. "Diego!" He barked at the driver, who drew a gun and, quick as a wink, shot Peters.
"DROP THE GUN!" Jim yelled, as they advanced on the two men who still stood. Obediently the driver dropped his weapon.
"Hands in the air! Both of you!" Simon snapped, as Megan kicked the gun away from the driver.
They complied and at Simon's nod, Rafe and Megan moved forward to cuff them and read them their rights.
"He's dead." Sinclair informed the others, after checking for a pulse on Peters.
"Can't say I'm sorry." Jim noted, an icy glare in his eyes.
Simon nodded. "I'd better go call the Mayor and Mr. Addington. Let them know we've got Santiago." He sighed wearily. "And the commissioner, better he finds out about Peters from me than the news."
Jim nodded, reaching for his cellphone. He didn't bother to say why, everyone knew anyway. He was calling Blair.
The phone in the loft barely had the chance to ring once before Blair lunged across the couch snatched it up off the coffee table.
"Jim?" He asked, breathlessly. "Didja get him?"
"Hello to you too, Chief." Jim said with a chuckle. "And yes we got Santiago. But not before his driver shot Peters."
"The hitman? Is he..."
"Wounded." Jim reported. "We put a vest on him just in case. We acted like Peters was dead. Hopefully Santiago will be extradited before the news breaks that Peters survived, last thing we need is Peters ending up dead before he can get to trial."
"Are you ok?"
"We're all fine. No casualties this time out." Jim answered, his tone reassuring.
"We'll be down to the station in around ten minutes..." Blair said, glancing up at Suzanne who stood next to the balcony doors, watching him worriedly.
"Naw...don't bother. Its just paperwork tonight. You two get some sleep. I'll be home in around an hour, hopefully."
Blair grinned. "Yeah, well just be quiet when you do. You know I hate getting woken up in the middle of the night."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah...whatever." Jim said teasingly. "Get some sleep, Chief."
"Later," Blair said before Jim ended the connection.
"Blair?" Suzanne looked at him, hope beginning to enter her eyes. "Is...Santiago?"
"He's in custody along with his driver. Peters got shot." Blair reported, hitting the end button on the phone and setting it down. "Jim and Peter and the rest of the team are all fine."
Suzanne exhaled slowly, obviously relieved. "Thank God." She murmured. "So, what else did Jim say?"
"He told us both to get some sleep and that he should be home in around an hour." Blair grinned at her. "Are you tired?"
"Nope. You?" Suzanne asked with a grin.
"Nope." Blair stood. "Y'know Jim's usually starving after a bust like this."
"Yeah, think we should cook something?" Suzanne suggested, her blue eyes innocent.
"That's a very good idea!" Blair's tone was bright.
"It is the least I could do for him. After all, he did save my life." Suzanne said as they moved toward the kitchen.
"So, what should we make?" Blair inquired, peering into the refrigerator.
"I make a mean spaghetti sauce." Suzanne said, her smile impish.
"Spaghetti it is." Blair said with a nod. "Easy on the spices though. Jim's got a very touchy stomach."
Suzanne nodded. "Got it."
An hour and a half later, a weary and hungry Jim Ellison hauled himself out of the truck and headed for the stairs of the loft.
He paused on the bottom step with a frown. "Do I smell..." He began, sniffing experimentally. "Spaghetti?" His eyebrows raised slightly. "Either Blair and Suzanne are still awake or we're being visited by the Chef Boyardi fairies."
Shaking his head, he moved up the stairs.
Suzanne was just lifting some French bread out of the oven when Blair noticed the door knob turning.
"He's here." The anthropologist informed his co-hort with a grin.
Suzanne matched his smile with one of her own and set the bread on a rack to cool.
Turning toward the door, they waited for it to open fully, admitting a very suspicious Sentinel.
"Go wash up, Jim." Blair ordered firmly, the minute Jim closed the door. "We'll put everything out."
Jim frowned at his Guide. "I distinctly remember telling you to get some sleep."
"We weren't tired." Suzanne and Blair chorused innocently.
"And Blair mentioned that you're usually hungry when you get back from a bust like this so I suggested we should cook something for you." Suzanne informed him, scooting forward to steal the detective's coat from his hand and turning away to hang it up.
"I agreed then Suze mentioned she made a mean spaghetti sauce...so..." Blair waved a hand at the food laid out on the table. "We made spaghetti. Now, go wash up!"
Jim rolled his eyes but did as the younger man ordered. He was hungry and it was nice of them to go through all the trouble to cook the stuff. The least he could do was eat some of it.
"Hey, Chief, you should get the recipe from Suze for this sauce. Its good." Jim informed his Guide, ten minutes later as they sat around the table.
Suzanne grinned. "I'll write it down for you, Blair."
"Thanks, Suze." Blair said with a nod at her. "Better write it in terms Jim'll understand. I don't cook all the time."
"Nope. He has a tendency to slip things into soup that should be left to crawl around in their natural environment. The swamp." Jim dead panned, making Suzanne burst out laughing.
"Jiiiimmm!" Blair groaned. "I told you what was in that soup."
"Yeah, after I ate it!" Jim shot back.
"And you liked it!" Blair returned.
"I wouldn't have, had I known what was in it!" Jim argued.
"What does the contents have to do with how much you enjoy it?" Blair countered.
"A lot when those contents are eye of newt or wing of bat." Jim said, his eyes twinkling.
Their argument was interrupted when Blair glanced over at Suzanne and said,"Oops."
"What?" Jim inquired looking over at Suzanne.
"I think Suze's about to die laughing." Blair noted solemnly.
Epilogue
"Well, I have to admit." Suzanne stated a week later, as they stood in the airport. "You two had to be the most...interesting bodyguards I've ever had."
"You're welcome." Blair said with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Anytime you guys're in Paris, feel free to drop in." She informed them seriously. "Heck, if you want to visit, call ahead and I'll convince Papa to send JJ over with the plane."
"Got it." Jim said with a nod. "Free trips to Paris...we might take you up on that."
"I expect you to." Suzanne countered. Stepping forward she hugged Blair. "I trust you'll convince the Anthropology department to go on a full scale spending spree?"
Blair laughed. "I'll try."
Suzanne hesitated for half a second then hugged Jim. "Thanks for saving my life." She said quietly.
"You're more than welcome." Jim smiled down at her. "I hope I improved your opinion of the police?"
Suzanne considered it for a moment. "Well...the Cascade police anyway."
Jim nodded. "Well, a small victory is a victory nonetheless."
"True." Suzanne's eyes twinkled slightly. "Who knows, next time we meet you might improve my view of all police organizations..." She paused then grinned at him. "But I wouldn't count on it."
"Suzy!" Peter Sinclair called out, walking up. "JJ's ready to go."
"Ok, Peter." Suzanne said, nodding at him. She sighed. "I'm gonna miss you two. I'm surprised Papa didn't offer you jobs."
"He did." Blair said grinning. "We're considering it."
Peter laughed. "Well, I can't say I wouldn't welcome having you two keeping an eye on Suzanne full time. She's quite the handful."
"Don't we know it." Blair commented, his tone long-suffering.
"Blair!" Suzanne protested laughing.
"Joke." Blair held up his hands in surrender. "Just a joke."
"It'd better be." Suzanne warned, teasing. She stepped forward and planted a kiss on both men's cheeks. "See you soon, hopefully." She turned, waved once, and headed in through the gate.
"Well, Simon wasn't lying when he said you were his best." Peter said, offering his hand to Jim.
"And he wasn't lying when he said you knew your stuff." Jim returned, shaking the Security chief's hand and smiling.
"And as for you, Mr. Sandburg." Peter said, turning to the anthropologist. "I haven't seen Suzanne laugh like that in years. You're quite the charmer. I'd be careful if I were you..."
"Oh?" Blair raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"If you get any further on Alexander's good side you're likely to end up his son-in-law!" Peter grinned.
Blair and Jim laughed.
"The Addington family would never be the same again." Jim joked.
"I suspect that's what Alexander likes about him." Peter's grin turned conspiratorial. "Alex's nephew...Adam...he's what you Americans would call a nerd. The less of the Addington Group Adam gets his hands on the better. Alex's hoping for lots of grandchildren."
Blair blushed slightly.
Peter chuckled, clapped the younger man on the shoulder then headed through the gate himself.
Blair and Jim turned to make their way back through the airport.
Jim chuckled suddenly and shook his head.
"What?" Blair inquired.
"Just thinking about the thought of you being married to Suzanne Addington." Jim laughed again. "Which one of you would get into more trouble?"
"Well, with you around as bodyguard...we'd get into an equal amount I think." Blair smiled suddenly. "You know, I think me and Suze would have pretty cute kids."
Jim rolled his eyes. "How many?"
"Oh, at least five or six."
Jim shuddered.
"What?" Blair prompted.
"That many Sandburgs?" Jim shuddered again. "I don't think the world is ready for that kind of chaos."
"Jiiiiimmm!" Blair groaned.
Ellison laughed and tossed a companionable arm around his Guide's shoulders. "C'mon Chief. Let's go see if Simon feels like spaghetti."
"Limp you mean?" Blair joked.
The sound of Jim's laughter intermingled with the murmur of the crowd as Sentinel and Guide moved out into the city that was their home.
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