Alex strolled into work the next morning humming under her breath. She wasn't
sure why she was in such a good mood but she wasn't going to spoil it for
herself by thinking about it to hard.
She was reading through a stack of mail and memos that had collected during
her assignment. When her phone rang.
"Monroe."
"Miss Monroe that was very nice work you did on the Travis case."
The Official said as an opening greeting.
"Thank you Sir, then you also know that I told Cooper off?"
"Yes, well high strung agents and letting off steam, it's to be expected.
It was still very good work. I'm calling about your next assignment. I'm
still tied up here in Washington, but I do have a new case for you."
"Yes, Sir I expected that you would. The State Department was done with
me." Alex shifted the phone to her other ear.
"Fawkes and Hobbes are also out here, working a case that is lasting much
longer than expected. If you would choose someone to back you up from
the Agents available this case shouldn't take long."
"Yes Sir," Alex listened to him explain the basic mission. Thinking all the while
that if there was any way she could get by with out back up she probably would.
Hobbes was the only man she really trusted to back her up, well she trusted
Darien but he just wasn't skilled enough yet to be that reliable.
"I'll be back the end of the week. Eberts should have a file for you."
The Official ended his call.
"Got it." Alex returned the phone to it's cradle. Eberts, hearing his name had
made her smile. She'd have to go ask for the case file.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Eberts had just finished making up the file. He'd gotten a early call from the
Official that morning about Agent Monroe's next case. He'd gathered all the
information he could located on the subject and was just finishing putting the
label on the file when she knocked on his office door.
"Good morning Albert, the boss said you had a file for me?"
"Good morning." He stood, nervous all of the sudden. He felt like he might even
be blushing he prayed he wasn't.
"Yes, I have it right here, I was just about to bring it to you."
"Thanks," Alex smiled and excepted the thick file folder from him.
"This looks like a lot of information, I didn't think this case was going to be
involved." She commented.
"I was attempting to be thorough, I also have a list of the Agents available for
your back up. He passed her another slip of paper, with four names typed
neatly in the middle.
Alex looked over the names. She'd worked with all of them before, but she didn't
see one name on the list she would feel comfortable relying on.
"Thank you, but I think I'll just go solo on this one." She turned to go back to her
office and read the file over.
Albert nodded, and watched her leave. Then he thought about what she had
said. Perhaps after she read the file she would decide she did need back up.
The man she was going to be tailing, and collecting evidence on was dangerous.
He was responsible for the deaths of at least six men that they knew of.
Albert didn't think going in alone was a good idea. He wished the Official was
there so he could put a stop to her notion of working the case solo.
Alex read the file over, this Scogins character they were after was a serious
piece of work. He had his hand into all kinds of ill eagle activity, from drugs to gun
running to killing for hire. He'd crossed the line so many times it was going to be
a pleasure to put him out of business. There was a knock at her door just as
she was finishing reading the file.
"Come in."
"Miss Monroe, I have an addition to the information I gave you." Albert
handed her three more pages of information on Scogins.
"I hope you have decided to take some back up along with you. I know
you prefer to work alone, but on this case I believe you might find assistance
prudent."
"I was thinking about it, how would you like to back me up on this one
Eberts?" She stood up and walked around her desk.
"I would be glad to assist you, but field work is not one of my talents as
we were discussing the other day." He met her gaze, and swallowed.
"I trust you Albert, I don't trust these guys on the list you gave me."
She made a sweeping motion towards her desk were the file lay.
"Thank you. However they are more use to field work than I, if you were to
need assistance they would be better suited to provide it."
"If they decided I was worth the effort, yeah maybe. I know these guys,
if they aren't working under someone like Hobbes, or the boss they would
just as soon leave me out there to twist in the wind, as proved assistance
let alone real help." Alex paced over to her window then back to stand
beside him.
"If you feel that way perhaps we should postpone this case until Hobbes and
Fawkes return from their current assignment." Eberts suggested.
"No, I can handle this, if you'll help me out. You've passed your firearms
training, you know all about the listening equipment. If things get to thick,
I'll pull out. I promise you I won't take chances with this case."
"You won't consider taking one of the other agents?" He tried one last time.
"Nope, either you agree to come with me or I'm going in solo." Alex insisted.
"Fine, when do we leave?" He locked eyes with her, he wasn't going to let her
down.
"Great, I'll just get together a few things and we can head out in say thirty
minutes. We are going to be down in the port area so you might want to
dress down a little, in case we have to do some leg work."
Eberts nodded.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Alex was sorry she'd had to bully him into helping her. But she didn't trust any
of the men that were available any farther then she could throw them.
She was pleased to see Albert had taken her suggestion of dressing down
seriously. Darien had ignored most of her suggestions when he first started
working with her.
Albert had made a quick trip to his apartment and changed into black jeans,
a dark tee shirt and a chambray work shirt. He even had on scruffy looking
work boots. If he didn't shave for a couple of days he could probably pull off
looking like a dock worker. She hoped he would be able to keep track of her
from the van, but he needed to look the part just in case.
"Good, you should fit in fine." Alex nodded, when he joined her in the
Agency garage.
Alex was also changed, her long hair from the previous mission tied back
and covered with a bandana. She was wearing loose dark pants, a baggy sweat
shirt, worn boots and little make up.
"Most of the women that work the area are in the fish market. But our target
has a sort of office across from the big processing pier."
Alex explained as they drove to the site. " But you've read the file you know
all of this, right?"
"Yes, but I appreciate you explaining your plan." Albert nodded.
"Today probably won't be much more than locating Scogins and maybe
talking to a few people about him. We can put the bug in place tonight."
"You are going to wear a two way today?"
"Yeah, I will at the start but if things progress I'll have to just go with a mic.
I don't want to risk being found wearing an ear piece."
Alex parked the van with several other work trucks and made sure her
two way was working. "I'll see you in a little while." She stepped out the
back of the van and wandered over to the fish market area. She made her
way to the office area above the warehouse. People were coming and
going speaking at least three different languages she spoke perfect Spanish
but her Chinese was rusty and she wasn't even sure what the other
people had been speaking in.
She scoped out the office, but Scogins wasn't there and no one else
appeared to be either. She considered planting the bug now so they
wouldn't have to make a return trip that night. But it was to risky.
She did have a good look around, and other than a pair of locks that
would be Childs play to pick, their security was nil.
"I'm on my way back, we aren't going to pick up on Scogins here today."
Alex told Eberts on her slow able back towards the van.
"Copy, that."
Albert was relieved she returned so soon. He hated being the only person
she was relying on.
"We can swing by his place, but I'd be willing to bet he's off on some kind
of trip at the moment. His office looked deserted."
"Makes you wish Darien was around to take a look."
"Yeah, it did occur to me, he'd be helpful on this one." Alex smiled.
::::::::::::::::::::
"Robert I was wondering if you would advise me."
"Sure Eberts what's up?"
"I'm seeing a lady that has issues with intimacy. I was wondering if you
would advise me how to go about."
"Got ya, but you already know about it did she tell you what happened?"
"No,"
"Ah, see now there is the first problem if she hasn't told you then you can't
bring it up. You are pretty much going to have to let her do the leading. It's a tough
situation, you have to be very patient." Bobby was trying to be helpful but there
really wasn't much he could tell him. "Let me ask you, was she attacked or
something like that, or is it something else?"
"Yes, she has received treatment, and she has been intimate since the attack.
But, from what I understand it's difficult, for her." Eberts had read Alex's file
when she had first arrived with the Agency. He almost wished he hadn't now.
"Well that's good. Ah don't know what else to tell you buddy. Go slow, be
gentle, it's going to hard on you." Bobby nodded, he well remembered when
he'd learned after the fact that Alex had been attacked. After he thought
about it he was kind of glad she hadn't told him. She'd changed her usual
method of dealing with it with him.
"Thank you," He sighed deeply. "Did you get the messages Miss Monroe
left for you, I believe there were several?"
"No, I haven't check my voice mail yet. Is there a problem?"
"I don't know just that she was eager to speak with you."
Bobby checked his office voice mail. They had only just gotten it the
month before and he wasn't use to checking on it regally. If it was really
important people usually called him on the cell phone.
"Hobbes, when you get back I need to talk to you. Later Alex."
"Hobbes, me again, I need some advise from a wise old agent, call me
when you get back. "
He didn't check the rest of the messages, she sounded a little distressed.
He dialed her cell phone.
"Monroe?"
"Hey Monroe what's up?"
"Hobbes please tell me you're back?"
"Yeah, I'm back is there a problem?" He heard the tension in her voice, he
hoped she hadn't back herself into a corner again.
"I'm done here for the day, can I meet you somewhere?"
"How about your office, or mine?"
"Yeah, I guess that will work. I'll be there in fifteen."
"Which one yours or mine?"
"Yours less chance of our being interrupted." Alex exhaled, she was glad he
was back.
Bobby was puzzled, he wondered what was going on with her now.
He sat down at his computer and fired it up, he had a long report to get
started on. Darien was checking in the Claire, but he'd be getting home
to bed long before his partner did.
Alex knocked and opened his door fifteen minutes later. He glanced at his
clock he could have timed her, she was so punctual.
"I'm glad you're back." She exhaled again once the door was closed behind
her. Bobby stood and moved around the desk to hug her in greeting.
Alex welcomed his embrace and held on for more.
"Oh, so that is what this it about, you are under to much stress kid."
Bobby had offered her a shoulder to lean on if she ever needed it this
was only the second time she'd taken him up on the offer.
"Yeah, it's another serious mission, but that's not the real problem."
She confessed, shifting in his embrace. "Let me soak this in a minute."
She exhaled again and closed her eyes, there was something magic
about his embrace. It made no sense, but for a few minutes she felt
relieved.