"Alibi"
June 20, 2008 Jaime's Place, Virginia June 20, 2008 1830 hours The last two days had been spent with the Moonlighter, eating, drinking, talking, taking in what the city had to offer. She had enjoyed it tremendously and missed him already. He was a lot like her, just as she'd thought, and she would have to spend some time thinking about the various things they had talked about. For now, other duties called, time was of the essence. Paige pulled up to the small ranch and turned the car off flicking the stick into first gear. The development was new, that much was clear from the lack of any tree over 6 feet tall. At least Jaime's house was in the back, not secluded, but far enough away from the others to deter suspicious neighbors. She furrowed her eyebrow, suspicious? Weren't neighbors just supposed to be nosey not suspicious? She shook her head and got out popping the trunk. It would be nice, this weekend, just the two of them. She still had a knot in her stomach with what she was going to be doing tonight but she pushed it down. No sense in getting all sappy now, she was already invested in the mission. She pulled her overnight bag out and surveyed more of the property (just in case). There was a small field behind his house that stretched out lazily in front of wood line of trees. If one managed their way across the field those woods would offer excellent cover. "Just in case," she muttered. Her black heels clicked over the macadam as she walked up the driveway towards the door. She wore the slinky (not hooker-ish) dress Brian had picked out that not only accented her curves but her blonde hair as well. She wore no stockings as it was much more humid in Virginia than in the city. Besides, Brian had assured her it was fashionable not to wear stockings in the summer and she trusted his judgment in these matters explicitly. She knocked on the door ignoring for the moment, the small doorbell. After a minute and just before she was going to ring the bell, Jaime opened the door, "hey, c'mon in," and turned away gesturing for her to follow. "Okay," she said slowly going in and shutting the door behind her. The central air felt good against her skin and calmed her a little. And the smell... Lucky the house was small so that in a few steps she was already in the dining room looking into the kitchen where Jaime was busily moving pots around on the stove. She spied the living room and dropped her bag on one of the sofas before going back to the kitchen. She leaned against the doorway thoroughly amused at him being very busy. "Smells really good," she said smiling. "Yeah, you called, I figured you were about an hour away, so...ow...just thought I'd have dinner ready...almost," he paused for a moment after dumping out some pasta into a strainer and looked at her. "You look...amazing," he said softly. "You're burning your hand," she said nodding towards the pot. "What?" he jerked his hand away from the pot he was holding, "damn, that's hot." "You need some help?" she offered looking around the kitchen but making no attempt to move. "Yeah, last time I checked you didn't even know how to boil water," he said laughing. She shrugged, "doesn't mean I can't be nice and offer." "Well, I do appreciate it but...I got it. Beer's in the fridge if you want." "Mind if I call in?" she asked as she pushed herself off the wall. "Nope," he said pushing a spoon around in another pot. She dialed Gray's office number. "Yes," he answered. "Hey Gray, it's me," she said smiling. "I thought you were going to Jaime's?" he asked alarmed. "Yeah, I am, I'm here. I just wanted to call to let you know that I got here ok. Say hi to Gray Jaime," she said holding out the phone. "Hi Gray, she's safe and sound," he said loudly towards the phone. "See?" Paige said. "Very good, but...I thought we weren't supposed to bother each other," he said and she could hear the amusement in his voice. "Yeah, I know, I just didn't want you to worry." Her stomach turned with the lie though she sounded convincing enough. "I'm glad you called, I actually was a little worried. It's been a rough week for all of us," he said. "Yeah, that's for sure." "Well, take your time, we'll be fine here, it's pretty quiet. I spoke with Reilly not too long ago, he appreciated your input." "Oh, good, I hope it was helpful," she smiled thinking of the handsome ATF man. "I'm sure it was. You have a good time, relax, and call me Monday or Tuesday, whenever you're coming back." "Ok, probably Monday." She paused, got to seal the deal, "Gray?" "Yes?" "I'll leave my phone on...just in case, ok?" "That's fine Paige, I'd appreciate it," he said. "Ok, have a good weekend," she said evenly. "You too, goodbye." "Everything ok in Neverland?" Jaime teased. "Yes, everything's fine. We had a little fight...well, you know...I'd rather not talk about my week to be honest with you." She opened the fridge and surveyed the many different beers and little food in it. "Not much food in here," she commented pulling out one she hadn't had before. A microbrew. "That's fine. My week wasn't much better. Beer has wheat in it...that makes it like a bread, which is part of the grain family which is part of the food pyramid, so technically, I have a lot of food in there." He grinned at her. "Uh huh," she nodded her head, "you want one?" "Yes, surprise me," he said testing the sauce on the stove. She grabbed another beer, "I'll put them on the table," she said. "Hey, wait, c'mere," he said putting the lid on the pot. "I didn't get to properly say hi." She walked over to him as he wrapped his arms around her. "How's my girl?" he asked softly as he brushed his lips over hers. They were as light as she remembered, like butterfly wings. That's what she had always compared them to. She kissed him back, "tired and hungry," she murmured closing her eyes and leaning her forehead against his. His hair fell towards her face and she could smell him, a smell she thought she would forget. But smell is the strongest of the senses linked to memory and the images of what they had done together, in the hills of California, in his apartment. God, she had missed him so much. "Well hungry I can do something about...but tired? I can't guarantee you any sleep tonight." "Is that so?" she smiled, holding him and loving his arms around her again. "Yes, that's so," he said quietly as his hands rubbed her back. "And what makes you think you'll get lucky tonight?" she teased. "I'm making dinner. That guarantees I'll get lucky tonight," he said proudly. "Really," she said and gave him another quick kiss before breaking the embrace, "we'll see how dinner tastes first." "Pfft," he said returning to the stove, "who can screw pasta up?" "You'd be surprised," she said moving into the dining room. The table was set for two complete with candles and wine glasses. They wouldn't be using the wine glasses but it was a nice touch. She saw the matches and lit the candles as Jaime came out bearing a huge platter of pasta and sauce. "Ta dah," he announced softly. "That's mine, where's yours?" she teased him sitting down. "We'll share," he said leaving again. He came back in carrying a basket of bread and another bowl with sauce and what looked to be sausage and meatballs. "Don't worry, these are for me," he held up the one bowl. "You carnivore," she said in mock disgust. "Nice place by the way," she commented. "Yeah," he shrugged, "not as roomy as my other apartment back in Section but its quiet, its nice." A mischievous grin sprung up on his face, "I'll show you the bedroom later." She snorted at him, "you really think you're getting lucky tonight." He grabbed a piece of bread, dipped it in some sauce and held it out to her, "damn right," he said. She leaned forward and took a bite of the bread. She nodded her approval, "that's some good shit right there." He grinned, "I am so getting lucky tonight," he sang to himself softly. "Music," he said getting up and turning the cd player on low. He sat down and held up his beer, "to a nice lazy weekend." She lifted her bottle to his and they both took a sip. They ate dinner, which was delicious, and afterwards she helped him clean up. They didn't talk a whole lot, mostly just enjoyed each other's company. The boy still insisted on getting lucky but she knew, even though she bantered with him, there would be no sex tonight. It would not be because either of them were tired or there was company or someone standing in the way. No, it was the simple fact that he would be incapable of doing anything. "Want another beer?" she asked getting up and stretching. She had timed her drinking with his so that they would be finished at the same time. "Yeah, good, thanks," he said flipping to another college football game. Luckily there were a few on, not that they were watching any of them. They were spending more time talking and kissing and holding each other. She went into the kitchen and retrieved two beers from the fridge. Her purse lay on the counter where she had left it after she called Gray. She opened it quickly retrieving the small vial of white powder she had filched from SH2 when she had signed out the weapon and silencer that was also in her purse. One day, she thought, she was probably going to be caught stealing meds from them. But that was another day. That wasn't today. She dumped the contents of the vial into Jaime's beer. If she had spent any less energy trying to be empty, she would have felt the pangs of guilt rattling around inside of her. But she took a deep breadth and returned to the living room. She handed the tainted beer to Jaime. "Thanks," he muttered intent on the game. She stood there staring at him with a smile on her face. He finally looked up at her, "what?" Her grin widened, "ready?" "For what?" he asked looking at her sideways. "For this," she squealed as she slammed the bottom of her beer bottle against the open top of his. "Shit," he said as he shoved the beer into his mouth trying to gulp down the foaming liquid. Paige laughed as he was forced to suck down most of the beer and consequently forced to ingest the tasteless white powder that would put him to sleep momentarily for a few hours. "God, you're a bitch," he said wiping his sleeve over his mouth. "You have no idea," she said with a small smile. And he didn't. Not really. He chose not to see the darkness that rested within her now. Or if he did see it...he chose to ignore it. He tilted his head slightly. "You alright?" he asked carefully. She smiled, "yeah, silly, c'mon, you want paybacks?" she held out her beer bottle. "No, unlike you I'll take the mature road." She grinned and chugged the whole beer. "There, now we're kind of even." She snuggled up next to him as he put his arm around her. "Kind of," he muttered and his voice was already slurred. She waited staring at the television not seeing the game, just being aware of him, and his body relaxing, and his breathing deepening. She moved to look at him. "Jaime," she said loudly. He didn't move. She leaned closer to his ear, "Jaime," she said again just as loud. Nothing. Not even a flinch. She unwrapped his arm from her and put a pillow under his head so he wouldn't have a neck cramp when he woke up. She then eyed the tv and turned the volume down a little. She slipped her shoes on and went into the kitchen. She retrieved her purse double checking the weapon and clip. She went into the hallway and searched the small table top. She lifted up his keys and tested one of the two on the front door. She got it right the first try and leaving the kitchen light on slipped out of the house locking it. Jaime was defenseless in his current state, the least she could do since she drugged him and was using him as an alibi was keep him safe. She got in the car and made her way towards Washington D.C. She had timed it on the way down and figured her target was about 45 minutes away, an hour, tops, with traffic. Washington DC 2300 hours Paige sat outside of the apartment building watching it. She studied the entrance and only one person, an elderly woman with a small dog entered. No one had come out. Her hand massaged the purse feeling the outline of the gun inside. She scanned the area before removing it and quickly attached the silencer. She placed it back in the purse and got out locking the car. She crossed the street her heels clicking loudly in the relative quiet. She took the elevator to the top floor penthouse level running her hands through her hair and applying some lipstick. Should have done that in the car, she scolded herself. When the door open she took a breath and stepped into the lavishly carpeted hallway. Nothing but the best for the old man she smirked and turned left. His was one of two penthouses on the top floor. She moved purposefully, her senses heightened, her dark green eyes fixated on the suited man near the end of the hallway. He returned her gaze though his eyes drifted over her body neatly stacked in the black dress. "Valerie," she purred giving the man in the suit a seductive smile. He grinned smugly back at her. "You got the wrong penthouse sweetheart." She suppressed the urge to kick him in the balls for being such a prick and shifted her weight. "Penthouse one. Your boss called in to Deborah's for an escort. If you got a problem take it up with him." "He doesn't call escorts," the suit said. "Well he did tonight," she said flatly. The hulking form made no effort to move or call or anything. "Ok," she said letting her agitation show, "time is money pal, and right now you're costing your boss about 5Gs. Now, if you want to pay me then pay me and I'll be on my way. I could use some time off." Paige held out her hand. The suit stared at her for a moment and she could see him thinking and weighing if his boss had actually called a service and if he was willing to take the chance of turning her away if the old man had. "Alright, let me check with him first." Paige dropped her hand, "whatever." The guard turned and depressed a few keys on the pad. Paige already had the gun in her hand and as soon as the door was open she shoved it into the back of his neck and pulled the trigger. He was a big guy and of course he fell forward. She grabbed him having to straddle him awkwardly in the dress and held the door so it didn't slam open. Once everything had stopped moving she climbed over the guard and pulled him inside shutting the door softly. She watched the alarm system as it clicked back over to green. She gripped the weapon lightly confident in her abilities to accomplish the task at hand. She could do this. She would have to. There was just no turning back because too much, far too much, depended on her success. She walked confidently towards the west corner of the building where a light shone through a doorway. She stood in the entrance way to what she assumed to be the study. The old man was there...sitting behind his desk...unaware of the danger that stood before him. Return