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| "I got the freakin' body receipt," Michael Guerin rolled his eyes behind dark glasses as he stepped into the office. He handed Isabel Evans a slip of paper and waited for her to read it. "Wow, do you think maybe I could go on another one of those really soon? I mean, he really put up a fight when I knocked on his door and told him he had to reschedule his court appearance. It was pretty intense there for a few minutes Iz, I mean, he made me wait while he found his glasses." "Michael." Isabel looked at him through the tops of her eyes. "The need for sarcasm is�There is no need for sarcasm." She sighed and pointed to the chair across from her desk. Michael sat down grudgingly. He hated it when Isabel tried to pull rank with him. They were partners, but sometimes she slipped into boss mode. In the beginning they had made a deal, Isabel would take care of the office and Michael would bring in the bad guys. When they built up some cash and got more work, they would hire another bounty hunter, so until then it was just Michael Guerin. "I think we might have one, a big one, and she's headed this way. Maybe." Isabel's dark eyes were bright with excitement. "We've been hired to track down someone who's been on the run for almost a month. There's another bonding agent after her, but so far they haven't made much progress." "Why us?" Michael asked suspiciously taking off his sunglasses. He dropped them on the desk purposely knowing it would get a reaction from Isabel. "Damn it!" Isabel let out a deep breath. "This is Teakwood. You do not drop things on it!" "Right, the antique Teakwood desk you just had to have," Michael felt his hackles raising and wondered if a famous financial debate was on. "Michael I don't-" Isabel stood behind her desk and stopped herself in mid anger outburst. She sat back down and forced a smile. "Let's not argue about this right now, okay?" He cocked his head to one side and pursed his lips before he nodded. "Shall we argue about it later?" "Michael," Isabel tried to cover her agitation with sickly sweetness but knew she was failing. "We have something else to discuss first." "Shoot." He propped his boots up on the corner of her desk and waited for her to knock them off like she normally did. When she didn't, Michael replaced his feet on the floor. "What's going on?" "Do you just pretend to listen to me?" She sat back in her chair and picked up a folder. "Or wait, do you live to annoy me?" "It has its perks, so what's up with the big score?" "She skipped out of Montana protective custody. She was supposed to turn states evidence and in return she was going to get a lesser sentence. She bailed from under their noses." "What'd she do?" His eyes became wide with the anticipation of finally being able to track down a hardened criminal. "Embezzlement." Isabel raised her eyebrows at him as his excitement deflated. "So she's not a killer, she's still worth a boatload of cash if we can bring her in." "An embezzler," he smiled and licked his lips. "I guess I'll have to worry about her stealing the change from my ashtray, huh?" "She's a little wacko, too. Does that help?" He sighed, "What else you got on her?" "She worked for an huge accounting firm and apparently the firm itself was stealing millions from their clients. She skimmed while she was setting up bogus accounts and charges for the big bosses. She made off with close to half a mil. So the state needs her back because without her, no case against the big boys." Michael whistled low. "You said there's already someone on her tail, right?" "Oh yeah," Isabel bit her bottom lip. "A bounty hunter out of San Francisco." "I thought you said this took place in Montana." "It did. She left a paper trail that led them to California." "Why here? Why from Montana to California to Roswell New Mexico?" Isabel's eyes sparkled. "She has family here." "What else?" Michael knew his partner's looks better than anyone; Isabel Evans was holding something back and she was excited about it. "Iz?" "Think back to high school." Michael sighed, high school had been over for almost six years, he didn't want to think about high school. "Just tell me." "Think back to Freshman and Sophomore years," she smiled brilliantly. "Who did my dear brother have a major thing for?" Michael tilted his head to one side while names and faces ran through his memory. He smiled, "Liz Parker?" "You got it Michael. Scrawny Liz Parker who moved away after sophomore year is now a wanted felon." Michael leaned back in his chair, the front legs lifted off the ground, and roared with laughter. "You're kidding, right?" Isabel shook her head. "So you think you're up for it?" "Oh yeah, I think I can handle a little thing like Liz Parker." He stood and shook his head picking up the paperwork from the desk. "I'm out of here for the rest of the day unless you need me for anything." As he reached the front door he turned back around. "The other bounty hunter? What's his story?" "Her story is that she's good. Very good." "A chick?" "A damn good chick, you may have met your match Michael Guerin." Isabel's eyes twinkled with mischief. "What's her name?" "Maria. Maria DeLuca." TBC |
| Part 2 |
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