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Disclaimer: RH characters not mine. This first chapter is short because it’s a teaser. The others will be longer. I got the idea after watching Incognito. For those of you who don’t like Cate, she is in this story and for those of you who don’t like stories regarding Nigel’s parents, they are also in this story…well sort of. There, you’ve been warned. Enjoy! Written by: Aryea All Things Relative CHAPTER 1 Nigel and Sydney were just leaving the University for the day when Nigel’s cell phone rang. He pulled it from her pocket as Sydney hit the unlock button on her jeep. “Hello?” Sydney paused beside the vehicle concerned with Nigel’s sudden flickering expression. “Cate, hi. Yes, I’m fine…How are you?” He glanced at Sydney. “Sure, hang on.” He handed her the phone. “Cate wants to talk to you.” Sydney took the phone and offered Nigel the keys to the car, so he could drive while she talked. They had decided to grab a bite at a local restaurant to celebrate an important relic they had brought back that morning. “Yes, Cate? No, we aren’t on a hunt, we’re just…” She watched as Nigel climbed behind the wheel and was suddenly felt very angry with the Interpol agent for interrupting them. Nigel was right; every time they tried to spend any time together outside of work something happened. “What was it you wanted, Cate?” Nigel listened to Sydney’s half of the conversation as she settled in the passenger side of the vehicle. From what he could hear, their dinner was about to be postponed. His suspicions were confirmed as the call ended and Sydney continued to scowl. He slipped the key in the ignition, but didn’t turn it on. Sydney finally handed the phone back to Nigel, who quietly put it in his pocket. “She wants us to meet her at The Sands Towers, she says that it’s important.” “So important that she couldn’t tell me?” he asked, and then shook his head and started the car. “The Sands…that’s on St. Clair, right?” Sydney wanted to tell him the real reason Cate had wanted to talk to her instead, but she felt it would be better to just show her TA when they got to the hotel. “Yes, St. Clair.” “Right.” Nigel pulled out of the lot. They arrived at the lobby of the hotel a few minutes later and went straight to room 305, as Cate had instructed. They knocked on the door and the agent answered, ushering them inside. “Thanks for coming, guys, I appreciate it.” Her gaze lingered on Nigel, who remained silent as he stared at her. “It’s good to see you again, Nigel.” “You too,” he returned, shoving his hands into his pockets. It was good to see Cate, he missed her often, but it he knew that things were not going to work between them and it hurt more knowing that eventually they would have to part ways again. “You look great.” “So do you,” Cate replied. Sydney shook her head at them; Cate was an idiot if she couldn’t see what a find she had in Nigel Bailey. She spoke up, ending the tension. “So, what’s going on, Cate?” Cate’s demeanour became more professional as she walked over to the desk and retrieved a file folder, handing it to Sydney. “I need your help, guys.” Her gaze again lingered on Nigel. “I wouldn’t have contacted you unless it was absolutely necessary.” Sydney flipped through the folder and tried to ignore the sparks flying between her TA and the Interpol agent. Nigel offered Cate a small smile. “Whatever we can do to help, Cate.” Cate returned his smile, seemingly relieved. “I know.” She paused. “It won’t be easy, Nigel, especially for you.” Nigel frowned and glanced at Sydney. “Why for me?” Sydney gasped as she turned to the next to last page of the folder and stared at Cate, incredulous. “Is this true?” Cate nodded, grimly. “Is what true?” Nigel demanded and grabbed the folder from Sydney, shuffling through the rap sheet of offences for some fellow named Maxwell Mason, some information on the man’s past locations, phony businesses and aliases. His sharp eyes, used to taking note of all pertinent information after only a brief glance, saw the name second to the last on the page. He glanced up at Cate, startled. “I don’t understand.” “We think that one,” Cate insisted, pointing to the specific name Nigel had no doubt recognized. “Is his real name, Nigel.” Nigel shrugged. “It’s a common enough name, Cate. It doesn’t mean anything.” Cate took the folder and turned to the last page where there was a photograph of Maxwell Mason, A.K.A. Roger Bailey. “Nigel, I’ve seen this man before, in your apartment.” She handed him the folder and held her breath. Nigel stared at the picture and felt his heart drop from his chest. It was a trick. It had to be. Sydney, worried about the sudden pallor of her assistant, glared at Cate. “What do you mean you’ve seen him in Nigel’s apartment?” “In a photograph that Nigel keeps by his bed,” Cate replied, also watching the Englishman closely. “Who is it a photograph of?” Sydney demanded, trying not to show that it bothered her that Cate knew what Nigel kept in his bedroom, as she stepped closer to him, he looked like he was going to pass out; and in fact his legs did buckle and she barely got a chair around to catch him. “My parents,” Nigel croaked, unable to take his eyes off the photo. “My…my father.”
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