| "Having No Bounce" | ||
|
CF: CT-1802A-08 Paige's Place April 5, 2008 1900 hours "What exactly is the problem then?" Gray's voice was tinged with anger. Paige glanced warily at Baz. "Don't look at him, the question is directed at you," he snapped at her. Paige returned her gaze to Gray, blanking her face as well as she could given the circumstances. The three of them stood in her apartment. Gray staring angrily at Paige demanding answers she didn't have and Baz shifting his weight uneasily and most likely wishing he was anywhere but here. Baz had delivered Jonathan Keller right into her hands Thursday night. He had flawlessly executed an "accident" resulting in Paige playing nurse for a good two hours to Keller who had an ugly gash across his chest. They all, Gray included, thought this would work. Well, it didn't. Keller had merely thanked her for helping him and returned to work. She had even tried to push a date but he just smiled that shy smile of his and respectfully declined. She didn't get it done. She had no bounce; she had no play, and she had dropped the ball. After that, Baz had reassured her that Keller was interested but very shy (which she still couldn't understand why) and was a bit intimidated by her. It didn't matter though, Paige still felt like shit, like she had let the team down. And Gray...he had not taken the news well at all and called a meeting Saturday night at 7. This is where they were now. "Well?" Gray demanded. "He's very shy, it's going to take more time..." "We don't have all that much time, Paige," Gray's hands moved in the air as he spoke. "This case has been working for three months already, we've been involved for 3 weeks, and we don't even have a confirmation on the weapons!" Paige and Baz just stared at him. "The ATF guy thinks something's going down within two weeks, that does not give us a whole lot of time for you to court shy boy!" he hissed at her. "I can put a gun to his head and make him take me out," she said sarcastically. Gray stopped all his movement and stared at her. She returned his gaze not sure then if that was the most appropriate thing to say at the time. He looked away from her, finally, dismissing her totally as if she wasn't in the room. "Baz, you need to step up your end. Ask around for some money. Get into trouble and get in with those guys and get in on the weapons deal. Find out anything you can and as quickly as you can." "Got it," Baz responded evenly. "Jordan will be in on Monday, she'll be targeting Thomas Sprater, keep an eye on her," he said to Baz who nodded in return. "Both of you," he finally looked at Paige. Paige said nothing. "If you think Keller is a dead issue then we'll work another angle," Gray said. "It's not, he's just slow in coming around," Baz said supportively. Gray glanced at him then back to Paige. "Keep on Keller then." He walked to her apartment door, clearly still, pissed off. "Email me any pictures you get tonight," he said before turning back to them, "no excuses." Paige simmered with anger, at Gray, at Keller, at the stupid mission. But mostly she was angry with herself. "Don't worry about him," Baz said fetching two beers from the fridge and handing one to Paige. "It's different when you're the one in the field." Paige nodded and chugged her beer. "Besides," Baz grinned, tussling her hair. "I'd go out with you." She couldn't help but grin back at him, his now spinach green hair poking out under the bandanna wrapped around his head. She swatted his playful hand away, "alright let's get this over with." He nodded shouldering the large bag stuffed with cameras and lenses. They sauntered down to the boat still discussing how pissed off Gray was and if they were going to be in trouble. No agreement was reached as they got on the boat and headed out to the bay. The music stayed on loud with only the small bow light on to make it look as if privacy was wanted. The two assembled the cameras and began scoping out Samboy Aggregates from the water. Paige panned the perimeter, snapping photos here and there noting nothing unusual. The plant was actually quiet on a Saturday night with only two stone machines unloading a huge tanker from Canada. "Hey, what's the area to the north...a field or something..." Baz said pointing. Paige squinted into her camera scanning the area and pulling up a mental picture of the plant. "I dunno," she said quietly, "it's not on the map RJ gave me." "We have any satellite pics?" Baz asked, pulling a jacket on in the bay wind, then added, "it's fucking cold out here." Paige sighed, "I haven't seen any...and I don't think Gray would appreciate...hello...look at this." Baz got up, camera ready. "On the road where you were just looking," she directed. A young man smoking a cigarette appeared in their view. Paige snapped two pictures before he walked off again. "I didn't recognize him," she stated looking to Baz. He just shrugged. ((Reference Photos A & B in case file)) Another hour and they were huddled together against the side of the boat, protected, a little bit anyway, from the cold bay wind. It was almost 11 now and the plant was even quieter than before. One more sweep with the cameras and they were both convinced no one was there. Paige started the engine, driving the boat back to the dock, and they walked quickly up to her apartment. Paige downloaded the images and emailed them to Gray. Other than the two shots of the guy smoking, they only got perimeter shots. Neither knew if he would be happy with that. Paige grabbed her phone walking into the bedroom and dialing Jord's number. A sleepy Jordan answered as Paige felt guilty calling so late. Jordan told her that she hadn't heard from Saf either. Paige hung up immediately dialing Saf's number for the 15 time since last night, since Saf broke that poor girls leg. She got the stupid voicemail again. "It's me again. You need to call me back. Don't make me come over there. If the police get involved in this, it's going to be nasty. I want to know what exactly happened...talk to me Saf. Alright, I don't care what time." Paige hung up with a sigh. She cared about whatever had happened that night, but what she really wanted was to get their stories straight. She feared saying that on the phone knowing it was probably tapped. Self defense. Saf had to be protecting herself...right? Baz had another beer with Paige before heading off to home leaving her to sleep, her arm draped across Joshua's pillow... April 6, 2008 1100 hours She had tried calling Saf again, when she woke up, and surprise...got voicemail instead. Paige had wanted to go over there and check on her but Baz had already come over and they were out on the boat again checking out the Sunday day shift. Paige wished something would happen, tried to will anything to take place or be out of sorts, or look strange, just something they could offer Gray. He hadn't even bothered to respond to the photos they sent the night before, most likely, he was still pissed off at her...them. Baz, at least was humoring her and kept her giggling more often than not. It was still cold, though, and they frequently huddled in the cabin trying to warm up, and take catnaps. It had to be the most boring work in the world and Paige was glad of his company. Hell, Paige would have been glad of anyone's company as long as she wasn't alone...well, almost anyone's company. They didn't get many shots and called it a day around 5 pm. They ended up ordering pizza, throwing down a couple six packs, and watching a ball game. It was fun and they both got to bitch about having to go to work the next afternoon. They both ended up crashing on the couches with the tv still on. April 7, 2008 10.30hrs Jordan called, Paige briefed her on what time she was to show up at Samboy, and Paige would show her the ropes about what they were supposed to be doing. She debated trying Saf again, and decided against it, she would have to go to her, after work; perhaps she ought to take Jordan with her, as well. Return |
||