Previous: Seeley Calls the She Wolf
Summer opened the doors and walked in, heels clicking on the tile as she strode towards a corner booth, partially obscured by shadow. In one hand, she carried a cup of coffee, a briefcase in the other hand. She walked with power and purpose. If only people knew the things she did behind closed doors…She slid into the upholstered booth seat…and waited, clearly expecting someone.
Ella was not far behind, long wavy hair pulled back into a high ponytail. She wore her armored utility vest over her dark blue tee. She was not perhaps as put together as the She-Wolf, but she walked with every bit equal confidence, black cargos swishing lightly as she made straight for the booth where Summer sat and slid in. “Good morning, Miss Caldwell.” She said, blue eyes fixing on the woman a moment.
Summer gave a nod to the woman. “Thank you for agreeing to meet with me, Agent Booth. I know you're a very busy woman.” She leaned down and picked up her briefcase and set it on the table, opening it. She took out a file folder and held it out. “These are my quarterly reports, as submitted to my printer.” She then took out a different folder. “And here are the ones that came back from my printer.”
Seeley followed his wife in, moving towards the opposite side to observe, staying out of the conversation. No suit jacket, but his neatly pressed trousers were in evidence, his crisp white shirt covered by an armored carrier vest similar to hers. Mirrored aviators finished the look as he took up a seat and observed from the other side of the room
Ella slid her eyes briefly to Seeley and then back to Summer. She took the first one, then the other and began to compare them. “My department is always busy, Miss Caldwell, you won't hear me complaining.” She was beginning to wish she'd had Seeley stop on their way in so they could grab a coffee as she read over the numbers. “So you spoke of suspecting a mole. Who all handled these reports from the time they left your hands until they came back?” She held up a hand and shook her head. “Don't speak.” She commanded, sliding a notepad and pen over to Summer. “Write down every name you can think of.”
“Yes. There is no way Flannery could have gotten his hands on these. It had to be someone either in my firm or at the printing press.” She asserted, watching Daniela read over the reports. “If he manages to pull this off, I'm going to be framed for embezzling, and I'm going to lose my company.” She said, showing a tiny hint of apprehension. She balked at the command from the agent but understood and respected another powerful woman when she saw one. She began to write down the names without any protest.
“Why is your husband here though? I thought his department was Homicide?”
“Mhm. Looks that way, most definitely. Who else has access to your budget and profit files?” She asked. But at Summer's question, she looked up. “We are dealing with a Flannery, which falls into organized crime, as a power player in the New York Flannery mob. They predate Tammany Hall here in the city. And they're violent, vicious. As you've had the misfortune of experiencing firsthand. SAC Booth is here in his capacity as a Homicide operative, in order to not be going in blind if he's needed. I don't know about your faith, Miss Caldwell, but I for one pray we won't need him.” She leaned in. “Plus he has the day off and I think he likes looking at me in action.” She grinned.
Seeley grinned one of his quirky, one sided grins as he heard the She Wolf's question about him. His trademark. Backup. Protection. Besides, he had other reasons to follow his wife into 'battle', even without gunfire involved.
Summer began to write those names down as well after Booth asked her, her face paling as the woman went on. “Wait…he's a member of -that- group? They go back to Ireland, they had a faction in London…you're saying he's one of them?” The gravity of the situation began to sink in and she pulled out her phone, tapping off a text.
“I'm not saying, Miss Caldwell, I am telling. No doubt. Verified, confirmed, reconfirmed. Their connections extend to the Italian crime families as well. They were, at one point, allied with the Carmichaels before that faction was wiped out. They hate the Sheas, their feud goes back before Ellis Island. And you happened to take a cousin of a Shea as your date to the Gala Ball last year after you bought yourself out from Flannery at the charity date auction. It's no longer business, it's personal.” Daniela was careful to only reveal what even a student researching the various criminal families of the city would know. She never flinched, never gave any indication that she had any firsthand experience with any of the names she mentioned.
Seeley did flinch. He knew a Carmichael. He knew a Shea. He knew what both of them had gone through. It was barely noticeable to anyone normal, but to someone in his line of business, they would notice it. She would notice it. She knew the same things, had experienced it with him.
“Patrick? But everyone knows he's not into wo–did I put him in danger? What about my sister? Is she in danger too?” Summer was uncharacteristically wide-eyed and pale. If anything happened to Winter…or Kaine…or her friend…her fingers trembled, her coffee shaking as she took a sip. Calm down, Summer, you're in public. “What do you think he intends to do?”
“That's the problem. He's a Flannery. If he was a Carmichael, you could expect a shakedown. Threats. Perhaps a little beatdown.” Her eyes unfocused for a split second. She was pulling on personal knowledge for that one. “If he was a Shea…manic action. He'd have played his hand and done it…” She turned and looked out the window. “In the open. Shamelessly.” Her eyes closed a moment. “A Flannery? The Flannerys were behind much of the violence during the Troubles over in Ireland, masquerading as one side or another to perpetuate bloodshed and profit in the aftermath. Flannerys are cold, calculating, and incredibly hard to pin down with a charge that will stick. As evidenced by your history with him and the fact that he still retains his company and isn't rotting in a jail cell where he belongs.”
Summer picked up on the woman's movements but wisely chose to not call attention to them or press the issue. “Tell me what to do, Agent Booth, and you can consider it done.” She said as she slid the notebook and pen back to the agent. “I am indebted already to you for all your work on this case.” She tapped out another text and then set her phone down. “You and your husband both.”
Ella looked over to Seeley. “Seeley, darling…do you have any advice for Miss Caldwell? Ways she can stay safe and keep her sister safe?”
Seeley pulled himself up from his seat and moved over to the table with Summer and Ella, placing his hands on the edge and leaning over. “I can have an agent keep tabs on you or your sister or both. If we have a credible threat in Flannery which seems to be the case, it's just a protection detail. Either keep an agent or marshal with you at all times or just follow your movements in case anything suspicious happens.” He stood up straight, his eyes frowning behind the mirrored shades, hidden, thinking. “And we'll keep an eye on Flannery.”
Ella laid her hand over Seeley's and nodded at Summer. “We won't let anything happen to her. I have seen…a lot of collateral damage in these cases…” her fingers tightened around Seeley's. “And I'll do all I can to prevent more. I promise. I can't promise nothing will happen to you or her. But I can promise I'll do all I can to prevent or minimize it.” She vowed. Damnit, this case hit a little close to home.
Summer looked back and forth between the two agents and then sighed. “I appreciate it. Beyond words. I came here for a better life for my sister and I. I had no idea this would happen.” She said quietly. Few things could ever shake Summer. Danger to Kaine, or danger to Winter. Now she was faced with both.
Ella “Well. You aren't facing it alone. That I promise.” She replied and stood, holding up the folders. “I assume you have more copies? I'll need to take these.”
Summer nodded quietly, lost in thought. She had more copies.
Kaine Hayden pushed open the doors and slipped inside, his usual poker face replaced with a veneer of discontent and anger. He turned and carefully closed the door behind him, trying not to slam it closed. It took a lot of effort not to let his temper rise beyond what he was showing, he still hadn't figured out exactly how to deal with it. He walked around the armored G-man leaning on the table between his She Wolf and the other, slipping into the seat next to her. “Booth?” Man. “Booth?” Woman. “I hope you're taking care of my woman.”
Seeley tilted his head towards the businessman slipping into the seat next to him. “Trying our best.”
Ella leaned into her husband as the man walked in. “Agent Booth, Organized Crime, FBI.” She said to the man, then looked from Seeley to Kaine. “Indeed we are.” She affirmed.
Summer took Kaine's hand in hers. “Did Winter and Troy show up at the penthouse yet?” She whispered.
Kaine wrapped his fingers around hers and gave them a little squeeze. “Giles is on his way to pick them up, there's a security team at the uni, they should be okay until then. There's a team at the penthouse setting up as well.”
Summer “Right. We..should go too, yeah?” She asked. This was a different side of Summer. One she never showed publicly. Something had to be horribly wrong for her to be showing it now. God, if there were paparazzi outside, they'd have a field day.
Ella bumped Seeley with her hip. “Let's go look over these reports and brain pick the intel.” She said quietly.
Seeley stood up straight from the table. “You know numbers aren't my strong point.” He had a cheesy, goofy grin as he turned and started walking.
Kaine pinched the bridge of his nose. “Should, yeah. Ugh.” He'd need to call a ride since Giles was busy. He reached into his pocket and tapped out a message to the drivers' pool at his corporate building. “Five minutes. With backup.” He was usually on lockdown, but this was beyond the usual.
Ella caught up to her husband and caught his hand with hers as they left together.
Summer watched the two agents leave. “That's a power couple right there too…” She mumbled, looking down at the table. This was different than the angry, pissed off Summer who'd fumed about Flannery a week ago. This was 'Shit I put everyone I love in danger' Summer. It was rather jarring.
Kaine gave her hand a squeeze. “And we're not?” He watched her eyeline. He demeanor. Unusual. “Come on, we've got that interview. I asked them to push it back a little, but it'll help take your mind off things.”
Summer nodded. “We are. I was saying they are too.” She whispered softly, laying her head on his shoulder for a moment. “Ah, I'd almost forgotten. Alright. Let's go. And then we'll go check on the house?” She asked. Yes. Please. Take control. Tell me what to do, Kaine, I feel lost right now.
Kaine reached up to stroke her hair softly. Neither of them particularly in their public modes at the moment, her from being rattled, him trying to support her. “House first, then interview. They can wait.” A bleep sounded on his phone. “Car's here. Shall we?” He gestured with his phone towards the door, then tucked it into his pocket.
Summer closed her eyes a moment as his hand stroked her hair. “Yes. Thank you.” She whispered as she stood, waiting for him to stand. Once he did, her arm threaded through his and she leaned on him as they made their way out. But beneath the surface, anger was struggling to fight to the surface. It could be heard in the clicking of heels on tile once more.
They almost sounded like claws. Wolfish.
Next: A Private Booth for Two