Partners In Arms (closed)

[BRIGHTWELL]

Mike smiles at her" I know its the Leone case I was juss kiddin!" Mike opens the file folder and looks at the case file. He turns serious as he reads the details of the case from the folders.

"First, we have a problem. You have two different addresses for Mr. Leone one is Surfside Drive in Mecox. The other is Dewey Lane Southport. Where does he live?"

Mike flips a few pages. He finds a yellow note paper in the file. He reads it. Its a feild report written in pencil. He looks up at Elizabeth. "What is this? he hands the paper to her. He gives her a chance to read it. As he looks through other papers in the two folders he shakes his head. His fake Texas accent disappears. "Ill be honest with you Miss Cowen...."

[heartofcourage]

Elizabeth listened to him as she reentered the room with a mug of coffee. “He has two houses. The Southport one is where he and his family lives. The Mecox house is for his mistress. He frequents both.”

She took the yellow note paper as he handed it to her. She read over it as she sipped the coffee. She got the feeling that Mike didn’t have much faith in her as a private investigator, but she knew that she had crossed all her ts and dotted all her is.

“This was from the stakeout that I did in front of the Mecox house. His mistress is a tough as nails woman that would just as soon tear your eyes out then give you what you want. Ex-stripper/prostitute/professional mob girlfriend. She’s tight lipped as they come.” She said as she handed him back the yellow piece of paper.

“Oh, I know you’ll be honest with me, Mr. Futures, but tell me anyway.”

[BRIGHTWELL]

Mike pauses and thinks of what he is about to say. Since Elizabeth did not pick up on or just ignored Mike's desire to create a cover story. He had to wonder how to proceed. The case, if his people were right, had potenial, might give him several overseas leads that could lead to a crop of high end European clients.

Mike is looking for a sping board to the lucertive European markets. The fact that Martha Decatto had a Russian boy friend may or may not lead to something. Mr. Leon had overseas connections through his businesses. All of these facts pointed to opertunities for Mike. If he got the chance he would ride it like a surf board.

He turned to Danny. "Danny, my name is Mike Futures from Florida. For the purposes of this case My name is Sam Gliebeck a low rent shit kicker from Houston. There are ellimements out there that know I'm a big player in some circles. Our Fort Worth office ceated this cover so I could work with Miss Cowen or should I say E Cowen Investigative Services."

He turns to Elizabeth and with a calm demeanor smiles. "It must appear to all cocerned that I work for you. I'm a minion from some back water office you picked up to do leg work or trivial matter. When we meet Mr. Leon don't even interduce me or if you must do so quickly and dismissively. I think it best if you remain lead detective on this case. I'll be your Watson or the like."

He looks at Danny then Elizabeth. "I hope I'm clear on this. And Mr. Reilly I hope you are not offended, but you were not vetted for this case and Miss Cowen was. It was an over site that your name was not in the cover file. I will speak to my office about that in the morning."

"I want this to work, I want to get Mr. Leon on his home ground and get a lay of the ground. Getting away from his business and working with him at his home may releive some of the formality he is putting up. Besides thate there may be eliments at his home we can use. Servents and ground keepers and the like. Not everyone can keep their mouths shut. We may find a chatty fellow or gal."

[heartofcourage]

Elizabeth glanced across the desk at Mike as he started rambling off about his cover story and apologizing to Danny. Danny to his credit simply shrugged and went back to ignoring the situation. Danny was a good cop, one that had her back, but his work ethic was pretty unethical.

“I say that we hit his home in the morning. If it’s one thing I hate it’s traipsing around in the dark trying to get someone to talk. Nothing good happens at 3 in the morning.” She sad with a shrug as she gathered together more of the files and stacked them in front of Mike.

She was getting the feeling that he was thinking of her as some kind of back woods country yokel that was way over her head in the big city. She didn’t care that he had partners and a big company. She was proud of what she had done with her limited means and her small little office. She could feel herself getting defensive and she was doing her best to keep that emotion in check. If it was one thing that Elizabeth had, it was an explosive temper.

[BRIGHTWELL]

“I say that we hit his home in the morning. If it’s one thing I hate it’s traipsing around in the dark trying to get someone to talk. Nothing good happens at 3 in the morning.”

Mike senses an annoyance from Elizabeth. She shrugs and dops an additional stack of files in front of Mike. Mike looks through them quickly. More of the same. Mike looks up at Elizabeth and gives her a half smile. He stands and picks up the new files and stacks them with the others. He turns and looks at Danny.

"Mr.Reilly, it is good to have met you. " Mike walks over to Danny and shakes his hand. Then returns to the desk and picks up the files smiles one last time at Danny and walks down the hall past the bail bondsman and lawyer office.

[heartofcourage]

“Sure, chief.” Danny says, saluting Mike as he walks from the office. “Lizzy, see you in the morning.”

Elizabeth sighs and gives him a look which only gains a grin in return. “You might think you’re charming, Danny, but you’re not.” She said, mustering a smile as she left the office to follow after Mike.

She was quiet as she opened the car and started off for the hotel that he was booked into. She kept glancing over at him, wondering what he was thinking right then. Probably trying to think of a way to get her off this case, she though to herself as she pulled back into traffic and weaved her way towards the hotel.

[BRIGHTWELL]

The Hyatt that Mr. Loene arranges to put me up in is in Riverhead, Long Isand. Elizabeth pulls in to traffic and heads East. 495 ends just west of Riverside. Elizabeth pulls into local traffic. Neither one of us has much to say. As we pull into the parking space at the Hyatt. I touch her arm.

"Elizabeth I'm sure Danny is a nice guy and all. I would rather this case stay between You and me. You have done a lot of leg work on this case. As we go through the feid notes they should be invaluble to what we are doing." Mike opens the door of her car. He looks ather and smiles.

"After all this your case, I'm just here to help you out. Tomarrow we stop by Mr. Leone's place and see what we can find out. Then we can drive down to Brighten Beach to check out the Russian angle. For tonight lets just relax and unwind. And enjoy this wine. Mike holds up the bottle of Pinot Grigio Santa Margherita.

When they reach the lobby."I'm going to check in. I noticed a small marina when we pulled in. As I recall from one of your field reports he has a place on the water. How about you look into renting a fast boat. I don't think he will exspect us to come in from the waters edge."

[heartofcourage]

“Danny can be trusted, but we can keep it between us. He mostly handles the small cases that come our way. He’s a good cop, one that knows his stuff, but probably not ready for an international case like we’re facing.” She agreed as he opened the door and smiled at her.

“Alright.” She agreed as he said that this was her case and they would start on it in earnest tomorrow morning. She exited the car and followed after him as he said he was going to check in.

“I’ll go see what they have.” She said as she moved towards the customer service desk, talking with the lady there about the possibility of renting a boat. The price was a little steep, but she supposed that it would all be billed to Leone in the end, so it was worth it.

With a speed boat rented, she signed the ticket and then moved to find Mike once more. She was waiting by the elevator for him to finish checking in, ready to follow him to the room that he had been given.

[BRIGHTWELL]

Mike walks up to the service deask and smiles. "My name is Sam Gliebeck, I understand that a Mister Leone has reserved a room for me. A John Dow reservation if you will." Mike takes out a brown wallet with TEXAS stamped in to the leather. He opens it and removes a Vias Gold card and a Texas Drivers license. "Just in case I want something off the bill."

Thed clerk smiles and slides the Id and card back to Mike. "there is no need for that Mr. Gliebeck. Everything is coved from you room. Any room service or rentals of needed equiptment and all meals here at the hotel. Also any car rentals can be added to your room at no charge to you. Every thing is covered."

Mike smiles and thanks the clerk. "Ah, may I have two keys please, I have an associate that I wish to give access to my room if I'm needed by Mr. Leone." The clerk looks over at Elizabeth and then Mike. "I quite understand Mr. Gliebeck, Though I don't think that will be chargeable to the room. If you know what I mean."

Mike turns and looks at Elizabeth then the clerk and smiles. "Yes a private matter should stay just that why, right!" Mike slides a folded $100 bill to the clerk. The clerk peeks at the bill and smiles. "I quite understand Mr. Gliebeck!"

Mike joins Elizabeth at the elevator. "Nice place!" he says with a smile.

[heartofcourage]

“Well, only the best from Mr. Leone I suppose.” She said as she entered the elevator after Mike, glancing around the mirrored walls as he hit the button for his floor. “I’ve got a boat rented for tomorrow morning. I thought that maybe we could go to Leone’s house first thing in the morning and catch him before he heads out for the day.”

She kept glancing over at Mike, wondering what he was thinking about in that moment. He had been having a spirited conversation with the clerk at the front desk and had even glanced over to her from time to time. She wondered what the whole thing had been about.

[BRIGHTWELL]

The elevator rose steadily up to the fifth floor. As the door opened a brass plaque showed room numbers. 20Rooms on the 5th floor they are in 506. Mike turns right and follows the room numbers to 506. He opens the door for Elizabeth and follows her inside. As they enter Mike sees the telephone.

"Call down for a 6 am wake up call,sound good?" Mike drops his suitcase on the bed and puts the bottle of wine on the dresser. He turns to Elizabeth who is by the desk. He tilts his head to the side and looks and smiles at her. Turns and walks over to the closet opens it and slips off his coat ands suit jacket and hangs them on a hanger. He returns to the bed and takes off his tie and opens his shirt. He opens his suitcase and starts to put away his clothes in the dresser. Then carries the empty suitcase over to the closet and stores it away.

There are two water glasses to the side of the dresser. He conciders then for a second and smiles. He picks up the wine pops the top and pours two glasses of wine. He holds one out the Elizabeth.

"What shall we drink too?" he askes with a smile.

[heartofcourage]

“Fancy.” Elizabeth said as they entered into his room. “A lot better than my little studio over in the Bronx.” She said as she heard him ask her to call down to the for a wakeup call.

She dialed the front desk, putting in the order for 6am. The clerk confirmed and by the time she was finished, she turned to find Mike already unpacked, partially undressed and wine poured into two glasses. She looked at him with one eyebrow cocked, a small grin on her face at the suave way that he seemed to operate.

“I suppose we should drink to a long and fruitful partnership.” She said as she raised her glass, tapping the rim against his before she took a long pull of the red wine. She sighed at the taste, enjoying the rich red wide as it slid over her tongue.

[BRIGHTWELL]

Mike takes a sip of the wine and smiles. "I've been in these clothes all day. I think I'll take a shower. Why don't you make yourself comfortable and we can talk more about this fruitful partnership. " Mike drains the glass and puts it on the dresser.

He walks to the door of the bathroom and looks back at Elizabeth and smiles. "I'll just be a few minutes, have more wine if you like. Mike turns on the light and partly closes the door. He undresses and turns on the water. In less then a minute the water is hot and he climbs into the shower. He closes the curtain to keep the water in. He is in the shower a few minutes and he hears some thing.

He pulls the curtain to the side and looks out. "Did you say some thing?"

[heartofcourage]

Elizabeth laughed softly as Mike excused himself to shower. She sat on the edge of his bed, sighing as she took another sip of the wine and looking around the expensive looking room. It seemed that Mr. Leone was putting a good face forward to the new detective that he’d pulled in on this case.

She stood from the bed and went to pour some more wine when she spilled it over her blouse. “Shit!” She cried out, swiping at the stain that was spreading as she heard Mike call out from the shower. “No. I just spilled my wine.” She called back, looking around for something to clean the spot.

[BRIGHTWELL]

“No. I just spilled my wine!" he heard. Mike finishes his shower quickly. He steps out and finds hotel robe hanging on a hook. He had not noticed it as he had come in. He retreives the robe and puts it on tying off the knot on the belt as he walks out. He sees Elizabeth looking around the room. Then she turns towards him and he sees the red wine stain on her blouse. With out thinking he says

"You better take that off and get it in cold....." he pauses and cosiders what he just said. Then smiling he says"Cold water will dilute the stain before it gets in the fibers of your blouse, you should act quickly though, may I suggest the bathroom sink!"

[heartofcourage]

Elizabeth looked at Mike as he walked into the room, cinching his robe as he examined the stain that was on her blouse. She glanced at him with a raised eyebrow as he suggested she take care of the stain by placing it in cold water. She grinned at him slightly and shook her head.

“I’m sure the gentleman in you isn’t going to look while I walk around here without a top on.” She said as she walked past him and into the bathroom, shrugging out of her blouse and placing it in cold water. She glanced up at the mirror and took stock of herself. She was wearing a dark blue bra that cupped and pushed her breasts up and to attention. She was attractive enough, she supposed.

Gathering her courage, she moved back into the bedroom and took up her glass of wine once more. “So, if we are up early enough in the morning, we might be able to stop by and get some photographs of both houses that Mr. Leone owns. That way we can get a game plan before he heads to work.”

[BRIGHTWELL]

"The gentleman...in me has left the building!" he moves close to her looks down at her breasts and smiles. He opens his robe and guides her hand to his newly found hard on.

"We don't need photos of his house. What I need is for you to help this lonely stranger, from a far off land to feel welcome. You want to welcome me don't you?" he askes.

[heartofcourage]

Elizabeth gasped as she watched Mike open his robe and guide her hand to the hard cock that had formed before him. Her jaw dropped and she quickly backed away from him, her eyes wide as he told her that he needed to welcome him.

“I don’t know anything about you, Mike. I mean, you’re a handsome man, but we shouldn’t mix business with pleasure.”

[BRIGHTWELL]

Mike feigns a hurt look."Elizabeth my other business is pleasure. I'm the best dick in all South Florida. And I mean that both ways. Besides what is there to know....I'm a man and your a woman. Theres a bed and a bottle of wine. We will be working closely together. I just want to get to know you better. And what better way, then pillow talk after a little friendly intimicy."

[heartofcourage]

“So your main intent was to wine and dine me and maybe get me good and drunk enough to get me into bed?” Elizabeth asked, crossing her arms beneath her breasts and staring at Mike with a raised eyebrow. “You do this with all of your colleagues? Is that how you have so many offices around the US?”

[BRIGHTWELL]

You do this with all of your colleagues? Is that how you have so many offices around the US?”

Mike closes up his robe and moves away from Elizabeth. "Hey, this is a buisness trip for me.I am here to help you. I just thought we can have a little fun allong the way. "

Mike drops on to the bed. "Anyway the best business deals are made after a good game of golf or a roll in the hay. Hey I get it, its ok. You want to keep it professional. I get that too. When this case is over you can return to your place in the Bronx and I'll fly back to my place in Palm Beach."

[heartofcourage]

“Listen, I don’t mind having a little fun, but I barely know you.” Elizabeth said as she watched Mike close up his robe and she suddenly felt like she’d offended him in some way. She was actually flattered that he thought she was pretty enough to want to bed within a few hours of meeting her, but she wasn’t really sure how all of this should progress.

“You really want to fuck me?” She asked him, a lot of doubt in her voice as she tried to see if he was playing her for an idiot.

[BRIGHTWELL]

“You really want to fuck me?” She askes.

Mike tilts his head to the side. "That is a rather crude and vulgar way of saying it. But yeah, I would love to sample your womanly charms. I mean this is a cheap suit project. The company is getting only 50 grand for this case. A week end special if you will. You think I like flying commercial. When a Lear 90 sits in a hanger at PBIA." He moves to the edge of the bed and looks at her.

"Elizabeth I don't mean to offend you, your good at what you do. Your reports are factual and informative. I find no fault in them. But to tell you the truth, the company runs on the motto. Time is money. My last case made ah million four for two weeks work. I cleared 385 k in finders fees. Three countries what our services and they are all in the Mid East. I get 100 k every time I leave the country in my Lear." Mike pauses and smiles at Elizabeth.

" Its not about wanting to." Mike make a distasteful face."Ah, fuck you or not fuck you. We are working together. You are a stunningly good looking woman who I would like to share a bed with. Like I said if you don't want to sleep with me that is fine. I get it!"

[heartofcourage]

Elizabeth had worked hard on her little company, making and molding it into what it was today. Mike’s words made her feel…jealous? She didn’t know if that was necessarily the right words. He was a man that was good at what he did and made a lot of money doing it. He certainly didn’t scrape by to support one lone employee and high rent on an apartment and a business location.

She crossed her arms in front of her as he said again that he wanted to share a bed with her. If she slept with him, it might complicate things between them and she was the type of girl that liked to keep things neat and tidy. Then again, if she slept with him, it might help her in the future. She did have her business to think about after all.

She took a deep breath and let out a long sigh, her arms falling to her sides as she looked down at him. “Well, are you going to sit there all night or are you going to help a girl out of her clothes?”

[BRIGHTWELL]

Mike looks down at the floor and smiles. He rubs his hand over his mouth with the top of his fist and then looks up at her. "Sure that's why I'm here, to help. If it means that I'm helping you out of your clothes. I can live with that!" He stands up from the bed and looks at Elizabeth. "Turn around please!" he says evenly.

Elizabeth turns slowly offering her back. Mike undoes the catch on her blue bra and slides it slowly off her shoulders. He moves closer to her and puts his arms around her waist and draws her next to him. He gives her a sniff. "You smell good, Elizabeth."