Story: Sebastian (part 5 of ?)
TITLE: "Sebastian"
AUTHOR: tess_dicorsi
RATING: R
GENRE: Mystery
CHARACTERS: Ensemble
DISCLAIMER: Recognizable characters are not mine. Just playing with them and promise not to break them. There are a few original characters, they're mine. I'm also trying not to break them.
SUMMARY: An old collar from the LAPD and an angry colleague from the FBI are back and looking for Marty Deeks. Established Deeks-Kensi. Multi-chapter story.
5. "There are no do-overs in life, Mr. Deeks" - Hetty Lange, "Lone Wolf"
Deeks woke alone in bed. Kensi was standing by the window, deep in thought while staring at the ocean.
"Figuring a way to MacGyver your way out of here and away from the cameras?" Deeks asked her.
"I feel like I'm living on that "Big Brother" show."
"Finally living the reality show life you love to watch every night," Deeks teased as he sat up. "I know you're not here to make friends but if you look bad, blame the editing." After he got no reaction, he tried another tack. "Nobody's really paying attention, Kensi. Matt's got our living room lives on in the background, same with the folks in Ops. They're only paying attention if we have company, if there is a breach of the property or if we hit the panic button. Oh wait, are you worried that Sam and Callen are going to learn that you've started watching "Honey Boo Boo" reruns on-demand?"
She turned and moved to the old but really comfortable club chair in the room. "It's good training for working with you," she teased but her heart wasn't really in it.
"What's up? Besides you, that is."
"I'm worried about you."
"And I'm worried about you but since I'm fine and you'll tell me you're fine, let's just move to the part where we're fine."
"No, you're not fine. You're walking in on a serial killer today and thumbing your nose at him. That's dangerous. I can't believe anyone agreed to your insane plan."
"Tell me what you really think, Kens," Deeks sighed.
"We could have gotten someone close to Boothe. He's got to have a staff for that house. We could have sent someone in as a cook or housekeeper."
"Not to be unkind but you'd be lousy at both."
"Not me, someone else," Kensi answered. "And besides, I could fill those undercover positions."
"You can't find the hamper in the bathroom," Deeks teased. "Forget actually cooking a meal."
"I can cook!"
"So if I pick up a nice bit of Dover sole after I see Boothe today, you can prepare it with some appropriate vegetables and a good wine."
"We're eating at Geoffrey's tonight with Sam and Callen watching for Boothe."
"So that's a no."
Kensi stuck her tongue out at him but turned serious. "I am worried about you," she said before put her hand up, stopping him from interrupting. "You've been putting on a great show for everyone but you're still dealing with what happened last spring."
"Everyone's dealing with what happened last spring. Sam's still got monthly cardiologist visits. Bates is still swinging for the ceiling about NCIS. I'm fine and not Kensi fine, fine fine."
"What happens if this goes, to use Matt's favorite word, 'sideways'?"
"I think the current total of NCIS and LAPD personnel that will be near the Sea Lane Drive mansion or monitoring it is closing in on a dozen." Deeks saw she was about to say something but cut her off this time. "And if you're going to bring up my last day at Boogie's with all the cops being there and me getting injured, in a million years I never thought Boothe would hurt me. I know better now." He smiled at her. "And don't quote Matthew. You'll start learning phrases like "you can't make a cake without breaking some eggs" or "it's better to say I'm sorry than may I" awfully quick and that's not going to lead to anything good."
"He's worried about you, too. He thinks you're trying to prove to LAPD and NCIS that what happened to you last spring hasn't impacted your ability to do your job while making up for what you think is an early career failure."
"Wow, Matthew showing off that fancy Masters in Human Behavior that still mystifies LAPD."
"Why would Matt's degree be a mystery to LAPD?"
"They were surprised he was not captured, tagged and released into the wilds of Los Angeles as a test subject for USC's psych department," Deeks chuckled but quickly turned serious. "I am trying to prove myself to LAPD and NCIS since everyone but you is treating me like I'll break if anything goes 'sideways.' And as for my early career failure, if I announce I'm a cop and call for backup that Sunday back in 2007, maybe Lt. Moran is still working for your new BFF Arthur Winston and Boothe's outed as some sort of predator."
"Boothe killed Corey Moran, you didn't," Kensi tried to reassure him. "And that guilt you feel about Corey Moran, that's the guilt Sam's walking around with when it comes to you and Sidorov. He thinks he failed you."
"Nobody failed me," Deeks sighed, tired of reliving some variation of this conversation that's been running for the last five months. "Sam was doing his job, I was doing mine. I had his back; I did what I could to make sure he didn't drown in that pool. I didn't do all I could for Corey Moran in 2007. I'm doing whatever it takes now."
x-x-x
Deeks walked into a very crowded boat shed just after 11:30AM. Sam, Callen, Kensi and Nell made up the NCIS contingent while the LAPD was represented by Matt Bernhart and Roger Bates. "Good morning all."
"You're late," Sam and Bates said at the same time.
"You two would make an excellent team," Deeks noted. "Construction on the I-10 and the uniform assigned to drive me here seemed to be unable to drive faster than 45-mph."
"Are you ready, Detective?" Nell asked, communications kit in hand.
"Let's do it," Deeks took off his blazer. His white Ralph Lauren button down shirt was opened at the collar. Nell made quick work of the small, top white button, replacing it was a button camera. "Is this the Hetty cam?" Deeks asked.
"Yes, Detective. We can toggle the lens as needed."
"What's a Hetty cam?" Matt asked.
"Tell you tomorrow when we're surfing," Deeks smiled.
Hetty walked through the interrogation room hallway and joined the group. "The Hetty cam is an improvement made on a surveillance camera. A technical specialist watching the feed is able move the camera lens up and down to compensate for any height issues the subject of the recording or the wearer of the camera presents. Good morning, Det. Deeks."
Deeks smiled, "Good morning, Hetty. Do you know Matthew?"
"Det. Bernhart was brought to my attention by Mr. Renko several years ago when we were short-handed. His work on the Salerno case was exemplary."
"You hear that," a smiling Matt said to Deeks in a stage whisper, "I'm exemplary."
"I've often thought of making an example out of you," Bates growled.
"I'm sorry I was running behind but I got the most fascinating call just as I was about to leave my office," Hetty shared.
"This can't be good," Nell whispered as she handed Deeks his earwig.
"Miss Miller from the FBI invited me to a last minute lunch at Providence."
"Do they even do lunch?" Matt asked. As every pair of eyes, except Deeks's, turned to Matt, he shrugged and told them, "My mother insists on a monthly dinner with me. Providence is one of her favorites."
"They have lunch on Fridays. Miss Miller and I are breaking bread at one. And Det. Bernhart, if you haven't had the spot prawns, you're missing out," Hetty suggested.
Deeks chuckled and Matt smiled both enjoying Hetty's restaurant tips. The NCIS staffers were a bit more nonplussed.
"Do you think she's been told to make nice, Hetty?" Kensi asked.
"No, I do not."
"She's up to something," Bates told the room.
"I agree," Hetty nodded. "And since Providence is about an hour from where Sebastian Boothe lives and probably thirty minutes from your temporary office Det. Deeks, she may be creating a diversion."
"Probably at Boothe's place since I wasn't invited," Bates said.
"Mr. Callen, what is the status of the surveillance at Mr. Boothe's home?"
"Along with the traffic cams, there are surveillance cameras around the estate on public property that will track Boothe's comings and goings and any guests visiting Boothe. As part of his parole, his vehicles will all have GPS units."
As Nell finished with Deeks's button camera, she told the group, "Lynn Minor, Boothe's parole officer, was there are at nine this morning. According to the report she filed just before I drove over, Minor found Boothe's home compliant with all the terms of his parole. He currently has a live-in housekeeper and a live-in cook, a husband and wife team. Li and Yun Haung have been American citizens since the late 1990's and not a parking ticket between them. While they were food shopping yesterday, Sam put a GPS unit in their car. Two men arrived in a Mercedes S550 but we did not capture their license plate before it turned on the driveway."
"We really need to get this show on the road if Hetty's going to get to lunch and I'm going to ruin Boothe's," Deeks stood and put his blazer back on.
"I need to talk to my detectives before this begins. If we could have the room," Bates looked to Hetty.
"Of course. Nell, no audio or video until you see Det. Deeks outside of the building. Detective, after your meeting with Sebastian Boothe and when you've debriefed Lt. Bates and Miss Blye, I'd like a call."
"Not a problem."
"Mr. Callen, Mr. Hanna, Miss Blye," Hetty turned to her agents, "follow Det. Deeks's lead. Do you have a safety word, Detective?"
"Noodles," Deeks answered in a serious tone but with a big smile. The NCIS agents all rolled their eyes.
"Miss Jones, please return to your desk and provide my phone with in-time updates while Miss Miller believes she's getting one over on me. If there is any emergency, I am to be contacted immediately."
"Of course," Nell said. "Det. Bernhart, Lt. Bates, very nice meeting you." Turning to Deeks she said, "be careful Deeks."
Deeks nodded and smiled, "Thanks Nell."
"Det. Deeks, you were missed this summer. Please come back to us in one piece."
"That's the plan, Hetty. Enjoy the food at Providence since I think you'll find the company lacking."
"Oh, Miss Miller should be a delightful lunch companion. She just doesn't know that yet. Det. Deeks, if I don't hear from you by three, I will start making calls. The same for you Mr. Callen, Mr. Hanna and Miss Blye." Hetty left the room with Nell following closely.
"We'll be waiting for you two outside," Sam said to Deeks and Matt as he Callen and Kensi left.
Once alone with his detectives, Bates said "Deeks, you don't have to do this. We can get Bernhart into Boothe's house as a pool cleaner."
"Hey, I scream gardener material," Matt feigned outrage.
"You'd probably smoke the fertilizer. I'll take a chance that you're not dumb enough to ingest the chlorine tablets," Bates shook his head before turning his attention back to Deeks. "You did nothing wrong back in 2007. You maintained your cover, you told your handler and your supervisor what you saw and we passed that on to the FBI. They dropped the ball."
"I'm picking it up. I'm fine. If we're done here, I need to hit the restroom before the ride up to Sea Lane Drive. Somehow after our intros, I guessing Boothe won't let me use his bathroom."
Bates wagged his finger at Deeks. "Don't get yourself killed kid, I just got you back."
"Talk to you outside," Matt said to Deeks as he walked to the exit with Bates.
After using the head, Deeks made his way to the exit before hearing, "Detective, a moment."
He was surprised to see Hetty sitting on the couch and yet wasn't. "Aren't you going to be late for lunch?"
"I think they'll hold the table."
"If you're going to tell me that I don't have to see Boothe, that the past isn't my fault and that I have nothing to prove to the assembled masses here today, I've heard it from Kensi and Bates and Matt's probably got a speech prepared too."
"No, Mr. Deeks. While I don't think Lt. Bates or Miss Blye underestimates your abilities, I don't think they appreciate one of your greatest assets."
"Pretty face, charming personality and devastating wit?"
Hetty suppressed a smile. "Your resolve. I could tell from your first report about Lt. Moran that you were going to see this through. And you will."
"Thank you, that means a lot."
"But Mr. Deeks, you mean a great deal to your teams at LAPD and NCIS. Do not allow your resolve to override your common sense. Every person in this room today, plus Mr. Beale and Sgt. Ramos want you safe."
"Head before heart, got it." Deeks started to walk away. "Oh, by the way," Deeks turned back to Hetty. Bending over, he pulled a thumb-drive out of his boot. "Lt. Bates wanted me to write a manual on being a liaison officer. I figured you probably would need to see it and make changes before I turn it in."
"Lt. Bates mentioned this to me. I thought I'd see it just as the case ended at best. I must say I'm impressed, Mr. Deeks."
"Read it first, then decide if you're impressed," Deeks said, smiling. "And thanks for remembering the detective title. Bates is still a little touchy."
"He's just worried about you."
"Can I ask you a question though?"
"Of course."
"Why aren't I Det. Deeks all the time? It is Lt. Bates, Sgt. Ramos, Det. Bernhart but most of the time I'm Mr. Deeks. I like it but I'm confused."
Hetty seemed surprised by the question. "Det. Bernhart is an excellent undercover officer for the LAPD. Lt. Bates and Sgt. Ramos are highly decorated and well respected members of the force. One of these days Mr. Deeks, I'd like you to be a former undercover officer and respected member of the LAPD and an agent with NCIS." Hetty stood. "The others are waiting."
Deeks made his way to the door just as Matt was coming back in. "Started to worry you fell in."
"No, last minute pep talk from Hetty. You here to tell me how I don't have to do this and how I'm still a recovering from last spring?"
"No, my brother. I'm here to tell you it's time to nail this son of a bitch into the ground," Matt told him.
In hindsight, the surveillance van made to look like a caterer's truck carrying Sam, Callen and Bates along with Kensi and Matt in her NCIS SUV should have left when Deeks wanted to use the bathroom. On the motorcycle, Deeks found himself pulling over to the side of the road as he waited for the other vehicles to keep up. While this was an annoyance traveling now, it would make any tail by Boothe nearly impossible.
Once the caravan arrived on Sea Lane Drive, Kensi was able to park near the house, Sam pulled the truck into a nearby driveway of a vacant home. Deeks left the motorcycle under some trees by Boothe's home and started walking up the driveway.
In his earwig, Deeks heard "Don't do anything stupid" as advice from Sam. "Showtime," was Deeks's reply as he rang the doorbell.
A Japanese woman about fifty opened the door. "May I help you?" she asked.
"Is Sebastian Boothe available? I'd like to say hello."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Boothe isn't seeing visitors at this time. He's just returned home after a long time away. Do you have a business card I could pass along to him once he has time?"
"If I wouldn't be a bother, could you tell him Marty stopped by? I'll wait. I have a feeling he may want to see me. In fact, I'm sure of it."
The woman nodded. "Please wait there," she pointed to his feet before closing and locking the front door.
"Oh Deeks, you've got a way with the ladies," Callen said.
"She's probably calling 911 as we speak," Sam added.
Imitating a woman's voice, Matt joined in, "Help, help, there's a throwback hippie freak on my front step and I don't know what to do."
"Really Matthew? Really?" Deeks feigned outrage. "I'm not feeling the Department love here."
"You never felt the Department love, Martin," Matt replied just as the door re-opened.
"I'm sorry, please come in. Mr. Boothe will be with you in a moment," the woman led Deeks into the living area. Again, the room was simply decorated with white furniture and glass accents, making the twenty foot floor to ceiling windows and the ocean view even more spectacular.
"Marty!" Sebastian Boothe breezed into the room from outside. "It is such a relief to see you." Boothe looked largely the same to Deeks, maybe a little more muscular but for a man coming out of six years of prison, he obviously didn't spend all his time working out in the yard. "You cut your hair, it looks so different. You look so different."
Boothe extended his right hand. Deeks decided to shake it and was surprised to be pulled into a hug. "Sebastian," was all he could think to say. An excited Sebastian Boothe was not what he thought he'd find.
"I'm having lunch outside with several associates. I want you to meet them. You need to talk to them," Boothe lead Deeks to the area by the pool.
"Deeks, you don't start talking and we're going in to get you," Bates told him.
"Who are your associates?" Deeks asked as he walked out to the pool area. In a covered area, two men in suits, both in their early forties, sat at a dining table looking like they were enjoying a working lunch.
"Running facial rec," Eric told Deeks.
"Michael Hudson, Jason Keller, look who's here," Boothe started as a way of an introduction. "This is Edward Martin, Marty."
Both men stood suddenly. "Mr. Martin," Michael Hudson said as he extended his hand, "you're a difficult man to find."
Deeks shook his hand. "Not without reason. Mr. Keller," Deeks shook Keller's hand before turning to Boothe. "I didn't know you had company, I'll come back in a few hours."
"They are who they say they are. Hudson and Keller are partners at Dalton, Andrews. Hudson is their top criminal litigator, Keller area of expertise is setting up foundations, trusts and charities," Eric told him.
"No, Mr. Martin, please sit down," Hudson pointed to the seat across from him. Keller sat just to Hudson's left while Boothe sat to his right at the head of the table.
"Marty, we have been looking all over for you. Would you like some lunch?"
Deeks shook his head no. "No thank you, I'm good."
"Mr. Martin may want to speak with legal counsel before you continue, Mr. Boothe," Keller advised his client.
"I'm a lawyer so I'm still good."
Both Hudson and Keller looked surprised, Boothe was delighted. "That's where you've been! I asked Michael's and Jason's firm to find you but I told them you were a bar owner. It never dawned on me you would have switched careers."
"No, I was an attorney when I was running the bar."
"If you don't mind me asking, where did you got to school, Mr. Martin?"
Usually he hated the undercover reveal but when he walked up the driveway, he thought telling Boothe would be fun. The lawyers were changing that dynamic. "Just ten minutes from here."
"Pepperdine?" Keller asked. When Deeks nodded he said, "Did you find Shapiro's constitutional law class as dull as I did?"
"Shapiro taught contracts, really didn't teach them, more inflicted them on the poor 1L's. But if you got out of that class, you were probably going to survive your time there. He retired about two years ago. Jack O'Donnell taught constitutional law when I was there," Deeks told him.
"That was a test?" Boothe asked his lawyer. "Why wouldn't you believe Marty is an attorney?"
Hudson leaned forward to look directly at Deeks. "Mr. Boothe, at your request we've been searching for Mr. Martin for nearly two months and nothing. No home address, no business licenses, no professional licenses, nothing. Now, he's an attorney. Who are you really, Mr. Martin?" Hudson demanded.
Deeks put his hand up and slowly moved it to his blazer breast pocket. He pulled out his badge. "Det. Marty Deeks, LAPD."
Hudson leaned back in scrubbing his face with his hand. "A cop."
"Marty?" Boothe was confused.
"Boogie's was supposed to be a yearlong undercover operation. City inspectors looking for bribes, illegal business practices among the vendors, another way to look at the drug business. The undercover operation got cut short when I got, well, cut."
"Don't say anything, Mr. Boothe." Hudson told his client.
"I wouldn't know what to say." Boothe's exuberant demeanor was gone.
"I heard through the grapevine that you had Steve Johnson looking for me. I wasn't really planning on contacting Mr. Boothe but I have too much respect for Johnson to make it look like he failed at an assignment," Deeks told the three men.
"Who's Steve Johnson?" Boothe asked.
"Firm investigator," Hudson answered quickly before turning to Deeks. Picking up the legal pad next to his wrap sandwich, Hudson flipped to a fresh page. "Det. Deeks, is that with two 'e''s?"
"D-e-e-k-s, first name Martin, middle name Andrew. Detective III. Badge number 4417, California law license 284-1346-1175-04. DOB is January 8, 1979. Feel free to have Steve Johnson contact me. We never worked together, I never worked in the gang unit, but everyone I know says he was a good cop and a better man."
"So is this official police business?" Boothe was beginning to look nervous.
"I heard you had your visit from your parole officer." Deeks tucked his badge back in his pocket.
"That should be confidential," Boothe was shocked.
"Nothing about your interactions with your parole officer or any member of the LAPD is confidential. That is part of your probation agreement," Deeks told Boothe.
Boothe turned to Hudson, who nodded slightly. "Do you plan to make to make Mr. Boothe's parole a personal project, Detective?" Hudson asked.
"Excuse me?"
"Det. Deeks, we're all skirting around the fact that in a moment of extreme folly, Mr. Boothe lost control and injured you. In hindsight, it makes sense that there was no lawsuit filed against Mr. Boothe for his actions that day, though why the D.A.'s Office was willing to take our plea deal gets more interesting by the moment," Hudson said
"I was an undercover officer with a number of cases going. To protect my cover and to guarantee your client would do some time, the D.A.'s Office took the deal. They didn't need another OJ; I didn't need the press attention."
"Yet here you are, blowing your cover," Boothe looked genuinely perplexed.
"Since I'm driving a desk at the PAB, not a lot of cover to be blown."
"You're no longer an undercover detective?" Keller joined the conversation.
"Liaison officer to a federal agency. My days are full of FISA warrant requests and coordinating the Department's investigations with NCIS."
"NCIS?" Boothe asked, seeming genuinely interested.
"The Naval Criminal Investigative Service. They investigate crimes committed by or against Navy and Marine personnel and their families. If a Marine corporal from Camp Pendleton is selling stolen weapons to street gangs in South Central or a Naval Officer is murdered say here in Malibu, those would all be NCIS investigations," Deeks looked right at Boothe, seeing an empty lounge chair near the pool just behind his suspect. "LAPD, of course, has their own interests in illegal gun sales and murders."
Boothe grew tense. Gone was the host who was confused by his guest but basking in his newly found freedom. "I didn't know there was a department just for something like that."
"It is the federal government. There's a department for everything, am I right, Mr. Keller, Mr. Hudson?"
Both men eyed Deeks with some caution but nodded their heads. Hudson asked, "So, is your visit here official police business?"
"No, I told you I have too much respect for what Steve Johnson has done to let your firm think he's not doing a good job. Mr. Boothe did his time. As long as he doesn't repeat his act of folly, as you so artfully phrased it Mr. Hudson, and isn't a suspect in any other crime, I have a desk full of evidence requests to coordinate and bad guys to catch." Deeks stood and shook Hudson's and Keller's hands before turning to Boothe. "Enjoy your freedom, Mr. Boothe." Deeks shook his hand. "I'll show myself out." Deeks turned on his heel and left.
Deeks walked down the driveway, figuring security cameras were following him. As he got to his bike, he picked up his helmet. "Matthew, can you stay here and watch Boothe."
"Sure," Matt answered. "You OK?"
"Good, I just have a bad feeling about Boothe's reaction."
"What do you mean, kid?" Bates asked
"Can I meet the rest of you at my new office in like 45-minutes? Nell, Eric, will here be a problem if I give Kensi the recording equipment to return to you guys?"
"Sure," he heard in unison.
"I'll meet you all in the new office," Deeks told them before pocketing the button camera and earwig. He then vomited next to his bike.
x-x-x
Deeks got off the elevator carrying a Robeks's Replenisher juice. Kensi was standing in the hall outside his office, concerned and unhappy. "Sam and Callen are parking the van," she told him.
"I thought Hetty had the retinal scanner programmed to let you in."
"She did," Bates told him as him as Deeks walked into the office suite. "I was on the phone. Bernhart is on his way over, I sent Hixon to sit in a less noticeable vehicle."
"A Caddy SUV isn't all that out of place in Malibu," Deeks noted.
"A landscaping truck is better," Bates replied. "You want to tell me what was going on there?"
"I'd like to hear that too," Callen walked into the office with Sam. "From what I thought you were planning, you were going in there to rub the fact that you know he killed Moran in his face."
Deeks left the secretary area and went into his actual office with the others following. Plopping down behind his desk, he told them, "The lawyers being there changed how I could approach it. If I went in hot, the lawyers, especially Hudson, would have been thrown me out. Played it down, made it about clearing up a misconception and looking out for Steve Johnson."
Sitting across from Deeks, Kensi nodded. "But you still got across that you would be interested in Boothe if he was under investigation for another crime," Kensi began to understand his approach.
"Boothe knows what he did. The lawyers probably don't."
"That's fine Deeks, but you got quiet a couple of times," Bates pushed but not harshly. "You never get quiet."
"It was weird being there. The last time I saw that pool area, that view, there was a grown man tied to a lounge chair probably in the last hours of his life." Deeks fished the earwig and button camera out of his blazer pocket and handed them to Kensi. "And then Boothe was so excited to see me. Like he wasn't….well, what he is."
"You alright going forward with this?" Callen asked, concerned.
"Yes," Deeks was resolute. "Every minute Sebastian Boothe enjoys that pool, that view, that house is an offense to Corey Moran. I'm good." Deeks took along pull on his juice drink.
Bates's phone rang. He looked at it and announced "Dalton, Andrews and Reese" as he showed them the phone.
"That didn't take long," Sam told him.
"Kid, get your head on right and if it's not on right, get out. I'll be in my office if anyone needs me. I have a feeling Sebastian Boothe's lawyers will be earning their fees talking to me this afternoon."
As Bates left, Matt walked in. "Lawyers left about five minutes after you did. Bates called me in so I left when Tommy Hixon got there. You OK?"
Deeks nodded. "I'm good. Just odd to be greeted warmly by a guy who stabbed me the last time I saw him."
"I want to look into Dalton, Andrews and Reese," Callen announced. "Sam and I are going to drop over and see Hudson and Keller. Kens, go back to the office. Talk to Eric and Nell. I want to make sure your place in Malibu is secure."
"Hey, that's my job," Matt complained.
"Just a review, Matt," Sam told him. "You three have been living on the property for a week. I want to know if there is any vulnerability besides the beach access."
Matt grumbled but nodded in agreement.
Pointing to Deeks, Callen said "Call Hetty."
"Done."
The call to Hetty was informative. Andrea Miller was on her best behavior, explaining her concerns about bringing someone as legendary as Hetty into a series of homicides was a terrible waste of the woman's time. Miller pressed her belief that Deeks was someone who had issues with strong women in roles traditionally held by men. He and Hetty shared a good laugh at that, envisioning a conversation between Miller and Kensi.
Hetty also told him she was able to confirm that Andrea Miller has political plans. She's eyeing her mother's congressional seat as Teresa Miller looks to retire. A well-connected friend on the Hill said the Miller family was cleaning up any issues in Andrea's background. She now owns a house in her mother's district; she has started doing some local charity work. The one stain on her professional career was the reassignment after Sebastian Boothe's arrest and she was doing her best to scrub that clean.
Deeks figured Miller would drown him in bleach. Hetty agreed but told him a contact in the Bureau would his eye on the Assistant Director.
As he was packing up his laptop for the night, the front desk called to say Steve Johnson from Dalton, Andrews and Reese wanted to know if he could come up. Deeks agreed, rebooting the surveillance equipment so both LAPD and NCIS knew Johnson was there.
Steve Johnson was an African American in his late forties. He was about two inches shorter than Deeks but about the same weight - all muscle. When Deeks shook Johnson's hand, it was all he could do not to wince.
"You're a hard man to find, Detective."
"They keep moving me from office to office," Deeks told his guest. "In a month or two, NCIS will decide this place isn't secure enough and want me moved to some other undisclosed location. You former military?"
"No, but my brother is a Marine captain in Pendleton, MAG-39."
"Been there a few times as part of this assignment. Everyone there is remarkable."
"What exactly is this assignment, if you don't mind me asking?"
"On the record, LAPD kept running into problems in investigations with the FBI, ICE, NCIS - all the letters of the alphabet. I had a narcotics operation go sideways when NCIS entered the investigation. I lost the collar even though I saved the NCIS agent's ass when his cover was blown. LAPD was pissed I lost the collar, NCIS was annoyed their guy had to be rescued. Shotgun marriage had me working with them when I didn't have undercover assignments."
"Off the record?"
"The Department needs someone to yell at when NCIS bigfoots our cases, NCIS needs someone to yell out when LAPD actually has the nerve to do an investigation in their direction. I'm the man who makes them all feel better about themselves."
Johnson had a deep, hearty laugh. "How can you be doing undercover assignments if you're working here?"
"Got shot when I walked in on a convenience store robbery after jogging one morning. Once I was back on duty, NCIS only used me as needed."
"Was that how you got hurt last summer?"
Deeks was surprised Johnson knew. His new NCIS and LAPD bios left in the shooting but not the Sidorov case. "Yeah. Without going into specifics of the case, NCIS was short-handed. I got teamed up with this agent who had no use for me. He's former military, I'm a lowly cop. He gets made, I try to rescue him, get captured and get the ever living shit kicked out of me, pardon the language, and missed some time."
"No good deed goes unpunished," Johnson shook his head.
"I hope not. I heard you were looking for me and I had no interest hanging you out to dry with your firm so I met with Sebastian Boothe."
"Who stabbed you. Detective, I think I'm glad you're working indoors - you've had a stretch of rough luck."
"Waiting for all my good karma to kick in. And compared to you and what you did, it's been easy."
"It is a running joke with my brother. He's had three tours in Iraq, one in Afghanistan and not a scratch on him. I get caught in a shootout half-a-mile from our childhood home and lose half my left leg."
Deeks shook his head sadly. Johnson was everything everyone said he was - a hero cop now working in the private sector. "Is there anything I can do for you, Mr. Johnson?"
"Much like your trip to see Sebastian Boothe today, this isn't an official visit. If you were doing what you said, I'm grateful for your concern about my career. If you were there to scare Boothe, don't bother. He hired David Carter, the drug dealer, to be his muscle while he was locked up."
"Carter was in CMC?"
"Yeah. He got busted on some check forging scheme. He was sentenced to minimum security because it wasn't a violent crime and he has no adult record. His prior arrest was a teenage shoplifting charge nearly two decades ago."
"I wasn't there to scare Sebastian Boothe."
"Well, if you do scare him, Dalton, Andrews will replace David Carter as Boothe's muscle. They're ready to bury you in restraining orders, show cause court appearances and other legal means to keep you away from their client."
"As I told his lawyers, Boothe did his time. Unless he's guilty of something else, why would LAPD have any business with him?"
"Because I think you know exactly what he is, Detective," Johnson said. "And after an hour of checking you out, I know exactly the kind of cop you are." Johnson stood. "Take care of yourself, Detective. Seems they moved you inside to keep you safe. Stay indoors when you're dealing with Boothe."
-30-
AUTHOR: tess_dicorsi
RATING: R
GENRE: Mystery
CHARACTERS: Ensemble
DISCLAIMER: Recognizable characters are not mine. Just playing with them and promise not to break them. There are a few original characters, they're mine. I'm also trying not to break them.
SUMMARY: An old collar from the LAPD and an angry colleague from the FBI are back and looking for Marty Deeks. Established Deeks-Kensi. Multi-chapter story.
5. "There are no do-overs in life, Mr. Deeks" - Hetty Lange, "Lone Wolf"
Deeks woke alone in bed. Kensi was standing by the window, deep in thought while staring at the ocean.
"Figuring a way to MacGyver your way out of here and away from the cameras?" Deeks asked her.
"I feel like I'm living on that "Big Brother" show."
"Finally living the reality show life you love to watch every night," Deeks teased as he sat up. "I know you're not here to make friends but if you look bad, blame the editing." After he got no reaction, he tried another tack. "Nobody's really paying attention, Kensi. Matt's got our living room lives on in the background, same with the folks in Ops. They're only paying attention if we have company, if there is a breach of the property or if we hit the panic button. Oh wait, are you worried that Sam and Callen are going to learn that you've started watching "Honey Boo Boo" reruns on-demand?"
She turned and moved to the old but really comfortable club chair in the room. "It's good training for working with you," she teased but her heart wasn't really in it.
"What's up? Besides you, that is."
"I'm worried about you."
"And I'm worried about you but since I'm fine and you'll tell me you're fine, let's just move to the part where we're fine."
"No, you're not fine. You're walking in on a serial killer today and thumbing your nose at him. That's dangerous. I can't believe anyone agreed to your insane plan."
"Tell me what you really think, Kens," Deeks sighed.
"We could have gotten someone close to Boothe. He's got to have a staff for that house. We could have sent someone in as a cook or housekeeper."
"Not to be unkind but you'd be lousy at both."
"Not me, someone else," Kensi answered. "And besides, I could fill those undercover positions."
"You can't find the hamper in the bathroom," Deeks teased. "Forget actually cooking a meal."
"I can cook!"
"So if I pick up a nice bit of Dover sole after I see Boothe today, you can prepare it with some appropriate vegetables and a good wine."
"We're eating at Geoffrey's tonight with Sam and Callen watching for Boothe."
"So that's a no."
Kensi stuck her tongue out at him but turned serious. "I am worried about you," she said before put her hand up, stopping him from interrupting. "You've been putting on a great show for everyone but you're still dealing with what happened last spring."
"Everyone's dealing with what happened last spring. Sam's still got monthly cardiologist visits. Bates is still swinging for the ceiling about NCIS. I'm fine and not Kensi fine, fine fine."
"What happens if this goes, to use Matt's favorite word, 'sideways'?"
"I think the current total of NCIS and LAPD personnel that will be near the Sea Lane Drive mansion or monitoring it is closing in on a dozen." Deeks saw she was about to say something but cut her off this time. "And if you're going to bring up my last day at Boogie's with all the cops being there and me getting injured, in a million years I never thought Boothe would hurt me. I know better now." He smiled at her. "And don't quote Matthew. You'll start learning phrases like "you can't make a cake without breaking some eggs" or "it's better to say I'm sorry than may I" awfully quick and that's not going to lead to anything good."
"He's worried about you, too. He thinks you're trying to prove to LAPD and NCIS that what happened to you last spring hasn't impacted your ability to do your job while making up for what you think is an early career failure."
"Wow, Matthew showing off that fancy Masters in Human Behavior that still mystifies LAPD."
"Why would Matt's degree be a mystery to LAPD?"
"They were surprised he was not captured, tagged and released into the wilds of Los Angeles as a test subject for USC's psych department," Deeks chuckled but quickly turned serious. "I am trying to prove myself to LAPD and NCIS since everyone but you is treating me like I'll break if anything goes 'sideways.' And as for my early career failure, if I announce I'm a cop and call for backup that Sunday back in 2007, maybe Lt. Moran is still working for your new BFF Arthur Winston and Boothe's outed as some sort of predator."
"Boothe killed Corey Moran, you didn't," Kensi tried to reassure him. "And that guilt you feel about Corey Moran, that's the guilt Sam's walking around with when it comes to you and Sidorov. He thinks he failed you."
"Nobody failed me," Deeks sighed, tired of reliving some variation of this conversation that's been running for the last five months. "Sam was doing his job, I was doing mine. I had his back; I did what I could to make sure he didn't drown in that pool. I didn't do all I could for Corey Moran in 2007. I'm doing whatever it takes now."
x-x-x
Deeks walked into a very crowded boat shed just after 11:30AM. Sam, Callen, Kensi and Nell made up the NCIS contingent while the LAPD was represented by Matt Bernhart and Roger Bates. "Good morning all."
"You're late," Sam and Bates said at the same time.
"You two would make an excellent team," Deeks noted. "Construction on the I-10 and the uniform assigned to drive me here seemed to be unable to drive faster than 45-mph."
"Are you ready, Detective?" Nell asked, communications kit in hand.
"Let's do it," Deeks took off his blazer. His white Ralph Lauren button down shirt was opened at the collar. Nell made quick work of the small, top white button, replacing it was a button camera. "Is this the Hetty cam?" Deeks asked.
"Yes, Detective. We can toggle the lens as needed."
"What's a Hetty cam?" Matt asked.
"Tell you tomorrow when we're surfing," Deeks smiled.
Hetty walked through the interrogation room hallway and joined the group. "The Hetty cam is an improvement made on a surveillance camera. A technical specialist watching the feed is able move the camera lens up and down to compensate for any height issues the subject of the recording or the wearer of the camera presents. Good morning, Det. Deeks."
Deeks smiled, "Good morning, Hetty. Do you know Matthew?"
"Det. Bernhart was brought to my attention by Mr. Renko several years ago when we were short-handed. His work on the Salerno case was exemplary."
"You hear that," a smiling Matt said to Deeks in a stage whisper, "I'm exemplary."
"I've often thought of making an example out of you," Bates growled.
"I'm sorry I was running behind but I got the most fascinating call just as I was about to leave my office," Hetty shared.
"This can't be good," Nell whispered as she handed Deeks his earwig.
"Miss Miller from the FBI invited me to a last minute lunch at Providence."
"Do they even do lunch?" Matt asked. As every pair of eyes, except Deeks's, turned to Matt, he shrugged and told them, "My mother insists on a monthly dinner with me. Providence is one of her favorites."
"They have lunch on Fridays. Miss Miller and I are breaking bread at one. And Det. Bernhart, if you haven't had the spot prawns, you're missing out," Hetty suggested.
Deeks chuckled and Matt smiled both enjoying Hetty's restaurant tips. The NCIS staffers were a bit more nonplussed.
"Do you think she's been told to make nice, Hetty?" Kensi asked.
"No, I do not."
"She's up to something," Bates told the room.
"I agree," Hetty nodded. "And since Providence is about an hour from where Sebastian Boothe lives and probably thirty minutes from your temporary office Det. Deeks, she may be creating a diversion."
"Probably at Boothe's place since I wasn't invited," Bates said.
"Mr. Callen, what is the status of the surveillance at Mr. Boothe's home?"
"Along with the traffic cams, there are surveillance cameras around the estate on public property that will track Boothe's comings and goings and any guests visiting Boothe. As part of his parole, his vehicles will all have GPS units."
As Nell finished with Deeks's button camera, she told the group, "Lynn Minor, Boothe's parole officer, was there are at nine this morning. According to the report she filed just before I drove over, Minor found Boothe's home compliant with all the terms of his parole. He currently has a live-in housekeeper and a live-in cook, a husband and wife team. Li and Yun Haung have been American citizens since the late 1990's and not a parking ticket between them. While they were food shopping yesterday, Sam put a GPS unit in their car. Two men arrived in a Mercedes S550 but we did not capture their license plate before it turned on the driveway."
"We really need to get this show on the road if Hetty's going to get to lunch and I'm going to ruin Boothe's," Deeks stood and put his blazer back on.
"I need to talk to my detectives before this begins. If we could have the room," Bates looked to Hetty.
"Of course. Nell, no audio or video until you see Det. Deeks outside of the building. Detective, after your meeting with Sebastian Boothe and when you've debriefed Lt. Bates and Miss Blye, I'd like a call."
"Not a problem."
"Mr. Callen, Mr. Hanna, Miss Blye," Hetty turned to her agents, "follow Det. Deeks's lead. Do you have a safety word, Detective?"
"Noodles," Deeks answered in a serious tone but with a big smile. The NCIS agents all rolled their eyes.
"Miss Jones, please return to your desk and provide my phone with in-time updates while Miss Miller believes she's getting one over on me. If there is any emergency, I am to be contacted immediately."
"Of course," Nell said. "Det. Bernhart, Lt. Bates, very nice meeting you." Turning to Deeks she said, "be careful Deeks."
Deeks nodded and smiled, "Thanks Nell."
"Det. Deeks, you were missed this summer. Please come back to us in one piece."
"That's the plan, Hetty. Enjoy the food at Providence since I think you'll find the company lacking."
"Oh, Miss Miller should be a delightful lunch companion. She just doesn't know that yet. Det. Deeks, if I don't hear from you by three, I will start making calls. The same for you Mr. Callen, Mr. Hanna and Miss Blye." Hetty left the room with Nell following closely.
"We'll be waiting for you two outside," Sam said to Deeks and Matt as he Callen and Kensi left.
Once alone with his detectives, Bates said "Deeks, you don't have to do this. We can get Bernhart into Boothe's house as a pool cleaner."
"Hey, I scream gardener material," Matt feigned outrage.
"You'd probably smoke the fertilizer. I'll take a chance that you're not dumb enough to ingest the chlorine tablets," Bates shook his head before turning his attention back to Deeks. "You did nothing wrong back in 2007. You maintained your cover, you told your handler and your supervisor what you saw and we passed that on to the FBI. They dropped the ball."
"I'm picking it up. I'm fine. If we're done here, I need to hit the restroom before the ride up to Sea Lane Drive. Somehow after our intros, I guessing Boothe won't let me use his bathroom."
Bates wagged his finger at Deeks. "Don't get yourself killed kid, I just got you back."
"Talk to you outside," Matt said to Deeks as he walked to the exit with Bates.
After using the head, Deeks made his way to the exit before hearing, "Detective, a moment."
He was surprised to see Hetty sitting on the couch and yet wasn't. "Aren't you going to be late for lunch?"
"I think they'll hold the table."
"If you're going to tell me that I don't have to see Boothe, that the past isn't my fault and that I have nothing to prove to the assembled masses here today, I've heard it from Kensi and Bates and Matt's probably got a speech prepared too."
"No, Mr. Deeks. While I don't think Lt. Bates or Miss Blye underestimates your abilities, I don't think they appreciate one of your greatest assets."
"Pretty face, charming personality and devastating wit?"
Hetty suppressed a smile. "Your resolve. I could tell from your first report about Lt. Moran that you were going to see this through. And you will."
"Thank you, that means a lot."
"But Mr. Deeks, you mean a great deal to your teams at LAPD and NCIS. Do not allow your resolve to override your common sense. Every person in this room today, plus Mr. Beale and Sgt. Ramos want you safe."
"Head before heart, got it." Deeks started to walk away. "Oh, by the way," Deeks turned back to Hetty. Bending over, he pulled a thumb-drive out of his boot. "Lt. Bates wanted me to write a manual on being a liaison officer. I figured you probably would need to see it and make changes before I turn it in."
"Lt. Bates mentioned this to me. I thought I'd see it just as the case ended at best. I must say I'm impressed, Mr. Deeks."
"Read it first, then decide if you're impressed," Deeks said, smiling. "And thanks for remembering the detective title. Bates is still a little touchy."
"He's just worried about you."
"Can I ask you a question though?"
"Of course."
"Why aren't I Det. Deeks all the time? It is Lt. Bates, Sgt. Ramos, Det. Bernhart but most of the time I'm Mr. Deeks. I like it but I'm confused."
Hetty seemed surprised by the question. "Det. Bernhart is an excellent undercover officer for the LAPD. Lt. Bates and Sgt. Ramos are highly decorated and well respected members of the force. One of these days Mr. Deeks, I'd like you to be a former undercover officer and respected member of the LAPD and an agent with NCIS." Hetty stood. "The others are waiting."
Deeks made his way to the door just as Matt was coming back in. "Started to worry you fell in."
"No, last minute pep talk from Hetty. You here to tell me how I don't have to do this and how I'm still a recovering from last spring?"
"No, my brother. I'm here to tell you it's time to nail this son of a bitch into the ground," Matt told him.
In hindsight, the surveillance van made to look like a caterer's truck carrying Sam, Callen and Bates along with Kensi and Matt in her NCIS SUV should have left when Deeks wanted to use the bathroom. On the motorcycle, Deeks found himself pulling over to the side of the road as he waited for the other vehicles to keep up. While this was an annoyance traveling now, it would make any tail by Boothe nearly impossible.
Once the caravan arrived on Sea Lane Drive, Kensi was able to park near the house, Sam pulled the truck into a nearby driveway of a vacant home. Deeks left the motorcycle under some trees by Boothe's home and started walking up the driveway.
In his earwig, Deeks heard "Don't do anything stupid" as advice from Sam. "Showtime," was Deeks's reply as he rang the doorbell.
A Japanese woman about fifty opened the door. "May I help you?" she asked.
"Is Sebastian Boothe available? I'd like to say hello."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Boothe isn't seeing visitors at this time. He's just returned home after a long time away. Do you have a business card I could pass along to him once he has time?"
"If I wouldn't be a bother, could you tell him Marty stopped by? I'll wait. I have a feeling he may want to see me. In fact, I'm sure of it."
The woman nodded. "Please wait there," she pointed to his feet before closing and locking the front door.
"Oh Deeks, you've got a way with the ladies," Callen said.
"She's probably calling 911 as we speak," Sam added.
Imitating a woman's voice, Matt joined in, "Help, help, there's a throwback hippie freak on my front step and I don't know what to do."
"Really Matthew? Really?" Deeks feigned outrage. "I'm not feeling the Department love here."
"You never felt the Department love, Martin," Matt replied just as the door re-opened.
"I'm sorry, please come in. Mr. Boothe will be with you in a moment," the woman led Deeks into the living area. Again, the room was simply decorated with white furniture and glass accents, making the twenty foot floor to ceiling windows and the ocean view even more spectacular.
"Marty!" Sebastian Boothe breezed into the room from outside. "It is such a relief to see you." Boothe looked largely the same to Deeks, maybe a little more muscular but for a man coming out of six years of prison, he obviously didn't spend all his time working out in the yard. "You cut your hair, it looks so different. You look so different."
Boothe extended his right hand. Deeks decided to shake it and was surprised to be pulled into a hug. "Sebastian," was all he could think to say. An excited Sebastian Boothe was not what he thought he'd find.
"I'm having lunch outside with several associates. I want you to meet them. You need to talk to them," Boothe lead Deeks to the area by the pool.
"Deeks, you don't start talking and we're going in to get you," Bates told him.
"Who are your associates?" Deeks asked as he walked out to the pool area. In a covered area, two men in suits, both in their early forties, sat at a dining table looking like they were enjoying a working lunch.
"Running facial rec," Eric told Deeks.
"Michael Hudson, Jason Keller, look who's here," Boothe started as a way of an introduction. "This is Edward Martin, Marty."
Both men stood suddenly. "Mr. Martin," Michael Hudson said as he extended his hand, "you're a difficult man to find."
Deeks shook his hand. "Not without reason. Mr. Keller," Deeks shook Keller's hand before turning to Boothe. "I didn't know you had company, I'll come back in a few hours."
"They are who they say they are. Hudson and Keller are partners at Dalton, Andrews. Hudson is their top criminal litigator, Keller area of expertise is setting up foundations, trusts and charities," Eric told him.
"No, Mr. Martin, please sit down," Hudson pointed to the seat across from him. Keller sat just to Hudson's left while Boothe sat to his right at the head of the table.
"Marty, we have been looking all over for you. Would you like some lunch?"
Deeks shook his head no. "No thank you, I'm good."
"Mr. Martin may want to speak with legal counsel before you continue, Mr. Boothe," Keller advised his client.
"I'm a lawyer so I'm still good."
Both Hudson and Keller looked surprised, Boothe was delighted. "That's where you've been! I asked Michael's and Jason's firm to find you but I told them you were a bar owner. It never dawned on me you would have switched careers."
"No, I was an attorney when I was running the bar."
"If you don't mind me asking, where did you got to school, Mr. Martin?"
Usually he hated the undercover reveal but when he walked up the driveway, he thought telling Boothe would be fun. The lawyers were changing that dynamic. "Just ten minutes from here."
"Pepperdine?" Keller asked. When Deeks nodded he said, "Did you find Shapiro's constitutional law class as dull as I did?"
"Shapiro taught contracts, really didn't teach them, more inflicted them on the poor 1L's. But if you got out of that class, you were probably going to survive your time there. He retired about two years ago. Jack O'Donnell taught constitutional law when I was there," Deeks told him.
"That was a test?" Boothe asked his lawyer. "Why wouldn't you believe Marty is an attorney?"
Hudson leaned forward to look directly at Deeks. "Mr. Boothe, at your request we've been searching for Mr. Martin for nearly two months and nothing. No home address, no business licenses, no professional licenses, nothing. Now, he's an attorney. Who are you really, Mr. Martin?" Hudson demanded.
Deeks put his hand up and slowly moved it to his blazer breast pocket. He pulled out his badge. "Det. Marty Deeks, LAPD."
Hudson leaned back in scrubbing his face with his hand. "A cop."
"Marty?" Boothe was confused.
"Boogie's was supposed to be a yearlong undercover operation. City inspectors looking for bribes, illegal business practices among the vendors, another way to look at the drug business. The undercover operation got cut short when I got, well, cut."
"Don't say anything, Mr. Boothe." Hudson told his client.
"I wouldn't know what to say." Boothe's exuberant demeanor was gone.
"I heard through the grapevine that you had Steve Johnson looking for me. I wasn't really planning on contacting Mr. Boothe but I have too much respect for Johnson to make it look like he failed at an assignment," Deeks told the three men.
"Who's Steve Johnson?" Boothe asked.
"Firm investigator," Hudson answered quickly before turning to Deeks. Picking up the legal pad next to his wrap sandwich, Hudson flipped to a fresh page. "Det. Deeks, is that with two 'e''s?"
"D-e-e-k-s, first name Martin, middle name Andrew. Detective III. Badge number 4417, California law license 284-1346-1175-04. DOB is January 8, 1979. Feel free to have Steve Johnson contact me. We never worked together, I never worked in the gang unit, but everyone I know says he was a good cop and a better man."
"So is this official police business?" Boothe was beginning to look nervous.
"I heard you had your visit from your parole officer." Deeks tucked his badge back in his pocket.
"That should be confidential," Boothe was shocked.
"Nothing about your interactions with your parole officer or any member of the LAPD is confidential. That is part of your probation agreement," Deeks told Boothe.
Boothe turned to Hudson, who nodded slightly. "Do you plan to make to make Mr. Boothe's parole a personal project, Detective?" Hudson asked.
"Excuse me?"
"Det. Deeks, we're all skirting around the fact that in a moment of extreme folly, Mr. Boothe lost control and injured you. In hindsight, it makes sense that there was no lawsuit filed against Mr. Boothe for his actions that day, though why the D.A.'s Office was willing to take our plea deal gets more interesting by the moment," Hudson said
"I was an undercover officer with a number of cases going. To protect my cover and to guarantee your client would do some time, the D.A.'s Office took the deal. They didn't need another OJ; I didn't need the press attention."
"Yet here you are, blowing your cover," Boothe looked genuinely perplexed.
"Since I'm driving a desk at the PAB, not a lot of cover to be blown."
"You're no longer an undercover detective?" Keller joined the conversation.
"Liaison officer to a federal agency. My days are full of FISA warrant requests and coordinating the Department's investigations with NCIS."
"NCIS?" Boothe asked, seeming genuinely interested.
"The Naval Criminal Investigative Service. They investigate crimes committed by or against Navy and Marine personnel and their families. If a Marine corporal from Camp Pendleton is selling stolen weapons to street gangs in South Central or a Naval Officer is murdered say here in Malibu, those would all be NCIS investigations," Deeks looked right at Boothe, seeing an empty lounge chair near the pool just behind his suspect. "LAPD, of course, has their own interests in illegal gun sales and murders."
Boothe grew tense. Gone was the host who was confused by his guest but basking in his newly found freedom. "I didn't know there was a department just for something like that."
"It is the federal government. There's a department for everything, am I right, Mr. Keller, Mr. Hudson?"
Both men eyed Deeks with some caution but nodded their heads. Hudson asked, "So, is your visit here official police business?"
"No, I told you I have too much respect for what Steve Johnson has done to let your firm think he's not doing a good job. Mr. Boothe did his time. As long as he doesn't repeat his act of folly, as you so artfully phrased it Mr. Hudson, and isn't a suspect in any other crime, I have a desk full of evidence requests to coordinate and bad guys to catch." Deeks stood and shook Hudson's and Keller's hands before turning to Boothe. "Enjoy your freedom, Mr. Boothe." Deeks shook his hand. "I'll show myself out." Deeks turned on his heel and left.
Deeks walked down the driveway, figuring security cameras were following him. As he got to his bike, he picked up his helmet. "Matthew, can you stay here and watch Boothe."
"Sure," Matt answered. "You OK?"
"Good, I just have a bad feeling about Boothe's reaction."
"What do you mean, kid?" Bates asked
"Can I meet the rest of you at my new office in like 45-minutes? Nell, Eric, will here be a problem if I give Kensi the recording equipment to return to you guys?"
"Sure," he heard in unison.
"I'll meet you all in the new office," Deeks told them before pocketing the button camera and earwig. He then vomited next to his bike.
x-x-x
Deeks got off the elevator carrying a Robeks's Replenisher juice. Kensi was standing in the hall outside his office, concerned and unhappy. "Sam and Callen are parking the van," she told him.
"I thought Hetty had the retinal scanner programmed to let you in."
"She did," Bates told him as him as Deeks walked into the office suite. "I was on the phone. Bernhart is on his way over, I sent Hixon to sit in a less noticeable vehicle."
"A Caddy SUV isn't all that out of place in Malibu," Deeks noted.
"A landscaping truck is better," Bates replied. "You want to tell me what was going on there?"
"I'd like to hear that too," Callen walked into the office with Sam. "From what I thought you were planning, you were going in there to rub the fact that you know he killed Moran in his face."
Deeks left the secretary area and went into his actual office with the others following. Plopping down behind his desk, he told them, "The lawyers being there changed how I could approach it. If I went in hot, the lawyers, especially Hudson, would have been thrown me out. Played it down, made it about clearing up a misconception and looking out for Steve Johnson."
Sitting across from Deeks, Kensi nodded. "But you still got across that you would be interested in Boothe if he was under investigation for another crime," Kensi began to understand his approach.
"Boothe knows what he did. The lawyers probably don't."
"That's fine Deeks, but you got quiet a couple of times," Bates pushed but not harshly. "You never get quiet."
"It was weird being there. The last time I saw that pool area, that view, there was a grown man tied to a lounge chair probably in the last hours of his life." Deeks fished the earwig and button camera out of his blazer pocket and handed them to Kensi. "And then Boothe was so excited to see me. Like he wasn't….well, what he is."
"You alright going forward with this?" Callen asked, concerned.
"Yes," Deeks was resolute. "Every minute Sebastian Boothe enjoys that pool, that view, that house is an offense to Corey Moran. I'm good." Deeks took along pull on his juice drink.
Bates's phone rang. He looked at it and announced "Dalton, Andrews and Reese" as he showed them the phone.
"That didn't take long," Sam told him.
"Kid, get your head on right and if it's not on right, get out. I'll be in my office if anyone needs me. I have a feeling Sebastian Boothe's lawyers will be earning their fees talking to me this afternoon."
As Bates left, Matt walked in. "Lawyers left about five minutes after you did. Bates called me in so I left when Tommy Hixon got there. You OK?"
Deeks nodded. "I'm good. Just odd to be greeted warmly by a guy who stabbed me the last time I saw him."
"I want to look into Dalton, Andrews and Reese," Callen announced. "Sam and I are going to drop over and see Hudson and Keller. Kens, go back to the office. Talk to Eric and Nell. I want to make sure your place in Malibu is secure."
"Hey, that's my job," Matt complained.
"Just a review, Matt," Sam told him. "You three have been living on the property for a week. I want to know if there is any vulnerability besides the beach access."
Matt grumbled but nodded in agreement.
Pointing to Deeks, Callen said "Call Hetty."
"Done."
The call to Hetty was informative. Andrea Miller was on her best behavior, explaining her concerns about bringing someone as legendary as Hetty into a series of homicides was a terrible waste of the woman's time. Miller pressed her belief that Deeks was someone who had issues with strong women in roles traditionally held by men. He and Hetty shared a good laugh at that, envisioning a conversation between Miller and Kensi.
Hetty also told him she was able to confirm that Andrea Miller has political plans. She's eyeing her mother's congressional seat as Teresa Miller looks to retire. A well-connected friend on the Hill said the Miller family was cleaning up any issues in Andrea's background. She now owns a house in her mother's district; she has started doing some local charity work. The one stain on her professional career was the reassignment after Sebastian Boothe's arrest and she was doing her best to scrub that clean.
Deeks figured Miller would drown him in bleach. Hetty agreed but told him a contact in the Bureau would his eye on the Assistant Director.
As he was packing up his laptop for the night, the front desk called to say Steve Johnson from Dalton, Andrews and Reese wanted to know if he could come up. Deeks agreed, rebooting the surveillance equipment so both LAPD and NCIS knew Johnson was there.
Steve Johnson was an African American in his late forties. He was about two inches shorter than Deeks but about the same weight - all muscle. When Deeks shook Johnson's hand, it was all he could do not to wince.
"You're a hard man to find, Detective."
"They keep moving me from office to office," Deeks told his guest. "In a month or two, NCIS will decide this place isn't secure enough and want me moved to some other undisclosed location. You former military?"
"No, but my brother is a Marine captain in Pendleton, MAG-39."
"Been there a few times as part of this assignment. Everyone there is remarkable."
"What exactly is this assignment, if you don't mind me asking?"
"On the record, LAPD kept running into problems in investigations with the FBI, ICE, NCIS - all the letters of the alphabet. I had a narcotics operation go sideways when NCIS entered the investigation. I lost the collar even though I saved the NCIS agent's ass when his cover was blown. LAPD was pissed I lost the collar, NCIS was annoyed their guy had to be rescued. Shotgun marriage had me working with them when I didn't have undercover assignments."
"Off the record?"
"The Department needs someone to yell at when NCIS bigfoots our cases, NCIS needs someone to yell out when LAPD actually has the nerve to do an investigation in their direction. I'm the man who makes them all feel better about themselves."
Johnson had a deep, hearty laugh. "How can you be doing undercover assignments if you're working here?"
"Got shot when I walked in on a convenience store robbery after jogging one morning. Once I was back on duty, NCIS only used me as needed."
"Was that how you got hurt last summer?"
Deeks was surprised Johnson knew. His new NCIS and LAPD bios left in the shooting but not the Sidorov case. "Yeah. Without going into specifics of the case, NCIS was short-handed. I got teamed up with this agent who had no use for me. He's former military, I'm a lowly cop. He gets made, I try to rescue him, get captured and get the ever living shit kicked out of me, pardon the language, and missed some time."
"No good deed goes unpunished," Johnson shook his head.
"I hope not. I heard you were looking for me and I had no interest hanging you out to dry with your firm so I met with Sebastian Boothe."
"Who stabbed you. Detective, I think I'm glad you're working indoors - you've had a stretch of rough luck."
"Waiting for all my good karma to kick in. And compared to you and what you did, it's been easy."
"It is a running joke with my brother. He's had three tours in Iraq, one in Afghanistan and not a scratch on him. I get caught in a shootout half-a-mile from our childhood home and lose half my left leg."
Deeks shook his head sadly. Johnson was everything everyone said he was - a hero cop now working in the private sector. "Is there anything I can do for you, Mr. Johnson?"
"Much like your trip to see Sebastian Boothe today, this isn't an official visit. If you were doing what you said, I'm grateful for your concern about my career. If you were there to scare Boothe, don't bother. He hired David Carter, the drug dealer, to be his muscle while he was locked up."
"Carter was in CMC?"
"Yeah. He got busted on some check forging scheme. He was sentenced to minimum security because it wasn't a violent crime and he has no adult record. His prior arrest was a teenage shoplifting charge nearly two decades ago."
"I wasn't there to scare Sebastian Boothe."
"Well, if you do scare him, Dalton, Andrews will replace David Carter as Boothe's muscle. They're ready to bury you in restraining orders, show cause court appearances and other legal means to keep you away from their client."
"As I told his lawyers, Boothe did his time. Unless he's guilty of something else, why would LAPD have any business with him?"
"Because I think you know exactly what he is, Detective," Johnson said. "And after an hour of checking you out, I know exactly the kind of cop you are." Johnson stood. "Take care of yourself, Detective. Seems they moved you inside to keep you safe. Stay indoors when you're dealing with Boothe."
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