Chapter 3
"I'll bet they think they hate each other. Just wait, kids, just wait."
Chapter 3: Idiots.
Weiss glanced up to find Caitlin standing behind him, arms crossed. "Agent Sinclair."
"Agent Weiss. You gonna explain that comment?" She walked to the empty chair across from him and sat down.
"Please, have a seat," Eric said sarcastically. She flashed him an icy glare. Heh. She's pissed. "Look, I didn't mean to offend you. I didn't realize you were standing there...don't you know it's not polite to sneak up on people?"
"Actually, in my line of work being stealthy is a virtue. And a lifesaver. But you were about to give me some wonderful explanation for why you don't think I can do this job."
"That's not what I said, I was just making a wisecrack. In case you haven't noticed, that's sort of my stock and trade. Gets on everybody's nerves, so don't consider yourself alone in that department. But you have to admit..."
"Admit what?" she challenged. "Admit that I'm not a good spy because I'm a woman? I'll have you know that I could kick your ass and steal your wallet before you even had the chance to wipe that stupid, condescending smirk off your face. I am a damn good agent, and I'm sick of being kicked down in order to make stupid, chauvinistic pigs feel more important. And secondly..."
Eric effectively cut off the feminist diatribe by placing his hand firmly over her mouth. "I was going to say, you have to admit that James Bond would never do something as uncouth as steal someone's coffee. OK?" He smiled, his brown eyes sparkling. "Wisecrack. Weiss = wisecrack. We clear?" She nodded and he slowly removed his hand from her lips. Wow, her mouth is really soft. I wonder...ho boy, backtrack and stop. Not driving down that avenue. He shook his head as if to clear it of all thoughts similar to that one. "So, what makes you think I was going to go all macho and chauvinistic on you?"
Caitlin rolled her eyes. "It's just been that kind of day. There must be a sign on my back that says, 'please, insult my job capabilities and establish yourself as the stronger sex.' After my few days in the L.A. office, it's hard for me to think that there are ANY men left who aren't chauvinistic assholes. So I'm sorry for going off on you, but I just can't take it if someone dares say I'm not qualified to be an agent. I live for the job, it's...all I have." She trailed off, her thoughts seemingly a million miles away.
Why does she seem so lonely right now? he asked himself. C'mon, Weiss, say something, anything. "Any assholes in particular?" Eric asked jokingly.
"Well, Ron Chapman is certainly on my hit list." She stopped at the disgusted look on Weiss's face. "I take it you know him?"
"You could say that." Chapman was the biggest weaselly slimeball that Eric had ever met. In all honesty, he made Haladki and Lambert look like great guys. "Don't worry about Chapman. I'm pretty sure he's on everyone's hit list. There's even a pool on who gets first crack at him. Wanna get in on it?"
"If he grabs my butt or calls me 'sweetheart' one more time, he's gone."
"Wait a few weeks, will ya? My best friend and his wife are still on vacation, and I'm sure they don't want to miss out on that show." He grinned, thinking of the last time Chapman had tried to hit on a female CIA agent. Syd throws a hell of a punch, he thought fondly. He discreetly looked Caitlin up and down. She's shorter than Syd, but no less dangerous, I'd put money on it. With that temper, she makes a very formidable package. And those eyes are so cold...yet still gorgeous...danger, Eric Weiss, danger! He snapped out of his thoughts. "Sorry, just thinking about the last female agent to bust Chapman's ass. I can say one thing for the guy, he sure does bring entertainment to the office."
She laughed. "Glad he's good for something. So, Weiss, will you let the bitter feminist buy you another beer? It's the least I could do after borrowing your coffee this morning." She grinned unashamedly. "Great coffee, by the way."
"Glad you enjoyed it. And you stole it, Sinclair. Ain't no borrowing about it." He signaled the waitress over to their table. "This one's on me, on one condition."
"Which would be?"
"We're at least three miles from headquarters. I think it's safe to call me Eric."
"Only if you call me Caitlin." She stuck her hand towards Eric. "Actually, I don't think we've ever been 'properly' introduced. Nice to meet you, Eric."
Even though his better judgment was kicking him upside the head, Eric took Caitlin's hand. "Same here, Caitlin." Their eyes locked. They kept their hands joined and gazes fixed until the waitress came over to take their order.
The elderly waitress chuckled to herself. Idiots. She had been watching their banter for the last several minutes, and she could see the sparks flying between the two. I'll bet they think they hate each other. Just wait, kids, just wait. "What can I get ya?" she asked loudly, startling the two agents.
Eric and Caitlin hastily dropped each other's hands. "Uh, two beers please," Caitlin said, smiling up at the waitress. What the heck was that?, she asked herself. I must have zoned out there for a second.The waitress smiled knowingly and walked away shaking her head.
C'mon, Sinclair, get it together. She cleared her throat. "So, uh, Eric, how's the mission coming?"
"Picture the amusing scene of me hitting my head against a brick wall. That about sums up my progress thus far. I don't know what Devlin was smoking when he gave me this op." Eric knew he was a good agent, but he was more the action type than the planning type. He'd rather kick the bad guy's ass than sit around planning said ass-kicking.
"May I?" she asked as she slid the file folder to her side of the table and opened it up. "Don't beat yourself up, this is going to be a damn tough mission. Valdez is notorious for being a slippery, stealthy creep." Believe me, I know. She shuddered visibly.
"You OK?" Eric asked. I don't think she realizes how much those eyes give her away. How does she know Valdez, and why does she seem afraid of him?
"Yeah, it's just a bit cold in here." She took a swig of her beer and tried to push away the memories that had sprung up when she mentioned Valdez.
Eric grabbed his leather jacket from the chair beside him and handed it to her. "Want it?"
Caitlin nodded gratefully. "Thanks." As she wrapped it around herself, she inhaled deeply. She had always loved the smell of men's cologne. "This smells good," she said absentmindedly.
"I do believe you just indirectly gave me a compliment." He grinned elfishly.
"Yeah, well don't let it go to your head. The poor thing's big enough as it is, I'm afraid you'd topple over if it got any larger," she said sweetly.
Eric rolled his eyes and took a drink of his beer. "Cute, thanks."
"You're welcome." They smiled at each other for a few seconds. "Uh, so, where are you getting hung up in the mission specs?"
He raked his hand through his brown hair and sighed. "Anywhere, everywhere, take your pick. The first and foremost step in this logistical nightmare is figuring out how to get our agent," he nodded at Caitlin, "into Valdez's good graces. We need him to trust you, enough to let his guard down. Then you can find out the specifics of the commodity trade and we'll be in business."
"OK. Let's assume, just hypothetically, that it won't be a problem getting Valdez to trust me." Nothing hypothetical about it, she thought grimly. She knew Valdez would welcome her with the creep's equivalent of open arms. "We can figure out the details of that later. Let's work on what we do once I'm in. How do I get the info to the CIA, what sort of coverage are we going to have during the trade, stuff like that."
"Alright. I was thinking..."
Eric and Caitlin bent their heads together, trying to beat out a plan.
Two hours later, Caitlin stretched and checked her watch. "Man, it's getting late. Are we good for now?"
Eric, not without a bit of jealousy, wondered who she was running home to. "Yeah, we're good. Thanks so much for the help, it's now down to wood."
"Come again?"
"The wall I'm beating my head against. It's downgraded from brick to wood."
"Ahh. Bring on the aspirin." She took off his jacket and handed it to him. "Thanks for this. It really does smell good. My compliments to the cologne."
"I'm sure it's honored." He stood up, putting the documents back in the file folder and laying some money on the table. "Walk you out?" He cringed at the look she gave him. "Not that I don't think you're capable of walking yourself out. Dismantle the feminist soapbox, wouldya? I'm just being polite for once."
She raised her eyebrows. "I was going to say, I'd appreciate it." They walked towards the door, and he reached out and opened it for her. "Wow, I wasn't aware that courtesy was part of Agent Training. Guess the Langley guys finally got their act together."
"Or maybe I'm just a diamond in the rough." He grinned.
"You are pretty, how should I say this, unique." She stopped at her car. "See you on Monday, Agent Weiss."
"Get some sleep, Agent Sinclair. You're gonna need your strength for when Devlin hears what we're planning."
"Head through the roof, I'm assuming?" She grinned, picturing the director's reaction.
Eric nodded. "And all the way to the moon. 'Night, Caitlin." He waited until her car started up and she pulled away, then he started walking towards his Explorer. He smiled, thinking of the progress they had made. He stopped short when he realized that he had never asked her how she knew Valdez. If she's so terrified of him, why did she agree to do this op? There's a hell of a lot that she's not saying. But I intend to find out, no matter what.
Posted by Carrie on 11:28 AM