Chapter 4

Two hours later they were still in the room. The lawyers were deep in conversation and drawing names and possible connections on several sheets of paper. The agents were sitting there, opposite from them with a couple of laptops on, providing visual support and available data to the girls. Suddenly Bette’s cell phone rang.

“Porter” She said as she lifted the hand that was resting on the table. Bette had removed her jacket and rolled up the sleeves of her shirt, this not going unnoticed by Tina. “Good, we’re in briefing 2” She added and then hung up.

“Are you always that polite on the phone?” Alice asked surprised and Bette just stared at her.

“That is all the polite you can get out of her, so imagine when she’s grumpy” Dana joked and got a frown from her boss.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door and as Bette opened up, three guys dressed as carpet cleaners entered the room.

“Ed! Good to see you. What did you find?” Bette asked shaking one of the man’s hands.

“Well your hound skills don’t seize to surprise me Bette, we found a total of four devices. One inside of each of their offices and one in the kitchen area, which we thought was odd but then again… I’ve seen weirder, the only office that wasn’t tapped was Misses Peabody’s” He said shrugging his shoulders.

“And what about their conference room?” Bette asked concerned, given the conversation they had shared there earlier that day.

“That room was also clean” He said with half a smile. “Ok, here’s one of the bugs so you can take a look at it but… you know I’m gonna need it back” He added.

“Yeah don’t worry I just need it for a couple of days, thank you Ed you’re the best” Bette said taking the plastic bag that was offered to her.

“You’re welcomed… oh and we also installed all of our equipment so now you don’t have to worry anymore about anything. We’re on our way to also inspect their houses, so I guess I’ll see you soon Bette and be careful”

“Always am, you too Ed thank you” Bette said shaking his hand one more time.

“Shane, run this” Bette said throwing the plastic bag towards the brunette, as soon as the guys were gone.

“On it” Shane replied as she caught it and immediately sat in front of the computer.

“I have to go talk to the local PD” Bette said unrolling her sleeves and putting her jacket on.

“Porter… Porter look at me” Dana commanded and reluctantly the brunette did. “Bette DON’T!”

After one hour they were back into their offices and Tina couldn’t help but to wonder where her assigned agent was. She last saw the brunette storming off the security room at the FBI’s central office and since then she hadn’t heard from her. In more than one occasion she felt the need to ask the other agents about her, but every time she was about to open her mouth she decided against it. After all who was she to be asking about the whereabouts of someone she had just met a few hours before.

As all these thoughts were passing through her head, along with others that also involved the brunette agent she saw her through the glass walls of her office. Bette was walking from the elevator towards her desk, looking rather annoyed. Her hair was a bit messier than the last time she had seen her and she wasn’t wearing the suit jacket, instead she had a bulletproof vest on.

Tina’s breath got caught in her throat at the thought of what might be going on for her to be wearing the vest and looking like she just had run twenty blocks chasing a suspect. Of course curiosity got the better of her and just as she was about to get up she noticed the tall agent passing by her desk and moving towards her office. Bette gently knocked on the door and this time she waited to be invited in.