Mind (the) Game

by Kelly Shade

With her usual grumpy morning expression, she took the mug off of his hand without saying a word and went back to sit on the bed. She could feel her eyes were puffy and couldn’t open properly. Maybe because it was the first time in weeks she got that much sleep or maybe the whiskey was a little too much.

  “What’s the time?” Blake asked after she drank half of her coffee in silence looking at a small crack on the floor.

  “Eleven.” J answered “Are you like this every morning?”

  “Not exactly. But every morning I can kill someone if I haven’t drunk my coffee.” Blake answered sleepily and lifted her gaze to him.

  “I was the same before but when I joined…urgh” Johnathan started but it was, obviously, an information he shouldn’t share so he changed the subject hoping Jane didn’t hear him “You are beautiful in the morning!”

  “Only in the morning?” Jane laughed.

  “No, you are beautiful, it’s just…” J stuttered but he fixed it quickly. “it’s morning and most of the people don’t look good when they wake up but you are cute and not that intimidating. As if the beast in you isn’t awake yet!” he finished with a laugh.

  “Okay, I’ll take that!” Jane also smiled.

  Johnathan didn’t bother her for about a half an hour more until she finished with her coffee but at the moment she put the empty cup on the table, he spoke.

  “We have five hours until go time, which means we should go in LA now, grab a lunch and prepare, okay?”

  “Why so tense?” Jane teased.

  He looked at her with a look that clearly meant ‘Are you kidding me?’ but he didn’t say anything.

  Jonathan drove in front of Jane on the way to LA. It was a bit irritating for Jane because he was the perfect driver and she was used to drive faster than the speed limit.

  When they finally arrived at a small diner in the suburbs of Los Angeles to grab lunch and go over the plan one more time. Johnathan said that the facility was nearby. After the late lunch, J asked Jane to park her car a block away from the office building, that they were supposed to break in.

  Then they went in his car and J started to unpack the backpack he had prepared, what looked like, days ago. Jane put a uniform of an electricity worker over her clothes, put the red wig in her pocket, hid her hair with a hat and grabbed a smaller backpack full with everything they needed in case of an emergency.

  J also was with the same uniform, hat, and a bag.

  Together they walked to the facility which didn’t look as if there should be something special. For Jane it was weird because the security cameras were top notch and the guards were too many for an old building like that. There were no signs indicating what was inside, no advertisements, nothing to tell Jane what were they stealing.

  Johnathan made Jane wait for a few minutes in front, until Juliet Tucker and Willie Gibbs, the people they were going to impersonate, didn’t walked out. Blake noticed that Willie Tucker was like J’s brother, except he wore glasses and a suit. Then they walked in, J showed a badge which the security guard copied and gave back.

  Inside the building was also nothing special. There was no reception, just a corridor with elevators and stairs on the side.

  Jane and Johnathan went in one of the elevators and he, without saying a word, pressed the button to the seventh floor, got out a small device and pressed the only one green button on it. A small LED lamp started blinking and J gestured Jane to put on her wig and remove the uniform. She did it quickly, Jonathan also removed it, wore a blazer over his formal shirt and put tiny glasses.

  The building was obviously empty after six pm and Blake and Johnathan walked undisturbed on the hallway leading to the last and apparently most important office.

  J let Jane unlock and she did it in a matter of seconds. They walked in the room which was bigger than one-bedroom apartment. The desk and chairs were fancy and huge, there was a goldish leather couch, kitchen area at the left and an enormous metal storage cabinet with locked doors and a keypad next to the lock.

  “Blake, come here.” J ordered and even though Jane didn’t like his tone she walked towards him.

  “Why are we…?” Jane started but J shushed her.

  They were standing near the wall between the couch and the storage cabinet and Blake didn’t know why. That wasn’t a part of the plan.

  They heard footsteps coming their way.

  “What?” Jane couldn’t hide her surprise.

  Johnathan grabbed her arm, pulled her towards him and hugged her tightly.

  “The security is checking why the camera signal stopped while we were in the elevator.” He said quietly.

  The steps were coming closer and soon enough two men unlocked and opened the door.

  “Kiss me!” whispered J.

  Blake understood what was the idea and did as he said.

  The guards saw them and slowly backed up, closed the door and locked it. A quiet laughter was accompanied with the sounds of their steps going away to their posts.

  Blake, now calm, moved back from Johnathan and said “You should have told me about that part of the plan!”

  “I thought you won’t be up for it.” Laughed J with a satisfied expression.

  “Do you know the code?” Jane changed the subject and walked to the cabinet’s lock.

  “Yep.” Answered J, replaced her in front of the key pad but before typing the passcode he waved his hand and whispered “Can you, please, move?”

  Blake didn’t know how she should react to that. He was bossing her around and making every possible effort for her not to see what was that file. Jane didn’t want to argue at that point so she stepped away from him with a grimace on her face. Jonathan opened the cabinet and started searching for the file in question. The whole cabinet was containing thousands of documents separated in, maybe, a hundred drawers, with no indication about date or name. Blake thought this may take hours, especially when only he was ‘allowed’ to look at them.

  And it did take a lot, fifteen minutes passed and J wasn’t nearly close to the right file. At least that was what Jane could say while sitting in the comfortable office chair behind the desk. She looked in every desk drawer, hoping she would find some information about that place but nothing useful came up. Mr. Willie Gibbs didn’t have any pictures or personal stuff on his desk. The only documents Jane saw were utility bills for the building. Everything else was plain printer paper and office supplies.

  Johnathan finally found what he was looking for. Blake saw him put a big folder with files in his bag and closing the doors of the cabinet.

  “We are ready to go.” He said and added with a smile “Everything goes as planned, huh?”

  “Never say that before the job is finished!” Jane groaned “You’ll jinx it!”

  “Don’t tell me the incredible Jane Blake believes in this crap!” laughed Johnathan.

  “You just made it worse!” Jane said and slapped her forehead.

  “Come on, nothing is going to happen!” said J who still haven’t closed the door of the cabinet.

  Jane gestured him to hurry, and at the moment he closed the door a squeaking sound came off from the keypad. Blake and Johnathan stared at each other puzzled. This shouldn’t happen, at least, it was not on plan! Blake ran to the door and waved J to follow her.

  She unlocked and opened a bit to check what was the situation outside. Nothing different was happening. Jane and Johnathan walked out slowly and when they saw that no one was there, J whispered “Don’t panic, Blake!” and laughed. Jane was so irritated by this guy, she couldn’t wait to get out of that place and get rid of Johnathan.

  A second later sirens and red lights filled the corridor, multiple clicks indicated that the offices’ doors locked. Jane ran to exit from the stairs and, luckily, the door was still unlocked. J ran after her and almost bumped into Jane when she suddenly stopped and changed the direction and ran upstairs.

  “What the hell, Blake?!” shouted Johnathan.

  “Shut it!” Jane hisse
d and ran on the floor above where she saw a water cooler. She pushed it near the staircase, kneeled behind it, and took out the Taser guns J gave her earlier and gave him one.

  Johnathan stood behind her with no idea what was Blake going to do.

  Voices coming from the floor below indicated that the security was headed their way. Jane stood up, next to the wall, waiting. J followed her lead.

  Two guards showed up first and when they were in the middle of the staircase Jane fired and hit one of them. The shot one started shaking severely from the electricity and the other jumped aside. J stood like frozen against the wall. Jane had to grab his Taser and shoot the other guard before he could shoot at them and reveal the fact where were the intruders.

  “Help me!” Jane demanded and went to the unconscious guards.

  Blake and Johnathan grabbed the guys and pulled them upstairs behind the water cooler. Jane started undressing one of them.

  “Blake?” asked J with a puzzled face.

  “Undress the other one and put on his uniform!” Jane whispered breathlessly “Hurry up! Others will come if these two don’t get downstairs soon!”

  Johnathan and Jane changed their clothes leaving the two men only with their boxers on, laying on the ground. Then they cautiously went down. With every step Jane felt her heartbeat in her throat even harder, she had a heavy breathing. Something was very wrong with her and she had no idea what was the reason. She had been in worse situations and none of this had happened once.

  J was okay, focused and careful, he was right behind Jane with a loaded gun and determined expression. When they were near the third floor of the building, they heard someone coming up. It was only one person climbing the stairs so Jane and J stood by the walls next to the staircase, ready to attack.

  Blake glanced at the approaching man and realized, because of the uniform, he was the head of the security. She waved at J in sign not to shoot or knockout the man. He lifted his shoulders to ask why and Jane pointed her lips and said soundlessly “I have a plan!”. J gave her a thumb up and they waited for the man.

  The head of security was a middle-aged short man with greyish hair, sharp facial features and a stern look. He showed up and before he realized Jane was behind him with her hand on his neck. She squeezed several times and spoke in his ear as calm and quiet as she could.

  “You know I’m your guard, your good employee,” she glanced at the work sign on her uniform, “Clay Hazelwood! You can turn around and see me, Clay, and ask me if everything is okay.”

  The man turned around and did as she said.

  “Is everything okay, Hazelwood?” said the boss firmly, turned around and looked into Jane’s eyes with no doubt that she was in fact his guard.

  “Yes, sir!” Blake answered. “It is clear, maybe it was a false alarm.”

  “Very good, Hazelwood!” said the man and went down to the stair case. “But I still think something isn’t right.” And he stopped.

  “We checked everywhere, sir. There is no one in the building, I assure you!” Jane said firmly, the man announced the news on his radio and Blake waved J to follow them.

  They all went down. After every floor Jane felt more and more exhausted, J more and more impatient. He was with his gun pointed at the back of the man ready to shoot.

  Luckily, the man ordered them to check the outside perimeter and went in his office on the ground floor of the building. Jane and Johnathan ran outside and didn’t stop running until they were safe in the car.

  “What the hell, Johnathan?” Jane shouted at him while changing the uniform with normal clothes angrily. “I thought you had a better intel!”

  “I did, I have no idea what happened, Blake! I am sorry!” J said sincerely, put his T shirt on and started the car.

  “How did you not know there was a passcode when you close the freaking door?!” Jane continued to shout.

  “I, there, I …” stuttered J “I don’t know, I’m totally honest with you!”

  “Just drive me to my car and leave me alone.” Jane puffed.

  “No, I had a person who took your car and drove it to the motel you’re staying. I’ll drive you to there.” J said quietly as if afraid Jane could explode.

  Blake breathed in and out deeply and slowly just to stop the urge to shoot Johnathan.

  They arrived at the motel. When J parked the car and turned off the engine, Jane said “Well, I did my part, even though I don’t really get why did you need me so bad. Now it is your turn to give me all the information you have about my family, as you promised.” Blake looked at him questioningly.

  “I promised what now?” he asked arrogantly.

  “Details about my biological parents and Morse in particular.” Blake said firmly.

  “Don’t you wanna have a drink first? For the job well done?” J changed the subject.

  “No.” Jane cut and added irritably “I don’t know what was the job, what did we stole and why. So for me that wasn’t a job well done.”

  “Don’t be so negative, Blake! We did great!” chirped Johnathan which irritated Jane even more.

  Blake reached for her gun and pointed it at his head.

  “I’m sick and tired of your games!” Blake whispered through her teeth.

  “Wow, wow…” J lifted his hands.

  “Why did you want me with you?” she asked and loaded “Answer now!”

  “I just wanted to see what you were all about. I didn’t really need your help.” Said Johnathan looking honest in his statement.

  Blake was angry, angrier than ever, and she could hardly control the emotion. Usually, she was expert in staying calm no matter what, but since Chile she lost most of that ability for some reason. Blake hesitated for a second which was enough for J to grab the gun off her hands and eject the clip. Jane was surprised of the fast professional reaction; he was either a very, very good thief or he had a special training of some kind.

  “I think it is time to say goodbye, Blake.” He said and returned her the emptied weapon.

  “Would you at least keep your part of the deal?” asked Jane, stepped out of the car, closed the door and leaned to the window.

  “I will give you a priceless information.” J said but something in his expression told Jane he is messing with her.

  She decided it wasn’t the time for her sarcastic comments, even though she had a lot in mind, so she just said “Okay. Let’s hear it then!”

  “Never trust a thief, Blake!” he smiled and drove off.

  Blake was furious at him and at herself. She knew all of this was a risk but she hoped for the best anyway. The most irritating part for her was that she actually enjoyed that idiot’s company. Blake couldn’t swallow the fact she couldn’t read him, the only thing she could say was that J was a lot like her. For a moment Jane understood how Ryan and the team felt when they were around her. The thought made her smile but she felt a little sorry for them.

  Jane went in her motel room and prepared to take a shower when she remembered her phone was off. She took it and turned it on but luckily no one called. Blake wanted to relax and get some sleep so she left the cell on the table on silent mode.

  Chapter 9

  Elizabeth Cole

  After a good night sleep Jane arrived in the office fresh and ready for work. She was welcomed from Victoria who, as always, made coffees for the team and from the door Jane received her second cup for the morning.

  “Are you feeling better?” Evans asked.

  “Yeah, I needed a hot shower and a good night sleep. It was nothing.” Jane lied quickly and went to her desk.

  Ryan strolled his chair towards her. Jane noticed his eyes were red and he looked exhausted as if he stayed up all night.

  “Why didn’t you pick up your phone?” he asked while yawning.

  “When?” Jane answered with a question even though she perfectly knew he called when she was with Johnathan and that’s why she turned off her phone.

  “Last night, I called three times.” He explain
ed, now rubbing his eyes.

  “Last night? You haven’t called last night, Gray.” Jane reached for her phone and checked if there were missed calls. “See, nothing!” she showed the display to Ryan.

  “Weird. I am sure I did.” He was also surprised.

  Ryan stared at her for few seconds with his finger on his lips as if saying ‘shh’, looking puzzled. After a while, apparently, an idea popped in his head because he jumped up a little and asked her, this time totally awake, “Can I check your phone? It’ll take me ten minutes?”

  Blake hesitated at first but then she lifted her shoulders in ‘whatever’ and gave him her cell.

  Ryan went back to his desk and hid behind his laptop. Jane expected swearing and furious typing on the keyboard but none of this happened. Two minutes later Ryan was back with the device in his hands and serious expression.

  “Someone hacked your phone. You better change it and be careful who you are giving your stuff to.” He said and narrowed his eyes, expecting an explanation.

  “Hacked? How?” Jane was really bad at all of these hacking and whatnot stuff.

  “Well, someone copied your phone, drained all the information you have on it and paired it with his device so he could listen to your conversations. And the fact he deleted the missed calls tells me he is not a hacker or a professional but just a person who wants to keep taps on you.” Explained Ryan calmly.

  Johnathan. Jane knew who that someone was, of course, but she couldn’t share what had happened yesterday.

  “Mhm, can you see who?” she asked hiding the fear that Gray probably could even find the mother of the one who did it.

  “Yeah, but I think after he made that mistake he threw his cell in the garbage, so it is kind of pointless. But I can try!” Ryan suggested and reached for Blake’s cell but she pulled her hand back and said as calmly as she could.

  “No, you’re probably right.”

  Gray agreed and went back to his laptop without saying a word. He didn’t look like he was interested to track whoever the person was messing with Jane’s phone anyway.

  Blake put the useless device in her bag, making a note to herself to buy a new one, then drank her coffee, and since it didn’t bring the needed energy, she decided to refill and went to the kitchen area.