Instant Connection

14

Coming back home from lunch, I felt good. Everything seems to be going well with the case, Jeffrey is staying out of trouble and Johnny and I have actually talked about our feelings. I was almost home when my phone starts going off. I pull it out and see it's a message from the bureau.

I unlock my phone and see it's a detain on-sight order... for Briggs under Mike's orders.

"What the hell?" I mutter, sliding the phone back into my pocket. I start sprinting the rest of the way home, nearly falling as I climb the stairs. I push the door open and slip inside letting the door slam behind me.

"Paul?" I call out.

"He just left." Johnny sighs, his gun in his hand.

"Shit." I mutter, taking my gun out and rushing out into the driveway, seeing no trace of Briggs anywhere. I went back inside the house, Johnny leaning against the couch.

"Why didn't you stop him?" I ask.

"He told me it was for his cover."

"Since when do we use detain on-sights?" I snap.

"He was very convincing!" He defends himself.

"Damn it, Johnny." I sigh, pulling out my phone to call Mike.

"Yeah, Stella?" Mike answers, sounding frustrated.

"Briggs was just here."

"We're on our way." he hangs up.

"What's going on here, Stella?" Johnny asks, putting his gun away.

"I don't know, man. Why would Mike put out an order like this on Briggs? What did Briggs do? And why would he just run off?"

"The secrets in this house." he mutters.

"What secrets though? What is everyone hiding? Are you hiding something?"

"Charlie is working with a federalé." he confesses.

"A federalé? What the hell is she thinking?"

"She was upset no one was helping her with Odin, Bello and Jangles and this guy was looking for Jangles."

"So that's what you found out when you followed her." I nod.

"Met him too, I don't trust him."

"I wouldn't either."

"Are you hiding something?" he asks.

"N- oh well maybe..."

"Spill it, Stella."

"It's not my secret, though." I sigh.

"I told you about Charlie!"

"It goes in the vault, I'm serious, Johnny."

"All right, c'mon."

"The other day when I was really mad, when I washed some of your clothes... Mike snuck Abby upstairs and me and Paige caught them and we covered for him."

"Are you– Stella that's one of the first rules of Graceland!" he yells.

"I know! We talked to him and he learned his lesson, but you can't say anything, Johnny."

"Yeah, yeah, all right." he sighs.

Mike and Paige arrive soon after.

"Why did you let him leave?" Mike asks as Paige closes the door.

"He told me it was for his cover." Johnny says.

"I got here after he was already gone."

"Let's check his room." Paige suggests.