Meghan Ross: Con Artist in Training

Unfinished Business (Part 1)

"We don't need my sister for this case, Harvey," Mike tried insisting. He tossed one of Harvey's basketballs above his head, catching it as it came back down.

"She's been working it since the case was handed to me. Of course, so have you..."

Had the ball been above his head again, Mike would have had a bruise on his head. The unasked question was written all over his face.

"The kid lives with you, Smartass. You've been my associate for a year. Really think I don't recognize your hand in all this?"

"I just-"

"The kid's good, Mike. Really good. But she's only here because of you. Pretty clear this wasn't her idea."

"I just wanted to help wherever it was needed," Mike shrugged, knowing Harvey wouldn't mind now that he was back on the man's good side and no longer receiving the cold shoulder from him or Donna. "And technically, this was her idea. She conned her way into the office. Stealing things from the teacher's desks was the school's last straw. Principal even recommended I send her to military school."

"Remind me... which brother raised her?"

Had they not been telling everyone that Neal was dead, Mike would have laughed at the thought. Neal may have been good with kids, but to stick around and take on the role of parent? Make sure homework was done? Tell their baby sister no on occasion instead of teaching her the tricks of the trade? That wasn't their brother.

"That's hysterical. But, as you may recall, Megs didn't know Neal until a few years ago and I am the one she calls Dad. She called Neal Big Bro unless she felt exceptionally pissed off. Then he was Dead Man Walking, because she was gonna kill him if he pulled another vanishing act without saying goodbye. Which he did, but there was a reason for it this time."

"Let me guess. He pulled a crime that would have landed him back in prison, probably for the rest of his life had he not run away."

It wasn't a bad guess. The crime was running. Neal wasn't going to be arrested, but he was going to be taken to DC and used as a criminal consultant for the rest of his life if his FBI handler hadn't told him to run.

"Neal didn't tell me a lot about what happened during his time on the island. Those details went to Meghan."

"If I had a sister and raised her, that kind of relationship would make me jealous."

"I am, but I had my brother for sixteen years. She had him for five."

Meghan listened from Donna's desk. The woman wasn't around, but she knew very well not to take the assistant's seat. It was Donna's lunch hour so seeing her desk empty, while surprising, was not unheard of.

Why was Mike trying to keep her away from a case she was already working? Or telling Harvey about their brother? He knew everything he needed to know as far as she was concerned.

That was when something occurred to her... She pushed down the intercom button.

"Dead Man Walking was when Sarah started dating him... Actually, that's not true. That was when Elizabeth went missing. Quit acting like you don't know I'm out here."

"You mean Alex?" Mike asked as he walked up to the glass door. Then he knocked on it, gaining Meghan's attention. She looked up to see him bending his index finger in a come here motion.

"I was trying to keep certain parties out of a private investigator's files," Meghan replied before she turned off the intercom and walked to the door that was being opened for her.

"Sit on the couch," Mike ordered only for Meghan to be a typical teen and ignore him.

"You were not supposed to be here after yesterday's episode," Harvey added.