THE DEAL

21 Steal my breath

"What is it anyway that Cho wants?" Bambam asked Jennie as he was watching her trying to pick a lock. She gave him a frowning side eye, obviously deciding wether or not that was need-to-know information. 

Lisa had left the two of them alone to talk something over with Jessie. But Jennie was almost sure that it had been an excuse to leave and find out if the agent and the other con-artist were capable of playing nice.

Jennie blew a strand of hair out of her face while her eyes concentrated once more on the lock at hand. Bambam and Lisa had several removed locks and even deconstructed locks on the table for Jennie to master. 

"Apparently Mr. Cho has got a partner in crime. But he found out that said partner doesn't fully trust him and secretly videotaped one of their meetings."

Bambam nodded understandingly. "To have something to hold over Cho's head."

"Exactly." Jennie huffed. The first lock clicked and she looked up at Bam with wide eyes.

"Good job. Go on." The silver-haired man encouraged. Jennie did, with renewed confidence. She was slowly getting the hang of this. Learning what to listen for. What to feel for. It was an artform to open a lock without a key, for sure.

"So naturally, Cho wants the tape that could potentially be incriminating him. And that's what I'm supposed to take."

"Couldn't you just get a warrant to search that guy's place?"

"Oh we will! Breaking and entering is still a crime even if it is done by an FBI agent. Worst case, I get caught, I'm gonna give up the thief facade and tell them who they're really dealing with. Warrant in hand. We're just going through with the undercover operation to gather as much intel as possible without arousing Cho's suspicion."

Bambam nodded along with what Jennie was telling him. The second lock clicked and Bambam couldn't help but be a little proud of his new student. Jennie was a fast learner and she didn't give up easily. And the tall man knew that those were definitely qualities, that Lisa found attractive in women. He wasn't sure however how Jennie ticked romantically. Did Lisa know? Did Jennie even swing her way?

*

"He was actually a decent teacher." Jennie tilted her head, looking at Lisa when the taller woman had walked her out to Jennie's car. It was parked right on the curb by Lisa's building. 

Her CI met Jennie's eyes amused. "He's a loyal friend once he let's people in. And smart as hell."

"He's a lil' weird." Jennie laughed openly to which Lisa nodded. 

"He's my kind of weird."

Jennie looked at Lisa for a long moment. After proving to Bambam that she was a worthy student and capable of picking things up quickly, she did actually have fun tonight. With Lisa and her quirky friend. 

"So, you think I can do it?" Jennie asked with a little cocky smirk. "Pull this off, pretending to be you?" She was fiddling with her car keys. Jennie wasn't sure why she didn't want this evening to end. Why she didn't want to go home. Having to pretend to be Lisa and actually go through with a heist was bringing them even closer together than before. Jennie felt like she could just stay and talk to Lisa all night. But they had work to get to first thing in the morning. 

"I think you can do it. Just remember that my brand is charming, not intimidating." Lisa winked. Jennie rolled her eyes because of course Lisa had caught on to her lack of charm while pretending to be Lisa. The con-woman was on another level of charm, that Jennie, having carried herself as an agent for years, simply could not imitate as well. She hadn't ever really needed to be charming. She had a badge and a gun. Simple.