Price of Life (Sue Thomas FBEye)

Chapter One

3 weeks later. In the bullpen.

Tuesday, mid-morning, nothing to do except file report after report, no pending case, no new case.

"We could save a very big forest if we just forgot about all those reports," mumbled Bobby, half a donut in his mouth.

"I don't know about the rest of you, but I am almost done, and I intend to take the rest of the day off," claimed Myles.

"How did you manage that?" asked Jack, looking at his own pile.

"Well, well," started Myles in his usual tone. "By actually working instead of chatting, eating and staring. Oh...and Jack, she won't come back from downstairs faster if you keep staring at her desk."

Bobby almost choked on his donut with laughter and Tara hid hers behind her computer.

Jack just rolled his eyes to Myles. Good thing Lucy was with Sue, he thought, or I wouldn't hear the end of it.

At the same moment, Lucy, Sue and Levi came in.

"What did we miss?" asked Lucy, very much in tune with the atmosphere of the room.

"Nothing" replied Jack too quickly.

Lucy let go, knowing she would grill Tara later. Besides, she and Sue had bigger news. They exchanged a look that didn't escape the others.

"Okay, sheilas," said Bobby. "What's the latest gossip downstairs?"

"Here we go," exclaimed Myles "Another example of mismanagement of time." He put his last report away. "Done. I will all see you tomorrow morning." With that he got up, pushed his chair against his desk, and left.

They all ignored him, concentrating on Lucy and Sue. Both girls turned toward Jack.

"Eleanor and her latest beau broke up," stated Lucy with a smile

That name sends chill down Jack's back.

"Can't blame the guy," added Bobby. "The woman's a shark."

"And the rumor has it," continued Sue, her eyes sparkling with mischief, "that she wants to steal you back from me."

"You're kidding!" exclaimed Jack, not as surprised as he should be. That woman had set her sight on him a long time ago and only Sue's pretense had kept her away. "You didn't tell her we were not really dating, did you?" he asked, his eyes pleading with her.

"Not really, but—"

"Head's up," shouted Tara.

At the same moment, Eleanor Rippendorf entered the bullpen.

"Hello, Jack," she cooed, heading directly toward him. "Long time, no see."

Jack recoiled behind his desk, preventing Eleanor from getting too close. He looked at Sue while signing H-E-L-P. She smiled innocently in return.

"Jaaack!" tried Eleanor again more seductively. "I don't know if you heard but I have suddenly become available again, and according to office gossips there isn't much happening in your life right now." She glared at Sue who had moved closer to Jack. "You might want to enjoy more...excitement."

Wrong thing to say, Eleanor, thought Jack noticing the dark shadows crossing Sue's eyes.

Sue couldn't believe this woman's gall; she was implying she wasn't good enough for Jack. Against her better judgment, she was too mad to think it through; she was going to show her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, placed a tender kiss on his cheek and sat on his lap.