Emma felt the sting of Bonnie's stare clear through. If looks could have killed, she would have dropped right then and there. Thankfully, Simon shifted and steered her away from the evil glare towards the food. Giving Liam one last little glance, she smiled softly and went about fixing Simon a plate and then settled on the bench with him. They bent their heads close and began talking logistics while everyone buzzed on about their own parts that they would play.
Unable to stop herself, her gaze returned to Liam again and again and each time she was usually met by that ice cold Bonnie gaze. Simon caught it as well and bumped gently against Emma's arm. "You okay?"
"Mm?" Her gaze flickered back to her partner and she felt herself flush slightly. "Oh...yeah."
His own gaze moved over to Liam and then Bonnie before sliding back to hers. "I've known you for some time now Em and I hate to say it, but..." His voice dropped lower, keeping it between the two of them, "you've never had a date as far as I've known you and you certainly weren't making gaga eyes to any men on staff."
Emma blinked and chocked on her next bite, clearing her throat. "I am
not
making gaga eyes."
Simon grinned, "Yeah, yeah you are. But you better watch your step, someone isn't happy about it."
Shifting uncomfortably she shook her head slightly, "I have bigger issues to deal with. Whether or not there is anything between Liam and I is really...well, sadly, inconsequential compared to our work right now."
"Sure about that, Em?"
She met Simon's gaze with uncertainly. "No...not sure of much these days. Only that I can count on you and I can count on Liam. Bonnie...well, she might leave hanging if it wasn't for Liam. For him...I have a feeling she'd do just about anything. Like it or not."
"If it makes you feel any better sweetheart, I think Liam would do the same for you. Guys know this sort of thing...I can see it in his gaze. They might have a past, but that's what it is. A past."
With a soft snort, she grinned. "Since when have you become the Love Doctor, Simon." She nudged his side and pushed away her finished plate of grub. "Don't worry about me. I'll return what I know best and that's science. No heartache or confusion there. Together we'll make it work and let the chips fall where they will. Assuming I'm still alive before this all done with."
On impulse she pressed a kiss to his cheek and smacked a hang to his knee. "So you talk to Victor and I will go and get unshackled."
The thought was depressing. Where she had once felt helpless and trapped, now the thought of being torn apart from Liam left a strange ache in her chest. Laura wasn't even truly a threat to her, but in her eyes, Bonnie was. Bonnie was special, while Laura was a playful fun romp in the sack. So what did that make her?
****
Some time later they were in Bonnie's car. It wasn't technically Bonnie's car, but a car she'd stolen from a garage on their way out. They'd only need it for a short time. The meeting had ended later than Hansen had expected so it was dark and they were about a hundred meters down the street from Simon's apartment block. Hansen and Carl sat in front while the trio of women were in the back. Bonnie was explaining the situation.
"He usually only turns up at around six thirty to seven," she said. "He must treat it as his last visit of the day."
"How many SPFs watch it normally?" asked Carl.
"Two cars," said Bonnie. "Each with two men."
Carl nodded.
"I say we get the guns and hand bombs and blow the fuck out of them and then take the top cop."
Laura.
Carl sighed and Hansen smiled to himself. She would never allow herself to think that there was a subtle option, a path of least resistance. Bombs and guns were always her style.
"Maybe we want to do this quietly," said Hansen. "That way we'll have longer with the cop before they find out anything's wrong. At the moment, they think Simon's safely locked away in there and under their surveillance."
He turned around and grinned at Laura. She smiled back lightly and rolled her eyes. "You never show a girl the fireworks," she said with a giggle. "Well, not till the
end
of the evening anyway." She winked at him.
Hansen winced. He didn't really need to get into this, even jokingly, with three women in the car that all meant something to him.
"So where are the SPFs?" asked Hansen.
Bonnie breathed out and made a noise with her lips as if it was obvious. Hansen smirked. This was a good sign. She was getting into the task at hand. She pointed out two cars at either end of the street. They were not the usual black vehicle favored by SPF operatives.
"And what does our man normally do?" he asked again.
"He normally comes from the city end of the street and parks his car behind the car there. Then, one of them will walk with him to just outside the apartment and meet an SPF from the other car." Bonnie paused. "Then they stand out there and talk for about fifteen to twenty minutes. They might have a cigarette and sometimes they have something to eat like a small cake or something."
"So, the cars have only one operative in them for that time?" asked Hansen.
Bonnie nodded. "Yes."
Hansen looked over to Carl.
"Looks like that's the time. Easier to take out one person in a car than two," he said. "Then we take the top cop and....er....handle the other two."
Hansen didn't want to sound too cold with Emma there, but he knew they'd have to kill them. Emma was sitting directly behind then. He couldn't see her, but he slipped his hand between the seat and the car door and reached back quietly and gave her knee a squeeze. They were about to begin speeding things up and he wanted her to feel safe.
As safe as you can be when the SPFs are after you and you're shackled.
"I think," said Carl, "that when our friendly cop arrives, Laura and I take out a car each....
without
bombs and shooting." He looked at Laura and she had a mock pout on her face.
"What's a girl got to do to get some fun around here?" she said.
"Then," continued Carl, "Bonnie, Laura and I take out the other two guys and we grab the cop."
The two women in the back nodded that they agreed with the idea.
"Yes," said Bonnie, "then we don't risk Liam being separated from the girl."
The girl? Bonnie was sitting next to her. Geez.
He reached back and gave Emma's knee another squeeze.
"Ok, well you go and get into position," said Hansen, "and we'll stay here." He patted his waist and felt the gun shoved in there. "Remember, if you need anything, just signal. We can see the whole layout."
Carl, Bonnie and Laura got out of the car.
"Oooh," said Laura, looking to the others with a smile on her face, "do you think we should leave them alone in the car like that? They might get up to things. You know, like....funny things."
Carl rolled his eyes and gave a light laugh.
Bonnie pulled out the small rifle she had and loaded it with a loud 'clack'. She didn't smile.
"Just be ready if we need you," she said curtly to Liam. "If I need you."
In seconds, they'd disappeared, leaving Hansen and Emma in the car. He was still in the front seat, with her in the rear. He turned to look at her.
