The Gray Man Ch. 07 - Allison

Dear Reader,

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, events and incidents are the products of the author's imagination.

Constructive criticism, and feedback is truly appreciated. I would like this to be an interactive journey as much as this medium allows. Please feel free to send suggestions, ideas for future characters etc. I welcome the input.

I hope you enjoy these adventures as much as you enjoyed Sean - no worries, Sean will be back. I just need some time to explore some other areas of my darkness.

Also, if you'd like a character to inquire about Gray's services send me a description and we can work from there.

Keep Soaring,

Pelican

(¬‿¬)

On Tuesday when Gretchen walked into the firm she was met by Louis Saban and his shadow, Elliot. Louis had his hands on his hips, Gretchen tried to not laugh when she looked at his young protege, standing three feet behind the Senior Partner with the same hands on hips pose.

Louis tried to growl but it came off as more of a cringy whine, "I need to talk to that investigator of yours and he hasn't returned my call. Also, you didn't answer all weekend. Unacceptable."

Gretchen spun on her heel, "Louis, you may be older than me but the last time I checked we were both Senior Partners, we both paid the same goddamn buy in. I was away, there was no cell service and if you ever speak to me like I'm a trained puppy like your boy here I will cut your dick off and shove it down your throat."

TJ walked in soon after Gretchen and caught the tail end of the exchange. Elliot called out, "Hey - we need to talk to you."

Gray stopped and tilted his head towards the junior partner and the very troubled Louis, "Yes?"

Louis' face was bright red underneath is mop of white hair, "When the fuck were you going to tell us?"

TJ's face showed zero emotion, "Pardon me?"

Louis fists were actually closed at his side, he looked very much like a petulant toddler about to throw a temper tantrum. "The entire investigation, hell the entire goddamned case is shot to hell. Thousands of dollars just poof - when were you going to tell us?"

Gray looked at the senior partner, "Not here, not now."

Elliot took an aggressive step towards TJ. "Yes, here and now. I demand to know."

The confrontation got the attention of everyone in the office including the most senior of the partners. He stepped into the hallway, "Louis, Gretchen, Mr. Gray. My office. Now, please." Elliot and Louis turned to walk into William's office, "Elliot, I may be old but not too old to forget what I just said and I do not recall inviting you."

When the three partners and TJ were in the office, the heavy oak door closed and the five sat at a large round conference table. William looked at Louis, "Louis, you and I don't see eye to eye on much of anything, however over the years the one thing we could trust is that we put the well being of the firm above everything. Today you have accosted both your colleague and peer, plus a first rate investigator. Would you like to explain yourself?"

Louis' eyes burned with rage. "Over a year of time and resources wasted because of this renegade. My client has no case, the criminal walks free and we poured out thousands of dollars that we will never recoup. All because of Ms. Foster's fucktoy."

TJ watched his cousin, she had two tells that gave away the level of her anger. The first was how pink her ears got, the second was how hard her nipples got. At the moment her ears were the color of cotton candy and her nipples were visible through her bra and her black blouse. TJ was expecting an eruption of rage, instead he saw her channel her inner courtroom queen demeanor, "First off Mr. Saban, Mr. Gray is not my fucktoy, he is my cousin. Secondly, none of this happens - NONE of it happens if you had been transparent about what this case involved. I for one would never have approved of us looking at anything involving National Security - that has never been the strength of this firm. However, given the credentials that Mr. Gray brings - perhaps our next partner should have an aptitude for such precarious pursuits."

Knight looked at his two partners then at TJ, "What happened, Mr. Gray?"

TJ informed the three partners about the basics of his interaction with Kim - including arranging the second blind drop.

Louis was furious, "Just who the fuck are you working for?"

William put his hands up, "Calm down, Louis. Mr. Gray, is there a reason that you didn't discuss any of this with us? Mr. Saban is right in one aspect, we are your employer and this was our case."

TJ stood, "There are three reasons that stand out. The first is to keep you safe. Not the firm, but you as individuals. There are very bad people out there and they would not hesitate to hurt you or your families if they thought you were interfering with your plans."

Louis muttered, "That's not your decision."

TJ continued, "The second reason is that this was a national security issue. With all due respect there is no firm if there is not a nation."

Louis muttered again, "Again, that would be a partner decision."

TJ didn't lose a step, "The third being, I have no idea if anyone in this firm has a security clearance and this would have been something that would need a very high clearance, and quite honestly there wasn't enough time for anyone to go through the clearance process in a need to know situation."

Louis slammed the table, "God Dammit. How the hell do we know that you have a security clearance, that you are who you say you are." He pointed a long bony finger at TJ, "Everything about you is classified, I know, I looked."

Gretchen stood, "You looked Louis, you haven't done a fucking bit of work since your fuck buddy Elliot came on board."

William intervened, "Ms. Foster, sit down."

Gretchen looked at her friend, "No, William. I won't sit down for this. TJ has scars that prove his worth, what do you have Louis?"

TJ looked at his cousin, "It's okay Gretchen, sit, please."

Gretchen's ears were bright red and her nipples would cut diamonds as she returned to her seat.

TJ continued, "Do any of you have a security clearance?"

The room was silent, before William spoke, "I was read in on a case years ago, but that was only one case."

TJ nodded, "Mr. Knight, that is often the case. In the military it's called need to know. There are missions that teammates of mine undertook that I would have had no way of learning about no matter what my clearance was because I did not need to know. That being said, my clearance in certain areas would have been 'EYES ONLY' - meaning that I would have needed a direct phone call from the resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue to speak to anyone about, including members of Congress. While that clearance expired with my retirement I still have friends that work for agencies that are responsible for National Security and in this case our paths crossed."

The three remained quiet. TJ sat back down. "I am very good at what I do. I could make one phone call today and be working on things that would scare the living hell out of 98 percent of the world by 7 AM. What I have chosen to do is work for you and my guess is that most of the investigations you require from me will not be cases that involve national security. However, if I am put in the same position as I was in the last case I will make the same decision every single time. I'm going to leave now and you all can decide whether you wish to retain my services or not."

Louis pounded the table again. "So, the criminal goes free, the company gets enough tax breaks to reward them for their cooperation, Gray gets to play James fucking Bond, and the firm is the only one that loses money. Do I have all of that right?"

TJ stood as William Knight smiled, "Louis, you've made your point. This isn't your office and I am not your errand boy. Yelling the same points louder doesn't change anything here." Knight looked at TJ with a soft smile, "That won't be necessary Mr. Gray. I doubt your cousin wishes you fired and I know that I don't. With two votes to retain you Mr. Saban can be as upset as he wants to be but he is on the short end of the vote."

TJ walked out of Knight's office followed by Gretchen. "TJ," she called after him. Gray stopped and turned around, "Where are you going?"

Gray needed a break. With Sharpshooter, the episode with the partners and after time with Rebecca, there were way too many echoes in his psyche after the prisoner scenario. "I'm going to start by going to the rink, I'm going to follow up with my contact and make sure that Kim and her family are somewhere safe. Then I'm going on a long run. After that I'm going to take a long hot shower and grill an amazing steak and go to bed. My brain needs a reset."

She kissed his cheek, "If I bring wine would you consider making it two steaks?"

TJ nodded, "Sure. I'll start the grill at 630." He headed out into the bright sunshine. The day was warm with temperatures reaching into the mid 50's. The warm sunshine brought a slight change of plans. He stopped by the townhouse, changed into running gear and headed south to Fountainhead Regional Park for a longer trail run. The trail was almost 20 miles. Gray figured he would set out for an hour run, and then simply turn around and head back to the trailhead.

On the drive he called Sharpshooter. On the second ring his friend picked up, "Hey Ghostman, what's the intel?"

TJ closed the sunroof on the Cadillac, "Just checking on the rehoming of our friend."

Underwood was brief, "Done and dusted. Kids weren't happy about it, but it's squared away."

Gray nodded, not that anyone could see him, "Thanks Shooter. No matter what your mother says, you are a decent person."

Mark chuckled, "Are you sure you don't want to get back in the game?"

TJ closed his eyes as he sat at the traffic light, "No, Sharpshooter, I'm not." Gray hung up as the light turned green. He needed a long, sloppy muddy run. The run was the exact thing that he needed. Left, Right, Left, Right, Left Right. Inhale for 2 steps, exhale for 4 steps - repeat. Stride after stride, mile after mile.

The memories came, the memories went. The good and the bad. The terrifying and the funny. Along with the terrifyingly funny. Long days and cold nights of waiting and watching. Getting the radio clicks letting him know to laze the target, then watching the building vaporize as the laser guided bunker buster dropped through the roof.

The screams and chaos of villagers allowed him to slip away into the darkness. Days later, maybe even weeks someone would find his hide and report it up the chain of command. By then, Gray was miles away - decompressing before studying and being briefed on his next mission.

That was the way it worked 99% of the time. Then there are times when all of the satellite imagery, checking and double checking sources fails. There is that one time when you wander headlong into a well devised, well planned, and well executed trap and one of the most notorious warlords in the Hindu Kush mountains captures you and turns your world upside down.

Stride after stride, mile after mile TJ's head began to clear. His lungs ached, his legs burned, but his mind was flushing the shit that had broken free of their neat little cages that he had so carefully constructed over the years. When TJ was accepted to Ranger Recon his uncle had told him that the only way to survive deployment and homecoming was to compartmentalize everything. Every thought, every relationship, every event has its own box and they better damn well stay where they belong. "Everything gets fucked up when they mix. It's like goddamn Ghostbusters - never cross the streams," Uncle Bob had told him.

The last few weeks caused the streams to cross and fighting to keep things from becoming completely FUBAR (fucked up beyond all recognition) was exhausting. He just needed the monsters back in their cages before he did anything else. The run was helping, but he knew it would take more than the run, it took time and music. Strong and powerful music. Everything from Eminem to Bach - from Five Finger Death Punch to Pavarotti. It wasn't the style of music that he needed, it was the power of the music he craved. Thunderous, loud, and moving.

Gray finished the run soaked with sweat. According to his calculations he had run about 15 miles. He enjoyed the trail, the mud, and the scenery. He had made a note to come back with a full pack to do a 30 mile ruck march on a day where he had more time.

He made the drive back into the city with the windows down, the music up, and the heated seats helping to keep things from getting too tight. He stopped by Westover and headed into the butcher shop where he picked up two 16 oz Tomahawk Ribeyes for he and Gretchen. A stop at the grocery store for a few big Russet Potatoes, salad fixings and a six pack of Modelo.

A long hot shower and a cold beer was the next phase of 'Unfuck the psyche.' The first beer and the shower happened at the same time. While it wasn't quite Spring TJ didn't care. 'Ranger Panties', t-shirt, and flip flops were the uniform of the day as he prepared the steaks and the grill, put the potatoes in the pressure cooker, cut up the spinach, onions, peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes for the salad.

Simple salt and pepper on the steaks, a foil wrap on the 'handle' as they rested on the counter, Gray opened another beer as his cousin walked in. She paused, "Dude, don't you ever put that monster away?"

TJ shrugged, "Darlin, that's like you keeping those 38 C's hidden, not gonna happen."

Gretchen laughed, "At least I am wearing a bra and not just a tank top letting them out there for the world to see."

Gray laughed, "I have one in my dresser if you want to change. Live a little."

Gretchen shook her head, "I'm not flashing my tits to my cousin."

Gray smirked, "But you fucked yourself on a machine in front of him. Okay, you do you darlin'."

Gretchen laughed, "With all of the love in my heart, fuck you my dear cousin."

Gray walked out onto the patio and fired up the grill. Hot coals, a bit of mesquite wood for some added smoke, 5 minutes per side and they would be perfectly medium rare and seared.

The steaks came off the grill with slight grill marks, perfectly cooked. Gray wrapped them in foil to let them rest as he released the pressure on the pressure cooker. Steak, baked potatoes in the cooker and a salad. A couple of more beers and TJ was feeling almost human.

Gretchen drank wine and TJ finished off the beer. She moved the conversation to business. Both the firm and their side hustle. "Do you want to talk about this morning?"

TJ looked at his cousin, his eyes were a bit of a brighter green than she was used to seeing, "Not much to say. Louis and Elliot are typical little men with big mouths. Always feeling like they have to prove something. Driven by their own ego instead of what is right or wrong."

Gretchen sipped her wine, "Say more."

TJ leaned forward, "Louis doesn't give two shits about the money. The firm is on retainer so payment will come. You, he and Knight may be out some bottom line profit but in the grand scheme it's chump change. His investigator found nothing - either they were in on it, or were bad at their job." Gray paused, "Fuck, I need to talk to Sharpshooter about that."

Gretchen frowned, "About what?"

Gray's eyes became more brooding and distant, "About the fact that 18 months of investigation uncovered nothing. So, it is possible the investigator actually found nothing which means he was incompetent. The better explanation may be that he did find information and Louis hid it. Remember him being defensive when confronted about what I had found, and that I went to Underwood and cut him out of the loop?"

His cousin leaned forward, the milky white curves of those 38 C tits came into view as her blouse opened slightly. "TJ, Louis is a dick, but a Russian spy? No way, I've known him for years."

Gray sat back, "Money talks and bullshit walks, cousin. He may not need to be a spy, but just paid to look the other way."

Gretchen shook her head. Gray noticed that his cousin had been pushed aside and the young partner Ms. Foster had taken over. Her voice even changed as it dropped into her chest, "God Dammit Teej, this is my firm we are talking about. Having the feds snooping about at even a RUMOR of a traitor would destroy us. I can't have that."

TJ looked at her, "I won't talk to anyone. Yet. However, I need a list of clients that both Louis and Elliot work on together."

Gretchen rubbed her eyes, "That's a violation of attorney client privilege."

Gray shook his head, "No it's not. I'm not asking to see any records, I'm not going to go through files. I just need to know corporate, specifically infrastructure or defense clients. I'll do the rest."

Gray watched as his cousin stood up and walked to the kitchen and finished pouring the rest of the wine into her glass. TJ stood and followed her, his strong hands began to massage her shoulders that were so tense they were pulled almost to her ears.

"Don't touch me right now, please," she whispered as she reached up to grab his hand, "I need a lot more than shoulder rub and you are still my cousin no matter how many women I've watched you pleasure."

Gray stepped back, "Fair enough." Gray gave her some space as he disappeared outside to scrape the grill grate and make sure the coals were starting to cool down, when he came back in he cleared the table while Gretchen sat brooding over this piece of information. He could almost see her brain working, trying to discern whether or not that a trust partner in her firm could be who TJ thought he was.

Finally Gretchen gave up the endless pursuit, her brain felt like a hamster on a wheel. Add in an entire bottle of wine and she was tired. She finally looked at her cousin, "Speaking of fucking other women, are you at a place where we can speak about a new client?"

Gray reached for the Woodford Reserve Double Oaked and slid it away, he knew he was at his limit for the night. "Sure, we can talk."

Gretchen leaned against the counter, "The first one is Violet, or Vi as I know her. Sorority sister from Georgetown - she went to Harvard for her MBA when I went to Georgetown Law. Back in college I thought she was asleep and I had... ummm... I had sex with a frat boy and she watched. Went through a nasty divorce a few years ago, threw herself into her career and now wants to retain your services, while I am tied to a chair and forced to watch to even the score."

Gray laughed, "Wow, some drunk college boy fucked your brains out, huh?"

Gretchen shook her head, "Umm, no - he was a three pump chump but she's always had this 'one up' way about her."

TJ shrugged, "Sounds to me like it's your call Gretch, I mean I hate to be an ass, but this one may be harder for you than me. Your call."

Gretchen shook her head, "After Rebecca - I think I need a few weeks before I watch you destroy some girl's pussy."

Gray nodded, "Fair point. Anyone else?"

Gretchen nodded, "Four others." She put up one finger, "First, Lisa, the wife of a Congressman."

TJ shook his head, "No chance in hell. Next."

Gretchen nodded, "I'm glad you said that. Too many ways for that to be on the front pages and every 8:00 news show on cable." She put up her second finger, "Number two, Kumi, a reporter for Radio France International, she's the niece of the President of Rwanda. She won't be in town for a couple of months to do a piece on the State visit of the French President. So, we have some time."

TJ nodded as Gretchen put up her third finger, "Three, Husband and wife Allison and Allen."

Gray shook his head, "Okay, what is up with guys wanting to have their wives fucked?"

Gretchen shook her head, "It's a thing, I don't get it, but it's a thing. She's an Army Major, a doc from Walter Reed. He's a psychologist in private practice..."