Deep Play, Chapter 3 - Interview with the enemy
by Caliko

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"Bethany Cecil." Wufei spoke the name, tasting it on his tounge. "What is your game?"

He stared down at the street below, watching the woman climb into the limousine. She looked like all of the rich and powerful - totally untouchable. Her gray hair was pulled up and away from her face, her makeup light and subtle. She wore a heather gray suit with wide lapels, and dark gray pumps. Everything about her was gray, as if she were afraid to branch out into colors that might not match.

He could not see her eyes. That bothered him. He had read once that the eyes were the windows into one's soul. He habitually made it a point to notice them first off, to see if they told him anything. But, at this distance, they could tell him nothing.

Wufei did not make the mistake of misjudging her because of her age or sex. A few years ago, he would have discounted her bloodlust because she was a woman. Now, after watching Noin and Sally work, he knew better. There was no man alive that could be as viscous as a woman seeking an end.

The limo drove off as he watched.

:::How do I tie her in to this?::: He thought. :::I still have no proof.:::

"Chang, Does Sally know where you are?" Marquis's voice came from behind, but it was expected. Wu had heard him on the stairs.

"It's none of her business, Zechs." He replied, purposely avoiding his eyes.

"I'm sure she would argue over that."

"Then don't tell her. I don't need her worrying about me." Wu said, his eyes pinpointed on the horizon where the limo disappeared. "How did you find me?"

"Your jacket's bugged. I became rather good at keeping track of you boys, you know."

"Hmmph.. Sheer luck." Wufei smiled, turning back to face the older man. "I suppose you want to know why I'm here?"

"Heero already made his report."

"I thought he might." The younger preventer leaned against the brick stairwell, deep in thought. "We have to catch her in the act, somehow."

"We would be within our rights to subpoena her personal and corporate financial records, but I doubt they would prove that she financed the MS fiasco. It's too easy to doctor records."

"That would only slow her down, anyway. Dammit, Zechs! She's a traitor! First, she tried to take control of the Earth and it's colonies, and then, when she couldn't complete her brothers dream, she goes after his executioner!" He paced back to the edge of the rooftop, staring at the door she came out of. "I just wish I knew how to prove it!"

"We'll think of something, Wufei. C'mon. I called the boys together. If any one can figure this out, you five monsters can."

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"I can't believe that you weren't going to tell me, Wufei!" Duo fumed, glaring at the other boy.

"I didn't want to bother you. I thought that we could have it mopped up before you and Hilde came back from your honeymoon." He couldn't believe it.. but he was actually feeling a bit guilty for not including Maxwell.

"Pitiful." The braided man replied, trying not to look hurt.

"Shut up, Duo." Heero pushed the other pilot back into his seat. "He's telling you the truth. You and Hilde had just got married! He didn't want to ruin it for you both by saying that someone tried to kill him. Now, if you can stop trying to make him feel guilty, we need to figure out a plan."

Trowa stood up and began to pace. You could practically see the wheels turning in his head as he would stop and stare into space.

"Is there any chance that Randolph could be made to break?" He asked Zechs.

"I don't know. The man isn't all there. It would be good if he did. We would at least have a direction to search."

"Well, the first thing we have to do is to get rid of the men gunning for Wu. That would stop her for a few days, until we can spook her a bit by subpoenaing her records."

"What is that going to do?" Duo scowled, "We already decided that we won't get anything from them!"

"Hmmm" Trowa smiled knowingly, "But it will get our people inside."

Once he had everyone's attention, he sketched his plan out, almost in tears when Sally and Wu heard their part in it.

"What? You want her to say that!" Wu said, shocked.

"Yes. Then she slaps you. Meanwhile..." he continued on with the briefing, "Quatre will have Rasheed apply for the position of hit men."

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Four day's later, Wu was dozing in his own bed, with his gun within fast reach on the shelf in his headboard. Unseen, Sally was in the walk-in closet, reading a book to stay awake. This was the third night that they waited for the assassin.

A scraping noise came from the kitchen, followed quickly by a light thump. Footsteps slowly made their way towards them, while Sally watched the killer in the monitors. She signaled to Wu, and he picked up his gun, sliding it under the pillow where his head lay.

Sally stood up and went to the partially open door. She watched as the perpetrator came into the moonlight and started to lift his silenced gun into position. Pushing her way through the doorway, he gun already drawn and aimed, she shouted for him to freeze.

"Stop! I am a Preventer and I order you to stand down!" She yelled, as Wu pointed his own warning. "We have you covered."

The man slid the safety on and dropped his weapon. When it hit the carpet in front of his feet, he causally kicked it towards Wu with professional aplomb. His body movements spoke of confidence, as if he believed that someone would get him out.

"You can come up now, boys." Sally spoke into the radio and waited for the other pilots to come up.

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The next day:

"Bethany Lynn Khushrenada Cecil, we have a subpoena for all of your financial records, both private and corporate, pertaining to the ongoing investigation of treason done by Randolph Cecil. You can either cooperate, or you can be banned from these premises until our work is done."

"Excuse me? I don't understand." She eyed Wufei with cool arrogance, "I'm sure that you don't mean that I am involved, do you?"

"That remains to be seen, Ma'am. Please instruct your assistant to gather these account records." Wu handed a notebook to Mrs. Cecil, waiting for her 'butter won't melt' expression to slip. "Hurry, Mrs. Cecil. The sooner our investigation is finished, the sooner we will be out of your hair."

"How long will this take?" she asked, impatience thread through her voice.

"Not long." He said, nodding as Sally walked over to them. "Only about a month or so."

Her arrogance slipped for just a moment, the perfect surgical beauty becoming wrinkled as her eyes became slits. Seconds later, it was as if it never happened.

"I'll have Ana bring you the accounts."

She stormed off in her dark gray suit, catching the light gray silk blouse on the door jam. Wu and Sally watched, mentally noting that they had her rattled.

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Ok.. I know it's short.. but Trowa's plan is incredibly ..well. complex. If I go too fast, it will be too hard to follow. AND I refuse to give too much away too soon. Don't worry, next chapter should have more detail.. :)

Leeko