Sixteen to One and Counting

Two

Fowler had picked up a case at the Macintosh gala happening tonight just as crowd control, unless circumstances changed and he hoped to see Olivia, or whoever she was there. It had only been three days since she first approached him. She knew something he didn’t and that made him agitated. He was always the one who was ahead of everyone else. But somehow this nineteen year old had managed to get ahead of him. And he wanted to know how.

He hadn't ever heard of an agent anywhere starting so young, granted he had started at sixteen, but twelve? He was five years older but only had an extra year on her when it came to terms of experience. That is if she hadn't lied about her age. He ran the name not expecting much to come up considering it wasn't a full name but file after file appeared. None were her. He recognized the faces to be a part of Nightingale and Olivia had just been their cover names for bigger cases.

Fowler hadn’t ever felt this frustrated after a case and he needed to focus on the Macintosh brothers. His superiors worked with them but they had their suspicions, it sounded like they may not be around too much longer. These brothers were known for their double-crossing, not to mention scandalous ways. The gala was either just another excuse for them to hook up with women or they had something planned against Nightingale.

Thus Fowler was sent in as the inside eyes and report back for final decisions. He was hoping an "accident" would finally get them out of his hair. He had to hand it to the brothers though, they did know how to throw a party.

The ballroom seemed like any other or what he had assumed any would look like. High ceiling, grand staircase, and classy bar off to the side where Fowler had ordered himself a drink. Music played from across the ballroom and the tranquil notes filled his ears across the dance floor to where he stood leisurely in his black tux. The bartender passed him his drink but Fowler had seen him slip something into it. He paid him anyways and walked off, raising his glass and inhaled the scent of alcohol along with a common drug even his agency had been known to use. He passed a potted plant and dumped the contents of his crystal glass into the dirt. He’d deal with the bartender later, the brothers were up to something.

The pair stood atop the staircase like lions gazing down at their prey as they examined the dancefloor. Fowler made eye-contact and sent a curt nod their way, Jasper the older of the duo, glared down at him. Eyes as dark and steely as his business.

Macintosh Inc. had been causing some problems around Cleveland. The tabloids were always abuzz with a new story of some scandal between Jasper or his younger brother Matthew and their fling of the week. Some said they were leaders of a mafia group; others sang the company’s praises or its many donations to terminal illness studies and homeless shelters. Some of the rumors were closer to the truth than others. Supposedly Jasper had a tendency to dabble in illegal weaponry and rumor had it Matthew ran an underground fight ring. Both were always stirring up enough trouble to keep Nightingale agents on their toes.

Behind the pair around thirty minutes later Olivia entered the room and the so called "charming" younger Macintosh brother, greeted her with a grin and lingering kiss to her hand. He stood towering above the small woman at a staggering six foot eight, he often had alcohol on his breath and Michael Kors cologne on his wrists. When he moved out of the way Fowler was able to see her attire for the night. It was a simple dress that flowed to the floor and looked like it belonged in a Greek drama except it was black instead of a typical goddess' robes of white. She carried a confidence that would even match that of a darker version of Aphrodite and Fowler was impressed with the air of mysteriousness and grace that would have many men he knew groveling at her feet.

And to think she’s only nineteen. She was more of a frustration to Fowler than anything, she somehow knew exactly where Nightingale sent him and when, she knew where he lived, and managed to keep her secrets to herself. He needed to interrogate her. Find out how she knew his next move seemingly before he even did.

"Don't stare too much Agent Shaw the group of young ladies over there may think you're interested in them." Olivia's voice teased from beside him, her amusement as clear as her voice. He glanced over and saw a crowd of girls aging maybe from ten to fourteen years old giggling and stealthily, or so they thought, pointing in his direction.

"I'll just make them believe I'm unavailable." a small mischievous smile crossed Fowler's face. Much like that of a child planning a prank.

"Oh yeah? How are you going to-" Olivia was swept onto the dance floor before she could finish, "Ah that's how."

"You owe me some answers anyway, Olivia."

"I don't recall ever owing anything to you, Fowler." Olivia added a small taunt while saying his name, expressing how she thought how others referred to him was silly. She laughed as he began spinning them around to a simple waltz. A grin spread across her face, "I'll admit I'm surprised you know how to dance. I assumed you preferred to stand in the corner and scowl."

She quietly counted out their steps as they moved with the music, eyes downcast. "One two three, one. One two three, two. One two three, three." So softly that no one nearby would be able to hear.

"Maybe you don't know quite so much about me as you believed you did. Why are you counting?" He was simply curious.

“I’m not!” Olivia's head snapped back up to face Fowler's the redness of her face betrayed her words, "And I know enough to tell you you're in danger."

"Of course I'm in danger. I'm an assassin," he tried suppressing a laugh, "I'm in danger every second." Fowler's forehead creased and his confusion was prominent in his voice.

"Please just listen to me." Desperation seeped from her eyes, speaking to him more profoundly than her words. "Fowler you need to leave Nightingale. I don't know or care how but it needs to happen as soon as possible. You need to trust me."

This time he could not stop the sarcastic laugh that escaped his mouth. "Let me get this straight, I'm supposed to leave the agency I've been with for eight years, because a nineteen year old I met yesterday thinks I should. That's rich."

A short silence fell between the two as Olivia gazed to her right and let out an exaggerated sigh, "I guess your personality is only pleasent for ten minutes at a time."

“I’d apologize but I lack the convictions of guilt when it comes to hurting people’s feelings.”

"I need to speak to the serious Fowler right now anyways. You need to get out of here. The killer is back. And he’s after you.”

“Who’s back? What are you talking about?” Fowler was getting fed up with this. Ever since she started showing up there’s been trouble and he has enough problems on his own.

“Remember years ago, The Dime-a-Crime Killer? Killed sixteen men and always left-,”

“A dime, yeah yeah I remember. I joined up about a year after that case but no one ever mentioned it on the force. Our agency wasn’t interested in him, we work on bigger operations usually. Plus that guy hasn’t shown up for years why would you be worried about him?” This guy was old news. Nobody really even talked about him anymore, with no leads, and no recent cases the police had no idea how to track this guy.

“Well you need to get concerned with him. Do your research. Because he’s back and wants blood. He’s here tonight and if I don’t figure out who he is I’m afraid someone might die tonight.”

“You’re being irrational.”

“I’m not the one who likes to pretend they’re a normal person in society prancing around in colorful sweaters like I’m not a professional killer!”

“What’s wrong with my sweaters?”

“Is that all you got out of that?” her face flushed red hot and pure irritation took over her features, “Forget it. I’ll find him myself!”

She stormed off out of the large room and in search of the killer. Fowler didn’t react for a minute but then ran after her. Obviously she wouldn’t tell just anybody about what was going on, especially if someone’s life was on the line.

Thirty minutes later he still had not found the fuming woman when a shock was felt though the building and alarms began blaring. The crowded ballroom immediately erupted into a frenzy of overpriced clothing blurs and shouting. Jasper stood at the top of the stairs ushering people out while blocking off his facial expressions.

After most of the people had been evacuated he took off and Fowler followed behind him, if anyone would know what was going on it would be him.

“What set off the alarm?” He questioned while Jasper worked at a digital lock.

Fear finally surfaced in Jasper’s eyes and for the first time in the years he had known this man he had never seen an emotion quite like this one cross that man’s face. It unsettled him, Jasper was known for his stone face and had even been affectionately donned “Stonewall Jasper” by his brother.

“I don’t know,” again Fowler was surprised, “But I can’t find Matthew.”

Jasper was just worried about his baby brother, trying to make sure he was okay. But when the door slid open and smoke came creeping out of the room Fowler wasn’t sure Jasper would be able to do that.

Swift and light footsteps sounded down the hall, next thing he knew Olivia was beside Jasper, ignoring the fact that Fowler was even there.

“Where’s Matt? Jas I can’t find Matthew! He wasn’t in the ballroom or his room or any of the bathrooms!”

“I know Ollie, calm down we’ll find him. Let’s go into the surveillance room and look for him in there.” Jasper was holding onto Olivia’s arms, coaxing her to calm down.

Fowler was even more baffled, “Jas… Matt…. Ollie? I’m sorry I’m just a tad lost.”

Jasper snapped his head up and glared at Fowler, effectively shutting him up. Then guided Olivia into the smokey room, Fowler was assuming if the killer was here he has put the smoke bomb in the room to buy himself some time. It had mostly cleared out and though Matthew was most definitely not in the room it was covered with screen from probably every room in this house.

Silently the trio began scanning each screen for any glimpse of the missing Macintosh brother. Then one began flashing, three words taunting them, Seventeen to One. Olivia’s heartbeat immediately accelerated and a lump formed in her throat.

“No. He can’t.” Olivia fell back onto a bench. The words leaving her mouth were heavy enough without Fowler fully understanding them but Jasper’s reaction made him realize there was even more to them.

“Ollie stop it, you can’t think that way.”

“Why can’t I?” A traitor tear slid down her face.

“Which room is that?” Fowler knew there wasn’t much he could do right now but they needed to figure out what had happened and they couldn't do that by standing around. Jasper’s jaw clenched at Fowler’s words but he silently stood up from Olivia’s side and grabbed her hand. He led the group down a series of halls as Olivia tried stifling her sobs and then stopped in front of a tall door that dropped from the ceiling to floor.

“Stay here Olivia, Fowler and I will check it out. You got a gun with ya?”

“I’d be a pretty crappy hitman if I didn’t carry a gun.” Just because Jasper was showing his soft side didn’t mean Fowler was going to right now, this was basically his job. His joke was not appreciated.

On any other occasion Olivia would have yelled at Jasper about being just as strong as any man and he knew full well she was able to take down most of his bodyguards that had been training or in action twice as long as Olivia had been. But now, she didn’t mind. She took a minute to prepare herself then she stepped into the room. A strangled cry escaped from her throat.

“Ollie,” Jasper immediately wrapped his arms around the girl as her legs gave way. He carried her over to a chair in the spacious room.

The first thing Fowler noticed when they walked in guns raised was more smoke and the stench of sulfur. Then the lifeless (also handless) body of Matthew Macintosh. Jasper had tears in his eyes as he checked for a pulse. They slid down his face silently and if Fowler hadn’t been quite so observant he wouldn’t have noticed. He had composed himself quickly afterward.

Now Jasper was trying to keep Olivia away from the body. She had shoved him in a futile attempt but he did not budge. Her own body shook in protest as if telling her she physically couldn’t handle the scene layed out in front of her and should just stay put. She finally gave in and slumped against the chair Jasper had set her in.

Meanwhile Fowler scanned the room trying to figure out what had happened. How had the killer managed to do it all so quickly? They’d need to check the security tape. “This is all it takes for you to have a breakdown? You must really suck at dealing with death. Hey Jasper we should check out the tape, Olivia was raving earlier about the Dime killer or whatever and judging by the state your brother is in I'd say he was the one who did it.”

Rage engulfed Jasper. Olivia was oblivious to his words, caught up in her own mind processing what had happened. But Jasper had enough anger for the both of them.

“Get out.” The words were laced with venom,”God forbid you let someone mourn for their friend.”

“She’s the one who said she’s killed more people than I have, after that scene I’d have to say I have the better coping skills.” Jasper grabbed Fowler’s suit collar, dragged him out of the room and slammed him against the opposing wall.

“You don’t have any remorse! You don’t need to cope because you don’t give a-”

“With my job I can’t afford to.” Fowler knew he was being “cold hearted” but honestly he didn’t give a damn. This was life. People die all the time. Find the culprits faster, less people lose their lives.

“Screw you Fowler. Matthew was her best friend! We all grew up together of course she’s going to break down! Her mother was killed by the same good for nothing reprobate!”

Fowler was silent and Jasper released his hold on the man’s collar and stalked back into the room. But the tension in his shoulders instantly released when he saw Olivia’s small form slumped on the ground near Matthew’s remains.

She sat unblinking, seemingly void of emotions. Jasper deposited himself on the floor next to her and got choked up knowing neither of them would ever really see his brother again. Fowler re-entered the room but stayed quiet.

“Why Matthew?” Olivia’s voice came out stronger than any one of them had thought it would, “What did Matt ever do to anybody?”

Fowler spoke up despite his better judgement, “Rumors said he had an underground fight club, maybe the killer didn’t like the place.”

Jasper scoffed, “That was just a rumor like you said. Same tabloid said I’m in the illegal weapons business but the only gun I own is my concealed carry-on pistol that is entirely legal.”

Olivia stared on, waiting for an answer from Jasper as if Fowler had never spoken. Jasper let out a sigh and pulled Olivia onto his lap, she seemed much younger than she was in this moment. She had been through so much and learned to fight for herself at such an early age that Jasper often forgot she was four years younger than him.

“Matthew was the nicest guy I knew Ollie, the killer doesn’t have morales. If he did he never would’ve taken your mother from you and your dad.”

Olivia just gave a small nod and opened her hand to reveal a bloodied dime. The killer’s calling card. There was no questioning it anymore. The Dime a Crime killer was back.