Chapter 13: Tension

As the black town car pulled in front of the Washington MCRC Office, Brooklyn was going over her notes again. She didn't need to, she hadn't even needed to write them down, but she needed to do something with her hands to keep her mind busy.

Victor and Warren were sitting in the car with her, Warren looking out the window as the city passed by a small smile of contentment on his face while Victor looked over his own paperwork that Brooklyn had given to him when they had climbed into the car. He was sitting in the back seat with her, while Warren sat up front with the driver. Their driver was a quiet man with a hat down low over his eyes being distant and answering Warren's friendly questions with simple one word answers.

Brooklyn herself was crossing and uncrossing her legs in agitation. She wasn't looking forward to this. Victor assured her that he would deal with Mrs. Cohen, Warren told her that he loved watching her verbally battle the dreadful woman, but Brooklyn still couldn't bring herself to calm down.

The car rolled to a stop and, almost immediately, the door was opened by Robert White, one of Mrs. Cohen's assistants, who held out his hand to help her out.

“Miss Meyers.” He beamed as if seeing her again was his greatest pleasure. “How are you? You look lovely.”

“Hello, Robert.” Brooklyn smiled at him as Victor stepped from the car behind her and Warren climbed out, looking up at the stark gray building that served as legal's headquarters.

“It's kind of...dull.” he said, referring to the lack of decorations to break up the monotony of the building.

“Mrs. Cohen thinks overly decorated things are a sign of an unfocused mind.” Robert explained, shrugging as if he didn't care.

“The door is new.” Victor commented politely as he shut the door behind him. The car pulled away almost immediately to go park itself until Victor had need of it again.

“It was just installed last month.” Robert nodded. “It hooks up into our state-of-the-art security system and doesn't allow access to any who don't have the appropriate key cards.”

“Does she really need that kind of security?” Warren asked, frowning a bit. She was a lawyer, a glorified lawyer to be sure, but still just a lawyer.

“Mrs. Cohen is very protective of her things.” Robert took Brooklyn's hand on his arm and began leading her up to the building like a gentleman.

Warren and Victor were one step behind. Victor looked a bit displeased that Robert was treating Brooklyn like the leader of their group but Warren was still grinning unconcerned. He didn't even mind that Robert was being so familiar with Brooklyn. Warren wasn't a jealous guy and, his grin deepened as memories of their previous night came back to him, Brooklyn was all his anyway.

“That's why I was sent down here, by the way.” Robert reached into his pocket and pulled out three key cards that had 'VISITOR' written on them in big, black letters. “These are yours.”

“You're giving me a visitor tag?” Victor frowned disapprovingly as he took the card.

“I'm sure this will be fine.” Brooklyn cut off any response Robert would have made as she took both hers and Warren's. “Are you going to be leading us around, Robert?” That would be great, she thought. If she never saw Mrs. Cohen through the inspection she wouldn't be happier.

“Actually, I'm here to take you up to her office.” He looked away from her, his face anxious. Brooklyn was sure that whatever Mrs. Cohen had said while giving the order hadn't been at all complimentary. “She wants to see you all before you get started.”

“I'm sure that will be fine.” Warren mimicked Brooklyn earning a halfhearted glare from her that he merely smiled at, unconcerned.

As they walked into the lobby of the great gray building, Warren looked around with interest. This was Mrs. Cohen's 'home', in a fashion, and the place reflected the owner. There was no color that he could see, everything was done in either white, black, or gray. There were a few long couches in the lobby but no one was waiting in them. Behind the stark metal and glass receptionist's desk sat a harsh looking woman in her fifties that was typing furiously at a keyboard.

The decorations weren't tasteless or drab. Everything was elegant and looked as if had been ordered from a catalog of some kind. Warren supposed it was fashionable and modern but he missed the warmth and age of Brooklyn's cottage with the wood that made everything feel natural and easy and the antiques that had been filled with the love of generations. As he looked around he couldn't see any books laying haphazardly on the surfaces of everything or pencils and pens stashed in random corners or any natural light that made the place glow. He found himself missing it terribly.

“Good evening, Mrs. Johnson.” Robert greeted the receptionist. “The visitors are here to Mrs. Cohen. Is she still speaking with Mr. Caldwell?”

“He left a few minutes ago.” The unsociable Mrs. Johnson said without looking up. “She gave me instructions to send them up when they arrived. They're late.” The last was said with a glare as she finally looked up.

“And they are deeply sorry.” Robert lied smoothly. “We'll just go on up.”

Mrs. Johnson made a noncommittal grunt in the back of her throat as she went back to typing.

“She's a wonderful lady.” Robert told Brooklyn as they walked around the desk to get to the elevators. “Her youngest daughter is graduating college this year with a law degree. Isn't that nice?”

“She must be proud.” Brooklyn agreed neutrally. If Mrs. Johnson was as cold and disapproving with her children, Brooklyn felt sorry for them.

“Oh, she is. She's a wonderful mother.” Robert said as they climbed into the elevator that said 'Executive' on the side that he had to use a key to open. Brooklyn was sure that none but Mrs. Cohen and her assistants were allowed to use it. “Mrs. River on the third floor just gave birth to her first child and Mrs. Johnson gave her a packet on proper child rearing. It was quite thorough and very educational. Mrs. River's assures me that it had been an enormous help.”

“I think being a mother requires a bit more than just an informational packet.” Brooklyn said, frowning a bit.

Abruptly and without warning, she had a mental image of herself holding a beautiful baby with shinning green eyes and slightly pointed ears. Almost immediately, she was filled with a sense of longing so strong she almost lifted her hand to feel her flat belly. Every mental list and thought process she was going through screeched to an immediate halt as the sweet mental image filled her brain.

Never before had Brooklyn wanted a baby. Every time she thought of having children it was more of a 'one day' kind of thing. She was content with her career, with her solitude, she had never really wanted kids.

But that was before Warren.

Thinking of having his baby, a beautiful demi-halitja that they would love and raise together made her long for kids of her own as nothing else ever had.

The need was so powerful that it took her a second to realize that, as Robert was droning on with banal chitchat, she was counting days since she and Warren had had unprotected sex, her last period, when she should be ovulating, and wondering how much it would cost to add rooms onto her house.

The shock of realizing that the thoughts had suddenly invaded her brain and took over every thought made her reign them in almost violently and force herself back onto the conversation.

She loved Warren, she was as sure of that as she was sure he loved her. But love didn't mean that he was ready for adding rooms and babies.

Still, she couldn't completely stop herself from mentally decorating the added room with an antique rocker or bassinet with a big window to let in a lot of light.

“Brook?” Robert's voice broke through the mental decorating snapping Brooklyn back to reality.

She took a moment and rewound the conversation she hadn't been paying attention to in her mind and realized far too late that he had been asking about her plans for the inspection.

“Sorry.” she smiled. “I'm just going to be going through files, doing employee interviews, seeing if there is any slack that needs picked up.”

“You're quite welcome to, of course.” Robert said though Brook was sure that was a lie. “Though I doubt if you'll find any part of our division lacking. I heard you tore through Dr. Fontane's labs but I assure you that there will be no need for any such actions here.”

“I highly doubt it as well.” Victor, who didn't like being left out of things, took over the conversation. “Rachel runs things impeccably. I have no doubt that her division will exceed my standards.”

“Of course.” Robert said as if it were completely obvious. “We've all been ordered to cooperate fully with you, sir.” The way he said it make Brooklyn think that the invitation didn't necessarily extend to herself and Warren. She wondered how much resistance they would get in their investigation.

The elevator dinged to a stop and opened into yet another elegantly furnished but incredibly dull colored room. This one had another metal and glass desk but, instead of the unfriendly Mrs. Johnson, they were greeted by an unfriendly looking man in his early thirties. He would have been handsome but for the scowl on his face.

He stood as they entered, his face neutral as he looked their party over. His eyes landed on Mr. Ozera and he bowed his head slightly. “Mr. Ozera.” he greeted. “Mrs. Cohen is waiting for you.”

“I can't imagine she's too eager to see us.” Warren whispered in Brooklyn's ear making her grin.

Robert led them to the door and, as the got closer, Brooklyn was able to hear a furious yelling coming from just beyond the wall.

“She sounds as lively as always.” Victor remarked diplomatically as the yelling increased in pitch. They couldn't make out the words but Brooklyn could recognize Mrs. Cohen's shrill voice.

“Perhaps we should wait.” Robert looked unsure. “Maybe she's in an impromptu meeting.”

Warren decided he had spent far too much time around Ilia. As soon as Robert said that, he found himself reaching for the door knob with a grin and saying happily, “Won't know unless we look.”

In a contrary move that would have made the fairy proud, he threw open the door and let himself inside just as Robert started to protest.

Clearly, the sudden entrance startled the ones in the room more than the ones outside of it. There were only two people inside.

Melody, Mrs. Cohen's other assistant, was cowering under the towering form of Mrs. Cohen herself who had her fist raised as if she was about to strike the poor woman. Both of them froze in their positions as Warren, Brooklyn a step behind him, walked into the room.

“I'm sorry about this, Mrs. Cohen.” Robert apologized as Victor followed Brooklyn and Warren inside. Robert stayed out as if waiting for permission to enter.

“Victor.” Mrs. Cohen lowered her fist and turned to her boss, smiling slightly.

“My dear Rachel.” Victor smiled, walking forward. “How are you?”

“I've been better.” she said stiffly. She looked back at Melody who flinched just from her gaze. “Get out of here, cow. Retype that letter and I swear if there is so much as one coma out of place...” she let the sentence hang, unfinished and ominous.

“Y-yes, ma'am.” Melody scurried from the room, looking thankful for the reprieve, and shut the door behind her leaving both herself and Robert outside of the room.

“You're late.” Mrs. Cohen told Brooklyn waspishly as if it were somehow her fault.

“Victor insisted on enjoying a long breakfast.” Brooklyn said honestly, raising one eyebrow as if daring the other woman to speak like that to their boss.

“You must forgive my weakness for a good biscuit, Rachel.” Victor took her hands in his charmingly. “Not that you would understand, not with your stunning figure.”

“You are a flatterer, Victor.” Mrs. Cohen said but she smiled flirtatiously at the compliment.

“Does her husband know she does that?” Warren asked Brooklyn in a whisper.

“He does the same thing with his secretary.” Brooklyn shrugged, unconcerned.

Warren made a face but let the subject drop as Mrs. Cohen returned to her desk.

“I can't say I'm eager for you to begin this ridiculous inspection.” she said as she sat down, her face setting back into annoyance again.

“Lester's division really needed it.” Victor explained. “I've never seen such incompetence from the man. It's my fault, of course, for being so negligent. I plan on doing these inspections more often to prevent other such occurrences.”

“You can hardly compare me to that quack doctor.” Mrs. Cohen shook her head as if stunned Victor would suggest such a thing. “You've never had a single complainy with how I run my offices.”

“I wouldn't say that.” Brooklyn spoke up as she stepped forward. None of them had chosen to sit down and Brooklyn earned a glare from Mrs. Cohen for the movement.

“I beg your pardon?” Mrs. Cohen said, her voice cold and dangerous. She sounded very much the same when she had spoken to Melody and Warren stepped directly behind Brooklyn as if prepared to shield her from Mrs. Cohen should the need arise.

“You get everything in on time, of course.” Brooklyn smiled at Mrs. Cohen, somehow the smile just as dangerous to Warren as Mrs. Cohen's glare. “However, I'm afraid human resources gets a lot of complaints from your department. More than all the others, in fact. Combined.”

“I do not accept weakness or incompetence.” Mrs. Cohen said, placing her hand on her ridiculously expensive glass and metal desk. “Such failings are quickly and mercilessly dealt with. Those complaints are from who couldn't take it.”

“Or those who refused to take it.” Brooklyn corrected quietly. The words were almost identical, but the meaning couldn't be more different. “Jack is especially keen to nip that tendency of yours in the bud before it gets MCRC in a mess of trouble even you couldn't get it out of.”

“Don't forget, girl,” Mrs. Cohen practically hissed at her, “you are in my office, my building. You will respect me.”

“I am Victor's hand.” Brooklyn said back, her voice calmer but no less angry. “Don't you forget that I have his authority now.”

“Now, now. Ladies.” Victor looked between the glaring women, his face concerned. “I don't want any fights, understand?”

“Of course not, Victor.” Mrs. Cohen said.

“I wouldn't dream of it, Victor.” Brooklyn said.

Despite the assurances, the women continued to glare at each other from across the desk and Warren was genuinely concerned that he would have to pull one off of the other in a second.

The tense stare down lasted only a moment more before Mrs. Cohen and Brooklyn both turned away at the same time.

Neither, Warren knew, had lost. Yet neither had won.

For the moment, it was a stalemate.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

“And this is the second floor.” Robert said unnecessarily as the elevator doors opened and he, Brooklyn, and Warren stepped out. “Most of the paralegals are here. They'll be quite happy to help you with anything you need, of course.”

“I'm sure.” Brooklyn said, making a note on her clipboard. The notes weren't for her, they were for Jack and Victor.

Mrs. Cohen's building had four floors. The first floor had the lobby, the employee break area, and offices for meeting clients. The third floor held the attorneys who worked for Mrs. Cohen while she kept the fourth floor to herself and her assistants.

“You know, Robert,” Brooklyn said to him as he looked around, trying to decide where to continue the tour, they had already finished the first floor, “you don't have to take me around. I have a map and I can find my way.”

“It's Mrs. Cohen's...insistence that I accompany you. To make things easier.” the hesitation made Brooklyn sure that Mrs. Cohen's 'insistence' hadn't been meant to be helpful.

“I'm sure it is.” Brooklyn said quietly, making another note that Robert frowned at. She hid the words from him even though they were simply a continuation from the first note. If he thought perhaps she was writing bad things about Mrs. Cohen he might be more cooperative.

“Not that it's my business, Miss Meyers,” Robert looked at Warren, “but should he really be here? Shouldn't he be with Mr. Ozera?”

“Warren is under orders to assist me with anything I need.” Brooklyn said easily, it wasn't exactly a lie. “Mr. Ozera is with Mrs. Cohen, surely you don't think there's anything that can harm them here do you?”

“Of course not.” Robert agreed readily, smiling again. Warren had kept silent, letting Brooklyn speak for him.

It was strange, Brooklyn thought as Robert led her forward, pointing out the restrooms, the copy room, the mail room. Crispin and Robert were both assistants, they both smiled all the time and were very helpful and good at their jobs. Yet, somehow, they seemed so completely different.

Brooklyn wasn't sure what it was. For a moment, she considered their formality. As Robert walked, he addressed everyone by their surname, asking polite but easy questions. He seemed friendly enough but he didn't call anyone by name. He didn't ask about spouses or children or ailing parents. Crispin, she knew, could and did all of that. He greeted people familiarly, by their first name, and was so capable at making you like him.

But that didn't seem right. Surely that was more to do with their bosses than anything. Mrs. Cohen didn't seem big on encouraging inter-office relationships whereas Jack refused to let you work in criminal without a partner and a partner you had to be very close to.

Or maybe, Brooklyn realized as she saw Melody walking through the offices, holding a freshly printed sheet of paper in her hands, it had more to do with their character. Crispin would never work for someone who treated Melody the way Mrs. Cohen did. Crispin was loyal to Jack because Jack was a great man. What did it say about Robert White that he was loyal to such a horrid woman?

“Something wrong, Brook?” she heard Warren whisper in her ear. As far as she could tell, he was doing his best to be a standard, imposing, silent bodyguard. He filled the role well and didn't speak much to people, letting her do that instead.

“Just thinking about Robert.” she whispered back as Robert paused to ask someone how their assignment was progressing. “I think I want you to investigate him...thoroughly.”

Warren's eyebrow rose in a question he didn't voice. Instead, he nodded once and leaned back as Robert turned back to her.

“Mr. Leers here is going to be a great attorney himself someday.” Robert told her as if proud of a favorite nephew. “He can get a bit emotional but we don't hold that against him.”

Robert gently hit Mr. Leers' arm and laughed as if he had told a great joke and walked away, smiling. Mr. Leers looked up at Brooklyn like a man who had achieved his dreams only to realize they were nightmares.

“Where do you keep your records?” Brooklyn asked as she and Warren followed him.

“On the fourth floor.” Robert waved his hand as he answered, as if he considered the question unimportant. “That over there is Mrs. Colby. She's been with us for five years.”