Cat's out of the bag (Nate)

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It was practically perfect. Every detail, of every (almost) harmless traps within the floor police building. The light switches set to drop flour on anyone in the room, if they were flicked on. A few trip wires were spread out between several desk, those would splatter jam onto whoever activated it. And of course, the main bit, over a couple doorways, she left the doors ajar, just a half of an inch. On those doors, were buckets filled with either honey, water, or more flour.

The redhead couldn't help but take some pride in her work. Only one thing left to do, hack into the surveillance system, and watch the fun. Moving on of the office chairs to the closest camera, she stepped on it. Now all she had to do was place a tiny little clip onto the back of a surveillance camera and then...

Bingo!

She was in. Only one problem, she could hear footsteps coming from the main entrance. Which she conveniently left untouched from her artistic hands.

Well this wasn't good. Raya thought as she rushed into one of the offices. Almost getting the window open just far enough to slip out, when she changed her mind. Quickly hiding herself under the desk.

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Nate walked into the station with an annoyed sigh, his head tilting to the side while arching his shoulders. A strange tick he did when he was annoyed. He looked up and and over to the light switch. He was a creature of habit and flipped the light switch on, off, then on again...... Only to have a bag of flour drop from the ceiling panel on top of his head. He stood there for a moment, almost as if he couldn't believe what had just happened. His faced contorted with annoyance as he took his suit jacket off and threw it across the room in a fit of annoyance. When his jacket hit the floor beside a desk, he saw a jar of what looked like honey spring out of another officer's desk.

His eyes narrowed and suddenly everything frose around him. His mind taking in every tiny detail. Looking for the slightest changes from the norm. His photographic memory comparing old memories to the current state of the room. He immediately noticed a few items out of place. A wastebasket was two inches further to the left than it was yesterday, the computer on one desk was turned the wrong way as the occupant at that desk was left handed, not right.

He rubbed his temples as a headache began to creep up on him. He reached into his pocket for the bottle of asprin he always carried with him and popped two down, again craning his neck to one side. As a few more officers piled into the office, They laughed that he was covered in flour. His eye brow arched as they made fun. He decided to simply not warn them about what awaited them in the main office and cracked a smirk when even more traps and tricks had been set off. The secretary shrieked as she had been covered in honey, wailing that her hair was ruined and they she'd just come from the salon.

"Well, if you idiots are done acting like chimps in a zoo, I'm going to the security office to rewind some video.. Looks like we have a prankster." He made his way into the office and looked up at the wall of monitors and sighed. Normally, simple deductive work and examining details would reveal who it was, but Nate was already having a bad day and began rewinding some of the monitors to see what was going on. With his other hand, he annoyingly wiped the flour from his face.

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Raya held her breath as she heard someone walk into the office where she was currently hiding. Nearly jumping as she heard a flour covered jacket hit the office floor.

'Go away...' She thought, trying to will whoever it was to leave so she could make her clever getaway. 'Please... Go away so I can jump out the window....'

She exhaled as she heard the person leave. She really couldn't ever take her luck for granted.

Or if she was lucky, she could set one of her own traps on herself. And pretend to be an intern. Yeah, surely that could work. She could see if anyone needed coffee, a towel perhaps. And then as soon as they send her off, she would be home free.

Slowly climbing out from under the desk, peeking around it to see how easily distracted they all were. Great. Now all she had to do was... Get a little wet.

It didn't take long for Raya to set off one of her own traps. In fact, she easily set off one of her trip wire ones. Which proceeded to cover her in a bit of caramel sauce. On her only coat too... Ah well, a small price to pay for her freedom.

She offered to get one of the officers a wet towel to help clean off some of the honey. Oh this was easy, much better than climbing out the window. Now she wouldn't look like a suspect, and more like another victim in the occurring prank.

Raya could have jumped for joy when she saw the front entrance to the police office. Freedom was just in her reach!

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Nate stood in the control room for a moment rewinding the monitor that overlooked the main office where all the shenanigans had taken place. Just then a bight eyed and mischievous face appeared in the camera. Was she....?? She was sticking out her tongue as she looked in the camera crossing her eyes playfully, obviously messing with the back of it. Probably putting in a remote feed chip. He couldn't help but chuckle as he shook his head. She looked like she was just a kid.

He paused the video, he didnt need to go back any further. He just happened to glance over at a live feed video to see the same face trying to sneak out, handing out towels trying to make her get away. Nat shook his head and muttered to himself "Not today, kid" and took an alternate door out of the control room so he could head her off, pretty sure she was going to attempt to leave via the front door.

He rounded the corner JUST as she was about to put her hand on the door that lead to her freedom and snapped one cuff around her small wrist and just looked at her, a brow arched curiously "In a hurry?"

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He rounded the corner JUST as she was about to put her hand on the door that lead to her freedom and snapped one cuff around her small wrist and just looked at her, a brow arched curiously "In a hurry?"

Raya jumped like a child who was caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Muttering a quiet ow, as the handcuff snapped into place around her wrist. She had been so close! What happened to all those saying about cats and luck?

Wait... Did this man really just cuff her?

"Bit kinky for the first date," A cheshire grin growing on her face. "Don't cha' think?"

Honestly, what else could a girl say when a cute guy sticks his hand cuffs on her. Of course as she spoke, she was already working on transforming her hand, just enough to slip it through the hand cuff. Then off she'd be, once again. Sadly that meant she would need to distract him.

"Could be taken the wrong way, ya know?" Raya explained, feeling her hand slip from the cuff. Then it only took a moment for her to take ahold of the handcuffs, snap one cuff to his own wrist and the other to the door handle. "Aw well. This was fun, we should do it again sometime."

Then she hugged him from behind, slipping her hands into his front pockets. Making sure to whisper in his ear. "Thank you. You were very entertaining."

Raya took her hands out of his pockets, now having what she wanted, that being the keys to his cuffs. She quickly place a light peck to his cheek, before exiting the building.

Time to get to the next thing on her Agenda. The soup kitchen. Despite what some people thought, she did have a job there. No money, but it was a good meal.

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Wait... Did this man really just cuff her?

"Bit kinky for the first date," A cheshire grin growing on her face. "Don't cha' think?"

Nathaniel arched a brow at her, a bit put off by her remark. Normally people he cuffed weren't so... forward with him.. usually the tried to put up a struggle or made a million excuses. but flirt with him?

"Now hang on a minute, kid.." But as he stood there, looking down at her, the Sprite of a redhead made her next move.

"Could be taken the wrong way, ya know?" Raya explained, feeling her hand slip from the cuff. Then it only took a moment for her to take hold of the handcuffs, snap one cuff to his own wrist and the other to the door handle. "Aw well. This was fun, we should do it again sometime." Then she hugged him from behind, slipping her hands into his front pockets. Making sure to whisper in his ear. "Thank you. You were very entertaining." Raya took her hands out of his pockets, now having what she wanted, that being the keys to his cuffs. She quickly place a light peck to his cheek, before exiting the building. [/i][/size]

He closed his eyes with an annoyed sigh when he felt to cool metal of the cuffs slip onto his own wrist, and then the distinct clack of the cuffs closing on the push bar of the entrance door. He just stood there, dumbfounded. But the moment, she came behind him to whisper into his ear and riffle through his pockets he realized he'd been had. He tried to move his hips away to move his pockets out of reach, but the slippery little minx had the upper hand.

He could only narrow his mossy green away as he watched her slip away with that pixie grin of hers. With all the commotion going on in the office, no one noticed Nate's predicament and simply left him to his fate. Fortunately within a few minutes, his partner, Will, came in and just stared blankly at Nate, just as confused. "Getting friendly with the door, mate?" But Nate quickly shot him a glare that told his partner that this was not a good time. "Shut it, Will." He reached out with his free hand. "Key... Now"

Will fished through his pockets for his pair of keys. Luckily when it came to the cuffs, one size fits all with their keys. By the time Nate got the cuffs of and sprinted out the door, the redhead was long gone.. He came back in, to find his partner still standing there confused. "I'd stay out of the office for a few hours.. How's coffee sound? I think I'm going to need it after this morning"

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Raya nearly whooped from her narrow escape. Telling herself, that hopefully she wouldn't have to go through that again. Ah well.

About an hour later she found herself hiding from one of the local gangs, in a nearby coffee shop. She had asked a clerk if she could hide behind the counter, since she was being followed. This really wasn't her day.

And you'd think that after a week, they'd forget about her stopping their little set up in the warehouse section. Apparently, they were still sore about it.

Then she heard something, well someone. That cop from earlier! An idea formed in her head.

Raya quietly asked the nice clerk from her hiding spot, if a rather well dressed man had just stepped in. When the clerk, Debbie, nodded. Which Raya asked if she could hand her a small brown paper bag and a pen.

When she did, Raya carefully wrote "Sorry" on the outside of the bag. Then dropped one of the hand cuff keys into the bag. Handing Debbie two single bills, she asked if she could him a piece of coffee cake in the bag.

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When she did, Raya carefully wrote "Sorry" on the outside of the bag. Then dropped one of the hand cuff keys into the bag. Handing Debbie two single bills, she asked if she could him a piece of coffee cake in the bag.

Before they had arrived, Nate and his partner stopped by the dry cleaners. He had a suit that needed to be picked up anyway and traded the nice clean one for the suit that was now caked in flour. Nate went to the bathroom there, washed out his hair and face in the shink before getting into his freshly pressed suit. The girl at the counter giggled as she took Nate's dirty clothes after he had changed "The usual treatment? Double starch with a heat press, Mr. Cross?". Nate smirked and nodded as he handed her a tip "What would I do without you, Sadie?" and got back into the car where his partner was patiently waiting, still with the goofy grin on his face, remembering the oh so serious Detective Nathaniel Cross covered, head to toe, in flour and handcuffed to the door.

As Nate buckled his seatbelt, he couldnt help but notice the grin and heard the stifled snort from his partner. Those dark green eyes narrowed as he looked over at his younger partner and he spoke darkly "I will shoot you.." His partner then began to crack up laughing, holding his sides. "Oh come on, Nate.. It's funny and you know it!"

"Hilarious" he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. They drove several blocks to pull up to a coffee shop that he frequented when he needed a caffeine boost or a quiet place to think. He and Will took their usual booth and Nate pulled out a picture he had printed from the screen he had paused. It was of the redhead he had so nearly apprehended. He pushed it towards Will and sighed. "Do you recognize her? That's the girl who turned our office into a scene from 'The Parent Trap'. I want you and the boys to run a cross reference on her image and see if anything comes up."

Just then, Debbie walked up and set the small bag with the key and coffee cake on the table. Nate glanced at it with an arched brow and noticed the word "Sorry" written in what seemed like a hurry. "Oh well, THAT'S convenient." He immediately stood and towered over Debbie, with his impressive 6'5" frame and showed her the image he had. "Was this the girl who asked you to bring this?"

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Just then, Debbie walked up and set the small bag with the key and coffee cake on the table. Nate glanced at it with an arched brow and noticed the word "Sorry" written in what seemed like a hurry. "Oh well, THAT'S convenient." He immediately stood and towered over Debbie, with his impressive 6'5" frame and showed her the image he had. "Was this the girl who asked you to bring this?"

Debbie nodded. "Poor thing, scared nearly to death, over a couple of brutes... Don't know why they wanted her, to be completely honest with you."

Then she added quietly, as in a hushed tone. "I think, maybe she got herself into a spot of trouble with one of them."

"I have to get back to some of my other customers dear-" Debbie started, before a loud crash came from behind her.

Meanwhile, Raya was slowly crawling towards the back entrance. Accidentally making one of the shop boys to trip over her, and causing several dishes to crash.

Immediately, she squeaked, and started apologizing. Trying to help pick up some of the broken shards of glass. "Sorry. Really sorry, I'll pay for these. somehow." Every so often checking the front windows, then she saw the detective. "Oh... Hi..."

"Got'a go." Raya stated rapidly, before once again attempting another quick escape.

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Meanwhile, Raya was slowly crawling towards the back entrance. Accidentally making one of the shop boys to trip over her, and causing several dishes to crash. Immediately, she squeaked, and started apologizing. Trying to help pick up some of the broken shards of glass. "Sorry. Really sorry, I'll pay for these. somehow." Every so often checking the front windows, then she saw the detective. "Oh... Hi..."

"Got'a go." Raya stated rapidly, before once again attempting another quick escape.

Nate gently pushed past Debbie and shouted back at his partner, Will, "Cover the back! GO!". Will looked at his partner shaking his head. This was just a kid that pulled a prank. hardly worth all this effort. But then Will just figured he was mad because she had gotten the better of him. Will cracked a smirk, remembering his partner covered in flour and shook his head as he went around to try and head the girl off.

Nate saw that there was a gathering of waitresses and the bus boy trying to pick up the broken dishes and he didnt have time to detour around them. He picked up speed to a run and, placing one hand on the counter, leaped, sending both legs over to the other side and continued to run after her.

Funnily enough, his mind was not fixed on the fiasco from earlier that morning, The waitress made mention that the girl was hiding to avoid some thugs. The last thing he wanted was this girl trying to run from him only to possibly run right into them and get hurt. He called out behind her, trying to sound reassuring. "Hey, kid, stop! I just want to talk!"

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Funnily enough, his mind was not fixed on the fiasco from earlier that morning, The waitress made mention that the girl was hiding to avoid some thugs. The last thing he wanted was this girl trying to run from him only to possibly run right into them and get hurt. He called out behind her, trying to sound reassuring. "Hey, kid, stop! I just want to talk!"

Raya wasn't really paying attention, mainly because she was focusing on not running into anyone. Then once again, freedom appeared in the form of the open back door. Until the detective's partner showed up, attempting to block off her path.

Instead of skidding to a stop, she ran faster, grinning as she let her body fall to the floor. This allowed her to slide right through the other man's legs. Raya used her arm to slow herself down, and make it easier for her to get back up on her feet.

Yes! Freedom, once again. ... Until, that is, the brick siding of the next building was suddenly in her path.

"Crap." Was all she managed before.

Thump!

Crack.

She had ran into the brink wall, and plopped backwards onto the ground. Raya blinked several times, as if shocked that just happened.

Then there was a slight stinging feeling in her nose, and a little trickle of warm liquid touched her lips. She placed a hand to her nose, caused her to quickly take in some air.

"Ow." Raya whispered, as she licked the warm liquid. Realizing her nose was bleeding, and now her nose felt ten times worse.

Raising one hand into the air, since the other was covering her nose, and said. "I gib... I gib."

Her right knee stung a bit as well, like she strained it or something. Granted this wasn't the worse thing to happen to her. Probably the worse thing, was getting a bullet in her shoulder bone.

"Can I 'ave a napkin, or som'thin' like tha'?" Her voice sounded funny to her, all nasally, almost robotic.

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"Ow." Raya whispered, as she licked the warm liquid. Realizing her nose was bleeding, and now her nose felt ten times worse. Raising one hand into the air, since the other was covering her nose, and said. "I gib... I gib."

Her right knee stung a bit as well, like she strained it or something. Granted this wasn't the worse thing to happen to her. Probably the worse thing, was getting a bullet in her shoulder bone. "Can I 'ave a napkin, or som'thin' like tha'?" Her voice sounded funny to her, all nasally, almost robotic.

Nate's partner was the first to get to her. Will helped her to stand and immediately began trying to cuff her when Nate's voice rang out from behind them "Take those off! She's not under arrest, you prat!" He pulled will off of the redhead and unlocked to cuffs with the key she had returned.

He signed as he eased the girl around to give her a quick Once Over and shook his head with a chuckle and offered her some napkins to help stop the bleeding to her nose. "Although petty vandalism of a police building IS an arrestable offence, I'm willing to over look a few details."

Nate ran a hand through his short messy hair with a sigh and looked down at her with a smirk "So.. what do you think?"

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Raya was glad that she wasn't getting arrested, and even happier that the detective was taking the cuffs off. So happy, she stuck her tongue out at his partner. Making sure to smile afterwards, hoping he knew she was kidding around.

He signed as he eased the girl around to give her a quick Once Over and shook his head with a chuckle and offered her some napkins to help stop the bleeding to her nose. "Although petty vandalism of a police building IS an arrestable offence, I'm willing to over look a few details."

"Sorry 'bout tha'." She apologized quietly, touching her nose with the napkin gently. She flinched as she felt a sharp pain.

Nate ran a hand through his short messy hair with a sigh and looked down at her with a smirk "So.. what do you think?"

"Tha' sounds pretty goo'." Raya agreed, grinning at him, while holding the napkin to her nose. Then she asked him, crossing her green eyes down at her nose. "Does this look broken?"

After a little bit, she was curious as to why he was letting the whole screwing up a police station go. "Why?"

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"Tha' sounds pretty goo'." Raya agreed, grinning at him, while holding the napkin to her nose. Then she asked him, crossing her green eyes down at her nose. "Does this look broken?"

Nate chucked softly and nodded lookng at her nose.. The bridge of her nose looked slightly flattened, the main indicator of a broken nose "Yeah, you might want to have it looked at kiddo."

After a little bit, she was curious as to why he was letting the whole screwing up a police station go. "Why?"

Nate seemed to shrug at her question with a chuckle. "Would you rather I arrest you?" He teasingly dangled the handcuffs in front of her. "I'm just curious. You seem like an adept escape artist and know your way around tech. One of our informants called it quits after too many close calls..."

He then slipped her a business card with his name and to numbers, One was an office number with the extension number, and the other was his cell. "Just.. give me a cal if you decide you'e interested in a job." Nate then patted Will on the shoulder and turned t head back o the car.

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Nate chucked softly and nodded lookng at her nose.. The bridge of her nose looked slightly flattened, the main indicator of a broken nose "Yeah, you might want to have it looked at kiddo."

"Prob'bly be doin' tha' after this." She muttered, "Thanks."

She put the napkin back on her nose, just in case on the off chance it was still bleeding.

Nate seemed to shrug at her question with a chuckle. "Would you rather I arrest you?" He teasingly dangled the handcuffs in front of her.

"Maybe if we were alone." Raya grinned and gave him a wink, teasing back.

"I'm just curious. You seem like an adept escape artist and know your way around tech. One of our informants called it quits after too many close calls..."

"Couldn't handle the pressure?" She asked curiously, wondering where he was going with this.

He then slipped her a business card with his name and to numbers, One was an office number with the extension number, and the other was his cell. "Just.. give me a call if you decide you'e interested in a job." Nate then patted Will on the shoulder and turned to head back to the car.

"It's Raya," she said, giving him a smile. "Not kiddo." She pocketed his card into her jeans. "And I will. Tha's a promise."

---

It took her about three days, and rather then do something really stupid. She found a pay phone by the small time clinic, and she called the first number on the card he gave her. The office number, before she realized what time it was, and she stopped the call from going all the way through.

This time she tried his cell. Listening to it ring a couple times, before a soft click.

"Hello Detective, guess who." Raya greeted with a smile.