Isabella had been unusually silent the whole flight, staring out the window, occasionally tapping her finger to an unsung song as they flew from Philly back to the Motor City.  Her hair was braided & still drying - she hadn't bothered with the vanity tool which was a hair dryer though the hotel did have one downstairs.  Truth was, she rarely braided her hair.  She felt it made her look like a child, but today it seemed... practical.  She wanted nothing to get in her way, least of all herself.  When the time came for action, she wanted to be a spring wound tight and ready to uncoil at a moment's notice.  

Gavin seemed to be mirroring her focus after leaving the comfort of the Godfather's hotel suite.  His items were loaded onto her private plane and the two of them had sat beside each other despite there being many other places to choose from.  It, like the small bit of rope left around his wrist, was a quiet reminder that the previous night wasn't a dream.  Last night had happened, and today would happen too.  

Today her lover would help her avenge the destruction of six months of her life - and the loss of her relationship with her fiancee.  It wasn't how she might have pictured things happening - and yet, this morning it didn't matter.  Elias couldn't join her in this hunt because of his terrible injuries - but she'd do everything in her power to bring Garrett in alive.  No one owed Garrett more than Elias did and while her rage knew no bounds... she was sure it paled beside his.

Agent Garrett had a family & for that reason she had a lot to consider.  Her father had mentioned had told her all about the man's personal life in their little chat so many months ago.  Then, Don Luciano, was sure the man would never act against the Family again.  She regretted not trusting her gut back then, it was a mistake she swore silently to never repeat.  It had been a year since that meeting, she realized.  Her whole life seemed to have unfolded & twisted into knots in that year's time.  She'd been so wrapped up in it all, she hadn't even noticed the anniversary of her mother's death coming and going.  

Lake Huron came into sight and Isabella drew herself up in the seat, nudging Gavin who was dozing in and out.  No doubt feeling the effects of last night still.  "A few minutes more and we'll be landing."  She told him, stifling a yawn of her own.  "I'm sure my guys have gotten a location on Garrett but Elias mentioned there was more than one agent involved - I mean, there would have to be, so... we'll need him to spill about the others or find another way to get that information reliably.  I'm certainly open to your input if you have any.  Otherwise I'll be making this up as we go along."

For a moment she softened and took his hand, giving it a squeeze, as if to thank him for coming along to help her.

Gavin winked.

"Making things up as I go along is how I normally operate, so nothing new there."

As for the input, he shrugged.

"I'll probably have more input once we have a location on the target. Right need, it seems like we need information. Where is this guy? Who are his partners? You've got the connections in this city; I'd lean on 'em. Pay every information broker you can find to go digging for info."

His brow furrowed.

"I suppose we could try to hit somewhere with records of this agent and grab some documents that point you in the right direction- but that seems risky. I'd hit him at home though. I'd rather have a wife and kids to deal with than 25 more FBN agents. At this point, I'd just pull as much info as possible so we're not walking in blind."

"Or you can try to grab an FBN agent and interrogate him. See if he cracks."

"It's a safe assumption he's working in the Detroit Field Office.  Elias mentioned allies so that means underlings, folks who stand to benefit if Garrett goes up the chain of command, which was his motivation when he bagged my first love and ensnared him into working for him."

She blinked remembering that day on the side of the road, standing by Elias as she raised her gun and executed the boy who first held her heart without hesitation.  "I knew then what a sick fuck he was..."  she muttered but let her lamentations die before they took her onto another tangent.

"The FBN would have records of who worked with Garrett, anyone he'd trust to help him in an illegal operation like this to build his portfolio had to be someone he'd gotten to know over time.  Breaking into a federal agency to get documents isn't something lightly done.  My father sure as fuck wouldn't thank us for taking that kind of risk and while I got corrupt agents on the payroll... anyone who'd flip on their own can't be trusted not to flip on us."

"We could hire the theft out.  Send them in for a shit ton of stuff including what we need so that the feds aren't certain what the thieves really wanted." 

She considered this for a moment before saying, "Or..."  A smile slowly grew across her face.  "Maybe we find someone beneath notice?  Someone they don't see.  Someone who sees them constantly - someone who'd pick up on what people spend time with each other and who seems closer to whom.  Such a person would be worth their weight in gold to us."

She reached into her purse and pulled out her wallet, from which she pulled an old black and white photograph.  She offered it to Gavin.  "My parents."  She said with a smile.  "Before me, I think, one of the only photos of them I have.  The boy who would become a Godfather... and the girl who would become a secretary and mother."

She smiled warmly at the photo, "For all my father's power, he lacks my mother's vision and ability to know people.  It's a skill low level office workers and janitorial staff pick up to survive and rise in the working world.  I also know, she could get away with hell... and knew every dirty little secret in her fifth avenue office - all without anyone realizing." 

She took the photo back, "It might be the same in Federal Offices.  Secretaries are women most times... and janitorial staff often are men of color - both are generally ignored by those in power in such places.  We might have a whole lot easier time getting information about Garrett & who he was friends with, out of someone like them."

Gavin looked down at the photograph with interest as he listened to Isabella talk about secretaries.

"The secretary angle is a good one, I think."

He leaned back, strategizing.

"Could find where they go after work. I could be a cop who's an aspiring FBN agent looking to learn about the business after meeting one of them in the field and make some friends. Or we could find one who's recently retired, some nice old lady who has a lot of time on her hands and would welcome visitors and a chance to talk to someone; we could even say that this Garrett had won some sort of a award for his service, so we need to interview the people he's closest to..."

Gavin grinned. 

"That seems like it's worth trying."

The plane touched down and Isabella looked at her watch three times in as many minutes.  She was like a cat in a cage, pacing, waiting to disembark the plane.  When the doors opened, Isabella walked down the stairs making a beeline for the car she knew would be waiting.  Neil smiled at her as he held the car door for her and gave a respectful nod to Gavin before helping him to put his gear into the trunk.

The mute bodyguard walked around to the passenger seat and got in.  The driver had them pulling out only a few moments later into the Motor City's morning rush hour.  In the backseat, Isabella's mind wandered back towards Philadelphia and again, she looked at her watch.  The guilt of standing up Will was unbearable.

"Will is at a restaurant right now."  She says softly.  "I had made reservations for us to meet and eat before the meeting with our contractors who are handling our new business venture down at Race Street Pier."  She sighed.  "He's realizing, by now, that I'm not coming.  I feel like a heel."

She leaned forward to speak to the driver, "Is my father waiting?"  She asked.  Nails shook his head 'no.'  "Take us to the Tower then.  I need to make a phone call before we go anywhere else."  She leaned back in her seat as the car turned onto the road that would take them along the Detroit River towards the lighthouse which she called her home.

The Ivory Tower rose above the countryside, a beacon of bright white in the late morning light.  It's windows reflecting the sun looked set aflame.  Down by the water, men worked helping unload boats from the Canadian side of the river into cars and trucks parked along the rocky shore.  A fortune of goods would pass through The Tower today.  Gavin, she realized, hadn't ever been here.

She pointed at the long fenceline leading to a massive red-roofed estate near to the lighthouse, a place once inhabited the keepers of the lighthouse.  "That's it.  My Ivory Tower by the ... ahem... sea."  She chuckled.  "If you want, take a look around while I call Will.  I really do need to apologize & ask him to give my regrets to your sister."

As she got out of the car she grabbed Neil's arm, "Anything he wants to see... anywhere he wants to go except the basements."  She glanced to Gavin.  "Family only I'm afraid."

Neil nodded and Isabella gave Gavin a quick kiss.  "I'll be quick."  With that, she crossed the grounds quickly and went up into the Lighthouse, towards her office.

Gavin listened as Bella told him about Will, winking at Neil before getting into the car. He kept

"You could call Tara and have her meet Will instead, if you'd like. She can explain it's an emergency, whatever."

Gavin glanced out the window as the Tower came into view. At first, he'd thought that the "tower" was just a metaphor... apparently, that was not the case. He'd been hearing so much about the place from Bella that it was strange to actually see it in person. 

"Anything he wants to see... anywhere he wants to go except the basements."  She glanced to Gavin.  "Family only I'm afraid."

Why am I immediately seized by an urge to go to the basement? 

Gavin sighed as he accepted a quick kiss from Bella. Well, the basement would be a bad idea. Instead, he strolled with Neil toward the river. He always felt better, being by water. Maybe it was leftover from the days where he'd be ranging through the forest, knowing that rivers not only guaranteed he wouldn't go thirsty, but would give him a better chance of running into thirsty prey.

"So. Quite the impressive operation you guys got here."

Neil nodded and Gavin remembered that his lack of speaking was not voluntary.

"Right. Well this'll be a one sided conversation. Let's go check out this river, huh?"

A 1930 black Lincoln Phaeton pulls into the drive and is waved through by the guards, as are the rather large caravan that came in tow.  The cars slowly make their way up the drive until they come to a stop in front of the entrance of the house.  The male sitting in the front passenger seat of the lead car gets out and moves to open the door to allow the two women in the back seat to climb out.  The man was obviously some sort of security as he was very alert to his surrounding when the women got out.  From the other cars, men in suits spilled out as well.  As some of them begin to remove their coats to toss back into the car, it is easy to see how armed the men are. 

The younger of the two women who got out of the lead car was carrying a baby in her arms.  As the chauffeur removed a baby carriage from the lift in the back of the car, the young woman spoke to the security man and the older woman.  Once the carriage was brought around to her, she gently laid the baby into bed of then pulled the covers up over the baby.  The older woman began to push the carriage down a foot path towards the garden and the man went with her.  The young woman wearing a simple blue dress with a white collar began to make her way towards the house and her entourage began to get comfortable, easily talking to some of the tower guards.

Gavin was lounging on the ground when he saw the car pull in. He looked at it, appreciating its curves, before returning his focus to the river. Then he saw the row of cars behind it and scrambled to his feet. Well, that narrowed down who this could be. Gavin scrambled to his feet, wiping off the grass from his pants. Gavin shot a quick look at Neil.

"Who's that?"

Neil just shook his head.

"Oh. Right. Sorry buddy. Don't mean to keep reminding you..."

Clapping Neil on the back, Gavin made his way toward the entrance to the tower. He stood with the other bodyguards, but his blue suit helped him stand out against the sea of black suited men. With a grin, he recognized @Marie_Lucania. He'd never had a formal introduction, but they'd cross paths at a few poker games. Keeping his hands far away from the interior of his jacket to avoid spooking the guards, Gavin smiled at her as she approached, signalling his willingness to chat. Still, if the Godmother of Chicago was intent on walking inside the Tower with her baby, Gavin wasn't going to stop her. 

He liked adventure, but he wasn't stupid. Well, not usually.

As far as Godfathers went, Marie was unusually young to have reached such a rank.  A woman of a mere 30 years of age, she hardly looked like she had just had a baby were it not for the bags under her eyes.  Evidently this woman had not been sleeping well of late.  As she drew towards the entrances she paused in front of Gavin and smiled, "Gavin, darling.  I missed seeing you at the last poker tournament.  I had a rather nice run of luck and it would have been nice to try and win back some of the money I have lost to you in previous games."

Gavin bowed his head respectfully toward @Marie_Lucania and grinned. 

"Godmother Lucania. I'll make sure to be at the next one, as I'd hate to disappoint you from getting a crack at me. And may I humbly say that motherhood has only increased your beauty?"

Gavin winked at Neil.

"He says so, too."

Marie's smile turned to a bit of a half smirk; but when he made reference to Neil, the smirk disappeared and her eyebrows furrowed slightly in confusion.  Moving passed it Marie again addressed the devil-may-care man she had heard so much about, "Thank you.  I assume that since you are here that means my daughter is here, as well?" 

She paused a moment and then placed her hands on her hips and her eyes instantly became tunneling drills seeking to see deep into the soul of the young man before her.  "Speaking of which, what exactly are your intentions towards Isabella.  Her father seems content for the time being to just ignore your existence which I find rather odd given how he has treated her past suitors.  I, however, will not be doing the same."  She shifted her weight so that the majority of it rested on her left leg.

Gavin smiled again, even as he felt the Godmother's stare bore into him.

"My intentions are..."

Noble? Nope. Pure? Nope. Good? Nope. Honorable? Nope. Uh...

"... most excellent, when it comes to your daughter. Bella is a remarkable person, and I find myself enjoying every moment I spend with her. I'd like to think that she'd say the same about me."

Gavin tilted his head toward the child in the carriage.

"I can understand and respect protectiveness, of course. But I assure you that I have only the best of intentions when it comes to Bella."

"Best", of course, can be a slightly subjective concept... but still, he did wish the best for Bella in the broadest sense. Not least of all because he considered himself the best.

"Happy to discuss the matter further with you, of course, if you have any specific concerns."

He flashed what he hoped was a winning smile. 

Marie knew she was no where as good at doing this as her husband, especially when this man appeared to be roughly her age and was without a doubt every bit of a charmer as she had heard.  Where her husband was quick to anger she, however, was not.  Gavin understood that instead her concern came from a deep-rooted desire to protect Isabella -- a desire that was probably amplified by the recent birth of her own baby.  With Isabella's mother now dead, Marie felt a duty to represent her in this matter as best as she was able.  It was after all what she hope someone would do for her own daughter, Aurora, if the worse should ever befall her.

"Isabella has gone through hell these last 6 months.  I do not wish to see more pain befall her.  I do not suffer fools, Mr. Byrne, and a fool will be anyone who treats Isabella with a careless and a disregarding manner.  Her heart is not a toy to be trifled with and I can assure you that any man who does so will find their own heart cut out literally by my own hand."

Marie shifted her weight back to center and let's her hands fall to her side.  "However, if your intentions are excellent in nature and if Isabella's chooses to share her heart with you; you will find no greater supporter.  Family means everything to us, Mr. Byrne, and we go to bat for family in every regards.  No one gets in the way of this family and survives."

Marie suddenly smiles pleasantly, "So what plans do Isabella and you have today?"

Gavin returned Marie's pleasant smile.

"Regarding the hell that she's gone through and the avoidance of future pain for Bella, you find me in full agreement with you. 'Careless' and 'disregarding' are two of the last words I'd use to describe how I treat her and, while I'm unsure of the future, you'll never find me treating her unfairly."

He bowed his head.

"Although dying at your hand would be an honor, I don't believe it will be necessary."

Continuing to smile, he addressed Marie's other topic.

"As for our plans today, I'm simply here to support Isabella however she'd like me to. With the matter at hand, she'll be making the decisions, I think. But I'm sure she'll explain more when you see her. May I escort you inside? It'd be my pleasure, unless you're intending to go to 'the basements'- whatever that implies. I'm not allowed there. Yet."

He smirked. 

Gavin could no doubt see Marie take his last sentence and roll it through her mind.  As she did, her eyes began to slowly widen and she stiffened a bit.  Under her tongue she said, "Fanculo!"

Without waiting for him she whirled around and quickly moved towards the tower.  Once she entered the tower she saw Isabella's men at the bottom of the stairs leading up to her office.  The men indicate that Isabella was up in her office, but she did not stop there.  She descended down the stairs towards the basement.

Gavin turned back toward Neil with a smile.

"Do you speak Italian, Neil? Well, I know you don't speak anything. But do you understand Italian?"

Neil nodded once.

"Fanculo"...  what does that mean? Does that mean 'follow me'?

Neil nodded again. Gavin clapped him on the shoulder.

"Thanks, pal."

With a wink, he skipped off to follow Marie Lucania.

He made it down two steps of the basement before Neil thought better of it, sighed,  and grabbed Gavin's shoulder, leading him back up the stairs to the main floor- where they saw Bella coming down the stairs from her office.

Isabella descended the stairs, she looked stressed out.  Not having noticed Neil and Gavin backing up to the top of the stairs, she didn't seem to know there had been a near-death experience in the household.  

"That was ... awkward."  She said with a heavy sigh rubbing her temple.  Neil stepped in front of her and emphatically tapped the right side of his forehead.

"Shit."  She muttered peaking out the window looking at all the cars.  She looked at Gavin, "Where's Marie?  Is my father with her?"

Gavin grinned up at Bella.

"What was awkward? And Ma-Godmother Lucania is here. She's down in the basement, and she arrived alone. We had a brief conversation, but my Italian-understanding friend here won't tell me what she said. I understand if you need to go head down and handle business, of course."

She narrowed her eyes at Neil.  Neil didn't know Italian.  The boy was raised here in the Midwest by parents of German descent.  Why the fuck did Gavin think he knew Italian?!?

"Um... no.  She'll see Elias... maybe talk to him."  She shook her head.  "I'm sure she just had to know for herself what was happening... she knew I'd been told he might be alive.  She must have put some things together.  And as for awkward... I just meant that it was hard to tell Will what I had to tell him."

She shakes her head.  "He'll be here in two hours so, we might as well get something to eat and cool our heels a bit.  Something tells me that Godmother Lucania will have a few questions.  The kitchen's this way... Neil... please escort the Godmother to us when she comes up."

Marie was gone only a minute, but then she came back up the stairs slower than she has went down.  She was obviously deep in thought as she crested the top and her eyes raised to connect with Isabella's.