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Bring on the Wonder	By : Azuriel Category: G through L > Leverage Views: 498 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I am in no way connected to the Leverage series. I own nothing in that universe. Therefore I cannot and am not making any money off of this story.

Chapter List
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Nate saw the police chasing a truck on the news one afternoon, and something about it didn't seem right to him. He told the rest of the team he was going to bail the man out, and they were to meet him once he checked things out.

“I was right,” Nate said as he walked in the door. “He's a victim of car cloning. Thieves steal a vehicle then go to another state where they find a car of the same make and model and use its VIN number. Then, using those numbers, they register the stolen vehicle in the first state.”

“And since each state runs its own VIN database, the hot car comes up clean,” Hardison added.

“Now, Paul Mantlo, he had the bad luck of wandering from Massachusetts into new Hampshire, where the VIN was copied,” Nate continued to explain the situation.

“Where'd he get the car?” Elliot asked.

Nate motioned to Hardison who had already done some of the research. “Duke Penzer. He's a former race car driver. He parlayed some minor success on the lower circuits to start his own used car dealership out in Payden, Massachusetts.” Hardison played one of the man's commercials. “He still runs laps on the weekends. He tries to keep up his image. I checked out some of his prices, and they're sick. I mean, twenty, twenty five below blue book.”

“Yeah, well, it's easy to offer great deals when your inventory's stolen,” Elliot commented.

“Generally speaking, yes,” Will agreed. “Though it depends on who you're dealing with.”

“How's he getting the cars?” Sophie asked. “He's not nicking them himself.”

“That's a good question. I haven't found out where-” Nate started to answer, but was interrupted by Parker.

“Well, he's the distributor. The suppliers are probably a car theft ring. That way cops trace a hot car to him, he can say he got it from someone who's long gone. Besides, the scam falls between state jurisdictions, so... I was a car thief. That's how I know.”

“So, Penzer is a big fish in a small pond. We need to muddy up the waters. Hardison, you get us a base?” Nate asked.

“Yeah. Art's Auto Sales. It's a little mom and pop shop down the road from Penzer's. It's run by Art and Joy Bauer. They've been in the community for decades, but Penzer's running them out of business. They're on the verge of bankruptcy.”

Nate turned to Sophie. “It gets awfully wet this time of year in Payden, doesn't it?”

“And chilly,” she added.

“Yeah, don't you think the Bauers need a little sun and fun?” He turned to Will. “Make it happen.”

Will raised an eyebrow. “I'm suddenly a travel agent?”

“You're the connected one. The rest of us worked alone. Surely you can figure out something. You've done a lot of traveling.”

Will sighed. “The beach house in Maui isn't usually occupied this time of year. I'll have to double check of course, because that could end badly if I'm wrong.”

“Perfect. We'll tell them they were randomly selected for a free vacation.”

“One condition.”

Nate tried to stare him down. “We don't do conditions.”

Will met his gaze. “”Maybe you don't, but I do. I wasn't raised to be passive.”

“You were raised by wolves.”

“No, I was raised by jackals,” Will calmly said as he left the room.

“There was no need for that,” Sophie chided Nate. “You've pushed him, and now he's pushing back a little.”

“And Oliver is Roger light,” Elliot added. “So don't use him as a comparison and make assumptions. I know what went on because I was there. Roger Wiltshire is one of the two reasons I don't like guns.”

“And who is the other?” Nate asked curiously.

“I'll tell you if it ever becomes relevant.”

The team headed to Payden, and got themselves into the race track when they knew Penzer would be there. “I'll hack into the system and give you a better time,” Hardison said to Will while the younger man was warming up his car.

Will snorted. “No need. I can do better than that.”

“I don't doubt that,” Elliot commented. “This is actually the perfect role for you. Just don't get yourself killed.”

Will pulled up to where Penzer was parked with his prized car after beating the man's time by almost two minutes. Penzer was both stunned a little angry. Nate entered the scene. “My girl's pain in the ass kid,” he said to Penzer while motioning to Will. “How's it handle?” he called to Will when the younger man got out of the car.

“That was fucking wicked,” Will was very pleased with himself.

“What do you got in that thing, a supercharger?” Penzer asked.

Nate shrugged at the question. “Oh, hell, I don't know. My guys just picked this up somewhere. I was gonna kick the tires myself, but you know, even though we're not married the term happy wife, happy life still applies. What's that, a matchbox car?” he looked Penzer's car over.

Sophie approached and kissed Will on the cheek. “Wonderful as always.” She then moved to lean against Penzer's car.

“What do you think, darling?” Nate asked Sophie.

“I think I want to go now,” she answered.

“Go? We just got here. I'm asking you if you think I should buy these wheels.”

“Whoa. Veronica's not for sale,” Penzer responded.

Nate snorted at that. “Veronica? So Betty was the fast one. Who knew?”

“Look, mister, uh...” Penzer started to get in Nate's face.

“A.J. Lucas,” Nate introduced his persona.

“Well, I don't know who you think you are...”

“I think I'm the guy who owns the car that just broke your record,” Nate set out the bait. “And my step son was the driver.”

That definitely got under Penzer's skin. “One good time trial don't make you a racer!”

Nate shrugged the comment off. “We could always give it another go. Any objections, kid?” he looked to Will.

“Another go around the track? Hell yes!”

“But I'll tell you what. We're gonna do it old school, all right? He wins, we get your car. You win, you get his.”

“Hey!” Will protested. “I just got this baby!”

“Green flag, fifteen,” Penzer answered the challenge and stormed off.

A few minutes later Elliot came out from under Will's car. “I did a little bit of tweaking. You'll get a better burn on your fuel.”

“Do you really think I need it?” Will's tone was a little cocky.

“No harm in stacking the deck like we always do,” Nate answered the question. He turned to Parker. “How's the research coming?”

“Good,” Parker answered. “I found out a bunch of the local thieves work for a guy named Lefty.”

“You know how to find him?”

“I got some ideas.”

“Okay, well, when we're done here, that'll be your priority; infiltrate their gang. Hardison?”

Hardison turned to Will. “Now, look, man, I just installed this,” he showed Will the button inside the car. “You punch it to release an oxidized chemical into the engine. It's my own little mix.”

“Okay,” Will didn't seem impressed. “I suppose that might come in handy if I wanna show off.”

“I'm not letting your ego get in the way of this job,” Nate warned. “This is the part you wanted, and you got it, but we're going to do what we always do. This is no different.”

“But how are we going to slow down Penzer?” Sophie stepped in before things escalated.

“I got that covered,” Hardison pointed to a device attached to the back of the car near the tailpipe. “EMP cannon. It emits a focused electromagnetic pulse that'll knock out all the electronics in his car for thirty minutes. Since I put it next to the rear exhaust there it shouldn't effect this car as well.”

“So where's the button for that one?” Will asked.

Hardison showed him the control in his hand. “I'll hit him from right here. All I need you to do is get in front of Penzer, line up so I can get a clear shot. He'll just think he stalled. Thirty minutes, his car is good as new.”

“Cool. Let's do this.”

While the boys were pushing the car back onto the track Parker turned toward Sophie. “Is it just me, or is Will challenging Nate?”

“It's not just you,” Sophie answered. “They're both strong and stubborn men with giant egos. I doubt Will ever had any structure in his life, and Nate has pushed a few too many buttons. Maybe he even reminds Will of his father.”

“But isn't Will's father a super bad guy?”

“One of the worst I've ever met. But Roger and Nate have a few personality traits in common. I'll tell you a little secret. If Roger wasn't so morally bankrupt I might've stayed. The man had some good qualities, but I couldn't stomach the ruthless way he conducted business.”

The cars lined up and when the flag was waved they both took off. They stayed neck and neck for a few minutes. “That all you got, old man,” Will chuckled to himself. Then Penzer managed to pull ahead and expertly blocked Will's path through the turns.

“Will,you gotta to get in front of him, man,” Hardison said as he watched and waited.

Will tried to swerve around the outside of the next turn, but was blocked again at the last second. “Um, I know I make this look easy, but it's not. This guy was a professional, remember?”

Will saw a small opening and punched the button on the dash. As soon as they exited the next turn Will managed to squeak by, almost sideswiping the front end of Penzer's car. “Cut that a little close,” Nate commented.

“Good thing I have quick reflexes,” Will shot back.

“Now you gotta line him up,” Hardison said while he watched a video feed on his computer, waiting for the right moment to trigger the EMP cannon.

“Once again, easier said than done,” Will replied with a bit of edge in his tone. The roles were reversed and it was Will trying to block Penzer from passing. They were only a few hundred yards from the finish line when everything finally lined up, and with the press of a button Penzer's car stalled.

Will and Nate waited at the finish line while Penzer's car had to be pushed. “Hey, I'll send my guys to pick up the car,” Nate said to a very sour looking Penzer.

“Not bad,” Will smirked. “Until right at the end anyhow.”

Nate started walking away. “The mark is primed. Hardison, Parker, go find this Lefty. Everyone else, let's go steal us some cars.”

Parker approached Will before they left the track. “Would you be offended if I asked you if you know how to steal a car?”

Will shrugged. “I mean, since you're asking and not assuming, no. But because I was at the track I have to stay with Nate and Sophie. Didn't you say you used to boost cars?”

“I did, a long time ago. The thing is, I need some kind of gimmick to get me and Hardison into the theft ring, and the newer cars with a certain type of locking mechanism are considered virtually impossible to boost.”

“Ah, I see where you're going with this. And my response is they're only impossible to boost if you only know the old school methods. I had a bad habit of borrowing my dad's things without asking, and his car was no exception. At first he started locking his keys in his desk, which I figured out how to break into. When he got wise to that and bought the kind of car you're talking about...”

“So you do know how to boost one?”

“Yeah. I'll show you. Like I said, once you figure it out, it's really not that hard; maybe even easier than the old school way.”

Nate and Sophie set up shop in the other car dealership. They lowered the prices even lower than Penzer's, and they soon had a full show room. Nate stayed in the back for a moment watching. Will sat a desk trying to look busy. Sophie was playing sales woman. To make sure Penzer showed they even set up a raffle for his car.

It didn't take long for him to walk in with a few other guys. “All right, Sophie. You're up,” Nate signaled her when he saw them.

“The guy looking at the black sports car,” Will directed Sophie. “The way they're looking at him means he's a tough sell.”

“I think I can work with him,” Sophie sounded confident as she made her way over.

“It almost isn't fair,” Will mused to himself.

Nate and Elliot kept watching on a monitor in the back while Sophie laid in on thick. “Now, you see her touch the car when she says sweet and tasty? She's making him link those values to the car,” Nate pointed it out.

“Neurolinguistic programming,” Elliot recognized the technique.

“I tell you, if Sophie did this full time, the auto industry's troubles would disappear.”

It wasn't long until Sophie was taking the man over to Will's desk so he could fill out the paperwork for the sale. That was when Nate emerged from the back room. “Hey! There's the stall-out king himself. How you doing?” he said when he ran into Penzer.

Penzer huffed. “Whatever. I came back here to buy Veronica.”

“Oh. I’m sorry, I’m not gonna get rid of my trophy.”

“I'll give you a hundred and fifty thousand for her,” Penzer offered.

“Please. How about three hundred thousand?”

Penzer started to shake a little with anger. “That's ridiculous! Be reasonable.”

That was when Elliot walked in the front door with a phone to his ear speaking Spanish. “What is it, Skeeter?” Nate turned to him.

Elliot held the phone out to him. “Mr. Lucas, I think you should take this call. It's our foreign friends.”

“Alright,” Nate took the phone.

Sophie came over a few seconds later. “AJ, Chris needs you to sign the paperwork.”

“Not now, hon. I'm busy,” he brushed her off.

“The customer's ready to write the check.”

“Now, did I hire you to look pretty or ask stupid questions?” He smacked her ass. “Come on, now. You and your brat can handle it.” He went back to the fake phone call.

Penzer quickly left and Nate hung up the phone. “Could've done without the ass slap,” Sophie commented.

“Yeah, just trying to sell the bit. Sorry. Hardison, Parker, ball's in your court.”

As predicted Penzer returned and approached Sophie. She put up a little bit of resistance so it didn't seem too easy, but eventually agreed to go to Penzer's store for a drink. Nate and Will listened to the conversation back at their shop.

Once there he offered Sophie a job working for him. “You look much too young to have an adult son, but I'll even give him something to do.”

Sophie blushed a little, and it wasn't completely fake. “I was a teen mother. Still, I don't know...”

“Once he's gone, I'll let you run that shop. But you got to do something for me. Tell me about his setup. How can he offer those deals?”

“Okay, now, don't get too specific. Let him fill in the blanks,” Nate instructed.

Sophie continued to act like she was thinking about it for a moment. “He works with alternative suppliers.”

“What do you mean? Fleet sales?”

“No. Suppliers with minimal costs.”

“He's selling hot cars,” Penzer came to the conclusion they were looking for.

“Good. He's figured out the first part of the equation. All right, Eliot, give him the rest,” Nate signaled for the next part.

“Yeah, making the call now,” Elliot responded.

Elliot called the cops to report some unsavory characters walking around the area before smashing a few of the windshields in Penzer's lot. He was gone before the car alarms started sounding.

“Oh, son of a...” Penzer walked outside to see what was going on, with Sophie right behind him.

Sophie looked horrified. “Well, this is terrible. Let me get my phone. I'll call the police.”

“No! Don't call the police. I don't need a bunch of deputy dawgs snooping around here.”

Sophie paused for a second like she was just putting the pieces together. “What? You're working the same scam as A.J. You're just like him.”

“No. I am nothing like him!”

Penzer went inside to make a call. At the same time Parker and Hardison were being welcomed into the car theft ring. A young girl who worked for the crew told them everything. “Nate, did you get all that?” Parker checked in when they were out of hearing distance.

“Yes, I did,” Nate answered.

“It's a mall of crime.”

“Yes, I know. But the plan does not change.”

“Look, why don't we just call the cops, huh? We've got more than enough to bust these guys.”

“No. These guys are too careful. They'd scatter before the cops got there. Besides, closing down the shop won't nail Penzer. No, we stick to our plan. We catch them red handed planning something big.”

“Nice job on boosting that car though,” Will commented. “You're a quick study. Everyone else is getting all the fun jobs.”

Nate turned to him with a bit of a smug look. “You got the job you wanted.”

“Yeah, and you made it kinda suck after the racing part.”

“You're smart enough to know why you have to stay here. One day, kid, you'll learn. Sophie, did Penzer put two and two together yet?”

“Doing the math now,” Sophie answered.

Once Penzer finished his call he turned his attention back to Sophie. “Your boss did this.”

“No,” Sophie shook her head. “AJ is a jerk, but he wouldn't.”

“And the question is, do you want to work for somebody who does this, or do you want to work for someone who is bringing modern business principles to the game?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Diversified products, marketing metrics, online opportunities, that is what I'm bringing to the table. I'm not talking about stickup men and strung out joyriders. I'm taking this business to the next level.”

“I want to see your operation.”

“Alright. First thing tomorrow. And all you got to do is tell me when Lucas' next shipment comes in.”

“Tomorrow morning at the docks, nine cars, top end and very hot.”

“Now, let's go finish that drink.”

Since they had the trap set they needed hot cars for the theft ring to steal. Parker and Hardison got straight to work on that while Elliot got them a truck to haul the cars with.

Will joined Elliot in the truck as they headed to the warehouse. “All right, Lefty should be hitting the shipment in about an hour,” Nate let everyone know.

“Hour and a half,” Parker corrected him. “He called to push back our time.”

“Well, that'll give Eliot more time to offload the cars. It'll also give you more time to bring Penzer down to Lefty's.”

“And once he's there, we call the cops,” Sophie added. “And we catch Penzer, Lefty, and the crew with the stolen cars, all in the same place.”

Elliot turned off the comm after that. “I think it's time we had a talk,” Elliot turned to Will. “Maybe not the big talk, but...”

“Now?” Will was a little surprised.

“We have some time, and I've thought a little bit about what I wanted to say.”

“Okay, I'm all ears I guess.”

“I like being around you because I can relax, and that doesn't happen often. It's like I said to Sophie, you already know everything. The others, they're criminals, but...”

“No, I get it,” Will nodded in understanding. “Thieves break the law, but things can be replaced. Most of the others, they've been chased by Nate because they go for the things worth a lot of money. There are much deeper levels of mud.”

“And see, that's it! You know that. You lived that. Hell, even when you were a kid I didn't mind being assigned your body guard, and that I can't explain.”

“We're different.”

Elliot sighed and turned away for a moment. “Maybe you are.”

“Don't start that shit with me. You being my body guard when you worked for my father was not a punishment, it was mostly my idea. That, and nobody else wanted to do it.”

Elliot snorted at that. “You were a giant pain in the ass. Still are.”

“Yeah, well...” Will huffed. “That was then and this is now. We're out of that muck and doing some good. Even if the others can't, I can see what that means to you.”

“There's a little more to this confession. Back at that militia camp... I've accepted that what I do is dangerous, but the thought of you getting killed with me... I couldn't breathe. I haven't felt this way in a long time. I didn't want to now, but it is what it is.”

“How romantic,” Will teased a bit with a sarcastic tone. “But I know what you're saying, and the feeling is pretty mutual if that makes you feel any better. Just don't get over protective on me. We make a good team. And the warehouse is just up ahead.”

“Okay. That's all I really wanted to say for now anyway.” Elliot shifted in the seat a little like he was uncomfortable. “We have that cannon thing to shut the alarms up, right?”

“The EMP cannon? Yes. Lefty will think the cars are clean, until they aren't. Interesting little device.”

After they disabled the alarms they pulled into the warehouse Sophie sent Penzer to. It was much earlier than expected, but Lefty and his crew were there. “Get out of the truck!” Lefty barked at them with all of the men pointing guns at them.

They both slowly got out with their hands up. “Back away from the cars. Don't want to damage the merchandise,” Lefty said as they all closed in.

“Yeah, we can't have that,” Will's tone was a bit sarcastic as they both backed away from the truck.

“Shut up! Toss us the keys.”

“You want them?” Elliot said as he reached into his pocket. He and Will locked eyes for a moment in silent communication before Elliot tossed the keys into the air.

They both ran as Lefty's crew shot at them. For a moment they took shelter behind a stack of pallets. “This isn't good,” Will spoke softly as he peeked around the corner. “Something is off.”

“Yeah, but that cannon thing killed the comms too, we're on our own. They still coming?”

“Yep, hot on our trail. What now?”

Elliot looked around as the wheels in his mind turned. “I hope you can hold your breath,” he said before taking off toward the water.

Will followed, though before they could reach the edge and jump a car came speeding down the road and hit them, throwing them both over the edge. Will took a deep breath before they went under, and he followed Elliot who kept well below the surface as he swam away.

They finally surfaced on the other side of the docks and climbed out. “Something is definitely wrong,” Elliot said as he sat down on the ground soaking wet and panting for air. “And we need to warn the others, and we can't.”

Will had to brush his hair out of his face. “At least they think we're dead. You good?”

“Nothing that won't heal. You?”

“Same. We need to get back there without being seen. Parker and Hardison should be showing up to what they think is the heist soon.”

“Exactly what I was thinking,” Elliot agreed as he got up.

They kept a lookout for anyone watching while they made their way back to the warehouse where Lefty's crew were waiting. The sound of gunshots made them move a little faster. They saw Parker and Hardison duck behind the car that had run into them. The few men who were left behind kept shooting as they advanced.

Both Parker and Hardison had moved closer to the water's edge. Will and Elliot approached from behind. Hardison grinned when he saw them. “What's so funny?” the car thief's eyes narrowed. He turned around just in time to see Elliot punch him. Will joined in and they took out the other two.

“Nate and Sophie,” Parker's relief didn't last long.

Elliot started looking around. “There's gotta be another car around here somewhere.”

A girl who couldn't have been much older than late teens drove up to them. “Get in!” she called out to them.

“Get in the back,” Will motioned for the girl to move out of the driver's seat.

Instead of arguing she squeezed into the back with Elliot and Parker. “Nate, we're on our way. Be there in ten,” Hardison let Nate know. “Or less,” he said as the tires squealed and he found something to hold onto. “You think you'll get used to this, but you don't,” he mumbled under his breath.

Parker turned to the girl. “You know, I was trying to help you. You weren't supposed to tell them.”

“I didn't know that, and I didn't think they'd try to kill you,” the girl defended herself.

“Then you've got a lot to learn about criminals, kid,” Will commented.

Hardison raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Parker. “Wait. Hold up. You told her?”

Elliot shook his head. “I should've known. You're a menace, Parker.”

“What? She deserved a chance!” Parker got defensive.

Hardison sighed. “Nate's gonna kill you.”

“I'm gonna kill you,” Elliot growled.

“Oh, stop whining!” Parker snapped back.

“I got hit by a car!”

“We. We got hit by a car,” Will corrected him. “And then nearly drowned.”

Parker rolled her eyes. “Get over it.”

“Wait. Who are you people?” the girl asked.

“We're the good guys!” Parker answered proudly.

“Technically. Sort of,” Will added as he took a sharp turn.

When they neared Penzer's dealership they could hear the blaring sound of car alarms and police sirens. Will pulled in around the back, and Elliot ran inside. A few minutes later he came back out with Nate and Sophie, and they all squeezed in.

Once they were back at the other dealership they could finally relax. “Hey, man, how come you two didn't come to us when those wannabe thugs attacked?” Hardison asked Elliot and Will.

Elliot glanced at Will for a second. “We took our earbuds out like you told us to because of the zapper thing. And then we were under water.”

“Oh. You know, I should work on that.”

“Yeah, you should.”

Nate was watching Parker out in the parking lot with the girl Josie. “She almost got us killed.”

“Look, she thought she was doing the right thing, which means she actually thought about what the right thing might be, which is huge for Parker,” Sophie defended her.

“That's actually a valid point,” Will backed Sophie up. “I could've been her, or Parker for that matter.” He locked eyes with Elliot for a moment. “But someone stepped in at just the right moment.”

The corners of Elliot's mouth curled up for a brief second before he quickly turned away. “You know, I'm not even that mad about it anymore.”

When they returned to Boston the charges against the guy Nate had bailed out of jail had been dropped. Nate gave him Penzer's car, and he had brought Josie back with them, and suggested he help the guy with the landscaping business he wanted to start.

Once he was done with that Nate moved over to the bar to stand beside Will. “Look, you and I... It's gotta stop. We need to be a team.”

Will shrugged. “Team being the operative word there. I'm connected, yes, but I'm not at your disposal. I'm here for pretty much the same reason everyone else is. Sophie knew I needed that.” He snorted and shook his head. “Damn, I know she's my mother, but it's too weird to think of her that way.”

“I know what you mean,” Nate agreed. “And listen, I'm sorry if you think I pushed things too far. You aren't the only one to think it or say it, but you're the only one to push back.”

Will smirked. “I know it was said tongue in cheek, but you won't be around forever, and I am at least half your age.”

Nate grabbed a beer and leaned against the bar. “You aren't wrong about that either, but until then, use your words.”
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