Target Identified

Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III was bored. He watched the busy city streets full of people going anywhere and nowhere, full of purpose and lacking direction. His high rise office allowed him a full panoramic view of Los Angeles. And while he wouldn't dare trade places with any other person on this planet, he was still bored with his life. There had to be something more.

A knock was at his door and Lauren came in, "Mr. Grant, the Detectives are here."

Fitz sighed in irritation; this was not the diversion he welcomed or needed. But it had to be tolerated. He took a deep breath, ready to put on the charm.

"Detectives," Fitz said in welcome as the two cheaply-dressed men entered his office. He shook their hands and invited them to take a seat. "Can I have Lauren bring you a cup of coffee?"

Detective Jake Ballard and Charlie Butler; he had seen them more in the last month than he ever wanted to see law enforcement in his entire life.

"No, sir that won't be necessary; we won't be long."

Fitz took the chair opposite of them at the sitting area and said, "So how can I help you gentlemen?"

"Our investigation into the robbery is on-going and we need to review your eye witness statement."

"It was my understanding that all the men involved have been arrested. Is that not correct?"

"The property has not been recovered and we still cannot determine who these men were working for."

"Oh, what a shame," he said mockingly but they didn't know him well enough to detect it. "Well what would you like to know?"

Jake began to question Fitz again about the day of the robbery. It was the same answers he had provided time and time again but he fought the urge to tell them that. He had to appear as helpful as possible to their investigation. By the end of the conversation, there were no new details that Fitz could provide and both men took their leave.

When they got in the car, Charlie said, "You still think he did it, don't you?"

Jake looked up at the monstrosity that was Grant Industries – the 15-floor high rise in downtown LA – and felt extreme loathing. Men like Fitzgerald Grant, who thought their wealth entitled them to live above the law, needed to be brought to justice and he would make sure it happened.

"I know he did it."

"Really because we have nothing on him…And this is starting to sound like a personal vendetta. You really don't like that man."

Jake didn't respond. Up until almost two weeks ago he hadn't suspected Grant. But now, something told him he had a reason to.

XXX

"The police have nothing. They can't find the stolen property and the men they have in custody swear they do not have it. And we already know they were hired by someone they've never met," Abby explained.

Olivia walked closer to the wall of pictures and carefully scanned them again. All of them were of one person – Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III. She had been looking at his handsome face every day for the past week.

"The tail we put on him came up with nothing we could use. He's a typical ridiculously rich man, blowing money everywhere he goes and hooking up with lots of women," Quinn summarized.

To Olivia, it told her that Fitzgerald Grant was bored playing the wildly successful financier. He was looking for excitement.

"Maybe it's not him," Harrison ventured.

"It's him…my gut is telling me it's him. He's just smarter and has more money than most of our targets. He's not going to slip up voluntarily. He's too skilled at this. We've been going about this the wrong way…..I'm going in," she concluded. He was the only witness to the robbery where, although all the suspects were arrested, the property was actually stolen. He claimed to be in the right place at the right time, which people like him never were.

A silent hush fell over the room as they all looked at each other. Even Huck stopped typing on his laptop and joined everyone else in staring holes into her back as she continued to focus at the wall of photos.

"Liv…I don't," Huck began. He, like everyone else, was completely against the idea.

"We can find another way," Abby interrupted. Normally, they worked clandestinely; finding a way to retrieve property undetected. 'Going in' was a last resort. It meant full engagement with the target; entering his world and if necessary physical contact. Since human actions could be unpredictable, this tactic presented the most challenges.

"We don't have time to find another way. One week reconnaissance and one week surveillance – we've already spent too much time on it. I'm going in," she said again, but this time with a firmer tone. "We need to profile him and I need to be prepped."

Huck was about to dispute her request, when he checked the building perimeter surveillance and noted that they had company. "They're back," he announced and everyone knew exactly who he meant. They all went into 'scrub-mode' to cover up any indication of their target or the purpose of their investigation.

Olivia was back at her desk when Detective Jake Ballard walked in. His partner had taken a liking to Quinn and went directly to her desk.

"Detective," Olivia said without getting up from her desk.

"Jake," he countered with a friendly smile.

"Detective," she repeated. There would be no friendly relationship between them.

He chuckled as he took a seat. "Any leads on the painting?"

"No."

"Would you tell me if there were?"

She shrugged. "Of course."

He watched her with keen interest. She was so strikingly beautiful that he was instantly attracted to her the moment she came to LAPD to get details about the case. She had been privately hired to recover the stolen property before the insurance company was forced to pay the Getty Museum a sum of $250 million.

His hopes of continued collaboration on the case were soon disintegrated as she remained closed fisted and unwilling to share information. Following her team around had only showed him that she suspected Grant of involvement in the theft; a fact that she would neither confirm nor deny.

"You suspect Grant, as do I and I think we should work together on this," he offered again.

"I'm sorry Detective, I don't know what you are talking about. However, as I said, if anything does turn up I will be sure to inform you," she said in monotone. It wasn't her job to help the police find suspects. She recovered property, very, very expensive property. She would not put her team in danger trying to apprehend suspects for the police. If they wanted someone arrested, they would do it on their own.

He shook his head and stood; she wasn't going to give him anything. "Olivia, I fully expect you to turn over whomever it is that your team finds to be responsible for this theft. It's not just about the painting, it's about justice."

Such a corny line, she thought. "I completely understand," she said.

XXX

His 43rd Birthday.

"Do you even know all those people down there?" Sabrina asked as she walked up to stand behind Fitz and look out his bedroom picture window to stare at the sea of guests milling around the party below.

Fitz briefly looked back at her and said, "Of course not."

Sabrina chuckled and went to sit on his bed. "So why am I here?"

Fitz put his hands in his pockets and continued to stare at the foreign people taking up space in his home. He wished they would all leave now. "I need you to make preparations."

"Are we leaving?" Sabrina asked anxiously. She didn't want to leave. She was happy in LA.

"I'm not sure yet…but things are getting….tight. They haven't stopped looking into the robbery, as I thought they would. Normally, the police would have given up by now but oh well…I need to make sure you are ready if we need to make a quick decision."

Sabrina sulked. "OK," she said reluctantly. She had no choice. Fitz always took care of her. He was good to her. Without him, she didn't know where she would be; probably dead. "I've finished the Renoir. I left it in your study."

He turned in alarm. "Did anyone see you?"

"Of course not. I'm not stupid," she quickly explained and when he turned back to watch his guests, she stood up ready to leave. "Alright well I'm gone, I have plans tonight." She walked up to him and kissed him on the cheek. "Have fun," she joked.

"Mmmm….Oh Sabrina, be careful. Please, for me," he said as he stared at her. She was such a beautiful young woman and he worried about her all the time. Nothing could happen to her; nothing at all.

She flashed him her signature smile. "Always, Fitz."

XXX

Fitz had dutifully circulated the party, engaging most of his guests. He was not entertained but he was good at faking it. He gave the appearance of someone who thoroughly enjoyed the world he lived in and all the people he shared it with.

He even endured two rounds of "Happy Birthday" initiated by his longtime friend and attorney, Cyrus Beene. He had done it deliberately against Fitz expressed wish that the song not be done.

When it was over, Fitz sighed restlessly; it was time to find the woman he would be spending the night with. He scanned the crowd and decided he needed a drink in order to put up with the silly women that were part of his pool of choice. On second thought, he may need two drinks.

He noticed her legs first – bronzed legs crossed at the knees; high-heel black stilettos. He paused mid-stride to the bar, realizing that he had never seen this woman before. His interest was piqued and he found himself eager to see what she looked like.

He took a seat at the bar next to her. He almost asked the bartender for a scotch but as he opened his mouth, she said, "This is for you," she sat a glass in front of him.

He raised an eyebrow, "What's this? You got me a drink?"

She turned to him and watched as he blinked several times and visibly swallowed. She smiled knowing he had been affected by her beauty. "I did, scotch neat, right?"

"Well yes. But how did you know that? Do we know each other?" He couldn't take his eyes off of her. How did she know him, yet he had no knowledge of her?

"No Mr. Grant, you do not know me. But it's very nice to meet you. Olivia…Olivia Pope," she said as she reached out her hand to shake his. He readily accepted it.

"And Ms. Pope you knew I was coming to the bar? How is that?"

"Because I have been watching you all night," she said matter-of-factly.

He paused, searching her eyes. She was bold, daring and so unlike almost every other woman he met. He was instantly attracted. "And how much do you think you know about me?"

"Quite a bit…I have a file…it's a rather big file but it's all about you."

"Who are you? Who do you work for?" he was intrigued by her; something he hadn't felt in a very long time, if ever.

"I work for myself," she easily replied.

"And what do you do Ms. Pope?"

"I get people things."

His eye's bulged and she knew where his thoughts had turned. She laughed full on. "No Mr. Grant I don't get people sexual favors. That is not my line of work."

He visibly sighed in relief.

"OK, so are you here with one of your clients?"

"No…my client is not here, but my target is."

"Your target?" he smiled. This conversation was becoming more and more interesting the longer they talked. "What does that mean, your target?"

"Well, sometimes the property I need to recover is with a person that should not have it. That person becomes my target. And it is my job to retrieve property back from the target….Do you understand now?"

He chuckled. "Yes, I believe I do…so, tell me, who is your target?"

She gave him a dazzling smile. "You are Mr. Grant…you are my target."

He blinked. He had no words to come back with. A woman had rendered him speechless and that was unheard of.

She scored. Olivia knew she had done enough for the evening; he had been sufficiently shaken up. She got up from the bar stool and said, "Well good night Mr. Grant, it was a great party." She didn't wait for him to respond, she walked away.

XXX

While she waited for her car to pull up, Olivia scrolled through her emails on her phone.

"May I call you Olivia?" Fitz asked as he suddenly appeared by her side.

She smiled; she hadn't expected him to bite so soon. She thought he would make her work for it. "Of course you can. And may I call you Fitz or do you prefer Fitzgerald?"

"Fitz….but something tells me you already knew that."

She smiled and nodded. He was catching on.

"So I'm supposed to have some property you need to recover, may I ask exactly what that is?"

"Sure. The painting…the Renoir. You had to know someone would be coming for it, didn't you?"

He laughed.

"Is that funny?" Olivia asked.

"It is. Funny you should think I have what you are looking for."

She gave him a sideways glance and shrugged. "OK," she conceded. She didn't believe him and he knew that she did not.

When she said nothing else, he asked, "Can I see you home?"

"Thank you for the offer but you have a party full of guests that require your attention…I'm a big girl I can get home by myself."

"Tomorrow night then?...Have dinner with me?"

The valet arrived with her car. He opened the driver door for her as she got in. He waited for her answer. He was anxious, nervous as if he was a teenage boy again.

She stared up at him from the driver seat. "I would love to."

"Good I'll pick you up at seven."

She nodded in agreement. She didn't try to give him information on her address, knowing that before the morning he would have a file full of details on her as well.

As Olivia drove away, she glanced twice in her rear view mirror and saw him standing there. She exhaled softly. He was marvelously unexpected. She had not expected the powerful masculinity that exuded from him; the intensity of his blue eyes; the magnetism that would draw her in. He was much more attractive in person and she already felt herself connecting with him – the instability of human emotions.

She would be more prepared next time. She could steel herself against him; she had done it before and she could do it again. Still, she looked forward to their dinner date, for many reasons, most of which, admittedly, were personal.

Fitz watched her car drive away until he couldn't see it any longer. He smiled. He was genuinely captivated by her. He couldn't wait until dinner tomorrow. This was a very welcome diversion.

(A/N: I cannot believe I started another story, but here it is. I think this will be my summer hiatus story, along with updating my other stories. I hope you enjoyed the first installment and will leave feedback if you would like me to continue. Thanks for reading.)