Ezra fetched another mug of coffee from the break room. It was late and he wanted his sofa and a good book but he returned to his desk for a last run through of his report to ensure all the details were correct.

He snorted in dark amusement.

Mr Larabee and his superiors liked to think they received a full and complete report but in reality Ezra barely recognised the events he described. He provided only the information necessary for a conviction. The details were for him alone.

He took a sip of coffee and turned his attention to his computer

Undercover Report by Agent Ezra Standish...

His mouth twisted at the name. It wasn't his name, not really. It was just the name he been using at the school where he'd taken his high school diploma. His real name, or the one he thought of as his, was Elijah Sefton. Maude had passed him around several blood relatives when he was younger, and they had never understood a name was something to be changed with your clothes.

Ezra Standish remained no more than a name and a stock character. His work ensured he was never Ezra long enough to be comfortable within his skin. And lately that skin was feeling too tight to contain Elijah. It was almost with relief that he accepted the role of Simon Everett. Simon Everett was a blase young man in a search for fame and fortune and unchoosey about how he obtained it. His mark was John McCandless a rising star among arms dealers, a man with a slow, brutal intelligence and a surprisingly genial manner.

Ezra dragged his attention back to the report.

...I first met John McCandless at the club, Moon Under Water, after several games of cards (see appendix 1 costs) I was invited to high stakes game at his private club the following week...

In fact John McCandless was delighted with Simon Everett. Ezra had researched his man carefully. A detail passed over by previous agents caught his attention. McCandless had only one son who was studying sociology at university. Not what a tricky and violent arms smuggler would be looking for in a son.

Simon Everett was carefully calculated to appeal to every paternal instinct. He was quick, deferential and eager to please. Everett called McCandless sir and indicated the absence of a father in that very first conversation. Small details but they worked. The Mark was smitten.

...I attended three such games 4th May, 15th May, 31st May, and on the last occasion received an intimation of Mr McCandless business practices...

McCandless had invited him on a tour of club. Called aside by the bouncers Everett had to stand there as McCandless coolly ordered a defaulting player kneecapped. Two bouncers held the man down as he pleaded and begged, the Mark himself fired the gun.

When McCandless had turned to him, Everett, his mouth twisted a moue of disgust, said,

"Must you shoot them yourself?"

He grinned, "Ah Everett, you're too fastidious for your own good. You must lead your men by example."

"Yes sir," polite disbelief.

"You sound doubtful but I'll convince you yet, my boy."

"Yes sir," acceptance.

The Mark had lost rather heavily that night and an anonymous donation was made to a shooting victim in Four Corers General. McCandless had been delighted by Everett success, boasting to one and all how his boy had improved after he took him in hand.

...This increased knowledge of Mr McCandless' business suggested it was time to go fully Undercover. I dropped my contact with Team Seven to a single weekly meeting...

Unable to go to the office for even an hour or two, he was almost lonely. He knew he couldn't be, Elijah hadn't been lonely since he was five.

But he missed all of the strange family he had been placed with. He missed Josiah's steady presence, Buck's easy teasing, JD's infectious enthusiasm, Vin's mischievous smile; he even missed Nathan's fussing. And he missed Chris Larabee, missed his strength, his determination, his protectiveness, his fierce green eyes, his stubborn smile...

Ezra cut Elijah off before he got carried away.

...On the 24th June I received an invitation to stay with McCandless and over several conversations understood that I was an accepted member of his coterie...

McCandless had insisted on buying him some, in his eyes, acceptable suits.

"Not the pansy ones you wear but a man's suit."

Everett had demurred, "Mother chose these for me, and I believe she has impeccable taste."

"That explains it. Just as well as I got hold of you my boy. Cant let a woman choose a man's clothes."

"I bow to your superior knowledge, sir. I admit to often feeling the absence of a father."

"Don't you worry about? We'll take care of you Simon, my boy."

He was rather impressed with the suits. These, unlike his usual suits, emphasised his musculature and gave him a squat, heavy build and a nicely intimidating presence. He might get some of his own made up.

His adoption had continued apace.

...I attended an informal dinner and was introduced to McCandless lieutenants (see appendix two Associates for descriptions.)...

McCandless had introduced him as 'my boy Simon' his face glowing with pride. The lieutenants by and large had been deferential to the heir. Everett had analysed the two greatest threats and was planning a campaign of neutralisation before he caught himself. Reminded of his task he ensured the Mark was delighted with his performance.

...I had several conversations with McCandless on the nature of his business (see Appendix 3: Conversations and Conclusions) And was granted leave to attended a meeting for the purchase of arms (for detailed list See Agent Tanner's Prohibited Weapons Evidence Report esp. p11-15), the dealer in question Nickolai Hillier is held on the basis of the evidence and the wire taps (see Agent's Dunne's Surveillance Transcript).

...The meeting was set for the 17th July. I informed my contact, Agent Tanner, of this at our regular weekly meeting on the 13th July an ambush was prepared...

They'd met, as planned long before, at an art gallery Ezra had previously ensured he could visit without being followed. Ezra had luxuriated in the ten minutes they had to talk. He checked up on the team, checked up on Mr Larabee, clutching at this second-hand belonging.

He filled Mr Tanner in on all the details he didn't feel safe trusting to paper. He'd only let Chris know all his concerns and impressions once. The exasperating man had insisted they did the takedown his way and had taken on a whole room of fibbies on the basis of Ezra's 'feelings'

It had worked out well but he didn't need that sort of exposure. So he told Vin, trusting to the man's dislike of attention to protect him too.

And after he had explained as thought necessary Vin had clapped him on the back and congratulated him,

"That's amazing Ezra, nobody else could have pulled it off in twice the time."

"I am the best," he replied, but inside he cringed. Didn't Vin realised it wasn't cleverness or skill; it was a simple con job. You offer anybody what they most want in all the world and they will do anything to get it. That easy.

Look how well it worked on Team Seven. They needed a first-rate undercover agent, he provided one and they allowed him into there family. To be precise they let Ezra Standish into their family. Elijah Sefton should be a forgotten detail and it frustrated him that after all these years Eli should have floated to the surface of his mind demanding recognition.

Ezra forcibly took over control of the wondering thoughts and continued with the report.

...The meeting took place as scheduled on the 17th June. I travelled with Mr McCandless in his car...

And the man was all but bouncing in his seat at inducted his 'boy' into the family business. How does Chris expect him not to betray the team when he betrayed everyone else he meet?

...On being commanded to lay down their weapons, the suspects surrendered peaceably...

The Mark was caught totally by surprise. It didn't take him long to figure it out though. He looked at Ezra with such an ache in his eyes at his perfidy.

...They were formally arrested and read their rights...

He did my best for McCandless. He suggested that the lawyers offer him immunity so he would give up his other suppliers. They should go for it, it's pretty much win-win.

...(For a list of suspects see Agent Jackson's Arrest Report)...

Not that McCandless doesn't deserve jail. Ezra knows that. Elijah knows that. But he imagines Chris believing he's found another son and discovering it's a con. He knew how much that would hurt Chris.

Ezra quickly pushed those thoughts to dark recesses of his brain where he hid all such nagging details.

Eager to leave he scrawled his name at the bottom of the report and tossed it on the table outside Mr Larabee's office. He smiled faintly. Chris was pleased with us, he thought. He wrapped his right arm around my shoulders and hugged me. He said,

"Good job. And make sure you come for drinks Ez."

He pulled away. Being called Ez makes him uncomfortable; it's not what he wanted his friends to call him. He wondered if Chris would ever call him Eli? He wondered if they were friends? He wished they could be more.