Second thoughts...

Raymond's PVs

"So Kate, what do you think of the Swagger boy? He knows something. But it's enough to know if he knows a lot or a little, Earl sure knew a lot, but what did he reveal to the boy?" after Alex left, all of Raymond's facade disappeared.

"I didn't see anything, he didn't even know who you were, he's a good boy, he just inherited his father's problems and got into a big mess, from what we know about him, he made two mistakes.

Enlist in the army. The second was letting Ray Brooks live and not having killed when he had the chance."

"No Kate, you're looking at this from the wrong perspective, the kid made three mistakes, the first was excelling too much in the army, the second was meeting Alan Fitch, he was used by Alan, the bastard took too much credit and climbed the career ladder politics. All these thanks to the boy, now he got a seat at the big table, his third mistake is not showing his face, as the founder of the Skynet company. And you were wrong too, the boy knows more than you think, he recognized me in the time, he's good, but the surprise was too big, and he threw a flag right at the beginning, you didn't notice."

"You think he has a part of Fulcrum, maybe he knows everything, after all your little girl has made a name for herself in the underworld, she controls all of New Orleans," Kate says with a straight face.

"Hahahahah...Kate, I think you're getting old, the boy is the real big boss, he knows me, he knows you, and he probably knows more about me than most of my enemies, and yes Kate I do. He has some knowledge that he inherited from his father, I don't know if it's Fulcrum, but he knows something for sure." Raymond comments after fixing his hat.

"Why are you so sure about this, maybe he doesn't know anything!" Kaplan says dubiously.

"Kate, have you read the information we have on him? It's obvious he knows something, the first week Earl died, the kid left for New York, and he was already getting involved with crime there, if Ray Brooks had not tortured and tried to kill him, the boy would not have run away to New Orleans and changed his name, even with everything that happens, he still decided to enlist, it only proves two things: the first is that he knows very little and wants to know more by infiltrating the enemy's lair risking his life. The second option is that he knows a lot and wants training and influence so he can kill all his enemies. I'm more inclined towards the second option after meeting him."

"If this is true Ray, this boy looks nothing like his father, is there anyone this boy pulled to be so treacherous, who is his mother?" asks Kaplan curiously.

"I don't know... I just know his hair looks like hers, have you noticed his eyes?" Raymond asks Kaplan in a soft voice.

"No. His eyes are beautiful, but hair aside, he doesn't look like her, I know Earl had an affair with her, the boy's age matches the time, but her son died at birth. , he can't be the child." "From what she said, her son had patches of black hair," says Kaplan with some regret.

"Yes... One of her biggest regrets, but you're wrong Kate, she fainted when the child was born, the boy she saw dead might not be hers, after all right after they woke up Earl went back to America, according to the doctors and nurses, the night of the child's birth, heard crying and right after Earl came in he came out with a blanket and then came back with the same blanket, what do you think of that Kate?"

"Ray, are you saying the babies were switched, her son lives while the imposter dies? That's almost impossible, she had Earl under almost complete control!" Kaplan is stunned by Raymond's train of thought.

"The more I think about it, the more it makes sense, in her pregnancy, information about the US government became more and more confusing, until in the last month of her pregnancy the flow of information completely stopped, as if the purpose had been achieved, and A few months later Earl left the country and returned to America. That's quite possible, she didn't have enough experience and could have been played."

"So Earl found out she was a spy and came up with a whole plan to trick her into taking their son, is that what you're saying?" shocked Kaplan asks.

"And just a thought, if it's true, the old man has two grandchildren, there's only one way to find out the truth, I'll do a blood test, until then we'll stick to the plan." Raymond, still shaken, talks to Kate.

"Yes, are you going to tell the old man, about a possible second grandchild?"

"Not yet, this old man is very emotional, if I tell him there might be a possible grandchild, and he's still a man, he's going to freak out and go down the mountain, we both know what happens if that old man freaks out!"

"Alright, I'll make the arrangements for your hunting weekend!" When the matter is over, Kaplan stands up and heads toward the exit.

"Kate! call my partners and tell them to promote Alex's business, he already has a good base and reputation in New Orleans, it's a good place to hide until the dust settles."

"Yes. Anything else?"

"Have our men keep an eye on him and take care of him if he's in danger, I want to know right away! That's all!" After those words, Raymond sank into thought, with a complicated look in his eyes, as if he were remembering some sad, happy, and painful events.

Alex PVs

After buying the necessary supplies, I go straight to the camp, the conversation I had with Raymond Reddington was very enlightening, he came to Texas behind me, or Bob, but looking at the situation, he knows that I have already discovered his identity, and he knows that I have the information he is looking for, the truth and that I have a lot of information, possibly even more than he does.

The real question is what can I gain from it and how much will I lose, if possible I don't want to get involved, if anyone knows that I got close to Raymond Reddington or that I casually chatted with him, I'm in great danger.

Following his methods, he will put his men on my heels, facilitate or impede my clandestine dealings, and perhaps rip his face open and face me through kidnapping, or simply come to me and speak frankly. I bet it will be the kidnapping.

Depending on his approach, I will know what my profits and my losses will be, but for sure he fell into the trap, he is good but I know him, in this round I won, I got the information I need without revealing anything.

______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

{{A/N: Lesson of the day: never play with Raymond Reddington! the guy knows more than his favorite author. Another thing. PASS THE POWER STONES!! Or else you will have sex dreams about Mrs. Kaplan until his little brother can't get up anymore!!}