Part 1
It had been at least five full minutes since JD had disappeared down the stairs and into the basement of the building the ATF team had just raided. Five minutes. Buck was getting nervous. He'd heard JD's muffled, "Freeze! ATF!"
Then, nothing.
Silence.
No scuffling, no footsteps coming back up the stairs.
Nothing.
He glanced across to Chris Larabee and with a flick of his head indicated he was going down after the youngest member of the team. Larabee nodded before turning his attention back to those members of the gang who had survived the all out gun battle that had ensued as soon as the team had made their presence known.
Buck crept down the stairs, staying close to the wall, his gun out in front of him. He was halfway down when he saw what he'd been dreading.
The only light in the room came from the open doorway at the top of the stairs and there, standing half in shadow and turned to face someone else, was JD Dunne. He watched in growing horror as JD's hands, still holding his weapons, slowly raised into the air in submission to the figure before him. Buck raised his own gun a little higher and aimed it at the woman who had his friend dead-to-rights. Time seemed to slow to a standstill as he saw her gun move just a fraction. Buck felt himself go numb as he yelled at the
woman to freeze.
JD's head whipped around, his mouth opened wide as he screamed at Buck.
"NOOOO!"
Too late.
The woman ignored the second ATF agent and fired her weapon, its retort exploding through the room. JD threw himself to the ground as Buck's gun roared in answering fire. His bullets hit the woman's body with a sickening thud. Their force sent her flying deeper into the shadows to land with a crash against a pile of empty wooden crates. Her head connected with the edge of one crate. She sank to the floor and lay unmoving amongst the wreckage. The crates were piled high and they slowly began to topple over, half burying the broken body in their midst.
A mournful wail began from the far corner of the room, followed by a stricken scream as another figure dashed out from the shadows to begin pulling at the crates in a frenzy.
Buck could hear JD's voice, low in the aftermath, and he felt the cold snake of fear uncurl in his belly.
"Oh, God! Buck, what have you done?"
Part 2
Three days earlier…
Leigh Riley sat in the airy room hunched over a set of blue prints. She held a slide rule in her right hand, one black and one blue pen clutched in her left and a red pen tucked behind her left ear. She frowned in concentration as she moved the ruler across the plans, occasionally tracing a line along its edge and making notations both on the plans and in a dog-eared notebook.
She glanced towards the door when she heard the distant sounds of voices and approaching footsteps. Dropping the pens and slide rule on the table, she reached under her jacket to her back and wrapped her fingers around the butt of the pistol securely tucked into the waist of her faded blue jeans. She pulled it out and checked the safety and sights. The click of the barrel, as she checked its contents, sounded loud in the large room. She clicked it back into place then tucked the weapon into its proper holster under her
left arm.
The sounds grew louder as those approaching reached the last door before entering the room where she was set up. As the doorknob began to turn, she picked up one of the pens and calmly began to tap out the beat of a popular song on the edge of her work-table. Her right hand remained free of encumbrance resting lightly on her thigh.
The door swung open. Three men entered, forcefully escorting a woman and a young boy into the room. Riley raised one eyebrow and glared at the disturbance. Her cold stare took in the tear-stained faces of the woman and boy. She let her gaze slide away from them and returned to her work. To all intent and purpose, she was totally engrossed in the blueprints and completely uninterested in the goings on around her.
Two of the men dragged the woman and boy to a doorway leading down to the boiler room. Marty Caves didn't quite understand why they'd grabbed the woman and her son, and he didn't really care. He wasn't paid to understand the whys and wherefores of his boss' orders, just to follow them without question.
She sure was pretty though, soft blonde hair, half-tumbled from the clips that kept it back from her face. Not like that cold bitch upstairs. He'd made several advances to the boss' security expert but had been met by a flint hard stare every time and such frigid silence he'd actually squirmed in his expensive leather shoes. He hated the way she made him feel. He put one hand out to stroke the long blonde hair from the scared woman's face, leering as thoughts of her naked body entered his mind. His hands itched to explore further and started moving down from her hair to brush against her silk blouse.
Larry Marenti knew what was going through his partner's mind. They'd been working together for years, and he'd seen him in action plenty of times before this. Usually, he didn't mind – he liked to watch - and he appreciated the quality of the woman before them just as much as his partner. On any other day … he sighed at the fun they were missing out on this day.
"Put it away, Marty," he told the other man. "Boss's got plans for her, and he don't want damaged goods."
Caves let his fingers brush through her hair once more, smiling when he saw her shudder. "You stay put now, ya hear?" He breathed into the woman's ear, glancing at the boy as he did so, "Nice lookin' kid ya got there."
The two men turned and walked back up the stairs, slamming the door behind them. The boy threw himself into his mother's arms – absolutely terrified.
"Momma," he sobbed. "What are we gonna do?"
She held him tightly and ran her hands through his hair as she looked into his eyes. They were round as saucers from fright. Fear twisted inside her, fear and loathing.
"I don't know, Billy. I just don't know."
Part 3
"Boss wants to know how you're doin' "
Leigh didn't looked at the third man that had entered the room; she'd followed him out of the corner of her eye as he strolled towards her. Her hands kept moving across the plans as she made finishing touches here and there.
"Everything's on track." She tapped the plans with the end of her pen, "This part's finished. Just going to enter the calculations in and make a few final checks. Should be able to start installation of the system tonight."
The man nodded as his eyes flicked over the plans and towards the notebook.
"What's this?" He jerked his thumb to the book and the ream of notes it held.
"Shopping list." She wasn't in the habit of offering information and refused to elaborate further for the benefit of the henchman. Closing the book with a snap, she dropped it into the side pocket of her equipment bag. The man's eyes narrowed to slits. He wasn't sure he trusted Leigh Riley, but he'd bide his time for now. Besides, he liked the way she handled Marty Caves. Seeing that slimebag squirm every time she looked at him brought a smile to his lips.
"What's with the woman and kid, Robert?"
Robert's suspicions were immediately aroused – again.
"It doesn't concern you."
She folded her arms and leanedback in her chair. "I start wiring this place up tonight. I need to know if allowances need to be made for them. That means extra calculations, more planning, delays in the schedule." She paused to let it sink in. "I think that means it does concern me, don't you?"
+ + + + + + +
Judge Orrin Travis was sitting in his study going over some reports when the phone on his desk began to ring loudly in the quiet room. He picked the receiver up with a jerk, annoyed at the interruption.
"Travis here."
"Judge Orrin Travis?"
The voice on the other end was smooth with a slight accent. It twigged at his memory; he'd heard the voice before but he couldn't quite place it.
"Yes. Who is this?"
"This is the man who is currently entertaining your beautiful daughter-in-law and grandson, so listen up…."
+ + + + + + +
"I tell ya, it's a big load."
"I need more'n that to go on, Buddy. Where? When?"
The skinny informant looked around him nervously, his head jerking on his spindly neck so rapidly Josiah half-expected it to jerk right off any minute now.
"All I know is it's due in a few days – four, five at the tops. Word is that Del Miardo is planning major changes to the status quo."
"Where's the delivery going to?" Josiah leaned over the man and gave him his best almost-glare, the kind that held the promise of future unpleasantness while at the same time let the victim know that Josiah was their 'friend' – for now.
Buddy started shuffling his feet and switching his hands from his pockets to his waist and back again.
"That's all I know, I promise ya. But I might be able to find out more – if it was worth it, I mean." He stole a glance at Josiah's stern/friendly face and relaxed visibly as the menace faded from the other man's eyes.
"Alright then, Buddy. You got yerself a deal. I'm giving you 24 hours to come up with more information, but it'd better be good or I might just get angry. Meet me inside St. Patrick's this time tomorrow."
"I will, I will. Don't worry, I can do it." The snivelling little man just wanted to get away. He moved towards the alley entrance.
"And Buddy?" Josiah watched as he stopped in his tracks and turned slowly back to the big man. "Don't be late."
Part 2
Two days earlier…
The electronics store was deserted when Leigh walked in early the next morning. She'd been ordered down to the boss' club the previous evening and given as much information as they thought was necessary regarding the woman and child.
Changes had to be made, not many, but changes none the less. The boss had wanted instant answers regarding time delays. She made sure to allow herself plenty of time to get all the things done she was planning before answering and then spent the rest of the evening making the plans and re-calculating. By the time she collapsed in bed she had a massive headache from staring at her computer screen for hours on end.
Her head still ached but she chose to ignore it as she concentrated instead on purchasing the extra items she'd added to her 'shopping list'. Slowly perusing the shelves with their myriad assortment of gadgets, she picked out what was needed and dropped the items into her shopping basket. She didn't see the figure come around the corner of the last aisle until he'd walked right into her.
"Sorry, ma'am." A young man leanedover to pick up the package she'd dropped. "Guess I should watch where I'm going."
Leigh looked him over – early twenties, nice build, dire need of a haircut, and did he call me Ma'am?
"S'okay … kid." Leigh watched a faint scowl cross his face at being called, 'kid', and smiled. He placed the package into her basket noticing the array of wires, cables and what looked like miniature cameras. She moved her basket away from his gaze and stepped back to let him pass.
"After you."
"Oh, uh, thanks." The young man walked over to the far aisle and disappeared from view. Leigh took her purchases to the cashier, paid cash, and left the store. She still had a couple of more things to do back at her apartment before she went back to work.
+ + + + + + +
Judge Travis sat in his study. Cigar smoke hung thick in the air. A half-full bottle of Glenfiddich and an empty glass now sat on his desk where only the afternoon before he'd been working on a Law Enforcement Policy report for the Mayor's office. He hadn't touched the report since the telephone call; hadn't washed, hadn't changed his clothes, hadn't eaten, hadn't even left the study unless it was absolutely necessary.
The telephone rang again at last and he all but dived for it in his haste to answer the call.
"Yes."
"Judge Travis? Did you make the arrangements we discussed?"
"Let me speak to her."
"Business first Judge. Did you make the arrangements?"
"I've set all the necessary balls rolling. It's only a matter of time now."
"How much time?"
"24 hours at most."
"Excellent! The timing is perfect."
"Let me speak to my daughter-in-law."
The phone went quiet and the Judge's apprehension grew until Mary's voice finally came on the line.
"Judge? Orrin?"
"Mary! Thank God! Have they hurt you? Is Billy alright?"
There was a slight pause before Mary answered, "Y… Yes, we're… Billy's fine. We …."
Mary's voice was replaced by the familiar male voice. "I'll call you again when I see evidence of our bargain."
"Wait!"
The line went dead and the Judge was left listening to the buzz of the dial tone. He dropped the receiver back into its cradle and hung his head in grief and worry, exhaustion gnawing at his already frayed nerves. His temples began to throb and he absently rubbed at them as he slumped into his overstuffed chair. He sat there for a moment as if dazed before leaning forward to pick the scotch bottle up in one hand and the telephone receiver in the other. As he poured a measure of fine malt whisky into the glass, he punched in a telephone number and waited for the answer.
A low voice came on the line. The Judge's resolve strengthened and he put into action his own arrangements.
"It's Judge Travis. We need to meet …."
+ + + + + + +
Chris Larabee walked out of his office and into the conference room where three of his agents now sat. He dropped a pile of papers and files onto the highly polished solid oak table.
"Where's Vin?"
"Mr. Tanner has been absent from the office for most of the morning," Ezra Standish informed him. "He departed not long after I arrived."
"Late as usual," scoffed Buck.
Ezra chose to ignore the remark. "Is there some problem?"
+ + + + + + +
St. Patrick's church was mostly empty when Josiah walked down the main aisle toward the pulpit. He stepped solemnly over to one side and picked up a taper. Placing it over one of the lit candles he watched in satisfaction as it burst into flame. Moving across he touched the burning taper to another candle. As it too sizzled with life, he heard faint, shuffling footsteps come up behind him.
He clasped his hands in front of him and bowed his head. When the footsteps halted beside him, his deep voice rumbled in the drafty building. "Tell me Buddy. Are you a praying man?"
Part 5
"I don't like it. Too much can go wrong."
Orrin Travis sagged inside his pinstriped double-breasted suit. He didn't like it either but he didn't know what else to do. He, and the young man beside him, stood beneath a large shade tree in the middle of a mini-forest deep inside the botanical gardens. The young man was leaning back on the trunk of the tree, arms crossed, face pensive.
"Son, I don't like it either, but what else can I do. As far as I see it, you're my trump card. The best chance there is of saving Mary and Billy."
"And within a few hours my name'll be shit! What good will I be then?"
Vin Tanner was furious that Mary and Billy were being used just to get at him. Even more furious because he didn't know who or why.
"You have to let Chris in on this, Judge."
The Judge shook his head, "No, I can't. Their aim is to separate you from your 'new' friends, they want you alone and they won't release my daughter-in-law until they have proof that I've done what they want. Chris will be their proof. His reactions to the impending investigation must be completely natural."
"And vocal," Vin added. He knew his boss and friend well. His reaction would be very vocal and likely make the windows in his office rattle.
Orrin Travis nodded in agreement. "After that, I will find a way to tell him."
"This is bad timing Judge, real bad. We're right in the middle of investigating a lead on Miardo…."
Timing? Mia ….. The Judge broke from his thoughts to stare at Vin.
"Miardo? Del Miardo?"
"Yeah, son of a bitch is lookin' to expand his business interests." Vin stopped talking when he saw the Judge begin to smile. A crooked, almost evil smile, but still, a smile.
"We've got him. I thought I recognized his oily voice. It was Miardo on the telephone. Miardo has them!"
"Ya sure 'bout that Judge?"
"He said himself – the timing is perfect."
"How could he know we're investigating him? Aw, shit!" It was all getting so complicated. Vin kicked at the tree in frustration. "He's gonna slip through our fingers again!"
"Not necessarily Mr. Tanner. What was your lead?"
"He's expectin' a big delivery of handguns. Due in the next coupla days." Vin pulled himself away from the tree letting all the information they had on the gangster sift through his mind. Hands on waist he looked into the Judge's weary eyes. "Ya reckon he doesn't know. That taking Mary and Billy, and putting me out of the picture is a diversion of some kind."
"It's possible. It's also possible that the two incidents are separate and are just coordinating nicely for his benefit."
Vin snorted, "Yeah, real nice! Reckon it's more likely that he does know."
The Judge looked sternly at the other man, "Is there any other reason Miardo would want you out of the picture?"
The seconds turned into minutes as Vin thought about Del Miardo and the last time they'd had dealings. He ran his hand through his hair Godammit! and looked sideways at the Judge, patiently waiting for an answer.
"Yeah, we got a history, of sorts."
+ + + + + + +
Josiah dropped a small wad of cash on the pew as he walked past on his way to the large doors of the old church. He turned once before stepping outside, the informant – and no doubt, the money – was gone. He tugged his baseball cap out of his back pocket and shoved it on his head. Jogging down the stairs, he continued walking down the street until he reached the brown sedan parked near the corner. He opened the passenger door and got in. Nathan Jackson was just putting away the listening device he'd used to record the conversation with the itinerant Buddy. He looked up at Josiah and smiled. Josiah smiled back, "Bingo!" Nathan gunned the engine and carefully joined the flow of traffic.
Neither noticed the shadowy figure of Vin Tanner hovering by the Church doors. He'd come straight to the church from his meeting with the Judge. Parking his jeep a block away and walking back down to the church, he'd entered the side door just in time to hear everything the informant told Josiah. He smiled grimly to himself. He knew what he had to do.
+ + + + + + +
"What! You've got to be kidding!" Chris' voice roared into the telephone. "That's the biggest crock of bullshit I've ever fucking heard!"
Buck, Ezra and JD all stopped what they were doing and looked towards Chris' open office door. When the sound of the receiver being smashed back down on the telephone reverberated throughout the offices, they all looked at each other and, as one, rose and walked over to the doorway.
"Chris?" Buck started tentatively, wanting to gauge the level of his friend's temper before diving in head first. Larabee was contemplating the idea of throwing the telephone across the room, but decided to pick the receiver up again and make a call instead. He glared at his three agents and held one hand up for them to wait. When the ringing at the other end was finally answered, it took all his control not to yell out his demand.
"Larabee for Judge Travis!"
"I'm afraid the Judge isn't in at the present time, Mr. Larabee."
"When do you expect him back in?"
"I'm not quite sure, sir. He had quite an important meeting to attend and it may take some time. I'll let him know you've called."
"You do that. Also, let him know that I want some answers!" He hung the telephone up a little more carefully this time and turned to look at the waiting agents.
"Is Vin back yet?"
"Nope. Haven't heard from him either. What's goin' on?" Buck answered and asked all in the one breath.
Chris gestured them to come in and close the door, not waiting for them to do so before he began.
"It seems that IA is investigating Vin for some questionable activities from his bounty hunting days. Activities they believe he is still involved in." His voice growled as he spoke, his eyes flaring as he recalled the conversation he'd just had with the Internal Affairs division of the Bureau.
"Apparently, the Honorary Judge Travis has something to do with it."
Outside the office, one of the maintenance men, ostensibly there to fix some of the lighting, began to grin as he worked. When Larabee's door finally closed and he could no longer hear the conversation, the man quickly walked down the corridor and opened the door to the storage room. He slipped inside pulling the door closed behind him, and fished a cell phone from his toolbox. He pressed the quick dial button and waited for the answer.
"Yes?" The voice was smooth, slightly accented.
"It's done."
The phoney maintenance man ended the connection, replaced the phone and calmly walked out of the storage room, down to the elevators.
Part 6
One day earlier…
Vin had stationed himself outside the storehouse just after dusk and spent the hours between then and midnight noting all that entered and exited the plain building. So far, he'd seen six different men – four of whom he recognized from mugshots – and one woman. Three of the men had left the building around 10pm, driving off in a black Caddy. Just a few minutes, ago a fourth man had left, leaving only two men and the woman behind. Let's hope there's no one else in there.
He thought about the people left inside and what he knew about them. The men were well known henchmen of Miardo, Robert Layton and Marty Caves – both highly dangerous, volatile men. His mind flashed back to the woman. He had no idea who she was but he recognized a professional when he saw one. She'd been carrying two heavily laden carryall's – one slung over her shoulder - as she strode toward the building, walking right in without a trace of hesitation. She had dark wrap-around glasses perched on her head and wore faded blue jeans, a black shirt and a large khaki trench coat. If he hadn't been watching closely, he wouldn't have noticed the way her eyes scanned the street around her while barely moving her head. She certainly didn't look like one of Miardo's usual hangers-on and Vin wondered just what her expertise was.
He moved out of the shadows, slung his own carryall over his shoulder and strode quickly across the street. Once across, he kept walking past the building to the nearby alley way then slipped around the corner to wait in the shadows once more. When he was sure no one was following him he retreated further down the alley stopping under the fire-escape ladder, which had been rather conveniently left down. Hope that's a good sign. He silently climbed the ladder and then the stairs to the rooftop, hoisted his carryall over the edge and pulled himself up. Throwing his legs over he quickly stood, grabbed the bag and crept to the front of the building to peer into the street below. Nothing had changed. The street was all but deserted.
He checked his holstered guns then made his way across the rooftops to the building where he hoped to find Mary and Billy.
+ + + + + + +
"Hey, Riley! Marenti's goin' to get pizza. Ya want some?" Robert Layton had to stretch his neck to call up to the woman high in the rafters installing the security system.
Her face appeared out of the gloom, "Yeah, thanks – vegetarian. Tell them to stick some banana on it too."
Banana on a pizza? Layton almost shuddered at the thought.
Riley continued to work. She had a strict deadline to meet, and she always met her deadline. She quickly attached movement sensors onto various crossbeams, wired them up and connected them to a main cable, which in turn connected to a junction box set higher under the roof. She flicked the test switch on the junction box and watched as blinking lights appeared in the darkness. She looked down at her laptop and punched in a code; at once the lights began to dim while the computer screen came to life. The sensors could no longer be detected but Leigh could see the position of each one on the screen. She reached into her coat pocket and pulled out her palm-held, plugged it into the laptop and waited for the network to connect. Once the smaller screen flashed to life, she typed in a string of commands, checked the configurations and, finally satisfied, shut down first the palm-held and then the laptop.
When Marenti finally arrived back with the pizzas, she switched the whole system off and climbed down to go eat. She'd been at it for hours and was starving.
Day of the Raid…
The telephone's piercing ring at 3am woke Chris Larabee from a deep sleep. He lifted his tousled head from under his pillow and stared at the offending object with his best glare. The one that warns of impending fury, it didn't work, the telephone kept ringing. He wiped his hand across his face and reached across the bed to the phone. He fumbled with the receiver, and nearly dropped it, as he brought it to his ear.
"Yeah?"
"Mr. Larabee. It's Orrin Travis."
+ + + + + + +
Tanner watched through a dirt-smeared skylight as the people far below ate their pizzas. He'd silently watched the woman working on the security system. From his position he could just catch the faint shadow of one of the sensors and what looked like a camera, and he cursed. He'd have to get in and out quick while the system was still offline, and he still didn't know if this was where Mary and Billy were. He strode over to the fire-escape door and picked the lock. The door creaked softly as it swung open. Vin carefully stuck his head through the doorway, the stairs were in darkness and no other sounds could be heard. He stepped in and pulled the door slowly closed behind him then crept down the stairs to the rooms below. He tested the door at the bottom of the stairs; it was locked as well.
Within seconds, he was through the door and crouching in a deserted corridor that appeared to lead to equally deserted offices. Sticking close to the wall he walked the length of the corridor checking doors. Most were locked. At the end of the corridor was yet another locked door. He left it for now and went back to one of the unlocked offices. Slowly opening the door, he pointed the business end of his 9mm pistol through the small narrow gap before slipping in himself. The office held only one small desk and a battered chair. On the wall was a framed picture of blue Columbines blooming on a mountain slope. They were all covered in a thick layer of dust. Vin looked down at the threadbare carpet beneath his feet. The dust was thick here too and he cursed as he saw the faint outline of his own footprints. He avoided touching the desk and chair, and strode over to the large window in the rear wall. The window overlooked the storeroom below and Vin was again watching the people eat and drink coffee. He drew in a sharp breath when he realized one of the men was missing and his eyes darted around the room. The woman stepped away from the small group then and he watched as she pulled a laptop out of one of the carryalls he'd seen her with earlier. She placed it carefully on a large table covered with rolled up plans and electronic equipment, and flipped it open then went back to where the men sat to grab some more pizza and refill her coffee cup.
As the woman sat back down at her computer, he noticed her head slightly move in his direction and he tensed again, pulling back from the window a fraction as he did so. But the woman wasn't looking at him, she was looking at something below him. A minute or two later he heard the voice of the missing third man and then the sound of a door closing directly beneath him.
+ + + + + + +
"How can you eat that stuff?" Marenti asked her, a feigned look of horror on his face.
Leigh took a bite out of the piece in her hand and licked her lips. She filled her cup with the black brew and heaped in some sugar.
"Energy boost," she answered as she walked back to the computer. As she sat down, she heard Layton's footsteps coming back up the basement stairs. She flicked her eyes in his direction as he walked through the door, pull it tightly closed behind him and locked it. When he dropped the key into the side pocket of his jacket she averted her eyes back to the laptop and continued on with her work.
Layton walked up and stopped beside her, watching the computer screen flick from scene to scene as she checked all the cameras and monitors she'd installed so far.
"Someone needs to go check the roof and top corridor before we go online with this." She kept her eyes glued to the screen as she spoke.
Layton nodded. "I'll send Caves."
+ + + + + + +
By the time dawn cast its brightening glow across the city skyline, Chris Larabee was already pacing his office waiting the arrival of the rest of his team.
After talking to the Judge, he'd quickly dressed then raced out to the Ram and driven off in a blaze of screeching tyres and dust. He'd made it into the city in record time and gone straight to Purgatario. Vin's apartment was empty, as he knew it would be. He unlocked the bedroom door and went to check the gun cabinet – empty! He slammed the door closed in growing anger and worry, and let himself back out.
Driving to the office, he decided to do a little drive by the target area. Does Vin even know the target? Chris' frown deepened in thought. Miardo's was one of the names that had come up in the heated discussion with the Bureau the previous day. If Vin was connected with him then ….. Stop it! It's all bullshit.
"I know Vin!"
He slammed his fist down on the steering wheel in frustration and slowed his vehicle down as he approached the storehouse where the bust would take place. He drove casually past the building. There were a few lights on inside but, for the most part, it was dark. As he looked into the darkened windows he thought of Mary and Billy, and his anger erupted all over again.
Now, in his office, with the bright, sterile flare of the fluorescent lighting flickering around him, he paced … and he planned.
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