Part 7
Mary and Billy remained huddled as close as they could in the small room that held them prisoner. They'd been provided with food and water, some bedding and, for the most part, left alone. The room had a tiny ensuite attached, so they could keep clean and relieve themselves with a modicum of decency. Mary spent her time trying to keep up Billy's spirits - and wondering why they were there, and why no one came.
When the tall man came to check on them, Mary had temporarily lost track of time. She'd been fitfully dozing when she heard the key in the lock and was confused. Was it morning yet? She looked at her wristwatch but couldn't remember if it was supposed to be 1am or 1pm.
She breathed a slow sigh of relief when she saw it wasn't the one they called, Marty. The way that one's eyes undressed her every time he came in made her feel sick to the stomach with dread every time footsteps sounded on the stairs above.
The man that did enter kept his face sternly blank – not quite threatening but not open for conversation either. He never came too close and he never spoke. Mary had been hoping the woman would come in, that she might be able to garner some sympathy from her – at least, on Billy's behalf, but she hadn't. She'd tried the same with this man but her pleas were ignored, his silence maintained. She'd run out of ideas on day one of their imprisonment.
She was scared, and she was tired, but mostly she was tired of being scared.
Where are they?
+ + + + + + +
From his position, overlooking the main room, Vin watched as Layton had a few brief words with Marty Caves. He narrowed his eyes in concentration as Caves then walked away from Layton and lazily strolled in the direction of the offices where Vin was hidden. Caves disappeared from view. Vin checked the positioning of the other occupants of the room – no change, then from the corridor behind him he heard the sound of a door being unlocked and slowly opened. He threw his bag under the small desk and squatted down behind it.
Caves' footsteps echoed down the corridor as he walked towards the stairs leading up to the roof, then faded away as he climbed them to check the outer door. He was back within minutes, Vin heard him close the stairwell door. Perspiration sheened on his forehead as he listened to the other man methodically check all the office doors. Caves was mumbling to himself as he went and Vin held his breath as the mumbling stopped and the door leading to his hiding place swung open.
+ + + + + + +
Riley was ready to start testing the first layer of the security system. All the interior cameras and sensors were connected and programmed to link up to a central control set up in the main office on the ground floor. Extra peripherals and hardware were due to arrive mid-morning, along with the work team who would be setting them in place. They were the second layer of security. Big, easily detected – fully operational but designed to attract attention away from the smaller devices the woman had spent most of a day and night installing. It was an elaborate web of sensors that completely enveloped the specified area. The whole job was a test run for a new system planned for Miardo's main base of operations.
She glanced at the door to the basement area, sipped her coffee and let her eyes wander to the offices that overlooked her current position. She caught a faint flicker of movement in one of the windows and frowned. Keeping her back to Layton and Marenti she slowly pulled the palm-held device from her inside coat pocket and switched it on. She typed a new code into the laptop, then repeated the instruction on the palm-held.
The laptop screen showed the dark corridor of the upstairs offices. She could see Caves making his way along the corridor checking doors. The screen on the smaller computer showed the storeroom where she sat. She manipulated the mouse control until the camera she'd hidden in the office turned and showed her a completely different view – the office interior. She'd set up two of these hidden cameras. Their purpose was to record the events occurring in the large storeroom. She installed these extra cameras at every job – the images sent, via the infra-red window in the palm-held, to another computer set up in her apartment - her insurance for the future.
The face of Marty Caves came onto the screen as he entered one of the offices, popping his head through the doorway and giving a cursory glance around the room. She touched the control again and the camera view glided around the room. Everything looked clear and she was just about to curse her over-active imagination when a tiny flash of light appeared where there should only have been darkness. At a touch, the camera zoomed in until the screen was filled with the blurred image of a man hiding behind the desk – the unmistakable shape of a Hechler and Koch, silencer attached, in his hand.
Riley scribbled a short code onto the touch screen of the palm-held with the stylus and the screen went blank. Stuffing the device back into its hiding place, she closed the laptop, stood up and walked towards the stairs.
"Where are you going?" Marenti called.
"Caves is taking too damn long. I haven't got all bloody night!" Her voice sounded annoyed, pissed off at Caves' slowness. Marenti shrugged and turned back to the television. Layton watched her go, not turning away till she was halfway up the stairs.
+ + + + + + +
Vin held his breath and waited for Caves to fully enter the room and see him. His gun felt slick in his hands and he adjusted his grip, grimacing as the barrel of the H&K reflected some of the dim light from the window. The office door was old and creaky, the sound of its movement reverberating in the small space. The faint creak of leather shoes sounded as the man took one step into the room. Vin tensed, made ready for action. Just as he was about to move he heard the hallway door open again and the voice of a second person travel towards them.
"Caves, you about finished? I'm ready to go online with this."
"Yeah, I'm finished. Nobody up here but roaches."
"You secure all the doors?"
"All secured, unless you want to test out one of these offices. They're real private …" Caves voice was suggestive and Riley felt her stomach turn in disgust.
"You and the roaches should have a real nice time then. Hurry up though will you, I wanna get started on the basement, you may need to move your guests."
"Our, 'guests', stay where they are. You'll have to work around them."
Caves closed the office door, locking it behind him before heading back to the flight of stairs leading out to the main area. Riley closed the corridor entry and followed him down.
Part 8
"If everything else is wired, why'd ya have to come down here as well?"
"Loose ends."
Marenti stared at her back as she worked, quickly connecting wires and plugging in cables. Caves had been telling him what he was going to do with her once she was finished this job and Marenti looked forward to it with anticipation. Yes, he did so like to watch Caves at work. He smirked to himself and turned away, it'd all have to wait till the boss was finished with her.
Riley waited till Marenti returned upstairs. It would be dawn soon and she had a hell of a lot more to do before the shifts changed and the fresh guards arrived. A flash of light appeared down the stairs as the door opened, and stayed open. She stood at the bottom, listening before returning to her carryall and pulling out some more equipment.
By the time dawn arrived, she was finished installing the rest of the system, including the couple of extra items she'd bought from the electronics shop just the day before. She pulled out the palm-held once again to check the remote access connections and configurations. Before leaving she walked quietly over to the little room under the stairs. There were some boxes near the doorway and she squatted down to rearrange them slightly, and add a new, smaller box to the pile.
She walked back upstairs to the sound of new voices – the day shift had arrived.
+ + + + + + +
Vin stayed motionless while he listened to Caves and the woman talking. He didn't move until after they'd walked out, locking the doors. He crept back to the window and watched the woman return to the work table to collect some things and her carryall then head back in his direction, followed by the third man - Larry Marenti. They disappeared underneath him and he heard yet another door open and close. The basement? He went over to the office door and tested it – locked. He was safe right where he was for now so he sat back down behind the desk and fished out some of the food and drink he'd packed. It was time to play the waiting game.
+ + + + + + +
Larabee and his team raced through the still quiet city streets stopping short of the target building by three blocks. Buck, JD, Josiah and Nathan went ahead, at a slower pace, in the "maintenance" van they'd borrowed from the car pool. They parked across the road and down two buildings and immediately set up their cover as workmen by standing around the back of the van drinking coffee before slowly setting up a barricade around their 'work' area, and grumbling loudly all the while about early morning starts.
Josiah and Nathan grabbed an armful each of barricade and set a second area up four buildings in the opposite direction. Josiah erected a canvas man-hole cover on the side of the street while Nathan went back for a bag of extra surveillance equipment. JD was in the van checking monitors and communication equipment. Buck walked around with a clipboard in hand, supervising.
Just as traffic was starting to make its first impact on the streetscape a black Caddy cruised to a halt in front of the target area. Josiah flicked the camera on and zoomed in on the occupants of the vehicle as they alighted. Buck climbed into the back of the van and watched over JD's shoulder as the camera picked up each face.
"Do you know any of 'em?" JD asked the older agent.
"Yeah." Buck's finger pointed to the first man to exit the caddy. "The big guy with the greasy hair is Mick Molloy, and that there is Rafael Antonio."
"Whoa! Look at that!"
A small woman with waist-length black hair, shimmering in the morning light, joined the two men on the sidewalk.
"And that is Sofia Gentilescha, Miardo's mistress. Quite a piece of work."
The woman was carrying a large black bag and a picnic basket. The bulge of weapons could be seen through the suit jackets of both men. The trio entered the building and the Caddy drove off.
"Call Chris and let him know who just arrived. I'm going for a walk up the street to see if there's another way of getting in."
"Right, Buck. Be careful."
"Always, kid."
+ + + + + + +
"Where are they? I have brought them breakfast and a change of clothes." Sofia Gentilescha's voice purred in the quiet room.
"I'll take that stuff down," said Caves, relishing the prospect of the blonde really naked.
"Miss Gentilescha will take the clothes and food to them," countered Layton. He saw Riley just coming up the stairs, "and Riley can go with her."
Leigh raised her eyebrows. "What's going on?"
"Leigh Riley, this is Sofia, Mr. Miardo's companion. She's brought some things for our guests. Take her down and watch them."
Leigh held out one arm and directed the other woman down the stairs.
+ + + + + + +
Vin had heard the new voices too and returned to the window. He recognized the two men from the day before. Molloy looked the same as he had the last time they'd met – an image the man cultivated, Vin knew. He looked like a slob - verging on fat, greasy unkept hair hanging in his face and a smart mouth – he was also very fast and very deadly. Only the best for Mr Miardo. He didn't know the other man but he could see the tell-tale sign of a mini-armoury underneath his tailored suit. From where he stood he could not see the third new arrival, though he suspected there was someone else standing just below him. He pulled the chair over to the window and sat down to watch and wait.
+ + + + + + +
Orrin Travis was a wreck. He hadn't heard back from Miardo at all in the last 24 hours. As far as Miardo knew, the former Judge had kept to his bargain. What if he knows?
"No, he can't know. I'd have heard something." He poured the last of the Glenfiddich into his glass and drank it all in one gulp.
He stopped his pacing to stand staring at the photograph of his grandson he kept on his desk. It had pride of place right by an old black and white of his son, just near the phone.
"Dammit!" He swore at the telephone, "Ring!"
The Judge reached towards the engraved silver frame. It was his favorite picture of Billy. He and Billy had been outside digging in the garden – such a beautiful day, the flowerbeds were alive with butterflies. Mary had come up, camera in hand, just as one had landed on the boy's hand.
"Granpa! Look!" Travis could still here the boy's voice, so full of excitement. His face was lit up with happiness as he turned those big eyes, full of love, towards his grandfather. Standing right behind her father-in-law, Mary had been able to capture that moment on film. The framed picture had been given to him just a few months ago as a birthday present. The old man lifted the frame and placed a gentle kiss on the image. He would never forgive himself if anything happened to his grandson, his family. And he would hunt Miardo to his grave if one hair on the boy's head were harmed.
+ + + + + + +
Leigh watched Sofia closely as she followed her to the small room. The woman moves like a cat. Her long hair fell half over her face as she bent to place the key in the lock. Before unlocking the door she gave Riley a strange look and a smile – her tongue coming out to lick her lips. Great! Riley kept her face blank and said nothing.
The key turned and the door opened. The woman stepped in and greeted the 'honored guests'. Riley stayed by the door, leaning against the frame, one hand on her hip close to her holstered gun.
"Mrs. Travis? Good morning, I have brought you some breakfast and a few items I though you might need."
"When can we leave? Why are we being held here?" Mary was so pleased to see an apparently friendly face that she couldn't stop the questions bursting from her lips.
"I am afraid that you must stay a little longer," the woman told her as she unpacked the basket, laying out several containers of food and some bottles of spring water.
"Is it necessary to keep Billy here? He's just a child, please help me get him away from here." Mary reached out to the woman resting a trembling hand on her arm. "Please."
Mary felt the hope build in her as she saw the other woman's eyes tear up and she whispered again, "Please!"
"I will see what I can do but I make no promises." Sofia rested her own hand on top of Mary's and gave her a smile full of concern. "In the meantime, I have brought you some fresh clothes. If you change now I will have your old ones cleaned for you."
Mary hesitated and shot a nervous glance at the woman in the doorway. Her look was returned with a level gaze – non-committal, and the faintest of shrugs.
"Come, Mrs. Travis," Sofia continued. "We are all women here, and you will feel so much better."
Mary turned her back to them and started unbuttoning her blouse, letting it fall to the floor while she removed her skirt and undergarments. She turned to the long-haired woman who stood holding the clean clothes.
"You are a beautiful woman, Mrs. Travis." Mary blushed and reached for the clothes. When she was dressed, she roused Billy from his sleep in the corner and changed his clothes as well then handed the whole bundle to the woman. Sofia placed them in the now-empty basket and clasped the lid firmly closed. She moved closer to the mother and child, placed a soft hand to the boy's face and then repeated the action with Mary.
"Thank you," Mary whispered.
"I will leave you to eat at your leisure," Sofia told them and walked back towards the door.
Riley watched her come, her face unreadable. Sofia's expression reminded her of the cat who ate the canary – supremely satisfied. She moved aside as the smaller women stepped past her, then looked back at the woman and child and shook her head ever so slightly.
Mary turned away and held Billy close, not going to the food till she heard the door close and lock once again.
+ + + + + + +
Riley finished locking the door and turned to hand the key back to Sofia.
"Does it bring you joy to lead her on?" she asked her, dropping the key into her open hand.
Sofia's hand closed around Leigh's and she stretched up until their faces were almost level. She stared into her eyes, her lips parting as she moved her head to the side. Leigh could feel her warm breath on her face and her tongue dart out to lightly probe her earlobes.
"Great joy," she breathed huskily into her ear.
Leigh's expression was cold as the other woman pressed her body against her. She grabbed the back of Sofia's head, wrapped her fingers in her long hair, roughly brought her forward and leaned in close.
"I don't play games, Sofia."
Part 9
Buck returned just minutes before Caves, Layton and Marenti exited the building and headed toward their car. They were identified within seconds – once again Larabee was informed.
"Looks like it's quitting time for the night-shift," Buck spoke into his cell phone.
"Yeah, we'll keep on it. When's team 2 due?"
"Right. Got that."
"Buck, someone else is coming out," JD interrupted. Buck peered into the monitor.
"Hang on, Chris, we've got another face."
+ + + + + + +
Riley shoved her baseball cap on her head and put her sunglasses on before opening the front door. She hated to use the same door all the time but the loading area out back was temporarily blocked off. As she walked out the door, she pulled the collar of her coat up around her face and slung the carryall over her shoulder.
She saw the workmen across the road and chose to ignore them, she was tired and hungry and only had a few hours to get cleaned up and get some sleep. She didn't need to be around for the work team – they had their instructions.
As she crossed the road and walked towards the maintenance van, her car was parked just around the corner, she got the distinct feeling of being watched. She glanced at the van, her face staying firmly pointed in the direction she walked. Her eyes glided over the workmen as well as they all pointedly looked away from her.
When she reached the corner, she turned and walked over to her car – thoughts of a hot bath and some decent coffee uppermost in her mind once again.
+ + + + + + +
"Buck? Buck! You got a name for the face?" Chris called into the phone.
"Nope."
"What does he look like?"
"He's a she, about 5'8", short dark brown hair, Caucasian."
"Is that it?"
"Yep. Want me to follow her?"
"Send JD. I need you to identify anyone else that comes and goes. Me and Ezra are almost at The Club. We'll meet you at the van about 10."
Chris ended the connection and turned to Ezra. "We've got positive i.d. on six of Miardo's people, plus one unknown," he told him. Ezra nodded in reply as he brought his Jag to a stop down the street from Miardo's club.
"The unknown's a woman?"
"Yeah, but there's no clear description. JD's gonna tag her, see where she goes."
"JD? Is that wise?"
"Wiser than sending Buck," Chris grinned. "Let's go."
Both men got out of the car and ambled down the alley that led to the rear of the club. At this time of day the club was deserted and the two agents got in without any trouble. They found Miardo's office down a long narrow hallway. Chris started rifling through an old filing cabinet. Ezra hit the power button on the computer.
+ + + + + + +
JD made it to the corner just as the woman got into a car parked at the end of the block. He mentally took note of the make and registration plate, before slowly turning and heading back the way he'd come. He heard the engine starting behind him but avoided turning his head back round to see. His patience was rewarded when the woman drove past him and flicked her indicators on to turn left. JD waited till she'd turned then hailed a passing cab. Settling into the back seat, he took out his cell phone and called Buck.
+ + + + + + +
Vin spent the whole day alternatively watching and dozing from his post by the window. Nothing much was happening and while the men regularly did patrols around the large room checking the windows, as well as in and around some of the large crates piled along the walls, they rarely left the room. On the few occasions they did they were back within ten minutes.
Some sort of work team arrived around eleven to install another set of security cameras and Vin wondered at their apparent paranoia – it didn't bode well for any raid Chris might have planned. Chris! He hoped the Judge had contacted him by now and told him the whole story. Hell, they're probably outside right now, waiting for a sign to come charging in.
It was late afternoon when he was woken from a light slumber by a change in the voices below him. It was the return of the first woman and he watched as she seemed to take on a supervisory role asking questions, pointing to various devices and held a discussion over plans that she unrolled on the large work table. She disappeared into another room with some of the installers and Vin could vaguely see shadows walking back and forth past a window in the far ground floor office.
She came out about an hour later, a tight smile on her face and looked at her watch. She nodded to the men and said something to them. They all visibly relaxed. The work team packed up their equipment and made ready to leave. Vin assumed that meant the security system was now operational. He looked at his watch – it was getting late, and eased himself away from the window. He stretched his arms and legs out then unzipped his bag to check over his weapons.
+ + + + + + +
The system was now fully installed and online. The monitors for the secondary system showed the immediate area outside the front entrance as well as the loading area at the rear. At the touch of a mouse control, each camera angle could be adjusted to show varying views. The loading dock was deserted, as was the narrow street it opened onto. The front entrance showed the usual number of pedestrians walking past on their way home from work. Leigh touched the control and the camera zoomed out to pan the street at a wider angle. The maintenance van was still there though it looked like the workmen were packing up for the day. There were a number of new faces there from the morning. She watched the monitor closely looking for familiar faces along the street. She stopped and zoomed in on one figure in particular – a young man, early 20's - and smiled. Still needs a haircut.
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