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Author: ALEO
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Genre: Gen
Characters: Don, David, Colby, Charlie, Alan, AD Wright
Rating: PG 13+
Warning: some violence
Spoilers: Black Swan 4.13, Backscatter 2.22, One Hour 3.17. Also mention of a character from my fic Wildfire, although it is not necessary to read that first.
Summary: He was bound, he was hooded and he was captive. Cold and sharp, a knife blade was laid against his throat.
Status: Chapter 13 of 15
Wordcount (this chapter): 3072
Total wordcount: ~37,400
Disclaimer: I don't own them, I just borrowed them. Numb3rs and its characters are the property of those that created them. No copyright infringement intended. No financial reward gained. All real places and organisations are used in a fictional sense. Original characters and the storyline are mine however.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
-100-1-10110-1001-100-
“You’re saying some gangster has taken my son?” Alan demanded in horror.
David held up a calming hand, this evening had been rough on the patriarch, on the whole Eppes family. This information would only make it harder. “Santiago-“
“Santiago?” Charlie pounced. “Che Lobo Santiago?”
“One and the same.” David nodded before he brought them up to speed with Colby’s meeting with the gangster.
“You never told us that before.” Charlie’s tone was accusing.
David winced slightly. It hadn’t exactly been planned that they would withhold the information before now, it had just happened that way. Both he and Colby had independently come to the conclusion that it would only worry the family to know of the gangster’s involvement. “I know. Look, that doesn’t matter. What matters is that he rang a few minutes ago and told Colby that Don is with him. He’s asked Colby to go get him.”
“What did Don have to say about all this?”
That was the question he’d been dreading. Reluctantly David had to make the admission. “Nothing. We’ve not spoken to Don yet.”
“But-“ Charlie started but was interrupted before he could go any further.
“Let me get this straight,” Alan started, talking over his youngest. “Don’s been kidnapped a second time and now some criminal claims he’s got my son and wants Colby to meet with him. What does he want?”
“There’s been no demands. Colby has been asked to go and collect Don.”
“Just like that.”
“Just like that.”
“Then we want to go too.” Alan was firm.
“You can’t. The deal is that Colby goes alone.” As the words left his mouth he knew that he had undone much of what he’d just said trying to relieve their fears. They were his fears too but he didn’t want to make things any worse than they were already by letting the two Eppes men know that.
“That doesn’t sound so good.” Charlie commented slowly, shaking his head.
“I know. I’m not thrilled either but it’s what we have.” David finally had to admit. “Look, Colby thinks Santiago is trying to do the right thing but is taking steps to protect himself. Just like he did before.”
Charlie would know what he was talking about. Santiago had accepted the FBI’s help to get his son back, revealing parts of his business that he would have wanted to keep hidden. That had been amply illustrated by the mysterious way that Santiago had been able to raise 3.2 million dollars cash in such a short span of time whilst Colby was with him on the proviso that no questions would be asked or answered. They had kept their side of the deal, their only concern at the time had been to recover the kidnapped boy. Charlie knew that back then, which would only help with understanding the reasons behind the way they were playing this now.
“So we wait.” Charlie said a few moments later after thinking it through.
“We wait.”
-11-1111-1100-10-11001-
As he drove quickly through the streets heading towards the San Antonio Heights area Colby wasn’t sure what he was going to find at the end of his trip. He still felt that his read on Santiago was correct but the doubts expressed by both AD Wright and his own partner, David, had wormed their way into his mind and were refusing to give up without a fight.
His argument that Santiago would see this as a positive bargaining position could just as easily be seen in a very negative light. Santiago could try to use the agent in an attempt to halt the investigation into his affairs. Any move down that path would only fail but could have disastrous consequences for those that got in the way. The two theories were completely opposite but backed by the same set of meagre facts - Don Eppes had been taken by gang-bangers and Che Lobo Santiago claimed to have the agent. On Colby’s side was the fact that Santiago had called him, not only volunteering the information but offering to return said potential bargaining chip apparently without strings. On the negative side was the simple fact of life that criminals don’t try to save cops’ lives, or if they did it came with the expectation of some serious payback.
Though less so than before, Colby was still sure that he was right. As he finally turned into Euclid Crescent, East Euclid he prepared himself for either eventuality.
Pulling to a stop at the gate he waited as a man stepped into sight and shone a flashlight at him through the windshield before it dropped and illuminated the vehicle tags. A moment later the gates swung open and Colby drove slowly through. He’d been here before so he continued up the drive towards the house that was being silhouetted by the increasingly pale sky. At the top he pulled to a stop, leaving the engine idling for a few seconds before resolutely shutting the SUV down. Whatever happened, leaving the engine running wasn’t going to help any.
-100-1111-1110-
The phone in the kitchen rang. Cruz picked up the wireless handset and listened for a moment. “Your ride’s here.”
Don drank the last mouthful of the coffee, he didn’t want that to go to waste, before standing.
Cruz came around the kitchen counter and led the way back to Che Lobo’s office. Once again Ramone brought up the rear. Don shook off the uncomfortable feeling that engendered and strolled along in Cruz’s wake. Upon reaching the record producer’s office he was surprise not to see Guerra.
“He had other matters to attend to.” Che Lobo provided after seeing the agent’s raised eyebrow and glance at the spot Guerra had last been standing.
“I’m sure.” Multiple meanings were clear in his tone.
“Whatever you and he have pending is none of my business.”
The eyebrow again lifted. Interesting. The gangster-slash-record producer was distancing himself from the potential blood debt. By the same token that meant that there would be no restriction placed on any action that Don might take, pre-emptively or otherwise. To be precise there would be no restriction based on the I-saved-your-life-so-you-owe-me-and-mine argument. But still, something was owed.
“Keep a leash on your boy, Che Lobo.”
“My favours for you are done, Agent. Colby is here and you are good to go. If you please?” He’d stood and now waved his arm back out the office in the general direction of the front of the house.
There was enough light now to make out details in the manicured garden surrounding the house, just as he could make out the identity of the driver in the regulation black SUV parked adjacent to the front door.
Colby stepped down, keeping his movements clear and steady but not to the point of being awkward, just telegraphing his moves so there would be no surprises that might upset an overzealous guard. Last time he’d been here there had been more than a few guards keeping a close watch on him. Just because he could only see the one this time didn’t mean anything. He watched with relief as a familiar figure appeared on the steps above him.
“Colb.” The less than formal form of address let the younger agent know that things were actually as they appeared.
“Boss.” Relieved, Colby moved closer as Don and Che Lobo descended the stairs to the asphalt. The lone guard remained at the top. Colby glanced at the man before turning his attention to Santiago. “We good?”
The gangster waved his arm magnanimously. “He’s all yours.”
Risking the anger he’d seen earlier Colby asked the question. “What’s this going to cost us?”
There was no anger this time. “You gave me back my son, I give you back your boss. I still owe you for Joe but this goes some way towards that debt.”
“I understand.”
“The debt is clear.” Don said firmly. This link needed to be severed. It had worked for him in this case but there was to be no more. He was in enough trouble as it was internally in the bureau without having his team so closely connected to a high profile criminal currently under investigation.
“As you wish.”
“Good.” He considered a moment longer then added, “Don’t forget what I said.”
Che Lobo knew exactly what he meant. “Guerra is his own man. He can make his own choices.” With that Che Lobo turned and climbed back up the stairs and in through the front door without a backward glance.
“Boss?” Colby asked in confusion, there was something going on.
“Let’s roll. I think our welcome is done.” The unfriendly glower from the guard and his movement to adjust the sit of the weapon in his belt served to illustrate the point.
It wasn’t until they had cleared the gate and were on their way back down the hill towards Central LA and the Field Office that Colby asked the burning question. “What happened?”
Don responded with one of his own. A nagging worry could now be answered. “Where is Charlie? Is he alright?”
“He’s fine. He’s at the office with Mr Eppes.”
“He wasn’t hurt when I was taken?”
“He only saw taillights disappearing in the distance, he was too late to see what happened to you.”
Don sighed and relaxed in relief. He’d been quietly worried that Charlie may have tried to intervene when he was taken. The kids had never mentioned it which he’d taken to be good news but now he finally knew. He stared out the windshield after running a tired hand down his face. He ignored the not so subtle hint as he really didn’t feel like relating the story more times than he had to. A quick debrief at the Field Office into a digital recorder would do for now, then sleep before he compiled his statement. He rubbed his face, trying to keep himself awake when the relief of being safe was trying to drag him under.
Colby suddenly noticed the shallow cuts on Don’s wrists. “Are you alright? The hospital-“
He looked at his wrists, having forgotten the injuries caused by Ramone’s knife, which served to remind him of his other hurts. Taking a moment to assess himself he found that the warmth from the coffee he’d just drunk had gone some way to easing the pain in his torso. All in all he was remarkably well considering his night. “I’m fine. There’s a first aid kit at the office. That will do.”
“We raided the warehouse where you were being held.” Colby started after the silence had stretched a little. He could see Don was tired but knew it was better if he stayed awake for the next half hour or so that it would take to get back to the office rather than sleep for such a short time and wake even more tired. “We were too late but in the roundup we located a kid.”
“Which one?”
“A Ruiz Cubero. He’s being interviewed now.”
“Don’t know the name.”
“He said that they attacked you.”
“They were after my father.”
“That’s what we figured.”
“How is he?”
“Worried sick. He caught a flight back late last night and we brought him back to the office. He told us there’d been no problems with the community centre. What brought this on?”
“The kids didn’t want to loose their hangout.”
“You’re kidding.” It wasn’t doubt, it was disbelief.
“Yeah.”
He wasn’t sure how he managed it but he was still awake when they finally arrived at the Field Office. The ride up in the elevator seemed to take forever. The doors opened to reveal Charlie and his father waiting in the lobby.
“Don!” Two voices spoke at once.
“Dad, Charlie.” Don responded as he stepped out. He held up his hands as he tried to calm them down as they moved in.
“You’re hurt!” Alan exclaimed reaching for his son’s arms.
“I’m fine. It’s nothing.” He pulled his hands away, having inadvertently showed the cuts on his wrists.
“It doesn’t look like nothing.”
“Dad, I’m good. Really I am.”
It took an hour for him to be patched up, Wright had insisted on paramedics attending to assess his injuries after his refusal to go to the hospital, and debriefed. He kept it brief, giving all the main details of what had happened over the past few hours. All he really wanted to do was go home, shower and sleep.
But first he had some arrangements to make, orders to give and contingency plans put in place. He wished he could leave it until later but Guerra’s sudden disappearance made it all the more urgent. Tired minds did not make the job easy so it was another couple of hours later before he was ready to leave the Field Office.
At long last he stretched out on his own bed in his apartment. It hadn’t been easy convincing his father and brother that he needed to be in his own space, especially when he didn’t want to tell them why, that some gang-banger was likely targeting him and may come for him at any time. But eventually after some last assurances to his family that he was really okay they let it drop as he refused to budge.
Sleep wasn’t long in coming despite the additional hardness of the Glock under his pillow.
It was almost a week later that his family finally learnt the truth of what was going on, a long week in which searches and raids conducted by both Lieutenant Walker’s Gang Taskforce and the FBI had been fruitless. Sure they’d turned up caches of arms and drugs and locked away a good number of gang-bangers. The media and the public loved the sudden crackdown on gang activity. The message that threatening a cop was bad for business was well and truly being made.
But the one they were targeting was still in the wind, not a sniff of him anywhere. They had dug deeply into Guerra’s life in an attempt to track his possible location and in the process confirmed the reason for the tattoo on his face. Guerra’s brother, Arrio Jose Guerra had been killed during a drug raid by an FBI agent just over a month before. Arrio had fired at the agents with a shotgun and came out second best.
The phone call when it came almost caused his heart to stop.
“Don!” Charlie’s anxious voice announced when he answered his cell. “I’ve called campus security. I think there are two people following me.”
“Describe them.” Don snapped as he grabbed his keys and headed for the elevator. A quick lift of his arm and David and Colby were right behind him. He wasn’t taking any chances.
“Male and female, both in their late 20’s.” Charlie replied softly as if he didn’t want to be overheard. Don later found out that he’d been hiding in his office while waiting for security to arrive. “He’s blonde and she’s dark. They’re dressed like students but I’ve never seen them before a couple of days ago. Don, they’ve been in my classes and I’m sure now that they’ve been around wherever I’ve been.”
Relieved, Don relaxed as the lift descended. His heart started beating again. “They’re agents, Buddy.”
“What?”
“Look, I’m on my way. I’ll explain when we get there, alright?”
By the time the agents had made it to the math professor’s office the room was a little crowded. The undercover agents had been challenged by security and were forced to identify themselves to prevent the situation from escalating. Campus security was naturally very jumpy when possibly armed strangers were loitering inside the grounds. Things had spiralled rapidly from there, the Dean was notified along with the chief of security. Charlie had rounded everything out by calling Alan who’d been attending a class at the time. All were waiting when Don and his reduced team turned up.
“I think you have some explaining to do.” Alan started before his eldest son could even open his mouth.
Don held up his hands in an attempt to pacify the group of angry academics and security staff. Not to mention family. “Alright. I’m currently investigating some gang related activity and a threat has been made against me.” He started his explanation for the campus staff, wanting to mollify them and have them on their way before he told the rest to his family.
The agent continued. “While I don’t think that extends to my family their identity is quite well known and it was felt best to place some agents on them for their own security.” He dialled a number and spoke briefly into his phone. A moment later two more agents dressed as students made their way into the room. They were assigned to Alan.
Alan realised this the moment they walked in and was a little disturbed that he hadn’t even been aware he’d been followed. He opened his mouth to speak but the Dean was already responding to his son’s explanation.
“That doesn’t excuse placing armed agents on campus without notifying us. What if a student had noticed them?”
Don ran his expert eye over the four agents, even he found it difficult to spot their weapons. He doubted a student would have a clue that these ‘students’ were armed. The Dean did have a point however, normal procedure dictated that he should have been advised. “You’re right. I should have contacted you but this needed to be kept as quiet as possible.”
“I appreciate that. But in future I expect a notification or you will find your agents and their charges out on the sidewalk and barred from campus for the duration. Am I clear?”
“Yes, Sir.” He received a sharp, angry nod from the Dean before he and campus security filed out.
Alan turned to his son. “What about you? Where are your guards if you’ve been threatened?”
Don glanced at David and Colby.
Alan grunted, he should have expected that. His son had come up with excuse after excuse all week to avoid visiting them. This was obviously why. “So what’s the full story?”
The agent sighed and explained the situation around Guerra’s blood debt and that he’d been marked as a likely target for the gang-banger’s revenge, a threat that both he and bureau were taking very seriously.
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