Setting: ATF Universe
Page 5
Buck pulled up to the command center and quickly donned his gear. Captain McGillis recognized him and quickly got to his side.
"What do we have, Cap?" Buck asked.
"We found three... I need you to head over to the parking facility. Dunne and Jackson are looking for Tanner."
"How long since he checked in?"
"Almost thirty minutes... Get moving and keep me posted."
Buck took off, moving quickly through the concrete driveway and towards the parking area. He was about to head to the elevator, when he stopped, seeing the unmistakable shape of the Texan. He was far below and to the side, at the exit of the fourth level of the parking garage.
"What the hell is he doing?" Buck said aloud, watching Vin sitting on a concrete wall, a little to still. He was about to call to the sharpshooter, when his gaze caught movement far to the right. His heart nearly stopped when he saw a large man carrying J.D.'s body towards a white van with a catering logo on the side.
"J.D.!" Buck screamed, waving frantically at Vin. "Vin... Vin... Shit!" he hissed, pushing his comm-link and calling Tanner. "Vin, there's a white Van heading right at you... they got J.D. Vin get your ass in gear!" Buck screamed, running down the long, winding drive. "Cap, did you copy that?"
"Yeah... we're on it Buck..." He barked, ordering a net drawn to the exits and backup to the fourth level.
Vin blinked and peeled his eyes open, sighing heavily. He shook his head, trying to clear the ringing in his ears. A concrete wall and the smell of oil and gas surrounded him. Where was he? What happened? His eyes slid shut again and he jerked himself awake. Why was he so tired? Why was he on the ground? He grunted and pushed himself upright, staggering to combat the lightheadedness. He managed to get to the sunlight, finding a small section of a wall and fell on it. He was wheezing and his head felt like it was full of oatmeal. He kept opening his eyes wide and letting them slide shut, trying to combat the awful feeling.
"s'wrong..." he slurred, his thick tongue blocking the words as they fought forth. His head moved when a blur of white caught his side vision. A car... van... turkey... wine... he tried to focus on the picture on the side. The window peeled down and he pulled himself to his feet.
"Vin!" Buck screamed, as the van slowed to a stop near the still unmoving agent. He watched Vin approach the window and pushed harder. His lungs screaming and a pain splitting his side. He swallowed wrong and a coughing fit ensued, slowing him down. He rounded the curving drive and towards the fouth level.
"How you doing?" Kennedy asked the dazed man, who looked stoned out of his mind. "We're done with our delivery. Okay if we go?"
"Huh?" Vin blinked, his thick tongue moving slowly. He swayed as the awful dizziness returned. It was hard to hear over the ringing in his ears.
"Can we leave?" Kennedy asked, pointing to the exit behind Tanner.
"Leave? Yeah..." Vin replied, totally bewildered. He saw the man's arm extending from the window and reached for it.
"Thanks, Man... Good Luck." Kennedy gripped the agent's hand, fully aware of the camera on the ceiling behind the stricken agent.
Vin watched the van pull onto the deserted road to his left and disappear under the overhang.
He continued to stare for several minutes, until a shrieking colletion of words penetrated the fog.
"What the fuck is the matter with you?" Buck screamed, grabbing Vin's collar and shoving him hard."Those bastards just drove off with J.D..."
"J.D.?" Vin rasped, blinking at the image of a dark-haired youth then turned his muddled head towards the empty driveway.
"Cap... they went right by Vin and took the utility road... copy?" Buck hollered into the comm-link.
"Got it Buck, we'll try to catch 'em before they hit the interstate. Did you get a plate?"
"Negative..." Buck reported, glaring at Vin. He growled and gripped Vin by his collar again and shoved him hard. "Did you know what you just did? You signed J.D.'s death warrant, you stupid..." Buck froze when he realized they were still missing an agent. "Where's Nathan?" He screamed, pulling the silent agent back into the enclosed lot. He cast his eyes around, as Vin mumbled.
"I... uh... Nate?" Vin tried to absorb Buck's wrath. The words slowly formed into a cognitive thought. Somebody took J.D. and drove by him. He winced as Buck's rampage continued
"Yeah!" Buck grilled, eyes bulging, face red with anger. "Nate and J.D were looking for you. You've been out of contact for over a half hour. Dammit Vin, I..." Buck's heart nearly stopped when he spotted a slow stream of blood, running from between two cars. "Jesus... Nate!"
Vin jerked as Buck's bellow filled his world. He staggered after the larger man, his heart pounding frantically.
"Aw, hell..." Buck hissed, dropping by the stricken agent's side. "Nate? Nate? Please..." He prayed, his fingers searching for a pulse. "Thank God... " he sighed, pushing his comm-link. "Cap... I got a man down... I need a wagon, stat... he's hit in the side and losing a lot of blood. I'm in the fourth level, thirty feet from the turnoff, behind a red sportscar."
"On it's way, Buck, ETA three minutes..."
"Nate... hold on..." Buck willed, pressing his hands against the wound on the agent's lower abdomen. He saw legs shuffling and looked up seeing Vin's bewildered expression.
"...Nate?" Vin looked at the dusty complesion and the large amount of blood. He moved to kneel down, but the fire shooting out of Buck's eyes stopped him stopped him cold.
"I'd say you've done enough." Buck didn't hide the revulsion in his voice. "You let some bastard cart J.D. away and you left Nathan in here... he damn near bled to death... Where the hell were you?"
"I don't... can't recall... I'm sorry..." Vin was barely able to talk, the full effect of Buck's words took hold of his insides and turned them to icy shards, ripping violently through his body.
"Sorry ain't gonna cut it this time," Buck growled, "Get out of my sight."
Vin backed up as the ambulance screamed nearby and a police car followed. The blue and red lights made a strange pattern on the gray walls, almost mezmerizing. He felt them brush past him and watched through a cloud as Nate was tended to and loaded into the wagon, Buck at his side. The older agent never gave him a second glance.
"Candy?" he said distractedly, watching a policman lifting the still dog.
"She's okay... I'm gonna get her to the vet."
Vin started to follow, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. "Nuh-uh," a voice behind him halted. "Captain McGillis wants to talk to you... let's go."
Vin sighed and followed the well-muscled officer, carefully trying to maintain his balance. The ringing in his ears wasn't as bad, but he as dizzy and confused. He tried to remember why he was here. Bomb. One word but it helped to fill the gaps. He'd been with Candy looking for bombs... but that's all he could recall. He slid out from the backseat of the patrol car, once they reached the base camp. He didn't have to hear the irate police chief's voice to know he was furious. His eyes were glowing and his face red.
"Tanner! What the hell happened?" McGillis screamed.
Vin shrank back and swallowed, trying desperately to find the words that would fill the horrid gap. He swallowed hard as the large body moved closer, forcing him against the rear of the car.
"Well?" The angry captain bellowed, towering over the shaken smaller man. "I'm waiting... You better have some answers, Son, because you're in deep shit."
The arsonist had struck twice before over the span of three weeks. The profile called up past incidents in Philadelphia, Seattle, St. Louis and Memphis. If the pattern held true, he'd strike at a chemical company. They had an idea of what he looked like, from a man whose likeness was found at fires all four cities. Mid-forties, caucasian, forty to fifty, athletic dark hair and blue eyes. The best photo they had from St. Louis, revealed a missing digit on the third finger of his left hand.
"Hell, this guy looks like half of Denver," Josiah complained, searching the plaza next to the Harte Chemical Corporation. "Ezra, you got anything?"
"Negative, however I must say you cut a handsome figure. Not everyone would be able to wear red and white stripes so well."
"Shut up, Ezra..." Josiah complained, eyeing a group of workers headed towards his food cart. The hot dogs and saurkraut, hot sausage and peppers and deli sandwiches were ready to go. Ezra was across the broad plaza, reading a newspaper on a bench. "You could at least have the decency to sweat, Ezra..." The preacher hissed, wiping his brow.
"A gentlemen does not 'sweat'," Ezra drolled, turning the page and raising an eyebrow at the toiling agent.
"I got a customer at three o'clock," Josiah drilled, wiping his face and using the motion to point his tongs. Ezra nodded and casually rose, walking slowly towards a man who looked just like the one in the grainy photos. Chris was thirty feet to the side of the man and moved when he heard Josiah's call. He moved forward slowly, using the black glasses and red tipped cane to his advantage. He spotted the man's hand slipping in his pocket and moved quickly.
"Hey watch where you're going!"
"I'm sorry..." Chris apologized, stumbling into the man and sending them both to the ground. His eyes flew to the left hand.
"Oh... I didn't realize..."
"May I be of assistance?" Ezra knelt down and watched Chris's hand slip into the man's pocket.
"Yeah, you can read this fucker his rights!" Chris jerked off the glasses and held up a detonater. "Packer, Willis... we got 'im."
"You arresting the wrong person. I'm the victim of their careless attitude... their killing us all with their pollutants. You'll be sorry... you'll regret this day... chemicals kill..."
"Guess you'll find out soon enough, they mix up a real nice cocktail on death row," Chris relayed, thinking on the five fatalities associated with the bomber.
The area was invaded by a mixture of vehicles, all bearing flashing lights. Chris watched them lead the cuffed man off, still spewing threats.
"Nice work," the police captain noted, approaching Chris.
"Thanks, Dan," Chris replied, then saw the hesitation in the man's face. "Something wrong?"
"Yeah, we just got a call, there was a bomb scare at the airport, three of your team we're called in this morning as backup. They were searching the parking facility..."
"...and..." Chris pressed, Ezra and Josiah next to him were equally concerned.
"One of them was kidnapped and one wounded..."
"Shit!" Chris punched the top of a metal trashcan and kicked it as well. "What happened?"
"I'm afraid it gets worse..."
"Oh Christ," Chris's face drained of all color, "...dead?"
"No, Agent Jackson was seriously wounded, but expected to recover. Agent Dunne was taken away and the other agent is being detained by Captain McGillis for his questionable behavior."
"Define questionable," Ezra asked angrily.
"That's something for Captain McGillis to answer. He's still at the scene with your man."
"Josiah, you and Ezra get over to the hospital, I'll go talk to Vin." Chris suggested, "Stay with Rain until I get there, she'll be shook up."
"Okay, Boss," Josiah left, Ezra in tow.
Buck paced the small waiting area, phone pressed to his ear. He was waiting for the police to update him. A van matching the description of the one that fled the scene was spotted across town. He'd already contacted the F.B.I. and they were on the case. Two agents appeared at the hospital, waiting to take his statement and Nathan's.
"Yeah... I'm still here," Buck stopped pacing as the voice finally came back on. "Okay, thanks, keep me posted." Buck flipped the phone off. "Shit..." Before he could take a breath, the phone rang. "Hello..."
"Talk to me, Buck..." Chris said, having heard from the brief call to Steve Harris, one of McGillis's men, that Buck was involved. "What happened?"
"I'll tell you what happened." Buck roared. "Vin damn near got Nate killed and J.D... hell he might be dead already. They drove right past him, he even fuckin' shook the driver's hand."
"What?"
"You don't believe me... watch the tape..." Buck paused, "I saw him, Chris... he just sat there. I screamed at him... I saw that bastard carrying J.D. to a white catering van. I warned him, told him they were coming at him. He shook the guy's hand, and let him go! Then I got down there and Nate's lying just behind him... bleedin' the hell all over." Buck paused, hearing the forced breathing and nothing else on the other end. "He ain't your fair-haired boy anymore... he blew this one big time. If J.D. dies, he's gonna pay..."
Chris heard the venom in Buck's voice, and attributed his emotional reaction to the close bond he held with J.D. He didn't want to think of what might happen to Buck if J.D. did turn up dead. There was something very wrong with the picture, but Buck was too close to see it.
"How bad's Nate?" He asked, eyeing the turnoff at the airport.
"In surgery," Buck gritted, "...he lost a lot of blood... bullet's in his gut... it don't look good."
"Is Rain there?"
"No, McGillis said he'd get on of his men to bring her over."
"Okay, Josiah and Ezra are on their way."
"...and you're not?" Buck asked, voice rising a pitch. He heard the distinctive sounds of airplanes taking off and lost his cool. "Well I guess you just showed your true colors."
"Buck..." Chris's response was dialtone. "Shit..." He pulled up and approached the staked off area, flipping his badge to gain entrance.
"Bill... What happened?" he asked the senior investigator.
"Take a look," McGillis replied tersely, pointing to a video moniter in the back of the large police van.
"Where's Vin?" Chris stepped inside and looked around, but didn't see Tanner anywhere.
"I'll get him." The irate detective issued and left.
Chris watched the video carefully, concentrating the first time on Vin only. The second time, he watched the man enter the image carrying an unconscious J.D. over his shoulder. He was tossed into a white van with a turkey and other food items on it. The van pulled out and approached Vin, who never noticed it. He winced when Vin approached the van and talked with the driver, then shook his hand and the van disappeared onto the utility road. He closed his eyes and pinched his fingers on the bridge of his nose.
"Anything on the van?" He asked, turning slightly as McGillis returned.
"We found one abandoned in an alley downtown," McGillis replied, "We're dusting it. The back was empty, but there were traces of blue fabric that might be from Dunne's jacket. There was blood in there too..."
Chris's mouth formed a grim line as his eye met Vin's. The first thing he saw was pain... deep and profound in the blue eyes, which stood out against the pale skin.
"Are you okay, Vin?"
"...m'fine..." Vin mumbled, eyeing the image on the screen behind Chris. "How's Nate? Nobody'll tell me anythin'."
"He's in surgery, bullet's in his gut," Christ answered. "What happened Vin?"
"I don't know, Chris." Vin stared hard at his best friend.
The words didn't effect him as much as the hopeless look in Vin's eyes. Defeat was riding high in the emotive blues and it wounded Chris. "What can you remember?"
"Candy found somethin' under the rear tires of a red car. I bent down t'look and she fell over. She had a dart in her... somebody hit me. Next thing I recall is Buck screamin' at me, grippin' m'shirt."
"Vin, can you explain that?" Chris pointed to the image of the agent talking to and shaking hands with the kidnappers. "You realize J.D. was in the back?"
"No..." Vin whispered. "I was mixed up... dizzy... m'ears was ringing... I was real confused... I'm sorry, Chris." Vin hushed, his insides aching.
"I'm taking him to the hospital to get checked out. It sounds like he was drugged... which would support his disorientative state in the video."
"This isn't over, Larabee," McGillis interjected.
"It is for now," Chris moved past the commander, "Wait by the car, Vin." He gave a tug to the shaken man's shoulder and waited until the shaggy head disappeared. Then he turned back to the leader of the bomb squad. "He's looks awful," Chris drilled, "Did it ever occur to you that he was drugged? That this whole thing was a setup?"
"What occurs to me is that he was missing for thirty minutes. His comm-link was fine... he never responded to Dunne and Jackson calling to him, or to Wilmington when he got to the scene. That video told me what I needed. I'm recommending suspension pending the outcome of the investigation."
"Don't threaten me or any member of my team," Chris issued sternly, flicking a slow gaze before retreating.
Vin was in the care when he got there. Vin didn't saw a word on the short ride to the hospital. Chris noticed him squirming and wincing.
"Did you hurt your back?"
"...no..." Vin lied, settling back despite the pain. No matter what position he placed his body in, the pain in his back flared up. He didn't mind... it couldn't compare to the pain in his gut. Try as he may, he couldn't get the image of Nate's blood pooling on the concrete. How long had the agent being lying there? Why didn't he look for Nate and J.D.? Why was he talking to the kidnappers? He swallowed hard and clenched his eyes shut, trying to push the blood away.
"Vin?"
He jumped as Chris touched his shoulder. He realized they'd stopped and Chris was holding the door open. He slid out, pulling the ATF jacket closer, despite the hot air.
"I want a doctor to look at you. I think you may have been drugged." Chris spoke as they approached the elevator. Vin nodded once and followed him inside.
The first thing he was aware of was wetness. His nose twitched and the musty scent of mold and mildew surrounded him. He peeled and eye open and looked around, slowly moving his tongue around his dry mouth. He wasn't tied up and yet he couldn't move. He blinked and forced his eyes open, eyeing the dank basement. Old furniture, broken lampshades and piles of newpapers were in his field of vision. He was lying on a concrete floor and raised his head gingerly. This was a decision he immediately regretted. Pain slammed into his head and forced him back down. His mind wandered, trying to put the pieces together. He remembered arriving at the airport, searching for a bomb and... and...
"Oh God," he croaked, his voice like sandpaper, "Nate..." The vision of the bullet slamming into his partner left him cold. Was Nate dead? What happened to Vin? Was he here too? "Vin... Vin... are you here? Is anybody here? Help! Help!"
Nobody answered his cries and the more he moved, the worse the pain became. He rolled onto his side and managed to get on his hands and knees, then forced his legs to work. It was a decent sized room, but half of it was full of clutter. A cot, chair and table were in the cleared area he was in. He stood on the chair and peeked out the barred windows. Trees... and dirt... out of the city... the color of the dirt told him that. What the hell was going on? He slid back down and sat on the cot. The close wall of heat forced him to remvoe his jacket. He fingers traced a small cut over his eye and he sighed in frustration. The brief bit of movement left his dizzy and he fought back the urge to pass out. He curled up on the cot, laying down restored his equilibrium. Lying in the musty cellar, not knowing who his captors were or their intent, left J.D. Dunne feeling totally powerless.
She stood for a moment, eyes glued to the large amount of blood scoring his clothing. Her chin quivered and a small sob snuck out. In an instant, the body moved and she allowed herself to let go.
Buck grabbed her as her knees buckled. "Easy, now... he's strong... the doctor thinks he'll pull through this fine."
"Buck..." Rain sobbed against the broad shoulder. "I can't lose him... I... I yelled at him this morning for drinking milk from the carton. I can't remember if I spoke to him after that."
Buck got a soft chuckle from the pretty woman's worry. It was the kind of thing you'd dwell on. He frowned, thinking just yesterday he balled out J.D. twice. "Don't you worry about that, Honey. He knows you love him, it's on his face every time he mentions your name."
"What did they say? How long has he been gone? How bad was the wound?"
Buck eyed the clock which read one-thirty p.m. "It's only been about an hour and a half. It's in his gut. I don't much more than that. He lost blood, they transfused him. His vitals were good."
"Gut wounds are bad..." she said from experience, wiping her eyes. "I'm sorry, Buck."
"For what?" He tipped her face up and wiped away a stray tear. "He's gonna be fine. If I had a wife as pretty as you waitin' for me, I'd climb back from Hell naked." He declared, gaining the smile he hoped for.
"Buck, How's he doing?" Josiah entered the room and embraced Rain.
"Still in surgery..." Buck said, shaking his head behind Rain and wiggling his hand to indicate that it was touch and go.
"Come on, Honey, let's get some coffee. He'll be in there awhile."
"Okay," Rain sighed, letting the kind-hearted preacher lead her away.
"The van has been located," Ezra updated, "The fabric swatch is the same material as J.D.'s jacket and the blood type matched. He's still alive."
"You can't be sure..." Buck vented, not angry at Ezra but needing somebody to thrash.
"There is no logical reason to remove a corpse and carry it with you. If they wanted him dead, they would have killed him in the garage. They are holding him for a purpose. He is very much alive."
Ezra spotted Vin entering the room, just behind Chris. The leader stopped in the hallway, embracing Rain and speaking with her. Ezra moved, but not fast enough. Buck was a blur as he moved past, Vin never had a chance.
With every floor they rose on the elevator, the pain got worse. He was barely able to move by the time they exited. He kept one foot in front of the other, seeking relief. He eyed the row of plastic chairs and frowned. He turned to speak with Chris, he wasn't sure if his legs would carry him any further. He didn't hear the irate voice, by the time his body met the wall, he was already gone.
"You son-of-a-bitch!" Buck screamed, lifting Vin and slamming him into the wall.
"Buck... don't..." Ezra tried in vain, only to be rebuffed by an elbow to his midsection.
"Buck, let go... Buck let 'im go..." Josiah tried to pry the fists from the blue lapels of the jacket.
"What the hell did you do?" Chris growled, eyeing Vin's prone body sliding down the wall. Buck's fists were the only thing keeping him upright. "Get off of him, Buck! He's unconscious..."
Buck finally saw through the red wall in front of his eyes. He uncurled his fingers, eyeing Vin's stilled face. He backed off, letting Josiah lead him away.
"I'm fine..." he issued, breaking the large man's grasp.
"Vin? Vin?" Chris tapped his face.
Ezra appeared with a nurse, who motioned to a room nearby. "Follow me..."
Ezra and Chris carried Vin into the room and took his jacket off. Chris ran to get a doctor, while Ezra unbuttoned Vin's shirt and removed it, so the nurse could take his blood pressure and examine him. He wasn't prepared for the grisly sight that met his stunned eyes. Neither was the nurse, whose hands froze inches from the bed.
"Oh My God..." Ezra's shock and revulsion was evident in his speech and his face. He moved from the room, dimly aware of Chris and the doctor. He grabbed Buck and forced him to his feet, by now his anger was boiling over.
"What are you doing?" Buck jerked his arm free.
"Illuminating your narrow mind..." Ezra growled, shoving Buck towards the door. "I trust that should answer any lingering questions."
Buck froze, screwing his face up in horror. His mouth went dry and he looked past Chris's hand on Vin's shoulder. He vaguely was aware of the look of paralyzing agony on Chris's face, which quickly turned to molten anger. He saw the dangerous glow in the green eyes as they met his own shocked ones.
"Satisfied, Buck?" Chris seethed, not relinquishing his grip on Vin.
"Jesus..." Buck gasped, running a hand over his face, unable to get the gruesome sight from his eyes.
Buck remained frozen in place, his eyes drawn to the gruesome display marring Vin's Tanner's flesh. A cotton cloth, perhaps four by eight inches, was attached to the sharpshooter's back, bearing a message written in blood. His mind traveled back in time to the garage and he heard his cruel words echoing loudly. They swirled around a brief glimpse of Vin's confused eyes and caused his own to clench shut.
"What do we have?" The doctor asked, peering down at the grisly display. "How long was he unconscious?"
"He just blacked out a few minutes ago," Chris supplied, reluctantly moving away to give the doctor more room. "But he lost about a half-hour earlier..."
"Most likely when the barbaric individual responsible did that," Ezra's stomach churned.
"It looks like they used a staple gun," Chris said of the half dozen metal clamps buried in Vin's upper back. "He didn't feel it, at least not until about twenty minutes ago," he reflected on Vin squirming in the car.
"...and earlier?" The doctor asked, lifting Vin's eyes and flashing a light in them. The nurse was drawing blood samples, while the doctor continued his examination. "...there's a lump back here," his fingers moved over the base of Tanner's skull.
"Somebody clubbed him, he was on a bomb detail at the airport, out of contact for thirty minutes. When he was visible again, he was dazed, very confused, dizzy, disoriented and he said his ears were ringing."
Buck frowned and cursed himself inwardly. How come he hadn't seen that? Vin wouldn't let anything happen to Nate or J.D. He couldn't tear his eyes from the blood marks on Vin's discarded shirt. He thought on the incident a few months back, when another bloody Tanner shirt met his pained gaze. How Vin easily dismissed his guilt. Now the situation reversed and he hadn't been as receptive.
"He uh... was slurring his words..." Buck noted quietly, feeling the eyes of the other's on him.
"I'd say they used lidocaine on him, the symptoms you mentioned are often side effects. His vitals are strong, I don't think they'll be any lingering residual effects. His tetnus is up to date?"
"Yeah." Chris nodded.
"Well then I'll remove these and clean up his wounds. I'm ordering some xrays, just to make sure his head injury isn't serious. Most likely a very minor concussion. I don't think they'll be an infection, but I'll hold him over for observation, just to be on the safe side."
"Thanks Doc," Chris nodded, then rested a hand on the physician's sleeve, when he picked up a silver instrument. "That's evidence... the only thing we have. An agent is missing and another was wounded. The F.B.I. is just outside, they'll need to see it."
"Okay, make it quick." The impatient physician agreed.
"What's up, Chris?" Dave Kominski, a senior F.B.I. agent addressed the ATF leader as he entered the room. "Jesus, what kind of sick fuck are we dealing with?" His eyes narrowed as he took in the bizarre message scrawled in blood. "I'll need photos..."
"I got a camera in the car," Josiah said from behind Buck in the doorway, "I'll be right back,"
The nurse jiggled the tubes of Vin's blood and Buck moved away, seeking refuge at the window. He stared out on to the sunny afternoon, wondering where J.D. was. How bad was he hurt? Was he still alive? He thought on Nate fighting a battle in the OR and glanced at Rain, talking quietly with Ezra. Josiah went by with his camera and disappeared into the room.
"Buck Wilmington, six six five one, Buck Wilmington six six five one..."
Buck moved when the intercom announced a call for him. The closest phone was the one in the room Vin was lying in. He moved just inside the door, picked the phone up and punched in the numbers.
"Wilmington."
"I trust Agent Tanner delivered my message for you."
"What?" Buck's stomach dropped to his feet. The voice was synthesized and tinny.
"Little Boy Blue who's shown no remorse, the lost lamb is waiting but soon for a corpse."
Buck shoved Josiah aside and read the ghoulish crimson lettering on the cloth still attached by metal teeth to Vin's flesh. It was identical, word for word. "You fuckin' animal," Buck screamed, drawing the attention of those present. "There won't be enough left of you to fit on a postage stamp when I get done with you."
Chris moved to Buck's side and the tall agent moved the phone, so both men could hear.
"Temper, temper, Buck... you wouldn't want young Dunne to suffer the consequences of your wrath."
"How do I know he's alive?" Buck asked, paling at the thought of his best friend in the clutches of a madman.
"Of course he's still alive!" the artificial voice sounded wounded, "What good would he be dead? That's no fun..."
"Let him go, you coward, it's me you want." Buck pleaded.
"All in good time, the game has just begun. Give Agent Tanner my best, he was so helpful today."
"You fuckin' bastard, I'm gonna... shit!" Buck slammed the phone down, hearing dial tone on the otehr end. He moved from the room, needed air. Suddenly the smells and sounds of a busy hospital turned his stomach. His long legs took him to the stairs and to relief.
"Buck!"
"Let him go, Josiah," Chris halted the well meaning preacher. "He's gotta cool down."
A little while later, Dave Kominski appeared carrying the two sample bags. "I'll put a rush on it, Chris..."
"Thanks Dave," Chris nodded and returned to the room. The doctor was swabbing Vin's back with an antiseptic. As soon as he finished stitching, the nurse applied bandages.
"I'll contact admissions and let you know what room he'll be in," she said, as an orderly appeared. "Right now he's going to get some x-rays."
"Okay, thanks..." Chris nodded, giving Vin's shoulder a pat as he rolled by.
The hours dragged on, Josian remained at the hospital with Rain. Ezra stayed with Vin, just in case the person responsible made another appearance. Chris returned to the crime scene, going over it step by step with the F.B.I team. Josiah called to say that Nate made it through surgery and was listed as stable but critical. He was in ICU. Chris was in the van watching the tape again, when his cell phone rang.
"Larabee."
"Agent Kominski called, the Lab results are back," Ezra said quietly from Vin's bedside. "The blood on the message was the same type as Vin's. Undoubtedly from his excursion earlier this week."
"Yeah..." Chris nodded, thinking on Vin's missing hours before he was found so sick. "Did his blood work turn up anything?"
"No. I mentioned the incident to the doctor, but there are dozens of drugs that could have done that, or it could have been food poisoning. His x-rays were negative."
"He awake?"
"I was told he was during his xrays, but he's been sleeping since he returned."
"Okay," Chris sighed, eyeing the approaching hour of five p.m. "Anything from Buck?"
"He's at the office, going over old cases."
"Okay, get him on the phone. We'll meet at the hospital and go over what we have."
"Will do," Ezra complied hanging the phone up. He eyed the body curled on his side and frowned. "Would you like a drink?"
"How'd you know?" Vin rasped, peeling his eyes open.
"As a veteran of your bedside vigils, certain things are always apparent. You lick your lips, wrinkle your nose, furrow your brows, then peel an eye open." Ezra moved closer, handing Vin a cup with a straw.
Vin pushed the red button and allowed the bed to rise. He made the mistake of easing onto his back and yelped, balling his hand into a fist. A white hot pain shot up his back, taking his breath away.
"It might be best to remain on your side." Ezra noted, watching the water disappear.
"How's Nate?" Vin managed, between clenched teeth.
"In ICU, stable for now. The doctor is very confident he'll recover. The bullet nicked his intenstine but did little damage. He's lost quite a bit of blood." He saw the shadows of guilt appear as Vin turned his face away.
"That serves no purpose. You had no idea he was wounded, therefore, you bear no blame."
"Easier said than done..." Vin replied, "Anythin' on J.D.?"
"No, the van was found abandoned across town. There was a phone message that matched..." he paused as Vin looked up at him.
"Matched what?" Vin said warily, reading Ezra's eyes.
"The back pain you're experiencing was caused by a message that was stapled on a cloth there."
"Aw shit..." Vin curled up, pulling the sheet up. His mind began spinning, trying to find something, anything... but all he saw was Buck's irate face. "Bucklin..."
"Is taking this very hard. The message was for him. The caller alluded to his guilt in some previous encounter."
"What'd it say?"
"Little Boy Blue who's shown no remorse, the lost lamb is waiting but soon for a corpse."
"Sick bastards..."
"An apt description."
"Hell... with all the felons Buck's put away..."
"Quite..." Ezra agreed, "The nurse said if you roused, you were to eat a dinner tray."
"Ain't hungry..." Vin denied, still seeing J.D.'s body on the tape.
"That won't do either of you any good. How about a compromise? A light tray, broth or a sandwich?"
"Yeah, okay..." Vin blinked, rattling his empty cup. "...m'stomach's wavin'... scare up a coke?"
"Certainly." Ezra disappeared, leaving Vin to stare at the beige walls of the room and play the tape over again in his mind.
When Buck arrived it was almost seven p.m. He went to ICU first, just missing the visiting hours, which were from six p.m. to seven p.m. He managed to get a glimpse of the unconscious agent through the small window in the door. He looked awful and Rain looked exhausted. He eyed the hours listed on the door and made note to be here at one p.m.the next day.
He thought on Ezra's message for the meeting. It made sense, to brainstorm and go over what they had. Erza hadn't mentioned where they'd meet, so Buck headed for the elevator. The lady at the desk in the lobby looked up Vin's room for him. He padded down the hall and peeked inside. Ezra's back was to him, the southerner was staring out a window. Vin was lying on his side, his eyes dulled with pain. He wasn't aware he was being observed and didn't hide the grimace on his face. Buck watched nervously as Vin shifted several times, trying to find a comfortable spot. He saw the staples embedded in Vin's flesh again and heard his harsh words at the airport. As he was thinking on what to say, Vin turned and spotted him. Their eyes met and neither said a word.
Vin saw Buck and still felt the sting of the other's cruel words at the airport. He knew Buck was upset, kneeling in Nate's blood while J.D. was being carted away was reason enough. But it hurt, it hurt a lot and he wasn't ready to feel good about it yet. So he nodded slightly and turned his head, away from Buck's penetrating gaze.
Buck swallowed hard and accepted the hard line on Vin's face. He couldn't blame him, but he hoped in time, Vin would forgive him. He slipped in the door and remained near the wall. Five minutes later, Josiah and Chris arrived. The preacher was carrying a file and Chris had a large envelope. He paused in front on Buck and looked at him hard.
"You okay now? I need you head, Buck."
"Yeah, I'm sorry, Chris."
"Okay," Chris nodded, moving to the bed. He deposited the large envelope on Vin's tray and sat on the edge of the bed. "The nurse said you refused the painkillers?"
"Don't need 'em... "
"You tryin' to convince us or yourself?" Chris asked, seeing the unmistakable lines of pain on the younger man's face. "Vin, somebody nailed metal into your hide... that hurts... hurts like a bitch. I did once by accident in my barn. Put one in my thigh... "
"I'm fine... leave me be..." Vin said harshly. His back did hurt like a bitch and he didn't want to be compliant. He wanted them gone... he didn't want to feel the sympathic eyes bearing down on him.
"Fine." Chris got up, realizing Vin had shut him out. "But know this, I got one agent down and one missing. I need you on this one, so you're gonna take that fuckin' painkiller and get some sleep tonight. Are we clear on that?" He stared hard until Vin nodded, then cast his eyes the other way.
"Okay, what we have is an unknown person or persons who have a vendetta against Buck. The words on Vin's back were his blood type, most likely taken when..." Chris opened the envelope and drew some photo's out of the van at the airport.
"Blood?" Vin's head turned, his eyes wide. "Whaddya mean blood? It was written... in my blood?" He watched Chris nod once and turned his face away again, shoving it in the pillow.
"...when you were missing three days ago."
"Where's the note?" Vin said, pulling himself upright and facing the group.
"Here's a picture." Josiah handed the color photo to Vin, whose face turned ashen when he saw it.
"Little Boy Blue whose shown no remorse, the lost lamb is waiting but soon for a corpse." Josiah read. "Let's break it down..."
"Little Boy Blue..." Ezra mused, "Blue refers to a officer of the law, a.k.a. a man in blue..."
"Little Boy..." Josiah noted, "Young Agent... rookie... uh... an early case?"
"Good." Chris nodded, "the lamb is J.D."
"He better not be the corpse..." Buck hissed, moving closer to the circle near Vin's bed.
"The corpse is not Mr. Dunne." Ezra denied. "It says 'waiting for a corpse' refering to someone else."
"Me?" Buck guessed, "He's gonna make J.D. watch? Shit..." he raked a hand through his hair.
"The truck?" Vin asked.
"Stolen. Nothing we could use..."
"You know Chris," Josiah said, thinking on Vin's disappearance. "Vin's message to Buck that day came from the File Room. He said he saw somebody..."
"Which means there's a strong possibility that someone working within the confines of the Federal building is involved?" Ezra ascertained.
"So who do we trust?" Buck asked.
"The same ones we always do," Chris slid the photo's taken from the video image at the airport out. He eyed each face in the group carefully, before finishing his thought, "... us..."
"Vin, you saw the driver close up. Anything?" Chris asked, as Vin furrowed his brows.
"...I go from seein' Candy with that dart in 'er... to Buck screamin' at me... sorry..."
"Unfortunately the airport's surveillance camera's aren't meant for close ups. We blew up the image of the man talking to Vin... but got nothing. Same with the shot of him toting J.D. Only that's he tall and muscular."
"This didn't start with Vin..." Buck said, "This started with Frank..."
"That's a long shot Buck," Josiah appraised, "Why would they kill Frank and stop?"
"Josiah's got a point," Chris agreed, sitting in a chair and eyeing Vin biting his lip in pain. "The voice on the phone mentioned 'the game' whoever it is, wants to lure Buck in slowly. They've taken too many pains to make it work out... too much detail. Frank's death doesn't fit the profile."
"Maybe... but I still think it might be a link."
"Ezra, did the F.B.I. come up with anything on parolees?" Chris asked.
"They're working on it, eighteen years worth of cases is a long list of cretins to uncover."
"Okay, Josiah, did you talk to Rain?" Chris asked, "I don't want her staying alone. Not with a nut out there."
"The F.B.I. is assigning her someone," Josiah nodded, watching Vin's discomfort growing. "I'll stay and keep Brother Vin company."
"Okay," Chris nodded, "How 'bout it Vin?"
"Reckon it's a touch uncomfortable..."
"Just a touch?" Chris repeated, seeing the hands clutching the sheets in a death grip. "You get some sleep, I'll be by to pick you up in the morning. I pushed the F.B.I. briefing off until the day after. You go home tomorrow and get some rest."
"Get some rest?" Vin hissed, moving to fast and unleashing the pain. "J.D.'s God-knows-where and Nate's got tubes runnin' in 'im in ICU... How the fuck am I gonna rest?"
"You're gonna rest because I need you working on this team." Chris drilled sternly. "You'll be a lot of pain tomorrow and you'll need those painkillers. The day after, you report to work."
They filed out, leaving the preacher watching Jeopardy while the nurse administered a painkiller to the reluctant patient. Chris was right, of course, he welcomed the relief and allowed himself to sleep.
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