Note:This has no relation to my other NUMB3RS stories, it is not part of that series. I just got this in my head and had to write it down. Enjoy!
An Untold Past... An Unsure Future...
Chapter 1
"Hey Gary, what do you got?" Don asked as he and his team arrived at the crime scene.
"Male, mid-forties, stabbed sixteen times," the lieutenant answered.
"So, why are we here?" Don asked, slightly confused. "Gang killings are your thing, right?"
"Not when the vic is FBI."
"Was he undercover?" Megan asked.
"No, but his partner is," David answered as he shut his cell phone. "That was the U.S. Attorney. Apparently, they've been working a major smuggling operation that has 18th Street Mexicali ties."
"Yeah, they've been smuggling drugs back and forth to Mexico for years," Lt. Walker agreed. "What's so special about it now?"
"They think some of the money is being used to fund a terrorist cell, probably here in L.A.," David replied.
"OK, so where's his partner?" Don asked.
"Still undercover. They don't think their cover's been blown yet."
"Benny Gonzalas and Pedro Solas," Lt. Walker said, pointing to the pictures up on the screen. "Two major players in 18th Street's drug cartel. If the agent inside is smart they'll try to get in with these guys," he explained.
"Guess it's a good thing I'm smart then," a voice in the back of the room said sarcastically. Everyone turned to see who it was.
"You're Agent Michaels partner?" Don asked skeptically. He was eyeing the young agent in disbelief. She couldn't be more than thirty, jet black hair pulled back into a messy ponytail, and an ice cold stare.
"Got a problem with that?" She challenged. Don raised his eyebrows, everyone else was staring at each other.
"Guess not," Don answered. "Special Agent Don Eppes, I'm heading up this investigation," he told her, extending his hand.
"Sam Carson," she stated, shaking his hand. "I worked with Michaels for the past two years. Anything I can do to help catch the guy who did this, just let me know," she offered.
"Alright, how about you tell us what you know about these two," Don replied, gesturing toward the pictures.
"Benny Gonzalas, he may be high up on the food chain, but he's just the brain," she told them. "He's the logical thinker, about the only one who uses his head. He comes up with the plans, but he rarely ever gets his hands dirty."
"What about the other guy?"
"Pedro...," she started, taking a deep breath. "He's one you need to watch out for. He's got a temper and a happy trigger finger. He's the brawn to Benny's brain, he does most of the dirty work. And he's scary, so be careful with him," she warned.
"How do you know all this?" Walker asked, taken aback. "It took us two years to figure that out."
"I've been undercover with these guys for over two months. I know practically everything about them. I can even tell you how they take a piss," she retorted. Carson and Walker stared challengingly at each other for a minute before David broke the silence.
"So would either of them be capable of doing it?"
"Doing it? Yeah," Agent Carson said, turning away from the lieutenant. "Would they? I don't know."
"I thought you said that you knew them?" Walker asked sarcastically. She shot him a scowl.
"I do," she replied firmly. "But they don't really do anything without reasons. Besides, I've never seen Gonzalas that violent before, and Solas usually goes for execution style."
"So, has your cover been blown?" Colby asked.
"I doubt it," she answered. "They didn't let it show that they knew this morning." Don gave her a look, and she anticipated his next question. "I wasn't about to come in here and make up some bullshit. The million dollar question, so to speak, is whether or not my cover was blown, since that's the most reasonable explanation to why Michaels was killed." Carson paused a second before continuing. "But my cover is still intact, so it's back to square one. Who killed Agent Michaels and why?"
Don started delegating. "OK, David, you and Megan make up a list of possible suspects. See if we can match any names to the list Charlie's getting for us." They nodded and went to work. "Gary, you take Colby and see if you can dig up any witnesses or security footage, anything that can help." They nodded and left. Don turned to Agent Carson. "You're with me." She followed him outside.
When they got outside, Don stopped away from the crowds of people going in and out. He leaned against the railing while staring at the young agent who just returned the stare and waited for him to say something. They stood there for a few minutes before Don finally spoke.
"Look, I don't mind having you on this investigation. In fact, you'd probably be a good asset." He pushed off the railing and walked over to stop in front of her. He looked her in the eye, and she returned the gaze. "But I need to know where your loyalties are."
"What? You think I've flipped?" She inquired, curious.
"No, I'm pretty sure you haven't," he half-joked, but then turned serious. "I just need to know that you're not gonna go rogue on me and do something stupid, or worse screw up our case!"
She looked a little taken aback, but quickly recovered herself. She looked at Don, sizing him up, before she spoke.
"Look, Michaels was a good agent and as far as I know a good guy too, but I'm not going to risk my career for him." Carson looked Don straight in the eye. "I have worked too hard, for too long to throw it all away!" She paused, taking a minute to compose herself. "Now look, I don't know you and you don't know me. I don't expect you to trust me, but I do expect you to let me do my job."
Don just stared at her, somewhat shocked by her attitude. He'd never seen a young agent this unconcerned about standing up to a superior. I like this kid, she's got balls, Don thought as he sized her up more carefully than he had in the office.
"Alright, I won't keep you from doing your job, but if you hinder my investigation in any way..."
"You'll knock me flat on my ass?" She finished for him.
"More or less," Don said with a smile.
"Fair enough," Carson agreed.
