Don't own Chuck
Agents Gardner and Evans had this raid all planned out in the minimum detail. Their Chief had been on them for results and this anonymous tip seemed like manna from heaven. However, like manna when the sun grew hot and melted away so now did their possibility of pulling of this lighting strike. They were now in a pissing war with the CIA and NSA but they couldn't go home empty handed so Evans slapped handcuffs on Chuck.
"I warned you not to interfere," said Evans. "Now we'll see who has the last laugh. But if you bring out Grimes we could be convinced to overlook this."
"Oh you so don't know what you're doing," said Chuck. He looked at Casey and could tell he was having conflicting thoughts. "John, it's okay you can stand down let me go with them."
"No Chuck I can't allow it. I was sent here to protect you and that's what I've got to do follow orders," said Casey as he pulled his weapon. "No one is going anywhere until we get word from our General."
"Do you think you can take us," said Evans. Chuck was having a hard time putting up with his provocation and couldn't understand why his partner was going along with this.
"I might not be able to take out every one of you but I will start with you then work my way from there. The question you have to ask yourself is do you want to die today?"
"Hold on guys we all work for the same government," said Chuck as he started trying to negotiate. "Let's all just take a breath and step back one. Here I think these are yours," said Chuck as he handed Evans his cuffs then went over to the desk.
"Hey how did you... get away from there," said Evans as waved his pistol at Chuck. But Chuck ignored him then logged onto the net. "You're under arrest you can't..."
"Does that attitude of yours really work for you," said Chuck as he logged in with Langley. Soon Chuck was patched into the General's office. The Major her aide came on the monitor.
"Chuck, Agent McHugh explained to us the situation and the General went to scream at the Secret Service Director. You should be hearing from her soon."
"Good because the agents here want to take me into custody now. You might explain to her if I'm in jail I'm not saving the world."
"She is well aware of that and she's going to be even more livid when she finds out about your status. Let me talk to the lead agents I understand there are two of them."
"What your man failed to mention was he aided and abetted a fugitive to escape capture by providing him a means of escape."
"I'm afraid that is incorrect while Chuck might have kept you from apprehending Agent Grimes we have Agent Grimes in custody in a secure location. He will be held in a detention cell until such time as a clear determination can be made about his status. That's the gist of the argument the General is discussing over with your agency's director. She's also asking to know why we weren't notified before you raided our facility since you obviously knew who Agents Carmichael and Grimes were."
"Well we were afraid that Agent Carmichael would tip Mr. Grimes off since they work on the same team. It just seemed the right move at the time."
"Remember to repeat that again word for word when your Chief calls you in but add a little more effort to make it sound believable," said Chuck. Suddenly the monitor cut out and the image of the Major faded out being replaced with the General.
"To say I'm not happy is an understatement. This whole thing was botched from the beginning. Agent Carmichael you have your responsibility in this too. You should've notified me as soon as these other agents made contact. Now you'll have to operate out of Echo Park..."
"Wait a minute General there's no reason to close down operation," said Chuck. "Our covers are still intact, besides operating out of Echo Park or here is about the same."
"For once Agent Carmichael I'd like to finish what I was saying without being interrupted," said the General. "No one is closing down our operation in the Buy More. That base will remain and Agent Grimes will remain in detention until his situation can be clarified. No, you have a new mission..."
"Oh I'm so not going to like this," grunted Casey. The General paused to give him a look and raised her eyebrow. "Sorry, General I was thinking out loud."
"I don't expect any of you to like this but this is what you've got. The Director and I have decided that Agents Gardner and Evans have made such little progress on this counterfeiting ring that they are grabbing at straws and they are in need of assistance. The kind of assistance only we can provide..."
"Oh no," said Chuck. He saw the hand writing on the wall. "Please don't tell me you want to organize a joint task force."
"Oh yes Chuck and given your unique skill set we decided to make you lead agent. You can't work out of Castle now so you'll have to work out of Echo Park. Agents Gardner and Evans until this task force is over you are on loan to me. Your Chief will be notifying you soon with the paperwork. Welcome to Clandestine operations. Chuck you can work out the logistics. Beckman out.
"Okay you heard the General everyone pack it up and go back home," said Chuck. The men looked at each other then at Evans and Gardner for direction. "Don't be looking at them. You heard me. Don't make me repeat myself or would you want me to call your Chief?"
"Go ahead and go," said Gardner. "But take that printer with you and make sure it gets logged in as evidence. We want chain of custody when this goes to trial."
"Let them have it," whispered Casey in his Chuck's ear. He was about to order them to leave it. "They need something to save face and we have to work with these clowns afterwards. Toss them a bone."
"Okay take it but we might have to take a look at it later on so don't lose it. Evans, you and Gardner can follow us. John, you and I need to go to Echo Park where we can all talk with Morgan via CCTV then finally get to the bottom of this."
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Down at the piers in San Pedro inside an abandoned warehouse three containers were lined up. One was a bleaching station where oriental workers bleached out ones and fives until they were white then hung them to dry. Another group of immigrants collected the dry paper then took it to have a false security thread woven in while the paper was still moist. Once that was done it passed on to the next stage printing after which it was bound and palletized ready for delivery.
"Boss we've got another load to go out," said an oriental man. "We loaded it in the back of the van and as soon as it's dark we'll make delivery."
"Good, check with the guys that were supposed to go clean up at Malibu. I expected them to phone in by now saying they'd finished and wanted to be paid."
"Boss, I don't want to say anything and I realize you were making a point but you kind of went berserk on that couple so it could take a while to clean up."
"We're called the Axe gang for a reason besides an example had to be made. It was that Dale guy's fault and our triad cousins who took him in. I'd like to take my axe and talk with those guys in the collective for sending him but we need them to help place the money. Speaking of Dale any more luck finding him? He needs to be taken care of and I need to make an example out of him."
"I'll check with our people but so far nothing. Our people have been visiting the list of friends we got last night. So far they're all saying the same thing that he dropped by trying to bum money from them..."
"The twenty grand he was supposed to payback. Have our people on the borders keep an eye out for him in case he thinks about making a run for it. Find out what we can about this Grimes guy Dale wanted to frame. Tell our people if they don't find Dale soon I'll pick one of them at random and do worse than what I did last night. That ought to give them some incentive. Those guys should've called from Malibu," said the Boss as he looked at his watch. "Send some guys to see what's taking so long and give a hand if necessary."
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Meanwhile Morgan sat in a detention cell in Castle. He sat on the floor in the back bouncing a tennis ball off the door catching it on the rebound. After she got off the horn with the General, Alex walked back to check on him. She brought a peace offering with her a can of grape soda and a glass of ice.
"Morgan you look pathetic bouncing that ball like that," said Alex as she opened the door to his cell handing him his grape soda and glass.
"You can keep the glass I'll drink from the can like a real man," said Morgan as he chugged down the soda then wiped his mouth on his sleeve. He tried to crush the can in his hand. "Ouch! How does Casey do that?"
"Oh Morgan what's the matter," said Alex. "You can't believe that Dale would set you up, do you? He's not like that."
"You mean Dale, the rainbow warrior, wouldn't? Alex, open your eyes and look where I'm sitting. Unless I've got an evil twin who's trying to ruin me it's kind of hard not to think that this is his fault."
"There has to be another explanation and I'm going to find it," said Alex as she got up and left. Morgan was about to call to her to tell her not to do anything stupid when the monitor came on in the detention cell with Chuck and Casey on the screen along with the two Secret Service agents.
"Dudes am I glad to see you I've been stuck in here forever waiting for you guys. It's about time you... called? Excuse me why aren't you just..." Chuck cut Morgan off.
"We're talking to you via CCTV because some people don't have the clearance to be where you're at. So you mentioned a name before you went down the chute you thought Dale did this to you?"
"Dale? You're not talking about Alex's Dale are you Moron? The guy is a worse idiot than you are," said Casey.
"You two seemed awfully chummy when you meet in the Buy More the time he was returning his blender, asking about my love life and telling me about his filthy rainbows."
"Rainbows? You've only been in that cell a few hours and you're already talking nonsense. Not that you weren't talking nonsense before just now you've got a reason."
"Guys can we get back to the questioning," said Chuck. "Morgan, can you prove that Dale was the one who gave you that printer? Was anyone there when he brought it in?"
"Skip and Fernando brought him to me but that's like saying no one was there," said Morgan. Evans and Gardner looked at Chuck.
"How to put this politely let's just say they're mentally challenged most of the time," said Chuck. Morgan nodded in the monitor. "They help us maintain our covers."
"Oh Big Mike was there too. Dale didn't have a receipt and I just wanted him out so I gave him money from my wallet. But in the end he threw it back in my face then barged out."
"Big Mike isn't going to help your case much," said Chuck. "He's Morgan's step-father so I can already hear you guys say he's a tainted witness. Wait that's it!"
"What? You're right we can't accept the word of his step-father," said Gardner. "He'd naturally lie to cover his step-son."
"Yes... I mean no... oh just watch this. Hold on there Morgan we'll be right back," said Chuck.
"It's not like I'm going anywhere."
"I hear you little buddy but I think I can get part of this cleared up now," said Chuck as he tapped into Castle's CCTV security camera feeds then went back during the day until he got to the time when Dale came into the Buy More.
"Hold up," yelled Casey. "That's him. Afterwards Bartowski you're going to have to explain to me this story of rainbows. I already have a feeling I'm not going to like it."
"After we get Dale and no you're not going to like it," said Chuck. "Remember John dead men tell no tales and we need Dale to talk."
"Oh he will," said John as he cracked his knuckles. "Look Dale's bringing in the printer like Morgan said. There the two idiots go taking him to Morgan. He's giving Dale money he throws it in his face then he's gone."
"Okay that explains the printer but the money in his wallet and the money we found in his home. How does that figure in?"
"Watch again, but this time really watch. My daughter would take every cent you guys have," said Chuck. He caught their looks. "Have you ever played the shell game? Watch the money. Morgan hands it to Dale he puts it in his right pocket but the money he throws back at him..."
"Comes from his left pocket," said Gardner. "Okay you're right it's starting to look like a set up but why does this Dale have it out for Grimes?"
"He thinks he stole Alex from him. Alex is Morgan's fiancée but they broke up for a bit and she saw Dale," said Chuck. "Evidently he's having a hard time letting go."
"Wait a minute do they live together?" asked Evan. Already the tone with which Evans asked neither Chuck nor Casey liked.
"Yes but before you go pointing the finger at her, Alex is above reproach so don't even look her way," said Chuck as he brought Morgan back up. "Morgan, I'll have you out of there shortly. We just watched the CCTV footage and it confirms your story."
"Excuse me Agent Grimes I'd just like to apologize for the misunderstanding," said Evans as he pushed his way in front of the monitor. "But do you have any idea how Dale planted that money in your house? Was you fiancée still seeing Dale as far as you know?"
"Why you lousy," grunted Casey as he went for Evans but Chuck stood up getting in the middle. "If he'd said something like that about Sarah you'd be doing the same."
"And you'd be doing what I'm doing now. We both know Alex doesn't have anything to do with this so let's calm down."
"Well up until a few hours ago I didn't think she did. But she said he'd ran into her a couple of times and he bought her coffee. Look guys it's nothing she told me he said he just wanted to be friends and figure out what went wrong with them. She told him he just wasn't the man for her then he showed up one day at the house. They talked... oh she did mention he had to go to the bathroom. That butthole, I'm going to kill him and his rainbow maker."
"What's with the rainbows?" asked Gardner. "Is that code for something? Should we leave that out of our report?"
"It's an inside joke," said Chuck. "Morgan you can't kill him yet not before we talk to him. Guys I think we all can agree to release Morgan from holding?"
"Yeah," said Gardner but Evans didn't look like he agreed but there was little he could say or argue against. "I'd like to talk to Agent McHugh. She might know where this Dale hangs out so we can go and pick him up."
"I'm sorry guys but Alex took off. I think she went over to Dale's house to have a close up personal chat with him. She was having a hard time believing he'd do something like this."
"Come on I know where he lives," said Casey. "His parents have a place up in Malibu. His father is a lawyer and his mother is a doctor so they're well off."
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Alex left the Buy More grabbed a herder then headed to Santa Monica where she picked up the Pacific coast highway for Malibu. The scenery around her was gorgeous but she kept hashing over in her head what was going on. She couldn't believe Dale would be so conniving and vicious to do something like this. She thought she knew him better. He had to realize that by doing this to Morgan he was also doing it to her. She drove back off the coast highway down a private street parking out front of Dale's home.
"What do I do now," said Alex to herself. "I can't very well go up and confront him in front of his parents. Excuse me it has been a long time but I need to ask your son if he's trying to frame my fiancé for counterfeiting?"
"If you do that Alex you'll get tossed out on your can. You could ask Dale if he wants to come for a ride with you then you take him the downtown office and borrow some toys."
"Yuck, that just doesn't sound right. Well just play it by ear and worst you always have your Beretta cougar to add emphasis and punctuation. Nothing quite puts a period at the end of a sentence like a 9 mil round," said Alex as she got out of her car then walked over to the front gate.
"Okay here goes nothing," said Alex as she took a deep breath then rang the buzzer then waited and waited but nothing.
"Just my luck no one's home," said Alex. She looked at the high hedges around the house. They wouldn't be that impossible to climb but as she was thinking about how to scale them she leaned against the gate and it swung open.
"This is easier," said Alex. She walked up to the house to find the front door open. She didn't like this and considering if Dale was running with a group of counterfeiters things could've gone south.
Drawing her pistol she entered the house then stood in the entrance to listen. Not hearing anything she started clearing rooms. Before she entered the living room she heard the sound of flies but nothing prepared her for what she saw. She barely recognized them as being Dale's parents. She left there then went through the kitchen and pantry but when she started to go into the study she heard flies again. There she found two men dead from GSWs and a floor safe that was open. Alex was checking on the IDs of the two bodies when she heard a voice yell behind her.
"Don't move police let me see your hands," said the man behind her. Crap, she thought her father wasn't going to be happy if he found out she let them slip up on her.
"Officer in my bag is my badge you can look for yourself," said Alex as she knelt there with her hands in the air. "I'm with Homeland."
"You can just chill for now," said another officer who came in he checked her ID. "My Captain is on his way down and he told us to hold onto you until he gets her."
"Explain to me why you're here," said Alex as she took her bag back. "How did you guys get the call to come here?"
"The neighbors called it in. They said there was a lot of suspicious movement last night and loud music. But earlier this morning they thought they heard fireworks. Finally, one of the neighbors saw your car parked on the street then called us."
"If you guys are the first responders, how do you explain two of your CSI people being here? I found these on the bodies," said Alex as she showed them their IDs and badges.
"Moonlighting probably. Didn't you see all that bleach next door," said a heavy set man with a moustache. "I don't know if you remember me but the name's Joe DiMarco, Captain. I called Chuck he was already on his way here I presume after you. You guys can go," said DiMarco as he dismissed his uniformed officers. "Did you know the couple that got tuned up in the other room?"
"Yes a little I mainly knew their son," said Alex as DiMarco wrote in his note book. "We should check the rest of the house for him."
"The house has already been searched but these are the only bodies. The neighbors said the father and son didn't get on too well and the last time he was here there was a big fight. You have any idea what went on here? Or where we can find the son to ask him where he was?"
"I'm sorry no; I came here thinking he'd be here. He's wanted in another investigation that we're conducting."
"Could this be connected to that?" asked DiMarco but before Alex could answer Chuck and Casey walked in with the two agents.
"Most likely Joe," said Chuck as he walked in the room. "I'm sorry but this is our crime scene now so we'll take over from here."
"You can have it. Did you see those two next door? They were tortured before they were put out of their misery. To do something like that takes a special kind of crazy I don't want to have anything to do with."