Numb3rs: Flight
Numb3rs: Flight
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 organisations are used in a fictional sense. Original characters and the storyline are mine however.
CHAPTER FOUR
About three quarters of an hour after the all too close encounter with the bear they reached the edge of a vehicle track. Nelson checked his bearings and directed the agent to the right just before the track took a bend to the left and started rising. They weren't walking along the track itself but a short distance into the brush where they wouldn't be seen if any vehicle were to pass them. Another hundred yards or so and he reached out and pulled the agent to a stop. His keen eyes had detected a non-natural shape just ahead.
"Down."
Don had also seen the vehicle and knew that they were about to enter a new and more dangerous phase of what had turned out to be some evening. He used a small sapling for support as he managed to make his wrenched knee cooperate long enough so that he could crouch quietly. If the vehicle contained innocent bystanders he didn't want to drag them into a dangerous situation by catching their attention.
He watched as Nelson turned on the cell phone, the lack of noise indicating that he'd put the cell into silent mode. After waiting a few minutes for a network to be acquired Nelson raised the cell to his ear and moved a few paces away. Seconds later a faint melody could be heard from the direction of the vehicle.
"Jack?" Nelson queried softly as the melody stopped, the call had been answered. "Is that you parked up there? … We're here, approaching from the west. All clear? … Good."
"Your friend I take it?" Don queried as the phone was snapped closed and turned back off.
Nelson responded by holding out his left hand to help the agent to his feet. He maintained his grip on the agent's left forearm a moment longer. "Just play the game Agent Eppes and you'll be okay."
"As long as we're all operating out of the same playbook." Don said under his breath. He saw Nelson frown in response showing that he had heard the comment. His arm was abruptly released with a slight tug in the direction of the vehicle. The agent limped towards the vehicle with Nelson following close behind. As they drew nearer Don saw that it was an older, somewhat battered pickup.
The doors were opened and three figures climbed out. Emerging from the last of the brush and onto the track Don looked them over as the three were standing together waiting for them. One was older than Nelson by a few years, late forties perhaps and a little more gone to seed. The other two were considerably younger, one looked about seventeen, the other possibly twenty and had to be Nelson's sons. Both boys were of medium build and while one was about Don's height the older was almost six feet tall and looked like he could play professional ball if he wanted to. All three tensed upon spotting the two survivors. As a threat assessment went it was not good, even if he had been in good shape things were not looking the best for Don from a tactical perspective.
A moment later Nelson's friend upped the ante further. The older man stepped back and leant into the tray of the pickup coming back up with a long object in his hands. There was the distinctive sound as the bolt was drawn back and pushed forwards loading a round into the chamber. The rifle barrel was then lowered and pointed directly at the injured agent. Don came to an abrupt stop in the middle of the track. From this range of only a few feet the man couldn't miss, even firing from the hip and he certainly didn't need the expensive scope that was mounted on the rifle. With the pre-warning given by Nelson Don had expected the others to come armed so this development was not unexpected, the hunting rifle was somewhat overkill though. Don responded with the one of the two weapons left in his arsenal, laying a solid glare on the man facing him.
"Dad!" The youngest boy called out in relief. He started rushing forward but stopped after a couple of paces when Nelson raised his hand.
"Jack, put it down." Nelson ordered, stepping safely to one side. He had no time for a reunion with his son when dealing with Jack's reaction to the agent.
"He's a fed." Jack stated, the rifle not moving an inch from its aim at the agent's midsection.
"You don't see me holding a gun on him. Put it down."
"Why'd you bring him anyway?"
"I told you, he's injured."
"Yeah, I got that. But I thought you would dump him a little ways back before you let him see all of us."
"Jack, you know me and you know I wouldn't be able to do that." He eyed his friend and the high powered rifle he still held on the agent. "I don't think you would either."
Jack's hands shifted their grip slightly on the rifle. Don interpreted the action to be nerves as despite Jack's words he seemed uneasy holding the weapon on the agent. That was a good sign that Jack was afraid of killing a cop. A bonus for Don.
Jack abruptly lowered the weapon but handed it to the boy that had stepped forwards as he was closest. "Watch him. Scott, we need to talk."
"But, dad-" The young man interrupted as he handed off the rifle to the other son.
"Paul," Nelson held up a warning finger to halt his son's words. "Wait a minute. Both of you watch him."
Nelson and Jack went to one side as Nelson's two sons kept a close eye on Don. There was a low murmur of conversation as everyone else waited, frozen in place. Don looked at the two keeping him under guard. The one with the rifle unfortunately was looking reasonably self assured but at least the weapon was being held sideways, muzzle safely pointed skywards. The other, Paul, was definitely showing signs of unease, shifting from foot to foot and glancing back and forth between Nelson and Don.
"Okay, then the sooner we do this the better." Jack suddenly said clearly.
The agent turned to find the two men walking back over. At Nelson's slight smile Don came to the conclusion that the two men had reached an agreement. Checking back with Jack he saw that the man was not as happy.
"It seems you are coming with us." Jack said addressing Don directly for the first time as he pulled open the back door of the pick-up.
"Look, you don't want me here and I don't want to be here." Don started, standing his ground after Jack waved him forwards. "Just point me in the direction of town when you leave and by the time I get there you'll be miles away."
"Dad-" Paul tried again.
"Not now, son." Nelson shut him down again. He turned back to Don. "Agent, I think we've already had this conversation. Get in."
Even with no choice his training forced him to again consider his situation, to search for a viable alternative. He could try to put up a physical resistance and now against the four of them that was a proposition doomed to failure or he could do as ordered. It was a simple as that. At the end of the day it came down to one thing, it was more important to him to be heading home once this was over than it was to re-capture Nelson. Surely there had to be another witness that could be found to testify at the trial in LA. When he got home he would have to look into it, but for now he had to be able to get there in at least no worse condition than he was now. He briefly held up his left hand in the surrender that both he and Nelson had known was coming. "Alright. But I'm holding you to your word Nelson." He reminded Nelson of his promise despite having no power to ensure that the man kept it.
"You don't know me but my word is good."
The rest wasn't spoken out loud but it was clear that he should have added 'if nothing goes wrong'. That would include inadvertent discovery by well-meaning rescuers intercepting vehicles leaving the search area looking for possible witnesses to the crash. Right now unless he was found by a carload of sheriff's deputies it was better that no-one stumbled across them.
He took the last few steps and climbed with some difficulty into the back seat of the pick-up. He shuffled across to the middle as instructed and watched with interest as he saw the son that had been denied suddenly plant himself in front of his father demanding attention.
"Now is not the time for this, Paul." Nelson knew that it was no reunion that had made his youngest son seek his attention.
"This is not right." Paul waved his arm back towards the man sitting in the pick-up. "What are you going to do with him?"
Nelson seemed a little shocked and surprised at his son. "I'm getting him to hospital."
"He doesn't want to come with us. You're kidnapping a fed."
"Paul, he needs medical attention and I need to make sure the cops don't pick me up again when we head down the mountain. You know why I can't go to LA."
"I understand that, dad. But this is not the way."
"I don't see any other way." Nelson waited a moment but his son didn't have a suggestion.
"Shut up, Paul." The older brother interrupted. His voice was harsh and it was clear whose side he was on. "Why'd you come with us anyway? You knew the score."
"I wanted to see dad, see if he was alright after being in a plane crash. That alright with you, Brad?" The last was more than a touch sarcastic. It seemed the two brothers really didn't get on that well.
"Boys," Nelson warned. "That's enough. Agent Eppes understands the situation. Isn't that right Agent?"
Not expecting to be dragged into this conversation it took Don a moment to frame a reply. Paul's comment had reminded him that he'd not been given an opportunity to contact either his father or Charlie to let them know that he had survived the crash. He figured the FBI would have advised them by now that the plane he was on had gone down. They would be desperate with worry.
With that in mind he started to feel angry at the unfairness. "I understand your situation Nelson, but I've given you another option which you've chosen to disregard. Now you've dragged your friend and your sons into this mess. Think about what you're doing and what is going to happen to them because of it."
"What I'm doing is getting you some help. I just saved your life out there."
"You put my life at risk out there." Don argued back. "I wouldn't have disturbed that bear if you'd let me stay in the cave. I'm only sitting in this truck now because you are holding me at gunpoint. Getting me away from the wreckage and to the cave can be explained away, probably even justified. Forcing me to leave the cave and come here cannot. Your son is right, this is kidnapping."
"I'm not holding you at gunpoint." The tone was getting heated.
"You have a gun and you're giving me orders. As did Jack." Don looked pointedly at Jack who had recovered the rifle from Brad and was in the process of unloading and returning it to the long box he could now see in back of the truck. "That's gunpoint in my book."
Nelson was now definitely irritated. The agent had put everything into a very neat cop perspective. Not what he wanted to hear, he was still feeling that his main motive was to help the man who clearly wasn't too grateful. Trust a cop to focus on the other motive, the threat to use him as a hostage. "Right then I'll give you another order, shut up. Not another word. Paul, no more arguing and get in the truck. We have to move."
That went well, Don thought as the boys moved to obey their father, antagonise the man with the gun. Brad looked in disgust at his brother and deliberately walked around the truck to get in the left side. Paul climbed into the right side effectively hemming the injured agent in and accidentally jostling Don's broken arm in the process. Don's breath caught and he had to bite his lip to avoid making a sound. After all this time he would have thought the body's own natural pain killers, endorphins, would have kicked in and reduced the pain somewhat but apparently not. It took some time for the sharp stabbing pains to ease up.
Jack had taken the driver's seat as Nelson climbed into the front passenger seat. The engine was started and they headed downhill to where Don assumed that the small township he recalled from his long ago glance at the map and the on-ramp to the highway, Route 66, were located.
When the engine had been started the radio had also come to life. The commercial that had been playing was now replaced by an announcer with a familiar musical backing. Don checked his watch and saw that it was now just on midnight, time for a bulletin.
Jack reached over and turned up the volume. "It's all over the news." He commented as he concentrated back on his driving.
"Our top story tonight is from Albuquerque, New Mexico." The female reporter began. "An FBI aircraft transporting a vital witness for a trial in Los Angeles, California has been reported overdue late this afternoon. The aircraft vanished from radar after sending an alert somewhere in the Mount Taylor area. There has been no contact with the aircraft or those on board since. The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Albuquerque has confirmed that a male witness aged 43, a visiting FBI agent from the Los Angeles Field Office aged 38 and the pilot, a 54 year old local Albuquerque man with over 30 years flight experience were the only occupants. At this time there is no information as to what caused the aircraft to disappear however sources have indicated that authorities hold grave fears for the three men onboard. A preliminary search has been conducted by helicopter on the western slopes of Mount Taylor with no result. Police and rescue teams are moving into the area tonight ready to commence a full search at daylight. We will be following this story closely and will report any new developments." The woman finally took a breath. "In Washington today the senator from Ohio stated that Proposition-"
Don couldn't hear the rest over the noise of the engine and their transit over the rough track as Nelson turned the volume back down, what was happening in Washington held no interest for him at the moment anyway. The story was national now, the signature music behind the announcer belonged to a national news based channel. The amount of detail released meant that his father and Charlie had indeed been briefed by the FBI and would know that he was onboard with a prisoner and that there was no contact with him. They would be worried out of their minds and here he was alive, whilst not exactly safe or well, and unable to relieve their fears.
"I want my cell." Don abruptly demanded, speaking his thoughts before thinking.
"What?" Nelson turned and stared back at him.
"I want my cell. I want to tell my family I'm alive." He would be happy with that. If they could just hear his voice and know he was alive it would be enough.
"You can call them from the hospital."
"I won't say anything else, they don't need to know what is happening." Don promised before adding a touch of emotional blackmail. "Your family knows that you are safe."
"I'm sorry, but it is better for me this way." Nelson turned back forward, conversation over.
.
