Part 4
Chris stood with his arms crossed in front of him. His focus shifting from the campground to the FBI agents that suddenly seemed to swarm the woods. Vin turned from a conversation with one of the team leaders and made his way back to Larabee. "How many did they send in?" Chris asked, as the sharpshooter approached.
"50." Vin stopped beside him and watched the activity. "So much for sneaking up on him."
Chris chuckled sarcastically. "Well, we knew that wasn't an option as soon as he demanded ransom. Who's in charge over there?"
"I am."
Chris turned to the man as he came toward him.
"Good to see you again Larabee." He reached for Chris' extended hand and shook it in a firm grip.
"Barry," Chris nodded to his old friend. They'd been assigned a case together before Chris was promoted to ATF team leader. "What's your plan?"
Barry twisted to look down at the campground and grimaced. "Sure you don't want to give up your spot here? Great view."
"Not a chance," Chris' response was serious. "I've got two of my team in there Payton."
"I know, Chris. Right now we're just letting Perkins know we're here. Their cover still good?"
"As far as we know." Chris stepped closer to the FBI agent. "Payton Barry, Vin Tanner," he introduced the men.
Vin nodded and shook the agent's hand.
"Heard a lot of good things about you, Tanner," Barry smiled, his brown eyes seemed to dance even in the seriousness of the situation. "About your whole team actually." He turned back to Chris. "Glad to see you finally made something of yourself there, Larabee."
Chris flashed him a sinister grin. "Just tell me your plan Barry." Barry laughed and started to fill Chris in on the details, pointing out where his agents were stationed.
"Hey Chris!" Nathan's call through the radio made all three men turn in his direction.
"What is it?"
"We got trouble," Nathan pointed up to where Buck sat in the tree stand listening to Ezra's wire.
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Ezra watched intently, as Perkins conversed with his staff members. He saw the younger man hand the professor a paper and frowned when Perkins looked at JD
"Gentlemen," he whispered. "I don't know if you can hear me, but whatever you are doing, Perkins is looking a bit riled in here." He stopped talking when the young dark haired girl next to him gave him a strange look. Perkins was coming back toward the circle, an uneasy smile on his face.
"Sorry for that interruption, let's begin." Casually the professor sauntered around the circle already focused on the perfect candidate. Students shifted nervously in their seats as the atmosphere in the room seemed to take on new characteristics.
Shivers ran up and down Ezra's spine as Perkins walked behind him. He tensed imperceptibly until the man was once again in his sights. He wished he could hear from Chris and find out what was going on outside. He was certain the FBI had arrived, that meant the ransom demands had been delivered. What worried him most, though, was the way Perkins looked at JD. Glancing around the room he quickly searched for any other exits, but other then the main entrance the other doors led only to the children's room, the kitchen, and a closet.
"Miss Wells," Perkins voice brought Ezra quickly back to the circle. "Lets hear from you this afternoon."
Casey looked for a moment like a deer caught in the headlights, but she collected herself and nodded. Finding her voice she smiled. "Sure."
JD looked at Ezra, both men realizing something was very wrong.
Once Casey was seated Perkins began. "Casey, yesterday we learned that JD is in law enforcement. How do you feel about his job?"
Casey looked at JD then her Professor. "It makes me nervous sometimes," she admitted.
"Why?"
"Well, it's dangerous." She played with the edge of her sweater while she talked.
"Afraid he'll get hurt?"
Casey nodded, Perkins continued.
"How did you feel when you heard about his accident?" Perkins stood with his hands clasped behind his back like he did so often in class.
Casey shrugged. "I was scared at first, until I found out he was okay…then I was fine too," her mind was racing. It wasn't like this was the first time JD had been hurt on the job.
"Are you afraid he'll get hurt again?"
'Terrified right now,' she thought to herself before answering. "Sometimes."
"Are you ever afraid his job will put you in danger?"
There was something different in his tone suddenly. Casey looked at him, her eyes beginning to see him clearly. "JD would never do anything to put me in danger," her voice grew stronger as she spoke.
"Good girl," Ezra whispered, seeing the change. "Be strong now."
Perkins noticed the change too, saw his ally slip away and knew it was time to take complete control of the situation. "Never?" he asked stepping into the circle.
"Never."
Perkins looked at JD, as he asked the next question. "What exactly does JD do?"
Casey looked confused. "He's in law enforcement."
"What field Casey?" She looked at Perkins, but did not answer. "What is he hiding from all of us, Casey? Something he's ashamed to share?"
"He's not hiding anything!" Casey protested.
"No?" Perkins was standing right beside her now, laughing inwardly at the anger he saw growing in JD's eyes. "And he'd never do anything to put you in danger either?" He reached forward and squeezed her shoulder just hard enough to make her tense visibly.
"Don't touch her," JD hopped out of his seat.
"Oh Lord," Ezra whispered.
"You have something to add here Agent Dunne?" Perkins asked emphasizing 'agent.'
"Get away from her." JD didn't back down. He didn't care that Perkins knew he was an agent his only concern was protecting Casey.
"No, No, I'm perfectly comfortable right here. Sit down please."
JD took a step forward, but the grimace on Casey's face, as Perkins tightened his grip stopped him. He sat down.
"Thank you. Now," Perkins turned to the others. The group looked nervous and confused. "Ladies and gentlemen I have to admit I have not been completely honest with the goal of this seminar." He pulled Casey out of the chair and pushed her towards the empty seat next to JD She stumbled, but maintained her footing and sat down letting JD put a protective arm around her. "You see, I'm not really interested in anything about you except your wealthy families. So they have been notified that until they pay a particular sum, you will remain here as my...umm guests. That was the plan anyway, but it seems Mr. Dunne has been hiding the fact that he is an ATF agent. Now ATF and FBI agents surround the retreat, " as he spoke Perkins made his way over behind the food counter. He picked up a hand radio and mumbled something into it, then came back around to the circle, a handgun now visible.
Several in the group gasped as the shock of what was happening settled over them. "I'll not have anyone causing trouble," Perkins ordered, waving the gun about. The door opened and five staff members entered, all heavily armed. A couple of the women began to cry. Perkins ignored them, as he ordered his staff, "Make sure every one is armed, keep this building under close watch. You and you…" he pointed. "Back up Mike at the gate, I'm sure they'll approach there first. Then set up guards at these exits. Can you cover everything?" The men nodded. "All right, Justin and Seth you stay here and keep this group in line." He pointed to where he wanted the two guards to position themselves, then returned his focus to the group.
"Now I hope we have an understanding." His gaze fell on Ezra. "I apologize, Dr. Harrington, for the untimeliness of your visit." He laughed. "Hope this doesn't affect how you portray me in your book."
Ezra raised an eyebrow quizzically, but remained silent.
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"Damn." Chris listened to the events unfold.
"He must have run a back ground check on JD," Buck said rubbing his jaw. The cold was making it ache and the tension of the situation wasn't helping.
Vin peered through a pair of binoculars, "They've set up guards around the dining hall and at the front gate. Looks like the building next to it has all the firepower."
"What's your next plan?" Chris looked at Agent Barry, knowing the FBI was taking the lead now.
"Shouldn't we just go in now, before he can get himself all prepared for us?" Buck wanted to get JD out of there.
Barry understood the anxiety. He'd heard about the level of kinship on Larabee's team and knew it was part of what made them so successful. "That sounds logical Mr. Wilmington, but if we go in now when he's as agitated as he probably is, we're apt to lose a lot of hostages." He looked from Buck to the campground then to Chris. "Let's go see what the man has to say."
Chris nodded and handed the earpiece he was using back to Buck, putting his own back in place. He turned to follow Agent Barry. "Keep me updated," he told his team with out looking back at them.
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Perkins paced around the circle of students pausing only to check the windows every few minutes. Ezra was getting tired of the man's prattling. "What I said in our sessions was true." Perkins was justifying. "What begins with us does affect the world at large. You have to take control and that's what I'm doing."
The front door of the hall opened and Justin spun towards it. One of the staff came in and whispered anxiously to him. Looking nervous Justin nodded and approached Perkins. "Boss?"
"What?" Perkin's eyes flashed.
"They want to talk to you, only you." Justin shifted uneasily as he watched Perkins inwardly debate his options.
"Fine, I'll talk to them. Where?"
"Front gate. According to Chad, just two of them."
Perkins snorted. "Yeah, but how many sharp shooters do they have out there?"
He looked around. "Alright I'll go." He walked over to JD and pointed the gun at him. "Get up."
JD hesitated just briefly enough to anger Perkins further. "I said Get up NOW!" He roughly grabbed JD by the hair and jerked him to his feet. Casey cried out. "Don't try anything heroic," Perkins hissed in JD's ear, as he pressed the gun into his side. "I'd hate to have to kill you in front of your girl. Think of the therapy!" He laughed.
Ezra watched the scene play out before he decided what to do. Every part of him wanted to jump in and help JD, but he knew that blowing his cover would ruin the only contact the team had with what was going on inside.
"Mark, please." He stood slowly with his hands out in front of him, non- threatening. Perkins spun around and pressed the gun into JD's temple.
"What are you going to do Dr. Harrington? Analyze me as exhibiting blatant anti-social behavior?"
"No, No I just want you to consider what you're doing. Hurting this young man will not improve your situation any." Ezra tried to keep his voice smooth and regulated. His eyes met JD's an instant before focusing solely on Perkins. "Please Mark," he tried again.
Perkins merely scowled shaking his head. "I'm not going to let you or any one else screw this up. I've worked months on this plan. Justin!" he called.
"Yeah?" Justin stepped forward.
"Get him out of my face and make sure I don't have to deal with him until I'm good and ready to." Justin nodded and moved toward Ezra, who stepped back bumping against his chair.
Wrapping his arm around JD's neck and shoulders, Perkins began to drag him toward the door. JD tried to struggle against him, but the older man smacked him with the gun just hard enough to stun him into submission.
Ezra instinctively stepped forward again trying to push around Justin, but was met only by darkness, as the larger man followed Perkins' lead and used his gun as a club.
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"Chris!" Chris heard Buck's urgency and saw the cause of it simultaneously, as Perkins kicked open the dining hall door and emerged. Fear gripped him at the sight of JD stumbling along with a gun pressed to his head.
Perkins shifted constantly, until one of his staff was behind him to watch his back. "You take me down and I'll take him with me," he shouted angrily.
"That your man?" Barry asked calmly. Chris could only nod.
The professor approached the gate, stopping ten feet in front of them. His assistant's gun was drawn and ready. "You wanted to speak with me- now talk." He jerked JD in front of him. "Talk fast."
Chris could see the red mark on the side of JD's face where he'd been struck and searched for any other visible injuries, meeting JD's eyes. There was fear there and anger too, and Chris knew he was okay for now.
"I'm Agent Barry, Professor Perkins. This is Agent Larabee," Barry began.
"I don't care who you are." Perkins voice was calming now like he was regaining his control.
"We'd like to talk to you about working this mess out."
"Nothing to work out, agent. I want to see two million cash in here within and hour or I start taking care of hostages and I start with him." He shook JD slightly. "One of you must recognize Agent Dunne."
"An hour isn't enough time for us to come up with that kind of cash," Barry explained.
"Nice standard reply. Stalling will get you no where." He pressed the gun harder against JD's temple causing JD to gasp lightly. He quickly bit his lip.
Chris took a step forward, but Barry put a restraining hand on his arm.
"Ah ah ah." Perkins shook his head and cocked the gun. "You don't want me to shoot him now do you? Do you?" Perkins prodded.
"No," Chris' answer was a menacing growl.
"Didn't think so." Perkins began to move away from the gate again, his assistant following. "Get me the money, then we talk."
"There's no way Perkins." Barry still hadn't let go of Chris' arm.
"Two million in one hour or Mr. Dunne begins to die, slowly."
Chris watched as J.D was dragged away again, helplessness overwhelming him in waves. Buck was yelling at him through his wire. "What is it Buck?"
"Before he came out Perkins had a run in with Ezra. He was trying to help JD, I think."
Chris swore. "Did he blow his cover?"
'No, but he's been quiet an awful long time."
"Damn it!" Chris needed to lash out at something, someone, anyone. He turned on Barry. "Don't you ever restrain me like that again Payton," he hissed coming nose to nose with the balding man.
"Chris, you know he'd have shot JD if you tried to go at him just then." He didn't back down as his eyes filled with understanding.
"Never again Payton."
Barry stood silent, watching, as Chris stalked away. He knew the man needed to vent. He under stood what it was like to have members of his team in this kind of situation. Blinking he ran a hand over his face chasing the agonizing memories that flashed through him back to the past and renewing his focus on the present.
As Chris approached the tree stand, he could see the worry in everyone's eyes.
"JD okay?" Buck asked anxiously.
Chris ran a hand through his hair and shivered realizing the temperature had dropped. "For now," he nodded. "He's holding up. What's going on with Ezra?"
"We don't know," Josiah answered. "He tried to calm Perkins down when he first grabbed JD Perkins went off on him and we think one of the staff knocked him out. Been quiet ever since, we can't even hear any body else stirring or talking."
"Think they found the wire?"
Buck shook his head. "No, the connection hasn't died, just went silent."
"What do you mean?" Chris looked confused.
"Either everyone is super quiet or Ezra's been separated from the group, and he's unconscious."
Chris steely gaze fixed on the dining hall below. "Then where the hell is he?"
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Ezra groaned and opened his eyes. It was dark. Something was pressing against his back, digging through his casual winter sweater. Trying to sit up, he found himself wedged in one spot.
"Oh God," his voice rasped, as the floor lurched beneath him. He closed his eyes against the spinning but couldn't stop it. His breathing quickened, as he struggled to force air into his lungs. Panic shot through him. "Oh God," he gasped again. He wanted to scream, but fear paralyzed him. Sweat beaded on his forehead. Air, he needed air. He took another strangled breath. "Oh God I can't breath." He felt the walls moving around him. Like a horrible carnival ride they pushed and pulled at him, the floor tilted again and this time he pressed his face against the rough wall in an effort to make the spinning stop. "Where am I?" He whispered. He began to wheeze as the darkness pressed in around him.
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Nathan sat in the tree stand, one knee bouncing in an irregular beat with his frustration. He watched the FBI teams scurry around, cell phones pressed against their heads. He reached up and adjusted his earpiece hoping for some sound or anything. The FBI was trying to get money in by the one-hour deadline. A show of faith they called it, trying to buy time for JD and Ezra. He looked down at Buck pacing back and forth with worry. The point of relieving the man was so he would rest. He sighed and looked at Josiah sitting on his right. The man sat staring calmly at the campground. Nathan wondered what thoughts were going through his friend's head. 'Probably prayer,' he thought. Despite his encouragement to let Vin or Chris take over for awhile, Josiah had refused.
"I feel like I'm doing something up here Brother, I'm fine."
Nathan had eventually relented.
Glancing at his watch Nathan frowned. Their hour was quickly running out. They were desperate for news inside, but Ezra's wire remained silent. He was just about to ask Buck to pass him up a cup of the awful coffee the FBI had brought in, when he heard it.
A rustle and a groan. He looked at Josiah. "I've got something." He heard Ezra.
"Oh God." more rustling. "Oh God."
He sensed the panic growing in the southerner's voice.
Chris' head popped up level with the tree stand, causing him to jump. "What do you have?"
Nathan shook his head and held up his hand straining to hear what was happening. Chris reached across and grabbed the extra earpiece. They heard Ezra's voice crack, as he struggled to breathe. "He's panicking." Nathan looked at Chris. "Come on Ezra, " he mumbled. "Deep breaths."
Chris' eyes grew wide, as Ezra started to wheeze. "What's wrong with him?" He asked.
"I don't know." Nathan's concern was growing. "If he doesn't calm down, he's going to hyperventilate."
Vin looked up from the base of the tree. "Chris, let me listen." Chris jumped down and passed the earpiece to Vin. The sharpshooter listened carefully, his eyes meeting Nathan's.
The former medic shrugged searching his mind for answers. It didn't sound like a punctured lung, they hadn't heard him get beat up or anything. He couldn't figure it out.
"Claustrophobia." Vin continued to listen, as he spoke. "Ever since last month. He can't even ride in a car with out cracking the window. "
Chris looked at his friend. "Why didn't he say anything?"
"Would you?"
Chris shook his head knowing he'd have kept his struggles to himself. Like Ezra, he hated to show weakness.
"Is there anything we can do?" Buck asked impatiently.
"Pray." Josiah's somber voice seemed to silence the woods as they stood helpless.
"Come on Ezra," Vin quietly encouraged wishing his friend could hear him. "Slow down, think it out."
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Ezra's mind raced with his breathing. He knew he was losing control. His mother would have let him have it. Why was he thinking of her now? He heard noise beyond the wall, Perkins, JD… JD needed him. He gasped remembering the wire.
Choking, he forced himself to take a deep breath, then another. The team was listening. If he didn't get it together he'd be letting them all down. "Breathe Ezra," he whispered taking another breath. "Slow down, think it out," he repeated Vin's words unknowingly.
He could see Buck, imagining the man's expression. His fear for JD would be eating him up right now. He was their only link. He forced his mind to focus on trying to figure out where he was. There was no light for his eyes to adjust to, just darkness. He ran over the lay out of the dining hall again. "I have to be in the closet," he said remembering.
"It's just a closet Ezra." His breathing was continuing to slow now, though his heart still raced. "Just a closet," he murmured again and twisted his body around to free the arm pinned behind him. Sharp tingles attacked like pinpricks as he flexed his fingers. Carefully he reached out exploring the tiny space. A giant fist of panic squeezed him tight, as he felt the back wall beneath his hand. "Focus Ezra," he commanded. "You can do this." He reached up above his head for the doorknob, feeling the cold metal. Slowly he turned it, knowing it was locked.
"Gentlemen," he finally managed to address the team with a semblance of decorum. "I seem to find myself in the unfortunate position of being locked in a closet."
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Vin sighed with relief, as he handed the wire back to Chris. "He's in control again."
Chris nodded and tossed the wire to Nathan. "Keep me informed." He looked at his watch and frowned. "Hours almost up, I'm going to check with Barry."
"Chris?" Buck stepped away from the tree he'd been leaning against. "Tell me they aren't going to let that son of a bitch shoot JD."
"Buck." Chris wanted to look away from the intensity of Buck's plea. "You know how this works. They're doing their best."
"They better be."
Chris found Barry easily and waited for the man to finish his current conversation before talking. His friend's eyes were clouded, as he turned to face him.
"Did you get contact from your other agent?"
Chris nodded. "We can hear him, unfortunately, he's locked in a closet. You get the money?"
Barry shook his head, "He didn't give us enough time Chris. It's on the way, but there's no way it'll be here by his deadline."
Chris knew the Barry's words were true. There was nothing they could do, but hope Perkins was bluffing. "If he shoots my man I'm going in."
"You know you can't do that." Barry protested, but Chris was already walking away.
Nathan and Josiah listened to Ezra's hushed tones. "I don't know if you can hear Perkins, but he seems to be pontificating about his ideals again." Ezra pressed himself against the closet door trying to hear better.
"What time is it?" Perkins yelled, as somebody and received a muffled reply.
"Seems your hour is up, ."
"No!" Casey's voice. Ezra strained to hear which direction the voices were coming from. He could hear crying off to his right. Perkins was center. The muffled voices of his staff came from the left. Ezra pictured the room again trying to remember exactly where the closet was located. The guards were by the main entrance, Perkins must be a good twenty feet from the others, but where was JD?
"Justin give me that radio," Perkins ordered. "You hear me Barry?"
Outside, Chris tensed as he heard Perkins voice crackle through the radio.
"I can hear you," Barry answered calmly.
"You got my money?"
Chris held his breath.
"It's on it's way Mark, we need more time."
Inside, Ezra heard the agent's response and Perkins' laugh.
"That's not good enough for me or agent Dunne." The gun shot came instantly, catching Ezra by surprise. He heard Casey scream and his heart stopped.
Outside Buck dropped to his knees, as the sound of the shot echoed through the woods.
Chris closed his eyes, grief and anger washing over him. He couldn't look at Buck or anyone else right now. The natural sounds of the woods were deafening, as agents stood shocked into silence. Perkins voice sounded again, as Chris shivered with hatred.
"You have another hour to get me the original two million, plus two million more, or agent Dunne gets shot again and this time I'll aim for something more vital than his damn leg."
Chris' eyes flew open. JD was alive. He looked at Buck still on his knees, their eyes met for a moment then Christ reached out and pulled his friend to his feet. "We're going in," he said simply.
TBC...
