By the time Team One arrived at the Metropublic Library, a perimeter had been established and shell-shocked library patrons were being escorted out of the building. A large crowd had gathered, making it slightly difficult to reach the barrier.
"Geez, you'd think people would be smart enough to run from trouble," Sam muttered over the headset as he and the others finally reached the perimeter tape.
"Humans," said Cassie, rolling her eyes as she and Jules stepped out of the car. "Curiosity is like a drug to them."
Parker found the nearest police sergeant, a slightly harassed looking man.
"Sergeant Greg Parker of the SRU," he began. "Can you tell me what's going on?"
"Ah, yes-yes, of course," the man said quickly, turning away from one of his subordinates. "Sergeant Fabian Derrick at your service."

"When did this start?" asked Parker. Cassie stood beside him, scanning the crowd for suspicious characters. Spike was in the van, examining blueprints and the others were in the crowd, talking to library patrons and bystanders.
"About ten, fifteen minutes ago," Sergeant Derrick said. "It was just a routine day at the library, nothing out of the ordinary, according to the head librarian."

"No parties? Formal events?" asked Cassie.
"Nothing. It was calm right until the first shot was fired, in the main reading room," the sergeant continued. "My boys and I got the call about two minutes after it happened. The librarian was too scared to find a phone sooner. We've been trying to get people out ever since."
"Do you know where the head librarian is now?" Parker asked. The sergeant gestured to a nearby ambulance where a frail looking woman sat, clutching a cup. Cassie looked at Parker, who nodded.
"You're our second crisis negotiator," he said. "Time to earn your paycheck."
Cassie snorted. "Thanks Sarge."
The old woman looked up when Cassie approached, jerking the cup in her hands making warm tea splash out. Cassie smiled, stabilizing it.
"Sorry for the fright," she said soothingly. "Your name is Valery Campton, am I right? My name is Cassie Wellington, of the SRU."
"Ms. Campton, or the Holy Terror, as my colleagues say," the lady replied shakily. "How can I help you?"
"I'd like to know what happened in the library, if you can tell me," said Cassie.
"Yeah," laughed Spike on the headset. "Tell the great communicator."
"I'm second best on the force and you know it, Mario," Cassie muttered in an undertone as Ms. Campton took a deep breath.
"It... the man seemed like any other library visitor," she told Cassie, "if slightly agitated. He entered the library, and was wandering around the rooms for quite some time, peering around bookcases, examining other visitors."
"Like he was looking for something," Cassie said.
"Or someone," continued Parker. "Guys, maybe this hostage situation isn't random after all. There must be another motive. Cassie, can you get us a description?"
"Ma'am, what did this man look like?" Cassie asked.
Ms. Campton pursed her lips. "Um... tall, quite tall... dirty blonde hair that fell to his shoulders-it looked quite unkempt, at first I thought he was a vagrant-and sporting a painter's brush style mustache."

"Thank you," Cassie said with a smile. She knew Spike was searching through databases as they spoke. "Now can you tell me what happened before you called 911?"
"Well, the man looked quite irritated, so I sent Willy over to ask if he needed assistance." At this the head librarian began to tear up. "As soon as Willy got near, the man pulled out a gun and... and shot him. He shot Willy! And then he began yelling... people were panicking... I saw more men pull out guns and ushering people around, like they were searching... oh, why did he shoot Willy?"

"Ms. Campton, it wasn't your fault." Cassie urged the crying woman to take a sip of her tea. "This shooter appears violent, possibly unstable. I'm sure Willy's fine-are there any library personnel casualties?" she asked her team.
"Just one, and he's safe with EMS," answered Wordy.

"Thanks, Words." Cassie turned to the librarian. "Willy is alright, he's in safe hands. Thank you so much for your help."
Leaving Ms. Campton in the hands of rescue workers, Cassie jogged back to the van where the rest of her team had assembled.

"Good work, as always," said Ed, tugging on the end of Cassie's ponytail. She blushed, and shook her head.
"Still got a long ways to go before I come close to you guys."
"That's for sure," smirked Spike. When Cassie looked ready to retaliate, he held up his hands in mock surrender. "I got something from your description. A Blake Danforth fits the bill; he's even the leader of a drug gang, a pretty big one at that."

Sam whistled. "THE Blake Danforth? Guns and Gangs have been looking for this guy for years. Why is he suddenly showing his face now? And in such a fashion?"
"That's something Spike needs to find out," Parker replied. "Meanwhile, we need to enter the building, get those hostages out. Cassie, Jules, Wordy, I want you on the west entrance, it's the only one inconspicuous enough for Danforth to want to try. Ed, Sam, you go in the main entrance; be the distraction for the others."

"Got it, Boss," Ed replied, and he, Jules, Sam, Wordy and Cassie headed out.
"Be careful, all of you," Parker added. "Spike, get them floorplans."
"It's a two story building, with an extensive basement that's used for storage," Spike said, looking keenly at a computer screen. "Off the main lobby and reading area are several smaller reading rooms, extensions of the library. All those exits are already covered. Up on the second floor are rooms for cleaning and restoration of books. It's a maze, so try to be alert." Spike grinned. "Especially you, Cass, we all know you're directionally challenged."

"And you're emotionally challenged," Cassie hissed in reply as Wordy softly opened the small west entrance door. "Shut up and keep watching your screens."
"Focus," Parker reminded them.
Pulling out his mirror, Wordy glanced at it before nodding to Jules and Cassie, who entered. "We're in."

"So are we," Sam added. "No sign of hostiles, just frightened civilians. Go, go," he said to the people hiding under their desks.
"Proceed with caution, you don't want the hostages to get hurt," Parker said.
"One of the witnesses says he saw Danforth and one crony grab a woman and man," Jules whispered. "He said they were dragged through a door leading to a stairwell." "Second floor," Wordy mused. "We'll go."

"We need to figure out the connection between the hostages and this gang leader," Parker muttered. "If we know that-"
"We're better prepared," Cassie ended. "See? I am learning."
The Team One crisis negotiator had reached the second floor landing. Behind her, Wordy and Jules stood, waiting.

"On the second floor. How's the first floor doing?"
"Nothing so far," Sam muttered. "They must have stayed up there. Be careful-we'll meet you."
Parker looked at his tech operator. "Spike, how are the visuals coming along?"
"I've been trying to get security camera footage, but it looks like Danforth and his accomplices knew to knock that out-wait. Motion detectors are going off like crazy in the second floor board room."
Cassie glanced around the corner, and grinned when she saw a metal plate reading 'Board Room'. "Found it. We're just around the corner. Do you want us to proceed, Boss?"
"Where are Ed and Sam?" Parker asked.
"I believe we're in the same hallway, opposite end," Ed answered, seeing a flash of red. "I think I can see Cassie's hair."
"Oops."
"Don't worry about that now," Parker smiled. "If you've got them trapped, you have my permission to rescue the hostages."
Cassie glanced behind her. Jules gave her friend an eager grin, and Wordy nodded. Clutching her rifle, she proceeded to the large oak doors. Hefting her weapon, she waited for Ed's command. When he nodded, she kicked the lock on the door, pushing the heavy door open and allowing Ed and Wordy to enter first.

"Police! Weapons on the ground, now!" they yelled, and Cassie could see the room was clean, well-kept.
Sitting, bound to office chairs, were the two hostages: a woman in her mid-thirties, blonde hair in an efficient updo and dressed in a business suit, and a balding man in the same sort of attire.

Their one guard immediately threw his gun to the ground before following Ed's orders to lay spread-eagle.
"Boss, there's no sign of Danforth, or the other gang members," Jules said.
"They're not downstairs," Sam said, kicking a chair in frustration as Wordy unbound the two prisoners. "We checked every room, and the only ways out were being watched." "They left, alright," a muffled voice laughed. It was the accomplice they'd captured. His face was pressed into the carpet, so Ed got off of him slightly. "Blake and the others. He told me to watch over these two until I got the signal to move them. They ain't here."

"Sounds fishy, Boss," Cassie said slowly, giving the man a hard look.

"Stay put, Team One," Parker replied. "Spike and I are coming up."
A couple of minutes later, Spike had set up his equipment in the board room and Parker was trying to talk to the accomplice, to no avail.
"He's just not cooperating," their leader said with a sigh.
Cassie, meanwhile, was talking with the woman and her companion.
"Your name is Margaret Wood?" she asked the woman.
"Yes, and this is my husband, Jacob Wood," the lady replied. Though her voice was shaking, Cassie admired the fact she was able to remain calm after her ordeal.
"Can you tell us why Danforth might have chosen you for hostages? He seemed very focused on kidnapping you two."
Mrs. Wood glanced apprehensively at her husband, who took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly.
"Blake... is my ex-husband," she said, and Cassie's eyes went wide.
"Now we've got a motive," Ed muttered to the others.
"He never really got over the divorce, you see," Mrs. Wood continued. "Prior to signing the papers, I'd receive gifts and other assorted finery at my doorstep. Blake was determined to win me back, but I didn't... I was sick of being entangled in his lifestyle. I wanted out, and Jacob wanted to get me out."
"The guy is mentally insane!" blurted Jacob. "He's a psychopath, and the fact that he wanted to kidnap me and my wife only proves the point!"
"I see." Cassie locked gazes with Parker. If Danforth was crazy enough to abduct his ex- wife in a public building with dozens of witnesses, he could be capable of anything.

"Winnie, have an alert sent out to all units," Parker spoke into his mic. "Blake Danforth is on the move, and we don't know what he's capable of."
"Just to be safe, I think Jules and I should patrol the hallways," Cassie said. "In case he's," she jerked her head in the direction of the gang member, "lying to us."

Parker nodded. "Go ahead."
"But... shouldn't someone go with them?" Spike sputtered. "I mean, the guy is crazy!"

"You worry too much, Spikey," Cassie rolled her eyes, ruffling Spike's hair. "Jules and I will be fine."


Cassie crouched low, examining the carpet for any residue left by a footprint. Jules was on the opposite side of the hallway, guarding Cassie's back.
"All clear," she said.
"Remember," Parker warned, "any sign of movement and I want you to retreat and wait for backup. Consider Danforth high-risk."

"Copy that, Boss," Jules assented. She and Cassie shared an exasperated grin.
They continued their walk, making sure to report their movements to Parker and the others. Spike kept up a continuous monologue. Cassie didn't have the heart to tease him; she knew her friend, and he was just worried. She and Jules WERE the smallest on the team.
A flash of light caught her attention. "Jules, stop!"
"What is it?" asked her partner.
"Cassie, report," Parker insisted.
"Something's flashing," Cassie muttered. "It's right beside you. It reminds me of something... oh no."
"What?" Spike's voice was high-pitched with worry.
"Jules! Get back!" Cassie screamed to her friend, just as the flashing stopped and the entire world exploded.


Spike felt dizzy. He shared an anxious look with Sam before yelling into his mic. "Cassie! Cass! Answer me!"
"Cassandra," Parker said worriedly. "Julianna!"
A cough could be heard on Cassie's line. "I'm fine, I think... it was a bomb, a small one. Half the hallway's caved in and Jules..." her voice cut out for a second and the other team members could hear sounds of shifting through something. "Jules is under some rubble. I think she's alright though, she's breathing."

"Officer down," Parker said to Ed. "Alert the paramedics, and Wordy, Sam and Spike go and get the girls. Repeat, officer down! Cassie, backup is coming. Don't go anywhere." "I'll try and move some of this rubble-" Cassie's voice suddenly got a lot quieter. "Boss... I hear footsteps. You guys aren't near us, right?"

"We haven't even left the room," Spike replied, clenching his fists.
Through Cassie's mic, Spike and the others heard the sound of heavy breathing and erratic searching.
"It's him," breathed Cassie. "It's Danforth."
"Stay quiet, stay hidden, Cassie, the boys are on their way," Parker said quickly.
"My gun!" Cassie hissed. "It's across the hall, I'm unarmed!"
"Can you reach Jules'?"
"I'll try." There was a sound of rubble shifting and a soft moan. "I can't! It's wedged under her!"
"I hear something!" a hoarse voice called from Cassie's mic. Spike's teammate immediately held her breath. "Over there! Something's moving."
"Go, now!" Ed yelled, though Sam, Spike and Wordy needed no prompting to rush out the door. They careened down the hallway, guns out and ready to fire.
They heard the struggle before they saw it. Thuds and groans vocalized Cassie's attempts to evade the gunmen.
"Police!" Wordy called, but when they turned the corner, two of the gunmen had already dragged Jules down the fire escape. Danforth merely grinned and held his gun up to an incapacitated Cassie's head.
"Follow us," he said softly, "and she dies."
Spike could only watch helplessly as Danforth dragged Cassie out of the building. "Cassie!"