.
UNDER PRESSURE
Chapter Four
It took about half an hour to make the drive from Kath's apartment to the train station that housed the scenic dinner train attraction. As Carlos parked his Durango just outside the door, they both quickly noticed how vacant the area was. Just a few cars dotted the parking lot and no train was waiting on the tracks just behind the depot.
"I guess not many folks go on dinner train trips during the week," Katheryn shrugged as she got out of the SUV almost in unison with Carlos after he shut off the engine and joined her in walking up the sidewalk towards the depot.
As they approached the depot, Carlos gave Kath a confused look, both of them mutually noticing that the door was wide open, being propped up by a commercial mop bucket. Dismissing the oddity, they both proceeded inside, Carlos allowing Katheryn to go inside ahead of him. After several moments of searching for human life in the vacant lobby, Carlos finally noticed a janitor in one of the offices and waved Katheryn over from the other side of the long hall. Kath hurried her step, flashing across the hall at a soft jog to join Carlos before they both ambled inside.
"Sir?" Carlos spoke first, attempting to garner the busy man's attention.
A middle-aged man turned from his task, a scouring look of disgust sweeping over his face as he quickly took to scrutinizing the two younger people in front of him. Relaxing from a squint, he turned back around and seemed to be ignoring them as he began pushing the mop back and forth once again. "What do you two want with me?" he asked flatly.
Despite the rather chilly welcome, Kath stepped forward and offered a smile. "My name is Katheryn Beaumont. This is Carlos Sandoval. We're private investigators. We were hoping we could speak to someone in charge here. Even a clerk perhaps. We'd like to see a passenger manifest for the train that left here Saturday night."
The older gentleman scoffed. "I should have known that was what you were going to ask for."
"What do you mean, sir?" Carlos questioned with a furrowed brow.
"A lad came in here Friday wanting the same thing. And I told him what I'm going to tell you. I can't do that. But the punk didn't listen and made me get the manifest anyways. He was rather rude." He paused to look at Kath and Carlos again. "You two seem alright. Well-mannered. Good intentions even. What business is it of yours anyway?"
Katheryn looked at Carlos to make sure it was okay to reveal anything further to the eccentric fellow. At his nod, she continued. "Two good friends of ours was on that train that derailed Saturday night. At least we think so. That's why we want to see the passenger list. We thought maybe it would confirm or deny our—our fears."
"I see," the man replied, slow and deliberately, clearly thinking through the proposal carefully and not in a hurry. He sighed and started up again with his mopping. "If it was left up to me, I'd let you see the manifest. But I can't. Besides, that squirt took the only one I had access to. The other one belonged to the train conductor."
Carlos nodded. "And he gave his to the cops as evidence."
"You got that right, sonny." It was the first time the man had smiled as he looked Carlos over carefully. "A cop. Am I right?"
Carlos nodded once again, a smile twisting at his mouth. "Yes. Ex-cop actually. Seven years on the Dallas force."
"You look like it," the gentleman quipped. "I always wanted to join the force. Didn't suit me though."
Unsure whether or not that was a compliment, Carlos slipped a piece of paper from his pocket and scribbled Uppercuts' number on it before handing it to the man. "If you think of anything else you might like to share, just call that number and ask for me or Katheryn here."
The older man squinted hard to read the number and gave Carlos a nod. "I'll do that."
As Carlos and Katheryn sauntered out of the depot, Katheryn held back a chuckle. "We should really get some phones installed in the office."
"Kath," Carlos sighed. "We aren't that cash rich yet, you know."
"Oh, I know. Still, it would free you up to get a few business cards printed."
Carlos rounded the SUV to the driver's side looking over the hood at Katheryn. "I'll make a deal with you."
"Name it."
"When we get back to Uppercuts, you stay there."
"Why?!"
"I've got my reasons," Carlos insisted with a raise of a brow. But Katheryn glared at him, resulting in a sigh from him as he glanced away briefly. "I need to check on a few things."
"I can't come with you?!"
Carlos shook his head. "No. Not this time."
One could tell simply by the color rising in Kath's cheeks that she was not pleased, and her narrowed eyes proved she was waiting quite impatiently for Carlos to explain himself further.
"Look," Carlos surrendered. "I need to go by the department and talk to some folks. Meanwhile, I need you at Uppercuts in case someone calls with information."
Kath nodded, realizing Carlos was right. "Still," she sighed as she piled into the SUV after Carlos, shutting her door firmly. "You could have said that in the first place."
A grin twisted at Carlos' mouth, his eyes finding Kath's. "You think I didn't want your company?" Kath managed to nod, turning away briefly for shame of having even let that thought enter her mind. As she turned back to look at him, Carlos quickly dismissed her doubts, leaning across to her side of the vehicle to spontaneously press his lips to hers.
As soon as he noticed the janitor they had spoken to watching them from across the parking lot at his waiting car, Carlos gently broke away from the passionate moment with his hand resting on Kath's face, clearing his throat nervously as he nodded forward to indicate to Katheryn why he had stopped so soon. They both couldn't help but laugh it off before Carlos put the Durango in reverse, their path quickly taking them back home.
As soon as their plane landed at DFW airport, Ziva and Tony hoisted their bags in hand and wove their ways through the crowds in the airport determined to get to baggage claim before they had to be at the curb in fifteen minutes for their ride. According to the last minute information Gibbs had told Ziva after Tony's swift departure from the bullpen, an agent from the Corpus Christi branch of NCIS would be picking them up at the airport and taking them to a private hangar where they would board a private plane that would take them the rest of the way. Gibbs had stated his staunch questioning of this idea according to Ziva. He had insisted that a flight directly from Washington with a connection in the middle somewhere sounded far more suitable and quicker. Not to mention the extra pennies liable to be required from taxpayers' pockets…or at least their pockets. Even so, Ziva suspected Gibbs didn't think much of that particular NCIS office or the agents therein. But he gave in. He knew his best agents were on the job and would get the job done. That is…if nature didn't have her way first.
"I'm so sorry about this," the Corpus Christi agent hung his head low in shame, staring out of the window of the private jet while wringing his hands nervously.
From across the narrow aisle, Ziva couldn't help but notice the nervous tension emanating from the agent and opened her mouth to speak a note of sarcasm. But holding herself in check, she turned instead to Tony beside her and whispered, "How does an agent like that survive on the field?" Tony shrugged. "I mean, if a storm like this makes him nervous, how can he fire a weapon correctly or apprehend some deranged maniac without breaking down into sobs?"
"Beats me," Tony replied, also taking a look out of the window. With a glance at his watch, he estimated they had entered the storm nearly five minutes ago. Turbulence was hell, and the lightning wasn't that much more comforting in regards to their safety.
A short time later, the co-pilot came over the intercom to announce they'd be making an emergency landing back at DFW airport just as soon as they could since, ironically, it was closer. According to the weather reports, the storm ahead of them was even worse than this. They couldn't take any chances and were forced to turn around.
Ziva could only imagine with a hint of humor in mind what Gibbs would say as she threw her head back against the seat and laughed the matter away. "Just my luck."
Tony smiled. "What do you mean?"
"It seems like every time you and I are together, something like this happens," Ziva's voice rose as she gestured rather intently in the air on the word this. "Besides, I was rather looking forward to having some time off coming to me as soon as we got back home. After this incident, I'm liable to be out here for weeks."
Tony scoffed. "Time off? You can't be serious. When was the last time any one of us had some time off?! Kindergarten?"
"Very funny, Tony." Ziva's broadening frown seeped with sarcasm. Another bump of turbulence caused the plane to jolt. Impulsively, Ziva took a hold of her seat's arm. Tony noticed the fear-based reaction, giving her a look and causing her to jerk her hand back to herself. She cleared her throat and looked straight ahead with some sort of false version of confidence in her eyes. "Best buckle up. Could be a bumpy landing."
Katheryn had not taken but one last look out of the panoramic view of Thunder Investigations, sauntering back towards the loft stairs when a loud clap of thunder startled her, the rains ensuing from the cloudy atmosphere without holding back. She spun around on her heel, partially ashamed of having let the weather bother her so much. It was unlike her. But she shrugged it off, knowing very well how on edge she currently was.
Besides being ready for any phone call that came through, Katheryn wasn't very comforted by the news report she had heard when she had first arrived downstairs at Butch's. The scene of the accident had been cleared, and each body had been accounted for. The names had also been released. None of them were Trent or Molly. Although overwhelmed with relief, Kath wouldn't let herself enjoy the sentiment for long. If Trent and Molly were okay, they would have contacted her or Carlos by now. But they hadn't. And this still made Katheryn very uneasy. She wished Carlos would call or arrive at the doorstep at any moment to let her get this off her chest.
With restlessness wearing thin into aggravation, Kath sighed sharply and started for the stairs down to the bar. She nearly collided with Butch at the foot of the steps and began muttering apology after apology until Butch took her by the shoulder to stop her. She took a deep breath before letting Butch walk with her to the other side of the bar where she took a seat.
Butch claimed the barstool next to her and asked Sandy to bring her a cup of coffee. He then turned to see Kath running a hand through a hair, her elbows propped on the counter and her head buried in her hands. "Kath, Trent and Molly are alive as far as we know. Why the long face?"
"We don't know that for sure, Butch." Katheryn took a deep breath before she turned to look at Butch. "And frankly I can't believe Carlos wanted me to stay here when he's out there finding things out without me."
Sandy planted the cup of coffee on the counter and Butch pushed it to Katheryn. He gave the counter a friendly tap. "Drink up." Kath took a few reluctant sips. It seemed to do the trick so far. "Hey, Carlos must have had his reasons."
"I know," Kath admitted as she toyed with the handle of the mug. "He told me as much. I just can't stand hanging around here doing nothing. It's driving me nuts."
Butch chuckled. "You remind me of Trent. He'd say the same thing." At Katheryn's frown, Butch wasn't sure he had selected the right combination of words for that particular moment and wished he could have taken them back. Instead, he squeezed her shoulder, drawing her gaze. "Kath, we'll find them. And you know, there may be something you can do to take your mind off this…that is if you don't mind this rain."
"Oh?" Katheryn asked, her interest piqued.
"A good friend of mine down at the restaurant a few blocks over promised me he'd let me have some of his supplies to fulfill a promise we made with each other."
"Payment for a service rendered?" Kath winked understandingly.
"Yep." Butch nodded. "I'm shorthanded here as you can see. And it would keep you occupied for half an hour. What do you say?"
Kath grinned and opened her mouth to agree but then frowned. "What about the phone calls?"
"I'll keep an ear close to the phone for you. And I'll explain to Carlos if he asks. Besides, I don't think he'd mind at all."
"Okay then!" Katheryn clapped and snagged one last sip of coffee as she stood and turned towards the door, flashing a grin behind her as she waved a quick goodbye and pushed out into the rains.
Needless to say, the landing for the group of weather-worn NCIS agents was a tiring one. Tony was sure at least two times that they were going to skid right off the runway and into some gas tanker truck and light up into an explosion. Despite Ziva's constant failure in controlling her laughter, she was just as afraid as he was. But it would be a very cold day in hell before she ever admitted it to anyone...especially Agent Dinozzo.
As soon as the plane landed safely at the airport and was guided to the private hangar to wait out the storm, Tony and Ziva began their restless wait in an office to the side of the building. It wasn't very inviting in comparison with the vast airport it was nearly adjacent to. Ziva spotted the coffee maker in the corner and was about to pour herself a cup when an oil-smeared mechanic beat her to it. She stifled a scowl and joined Tony who was sitting by the magazine rack, flipping through some titles with a grin on his face.
"Find anything interesting?" she asked, curiously peering over him from the seat next to him.
"No." Tony tossed a title back and proceeded to relax in his chair with his hands cupped behind his head and leaning against the wall. "Unless you like housekeeping magazines. Not a hotrod title or pretty lady in the bunch. You'd think with all these mechanics running around there would be something interesting to read."
Ziva tried to ignore Tony's underlying message and tried getting a glimpse of their plane through the rain-smitten window. "How long do you think this storm will last?"
Tony shrugged just as a flash of lightening and accompanying thunder ensued not two seconds apart from each other. "Judging by that little light show, I'd say the storm is far from over."
Ziva crossed her arms against her chest and heaved a sigh, blowing a wayward lock of hair out of her face. Inspiration suddenly struck her, her eyes lighting up as she shifted in her seat. "I've never been to Dallas. What do you say we call a cab and see some sights while we wait?"
It was very unlike Ziva to be so lively, Tony mused as he turned to face her with a smile teasing his lips. "Whatever you say."
Ziva slapped him on the arm. "I'm only trying to be helpful despite our circumstances."
"Well, then…" Tony stood resolutely and crossed to the vacant desk and pawed at the phonebook, drawing it to himself. He flipped open the giant book in hand and pointed to the first bar advertisement he came to. With a grin suddenly flashing across his features he exclaimed, "Uppercuts! Let's go try it out." He slammed the book shut, tossed it on the desk, and sauntered towards the door. Realizing Ziva wasn't following him, he paused and turned. "Are you coming, Agent David?"
Ziva shrugged and stood to amble forward, unconvinced that this was a good idea. "We should be sober while we are on this case."
"And sober we shall be," Tony assured her with a convincing, gentle tone and sly grin serving as its sidekick companion.
Tony then opened the door for his female companion, waving Ziva forward in a chivalrous manner out of the entrance. His smile gently faded as he came face to face with Ziva's scowling features but he remained emotionless and unmoved by her moment of disdain. Thanks to nearby help, a taxi arrived from the airport in little time at all and the pair were whisked away on their little adventurous escape.
