It wasn't long after Morgan had welcomed Foxtrot to the fold that the Porsche turned up. It was ostentatious and Foxtrot was beyond proud of it. Thane ended up with the keys and an order to search it. Morgan would still remain deeply suspicious of someone so independent and vicious as long as he breath in his body. Thane guessed he got the job as punishment in a way for letting Foxtrot take so much of the credit for the drugs shipment but it also showed Morgan trusted Thane to be honest about what he might find.
The Porsche was clean and extremely well kept, which Thane could appreciate and was more than thankful for. He had searched take-away filled grease pits before and hated every second of it. Combing it thoroughly led Thane to conclude that Foxtrot was a music junkie. There were CDs everywhere but nothing incriminating.
Thane was sat in the passenger seat contemplating the dashboard. It was the last place Thane could think of for a secret stash. Someone like Foxtrot would have one, he had no doubt. The boot and door panels were empty and bore no marks on them to say they were opened frequently when they shouldn't be. He'd pulled everything out of the storage compartment and hadn't found anything, but on one last hope stuck his hand back in and pushed at all the internal panels. The top one shifted slightly under his fingertips and Thane worked it loose to reveal a slot just big enough to take a gun. The gun that he then pulled free was a Glock 19.
"Well, fuck." Thane said. The solid black, semi-automatic pistol was standard police issue and there was no way someone like Foxtrot would own one. It would go against everything he stood for. That led to just one conclusion: Their little gang runner was an undercover cop. That would make Morgan's day and Thane would get a hell of a lot of credit for flushing him out.
Thane was about to get out of the car when suddenly his phone chimed from his pocket. When he pulled it out, he grinned when he saw Heath's name across the top, briefly distracted from the problem at hand. They hadn't spent much time together recently, with Thane organising Foxtrot's test and Heath seemingly busier with work than usual, with even his texts being fewer, so this was welcome. However when he opened the text his heart faltered.
'I know.'
"Shit…" Thane whispered. There were only two things Thane could think of that remained a secret between them; Thane's true criminal doings and what had happened at Heath's apartment. The latter only he could say something about so, somehow, Heath knew about the first. Had he gone looking, finally? Thane couldn't think why he'd pick now to do it when he hadn't done it straight after Thane had pulled a gun on him. That meant something else had happened, something had put Thane's history, life under Heath's nose where he couldn't ignore it.
Thane's eyes ticked to the gun in his other hand and then back to the phone. His mind worked overtime. Could they be connected? Could Foxtrot be from the 27th? Could he be Heath's friend?
"Fuck!" Thane hissed lowly. He would never be able to look at Heath again if he turned Foxtrot in to Morgan. It would be as good as pulling the trigger himself and he couldn't do that to Heath, but if he didn't, he could end up on the wrong end of a gun. One slip, and Thane would be branded a traitor and he'd seen what Morgan did to people who betrayed his trust.
Thane knew he was screwed when the second option was barely a thought passing through his head. Apparently risking his life was worth saving Heath any hurt, even if this was all guesswork. He chuckled darkly, staring at the gun and phone. Life never stayed easy.
xxx
Heath put his phone away again, biting at his bottom lip. Three weeks and still nothing from Thane since he had sent his text message, not even confirmation he'd read it. Heath desperately wanted to talk to him about it but Jazz's life stopped him. He couldn't risk him being discovered, however much he missed Thane, and god did he miss him. The tall, dark-haired man had featured in his dreams heavily since Heath had fallen asleep on his couch and not hearing his voice for so long was actually much worse than Heath had thought it would be. He had never really considered what it would be like for Thane not to be around.
Heath rose to his feet and headed out of his office towards the shooting range in the precinct, aiming for a distraction. On the way he passed Adam's office, noting he was at his desk working, still. Heath wasn't sure when he'd last been home and slept. With that thought, and a frown, Heath backtracked to Adam's door.
"Adam are you alright?"
Adam didn't answer at first, and it took Heath repeating his question before he registered he was being spoken to, at which point he turned and blinked owlishly at Heath. There was a moment's pause as he let the question sink in, then smiled humourlessly.
"Ask me that when Jazz is back with us, Heath."
Heath stared at him for a moment before he came into the office and sat down on the chair opposite Adam. "I won't need to then. Have you talked to anyone about this? You're beginning to act like you did after we lost Kyle."
"They have been avoiding me," Adam shrugged, gesturing outside the door. "I suspect no one is quite sure what to say. In answer to your question, no I haven't." He squinted up at Heath. "Though, you do not look like you've had the best of days recently either."
"No one is avoiding you, but when you shut yourself in your work for-" Heath glanced at the clock. "-3 days without a break, we remember what you were like before and you never appreciated us coming to talk then. As for me…" Heath sighed. "I know how you feel. Missing someone and not knowing what's happening."
"I see," Adam looked back at his monitor, where Jazz's face was smirking from his police profile. "I do miss him. A lot. I can't shake the dread he might not come back from this, even though I know that's… wrong." He let of a tight breath. "So you have someone too?"
"There's nothing wrong with that fear. He's in the most dangerous place in the city and you've lost a partner to less but he's also one of the best cops you've ever seen," Heath replied before shaking his head. "No, not like you have Jazz."
"I don't think I could handle…" Adam trailed off and instead tilted his head at Heath. "Enough you miss them also. I had no idea."
"No one does, except Byron, and he doesn't really understand considering…" Heath took a breath, finding his courage. "I can't risk contact with him because it could put Jazz in danger."
Prowl's gaze sharpened at that, "I… see. They are of his ilk, then?" He turned back to Jazz's profile. "Can we… use them, I wonder?"
"I didn't know, not until recently and then it was too late, Jazz was in." Heath glanced down at his hands. "I'd trust him to help, if he knew who Jazz was, what he was doing. He wants out."
Adam was silent for a moment. "No, too risky," he said eventually. "Does Jazz know, have you any idea?"
"I don't think so. I don't think anyone else does," Heath looked back at Adam and studied him for a moment. "You can ask, if it will help Jazz. I know that comes first and I'm already grateful that you haven't… I know not everyone would talk to me if they found out."
"You have never shown bad judgement before, your record is spotless and as far as I am aware you do not spend your spare time around criminals. I have no reason to doubt you," Prowl's tone was matter of fact. "You say he wants out? From under Morgan's thumb, yes?"
Heath chuckled briefly, "I used to spend a lot of my spare time with one particular criminal and yes… The three of them do."
"Ahh, so it's White, Mitchell and Skype. I would guess… Mitchell is your other, then," Adam smiled slightly. "You do not do things by halves, do you Heath?" The expression disappeared again. "You realise what this could mean for you if this comes to light? Will you stand by what you believe?"
Heath gave him a smile that didn't reach his eyes, "Thane is more than his record says and I know that will mean very little to anyone else. I might survive because there are lines I haven't crossed yet but… I will stand by him no matter what the personal consequences."
Prowl stood up, then, placing a hand on Heath's shoulder, "Then I believe Jazz would stand by your decision and so shall I. We could do with each other's support, I think, now more than ever. Let us hope they find each other before Morgan does."
"Thank you Adam. They are both clever and adaptable men who know how to survive. You'll see Jazz again, you'll see," Heath nodded. "Now what would Jazz tell you to do? I believe he'd tell you to go home, get something to eat and sleep."
Adam snorted, shaking his head. "No, he wouldn't. He would drag me physically away, put me on a drip and knock me out," he said wryly.
"Only if he thought he couldn't tempt you away some other way," Heath grinned before tilting his head slightly. "Maybe I should ask you first, before Jazz is back, since he'll spin some story. How did you two end up together?"
"Honestly?" Prowl raised an eyebrow. "I'm not entirely sure. It just sort of… happened. He is very good at entrenching himself thoroughly into one's life." He huffed, "And not at all what I was looking for in a partner of any sort."
"Yeah, that happens somehow doesn't it?"
"Somehow indeed." He smirked slightly, "Whatever Jazz attempts to tell you about us, don't believe it."
"Oh now that might spoil it," Heath replied. "I'm sure there would be some truths mixed in there. Probably more than I'd want to know to be fair."
"And thus you should not believe him," concluded Adam with a small grin. He patted Heath's shoulder. "Thank you for stopping, Heath, it's appreciated."
"Any time Adam. Now you know you're not alone, so don't lock yourself away all the time. I can help with your cases too," Heath rose to his feet.
"Ha," Adam nodded at his empty incoming tray. "Shall we put that the other way around perhaps?"
Heath grinned then, "You'll regret saying that. I've got the beat teams' evaluations to go over for Orion."
"Mmm, fascinating. We may as well get it over with then, yes?" Adam took one last look over his shoulder at his monitor before pushing gently at Heath's shoulder.
xx
New Recruit Chapter 12 scene tie in
Thane frowned when Warren appeared back in his office after Foxtrot had disappeared once they'd finished the plan for the next weapons shipment and then just promptly lingered in the doorway.
"What is it?"
"I… erm…"
Thane put his pen down, "Warren, what did you do?"
"Foxtrot knows we're getting out," Warren shot out and Thane's expression tightened. "It's not my fault! He locked me in the elevator and threatened me!"
"I don't care whether he threatened to rip your balls off Warp! We are so damn close and he can't be trusted! He's got ulterior motives!"
"You think I don't know that? He's scary," Warren muttered. "He said he wouldn't tell."
Thane snorted at that. He did believe Warren when he said that and knew whoever Foxtrot really was that this sort of information was gold towards whatever the end goal was. It was also useful for self preservation to maintain his cover if he needed to make that call. It was not something he'd want to bet money on.
Over the past few weeks Thane had pushed the last of their details through for their new identities. Recently, with all the time he'd spent with Heath, he hadn't been concentrating on it, almost believing he could live in this limbo state if Heath was in his life. Now, with nearly a month gone without a word between them, Thane had turned back to what he should have been doing. He had to take himself away from Heath, for his own good. He would only screw him up if he stayed. Thane knew he couldn't offer him anything good, not in the way he truly wanted to now.
"It's alright Warren," Thane sighed. "It's done now. Just stay off Morgan's radar, in every way."
The other man nodded tightly before disappearing out the door. Thane glanced down at his desk. Hidden away was the Glock from the Porsche, along with the secret it came with. If Foxtrot needed it, Thane would give it up in exchange for the trine's safe escape.
As it turned out it was only a few days later when Thane's mental decision was put to the test. Spencer arrived at his office door and demanded he come with him. He was cleared pleased with himself, arrogantly so, like he knew something no one else did and Thane never liked to see that expression. It normally ended badly, for someone else.
When he stepped out into the corridor he found Spencer had already rounded up Shiv, Samuel, Rumble and Frenzy. Thane frowned at the other men as Spencer strode away but no one gave him any clues as to why Spencer had demanded their presence. Shiv, especially, wouldn't take to being ordered around by Spencer, even if he was outranked. Rumble and Frenzy were whispering to each other, right at the back of the group and refusing to be drawn into any questions by Thane. No one else was talking.
They descended one floor and were about half way down another office corridor when Spencer abruptly threw open a door to reveal Foxtrot leaning over a terminal, a PDA in one hand. This was the secure data terminal room and Shiv was beyond furious. Foxtrot was only startled for a split second before slamming his fist into his PDA.
It took Thane a moment to take in what was happening in the room but as soon as Foxtrot started ripping out wires from the terminal he got that they had caught him stealing information. Shiv was livid and was the first one to move forward to grab Foxtrot. Spencer wasn't far behind, with a triumphant expression on his face because Thane knew he'd be revealing in getting one up on Foxtrot. Ever since he'd arrived Foxtrot had been showing up the Commander, getting under his skin and beating him to every good idea.
Between them they subdued Foxtrot easily, but he didn't resist as they cuffed him and dragged him from the room. Thane guessed he knew when not to fight, when the odds weren't in his favour to do so. He had never shown himself to be a stupid man so Thane was pretty damn surprised when they'd caught him in the act. His eyes caught Samuel sending a message to Morgan with his phone so that when they turned up, he wouldn't be surprised.
"Man you are in so much trouble!" Spencer's voice was laced with so much glee as he practically bounced alongside the subdued Foxtrot, who ignored him by glaring at the floor.
"Imagine, Foxtrot. I come in to confirm the details of our next little job with my associates, and I find you taking something that doesn't belong to you," Shiv leaned into his shoulder. "I've never trusted you. Morgan was a fool to do so."
"'M a kleptomaniac, so sue meh," growled Foxtrot, who received a sharp whack to the face in reply.
"Don't play smart with me, boy. I'm not known for my sense of humor."
"Nah. More like he's known for his skills in torture," smirked Spencer. Thane hid the curl of disgust at that. He had seen what Shiv did to people he wanted information out of and he always seemed to cross some line or other.
Foxtrot did react then, turning a steady, humorless gaze to Spencer as they headed into the elevator. "So 'm I. I'm as good at takin' it as I am givin' it."
"We'll see," Shiv said in a dead voice and nothing else was said for the rest of the journey. For Thane, he was already trying to plan for all the outcomes. He would use this opportunity for the trine to escape if he could but he also knew he had to take a chance on Foxtrot as well. His conscience wouldn't let him walk out and leave him to Morgan's mercy, not when all he'd see would be Heath's pain. He still had no idea if Heath even knew this man, but the risk was more than Thane was willing to chance.
As Shiv and Spencer threw Foxtrot to his knees, the rest of the men spread out around the room, with Thane placing himself as far away as he could, without being in Morgan's direct line of sight. Things were going to happen that he needed to be prepared for, without being directly involved if he could help it. Foxtrot settled his gaze on Morgan, ignoring the rest of them and watching the hard expression on the crime lord's face.
"Who are you working for Foxtrot? Why are you stealing from me?"
The man in question didn't answer, not even when Frenzy planted a boot in his stomach which made him double forwards slightly as the air left his lungs in a big rush. Samuel and Shiv exchanged a look across the room and Samuel disappeared out the door in silence.
"Why Foxtrot? Who are you? What did you come here for?"
Still no answer and another beatdown which continued on for several minutes, until Morgan grabbed a gun from in his desk drawer and aimed it somewhere around Jazz's knee before repeating his question.
Before he could do so though, Shiv's cool voice intervened, "My Lord, if I may?" Russell tilted his head to one side, but lowered the gun and nodded. "Samuel has just been kind enough to fetch my laptop for me, because I have a hunch."
Foxtrot finally broke his gaze briefly away from Morgan to dart to Samuel, whom had come back into the room during the last beating. Shiv moved to the desk, on which he placed the computer where he leaned over it, and for the next couple minutes there was silence save for the tak-tak-taking of Shiv's fingers on the keys.
Eventually he made a triumphant noise. "Clever bastard, but not quite clever enough." The operations commander turned the screen around and Morgan growled as Foxtrot's eyes widened. His police profile was staring back at him, picture and information included. Thane hated his gut had been dead on. So 'Foxtrot' was actually Lieutenant Jasper Miles.
"My mistake was that I assumed you to be a cop from here in Detroit. Either you really are from Alabama, or you were transferred there temporarily in case we happened to check the Michigan database," Shiv smirked. "I also found this a few days ago in some video footage I was trawling through."
He minimized Jasper's profile, and brought up a saved AVI video instead. It turned out to be footage caught on news cameras of various crime scenes dating back a few months. At one point he paused, and Thane recognised the bank break-in that the three turncoats had done. In the paused frame there were two blurry police figures, but one of them definitely had dreadlocks like Jasper's.
"I wasn't sure when I first saw this, so I tried checking state databases but couldn't find you anywhere. So I took Morgan's advice and let you have the benefit of the doubt, considering your history." He brought back up the profile and Thane had to give whomever it was credit for hiding the Lieutenant so well. Shiv or Samuel would normally uncover information far faster than that.
"So, Police Lieutenant Jasper Miles, what do you have to say for yourself now?" Spencer cackled as Jasper did nothing but narrow his eyes at the crime lord and his smug-looking commander. Spencer stalked up to him and lifted him roughly to his feet, then smashed the heel of his hand right into Jazz's face. The second in command moved to restrain him with a comment, "You're dead meat now, copper."
At that the smaller man spun around quickly, tossing off Spencer's hands and jumping his bound hands so they were in front of him before pilfering Spencer's gun from the holster on his side. The Lieutenant swung the weapon at each of Morgan's nameless guards either side of him and shot, one bullet each to the head with deadly accuracy even among the mayhem. Spencer, Shiv and Samuel were already trying to subdue him as Jasper leveled the gun at Morgan, but he clearly hesitated. Thane could see the dilemma cross his face and knew that despite his history as Foxtrot, Jasper Miles was a good man at heart, not to just execute Morgan and be done with it.
The pause allowed Spencer to get a good grip on the saboteur, twisting Jasper's arm to force him to release the gun and shoving him to the ground, where Frenzy tasered him to keep him down. For the first time Jasper cried out as the electricity coursed through him, and lay twitching afterwards as his muscles spasmed out.
"Take him to the cell blocks and for fuck's sake guard him. Make sure he cannot escape. I'll deal with him later," Morgan's voice was flat, cold and emotionless. Thane knew that was not a good sign and clearly Jasper did too as he grimaced as he was hoisted up uncomfortably by both his arms and dragged unceremoniously from the room. Considering Morgan hadn't done anything then and there, then there was a little time to play with before Thane had to make a move.
xxx
New Recruit Chapter 13 scene tie in
Heath listened closely to the briefing. Everyone had been on edge since they got the emergency call in for Jazz. Adam was… He studied the other man's profile as Alex talked. Adam was surprisingly calm and collected when he knew his partner was in trouble and Heath had heard and seen enough to know they were close for all of the month they had been working together. The olive haired detective didn't think he'd be able to cope this well if it were him but Prowl wasn't considered Orion's right hand man in the precinct for nothing.
"Now, we only have a general area of about ten square blocks in downtown Detroit that we've managed to pin-point Jazz's emergency signal to because it's muffled and inexact, which indicates a dampener of some kind," Alex's voice was even and methodical. Despite his somewhat unpredictable paranoia the Security Director knew how to get precise information across when it came to these things. "However, Simon and I have been studying the locator positions of the microchip in Jazz's visor and we believe we've managed to narrow the search field a bit. Whatever Morgan is doing to mess with equipment seems to be working, though we have yet to figure out how he's doing it since cell towers and Wi-Fi connections seem to be just fine."
Simon took over, snatching up a red board pen and circling a large section of the map projected onto the meeting room whiteboard. There was already other writing scrawled around it in mismatched hands. Alex had been writing in green, Orion in purple.
"That's the general area of the emergency beacon," the tactician supplied before choosing a blue pen and marking out another, smaller, three-block radius part in the north-east of the previous circle. He shaded it slightly. "And that is the area that Jazz's microchip goes dark. That is where we're searching."
Adam raised a hand as Alex opened his mouth to say something else, and the security officer shot him an irritated look before nodding for the detective to speak. Adam inclined his head slightly before doing so. "Is it all high-rise office buildings around there?"
Simon glanced at the shaded area and considered for a moment. Heath didn't know the area. It fell outside his usual area, though he and Adam did effectively have to cover their whole precinct.
"There are a few shopping malls and entertainment centers in among, but for the most part I believe so. Why?"
"Damn," Adam bit his bottom lip. "From what Jazz could tell me the few times he texted he was stationed in an office building. Tall one, good view of the rest of the city and blinds rarely open."
Heath frowned slightly, looking at the map and trying to imagine the geography of the area to visualise which would have the best view of the city. Alex made a noise.
"Actually, that helps a little. At least we have an idea of what we're physically looking for. Problem is, Morgan's facetious company doesn't do "business" in that area, but it owns practically every one of the buildings in the entirety of this part of Detroit. There's no way to tell where he's hiding out, none of our contacts will have heard any whispers. The only one who does just sent out a distress beacon and we've no way to contact him."
Adam flinched slightly at Alex's matter-of-fact tone and Heath clenched one hand into a fist. As he'd sat listening to the back and forth, gradually his mind had been made up. He could lose a lot, hell everything, but the life of someone was worth more than his pride and job. Adam couldn't lose another partner. It would destroy him.
When Heath stood up he could tell everyone was surprised, considering he was normally silent for these meetings and he couldn't meet anyone's eyes. His hair fell forward into his face as he spoke, soft and trying to hide any feelings that might squeeze their way out.
"I think I do."
"Heath, what are you thi-" Byron started, with trepidation colouring his voice and taken-aback, but Heath sharply waved him mute. He knew what his friend was trying to do, that Byron could see the outcome of this.
"What do you mean you think you do?" asked Orion. His tone was light enough, curious but Heath knew his commanding officer well enough to hear the warning as well.
Heath hunched his shoulders slightly and fidgeted, "I think I know a way we can find exactly where Jasper is." He took a deep breath, the room having turned deathly silent. "I know... I'm a friend of one of Morgan's lieutenants."
"What?!" Alex exploded, eyes widening. A finger was suddenly pointed directly at the scout. "No wonder Morgan always seems to be a step ahead of us! You've been telling him everything we've been doing!"
"No!" Heath's head shot up, his own eyes filling with pain, shock and anger. He knew it was a risk, getting blamed for being a dirty cop but it hurt more when it was levelled at him like that. "I would never! I didn't know he was part of Morgan's crew until Jazz came to the precinct and we were suddenly chin-deep in this thing!"
"You expect me to take your word for it?" Alex glared at Heath, who seemed to shrink in on himself. There was no proof to support him, not here. The only defence he had was currently wherever Jazz was. Heath started as a calming hand placed itself on his shoulder, and he looked around expecting to see Byron offering his comforting, silent support, but to his bewilderment he found himself looking at the brunette partner of the very saboteur they were trying to rescue.
"Enough, Redding," Adam ordered harshly, in sharp contrast with the hand on Heath's shoulder. "Hear him out, find Jazz and then we'll deal with this. You would do well to remember your priorities."
Alex looked ready to argue, but Orion nodded too. "I agree, Alex. Stop."
The security officer subsided moodily, a dark look still very much etched on his features and directed at the scout. Heath inhaled shakily, sending grateful glances to the other detective and Orion before continuing.
"I've known him for a couple of years. He's a great, sweet guy who I thought wouldn't hurt a fly. I mean, he's even helped me babysit my cousin more than once." His bottom lip disappeared as he chewed it. The words were difficult to find but now they had started Heath couldn't seem to find how to stop. He had bottled it for so long. "Then one night I was getting ready to leave and I walked past Detective McCallen's office. I saw him looking at some files with a face I recognized instantly plastered across them. I... didn't want to believe it. I couldn't at first. My Thane, a chief player in Morgan Russell's empire? The same one that taught my four-year-old cousin how to play 'Go Fish' and gives her piggy-back rides around the garden?"
Adam squeezed Heath's shoulder lightly to tell him he was going off course and Heath flushed. He hadn't meant it to get so personal. Byron put a hand on the scout's forearm, giving him more confidence again.
"Anyway, I couldn't decide whether to confront him about it or leave it, because if I confronted him then Jazz's cover would be blown and if I didn't I wasn't sure I could bear the thought of him being the bad guy here, so in the end I texted him, two words that just said 'I know'. He never got back to me and I haven't heard anything since, but if I can get a hold of him..." Heath trailed off uncertainly, eyes darting around the room from person to person. Only Alex seemed to be showing any kind of negativity or hostility towards him, the others appeared to be remaining carefully neutral or calculating. It was better than Heath had hoped but he still felt on edge.
"How do you know he'll help us?" asked Raji, speaking up for the first time.
"Because I know Thane Mitchell," Heath returned quietly and his heart constricted in his chest. "He will."
Orion, Adam and Ryan exchanged looks, clearly wondering what to do now that one of their own was freely offering up information that could simultaneously save Jazz and end his own career. Orion took a breath, odds calculating themselves in his head. He trusted the members of his team and Heath's revelation changed nothing about that feeling.
"Find out."
"Sir!" Alex's protest was immediate and loud. "He will betray us. Any chance at a surprise will be gone and –"
"Redding, enough!" Orion rarely raised his voice but now was not the time for Alex's histrionics. "I trust Heath's judgement and if he trusts Mitchell with Lieutenant Miles' life, then I do." Orion looked up at Heath, seeing how much of an effect his words had on him. Heath was pale, under his tan, but didn't look like he was about to back out of what he'd said. "Call him."
Heath bit his lip as he dug his phone out of his pocket and thumbed this way to Thane's number, feeling every set of eyes in the place watching him. As he was about to raise it to his ear Alex snapped, "On speaker phone Reynolds!"
Heath nodded, changing the setting and holding the phone in his palm so everyone could hear the ringing and he'd never heard anything so unnerving.
Thane jumped when he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket, and Warren gave him an odd look. The assault specialist ignored it, fishing in his cargo pants pockets hurriedly until he found the smart phone. The phone slipped in his fingers for a moment when he realised who was calling him. When Foxtrot had been unmasked Thane had thought that he would never talk to Heath again, not when he knew who Thane really was.
"Answer the goddamn phone Thundercracker or shut it up because Born To Be Wasted is beneath an assault specialist of your calibre," Spencer snapped at him.
Thane flipped his trine mate two fingers as he answered, strangely hesitant about what Heath was going to say, "...Hello?"
'Thane! Oh thank heavens I got through to you, I was afraid you wouldn't answer.'
That voice. Thane closed his eyes against the relief that washed through him like a tidal wave. He missed the way Heath's voice sounded distant and muffled, there was so much emotion doing the rounds inside him.
"I nearly didn't," he replied softly. "I was terrified when I realized you knew, I didn't think you'd ever want to talk to me again."
'We'll be talking about that later, make no mistake,' said Heath firmly, and Thane nodded though he knew the scout couldn't see it. 'Anyway, that's not why I'm calling. I'm calling about Foxtrot.'
"Foxtrot?" Thane shared a look with the other two occupants of the room, both of whom had been listening in since the beginning. "What about him?"
'He set off his distress beacon, so I'm guessing you know who he is by now.'
"Jasper Miles, Detroit police recruit. Yeah. Shiv found him out and reported it to Morgan earlier today," Thane had a thought, still choosing to ignore the other noises from Heath's end of the line. "He would make an awesome SAS, did you know that?"
Heath made an exasperated noise. 'Not the time, Thane! Where is he? We're pulling him out before Morgan gets his mitts on him, but we need to know exactly where he is. The beacon only shows a general area.'
The assault specialist froze for a moment. That would mean giving away their hideout, giving up Morgan's location for the police to raid it. Would it be worth it? He wasn't ready, their new identities weren't finished yet but there would be no turning back from this.
'...Thane?' Heath's voice sounded worried, like there was more than just the life of a colleague resting on Thane's answer.
"I'm here. I'm thinking."
He pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled noisily. He mulled it over in his head for a little bit longer but he was already turning to his trine mates. Without him saying a word they realized what it was Thane was being asked to do, as they always had been able to when it came down to the serious stuff. Warren nodded without hesitation, and Spencer simply gave him a look that said it was entirely his call. Fuck it if they weren't ready. Thane was willing to blow everything for Heath and had been for a long time now.
"We're in the old Kilnsey building, the one that's been scheduled for demolition soon. It was a cover for any work Morgan may have had done to this place."
There was the sound of a few cheers in the background, and that was when Thane realised that he was on speaker phone to a lot of people but when Heath spoke again Thane could hear the smile in his voice. That made it worth it.
'Thank you, Thane. I knew you'd come through.'
"You're welcome." Thane hung up before he said something he'd regret and gripped the phone tightly in one hand for several seconds, stomach churning. He stood abruptly and turned to his trine mates. "You guys had better go, this place will be swarming with cops soon."
"What about you?" asked Warren, already standing, one hand absently touching the gun at his back.
"I've got a guest to liberate so Morgan has one less bargaining chip," Thane wouldn't risk the other two when this was his gamble they were playing. He headed for the door.
"Have you forgotten our promise, Thundercracker?" Spencer spoke up then, arms crossed and looking as irritated as he could at the younger man. "None of us get left behind."
"Don't use that nickname on me, Spence," Thane gripped the doorway. "No, I haven't. You won't be leaving me behind guys, you'll be protecting me. Keep cover until I get back."
With that he vanished out the door, and Spencer let an indignant screech out after him. Thane knew they knew he was in some part lying. He would be right behind them but he might not be staying there.
"Honestly," Spencer grumbled, moving to Warren and tugging him towards the door as well. "C'mon, let's get our bags and our asses out of here."
