Lines Crossed

Disclaimer: NCISLA characters belong to Shane Brennan. All original characters and this story are mine.


Chapter 7

Callen and Sam came to the bridge. So far, there had been no sign of Nell since the false tracks left earlier. Doubt started to enter Callen's mind that he'd got it wrong.

"G."

Callen looked at his partner, something had caught his attention.

"Looks like Nell's size boots. She's come up for a look, then changed her mind."

Callen studied the movement. What was she thinking? She changed her mind, but why?

"She's worried she'll run into Fellows. She escaped while he was away. This means, she escaped sometime yesterday and not first thing this morning. She's had a good lead on him," Callen concluded.

Sam nodded. "That's what I would do. Stay clear of the roads."

"She could be anywhere, Sam."

Just then an unfamiliar vehicle came their direction. They sighed with relief when they recognised it being the Sheriff's. It pulled over and two familiar faces exited the rear.

"Paris, Dave. What took you so long?"

Paris shook her head. "Nice to see you too, Callen. Any sign of her yet?"

Callen shook his head. "Not Nell, but we've found her tracks. She's been here, we think yesterday."

"Why's that?"

"She's nervous about bumping into Fellows along the road. We suspect she escaped when he left her alone, yesterday afternoon."

"She's got more to worry about than just Fellows. He's pulled in some local thugs. The Doyle brothers." Paris added.

Callen and Sam gave each other worried looks.

"This is Sheriff Tom Pike and his wife, Rosemary."

Callen and Sam shook their hands.

"How many are there of these Doyles?" Sam inquired, worried about Deeks and Kensi being outnumbered.

"Five of them. They're heading from the southern end. My two deputies are keeping them in their sights," Tom answered.

"Roy and Claire are following in that direction as well," Paris told them.

"Good to know. Deeks and Kensi are looking for Fellows. Nell left a false trail. It was too obvious for Nell to leave herself so exposed and easily traced."

"She's had agent training?" Paris only knew Nell as their Intelligence Analyst.

"Yes. She's been out in the field and undercover a few times. She trains with us when she can."

"So this member of your team that's missing," Tom started. "She's not an agent?"

"She's our Intelligence Analyst. She's also my wife."

Paris and Dave raised their brows at his admission. There went her offer of beer, she thought.

"Fellows is working on Marcel Janvier's instructions, to hurt anyone close to me."

"Who is this man? I've heard of Fellows, but the other man…" Tom inquired.

"He's a French arms dealer. He's killed two of our people in front of us and tried to kill more of our team. He's locked away, but Fellows' working as his apprentice."

"What's the plan now?" Paris scanned the area, hoping from the bridge she might spot Nell.

"We're looking for Nell, while the others are looking for Fellows. We hope he's not worked out the diversion. She could be anywhere, but these tracks prove she's been here. We'll stick with the river. Perhaps you can drive downstream. Is there anything, like houses or another town in this direction?"

"There's a dam wall." Tom looked in the direction.

"A hay shed a long a bit, she might have stayed there the night."

"No. She suffers hay-fever. It would set her off."

"Well, this side of the reservoir, there's nothing. We'll drive down there and look for her. She'll have to come up to the road near the wall. There's a couple of houses. It's another few miles on the other side of the reservoir, before she hits another town. It's a long trek."

"What's the town?" Sam thought he could get Eric to keep an eye out for Nell, if she reached there.

"Las Animas."

Sam nodded and dialled his cell.

"Eric. We need eyes out between Lamar and Las Animas, Nell's on the run."

"Will do, Sam. Be in touch."

"Eric's using kaleidoscope to find her."

"We can drive down that way if you like?" Tom suggested. "See if she's made it onto the road."

Callen hesitated. Would Nell feel safe with the Sheriff? "She'll feel better if there's someone she knows. Take Dave with you. Paris can search with us."

"Dave, keep in touch."

"Will do, Callen."

South end of Greenlock Farm

Deeks and Kensi had been following Fellows' steps for a while. They had no idea how far behind him they were, but they had to keep alert just the same. They heard a rumble and realised a red pick-up truck was coming in their direction. It stopped over by some trees. They crouched down into the long grass and waited.

"There's Fellows. He's pulled in some local louts to help him find Nell. This isn't good," Deeks drawled out.

Kensi looked sideways in his direction, worry for Nell was clear in her dark mismatched eyes.

"Better let Callen and Sam know. We're going to need back up. Can you see how many there are in the truck?"

At that moment, Kensi's cell vibrated in her back pocket. She pulled it out and smiled.

"He's as good at Hetty. Look who's calling?"

She quickly showed Deeks her screen before she answered, keeping her voice low.

"Talk about timing, Callen. We were just about to call you. We've found Fellows. He's meeting up with some…"

"Yeah, we know. We've met up with the Sheriff and Red Team. Roy and Claire have your back. The two Deputies are watching the Doyle brothers from the southern end. There's five of them and they're bad news. Keep Fellows in your sights. We've found tracks we think are Nell's. As long as Fellows and the Doyles stay down there, Nell will remain safe."

"Ah, Kens. Where are they going?"

"Callen, we have a problem. Fellows jumped into the Doyles' truck, heading to the southern boundary road."

"Can you see the Deputies?"

"They won't see us. They're sitting back a way, watching. They can follow. Can you call their Sheriff?"

"Dave's with them. I'll have Paris call him. Head back to the SUV and meet us on the southern road to the river, near the Reservoir. We're approaching the damn wall."

"Gotcha!"

"We've got to head back. You still have the keys?"

Deeks pulled them out of his pocket and dangled them. "Yep."

"Good. Let's go. Roy and Claire are behind us. There's nothing we can do from here now."

It became a mad dash. Fellows and the Doyles were ahead with the truck. Choosing to head out on foot put the agents at a disadvantage. Paris managed to get in touch with Dave and the Sheriff with his Deputies. The L.A. team felt at a lost, frustrated they had left their SUV back at the northern end of the property.

Callen turned and looked at his partner. "I should have listened to you, Sam. You wanted to come in from the southern end."

Doubt re-emerged it ugly head. His decision had failed Nell. Now she was in more danger than she was earlier, and she has no idea about the Doyle brothers either. He shuddered at the damage those thugs could do to Nell.

"Don't go there, G. None of us knew she'd escaped and ran south. If she had gone north, we'd still be looking for her. There isn't any way we can communicate with her either. She's trusting her training. Stop blaming yourself, and let's go."

Callen nodded, the three agents moved out of the river and up the embankment. They were exposed here and at any moment, they could run into the Doyle brothers and Fellows.

Sam looked behind them, he could hear a rumble, he didn't like it at all. He scanned the area and saw two houses up ahead. "Let's go."

Callen and Paris ran at fast speed, chasing Sam for cover. They'd barely reached a shed near one of the houses, when the red truck passed them by.

"That was close." Paris wiped the sweat from her forehead. "You okay, Callen?"

He looked deathly pale. "We're too late. They'll find her before we do…"

"Dave's out there with the Sheriff and his wife. He'll find her before they do," Sam tried to reason with him.

"You don't know that?"

"No. But look, here's the Deputies." Sam ran from their hiding spot and waved them down.

Stuart Nobrag and Gavin O'Callahain stopped and wound down the window.

"Can we help you?" They were cautious when Callen and Paris emerged behind Sam.

"We're Federal Agents." Sam showed them his badge and id.

"One of ours with with your Sheriff. The man we've been following is now with the Doyle brothers, they just passed here."

"Yeah, we're following them. Have you found your team member yet?"

"No. She's still on the run."

"I hope she's good at hiding, those Doyles are known for their hunting skills."

Callen fisted his hands beside him. Anger surged through him.

"We can offer you a ride."

Sam nodded over to Callen. "You go, G. Take Paris with you. I'll wait for Kensi and Deeks."

"You sure?"

"Yeah." Sam squeezed his shoulder for reassurance. "Find her before the Doyles and Fellows do."

Callen gave him a slight nod and climbed into the rear. Paris ran around the other side and shifted in beside him.

It was another half an hour before Kensi and Deeks showed up. Sam hadn't heard from either Callen, Paris or Dave in that time. Worry began to fester. What was going on up ahead on this road? He should have stayed with his partner and he was berating himself, when Kensi pulled up.

"Sam, where's Callen?"

"He and Paris went with the Deputies, chasing after the Doyles and Fellows. I've not heard a thing in the past half hour. You?"

"No. Nothing."

Sam's cell rang. "Eric, what have you got?"

"Oh good. You're at least answering. Tell Callen I've been trying to call him."

"He's not with me."

"What?"

"He and Paris went with the Deputies while I waited for Kensi and Deeks."

"Oh. Well I've done what you asked. I've tapped into the cameras in Las Animas. An alert came through to the local Sheriff's office about fifteen minutes ago. Gunfire had been heard just outside the town and the Lamar Sheriff called in for assistance."

"That will be Dave, Tom Pike and his wife."

"Dave?"

"Red Team Dave. He left with the Sheriff and his wife a while ago. Hopefully, he's teamed up with his Deputies, Callen and Paris. Have you found any signs of Nell yet?"

"No. That's what I'm worrying about. I can't find her anywhere on any camera."

It'll be hard out here, Eric. Don't be hard on yourself. At least we know help from Las Animas is on it's way. We better go. Thanks, Eric."

Sam slotted in the back seat. "Where's Roy and Claire?"

"They've gone in one of their SUV's. Kai found them an alternate route to the north of the river, to meet up in Las Animas, just incase Nell went that side of the river."

"Fingers crossed that's the way she went and they find her first. It doesn't sound good news from the sound of what's waiting for us up ahead. At least we have the Sheriff office in Las Animas coming to help."