OH, HELL NO!
Disclaimer: The Cullens, the Swans, and most of the characters mentioned in the story that are known from Stephanie Meyer's beloved Twilight Saga, are all hers and hers alone. I neither have nor wish to pass them off as mine. I do appreciate the fact that she did bring them to life and allows us to play with them in our imaginations. The only thing I will claim is the current storyline.
"One last thing before we close this meeting. Can you ask your source if she might be able to find out who is the originating source of her information that she is starting to get?" requested Emmett.
"I can ask, but, that doesn't promise us anything. She will either tell us if she can or refuse to tell us even if she did know. I can't push her on that issue or we might lose the lead altogether."
"If we had a name, or, just a where the original source was connected that would help. Make sure she knows that we will be happy with whatever she can provide and will reward her handsomely for it." Emmett told her.
XXXXXXXXX
Hattie was going to protect her source with her live, but, she had made sure that he had the necessary information as to how to contact Miss Bella if he needed to.
XXXXXXXXX
It wasn't going to be much longer before this batch of human goods would be turned over to their new owners and out of his way. None of them meant a damn thing to him except as a means to an end of compiling more money. The more money he got the more powerful he would become and the more he could control the corporation as he saw fit. At that point he would also be able to get rid of the hanger ons as their usefulness began to wane.
XXXXXXXXX
Edward having reached several decisions as to trying to get along with the thorn in his side a little better and to look at her side of things, to get himself serviced tomorrow night helping him to unwind and to getting this case closed as soon as possible knowing that his contacts had better have some good answers as to why they haven't been able to come up with any information like Bella's had.
CHAPTER 9: THE BEGINNING
Thirty six hours had passed since the task force had received their first break in the case. The break actually coming from one of Bella's contacts. Time was counting down, according to the information given, as to the departure time of the shipment of young people disappearing forever. Everyone was on call and working hard with no relief or relaxing to put a plan in place to prevent this. At this point, it was no longer two separate teams; it was a task force working as one.
The office was nearly empty since everyone was out either trying to get more information from any of their informants or checking out the private airstrips in the area. It amazed Emmett and Jasper as to exactly how many such fields there were. They felt that it was an almost insurmountable task. Of course, Kate, Irina, Angela and Tanya were manning the computers working to do their best trying to narrow down the search areas.
Jasper and Emmett each had drawn one person from both of Edward's and Bella's street team to accompany them on the search for where the plane might be taking off from. That left Edward, Bella and two other officers to talk with their street people trying to get more or, at least, updated information.
Time, the ever present enemy in this set of circumstances, marched forward, forever moving on what seemed to be swiftly flying wings, always nearing the point of the deadline. Everyone was back in the office to compare notes except for two missing persons, Det. Swan and Felix Younger. It had been hours since any word had been heard from that pair. But, from all of the research and contacting of informants along with scouring the area, nothing had been gained. No new clues from any source had turned up to help them be able to stop the shipment being sent off in another four hours and fifteen minutes.
While everyone is silently wondering why they are still missing two the phone rings with three hours and twenty three minutes left before deadline. Emmett answers and with a raising of eyebrows quickly puts the call on speaker without missing a word or a beat. The entire room goes quiet when they hear the voice of an unknown female and she is saying, "Det. Swan asked me to call this number to let you know that she and her associate have found the field." The shock that ripples through the room hushing all noise is instantaneous.
"Excuse, me, what did you say?" Emmett questions, wanting to make sure that he and everyone else had understood correctly.
"Det. Swan asked me to call to let you know that she and her partner have found the field. She wanted me to give you the location so you can get there as soon as you can. She and the other officer will delay them as long as possible once they show to give you time to back her up. Those are her words, not mine." The young woman tells them.
"Sorry, but, I didn't catch your name."
"That's because I didn't give it." At which the young woman finished by giving them the necessary information to get to the field and then hung up the phone.
"Let's get going. Does anyone know where this place is?" Jasper questioned at which Angela who had been quietly working in the background handed over directions to everyone present. With that received, there is a sudden surge towards the door. Everyone is going and that includes the researchers with the computer whizzes. In other words, the whole damn task force is in one this raid.
As they all get down to the parked cars and start forming up into groups, Jasper asks, "How long will it take us to get there? Does anyone know?"
"Nearly two and half hours and we now have two hours and forty five minutes to get there, check out the layout and get in place." Peter Jameson tells them.
So, the group split down the middle into two groups of five and each group piling into an SUV. Using a cell phone in each car on speaker, tentative plans are discussed, some ideas discarded and others approved. The main idea was rescue and arrest, but, mainly rescue first. Then to clean up as much of the trash as possible.
After a bit, Irina came up with the plan that most of the time should be concentrating on arresting while a smaller number would have a better chance of rescuing since the criminal elements would be more involved with evading and defending themselves rather than what was happening with their hostages. All agreed with her suggestion and plans were made to follow through with that concept. Everything would be finalized once they arrived to get the full layout of the plan and situation.
XXXXXXXXXX
Hattie had called Bella direct on her cell phone earlier with the information as to when the hostages were being moved and to what airstrip. Everyone was supposed to meet at headquarters to go over all information and see what could be discovered to prevent the culprits from taking off with their human cargo.
Bella was heading in when she had received a call from Felix asking her to meet with him. He had heard from one of his contacts and wanted to check out the information before sharing it with the rest of the team. She agreed and it turned out that the information, though, not much, was reliable. It finally gave a name as to who was one of the person's calling some of the shots; one Helen Franklin. The name was familiar, but, neither detective could place it at the time. They would have someone check it once they got back to headquarters.
And, it was at that time that Hattie had called to let her know the when and the where of the hostages would be taking off. Bella had asked Hattie to call to inform her team of the situation and to tell them to come as back up. That in the meantime, she and her partner would do what they could to delay the takeoff until the task force could show up and help.
So, she and Felix turned around to make the two and half hour trip out to the landing field. They wanted to get there and look the place over before anyone showed. That way they could get into a good position for holding the fort, as the saying goes, until backup arrived.
Both detectives arrived and after checking out all of the outbuildings and the surrounding area they were satisfied that they were the first to arrive. It was as they got into position after hiding their car that the sound of vehicles moving towards their location. Bella and Felix were out of sight, but, kept a careful watch on all of the activity as a private jet landed not far from their hiding space. There were two cars and a small truck full of young people. Ten girls and five boys all ranging a various age ranges were unloaded from the back of the truck and lined up into position for loading onto the plane.
Bella used her cell phone to take pictures of everyone present, both the hostages and the guards. There was one woman present that seemed to be giving orders to everyone else. In fact, she was the only one speaking. Unexpectedly, there was a commotion that involved one of the young women and the woman giving the orders. The young woman had said something and then spit in the woman's face to which the woman put all of her weight into a back hand hitting the girl across the face knocking her to the ground. The older woman ordered for the girl to be picked up and put back in line.
The last of the group of young people were being loaded onto the plane when other vehicles fast approaching could be heard. All activity surrounding the plane became hurried so they could all get gone. The woman got back into the car as did her driver and two other individuals, each getting into the other car and into the truck so they all could leave.
The plane was getting ready to taxi for takeoff as the two cars and one truck were getting ready to leave. It was time for Bella and Felix to begin halting the escape and the takeoff by whatever means they could by using whatever method was available to them. Unfortunately their own vehicle was too far away and even an attempt to receive it would reveal their presence since they would have to move across an open area to reach it.
Looking around trying to find anything, anything at all that would aid in the stoppage of the perpetrators leaving along with the loss of the hostages until help could arrive. Suddenly, Bella came to a complete stillness as her glance rested upon a window that was next to them. Her sight rested upon a jeep that was housed in the otherwise empty hanger and visible was also a rifle and a shotgun propped up in the back seat.
She whispered for Felix to open the window so they could get inside of the hanger. Once there Felix quickly checked the jeep and hotwired it as Bella checked the guns and found them to be loaded. There was no time to lose, Felix started the jeep and Bella was in the back ready with the guns. Putting the vehicle in gear Felix stomped on the accelerator and they shot out of the hanger like from a cannon and knocking through the hanger doors.
As they moved forward Bella took quick aim to blow the tires on the three vehicles with the occupants spilling out to begin firing back. The plane had begun to taxi and was at the end of the runway turning to begin its run for takeoff. The other vehicle arrived with the task force taking charge of exchanging fire with the culprits while Felix and Bella continued towards the plane. They both kept firing until they were about halfway down the runway when Felix slowed and turned the jeep so he would be running even with the plane.
Bella kept firing, but, it wasn't doing any good. Neither officer were worrying about the other individuals near the hanger area, their main concern was stopping the plane from taking off with their young hostage cargo. Felix had to pay more attention to his driving and leave the shooting to Bella. She continued firing at the tires on the plane, the windows to break the glass as that would compromise the air pressure within the cabin for all concerned. As she ran out of bullets she reached for the shotgun. The plane passed, she fired a direct hit into the tail of the plane which torn it up which interfered with the pilot controls and one more time at the tires finally blowing one out causing the plane to head off to the side of the field.
As Felix was tearing down the field staying with the plane he never noticed what had happened in the back of the jeep. In fact, no one did. Only four individuals escaped, but, the rest were taken into custody with even the pilot and crew aboard the plane. The young people were released from their restrains and led back off and to the ground. Once there they were loaded back into the truck and everyone headed back to headquarters.
The trip was going to be a long damn drive so the suggestion was made for them to all go to Forks and use the facilities of Chief Swan and his department. That was only a twenty minute drive away. Of course, during all of this time no one realized that one member of the task force was missing.
A/N: Well, our team has acted upon the rescue of the teenagers, but, what about the guns and drugs? That still needs to be handled. Who are the four that escaped? Who is the person that is missing from the task force? Why are they missing? Why has it not been noticed as yet?
Hope you will enjoy and take the time to let me know your thoughts, opinions and ideas. Please review and I will answer back as I always appreciate hearing from all of you.
