Chapter 9 – Smoking Out a Rat
Antonio watched as a fire truck screamed out of the station across the street. He nodded to himself as he envisioned how his plan would unfold, then he cranked the engine and headed back to the spa. Like the bad citizen he was, he tossed his sandwich wrapper and napkins out the window. However, that boorish behavior did not go unnoticed.
"Subject has left the Quicky Chick and appears to be returning to the spa."
In the surveillance van, Deeks and the other team members perked up when they heard the report.
"Something's doing down tonight," said Deeks. "He'll probably stop nearby and wait for Miguel and the others."
The team leader nodded. "Okay, everybody back to your original positions." He fixed Deeks with a look. "Try again to get your people on the horn. Depending on what happens, we may need them for crowd control."
"Roger that." Crowd control. Right. Put an assault rifle in Kensi's hands and she'll do more than control a crowd. And Nell knows her way around a firearm, too.
He dialed Kensi, then Nell, but both still rolled to voice mail.
"Nothing," said Deeks to the team leader.
"We'll play it by ear then."
Jack, the agent Deeks had mentally dubbed "The Jerk," snorted, "Bet they're up to their eyeballs in a mud bath."
Deeks glared at him, but did not reply. When this is over, I'm gonna bury you in a mud bath. He clicked the safety off his weapon and exited the van.
Kensi and Nell checked out bicycles and helmets from the equipment manager and set off on the trail through the woods beyond the swimming pool.
"This has been a great day so far," said Nell.
"Oh yeah," agreed Kensi. "I wonder what's for dinner."
"Are you always thinking about food?" laughed Nell.
"Yeah, pretty much. But I burn up a lot of calories chasing the bad guys."
"There is that."
They rounded a bend and stopped. "What's that van doing over there?" asked Nell. They exchanged a look.
"I know what I think it looks like," said Kensi.
"Surveillance," they said at the same time.
"On the spa?" wondered Nell.
"What else is around here? A bank maybe?"
Nell shook her head. "No idea. And I don't have my phone to look up stuff."
"Neither do I. What kind of federal agents are we?"
"Federal agents on a well-deserved break," said Nell.
As they were talking, the back door of the van burst open and heavily armed black-clad men jumped out and ran in the direction of the spa. Kensi and Nell flattened themselves behind some trees. "What the hell?" hissed Kensi.
"Good guys or bad guys?" whispered Nell.
Kensi peeked around her tree. "Don't know. But they're professional. Those were assault rifles. I sure hope they're good guys."
Nell's head bobbed nervously. "We gotta get outta here."
They pushed their bicycles into a thicket and took off running. But when they reached the spa, nothing seemed amiss. Several people lounged by the pool while a dozen guests relaxed on the patio as a string quartet played Vivaldi's Four Seasons.
Even though Kensi saw none of the operatives, her gut was telling her otherwise. "Let's go do some research in the computer room."
"We should get our weapons," said Nell. "Just in case."
"Right."
They encountered a few guests coming and going in the corridors. Lars was escorting a group of debutantes to a suite of rooms around the corner from Kensi and Nell's room. He nodded at them and grinned.
"Ladies. Did you enjoy your ride?"
The debs giggled. Only then did Nell and Kensi remember they were still wearing their helmets.
"Exhilarating," said Nell.
The group turned the corner. Kensi looked back. "He's carrying. I don't like this."
"Maybe he doubles as security," said Nell. "Did you see the bling some of these women were wearing?"
They hurried to their room, retrieved their weapons, phones, and IDs from the safe, and went in search of a computer.
Two old ladies were checking their e-mail, otherwise the computer room was empty. Nell signed on to one in the corner while Kensi kept an eye on movement in the hall. After 15 minutes, Nell logged off and joined Kensi.
"There's an exclusive residential area and shopping mall that abut the spa property. Also, a private school. Unfortunately, I can't access info about possible BOLOs or child abductions."
Kensi sighed. "Okay. Let's assume those were good guys and stay alert."
At dinner, they pushed the food around on their plates, but ate little. Guests talked and laughed, but Kensi and Nell did not share their relaxed mood. Their eyes constantly scanned the room as they checked out everyone.
"I have two missed calls from Deeks," said Kensi.
Nell checked her phone. "So do I. But he didn't leave a message."
"He probably just wants to know what we're doing . . . or eating," said Kensi with a shrug. "I'm gonna call him."
If that woman would leave for two minutes I could find out what room Kensi and Nell are in.
But the front desk receptionist did not budge. Finally, Deeks retreated further down the hall and pulled out his cell to call the front desk.
"Good evening, Lotus Petal Spa. How may I help you?"
"Can you tell me what room Kensi Blye is in?"
"I'm sorry, sir. We do not give out guest room numbers. However, I can connect you to her room."
"Yes, excellent."
But before she could transfer him, a woman screamed and a man gasped in front of the desk. Deeks poked his head around the corner.
"My hip! I think I broke my hip, Richard!" cried the woman crumpled on the floor.
"And I think you broke my arm," gasped the man sprawled beside her.
A small crowd was gathering to give assistance. Deeks sighed. There was no way for him to get to that computer now.
This is going to be a long night. Miguel and his goons need to hurry up and do whatever it is they're planning so we can get out of Dodge.
"We lost him."
The SWAT commander clenched his jaw. "What?"
"We got caught behind a wreck while the subject exited the freeway."
The agent monitoring communications waved a hand to get the commander's attention. "Sir, the fire alarm just went off at the spa."
The girls were about to crawl into bed when the fire alarm blared. Kensi was in her cornflower blue short pajamas while Nell wore grey pin-striped long pajamas.
Kensi shook her head. "Really?"
"I don't smell smoke, do you?" asked Nell. Neither was in a hurry to evacuate.
"Don't ask me how, but I think I smell a rat."
Nell pulled the complimentary white terry-cloth robes out of the closet and handed one to Kensi.
"I concur and rats needed to be eliminated." Nell checked her weapon and stuck it in her pocket. "Locked and loaded."
In the kitchen, Pattie Nguyen and her coworkers looked at each in panic. There was no fire there, but that didn't mean there wasn't one somewhere else in the building. They dropped their mops and dish towels and ran for the exit.
My phone!
Pattie stopped and ran back to the kitchen. Then she saw what a mistake that was.
"Looking for this, chica?" Antonio stood there holding her phone.
"There's no fire, is there? You did this."
Antonio laughed. "You're very smart. Bitches shouldn't be that smart."
Pattie eyed the block of knives behind Antonio. There was no way she could reach one and the large skillets and saucepans were also beyond her reach.
"You're a worthless piece of shit," Pattie spat out. "I hope there is a fire and you get caught in it."
Antonio scoffed. "Maybe we will set one when the guys get here. Make it more fun."
Suddenly, Pattie realized there was a canister of flour nearby. It was now or never. She lurched for it with both hands and flung it at Antonio.
"YOU BITCH!"
He stumbled and fell. Pattie jumped behind him and grabbed a knife. He shot out a hand and latched onto her ankle, pulling her down. They scuffled and Pattie's arm was slashed. She yelped in pain. Antonio had her pinned down and was about to draw the knife across her face when a gunshot was heard. Antonio howled and cursed as he rolled off her. The knife was still in his hand.
"FEDERAL AGENTS! DROP THE KNIFE!"
"You shot me in the ass, bitch!"
"You'll live," said Kensi flatly. "I'm a trained sniper. I could have done a lot more damage." She rolled him over and tied his hands with a dish towel, then his feet.
The combination of blood and flour was creating one sticky mess on the floor. Nell grabbed another towel and helped Pattie wrap her arm. "My stomach! Oh, it hurts!" sobbed Pattie as she doubled over.
Nell sucked in a breath. "Kensi, she has an abdominal wound, too. She's gonna bleed out!"
Kensi kept one knee on Antonio's back. "Stay down!" she barked. She laid her weapon on the table and pulled out her cell.
"911. What is your emergency?"
Kensi identified herself as a federal agent and requested help.
After a moment the operator said, "Ma'am, LAPD is already on site."
"What? Where? Is Detective Deeks with them?"
