Disclaimer: I do not own Person of Interest or its characters.
A/N: Thanks for all of the wonderful reviews and encouragement. Sorry this chapter took me so long. I knew where I wanted it to go but couldn't get it written. I will probably do one more chapter (which is partially written) and then an epilogue. For those of you waiting on the next chapter of Loyalties, I hope I will get it out sometime this week but I'm going to be super busy. My partner at work is on vacation which means twice the workload.
Chapter 9
February 19, 2014
John slammed his phone down in frustration. He had been through more life and death situations than he could count, but a spitfire NYPD detective was going to be his undoing. Shaw smirked. "What has your panties in a knot?" she asked as she casually strolled into Jenna Allen's apartment.
John ignored her question and through gritted teeth said, "We need to check out the Pamela Lansing dump site on Elm. Jessup kidnapped Allison O'Malley." Shaw grabbed the set of keys John had placed on Jessica's counter and proceeded to the door.
"So where are Carter and Fusco?" Shaw pretended to ask innocently.
"Fusco has Jessica and Isabella O'Malley. He is taking them back to the safe house."
"And Carter?"
"She's checking the Sanford dump site on Walnut."
"I'm surprised you're letting her go alone. Over protectiveness is usually your MO when it comes to her," Shaw stated.
"She's not alone. She's with Scarface."
Shaw snickered and John glared at her as they got into the car. "I bet you're loving that. He's been trying to get in her pants for months, but I guess you're not too worried since she's carrying your kid."
"Shut up and drive, Shaw," John demanded as he stared out of the window.
"You knew what you were getting into with her. If you don't like it, you should have stuck with the damsel in distress type." John didn't respond, instead trying to focus on where they might find Cameron Jessup.
Tony and Joss sat silently in the SUV waiting to hear from John and Shaw about the Elm Street location. Joss noticed Tony's death grip on the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white. She broke the silence. "What kind of fire power do you have in here?"
"I don't know what you're talking about, Detective," Marconi responded.
"Don't play dumb. I know Elias is running guns out of Lou's on Brighton Beach. I just haven't had the chance to tip-off ATF yet. When we find Jessup, I'm going to need a long-range rifle with a scope. Do you have anything clean? Maybe from the HR days?" Tony gestured for her to follow him when he exited the SUV. He popped the trunk and moved the false floor, revealing an assortment of weaponry.
"I think I can accommodate you, Detective." Joss brushed her fingers over one of the guns.
"I'm afraid that this is Jessup's endgame. Once we find him, things are going to get messy," she stated quietly. Before Tony could respond, Joss's phone buzzed. "Any luck on Elm?"
"Jessup's not here but he has been," Shaw explained. "He's clearly been living here. We found his stalker stash. He's been following Laney and Jenna for a few weeks, but his pictures and information on Allison go back almost a decade. And it looks like you recently caught his interest."
Joss ignored Shaw's last comment and bit her lip, contemplating what Jessup's next move could be. Speaking to no one in particular, she asked "Where are you, Cameron?"
"Oh and FYI, your boy is super pissed," Shaw stated matter-of-factly.
Still not paying attention to Shaw's comments, Joss snapped her fingers as the solution dawned on her. She turned to face Tony. "Tony, where did you go to high school?"
"Millbrook. Of course, he would take her back to where it all began," Tony mumbled.
"Shaw, did you hear that?" Joss asked.
"Yeah, we're on our way," Shaw stated.
"We're closer. We'll see you there." Joss proclaimed. Before Joss could hang up the phone, another voice came on the line.
"Joss, promise me you won't go in after Cameron," John demanded.
"John, I don't plan on getting any closer than I need to get a clear shot with a rifle and scope."
"I'll see you soon," John said softly as he hung up the phone.
Tony and Joss sat in the SUV, headlights off, on the other side of Millbrook High's football stadium. One car sat in the parking lot. Joss ran the tag on her PDA, and not surprisingly, it came back registered to Cameron Conroy. They could also see dim light streaming from the gym, confirming Joss's hunch was right. "Where are they? Allison may not have much time if she's even still . . . ." Tony couldn't finish the sentence. He pounded the steering wheel in frustration.
"They should be here any minute. You won't do her any good if you rush in. You might get her killed as well as yourself. There they are," Joss stated as a black sedan with no headlights approached their location. Tony and Joss both exited the SUV as Shaw turned off the engine. John stalked over to Carter, his forehead creased. She met his gaze defiantly. Without a word, he pulled her into a brief but tight hug.
"Am I going to have to handcuff us together?" he growled just loud enough for her to hear.
"That might be fun later," she smirked and winked. She then turned her attention back to Tony who stood pacing.
"What's the plan?" Tony asked.
"Have you gotten eyes on him yet?" Shaw asked.
"No, we've been waiting on you two," Tony spat.
"From what I can tell from the school layout Finch sent me, that building, I think it is the cafeteria, should give me a sightline into the gym," Carter explained as she pointed.
"Then let's go take a look," Shaw said as she walked towards the building Carter indicated. They easily found rooftop access and Carter had been right. They finally had a visual of Allison and Cameron. Unfortunately, with Cameron and Allison's position, Carter didn't have a clean shot.
"I've got nothing," Carter declared in irritation. "Shaw, take a look. What do you think?"
Shaw leaned in, looking through the scope. "You're right. With how he has her positioned, there's not a good shot. We're going to have to go in."
"I'm going in alone. You three keep looking for a shot. If you've got one, take it," Marconi insisted.
John placed a hand on Marconi stopping him from descending the roof. "Are you crazy? We don't know what kind of arsenal he has. He could kill you as soon as you walk in the door. There's no love lost between us, but for some reason, she cares what happens to you," John said gesturing towards Carter.
"Get your hands off me. This may be Allison's best chance. If I can distract him, one of you may be able to get a shot at him. If we all go in, guns blazing, it'll get her killed. You wouldn't hesitate to go if it were her," he said glancing at Joss.
Joss placed her hand on John's arm. "Let him go, John. Watch your back, Tony." Joss reached for her phone and dialed Tony's number. He retrieved his phone from his pocket, a puzzled look on his face. "Try to get him positioned in front of the southeast window and leave the call open so I have ears in the gym." Without another word, Tony descended from the roof, making his way towards the gym.
"Let's go, Captain America. We can at least try to find an angle on the ground," Shaw said as she made her way to the stairs.
John turned to Joss, raising an eyebrow. Before he could say a word she said, "I'll be up here looking for a shot. I have no plan to confront Cameron, scout's honor."
"You were never a scout," John responded dryly.
"Ok, John, I promise I will not put myself or our child in danger. I am staying here on this roof." He leaned in giving her a quick peck. "Be careful. See you on the other side," she called as he exited the roof.
Tony Marconi took a deep breath as he peered into the gym. Cameron had Allison in a chair in the middle of the gym floor. She was bound and gagged with duct tape. Like a shark, Cameron circled his prey, a butcher knife glinting under the light of a spinning disco ball. Tony felt as if he had been transported into some macabre dance of death.
Tony's hand twitched as he took his gun from his waistband and quietly pushed the door open. "You stupid little bitch. It's time the world knows what a liar you are. This is all your fault," Cameron ranted. "Who's there?" Cameron called as Tony came into view, his gun pointed at Cameron. As soon as Cameron heard the door, he positioned himself behind Allison, the knife to her throat. When Allison saw Tony, her eyes widened.
"Cameron, there is no reason, we can't all walk away from this," Tony said his tone even, not betraying the terror he felt as the knife nicked Allison's throat, inching closer to her jugular. As he walked closer, he realized that Allison was not in good shape. She had clearly been beaten and her nose was likely broken. Tony was slightly comforted that she was still conscious.
"Stop where you are. If you take another step, I slit her throat." Tony stopped his progress. "Who the hell are you and how do you know my name?"
"You don't recognize me? I was a friend of your brother Ben, Cameron. I'm Tony Marconi."
"Oh I remember you. Yeah, you were one of his friends and then you turned your back on him and believed this little bitch. You believed all of her lies," Cameron growled, an animalistic look in his eyes.
Tony paused trying to analyze his next move. He knew Joss still didn't have a shot. One of the joists was blocking her sightline and he hadn't managed to move Cameron. Slowly, Tony leaned down and placed his gun on the ground, hands raised in surrender. Allison groaned in protest. "You're right, Cameron. I know the truth now. She was lying, but if you kill her then the truth dies with her."
"It doesn't matter now. She and I—we're not leaving here alive. It ends tonight."
"Fine, Cameron. I know you want to avenge Ben. If you truly want to avenge him, then you better kill me too. You know I'm the one that took her to the hospital. I took her to the police. I helped her with the lie. So, I'm to blame too," Tony said as he began walking backwards in the direction of the southeast window. Cameron's hand began to shake as he walked away from Allison, pure hate in his eyes. He tracked Tony's movements, and then stalked towards Tony raising his knife. Before Tony could lunge for Cameron and the knife, a shot rang out. Cameron howled in pain, blood gushing from his hand. The knife clattered to the floor and both men dived for it when a second shot sounded. Cameron hit the floor, this time grabbing for his knee. Tony easily gained control of the knife, straddling Cameron, the knife pressed to Cameron's throat.
Tony's hand shook as he pressed the tip of the knife to Cameron's neck, drawing a drop of blood. He could see the throbbing in Cameron's neck, indicating his heartbeat. Tony swelled with rage at the pain and destruction the man before him had caused to so many innocent women, to Allison. Suddenly, Tony snapped back to reality when he heard a voice call out, "Tony?" Tony stood up, glancing in the direction of the voice. He saw Allison leaning on John for support.
Shaw passed Tony as he approached Allison. Shaw stood over Cameron and silently gave him a swift kick. As Tony approached Allison, she went limp. John eased her onto the gym floor. Tony knelt beside her, his hands on her cheeks. "Ally, can you hear me?" Tony asked frantically. Everyone turned as they heard footsteps. Carter and Fusco strolled into the gym.
"Fusco, care to do the honors?" Joss asked holding up her handcuffs.
"With pleasure," Lionel said as he approached an unconscious Cameron Jessup. He gave Shaw a questioning look.
"What?" she asked innocently. "I got tired of listening to his blubbering."
Carter leaned next to Tony, over Allison. He gently placed a kiss on Allison's forehead as Joss tugged him to his feet. Joss then turned to John and Shaw. "You all need to get out of here. Lionel and I called it in. An ambulance is on the way. This place will be swarming." John squeezed her hand briefly and he and Shaw walked towards the exit. Tony remained unmoved, staring at Allison's battered form. Joss gave him a gentle push. "I won't leave her. Maybe you could call Dr. Sabatini. I expect they'll take her to St. Agnes. I'll see you at the hospital." In a daze, Tony followed John and Shaw. Joss sat on the gym floor next to Allison, taking her hand. She breathed a sigh of relief as she heard sirens in the distance.
