Chapter 9~ Fire & Ice
Victor & Mel met with the other groups in the HQ on the closed floor. "Did you figure out why he wanted the painting?" Fiona asked.
"I found this," Victor brought out the envelope.
Michael eyed it. "Right size for a floppy disk," he noted.
"Let's find out," Victor said. He once again took out his Swiss army knife. With one slice he opened the top of the envelope and slid the contents onto the table they had gathered around. Sure enough a three and a half inch floppy disk came to rest on the table top.
Candace snatched it up. "I am insulted," she frowned, "They could have at least gone with an eight inch."
"Don't you have a drive for those too?" JD asked.
Candace raised an eyebrow, "Yeah, but it is quite a bit rarer than a three and a half inch- if they were trying to make it more difficult for others to access by going old school…"
"Can we please skip to the part where you tell me what's on it?" Victor asked.
"Right," Candace headed over to her setup and inserted the disk into the appropriate drive. Switching her monitor on, she sat down. Everyone gathered in behind her. "It's going to take a couple of minutes," Candace advised. Victor nodded. Candace's fingers flew over the keyboard. Victor didn't know how she did what she did, but she was good. It wasn't long at all before Candace got them access to the disk and it showed the files that were on it. "JPEGs?" Candace said. The file names were a mix of numbers and letters with no apparent rhyme or reason. Candace clicked on one and met more encryption. A few minutes afterward she got the image to open.
"You do great work, Wifey," JD praised.
"Remember you said that," Candace replied. The image was backward so she flipped it. She pulled up a second one.
"Bank account records," Michael said, "Of multiple accounts."
"Lyle Stewart," Victor read one out loud, "That's the alias Skarloey used on our first job."
"Seems he's squirreled away quite a nest egg," Michael remarked.
"I want I copy of this," Victor said.
"Already done," Candace answered.
Victor noted the file names again. "Could the file names be passcodes?" he asked.
"Let's try it," Candace replied. She found a website of one of the banks and went in to the appreciate area and typed in the account number and the name of the file she found it in and bingo.
Victor noticed it was getting darker. The sun was beginning to set. He checked his watch. They were going to have to get a move on. "Candace, remember the warehouse we took our last client to?" Victor asked.
"Yeah," Candace answered.
"I'd like you and Mel to check it out with Fi," Victor requested, "If it's still empty prep it."
"Sure thing," Candace replied.
Victor looked over at Fi. She crossed her arms over her chest, "You're leaving me out of the fun again?"
"If it wasn't important I wouldn't ask you to do it," Victor replied, "I've got a plan and it requires stealth not numbers."
"What if Skarloey has back up?" Mel asked.
"Victor will still have back up of his own," Michael replied.
When Victor arrived at the alley he had been directed to in the text message he found Skarloey leaning on a car near an outdoor security light waiting for him. With the light coming in the car behind Skarloey Victor could see that Mikey wasn't in it. He parked at the other end of the alley and got out of the car. "Where's my son?" Victor demanded. He slammed his car door shut.
"Where's my painting?" Skarloey countered. Victor crossed the alley and went over to Skarloey.
"I have what you want right here," Victor held out the disk in the envelope.
"Ballsy," Skarloey remarked, "But exactly what I expected from you."
"Where is my son?" Victor repeated.
"Nearby," Skarloey answered.
Victor stuffed the envelope and disk into his pocket, "I'm not playing around, Skarloey."
"I'm not either- hand over the disk," Skarloey replied.
"Oh, I don't think so," Victor said, "You get nothing until I get my son back."
"Ouch, Vic," Skarloey pretended to pout, "That hurts." Victor shrugged his shoulders with a smirk. "Mikey will be dropped off at a location when I get the disk," Skarloey said, "Hand it over, I'll make the call and tell you where to find him."
"That's not going to work for me," Victor shook his head, "Once Mikey is safe with me then you get the disk, not a second before."
"And then you're free to turn around and put a bullet in me?" Skarloey raised an eyebrow.
"You never know- I might feel generous and give you a head start," Victor offered.
"Not gonna risk it," Skarloey chuckled.
"So I'm just supposed to hand over the disk and believe you're not going to run off with my son," Victor retorted.
"Do you see any other options?" Skarloey replied.
"I could make a call- tell my tech to start the transfer," Victor threatened.
"Transfer?" Skarloey said.
"Wouldn't you have checked the disk?" Victor answered, "You shouldn't leave your bank recorders lying out like that."
"Tread lightly, for Mikey's sake," Skarloey warned.
"You are going to make a call and have your guy bring him here," Victor replied.
"Come on," Skarloey chastised, "Think about this logically."
Victor picked Skarloey up by his trench coat's collar and smashed him against his own car. "Make the call," Victor commanded.
"If I do you won't let me go," Skarloey replied.
"But I could drain your accounts or I bet Mike's friends at the CIA would love to hear about you and them as well," Victor countered.
"When did you and Westen become besties?" Skarloey retorted.
"We're not," Victor replied, "We just decided not to kill each other."
"I doubt that's something you and I will ever get the chance to do," Skarloey chuckled. Victor felt something metal pressing into his chest through his coat. He had been around guns long enough to recognize the sound of a .22 being primed. Skarloey smirked. Victor let go of Skarloey and backed up just enough to ready himself for his next move. "That's better," Skarloey said. He motioned his free hand towards himself, "The disk, please."
"No," Victor shook his head.
"Have it your way," Skarloey replied. Before he could pull the trigger Victor grabbed for control of the gun. In the ensuing struggle Victor managed to pry the gun out of Skarloey's hand. Skarloey threw a punch. The momentum of the scrape over the gun kept Victor going just far enough to miss Skarloey's fist. Victor righted himself and aimed the gun at the Skarloey. "I am the only way you are going to get Mikey back," Skarloey asserted.
"Tell me something I don't know," Victor sneered. Victor forced Skarloey through the alley to his car. Skarloey keep looking around as if he was expecting someone to run in to help him, but no one did. The gun still trained on Skarloey, Victor opened the back door. "Get in the car," he ordered.
"You need to let me go," Skarloey insisted.
"Get in the car!" Victor waved the gun.
Skarloey frowned. As he complied JD slid in the other side. "Hiya!" JD smirked. Victor stepped aside and let Michael get in. Both JD and Michael had their guns on Skarloey. Michael reached into Skarloey's pocket and took out his keys. He handed them to Victor. Victor took them to the other end of the alley and unlocked the trunk of the car. He held his breath as he opened it. To his relief Mikey wasn't stuck in there- nothing of much value to be found actually was. He unlocked the rest of the car. In the passenger seat Victor found a goldmine. He took out the hand held GPS and maps. Somehow something out of these things had to lead him to his son. Victor relocked Skarloey's car then rejoined JD and Michael.
After a fifteen minute ride they pulled up at their destination: a small abandoned warehouse on the edge of the city. Skarloey had not given them a peaceful moment on their drive over. While he hadn't tried to overpower them because he couldn't by himself, he certainly let his mouth run. It had pissed Victor off long before they reached the location, but he did his best to focus on the road and drive. Now he had JD and Michael take Skarloey inside while he got better control of himself. Victor waited until they were to the door of the building then pounded on the steering wheel repeatedly. He laughed. Grasping the steering wheel tightly, Victor rested the back of his head on the headrest and stared at the ceiling. Taking a breath he shut his eyes. His whole body dropped.
Mel, Fi, and Candace had been adding more security to the place when the guys showed up. Fi went to a window when she heard a car. Once she saw it was them she went to open the door. Mel followed and waited beside the door for Victor. JD & Michael had to pass Mel as they took Skarloey inside. While Skarloey watched her as he was forced in Mel's gaze never left the car were Victor sat. She decided she would go to him if he wasn't going to come to her.
Victor heard the car door open and close. He didn't move, but cracked open his eyes and angled them to see Mel sitting in the passenger seat. Silently she reached for his hand. Victor let go of the steering wheel and let her take it. Mel entwined her fingers with his. He lifted their joined hands and kissed the back of hers. She moved closer, leaned towards him and laid her head on his shoulder. Victor buried his face in Mel's hair. He refreshed himself with strength she willed to him.
