A Different Sort of Case
Chapter 10
(The Visit)
They had not driven far, the open gate was still visible, when they crested a small hill on a turn and were face to face with multiple vehicles blocking the road, and several visibly armed men. "Hold up Cho. This is private property and we need to proceed cautiously." Lisbon got her badge and the 'warrant', ready to display.
She stepped out of the vehicle, held her badge and the papers aloft. "Bureau of Investigation," she yelled, omitting the California. "We have a warrant," she called, stretching the truth.
Moments passed, no one saying anything. She stood, frozen, displaying her badge. A single shot sounded and her badge vanished from her hand. Her reflexes were excellent and she 'hit the dirt', drawing her own gun. Bullets began to make to make pock marks around her, as she started to return fire.
The van emptied with the speed and confusion of a Chinese fire drill. Jane, ever observant, hit the ground and rolled into a ditch that was next to the road. It was almost dry, and it did provide cover. "Over here," he called. The vehicle crew splashed in next to him, while Lisbon rolled, fired, rolled, and fired, finally making her way into the ditch.
"What have we run into," she gasped. Someone, call the sheriff and get us some support.
She heard Jane using some uncharacteristically obscene language. "There's no damn service, Boss." They all groaned. "What's plan 'C'", he asked.
Minutes passed, the occasional bullet slamming into the ground around them, keeping them pinned where they were. A shot sounded and Rigsby grunted. Everyone turned to see a rip in his coat sleeve, right at the shoulder and a trickle of blood. He touched it and grimaced. "A nick, but that answers the question of whether or not they are serious about shooting us."
"I'm sorry, Wayne, but I didn't have any doubts," Jane said sourly. "Hold on... they're trying to circle behind us!"
Cho reacted first, spinning and firing at the two men approaching. Both went down, limp. "Shit!" He looked at Lisbon. "Boss, we have a problem. I may have just made them mad."
"I wonder if one of us could make it to the van and go for help," Rigsby suggested.
"Wayne, they'd shoot it to pieces after you were in it, IF you get that far. The chances of you getting there are remote to zero." Lisbon looked over the ridge of the ditch and was rewarded with a face full of dirt from a close bullet. "See," she said. "They are not bad shots."
"I feel sort of naked, here," Jane said. "At least all of you have guns." He hesitated. "I hate to ask this, but how are you guys set for bullets?"
Everyone was checking and unhappy mutterings could be heard. "That good, huh? This just gets better and better." There was no Jane smile, this time.
"At least they had music on the Titanic," Van Pelt offered. "I'm wet, cold, hungry and I'm going to get killed. This day sucks."
Jane started to say something, but then stopped himself. "She doesn't really need to consider that she'll probably be 'trained' and the star attraction as the next sacrifice."
Cho coughed. "I think I should say something." All eyes swiveled to him. "You all know what Jane said these freaks are into. They've shown that they are willing to kill us." He paused. "Save the last bullet for yourself. Red John's a neophyte compared to these guys, I think."
No one said anything, but everyone was very pensive.
As the rate of fire towards their position increased, they realized that this was the push to overrun them. They were doing the best they could to peer between low bushes and to fire as accurately as the could. Every now and then a click could be heard, followed by a curse and no more shots would come from that direction.
"I'm not going like this," Lisbon shouted and stood up. Her shout, Jane's cry of alarm and the sound of gun fire were all masked by an earthshaking rumble. Everyone turned to see what was happening.
A column of motorcycles, two abreast pyramid fashion was approaching. Each bike was packing two, one driver and a rider who was heavily armed and firing at The Deacon's crew. The CBI team had never seen such a fire fight. Jane instantly recognized Duk, and the fact that he was an arms dealer flashed through his mind. One of the bikes stopped and the passenger got off, kneeled and fired a LAW, the stream of fire from the tail of the Light Anti Tank weapon streaking into The Deacon's troops.
They were trying to get back into their vehicles when the bikes circled them, and in a coordinated maneuver, reduced their vehicles to rubble. There were no signs of life. The bikes wheeled and headed for the CBI team. Lisbon was like a deer in headlights, not that any of the team was any better. They came to a very noisy halt just a few feet from the ditch. Jane was even more shocked when he realized that Duk was packing Eliza and she was armed to the teeth, the weapon in her hands still smoking.
Duk stood, straddling his bike. "I thought I told you to be careful, there, Janey Man. You don't listen too good do you?"
Maybe for the first time in his life Jane was at a total loss for words. "Say 'thank you.' to the nice man," Eliza said grinning.
Jane shook his head. "Seriously, thank you Duk, and maybe I don't listen to well, sometimes. I owe you one."
Duk laughed. "I think you own me six! But who's counting." Duk sat down and gunned the big machine. Eliza blew him a kiss as they roared by. Silence settled and all that remained was to crawl out of the ditch and return home.
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