Hi everyone, you have been very quiet about my last chapter or are you all just holding your breathe...speeding up towards the final chapters
Enjoy!
9am
The city was busy with the last rushing about of people getting to work and the first of the daily shoppers heading towards the malls. The blue sky promised a lovely day but Olivia didn't notice it as her thoughts were preoccupied with Peter. He had been gone for 8 hours now. She tightened her grip on the steering wheel fighting down the anxiety that was welling up.
The chatty morning DJ on the radio began to get on Olivia's nerves and she switched the radio off.
She squinted in the bright sunlight and opened the glove box to retrieve her sunglasses. After a few minutes of unsuccessful rummaging she slammed it shut.
White arched his eyebrow and seeing her use her hand to shade against the sun opened the glove box again and systematically removed all its contents finally locating the sunglasses and wordlessly handing them to her.
Olivia grunted a thank you while watching White from the corner of her eye replacing all the items. She bet he was profiling her already on the content of her glove box.
He was about to put the sleek lip gloss back when Olivia cleared her voice.
'Ah, I'll take that.' She held out her hand and pocketed it.
Rachel had bought the lip gloss in an attempt to get her sister to wear some make up. The gloss not only promised fuller lips and which woman could deny herself Angelina Jolie lips but Rachel emphasized the content of special oils would protect her lips from the sun light and in winter keep them soft and smooth.
Things had to have a practical application for Olivia and her sister was aware of this. Grudgingly Olivia accepted that she liked the feel of the silky smooth gloss and although she would never admit it to Rachel the pearly pink did compliment her complexion. Peter had noticed and commented on it when she wore it for the first time. The memory made her flush slightly and she ran her hand through her hair in attempt to mask her embarrassment.
White and Olivia rode together in silence as she weaved her way through the morning traffic to the other side of town. White was staring out of the window and she could feel the tension coming off him in waves.
'Spit it out, White!' she sighed
'The information Peter collected on Summers is on that DVD'
It wasn't a question more like a statement of a fact. She could feel the intense blue eyes resting on her face.
Olivia shrugged concentrating on the traffic.
'Maybe, I'm not sure.' was her laconic reply.
'I need that information, Olivia. An agent gave her life for it and if Peter managed to protect her work she didn't die for nothing'
There was something in White's voice that made Olivia wonder who this agent was in relation to White. She could swear she heard grief in his voice.
'We're nearly there' was the only answer she had for him.
The ringing of a cell phone interrupted the heavy silence in the car and Olivia looked over to White who was digging around in his jacket pocket.
He pulled out a cell phone and slid it open reading the text message. A low whistle escaped his lips.
'How far is it to Arlington Street, corner Newbury Street?'
'About five minutes depending on traffic. Turn off is right ahead…why?'
'Do it.' In spite of the urgency in White's voice, Olivia hesitated.
White held up the cell phone.
'This is Smith's phone and if I'm correct I just got a message from Summers to meet him at the corner of Arlington and Newbury.'
Olivia bit her bottom lip. The Agent in her knew she should take the turn off and the woman in her wanted to get to Peter and make sure he was okay.
'Listen, Olivia, if Summers gets away Peter will never be safe. This is our chance to shut Summers down once and for all!'
Olivia checked over her shoulder, flashed her indicator and pulled out from the inside lane over to the turn off. She reached forward and switched on her police lights minus the siren before increasing the speed of the vehicle.
Tension filled her body. The Agent had won.
'Call Broyles and let him know that we'll be running late.'
A few minutes later the car pulled up to the curb close to the Boston Common Gardens.
'Arlington is just up ahead' explained Olivia as she jumped from the car and secured the vehicle.
White was already at her side, watching the oncoming traffic before they both negotiated their way across the road into the park.
''We'll cut across here. It should bring us opposite Arlington and Newbury where we can wait and watch'
Olivia double timed it along the pathway, her eyes focused on the busy road up ahead.
Just as they arrived a yellow taxi cab pulled up and a man got out.
White pointed 'Summers!'
Olivia nodded as she saw the medium height, dark haired man and slowed down to keep an eye on him from across the road.
'Look, he is going into that little coffee shop'
Both Agents watched as Summers purchased a coffee and then chose a small table with two chairs close to the back of the shop.
White wrapped his arm around Olivia's waist, pulling her close. Olivia tensed at White's touch but then forced herself to relax.
To any observer they were just a young professional couple enjoying a stroll along the Boston Common on a beautiful morning.
He lowered his head towards her ear in a pretend nuzzle.
'Knowing Summers the shop will have a back door leading to a street as alternate escape route.'
'There are too may people around to confront him outright. We have to get him out of the shop.' Hissed Olivia, then breaking out in a tender laugh and playfully running her hand down White's chest.
White's pupils dilated briefly at the intimate touch and he continued in a low voice.
'How about setting off the fire alarm in the building, then they will have to evacuate the shop, too.'
'Okay, you get the alarm, I'm going to buy a coffee and keep an eye on him'
She started to pull away from him but White held her tight.
'Got to make it look good, Agent' he whispered before dipping his head and kissing Olivia softly on the lips.
Anger flared up in Olivia's eyes and it took all her willpower not to break cover and slap him. The amusement to White was obvious as he released her and gave her a little push towards the coffee shop.
'See you tonight, Darling' he called out before turning away.
The coffee shop was busy with people chatting over a morning latte and Olivia stood at the bar, running her gaze over the people in the shop.
She counted 12 people including the girl behind the counter. There was a small door at the corner leading to a kitchen area which probably led out to a back street.
Her cell phone buzzed and she checked the message.
'In position. On the count of 10…'
The high pitch ring of the building fire alarm sounded causing everyone in the shop to look up from their coffee or interrupt their conversations.
'Oh, great! That's the 3rd fire alarm this month.' groaned the girl as she handed Olivia her coffee accepting the money in exchange.
She placed the money in the till, locked it while calling out.
'Sorry everybody, please leave the coffee shop. Hopefully it's only a drill and we can come back in a few minutes.'
Patrons were starting to file out through the door but Summers had a frown on his face.
He slowly stood up waiting for the couple next to him to pass before quietly making his way out to the kitchen and the back of the shop.
Olivia left her coffee untouched and followed him.
'Heh, you can't go out there…!' shouted the girl from the door.
Olivia ignored the girl as she withdrew her gun from its holster and vanished into the kitchen.
Summers must have heard the girl call out because he turned and saw Olivia entering the kitchen the gun at her side.
'Summers, stop! FBI! Put your hands up!' Olivia raised her gun stepping slowly closer.
Summers face reflected confusion and he put his hands up.
'My name isn't Summers… I, I..I'm just trying to get out to my car at the back' he stuttered.
'Turn around with your hands up against the wall' commanded Olivia.
The man did as she requested and Olivia's patted him down, locating his wallet and flipping it open.
'Don't move' she added.
The driver's license belonged to a Murray Keenan of South Boston.
'Heh, I said you can't be out here…' the girl came around the corner and stopped when she saw Olivia with the gun.
'What's going on Uncle Murray?' fear echoing in the girl's voice as her eyes flitted between the man and Olivia.
A sick feeling hit Olivia, the pieces falling into place and she lowered her gun.
White had played her and she had fallen for it.
She took a deep breath and forced an apologetic smile.
'I'm very sorry. I thought you were someone else. If you'll excuse me...'
Olivia wheeled around, secured her gun and ran out of the coffee shop. People were milling about on the street and the fire truck had just pulled up with firemen pouring out.
It was hopeless. There wasn't a sign of White anywhere.
Frustrated Olivia stomped her foot before setting off along Arlington Street back towards her car.
FRINGEFRINGEFRINGEFRINGE
Broyles had set up Agents at all road egress points by the time Olivia drove up. Several agents were directing traffic, their FBI logo clearly displayed on their vests.
Olivia parked her SUV behind a squad car und jumped out. She went to the back of the car, opened the tailgate and removed her vest and communications headset.
Hopefully, Broyles wouldn't ask about White for now.
'Dunham!' Broyles waved her across the road to his car.
He was stationed 100 yards from the house in question. The six foot hedge of the neighboring property afforded them some cover. Olivia glimpsed a simple one story red brick house. A concrete path led through the small garden out front to the narrow verandah. There was a low wooden fence surrounding the property and a black SUV was parked in the drive.
'How did it go?' Broyles noted the tense stance of his Agent and her drawn together brows.
'Missed him' was her short answer.
'and White?'
'We got separated, Sir' was the tightlipped response.
Broyles could see that there was more to this conversation but it would have to wait.
'We have a blue print of the house. There are two rooms at the front, the kitchen, the bathroom and two rooms at the back. Heat signatures tell us that there are four people in the front left room and one person in the back right room just past the bathroom. Snipers are positioned here and here and they have confirmed four suspects in the front room.'
He pointed at the various spots as he was explaining the lay out.
'Alpha team will enter through the front door, Beta team will cover the side windows and Gamma team will enter through the back.'
'Sir, I'd like to enter with Gamma team. Odds are that the heat signature at the back is Peter.'
Broyles caught her determined look.
'Okay, Gamma team is already in place at the back of the adjoining property.'
'Sir!' Broyles com exploded with an urgent voice. 'We have intercepted a phone call. They are being ordered to leave and kill Bishop. Two suspects are heading towards the door.'
'Damn, no time to loose. Sorry Dunham, it's going to have to be through the front door for you.'
He spoke into his com. 'All teams ready? Go, Go, Go'
Olivia drew her gun and closely followed by Broyles ran towards the house where the SWAT team was already proceeding up the pathway. Just then the door opened and Freddy stepped out onto the verandah.
His eyes widened in surprise as he saw the four SWAT members coming up the pathway. He turned back towards the house yelling out 'Feds' and reached into his jacket to retrieve his gun. He didn't get far because a sniper bullet to the head felled him.
The front door slammed shut and shouting came from the house as the remaining men inside took positions at the windows.
'Take cover' called the leader of Alpha team and not a second too soon as a barrage of bullets let loose from the two front windows.
Olivia and Broyles had made it to the back of the SUV in the drive way before all hell broke loose.
They both huddled behind the car as glass splintered around them.
In a lull Olivia peered from behind the car. One of Alpha team's men threw a smoke grenade up onto the verandah and the smoke started to billow up. Two men, lying at the bottom of the stairs jumped up and stormed towards the door with the door ram while the two other member at their flanks pelted the two front windows with continuous fire.
A loud explosion from the back of the house announced the arrival of Gamma team as they blew out the back door with a small explosive device.
Alpha team had successfully breached the front door and the men entered working their way through the rooms. Several bouts of rapid gun fire could be heard answered by single fire gun shots and two more of Summers men were killed.
Olivia's com came to life.
'Alpha team: two suspects down. Proceeding…'
'Alpha leader: Front of house clear… following last suspect to back of house. Gamma team, do you copy?
Shots could be heard at the back of the house.
'Stop and put your gun down. Put your hands up and slowly turn around.' Ordered a voice from Gamma team
Olivia had already advanced up the stairs towards the entrance door with Broyles two steps behind her.
'Gamma leader: House secure. We have found Peter Bishop. We need an ambulance stat.'
So, what is White's game?
Please leave comments, always appreciated. Next chapter up soon...Peter whumpage big time & Olivia angst!
PS did you guys get a chance to see the Fringe Comic Con panel on YT? I really feel like I should throw myself on a plane for one of these Cons *sigh*