Don't own Chuck
As soon as the flames died down Casey started shifting through ashes in what was left of the barn. Mrs. Ferguson wrapped his hands for him but he insisted the work had to be done right away. He wanted to find the point of origin and make sure none of the trace evidence was lost due to degradation. As John was looking Mr. Blanchard drove up in his Defender to offer his condolences and assistance along with another attempt the secure a quick sell. However, Mrs. Ferguson wouldn't hear of it. Carl walked up to John and pretended to be searching too but Casey not so politely told him he wasn't needed nor wanted.
"You can turn around and go I've got this," said John as he picked up samples of the burnt hay placing them in brown paper bags then annotated their location on a map where he'd drawn the samples from.
"I think I'm the law here and I'm the one who's telling you to get out," said Carl as he tried to puff himself up but John just ignored him and said everything in a grunt.
"I think the Sheriff's Deputy clarified that the other day. Your jurisdiction ends at the city limits and out here you're a suspect or weren't you here with Mr. Blanchard right before this happened?"
"You don't think I had anything to do with this do you? Mr. Blanchard and I were talking to Mrs. Ferguson out front neither of us came back here. You can ask the boy with the Dingo pup over there, he was up stairs covering us with a shotgun. Where you come from do people accuse you of crimes without any proof?"
"My statement wasn't an accusation. I'm sorry if you took it that way but it was merely a statement of facts. You and Blanchard were out here before it started. Did you notice anyone or anything odd when you left?"
"No can't say as I do but under what capacity are you conducting an investigation? And who even said this was anything other than an accidental fire?"
"Let's set aside my capacities for a moment. Your alibis don't matter you see this?" said John as he held up what looked like a burnt clock. "This is part of a timing device used by the arsonist. Whoever set this fire probably hoped that when his incendiary explosion took place this would've been destroyed but instead this was thrown across the floor and fell in a hole in the floorboards."
"That could be a lot of things it doesn't have to be a timer. That could be... well nothing comes to mind right now but I'm still not convinced."
"I really don't care what you think but we've learned two things this was arson and since there was a timer we need to widen our window to before the flames were noticed which would include the time you and Blanchard were here."
"Yes and you might have planted that thing to get yourself into the good graces of the people that are taking care of you. If in fact it was arson, how do I know you didn't set this fire?"
"And I just burnt my hands for the fun of it too. You're lucky they are burnt or you'd be eating supper through a straw. But keep it up and you'll be studying astronomy because you're going to see stars."
"I don't think you know who I am," said Carl. "I'm the guy who can make your life miserable if he wants to."
"Really well I'm the kind of guy who loves being miserable and speaking of miserable we took the liberty of calling that Sheriff's Deputy for the real law. He's sending the police to pick up these samples. I'm going to have them run through a spectroscope which will give us the chemical breakdown of the elements present. We should be able to identify what kind of accelerants were used and that should help us identify our firebug."
"That's still assuming this was arson which I'm still not buying into. It seems to me you're grabbing at straws, excuse the pun."
"Well I noticed this section is darker than that one there," said Casey as he pointed out the two areas. "You know what that means?"
"No, but I figure you want to tell so go ahead," said Carl. He didn't like John before and now he liked him even less. He had to tell Blanchard they had a serious problem brewing about to come to head.
"Someone put something on the hay to make it burn quicker. Like I said before using the spectroscope they'll be able to tell me what chemicals were used. You know it would be quite a coincidence if that solution was used in mining."
"That would be quite the coincidence," said Carl as he looked at the bags Casey had collected plus he had the timing device used to set the fire. "I heard you rescued the youngest from the blaze. That took some courage to jump through the flames."
"Yes and it was a piece of luck for the arsonist too that I happened to be here. If Zed had died he'd be looking at a minimum charge of manslaughter now it's just property damage and arson. You don't have any firebugs working for you at the mines or as a Town Ranger?"
"I'd think that would be disqualifying as a Ranger but none that I know of and we check our people for criminal records before we hire them.
"I'm sure you do," said John.
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Chuck followed the van outside the airport and through city traffic he was able to talk to Sarah once but now he couldn't risk it. There were too many eyes and ears around to answer who could see or hear him so he had to play it cool. He was just glad she was yelling at him because that told him she was all right after she took down Martha. However, that made it imperative for him to locate this depot and to see if he could identify the master mind behind this shell game.
Suddenly the traffic came to a halt to allow a procession to pass through that's when Chuck got an idea. He had a GLG-4000 a small, but exceptionally powerful tracking device designed specifically for use in the mountainous, cave-riddled border regions of this country. He cut through the traffic, lane splitting until he got close to the van then flashed. He dropped the device caught it with this foot then placed it up under the van. The magnetic backing stuck to the undercarriage.
"Hey did you hear something," said the driver to the guy sitting next to him. But the man shook his head no then went back to sleep. Since the traffic wasn't moving the driver started to get out to check but Chuck drove by kicking the door shut.
"Will you watch what you're doing," Chuck yelled in Pashto along with a few choice words to add local color then he drove off. The traffic broke then it wasn't so important to keep visual contact. Chuck laid back then ducked into an alley way where he radioed Sarah.
"Chuck, I've been trying to reach you but you didn't answer. I was about to launch a rescue mission to come and get you. I had Delta force on standby and..."
"Did you include a tank?" said Chuck as he cut her off. "I'm sorry I shouldn't be joking but I couldn't talk before. I put a GLG-4000 on the van and it's heading for Ettefaq Town. That's an all residential neighborhood and there's too great a risk of collateral from a drone strike."
"We could drop a Seal team on them at night but we'd need some good ground intel," said the COS as he interrupted in their conversation.
"Roger that Oh crap," said Chuck. He spotted the van parked on the street. "Houston we have a problem. They abandoned the van but they can't have gotten far I'm going to drive around the neighborhood."
"Be careful everyone probably knows everyone so you'll stick out like a sore thumb," said Sarah. The General and COS were looking over aerial maps of the area to see what could be used as a warehouse but nothing stuck out.
"We need more intel," said the General. "We could go door to door but I don't want to risk my men. Besides if we did that we'd risk tipping them off and they get away or we level the neighborhood and write it off as bad intel."
"I heard that," said Chuck as he watched kids playing in the street. "That last option isn't an option. I'll get you your intel."
He slowed down and pretended to be lost then he caught sight of something as he drove by a house so he made another pass to confirm it. "I've got a house with I count six SVB-54 explosion-protected security cameras with infrared surveillance. Thermal imaging cameras- north and west walls someone really doesn't want anyone getting in there. I'm sending you the coordinates then I'm going to lay back and observe," radioed Chuck.
"General, let's move a bird overhead and do an IR scan of the building. We can do a body count so when our men go in they'll know where the hostiles are."
"I got movement out front," radioed Chuck. "Oh Geez you're not going to believe this."
"Sir we just got word back that building is used by an International Charity Fund for relief efforts in the neighboring villages."
"That's what I'm seeing. A convoy of relief trucks just pulled up and they're loading our crates on the back hiding them with the relief aid," radioed Chuck. He suddenly flashed. "Crap Gertrude in the lead truck you're never going to guess this but I'm looking at your old pal Estevan. He's not dead and if he's not then maybe Casey isn't either."
"What's he talking about? And who's this Estevan?" But before Sarah or Gertrude could answer there was loud noise over the comms then on the monitor they saw a plume of smoke and fire coming from where the house used to be.
"Chuck, do you read me? Chuck come in, Chuck please," radioed Sarah but he didn't answer. "I need to zoom."
"We need to follow that convoy we can't afford to lose them. I'm going call in a drone strike," said the COS. The General shook his head.
"No, you know what the media would do with that we'd be strung up in a heartbeat. Even if we show them the weapons they'll just say we planted them and we'd end up with a PR nightmare. No, we have to take the convoy. The Seal team is back in play."
"I need a vehicle to get to Chuck," said Sarah. "Someone needs to recover our agent now. You can plan your attack but I'm going."
"I can't authorize that," said the General as he looked up over the table.
"Did I ask for permission? You didn't even know you were hemorrhaging weapons until a little while ago."
"Sarah! Look at the monitor what's that," said Gertrude as she pointed at the screen.
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A little while before the blast…
Chuck pulled out of the alley and was about to follow the convoy when a ball came out of nowhere bouncing in front of him. A boy ran after it he looked at Chuck and smiled. Chuck remembered smiling back then all hell broke lose. There was a loud explosion and he felt himself being knocked off the bike and landing on the ground ten yards away.
"What the heck," he said as he tried to get up but everything was spinning. His vision was blurry and his ears were ringing. He rolled over and got up on all fours as everyone and thing around him was in chaos. He heard men and women yelling and crying. Part of him wanted to look for the boy with the ball and the other part of him was afraid of what he'd find.
"Estevan has to be stopped," he mumbled to himself as he got up. "I can't stay here he's getting away," he repeated to himself. He grabbed the handlebar of the bike and righted it as he saddled up then he tried to kick start it. Reluctantly it started. He took out after the convoy and tried to radio in as he drove but he got nothing. The blast probably took it out so he did the only thing he could do he activated his emergency homing beacon.
"Crap Sarah's going to be worried but I can't let Estevan get away," said Chuck to himself. He realized what was going on. Estevan must've figured out that Martha had been compromised so he was shutting down his operation clearing out his warehouse and moving on. He weaved through traffic playing catch up.
"Okay what hole are you scurrying back into," Chuck asked himself. If Estevan was running he needed some place where he could land a C-130 on load and get out in a hurry. He flashed. Images passed through his head of the Russian occupation transport planes landing and taking off. He saw troops waiting on tarmac to be evacuated then he knew. He looked up in time to see a bus heading straight for him honking his horn.
"Crap," said Chuck, no flashing and driving he said to himself as he swerved back into his lane. The driver of the bus yelled insults against him and his camel as he passed by. But Chuck knew here Estevan was heading towards an abandoned airfield not too far out of the city that the Russians used during occupation. Chuck gunned the bike and shot past traffic passing everything that he met.
Back in the ISAF Situation Room...
The General didn't like Sarah talking back to him but he overlooked it. He understood they were missing a man then when he found out the missing agent was her husband and she was obviously pregnant well for that he could look beyond the outburst, Then they receive a tracking signal from Chuck things seemed to calm down. They followed Chuck's progress and watched the convoy with eyes in the sky but when Chuck not only passed up the convoy but blew right past it heading out of town. The General was totally confused along with all the military in the room.
"Where does he think he's going?" yelled the General. "Are you guys sure there's no way to communicate with him?"
"I'm sure Chuck's got his reasons," said Sarah. "If he passed up the convoy there has to be a reason. He doesn't do random."
"You don't think his brain got scrambled in that blast," said the Colonel. "Maybe he's not thinking straight. We should try and bring him in?"
"No the Seals that are on deck are for this arms convoy. I want them in the air ready to strike in a moment's notice."
"Sir we've got a bogie, an Antonov An-12 just popped on the radar it dropped in from the Hindu Kush and has landed nine miles outside the city in the general direction of the convoy."
"Get that information to the Seals I want them to take that convoy and this Estevan in custody," barked the General to the captain who just passed him the intel. "Son is there anything else; you look like you want to say something so speak up."
"Sir it's that agent he's already on site," said the Captain pointing to position locator of Chuck's emergency homing beacon.
"How did he know they'd be headed there? He's not in on this?" said the General. "I don't think this is an accident."
"Sir if you knew Chuck then you'd know how, and I'm sorry for a better word, 'stupid' that remark was. I'm not telling this because he's my husband but Chuck and his family have given everything to the agency. More than you can ever imagine. My husband has a brain that... well can shock you and he probably figured out where they were heading."
"Hold up on the Seals for a moment," said the Chief of Staff. "I was just doing a quick inventory of the arms these people stole and I found they took a crate of FIM-92 Stingers. If the Seals helo in by chopper they'll be sitting ducks."
"Then they'll need to land off site and procure transportation. Send in a drone strike to soften the target up that will give the Seals time to make it in before the convoy hightails it out of there. I'm sorry for your husband but if he's as resourceful as you say I'm sure he'll be okay."
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Blanchard was still talking with Mrs. Ferguson when Carl came to grab him. Blanchard was going on about how lucky she was that no one was hurt but this could've easily been a tragedy and for what a piece of ground that couldn't yield a decent crop. Then he pointed out that her seeds for the upcoming year that needed to be planted soon had gone up in ash with the barn too.
"Mrs. Ferguson if you don't want to listen to reason," said Blanchard. "Listen to necessity this year's seeds were in your barn so you've got nothing to plant. You had to borrow money from the bank to buy what you lost and you used your farm as collateral so you've got nothing left to borrow against."
"The way you're talking Mr. Blanchard something tells me the mining company bought out the bank. I'd say it's very suspicious that you know where Maureen stores her seeds," said Bill as he was getting angry with Blanchard badgering the poor woman in this her time of need.
"Nonsense, the mining company bought out the bank as an investment in our community and as the CEO I was reviewing outstanding debts. Mrs. Ferguson's loan specifically stated that it was for the purchase seeds. I noticed you've got an outstanding debt too Bill."
"Not due until the end of November and you haven't explained how you knew where she kept her seeds."
"We may have to review bank policy but we'll talk about that at your place. But isn't it obvious? Oh excuse me; you probably never went to school so you've got no idea about geometry. But what other building around here could hold that many sacks of seed?"
"I know all about volume and how to measure volume for example my fist would fit perfectly in your mouth. Maureen, don't worry about seeds. Poor Tom ordered his and paid for them before he was killed. Since he left me the executor of his estate I'll give them to you he certainly won't need them."
"Mr. Blanchard," said Carl, "I was just called by the office and something has come up. They need you back at the mines. They said it was urgent."
"I see well duty calls then. Mrs. Ferguson if you have a change of heart you've got my number, don't hesitate to call."
"I got an idea like you said the Bank was an investment in the community," said Bill. "You could forgive Maureen her debt. Now that would be what a good neighbor would do."
"I'd like to but as the CEO of the bank I have responsibilities towards our shareholders and our other clients. I can't pick favorites it just wouldn't be right I'm sure you understand," said Blanchard as he walked off with Carl. He smiled then got in the Defender with his man inside his look changed.
"Pour us a drink and let's get out of here. I wish we'd set fire to her house with her in it. She just won't listen to reason and that Bill is another one who always has something to say. I was ready to go when you called me but there's something else isn't there?"
"Yes," said Carl as she handed Blanchard a glass, "You'll need that. I was with that John Doe sifting through the ash and he found the timer our guy used to start the fire. That's not all he's sending some of the hay off to be analyzed to see what chemicals were used to start the fire."
"Geez this day's just getting better and better. I take it we didn't fool him into thinking it was an accident?" asked Mr. Blanchard as he gulped but Carl shook his head no.
"He wants to see if the chemicals used to start the fire are ones we use in the mines. I'll check with our man as soon as we get back then I'll arrange for him to leave town. But remember I warned you soon that John Doe is going to have us down to just you and me. I think it's time you called the home office."
"I agree," said Blanchard. "I'll call from my office as soon as we get in but I want you with me when I make it. I'm not saying I'm scared of these people but I'm scared. I heard they put a guy in a steel mill furnace once because he failed to live up to expectation."
"They can't blame us for what's happened here there are just somethings out of our control. We did our best that's all anyone can expect."
"I think that was the same excuse the guy that ended up in the furnace used. But you're right this John Doe guy has to be taken care of once and for all along with Bill MacDonald. For that we need experts," said Mr. Blanchard as he caught Carl's look. "I know you're an expert but dealing with farms and dealing with this John Doe are two different things."
"I just hope the people back in the home office see it that way."