Chapter 10
Pressing down on the accelerator, Liz pushed the car up a gear as Nikki sat leafing through one of Liz's trashy magazines. "Find anything you like in there?" Liz smiled.
"Yea ten ways to please the man in your life," Nikki replied smirking. "You actually read this crap?" She asked disbelievingly.
"Yea and its not all crap," Liz smiled to her self, "number four made Don very pleased."
"Great," Nikki laughed, "That's a mental image I didn't need of my boss."
"Fair enough," Liz said before changing the subject. "So did you call Lt. Walker? Colby said we might find some resistance at Garrison Street."
"Yea I called and he replied that he didn't really appreciate being dragged out here twice in one day, but as it was me he said he and a few of his boys would meet us there." Nikki replied smugly.
"That's good." Liz replied only half listening as she put the car up another gear.
"Do you feel the need? The need for speed?" Nikki commented on Liz's excessive speeds.
"What?" She replied distractedly.
"It's Top Gun? You know, do you feel the need? The need for speed?" Nikki replied shocked.
"Sorry I'm just a little distracted and I like to go fast when I need to think." Liz replied taking the car down a gear while she swerved around several cars and carried on down the road ignoring the horns in reply.
"What's on you mind?" Nikki asked concerned.
"Oh I don't know." Liz sighed exasperated.
"Ok who is on your mind? Is it Don?" Nikki asked knowingly.
"How'd you guess?" Liz asked flicking her gaze over to Nikki who had her feet resting comfortably on the dashboard.
"Well Don was obvious, we're all worried. He's loosing it I swear. One minute we're public enemy number one and then the next he has crispy creams. I guess I haven't worked out quite where I stand in their boys club." Nikki replied flicking a page of the magazine absently.
"You know when I trained at Quantico and met Don, right when we first started dating; he told me nothing. I think he just buried what happened and now he doesn't know how to react. Maybe he's afraid of how we'll see him from now on. When we we're dating he never let me see any signs of weakness so when he eventually did he blew a fuse and we'd fight till he eventually backed down and would apologize. I just never understood what was behind it and he'd never tell me. By the way Charlie invited us to play air hockey and have a beer over his tonight. I said we'd go and don't worry your not alone amongst their boys club."
"Thanks," Nikki said reaching over and patting Liz gently on the shoulder. "And thanks for not going to Denver. I like to think we make great partners." Nikki smiled at Liz who was slowly decreasing her speed.
"How bout some tunes?" Earl said popping his head between the front seats and reminding the agents of his presence.
Flicking the radio on and turning it up Nikki paused as James Brown's singing filled the car. "This is a man's world, but it wouldn't be nothing, nothing without a woman or a girl…"
"On second thoughts I'd prefer silence," Liz reached out and flicked the radio back off. "When did Lt. Walker say he'd be there?"
"He just said he'd be there when we arrive, he was in the neighborhood at a Dinner close by." Nikki replied running her hands through a mess of curls. "Look there he is up ahead we must have just come to the boundaries of Break Boy Turf."
Pulling the car over and parking it neatly behind the squad car both agents waited for Lt. Walker to approach Liz's window. Rolling it down she used her hand to shade her eyes from the dreadful sunlight. "Evening Sir." She smiled.
"How do you want to do this agents Warner and Bentancourt?" Lt. Walker asked tiredly.
"We'll follow you Sir." Liz replied. Nodding once Lt. Walker moved back to the squad car got in and placed the car in gear. Following at a reasonable distance they arrived five minutes later at Earl Jones's house.
Getting out of the car Nikki surveyed the two story semi detached house. Walking to the passenger side of the vehicle Nikki helped a shackled Earl from the car. Together they joined Liz and the Lt. on the porch. "The doors ajar we best check it out first." Liz said motioning for Nikki to follow her as she drew her weapon.
Taking out her own weapon, Nikki pulled the door back and followed Liz inside. "Living room clear," Nikki shouted checking the door to her left.
"Kitchen clear," Liz replied reemerging from the room to the right. "I smelt gas. Someone left the gas rings on the cooker on."
"We need to check upstairs as well." Nikki replied moving silently over to the staircase. When Liz was behind her she slowly began to ascend. Pointing her pistol out over the banister Liz moved around Nikki into the first room.
"Bedroom one clear," She shouted from inside.
"Bedroom two clear," Nikki responded from the next room.
"Bathroom's clear too." Liz replied entering the room.
Turning around Nikki took in Liz's wide eyes. "It looks like Earl and his wife had another kid." She whispered as she walked over to the crib at the foot of a double bed.
"We need to find those letters." Liz said as she backed out of the room. Once back on the porch Liz became aware of the Lt.'s raised voice. "What's going on out here?" Liz asked looking from the Lt. to a youth in his grasp.
"This young man tried attacking Earl, I restrained him." The Lt. replied as he turned the youth over and cuffed him.
"He did nothing man!" Liz turned to see several other youths approach the house. Raising her gun she moved over to the Lt.'s side and helped escort the youth to the squad car.
"Don't worry I'll settle this," Nikki told Liz as she came out onto the porch. "I've dealt with scum like them for four years. You take Earl inside and get the evidence." Nodding Liz ran back to the porch and forced Earl inside the house.
"Now boys, this is police business. Go back inside your houses and there won't be trouble." The Lt. said taking out his own firearm.
"Last I checked we had a right to leave our homes and stand where we like." One youth challenged as he walked up to Nikki.
Looking him over Nikki observed his vest and shorts; clearly he was athletic, maybe basket ball. She thought taking in the hoop attached to one of the houses down the road.
"Boys like you don't give a crap about others rights why should we care for yours?" Nikki asked defiantly.
Observing Nikki in turn the youth laughed and turned back to his friends. "We have a feisty one here lads! I like feisty," he replied looking back at Nikki, eyes twinkling.
"Either way this is a police investigation and we are asking you to-" Nikki started before being cut off by a hysterical woman holding a Molotov cocktail.
"Charlene," the youth hissed. "Get back inside I'm handling this."
"Ma'm give me the Molotov." Nikki said drawing her weapon and pointing at her.
"Put the gun away you're only frightening her. I can handle this." The youth said lowering Nikki's arm before moving closer to the woman.
"He had another family!" Charlene screamed. "Tyler! He had another baby!" she spat at the youth. "You knew! You all knew…You'll all pay!" she stammered.
"This isn't the way. I told you I'd sort it." Tyler said edging closer.
"You always say you're going to sort it! What about me! What a bout my babe!"
Earl came bolting out of the house, "Where did you take her!" He screamed before stopping at the sight of the Molotov.
"Away, away from you!" She screamed swinging the cocktail at Earl.
"Screw you!" Earl shouted leaping off the porch and grabbing at Charlene.
"No Earl, Screw you!" Stepping back Charlene took aim and swung the cocktail at the house. Taking aim the Lt. Shot her seconds too late as the cocktail continued to fly towards the house and a startled Liz.
"GET DOWN!" Nikki screamed racing for the porch. But it was too late. The House caught fire and burst into a gigantic cloud of smoke and fire as the flames of the Molotov reacted with the gas in the air. As if in slow motion everyone watched as Liz was blown away from the wreckage and smashed against the squad cars windscreen. Racing to her side Nikki examined Liz, "LIZ! LIZ! Are you... are you ok?" She stammered uncertainly.
"Yeah," Liz gasped as she rolled herself over onto her back. "Just a little scratch." She smiled shakily as she reached inside her shredded jacket. "Here, it's the letters." She said holding them out.
"Screw the bloody letters! Thank God you're ok!" Nikki said hugging a coughing Liz. "I'm taking you to the hospital to have a check up, no argument. You're going." Nikki said sternly helping Liz off the bonnet and onto her feet.
"I'll call for clean up to come. Don't worry I'll get Mr. Jones back to custody, you take Liz to the hospital." Lt. Walker said reassuringly as he squeezed Liz's hand.
"I do believe he's warming up to me," Liz laughed weakly before choking.
"He always liked me." Nikki retorted as she bundled Liz into the back of the car. "Wait till the others hear. Don's going to kill us!"
"Lying down on the back seat Liz looked up at Nikki, "What's new?" she asked before passing out.