Don't own Chuck
Chuck rode on the back of Isabella's bike all the way to the funeral home which was nestled away in a green area. It was the kind of place and scenery that was supposed to provoke a feeling of peace and tranquility, but instead seemed more like the beginning of a Freddy Krueger movie. On the way over Chuck's phone rang but with one arm in a sling and the other holding on he couldn't answer it so he waited until they reached their destination to check the number.
"Hold up a second," said Chuck as he dialed a number. "I need to check on this then we can go inside. Hey Maureen what is it we just met. ... You've got who in custody? ... What'd he do? ... Oh really hold him in a cell and I'll come and get him afterwards. I'm kind of busy right now but I'll be right there after I'm done. ... Sure I'll just see the watch officer. Thanks and I'm sorry ... Okay again thanks."
"What is it? Is something wrong," asked Isabella trying to decipher his look. "Do we have to run back to the hospital?"
"No, no it's nothing like that. It's Devon he managed to get himself arrested. Aafter we're done I need to go bail him out. Don't ask it's a long story and one I'll deal with when we're done here."
"Arrested? Arrested for what? Jaywalking? I don't know him that well but I just have a hard time picturing him doing anything that could get him arrested."
"Like I said I'll deal with him when we're done here," said Chuck as they walked inside the funeral home. The first thing they were hit with was the putrid floral scent that tried to mask the odors of formaldehyde. However the combination was almost as bad as the smell of the hospital. "I swear if the owner's name is Jason I'm out of here. The only thing missing is a stale fern and a stuffed fox."
"Jason? Who's Jason? And what about a fox and fern?" said Isabella. Chuck shook his head but before he could explain one of the owners can out to greet them.
"Mortimore Stiff," said the man as he held out his hand. "May I extend our condolences in this your time of sorrow. Our staff is here to offer whatever services you might need in your time of want."
"Stiff you say? I bet you get a lot of ribbing over that," said Chuck as he showed him his Homeland badge. "I need to know if you've still got... and sorry for the pun... stiffs from Chicago Memorial from two and three days ago. There might have been a mix up."
"Oh well looks like out little accident might've worked in your favor. Our furnace is down now because well one of our assistants made a mistake..."
"What kind of mistake," said Chuck. Already he could feel the hair standing on the back of his neck begin to stand up. "The person you put in was... well not alive."
"Oh of course not I mean yes... it's nothing like that... you lay people you have no idea how things work. All you've seen is what's on T.V. No we were interring Fat Eddie and we were kind of in a rush that day. Normally we look for pacemakers but this one slipped through..."
"Oh no, don't tell me. You sent him through the furnace with the lithium battery still in it," said Chuck. Isabella looked at both puzzled as Mortimer hung his head and nodded.
"I wish I could say we didn't. There was a small explosion which compromised the furnace and we're still cleaning Fat Eddie off the inside. Plus the furnace company went out of business in 1963 so finding spare parts is turning out to be difficult. We're scrambling to get things back on line before we lose our contract with the state."
"Sorry to hear about your problems but can we see the bodies," said Chuck. Isabella gave him a look he just shrugged his shoulders then motion her to follow.
"Sure right this way. We've been outsourcing our paid customers but the ones from the state we're keeping in storage."
"Because there's no next of kin hounding you to get their relatives buried and you can mark up the charges of the funeral to cover your added costs."
"Well yes there isn't much of a markup on... well the unclaimed. They're right this way in our walk in freezer. I know it's kind of cold but it's the only way to preserve them..."
"You mean that's economical," said Chuck. "I get it you're out to make a profit like anyone else but this is kind of hard to swallow not to mention cold and I'm not talking about the freezer."
"You have no idea what the overhead and costs are involved in maintaining a facility like this. Here you go they should all be in this section," said Mortimer as he point out a section of neatly laid out body bags.
"Isabella you want to start looking for your... your cousin," said Chuck. "A quick question Mortimer when you guys get a body like this do you verify the body you have matches in anyway the death certificate? Like cause of death or that it's the same body?"
"No how could we? That's for the physician or coroner to do. For us it's just another Jane or John Doe. They have a number assigned to them then we check off the disposition after we're finished."
"I found him," yelled Isabella. "He's over here. Mortimer, I'm going to need the paperwork to take custody of this body. This one is going back home to his family."
"Let me see something." The body was cold but Chuck could still see the bruising and lividity around the neck. I don't know what they put down as the cause of death but a broken neck didn't help. I need you to pull up all the paperwork you've got on this body. We'll be back to get it and the body," said Chuck as he thanked Mortimer then they went outside to warmup.
"Isabella I need to get down to the county lockup I assume you have people you can contact in your consulate to help you retrieve everything here?"
"Yeah, I'll run you down and hopefully warm up. But now we know what happened to Pedro. When we get his body I want our people to perform an autopsy."
"You can but I don't know if you're going to find anything. They probably stripped the body and washed it so you're not going to find anything. However, you never know. I just know I need to go handle my brother-in-law before people in the hospital miss him."
"I think that ship's already sailed. Oh and congratulations I overheard Sarah tell Dr. Louis the baby turned."
"She said what? It turned but that would put the baby... oh crap two weeks earlier. That's what those two were talking about this morning."
"I'm sorry I thought she already told you. Pretend you don't know when she tells you or I could get into trouble."
"Sure... sure I'll try but to be fair she said she wanted to see Gwen. Now I know why she wanted to make sure because she knows how I get. Come on I need to go see a jailbird."
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[An hour before]
Maureen slapped cuffs on Devon. He felt them bite his wrists over his adamant protest but she wasn't listening. She hauled him up after she cuffed him then pulled his wallet. She looked through it and saw who he was then shook her head. Pulling out her phone she tried to call Chuck but he wasn't answering.
"Sorry but your brother-in-law isn't answering so I guess there's only one thing to do with you. They're going to like a pretty boy like you in lock up."
"Wait a minute I haven't done anything you can't arrest me. Try Chuck again he'll tell you I'm harmless. I need to get to work at the hospital I'm a..."
"A cardiac surgeon, I know. But you were following a federal agent and until I can figure out what you were up to I can hold you up to twenty-four hours before charging you. Chuck just left on the back of a bike and he's only got one good arm so I'm guessing he can't answer."
"Commissioner," said one of two men in blue who showed up. "We saw you make the collar. Is there something we can do?"
"Take this guy down to lock up and tell the desk sergeant to put him in isolation. There will be a man from Homeland for him."
"Hold on this is a big mistake. Okay I was following Chuck but I'm doing it for his own good. I saw him hanging around a woman the very woman he rode off with and well things may not be what they seem or I hope they're not."
"I think a little time in the lock up will do you some good. It should give you some time to think about what a stupid idea you had," said Maureen. "Guys take him down and hand him off but tell the desk sergeant not to process him."
"No, no they're expecting me at the hospital this morning," said Devon but Maureen wasn't budging. The two officers led him away. "No there's been a mistake."
"We hear you buddy and I think you've made it," said one of the officers as they led him to their patrol car. "Watch your head in the back." There was a loud thud.
"Ouch! No you're not listening to me I need to get to the hospital. I have a very important patient waiting for me. I can't keep her waiting."
"Well when we get to the station you'll get your one free phone call. You can call her and tell her you're running late."
"Yeah you can tell her you'll see her in five to ten depending on good behavior," said the other one. They both started laughing.
"Not cool dudes not cool," said Devon in the back of the patrol car as he looked out like a frightened deer.
Maureen watched the patrol car drive off with Devon inside. Then once they were out of sight she tried again this time he picked up.
"I thought you'd like to now I just arrested your brother-in-law, Devon. ... I caught him tailing you. I have him being taken down to lock up to give him some reflecting time. He's under the impression you were out hooking up with your lady driver. If and when you want him you can go get him from the desk sergeant or watch officer. ... You need to talk to him. If he followed you when you were meeting the wrong people he could get himself and you killed. If I were you I'd come down hard on him but that's just me. ... You're welcome and I'll let you know about that other stuff you wanted. Be careful.
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Gwen finished her examinations of Sarah then she examined Hortencia. They had waited most of the morning but no Devon. They'd called Ellie but she didn't know and Sarah became concerned given what happened to Chuck so as soon as her exam was over she ducked out and called Chuck. In the meantime Ellie saw Casey who had the Chief call to the men watching the house.
"Ellie, I just got word back from Gonzalez and his men out front of your place said Devon pulled out right after Chuck left this morning. Does that make sense to you? The General is going to issue a BOLO on him."
"They said right after?" asked Ellie and Casey nodded. "Thanks I need to find Sarah. Do you know where she is?"
"I saw her just a few minutes ago she came out of the examination room and walked over to the restroom. I guess the one inside was occupied."
"Thanks," said Ellie as she walked inside. Sarah was there still in her hospital gown with her phone out. "Before you call Chuck there's something you should know." Ellie went on to describe what Devon had said and what she thought he'd done.
"I don't know if I should thank Devon for being concerned or strangle him for being stupid. Luckily Chuck wasn't meeting any one potentially dangerous. But if the wrong person caught him tailing Chuck..."
"Sarah is that supposed to make me feel better because it's not," said Ellie. "Can you please phone Chuck and put him on speaker?"
"Sure and by the way Gwen said you were right. We're closer than we thought," said Sarah as they heard Chuck's phone ring.
"Now are you going to tell him," said Ellie as they heard Chuck's phone click and he picked up. Sarah but her finger to her lip to tell Ellie to be quiet.
"Now are you going to tell him what Sarah," said Chuck. "Tell me what Gwen said I'm all ears. I assume that's why you called me."
"Well yes and no," said Sarah as she looked over at Ellie. "Chuck, I've got Ellie standing next to me and she's worried about Devon. He didn't show up for work today and he was last seen leaving the house right after you took a cab."
"Really, what a coincidence and at the same time that's funny because when I left he wasn't back yet from his run or I didn't see him. I don't know what to tell you I haven't seen him at least not yet.
"Chuck," said Ellie as she broke in. "If Devon happened to travel in your direction he wouldn't have gotten into trouble would he? I don't know what I'm asking but I'm worried."
"Ellie, I can't talk about what I'm doing over the phone but no if Devon got in trouble I'm not to blame. He probably had car trouble on the way to work in an area with poor cell reception. Don't worry I'm almost done I can backtrack to home and see if I can find him."
"Would you please I'd appreciate it. Chuck I talked with Casey and he said the General wants to put out an APB on him. That should turn up something, shouldn't it?"
"No don't do let her do that give me time to work my magic first. I know I can find him I feel like I know where he's at right now. Just think happy thoughts and I'll get back with you. Listen I've got to run just give me a little time and make sure the General doesn't put out that bulletin. It could just complicate things." Chuck hung up then pulled up a chair outside Devon's cell.
"You just heard me now tell me why I'm covering for you. Devon maybe you can explain to me what you were doing following me," said Chuck as he sat down. "I'd like to get this over with because I promised Sarah I'd have lunch with them."
"Dude, it's no cool you seeing other women when your wife is expecting your kid. It's not cool at all Eric agrees with me too," said Devon. Chuck was about to ask who this Eric was when the man in the next cell started to butt in.
"The Doc's right that's not cool," said the man as he sat on a metal rack bolted to the floor. "You need to respect your wife after all she's having your kid."
"Excuse me this is a private conversation so if you don't mind stay out. And by the way just who are you? Why are you in here?" asked Chuck trying to understand what was going on.
That's Eric," said Devon. "He and I've been talking. You know he's here because of a mistake too. The police charged him with assault and battery against his girlfriend's new boyfriend. The man just slipped and fell down a few times before the police came and then they blamed him. He swears he was helping him up. Can you believe that what bad luck?"
"Yeah I'm sure it was," said Chuck as he looked at the series of biker tattoos on the man's arms. Some of the ink work he recognized and some he didn't. "Well it's about time you and I go."
"Hey wait a minute are you really some sort of secret spy. That's what the doc here said. You know I used to do a little wet work back in the day and I'm interested in getting back in the game. Do you think you can hook me up with your contacts at Langley? I can keep my mouth shut as long as you scrub my back and I scrub yours."
"I think it's 'wash' but one look and scrubbing is what it would take. Devon's the one that needs to be scrubbed," said Chuck. "Devon, what part of secret don't you understand? Okay buddy I'm going to hook you up. Come close to the bars I'm going to need a scan of you face for facial recognition," said Chuck as he pulled out a small metal box that looked like a lighter.
"Okay but what are you going to do with it? I wish I'd shaved this morning. Make sure you get my good side. What do you need this for anyway?"
"All candidate need to have a facial scan on record so we can track you using CCTV and security camera footage."
"Wow you can do that," said Devon. Chuck gave him a look. "Oh right sure you can do that. They do that all the time."
"Just get up close and stand still," said Chuck as he gave him a whiff of X-13 gas. The man's eyes rolled in the back of his head then as he dropped Chuck reached in and held him up close to the bars then gently lowered him to the floor.
"You killed Eric. Chuck, what've you done," said Devon as he came over close to look at what Chuck was doing. "Oh that's so not cool."
"I didn't kill him he's only out and when he wakes up he won't remember the last twenty-four hours which is what I ought to do to you but Ellie will know something is up then get mad at me. Really Devon, you had to tell him I was a spy. Why don't you friend me on Facebook as Chuck my spy brother-in-law? I think this was one of the things Maureen told me not to do but I can't help it." Chuck took out his flask and dosed Eric with whiskey.
"What a waste of good booze," said Chuck as he took a hit. "Okay hold on and I'll go talk to the watch officer and get you out. Remember you had car trouble and I found you by the side of the road hitchhiking."
Oh Dude I'd never hitchhike it's illegal and it's not safe. Everyone knows that."
"Whatever, you had car problems and I picked you up or you can explain to Ellie why you spent the day in jail with your new friend Eric," said Chuck as Eric snored loudly.
"It was an emergency and I had to get to the hospital so I started hitch hiking even though I knew it wasn't safe and that it was illegal."
"I thought you might come around. Now let me get you out of here."
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In the hospital things were a little hectic with them being short on orderlies. Nurse Ratched was making her rounds making sure everyone was at work. Casey was doing the same with the men he set along the perimeter of the hospital. He bumped into Sarah and Ellie in the lobby as the General and the Chief walked in.
"Oh General we just talked with Chuck and he's gone looking for Devon and said we should hold off putting out BOLO on him."
"Where's Agent Carmichael at," asked the Chief. "I was reading his report about his attack and I'd like to talk to him about it. I was wondering if remembered any scars or other distinguishing marks that might help us track down his attackers."
"Where he's at in this moment I don't know but we're supposed to have lunch here so if you're still here at lunchtime we plan on eating in the cafeteria. Right now I need to get some tea then go back up to see Hortencia I left her with Dr. Louis and I really need to get back."
"Is Chuck working on anything," asked the General. "I ask because the Chief here picked up some unusual chatter from the Costa Gravan consulate."
"Why does it have to do with Chuck? Ma'am I think if you want to know what's going on over there, you only have to go upstairs and ask their Premier. He's there with his wife right now."
"And where have you been," asked Casey as the Major came walking through the lobby carrying her motorcycle helmet.
"I was running an errand for the Premier at our consulate. We got word that one of our people passed away in an accident and I went to the funeral home to claim the body. I was lucky because it was scheduled to be cremated but the furnace was down. If you'll excuse me I need to go brief the Premier. I'm sure he'll be happy."
"I'm sure he will be," said the Chief as he watched her walk off. "If you'll excuse me there's something urgent I just remembered I needed to get done."