AN: I don't own any of the CSI:NY Characters or any of the show's storylines that I may refer to from time to time, but the rest of the plot is mine.
Thanks to Soccer-Bitch, BEG75 and Sarah for the reviews.
11. Door to Door
Don closed the door to the bedroom and walked slowly over to the apartment door and peeked through the spy hole. There was a lot of commotion in the hallway. He couldn't see clearly what was happening, but it seemed to revolve around an apartment a few doors down. He saw enough to know that it wasn't likely to be good for them, with all the blue uniforms around. It would only be a matter of time. He flipped his phone and quickly sent a text message as he saw two familiar figures walk past the door.
He kept his eye on the hallway as best he could, while fighting the urge to open the door and go to help. He couldn't risk that though, and he couldn't risk opening the door if they came knocking, but at the same time he knew he would have to. He had been holed up in this dingy apartment for 3 days now with Laura and they were getting a little cabin fever. She was feeling the strain, hence the closed bedroom door, hoping she would rest for a while. Neither of them had spoken to anyone apart from Mrs Henderson. Their only other connection with the outside world was a daily text exchange with their contacts. They were pretty much on their own. It had to be. They had to appear to Mrs Henderson as if they were alone in the city. If they ventured out it was to the local corner store or the park and back. They were beginning to feel like prisoners.
A shadow loomed over the spy hole as someone stopped in front of the door. Don recognised the figure and held his breath. He hoped his message had been picked up.
--
Stella glanced around the run down apartment and the man lying in the bloody pool on the floor. Clearly the head wound was the cause of blood loss, but they would have to wait for Hammerback to confirm it as actual cause of death. She began shooting photos as Danny followed behind processing evidence.
Angell stepped into the room. "Hey Stella."
"Hey, how are you managing without Flack?"
"As well as can be expected, I'll just be glad when he's back from vacation."
"Heard any more about when that will be?"
"Not a word. You heard anything from Laura?"
"Nothing, ... it still bugs me they left without even a word."
Danny appeared from another room. "We got prints of all sizes and shapes, I got a load more from the hallway, I'm gonna run down and upload them to Hawkes. See if we get anything.
"Good idea."
--
In the lab a few minutes later Hawkes was running searches on the prints from Danny when he got a hit off one of them.
As the match came up so did a warning. Hawkes looked surprised. He caught a quick glimpse of the image before it disappeared. He grabbed the rest of the files and headed for Mac's office.
--
"Hawkes, I'm sorry I have to get down to Danny and Stella's scene, can it wait?"
"Actually it's connected. I'll walk with you." As Mac left his office Hawkes went too and filled him in with his findings. "I'm sorry Mac, but it looks like it flagged to a federal agency."
"But you're sure about what you saw before it disappeared?"
"One hundred percent. ... What is going on?"
"I think we're about to find out. I just got a call from the FBI, for now don't say anything to anyone. I'll fill you in as soon as I can ... run the rest of the prints from the scene, I expect if you have one set you'll get another which will pull up a red flag, keep it to yourself until I know more, not a word to Danny or Stella."
"You got it."
Mac sighed as he entered the elevator, his mind going over the evidence which had fallen in his lap in the last five minutes. A phone call from the Feds and two sets of prints waving red flags in the system. Hawkes was a good man, he would keep quiet. Mac was concerned that if the information reached Danny and Stella and they would act on it without thought, because of their concern. Although it seemed they were right to be suspicious about their friends whereabouts.
--
Mac arrived at the apartment complex flashed his badge to the officer on the door and was admitted quickly. Inside he went straight for the Superintendant's office. After a brief knock and pause the door opened and he stepped inside.
"Detective Taylor?" Greeted one older greying man as he held out his badge and ID. Mac reciprocated.
"Agent Collins." Mac acknowledged the senior officer of the two.
"Jack, please, seeing as how we're going to be working together. At least for a bit. ... I understand some of your team are working the unfortunate case going on upstairs. They ran some latent prints in the system and struck gold with our case. I can assure you the two are not related, so I'm asking for a little professional courtesy, can you skip the interviews with the couple in 412? I promise as soon as we've relocated them we'll get you a statement. I'm pretty sure they would insist on it."
"I have no doubts. Do you think they're being watched?"
"We know they are, which is why we need to keep their involvement really low key. I need for them to walk out of here in an hour unchallenged."
"What are they doing?"
"It's classified. ... I'm sorry Detective Taylor but I've told you all I can."
"Just answer me one question, who would sanction an operation this delicate using a woman who is almost 8 months pregnant?"
Jack looked shocked. "How do you know that? ... The system flags didn't say anything."
"I know the couple you're using as bait in whatever scheme you're running, they have friends, friends who are extremely concerned at their disappearance. Do you also know she's expecting twins?"
"We do, its why they're the perfect couple, ... the only couple right now we can use. They know what they're doing, ... what's at stake."
"I'm not sure you do. Let me give you some friendly advice, anything happens to them or their babies and I will personally hold you accountable. ... And no we can't just skip their door to door, if they're being watched as you say it will be noticed they're getting special favours. I'll speak to them myself, keep it routine. What names are they using?"
Jack looked at his partner and nodded reluctantly. The partner supplied a few details. They didn't have a choice. Jack just hoped Taylor would hold up his end of the deal and not blow everything. "What about your team?"
"I'll have to tell them, but they'll be cool. How's Laura holding up?"
"Laura? Oh, we know her as Katie. She's doing great, hopefully the fish will bite real soon and we can pull them out, but it took us 6 weeks to even get close last time."
Mac shook his head in disbelief. "and you think putting pregnant women into that situation is acceptable?"
"No, I don't, but we don't have a choice. They're too good at picking up if the pregnancy's a fake. The advantage we have here is that this couple are in it together, their lieutenant insisted on it, she wouldn't have agreed otherwise and neither would that partner of hers."
"Do you realise who you're dealing with up there?"
"A team of homicide cops, one of whom happens to be pregnant. A perfect couple to play this gig."
"You really don't know who you've got acting as bait do you?"
"No, it's better we don't know then we can't accidentally let it slip this couple aren't real."
"Have you ever heard of Donald Flack?"
"The retired NYPD legend, sure. Made quite a name for himself. But I don't see what he had to do with this."
"I suggest you pay attention, ... The couple you're using so freely are his son and daughter in law, Don and Laura Flack. ... The reason they play the couple thing so well is they've been living it for 2 years. Now you get why he won't let her take a step without him. ... I need to go see my team and do a little door knocking. Excuse me." Mac turned and left the office the door banging shut behind him as the agents inside sighed heavily and almost felt the proverbial hit the fan.
"We should speak to the boss." Suggested the junior agent.
--
Mac entered the apartment of the crime scene and greeted Stella.
"Hey Mac what are you doing here?"
"New evidence I need to talk to the 3 of you." He looked at Danny and Angell and nodded in the direction of the bathroom, before turning to the uniformed officer at the door. "Officer Jackson, no one comes in here understood?"
"Yes sir." Mac followed the others to the ensuite bathroom, closing the bedroom and bathroom doors behind him, he then started turning on the taps in the sink and bath. The others looked at him curiously.
"I've always wanted an excuse to do that." He smirked, before the look was quickly replaced with a more serious one. "I've just had some news on Flack and Laura. ... They're fine, at least for now. ... you were right Stella, they're not on vacation. But it seems it was partly their decision. ... They're working undercover with the FBI."
"Mac!" Stella squealed shocked. He held up his hand.
"I know, ... Listen I don't have much time, or information, for now you just need to know they're here. Apartment 412." Danny turned to the door and put his hand on the knob to open it. "Danny, stay here with Stella, continue processing. Angell and I will door to door along the hallway. ... Jess, let me talk to them, Don will be worried that we'll bust their cover, but I know enough to stop that from happening, we play it routine. ... We need to keep it cool guys, they're being watched by their target. We can't risk this case being blown, for the case or for them. Can you do that?"
Stella and Danny exchanged glances. "Mac, let me go with you." Danny pleaded.
"Do they realise Laura is really pregnant and the stress won't be good for her?" Stella asked a serious look etched on her face.
"No and yes. Process here. We'll meet back at the lab and I'll tell you all I can. But get this, I don't want either of you knocking on that door or attempting to talk to them or contact them anyhow if they try to leave. Got it?"
"Got it." "Yeah." Danny and Stella responded dejectedly.
Turning off the taps they all returned to their duties. Mac and Angell began knocking on doors opposite the one Don and Laura were holed up in. Don was still watching the activity. He hoped his message had got through and he wasn't going to have to explain everything when he came face to face with Mac.
--
Don looked around as he heard a noise behind him. Laura was leaning on the back of the couch holding her stomach.
"Kat? ... What is it baby?" He forgot what was going on in the hall and hurried to her side. He put one arm around her to help support her and the other on top of hers across her stomach. "Are you ok?" She sagged against him, he rubbed his hand across her stomach and felt how hard and tight it was. "Kat, talk to me babe." He looked at her pale face and pained expression. Finally he felt her stomach relax and soften under his fingers. "What was that?" She started to breath easier.
"... Feet, pushing under my ribs ... I'm ok. IT just got me as I stood up. Braxton Hicks don't help. ... How are you doing?"
"Don't panic, but it's possible our cover is about to be blown. Stella and Danny are processing a scene a few doors down. Mac and Angell are running door to door."
"Mac? He doesn't often do that?"
"That's why I'm hoping it's good news. ... You should sit down."
"I'm fine, ... really. ... I just want this to be over so we can go back to normal."
"I know. You sure you're ok, coz if you're not I'm pulling the plug right now."
"I'm OK." She smiled at him and he was pleased to see a little colour back in her cheeks. It didn't stop him from guiding her to the couch and helping her to sit down and put her feet up though.
Don sat down and squeezed her feet over and took her hand. They waited in silence for a couple of minutes before a firm knock made them glance warily at each other. Don squeezed her hand and stood up. "I'll handle this babe, you stay put." He told her. She nodded and rested her hands on her stomach, as she watched him walk across the room, hoping it wouldn't be much longer before they could go home.
Things are definitely going to hot up now, on several fronts! ... Reviews provide encouragement.
I'm also still interested if anyone wishes to suggest names for the babies and the poll is still open to vote if you want boys/girls or one of each. See my profile to vote.