Title: Eye for an Eye
Chapter 11 – One Wrong Move
"Lance has put Jacob into protective custody but time is running out on him as well."
"Someone is getting rid of all their loose ends and fast," Wordy ponders.
"Ed, you said you noticed someone following you at the train station the other day when you went to see the locker," LeCroix pipes up, forcing Wordy to look at Ed and frown. "What time and day was that?"
"You think this guy could be our phantom assassin?"
"Might explain who else Samuels was working with. You said you didn't recognize him so let's see if we can put a face to the name. I'll get my guy to work on it while we go and try to find that locker," LeCroix explains. Feeling the sense of real urgency now, Ed willingly gives LeCroix the information; the seasoned Detective on the phone as Ed and Wordy step aside.
"I know that look," Ed utters under his breath.
"Whoever is doing this wants you too," Wordy reminds him.
"I am not tucking tail."
Wordy shakes his head and looks at Ed with a tight frown, noticing the almost haunted expression on his weary best friend's face. "Would you let me go and look at the locker and you wait here?"
"No, I'm not afraid of these guys," Ed insists.
"Okay then I'm afraid for you. Ed, they're playing for keeps here, they want you dead at any cost."
"I hafta see this through."
"I get that but this could also be a dead end…Ed they want you dead do you get that? You told me yourself about that email threat. You going out in public with this guy Samuels missing and gunning for you isn't a good idea."
"I'll wear a vest."
"The rest of you isn't bulletproof," Wordy lightly argues back; as LeCroix watches them from a distance.
Ed looks at Wordy, thankful for his best friends always caring concern but this was far too personal for him to just sit on the sidelines and watch without involvement; especially since LeCroix was willing to let him join in.
"I'll be okay," Ed utters fatefully with a tired but warm smile. "I just need to see what's in that locker and then I think I'll just go home and sleep."
"No thoughts about going after Samuels after what you just learned?"
"Would you let me?"
"Is that rhetorical?" Wordy smirks.
"Yes. But at least I know that someone put Roy up to this and he's not the one responsible for starting this all. Yes I know he could have said no and told…someone but at least he's not the person responsible," Ed rattles off. "Or maybe he also is in a way…I don't know."
"Let's worry about finding the person responsible and then you can finally start dealing with some real closure," Wordy tells Ed as LeCroix rejoins them.
"Okay so we have a name and have put out an APB on Ed's mystery follower, Duncan Rogers and Samuels but am guessing whoever is really pulling the strings would be one step ahead of us and they have probably both already met their end or they are lying in wait somewhere. We need to find out who is pulling the damn strings before we just follow the trail of bodies to a very dead end and this goes cold."
"Give me some alone time with Jacob and I'll get you a name," Ed volunteers with an angry growl.
"Trust me I am tempted and it might come to that later. But for now we check the locker," LeCroix notes as he pulls his keys. "Okay let's go. Ed, get a vest and backup weapon," LeCroix directs. As much as he knows Wordy's concern, Ed Lane wasn't the type to just sit on the side and watch; at least this way he could ensure Ed was under his watchful eye and he'd come out of this alive.
With his heart rate starting to rise, Ed heads for the supplies area, grabs a vest to fit and then goes to check out a spare weapon; Wordy watching but saying nothing. They were close to the end and as much as he knows Ed wants to see it through to the end, he wishes he could convince his best friend to stay out of the line of fire – knowing Ed's just as much a target as Jacob is. Whose life was worth more? That was a question not even worth asking – answer beyond evident.
"All set," Ed nods as the three of them head for the elevator, LeCroix wanting to take one of the trucks, rather than his own car which he figures might be tagged or even worse, rigged in some way; the truck able to withstand more if it came to that.
At LeCroix's direction, Ed gets into the back of the black SUV with heavily tinted windows, wanting nothing more than to actually go home and collapse. However, they were so close to finding out might ultimately be responsible for Roy's death that he was forcing his body to drain all his energy and adrenaline reserves and get the job done. Roy would do it for me, he insists; knowing that even if they had parted on bad terms they would owe it to each other to uncover the truth no matter what.
The silence in the cab was almost stifling but Ed quickly reminds himself that this isn't a social outing and as understanding as LeCroix is, he's earned his reputation for a reason – this was business, personal feelings were second. He looks at Wordy and frowns, knowing his best friend has been through an emotional roller coaster ride at his doing; how could he repay that? Sorry or even thank you just didn't seem the right words or near enough?
But as they near the train station, Ed's mind quickly flashes back to a few days ago when he came here alone and knew he was being followed. The small key starts to feel like a stone weight against his chest and as soon as the SUV comes to a stop, his fists instantly tighten.
"Okay so when we go in there we don't want a scene…where is the locker?" LeCroix turns around and asks Ed directly.
"I think it's in the staff area. I was able to check the public lockers and there was no number 317. But before I was able to check the staff area, I noticed my follower and left without making it noticeable, I hope," Ed replies with a small frown as he turns from LeCroix's gaze back to the train station, peering out the darkened window with an uneasy feeling. "I think he's waiting," Ed mentions quietly.
"Someone is," LeCroix agrees as Ed looks back toward him. "Let's go."
The three of them exit the truck and head for the train station, the three numbers burned into their memories; weighing most heavily on Ed. what would they find in the locker? The final answer? The person who ultimately was responsible for murdering his brother? Or just another frustrated dead end that would send him away itching to go and literally pummel Jacob. Samuels you bastard…where are you? Ed's mind frantically ponders as his eyes dart nervously around as they enter the busy terminal.
Unsurprisingly the three of them were being watched as suspected so that's why they had made the plan to each take a set of lockers, scan for the ubiquitous number and then pounce at once, one to open and two for protection; the order already decided upon.
They enter the staff area and eye the long row of lockers; three loud sighs heard before they quickly disperse and get started.
Come on Roy…where are you, Ed's brain chants over and over his mind anxious to find the locker and see what's inside. Despite the fact that it has to be LeCroix to open and actually confiscate the evidence, if there was a name he'd want to know before anyone else outside the three of them.
"Found it," Wordy's voice is heard over the three-way headset; Ed and LeCroix instantly converging on his location; the locker located in the second to last block before the exit doors.
Ed anxiously waits while he hands LeCroix the key and the lock is slowly turned, a distinct 'click' sound resonating over the surrounding white noise. The door is pulled open and the three of them peer at the single memory stick in the large metal box.
"Jackpot?" Wordy's small wisecrack breaks the tension.
LeCroix quickly zips it into a small evidence bag and stuffs it into his inner jacket pocket, behind the protective layers of his Kevlar vest. "Okay…let's get back to the station and see who we're after."
The three of them head back toward the staff entrance, emerging with concerned gazes and looking around for anything out of order.
"Ed…"
"Yeah I see him," Ed quickly replies to Wordy's warning.
"That's our mystery man Duncan," LeCroix huffs. "Okay we don't want to turn this into a bloodbath with all the public nearby. Head for the nearest south exit," LeCroix instructs, the three of them quickly diverting from their original course. However, as soon as they cover a few more meters, two more men appear in front of the south entrance – blocking their way also.
"Who the hell are these guys?" Wordy wonders with a frown.
"Detective LeCroix?" One of the men holds up his hand to stop them from passing through.
"Is there something wrong here gentlemen?" LeCroix questions gruffly as the other two men come up behind them.
"You need to come with us."
"On whose authority?" Ed asks in haste.
"The Chief's Constable Lane, and you're coming too," Ducan Rogers pipes up, glaring at Ed.
"We can make it there on our own thank you," LeCroix replies firmly, his annoyance growing.
"He's given orders…"
"Well it wouldn't be the first time I've ignored them and he knows that," LeCroix counters. "We'll head there now."
"You're coming with us," Ducan slightly hisses, both Ed and Wordy now on alert. "You don't want to get the public involved do you?"
"You will get out of my way or I'll have your badge Detective," LeCroix warns as he looks at the man beside Duncan who had produced a phoney badge.
"Sir, you need to come with us right now."
LeCroix turns to face Ed and Wordy with a heavy frown, his mind already knowing his next course of action. "Well gentlemen it seems we have a small glitch…"
"I'm the one you want. I have the item from the locker," Ed instantly pipes up, stepping past LeCroix. "I'll go with you."
"Ed," Wordy lightly hisses.
"That's what you guys want right?" Ed asks angrily, pushing himself closer and standing a few inches away from Ducan Rogers.
"Ed what do you think you're doing?" Wordy grumbles as he too steps closer, LeCroix watching with semi-fascination.
"I'm going with this clown," Ed snaps in return, his eyes still locked with one of the thugs. "You have a problem with that Constable Wordsworth?"
"Actually I do Constable Lane," Wordy nods as he looks at the other. "If he goes then I'm going to."
"We just said that," the other lightly snarls at Wordy.
"Wordy, he just said that," Ed turns and looks at Wordy, a look of understanding already being revealed.
"Then why are we arguing with them?" Wordy questions back.
"Shall we remedy this situation?"
"Copy that."
And before any of them can react, both Ed and Wordy each send a balled up fist through the air, each striking the man before them, LeCroix taking the one to Ed's left. Ed lands a sharp elbow to Duncan's jaw, snapping his head back and making him stumble backward into the other man about to tangle with LeCroix. Ed yanks LeCroix back and then takes a hit in the side for the older detective from a very angry Duncan Rogers.
"Get back to the barn and see what's on that. You can trust Spike," Ed tells LeCroix with a slight gasp. Knowing the information he was carrying was the reason the scuffle was taking place, LeCroix dodges another punch and then turns and hurries away, calling out to security that his two friends were in trouble and to call for help immediatly..
Ed feels two strong arms wrap around him and pull him back away from Wordy, the other man about to land a punch to his stomach. With his arms still uselessly trapped at his sides by Duncan's grasp, Ed brings his leg up and kicks the man about to hit him, sending him back into the other man tangling with Wordy.
"Break…it up!" One of the security guards growls as he and his unarmed partner try to converge on the ensuing fight; LeCroix already calling for backup and letting them know the proper people to arrest.
Wordy grabs the back of Ed's vest and pulls him free before his weary best friend can sustain another hit and the two of them manage to pull back from the ensuing crowd and turn and bolt for the same door LeCroix had exited about five minutes earlier.
"You…okay?" Ed asks with a small pant as they reach the exit doors and push their way outside.
"Yeah…you?" Wordy pants as he takes another deep breath.
"Fine. We gotta get back to the barn and see who's behind this."
"We need…Ed look!" Wordy points to two of the men who had broken free, gone out the other exit and were racing toward them.
"Damn they just won't quit!" Ed growls as they both turn and head for the parking lot; Ed spying one of the uniformed cruisers pulling up and gesturing to Wordy to head for it.
"I'll drive!" Wordy shouts as they rush toward the officer who was about to get out; the other two getting into a dark sedan, racing toward them. Wordy yells at the officer to leave it running and he was taking over; Ed quickly jumping into the passenger seat, his door barely close as Wordy peels away, the dark sedan seconds behind them.
"Call for backup," Wordy directs as he tries to head for a street he knows won't be too heavily populated; the idea of having to stop and have a shootout with potential innocent victims wasn't something anyone wanted.
"Samuels did this…bastard," Ed curses under his breath as he turns and looks back to see the black sedan barreling down on them. "Turn right and head south."
"Ed that…"
"We need to buy LeCroix time to find out what's on that memory stick…turn here!" Ed directs sharply. Wordy quickly turns to the right, the two of them hanging on as the police cruiser hops a few inches of the curb, travels a few meters and then slams back down onto the roadway before taking a sharp left, a few pings ringing off the back; missing the windows.
"Damn it!" Ed groans as he turns back, both of them quickly cringing as a bullet hits the back of the police cruiser window but doesn't shatter it. "Can't take ano…" is all Ed manages before another bullet leaves the chamber of their pursuer, close to the same spot and part of the window cracks.
"Hold on!" Wordy half shouts as he sharply turns the car to the left and then a quick right and heads into a nearly empty underground parking lot and before Ed can realize what's going on, Wordy's ducked them into a darkened stall and cut all the lights; the black sedan of perps bypassing them.
"How did you know…about this?" Ed asks with a slight intake of air, his heart rate trying to calm.
"Don't ask," Wordy slightly smirks as they remain in place; both of them resting back on the seats for a few minutes. "What do you think he found on that zip drive?"
"I hope it's the person behind this and it ends today," Ed sighs as he looks out the window with an absent stare. A few seconds of silence builds before Wordy looks over at his best friend and slightly frowns.
"You need sleep."
"I can't go home…not right now."
"How are Clark and Sophie?"
"I called them earlier and told Sophie to take the small safe and Clark and go to her mothers," Ed replies with a sigh as he looks over at Wordy. "She doesn't know what else I put into it so it should be safe. LeCroix told me he sent a cruiser there to keep an eye on them. I worry about us."
"About you," Wordy mentions in a quieter tone, as Ed slightly arches his brows and looks over. "You look tired."
"I need this to be over…we hafta buy LeCroix and Spike some time. I'm guessing he's probably got there now and if its encrypted or password protected it'll take a bit of time. He's safe there…we gotta keep Samuels busy."
"Ed, he wants to kill you and…" Wordy stops as he's interrupted by Ed's phone ringing. Ed looks down at the number and then holds it up for Wordy to see – LeCroix.
"What's going on?"
"You two okay?"
"Yeah. We just outran the goons and are waiting for a few minutes before heading in."
"Nifty little play back there. You two practice that in your spare time?" LeCroix quips.
"Yeah something like that," Ed slightly smirks. "Did you find the name?"
"We found a few things but the main file is locked and your man Spike here is working on it. I did find another email where Samuels says there's another small stash at Roy's. Any chance you can get that on your way in?"
"Wordy and I will head there now," Ed confirms with a nod as he looks over at Wordy. "Just tell me where at Roy's he planted it."
"I'll text you the details and Ed…keep your wits about you. I have sent one of my own men there to stand guard but Samuels is desperate. If it looks suspicious, trust your gut and walk away and that is an order I hope you'll listen to; this isn't worth you dying for either."
"Copy that."
"Where to?" Wordy asks as Ed hangs up.
"Roy's," Ed answers in truth.
"You sure?"
"There's more evidence there and since the file is still unlocked what else are we gonna do?"
"How about go back to the barn so you can get some rest?" Wordy suggests.
"I'm fine," Ed insists. "Let's get to Roy's get the evidence and then get back to the barn. This will be over very soon."
"Hope so," Wordy sighs as he slowly leaves their hiding place and heads toward Roy's; his mind worried about Ed's deteriorating energy supply. It didn't take someone with perfect eyesight to see how emotionally depleted and physically exhausted his best friend was, but he'd be hard pressed to keep Ed Lane from completing this one last assignment and then head back to the barn to see who the evil mastermind really is.
As they near Roy's, Ed's anxiety starts to skyrocket once again and coupled with the lack of sleep and food, his stomach starts to swim with queasy waves and his core temperature slowly rises. But he pushes aside the dizzy pangs that start to creep into his brain as Wordy nears the house and they see the marked cruiser parked out front.
"Think Samuels is nearby?"
"I think we need to keep alert," Ed muses with a feeling of anxiety starting to surge as he looks at Roy's house and narrows his gaze. Wordy looks over at Ed and gently nudges his arm after a few seconds of silent inactivity. "When he told me all the stuff about Roy and him coming in...the way he did," Ed's voice trails off as he turns and looks at Wordy, "I didn't believe him…well part of me didn't. But…it was my fault; I never made myself there for Roy. There was always something. After he came back from visiting Brant's widow that day of the fateful shooting…he stopped by the barn and um…damn it Wordy it was the day of Sophie's ultrasound and I didn't have time; all he wanted to do was talk. I wish that someone had told me what he was like after that."
"He probably told them not to."
"So much for…" Ed stops and then looks away. "I know this was my fault," he shakes his head. "I can't blame anyone else."
"There is no blame," Wordy softly reminds him. "Now at least you know that Roy wasn't behind this…you said LeCroix said that he was framed so at least you can have some peace that he wasn't a lawbreaker as someone was making him out to be. They used him…"
"They murdered him," Ed hisses through clenched teeth.
"And they will pay. So let's go get the evidence, get back to the barn and find the name so that you can go home and sleep."
"Copy…that," Ed resigns, knowing it was pointless to argue with his best friend. The two of them get out, nod to the officer in the marked cruiser and head for the front door; LeCroix already calling his officer and telling them to expect Ed and Wordy and let them in – and no one else.
"Where'd he say it was?"
"Upstairs…I'll get it," Ed mentions as he opens the door and the two of them enter the quiet house. Ed's mind once again flashes images of his last tussle with Samuels and his mis-interpreted verbal showdown with LeCroix. He looks up stairs and for another split second see's Roy standing looking at him with a tormented expression and Ed's fists instantly tighten.
"Hey," Wordy mentions as he notices Ed's frame stiffen.
"Yeah I'm okay…memories," he huffs as he leaves Wordy at the bottom of the stairs. "Be right back." Ed hurries to the top, his mind replaying over and over the place LeCroix said the stolen contraband was hidden. He reaches the spare bedroom and in a few brisk strides is at the far wall bends down to the corner vent and pulls it out, spying the packet of drugs, money and a few weapons from another seize that had been misused.
Using the bag he had brought, Ed gathers up the items and then stands back up, feeling a few pangs of dizziness starting to develop due to lack of food and rapidly depleting adrenaline. Getting back to the barn and letting Wordy and LeCroix deal with the file contents while he gets at least an hour's sleep actually seemed like a good idea.
But just as Ed enters the hallway again, he hears a grunt and then a small cry, his instincts kicking in as he drops the bag, pulls his gun and heads for the top of the stairwell.
"Wordy?" Ed asks in haste as he looks down and doesn't see his best friend and partner where he left him. "Wordy!"
"Ed!" He hears Wordy call out as he races down the stairs and then stops. He hears the commotion in the basement and readies his gun; his brain thankful for the vest he's still wearing. Ed reaches the bottom of the stairs only to see Wordy and Samuels engaged in heated fight and rushes toward them. But just as he does, he instantly detects what smells like fire coming from the kitchen and feels his world instantly slow. His mind starts to struggle with the thought of helping his best friend or heading to put out the fire.
"Samuels!" Ed shouts as he pulls his gun and aims it at Samuels and Wordy. "Hold it righ…" is all Ed manages before he too is tackled from behind; neither of them aware of the dead RCMP officer outside, expertly taken out by a silenced bullet and two thugs in the house with orders to kill Ed and burn Roy's house to the ground with him inside it.
Ed sends out his left elbow clipping his attacker, Duncan Rogers, in the chin and making the man's head snap back as he manages to pull free and head toward Wordy, lunging at Samuels and forcing the three of them to slam into the wall behind them, Duncan, Ed's attacker joining the melee.
"Ed…stop the fire," Wordy grunts as he lands a hard blow to Duncan's face.
Ed turns and bolts for the stairs, Samuels instantly following him; Wordy left to take down Duncan as fast as possible and then come help put out the fire. Samuels reaches Ed and grabs the back of his vest and tries to pull him backward; Ed faking a fumble to his knees and succeeding in making Samuels overstep his attack and crash into the railing; uttering a curse when the thick piece of wood connects with his chest.
Ed wastes no time in charging up the stairs, reaching the top only to have Samuels grab his foot and make him crash to the top of the stairs on his knees, his lips automatically dispelling an angry grunt; his body begging for a reprieve. He kicks back at Samuels before Samuels can fire off a shot that might not have killed him directly but rendered him a terrible setback.
Ed twists around onto his back, kicking his right foot out and catching Samuels in the face and sending him backward.
"Too late…Lane," Samuels sneers as Ed manages to get back up to his feet; not waiting for Samuels but turning and heading for the kitchen to try to put out the growing fire. He turns on the sink and reaches for a nearby bowl when he's grabbed from behind again by Samuels; his efforts instantly halted.
Having the advantage of rest on his side, Samuels fists grab hearty handfuls of the sleeves of Ed's shirt and pulls him dangerously close to the fire that was hungrily starting to devour the back door, adjoining wall and flooring. The fire had found its way through the vent opening and was now also eating away at the wooden kitchen flooring and drywalled basement ceiling beneath them, starting in the basement and working its way back up – impending doom was inevitable.
"Ed!" Wordy shouts with a slight cough as he enters the kitchen, instantly spying Ed and Samuels engaged in a fight to the death near the origin of the fire.
"The fire!" Ed shouts as he punches Samuels again. However, Samuels gets another hit to Ed's tender ribs and with his lungs now filling with smoke, his body falters faster than normal. Ed's lungs start to gasp for air as the small kitchen space further fills with smoke, Wordy having already called for help and frantically trying to put out the fire while at the same time helping Ed get the upper hand.
But it's not long before Duncan, who had been missing in action for the past few minutes, had recovered from the non-fatal blow Wordy had given him and rushed upstairs to help his evil partner in action get the upper hand. The four of them start to tangle a bit more in the burning kitchen before sirens are finally heard in the distance; the neighbors having called the fire department. But each time either Ed or Wordy would try to get the upper hand, wanting desperately to get away from the fire, they'd be pulled back into the thick of the fight; Samuels wanting Ed to die in the worst way possible.
"The sirens…it's over," Ed huffs as he tries to pull back from Samuels, soot and sweat marking his flushed skin.
"For you…maybe," Samuels growls as his fingers curl around the top lapels of Ed's vest and give them a good tug, yanking Ed forward into the fight once more.
However, fate wasn't going to deliver any of them an easy out; in fact it was about to show all of them, good and bad, who exactly was in charge. Ed and Samuels, quickly joined by Wordy and Duncan, near the area the fire had already started to eat through the wooden flooring, the timbers starting to creak and groan under the weight of the four men atop it; a warning sign for all to clear the area; none of them listening.
"You're weak…just like your no good brother," Samuels taunts as he lands a hard elbow to Ed's side, forcing Ed to gasp for air and the floor beneath him start to give way.
"The floor!" Duncan shouts just as he finally manages to get his gun free of Wordy's grasp and prepare to fire. Wordy, pivots on his right foot, just as the shot rings out from the man's gun, missing Ed and Samuels but shattering the glass window behind them, the air at the same time sucking out the flames and fanning the fire, causing it to spread rapidly and fill the area with thicker smoke.
Wordy and Duncan struggle for the gun but Wordy finally manages to punch him hard in the jaw, get the gun and fire off a shot, Duncan finally taken out of the picture for good. Wordy rushes toward Ed and Samuels just as Ed manages to wrestle away the gun and fire off a shot, finally catching Samuels in the chest and forcing him to yell in pain, quickly followed by a smoky cough.
"No…t…possible," Samuels gasps as he starts to sag to the floor, help only minutes away now.
"That was for Roy you bastard! This is…for..." is all Ed manages as Wordy starts to try to separate Ed and Samuels not caring about Ed delivering the death shot but wanting to get his already faltering best friend out of harms way. But within seconds of having his weight join the others, the floor starts to dissolve.
"ED! The floor!" Wordy shouts as the flooring starts to disintegrate beneath them. Wordy feels himself falling to the ground, his hands instantly reaching out to grab Ed's vest as his stomach slams to the floor, Ed and Samuels starting to fall through the now gaping hole in the floor at the same time.
"Wordy!" Ed shouts as his fingers claw the slippery linoleum, his legs trying to climb up the wooden ceiling beams as they start to give way and tumble to the basement floor, Samuels having nothing to hang onto except Ed's back; his last attempt at taking Ed with him.
Wordy's lips offer an angry curse as he feels Samuels starting to pull them all into the hole. "I'm slipping!" Wordy shouts frantically, no one of course there to hear and help; his legs having nothing to hang onto. He notices the fear on Ed's face as Ed tries to grab the slippery floor, his eyes wet and stinging from the smoke, his body weak and about to give way; the super-heated chasm trying to swallow him whole.
"Ed…damn it you better…hold on!"
"Wordy…help me!"
XXXXXXXX
"We're in Detective LeCroix," Spike's excited tone is heard back at SRU headquarters, Greg standing by to call Ed with the news.
"Okay find me the bastard responsible for this whole nightmare," LeCroix growls as and Greg lean over Spike's shoulder a bit more, all of them seeking the same resolve.
Spike quickly calls up each folder, scanning for a new name; the one that can fill the blanks on the waiting arrest warrant.
"Okay…I got it…I think…" Spike stops as he finally opens the last folder and each of them stare at the name; LeCroix and Greg exchanging surprised glances. "Could it be?"
"What the hell?" LeCroix growls as he reaches for his phone to call for the warrant.
"You sure that's right?" Greg asks with a heavy frown.
Spike finds another email; and judging by the date, it would have been the first one that had started it all. A seemingly innocent request from the unlikeliest of people.
"Greg, call Ed. I want him here for this," LeCroix instructs. "Lance, I have that name and I need your help with this arrest."
"Is it who we thought?" Lance Simons wonders in haste.
"Partly yes…and," he pauses as he looks up at Greg, "partly no. I'll give you the details when I have that warrant."
"On it."
Greg quickly dials Ed's number and then looks at LeCroix and Spike with a frown.
"What?" LeCroix asks with growing anxiety; knowing that Samuels was still out there and gunning for Ed.
"No answer."
"Spike…find Ed and Wordy."
"I sent him to Roy's," LeCroix mentions in with a heavy frown.
"Hold on," Spike quickly stars to type in Ed's cell number to trace. "He's…he's still there boss."
"Then why the hell isn't he answering?" LeCroix growls as he dials Ed's number in haste.
XXXXXXXX
"Don't…let go!" Wordy demands as both he and Ed feel Samuels finally starting to slip free – his death completed. Samuels finally falls into the smoky blackness below being impaled by a beam of wood and rebar at the same time; the fire trucks pulling up outside. "Ed…just hold on…"
"Slipping…" Ed grunts as his legs flail in the hot smoky air below him, his eyes frantically batting away soot and tears; his lungs heaving for fresh oxygen. "Wordy…don't…let go."
"I'm trying...hold on…just a bit…longer."
"Wordy…help…me!"
But the fire shows them who's really in control and as soon as it reaches the small kitchen fire extinguisher and a few other flammable cleaning products a small explosion ensues and Wordy watches as his whole world grinds to a halt, his lips yelling Ed's name in horror as he watches his best friend cruelly ripped from his sweaty grasp and pulled into the darkness below, the rest of the floor giving way and reigning down dangerous debris onto Ed's already beleaguered frame.
"ED! NOOOOO!" Wordy shouts as he looks at his empty hands, black smoke billowing from the twisted chasm a few feet away laughing at the look of horrified despair on the SRU officers face as two of the firefighters burst through the door and head toward him – seemingly two minutes too late.
A/N: oops! (psst Ed doesn't die lol I would never do that to our fave FP hunk!) But okay so yeah wanted a bit more danger for the final showdown and think we got it? Yes? No? But yay Samuels is dead and LeCroix and Greg have the name of the person behind it all. Any final guesses? And is Ed gonna be okay? Think Alice has anything else up her peril-ridden sleeve for our heroic team leader? A bit more to go here so stay tuned and please do review before you go – would love your thoughts as always and thanks in advance!
PS: Hope you all got a change to read my latest fluffy Ed/Donna OS 'Friends with Benefits' (thanks so much) and yes there will be a sequel coming to that :)