Partners

Chapter 12

Callen and Sam pulled into the warehouse district and gave the area a critical eye.

"Anything Eric," Callen asked.

"That's an older are of the docks, mostly abandoned, so I've only got two camera angles showing the warehouse...no on is there yet..." Eric reported over the comms.

"Kens..." Callen asked.

"I'm in place...I have a clear view of the area..." the female agent reported.

Giving the area on last seeping glance, Sam reached into the backseat and grabbed a small metal briefcase before he and Callen exited the car and made their way into the warehouse.

Sam and Callen didn't have long to wait, as they heard Eric report, "I have a van pulling in at the east entrance...two suspects...should be at your location in just a few minutes..."

The two agents exchanged looks and turned so the were facing the way the suspects would enter.

The two suspects entered the building cautiously, stopping just inside the door to eye their surroundings. Seeing Sam and Callen, the two suspects made their way over to the agents.

Sam and Callen eyed the approaching men with an apparent casualness that belied the fact that they were intently taking in every detail of the suspects-one, tall and lean with short cropped dark hair; the other, a good six inches shorter with glasses and light blonde hair. Eric was soon reporting over the comms, "got a good shot from the cameras...facial rec is up and running..."

When they got withing ten feet, the suspects stopped...both sides sizing up the other before the taller of the two spoke, "Mr. Salazar..."

Callen nodded, ready to ask who he was dealing with when the dark headed man demanded suddenly as he waved his hand towards Sam, "don't know this guy...where's Jonas...?"

"Jonas is my front man...he did his job...now you deal with me..." Callen replied, waving a casual hand towards Sam, he added, "and Jacob here...he makes sure things run smoothly."

Giving a small snort the shorter of the two men commented, "hired muscle..."

"So, you know my name...I want to know who I'm dealing with..." Callen demanded, "the dealer Jonas used to set up our meeting wouldn't give up your name..."

The taller man gave a slight nod, "Silas..."

Quirking a brow, Callen questioned, "...Silas?"

"I like to keep it simple..." the man replied, clearly not willing to share anymore information.

"And if I decide I want to be a regular customer...Silas, how do I get in touch with you...?" Callen asked.

"Jonas knows how to get a message to me..." the man, Silas, replied.

"Fair enough..." Callen said, giving a nod towards Sam, "if you've got the product, we've got the money..."

The taller man nodded and stepped aside, waving a hand in a sweeping gesture towards the door, "right this way...it's in the van outside..."

Callen gave a nod towards Sam before turning a following the smaller suspect out of the warehouse. Silas turned towards Sam waiting for him to follow his boss, only to be met with a cold stare.

"Okay, big guy..," Silas said, holding up his hands and skirting around Sam and heading out the door.

Opening the van door, the smaller man reached into a large cardboard box and pulled out a wrapped package, handing it off to Callen, "Jonas said you wanted 20 keys...give it a test run back east..."

Callen tossed the package to Sam, who caught it in one hand, "sure you won't mind if we check it out ourselves..."

Silas nodded, "by all means...you'll find it is the same quality as the sample I gave to Jonas..."

Sam had set the small case on the trunk of their car, opening it to reveal several vials and test tubes. He then cut a small hole in the side of the package, and dipped the tip of the knife into the package, tipping the small sample into the test tube; adding a liquid and giving the tube a small shake, they watched the liquid turn amber.

Sam had just turned to Callen to give a nod of confirmation when out of nowhere shots were suddenly fired toward their location, pinging off the pavement and cars.

All four men scattered to cover...quickly scanning the area for the shooter.

Crouched behind the car, Callen shot a quick look towards where his partner was crouched behind a haphazard pile of old crates and pallets, "Eric, we got a shooter...anything on the cameras? Kens, you got eyes on anything...?"

Popping up to return a few rounds in the general direction of the shots, Sam noted the suspects were making their way to the front of the van, "G, Silas is bugging out..."

"Eric can track 'em later...we need to get an eye on this shooter...anyone...anything...?" Callen again demanded of his team as the shooter let off a few more rounds.

"Guys, north side...a warehouse roof catty-cornered to your location...someones up there..." Deeks voice interjected from ops.

"Kensi..." Callen asked.

"Making my way there now...need you and Sam to keep him pinned down til I can get there," Kensi replied.

"Roger that..." Sam answered as he popped up again to return fire in the direction of the shooter as the van pulled away in a screech of tires...the unsecured doors flying open and scattering the box of drugs across the pavement.

"Guys, LAPD is en route...eight minutes out...maybe they can tag Silas..." Deeks informed the team.

The two agents continued to exchange gunfire with the unknown shooter to allow Kensi enough time to work her way around the way around and take out the shooter.

Much to the relief of everyone, Kensi's tight voice sounded through the comms some three minutes later, "NCIS...drop it now...hands behind your back..." they could hear the cuffs being snapped as Kensi reported, "got him guys...bringing him down now..."

Back in ops, everyone gave a sigh of relief as Deeks commented cheekily, "that's our 'Wonder Woman'..."

Rolling her eyes, Kensi said, "shut up Deeks..."

…..NCIS LA...