Don't own Chuck
Casey was at the door when Sarah and Jack returned to the room. The man escorting them up shoved Sarah in after Jack. She looked back at him but he slammed the door closed then locked it. Casey looked her over the front of her housecoat and part of her night gown was caked in blood that was quickly drying.
"Don't worry it's not mine and no it's not Tomas' but I wish it were," she said noticing his look. "Jack, you shouldn't have given it. I'm a professional…"
"Angel, I make my living reading people. It's about the only skill I've got and that being said Tomas was't playing around. You people need to be careful how you deal with him. You back him in a corner and he will strike out. He has to in order to save face with his men.
"I'm going to change and try to wash this off. You two need to come up with a plan. We need to get into that vault tonight after everyone's gone to bed."
"Do you think that's a smart move right now?" said Jack. "You saw how angry he was. Is it smart to poke the snake now? Why not wait a few days then go at it?"
"I don't know if we have that long. When is this poker tournament going down or haven't you been told? You don't know do you."
"Don Alfonso and his entourage are supposed to show up that will be my cue to get ready. I was supposed to come and check out the competition."
"Can someone one please tell me what's going on or do I have to get mad?" said Casey as he looked back and forth between the two.
"Don't cop an attitude with me mister or this blood could be yours. Jack, tell him what happened I need to wash Juan or whatever his name was off me."
"So what gives? What happened down in the snake's den," said Casey. Jack began to explain what happened, what he did and why. Casey sat there and listened quietly nodding his head.
"And there you have it. I transferred the five million into Tomas' account. I really didn't have a choice unlike what other people think."
"No Jack, you did the right thing," said Casey. John agreeing with him kind of caught him off guard and it was a little bit creepy.
"I'm glad you see it my way but I have to ask why? Don't get me wrong cop face but you are the last person I would've guessed to go along with what I did." There was a knock at the door and a man wheeled in a cart with three pizzas on it.
"Here's for your trouble," said Jack as he slipped the man twenty in his pocket. "Thanks... oh I see it's pre-cut still not trusting us with a knife. You might've heard my daughter's kind of handy with a blade."
"Wait a minute what are we supposed to wash this down with? You don't expect us to eat this without drinking something."
"Underneath are two six packs of Bud Lite in cans. You didn't think we were going to give you something you could use as a weapon."
"But lite beer? What's up with that? It's a lady's beer," said Casey. The man just laughed then turned and left.
"So you never explained to me why you thought I made the right decision. I want to know call in curiosity or whatever I have to know."
"Well before I met Alex and found out she was my daughter I probably would've been upset with you about giving in so easily. But now that I have her in my life I wouldn't want to see her hurt so I understand one father to another."
"Here's from one lousy father to another," said Jack as he handed Casey a beer. They cracked the tabs then sipped. "You want to see something. Just follow me," said Jack. He led Casey back to his room on the other side.
Sarah left her housecoat and gown soak in the sink while she got into the bath. She'd run water as hot as she could stand it then got in to soak. She was about half asleep remembering the time Chuck was going on his bachelor party and the funny way he was dressed. She closed her eyes and she could hear him.
"What does a bachelor wear in Vegas?" said Chuck looking like he closed his eyes and pulled the first things he could lay his hands on from his closet.
"I can't believe you've never been to Vegas," she remembered saying. Then she commented on his clown outfit. "And, by the way, a bachelor does not wear that."
"What? You're not digging the whole business up-top, party below-the-waist thing? I figured it covered all the Vegas activities with one fell swoop. Speaking of 'looks,' you're sure doing an awful lot of maintenance over there."
"Oh, I'm just reminding you of what you'll be missing out on in Vegas," she said. She saw his face and his expression. How he lit up her world. She had been a lot like Casey seeing everything in black and white. Because if you look at like that you never get hurt or disappointed. Chuck took her out of her comfort zone and she was a better person because of it.
"Hey guys what's going on out there I don't hear anyone talking. Jack, you're not taking Casey to the cleaners are you. Guys, what's with the silence?" she said as she got out of the bath. She dried off put on a bathrobe. She wrapped her hair in a towel then checked on her clothes in the sink.
"Crap, they're ruined. Lucky I brought a couple slips along I can use them to sleep in. But damn it I really liked that gown. Guys, did you kill each other?" yelled Sarah as she came out to an empty room. She went over grabbed a beer then looked at the pizza.
"I wished they'd asked before they ordered. Two combinations with the works and a vegetarian loaded with everything including olives. Well even if I'd told them no olives they'd gotten it with out of spite." She sipped her beer, took the olives off one slice then walked around looking for everyone but they were gone.
"Did someone come while she was in the bath and took them out?" she thought as she took a bite out of her slice. "Yuck," she said it wasn't even very good pizza but she needed to keep her strength up for the moment she could get her hands around Tomas' neck. She was looking forward to snapping it like a twig. She was about to leave when she heard something behind the wardrobe in Casey's room but before she could investigate there was a knock on her door.
"Crap," she said as she jumped. The knock startled her. She closed Casey's door as she went over to her side. "Come in," she said then a maid came in.
"I was sent here to pick up your clothes to be cleaned," said the maid as she looked around. "If you give them to me we'll see what we can do."
"I'm afraid they're ruined," said Sarah as she led the maid to her bathroom. "I tried soaking them but I don't see the stain coming out."
"Let us give it a try and we'll see what we can do," said the woman. But the way she was talking and dragging her feet Sarah could tell there was something else she wanted to ask.
"If you want to ask me something go ahead and ask. I promise I won't tell anyone," said Sarah in Spanish. She held her finger up to her lip then began running water in the bathtub. "There if anyone has a listening device they won't be able to hear us."
"They say the man who's your husband is El Cucuy. People have gone missing and no one knows where they've disappeared to. My mother used to tell me stories about El Cucuy that if I were bad he would come and eat me. I'm scared. Please tell El Cucuy that the women who work here don't deserve to be eaten. El Serpiente came to our towns and forced our fathers to give us to him as servants..."
"You mean as slaves," said Sarah. She really hated Tomas now. "How long has this been going on? What happens when you get to old to work?"
"This has been going on since he took over from the last El Jefe I was told. The old El Jefe used to pay good wages. I was told that before the women used to send money home to their families... enough for them to survive on. El Serpiente doesn't pay us anything yet he expects us to keep the ranch house and casino clean. We're to work whenever he calls."
"Has anyone ever tried to run away," said Sarah. She offered the woman a sip of her beer to help calm her down. "You can tell me."
"Some people have tried and although nothing is ever said about them. One time I was down by the hog lot and I saw a woman's shoe in the muck. I recognized it from a girl who ran away a few days before. El Serpiente is evil... he's the most evil man I've ever met and I hope El Cucuy comes and takes him away but when he does I hope we don't get someone worse in his place."
"I will see what I can do. I've got an in with El Cucuy. Let me talk to him and I'll see what I can do. But the quickest way to make sure he leaves you alone is if you're carrying a weapon is to lay it down. He takes people who are evil and act out. If he doesn't see you as evil, he'll pass you over."
"I need to go before someone comes and looks to see why it's taking me so long. Thank you señora," said the woman. She took Sarah's housecoat and nightgown then left. On the way out Jack and Casey were sitting in her room eating pizza.
"Sorry," said Casey. "It looks like someone forgot to tell them to hold the olives." She looked at both of them then walked the woman to the door.
"I'll see what we can do with this," said the woman as she took the wet articles of clothing then left. The door was closed behind her and she heard the sound of the key being turned in the lock. "Okay where have you two been? Is there a secret passage behind the wardrobe in Casey's room? I know because I heard you two knocking about when the maid came. With all the noise you two were making you're lucky she was more interested in asking me help to ward off El Cucuy than listening to see where sound came from. So spit it out how does it work and can we use it to get to the vault tonight?"
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A dark van pulled up outside of Echo Park behind it was a Black Escalade filled with men. They jumped out and deployed around the apartments. Men cut through the courtyard and hid behind the birds of paradise waiting for the signal. They broke up into two teams then when the Team Leader from the van gave to okay they erupted in the apartment but it was empty.
"Team Leader this is Bravo Leader. What the crap there's no one here. Did anyone double check our intel?"
"Bravo leader you and Alpha leader look around and see if you can find where our targets are at. Failure here is not an option."
"Do you see anything," asked Bravo to Alpha but he shook his head. "There's nothing here. Request permission to pull out... wait a minute I think I may have something."
"Bravo leader what do you see," said the Team Leader. Bravo kept them waiting as he looked over the photos on the wall and in the frames. There were plenty of Sarah, Sam and a few of Bunny but there were also photos of the owner's friends.
"We need to go to the Buy More," said Bravo leader as he showed Alpha the photos. The man nodded in agreement.
"Team Leader, Bravo is right we need to go to the Buy More and talk to the store manager, a Morgan Grimes," said the man as he read the name tag off Morgan's shirt in the photo.
"Excuse me, we don't need another toaster," said the Team Leader. "Break it off and let's regroup. You can explain to me what's going on back in the van."
A little while later they were heading down Burbank boulevard heading towards the Buy More. Bravo and Alpha leaders explained what they saw in the photos.
"So you think the store manager at the Buy More will know where our targets are holed up at? I don't know. Ace spies doing what... working out of the Buy More? It would be good cover but really the Buy More? And then what do they have at Large Mart elite commandoes?"
"Maybe that's where they store the tiny commandoes when they're not on mission," said one of the men in the back. The Team Leader just shook his head. They pulled up in the parking lot and Bravo Leader was sent in to do recon.
He walked inside and began wandering around the aisles. Looking around he couldn't find anyone to help him. At first he wondered if there was anyone then he walked over to the games area to find two store workers dueling it out with toy light sabers.
"Excuse me but do you work here," asked the man but the two ignored him and continued with their combat. "Excuse me but I asked you a question."
"Sure dude just one second. "Can't you see I'm kind of busy right now. You can't find someone else to ask," said Fernando. Just then Skip cracked Fernando on the head with his light saber and it broke in half.
"I know you didn't just break store merchandise," said Big Mike as he came out of the breakroom with a Danielle Steel novel in his hand. "You break it you bought it. That's coming out of both your pay and if you don't put that other one away I'm going to use it as a suppository then turn it on to see if your nose lights up. Now help this man."
"Well maybe you can help me. I'm trying to get in touch with the Store Manager, Morgan Grimes. I need to talk to him about a special delivery."
"He's out of town for the week maybe I can help you I'm the Assistant Store Manager and his step-father. So anything he can do for you I can do."
"I don't know it was personal and I really need to talk to him. Is he here in area where you can reach him? I really need to talk to him. Maybe you could give me his number."
"I think you've get the wrong idea a black man on a weak economy Morgan hired me because I was family," said Big Mike.
"That's exactly why he hired you," said Skip. "If it wasn't for that you'd be back out on your boat still searching for you inner Big Mike in the unemployment line."
"Don't make me come over there because I will and speaking of standing in the unemployment line. How'd you like to be in it. I'd better not go back to that cage and find computers that needing repair and you up here playing with your light saber. Now get back to work and take your partner with you."
"Hey what'd I do? I didn't say anything. It was all Skip I had nothing to do with. It's his fault he lured me over to the dark side. Luke, I am you father."
"I'll show you the dark side of the unemployment line and Darth Vader isn't about to lay claim to you two morons. But if you keep it up you will feel the force that will be my number twelve shoe up your behind."
"Like I said if you could give me his number I could call him and resolve my issue without bothering you. It's rather personal and your manager knows my situation."
"I can't just go giving out his to strangers. It's funny but actually I hired him then he went on to become manager…. You see I met his mother through one of those dating services. I didn't believe in them at first but let me tell you I got the prize when I met Bolonia Garcia Bougainvillea Grimes soon afterwards she became Mrs. Tucker. I didn't know until later that Morgan was the son of the woman that rings my bell and makes my heart sing. Boy talking about muy caliente."
"I'll take your word for it but my name is Oliver. Nice to meet you Big Mike so now see we're no longer strangers. There's no reason why you can't give me the manager's number."
"Nice try but I can't. What I can do is if you leave me your number I'll call him and have him call you. How's that for a compromise?"
"Okay if that's all you can do. It's better than nothing," said Oliver. He handed Big Mike a note then started for the front door. He almost on his way out when he got called or to discount aisle.
"Psst, buddy over here," said a voice hiding behind a rack of merchandise. "Over here," said a tall thin man in a white shirt. "I couldn't help but overhear you want Morgan's telephone number. If you spot me fifty maybe, I can help you out. But first you aren't one of those stalker types that make lurid and obnoxious prank calls."
"No of course not like I told your assistant manager I just need to talk to him to clear up some things and finalize a contract so I can get paid. Here's fifty now give me the number. Skip is it? Isn't that what Big Mike called you?"
"No names dude. Too bad you're not a stalker. Just go into the men's restroom last stall on the wall you can read 'want a good time call' the number there is Morgan's mobile number."
[A Few Moments Later]
Oliver was back in the van with the number in hand. They contacted a someone they knew in the telephone company and set up a tracer. Oliver called Morgan and tried to keep him on the line until the trace went through.
"Am I speaking to Morgan Grimes, the Manager of the Burbank Buy More. Your phone records show that according to your current payment plan you have a substantial refund coming."
"When we're talking substantial how substantial are we talking? Don't tell me it's something I have to pay for because if it is I'm just going to hang up?
"No of course not but I can tell you there are quite a few zeros in your reimbursement that's because of the fines we are obligated to pay you plus interest that has accumulated. I just need your mailing address so I can forward you your check and paper work for you to sign.
"Sure no problem," said Morgan. He told the man where he lived. "How long do I have to get the paperwork back to you? I'm currently not at home."
"Well I could forward this to your current location if you'd like. You won't be able to cash the check until I get the paperwork processed."
"I'm sorry but we don't receive mail here. Send it to my residence I'll stop by and check my mail. As soon as I find it I'll complete the forms then send it back to you."
"Well It's kind of urgent so keep that in mind. I'm sending it out right now as we speak so you should have it by tomorrow. Do you have any questions for me?" said the man but he hurriedly continued. "Good then I hope to hear from you soon." Oliver hung up before Morgan could answer.
"Sorry," said the Team Leader with a headset on sitting at a console. "All we got was he was calling from someplace in Angeles National Forest but it was kind of difficult to pin point the area because the signal was bouncing off a number of cell tower that cover a wide area. We might have to call him back."
"Then we risk tipping off our hand and make him suspicious. If we go over to his residence, we can wait for him to show up then follow him back to where everyone is holed up at."
"That's a good idea or we can take it one step more and place a tracking device on the back of his vehicle then we follow it until he leads us back to the rest. That way we don't risk being seen."
"I knew there had to be a reason you're the Team Leader," said Oliver. "So our orders still stand we go in cap everyone then kidnap the baby?"
"Those are the orders. I don't much like them either. However, our benefactor is paying us good money to get this job done and if we don't do it someone else will. Let's head back to the Waldron eat then get a goodnight's sleep, because bright and early tomorrow we start the stake out."
"We're going to need a decent surveillance van."
"I've got it all taken care of."