TBITC Chp. 24

Alexx opened her eyes slowly, and looked around the room. Her mind foggy from sleep, she struggled to remember where she was as the last week had blended together into one long day, or so it seemed. She felt the bed next to her, expecting to find a small, warm body, but instead her hand was met by the soft caress of cotton sheets. That woke her up, as she remembered what had happened…she didn't know how long ago it was and glanced at the digital clock beside the bed, shocked to find that it was just after ten in the morning. She couldn't remember when she'd slept so late. Getting out of bed, she decided breakfast was in order, if only to keep her mind off of Sam, where he was and what was happening to him.

As she reached the hallway, she heard Jack yelling from somewhere, and it was loud enough that she could clearly understand the words. "He is out there, being made to do God knows what to God knows who. We will not eat, sleep or do anything other than finding until he's safe. Is that clear?!"

Alexx closed her eyes to stop the tears that threatened to flow, this time from guilt. She knew why Jack was angry. It wasn't just because Sam had been taken, it was also because Jack felt that she blamed him. And he's right, she thought, sadly.

Alexx knew that when they got Sam back, because with Jack and Horatio on the case it wasn't a question of if but when, she would never forget the events of the previous night. It ranked second only to the night she'd been told her husband and children were dead. She doubted she'd ever forget Sam screaming her name, begging her to save him.

Alexx pushed these thoughts from her mind, because she knew if she focused on them too long, she would lose it. She went to kitchen and found, Eric, Calleigh eating. She was thankful for the company. "Morning," she said, quietly going to the coffee pot pouring herself a cup.

"Alexx, you ok?" Calleigh asked.

Alexx hesitated. "Just trying not to think about it, baby." She said. Calleigh smiled sadly, and nodded in agreement.

"Their getting him. It's what they do." Eric said, trying to comfort his friend.

"I know." Alexx said, grabbing a granola bar and sitting down. "What was that about earlier?" she asked, referring to Jack yelling at them.

"He was upset that H let him sleep in. He feels responsible for Stetler taking Sam, thinks he should've prevented it."

"Do you know if they planned anything?"

Frank chose that moment to walk in. "I do believe our bodyguards lost his mind."

"How so?' Eric asked.

"Jack's answer is to kidnap the social worker and 'interrogate' her, whatever that means."

Alexx shook her head, and stood up. "The hell he will." She intended to talk some sense into Jack, but when she reached the study, she found it empty except for Pavel and Horatio. "Where are they?" she asked, fire in her eyes. No matter what her thoughts on social services taking Sam from her, she couldn't let them do this.

"They went to get intel on the Jeffries women routes to and from work, and she if she had any home visits today. They're going to grab her, do the interrogation somewhere else, and probably kill her."

Horatio shot the other man a fierce glare. "Jackson wouldn't do that." He said, his voice low and deadly.

Pavel had to laugh. Horatio was a good man, but he could be naïve in some things, and covert operations was one of those things. "Do you even know your son, and what he's been doing for the last eighteen years? He served as a member of two of the best trained covert operations units your country has. Combined, Jackson, Miguel and Ken have a total of forty seven years covert operations experience, that is assassination, hostage rescue, personal protection, and the like. My point is they have a mission and it is not a mission that the politicos in Washington have given them. This mission is personally important to them and they will accomplish it by any means necessary."

"Could I use your phone?" Alexx asked. Horatio didn't say anything, but reached into his pocket and handed her the device.

She took it and found Jack's number in the address book. The call connected and went straight to voice mail. "Jack, listen, I want Sam back, you know I do. But…" she stopped as she choked at the thought of what he was going to do. "But not the expense of a woman, a mother, doing her job. And not at the expense of people I love, people I care about. Please don't do this." Then she hung up.

000

Jack was dressed in jeans, a polo shirt and hiking boots as he walked through the Dade-County Social Services Office, a file folder in his right hand, coffee cup in his left. He located Nancy desk with little trouble, only because her name plate was visible, despite the mountain of paper work. Shaking his at how easy this all was when he saw her calendar open for all the world to see. But, then again, they probably never planned on something like this happening, he thought.

He saw the name Briggs written in red under today's date, with the letters HV written next to it. He could only hope that meant Jefferies was doing a home visit. He checked the drawers in her desk and file cabinet and, as he predicted they were all locked. He glanced at the top drawer in the filing cabinet. A-C was written on a white card in the card holder. Jack removed a small case from his jeans pocket and opened, taking out a small lock pick. Ten seconds later the cabinet was open. Thirty seconds after that he had a file for a woman named Angela Briggs tucked under his arm and was walking out of the building, a smile on his face.

000

Five minutes later, Jack and company were headed in the direction of Angela Brigg's apartment. Fortunately it was in a bad part of town, which was what they wanted. "So, how do you wanna play this?" Mike asked from the driver's seat.

"I say we wait till she leaves, and grab her as she comes out. Place like that, nobody's likely to be sorry she got grabbed." Kenny said.

Jack nodded from the backseat. "Good idea. Here's what I think we should do…"

000

They were waiting when she came out. It was decided between the three of them that Mike would approach her as she would recognize Jack and know something was up. When they saw her coming out of the apartment, Mike stepped out of the van and walked toward her, timing it so he would reach her when she was halfway to her car.

"Mrs. Jefferies?" He called from six feet away, an easy smile on his face. He'd shaved his face and trimmed his goatee and mustache to appear less threatening. He was dressed in chinos, brown dress shoes, a light blue shirt and blue blazer. Not the best, but it was nicer than what someone would wear in this neighborhood.

"Yes? Can I help you?" she asked, turning to him. He was now within three feet.

"Well…" He said, closing the distance. When he within a foot of her, he drew his Glock and jammed the gun into her side.

"What…."she started, but he stopped her with a shake of his head. The van pulled up beside them, blocking her escape. He leaned in close. "You have two children, Katie and Bobby, they go to Thomas Jefferson Middle School?" He asked, but his tone suggested he already knew the answer.

She nodded meekly, tears forming in her eyes. "Please don't hurt my kids." She begged, jumping as the van door opening startled her.

Mike amiable expression suddenly turned harsh. "Give me your keys and get the van, Puta." He said angrily, gesturing with the gun. And, not knowing what else to do, Nancy complied.

000