Don't own Chuck
David felt like he'd been waiting forever when in fact it probably had only been only a few hours. But for him it felt like an eternity as he lay handcuffed to the bed with his brain racing. Finally a policeman came in without saying a word he just tossed David a phone then left. He picked it up then thought looking around the room he didn't have any other option but to cash in his get out of jail free card. He dialed the number slowly then he waited until a gruff voice came on the other end.
"Who is this and how did you get this number," said a man on the other end. David was silent for moment as he thought out what he was going to say.
"Dragon Head it's me, David Chou," then he paused. Words seemed to escape him and suddenly he wasn't sure if this had been a good idea but it was too late now.
"I thought we agreed never to call the other unless there was an emergency. Is that what this is? Have your people come through with the money I need to buy my army?"
"Almost but there's be a slight glitch I've been arrested and am being held in a military hospital somewhere in Shanghai I think. I need for you to use your influence and get me out of here."
"And the money for my army," said the man. "I can't do much from where I'm hiding without risking being discovered. You know that we talked about this. You were the one who told me to lay low."
"I know, I know and the money is coming I've been in contact with my people in L.A. They're diverting resources to you as we speak. I just can't do anything about getting it to you from where I'm at now."
"Okay, I'll make some discreet phone calls and see what I can do. But you need to be more careful when you're out. This isn't the U.S. and you can't just go around doing the same things here you'd do there and not expect to get arrested. By the way what were you arrested for?"
"Someone planted drugs on me I don't know who but I think it was Khan's men. There was a woman they say was with me... she overdosed"
"Overdosed? They will hold you for her death. You know drug possession with the intent to sell carries the death penalty here and the woman aggravates your possession. I will see what I can do if you're right and Khan is behind this then we need to be prudent how we move. He thinks I'm dead so I have to be sure it stays that way," said the man.
"About that Khan may know you're alive. I was approached in the hospital by a man offering me a deal that if I told him where you were all of this would go away. I told him to go away and forget it naturally."
"Then you called me? You idiot why didn't you leave breadcrumbs to my front door," said Dragon Head. "I need to get out of here right now."
"I'm not that stupid. I got this phone from the police you were my one free phone call so there's nothing to worry about."
"We don't give people one free phone call and how do you know that man you saw was a policemen? So he wore a uniform and showed you a badge... oh you're such an idiot," said Dragon Head. "I'm dead and it's your fault. Crap, who's outside? Hey you guys go find out what's going on..."
Suddenly Chou heard what sounded like an explosion followed by gunfire from various calibers both automatic and semi-automatic. There were men yelling and screaming. Then as suddenly as it started it was over. There was an eerie silence on the other end.
"Hello, hello can you hear me? Can anyone hear me," yelled David. But he got no answer then there was one loud gunshot following that the line went dead. David didn't have time to think about what to do next. The curtain opened up then the man in the smock and mask entered back in.
"It's you again I'm not..." David was about to say interested when the man pulled a suppressed black star and emptied the clip in him then he recovered the phone and left. As the man got in the elevator he heard screams and cries but he just got on riding it down to the lobby.
"You want to go grab something to eat," asked the police captain waiting in the lobby. Alarms were sounding in the hospital as security people started running up the stairs and pushed by them to get on the elevator.
"Have you ever had pancakes?" asked the Doctor. But the policeman shook his head no. "They just opened a Denny's and I hear their pancakes are to kill for."
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Chuck hacked the security company computer system and found that all three guards were assigned routes that matched the possible distribution points they had charted on their map. This in its self wasn't proof of guilt but it seemed to lend support to their theory. Sam and Mary were busy hanging the banner for Morgan when Sam noticed John walk out of his bedroom carrying a doll. She looked at him puzzled.
"What this? No, this isn't mine," said John. He saw Sam's face looking at him. "We need it for a mission is all. You know what a mission is?"
"Sure you don't have to explain to me. I like sleeping with stuffed soft bunnies," said Sam as she handed Mary a paper chain they had made together.
"No I need her for work," said John looking at Mary to help him out but she as having too much fun watching him dig himself into a deeper hole.
"Aren't you a little old to be calling playing with dolls work," said Sam. Mary did everything she could not to laugh but it was hard.
"You're still here," said Sarah as she walked into Casey's apartment. "Chuck's gone to get the van. I thought you'd already be at the garage to mark the Security van with that tracker. Give me the doll you need to get out of here."
"Roger that," said John. He handed the doll to Sarah. "Make sure you support her head and if she starts to cry it might mean she's got air so you'll need to burp her."
"John, it's just a doll I think I can handle this. But you need to get out of here if you're going to get in position in time.
Sarah got John off so he could get in place. He parked across the street waiting for the security van to drive out of the garage. The driver had to stop before pulling out on the street this was John's window of opportunity. He fired a dart from his vehicle at the front bumper tagging it with a GLG-4000.
"The tracker is attached and I'm picking up a strong signal," radioed Casey as he pulled away in a very large U-haul truck. "How do you read it from your end?"
"I got it loud and clear," radioed Sarah back. "It's heading for the parent bank for pick up. Okay, you've got it but don't get caught."
"I think I know how to leave a cushion," said Casey. "You just worry about the things on your end I've got this end taken care of.
"John, I'm just saying be careful. You stick out like sore thumb in that thing," said Sarah then she looked over at Chuck. "Sweetie you know what you have to do or do you want to go over it one more time."
"Sarah, can I voice my reservations? What you did with your father when you were a kid is at the least dubious in nature and need I remind you that you ended up with a broken arm."
"I remember that quite well thank you. But I've got you with me now to look out for me," said Sarah as she looked over at him smiling.
"I might have the intersect but I'm not superman who was more powerful than a locomotive but if you were on the track I would try though."
"Yuck, I just want to point out you two are talking into an open mic. My ears can take only so much. How are our perps doing? They're pulling away from the parent bank now. I'm breaking off tailing before I'm seen and moving into position for the grab."
"Chuck you know where we need to go."
"I'm still not sure about this but I'm going along."
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In the security van the guards came out of the bank climbing into the back then locked themselves in. They banged on the wall of the van to tell the driver they were ready to go. The driver looked at his watch and knew he had to push it a little bit to make the rendezvous with their Russian contacts then make the branch bank on time or at least before they sounded alarms.
"Is everything okay back there," radioed the driver back through an intercom. "You guys sure took your time coming out I've got to make up time. You guys had better hope we don't find traffic or we could be in trouble."
"Sorry about that but it couldn't be helped. The director wanted to chat and we couldn't get away from him. He couldn't understand why we were early for the pickup."
"What did you tell him? Is he going to be a problem for us for our future pickups? We've got one tomorrow. Should the collective be made aware of him?"
"Just calm down and don't get excited. We told him we wanted to get ahead of the traffic and that we usually call when we get close to the branch bank to let the Manager know we'll be arriving early but that has never happened."
"Do you think he bought it? It might not hurt to let the collective know especially since we've got another pickup tomorrow. The last thing we need is for something to go wrong at the last minute."
"If we let them know you know what they'll do. The Bank Manager will have an accident and it will be our fault. I prefer not to have that on my conscious especially if it's not necessary."
"Okay, I agree with you but we need to keep on top of this," radioed the driver back. "We're almost there. Get ready." The driver took them into a parking garage driving down to the sub-basement. There waiting for them was Anton and Dale. Anton was standing outside the van with the side open while Dale was on the back of the forklift ready to move their pallet.
"Let's get this on the road," yelled the driver as he jumped out. "I'm still behind schedule and we don't want to raise any flags so we need to double time this."
"Well you need to open your side door and I'll take out your pallet," yelled Dale. He drove the forklift up to the side. The men in the back opened the side. Dale pulled in took out the pallet and put it in their van. Then he picked up the counterfeit bills on the pallet off the floor then placed it inside their security van."
"Good, good," yelled the driver. "Kid you know how to operate that forklift. I can get back on schedule now. Thanks see you tomorrow." The security guards buttoned up the van then sped off. Dale parked the forklift then jumped off.
"One moment I need to use the bathroom before we go," said Dale as he started over to a small washroom in the corner.
"Just make it fast Ivan will be waiting for us and we don't want to keep him waiting," said Anton. He went about securing the load in the back while Dale went in and locked the door. Once inside he took out his phone and looked at it asking himself if he dared.
[At Echo Park]
Morgan arrived with Alex she helped him across the courtyard and over to Casey's front door. They rang the doorbell but there was no answer from inside so Alex let them in. Inside was dark with all the curtains drawn and as soon as Alex flipped the light switch Sam jumped out yelling surprise. Mary came over from the kitchen carrying her rice crispy treats.
"Wow thanks guys," said Morgan as he looked around the room all decorated with get well Morgan signs hung everywhere. "Thanks Sam I have a feeling this is your doing."
"Some of it but Nana Mary and Mommy helped," said Sam as she held her hands behind her oscillating from side to side smiling looking like the cat that ate the canary.
"Where is everyone? I thought they'd be here when I got here," asked Morgan as he looked around the living room and over at the kitchen.
"They had work they had to do but they'll be here soon enough," said Mary "Now sit down and relax. Remember you're still on bedrest." Mary got him situated with a grape soda and rice crispy treats. As Mary and Sam were looking after him Alex received a phone call. She looked at the number then she stepped outside to take it.
"Who is this," asked Alex as she answered the call closing the door behind her at the same time. All she heard was heavy breathing on the other end. "Look if someone doesn't start talking soon I'm hanging up." Caller ID identified the caller as anonymous but something told her to wait.
"It's me I just wanted to call you and tell you I'm sorry for everything that happened," said Dale. Alex was in shock. She was in shock first that it was Dale on the line and secondly she was shocked that he had the nerve to think a little apology was going to make everything just blow away.
"You've got some nerve calling me after everything you've done. I'm with Morgan the guy who jumped in front of bullet you intended for me so apology not accepted and if I see you I'll return your favor with my Beretta Cougar but I won't miss. Let's see if your new Russian friends will take a bullet for you."
"I'm sorry if things got so messed up between us but you have to admit part of this was your fault. If you hadn't dumped me the way you did none of this would've happened."
"No, I'm sorry I don't see this as my fault at all. You're the one who wouldn't let go so no I refuse to let you blame this on me. Dale I was sorry for you before and I will admit at the time I wondered if some of this wasn't my fault but nothing I've done to you can justify your actions. You're a criminal now and I will bring you to justice one of these days."
"You're welcome to try but I won't go peacefully," he said. She heard a banging sound then a man yelling for Dale to hurry up inside.
"I've got to go. Maybe you're right maybe this was my fault and if so I'm sorry, but we've both made choices in our lives and now we have to live with them. Goodbye Alex," said Dale then he hung up. Alex hung up her phone to find Kathleen standing next to her.
"Where did you come from? I didn't hear you sneak up on me. If you're wondering that was…" Alex started to say but Kat stopped her.
"I know who that was but you're here with Morgan. Don't tell me you're having second thoughts because if you are we're going to have a problem. That boy inside took bullet for you and that counts... it counts a lot in my book. I know he's done stupid things in the past but what counts is the present and present is Morgan. Dale is the past."
"I know Mom and I told Dale never to call me again. You're right Dales is my past while Morgan is my future."
"Then why are we standing out here. Let's go inside where the party is," said Kat as she and Alex went inside. "Where's everyone at? I expected to see everyone here."
"Dad, Chuck and Sarah are out on a mission right now but they promised they'll be back soon," said Alex as she looked at her watch.
"What are they up to or can you say?" asked Kathleen as Mary handed her a glass of wine. Mary just shrugged her shoulders.
"I haven't got a clue I've been with Morgan so I've been outside the loop of information. Mary said they'll be back soon."
"That's right they ran to the bank to make a withdrawal then they'll be right back."
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Dale came out to find Anton looking at him but he didn't say anything. They both got back in the van then drove out of the parking garage heading back to their hideout just outside of Riverside in the old production plant. The sun was setting and if was getting dark so they turned on their light. Once they got on the road heading back to the plant high beam lights of a vehicle came on behind them.
"Who the heck can that be," said Dale as he looked in the side mirror behind them. "Hey I don't want to scare you or anything but they're gaining on us."
"Not of I can help it," said Anton as he put his foot down on the gas pulling away from them again.' How are we doing now?"
"They're still there but they're not gaining on us anymore. If you can hold this I think we can make it back to the plant before they can catch us."
"It looks like I don't have a choice, does it? This gravel isn't helping any. Maybe you ought to phone Ivan and let him know we need help," said Anton as he glanced over at Dale. "Yes I know you've got a phone and I know you called your girlfriend..."
"You mean ex-girlfriend and she made that quite clear this evening. But how'd you know I called her and not Khan to arrange this."
"First we don't know it's Khan who's behind us and second you're that last person who'd want to be caught by Khan. If that is him behind us he'll treat me better than you but he's got to catch us first."
"That's reassuring but let's not try putting your theory into practice," said Dale as he kept looking in the side mirror. "They're starting to gain on us."
"I have to slow down a bit or I won't make it around this upcoming curve," said Anton. Anton geared down but punched it once he was in the curve. However when he came around he found another car parked sideways in the road.
"Crap look out Anton," yelled Dale as he braced himself against the dash. Anton didn't have anywhere to go. He tried to cut the van to the right but the center of gravity for the van was too high. It dropped on its side then began rolling. It rolled right into the car parked in the middle of the road then it rolled right over the top of it coming to a stop on the other side. Khan's men came out of nowhere and surrounded the van.
"What's going on," said Dale. He was still pretty much out of it and his head was still spinning but that didn't stop him from going for his weapon but one of Khan's men took it away from him. "Anton, Anton," yelled Dale but then he saw him stretched out on the ground.
"Hey leave him alone. You got me and the money so you don't need him. Let him live and you can do whatever you want to me."
"Very good," Dale heard someone say then he heard clapping. "You know there's only one small problem with your proposal. I can already do whatever I want to you and you can't do anything about it. But don't worry I'm not going to kill you or your friend," said the man.
"Khan, you're not? But this is Dale the guy who started the whole mess between us and the Russians."
"I think Ivan was looking for an excuse to make his move long before Dale here put his finger in the pie. First of all get our one third cut out of the van," said Khan.
"You heard the boss let's get our money," said Wu. "But Boss why don't we just take it all. The van is ours like Ivan has the presses."
"You make a valid point but no that would be greedy. I have other plans," said Khan. He stood there with Wu as part of his men unloaded the van and the others watch Anton and Dale.
"That's it we've got our share now what to you want us to do. Let them go?"
"Something like that," said Khan. He walked to the back of one of their vehicles and pulled out a road flare. He lit it then threw it inside the van. The money caught fire and began to burn. "Tell your boss had he listen to me we all would've had our fair share but he chose to listen to Mister X. Have Ivan ask Mister X about a contract he put out on me."
"You know he's going to want to get even," said Anton.
"Even for what? I only burnt the money I didn't hurt you or Dale both of you I should kill but out of respect for Ivan I won't. The money he earned from our presses cutting us out of the loop so he brought this on himself. There's nothing to get even for as far as I'm concerned and you can tell him that for me." With that Khan and his men disappeared.
"What do we do now," asked Dale.
"We walk home then go from there," said Anton as he helped Dale up. "I don't suppose you still have that phone?"
"Sorry one of Khan's men took it along with my piece."
"Then it's one foot in from of the other. Come on."