"So how do I know the difference between the good guys and the bad?" Johnny asked
"They're all bad but if they point their gun at you shoot 'em" Mike answered
"Care to make things interesting? Say person who saves us the most amount of times gets fee drinks at The Drop for a month?"
"Thanks for the free drink Johnny"
"You wish bro"
"Boys focus"
"Sorry so where do you think Ramon is held up?" he asked Paige
"I looked at the blue prints earlier. There's an office on the second floor on the west end. The middle of the warehouse is a courtyard with a glass ceiling. There is also two walkways on the second floor that connect one part of the room other. Safest bet that's where the battle is going on"
"And you're sure Ramon is in that office?"
"Oh yeah he took it to overlook his new empire"
"Where are we right now?"
"Right now we're on the east end. The way I see it we stay together I aim low, you're in the middle and Johnny aim high."
Mike turned to Johnny, "You ready for this?"
"Only one way to find out"
"On three…..One, two, three!" Paige kicked the door open and all three ran in. Gun fire rang from all over as they made their way through. One gunman spotted Johnny and aimed his gun. Mike noticed it first, shooting him before he got off one round. Mike smirked at Johnny only to have him draw his gun at him. "Johnny what the…" was all Mike said as he watched Johnny take down a guy aiming at Mike's back. "That's one each Mikey"
"You guys finished? Let's move" Paige yelled as she moved on. Mike and Johnny were close behind. Gunfire between the split gang was ranging on between them. Mike and Johnny stayed alert but Piage was on a mission, determined to get Ramon at all costs. As they reached the middle of the building the fire fight was at its peak. The gangs each had one end of the space killing on another. All three ducked as broken glass and debris fell on them. "The office is on the other side!" Paige yelled, "Johnny you think you can pick out a few weeds for Mike and I to get across?"
"I'll need an advantage spot to pick them off from"
"What about that?" Mike asked as he pointed to an old ventilation shaft. "Those things can hold t least three hundred pounds."
"It'll work but I'm gonna need some cover to get up there. Plus, we'll have to go around the other way to get to that side." Mike turned to Paige handing her an extra clip, "Plans change"
"Don't worry bout me just get him up there and lay down some cover" Paige then grabbed Mike by the shoulder kissing him hard. Mike was about to say something but Paige stopped him, "I know"
Mike then smiled and kissed her cheek once more, "Wait till at least five are down then make you're move. We're also going to need some cover" Paige nodded rounding the cover to got two shots off killing one gunmen. A few gunmen returned fire at her as Mike and Johnny made their way back around to the opposite side without being detected. Johnny knocked open the vent and climbed up. "I'll be able to get off at least six to eight shots before they notice I'm up there"
Mike handed Johnny his gun, "Make them count." Mike then crept closer to end of the hall. He peeked over the gunfire was being directed at Paige. Mike aimed and got one guy in the back. The guy next to him turned only to get shoot square in the chest. Half the men turned their attention to Mike. The men still focused on Paige stopped to reload which gave her the chance to move. Paige sprinted across the floor firing two shoots one hitting another gunman. From her new angle she could see Mike pinned down and as much she wanted to help she was pinned down too.
Johnny came into view and she knew he was sitting duck soon enough. Paige threw her head up in frustration and then a smiled spread across her face. Looking around she saw a few dead men and next to them was their machine guns. Paige raced across the floor grabbing two of them as gun fire rang around her. Johnny reached the end of the vent and set up his spot when he noticed Paige running around. "What the hell is she doing?" Johnny then aimed his gun at the guys firing at Paige taking two of them out. Paige then took one of the machine gun at the glass ceiling that was above the gunmen and fired. The men on the walkways tried to shield themselves as shards of glass fell upon them.
Mike watched as the men ran for cover. He saw a few men come from the other side of the first floor who aimed their guns at Paige. Mike made his way through taking them out as Paige continued her assault. Johnny saw Mike and offered back up as the two of them mowed down the reinforcements. Once the last gun was empty Paige dropped the gun and sprinted towards Mike who made his way to the other side of the courtyard with the elevator waiting for her. Mike covered her as she dove in before the doors closed.
"Johnny is still up in the vent. I'll take care of the guys while you make your way to the office."
"Be careful Mike"
"Carmel"
"What?"
"When this case s over let's get everybody and go up to Carmel for an extended weekend. I'm sure your folks wouldn't mind." Paige looked at Mike like he was crazy about talking about vacations while they were in the middle of a firefight but then she realized that this is how Mike is dealing with nerves. "Let's set it up" she said as the doors opened. Mike aimed his gun at the walkways taking down three more men who spotted Johnny in the vent. This gave Johnny the chance to escape. With no one paying attention to her Paige made it to the office kicking the door open. The office was empty but the window was open. Looking out she saw Ramon running towards a car with files in his hand. Paige hopped out the window landing on a tin roof running towards the edge as Ramon took off in the car. Paige drew her weapon and fired four shots at the back left tire two shot hit the tire the car losing control and rolling into a ditch. Paige then found a ladder and climbed down making her way to the car.
"Screw this" said Charlie as she made her way down the road.
"Charlie what are you doing?" Briggs asked
"We should have gone with them. We were stupid to let them go alone"
"Charlie they have it under control. This is Paige's case she knows what she's doing"
"Sense when do you care about who's in charge. You're Paul Briggs! The Paul Briggs I know wouldn't be sitting here He would follow hi instinct and do his own thing. He would be marching in there and kick ass to save his friends."
"Charlie trust me on this. The best thing for us to do I to stay right here believe me"
"The best thing to do is stay right here? Our you out of your f…"
"Ahh guys who the hell the hell is that?" Jakes asked as they see someone run across the rood and down the ladder
"Holy shit that's Ramon!" said Charlie as she drew her gun. "He's getting away"
"No he's not" said Briggs as he saw Paige hop out the window running after him. All three watched as Paige shot out the back tire causing the car to go into a ditch. "I caught a glimpse of the blue prints and saw where the office of the warehouse is. It wasn't until I saw the car that I figured that this was where the office was. If Ramon were to escape this shit show that's the getaway car"
"And the only road out of here is this one" said Charlie "When did you figure this out?"
"Awhile back"
"And what? You forgot to relay this information to Paige or Mike?" asked Jakes
"If I was wrong then we needed people on the inside to get our guy. Plus I …"
"Same old Briggs always playing with people's lives" said Jakes
"Dale….."
"Stay here with the truck Paul. Charlie lets go"
Mike crept behind a wall as gunfire was being shot in his direction. Mike was trying to figure out how to escape when the gun fire stopped. "Hey white boy come out of there" one guy yelled. Mike checked his gun he had three shots left as he gave his extra clip to Paige. "White boy I'm not gonna tell you again either you come on out or we kill your boy." Mike looked around the corner to see Johnny on his knees with a gun pointed at the back of his head.
"I'm sorry Mike they got to….." The guy holding the gun kicked Johnny in the back knocking him down. The guy cocked the gun again pointing it at Johnny. "I'm gonna count to three white boy and if you don't come down here I'm gonna blow his brains out"
"Mike I'm as good as dead anyway just….." The guy kicked Johnny in the side twice before he could finish.
"One, two…."
"Stop" a voice came from down the hall. Everyone looked as Anna walked in. The men froze as she approached Johnny. "Pick him up" she ordered. Anna dusted Johnny off then grabbed one of her men's bandanas handed it to him. "You alright agent Tuturro?"
"I'll live"
"How about you agent Warren?" Mike then stood up now looking down at Johnny, Anna and her men. "I'm fine thank you"
"Glad to hear it" Anna then pointed at gun back at Johnny
Mike then pointed his gun at her and her men pointed their guns at him "What the hell are you doing?"
"Go get Paige and tell her I'll trade Tuturro for Ramon" Mike kept his gun pointed at Anna not flinching at all. The two stared at each other waiting for the other to blink. "You know I can't do that. He's as good as dead if we make that trade."
"Why do you care if he lives or dies?"
"I don't but your lawyer will. If he dies, then her family is screwed remember?" Mike saw Anna hesitate as the mention of Nick and Brandi crossed her mind. "We both want the same thing Vasquez. He goes down you're in the clear and your lawyer's family is safe." Anna new he was right and dropped her gun. As wanted Ramon dead but not at the expense of her family.
"Ms. Vasquez our men spotted federal agents headed this way"
"Until next time agent Warren" Mike and Johnny stood there as Anna and her men retreated. Once the door closed Johnny slumped against the wall clutching his side. Mike then sprinted down the stairs to Johnny. "You alright?" Johnny looked up and saw Mike's hands shaking.
"Are you?"
"I'll be fine" Mike said as he closed his eyes
"Mike man you should….."
"Come on let's get you out of here" Johnny didn't argue as Mike helped him up.
Paige sprinted up to the car gun out waiting for Ramon to bust out. As Paige got closer to the ditch the car was in she saw a branch through the windshield. Paige climbed down the ditch and saw the end of the branch had pierced through Ramon's chest. Paige got the front door open quickly checking Ramon's pulse. Ramon's jerking made Paige jump back.
"What the…."
"Don't move" she ordered
"Hot shit" Paige looked up to see Jakes and Charlie standing there
"Dale call it in"
"Calvary coming baby girl" Charlie said
Ramon grabbed Paige buy the arm, "You fucking bitch! You did this to me" Paige pressed her gun at Ramon's head. "Keep holding my arm. I dare you" Jakes climbed down the ditch with his gun drawn, "I really hope he keeps holding your arm P. It's been a while since I shot someone."
The door to the warehouse got Charlies attention as Mike and Johnny limped out. "Paige get up here its Mike"
"Go I'll watch him"
Paige climbed up just Mike and Johnny made it to the car. Charlie took Johnny as Paige ran to Mike. She looked him over. Physically he was fine but she noticed the tremors in his hand. She took one in both of hers.
"I'll be ok" Mike said seeing the concern on her face. "It's Johnny you should be worried about. He took the beating"
"I got kicked in the ribs I'll be fine. Is he dead?" He asked referring to Ramon
"The bastards still alive" said Paige
"More important how did you get your ass kicked?" Charlie asks wiping blood off Johnny's face. "Vasquez's men caught men and held me down. They had Mike pinned behind a wall. I thought this might be it then Vasquez showed up"
"Wait she's here?"
"She took off already but not before pointing a gun at me. Telling Mike to get you to exchange Ramon for Me but Mike talked some sense into her and she backed off. Then her men saw the calvary coming and they bounced."
"Having Ramon is good and all but we need evidence to clear Nick and Brandi" said Charlie. Jakes reached inside and popped open the trunk. Paige's eyes lit up as she saw what was inside. "God I'm so happy criminals are stupid" she handed the documents to Mike. Mike's eyes nearly popped out as he read through them. "This clears them of everything plus deeds to the farm out in the valley, and a recipt of a wire transfer to non-other than Sid Markham." Mike looked up at Paige and smiled, "You did it"
Paige shook her head, "No we did it and I mean we I mean the team. Say where's Paul?"
"Up at the truck" Charlie said with a harsh tone
"Smart move" said Paige. "This is the only road out of here plus with the office being right here he probably assumed that the getaway car was close and if we couldn't get to him in time he could"
"Good thing he looked at the blue prints as close as you did Paige" Mike added
"Hey he was the one who pointed out the office to me in the first place"
"Shit" moaned Charlie
"What is it? Paige asked
"Nothing important" The sound of sirens and helicopters approaching got their attention. "Okay as soon as we get this piece if shit turned in we go after Markham." said Paige
"Even with the evidence we have it's going to be tough to convict and LAPD cop." Johnny said
"We should be worried about what that bitch Foster's going to do to us." Charlie added "You and Jakes will probably get yelled at but the four of us are going to get screwed"
"No doubt" Johnny added
Mike took Paige's hand in his, "If that does happen and we're all in trouble I say we all take a vacation"
"Can Christy come?"
"Of course"
"I'm not spending a vacation with couples and I'm the seventh wheel" Jake yelled
The lights from the helicopters hovered over them and the truck where Briggs was as cars closed in on both locations. Everyone dropped their guns and held up their badges to be safe. Foster hops out of the suv and walks over to Mike and Paige. She doesn't give them a glance she just looks down at Jakes who is keeping presser around where Ramon is struck by the tree. "Get med and evac team down there now. And pick up their guns" Jess looks at the team, "Where's Briggs?"
"At the truck full of top notch pot that was grown by that man" Paige said as she pointed to Ramon. "Agent Jakes get out from there" Jess ordered before looking again at Johnny. "Can you walk?"
"Yeah?"
"Good get in the car. All of you"
"Hey wait a minute…." Charlie said before being stopped by Paige. Paige looked at Mike and they both had the same feeling. "We'll go" she told Foster. All five piled in the truck then stopped to pick up Briggs at the truck before heading off.
Once on the road Foster handed the guns back to the team. They all gave her a puzzled look except for Mike and Paige. "Why is it that you two are not confused as to why I'm giving you your guys back like the rest of your team."
"Throughout this case thing have come to light which have just now made sense especially when it comes to you Foster" said Paige
"Wait I'm confused. Paul can make sense of any of this?" asked Johnny
"Brotha I'm in the dark as much as you"
"Look I know you have questions but right now we have to stop Markham"
"Why?"
"He found the Davis couple and if we don't get to LAX in the next 30 minutes they're dead. So I can either tell you everything or we strategize on how to nab him because he will be a treaty one to take down"
Paige and Mike didn't have to give an answer. Them reloading their guns gave Foster their choice.