The World Needs More Grimm
Chapter 28
Target Acquired
It is Tuesday, March 24th 2020. The time is 6:21am.
Trubel is walking down a hallway at HW NYC alone. She turns a corner, and enters the breakroom.
Josh is already sitting there, with his empty breakfast plate on his tray, drinking coffee.
Josh looks up at her. "Good morning Trubel. Sorry, I should have waited for you, but I already ate breakfast." He says apologetically.
Trubel smiles. "That's ok. Hey Josh, did you realize that today is March 24th?" She asks pointedly.
Josh is momentarily surprised. "Yes it is. We've been so busy on this case, I guess I forgot." He lets out a nervous laugh.
Trubel nods. "3 years huh? Well, happy Grimm anniversary." She smiles.
Josh smiles back. "Thank you Trubel. I appreciate that." He ponders a moment. "You know, I never asked you this before; how old were you when you became a Grimm?" He asks.
Trubel looks at him. "Barely 14 years old." She replies, speaking slowly.
Josh is surprised. "That is young." He adds.
Trubel shakes her head. "Not as young as Nick's mom was. Nick told me she was 10 years old." She reveals.
Josh is surprised. "Now THAT is young." He says.
Trubel nods in agreement. "Yes." She replies.
Josh ponders out loud. "I wonder how old Nick was when he became a Grimm?" He asks.
Immediately Trubel knows the answer. "29. He told me that a long time ago, after we first met." She reveals.
His eyes light up. "Really? Trubel, that's how old I was when I became a Grimm." He smiles.
Trubel returns the smile. "What an interesting connection." She says.
Josh nods. "Well, I'll let you get your breakfast and coffee. I'll be in the command center." He informs her.
Trubel looks at him with a slight smile. "Alright Josh." She replies.
Josh enters the command center.
It's empty. Everyone else on the team took a break since they've been waiting a few days for their next lead. Josh sits at his computer, and starts reviewing everything they've worked on recently.
Approximately 7 minutes go by.
His eyes light up as he reviews several items on his computer screen.
Alisha Matthews strolls in.
Josh looks at her. "Matthews, guess who was brought to the interrogation facility last night?" He asks, excitedly.
Without saying a word, Alisha Matthews walks over and reviews everything on Josh's' computer.
Her eyes go wide. She rushes over and sits at her computer.
Trubel enters, followed by Davis, Snyder and Irving.
Trubel sees the look on Josh's' face.
Trubel smiles slightly. "Good news Josh?" She asks eagerly.
Josh nods. "Our Skalengeck, Mr. Timothy Doane was picked up by HW contacts last night. He's being held at the interrogation facility." He informs her.
Her eyes light up. "That's awesome." Trubel responds.
Josh looks at her. "I hope he'll talk." Karl Borski is still on his mind.
Her eyes go dark. "He'd better talk, or he might get cut and need stitches again." She says pointedly.
Davis nods. "I can help with that." He offers.
Josh looks at her. "Matthews, keep me informed on any new leads." He instructs her.
Matthews smiles. "As always Porter." She replies.
Josh turns to face everyone. "Alright group, let's head out now." He announces.
Approximately 2 ½ hours later, Josh, Trubel, Irving and Davis enter the interrogation facility through the thick door for the third time.
Inside the makeshift command center are two Pflichttreue, working on their tablets.
Josh approaches the lead Pflichttreue. "How's our Skalengeck doing?" He asks.
The lead Pflichttreue nods. "He's ready for you anytime, in interrogation room #5." He says.
Josh turns and looks at her. "Trubel, do you want to go first?" He asks.
Trubel ponders a moment. "Why don't you go first Josh? If he pisses you off, I can come in and thank him for dropping his keys outside Scott Brauns' house." She tells him.
Josh smiles in agreement to what Trubel told him. "I like that." He replies.
The lead Pflichttreue speaks up. "We'll take off now then. Good luck Porter." He offers to shake his hand.
Josh shakes his hand. "Thanks." He says.
The door opens to interrogation room #5. Josh enters, and sees Timothy Doane, the Skalengeck, handcuffed upright to the table.
Josh begins the interrogation by staring at him, purposely opening his eyes wide with an expressionless face. Timothy Doane woges, retracts, then nervously averts his gaze as soon as he realizes Josh is a Grimm.
He walks over to the small table in a corner and removes his machete from its case.
Josh places his machete on the table, but not before making a nice, long slicing noise. Again, this is HW standard operating procedure—intimidating Wesen with the sound of a Grimms' machete.
Josh turns slowly to face him, then approaches the table and sits down in the other chair, facing him.
Josh looks him right in his eyes. "Mr. Timothy Doane." He says matter-of-factly. "I heard an interesting story about that nice slice of meat taken from your back." He tells him.
Timothy Doane clearly doesn't like Grimms. He carefully averts his gaze by staring straight ahead. "I have no idea what you're talking about." He says in a monotone voice.
Josh scoffs. "Ah, come on Timmy. You Skalengecks' aren't known for your brains, but playing dumb? I just didn't expect that." He says condescendingly.
Timothy Doane scoffs, woges, but doesn't say anything.
Josh lowers his voice. "Why don't you save yourself another slice in the back and tell me where Oscar Torres is now?" He suggests.
Timothy Doane retracts but doesn't say anything.
Josh looks at him intently. "What were you doing with Oscar Torres on Thursday night?" He asks.
Timothy Doane scoffs. "It doesn't matter anyway." He says.
Josh looks at him curiously. "It matters to me." He says with an encouraging tone in his voice.
Timothy Doane shakes his head. "We didn't succeed. Someone must've told him that we were coming to kill him." He reveals.
Josh nods. "I see. That would throw a monkey-wrench in your plans." He attempts humor to keep him talking.
Timothy Doane sighs. "You're wasting your time talking to me." He says, almost whispering.
Josh slightly smiles. "I wouldn't agree. I think you have some idea where Oscar Torres might be." He suggests.
Timothy Doane scoffs. "So what if I do? It's not like I'd tell you Grimm." He says condescendingly.
His eyes go dark. "That's unfortunate. Because your life depends on your cooperation." Without hesitation, Josh stands up and grabs his machete, turns around and faces Timothy Doane with it in his hand.
Timothy Doane looks at his machete nervously.
Josh looks at him, then looks at his machete, then back at Timothy Doane again. "I could sit here all day and tell you about another Wesen acquaintance of Oscar Torres. He lost a lot of blood one day—from my machete." He fakes an evil grin.
Timothy Doane appears as if he's hesitating to speak.
Josh doesn't skip a beat. "Yeah, we almost had to take him out in a body bag." He says as he moves his machete closer.
Timothy Doane sighs deeply. Suddenly, he speaks. "I don't make friends with Grimms." He says pointedly.
Josh smiles widely. "You totally misunderstood me man. Help me out and tell me where Oscar Torres is, or even your best guess. Then that's it. You won't see me again, and we're definitely NOT friends." He suggests.
Timothy Doane scoffs. "Sure." He replies.
Josh suddenly holds up his machete, and moves it directly in front of his neck. "Is it this? I can put it away, as long as you're ready to talk." He offers.
Timothy Doane glances at the machete, clearly intimidated. "I-I'm afraid—of what will happen if I talk." He hesitates.
Josh pulls the machete away. "You shouldn't worry about that." He looks down, then up and stares him straight in the eyes. "The way I see it, the only thing you need to worry about now is my machete. Tell me everything, and you won't get hurt." He says, noticeably raising his voice.
Timothy Doane sighs, then suddenly appears to make up his mind about something. "I don't care now. Kill me or go away." He says in a monotone voice.
Josh sighs. "Alright then. I'm going away. But—just so you know, half an hour from now you'll be wishing you had the nice Grimm to talk to." Josh informs him.
Josh immediately stands up, while Timothy Doane appears surprised. Josh leaves the room, putting his machete in its case and taking it with him.
He joins everyone in the makeshift command center.
Trubel sees the look on his face. "Let me guess, he's being dumb." She suggests.
Josh looks at her. "Actually, he REALLY is dumb." He lets out a nervous laugh.
Trubel looks at him curiously. "Did you get anything out of him?" She asks.
Josh shakes his head. "Nothing we don't already know. I told him I was the nice Grimm." He reveals.
Now Trubel smiles. "Ah, okay. I get it. I like being the mean Grimm. This WILL be fun." She says.
Josh nods. "Let me know if he asks for me. I gave him half an hour." He informs her, smiling.
Trubel laughs. "I don't think it will take that long." She adds.
Trubel leaves the makeshift command center and enters interrogation room #5.
She does the same thing Josh did; removing and placing her machete on the small table in the corner, making the loud slicing noise.
She turns around, approaches Timothy Doane and sits across from him.
Trubel stares him down for a long time. Finally, she speaks. "I'll give you only one chance to tell me where Oscar Torres is. Then I play hardball." She informs him.
Timothy Doane apprehensively woges. "Another Grimm?!" He says nervously.
Trubel smiles slightly. "Yes. In the flesh." Suddenly, she stands up and grabs her machete and turns around to face him. "With my metal." She says proudly.
Timothy Doane quickly retracts. "I-I d-d-don't know where he is." He nervously stammers.
Her eyes go dark. "You're a bad liar Timmy." She says condescendingly.
Timothy Doane goes immediately on the defense. "I'm NOT lying!" He almost yells.
Trubel smiles widely. "My partner WASN'T LYING either. He IS the nice Grimm." She says firmly.
Timothy Doane suddenly stares straight ahead, attempting to avert her gaze. Because he doesn't like Grimms, he doesn't want to woge and see her eyes again.
Trubel sighs. "You are ignoring me. I wonder which finger I should cut off first?" She asks, already knowing the answer.
Timothy Doane is shocked. "What?!" He yells, surprised.
Trubel scrapes her machete against the table. "Ah, since you are right handed, I think your right index finger will cut off nicely." She says as she grabs his finger to examine it closely.
Timothy Doane gasps in fear. "Alright-Alright! Ask me anything else. I just don't know where he is." He yells.
Trubel sets down her machete, but it's still close enough in case she needs it. "Now we're getting somewhere Timmy. Actually, I DO have a good question for you. And your response will determine what happens to your fingers." She explains.
Timothy Doane lets out a resigned sigh. "I'm—ready." He says.
Trubel nods. "Good." She then pulls out the key ring from her pocket and places them on the table right in front of him. "What do these unlock Timmy?" She asks, pointedly.
Timothy Doane stares at the keys intently. "WHERE did you get those?!" He asks, perplexed.
Trubel smiles at him. "Ah, they are yours." She says, matter-of-factly.
Timothy Doane takes a chance and looks at her. "I lost them last week." He says as he sighs deeply.
Trubel nods. "I found them outside the window of Scott Brauns' house." She smiles. "The Grimm-who you didn't kill." She tells him.
Timothy Doane can't hide his relief. "I'm so glad you found them." He says happily.
Trubel looks at him intently. "Why, Timmy? What do they unlock?" She asks, noticeably lowering her voice.
Timothy Doane hesitates again.
Trubel wastes no time. She suddenly stands up. "Well, I guess it's time for my machete to take your finger." She picks up her machete.
Timothy Doane is terrified. "Alright! Ok! Stop! PLEASE." He yells.
Trubel puts her machete on the table and sits down. "I'm listening." She responds.
Timothy Doane lets out a deep sigh. "The keys unlock the back door and the secret room inside Suzanne Chamberlain's house. In the wall is a safe." He explains.
Trubel nods casually. "I see. Who is Suzanne Chamberlain and why do you have keys to her secret room?" She asks.
Timothy Doane sighs. "I used to work for her. She's a rich lady. Before she fired me 2 weeks ago I made extra keys to the house and the entrance of her secret room. The safe has cash, gold and diamonds inside." He explains.
Trubel nods. "And—you were planning to use those keys to rob her, weren't you?" She asks.
Timothy Doane is more forthcoming now. "Yes. I found Oscar Torres through a secret ad on the internet. I need him to crack the safe, 'cause I can't do it myself. It's very computerized." He explains.
Trubel nods. "Ah. You helped him with the attack on Scott Braun, so he will help you crack the safe. I understand the deal now." She replies.
Timothy Doane shakes his head in agreement.
Trubel looks at him. "Is anyone else from your gang involved in this?" She asks.
Timothy Doane shakes his head. "Nope. Just me and Oscar." He explains.
Trubel looks at him curiously. "Timmy, when were the two of you planning to do this—safe cracking?" She asks.
Timothy Doane nods. "Tonight. Suzanne Chamberlain leaves for Switzerland this afternoon." He explains.
Trubel ponders. "How were you planning to meet up with Oscar Torres?" She asks.
Timothy Doane looks at her. "He's going to meet me there. At 10pm tonight." He explains.
Trubel looks at him. "Is he—going to call you first?" She asks.
Timothy Doane responds quickly. "Nope."
Trubel ponders again. "Did he know—was he aware you lost the keys at the Grimms' house?" She asks.
Timothy Doane shakes his head. "Nope."
Trubel finishes pondering what she was told. "So then, as far as he knows, the deal is still on and he's cracking the safe at 10 o'clock tonight in exchange for part of whatever is inside." She explains.
Timothy Doane nods. "Yep, that's it." He replies.
Trubel now lets out a deep sigh. "Timmy—I know you don't want to hear this, but I need to tell you that Oscar Torres double-crosses everyone he works with." She looks him straight in the eyes. "He's probably planning to kill you and take everything tonight." She reveals.
Timothy Doane is visibly shocked. "No-no, I don't believe you!" He almost yells.
Trubel looks at him intently. "October 10th, 2018. He setup his acquaintance and fellow Luison Alan Hodges as his body-double so he could be under-the-radar for a year and a half. He died in Oscars' place. I know this for a fact. I was the Grimm that killed his acquaintance." She explains matter-of-factly.
Timothy Doane is momentarily speechless.
Trubel continues on. "February 10th, 2020. He hired 2 Reapers to kill a family of Grimms in Upstate New York. He double-crossed the Reapers too, but they got away. The whole event was recorded." She explains.
Timothy Doane is completely devastated. "NO." Is all he can say.
Trubel looks right at him. "You ARE Number 3. Unless you do the right thing and help me capture him." She suggests persuasively.
Timothy Doane is still in a state of shock. "No. It can't be true." He says, almost to himself.
Trubel looks at him intently. "Why do you think my partner and I are hot on his trail? He'll keep using Wesen for his personal gain, and if they don't get away they'll die. Sorry I didn't sugarcoat it for you." She says matter-of-factly.
Timothy Doane is shaking his head and muttering repeatedly. "No."
Trubel nods. "I'll leave you alone now. You have a lot to think about. And a very big decision to make." She says firmly.
Trubel stands up, turns and places her machete back in its case. As she slowly heads towards the door, she is shocked to hear Timothy Doane speak. "Alright Grimm. I've made my decision." He reveals.
Trubel turns around to face him. "Okay Timmy." She responds, hopeful.
It is pitch black dark. Suddenly, there is an audible click as a lamp is switched on. It is a room in a large house that has very expensive furniture, art deco, framed art and a large safe inside the wall. Josh is sitting in a chair with his hand on the lamp he just switched on a second earlier. Standing directly in front of him, and no more than 5 feet away is a man who appears to be Oscar Torres. In a split-second, Trubel is on top of him, followed by Davis. He is no match for the 2 of them. Davis begins to tie him up. Josh stands up and walks over next to Trubel to get a better look at their new captive.
At that moment, Irving brings into the room and directly in front of Oscar Torres, a captured Timothy Doane.
Josh, standing next to Trubel, now addresses Irving. "You can take Mr. Doane to SUV number 2 and head out now." He says loudly.
Irving nods. "Sounds good to me." He says as he takes Mr. Doane out of view.
Oscar Torres hasn't said a word yet. Once Davis has him completely restrained, he moves him over into the chair that Josh had been sitting in minutes earlier.
Trubel approaches to face him, with Josh at her side.
Davis uses the fingerprint scanning device on him.
5 seconds later, the device beeps. It's conclusive.
Davis smiles widely. "Yep. That's Oscar Torres. Target Acquired." He announces happily.
Trubel sighs. "Finally." She almost yells. She approaches and stares him down. "We've been looking for you since you killed the Daniels last month." She says firmly.
Oscar Torres suddenly woges as he stares her in the eyes. "You're THE GRIMM!" He yells.
Trubel glances at Josh. "Why did I know he was going to say that?" She jokingly asks him.
Josh moves closer and stares at Oscar Torres. "I almost thought he was talking about ME. Now I feel left out." He jokingly adds.
Oscar Torres retracts. "TWO GRIMMS?" He asks, clearly speaking with a South American accent.
Trubel nods at him. "Yes." She says without hesitation. Then she looks at Josh. "Double the fun?" She jokingly asks him.
Josh smiles. "Definitely." He says.
Davis now lifts Oscar Torres to his feet, and takes him, still in shock, outside and into the back seat of their SUV #1. Josh enters the driver's seat, Trubel enters the back seat along with Davis so that their primary target has no chance of escape.
Josh drives them away from Suzanne Chamberlain's estate, swiftly heading for the Interrogation Facility.
END OF CHAPTER 28
