Chapter 22
So good news is we are approaching the end of this story. I am thinking I might do a follow up. If I do its kind of low on the priority list I want to finish up Squad Reborn. I also did say something about another Arrow story. And all that can be delayed if I get another idea for the Two World series or just another idea I would rather write.
Shawn looked over towards Mike and Mayrse. Mike was still on the floor yelling to be let go to be set back up anything that came into his mind. His wife was still crying. Mickie is standing next to him. "So what do we do with them? We can't let this go on being DA," She says. "It complicated. We take him in he will deny what he said. And he drags Riley and I in and that torpedoes this whole unit," Shawn says. "What about Riley? He's not about to let his father's killer go free," Mickie points out. "He still in the bathroom?" Shawn asks and she just nods. Bobby speaks up. "Right now we need to focus on saving Rose and... the possibility Dean is alive... Christ I can't believe that is even an option." "There is no way he could let Renee think he is dead this long. And to come back and go after Riley it makes no sense," Mickie claims.
Shawn scratches his head and is about to speak when Keith comes running up. "Riley's gone," The big man declares. "What?" Shawn snaps. "He got out of the bathroom. He said he needed a smoke. I let him step outside and gave him a minute. And when I went back out he was gone," Keith tries to explain. "I told you not to let him out your sight!" Shawn explodes. Johnny comes up. "He took his car but I just got this," Johnny says hands Shawn his phone displaying an e-mail. Shawn takes the phone and reads out loud. "Shawn, Johnny the rest of you. I know where he's keeping Rose. This needs to be between Dean and I. No one else is going to get hurt. Shawn in my bag at your place there a lot of things I've been working on for years. If there one team that can finally put that bastard away its Intelligence. Hopefully we will do it together. If not its been an honor. Riley."
Same Time
Mandy watched as Dean Ambrose paced in front of her playing with a knife. "Go a head ask the questions you want to ask," Dean finally says. "How are you alive?" Mandy asks. "Right to the chase. That was actually my style when I was a cop. See it's real simple. I was sentenced to life in prison. How else do I get out of prison?" Dean asks even laughing at his joke. "But how did you pull it off?" Mandy asks. "Ah not letting yammer on with never actually answering your question. Again a tactic I used. Well it's simple you ever hear of a rainy day fund? See when you work the kind of cases I worked I would find ways to make some cash. Bust a drug dealer who has fifty thousand maybe get a thousand before it goes into evidence. The only problem was I had to be real careful when I sent for. So with the world watching after I had defend myself I could. But the heat died down. Bribed a guard who friendly to my cause and killed some child predator that was getting off on a technicality," Dean admits.
"So why do you hate Morgan? He was your friend and your partner," Mandy points out. "Because he's the reason I was in jail. All he had to do was lie. Just say he saw the gun. Guy hated the bastard DA. But no this is the time he wants to play it straight," Dean rants. "Why me?" Mandy asks. "He will come to rescue you," Dean tells her. "Are aware I was trying to put him in jail not that long ago?" Mandy asks. "Oh yeah I know. Your boss told me all about it. How you tried to use his sister. Nice idea poor little Liv was always a weak spot for him," Dean taunts. "You know she died with that hit you ordered," Mandy tells him. "Wasn't me. That was your bosses idea. He panicked. Hell that is why I killed the hit men. Liv was like my sister as well that. Well that and to frame Riley," Dean claims getting up and grabbing a flask.
"If you want him find me shouldn't you give him some kind of clue," Mandy points out. "I've given him enough. Now he might be in denial. But he's going to pull all the threads together. And than the games really begin," Dean says. "And he's just going to magically turn up here? Or are you going to tell me there is some deep backstory with this place and Morgan," Mandy says. "There is quite a backstory. This is a rarely used safe house. Riley boy and I had to hide out here once. An undercover operation went to shit. We would joke this would always be the fall back point," Dean says peeking out the window. "I think you are a lunatic," Mandy says."I'll let you in on a secret… I am lunatic," Dean tells her.
Meanwhile
Riley had pulled off the road. He was far enough way that if they knew he was gone it would take time to catch up. Now it was about getting ready for the confrontation. He checked his gun on the holster on his hip and his back up piece. He stored a knife in the waste band of his jeans if things went to total shit. His phone was going off he didn't even bother to check the caller id. He had turned off the two way radio function on the phone. He returned his primary gun to his holster and took a deep breath. Climbing back into the car he starts the engine and drives. There was no way Shawn would put out an APB and with a little luck no one would figure out where he was going. He wasn't about to go in guns a blazing. He needed a game plan.
With Intelligence
"Okay we need to think. Riley isn't just going to drive up and down the streets yelling for Dean. So he has to have an idea of where Dean took Rose," Shawn says as he paces. "Where would a dead be?" Bobby asks. "Why don't we ask the DA?" Dana speaks out. "She's right. I mean that is the whole reason we abducted the DA he's working with Dean," Keith says. Shawn just nods and heads back into the room. He picks Mike still tied to his chair up. "Where is Ambrose?" Shawn asks. "I don't know," Mike claims. "For a guy in politics you are a one awful liar Mike. You had to meet him some where. And it had to be someplace he felt safe. Because I know as much you hate Riley you aren't just going align with a guy back from the dead. Unless he had something on you. Something to force you to work with him. So he had to show you he had the evidence that you killed Robert," Shawn yells getting in Mike's face.
"There was this house. I think he was staying there. Its where he had the evidence. Proof I paid for Strowman to be killed. Proof I had owed money to a loan shark at one time," Mike says starting to cry again. "SHUT UP!" Shawn yells. Mike stops. "I want the address," Shawn says after a minute. Mike doesn't remember the exact address but he does remember enough details that Shawn figures out where it was. It was his best lead and he had to follow it. It might be his only chance to save both Riley and Mandy. "Rob old buddy watch out for your boy," Shawn thinks as heads back to meet with the team.
The Safe House
Dean had dragged the chair Mandy was in into the living room. He had also placed a gag in her mouth. His eyes were locked on the front door as if he could feel Riley was about to come through it. The sound of a car with a powerful engine could be heard pulling up and being shut down. "He's here. Guy always had a thing for muscle cars. And if I know Morgan which I do he did that to draw me to window and he's about to come through the back door," Dean says spinning and firing several several shots as the door opens. Mandy through the gag screams. "You dead Riley?" Dean yells. Mandy is still freaking out. Dean doesn't look at her but speaks. "Hey he's not a total idiot. No decent cop is going to stand right in front of a door with an armed suspect inside. Right Riley?... Come on buddy talk it's been to long since I heard that voice," Dean taunts.
"Were you always this nuts?" Riley yells. "You used love my quaky behavior," Dean taunts. "What I don't get is why try to punish me. Yet you worked with the bastard that put you in jail," Riley yells. Dean fires another shot trying to go through the wall. "You're the bastard that put me in jail!" On the outside Riley is trying to figure out how to get in. He ruled out using a flash bang out of fear Dean would just fire blindly. From the very quick look he managed to get inside the house Dean would have a view if he tried to circle around the house to a door or go through a window. "No way to get to the second floor and come down from there. Knowing Dean he's using an extended clip," Riley thinks. "So you faked your death and came back to punish me by killing Liv and Mia," Riley says. "You would have gotten Liv killed sooner or later," Dean says wanting to piss Riley and get him to do something stupid. No dice.
"You know Riley I am getting really sick of this yelling through a door. I want let me see your Riley or I might just use this little blonde for target practice," Dean claims. "Damn it!" Riley says out loud. He now had to ask himself was he willing to risk Mandy's life to protect his own. The simple truth was he wasn't. "To protect and serve," Riley thinks as he steps into the door way aiming his gun. Dean doesn't shoot instead he's got his own weapon pointed right at Mandy's face. Dean's hair was short and he had a beard. Dean had was the kind of guy you could tell he could handle himself in a fight. Hell he looked he enjoyed a good fight. But now there was something about him that looked totally dangerous. "Drop the gun the Riley. I know you. You aren't willing to risk hitting me before I have time to pull the trigger," Dean tells him. Riley drops the gun. "Kick it over here and lets not waste time you back up as well. Riley I know you to well." Riley does as told and kicks both guns over.
"See I told you he would come," Dean says to Mandy. "Is this the part where I am supposed say let her go Dean you got me?" Riley asks mocking Dean. "Well I am a sucker for cheesy action movies," Dean fires back. Mandy couldn't believe this were these two cracking jokes. "Dean I'm sorry," Riley finally says. "Oh your sorry? I went to jail but that is fine because you are sorry. All you had to do was lie again," Dean yells. "I couldn't lie Dean. Think about it Bobby and Mickie were both there so were other cops. Any lie I told would have been exposed. The right move was me to be honest so I could testify in court. Come on Dean think. You got away go tell Renee and you two run off," Riley says. "Not was long as you are breathing," Dean says raising his gun. "Okay you kill me than what? You kill her? Than what?" Riley yells.
"What does it matter you will be dead," Dean reminds him. "Maybe I'm just hoping I can break through the crazy some how," Riley says taking a small step. "Don't move," Dean warns. "You remember the night we had to hold up in this place?" Riley asks still stepping closer. "I said don't move," Dean reminds Riley. "You remember what we talked about? We talked about how hard it was to pull that trigger knowing it would kill someone. And how if you can get clear look into a person's eyes you can tell if they will kill you. Well right now I'm looking into your eyes. I can see your pissed but I don't see a killer," Riley says he lunges forward and grabs the gun. The two men struggle. Mandy struggles to turn so she can see what is going on.
BANG!
Mandy sees Riley fall into her site line holding his side. "Stupid Riley really stupid," Dean taunts before kicking him. Riley yells in pain "What I wanted to do was draw this out a bit. Yet you forced my hand. Hell you made it worse. I would have just shot in the head nice and fast. But no you try to be a hero and I had to hit you in the stomach," Dean yells. Riley pulls his hand away from his stomach and see its covered in blood.