Moment in Time Part 3

Chapter 60

GDS

Part 4

By now, Rick should be accustomed to Gray's appearance from out of nowhere, but he still finds it unsettling. "That was fast."

"I was in LA."

Rick shakes his head. "I'm not even going to ask you why."

"Good, because I can't tell you. But I have an idea why you're here. Still trying to find your missing time?"

"I think you know I am. So tell me about the temple on Wilshire Blvd. Was I there?"

"It's possible, Rick. We've monitored some activity there. Let's just say that from time to time, it's served as a distribution site."

"For drugs coming in from China?" Kate asks.

"I can't tell you that, Captain Beckett. But I can say that both you and Rick have had contact with the organization involved. And that organization still has eyes both in New York and LA. If Rick insists on digging further, you both need to watch your backs."

"Was that organization involved with my disappearance?" Rick presses.

"Not with your original mission. But it had a tangential involvement that necessitated further intervention."

"Intervention by whom?" Rick demands.

"I don't know."

"How could you not know, Gray?" Rick spits out. "You have your fingers in everything."

Gray shakes his head. "You know better than that, Rick. The agency is compartmentalized. You use that fact in your Storm books. The divisions are the only way to prevent catastrophic breaches when an asset turns. There are whole sections from which I'm completely cut off. A number of our assets also operate almost entirely on their own. The intervention may have been by one of those assets. But if it was, I have no way of confirming it."

Rick smashes his fist against a nearby table. "Then what the f**k can you confirm?"

"That we have a common interest, Austin Elektra."

"How did you…?" Rick leans against a chair. "Never mind. Why is the company interested in Austin Electra?"

"We're interested in anyone with a direct method of passing information to our adversaries. Zenith ships millions of Elektra's movie DVDs to China. Austin could easily encrypt them with messages or even subliminal suggestions."

"And have you found any?" Kate prompts.

"Encrypted messages no, but the subliminal suggestions are there. The Chinese found them too, and they're pretty pissed off because they think the company did it. But we don't bother with that sh*t. That kind of sleaze is strictly Putin's fun time."

"Are you talking about porn?" Rick asks.

"Let's just say suggestions for new forms of amusement that the Chinese consider unnatural."

"So Elektra's a perv?" Rick questions.

Gray rolls his eyes. "I believe Captain Beckett's already figured that out. But he could be a dangerous one. He's more interested in violence than he is in sex, and that's what's really got the Chinese in a lather. If anyone is going to be mutilated, they want to do it themselves. But listen, I've been here too long. Just watch your backs."

As Gray leaves, Rick looks at Kate, the muscles of his jaw tightening. "Maybe it would be better if you didn't show up for tonight's little soiree."

"Babe, what Gray said just ups the chance that Austin's a murderer, and possibly even a serial killer. I can't pull back now. But I had the boys run a quick check on Kendall Frost. Among other things, she's a crack shot and an expert in Krav Maga. If Elektra tries to get out of hand, we can take him down."

"Hey Lanie," Ryan greets the ME, "I got your text."

"And I've got your murder weapon – a picture of it, anyway. I used the autopsies of the Phantom's victims to generate it." She brings up an image on her computer screen.

Ryan studies the rendering. "Hmm, the serrations near the base are pretty distinctive."

"Exactly," Lanie agrees. "You find the knife…."

"We find the killer," Ryan finishes. "Nice work."

"And how about your work, Detective? How's that background check going?"

"Um, pretty good so far."

Lanie's eyes narrow. "I don't like the sound of that."

"No, uh, there's nothing to worry about." Ryan backs up a step. "It's just a rumor." He starts for the door, but Lanie blocks his exit.

"What kind of a rumor? Let's hear it."

"OK, he's got a thing about clowns."

Lanie shrugs. "That's all right. A lot of people are afraid of clowns."

Ryan shakes his head. "No, no, no. He likes them – a lot."

Lanie stares at the cop in confusion. "You mean like a fetish? Oh, good lord!"

"I haven't verified it yet. I need to speak to one of his exes."

Lanie starts back toward her computer. "All right. Just keep me posted."

Kate immediately responds to the ding alerting her to Ryan's text. "Babe, we've got a picture of the murder weapon. If we can find it at Austin Electra's house, we've got him. No matter how well murderers try to clean their tools, they usually miss something. And tissue would stick in the serrations."

Rick cringes. "Ugh. I'm buying a new set of steak knives. But this should work out. While you and Kendall distract Austin, I'll sneak in and look for the fatal blade."

"How are you going to do that?" Kate asks. "A guy like Elektra in Hollywood has to have a first-class security system."

"I thought I'd call my guy in New York for some pointers and…." Rick's phone dings. "Look's like you're not the only one with friends doing research. This is from Gray. It's the schematics of Electra's security setup and the layout of the house. And ooh, look at that, the man's got a secret room. Now, what do you think he keeps in there?"

"Hopefully, something more damning than his porn collection," Kate responds. "But send the plans to our laptops. We can go over them together."

Rick grins. "And Kendall Frost doesn't need to know."

"That's quite an outfit you're almost wearing," Rick comments as Kendall climbs into the backseat of his car. "You've certainly baited the hook."

"I had to, considering it's going to be two against two tonight," Kendall returns.

Rick flashes an innocent look. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, come on, Rick. I know you're planning to sneak into Elektra's house to look for evidence while Kate and I distract him. But if you try," she holds up her phone, "you aren't going to succeed without these."

"What are they?" Kate asks.

"Schematics for Elektra's house."

Rick's eyebrows ripple as Kate holds up their own copy. He winks at Kendall. "I guess great minds think alike. Where'd you get yours?"

"Don't worry your little head about it."

"Believe me," Rick assures her, "I won't."

"But Austin wants Kate and me as a pair," Kendall cautions, "so if you find anything, we share equal credit with the GDS. No double-crosses." She holds out her hand for Rick to shake.

"Deal. Mason Wood has to make us both members of the Society. Let's go!"

Kendall surveys Kate's nude bodysuit and easily detachable wraparound skirt. "Is that what you're wearing?"

"Something like it worked for me last time Rick and I had to catch a killer in LA. I just had to account for a change of surroundings. And from Rick's reaction, I thought it would get Austin's attention."

"Yeah, it probably will," Kendall admits. "We should get to it."