Moment in Time Part 3

Chapter 106

Dead Again

Part 11

Alan opens his eyes and rubs his forehead. "Anyone got an aspirin? I've got a headache you wouldn't believe."

Gwen's jaw gapes. "I don't believe it! I don't f***ing believe it. Are you some sort of alien? Why the hell won't you die?"

Alan pushes himself off the floor. "What happened?"

"She shot you," Rick explains, "in the head. No Kevlar."

Alan gazes pleadingly at Gwen. "How could you do that? I really liked you."

Gwen rolls her eyes. "You're a damn geek, Alan – a geek threatening our whole operation."

"So you're the one who poisoned me?"

"And electrocuted you," Gwen admits. "I was trying to be discreet. My boyfriend Horatio said I should just shoot you in the head, but it looks like that didn't work either. Someone ought to dissect you, like an alien autopsy."

"Dissecting someone while they're still alive is called vivisection," Rick interjects.

"I don't care what it's called! This freak should be in pieces."

"Wait, hold on a minute," Alan protests. "Horatio is your boyfriend? So you didn't really want to go out with me?"

"I would rather date one of Mike's lab rats."

Alan leans against a wall. "And I thought dying was painful."

Rick pats his shoulder. "You can do better, Buddy."

"We should get Alan to the hospital," Ryan suggests. "He does have a hole in his head."

"Yeah, all right," Alan agrees. "Hey, Rick, you think Lanie would want to know what happened – for her records, I mean."

"I'll give her a call," Rick promises.

Dr. Ellins holds up Alan's x-ray. As you can see, the bullet pierced but didn't penetrate the vertical plate of Mr. Master's skull."

"My mother's always said I have a hard head," Alan admits.

Lanie studies the image. "I realize it was only a 22 caliber. But it was fired at point-blank range."

Alan searches her face. "Are you disappointed that I didn't die?"

"Oh, Baby, no!" Lanie protests. "I'm just trying to understand it."

Alan grins at her. "You called me baby. You want to go out sometime?"

Lanie grins back. "Sure, why not? But I'd also love to find out what's keeping you alive. Are you willing to work with me? We might end up saving a lot of people's lives."

Alan's eyes brighten. "That's why I became an inspector! But this could be even better. When do you want to start?"

"As soon as the hospital lets you go. Maybe we can find ourselves someplace cozy for dinner and take it from there," Lanie proposes.

"Anywhere but Boticelli's," Alan agrees.

As Kate paces the floor of the loft, her cell buzzes. She listens for a moment before the call ends.

"We're almost at the deadline. Was that Caleb Brown?" Rick asks.

"No. It was my contact at the DEA. They just arrested Horatio Spate and a few members of the triad. Alan should be in the clear."

"That's great! But you don't look relieved. You still waiting for Brown to flip?"

"Jekyll or Hyde, both of them are smart enough to know that Reed's empire will eventually topple. And Brown could be crushed with it. It's in his best interests to come out of the dark side."

"Ooh, a Star Wars reference. Now I know you're desperate. What if…."

A loud rap sounds from the door. Kate grabs her weapon before opening it. Leaning on the doorjamb, Caleb points to his wristwatch. "Eight o'clock."

Kate motions him into the loft. "So, what have you got for me?" She raises her weapon as he reaches toward his pocket.

"Relax, Kate," the visitor urges, "I'm just getting a phone."

"Why?" Rick demands. "Are you going to call in Reed's mercs on us?"

"No," Caleb responds mildly, "I'm going to give you an opening into the organization. This is the phone on which I receive my instructions. It's secure and encrypted. But I'm sure Kate's pet tech can deal with that. You can trace the communications to their source, the center of operations. The spider should be waiting in the middle of the web."

"And what if Kate gets discovered or stuck on the way to the spider's lair?" Rick questions.

Caleb turns toward Kate. "I warned you that trying to take down Reed would be dangerous. I'm showing you a crack in his wall. How you make use of it or if you make use of it is up to you."

Kate holds out her hand. "Give it to me."

Rick swallows. "Kate, are you sure? Tracking goes both ways. If that thing can lead you to Reed, he could use it to get to you."

"I'll make sure Vikram is careful," Kate assures her husband. "But if I'm ever going to end this, I need to take the chance."

Caleb hands over the phone. "Good luck, Kate. You'll need it. I'll be seeing you – if you live that long."

Rick pulls Kate to him as the door closes behind Caleb. "You could still throw that thing in the East River."

"And then what, Babe? Maybe it's a trap, and Reed knows I have it. But that's all the more reason to track him down and take him out."

"Well, at least put the phone in a Faraday cage until Vikram has a chance to look it over," Rick urges.

"You have one put away somewhere?"

"Alexis built one as a project for her physics class. I think it's still in storage in the basement."

Kate nods. "All right. Let's get it."

Caleb slides behind the wheel of a car and activates a second phone. Reed's voice sounds from the speaker. "Did she take it?"

"She's got it. But Castle's even more suspicious than she is."

"It doesn't matter," Reed replies. "Beckett's completely predictable. Once she gets on the trail of something, she won't quit. So we'll throw Brooks and his people to the wolves. It's a damn sight better than paying them. But you and I won't be anywhere around when it goes down. Beckett will be on the trail of whatever Brooks tells her. But she'll be wasting her time. He doesn't know the true center of operations. And in the meantime, she'll think you gave her good information. She'll be under our control."

"I think you may be underestimating her," Caleb cautions. "And Castle is an additional complication."

"I've got a distraction for Castle. I have ever since he and Beckett made their last trip to LA. If he gets too close, someone he'd never suspect can take him out of the game."

"So, what's my next step?" Caleb asks.

"Just keep up your front. Charm the judges. Be the little guy's savior. With your reputation, if Beckett tries to go after you, no one will believe her. And anything she says about me will be less credible."

"All right," Caleb agrees. "But when are you going to get rid of Beckett and Castle once and for all?"

"When I'm ready," Reed retorts. "That's all you need to know."

Kate nibbles her lip as Rick spoons around her in the sanctuary of their bed. "Are you sure that Faraday cage works?"

"Absolutely. Alexis' teacher tested it thoroughly before he awarded her an A. Her project was the only one that received a top grade that semester. But Kate, that's not what you're worried about, is it?"

"Rick, I hate dragging you into this."

"You didn't drag me. I charged in voluntarily. Partners, remember? Always."

"Always."