Reid took a step back from the wooden crate then turned to see Colm's grinning face. "Do you have all six of them?"
"You know what these are?" Colm asked, pleasantly surprised.
"I can only assume they are the surviving six apostle statues."
"And you would be correct," Colm asserted. "Now, we better get out of here fairly lively."
Reid turned his wrist and checked his watch. "We are under time, but be should make haste," he asserted.
"Grand," Colm secured his treasure than the two of them closed up the container. "Let's get the truck.
The plan was fast in motion. Three identical trucks pulled out of the shipyard, each one carrying a white shipping crate with the same identifying numbers, which were spray-painted on moments earlier. Colm planned an elaborate shell game. He knew he was being watched by not only the local police but several international agencies.
Colm turned to Reid who was behind the wheel. "Okay, we're coming up to the rendezvous just over there."
Reid slowed down the truck and met with Alex's crew for the handoff. Reid jumped out of the cab and shot a look at the team and made a gesture with his eyes to get their attention.
Morgan flew into action. "Hey man, any issues with the truck?"
"The clutch sticks a bit, but it shouldn't be a problem," Reid instantly thought up as a response.
Morgan continued the cover story while Alex approached Colm. "Everything go as planned?" Alex asked.
"Yup, just like walking out of the bank carrying all the money," he gloated.
Alex forced a chuckle. "Well, let us help you get it where it needs to go."
Reid seized the opportunity of Colm being distracted and informed Morgan what they were hauling.
"Well, thanks for bringing it this far," Morgan slapped Reid's hand then returned to Alex with a nod. She knew they would discuss when the coast was clear.
Everyone turned as they heard the motor from Jannon's Jaguar pull up again. He steadily approached Colm and tossed him the keys. "It's been grand all off us together for this bull session, but we gotta move it." Jannon got into the passenger van and quickly left.
"Take care of my cargo, boys!" Colm warned. "And lady," he added to acknowledge Alex. "Time to go get my alibi." He got in the Jag with Reid in the passenger seat, and they peeled out while Alex and crew worked on moving the truck.
Colm shifted the gears as he cautiously sped down N72 back into town. As soon as he reached the outskirts of Killarney, he made a sharp U-turn and pressed even harder on the gas pedal. Colm then nodded to Reid sitting next to him.
Reid pulled out his phone and placed a call. "Hello, I would like to report a speeding car on N72 heading west out of Killarney. It is a white Jaguar. Yes, sir. It is going well above 100k. You should send someone quickly," Reid pressed the end call button just as they asked him for his personal information.
"It won't be long now," Colm smirked as he shifted gears again.
The duo sat waiting for the inevitable when suddenly Reid caught the flashing blue lights in the side mirror. "Here you go, the Garda is on your tail."
"Just one?" Colm chuckled.
A second unit pulled out and joined in the pursuit. "You got your wish," Reid teased as he gripped onto the handle on the door.
"I guess I better pull over then." Colm moved over to the side of the road as the first unit stopped behind him and the second one alongside the Jaguar.
The officer stepped out from his car and put on his hand and steadily approached the vehicle. Colm rolled down his window in anticipation and heard as the footsteps grew nearer. Just as he approached the vehicle, Colm turned to look up at him. "Is there something amiss?"
Morgan was behind the wheel of one of the trucks with Alex between him and Hotch who was finishing his call with Garcia.
Hotch ended the call then turned to them. "They were already speculating that this was about the statues. They have been in contact with Easter and will formulate a long-term plan on how to handle them. The last thing anyone wants is a high-speed chase that could potentially damage the precious cargo."
"With my Baby Girl on it, I'm sure we will get some answers any minute," Morgan assured.
At that moment, Alex's phone rang. "Hey, Dougal, we are right on schedule." Her face dropped as she listened to her sudeo boss. Hotch tilted his head as he watched her process what she was being told. "Understood," she simply replied. Alex ended the call and stared at her phone for a moment.
"What is it?" Hotch leaned in closer to her.
Alex lifted her head slightly and was lost in thought staring at the dashboard. "Dougal said there was a change in plans," she said, with a bit of trepidation.
"What kind of change?" Morgan questioned.
"He wants us to take possession of the real cargo… for him," she answered, still in awe.
"He's planning a coup," Hotch concluded. "He is breaking away from Colm. But why?"
"To go into business for himself," Morgan surmised.
"Why now?" Hotch pondered.
"Oh, of course! It all makes sense!" Alex announced.
"What's that?" Hotch asked.
"I thought it was odd for someone like him to have his own crew, his own headquarters, as it were. He told me that he thinks Colm might be the Dullahan. But I took it as hyperbole." She stopped and then let out a sigh. "Shit, this is even worse than I thought."
"How's that?" Morgan tightened the grip on the steering wheel.
"Because he is setting us up to be the fall guys. We are the outsiders, the Americans, we came into the group, and the moment there is a heist like this, we are the ones who are taking it. He now has a scapegoat if we get discovered. It won't lead back to Dougal; all the fingers will be pointed at us."
"That's what that test was about when he took you to the cliff," Hotch added. "We were trying to figure out why he would go to such lengths just to add you to the crew."
"So, now we know what we have to do," Morgan turned to them.
"What's that?" Alex looked up at him.
"Not get caught."