Chapter 33

They're all fussing around talking about this and that, and speculating what the meeting might be about that Maranda called them in for. It better be important because they've all missed their morning coffee at the cafeteria and their morning gossip session. "Good morning Agents." Maranda greeted as Liam, Ryan and two other men followed them into the room. Maranda started handing out files with pictures and a few documents in them for them to read through before they told them what the case was all about. "There's a pipeline of cocaine doing its rounds on the streets and we're bound to find the shipment and stop it before its about to be sold on the streets and destroying the lives of our children." Maranda said as she walked over to the monitor to show them pictures of the guys they're looking for. "For the last 5 years the Burda's main guy has been Ramon Lopez, and he has been isolated and untouchable until now." Ryan said pointing to a picture of the guy on the screen. As most of you know twelve DEA agents have been ambushed earlier this week which is the biggest lost we've had in DEA history for the last three months." Ryan concluded hoping they understood how ruthless the Burda-gang were and that they really didn't care about the lives they destroy in the process. "One of those agents were a good friend of mine, Thomas Johnson. We graduated from the academy together. He was shot 17 times, one for every bad word he uttered against Lopez." Liam said confirming Ryan's thoughts on these guys.

"The Burda's are targeting law enforcement south of the boarder, they've been trying to soften up the guys who are hunting them. They've figured out it works in Mexico and now they think it might just work here. But they're wrong." Ryan said as he scanned the room to look at all the shocked faced in front of him, wondering if they'd be able to handle a case like this so soon into their first few months at the FBI office. "Two hours ago the DEA identified and contacted one of the shooters, Bruno Rodriguez, and tried to cut a deal with him. He agreed to give us the identity of the man who orchestrates every Burda's hit in US soil. Rodriguez reports directly to Lopez and was the master mind behind the DEA attacks. " Ryan said pointing to another picture on the screen of the tall bald headed guy they're onto. They're all scribbling down as much information as they can about what they're given and are trhying to think of solutions on the spot but it's clearly not that easy. "If we can get to Rodriguez to turn on Lopez we can effectively destroy their operation and save countless law enforcement lives." Ryan answered.

They were just about to start processing all this new information when another picture showed in the screen and Maranda gave them even more info to deal with. "Here's another twist to this. Bruno Rodriguez has a wife, Jennifer and a kid Lindsay. They claim to have been greenlit by the Burda's, all three of them which means they're sending a message, and we need to get these family to safety before it all blows up and we have no one to arrest." Maranda said turning to Ryan. "Special Agent Booth will be handling this operation you all report to him when needed. Guys this is serious and we usually don't set time limits on a case but in this one, I'm afraid that we might not even have 24 hours. So we need to get moving." Maranda said and left them to start their research and come up with a plan before the day was over.

Two hours into researching and it felt as if they didn't get anywhere. "I don't know what to look for anymore" Nimah said exasperated as she got up to get them some coffee. "A muffin with that coffee would be awesome, Nimah." Simon said to afraid to look up into her face just hoping she'd buy one regardless. "Whatever cheap ass. Anyone else for a muffin?" She enquired and the rest just shook their heads. "A sandwich, a toasty, a sarnie, a roll." Alex said trying to annoy her friend which she managed to do since Nimah got agitated quickly. "I get it, Parrish. You want a sandwich." Nimah said standing up from her desk to go to the cafeteria. "Correction, it's Booth." Alex said and the rest laughed while Nimah threw a crumpled piece of paper at her friend before going to buy their lunch. They ate at their desks while working because they felt as if they weren't making any progress and they couldn't afford to waste time if people's lives depended on it. "Okay, this is the last resort, but how about we kidnap them. I know it sounds weird but I'm pretty sure it'll work." Simon said as they all looked at him with weird expressions on his face trying to understand just how they'd go about kidnapping the Rodriguez family. He went into Ryan's office to pitch the idea to him and miraculously got the green light.

They all got into the black van that was parked outside and headed towards the Rodriguez house. Caleb driving and Nimah riding shotgun. Shelby, Alex and Caleb sat at the back pulling their balaclavas over their heads as they jump out of the van to enter the house and get the Rodriguez family to safety. They walked into the house, by picking the locks in the door and went upstairs into their bedrooms. Held their hands over their mouths, taped their mouths and led them outside towards the van. They of obviously put up a fight but they managed to get them into the back and closed the doors. They pulled the tapes from their mouths and Rodriguez looked at the three faces covered in balaclavas. "You've just signed your death warrant." He said still not sure who they were, but after that statement they revealed their faces, Shelby knocked on the window and Caleb drove off. "Yours has already been signed." Shelby said as they pulled up outside the FBI office.

It was 12:45 AM when they pulled up at the FBI office and the Rodriguez family had agreed to stay there for the remainder of the night and the morning until they could get them to safety, because for now that was the safest place for the three of them to be.

At 7AM the team pulled up at the office a few hours before their usual starting time, hoping that today would be the day that they'd catch Ramon Lopez. At the reception the lady handed Ryan an envelope with video footage and said some at the DEA's office asked that he have a look at it. He called Maranda to come up to his office so both of them can see what that was all about. The clip was on Lopez and some of his men discussing the fact that Bruno Rodriguez has agreed to turn state's evidence against them and the Burda-gang, exploiting all that they've done up to date. "Rodriguez and his family are luck we got to their house first." Ryan said switching off the footage and hiding it in his drawer. "With the help of his testimony we have a chance to bring down Ramon Lopez, one of the biggest drug suppliers on the coast." He said leaning against the desk, with both hands in the pockets of his pants. "As long as no innocents gets hurt during this case, you have my permission to go ahead." Maranda said as she walked out of his office. "Ryan, be careful." She said as a final remark stopping in the door way before making her way out.

Outside in the lobby Jennifer and Lindsay were sitting on one of the benches, both of them equally scared while Jennifer tried to comfort her daughter who had tears running down her cheeks crying silently while hugging the stuffed animal she brought with. She didn't know what else to do except hug her trying to whisper comforting words in her ear. Ryan went over to them and knelt down in front of the 7 year old Lindsay. "Hey, my name is Ryan. What's yours?" He asked as the little girl looked at him clutching her bear to her chest. "Lindsay." She answered softly. "Lindsay. That's a really nice name. And what's your bear's name?" Ryan asked pointing towards the brown stuffed toy in her arms. "Diego." She replied softly again. "That's a very nice name too. You know Lindsay it's okay to be scared." He said assuring her that all the emotions she's feeling right now is completely normal. "Are we gonna be okay?" She asked on the verge of tears once again. "Yeah, I know you're gonna be okay. Because I'm gonna protect you." He said and she smiled up at him while Jennifer mouthed him a thank you and he smiled at her before leaving the two of them. Once they were done questioning Bruno they all headed outside to get the into the vans and transport them to the safe house,

They had tracking device on all the FBI vehicles so the head office will know exactly where they are at what time and if they're still safe. Once they were all inside and the vans stared moving Jennifer scooted closer to her husband. "Is it true? What they say about you?" She questioned trying her best not to upset her daughter or let her hear the conversation the two of them were having. "We're gonna be okay, just trust me." Bruno said to her without making eye contact or make the two agents who drove at the back with them suspicious. "How am I supposed to trust you? Tell me!" she demanded in a whisper. "Because I love you and Lindsay. That's why." He said hoping she would stop asking questions and that the answer he gave her is enough. They all had their ear pieces in when the radio went off and a voice from head office gave them a warning. They've received a tip off about a bomb threat on the current route that they're on and that the bomb units are guarding the exit points. "It's them." Bruno said resting his head in his hands. "Who's coming?" Lindsay asked from the corner where she was sitting still clutching her bear. "Bruno what's going on. You're scaring your daughter." Ryan tried to get him to notice that she doesn't need to be any more afraid than she already is. "That is not a bomb threat. It's a diversion to pull police resources." Bruno explained and Ryan and Caleb looked at each other. "How do you know that?" Caleb asked.

"Because I train them. That's what I tell them to do" Bruno Rodriguez answered.