Chapter Twelve: The Heat is Rising
Sacks was not usually the type of man who became overly emotional in any normal situation but this whole scenario had driven him from one end of the scale to the other and he was not done yet. By taking Leeanne Miller from the lab that idiot Fallon had not only seriously upset the plan moving forward but he had put the entire experiment on the line. He had to get her out of the hospital and fast but how to do that without being seen appeared almost impossible. He would have to engage with Kraang, see if they, he, had any thoughts. They were smart after all.
Miss Miller had a police guard on her room; two of them who rotated every two hours, and that meant she was never without company even if was outside the door. He was linked up to security camera system in the hospital which allowed a direct view of said door and the two hourly rotation. On the other half of the computer screen in front of him Sacks found himself glaring at the computerised image of Doctor Mike Fallon.
"You stupid little man" He pressed the delete key to take care of the virtual existance, knowing that Kraang had taken care of the real thing "You don't cross me and live to face another day. Nobody does"
His death was of no consequence to the continuation of the trial and Sacks soon realised that he could actually use it to his advantage and place Fallon in the frame for the killings which had been carried out by a test-controlled Miss Miller. A little stitch up at Fallon's home address should be enough to put that in place. He was just as much a recluse as the girl and as a result it made it easier to class him as the murdering lunatic who had become obsessed with her. Finding, or trying to find, the puller of the trigger which led to Fallon's demise would be something he would leave with the police, after all, Jones was trying to make a name for himself so why not let him try with this. He would have absolutely no hope though. Sacks smiled to himself. No hope what-so-ever. Kraang worked like him, got in quick and left without leaving a trace.
"April!" Michelangelo attempted to squeeze the air out of his all time favourite girl as he embraced her. He pushed his snout into her hair and inhaled.
"Hey Mikey..Can I get some room to breathe please..?" She relaxed her frame and shook out her limbs after he let her go.
"Sorry babe, just happy to see you that's all" Truth was, Michelangelo would have been happy to see anyone. There was a feeling of tension would had settled over the lair and he didn't like it, he didn't like it one bit. Donatello had come out of the dojo with a cut to his face and it didn't take a genius to work out what had happened there. He was desperate to speak to Splinter but was worried about the comeback, again. It was obvious Leo was not happy with him and any excuse would lead to bad things he just knew it.
April sat herself down and glanced around the lair "It's a little quiet here, where is everyone?"
Michelangelo shrugged his shoulders and thumped down next to her popping his feet up on the table "Busy doin' stuff..think D is hiding in the usual place"
"Did he fix the teleport?" asked April as she swung on leg over the other and then put it down.
"Don't!" exclaimed the youngest, holding up his hands: he could really do without Donnie being reminded of that little incident "He has enough to think about.."
"I had some pretty messed up dreams after that energy pulse, anyone else effected like that?" She pulled off her boots and crossed her legs up onto the sofa; now that definitely felt much more comfortable.
"Nope" said Michelangelo quickly "Everyone is fine and dandy"
She observed him for a moment "You sure?"
"A-ha. Perfectly sure.. Anyways, just where is Jones today?"
"Working. He'll be on his way as soon as he can. Has some information for Donatello apparently"
"He giving you any exclusives?"
"Nothing beyond what is permitted, as always" She smiled "He just won't let me have that top story. Don't think Casey is a fan of ratings, in fact, I don't think he puts any value on them"
"Aw, I'm sure he does Angel-cakes, especially when it comes to your reports"
"Hey Leo" At the sound of that name, Michelangelo couldn't help but tense up. His larger brother looked like he had built up more than a sweat so perhaps, mused Mike, he would be a bit calmer now.
"Hey April. How are you?" Leonardo wiped his forehead with a small towel and then slung it over his shoulder
"Good thanks, just discussing the value of a headliner with Mikey"
There wasn't the comeback which Michelangelo was expecting so he relaxed a little
"Casey holding out on you?"
"With all his might"
"Use some womanly charms, works on most males. You'll have him eating out of your hands in no time" He rubbed her shoulder gently as he passed "Would work on me"
Michelangelo's jaw nearly hit the floor - was his brother flirting with April? He didn't know whether to congratulate him or feel upset. April didn't react, instead she turned to her sofa companion and asked for a drink. Michelangelo was up and in the fridge within seconds, Leo, meanwhile had disappeared for a shower the steam and water noise coming from the back gave that away, he hoped that whilst in said shower his brother wouldn't be thinking of anything beyond getting clean.
"Hello guys and...my gal" A bright looking Casey was quickly followed into the lounge by Raphael, who was keen discuss sports news of somesort. Michelangelo quickly delivered the drink, raised a hand at Jones and then snuck off to Donatello's lab. This little distraction would serve him well.
"Knock-knock" He waited tentatively. The door opened a crack and Donatello looked down at him "Casey's here.."
"Oh thanks Mikey"
"Can I come in?"
Donatello hesitated for a moment then stepped back "Just don't touch anything"
"Never ever again" He glanced up to check out his brother's face, it was sporting a band aid "Did Leo do that?"
The door clicked shut and he heard Donatello sigh "In a moment of something... yes he did"
Michelangelo almost ran at him and got a grip on his arms "I knew it, I told you, something is wrong with him, really wrong, earlier, he flirted with April. He never flirts with April!"
"I hardly think that a bit of flirting and a cut to my face warrants a complete shift in personality.."
"But April said she's had weird dreams since the teleportation thingy so what if it was that - messes up your mind or something like that" He regretted reminding Donnie about the teleport incident for all of three seconds but it was out there now and it had to be the reason why Leo was not so Leo.
"Then why weren't you, I or Raph effected?"
Michelangelo pondered his question and then raised a finger "Perhaps because of our brains"
Donatello removed his glasses and polished the lens with a piece of purple cloth as he leaned against his work bench "Meaning?"
"Well.." The youngest picked up a screwdriver from said bench and a began rooting around for something else.
"Mikey, you're touching things" scolded Donatello
"I know! But I gotta!" He picked up another screwdriver and then held the two together "Both the same, but both different" He turned them around to expose the tips "See.." Donatello didn't look impressed but allowed his brother to continue "Like brains. The same but different. Maybe something different in Leo's brain reacted where as ours didn't and don't you dare say it's because I don't have one"
Donatello removed the screwdrivers from his brother's grasp and put them back on the bench "I'm not Raph" he stated
"Exactly" Michelangelo folded his arms over his chest and grinned. The scientist looked down at the bench. At two tools. Could it be? Before he could respond there was a knock, interrupting his thinking. He went to the door and pulled the lock to open it. Casey stood the other side, dressed in plain t-shirt and jeans, obviously just in from the job.
"Have I got some news for you" he began "And I could do with picking your brains buddy"
"No problem, come right this way" Donatello stepped back allowing him to enter
"Can I stay?" asked Michelangelo giving them the puppy dog eyes.
"If you must"
"Hey what about the rest of us?" shouted Leonardo "Isn't it best we all get to hear?"
"Jees" whispered the orange clad turtle "Has he developed super strength hearing now?"
Casey laughed "Doubt it. Think it was more likely Raph told him I was popping to chat with D here" He stepped back out from the doorway "Okay Leo, you have a point, guess I just wanted to get the brain's point of view first but yes, okay, you're a unit"
Leonardo was standing in the middle of the group a stern look on his face.
Not again... thought Michelangelo to himself... Jones better watch what he says, or he might get thrown...which might or might not be a good thing...
"Yes Casey we are a unit and I'm the Leader. Don't forget it okay"
April met Casey's gaze as he held up his hands "Okay, okay, calm down" He avoided directly looking at Leonardo as he sat down next to April, Michelangelo attempted to squeeze on the end but ended up perching uncomfortably on the arm. The rest of them settled in other positions making a somewhat flattened circle. "Right" started Casey "As most if not all of you know we now have Leeanne Miller in hospital"
"Thanks to Donnie" added Raphael under his breath.
"Hashi" replied Donatello simply.
Raphael leaned back in his seat.
"She will be due to be signed out tomorrow and we have a little idea of where we can put her"
"What's with the 'we'? and if you say down here you will be sadly mistaken" Leonardo's eyes were as stern as was his demeanor.
Casey got up "Look Leo, just hear me out okay, this girl, this female could be a key star witness to all the crap that is going down at TCRI, she has a link to the first lot of killings and for all we know may have a link to the second"
"Err, hold on" interrupted April "Second? There's been more?" Everone was now staring at Casey. He ran his hands over his jeans before sitting back down: "Yes. Details will be released tomorrow, the Chief is giving a statement, I am sure your boss will know all about it"
"So why don't I?" pressed April "You said you'd.."
"I'm sorry okay, my hands are tied, you know that"
Donatello shifted uncomfortably in his seat - obviously he also knew all about the second round of murders but he too was bound to silence, another reason why it was difficult to have Michelangelo too involved. With Mikey there was no 'off' switch.
Desperate not to get 'into it' with April in front of the others Casey continued with his intended path by answering Leonardo's question: "'We' is law enforcement Leo and yes I was hoping you may consider having her here"
"Yey!" said Michelangelo "I'm all for it!"
"You would be" growled Raphael
"And why not? April never stays over, it'd be neat having a girl around"
"Have you not forgotten the trouble this one got us into the first time we brought her to the lair?" Leonardo rose to his full height and stepped out of the circle.
"That was an innocent mistake Leo" protested April "I didn't know what Sacks was then. Now I want to take him down as much as the next man"
Casey jumped in to defend her, seeing the obvious hurt on her face "Besides, you guys are not in the same space you were last time, and you're better prepared. But trust me this girl is not a fan of Sacks"
"She given you any hard facts?" Leonardo had now crossed his arms and his jaw was clenched "Because it could all be a cover up, a trick just to get her down here and then 'Boom' say goodbye to lair number two and maybe all of us"
"I think that's a bit of an over-reaction" interjected Donatello "If this girl could help us, could help me, find out what is going on there then surely it is worth a little bit of risk"
"Do you not forget what Shredder did to sensei last time we took a 'risk'? He nearly killed him" spat Leonardo bitterly.
"But Shredder isn't here Leo, and more so he's not likely to be"
The blue banded turtle walked away from the group whilst they all watched. Casey sat down next to April and put an arm about her shoulders trying to give a little comfort. When Leonardo turned back round and strode back he was rubbing his face with the flat of his palm "Fair enough. Do what you want...but just don't and I mean DO NOT come whining to me when I am proven right"
Nobody knew what to say until Michelangelo posed a question: "How about we ask dad? If he says yes then surely..."
Even Leo couldn't say no to that. Splinter did let them make their own decisions and he did step back but where the safety of the family unit was concerned he would always get final say and Casey hoped, no prayed, that he would say yes.