"I've got something" Fatima brought some footage up on the screen "This is from a street cam on the corner of your street"
The team watched a large muscular man in a hoodie push a shopping trolley along the side-walk. As he approached Kensi and Deeks house, the man stopped and got something like a flute out of his pocket and put it to his mouth. They saw Deeks step onto the side-walk and fall as he was hit, by what they guessed was the dart. With a little help from the unknown man Deeks fell into the shopping trolley in an untidy heap. The abductor stopped briefly to put Deeks' phone and watch on the garden path. Then the two disappeared out of sight. They couldn't see the man's face, but he seemed to be working alone.
"I'm sorry but I haven't been able to track them any further." Fatima said "but I'll keep trying."
"Excuse me" John Rogers looked at his phone and stepped away from the team.
Sam Callen and Kensi looked at each other, Sam voiced their thoughts " Why do I feel we're just getting the edited highlights?"
"That was the FBI" Rogers returned to the team.
"Good for you" Callen couldn't resist a barb, and got a glare for his trouble.
"I'm trying to help." Rogers frowned "The FBI have located the MacIntyre brothers in LA. They are on their way to their location and we are welcome to join them."
"If Kessler is behind this I think you should stay here" Sam spoke to Kensi, his voice full of concern.
"If Kessler is in custody I need to be out there finding Deeks" Kensi wasn't about to argue and headed to the armoury. The team collected their tactical gear and raced to the address Rogers had given them. None of them were surprised to find they were late to the party. They had missed a shoot out. Rory MacIntyre was being taken into custody and Bruno had been shot dead. Kensi stood by as respectfully as she could while Bruno MacIntyre's body was loaded into the Coroner's vehicle.
Rory MacIntyre looked distraught as he was led to a waiting car with his hands handcuffed behind his back. Sam and Callen stepped in front of him and asked where Deeks had been taken.
"I'm sorry guys, I tried to stop all this. Bruno didn't tell me were he took your friend, I have no idea where he is." MacIntyre shrugged apologetically and continued "Only Bruno knew where he went and these guys killed him" A burly FBI agent hustled him away.
"That's not helpful" Callen said looking from Sam to Kensi "We'll need to work this out. We will find him Kens."
"Look it's late, there's no evidence that he's been harmed or even in immediate danger. Perhaps we should start again tomorrow" Sam tried to sound calm.
"Really!" Kensi turned on Sam "So you would just go to bed if Kam was taken again?"
"Guys! I think I can help" Fatima's voice sounded in their ears "I have something to show you"
"We're on our way"
Fatima and Rowntree were waiting patiently when the team entered Ops.
"You didn't bring pizza?" Rowntree observed, earning a glare from the three agents.
"What have you got?" Kensi asked in her best 'I'm keeping calm' voice.
"Bruno doesn't drive. He had Deeks in a shopping trolley, so we figured he didn't go far" Fatima brought up a aerial view of LA. "We looked to see what empty buildings were in your neighbourhood. There's a lot, most of them are houses but we think Bruno prefers bigger buildings. We narrowed it down to three. The nearest is a Rest Home, closed during the Pandemic. Then there's a motel, owners went bust and a small apartment block"
"Was there a fire at any of them?" Kensi asked.
"Yes, the apartment block, why?" Fatima replied, confused.
"When they loaded MacIntyre's body, I could smell smoke. Deeks is at the apartment block. I'm sure of it" Kensi was animated.
"There is a problem with that one, the building is structurally unsound, it's been declared unsafe to enter."
"Are there any cameras in the area?" Kensi was clutching at straws
"No, the fire damaged them, they haven't been replaced" Fatima shook her head.
"We can have a look at least, I'm sure Deeks is there. Lets go" Callen and Sam looked at each other, shrugged, and followed Kensi out of Ops.
The three storey apartment block was surrounded by singed hedges and temporary fencing. One end of the building was severely damaged but the damage at the other end was minimal. Fortunately the entrance was at the less damaged end. The team parked beside a section of fencing that had been moved to allow access.
"There's a trolley, he has to be here!" Kensi stepped through the gap in the fence and approached the building.
"I think we should wait for the construction team, or at least wait till daylight" Callen tried to keep Kensi calm.
"Well somebody was here and the place didn't fall down, I've got a flashlight I'm going in. If he's here I'm sure he will be near the entrance. Bruno wouldn't have carried him any further than he had to."
Kensi quickly picked the lock of the first door she came to "Deeks" she called. Gingerly Kensi entered the apartment and called again.
Deeks gave up with another battle to get the door open and sank to his knees. He wished he hadn't skipped lunch, never a good idea. Hunger and thirst was making him cranky, though he thought being locked in a room with no light would have the same effect. He knew his captivity was hours rather than days but the seeds of doubt that he might not be found had started to grow in his mind. The first time he thought he heard Kensi call his name, he was convinced he was hallucinating. Next time it was louder, no mistaking.
"In here! In the bathroom!" Deeks shouted, banging on the door. He could hear noises behind the door. Suddenly there was a beam of light.
" Fragglerock" he yelped and covered his face as the longed for light hurt his eyes.