The lone figure slipped out of the shadows and drifted away. He had things to do, people to see. Circling around the block to come up to the back of the house being watched, he slipped a gun from his jacket and checked the clip. Fishing a key ring from his trouser pocket, he sorted through them until he found the right one. Making sure he couldn't be seen from the van parked on the street, he inserted the key into the lock and quietly stepped inside. His lover gave a squeal of surprise when she saw him walk through the door. He smiled and placed a finger to his lips, silencing her in case the place was bugged.
Using a writing tablet, he worked out a plan of action. It would require using the girl as bait, but she'd keep her mouth shut. He had her in the palm of his hand. Besides, she wanted a share of the money.
Once she understood her part, he gave her a quick kiss and left the same way he had come. Walking quickly to the nearest payphone, he punched in her number and let it ring a couple times. Just long enough for her Caller ID to get the number, then he hung up. He waited for her to call.
The phone was ringing. Harvey pressed two fingers to his earphone and ducked his head, listening. When he heard Laura Becket answer, he motioned for Evan. "Hey, she's got a call."
Slipping his own earphones onto his head, Evan glanced at his partner. Harvey had already started the trace. The phone only rang twice then the call was disconnected. Seeing the shake of Harvey's head, he knew it wasn't long enough. Evan noted the time on the log, anyway. A moment later, they both heard the outgoing call coming from Becket's house.
At the sound of the familiar voice, Harvey sat up straight and waved a hand at Evan to indicate that their mark had called. They listened to the conversation eagerly.
"Honey, I'm so glad you finally called. I was getting worried."
"Listen baby, I need you to do me a favor. I need you to bring me some cash and I need to borrow your car, okay? You know where to come."
"I don't have much cash, but I'll stop at the ATM on the way. I'll be there in about twenty minutes or so. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Laura. I'll be waiting for you." (Click.)
Typing what they'd overheard into the log, Harvey motioned for Evan to take the driver's seat. They'd follow Laura Becket and hope she would lead them straight to David Winwood. Just as Harvey crawled up front with Evan, they saw Laura step out and lock her door. She looked around then headed straight for her car.
They followed Winwood's mistress as she stopped and withdrew some cash from an ATM machine then headed south again. When she finally parked her car, Evan pulled out his cell phone and called the location into dispatch. Slipping quietly out of the surveillance van, Harvey and Evan followed the young woman. They almost lost her when she ducked around a corner, but saw her again as she neared the end of a narrow alley, tucked between two empty buildings.
Laura was standing in front of a darkened doorway, talking and gesturing widely. Exchanging looks, needing no words, Evan and Harvey drew their weapons and walked silently toward the woman, keeping to the shadows. So intent on the conversation ahead of them, neither was prepared for what happened next.
Harvey, walking just behind Evan, heard a slight sound to his right and spun around. Having only a split-second to react, he turned his head and barely got his arm up to deflect the blow. It wasn't enough. The board glanced off his forearm and made contact with the side of his head. He hit the ground and almost literally saw stars. He shook his head in a desperate attempt to clear the fog that seemed to immediately settle on his brain. He couldn't seem to get his arms and legs to coordinate their movements. He dimly heard the sound of another blow, and was momentarily surprised to not feel additional pain somewhere. Then he remembered Evan.
Unaware of anyone hiding in the doorway they'd just past, Evan was startled at the thud and grunt of pain he heard from Harvey, a few steps behind him. Turning around, he doubled over as the board made contact with his ribs. His left side was on fire and he couldn't draw in much-needed air. It felt like his lungs had deflated like a balloon. He opened and closed his mouth like a fish, until the air finally rushed back into his lungs. That wasn't much better. The pain flared across his chest and side and Evan knew he'd cracked a couple ribs, if not broken them. This was 'not' good.
The cold barrel of a handgun was pressed against Evan's head. He felt the warm brush of air, as someone spoke into his ear.
"Move, and I kill you and your partner. Cooperate with me and you both may walk out of this alive."
Getting his breathing under control, Evan nodded. He glanced over to Harvey, trying to get up off the ground. "Harv, are you okay?"
Still trying to speed up his thought processes, it took a few seconds for Harvey to answer even such a simple question. "Uh, yeah Evan, I'm okay."
Tucking Evan's gun into his own pocket, Winwood handcuffed Evan's hands behind his back. Passing his weapon to Laura, he had her keep it trained on Harvey. Leaning down to search him, Winwood gave Harvey a wicked smile.
"Well, well, Inspector. Seems every time you and I meet, you end up on the ground. I would advise you to cooperate with me tonight. I wouldn't want you to be responsible for your young partner's untimely death. Would you?" Chuckling at the glare he received from the Inspector, he pulled a pair of handcuffs from Harvey's pocket. Cuffing Harvey's wrists in the same manner as Evan, Winwood grabbed him by the arm and hauled him to his feet.
Taking his gun back from Laura, he told her to go home then prodded the two Inspectors ahead of him. Taking them back to the surveillance van, he pushed them against the side. He opened the passenger door and gave Evan a shove. Trying to climb up into the passenger seat with cracked ribs and his hands cuffed behind his back wasn't easy, but he finally slid into the seat.
"Inspector, if you so much as move an inch, I'll shoot Mr. Leek. Do I make myself clear."
"Crystal." Evan narrowed his eyes in anger. He'd like nothing better than to wrap his hands around Winwood's neck.
Locking the door, David slammed it shut and turned to his other captive. Opening the side door, he manhandled Harvey into the back. Pushing him to the floor, David removed Harvey's tie and used it to tie his ankles together. "Now, you be a good little cop and stay out of trouble. Remember...I'll have your partner up front with me. Wouldn't want anything to happen to him, now would we?" He gave Harvey a parting kick and left to get in the driver's seat. "Damn interfering cop."
Rolling his eyes at their predicament, Harvey looked up at all the computer equipment above his head. It might as well be on the moon. There was no way he could get to it without Winwood noticing, and he couldn't risk anything happening to Evan. He felt a lurch as the van spurted forward. Their captor was in a hurry, apparently, and Harvey had to brace his bound feet against a pole to keep from being tossed about. He hoped someone realized they were missing...and soon.
Evan had pretty much the same thoughts, as Winwood drove behind an old, dilapidated building. Winwood parked the truck and walked around the front to the passenger side. Pulling Evan from his seat, he ordered him to open the side door and help Harvey out.
Untying his partner's ankles, Evan looked him over. "You okay, Harv?"
Wincing as he blood returned to his feet, Harvey shrugged. "Yeah. What about you? The way you're moving, I'm guessing you got some busted ribs."
"Yeah, maybe. That's probably the least of our worries." Evan sucked in a quick breath, and instantly regretted it, when David pushed him roughly aside. "Stop talking. You...Leek...get out of the van and join your partner."
Looking around as they were prodded into the old building, Evan hoped it didn't fall down on them. It looked like a good, stiff wind would knock it down. Stumbling over the debris littering the grimy floor, he blinked in the dimness, trying to find any opportunity to overpower Winwood. None came.
He was shoved inside a small windowless room, Harvey pushed right behind him. They both turned to glare at their captor, who laughed harshly. "Well, boys, this is the end of the line. Maybe someone will find you, maybe not. Doesn't matter to me, in any case. You know, Inspector Leek, we should stop meeting this way." Laughing at his own joke, Winwood slammed the door shut, and the two handcuffed men inside heard the bolt slide home with a loud click.
Listening as Winwood's footsteps faded away, Harvey walked over to lean against the back wall with a sigh. "Well, we're in a helluva mess this time."
Pacing the tiny room, Evan shook his head in disgust. "I don't suppose Winwood missed your handcuff key."
He'd only been dimly aware of being searched, but Harvey was fairly certain Winwood wouldn't have missed something like that. "I don't know. Check my pockets and see. It's worth a shot, I guess."
Maneuvering so that Evan could get his cuffed hand into Harvey's pocket took a little doing, but they finally figured it out. It proved to be a fruitless search, however.
Sliding his back down the wall to sit on the floor, Evan couldn't see much of anything in the dark room. Only the cracks in the wooden floor above let in any light. He could hear Harvey pacing, leaning his shoulder against the wall as he walked to keep oriented in the darkness. Five steps down, five steps back, his jacket making a slithering noise against the wall.
"Stop pacing, will ya? All you're going to do is tire yourself out." The sound of pacing didn't even pause. He thought he could hear Harvey's breathing increase. "Harvey? Harvey!"
The shuffling sound stopped a moment. "What?"
"Stop pacing. You're going to get tired, plus drive me nuts." His partner's breathing appeared to get even faster. "Harvey?"
Trying to smother his mounting anxiety, Harvey took a deep, shaky breath. "Evan, we've got to get out of here."
Rolling his eyes, even though Harvey couldn't see it, Evan snorted in disgust. "Tell me something I 'don't' know, Harv."
Harvey shook his head, taking another shaky breath. "No, you don't understand. I've GOT to get out of here. This room's too small. There's not enough air, Evan."
"Oh, damn. Your claustrophobia, I forgot about it. Look, Harv, just try to relax. This room's not airtight and you know it. There's plenty of air. We'll get out of this room, I promise. You just have to stay calm, okay?"
"Calm. Yeah, I can do calm." Yeah, right, he thought. You're gonna flip out and you know it. Harvey resumed his pacing. At least it gave him something to do.
Unknowingly copying Harvey, Joe paced the floor, holding the cordless phone to his ear and waving an arm in frustration. "What do you mean you found the surveillance van abandoned? Where? They called in when? Where were they? Okay, okay. So nobody's heard from them since then? Alright, this is what we're going to do. Get somebody over to Laura Becket's house and bring her in. Get the CSU people to go over the surveillance van with a fine-toothed comb, and find out if anyone saw the van being dropped off."
Joe hung up and glanced at his watch. It was a little after midnight. With a resigned sigh, he dialed Nash's cell phone.
"Nash Bridges."
"Uh, Nash, we have a problem."
"Bubba, why do I get the feeling I'm not gonna like what you have to say?"
"Probably 'cause you're not. A patrol just found the surveillance van abandoned...across the city from Laura Becket's place."
"What?! What about Evan and Michelle?"
"Um, Nashman, it's not actually Evan and Michelle. It's Evan and Harvey."
"Harvey? What was he doing there? He should be home right now."
"I know, Bubba, but Michelle's mother fell again and Michelle had to go meet her at the ER. I couldn't get anybody and Harvey said he was going nuts at home and was glad to do it. I'm home alone with Lucia, again."
"Alright, look, find somebody to keep Lucia, or bring her with you, but meet me at the SIU."
"You got it, Nash. See you there."
Nash closed the phone and dropped it in his jacket pocket. He could feel the stare coming from Barbara, sitting next to him in the 'Cuda. "Listen, Barbara, I need to get over to the SIU right now. Two of my men are missing. I'll find someone to take you home, or get you a taxi or something.'
She continued to stare at him for a moment then frowned slightly. "Tell me you have more than one Inspector named Harvey."
Busted! Nash sighed. He really didn't want to argue with her at the moment. "No, it's the same Harvey Leek. There was an emergency and he went to cover a few hours on surveillance. Something happened, though, because a patrol found the surveillance van abandoned, with no sign of my men."
Barbara smiled and rested a hand on Nash's arm. "You cops are all alike. I didn't really expect him to wait very long before coming back to work. I just hope you find them and, if you don't mind, I'd like to stick around the ferry until you hear something."
Giving her hand a squeeze, he smiled. "You're one in a million, Barbara. You're welcome to stay, but we could be up all night."
"It wouldn't be the first time I pulled an all-nighter."
When they got to the SIU, two officers were just bringing in Laura Becket. Nash had them take her to interrogation and gestured to Barbara to take his desk. "Why don't you wait here. I'll let you know if we find out anything."
After fixing himself what he was sure was just the first of many coffees that night, Nash strode over to the interrogation table. Laura Becket was sitting at the table, staring at her hands. To Nash, she had guilt written all over her. Guilty of what, was the question. He stood opposite, staring at her and calmly sipping his coffee, letting her sweat a few minutes. He was about to start asking her questions, when a movement out to the corner of his eye caught his attention.
"Joe, that was faster than I thought. What did you do with Lucia?"
"Your date is watching her for me. Barbara seems like a real nice lady." He nodded at the young lady sitting at the table. "This Laura Becket?"
"This would be she, Joe. I was just about to ask her what she's been doing tonight. Shall we?"
"Let's."
They both took a seat and stared at the unfortunate young lady. Nash sipped his coffee then set the cup down. "Now, Miss Becket. Suppose you tell me what happened to the two officers that were sitting across from your house. And don't tell me you don't know. We know for a fact that they were following you to a meeting with your boyfriend, David Winwood."
Joe chuckled at the startled look of panic that settled on her face. "That's right, one of the officers called the address into dispatch and that they were about to apprehend Winwood. Only that's the last anyone's heard from them, and we found the surveillance van."
Leaning forward and lowering his voice threateningly, Nash narrowed his eyes. "If anything has happened to those two Inspectors, you will be convicted of accessory. Do you understand me? Help yourself. Tell us what you know, and it will go a whole lot easier for you. I don't think you'd have a good time in prison, if you know what I mean."
When she still hesitated, Joe slammed a hand on the table, startling her. "Winwood set you up as bait, young lady. He left you to take the fall. Wise up and tell us what we need to know!"
Nash sat back in his chair and gave Laura a pitying look. "Sister, you are in more trouble than you can possibly imagine. We're showing you a way out. I suggest you use it."
When she spoke, they almost didn't catch it. She spoke softly and haltingly. She told them everything. "I told you where David is, but I don't know what he did with those cops. He drove them away in that truck they were in. I don't know where he went. I swear it's the truth."
"Sister, it better be the truth." Gesturing to the uniformed officer standing off to the side, Nash indicated for him to take her back to holding. "Joe, take some backup and go get Winwood."
"I'm on it, Bubba."
Standing by the table, staring out at the water, Nash ran a hand over his face. Man, this case is gonna give me an ulcer, he thought sourly. I sure hope Evan and Harvey are okay.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Evan sighed as Harvey once again kicked the door. "Harvey! If you don't stop that you're going to break something. And I don't mean the door."
He watched as Harvey stopped, panting, for a moment. It didn't last. Harvey swung a leg up and kicked the door again, grunting with the effort. Evan rolled his eyes. If they didn't find a way out of there soon, he was going to have to find a way to knock his partner out...for both their sanities.
Think! Think! Suddenly Evan groaned. "Damn, why didn't I remember it before? Harvey! Harv, come over here." He sighed with relief when he finally got his partner's attention. Harvey shuffled over and stopped, panting for breath. "Harvey, I've got a couple paperclips in my left pocket. See if you can fish them out."
It took some contorting, but Harvey got the paperclips and handed one to Evan. They carefully straightened the little clips, and Harvey handed his to Evan. They stood back to back and Evan felt around with his fingers until he could poke the wires into the keyhole of Harvey's handcuffs. When his hands started to cramp, Harvey took the wires and worked on Evan's cuffs. Just when he was about to give up and return them to Evan, he felt the tiny mechanism begin to move.
"Oh, yeah. C'mon, c'mon baby. I think I've got it, Evan." There was a soft click and Evan's right arm came free.
"Oh, man. That's so much better." Evan rotated his shoulders a few times then went to work on Harvey's handcuffs. It was much easier with his hands free and this time he got the cuffs open.
Harvey massaged his wrists and walked back over to the door. "Well, our hands are free...but we're still stuck in this damn room."
Evan joined him and examined the door. The hinges were on the inside. Now that their hands were free, maybe they could somehow pry the hinge pins free. He pulled his wallet from his back pocket, removed a credit card and went to work.
When he realized what Evan was doing, Harvey also dug out a credit card. Kneeling next to his partner, he started on the bottom hinge. It was painstaking work. When he finally got the hinge moved enough, he traded the card for a quarter. The quarter would work much better. Evan did the same.
"Hey, Harvey. Have you always been claustrophobic?"
Wiping the sweat off his forehead with his sleeve, Harvey shook his head. "No, not always. It started when I was a kid."
Evan's fingers began to cramp, so he switched the quarter to the other hand. "Yeah? Did something happen? I mean, people don't just suddenly get claustrophobic do they?"
"No." Harvey sighed and sat back on his heels for a moment. "I was eight years old. A bunch of us kids were hanging around the local junkyard one day. It was summer and we were bored. Somebody suggested we play hide-and-seek in the junkyard. Lots of great places to hide there, right? Well, I found a great place to hide, all right. It was almost too good. I had found an old refrigerator and, by the time my friend Peter found me, I was out of air. Peter told me afterwards that when he opened the door and my body came flying out, he almost peed his pants. Another minute in that refrigerator and I would have stopped breathing."
Harvey went back to prying on the hinge pin. "Scared the hell out of me. Of course, when my parents found out...well let's just say I was in deep ca-ca. I've been claustrophobic ever since."
"Damn, Harv. I would be, too."
They worked in companionable silence, slowly working the rusty pins free from the hinges. It seemed to take forever. When he got it pried out enough, Evan used the handcuffs to try to pull the pin free. When the hinge finally released its hold on the pin, Evan was caught off-guard.
"Harvey, it worked! Mine's free."
"That's great, Ev. Give me a hand with this one, will you?"
Working together, it only took a few more minutes to pull the stubborn pin free. It took a few tugs to get the door to separate from the jam, but they got it open.
Slapping Harvey on the back, Evan smiled. "You first, Harv. Let's blow this pop stand."
Stepping over the door, Harvey stumbled out into the hall and gulped in the fresh air. Freedom!
When Evan joined him in the hall, he pointed to the left. "I think the exit's that way. Let's get out of here, shall we?"
"Lead the way, brother."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Joe brought in Winwood, Nash had him taken to interrogation. "So this is David Winwood."
"That's him, Nashman. Not much to look at, I admit."
Nash sat on the corner of the table and smiled. "Joe, the CSU boys just called a minute ago. Guess whose fingerprints were found on the driver's side seatbelt?"
"Why, I don't know, Nash. Could it be...David Winwood's?
"Well, you got it right in one try, Joseph. Congratulations." Nash leaned closer to Winwood, his smile disappearing. "We have Laura Becket. She told us everything. Now, I'd advise you to come clean with us, before things get even worse for you."
David Winwood stared innocently back. "I don't know what you are talking about, but I'm not saying anything without a lawyer."
Standing up and placing his hands on the table, Nash frowned angrily. "You listen to me, Bubba. You've done something with my Inspectors and you'd better tell me where they are or I'll make sure you get into the toughest prison in California. You get my drift?"
"I'm not talking without my lawyer."
"Get him out of here!"
Joe went to stand next to Nash, his arms crossed over his chest. "Well, Nashman, now what?"
Nash headed back to his desk, shaking his head. "Well, Bubba, now we search every damn empty building in San Francisco until we find them." He was about to let Barbara know what was happening, when a commotion at the door drew his attention. "I don't believe it."
Joe and Barbara both turned around to see what Nash was looking at. Joe's jaw dropped in surprise. Harvey and Evan had just walked in the door. Their clothes and faces were streaked with dirt and they each had handcuffs dangling from one wrist, but they looked okay.
When the two reached his desk, Nash smiled and shook his head. "How did you get here?"
Harvey shrugged. "We took a taxi."
"I didn't mean literally, you knucklehead." Nash laughed, just grateful the two were home safe.
"Well, boss, it's a long story. Winwood..."
"We've got that meathead in holding." Nash interrupted.
Evan smiled with satisfaction. "Good. How'd you get him, anyway?"
"Joe picked up Laura Becket and she rolled over on Winwood. Told us the whole story. We nabbed Winwood, but couldn't get anything out of him. Of course, now we don't need him and he gets no deal. Karma."
Looking at the bedraggled pair, Joe raised an eyebrow. "You two okay?"
"I think they both need to go get checked out, Nash."
All four men turned toward the new voice to see Barbara standing there. Harvey shook his head, envisioning another sleepless night in the hospital. "Oh, no. I'm fine...just tired, dirty and hungry. I can take care of all that at home." He wondered if he should mention Evan's ribs, but one look from his partner told him the answer to that one. No.
Unfortunately, Joe ruined it for both of them. He nudged Evan with his elbow when he moved aside to let someone by. Evan couldn't stop the wince of pain that caused, and Barbara saw it.
"I saw that Inspector Cortez. That settles it. I'll make sure you two aren't cleared for duty, unless you go to the ER with me to be checked out."
Smiling at the way she had Evan and Harvey cornered, Nash shrugged. 'You heard the lady, boys. I don't see as you have a choice...do you? C'mon, I'll drive you three to the hospital."
He took Barbara's arm and led her off the ferry, listening to Harvey and Evan grumbling behind them.
"She's YOUR doctor, Harv."
"You're blaming ME? I had it made, 'til you got her attention."
"It's not MY fault, Harvey."
Nash overheard their arguing and leaned over to Barbara, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I don't know. Maybe we'd be better off if they hadn't gotten free."
Barbara giggled and slapped his arm. "Nash, you don't mean it, and you know it."
Imagining the things that could have happened, Nash gave her hand a small squeeze. "Yeah, I do know it."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
END
* 'Box of Rain', by The Grateful Dead. (One of my favorite songs.G)
Using a writing tablet, he worked out a plan of action. It would require using the girl as bait, but she'd keep her mouth shut. He had her in the palm of his hand. Besides, she wanted a share of the money.
Once she understood her part, he gave her a quick kiss and left the same way he had come. Walking quickly to the nearest payphone, he punched in her number and let it ring a couple times. Just long enough for her Caller ID to get the number, then he hung up. He waited for her to call.
The phone was ringing. Harvey pressed two fingers to his earphone and ducked his head, listening. When he heard Laura Becket answer, he motioned for Evan. "Hey, she's got a call."
Slipping his own earphones onto his head, Evan glanced at his partner. Harvey had already started the trace. The phone only rang twice then the call was disconnected. Seeing the shake of Harvey's head, he knew it wasn't long enough. Evan noted the time on the log, anyway. A moment later, they both heard the outgoing call coming from Becket's house.
At the sound of the familiar voice, Harvey sat up straight and waved a hand at Evan to indicate that their mark had called. They listened to the conversation eagerly.
"Honey, I'm so glad you finally called. I was getting worried."
"Listen baby, I need you to do me a favor. I need you to bring me some cash and I need to borrow your car, okay? You know where to come."
"I don't have much cash, but I'll stop at the ATM on the way. I'll be there in about twenty minutes or so. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Laura. I'll be waiting for you." (Click.)
Typing what they'd overheard into the log, Harvey motioned for Evan to take the driver's seat. They'd follow Laura Becket and hope she would lead them straight to David Winwood. Just as Harvey crawled up front with Evan, they saw Laura step out and lock her door. She looked around then headed straight for her car.
They followed Winwood's mistress as she stopped and withdrew some cash from an ATM machine then headed south again. When she finally parked her car, Evan pulled out his cell phone and called the location into dispatch. Slipping quietly out of the surveillance van, Harvey and Evan followed the young woman. They almost lost her when she ducked around a corner, but saw her again as she neared the end of a narrow alley, tucked between two empty buildings.
Laura was standing in front of a darkened doorway, talking and gesturing widely. Exchanging looks, needing no words, Evan and Harvey drew their weapons and walked silently toward the woman, keeping to the shadows. So intent on the conversation ahead of them, neither was prepared for what happened next.
Harvey, walking just behind Evan, heard a slight sound to his right and spun around. Having only a split-second to react, he turned his head and barely got his arm up to deflect the blow. It wasn't enough. The board glanced off his forearm and made contact with the side of his head. He hit the ground and almost literally saw stars. He shook his head in a desperate attempt to clear the fog that seemed to immediately settle on his brain. He couldn't seem to get his arms and legs to coordinate their movements. He dimly heard the sound of another blow, and was momentarily surprised to not feel additional pain somewhere. Then he remembered Evan.
Unaware of anyone hiding in the doorway they'd just past, Evan was startled at the thud and grunt of pain he heard from Harvey, a few steps behind him. Turning around, he doubled over as the board made contact with his ribs. His left side was on fire and he couldn't draw in much-needed air. It felt like his lungs had deflated like a balloon. He opened and closed his mouth like a fish, until the air finally rushed back into his lungs. That wasn't much better. The pain flared across his chest and side and Evan knew he'd cracked a couple ribs, if not broken them. This was 'not' good.
The cold barrel of a handgun was pressed against Evan's head. He felt the warm brush of air, as someone spoke into his ear.
"Move, and I kill you and your partner. Cooperate with me and you both may walk out of this alive."
Getting his breathing under control, Evan nodded. He glanced over to Harvey, trying to get up off the ground. "Harv, are you okay?"
Still trying to speed up his thought processes, it took a few seconds for Harvey to answer even such a simple question. "Uh, yeah Evan, I'm okay."
Tucking Evan's gun into his own pocket, Winwood handcuffed Evan's hands behind his back. Passing his weapon to Laura, he had her keep it trained on Harvey. Leaning down to search him, Winwood gave Harvey a wicked smile.
"Well, well, Inspector. Seems every time you and I meet, you end up on the ground. I would advise you to cooperate with me tonight. I wouldn't want you to be responsible for your young partner's untimely death. Would you?" Chuckling at the glare he received from the Inspector, he pulled a pair of handcuffs from Harvey's pocket. Cuffing Harvey's wrists in the same manner as Evan, Winwood grabbed him by the arm and hauled him to his feet.
Taking his gun back from Laura, he told her to go home then prodded the two Inspectors ahead of him. Taking them back to the surveillance van, he pushed them against the side. He opened the passenger door and gave Evan a shove. Trying to climb up into the passenger seat with cracked ribs and his hands cuffed behind his back wasn't easy, but he finally slid into the seat.
"Inspector, if you so much as move an inch, I'll shoot Mr. Leek. Do I make myself clear."
"Crystal." Evan narrowed his eyes in anger. He'd like nothing better than to wrap his hands around Winwood's neck.
Locking the door, David slammed it shut and turned to his other captive. Opening the side door, he manhandled Harvey into the back. Pushing him to the floor, David removed Harvey's tie and used it to tie his ankles together. "Now, you be a good little cop and stay out of trouble. Remember...I'll have your partner up front with me. Wouldn't want anything to happen to him, now would we?" He gave Harvey a parting kick and left to get in the driver's seat. "Damn interfering cop."
Rolling his eyes at their predicament, Harvey looked up at all the computer equipment above his head. It might as well be on the moon. There was no way he could get to it without Winwood noticing, and he couldn't risk anything happening to Evan. He felt a lurch as the van spurted forward. Their captor was in a hurry, apparently, and Harvey had to brace his bound feet against a pole to keep from being tossed about. He hoped someone realized they were missing...and soon.
Evan had pretty much the same thoughts, as Winwood drove behind an old, dilapidated building. Winwood parked the truck and walked around the front to the passenger side. Pulling Evan from his seat, he ordered him to open the side door and help Harvey out.
Untying his partner's ankles, Evan looked him over. "You okay, Harv?"
Wincing as he blood returned to his feet, Harvey shrugged. "Yeah. What about you? The way you're moving, I'm guessing you got some busted ribs."
"Yeah, maybe. That's probably the least of our worries." Evan sucked in a quick breath, and instantly regretted it, when David pushed him roughly aside. "Stop talking. You...Leek...get out of the van and join your partner."
Looking around as they were prodded into the old building, Evan hoped it didn't fall down on them. It looked like a good, stiff wind would knock it down. Stumbling over the debris littering the grimy floor, he blinked in the dimness, trying to find any opportunity to overpower Winwood. None came.
He was shoved inside a small windowless room, Harvey pushed right behind him. They both turned to glare at their captor, who laughed harshly. "Well, boys, this is the end of the line. Maybe someone will find you, maybe not. Doesn't matter to me, in any case. You know, Inspector Leek, we should stop meeting this way." Laughing at his own joke, Winwood slammed the door shut, and the two handcuffed men inside heard the bolt slide home with a loud click.
Listening as Winwood's footsteps faded away, Harvey walked over to lean against the back wall with a sigh. "Well, we're in a helluva mess this time."
Pacing the tiny room, Evan shook his head in disgust. "I don't suppose Winwood missed your handcuff key."
He'd only been dimly aware of being searched, but Harvey was fairly certain Winwood wouldn't have missed something like that. "I don't know. Check my pockets and see. It's worth a shot, I guess."
Maneuvering so that Evan could get his cuffed hand into Harvey's pocket took a little doing, but they finally figured it out. It proved to be a fruitless search, however.
Sliding his back down the wall to sit on the floor, Evan couldn't see much of anything in the dark room. Only the cracks in the wooden floor above let in any light. He could hear Harvey pacing, leaning his shoulder against the wall as he walked to keep oriented in the darkness. Five steps down, five steps back, his jacket making a slithering noise against the wall.
"Stop pacing, will ya? All you're going to do is tire yourself out." The sound of pacing didn't even pause. He thought he could hear Harvey's breathing increase. "Harvey? Harvey!"
The shuffling sound stopped a moment. "What?"
"Stop pacing. You're going to get tired, plus drive me nuts." His partner's breathing appeared to get even faster. "Harvey?"
Trying to smother his mounting anxiety, Harvey took a deep, shaky breath. "Evan, we've got to get out of here."
Rolling his eyes, even though Harvey couldn't see it, Evan snorted in disgust. "Tell me something I 'don't' know, Harv."
Harvey shook his head, taking another shaky breath. "No, you don't understand. I've GOT to get out of here. This room's too small. There's not enough air, Evan."
"Oh, damn. Your claustrophobia, I forgot about it. Look, Harv, just try to relax. This room's not airtight and you know it. There's plenty of air. We'll get out of this room, I promise. You just have to stay calm, okay?"
"Calm. Yeah, I can do calm." Yeah, right, he thought. You're gonna flip out and you know it. Harvey resumed his pacing. At least it gave him something to do.
Unknowingly copying Harvey, Joe paced the floor, holding the cordless phone to his ear and waving an arm in frustration. "What do you mean you found the surveillance van abandoned? Where? They called in when? Where were they? Okay, okay. So nobody's heard from them since then? Alright, this is what we're going to do. Get somebody over to Laura Becket's house and bring her in. Get the CSU people to go over the surveillance van with a fine-toothed comb, and find out if anyone saw the van being dropped off."
Joe hung up and glanced at his watch. It was a little after midnight. With a resigned sigh, he dialed Nash's cell phone.
"Nash Bridges."
"Uh, Nash, we have a problem."
"Bubba, why do I get the feeling I'm not gonna like what you have to say?"
"Probably 'cause you're not. A patrol just found the surveillance van abandoned...across the city from Laura Becket's place."
"What?! What about Evan and Michelle?"
"Um, Nashman, it's not actually Evan and Michelle. It's Evan and Harvey."
"Harvey? What was he doing there? He should be home right now."
"I know, Bubba, but Michelle's mother fell again and Michelle had to go meet her at the ER. I couldn't get anybody and Harvey said he was going nuts at home and was glad to do it. I'm home alone with Lucia, again."
"Alright, look, find somebody to keep Lucia, or bring her with you, but meet me at the SIU."
"You got it, Nash. See you there."
Nash closed the phone and dropped it in his jacket pocket. He could feel the stare coming from Barbara, sitting next to him in the 'Cuda. "Listen, Barbara, I need to get over to the SIU right now. Two of my men are missing. I'll find someone to take you home, or get you a taxi or something.'
She continued to stare at him for a moment then frowned slightly. "Tell me you have more than one Inspector named Harvey."
Busted! Nash sighed. He really didn't want to argue with her at the moment. "No, it's the same Harvey Leek. There was an emergency and he went to cover a few hours on surveillance. Something happened, though, because a patrol found the surveillance van abandoned, with no sign of my men."
Barbara smiled and rested a hand on Nash's arm. "You cops are all alike. I didn't really expect him to wait very long before coming back to work. I just hope you find them and, if you don't mind, I'd like to stick around the ferry until you hear something."
Giving her hand a squeeze, he smiled. "You're one in a million, Barbara. You're welcome to stay, but we could be up all night."
"It wouldn't be the first time I pulled an all-nighter."
When they got to the SIU, two officers were just bringing in Laura Becket. Nash had them take her to interrogation and gestured to Barbara to take his desk. "Why don't you wait here. I'll let you know if we find out anything."
After fixing himself what he was sure was just the first of many coffees that night, Nash strode over to the interrogation table. Laura Becket was sitting at the table, staring at her hands. To Nash, she had guilt written all over her. Guilty of what, was the question. He stood opposite, staring at her and calmly sipping his coffee, letting her sweat a few minutes. He was about to start asking her questions, when a movement out to the corner of his eye caught his attention.
"Joe, that was faster than I thought. What did you do with Lucia?"
"Your date is watching her for me. Barbara seems like a real nice lady." He nodded at the young lady sitting at the table. "This Laura Becket?"
"This would be she, Joe. I was just about to ask her what she's been doing tonight. Shall we?"
"Let's."
They both took a seat and stared at the unfortunate young lady. Nash sipped his coffee then set the cup down. "Now, Miss Becket. Suppose you tell me what happened to the two officers that were sitting across from your house. And don't tell me you don't know. We know for a fact that they were following you to a meeting with your boyfriend, David Winwood."
Joe chuckled at the startled look of panic that settled on her face. "That's right, one of the officers called the address into dispatch and that they were about to apprehend Winwood. Only that's the last anyone's heard from them, and we found the surveillance van."
Leaning forward and lowering his voice threateningly, Nash narrowed his eyes. "If anything has happened to those two Inspectors, you will be convicted of accessory. Do you understand me? Help yourself. Tell us what you know, and it will go a whole lot easier for you. I don't think you'd have a good time in prison, if you know what I mean."
When she still hesitated, Joe slammed a hand on the table, startling her. "Winwood set you up as bait, young lady. He left you to take the fall. Wise up and tell us what we need to know!"
Nash sat back in his chair and gave Laura a pitying look. "Sister, you are in more trouble than you can possibly imagine. We're showing you a way out. I suggest you use it."
When she spoke, they almost didn't catch it. She spoke softly and haltingly. She told them everything. "I told you where David is, but I don't know what he did with those cops. He drove them away in that truck they were in. I don't know where he went. I swear it's the truth."
"Sister, it better be the truth." Gesturing to the uniformed officer standing off to the side, Nash indicated for him to take her back to holding. "Joe, take some backup and go get Winwood."
"I'm on it, Bubba."
Standing by the table, staring out at the water, Nash ran a hand over his face. Man, this case is gonna give me an ulcer, he thought sourly. I sure hope Evan and Harvey are okay.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Evan sighed as Harvey once again kicked the door. "Harvey! If you don't stop that you're going to break something. And I don't mean the door."
He watched as Harvey stopped, panting, for a moment. It didn't last. Harvey swung a leg up and kicked the door again, grunting with the effort. Evan rolled his eyes. If they didn't find a way out of there soon, he was going to have to find a way to knock his partner out...for both their sanities.
Think! Think! Suddenly Evan groaned. "Damn, why didn't I remember it before? Harvey! Harv, come over here." He sighed with relief when he finally got his partner's attention. Harvey shuffled over and stopped, panting for breath. "Harvey, I've got a couple paperclips in my left pocket. See if you can fish them out."
It took some contorting, but Harvey got the paperclips and handed one to Evan. They carefully straightened the little clips, and Harvey handed his to Evan. They stood back to back and Evan felt around with his fingers until he could poke the wires into the keyhole of Harvey's handcuffs. When his hands started to cramp, Harvey took the wires and worked on Evan's cuffs. Just when he was about to give up and return them to Evan, he felt the tiny mechanism begin to move.
"Oh, yeah. C'mon, c'mon baby. I think I've got it, Evan." There was a soft click and Evan's right arm came free.
"Oh, man. That's so much better." Evan rotated his shoulders a few times then went to work on Harvey's handcuffs. It was much easier with his hands free and this time he got the cuffs open.
Harvey massaged his wrists and walked back over to the door. "Well, our hands are free...but we're still stuck in this damn room."
Evan joined him and examined the door. The hinges were on the inside. Now that their hands were free, maybe they could somehow pry the hinge pins free. He pulled his wallet from his back pocket, removed a credit card and went to work.
When he realized what Evan was doing, Harvey also dug out a credit card. Kneeling next to his partner, he started on the bottom hinge. It was painstaking work. When he finally got the hinge moved enough, he traded the card for a quarter. The quarter would work much better. Evan did the same.
"Hey, Harvey. Have you always been claustrophobic?"
Wiping the sweat off his forehead with his sleeve, Harvey shook his head. "No, not always. It started when I was a kid."
Evan's fingers began to cramp, so he switched the quarter to the other hand. "Yeah? Did something happen? I mean, people don't just suddenly get claustrophobic do they?"
"No." Harvey sighed and sat back on his heels for a moment. "I was eight years old. A bunch of us kids were hanging around the local junkyard one day. It was summer and we were bored. Somebody suggested we play hide-and-seek in the junkyard. Lots of great places to hide there, right? Well, I found a great place to hide, all right. It was almost too good. I had found an old refrigerator and, by the time my friend Peter found me, I was out of air. Peter told me afterwards that when he opened the door and my body came flying out, he almost peed his pants. Another minute in that refrigerator and I would have stopped breathing."
Harvey went back to prying on the hinge pin. "Scared the hell out of me. Of course, when my parents found out...well let's just say I was in deep ca-ca. I've been claustrophobic ever since."
"Damn, Harv. I would be, too."
They worked in companionable silence, slowly working the rusty pins free from the hinges. It seemed to take forever. When he got it pried out enough, Evan used the handcuffs to try to pull the pin free. When the hinge finally released its hold on the pin, Evan was caught off-guard.
"Harvey, it worked! Mine's free."
"That's great, Ev. Give me a hand with this one, will you?"
Working together, it only took a few more minutes to pull the stubborn pin free. It took a few tugs to get the door to separate from the jam, but they got it open.
Slapping Harvey on the back, Evan smiled. "You first, Harv. Let's blow this pop stand."
Stepping over the door, Harvey stumbled out into the hall and gulped in the fresh air. Freedom!
When Evan joined him in the hall, he pointed to the left. "I think the exit's that way. Let's get out of here, shall we?"
"Lead the way, brother."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Joe brought in Winwood, Nash had him taken to interrogation. "So this is David Winwood."
"That's him, Nashman. Not much to look at, I admit."
Nash sat on the corner of the table and smiled. "Joe, the CSU boys just called a minute ago. Guess whose fingerprints were found on the driver's side seatbelt?"
"Why, I don't know, Nash. Could it be...David Winwood's?
"Well, you got it right in one try, Joseph. Congratulations." Nash leaned closer to Winwood, his smile disappearing. "We have Laura Becket. She told us everything. Now, I'd advise you to come clean with us, before things get even worse for you."
David Winwood stared innocently back. "I don't know what you are talking about, but I'm not saying anything without a lawyer."
Standing up and placing his hands on the table, Nash frowned angrily. "You listen to me, Bubba. You've done something with my Inspectors and you'd better tell me where they are or I'll make sure you get into the toughest prison in California. You get my drift?"
"I'm not talking without my lawyer."
"Get him out of here!"
Joe went to stand next to Nash, his arms crossed over his chest. "Well, Nashman, now what?"
Nash headed back to his desk, shaking his head. "Well, Bubba, now we search every damn empty building in San Francisco until we find them." He was about to let Barbara know what was happening, when a commotion at the door drew his attention. "I don't believe it."
Joe and Barbara both turned around to see what Nash was looking at. Joe's jaw dropped in surprise. Harvey and Evan had just walked in the door. Their clothes and faces were streaked with dirt and they each had handcuffs dangling from one wrist, but they looked okay.
When the two reached his desk, Nash smiled and shook his head. "How did you get here?"
Harvey shrugged. "We took a taxi."
"I didn't mean literally, you knucklehead." Nash laughed, just grateful the two were home safe.
"Well, boss, it's a long story. Winwood..."
"We've got that meathead in holding." Nash interrupted.
Evan smiled with satisfaction. "Good. How'd you get him, anyway?"
"Joe picked up Laura Becket and she rolled over on Winwood. Told us the whole story. We nabbed Winwood, but couldn't get anything out of him. Of course, now we don't need him and he gets no deal. Karma."
Looking at the bedraggled pair, Joe raised an eyebrow. "You two okay?"
"I think they both need to go get checked out, Nash."
All four men turned toward the new voice to see Barbara standing there. Harvey shook his head, envisioning another sleepless night in the hospital. "Oh, no. I'm fine...just tired, dirty and hungry. I can take care of all that at home." He wondered if he should mention Evan's ribs, but one look from his partner told him the answer to that one. No.
Unfortunately, Joe ruined it for both of them. He nudged Evan with his elbow when he moved aside to let someone by. Evan couldn't stop the wince of pain that caused, and Barbara saw it.
"I saw that Inspector Cortez. That settles it. I'll make sure you two aren't cleared for duty, unless you go to the ER with me to be checked out."
Smiling at the way she had Evan and Harvey cornered, Nash shrugged. 'You heard the lady, boys. I don't see as you have a choice...do you? C'mon, I'll drive you three to the hospital."
He took Barbara's arm and led her off the ferry, listening to Harvey and Evan grumbling behind them.
"She's YOUR doctor, Harv."
"You're blaming ME? I had it made, 'til you got her attention."
"It's not MY fault, Harvey."
Nash overheard their arguing and leaned over to Barbara, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I don't know. Maybe we'd be better off if they hadn't gotten free."
Barbara giggled and slapped his arm. "Nash, you don't mean it, and you know it."
Imagining the things that could have happened, Nash gave her hand a small squeeze. "Yeah, I do know it."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
END
* 'Box of Rain', by The Grateful Dead. (One of my favorite songs.G)