3 HOURS TIL DEADLINE...
They'd boosted 44 of the 50 ladies and the teams had spread out again to make the last 6. With two hours to go and 4 teams, it should have been easy. Flynn and Sphynx were on their way to get the HumVee converted Limousine, Eric and Jake were assigned the 1962 Aston Martin DB1, Donny and Speed were on their way to pick up the 1971 DeThomaso Pantera and the 2002 LandRover Special Edition.
Alex and Sweet were on their way to pick up the 2002 Lincoln Navigator Deluxe Edition. The owner lived in suburbia hell about 30 miles outside of the greater metroplitan area. What they hadn't counted on was Cody sneaking into the back of the minivan. They were on the way to pick up their last car in a housing subdivision. Monica had let Sweet and Alex off just down the street. Cody rolled out of the back hatch and snuck up behind them.
"MOUSE?! What the hell are you doing?" Alex grabbed him by the front of his shirt when he started protesting.
"I just wanted to go on a boost! I'm part of the team too!!" he whined.
"Later Lexis. Let's go get the car." Sweet pulled her off of him and set to work on the SUV. The other factor they hadn't counted on was Johnny B. He'd followed them, waiting for the right moment to spring. If he created a big enough mess, perhaps even got them arrested, then that would be one less car that Speed could turn in and then Switch would have to get rid of Speed. It was perfect in his mind.
The SUV proved to be little problem at all. What turned out to be the problem was Sweet not being able to find his way out of the neighborhood. By accident they turned down a wrong street and wound up at a neighborhood gas station. Sweet shook his head and went inside to ask for direction on how to get out of this suburbia hell while Alex was busy berating Cody for sneaking along when he was given specific orders to stay back at the garage.
It was Cody who spotted the Mercedes that pulled in front of them sharply as Sweet was getting back into the SUV. Sweet threw the car into reverse only to be cut off by a Tahoe SUV behind them. As one of the thugs stepped out of the car and fired, he threw it into drive and laid pedal to the floor, the front end of the passenger side smashing into the bumper of the Mercedes.
"JEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESUS MARY AND JOSPEH!" Sweet swore and tore off down the road in the directions given by the attendant. He noticed that the Taho was hot on their tail. "Lexis... we got trouble...
A faint wheezing from the back seat drew Alex's attention away from Sweet. "Oh shit!!" Cody had been hit by one of the bullets and was bleeding all over the place. Alex climbed into the back seat and pulled off the sweat jacket she'd been wearing. Pressing it to the wound she yelled at Sweet to get to a hospital on the double.
"Two words Lexis - STOLEN CAR!! They ask questions at a hospital!"
"DO IT DAMMIT! I'm a Federal Agent!!" As Sweet did a double take, then ducked as another bullet came whizzing through the back window and past his head. They swerved into an oncoming lane of traffic even as Alex pulled her radio. She switched frequencies and started rambling off codes and names and given advanced warning of a GSW coming in by private vehicle. By the time she was finished, the Tahoe and it's occupants had been detained by local police and they had been given a police escort to the drop-off.
****
While Sweet and Alex were away for the Navigator, Donny and Speed were on their way to pick up the Pantera in the Land Rover.
"Are you going to tell me something?" Donny's voice was so quiet that Speed almost missed it.
"Tell you what?"
"That you're not really on parole..."
Speed looked at Donny so long he thought they were going to rear end the car ahead of them. But she looked back out onto the road and sighed. "No."
"And Jake isn't a pro boost."
"No."
"You're not doing this for a come back, or because Switch threatened to kill you if you didn't."
"No."
"Then why?"
She sighed again and leaned her head back onto the headrest. Perhaps if she could get Donny to understand then it'd be helpful when she told everyone else. They only had 5 more cars to boost and turn in then while she was out boosting Christine, Donovan would lower the boom on them all. If Donny understood, then he could help smooth things over. "I'm on a short furlough from prison... A week ago they came to me for some information, explained why they wanted me to help. He's a drugrunner, Donny. He steals the cars, puts the money under the carpet and ships them down to South and Central America. Where in turn the sellers ship the merchandise back in some form. If it was a straight boost ring, I'd have told them to go to hell. But this... Sphynx's name is Frank Donovan, Lexis is Alex Cross, Monica is Monica Davis, and Mouse is Cody. They're all Agents with the Federal Justice Department."
Donny stared hard at her for a long, long while. She'd turned on them...
"God Donny, don't looke at me like that. I didn't turn you guys in. That was one of my conditions."
"You made conditions... But you're going back when this is over, correct?"
"Yes. But you guys aren't. As of 5pm last night your records, ALL of your records were sealed from here back. You're all getting a walk on this for helping the Government and the detectives from G.R.A.B. can't ever touch you guys again for past sins. It's my sacrifice for you guys. I go willingly and without fuss back to jail and you guys get a 'get out of jail free' pass."
"Your guys have that power?" He sounded skeptical.
"Agent Donovan, from what Jake has told me, was and is one of the FBI's most celebrated and best negotiator. He does have that power. We're here. Donny..." she put the car in park and got out, coming around to his window even as he was getting out.
"I need your help to pacify the others when Donovan tells them. You're going to be dropping me off for Christine. Once I'm heading for Switch's, you'll be back at the garage. All the cars but this one will be there and the locals along with the Feds will swing in and round everyone of Switch's people up. Donovan will tell everyone what's been going on, then he and his team will meet me at Switch's to arrest him."
"Speed..."
"Yes, my friend?"
"Be careful." He kissed her forehead and hugged her. She'd grown up with that man. He was about 10 years older than she was and took to her like a kid sister. He watched as she easily slid inside the Pantera and fired it up. While they drove, Speed was going over and over the plan in her head... Donny was mulling things over. All the idiosyncracies were falling into place now. And he had to admit, she was honestly thinking about them. Prison must have changed her, he guessed... or was it Jake? He hadn't missed the looks and the odd kisses or touches that his 'kid sister' and Jake had exchanged.
About the time that they were pulling into the drop-off, 'Sphynx' and Flynn were getting into the minivan to go back to the garage. They waited upon seeing Speed and Donny arrive.
"What's the count?"
Switch's man eyed her, then looked down the list. "48. You still got the Hemi and the Navigator to deliver. And an hour and a half to do it in."
Speed grinned and turned to look at Donovan. "I'm guessing that Eric and Jake are on their way back to the Garage...?"
"Yeah, something like that."
It was then that the Navigator came squealing to a halt in the yard and out scrambled Sweet and Lexis.
"Oh this does not look good for you Speed."
Speed turned to see Alex hauling a bloody Cody out of the back seat. Swearing, she grabbed a chair and wheeled it under Cody even as Donovan's eyes bored into her. She looked up at him with a confused look.
"We didn't know he'd hidden in the back of the van when Monica dropped us off." Alex pushed him over to the waiting minivan even as Speed stood there with Donny. "He's been shot once Frank, apparently some car-jackers decided we were an easy target."
"I'll drive him." Donny jumped into the driver's seat even as Frank got into the back. The look he gave Speed could have melted steel. She'd made a promise to him to bring everyone home safe... and now this. Inside he knew it wasn't her fault Cody got stupid, but all the same...
Alex put her hand on Speed's shoulder. "It's not your fault." she pulled off her radio and switched frequencies again, telling Monica to head to the hospital, that Frank would be giving her directions.
"Let's finish this."
Speed looked up at Sweet as he said it. One look between them said that Sweet knew Alex wasn't a boost either. How had things gone so horribly wrong in so short of a time? In Sweet's mind it was one thing -
Christine.
****
They'd boosted 44 of the 50 ladies and the teams had spread out again to make the last 6. With two hours to go and 4 teams, it should have been easy. Flynn and Sphynx were on their way to get the HumVee converted Limousine, Eric and Jake were assigned the 1962 Aston Martin DB1, Donny and Speed were on their way to pick up the 1971 DeThomaso Pantera and the 2002 LandRover Special Edition.
Alex and Sweet were on their way to pick up the 2002 Lincoln Navigator Deluxe Edition. The owner lived in suburbia hell about 30 miles outside of the greater metroplitan area. What they hadn't counted on was Cody sneaking into the back of the minivan. They were on the way to pick up their last car in a housing subdivision. Monica had let Sweet and Alex off just down the street. Cody rolled out of the back hatch and snuck up behind them.
"MOUSE?! What the hell are you doing?" Alex grabbed him by the front of his shirt when he started protesting.
"I just wanted to go on a boost! I'm part of the team too!!" he whined.
"Later Lexis. Let's go get the car." Sweet pulled her off of him and set to work on the SUV. The other factor they hadn't counted on was Johnny B. He'd followed them, waiting for the right moment to spring. If he created a big enough mess, perhaps even got them arrested, then that would be one less car that Speed could turn in and then Switch would have to get rid of Speed. It was perfect in his mind.
The SUV proved to be little problem at all. What turned out to be the problem was Sweet not being able to find his way out of the neighborhood. By accident they turned down a wrong street and wound up at a neighborhood gas station. Sweet shook his head and went inside to ask for direction on how to get out of this suburbia hell while Alex was busy berating Cody for sneaking along when he was given specific orders to stay back at the garage.
It was Cody who spotted the Mercedes that pulled in front of them sharply as Sweet was getting back into the SUV. Sweet threw the car into reverse only to be cut off by a Tahoe SUV behind them. As one of the thugs stepped out of the car and fired, he threw it into drive and laid pedal to the floor, the front end of the passenger side smashing into the bumper of the Mercedes.
"JEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESUS MARY AND JOSPEH!" Sweet swore and tore off down the road in the directions given by the attendant. He noticed that the Taho was hot on their tail. "Lexis... we got trouble...
A faint wheezing from the back seat drew Alex's attention away from Sweet. "Oh shit!!" Cody had been hit by one of the bullets and was bleeding all over the place. Alex climbed into the back seat and pulled off the sweat jacket she'd been wearing. Pressing it to the wound she yelled at Sweet to get to a hospital on the double.
"Two words Lexis - STOLEN CAR!! They ask questions at a hospital!"
"DO IT DAMMIT! I'm a Federal Agent!!" As Sweet did a double take, then ducked as another bullet came whizzing through the back window and past his head. They swerved into an oncoming lane of traffic even as Alex pulled her radio. She switched frequencies and started rambling off codes and names and given advanced warning of a GSW coming in by private vehicle. By the time she was finished, the Tahoe and it's occupants had been detained by local police and they had been given a police escort to the drop-off.
****
While Sweet and Alex were away for the Navigator, Donny and Speed were on their way to pick up the Pantera in the Land Rover.
"Are you going to tell me something?" Donny's voice was so quiet that Speed almost missed it.
"Tell you what?"
"That you're not really on parole..."
Speed looked at Donny so long he thought they were going to rear end the car ahead of them. But she looked back out onto the road and sighed. "No."
"And Jake isn't a pro boost."
"No."
"You're not doing this for a come back, or because Switch threatened to kill you if you didn't."
"No."
"Then why?"
She sighed again and leaned her head back onto the headrest. Perhaps if she could get Donny to understand then it'd be helpful when she told everyone else. They only had 5 more cars to boost and turn in then while she was out boosting Christine, Donovan would lower the boom on them all. If Donny understood, then he could help smooth things over. "I'm on a short furlough from prison... A week ago they came to me for some information, explained why they wanted me to help. He's a drugrunner, Donny. He steals the cars, puts the money under the carpet and ships them down to South and Central America. Where in turn the sellers ship the merchandise back in some form. If it was a straight boost ring, I'd have told them to go to hell. But this... Sphynx's name is Frank Donovan, Lexis is Alex Cross, Monica is Monica Davis, and Mouse is Cody. They're all Agents with the Federal Justice Department."
Donny stared hard at her for a long, long while. She'd turned on them...
"God Donny, don't looke at me like that. I didn't turn you guys in. That was one of my conditions."
"You made conditions... But you're going back when this is over, correct?"
"Yes. But you guys aren't. As of 5pm last night your records, ALL of your records were sealed from here back. You're all getting a walk on this for helping the Government and the detectives from G.R.A.B. can't ever touch you guys again for past sins. It's my sacrifice for you guys. I go willingly and without fuss back to jail and you guys get a 'get out of jail free' pass."
"Your guys have that power?" He sounded skeptical.
"Agent Donovan, from what Jake has told me, was and is one of the FBI's most celebrated and best negotiator. He does have that power. We're here. Donny..." she put the car in park and got out, coming around to his window even as he was getting out.
"I need your help to pacify the others when Donovan tells them. You're going to be dropping me off for Christine. Once I'm heading for Switch's, you'll be back at the garage. All the cars but this one will be there and the locals along with the Feds will swing in and round everyone of Switch's people up. Donovan will tell everyone what's been going on, then he and his team will meet me at Switch's to arrest him."
"Speed..."
"Yes, my friend?"
"Be careful." He kissed her forehead and hugged her. She'd grown up with that man. He was about 10 years older than she was and took to her like a kid sister. He watched as she easily slid inside the Pantera and fired it up. While they drove, Speed was going over and over the plan in her head... Donny was mulling things over. All the idiosyncracies were falling into place now. And he had to admit, she was honestly thinking about them. Prison must have changed her, he guessed... or was it Jake? He hadn't missed the looks and the odd kisses or touches that his 'kid sister' and Jake had exchanged.
About the time that they were pulling into the drop-off, 'Sphynx' and Flynn were getting into the minivan to go back to the garage. They waited upon seeing Speed and Donny arrive.
"What's the count?"
Switch's man eyed her, then looked down the list. "48. You still got the Hemi and the Navigator to deliver. And an hour and a half to do it in."
Speed grinned and turned to look at Donovan. "I'm guessing that Eric and Jake are on their way back to the Garage...?"
"Yeah, something like that."
It was then that the Navigator came squealing to a halt in the yard and out scrambled Sweet and Lexis.
"Oh this does not look good for you Speed."
Speed turned to see Alex hauling a bloody Cody out of the back seat. Swearing, she grabbed a chair and wheeled it under Cody even as Donovan's eyes bored into her. She looked up at him with a confused look.
"We didn't know he'd hidden in the back of the van when Monica dropped us off." Alex pushed him over to the waiting minivan even as Speed stood there with Donny. "He's been shot once Frank, apparently some car-jackers decided we were an easy target."
"I'll drive him." Donny jumped into the driver's seat even as Frank got into the back. The look he gave Speed could have melted steel. She'd made a promise to him to bring everyone home safe... and now this. Inside he knew it wasn't her fault Cody got stupid, but all the same...
Alex put her hand on Speed's shoulder. "It's not your fault." she pulled off her radio and switched frequencies again, telling Monica to head to the hospital, that Frank would be giving her directions.
"Let's finish this."
Speed looked up at Sweet as he said it. One look between them said that Sweet knew Alex wasn't a boost either. How had things gone so horribly wrong in so short of a time? In Sweet's mind it was one thing -
Christine.
****