CHAPTER TWELVE: Exposed
The alarm went off inside the cottage as Mori stood waiting by the doorway. He saw Rocky and to his initial surprise, Julie walking right beside his grandson. His other two grandsons had already gone upstairs to get ready for bed however he knew they weren't sleepy yet and to prove himself right, Colt's ever-vibrant voice filtered through the cottage.
"Who is it, Grandpa?" Colt called out in a very loud voice from upstairs.
"It's only Rocky and Julie," Mori replied and immediately had a mental picture of what happened upstairs when something or someone crashed on the floor.
"What!" came the surprise tone from Colt.
Mori stifled his laugh as he stepped away from the doorway to let the other two kids enter the threshold.
"You almost have me worried, Rocky." Mori chided as he wagged his forefinger at his oldest grandson in a sign of admonishment.
"Sorry, grandpa." He quietly said. He didn't mean to stay out that long and away from the cottage. Mori straightened and followed them in. His demeanor softens since he knew he couldn't keep being angry at Rocky or any of his grandsons for long, really.
Mori detected something from his grandson and Julie but whatever it was he felt it immediately vanished just as soon as it came.
Just then, Colt and Tumtum came bounding downstairs obviously not wanting to be left out of what was stirring in the living room.
"Hi Julie," Tumtum and Colt greeted in unison.
"Hello, guys," replied Julie as she took a seat on the couch. Immediately, without wasting anytime, Rocky launched with his story while Julie filled the blanks for most of them.
The Delago warehouse started to teem with activities as one by one the cars began to fill the lot. A couple of men, inspected Carter's car and the pick up truck. But they found nothing amiss so they proceeded to the warehouse.
"Teams, the party is about to start." Douglas declared as he glanced to his right. Greene showed him a blow up photo of Riley. On front of the line was Louis Davenport. When everyone was inside, one burly thug closed the sliding door of the building.
Agent Douglas flicked again his radio and announced through their common frequency. "Let's get this ball rolling." With that the agents began moving in the warehouse at strategic points.
Meanwhile back the FBI building, Gus Morse hopped out of the vehicle and hastily walked inside. He presented his ID to the security guard who later let him proceed. Gus strode into the elevator and pressed 15th floor. Arriving there, he went to Sam's office. Along the way, he noticed that the adjacent office had its lights on and a man was pacing back and forth but this person seemed to make a conscious effort to keep his back facing the doorway. Someone apparently put the man on hold on the phone.
"Look, buddy." Frustration lined his voice. " I lost the number to Davenport's cell number for important calls but I'm telling you that I got to tell him some very important message! You hear me!" He shouted at the receiver in anger.
Gus ducked away when the man glanced towards the direction of the doorway. Davenport! Gus repeated. This guy's the mole! Gus stood still by the door and silently counted off the seconds before looking back in the room. He knew Sam and the rest of the agents would have their stake out blown if this 'mole' manages to relay whatever messages he obtained to Davenport before the FBI can arrest him. He knew he better stop him and fast! Gus quietly slipped into the room and snatched a paperweight sitting on a table. The 'mole' fell limped on the floor when he knocked him with the paperweight. Gus immediately replaced the receiver to its base and turned the man over so he could identify him. He was surprised when he did recognize the man.
"Cameron." He muttered and began tying the man's wrists and ankles with the guy's own belt and necktie and gagged him with Cameron's handkerchief. He carried the man to Sam's office and laid him by the left wall and dialed Sam's number.
At the stake out, Sam reached for his cell phone as he was approaching the warehouse.
"Douglas here." He answered in a low tone.
"Sam, I found out who the mole was," Gus said as he looked at the bound figure of Cameron. "It's Cameron. I found him trying to call Davenport a while ago. He was calling from the office. Fortunately, his call didn't go through as some dumb luck he lost the emergency number for Davenport."
Sam breathes a sigh of relief. "If that call had gotten through then this operation would have been botched and it would be take probably months to pin Davenport down again. Good work Gus. Let me know when you have something about the files. We'll call you later."
"I'll get to it." Gus said and hangs up. Moving to an unattended terminal, Gus began his work while making sure that Cameron wasn't going anywhere.
Inside the warehouse, Katsumi crouched lower from behind the crates located at the back of the building. There were several scattered crates which enabled her to crept closer and observed the scene on stage as Davenport introduced one painting to another to his buyers.
Most of the FBI agents have incapacitated Davenport's men while the respective drivers of wealthy businessmen were also herded to a van away from the general view of the building. Several teams have positioned themselves inside the warehouse.
On the deserted field, intruded by a station wagon, Mori cut the engines and stared at the darkened view in front him. Several lampposts dotted the warehouse grounds and letting him make out the building up ahead of them. This was as near as they can get. They can't risk being found out by Davenport's men with his noisy station wagon.
"This is against my better judgement, boys." He told them. "But you must promise me to go by my lead." He turned to each of them.
"Yes, Grandpa." The boys obediently answered while Julie nodded her answer as well. She was worried too but she tried not to show it. She was relieved they were going with her to find Katsumi and Gus and hope nothing else will go wrong for all of them.
"We'll have to walk from here." Mori instructed and alighted out from the car. Soon, they crossed the field, keeping it low to the ground and in the shadows. Immediately, Julie's keen eyes could make out a movement by the side of the building. She apprised the boys' grandfather about this. Deciding which route to take, Mori led the kids to another back way entrance. Soon, they were inside the building without anyone noticing their entry.
The gavel hit the block and soon the auctioned artwork was being prepared for the winning bid. The next art piece was soon mounted on the stand and the bid started again.
"They're auctioning off stolen works." Colt observed. " I can't believed this." He whispered.
"Poor Julie." Commented Tumtum under his breath, as he felt sad for their new friend. He moved behind the crate so he can see better when something rolled out on floor. Curious, he picked it up and began twisting its golden body. To his amazement, a little red beam came out from small aperture.
"Hey, guys. This is cool!" Tumtum whispered excitedly and show it to his brothers.
Rocky who has seen such a device at school remarked. "Put it away, Tumtum. It's a laser pointer. Don't go pointing it on someone else's eyes as it can cause severe eye damage." His older brother warned him.
Tumtum nodded and followed his brother and tuck the instrument away.
"Where's Julie?" Rocky asked his brothers as he craned his neck to see if she was hiding in another crate. He did remember Julie took the rear.
"She was behind me when we cross the field." Colt told him recovering from his own shock to find that Julie wasn't with them.
"Grandpa's not going to like this." Tumtum muttered as he glances across the floor to where their grandfather took position.
"We'd better pay attention to what's going on, now. I hope Julie's got a plan and a reason why she separated from us." Rocky said in a low tone and began observing the auction going on before them.
From his hiding place, Mori's eyes grow wide when he saw who was dashing from one crate to another several yards to his right. He beckoned for his grandsons to join him.
"What's Julie doing over there?" he tightly asked his grandsons when they knelt around him. Mori peered at their faces for answers.
"She didn't tell us anything Grandpa, honest." Rocky emphasized.
Mori expelled a frustrated breath and look on. This evening was starting to become a little risky than it's already been.
"We have to devise a plan." Mori advised. He had a feeling the operation was going to go bad and began laying out what he intended to do. He was going to execute a plan that will help their father while his grandsons remained hidden. The three boys look at their grandfather in bewilderment. They have not seen any of dad's people yet.
"Oh, they are here." Re-affirmed their grandfather. " Which is why, you three should stay put." Looking at them directly in the eye meant he was serious about this. He ceased all their protest and asked for their word not to go anywhere beyond this point.
The brothers soon gave their promise. Soon, their grandfather was out of their hiding place and watched him darting from behind the crate to another until he disappeared from their line of sight.
Rocky began studying their immediate area. Off to one corner was nylon net which seemed to be just the right size for his plan. He glanced up and the beams above were in semi-darkness and the evenly spaced bars on the walls looked as if it can be used as a ladder. All three of them were wearing dark clothes which can help in easily concealing themselves from unwanted prying eyes.
"Listen, I know what grandpa said to stay here but he didn't say about not doing anything while we wait so, I was thinking." Rocky huddled closely and began instructing his younger brothers of his plan to help out.
Nearing the center of the warehouse. Julie purposely separated from the group when she noticed Katsumi ducking behind at one stack of crates behind the stage and decided to go up to her. She didn't leave any word to the Douglas' since she knew they would be against her in doing so. But she had to tell Katsumi that she was here and they were out to look for Gus now.
Katsumi sharply turned and was ready to pounce at the unwelcome intruder to her position when she recognized that it was Julie!
"What are you doing here?" Katsumi hissed. She wasn't sure whether she'd be relieved or not at all for Julie's presence.
"We." Julie began but was cut shot when Katsumi shot a perplexed expression back at her.
"Who's WE?" she demanded in a deep tone.
"The Douglas' and their grandfather." Julie tried to continue but failed since Katsumi asked again.
"How did you get here?" Katsumi asked but suddenly stopped. With all the training handed down from generation to generation. She failed to see a man drawing up his gun followed by his partner from behind them.
"We could ask you the same thing." The man told them and leveled his gun at his prisoners. Katsumi and Julie were stunned to react.
"I think its time we show you to our boss. Now, MOVE!" He ordered them.
"Keep your hands up!" growled his partner as he looked at Julie. The girl stared back at him with a measured look.
"Now, now. Let's not get too testy." The first man said as he saw the look on the girl's face. She was not one to be easily frightened off. "Do I need to repeat, myself?" he soon was getting impatient.
Katsumi and Julie slowly acknowledge the order and began walking to the side of the stage.
Across from the stage, also behind stacks of crates, Mori saw that Julie and the woman with her were captured by two of Davenport's men. His hunch proved to be correct and readied himself. Out from the corner of eye. He saw the FBI taking position. He knew Julie and her friend needed a distraction to get out of the crossfire.
Several feet above the floor, Rocky and Colt readied the net. They stopped when they found the likely spot to drop the net. All the while they kept a keen watch of the movements happening below them.
To their consternation, Julie and her friend were captured. Rocky set his jaw. It was starting to get grim. He felt his heart thumped an extra beat and his muscles tense. He took a deep breath and immediately his body felt the unclenching of tiny fingers all over his limbs. He wasn't afraid of heights and he knew they have been in tighter situations before. He glanced at Colt and his expression reflected his own but his younger brother had that cocky spark in his eyes and bristled with an energy that never seemed to fade. Colt gave him thumbs up letting him know that he was ready. Rocky nodded and searched below for Tumtum, he found his little head bobbing with his arms up and a thumbs up in the air, indicating that he was ready too. Knowing Tumtum, there's bound to be a surprise on the ground floor.
Colt smiled at his younger brother then shifted his attention to the stage area when he noticed movement coming from across the floor. Two FBI agents just conked out two guys. He was about to say something to Rocky when he saw his older brother holding his forefinger across his mouth. They have to silent now and sound coming from them will drift to the bad guys' camp. He nodded in understanding so instead he pointed to Rocky what he saw. The older Douglas followed the finger with his gaze and noted the other movements from below. Next, Colt began fastening the end of the rope to the beam he was sitting on and arranged in a way that he won't get tangled with it. Soon they waited.
Tumtum got busy as well on the ground level and noiseless as he can, he spread lots of his MMS on the floor and ran back to his hiding place. The plan was, after their grandfather provides the distractions , the boys will just have to make sure no gets out so easily.
The thugs quickly hid their weapons away from the assembled businessmen and as aplomb as he can, the first thug walked up to where Davenport was sitting and whispered to his ear. He abruptly looked at his henchman and followed him off the stage. Bruce pushed Julie forward.
Davenport's stern expression grew deeper when he saw her. His attention shifted when Katsumi was brought up front too.
"What in the world is going on?" Greene asked, perplexed as he watched the scene.
Sam was also shocked to find Julie captured together with the woman who they have witnessed rendering two of Davenport's men unconscious. They have to spot an opening fast and get the bystanders out of the way. "Teams, secure all exits and entrances of this building." Sam instructed his units.
Davenport noticed the bag that Katsumi had slung over her shoulder and guessed its contents be.
" I see you have my files, Katsumi." Davenport remarked as he approached her. He took the bag. .
"You'll never get away with this, Davenport." Katsumi barked.
"Oh, my dear. I already have. The FBI doesn't know of this warehouse and soon I have so much in my bank account that I no longer need this." raising the bag for emphasis. "I'll probably hand the operation to one of those black-suited penguins," thumbing the stage area for emphasis. "And I can start a new slate. Have the estate for sale and be gone from this country and settle somewhere else." Davenport bragged at his genius.
"I doubt you'll go very far." Spat Katsumi.
"They may have already have this warehouse under surveillance." Retorted the woman. " And are just waiting for the right time to arrest you."
Davenport laughed. "I doubt they'll able to make it if for some reason they have found out this location. By the time it happens we are all long gone." He gloated. "I still believed I get to have the last laugh. He menacingly turned to Julie.
"Quite astounding that you're not afraid to be here, Julie." He commented. The girl's eyes went into slits with anger, distrust, pain and hurt. All emotions warred for her control. She began to shake from the emptiness she felt.
"What's going to happen to me?" she visibly trying to speak out.
"Ah, well. I had plans for you before. You see, I made sure that your best interest should be taken in consideration at all times since you have no idea what was going on until now that is. Too bad, because I was planning to have you stay at your grandparents in Maine. You seemed to feel homey there. So what best way to get rid of you in the process and be contended to the family you have been searching for. I could have let your foster mom take care of you but I believed you don't get along with her new husband so that was completely stricken out".
"Now what should I do with you?" He began pacing. Before he could add more, the warehouse plunged into darkness.
"What the! " Davenport yelled as he realized his artworks are at stake.
"Eastman! Make yourself useful and get the lights back on!" Davenport shouted.
"OUCH!" He exclaimed as his shoulder suddenly lost sensation.
There was a great confusion as scuffing sounds from the stage followed by something falling on the floor with a loud thud came next. Soon the lights went back on and that's when the melee erupted! When Davenport had finally adjusted from the sudden flood of lights, he saw several of the businessmen have overpowered his bid chairman who was now lying on the stage! He bristled in anger at the sight of their duplicity and to his chagrin, neither Julie nor Katsumi were any longer in front of him. They were gone and so was the bag, which explained the pain he was feeling in his shoulder.
" Well, don't just stand there, find them!" He ordered his men who were recovering from their respective aches and pains on whatever Katsumi and Julie did to them. He flexed his hand. The sensation was returning to his arm.
Gunfire exchanged began as the businessmen fired at Davenport's men.
"NO. NO.NO! NO guns you fool! If you hit the paintings, I'll make sure neither of you gets paid for the next five years!" He roared at his people.
" How does he expect us to get those buyers!" muttered a thug as he holstered his sidearm and ran after the buyer with the artwork.
Yuri came lumbering by.
"You, better get those paintings!" Davenport ordered. " Take half of the men if you have too!" He called out in sudden wild tone.
"Yes, Mr. Davenport." He replied as he bounded for the fleeing businessmen.
The great confusion went up a notch as the FBI soon had his or her hands full in arresting everyone on sight. A loud voice boomed over in some invisible speakers in the warehouse. "This is the FBI, this place is surrounded." the announcement started and more gunshots were heard and more chasing followed.
Davenport was caught by surprise but he was able to recover and ran quickly to where a secret door was. He knew all other exits would be crawling with FBI thus stopping him from attempting any escape.
Above, the boys saw their cue and readied the net. When the thugs came into their target spot, they immediately drop the net. The three men got entangled in their own feet and they fell unable to keep their balance.
"Whoa, oh, oh, Ahhh!" Exclaimed four more thugs as they all crashed on the floor as they slid from MMM infested floor.
"C'mon, lets go." Colt urged and slid down on the rope from the beam to floor below. He let out a yell as he kicked a thug barring his path. Rocky finally landed beside him and Tumtum came up next to Colt.
"Let's mortalized them!" Tumtum said and the soon the brothers went into action.
The alarm went off inside the cottage as Mori stood waiting by the doorway. He saw Rocky and to his initial surprise, Julie walking right beside his grandson. His other two grandsons had already gone upstairs to get ready for bed however he knew they weren't sleepy yet and to prove himself right, Colt's ever-vibrant voice filtered through the cottage.
"Who is it, Grandpa?" Colt called out in a very loud voice from upstairs.
"It's only Rocky and Julie," Mori replied and immediately had a mental picture of what happened upstairs when something or someone crashed on the floor.
"What!" came the surprise tone from Colt.
Mori stifled his laugh as he stepped away from the doorway to let the other two kids enter the threshold.
"You almost have me worried, Rocky." Mori chided as he wagged his forefinger at his oldest grandson in a sign of admonishment.
"Sorry, grandpa." He quietly said. He didn't mean to stay out that long and away from the cottage. Mori straightened and followed them in. His demeanor softens since he knew he couldn't keep being angry at Rocky or any of his grandsons for long, really.
Mori detected something from his grandson and Julie but whatever it was he felt it immediately vanished just as soon as it came.
Just then, Colt and Tumtum came bounding downstairs obviously not wanting to be left out of what was stirring in the living room.
"Hi Julie," Tumtum and Colt greeted in unison.
"Hello, guys," replied Julie as she took a seat on the couch. Immediately, without wasting anytime, Rocky launched with his story while Julie filled the blanks for most of them.
The Delago warehouse started to teem with activities as one by one the cars began to fill the lot. A couple of men, inspected Carter's car and the pick up truck. But they found nothing amiss so they proceeded to the warehouse.
"Teams, the party is about to start." Douglas declared as he glanced to his right. Greene showed him a blow up photo of Riley. On front of the line was Louis Davenport. When everyone was inside, one burly thug closed the sliding door of the building.
Agent Douglas flicked again his radio and announced through their common frequency. "Let's get this ball rolling." With that the agents began moving in the warehouse at strategic points.
Meanwhile back the FBI building, Gus Morse hopped out of the vehicle and hastily walked inside. He presented his ID to the security guard who later let him proceed. Gus strode into the elevator and pressed 15th floor. Arriving there, he went to Sam's office. Along the way, he noticed that the adjacent office had its lights on and a man was pacing back and forth but this person seemed to make a conscious effort to keep his back facing the doorway. Someone apparently put the man on hold on the phone.
"Look, buddy." Frustration lined his voice. " I lost the number to Davenport's cell number for important calls but I'm telling you that I got to tell him some very important message! You hear me!" He shouted at the receiver in anger.
Gus ducked away when the man glanced towards the direction of the doorway. Davenport! Gus repeated. This guy's the mole! Gus stood still by the door and silently counted off the seconds before looking back in the room. He knew Sam and the rest of the agents would have their stake out blown if this 'mole' manages to relay whatever messages he obtained to Davenport before the FBI can arrest him. He knew he better stop him and fast! Gus quietly slipped into the room and snatched a paperweight sitting on a table. The 'mole' fell limped on the floor when he knocked him with the paperweight. Gus immediately replaced the receiver to its base and turned the man over so he could identify him. He was surprised when he did recognize the man.
"Cameron." He muttered and began tying the man's wrists and ankles with the guy's own belt and necktie and gagged him with Cameron's handkerchief. He carried the man to Sam's office and laid him by the left wall and dialed Sam's number.
At the stake out, Sam reached for his cell phone as he was approaching the warehouse.
"Douglas here." He answered in a low tone.
"Sam, I found out who the mole was," Gus said as he looked at the bound figure of Cameron. "It's Cameron. I found him trying to call Davenport a while ago. He was calling from the office. Fortunately, his call didn't go through as some dumb luck he lost the emergency number for Davenport."
Sam breathes a sigh of relief. "If that call had gotten through then this operation would have been botched and it would be take probably months to pin Davenport down again. Good work Gus. Let me know when you have something about the files. We'll call you later."
"I'll get to it." Gus said and hangs up. Moving to an unattended terminal, Gus began his work while making sure that Cameron wasn't going anywhere.
Inside the warehouse, Katsumi crouched lower from behind the crates located at the back of the building. There were several scattered crates which enabled her to crept closer and observed the scene on stage as Davenport introduced one painting to another to his buyers.
Most of the FBI agents have incapacitated Davenport's men while the respective drivers of wealthy businessmen were also herded to a van away from the general view of the building. Several teams have positioned themselves inside the warehouse.
On the deserted field, intruded by a station wagon, Mori cut the engines and stared at the darkened view in front him. Several lampposts dotted the warehouse grounds and letting him make out the building up ahead of them. This was as near as they can get. They can't risk being found out by Davenport's men with his noisy station wagon.
"This is against my better judgement, boys." He told them. "But you must promise me to go by my lead." He turned to each of them.
"Yes, Grandpa." The boys obediently answered while Julie nodded her answer as well. She was worried too but she tried not to show it. She was relieved they were going with her to find Katsumi and Gus and hope nothing else will go wrong for all of them.
"We'll have to walk from here." Mori instructed and alighted out from the car. Soon, they crossed the field, keeping it low to the ground and in the shadows. Immediately, Julie's keen eyes could make out a movement by the side of the building. She apprised the boys' grandfather about this. Deciding which route to take, Mori led the kids to another back way entrance. Soon, they were inside the building without anyone noticing their entry.
The gavel hit the block and soon the auctioned artwork was being prepared for the winning bid. The next art piece was soon mounted on the stand and the bid started again.
"They're auctioning off stolen works." Colt observed. " I can't believed this." He whispered.
"Poor Julie." Commented Tumtum under his breath, as he felt sad for their new friend. He moved behind the crate so he can see better when something rolled out on floor. Curious, he picked it up and began twisting its golden body. To his amazement, a little red beam came out from small aperture.
"Hey, guys. This is cool!" Tumtum whispered excitedly and show it to his brothers.
Rocky who has seen such a device at school remarked. "Put it away, Tumtum. It's a laser pointer. Don't go pointing it on someone else's eyes as it can cause severe eye damage." His older brother warned him.
Tumtum nodded and followed his brother and tuck the instrument away.
"Where's Julie?" Rocky asked his brothers as he craned his neck to see if she was hiding in another crate. He did remember Julie took the rear.
"She was behind me when we cross the field." Colt told him recovering from his own shock to find that Julie wasn't with them.
"Grandpa's not going to like this." Tumtum muttered as he glances across the floor to where their grandfather took position.
"We'd better pay attention to what's going on, now. I hope Julie's got a plan and a reason why she separated from us." Rocky said in a low tone and began observing the auction going on before them.
From his hiding place, Mori's eyes grow wide when he saw who was dashing from one crate to another several yards to his right. He beckoned for his grandsons to join him.
"What's Julie doing over there?" he tightly asked his grandsons when they knelt around him. Mori peered at their faces for answers.
"She didn't tell us anything Grandpa, honest." Rocky emphasized.
Mori expelled a frustrated breath and look on. This evening was starting to become a little risky than it's already been.
"We have to devise a plan." Mori advised. He had a feeling the operation was going to go bad and began laying out what he intended to do. He was going to execute a plan that will help their father while his grandsons remained hidden. The three boys look at their grandfather in bewilderment. They have not seen any of dad's people yet.
"Oh, they are here." Re-affirmed their grandfather. " Which is why, you three should stay put." Looking at them directly in the eye meant he was serious about this. He ceased all their protest and asked for their word not to go anywhere beyond this point.
The brothers soon gave their promise. Soon, their grandfather was out of their hiding place and watched him darting from behind the crate to another until he disappeared from their line of sight.
Rocky began studying their immediate area. Off to one corner was nylon net which seemed to be just the right size for his plan. He glanced up and the beams above were in semi-darkness and the evenly spaced bars on the walls looked as if it can be used as a ladder. All three of them were wearing dark clothes which can help in easily concealing themselves from unwanted prying eyes.
"Listen, I know what grandpa said to stay here but he didn't say about not doing anything while we wait so, I was thinking." Rocky huddled closely and began instructing his younger brothers of his plan to help out.
Nearing the center of the warehouse. Julie purposely separated from the group when she noticed Katsumi ducking behind at one stack of crates behind the stage and decided to go up to her. She didn't leave any word to the Douglas' since she knew they would be against her in doing so. But she had to tell Katsumi that she was here and they were out to look for Gus now.
Katsumi sharply turned and was ready to pounce at the unwelcome intruder to her position when she recognized that it was Julie!
"What are you doing here?" Katsumi hissed. She wasn't sure whether she'd be relieved or not at all for Julie's presence.
"We." Julie began but was cut shot when Katsumi shot a perplexed expression back at her.
"Who's WE?" she demanded in a deep tone.
"The Douglas' and their grandfather." Julie tried to continue but failed since Katsumi asked again.
"How did you get here?" Katsumi asked but suddenly stopped. With all the training handed down from generation to generation. She failed to see a man drawing up his gun followed by his partner from behind them.
"We could ask you the same thing." The man told them and leveled his gun at his prisoners. Katsumi and Julie were stunned to react.
"I think its time we show you to our boss. Now, MOVE!" He ordered them.
"Keep your hands up!" growled his partner as he looked at Julie. The girl stared back at him with a measured look.
"Now, now. Let's not get too testy." The first man said as he saw the look on the girl's face. She was not one to be easily frightened off. "Do I need to repeat, myself?" he soon was getting impatient.
Katsumi and Julie slowly acknowledge the order and began walking to the side of the stage.
Across from the stage, also behind stacks of crates, Mori saw that Julie and the woman with her were captured by two of Davenport's men. His hunch proved to be correct and readied himself. Out from the corner of eye. He saw the FBI taking position. He knew Julie and her friend needed a distraction to get out of the crossfire.
Several feet above the floor, Rocky and Colt readied the net. They stopped when they found the likely spot to drop the net. All the while they kept a keen watch of the movements happening below them.
To their consternation, Julie and her friend were captured. Rocky set his jaw. It was starting to get grim. He felt his heart thumped an extra beat and his muscles tense. He took a deep breath and immediately his body felt the unclenching of tiny fingers all over his limbs. He wasn't afraid of heights and he knew they have been in tighter situations before. He glanced at Colt and his expression reflected his own but his younger brother had that cocky spark in his eyes and bristled with an energy that never seemed to fade. Colt gave him thumbs up letting him know that he was ready. Rocky nodded and searched below for Tumtum, he found his little head bobbing with his arms up and a thumbs up in the air, indicating that he was ready too. Knowing Tumtum, there's bound to be a surprise on the ground floor.
Colt smiled at his younger brother then shifted his attention to the stage area when he noticed movement coming from across the floor. Two FBI agents just conked out two guys. He was about to say something to Rocky when he saw his older brother holding his forefinger across his mouth. They have to silent now and sound coming from them will drift to the bad guys' camp. He nodded in understanding so instead he pointed to Rocky what he saw. The older Douglas followed the finger with his gaze and noted the other movements from below. Next, Colt began fastening the end of the rope to the beam he was sitting on and arranged in a way that he won't get tangled with it. Soon they waited.
Tumtum got busy as well on the ground level and noiseless as he can, he spread lots of his MMS on the floor and ran back to his hiding place. The plan was, after their grandfather provides the distractions , the boys will just have to make sure no gets out so easily.
The thugs quickly hid their weapons away from the assembled businessmen and as aplomb as he can, the first thug walked up to where Davenport was sitting and whispered to his ear. He abruptly looked at his henchman and followed him off the stage. Bruce pushed Julie forward.
Davenport's stern expression grew deeper when he saw her. His attention shifted when Katsumi was brought up front too.
"What in the world is going on?" Greene asked, perplexed as he watched the scene.
Sam was also shocked to find Julie captured together with the woman who they have witnessed rendering two of Davenport's men unconscious. They have to spot an opening fast and get the bystanders out of the way. "Teams, secure all exits and entrances of this building." Sam instructed his units.
Davenport noticed the bag that Katsumi had slung over her shoulder and guessed its contents be.
" I see you have my files, Katsumi." Davenport remarked as he approached her. He took the bag. .
"You'll never get away with this, Davenport." Katsumi barked.
"Oh, my dear. I already have. The FBI doesn't know of this warehouse and soon I have so much in my bank account that I no longer need this." raising the bag for emphasis. "I'll probably hand the operation to one of those black-suited penguins," thumbing the stage area for emphasis. "And I can start a new slate. Have the estate for sale and be gone from this country and settle somewhere else." Davenport bragged at his genius.
"I doubt you'll go very far." Spat Katsumi.
"They may have already have this warehouse under surveillance." Retorted the woman. " And are just waiting for the right time to arrest you."
Davenport laughed. "I doubt they'll able to make it if for some reason they have found out this location. By the time it happens we are all long gone." He gloated. "I still believed I get to have the last laugh. He menacingly turned to Julie.
"Quite astounding that you're not afraid to be here, Julie." He commented. The girl's eyes went into slits with anger, distrust, pain and hurt. All emotions warred for her control. She began to shake from the emptiness she felt.
"What's going to happen to me?" she visibly trying to speak out.
"Ah, well. I had plans for you before. You see, I made sure that your best interest should be taken in consideration at all times since you have no idea what was going on until now that is. Too bad, because I was planning to have you stay at your grandparents in Maine. You seemed to feel homey there. So what best way to get rid of you in the process and be contended to the family you have been searching for. I could have let your foster mom take care of you but I believed you don't get along with her new husband so that was completely stricken out".
"Now what should I do with you?" He began pacing. Before he could add more, the warehouse plunged into darkness.
"What the! " Davenport yelled as he realized his artworks are at stake.
"Eastman! Make yourself useful and get the lights back on!" Davenport shouted.
"OUCH!" He exclaimed as his shoulder suddenly lost sensation.
There was a great confusion as scuffing sounds from the stage followed by something falling on the floor with a loud thud came next. Soon the lights went back on and that's when the melee erupted! When Davenport had finally adjusted from the sudden flood of lights, he saw several of the businessmen have overpowered his bid chairman who was now lying on the stage! He bristled in anger at the sight of their duplicity and to his chagrin, neither Julie nor Katsumi were any longer in front of him. They were gone and so was the bag, which explained the pain he was feeling in his shoulder.
" Well, don't just stand there, find them!" He ordered his men who were recovering from their respective aches and pains on whatever Katsumi and Julie did to them. He flexed his hand. The sensation was returning to his arm.
Gunfire exchanged began as the businessmen fired at Davenport's men.
"NO. NO.NO! NO guns you fool! If you hit the paintings, I'll make sure neither of you gets paid for the next five years!" He roared at his people.
" How does he expect us to get those buyers!" muttered a thug as he holstered his sidearm and ran after the buyer with the artwork.
Yuri came lumbering by.
"You, better get those paintings!" Davenport ordered. " Take half of the men if you have too!" He called out in sudden wild tone.
"Yes, Mr. Davenport." He replied as he bounded for the fleeing businessmen.
The great confusion went up a notch as the FBI soon had his or her hands full in arresting everyone on sight. A loud voice boomed over in some invisible speakers in the warehouse. "This is the FBI, this place is surrounded." the announcement started and more gunshots were heard and more chasing followed.
Davenport was caught by surprise but he was able to recover and ran quickly to where a secret door was. He knew all other exits would be crawling with FBI thus stopping him from attempting any escape.
Above, the boys saw their cue and readied the net. When the thugs came into their target spot, they immediately drop the net. The three men got entangled in their own feet and they fell unable to keep their balance.
"Whoa, oh, oh, Ahhh!" Exclaimed four more thugs as they all crashed on the floor as they slid from MMM infested floor.
"C'mon, lets go." Colt urged and slid down on the rope from the beam to floor below. He let out a yell as he kicked a thug barring his path. Rocky finally landed beside him and Tumtum came up next to Colt.
"Let's mortalized them!" Tumtum said and the soon the brothers went into action.