CHAPTER 5
Frank was exercising in the gym when he heard the phone rang. He walked to the doorway to see if it was for him. Cody motioned for him that it was.
"Donovan.How long ago. I'll be there as soon as I can.I'll find a way believe me." Frank says as he hangs up the phone. He then thinks for a moment then turns to Cody.
"Cody, get everyone back here a.s.a.p. I need transportation to Billings as soon as you can get it. Make it for two."
"What's going on?" Cody asks as Frank ran up the stairs. "I guess I'll find out later." Cody called Sab on the radio. "Donovan wants everyone back here and fast."
"Okay, I'll get them."
Sab changed to another frequency to talk to Jake and Maria. "We're being called back to the nest. Get out here now."
Frank came back down from changing and making a phone call. "Andy will be here in a half hour."
"Mind telling me what's going on or is it a secret?" Cody asks still on the phone.
"Elaina's plane went down about fifteen minutes ago. I have to go tell Derek and Megan, it won't take long, he'll probably want to come back here with me." Frank replies.
"Are you taking him with you?" Cody asks.
"No, I'm taking Sab with me. I want you here with Maria and Jake."
"Okay, I'll tell her when they get here."
"Sorry I didn't answer you before; my mind is racing right now." Frank says turning back to Cody before he left.
"I understand, don't worry about an apology." Cody replies. "I'll have you a plane out of here by the time you get back."
Frank walked out leaving Cody to his phone calls. A few minutes later Jake and the girls arrive back at the nest.
"Sab the next time we are in a hurry, I drive and throw you around in the back. Who taught you to drive that thing, Cody?" Jake was a bit angry with her.
"This was my first time at being in a hurry with it." Sab replies. "I guess I was just worried by the tone of Cody's voice and didn't pay a lot attention to how fast I was going."
"Just remember Sab, there are brakes on that van. Use them when you turn corners." Maria says as she massages her back from the ride.
"There's not going to be a next time for me, I'm not riding with her again." Jake says.
"Suit yourself, but I'm a better driver than you give me credit for. I got you here in record time and in one piece, sort off." She says seeing a bruise slowly forming on Maria's arm.
"What's going on that she had to drive like a maniac to get us here?" Jake asks as Cody hung up the phone.
"Elaina's plane." Cody didn't know how to make it not sound bad, so he just said it. "It went down a little while ago."
Maria sat down stunned and Jake stood next to her with his hand on her shoulder. Sab went over and hugged Cody. Jake was the first to ask the question that was on all their minds. "Do they know if they survived?"
"Donovan didn't say much, I've chartered a flight out there for him and Sab. He wants you to go with him." Cody looked her in the eyes as he told her.
"Why me?" Sab asks in confusion.
"He wants me to stay on this case with Jake and Maria. You can handle anything he'll want done." Cody knew her capabilities better than anyone. "You'll need to get some warmer clothes; it's colder there than it is here."
"I'll go home and pack a few things. It won't take me long." Sab says as he lets her go.
"Jake why don't you drive her? I don't want her pressing her luck twice in one day." Maria suggests.
"I can drive myself." Sab was irritated by the suggestion.
"I'll drive you, and I won't scare you either. I promise." Jake replies. He looked down at Maria. "Are you going to be all right?"
"I'm fine; the shock is wearing off now." Maria replies looking up to him. "I'm sure Frank is going to need someone to lean on, so I plan on being brave for him."
"We'll be back in a few minutes." Sab says as they head out.
******
At the crash site Elaina starts to wake up. Reese is nowhere to be seen and she starts to panic.
"Reese! Reese, where are you?" She waited for him to answer, but never hears one. She tries to remember what had happen on the plane.
"I know we were going to go around the storm, but we didn't. I went to the cockpit, but the door was locked. Reese and Dave never lock it. What did I do next?" Her head was hurting so bad she had to stop thinking and clear her mind. She tried to move but there was a very sharp pain coming from her left leg. She tried to sit up but couldn't. "Damn it brother, where are you? Please God, don't let him be with you. I need him here with me." Elaina was never too religious, but she and her maker were on speaking terms. "REESE!" She screamed at the top of her lungs.
"Trying to start an avalanche sis?" Reese came stumbling into the wreckage. "I went for a walk while you were out; I needed to fine something for a splint."
"Next time leave a note." Elaina tried once more to sit up. "Ouch, ouch, ouch. Not a good idea."
"If you would sit still, you won't be in that much pain. Your leg is broke in two places, you have a gash on your head and you have a flesh wound on your arm from where you were shot." He sat down next to her.
"I was shot? I don't remember that." Elaina sighed. "But then, I don't remember much of anything after trying the door."
"Well I guess I can fill in some of the blanks. When I went to the cockpit I was looking down the barrel of a gun. Turns out Dave was not Dave." He saw her confused look.
"Ok you lost me already. Where is my pilot if that wasn't him?" Elaina asks.
"I don't know, but this guy was after me, not you." Reese replies.
"That's comforting. What case are you working that got me in a plane crash?"
"It has to do with a case I have coming to trial next week. I guess they don't want me testifying." He checked her leg. "I need to set that leg."
"No you don't." Her stare dared him to touch her leg, so he backed away from it. "There is one thing I want you to do for me, tell me someone may be after you before so I won't invite you on the plane with me."
"I'm glad to see you still have your sense of humor intact." Reese jokes.
"That feels like the only thing intact. Where are we exactly?" Elaina asks. "And please tell me how all this happened."
"Our pilot, so to speak, said he was sorry to have to hurt you but he was to deal with me anyway he had to as long as I didn't get to court next week. He told me to set my course and then we would go to the back and he would dispose of the both of us." Reese explains. "I set the course, but not the one he thought. Instead I went into the storm and not around it. I wanted us to hit turbulence to give me an advantage."
"It must have worked really well if I got shot." Elaina says checking her arm.
Reese ignored her complaint and continued his story. "We didn't hit turbulence right away, I had to stall but he wasn't going to let me. He put the gun to your head and told me to get on my knees to be executed. I refused and he hit you."
"So that explains the headache."
"Yeah partly. He said he would take his time with you and that's when you drew your gun that you had behind you, and shot him." Reese explains. "But he wasn't going down that easy and I fought him for his gun and it went off and hit you."
"So I have you to thank for that. Anything else you did to save me that I need to know about?" Elaina was being sarcastic.
"The turbulence hit and we got tossed around. By the time I made it to the cockpit the plane had started down. I jettisoned the fuel so we had a better chance of surviving the crash and not crash and burn." Reese replies.
"Now that I am grateful for. Now where the hell are we?"
"I think we are still in Montana." Reese wasn't sure.
"That's the best answer you have?" Elaina asks raising her eyebrows.
"At the moment. It's getting colder with this storm; I better find something to keep us warm."
"Reese you told me my injuries, would you mind telling me about yours?" Elaina asks looking him over.
"I have something wrong with my knee and a mild concussion and a bullet wound in my side that hurts like hell, but other than that I feel fine." Reese replies.
"Your sense of humor is still good too." Elaina smiles. "How much blood have you lost?"
"Some, I packed it in snow and it decreased the blood flow." Reese replies. "I try not to move too fast to get it started again."
"Is the bullet still in?" Elaina reached over to look under his jacket.
He pushed her hand away. "No, it was nice enough to leave through my back." He winced in pain as he moved around in the wreckage.
******
Frank and Derek arrived back at the nest. Maria and Cody were sitting together talking.
"When are we leaving?" Frank turned around to see Sab and Jake coming back.
"Best I could do is a charter flight in two hours and that is if they can find a pilot to go with the storm that is out there." Cody replies.
"They better find one and fast."
"Frank I know a pilot that would take you." Maria says. "Lady Hawk."
"I'd rather walk than have her fly me anywhere." Frank replies.
"Frank, she isn't a bad pilot, you just got her mad and she gave you the special flight from what I heard from Elaina." Maria says.
"Who's Lady Hawk?" Sab asks looking to Frank.
"She's a pilot that is very good, she flew jets in the Navy and when her tour was over, she went to work for the C.I.A. I believe that is when Frank met her."
"NO! As desperate as I am I will not call her." Frank insists.
"You don't have to, I called her and she can be ready in a half hour if you say yes." Maria replies. "She promised to behave for Elaina's sake."
"It is better than two hours." Sab offers trying to convince him.
"Okay, but you will regret anything that happens." Frank warns.
Maria made the call and then walked over to Derek and gave him a hug. "How are you doing?"
"I'm okay considering we don't know more." Derek replies. "Dad said I could stay here with you to make sure you stayed calm."
Maria knew that Frank meant her to keep Derek calm he just didn't say it that way to him. "Really, that was very thoughtful. I like that idea. Why don't you go raid Sab's junk food stash over there and I'll join you in a minute." She motioned for Frank to follow her. "What do I do when I go back to work the case?"
"He can be in the van with Cody. Here I want you to wear this." Frank handed her one of the security bracelets from the ranch. "If you insist on playing this your way, I want us to be able to find you if something goes wrong."
"Good idea, so you're going to let me go through with it?" She asks putting on the bracelet.
"Yeah, I'll tell Andy what you are up to, he won't like it either." Frank replies.
"I won't like what?" Andy had walked in behind them. "Sorry I'm late, something came up I had to take care of."
"Maria is going to force Montgomery's hand a little." Frank replies. "I want her watched very carefully after that."
Jake came over to join them. "You're letting her go through with it?"
"Yes, but if you think she is in over her head get her out." Frank orders him.
"I think she is all ready just by suggesting it." Jake replies.
"Jake, I know what I'm doing and I also realize the risks, we all do. I don't want any other women going through what they do to them." Maria adds.
"You act as if you know personally what happens." Andy states.
"If any of you had taken the time to read my file, you would know this is not the first case that involved kidnapping women for slavery that I worked on." Maria replies.
"Why didn't you tell me this earlier?" Frank asks.
"Like I said, you could have read my file, or do you just take Elaina's word on how well I work and never read it?"
"I trust her opinion, but I guess it would have cleared up some things." Frank replies.
"You think?" Maria asks. "What if there is trouble and Derek is with us?"
"Hand him a vest and gun, he knows how to use one." Frank was watching Derek and Cody talk.
"No way! I'm not giving him a gun. If I did I would have to shoot myself to keep Elaina from doing it." Maria shouts.
"Elaina is the one that taught him how to use a gun." Frank replies. "I've been target shooting with him and he is good. But only if there is trouble will a gun go in his hand."
"I still say it is a dumb idea to let him go with Cody."
"Frank I tend to agree with Maria, he could get hurt if there is trouble." Andy states.
"Derek come here." Frank calls his son over. "I told Maria that you could go in the van with Cody when she is working and if there is major trouble for any reason you are to be given a gun and a vest. You are to follow Cody and Andy's orders and if you get hurt in a skirmish, pray that your Mother doesn't find out. If she does, blame Maria or Cody not me."
"Very funny Frank. I will personally tell her it was your idea." Maria says.
"Maria, I'll be okay. I may just go back home and be with Megan and Sarah while you're working." Derek replies. "I've already decided I'm going to go to Quantico after school so it would just be a way to get my feet wet."
"As long as it isn't with your blood." Maria had a serious look on her face.
"It won't be." Derek states.
"Does Elaina know of his plans to follow in your footsteps?" Andy asks.
"Yeah and she isn't too happy." Frank replies as he walked over to Sab. "Do you remember how to access the Double D computer system?"
"Do you remember who you're talking too?" Frank raised his eyebrows to her question. "Of course I do, why?" Sab answers.
"Elaina forgets to take her bracelet off if not reminded; I need to know if she forgot this time." Frank replies.
"And if she did forget, we can know exactly where she is." Sab was typing as she spoke and gained access to the computer before she finished her sentence. "Yes! Now all I need is to find her." Sab searched for the signal but couldn't find it.
Frank saw concern on her face. "What's wrong?"
"I can't seem to find it, but it is still activated. Do you think the storm is interfering with it?" She didn't want to think or say the other possibility.
"It could be, maybe will be able to pick it up in the air." Frank was glad Sab didn't mention that it could have been damaged in the crash in front of Derek. "Let's get to the airport and go find them."
Frank and Sab took off; Maria was still talking quietly to Derek when Jake walked over with them. "When do we go back to the club, Martin will be expecting us to show?"
"Could you call and say I have food poisoning or something? I can't go, not tonight." Maria asks. "Andy you don't mind that we don't go do you?"
"Go ahead, I don't mind. I have another meeting to get to, call me the minute there is any news. I'll be back here first thing in the morning." Andy started to leave but Maria stopped him.
"I should tell you that Lady Hawk is the one flying Sab and Frank to Montana." Maria says to him.
"I know, I already got a call. See all of you in the morning." Andy left as Jake walked over to Maria.
"I was hoping you didn't want to go." Jake says making the call to the club.
"Maria? Mom and Uncle Reese are okay aren't they?" Derek asks as Maria sat back down next to him.
"Yeah they are, you can still feel them here can you?" She pointed to his heart.
"Yes, but my head is telling me very few people make it out of plane crashes." Derek replies.
"Some do and that is the category Reese and your Mom are in." Maria adds.
"How can you be so sure?"
"I'm as sure that they are okay as I am that the phone will ring in about a minute." Maria replies.
It wasn't long and the phone rang and Cody answered it. "Jake it's for you."
"How did you do that?" Derek asks Maria.
"I've been able to do that for a long time, I mostly do it to annoy people." Maria saw that Jake's conversation was very serious. She walked over to Cody. "Who is he talking too?"
"His mother, Allison." Cody replies.
"He told me about her yesterday." She watched at how Jake acted talking to her, Maria could see how much he care for his mother.
"Derek, Allison wants to talk to you." Jake tells him and handed him the phone.
"She heard on the news about the plane going down, I guess they released the names finally since Frank knows about it." Jake says walking over to Maria.
"I called Aunt Liz about them so Frank wouldn't have too. I hated making that call."
"Parents are the hardest to tell bad news to." Cody says.
"Have you ever met them?" Maria asks them.
"Not yet, but Elaina is expecting them soon." Jake replies.
"You'll like them when you meet them, but I have to warn you that her father is deaf. And he will refuse to acknowledge anyone that doesn't sign to him." Maria explains. "If you don't sign hello to him he will ignore you, because he feels ignored."
"I'll have to remember that. I also need to learn more sign. Derek has been teaching me and Sab in exchange for computer classes." Cody thought it was a good trade.
"How did Grandma and Grandpa take it?" Derek asks after hanging up. "Allison wants you to call her if we hear anything." Jake shook his head yes.
"Your grandparents are scared, but they believe they will be okay." Maria put her arm around him as he pulled a chair next to her.
"Jake could we go to the church the way we did before Mom's surgery?" Derek asks.
"Sure want to go now?"
"If you don't mind." Derek replies.
"Let's go, Maria you want to come with?" Jake offers.
"I don't think so. I'll keep Cody company."
"Cody you can come too." Derek offers.
"That's okay, you two go ahead." Cody waved them out.
Maria buried her head in her hands and started to cry. Cody put his arms around her. "I was wondering when you would break down. I won't tell anyone." He put his head on her shoulder. "I'll be right back." Cody went and got a box of tissue for her from Monica's desk. "Here you go you might need these."
Maria took some of the tissues from him and dried her face then blew her nose. "Sorry, I was hoping to keep it together better than that."
"You're allowed to break down, they are family." Cody replies. "I'm just surprised you didn't do it sooner."
"Actually I am too. I guess I just didn't want Frank and Derek to see it happen."
"I've seen you at your worse so cry, yell, scream, whatever makes you feel better." Cody suggests.
"Thanks, Sab is one lucky lady to have you in her life. Just as I was when you saved me." Maria gives him a kiss.
"She is lucky and I'm glad I found you when I did or we wouldn't be having this conversation." Cody says.
"I think I'll go over there and prop my feet up and take a nap while Derek and Jake are gone. Then I think we should go get something to eat."
"Sounds good to me as long as you pay." Cody smiles at her as she went to the couch.
Frank was exercising in the gym when he heard the phone rang. He walked to the doorway to see if it was for him. Cody motioned for him that it was.
"Donovan.How long ago. I'll be there as soon as I can.I'll find a way believe me." Frank says as he hangs up the phone. He then thinks for a moment then turns to Cody.
"Cody, get everyone back here a.s.a.p. I need transportation to Billings as soon as you can get it. Make it for two."
"What's going on?" Cody asks as Frank ran up the stairs. "I guess I'll find out later." Cody called Sab on the radio. "Donovan wants everyone back here and fast."
"Okay, I'll get them."
Sab changed to another frequency to talk to Jake and Maria. "We're being called back to the nest. Get out here now."
Frank came back down from changing and making a phone call. "Andy will be here in a half hour."
"Mind telling me what's going on or is it a secret?" Cody asks still on the phone.
"Elaina's plane went down about fifteen minutes ago. I have to go tell Derek and Megan, it won't take long, he'll probably want to come back here with me." Frank replies.
"Are you taking him with you?" Cody asks.
"No, I'm taking Sab with me. I want you here with Maria and Jake."
"Okay, I'll tell her when they get here."
"Sorry I didn't answer you before; my mind is racing right now." Frank says turning back to Cody before he left.
"I understand, don't worry about an apology." Cody replies. "I'll have you a plane out of here by the time you get back."
Frank walked out leaving Cody to his phone calls. A few minutes later Jake and the girls arrive back at the nest.
"Sab the next time we are in a hurry, I drive and throw you around in the back. Who taught you to drive that thing, Cody?" Jake was a bit angry with her.
"This was my first time at being in a hurry with it." Sab replies. "I guess I was just worried by the tone of Cody's voice and didn't pay a lot attention to how fast I was going."
"Just remember Sab, there are brakes on that van. Use them when you turn corners." Maria says as she massages her back from the ride.
"There's not going to be a next time for me, I'm not riding with her again." Jake says.
"Suit yourself, but I'm a better driver than you give me credit for. I got you here in record time and in one piece, sort off." She says seeing a bruise slowly forming on Maria's arm.
"What's going on that she had to drive like a maniac to get us here?" Jake asks as Cody hung up the phone.
"Elaina's plane." Cody didn't know how to make it not sound bad, so he just said it. "It went down a little while ago."
Maria sat down stunned and Jake stood next to her with his hand on her shoulder. Sab went over and hugged Cody. Jake was the first to ask the question that was on all their minds. "Do they know if they survived?"
"Donovan didn't say much, I've chartered a flight out there for him and Sab. He wants you to go with him." Cody looked her in the eyes as he told her.
"Why me?" Sab asks in confusion.
"He wants me to stay on this case with Jake and Maria. You can handle anything he'll want done." Cody knew her capabilities better than anyone. "You'll need to get some warmer clothes; it's colder there than it is here."
"I'll go home and pack a few things. It won't take me long." Sab says as he lets her go.
"Jake why don't you drive her? I don't want her pressing her luck twice in one day." Maria suggests.
"I can drive myself." Sab was irritated by the suggestion.
"I'll drive you, and I won't scare you either. I promise." Jake replies. He looked down at Maria. "Are you going to be all right?"
"I'm fine; the shock is wearing off now." Maria replies looking up to him. "I'm sure Frank is going to need someone to lean on, so I plan on being brave for him."
"We'll be back in a few minutes." Sab says as they head out.
******
At the crash site Elaina starts to wake up. Reese is nowhere to be seen and she starts to panic.
"Reese! Reese, where are you?" She waited for him to answer, but never hears one. She tries to remember what had happen on the plane.
"I know we were going to go around the storm, but we didn't. I went to the cockpit, but the door was locked. Reese and Dave never lock it. What did I do next?" Her head was hurting so bad she had to stop thinking and clear her mind. She tried to move but there was a very sharp pain coming from her left leg. She tried to sit up but couldn't. "Damn it brother, where are you? Please God, don't let him be with you. I need him here with me." Elaina was never too religious, but she and her maker were on speaking terms. "REESE!" She screamed at the top of her lungs.
"Trying to start an avalanche sis?" Reese came stumbling into the wreckage. "I went for a walk while you were out; I needed to fine something for a splint."
"Next time leave a note." Elaina tried once more to sit up. "Ouch, ouch, ouch. Not a good idea."
"If you would sit still, you won't be in that much pain. Your leg is broke in two places, you have a gash on your head and you have a flesh wound on your arm from where you were shot." He sat down next to her.
"I was shot? I don't remember that." Elaina sighed. "But then, I don't remember much of anything after trying the door."
"Well I guess I can fill in some of the blanks. When I went to the cockpit I was looking down the barrel of a gun. Turns out Dave was not Dave." He saw her confused look.
"Ok you lost me already. Where is my pilot if that wasn't him?" Elaina asks.
"I don't know, but this guy was after me, not you." Reese replies.
"That's comforting. What case are you working that got me in a plane crash?"
"It has to do with a case I have coming to trial next week. I guess they don't want me testifying." He checked her leg. "I need to set that leg."
"No you don't." Her stare dared him to touch her leg, so he backed away from it. "There is one thing I want you to do for me, tell me someone may be after you before so I won't invite you on the plane with me."
"I'm glad to see you still have your sense of humor intact." Reese jokes.
"That feels like the only thing intact. Where are we exactly?" Elaina asks. "And please tell me how all this happened."
"Our pilot, so to speak, said he was sorry to have to hurt you but he was to deal with me anyway he had to as long as I didn't get to court next week. He told me to set my course and then we would go to the back and he would dispose of the both of us." Reese explains. "I set the course, but not the one he thought. Instead I went into the storm and not around it. I wanted us to hit turbulence to give me an advantage."
"It must have worked really well if I got shot." Elaina says checking her arm.
Reese ignored her complaint and continued his story. "We didn't hit turbulence right away, I had to stall but he wasn't going to let me. He put the gun to your head and told me to get on my knees to be executed. I refused and he hit you."
"So that explains the headache."
"Yeah partly. He said he would take his time with you and that's when you drew your gun that you had behind you, and shot him." Reese explains. "But he wasn't going down that easy and I fought him for his gun and it went off and hit you."
"So I have you to thank for that. Anything else you did to save me that I need to know about?" Elaina was being sarcastic.
"The turbulence hit and we got tossed around. By the time I made it to the cockpit the plane had started down. I jettisoned the fuel so we had a better chance of surviving the crash and not crash and burn." Reese replies.
"Now that I am grateful for. Now where the hell are we?"
"I think we are still in Montana." Reese wasn't sure.
"That's the best answer you have?" Elaina asks raising her eyebrows.
"At the moment. It's getting colder with this storm; I better find something to keep us warm."
"Reese you told me my injuries, would you mind telling me about yours?" Elaina asks looking him over.
"I have something wrong with my knee and a mild concussion and a bullet wound in my side that hurts like hell, but other than that I feel fine." Reese replies.
"Your sense of humor is still good too." Elaina smiles. "How much blood have you lost?"
"Some, I packed it in snow and it decreased the blood flow." Reese replies. "I try not to move too fast to get it started again."
"Is the bullet still in?" Elaina reached over to look under his jacket.
He pushed her hand away. "No, it was nice enough to leave through my back." He winced in pain as he moved around in the wreckage.
******
Frank and Derek arrived back at the nest. Maria and Cody were sitting together talking.
"When are we leaving?" Frank turned around to see Sab and Jake coming back.
"Best I could do is a charter flight in two hours and that is if they can find a pilot to go with the storm that is out there." Cody replies.
"They better find one and fast."
"Frank I know a pilot that would take you." Maria says. "Lady Hawk."
"I'd rather walk than have her fly me anywhere." Frank replies.
"Frank, she isn't a bad pilot, you just got her mad and she gave you the special flight from what I heard from Elaina." Maria says.
"Who's Lady Hawk?" Sab asks looking to Frank.
"She's a pilot that is very good, she flew jets in the Navy and when her tour was over, she went to work for the C.I.A. I believe that is when Frank met her."
"NO! As desperate as I am I will not call her." Frank insists.
"You don't have to, I called her and she can be ready in a half hour if you say yes." Maria replies. "She promised to behave for Elaina's sake."
"It is better than two hours." Sab offers trying to convince him.
"Okay, but you will regret anything that happens." Frank warns.
Maria made the call and then walked over to Derek and gave him a hug. "How are you doing?"
"I'm okay considering we don't know more." Derek replies. "Dad said I could stay here with you to make sure you stayed calm."
Maria knew that Frank meant her to keep Derek calm he just didn't say it that way to him. "Really, that was very thoughtful. I like that idea. Why don't you go raid Sab's junk food stash over there and I'll join you in a minute." She motioned for Frank to follow her. "What do I do when I go back to work the case?"
"He can be in the van with Cody. Here I want you to wear this." Frank handed her one of the security bracelets from the ranch. "If you insist on playing this your way, I want us to be able to find you if something goes wrong."
"Good idea, so you're going to let me go through with it?" She asks putting on the bracelet.
"Yeah, I'll tell Andy what you are up to, he won't like it either." Frank replies.
"I won't like what?" Andy had walked in behind them. "Sorry I'm late, something came up I had to take care of."
"Maria is going to force Montgomery's hand a little." Frank replies. "I want her watched very carefully after that."
Jake came over to join them. "You're letting her go through with it?"
"Yes, but if you think she is in over her head get her out." Frank orders him.
"I think she is all ready just by suggesting it." Jake replies.
"Jake, I know what I'm doing and I also realize the risks, we all do. I don't want any other women going through what they do to them." Maria adds.
"You act as if you know personally what happens." Andy states.
"If any of you had taken the time to read my file, you would know this is not the first case that involved kidnapping women for slavery that I worked on." Maria replies.
"Why didn't you tell me this earlier?" Frank asks.
"Like I said, you could have read my file, or do you just take Elaina's word on how well I work and never read it?"
"I trust her opinion, but I guess it would have cleared up some things." Frank replies.
"You think?" Maria asks. "What if there is trouble and Derek is with us?"
"Hand him a vest and gun, he knows how to use one." Frank was watching Derek and Cody talk.
"No way! I'm not giving him a gun. If I did I would have to shoot myself to keep Elaina from doing it." Maria shouts.
"Elaina is the one that taught him how to use a gun." Frank replies. "I've been target shooting with him and he is good. But only if there is trouble will a gun go in his hand."
"I still say it is a dumb idea to let him go with Cody."
"Frank I tend to agree with Maria, he could get hurt if there is trouble." Andy states.
"Derek come here." Frank calls his son over. "I told Maria that you could go in the van with Cody when she is working and if there is major trouble for any reason you are to be given a gun and a vest. You are to follow Cody and Andy's orders and if you get hurt in a skirmish, pray that your Mother doesn't find out. If she does, blame Maria or Cody not me."
"Very funny Frank. I will personally tell her it was your idea." Maria says.
"Maria, I'll be okay. I may just go back home and be with Megan and Sarah while you're working." Derek replies. "I've already decided I'm going to go to Quantico after school so it would just be a way to get my feet wet."
"As long as it isn't with your blood." Maria had a serious look on her face.
"It won't be." Derek states.
"Does Elaina know of his plans to follow in your footsteps?" Andy asks.
"Yeah and she isn't too happy." Frank replies as he walked over to Sab. "Do you remember how to access the Double D computer system?"
"Do you remember who you're talking too?" Frank raised his eyebrows to her question. "Of course I do, why?" Sab answers.
"Elaina forgets to take her bracelet off if not reminded; I need to know if she forgot this time." Frank replies.
"And if she did forget, we can know exactly where she is." Sab was typing as she spoke and gained access to the computer before she finished her sentence. "Yes! Now all I need is to find her." Sab searched for the signal but couldn't find it.
Frank saw concern on her face. "What's wrong?"
"I can't seem to find it, but it is still activated. Do you think the storm is interfering with it?" She didn't want to think or say the other possibility.
"It could be, maybe will be able to pick it up in the air." Frank was glad Sab didn't mention that it could have been damaged in the crash in front of Derek. "Let's get to the airport and go find them."
Frank and Sab took off; Maria was still talking quietly to Derek when Jake walked over with them. "When do we go back to the club, Martin will be expecting us to show?"
"Could you call and say I have food poisoning or something? I can't go, not tonight." Maria asks. "Andy you don't mind that we don't go do you?"
"Go ahead, I don't mind. I have another meeting to get to, call me the minute there is any news. I'll be back here first thing in the morning." Andy started to leave but Maria stopped him.
"I should tell you that Lady Hawk is the one flying Sab and Frank to Montana." Maria says to him.
"I know, I already got a call. See all of you in the morning." Andy left as Jake walked over to Maria.
"I was hoping you didn't want to go." Jake says making the call to the club.
"Maria? Mom and Uncle Reese are okay aren't they?" Derek asks as Maria sat back down next to him.
"Yeah they are, you can still feel them here can you?" She pointed to his heart.
"Yes, but my head is telling me very few people make it out of plane crashes." Derek replies.
"Some do and that is the category Reese and your Mom are in." Maria adds.
"How can you be so sure?"
"I'm as sure that they are okay as I am that the phone will ring in about a minute." Maria replies.
It wasn't long and the phone rang and Cody answered it. "Jake it's for you."
"How did you do that?" Derek asks Maria.
"I've been able to do that for a long time, I mostly do it to annoy people." Maria saw that Jake's conversation was very serious. She walked over to Cody. "Who is he talking too?"
"His mother, Allison." Cody replies.
"He told me about her yesterday." She watched at how Jake acted talking to her, Maria could see how much he care for his mother.
"Derek, Allison wants to talk to you." Jake tells him and handed him the phone.
"She heard on the news about the plane going down, I guess they released the names finally since Frank knows about it." Jake says walking over to Maria.
"I called Aunt Liz about them so Frank wouldn't have too. I hated making that call."
"Parents are the hardest to tell bad news to." Cody says.
"Have you ever met them?" Maria asks them.
"Not yet, but Elaina is expecting them soon." Jake replies.
"You'll like them when you meet them, but I have to warn you that her father is deaf. And he will refuse to acknowledge anyone that doesn't sign to him." Maria explains. "If you don't sign hello to him he will ignore you, because he feels ignored."
"I'll have to remember that. I also need to learn more sign. Derek has been teaching me and Sab in exchange for computer classes." Cody thought it was a good trade.
"How did Grandma and Grandpa take it?" Derek asks after hanging up. "Allison wants you to call her if we hear anything." Jake shook his head yes.
"Your grandparents are scared, but they believe they will be okay." Maria put her arm around him as he pulled a chair next to her.
"Jake could we go to the church the way we did before Mom's surgery?" Derek asks.
"Sure want to go now?"
"If you don't mind." Derek replies.
"Let's go, Maria you want to come with?" Jake offers.
"I don't think so. I'll keep Cody company."
"Cody you can come too." Derek offers.
"That's okay, you two go ahead." Cody waved them out.
Maria buried her head in her hands and started to cry. Cody put his arms around her. "I was wondering when you would break down. I won't tell anyone." He put his head on her shoulder. "I'll be right back." Cody went and got a box of tissue for her from Monica's desk. "Here you go you might need these."
Maria took some of the tissues from him and dried her face then blew her nose. "Sorry, I was hoping to keep it together better than that."
"You're allowed to break down, they are family." Cody replies. "I'm just surprised you didn't do it sooner."
"Actually I am too. I guess I just didn't want Frank and Derek to see it happen."
"I've seen you at your worse so cry, yell, scream, whatever makes you feel better." Cody suggests.
"Thanks, Sab is one lucky lady to have you in her life. Just as I was when you saved me." Maria gives him a kiss.
"She is lucky and I'm glad I found you when I did or we wouldn't be having this conversation." Cody says.
"I think I'll go over there and prop my feet up and take a nap while Derek and Jake are gone. Then I think we should go get something to eat."
"Sounds good to me as long as you pay." Cody smiles at her as she went to the couch.