Collins sat in the small room of a hideout of the gang he was dealing with in the Netherlands. His plan was working well. He'd been through five countries so far, spending a different amount of time in each before adopting the next persona and moving on to the next destination. Just three more stops and he'd be home free as they say, he thought.
"Alright, this shows you everything that your government has on you." Collins told them as he showed them the data. He triggered the trojan and all the data disappeared. He smiled as the man grinned. Collins hit another key and the data was replaced. "Once I am on the plane I'll execute my virus in their system and you will no longer exist, for good." Collins grinned.
"Why don't you go ahead and execute it now?" The man he'd been working with asked with his heavy accent. Then his grin went neutral.
"That wouldn't be very smart of me. You might decide to turn me over to the authorities if I did." Collins explained calmly.
"That is a good point. Well then, my men will see that you get to the plane. I wish you well in your journey Mr Smith." The man held out his hand.
Collins smiled as he shook his hand.
Putting his laptop away Collins stood and walked with the two men who had brought him here, out to the car. They were a short five minute drive from the airport and the late afternoon sky was gorgeous. He watched as the driver stopped at a back gate to the airport. The driver gave the guard a small envelope. The guard smiled and nodded as he opened the gate and they drove through. Two minutes later they pulled up outside the terminal and a plane that was waiting to finish boarding.
"Mr Smith, we wish you a good flight. Just be aware if you double cross us, our contact at the plane's next stop will remedy the situation." The passenger in the car explained almost politely.
"Rest assured, my word is my bond." Collins told them as he opened his door and got out. He'd been threatened a number of times now just like this.
Collins walked up to the flight attendant who was at the bottom of the stairs to the plane and handed her his ticket.
She smiled as she looked at the ticket and then gestured up the stairs.
Collins walked up and saw the car back up and drive away. Collins smiled and walked into the plane. An attendant there looked at his ticket and pointed at a seat not too far away. Collins stepped over and sat down.
He watched as about thirty more passengers finally came out and got into the plane. He watched as the door was closed, sealed and before long the plane began moving until it was at the edge of the runway.
The engines began ramping up power and then the brakes were released. The plane moved forward and began accelerating faster and faster. Collins felt himself sinking a bit deeper into the cushions at the acceleration. And then the front wheel rose off the ground and a moment later the rear wheels came off the tarmac.
As the plane climbed higher Collins opened his laptop and connected to the internet. He quickly sent a signal that activated the trojan Walter had implanted into the Netherland Government's system and it quickly eradicated all the information on the gang that helped him. Collins grinned as he relaxed.
Just after they reached cruising altitude he felt the plane's course adjust as it turned towards the west. Collins looked around as the speaker system turned on.
"This is your captain speaking. We've got a red light on our number two engine. We're okay, but as a precaution we've been given priority landing clearance in Eindhoven airport. We're positive that this is just instrumentation and not an actual problem with the aircraft. We expect this to add about an hour to our scheduled time. We apologize for this disruption." The Captain's accent was so heavy it was almost hard to follow and then the speakers went dead.
Collins grew suspicious and he managed to hack his way through the plane's computer network. He sighed for a moment as he saw that the plane's computer was detecting a problem with the engine. He began running probabilities just in case. He wasn't as good at them as Walter, and Sylvester was miles ahead of him. If he had time and a whiteboard he could do a better job than in his head. He slowly nodded as he finally decided he was fine.
Over the next twenty minutes the flight experienced a few bumps and jerks which elicited excited cries from most of the passengers but the Capt came on each time and explained that it appeared now that the warning
was a legitimate concern and what they were doing to combat the issue. He assured everyone what they were experiencing was just the result of the engine shutting down and restarting. But he promised them even if the engine was lost, they'd be safe to land.
About fifteen minutes after his last announcement they were on the ground. As Collins walked into the terminal he was greeted by several officers of the National Police Corps.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Mr Collins. To think of all the intelligence networks that are looking for you and it is the Netherlands' government to take you into custody. On the grounds of computer espionage." The officer told him.
Cabe walked down the hallway outside the cells with two other homeland agents with him. They stepped up to one set of bars and stopped.
"Get on your feet you disgusting maggot." Cabe told Jason Bigelow.
"No." Jason said as something didn't seem right.
"If I have to come in there you will really regret it." Cabe told him.
Jason looked at the other cells and noticed the other 3 prisoners who had been in there but had been taken out about ten minutes earlier hadn't come back yet. Jason swallowed hard as he realized he'd been set up for this to play out. He stood slowly and walked towards the bars.
"You've been playing hardball with my friend in the FBI, you aren't going to play with me. You will not use this to try and get a reduced sentence. The next time they come to talk to you, you'll tell them everything about these people you sold Walter to. You will accept the maximum sentence for all your crimes. You now have one chance and forty two seconds with which to tell me everything about who you sold Walter to, that sexually assaulted him. If you lie even a smidge, my two friends here are going to hold you down while I shove this baton up your ass, repeatedly and without lube. Are we clear?" Cabe demanded as he looked at his watch.
Jason saw the larger, older man holding what looked like an old fashion police baton, just slightly smaller than a Louisville Slugger. He nodded quickly before he began giving them every single detail.
"If you don't take the maximum sentence, if you have made even the tiniest of errors in what you just told me." Cabe eyed him dangerously. "I want you to know I have friends all over the penal system. I will see you messed up for life." Cabe told him before he reached through the bars and grabbed Bigelow's jumpsuit. He yanked hard slamming his face into the bars. Cabe let go as Jason cussed and grabbed his face.
"You really should be careful, tripping like that. You could have broken something." Cabe grinned before they left.
Next Day:
Toby stopped as he reached the Loft and saw Ralph eating his breakfast. He kissed the side of Happy's head and walked over to sit down. Happy walked on back to Walter's bedroom.
"How are you doing Ralph?" Toby asked carefully.
"Okay I think. I had a number of nightmares last night." Ralph told him honestly.
"I can only imagine Ralph. I think maybe we should have a sit down today since it is Saturday. Talk about it." Toby told him.
Ralph shrugged but nodded.
"How is he?" Happy asked softly as she stepped into Walter's room.
"Oh, hey." Paige said as she looked at her from her chair.
"Better I think. I've been so freaked out with Ralph. I don't even know where to begin." Paige sighed.
"Yeah…Toby wants to have a session with him today to see how he is really doing. Seeing that happening to a parent. I can't imagine. I'm still so angry, I've been threatening Sly he better hurry up and get me the peoples' information." Happy said bitterly.
"Happy, please, I understand. But you are our dear friend, don't. Cabe has a friend in the FBI who is on the case with Sylvester. Let them handle this." Paige told her as she reached out and touched Happy's hand.
"I make no promises, but they have a little time to get this done." Happy said coldly.
"Hey Paige." Toby said as he walked into the room and stepped over to Walter's bed.
"Hey Toby. How's Ralph?" Paige asked.
"Surprisingly I think he is okay. Far better than my better half. But I'm still going to have a sit down with him later. Did Happy tell you we watched one of the whole videos last night?" Toby asked as he was going over Walter's vitals.
"No, why would you guys subject yourself to that?" Paige said in shock.
"Well I did it to try and understand some of what happened to him. I think Happy did it as punishment to herself for what happened between us. I'm partly convinced that if Walter remembers it, it will mostly be clouded by the drugs. That can either be good or bad to be honest though." Toby told her. "His vitals are all looking better. I'm not going to give him the full dosage today. I want to test the stabilizers I've dosed him with. We need him to wake up and to stay functioning, regardless if he has another spell. Both you, Ralph, hell all of us could use some good time with Walter right now."
"Well no one better bring up those videos. I doubt he knows they were recorded. That would horrify him to find out about it." Paige told him.
"Yes Ma'am." Toby grinned looking back at her.
"Good morning." Terri said as she walked into the room.
"Good morning Terri." Toby greeted her. "So you know, I'm cutting his medicine in half today. I want him to be more aware and to interact with all of us more."
"Good, I was going to suggest that myself today." Terri smiled. "Paige, did you want to help me give Walter a bath?"
"Yes." Paige said quickly.
"I'll go get everything ready to bring in here if you are ready." Terri told her.
"It would probably be best if we get it done before he comes out from under the medication." Paige sighed.
Cabe climbed the stairs and saw most everyone in the kitchen or living area.
"What's going on?" Cabe asked, puzzled seeing them all out there.
"Walter's bath time." Toby spoke up.
Cabe nodded before walking over and getting a cup of coffee.
"Are you still going to get a colonoscopy done on Walter?" Cabe asked.
"If he'll agree to it. And just as a precaution. Do not bring up that those videos were made to Walter, don't even act like you know anything about that. Paige plans to explain that she and I know it happened. He'll know it means we all do, but it will give him some cover for it. If we're lucky, maybe the drugs have erased it from his mind." Toby told everyone while looking at his watch. He'll probably be sedated another thirty to sixty minutes. Going by his previous reactions to the drug."
"How long until they're done? I got some news to pass out." Cabe said as he sat down.
"I wouldn't think too much longer, they've been at it fifteen minutes now." Toby explained before sipping his coffee.
"Paige just turned the monitor back on, so she should be out here soon." Happy told them as she saw the video feed come up. They installed a monitor system so there were always eyes on Walter.
Everyone looked at the monitor and saw Walter asleep even as they secured his hands back to the bed frame.
A few minutes later Paige walked out.
"Good morning." Paige said as she saw Cabe.
"Morning sweetheart. I've got news to share." Cabe told her.
"Let me get some coffee first." Paige told him.
"Okay, well the big news first." Cabe started after Paige sat down and took a sip of her coffee. "Collins is in custody now."
Cabe held out his hands to keep them calm.
"He's currently in the Netherlands. And according to Katherine it is unlikely we'll get a crack at him for a long time." Cabe told them.
"Wait, what? Why not? What crimes could they have on him greater than we do?" Paige demanded.
"Take it easy kid." Cabe said as he covered her hand with his. "All we got him for is escaping custody and his previous convictions. They've got him on some serious computer crimes."
"Computer crimes?" Happy swore. "He nearly killed Toby!"
"He infiltrated their national justice computer system and implanted a trojan in it. He then used it to erase the records of a very serious gang over there. Or at least that is what he thought. Apparently when he made contact with this group, he didn't know that they're actually an anti gang task force. When the officers of the gang confirmed who they were dealing with they let him commit his crime and then the police nabbed him." Cabe grinned.
"We don't have anything to tie him to what happened with Walter. Bigelow never met him and he wasn't smart enough to record anything that he could offer that would incriminate Collins." Cabe told them.
"What about them sending him here after his trial there?" Happy asked quickly.
Cabe shook his head.
"When Katherine was making overtures to them about it, they cited the fact that he'd escaped our custody twice already. They aren't willing to let him go until after he's served his full sentence there." Cabe explained. "But Collins will be serving some very hard time there." Cabe smiled.
"What do you mean?" Paige frowned.
"My old unit commander, I called in a favor from him. He is old friends with a colonel that was in the Netherlands' armed forces. He's going to ensure that Collins' life is going to be a real pain." Cabe told them.
Happy grinned.
"But, I do have some good news. Bigelow finally confessed who he had sold Walter to so he could be used sexually." Cabe told them quietly.
"What? When? I want to go with you to arrest them!" Happy demanded while jumping up.
"We won't be going." Cabe told her even as his face darkened. "Katherine found out how we got the information and while she is willing to look the other way over it, she's not willing to let us be any part of apprehending them." Cabe sighed.
"I don't care how you found out, give me the info, I'll go." Happy told him.
"All of us are currently on a no fly list. We're not going anywhere. And before you even think of trying to do something with a fake ID, every TSA line has our pictures to identify us with if needed." Cabe told her.
"Damn it!" Happy screamed before she grabbed her coffee mug and chucked it into the west wall of the Garage. They all watched it shatter into hundreds of pieces.
"She took it better than I thought." Cabe ticked his head.
Greetings! I hope this finds you all well!
Railman - hehe Well as it just so happens, Mark has his own problems now...rich or not. LOL Happy's bear hunting license has been revoked! lol
Marti - He always seems to be creeping somewhere around the back stairs huh? Yep, definitely not even cloudy path...true eclipse. As for what is in store...Well...we'll have to wait and see. hehe
JerBr23 - Thanks! Never say never but I hope it is the last set back too! Happy is a bit disappointed right now...She'd definitely out McGyver McGyver and her Home Alone would put Kevin's house to shame! LOL
Guest - Sadly not the burning of Walter's skin, that was just a "simple" branding that wasn't recorded. He had found a roughly 5 minute trailer clip of what the guys he was sold to did to him. Yep, what he saw will be with him a long time for sure.
Margaret - Yep, he was able to ferret out a small sample of it. Mark definitely has an unhealthy fixation with Walter and gang now. Though to his "credit" he doesn't know about Bigelow selling Walter to those guys sexually. I think that would have crossed a line for Collins that would have been worse for Bigelow had he known.
Nqobile - I understand, I had hoped it was just a ploy myself but sadly not a manipulation of video in this story sadly. While Collins could have done something like that, he definitely wouldn't have approved of Bigelow allowing this to happen.
LouBe - hehe That was because Collins had no knowledge of the sexual assault on Walter. Bigelow would be in for a world of hurt had he known. And as you now know Collins didn't exactly get the escape he had counted on. hehe Ralph knew potentially it was possible but the probabilities he ran were strongly against it actually happening. One of the down sides of inexperience...he didn't have the knowledge to properly weight the variables. You are welcome...it was definitely the worst and needed a warning.
Champagne42 - Definitely more trick than treat! Collins was definitely involved! Glad you enjoyed the reference! hehe Yep, Sly did good and Walter's moods will definitely be unpredictable. Hopefully Toby has the stabilizers worked right...I guess we'll find out next chapter! Well she has friends in LA who could help get him to Canada...Once there, she'd be a bit more on her own with him, unless everyone went with her. I love that she was ready to flee with Walter to another country. Hopefully at least taking Ralph with them. LOL Yep, definitely a heavy cloud on them over that. Toby's doing all he can right now, he's in full doctor mode, detached the best he can and compartmentalizing what he can't.
Chipbass - Thank you brother! Glad you are enjoying it. I'll do my best!
To the Adventure! -Tim