Disclaimer: Profiler belongs to NBC, Sanders/Moses Productions, Cynthia Saunders, Stephen
Kronish ... Not to me. No copyright infringement intended. I'm not making any money with it. It's just for the fun !


Part 12 : Mr. and Mrs. Malone have a flat tire

It was 9:30. "Jerry, remember, no siren !" Bailey said as he entered the car. He would drive till Chicago. He started the engine and they left Carlson Creek, followed by two unmarked police cars. "John," he said, "Call George. Tell him what we know. See if he can get some information on the house.". "OK", the young man answered. Grace and Sam were in the back seats. Tension was on every face.

It took them no longer than twenty minutes to reach back Chicago. Once in town, Bailey let Baldwin go first to find Welmington Road. They drove south for about ten minutes, and finally got there. As they were progressing on Welmington, they found less and less houses. Number 911 was almost at the end of the road, isolated. They could not stop in front of the house without running the risk of attracting Miller's attention. Bailey called Baldwin on the radio. "Pass it, Jerry. Don't stop. Take the first on your right and park as soon as you can.".

The first turn on the right was about 200 yards from Miller's house. They took it and parked the three cars right after the corner of the street. "Light was on." John said. They all stepped out of the cars. In addition to the four VCTF agents and detective Baldwin, there were four police officers in plain clothes; one of them was a woman. John and Bailey joined Baldwin.

" So, how do we proceed ?" the detective asked. "Do we blow-up the door and fill the house with smoke ?". John looked at him incredulously. "Hold back the horses, young man, I was just kidding !" Baldwin added.

" The only important thing is the life of the kids." Bailey started. "From what we know, Miller is unstable; and he has already killed once. We don't believe he would hurt the children, but he considers them as HIS family, and there's always a possibility he would prefer to kill them rather than letting them go with someone else.
- I called home and had our specialist have a look to the cadastre files." John said. "Miller was raised there. There is one front door, and at least two on the back. There is a cellar and a garage, which communicate with the kitchen.

- We have to find a way to enter the house with his agreement." Bailey said. "Miller is a doctor. He had a social life before he cracked up. He may still behave as a good citizen and help someone in distress.
- You mean he would probably go out if he saw you commit suicide in front of his house ?" Baldwin asked mischievously.
" I mean he may let me enter to give a phone call if I had a flat tire in front of his house." Bailey answered. "What do you think ?
- Could work." John said. Baldwin nodded.

- It doesn't have to be you." Jerry added. "I can send one of my officers.
- I'll go with Sam. She's probably the only one who can talk to him the proper way, if things go bad. Jerry, you and John will cover the back. Take two officers with you. Leave two of them at the front, in case Sam and I need support. I don't want anybody to move before we are inside, right ?
- Clear for me." John said.
" OK. But Malone, be careful. You can't imagine the number of forms I would have to fill if an FBI agent was killed in my jurisdiction !".

Bailey smiled. "I'll try to remember that."

"What about Grace ?" John asked.
" Grace stays in the car. We may need someone to call for reinforcement."

John nodded, though he knew this was a cheap reason. Bailey went back to his car and explained his plan to the two women. As expected, Grace did not like the idea of staying out, but a look at Bailey made her understand he would not change his mind. He waited about ten minutes for the others to settle around the house.
Then he pulled a swiss knife out of his hip pocket and make a little hole in the left front tire. Sam and he got into the car, and he drove back to Welmington road.

Sam and Bailey covered the two hundred yards in silence. They finally stopped in front of Miller's house, on the other side of the road. Bailey stepped out and kneeled by the front tire he had pierced. He glanced around and checked that the two police officers were in place. He could now start. Miller may have been observing them from the house. They had to play their part. Bailey smiled : playing the part of a married couple with Sam was not exactly a drag.

" What happened, honey ?" he heard Sam say from inside the car.
- Flat tire !" he answered loudly. "Here we go !" he added quietly for the little microphone he had pinned under the collar of his shirt. Sam got out of the car and joined him. He stood up. He looked irritated. "This kind of things always happen when you're in a hurry." He went to the rear of the car and opened the trunk. He faked pulling out the spare wheel and the jack.

" Shit ! Sam, I thought I asked you to have this god damned thing repaired !
- OK, I forgot. But this is your car, all right. You could have done it yourself.
- Great ! And now we're in the middle of nowhere, with two flat tires. And I have an appointment downtown in one hour. Any brilliant suggestion ?
- Well, I guess a cab and a mechanic would do !
- And where am I suppose to find them ?"

They went on arguing for a few minutes. Then Sam pointed at Miller's house. They both crossed the street and went to the door. Sam rang the bell.

Marcus Miller had been watching them for a while, amused by the domestic squabble. There wasn't many occasion for entertainment around. He and Angela almost never quarreled when they were married.

There was no phone box in the neighborhood, and the closest house was about 400 yards from his. So he didn't find it strange when the couple crossed the street in his direction. He went to the door when he heard the bell, and opened it. He was relaxed. He had nothing to hide. He was just an ordinary man living here with his family. But he kept the safety chain on.

" Good morning." Bailey started. "My name is Bailey Malone. Sorry to bother you, but I have a flat tire and my wife 'forgot' to have the spare wheel repaired." Sam looked angry. "We wondered if we could use your phone to call a garage and a cab. I have an important appointment in town and ... I will pay for the calls, of course."

Miller hesitated for a few seconds. But the two looked sincere, and he opened the door. Sam and Bailey entered. They had to be sure the children were in the house before they tried anything. They followed Miller in the sitting room, to the telephone table. "Here it is." Miller said to Bailey. "Would you by chance have a directory ?". Miller opened a drawer and pulled out the city phone book.

Bailey started looking into the garage section. He pointed his finger on one number, but dialed his own cell phone number. Grace picked it up. He started explaining the situation, as he would have done to a true mechanic. Miller was reassured. He decided to show up hospitable.

" Would you like a coffee, Mrs. ..." he asked.
" Malone, " Sam answered, "Samantha Malone. Yes please, but I don't want to ...
- It's OK. I made some this morning."

Sam followed him to the kitchen. "You live pretty isolated her, Mr. ..."

" Miller, Marcus Miller. It's quiet.
- I guess so ! Anyway, you saved my life today.
- Do not exaggerate !
- I'm not joking. Bailey can't stand being late. Then it immediately becomes my fault, and he is able to have the sulks for one whole week.
- Yeah, he looked rather nervous to me."

While he was pouring hot coffee in a mug, Sam had a look around the kitchen. It did not take her long to make an opinion. There were three dirty breakfast bowls in the sink.

They both came back to the lounge. Bailey was still on the phone, seemingly ordering a cab. He hung up and turned back to Sam. She was behind Miller, and thus he could not see her made a sign to Bailey: the children were there, they could intervene. Bailey walked to them and hold out his hand. "Thanks a lot for your help." he said. The two men shook hands. As swift as a snake, Bailey tore Miller's arm in his back and pushed him to the floor. He bend over him and put his knee on the man's back to prevent him from moving. Miller tried to escape the pressure, but Bailey was a well trained ex-Marine, and his efforts were in vain.

" It's over, Dr Miller." Bailey said. "We're with the FBI. Tell us where the children are." Bailey handcuffed the man and turned him on the back. A few seconds later, the rest of the team came in. Miller hadn't say a word. His face was closed. Sam had tried to question him, but with no result.
" They are here." Bailey said. "Let's search the house. Jerry, leave two men to look after Miller. You take one with you and search the attic. Sam and John, you take the first floor. Grace, the ground floor. An I want one officer in the garage. I'll check the cellar. The name of the kids are Sandy and Tony." They parted and the chase started.

Bailey borrowed a flashlight from one of the policemen and got down the staircase. He walked down carefully. The door of the cellar was locked. He called the names of the children, but got no answer. He moved the flashlight around and found a pair of keys hanging to a nail on the wall. He grabbed them and tried them on the lock. The second key matched in. He pushed the heavy door slowly. and entered the room. It was completely dark inside. He swept the cellar with his torch, but did not see anything.

He moved forward and crouched down to look under the bed. It was then that he felt a weight on his back. Someone was pushing him and he fell heavily on the floor. He let go the flashlight, tried to turn back, but slipped on the floor. He managed to grab an arm though. It was then he realized it was much too small to be the arm of an adult. "Sandy ?" he asked. "Sandy, I'm agent Bailey Malone, from the FBI. I'm here to rescue you and Tony.". The little girl had put her knees on Bailey's arms. Bailey did not dare to move for he was afraid to hurt her.

" Why should I believe you ?" she asked angrily.
" Sandy, the police is upstairs. We came here to bring you back to your mother." Sandy increased the pressure and Bailey's elbows started to hurt. "Sandy, I have an id in the inside pocket of my jacket. Take it."

Sandy lifted her arm and switched on the light. The sudden flash made Bailey blink. Without releasing her grip, the little girl searched Bailey's jacket and pulled out his wallet. She opened it and found his FBI professional card. She burst out crying and collapsed on Bailey's chest.

Bailey gently lifted the kid's body, delicately took her his in arms and sat on the floor. Sandy was clinging on his neck. He put his head over her hair and started whispering "It's OK now, you're safe Sandy. We're gonna take you home." It was then he saw Tony for the first time. The little boy had curled up in one corner of the room, behind the door. He hadn't moved or said a word, but tears were rolling on his chubby cheeks. Bailey made a sign with his hand and the child rushed to him. He climbed on Bailey's free knee and snuggled up in his arm. Bailey started rocking the two children slowly.



To be continued ... R&R, Thanks.
Absolut.