(Okay I admit it. I have never been to California so I used a road map to
get the information I needed. I hope everyone likes this chapter.)
*-*-*-*-*
Alex and Natalie were looking over the map for the hundredth time. "Okay Daniels, one more time. You said that your equipment managed to track them to here," with pink nail Natalie pointed to a place on the map where Route 99 connected with state road 198, "just north of Bakersfield. What then?"
"Girls we have been over this again and again. Her tooth attachable mike went out; they are known to do that so we didn't worry because we had a tracking device on her. She was wearing a belly chain with a cat charm. The cat was the device. Then once we hit that point, yes 99 and 198, realized we couldn't see the limo and the tracking device was down."
Max came into the room with a tray of drinks. "I thought you guys could use this," he said placing the tray on the table. "Where is the lady FBI agent," he asked.
Rubbing his temples Mitchum replied, "She had to go over to the bureau and help another agent. She'll be back later."
"So what you are saying then," said Alex still talking to Daniels, "Is that she could be anywhere."
"Pretty much yeah, that's what I am saying. Listen I don't like this any more than you do. See seemed to be a nice girl. She was funny."
"Don't talk like that," said Bosley angrily.
"Don't talk like what," asked Daniels getting to his feet. They were all tired and had been trying to locate Dylan since the FBI agent had arrived at Charlie's that morning and now tensions were running high.
"Like Dylan is past tense. She IS a nice girl and she IS funny. Don't use 'was'," said Bosley loudly. "That girl is like my little sister, all three of them are." His out burst was followed by a moment of silence. Each angel surprised that Bosley was taking it so hard, yet knowing they would be just as worried if it was him who was missing, as they recalled when Eric Knox had his brother.
Natalie looked at Daniels. "I want to see your equipment," she demanded.
"You want to what," asked Daniels in disbelief. Then he realized what she had meant and laughed. "Sorry too long on this problem. A sorry to you too," he said patting Bosley on the shoulder. "Sure come on out. I don't know what you think you will find out there but I'll show it to you," he said leading her out to the van.
*-*-*-*-*
The meeting between her, Anthony, and Vivian Woods, hadn't taken long. Vivian had given them and idea of what she wanted done and gave them free reign to do it. She only wished that Anthony would have consulted her before deciding to use Getty's visit to the World Trade Conference in Chicago tomorrow. That didn't give her much time. After the meeting she had gone back to her room and decided that she would have to act as though the FBI had no idea where she was and move on her own. This wasn't for show only this was for real and she had no intention on assassinating Donald Getty or letting Anthony do it either. She had noticed a phone on a sideboard in the hallway. "Maybe I can call out from there. Get a message to the Angels."
Anthony paced his room smoking like a train engine. A white plume of smoke trailed behind him. "Vivian Woods is still alive," echoed through his head. Part of him felt guilty leaving her behind that day at the old mission but he had assumed she was dead and thought even if she wasn't she would have been better off that way. Then Dylan bothered him. He should just let her go down, tell the Chief and Vivian who she was. Then go assassinate Getty tomorrow in Chicago. She wouldn't be around to distract him and he could collect double the money. Then there was the other part of him that felt the need to play knight in shining armor with her. He didn't know why he felt the need to protect her; she was a tough young woman as she proved the night before. There was just something about her that spoke to something inside him that he thought died along time ago. He hated feeling conflicted and knew whichever way he decided to go pertaining to Dylan would affect his life forever.
*-*-*-*-*
Natalie and Daniels climbed into the back of the van so Natalie could look over the equipment. "Do you know how this works," asked Daniels skeptically.
"Of course," said the perky blonde, "As she reached over and rewound the tape from the molar mike and with the other hand replayed the recorded coordinates point by point of the tracking device. They sat there in silence while Natalie listened to the fights and cheering Dylan on as she got to the ones she fought in. "Go Dylan, kick him. Watch out for the cane." She heard a loud smack and Dylan cry out from the cane against her leg. "I told her to watch out," said Nat laughing. Daniels just rolled his eyes. Finally they came to the last few minutes of speaking, the chief had asked the Thin Man not to smoke in the car.
"See," said Daniels, "static. You can't hear a thing."
Natalie listened harder and realized she could hear something. "We need to get this tape cleared up."
"Why it's just static," the agent said, "white noise, nothing."
"Trust me, something is there. Dylan's snoring is what is covering it up," she said giggling. Natalie rewound the tape popped it out of the recording unit and ran back inside to the agency, Daniels jogging close behind her trying to keep up. "Alex," she said breathlessly, "You have to clean this up."
"You found something," said Alex excitedly.
"Yep, the mike didn't go out. Well it might have but not for a long time. Dylan fell asleep."
Alex looked at her and said, "Dylan fell asleep? Ohhhh! Dylan fell asleep," she said getting what Natalie was talking about.
"I don't get it," said Mitchum. "I heard the static myself."
"Dylan is a snorer especially when she is really tired," explained Natalie, "and after a competition like that she was probably beat. So on the way to wherever they were going she fell asleep and started snoring so the static sound on the tape isn't static but her."
Alex continued, "We just got this great new software in the lab upstairs that will allow us to clean up the tape and analyze any background noise their might be. Pavement changes, weather conditions, whether or not they stopped for gas," said Alex.
"Birds chirping," added Natalie.
"Ok, but it's only a molar mike. It doesn't pick up those little nuances," said Mitchum. "It was a good idea though."
"It's still a good idea because even though to our ears the quality is bad to the computer it isn't. And this program will make it as though we are in the car with her but blind," concluded Alex.
"What the hell," said Mitchum, "Let's do it. If we can find anything on that tape that will give us the location I am for it." They all went upstairs to the lab. Alex put the tape in the deck and transferred the recording over to the computer. Focusing specifically on when the snoring started she began clarifying the sound.
"Can you please shift her so she isn't making that disturbing noise? We have quite a way to go to get to my home," they heard the Chief say as the snoring was eliminated. They heard the rustle of someone moving, Anthony they presumed moving her, a small sigh, obviously Dylan and then a lighter snoring sound.
"Ok removing the next layer of sound," said Alex. The all listened intently to light breathing and the hum of the car's motor.
"There," exclaimed Natalie. "It sounds like an eleven horse power blower, for pavement work. Quick Bos, look up all the roadwork north of here and find out who was working.what time is on that section of tape," she asked Alex.
"Five thirty am."
"Find out who was working at 5:30am then we can narrow the search from there."
"Got it," said Bosely working quickly. "There were two road crews that were supposed to start that early today. The one was working on Interstate 15 near Escondido."
"That is south of here," said Alex.
Bosley continued excitedly, "The other was on the 198 not far from Kings Canyon National Park."
Alex looked at the state map and the area, "Here," she said pointing to a section of the map. I seem to recall some controversy about them putting up a cellular antenna there for the signals in that area. Its possible that the antenna is what cut the mike out at that point."
"Can I see the computer for a sec," asked Mitchum. Bosley moved out of the way and let the man take over. Mitchum logged into to the FBI database and looked up all the information they had on the Chief. "The Chief has several houses in the state of California. He has one in Sacramento, one in San Francisco, one in San Diego, two here in LA, and one that isn't in a town but a large piece of land he bought near Kings Canyon."
"That's it," cried Natalie. "Let's go in and get her."
Max knocked timidly on the door, "Can I come in," he asked peaking his head into the room. "You guys missed a call. It was Dylan."
*-*-*-*-*
Dylan crept down the hall towards the telephone and picked up the receiver. She breathed a sigh of relief as she heard the dial tone. She knew she wouldn't have long so she dialed the number for the agency and hoped that they would be there. The phone rang, and rang and rang on the third ring she heard, "Hello,"
"Natalie its Dylan," she whispered.
"You have reached the Townsend Agency. Now one is able to take your call at the moment please leave a message after the beep." Beeep! Went the machine.
"Dylan here. WTC 9-30 Getty," she managed to say before she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned throwing a punch which ran directly into Anthony's hand. He folded his hand around her fist and looked at her with hard cold eyes. With his other hand he reached around her and hung up the receiver.
"Well," said the emasculated voice of the Chief from behind them. "I have to say I am very disappointed in you Lucrezia. House rule is no one uses the phone without my permission. I must ask you who called just now. I can trace it you know. Every call here goes through a special machine that disguises the number from the police just in case they try to trace the line. It also recalls all the outgoing numbers dialed. By the way Anthony," said the Chief practically hanging on the Thin Man, "good work, stopping the little tramp before she could cause damage. Or did she? So Lucy, love won't you tell me who you called?"
Dylan looked at the two men not giving away anything. Jorge came up the stairs and gave a piece of paper to the Chief. He looked at it and made a "tsk tsk" sound. "I didn't think you would tell me. Part of Jorge's job when he isn't driving me or looking good," the Chief winked at the driver, "is security. As soon as a receiver is lifted a message is sent to an alarm system and my precious Jorge. This piece of paper tells me that you called 'Charles Townsend Investigations' and here I have the wording of the call. Would you like to hear it?" Dylan not answering swallowed and looked at Anthony. His eyes were cold and distant. "'Natalie its Dylan', here you had to wait for the machine, 'Dylan here, WTC 9-30 Getty'. So I can only assume from this that you are one of the infamous Charlie's Angels."
Dylan was about to say something then thought better of it. "Yes, your reputation precedes you my dear. I understand that you managed to save the HALO rings and kill Seamus O'Grady. I didn't like Seamus mind you but he had something."
"An insane mind," asked Dylan sarcastically.
Anthony wondered how far she was going to push the Chief. The man's mind had been gone for awhile. Now Anthony just stood and watched the exchange between the two of them.
"Insane? Seamus O'Grady was brilliant. He managed to keep his family running from prison. I only hope if by some strange chance I am caught I am able to keep my little family from falling apart. So," said the Chief tapping his slipper clad foot, "what to do with you." The Chief's eyes fell on Anthony. "You are a hired killer; would you like to dispatch the young lady?"
Dylan watched as Anthony reached into his jacket pocket and produced his paper and pen. He wrote a note and handed it to the chief which the little man read. "Interesting, very interesting I must run this by Vivian but I think she will love it. Jorge, get some rope and give it to Anthony so he can tie the angel up until we are ready to leave.
Jorge quickly returned with the rope and handed it to Anthony. He stood there a minute before the Chief said, "What are you waiting for? Tie her up." Anthony grabbed Dylan by the arm to lead her back to her room but she fought. The first punch caught him off guard in the jaw. He looked at her with wide angry eyes and thumbed the trickle of blood away that had formed in the corner of his mouth, and then he attacked. While the two sparred, the chief stood back watching, clapping his hands with glee. She fought him much harder than she had at the competition and he didn't hesitate to fight back just as strong. Too bad neither of them anticipated Jorge who took a vase off the sideboard where the phone sat and crashed it down on Dylan's head. She crumpled to the floor.
*-*-*-*-*
Alex and Natalie were looking over the map for the hundredth time. "Okay Daniels, one more time. You said that your equipment managed to track them to here," with pink nail Natalie pointed to a place on the map where Route 99 connected with state road 198, "just north of Bakersfield. What then?"
"Girls we have been over this again and again. Her tooth attachable mike went out; they are known to do that so we didn't worry because we had a tracking device on her. She was wearing a belly chain with a cat charm. The cat was the device. Then once we hit that point, yes 99 and 198, realized we couldn't see the limo and the tracking device was down."
Max came into the room with a tray of drinks. "I thought you guys could use this," he said placing the tray on the table. "Where is the lady FBI agent," he asked.
Rubbing his temples Mitchum replied, "She had to go over to the bureau and help another agent. She'll be back later."
"So what you are saying then," said Alex still talking to Daniels, "Is that she could be anywhere."
"Pretty much yeah, that's what I am saying. Listen I don't like this any more than you do. See seemed to be a nice girl. She was funny."
"Don't talk like that," said Bosley angrily.
"Don't talk like what," asked Daniels getting to his feet. They were all tired and had been trying to locate Dylan since the FBI agent had arrived at Charlie's that morning and now tensions were running high.
"Like Dylan is past tense. She IS a nice girl and she IS funny. Don't use 'was'," said Bosley loudly. "That girl is like my little sister, all three of them are." His out burst was followed by a moment of silence. Each angel surprised that Bosley was taking it so hard, yet knowing they would be just as worried if it was him who was missing, as they recalled when Eric Knox had his brother.
Natalie looked at Daniels. "I want to see your equipment," she demanded.
"You want to what," asked Daniels in disbelief. Then he realized what she had meant and laughed. "Sorry too long on this problem. A sorry to you too," he said patting Bosley on the shoulder. "Sure come on out. I don't know what you think you will find out there but I'll show it to you," he said leading her out to the van.
*-*-*-*-*
The meeting between her, Anthony, and Vivian Woods, hadn't taken long. Vivian had given them and idea of what she wanted done and gave them free reign to do it. She only wished that Anthony would have consulted her before deciding to use Getty's visit to the World Trade Conference in Chicago tomorrow. That didn't give her much time. After the meeting she had gone back to her room and decided that she would have to act as though the FBI had no idea where she was and move on her own. This wasn't for show only this was for real and she had no intention on assassinating Donald Getty or letting Anthony do it either. She had noticed a phone on a sideboard in the hallway. "Maybe I can call out from there. Get a message to the Angels."
Anthony paced his room smoking like a train engine. A white plume of smoke trailed behind him. "Vivian Woods is still alive," echoed through his head. Part of him felt guilty leaving her behind that day at the old mission but he had assumed she was dead and thought even if she wasn't she would have been better off that way. Then Dylan bothered him. He should just let her go down, tell the Chief and Vivian who she was. Then go assassinate Getty tomorrow in Chicago. She wouldn't be around to distract him and he could collect double the money. Then there was the other part of him that felt the need to play knight in shining armor with her. He didn't know why he felt the need to protect her; she was a tough young woman as she proved the night before. There was just something about her that spoke to something inside him that he thought died along time ago. He hated feeling conflicted and knew whichever way he decided to go pertaining to Dylan would affect his life forever.
*-*-*-*-*
Natalie and Daniels climbed into the back of the van so Natalie could look over the equipment. "Do you know how this works," asked Daniels skeptically.
"Of course," said the perky blonde, "As she reached over and rewound the tape from the molar mike and with the other hand replayed the recorded coordinates point by point of the tracking device. They sat there in silence while Natalie listened to the fights and cheering Dylan on as she got to the ones she fought in. "Go Dylan, kick him. Watch out for the cane." She heard a loud smack and Dylan cry out from the cane against her leg. "I told her to watch out," said Nat laughing. Daniels just rolled his eyes. Finally they came to the last few minutes of speaking, the chief had asked the Thin Man not to smoke in the car.
"See," said Daniels, "static. You can't hear a thing."
Natalie listened harder and realized she could hear something. "We need to get this tape cleared up."
"Why it's just static," the agent said, "white noise, nothing."
"Trust me, something is there. Dylan's snoring is what is covering it up," she said giggling. Natalie rewound the tape popped it out of the recording unit and ran back inside to the agency, Daniels jogging close behind her trying to keep up. "Alex," she said breathlessly, "You have to clean this up."
"You found something," said Alex excitedly.
"Yep, the mike didn't go out. Well it might have but not for a long time. Dylan fell asleep."
Alex looked at her and said, "Dylan fell asleep? Ohhhh! Dylan fell asleep," she said getting what Natalie was talking about.
"I don't get it," said Mitchum. "I heard the static myself."
"Dylan is a snorer especially when she is really tired," explained Natalie, "and after a competition like that she was probably beat. So on the way to wherever they were going she fell asleep and started snoring so the static sound on the tape isn't static but her."
Alex continued, "We just got this great new software in the lab upstairs that will allow us to clean up the tape and analyze any background noise their might be. Pavement changes, weather conditions, whether or not they stopped for gas," said Alex.
"Birds chirping," added Natalie.
"Ok, but it's only a molar mike. It doesn't pick up those little nuances," said Mitchum. "It was a good idea though."
"It's still a good idea because even though to our ears the quality is bad to the computer it isn't. And this program will make it as though we are in the car with her but blind," concluded Alex.
"What the hell," said Mitchum, "Let's do it. If we can find anything on that tape that will give us the location I am for it." They all went upstairs to the lab. Alex put the tape in the deck and transferred the recording over to the computer. Focusing specifically on when the snoring started she began clarifying the sound.
"Can you please shift her so she isn't making that disturbing noise? We have quite a way to go to get to my home," they heard the Chief say as the snoring was eliminated. They heard the rustle of someone moving, Anthony they presumed moving her, a small sigh, obviously Dylan and then a lighter snoring sound.
"Ok removing the next layer of sound," said Alex. The all listened intently to light breathing and the hum of the car's motor.
"There," exclaimed Natalie. "It sounds like an eleven horse power blower, for pavement work. Quick Bos, look up all the roadwork north of here and find out who was working.what time is on that section of tape," she asked Alex.
"Five thirty am."
"Find out who was working at 5:30am then we can narrow the search from there."
"Got it," said Bosely working quickly. "There were two road crews that were supposed to start that early today. The one was working on Interstate 15 near Escondido."
"That is south of here," said Alex.
Bosley continued excitedly, "The other was on the 198 not far from Kings Canyon National Park."
Alex looked at the state map and the area, "Here," she said pointing to a section of the map. I seem to recall some controversy about them putting up a cellular antenna there for the signals in that area. Its possible that the antenna is what cut the mike out at that point."
"Can I see the computer for a sec," asked Mitchum. Bosley moved out of the way and let the man take over. Mitchum logged into to the FBI database and looked up all the information they had on the Chief. "The Chief has several houses in the state of California. He has one in Sacramento, one in San Francisco, one in San Diego, two here in LA, and one that isn't in a town but a large piece of land he bought near Kings Canyon."
"That's it," cried Natalie. "Let's go in and get her."
Max knocked timidly on the door, "Can I come in," he asked peaking his head into the room. "You guys missed a call. It was Dylan."
*-*-*-*-*
Dylan crept down the hall towards the telephone and picked up the receiver. She breathed a sigh of relief as she heard the dial tone. She knew she wouldn't have long so she dialed the number for the agency and hoped that they would be there. The phone rang, and rang and rang on the third ring she heard, "Hello,"
"Natalie its Dylan," she whispered.
"You have reached the Townsend Agency. Now one is able to take your call at the moment please leave a message after the beep." Beeep! Went the machine.
"Dylan here. WTC 9-30 Getty," she managed to say before she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned throwing a punch which ran directly into Anthony's hand. He folded his hand around her fist and looked at her with hard cold eyes. With his other hand he reached around her and hung up the receiver.
"Well," said the emasculated voice of the Chief from behind them. "I have to say I am very disappointed in you Lucrezia. House rule is no one uses the phone without my permission. I must ask you who called just now. I can trace it you know. Every call here goes through a special machine that disguises the number from the police just in case they try to trace the line. It also recalls all the outgoing numbers dialed. By the way Anthony," said the Chief practically hanging on the Thin Man, "good work, stopping the little tramp before she could cause damage. Or did she? So Lucy, love won't you tell me who you called?"
Dylan looked at the two men not giving away anything. Jorge came up the stairs and gave a piece of paper to the Chief. He looked at it and made a "tsk tsk" sound. "I didn't think you would tell me. Part of Jorge's job when he isn't driving me or looking good," the Chief winked at the driver, "is security. As soon as a receiver is lifted a message is sent to an alarm system and my precious Jorge. This piece of paper tells me that you called 'Charles Townsend Investigations' and here I have the wording of the call. Would you like to hear it?" Dylan not answering swallowed and looked at Anthony. His eyes were cold and distant. "'Natalie its Dylan', here you had to wait for the machine, 'Dylan here, WTC 9-30 Getty'. So I can only assume from this that you are one of the infamous Charlie's Angels."
Dylan was about to say something then thought better of it. "Yes, your reputation precedes you my dear. I understand that you managed to save the HALO rings and kill Seamus O'Grady. I didn't like Seamus mind you but he had something."
"An insane mind," asked Dylan sarcastically.
Anthony wondered how far she was going to push the Chief. The man's mind had been gone for awhile. Now Anthony just stood and watched the exchange between the two of them.
"Insane? Seamus O'Grady was brilliant. He managed to keep his family running from prison. I only hope if by some strange chance I am caught I am able to keep my little family from falling apart. So," said the Chief tapping his slipper clad foot, "what to do with you." The Chief's eyes fell on Anthony. "You are a hired killer; would you like to dispatch the young lady?"
Dylan watched as Anthony reached into his jacket pocket and produced his paper and pen. He wrote a note and handed it to the chief which the little man read. "Interesting, very interesting I must run this by Vivian but I think she will love it. Jorge, get some rope and give it to Anthony so he can tie the angel up until we are ready to leave.
Jorge quickly returned with the rope and handed it to Anthony. He stood there a minute before the Chief said, "What are you waiting for? Tie her up." Anthony grabbed Dylan by the arm to lead her back to her room but she fought. The first punch caught him off guard in the jaw. He looked at her with wide angry eyes and thumbed the trickle of blood away that had formed in the corner of his mouth, and then he attacked. While the two sparred, the chief stood back watching, clapping his hands with glee. She fought him much harder than she had at the competition and he didn't hesitate to fight back just as strong. Too bad neither of them anticipated Jorge who took a vase off the sideboard where the phone sat and crashed it down on Dylan's head. She crumpled to the floor.