Chapter Eighteen - When the Smoke Clears
Caruso Family Headquarters - Ninety Five Hours Missing
A burning, blazing, curling ball of fire twisted up into the evening sky. The ghost of an old warehouse stood shadowed amongst the flame. Thick, black, smoke billowed from it, enveloping the stars above, floating outwards to form a heavy haze.
Sirens blared piercingly all around, joined by the blinding flashes of red and blue and white lights. Shouts and orders mingled with the cries of grief. The voices all around spoke of death and the fiery light before them. The sound of crackling sparks and weakening wood merged with the chatter.
The distinguished smell of smoke and smoldering timber, fabric, glass, plastic, drifted the length of the lot, winding its way into the noses of everyone around...firefighters, paramedics, police, and F.B.I agents...and out of the vicinity, up over the streets and across the river, following the clouds of thick smoke out over the buildings of lower Manhattan.
Suddenly the sirens faded as ambulances began to leave, one after the other down the blocked off street, and the staff of the New York City Coroners Office began to get to work. Body bags and stretchers were pulled out of vans and the chatter died down slightly as the flames became steadily more controllable. A couple of fire engines took off in the opposite direction of the ambulances while numerous black and yellow jacketed men and women continued spraying at the meager flames that remained.
Sudden shouts from the surrounding firefighters echoed upwards, as well as a loud snap and splintering of destroyed wood. "Watch out! She's collapsing!" warned one of the them. The sound of breaking, scorched lumber soon joined the man's cautioning and then the blackened frame of the warehouse buckled downwards onto the remaining flames.
Danny pulled Samantha down behind one of the nearby cars to avoid the flying embers. "Are you two all right?" Jack asked, crawling over to where they were crouching. Danny and Sam both nodded, as Sam asked about Martin and Vivian. After Jack assured them that their co-workers were okay, he motioned for them to join him farther away from the action.
"How the hell did this happen?" Martin asked as the gang gathered at the end of the docks.
Jack shook his head, never taking his eyes off the blazing building. "I've heard rumblings about arson, but the fire inspector couldn't get close enough to investigate before it collapsed."
"It's quite convenient that all the most important members of the Caruso family were gathered together tonight." Sam mused, also watching the remains of the warehouse.
"This was no coincidence." A deep voice joined in the conversation. The agents turned around to see Agent Colin Mackenzie from the F.B.I's Criminal Division approaching quietly. Nodding at Jack, he said, "Malone."
"Agent Mackenzie." Jack returned his nod, then asked, "What brings you down here?"
"I was just about to ask you the same question." He said, eyeing Jack's team warily. " My team has been investigating the Caruso case for years now. But I don't remember anyone calling in Missing Persons."
The last thing Jack needed right now was a turf war. "That still doesn't tell us what you're doing here."
"Something big was going down tonight." Mackenzie continued looking around at the group and said, "The boys were planning a last minute meeting with Benny Spinopolli from Hell's Kitchen. We were going to use this opportunity to move in and take down two crime lords in one shot, but we were apparently too late."
"Is Spinoppolli inside?" Danny asked.
Colin shook his head. "My guys in Hell's Kitchen tell me that he hasn't left his fish market since earlier this afternoon. He had no plans to show up here tonight." The other agent looked pointedly at Danny. "They also tell me that you and the Caruso sister...Angie...were spotted in Hell's Kitchen earlier today. And outside Theresa Caruso's hospital room last night. Care to explain?"
Before Danny could answer, Jack took over the conversation. "We're working a Missing Person's case, Colin."
"Who's missing?" Agent Mackenzie asked, concern on his face.
Jack's team exchanged uneasy looks before Jack answered, "Eddie Caruso."
Surprise registered on Colin's face as he looked back and forth at the agents standing before him. Shaking his head, he muttered, "Dammit, Jack. You should have given us a heads up."
"We were trying to keep Angie and Theresa Caruso alive." Jack explained. "We did what we thought was best."
"Things are always easier when we are working with each other, not against each other Malone." Colin muttered. He looked up at Jack and said, "You and your team can go home. Your case is over."
"What are you talking about?" Danny asked. "Nothing that happened here tonight brought us any closer to finding Eddie Caruso."
"Eddie Caruso is not missing." Agent Mackenzie answered. "He's been in F.B.I. custody for over a week."