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The trip downtown to the Bureau Building took a good fifty minutes, long enough for Mark to again calm himself.

You've got to think like a lawyer, pull yourself together here, Mark;Hardcastle and Frank will be there to help you as long as you don't dig yourself into a hole you can't climb out of. The game is on, try to keep the basketball in your end of the court.

Agent Brunner parked in the underground garage beneath the Bureau Building, and opened the back door of the car to assist Mark to get out. Riding up in the elevator, the agent again tried to ask Mark a question about his whereabouts during the day. Mark turned his head and looked directly at him with a "you've gotta be shittin' me" look.

Touché two points for you, Mark! This guy may have won the tip off, but you drew first blood.

Agent Brunner guided him off the elevator and down a hallway to an interrogation room. Sitting Mark down in a chair in front of a microphone and tape recorder, Agent Brunner left the room, failing to remove Mark's handcuffs.

Now did he do that on purpose to try and rattle you? Probably so, stay on your toes here, this guy is good. Okay, two points for the agent man.

After letting Mark sweat a bit, Agent Brunner returned to the interrogation room with another agent in tow. He reached across the table and turned the tape recorder on. "Mr. McCormick, this is Agent Taylor, he's here to assist with your questioning."

"Sure," Mark tersely replied.

"Mr. McCormick, would you please tell us your whereabouts for today, August 19th," started Agent Taylor.

"I'm not saying anything until these handcuffs are removed and you explain to me what exactly you want with me, now!" As Mark's eyes moved up to the two-way mirror and fixed there. "I know the drill, Agents Brunner and Taylor, if these cuffs are not removed, there will be charges filed and they won't involve me, I guarantee it!" Mark added loudly.

Swoosh! A three pointer for me, tri-a-fecta!

Both agents glanced back at the two-way mirror.

Okay, so now you know for sure that whoever is calling the shots is definitely watching through the two-way.

Agent Taylor got up and left the room briefly, when he returned, he whispered something into Agent Brunner's ear. He then came around the table, pulling out a key to the handcuffs. Mark slid forward in his chair so the handcuffs could be removed. He then slid back in his chair and made a big show out of rubbing the circulation back into his wrists. Mark calmly looked up at Agent Brunner and asked, "Now what exactly is this about? And I will try and assist you in anyway I can," carefully emphasizing his words.

Okay, Mark, easy, you have them on the ropes, don't over do it now. Let them make the mistakes; make them come to you.

"Mr. McCormick, we need to know your whereabouts for today."

"Why?"

The two agents glanced at one another. "Mr. McCormick, we have recently received information that a known mobster has been having you followed. This is for your own safety," Agent Taylor added.

Well, well not too bad, Mr. Agent Man, for my safety bullshit, but I'll give you a foul shot-one more point, however I'm not buying. I guess they know a little about Uncle Pat, but it doesn't sound like they know a whole heck of a lot.

"Agent Taylor, how do you know that I've been followed? And secondly, it's probably not the first time that this has occurred, as I work with Judge Hardcastle and assist him with various cases, some of which involve, as you would say 'mobsters.' However, we have not been involved with any cases recently, as I have been rather busy with finals, and I can assure you that I would recognize a 'mobster' walking into one of my classes," Mark flippantly responded.

Didn't see that one coming, did you boys? Two more points for me. Keep the pressure on, Mark, a good defense is a better offense.

Again the agents glanced at each other.

Okay, now you got them pinned to the ropes, they are losing ground fast; they don't know what to say.

A knock came on the door. Agent Taylor got up to answer the door, effectively blocking Mark's line of vision to see who had knocked. Mark attempted to look bored and keep his face blank. After a moment, Agent Taylor returned. "Mr. McCormick, if you do not answer our questions and quit trying to interrogate us, we will be forced to hold you in lockup until you become more cooperative."

Mark's stomach butterflies went into high gear and he could feel the hair on the back of his neck stand on end, but he managed to keep his face blank. He smiled a bit but it did not reach his eyes.

Stay calm, think, Mark, you know that they can only hold you twenty-four hours for questioning; they don't have anything else on you, so they are just going to throw you into a cell to see if it will soften you up. Hardcastle and Frank are out there working to get you out, and if they find out you are in a cell, there's gonna be hell to pay cause Hardcase will tear this building down brick by brick. Okay, agent man, I'll give you a three pointer for this one, but you ain't gonna break me!

"Well, Agents Taylor and Brunner," he said with a slight sigh, "I believe you gotta do what you gotta do. But just remember than I'm gonna do what I gotta do," he added with a nod of his head.

Good, Mark, just keep your face blank, show no emotion, this is gonna be a piece of cake compared to Quentin; just keep holdin' it together, you can do this - okay I gotta hold off on my points 'til I get outta this mess.

"Are you sure you don't want to just answer our questions, Mr. McCormick? You might be saving yourself some grief," Agent Taylor calmly added.

"Grief, Agent Taylor, you don't know the meaning of the word, I assure you," Mark tersely replied.

Okay you have them sweating, someone told them to try to scare me by threatening to lock me up, now they don't know what to do again, of course that may get me thrown in a cell for awhile, but I can handle it."

"Okay, Mr. McCormick, if you will come with us, please," Agent Taylor moved to the door and began leading the way.

Here we go; well at least he's being polite about it.