Chapter 21
Both men had exited the helicopter before it touched the ground. Ahead of them they could see two cars, one parked on the edge of the roadway and the other sitting across the highway and looked as if it had been hit on the right hand side.
The sirens of an ambulance could be heard in the distance, which was muffled somewhat by the noise of the helicopter blades slowly stopping.
"Sam, Viv, are you ok?" Danny ran over to where Sam was standing and Vivian sitting half in and half out of the driver's seat of their car. There was a large dent to the rear fender but otherwise the car seemed ok. He could see as he approached though that neither agent was badly injured.
"We're fine Danny, just a bit shook up." Sam replied, seeing the worried look in his eyes.
"Viv, you sure you're ok. The dark skinned agent looked pale and Danny could see her hands were shaking ever so slightly."
"I'm not made of glass you know." Was Vivian's sharp reply, which brought the faintest of smiles to Danny's Taylor's face. A response like that meant she was just pissed off, not injured.
"What happened?" Jack asked as he joined the trio.
"I don't know really," Sam replied. "We'd been following Victor, and were about a quarter of a mile or so behind him. All of a sudden he pulled over to the side of the road. Just as we were coming up behind his car this black car came out of nowhere and smashed into us, luckily Viv kept control of the car."
"Jameson must have called Victor to give him directions," Jack looked over to where the driver door of Victor's cars was opening… "Something must have happened, and whatever it was spooked Jameson into moving Martin."
"I bet I know." Danny growled. "He must have said something to piss Jameson off; why else would he run like that, huh?"
"Danny, stop it, we don't know what happened, ok, just keep your mouth shut." Jack warned as the deputy director reached them
"What the HELL do you think you are doing agent Malone, I specifically said I was coming out here alone, how DARE you disobey me." Fire was spitting from the elder Fitzgerald's eyes as he spoke. "Of all the arrogant…"
But he never got to finish his scentence because at that moment Danny Taylor grabbed Victor Fitzgerald by the collar and slammed him roughly against the bonnet of the car. "What did you say to him, huh, what did you say? That's why he moved, isn't it, and if anythings happened to Martin…."
Jack Malone grabbed Danny by the waist and dragged him away fro the car "ENOUGH DANNY….STOP IT…" He looked straight into the younger mans eyes. "Go and find out how many roads lead out of Healyville…"
"But Jack..." Danny began
"JUST DO IT AGENT TAYLOR." Jack shoved him away as he spoke and turned to where an extremely irate Deputy Director was straightening his tie.
"If this is how you control your team Jack, it's no wonder my son went missing so easily…"
Jack sighed inwardly, scrubbing his hands over his face. "I hardly think this is the time or place for an argument Victor, I will see that Danny gets properly cautioned about this back in headquarters.
"If anything has happened to my son," Victor's voice was very thin. "Ill have his badge; I'll have all your badges."
"Jack" Sam interrupted the war of words, her cell phone still pressed to her ear. "The black car that tailgated us has been spotted driving erratically about 15 miles from here. A man called the cops after he spotted the truck tearing down a back road, apparently the only building in the area is a derelict grain mill."
Danny looked over at Jack. "Jameson's father worked in a mill, before they moved to the city."
"Alright, we'll leave the car here, the chopper can take us all. "Jack began,
"No he is my son; we do this MY way…" Victor pulled out a two way radio. "I go in first and SWAT follows."
"No way"… Danny began to protest again but was interrupted by Jack. "Danny, helicopter, NOW." He motioned to Sam to follow.
Watching the retreating figures Jack sighed before turning his attention back to Victor Fitzgerald who was punching numbers into his cell phone.
"I'm warning you Jack," The man began as he held the phone to his ear. "This is MY gig…"
In one swift movement however, he found the phone no longer in his hand and instead lying on the asphalt, his other hand was grabbed suddenly and he felt cold steel against his wrist almost before he could protest. Jack Malone secured the other end of the handcuffs to the wing mirror of the car before picking up the falled cell phone and walking away.
Vivan, who'd stopped midway to the helicopter to wait for Jack, stood, her mouth slightly opened, not believing what she'd just witnassed.
"Let's go." Jack walked towards the female agent, the faintest trace of a smile on his usually glum countenance.
"I can close down your unit Jack; you won't be able to get a job sweeping the streets when I finish with you." Victor shouted as he struggled against the handcuffs.
"Jack, you can't do that, Martin is his son for god's sake." Sam shouted above the din of the helicopter as it took off.
"I've already called the local P.D, they'll have him free soon enough." Jack looked at her closely. "I did what I felt was best for Martin, if the SWAT team go ploughing in then anything is liable to happen, you know that…"
"He'll have you fired," Danny looked over at his boss.
"Yeah, well maybe I needed a career change."
Danny shook his head, partly in disbelief and partly out of admiration for his boss, before turning to look out the window as the helicopter descended onto very old rough dirt track.
The old mill was a half a mile ahead. Switching on torches they made their way slowly up the old roadway. The fresh tyre tracks of Jameson's vehicle were clearly visible…
Eventually they saw the car parked outside what look like a huge wooden grain silo...there was a building behind, with holes in the roof and bits of wood and old tiles lying all around. The building looked very old and even more unstable; they could hear the groans of the wooden supports against the wind as they drew nearer.
All four agents entered through what looked like an old side door, and from there they split up, each listening intently. The building was split level, they could see a wooden stairs leading up to what looked like the old mill office located right in the middle of the building.
It didn't take them long to hear noises coming from this room. A faint moaning noise, and the sounds of talking, but not of converstion, it sounded like someone was carrying on a one sided monologue.
Danny quickly mounted the wooden steps and stooped below the window of the office, raising his head slightly he looked through the cracked and aged perspex window, the room was in semi darkness, but what he could see sent cold shivers through him. A figure was sitting on one chair, with what looked like a shotgun in his hand, the other person, Martin, was slumped forward in another chair, with what looked like a rope tied around him. Danny couldn't tell if his friend was unconsious but could see dark patches on his clothing that could be blood.
He made his way back down to the others and briefly filled them in.
"Okay we have two choices, we can wait this out and hope he leaves the room, or we can go in their and take our chances.
They never got a chance to debate this though, at that moment the sound of a single gunshot could be heard from the upstairs room…
Afterwards Vivian swore that she could feel everyones heart stop beating at exactly the same time, just for a split second. Then they ran up the stairs and into the room.
And it was all over… No confrontation, no standoff, no nothing. Lying on the floor in front of them lay Michael Jameson, blood seeping out from his head and through the dusty wooden floorboards.
Skirting around the body Danny Taylor knelt down in front of Martin. His breath of was coming in harsh gasps and his skin was ghoslty white and asken. Dried blood was caked on his head and down the front of his shirt. Black and blue bruises stood out harshly against his pale countenance.
'Bastard' Danny thought to himself as he cut the ropes holding Martin against the chair and together, he and Jack gently layed their colleague on the ground as Vivian called for an ambulance.
"Hey, Junior, wake up" Jack slapped the younger man lightly on the left cheek. "Come on Fitzgerald, enough dramatics already." He was rewarded by one eyelid cracking open.
"J…jaaack?" the voice was hoarse and rasping. "Da-aanneee….?" His left hand came upwards, flapping wildly before being caught by Jack Malone's firm grasp.
"We have you Martin, its over."
Looking across the prone figure on the floor both men exchanged weary but triumphant glances. This missing person had been found.