Chapter 5

David was back from vacation, and on Wednesday evening, he, Megan and Colby each coordinated with teams from L.A.P.D. to cover a video store. Playing Charlie's hunch, Don decided to cover a large armored truck deposit. It was the last day of the month, and receipts on the evening run for all trucks would be substantial — yet, the banks would not be open until morning, so the full trucks were stored for the night at the company's secure warehouse. It was here than Don set up his team.

The last truck backed into its spot. The driver completed his paperwork and left. Don waited.

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Across town, Megan stared at the woman who had placed two DVDs and a baby carrier on the counter. The woman smiled. "Let me check on Bobby," she crooned, and pulled back the soft blue blanket, revealing to Megan a Glock much like her own service weapon. "Go ahead and help this gentleman behind me. I'll wait."

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Two shadows stole around the edge of the building. Don tensed, spoke softly into his com system. "Got two, west door. Heads up."

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The young officer from L.A.P.D. handed Megan some money, made small talk about the weather. She smiled back, pressed his change into his hand along with an extra $5.00 bill. He counted the money, thanked her. Nodded to the woman beside him who was still rocking the baby carrier gently on the counter.

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They waited until the explosives were wired to the door, came running from six directions at once, shouts of "FBI" and "LAPD" echoing off the warehouse. The shadows morphed into men. Young, terrified. Too young, too terrified. The bust was clean, no shots were fired, but Don was not happy. These kids weren't the mastermind he was after.

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On his way out the door, the officer dropped his DVD. Bending to pick it up, he nodded at the woman perusing the family section, who nodded pleasantly back, headed to another section. Action-Adventure. "Very funny," thought Megan, dropping to the floor. The two L.A.P.D. officers whirled from their positions, guns drawn, shouted at the woman to step away from the counter. In one motion she threw the empty carrier at the officer still crouched over the dropped DVD case, pulling out the weapon as she did so. She crashed a DVD display in front of her while she made for the counter, searching for her target. She saw Megan in the crowded space between counter and the wall, quickly sited her weapon, She never saw Action-Adventure coming, spun around at the fire in her shoulder, tried to shoot back. This time all three officers found their mark, and she dropped.

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The kids were scared. Maybe a night in holding would scare them worse.

Thursday morning, Don arrived at the office early. He had some interoggating to do.

Someone was already waiting for him.

"Lieutenant John Corriander," the man introduced himself. "L.A.P.D. I've been out of town, so I missed all the excitement. I'd like to help, now that I'm back. One of my guys fired the kill shot in the video store. He's a good cop. I want this to be clean for him. I know you don't think you've got the guy in charge."

"No," agreed Don, sitting down, indicating a chair near the desk for his visitor. "I'm hoping the kids from the warehouse will give me something,"

"What about the video store? Was she working alone?"

"She was alone inside," said Don. "My guys outside…" he grinned apologetically. "Our guys outside busted a driver. We won't get much out of him, though."

"Made a run for it?"

Don shook his head. "He probably should have. Bullets were flying all over the place, but he decided to stay and fight. He's alive, but in serious condition. Talked to the hospital this morning — he's still unconscious."

"How did you connect all the dots, anyway? What made you think something was happening last night, especially at two different places? That's against all the M.O. I've read about this case."

"Actually, our consultant was a big help in that area."

"Consulant?"

"Dr. Charlie Eppes — my brother. He's been consulting on cases here for a while, now. Uses mathematical principles, reduces everything to numbers…I gotta tell ya, I'm there most of the time, but I don't know what the hell he's doing." Don stood. "All I know is he pointed us in the right direction again."

The lieutenant stood as well. "That's incredible," he said, shaking his head and following Don toward interrogation. "That's really amazing."

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The L.A.P.D. officer, along with Colby and Megan, watched Don and David work the perps. The kids kept saying they had no idea what they were even doing. They had just been hired on the street a few hours before, paid to blow the door before another team showed up to work the inside. Don didn't buy it for a minute. Who hired explosives personnel off the street? Both these kids had records, but for minor offenses up until now. It didn't make any sense. The guys acted like they were more afraid of…something, or someone else…than they were of doing real time.

"I don't think you're going to get anything out of them," offered Lieutenant Corriander when Don and David decided to let them stew for a while, and joined the others behind the one-way mirror. "I've run into these two before. Second-generation scum, both of them."

Knowing they were probably being watched, the two young men didn't have a word to say to each other while Don and David were gone.

"Okay," said Don. "Let's break 'em up, try again. Colby, you're with David — take Anderson. Lieutenant? Care to join me with Purcell? I'd like Megan to spend some time watching all of us, try to compose some profiles of these two."

Lieutenant Corriander smiled. "My pleasure, Agent Eppes. Here to help, after all."

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Megan gave her preliminary report. "They know something, all right, and whatever it is is scaring them. Purcell, especially, once they were separated. From the instant you and the Lieutentant entered the room, Don, he was terrified. I don't think these guys are too tough for you to break. I think they're too scared."

Colby strode into the conference room, looking at a folder in his hands. "We ID'd the video store perp," he said. "Another small timer. Jamie Valdez. She had a record, also nothing big until now."

"They couldn't have served time together," David mused. "Men and women are housed separately."

"Ran it anyway," Colby interjected. "Not even close. She's been off the radar for several years. The kids were just in last year, grand theft auto. Hasn't gone to trial, yet."

Don checked his watch. "Okay, we're done here. Maybe another night in holding will loosen their tongues." He reached out to shake the Lieutenant's hand. "John, I appreciate your help today."

They all filed out of the room, and no one paid much attention to his soft answer.

"And I yours, Agent Eppes, I yours."