Chapter Two: Unacceptable Dividends

Charlie watched his brother walk away from the truck and around the dumpster. He could see Don running in a low crouch across the open parking lot toward the warehouse. Then he was out of sight. From inside the truck, the dumpster now blocked Charlie's view of the loading dock on the side of the building. Charlie undid his seatbelt and climbed up into the driver's seat of the SUV. He turned the key in the ignition and rolled his window down about two inches. He still couldn't see the loading dock, but he needed to hear. Charlie leaned forward to rest his head against the steering wheel and let the feeling of absolute helplessness wash over him.

He didn't have to wait long for the sounds he was anticipating. The burst of automatic gunfire brought Charlie's head back up. He strained to see any movement from what he could see of the warehouse. Nothing. He could hear yelling from across the parking lot. Even from a distance, Charlie could recognize his brother's voice.

"FBI, DROP YOUR WEAPONS!"

Charlie grimaced as Don's request was met by another volley of gunfire. He flipped the locks and reached for the door handle.

NO. Don told you to stay put.

His part of this case was over; the least he could do was obey his brother's orders.

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Don squatted down behind the small cluster of crates. His team had been exchanging gunfire with the crew inside the warehouse for what felt like an eternity.

Where in the hell is our back-up!

Don slung his weapon around the crates and fired off a few blind shots. The return fire ripped through the wooden crates directly in front of Don's face and splinters dug into his cheek. He had gotten a good look at the weapons that were being used against them. They were Beretta PM12 S2 submachine guns with fully automatic capabilities. This was hardcore firepower. Whoever these guys were, they weren't your average drug runners. The sheer number of bullets that were released from those weapons kept his team confined to the outer side of the loading dock.

Don risked a look around to check on his people. He could see Agent Reeves pinned down behind a small truck that had been parked next to the warehouse, just to the left of his position. Another round of gunfire from the warehouse hit the truck and Don could see Megan trying to make herself disappear behind the rear tire. This operation must be huge if they had this kind of firepower lying around. Don had expected resistance, and his team was ready for a gunfight, but none of them were prepared for what came next.

He heard Colby shout.

"What the hell is that?"

The gunfire paused and Don bolted out from behind the crates heading for cover behind the loading dock.

"GET DOWN!"

He heard David's warning shout, immediately followed by what sounded like a missile firing. Don hit the ground pulling his arms over himself to protect his head. The projectile cut through the crates he had just abandoned and slammed into the pickup truck were Megan had been crouched.

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Charlie's anxiety was building. He couldn't sit here for much longer. He couldn't see anything from the SUV's position behind the dumpster.

How long has it been? Didn't Colby say back-up was ten minutes out?

Charlie tried to listen harder. He couldn't hear shouting anymore, but the sound of the gunfire exchange was a constant. He could barely distinguish the sound of one gun from the next.

Fighting off panic, Charlie tired to remember how many extra clips Agent Reeves had been checking. He had seen at least three for her .40 caliber handgun. That didn't include her back-up pistol. If each agent had three extra clips…The number of bullets per clip, clips per gun and guns per agent began the equation in his head. It grew more complex as Charlie started adding other variables to his theorem. The odds were getting slimmer even using optimistic figures. Charlie was so absorbed in his thought processes that he failed to notice the large black SWAT van pull up behind the SUV. A tap on the window startled him out of his mathematical stupor.

"Keep your hands where I can see them and step out of the vehicle!"

Charlie exited the SUV slowly, hands held high. Four very large men in SWAT vests stood around his door. A slightly older man stepped out from between the four assault rifles pointed at Charlie. He looked at the FBI issue vest Charlie was wearing.

"Are you with the team?"

Charlie nodded his head.

"Yeah…ah…..No…I'm, I'm just a consultant. They told me to wait here."

The man grabbed Charlie by the elbow and pulled him behind the SUV.

"Captain John McEntire, LAPD SWAT. Port Authority called us in. Where is Special Agent Eppes?"

An explosion shook the ground and Charlie heard the windows in the surrounding buildings shatter at the repercussion. A pillar of fire rose into view from the loading docks of the warehouse. Captain McEntire was barking out orders and the SWAT team started moving, no longer needing Charlie's answer as to the FBI team's location.

Charlie followed them to the mouth of the alleyway and he could see the burning frame of what was once a small pickup truck.

Where is Don?

Looking around the back of the warehouse, Charlie could see two more tactical teams moving in from either side of the building. At least Don and his team weren't alone out there. Back-up had arrived in full force.

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Fire and metal rained down on Don as he lifted his head from the concrete.

What the hell just happened?

His ears were ringing and he could feel the warm trickle of blood that ran down the side of his face. Don rolled over and looked at the remains of the truck behind him.

Reeves.

He strained to see any sign of the agent through the thick smoke. The heat from the fire was overwhelming.

You have to move. Now.

Don got to his knees and crawled forward, toward the loading dock. A short burly young man was standing at the end of the loading dock with a cylindrical object resting on his shoulder. He was going to fire another rocket. With one well aimed shot, Don took the launcher and it's operator out of commission.

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Agent Reeves felt the heat on her back. She tried to look around, but the scene swam in front of her eyes. As soon as she heard David's warning about the weapon – she knew she couldn't possibly get clear in time. She had started to run but found herself thrown to the ground when the small rocket propelled grenade hit the truck she had been using for cover. She tried moving but a searing pain across the back of her head kept her in place. Her vision blurred, but she could see several large figures stooped low to the ground running toward her at full speed. SWAT. Megan felt a strong hand grab her vest and begin to pull her across the parking lot.

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Charlie watched in shock as the scene played out in front of him. He couldn't tear his eyes away. The truck was burning and thick black smoke was pouring into the night sky. Rapid gunfire could be heard all around and Charlie could hear shouting again as the assault teams surrounded the warehouse. He hunkered down beside the dumpster and tried to remain small and inconspicuous. He just couldn't tear himself away from were he had planted his feet. Charlie had heard Don describe what it was like to be under heavy fire, but he never imagined anything like this.

Even as an observer, he was completely and utterly terrified.

Tactical assault teams had moved in from every angle. He started calculating agents, guns, bullets…….and suddenly the odds were a whole lot better. From his position, Charlie could see a figure moving fast toward the alley dragging something along with him. The speed of his approach startled Charlie and he quickly stood and took a few steps backward toward the black SUV.

Colby Granger entered the alley, pulling Megan's limp form behind him. Charlie heard him speak into his hands free radio system.

"I've got an agent down! We need an ambulance at the east entrance!"

Colby shot a glance at Charlie.

"Get behind the truck, Charlie. Stay with her."

He didn't wait for a response. Turning on his heel, Colby ran at full speed back toward the warehouse.

Agent Reeves felt a hand on her arm and looked up at the young man squatting next to her. The big brown eyes staring into hers were filled with concern.

"I'm okay, Charlie…Just had my legs knocked out from under me."

Charlie looked closely at the agent in front of him. He could see the blood clotting in her strawberry blond hair and the bruise on the side her face was already beginning to show. But she was coherent and her voice was strong.

"Well, what do we do now?"

Charlie had tried to mirror her vocal confidence, but she could hear the waver in his tone.

"We wait kiddo."

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Don saw the SWAT team streaming out of the alley where he had left Charlie sitting alone. Relief rushed through him. He looked around for his agents. He saw Colby grab Megan from where she fell behind the burning truck. He was using the cover fire from the approaching SWAT team to pull her back to the alley where their truck was parked.

David came up from his left giving Don a wide eyed look.

"Where did that thing come from?"

Don's ears were still ringing from the explosion. He wondered for a minute if he was going to have hearing damage when this was over.

The SWAT team filled up the empty space behind the two agents. The loading dock was serving as sufficient cover to get them close enough to enter the warehouse. Don looked over their heads to see Colby heading back toward them.

Raising his eyebrows at him, Don silently inquired as to the condition of Agent Reeves. Granger gave him a half smile and an affirmative nod that said what he needed to know.

"Ok, let's move in."

Multiple SWAT teams had joined the raid and they had the warehouse completely secured. The second FBI tactical assault squad had entered the lot from behind the building and had boxed the remaining deviants between the loading dock and SWAT.

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The three men knew they were boxed in. The back alley looked like the only open route to the street. They opened their sub-machine guns at the Feds and ran for the alleyway.

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The sounds of gunfire had diminished and Charlie could hear sirens approaching in the distance. He listened to Agent Reeves, breathing slow and evenly beside him. He squeezed her arm and pulled himself back to his feet. She gave him a reassuring smile and leaned her head back against the side of the black SUV and closed her eyes.

She could relax. It was over.

Charlie however, could not relax and he began to pace the alley.

The firefight had left him balanced on the outer rim of an all out panic attack and his concern for his brother's well being was about to get the best of him. A burst of machine gun fire and pounding footsteps brought Charlie's attention around to the mouth of the alley. Three men burst into the narrow passageway. Two still had their backs to him; their Uzi's spitting bullets back into the parking lot toward the loading docks. The third man looked up and saw the dark headed young man standing between him and freedom. For a single instant their eyes met and Charlie could see the look of shear desperation on the man's face as he swung his gun around.

"Don't."

The young professor's plea was answered by a stream of bullets.

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