A/N - A few of you have asked about the baby and the job front. Adam is doing much better now. He is still not completely over this yet but he is a tough little guy. (he gets that from mommy) I am not having much luck on the job front. It's a tough market at the moment.
I'll do my best to get this thing wrapped up fairly quickly. I had a little dilemma with this particular chapter but now that I have sorted it out it should be pretty straight forward from here on out.

Chapter Forty-Three

Director Donaldson called Megan into his office the next morning to inform her that he had formed an inter-agency alliance between the FBI and the NSA.

"Agent Reeves, please understand that this is not a reflection on your ability to lead this investigation. Robert Thompkins, the director of the National Security Agency, has offered his people as man power to supplement the efforts of our agents in protecting Dr. Eppes. Apparently Dr. Eppes is deeply involved in a project with the NSA and Director Thompkins has classified his safety as a matter of national security."

The apologetic look left Director Donaldson's eyes as he continued with a bitter tone in his voice.

"The fact that we have a leak somewhere within the Bureau has compelled me to seek assistance from outside. This is a fact that grates on my nerves and is an overall embarrassment to the Bureau. What progress have you made on finding out who this informant is?"

Megan was not happy to report to her superior that they had made no progress at all. She and David had viewed the conference room video again earlier that morning and could not detect agitated or nervous behavior from any of the agents that would draw suspicion on them. In fact almost everyone in that conference room clearly showed expressions of remorse at the news of Agent Eppes' death and shock at the announcement that there was a mole within their ranks.

Megan had hoped to shake up the informant by making a general announcement that one of their own had leaked information as to the whereabouts of Agent Eppes but the informant was either not present at the meeting or was able to hide their emotions effectively enough to not give themselves away.

"David and I are still working on the investigation of the Bureau agents. We do not have any leads yet."

"Who do you suspect, Agent Reeves?"

Megan looked hard at the director and answered truthfully.

"No one is above suspicion at this point, sir. I promise you that we will find the person responsible no matter what it takes."

Donaldson saw the fire in her eyes and had no doubt that she meant every word.

"Very well, please keep me informed of your progress in this matter. You will still be leading the investigation into finding the informant as well as tracking down the assassin who murdered Agent Eppes, but…"

Megan's head snapped up at the 'but'.

"The protection of Dr. Eppes and his father will now be fully under the jurisdiction of the NSA. After I spoke with Director Thompkins last evening he sent a team of six agents who should be arriving within the hour. The team will meet with you after they land in LA to be fully briefed on the details of this case. From that point forward you are to concentrate solely on finding both the informant and the assassin. Is that clear Agent Reeves?"

Megan stood stock still. She had promised Don and Charlie that she would keep them safe and now she was being pulled off the case. Their protection was falling into the hands of another agency. The logical part of her mind understood why this was happening but her emotional side resisted it.

"Agent Reeves, you said yourself that no one was above suspicion. Again I am not accusing you of negligence concerning the protection of our witnesses, but the fact remains that Agent Eppes is dead, Agent Granger is in critical condition and Dr. Eppes is our only remaining witness against Shelley Arbury. His safety must take precedence here. I understand that you have taken almost every agent out of the loop where Dr. Eppes is concerned, but as you said no one is above suspicion. I don't like handing our witness over to another agency any more than you do but I will do what ever it takes to keep him safe."

Megan pursed her lips and nodded curtly.

"I understand, sir. I am pleased that the NSA is available to help in an official capacity. I am aware that Charlie is a close personal friend to Director Thompkins…"

Donaldson's eyes brows shot up at this statement.

"… and that he has worked on classified projects for the NSA. As much as I hate to be pulled off this, I agree that this measure is the safer course of action."

"I don't have to like it however." Megan added, under her breath but Donaldson heard it.

"I don't like it either. As you well know there has always been a political rivalry between government agencies. This situation is an embarrassment to the Bureau and I want it resolved. We need to show that we can clean our own house before the NSA or Homeland Security or any other federal agency is put in the position to do it for us. Do you understand what I am implying Agent Reeves?"

Megan understood exactly what the Director was implying. She did not believe that it would come to that, but it would be an enormous political gain to have the LA Bureau absorbed by another agency that comes in to clean up the mess. She had no intention of standing in the unemployment line because of a traitor in her ranks.

"I understand, sir."

"Good, now get to work."

Megan walked out of Director Donaldson's office and decided to step outside for a moment to clear her head before going up to the office to make copies of the case files for the incoming NSA team.

She and David had spoken about Charlie and the fact that David had asked for his help in narrowing down who the informant might be. Megan was not pleased that he had done this but in retrospect she realized that it was probably their best bet to finding the informant quickly.

If Charlie could use his expertise to find the mole then that would prove that the LA office was still able to function even under adverse circumstances. Donaldson looked unnerved by the events that have transpired. The investigation that occurred a few years back was before his time and had seriously damaged the department's credibility, a creditability, that Don Eppes had a large role in restoring with his successful investigations.

Megan had just finished putting together her briefing materials when Assistant Director Merrick stepped over to her desk.

"Are you ready for the new team?"

Megan looked up at Merrick and felt a twinge of annoyance at having to turn Charlie and Alan's protection over to the NSA team. Merrick also had a sour look on his face and while Megan had never really felt an affinity toward the Assistant Director she now found herself feeling a kinship in their shared distaste for the necessity of this strategy.

She picked up the folders that she had put together for the NSA team and quietly followed Merrick to his office. When they entered and closed the door behind them Megan found herself looking at six very official looking men. Most of them were fairly large and held serious expression on their faces. The smallest man there stood out in contrast to his counter parts not by the fact that he was easily six inches shorter than any of the others but by the fact that he held himself with confident authority.

This man stood in front of the group and the body language from the rest of the men in Merrick's office showed deference to the smaller man. He stepped forward and extended his hand to Megan.

"Good morning, Agent Reeves. My name is Theodore Niagara. This is my team."

He turned and pointed to each man individually as he spoke.

"Agents Robert Paxton, Healy Marsdock, Jessup Parker, James Tyler and Matthew Warner."

Agent Niagara turned to his agents and instructed them all to find seats. Megan passed out the files she had made to all of the agents then proceeded to brief the NSA team about the case of the FBI killer. Now that the inter-agency collaboration was official, Director Donaldson had instructed Megan to allow the NSA team full access to the details of the case.

The briefing took the better part of two hours with Megan doing most of the talking. She answered any questions that the new team had concerning aspects of the bombing and released all of the forensics that they had thus far. The lab was still running tests on the shrapnel from the grenade so the full forensics report was not ready yet. She closed up the meeting by stating that she would take them to the safe house where Charlie and his father were being kept.

Agent Niagara sat quietly and listened to the briefing, read the case file and allowed his team to ask all of the pertinent questions. He reminded Megan of a military general observing his men in action, but when a command decision came up he stepped in smoothly.

"Agent Reeves, thank you very much for bringing us up to speed on this case. From this point forward we will handle all of the details concerning the Eppes' security. We do not need an escort to the safe house, and as a matter of fact we need you to pull your agents off duty before we arrive."

Megan looked at this man incredulously.

"But without someone they know, Charlie and his father will not go anywhere with you. They don't even know about this change of venue yet!"

"Dr. Eppes and I do know each other, Agent Reeves, we have worked together before. He will trust me. It will take us twenty to thirty minutes to get to the safe house in Chinatown from here. I would like you to contact your people in fifteen minutes and have them vacate the premises. This is a necessary security precaution given the fact that there is an unknown informant within the FBI."

Suddenly Director Donaldson's words echoed in Megan's head and she felt less sure about this inter-agency cooperation.

'We need to show that we can clean our own house before the NSA or Homeland Security or any other federal agency is put in the position to do it for us.'

"Dr. Eppes' safety is our main priority and that means that no agent within the Bureau will have knowledge of this move, including you, Agent Reeves."

Megan felt as though she had been slapped in the face. She was still the lead agent on this case and as much as she understood why the NSA team wanted to keep their aspect of the operation classified, it stung to be included in their suspicions. Merrick was livid about this as well.

"Agent Niagara, you will not stand here in MY office and speak to my lead agent as if she were a suspect in this investigation!"

Megan fully understood at that moment why the other larger men who had arrived with Agent Niagara gave him so much respect. He stood up from his seat in one fluid motion and stepped directly up to Merrick. He was a full head shorter than Merrick but the fierce look in his eye actually made Merrick back up a step. When Agent Niagara spoke his voice was level and calm but it also held undeniable authority.

"Assistant Director Merrick, I appreciate your loyalty and trust in your agents. As leaders we need to know when to trust our people and let them do their jobs. But as leaders we must also be able to make decisions that can be considered harsh. I do not suspect Agent Reeves of any wrong doing. That is not my function here. My job is to protect Dr. Eppes from an assassination attempt. I am unknown to your field personnel and have no way of judging who I can trust and who I can't, and therefore I choose to only trust my team. As a leader I know that you will agree that this is a necessary measure and that you would do no differently were our positions reversed."

Megan stepped forward and literally stood between Merrick and Agent Niagara. This was not difficult to do for as Niagara spoke Merrick moved back another step away from the man. She was not trying to challenge him but she wanted this enigmatic agent to know that she was not intimidated by him the same way that Merrick seemed to be.

"I will contact my people in fifteen minutes. You have the address in the file. I want you to know that Dr. Eppes… Charlie is not just a witness. He is our consultant and an important member of this team… my team as well as my friend. If his safety is going to be taken out of my hands you need to understand that if anything happens to him, I will hold you personally responsible."

Megan and Niagara stared at each other for a moment. Niagara liked this woman and he respected her conviction. He knew that she had meant that she would come after him if his team failed to keep Charlie alive and that she didn't trust his life to someone who wasn't emotionally invested in his safety. He could have easily viewed her comment as a threat and he was certain that it was meant to be one but he chose instead to ease her misgivings.

"Three years ago Charlie saved my daughter's life. He is not just a witness to me, or to my family. I volunteered to take this assignment and I will not let anything happen to him."

Megan studied this man's eyes and could see that his concern was genuine. She wondered briefly what Charlie could have done to save the life of this man's daughter, but she didn't question that he had indeed done so. She may not like the fact that Charlie's safety was being taken out of the Bureau's jurisdiction and in effect hers, but now she was satisfied that he was in good hands with Agent Niagara. She nodded and walked quietly out of Merrick's office.


Charlie and Alan were completely taken off guard when Dan announced that he had been ordered to leave the apartment. Charlie stepped out from behind his work area with an almost frightened look on his face.

"You're leaving? Why? Who is replacing you? What's going on?"

Dan looked somewhat unnerved as well. "Your protection has been taken out of the hands of the FBI."

Alan and Charlie spoke at the same time with shock and alarm echoing in their voices.

"What!"

"Why?"

"Megan just called and said that a team of NSA agents is on its way here. You two need to pack up your things. I guess they are going to move you."

"Oh my God, did something happen to Donnie?"

Alan looked suddenly pale and he sunk down onto the couch as his knees gave way.

"No, Alan. To the best of my knowledge Don is just fine and safely hidden with two agents watching him on a 24 hour basis. These orders came from Director Donaldson."

"It's because of the mole isn't it?"

Alan turned to his son frowning. "Mole? Charlie what are you talking about?"

"Someone in the FBI told the mob that Don was alive and what room he was in at the hospital. That is why it was attacked and why Don and Colby are in the condition they are in. The Director of the FBI must have decided to take Bob up on his offer to help and has turned over our protection to the NSA."

Alan was able to follow that line of reasoning but he didn't like that Dan was leaving before the other team arrived.

"Ok, so why do you have to leave right now? Shouldn't you be here to verify the identities of these NSA agents?"

"Megan said that Charlie could do that. Apparently he has worked with the team leader. The NSA team wants all of the FBI agents to vacate the premises before they arrive."

"I don't like this." Alan grumbled, as he got up from the sofa. "I supposed you have no idea where we are being moved this time?"

"No, sir, but I think that's the whole idea."

Alan and Charlie said their goodbyes to Dan and while Alan started putting their clothes together Charlie began to clear up his work space. By the time the NSA Agents arrived, Charlie had almost finished compiling his data into neat stacks so that he could get back to work once they were settled again in yet another safe house.

Charlie was the one to look through the peep hole in the door when the knock came and his eyes opened wide in surprise. He threw the door open quickly and smiled.

"Trip! Bob sent you?"

Charlie stepped back and allowed Agent Niagara to enter the apartment followed by two other NSA Agents.

Alan came out of the bedroom carrying two suitcases and set them down on the floor. He looked to his son with caution in his eyes.

"Dad, this is Theodore Niagara, Trip. We have known each other for what…? Three years now?" Trip nodded in acknowledgement. "Trip this is my father, Alan Eppes."

Agent Niagara stepped forward and extended his hand in greeting.

"It's nice to meet you, sir. I wish it were under better circumstances."

"So, Agent Niagara, where are we going now?"

"Nowhere; well in actuality we will move you to a vacant apartment on the back side of the building; basically across the hall from here. Now we suspect that this building is being watched. They expect us to be moving you so that is what we are going to have to do."

At this point Alan was completely confused. Were they moving or not? Seeing his confusion, Agent Niagara pulled a curly wig out of a bag that was being held by one of the other agents and placed it on his head.

"Charlie and I are about the same height and build. I will need some of your clothes Charlie and your father and I will be taking a little trip."

Just as he said this the front door opened up and two other agents stepped in.

"Healy! Jess!" Charlie exclaimed.

The agents walked over and clapped Charlie on the shoulder. "Hey ya, Charlie."

Alan was smiling at these men a little awkwardly. He was relieved that Charlie seemed to know these men or at least three of them very well, but the situation was far from clear to him.

"Agent Niagara, could you please tell me what is happening here?"

"I'm sorry, sir. You see if this building is being watched by the informant then he or she is expecting us to re-locate you and Charlie. We are not actually going to do that. We will move you across the hall, but we have to keep up the illusion for the benefit of the spy. So I am going to impersonate Charlie. Then Agents Paxton and Tyler will accompany both of us outside in clear view of all the surrounding buildings and into a waiting van out front. Agents Marsdock and Parker who came up the back stairs will stay here and help Charlie get everything moved over to the other apartment."

"But won't who ever is watching notice that three came in and only four are leaving?" Alan asked, as he tried to envision this little charade.

Just as he finished this statement another man knocked on the door and stepped into the apartment and Agent Niagara turned to Alan with a smile on his face.

"No, because there will be five of us leaving."

Trip had Alan empty the suitcases that he had packed onto the couch and instructed Charlie to fill his satchel with frying pans from the kitchen to give it the same heft that it would have if he had packed up his lap-top and notebooks.

Trip changed into a pair of Charlie's jeans and his favorite Cal Sci tee shirt. Once he had the wig on and a pair of sunglasses no one from a distance would have been able to tell that he wasn't, in fact, Charlie.

Alan wadded up the sheets from their beds and shoved them into the suit cases and within twenty-five minutes of their arrival Trip, Alan, Robert Paxton, James Tyler and Matthew Warner were ready to leave. Trip turned to Charlie and saw that he was chewing his lower lip nervously. It was clear to the man that the young genius was worried about his father.

"Hey Charlie, don't worry. Your dad will be back by this evening."


The first real break in the case came from The FBI forensics laboratory. They were able to find traces of DNA on the fragments of the incendiary device used to blow up Don's hospital room. After running the DNA sample through CODIS they came up with the name Benjamin Pretoria.

He was an ex-Special Forces Navy Seal with explosives expertise as well as top scores in marksmanship. Lieutenant Pretoria was dishonorably discharged after a scandal involving a 14 year old girl in Baghdad who was reportedly raped by three American service men.

Pretoria was the only service man positively identified by the victim. The fact that she had been raped brought shame to her family name and she had been beaten severely by her father and brothers. The Jag defense lawyer used the fear that the girl had of further reprisals from her family to get her to withdraw her identification of his client.

The prosecution had a strong circumstantial case but could not imprison him without the girl's testimony. Due to the political pressures of the war and the nature of the crime the Department of Defense and the Justice Department decided to make an example of Pretoria and he was dishonorably discharged.

Megan had his picture faxed out to every LA area police department as well as every other field office within the tri-county area. David contacted Robert Thompkins with the new information and faxed the sheet on Pretoria to him. If the men he had watching Saborgia caught sight of this man they needed to contact the FBI immediately.

Megan had attempted to get a search warrant for Saborgia's residence to search for Pretoria or any evidence that he had been there. What she was given was an open warrant that stated that if direct evidence, such as a photograph of Pretoria on the premises, was found or produced then the warrant would be legally valid.

David and Megan also hit the streets talking to every snitch they knew trying to locate where the man might be hiding. The airports, bus stations and train stations were also given his picture with contact information directly to the FBI if he was spotted.

Agent Mark Hawkins had been out in the field when the information about Pretoria was disseminated so he was unaware that anything had changed when he came into the office early the next morning.

As he sat down at his desk sipping his coffee he began to flip through the new memos. When he got to the picture of Benjamin Pretoria he nearly dropped his. He got up quickly and raced over to Megan's desk with the sheet in hand as well as the note book from his watch at County General.

Hawkins threw the face sheet on Pretoria in front of Megan and said, "This guy was at the hospital dressed as a janitor. It was in my notes… hang on let me find it."

Megan waved David over to her desk as Agent Hawkins flipped through the pages looking for the entry.

"Ok here it is. It was a couple of days before the attack. I was sitting outside the room and I saw this janitor come down the hallway. He cleaned up a bathroom a little ways down the hall. He looked over at me as he passed but I didn't think that much of it because it is odd to have someone sitting on a stool outside of a patient room. Look here is his description."

Mark handed the note book over to Megan who glanced it through, then showed it to David.

"Christ, this is my fault. If I had questioned it better. This is the guy that killed Don! God damn it, I…"

Agent Hawkins sank down into the chair next to Megan's desk and buried his face in his hands.

"Mark, this isn't your fault! Look I read your report, I cleared it. You even wrote right here that his picture ID looked worn and kind of old, like it had gone through the wash a few times. There was no way for you to know that this was the assassin scoping out the room. Look, this brings a new light to this situation."

Mark's head popped up. He still had a crest fallen look about him and was obviously feeling partly responsible for Agent Eppes' death, but he also had a curious look in his eyes. What did this information change?

"We have been working under the assumption that an informant within the Bureau gave the location of Agent Eppes to Saborgia. If Saborgia decided that the press release about Agent Eppes' death was false then it would make sense to have the hospital checked out to see if there was anyone being guarded. If Pretoria scoped out the room number this way it could mean that there isn't a leak after all."

"What can I do to help find this guy? I want Pretoria!"

Megan pulled a file off her desk and flipped it open. "Ok here is the fact sheet on Pretoria. He has certain weapons preferences and these are the ingredients used in his homemade thermobaric weapon. Start running down these suppliers. See if he has made any interesting purchases lately."

Mark too the file and stood up. "I'm on it."

Megan turned to David and pursed her lips. "Keep researching agent backgrounds and financial records. You have a way to contact Charlie?"

David looked cautiously around to be certain no one was near by and nodded.

"Good, see if he has come up with anything. I'll tell Merrick and Donaldson about this and let it sort of spread that there might not actually be a mole after all. Maybe he'll let his guard down if he thinks we've given up the search."