Chapter 17:

„Where do we find them?"

Elizabeth showed the piece of paper to Jack, containing the address she had just spoken of.

Surprisingly she was smiling at him – a sad small smile and he didn't really get what this was about. He took the paper from her hands giving her a slightly concerned gaze. But his question was answered before he even got a chance to anounce it, as she tapped to the paper now.

„He asked me to be careful...That's what he wrote down underneath these addresses. He was worried about my safety."

He gave her a sympathetic smile and gently squeezed her shoulder. It was just so goddamn unfair and that made it even harder to cope with the current situation, especially for her. This note just once again showed to them, that Danny had never expected anything like this happening to him, he hadn't seen any danger. But he had been very wrong.

„I'm okay, I'm fine – it's just so heartbreakingly unfair. This was not supposed to happen, he was not supposed to get involved in this – not like that."

„I know."

And knowing it he did – Danny had not been supposed to be in any way endangered by Elizabeth's investigation, but that hadn't prevented it from happening. Both of them hadn't been aware of what kind of a strong opponent they were up against. The results were plain for everyone to see...

He looked at Elizabeth once again and her facial expression showed an extent of grim determination, which clearly told him what she would be asking him next.

„I want to join you."

„No."

She was angry, her facial expression showed it, but she didn't seem very much surprised. However he knew she wouldn't give up that easily. She had proven to be to much of a stubborn character to simply give in to his decision like that. He would have to convince her.

„Why not?"

„You're a civilian, Beth – I can't allow you to join an arrest by a federal agency."

„This is my case!"

„I know that – and it's my agent lying in a hospital bed fighting for that bit of life they have left him with. We both do have a reason to get after them, but neither of us can decide about this by emotion. You cannot join us Elizabeth, it's too dangerous. For you and for the outcome of this investigation. This has to be played by the book. I don't want to offer them any chance to escape just because we broke protocol."

She relaxed visibly, his words making sense to her and she seemed willing to obey to his decision. But as he had expected she wanted something in return for staying here during the arrest.

„Okay, but I want to join the interrogation."

„As you are the one holding all the evidence in hands – that's okay with me."

Jack and Martin had headed over to the address, Elizabeth had received from Danny with a couple of other agents. They needed to be careful on this one. If the Chileans would encounter any sign of their presence, this arrest would – most definitely – go very wrong. They couldn't and wouldn't risk that.

They had also informed NYPD who had taken over surveillance on the two Chilean men. They already were there when the two federal agents arrived at the address given to them. Martin headed over to one of the officers from NYPD, asking him about the two Chileans and then heading back to his superior.

„Are they up there?"

„Yeah, both of them and they have no idea we're here. Are sitting there like nothing ever happened. Goddamn it!"

Emotions were swirling high during the preperations of the arrest, especially as they were almost face to face with the assailants, the ones that had caused Danny so much pain for the last few days. It was just natural, Jack didn't feel any different about it, but he knew he couldn't let their emotions control their actions.

He gave the younger agent a reassuring look, hoping for Martin to calm down. They needed to keep their cool during this take down. Any failure could bring the whole case down, especially with an opponent that powerful as they were confronted with. If they weren't careful – the next best lawyer would bring the whole investigation down.

„It's okay, Martin. They're going to be taken down, we're going to get them."

Martin nodded to him without saying a word, looking up to the dwellings' windows where the two Chilean males were living their every day life without seeing any danger coming to them. It almost seemed a little to easy, but Jack didn't bother about that. They finally deserved some luck.

Everything had been set up for the arrest, and the only thing they were still waiting for was the final decision being made. And this decision had to be made by Jack.

„Alright. We go in."