Chapter 13
Pins, bullets and journals
A/N: Have I told you before how grateful I am for all those thoughts you share in your reviews? Thank you so much.
So, now here we are, chapter 13 to be published. Just to warn you: there's a lot going on in here and things are going in a rush indeed. It also means that this story is coming near to an end.
Disclaimer: the original characters of NCIS Los Angeles belong to CBS and I am very grateful to use them for this storyline once again!
"Just a sec," he repeated and he inhaled deeply before he toppled forward against the other man's body. Paul Angelo nearly stumbled backwards himself but managed to stay on his feet in the end.
"Losing is a bitch, Callen," Paul Angelo said ~
o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)
Los Angeles || NCIS office of special projects
"What was it they were showing you?" Richard Barnet inquired of Hetty.
She pursed her lips and had an answer ready without blinking an eye. "A cold case. During times like these with a minimal team, we usually set our goals to solve a least one cold case. Or well, the people who are around, since you know by now that I don't work at this office any longer." She pushed her glassed up a little, unconscious of it. "This one is about one of our own, whom we lost some years ago." Her pale eyes met the other man's stare and she continued "You probably went through similar situations several times at your office. Always sad, don't you think so, Mr. Barnet?"
Th LAPD officer nodded — he understood. His gaze never left the movements the older woman made. He noticed how Hetty opened a small cabinet which contained several keys. She let her hand go through them and took the one she needed. Then she got up again and motioned the other man to follow her. With the key she opened an antique office filing cabinet and she let her fingers go through them.
"Well now, here we have it."
She handed the other man a sealed envelope, with a curly but clearly handwritten 'Angelo, Paul,' on it. "This is what he needs, what he demanded, right?"
Barnet nodded and exhaled.
"Now then, Mr. Barnet. I suggest you make a picture of this file, open it, make another picture of its contents and inform Mr. Angelo that my part of the deal was made. I would, however, suggest you ask once again to have feed sent to my phone, or yours, to show that my agent, Mr. Callen, is in good condition too, before we leave this building with these files".
From the corner of her eyes she noticed how the minimized team were all checking their cell phones. Probably about this case, Hetty assumed. Yet, she decided she would not try to catch anything, nor interfere. Perhaps she could leave another breadcrumb before she'd leave this building — the one she always would feel at home in.
o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)
The three of them glanced at each other, and Nell understood there was a lot to share with EAD Mosley. She took out her cell phone and motioned the others to do the same.
Eric started:
- saw police car on traf cam outside office before Hetty was unreachable
Nell frowned, wanting make sure about what to add:
- think I saw this guy with Hetty on my screen up with Angelo.
Her thumbs went like crazy on the small tabs of her phone as she continued:
- Angelo is connected to Soreño
They all looked up and Nell just started talking too. "Do you think Callen will answer his phone by now? I mean, by now he should realize Hetty isn't at home, and he could be of assistance in here, right?" It was because she wanted Hetty to know that they knew Callen was not to be reached, and that they tried before as well.
"I hope will drop by as soon as he can. We really could use a hand right now," Mosley stated.
Meanwhile she typed
- what about that file she was talking about Eric?
- Get into that
Eric nodded and read the next short message Mosley left.
- I'm calling LAPD Bates. Let you know more ASAP
Mosley's phone rang as she made the call, a simple setting she arranged in the cheapest app she found. This way, it was as if she was called. In fact, the other party had to answer before any contact was made, but it took only five more rings before Bates answered. It wasn't really natural how she greeted the Los Angeles head of the police, but she managed. "Roger, this is Shay Mosley. Listen, I need you to do me a favor. There's a case we were working on, and I may need some assistance." She listened to his reply, and knew she couldn't give away too much with one of Bates' around, a rogue officer overhearing what was said. "Well of course I can. But you see, we're a little short of people." Another pause as she was listening. "Fair enough. Agent Jones will sent some detailed information which will come handy to know." She nodded to the man on the other side of the line, knowing he could not see it, so she added "Alright. Thank you," before she disconnected the call.
She simply watched the two analysts who would have to be in the field soon. Too soon.
o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)
Los Angeles || South Fir Avenue
"What the fuck—" Paul Angelo swore.
Never mind the fact it was part of his act, Callen was aware how much weaker he was than he wanted to be. Feverish too. He was pretty sure the bullet which was supposed to be stuck in his collarbone made some kind of escape only to destroy tissue around his shoulder. Bone structures that were broken, out of place. He landed on his knees which made him in an equally vulnerable situation as before.
Before he had a chance to get up, he heard the door slam and the bulky step that announced Angelo's partner coming his way. In a matter of moments Mauro's shoed foot pressed him flat down to the floor and kept him pinched in that position too.
"Your little old woman called. She's doing exactly what we want her to do. I figure you've served your purpose by now, special agent Callen. Who would've thought that NCIS would lose one of their best and find another agent has come back as the long lost son in a matter of a few hours? Not you, nor your dear but absent co-workers, I bet!"
It made Callen realize how much he missed his team. How much he missed Sam, and how he was scared for the first time that there'd be no way to tell his big partner who was like a brother to him, how much he appreciated the banter during stakeouts, the guilt he felt that Sam, who had to miss his wife, would also going to miss his friend and co-worker.
And although inwardly he swore in anger and anguish, he gasped while he felt even more hurt than before "She won't just deal with your threats like you will expect Paul. By now a team is looking for you."
He winced in pain now Mauro put more weight on his already battered body.
Paul Angelo's reply was like Callen expected, a huffing laugh sounded and even without being able to glance at the former agent, Callen knew how the near black eyes of the other man would still be unreadable and hard as steel.
"I trust my men, Callen, I trust my team. Warned both of you what would happen if she was going to be betray me and this situation."
Callen clenched his jaws. No way he wanted Hetty to be endangering any of the team or any innocent bystanders. Still, he continued , trying to keep his voice as icy as possible. "She's keen, Paul. Keener than you think. She'll find a way."
A denying 'uh-uh' sounded.
"Kabam," Mauro affirmed that negative backtrack and it was about the first time Callen heard the other man speak. Also one of the last, since something hard hit his head – probably one of Mauro's shoes, and he was out.
o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)
Los Angeles || NCIS office of special projects
Eric didn't jog up the stairs again. Instead of his usual working spot at Ops, but he took one of the four available desks. Since his laptop was already booted up, he simply placed it on the docking station and he tried the code Hetty mentioned earlier in several systems.
Meanwhile, he kept an eye on what his former operations manager was doing.
Only a few minutes later, Nell joined him. She started checking on the smallest screen, and noticed that Mosley left them another message:
- Bates will have a team outside. He'll take some precautional measures.
It wasn't that Nell understood this message and she frowned as she was about to ask if Mosley could explain any further. She looked up but only when the petite Ninja-like woman stood in front of her.
"Miss Jones... have you seen the fur from the south?"
Nell frowned even more with the question from Hetty, not understanding what was meant. The only fur she'd ever seen Hetty wearing was a fur scarf, but why ask for it? She shrugged and shook her head "I don't know, Hetty."
"It came from the South. I'm pretty sure you will know where to find it. After all I told Executive Assistant Director Mosley you are the one who can guide a team purely by your expertise," Hetty said. She sighed deeply, then waved her remark away with her left hand. "Never mind, Miss Jones, never mind. Well then, Mr. Beale, I hope you will be able to trace the item I mentioned earlier?"
"Working on it, Hetty," Eric said, sending her a confident smile though. All of a sudden he understood what her words meant, and it was mow he understood that Hetty was deliberately not straightforward and her choice of words was different from what he was used to. It meant she did not want to inform the officer who accompanied her.
Eric let his hands go over the keypad, leaned back in his chair and needed to hold back the grin on his face. He nodded to himself once he combined the message, the code and even the small talk she had with Nell.
"Well, ladies and gentleman, since there's no way I can assist you with this case any longer, and since you haven't found what you were looking for, I suppose I ought to use my time, let's say, more effective. I think this is a perfect moment to tell in all confidence that it's always been a pleasure working with you."
Again, Nell frowned. It was a message which absolutely did not fit this woman, who she knew was direct in her words. She worried and was about to tell this, but again, Hetty surprised her as she stepped closer and hugged the petite analyst, and whispered "Stay safe, my dear."
Hetty then turned rather abruptly and followed the LAPD-officer.
Once the heavy wooden door slammed close, Mosley exhaled and joined both the younger people. "Bates is going to arrest them. He's got a team outside already, in only matters of minutes they were in position. Even during my call, so it seemed. It's not going to be played nicely."
"This Barnet, look, he's in here… in here, and there, three times, with Paul Angelo. Talking only is no proof, I know, but —"
"Suspicion is enough. There's more than Hetty told, right?"
"You're right, boss," Eric agreed. "Listen up, the code she gave? And using the word 'trace' and linking it to the casefiles she saw from you, well, it was a one and one makes three and I figure it out, you see?"
"Stop the fluster, Beale," Nell prodded.
Eric tilted his head just slightly and said "It's a GPS-tracker. Activated, ready to be read. South Fir Avenue."
"Fir, Fur, from the South…" Nell now understood.
"On what would she use a tracker?" Mosley wondered.
"Or… on who?" Eric asked himself a question. Then he replied immediately "Callen. I'm sure Hetty was with Callen, and she's scared we, or she, won't find him otherwise," he reasoned. "Both their cell phones are offline, we all saw how Hetty hesitated when we asked if she had met with Callen. Guys, this isn't good. I've got the feeling this all is going in a direction that is beyond bad."
"Now you two listen."
The order coming from Mosley was nearly harsh, but it worked and once their attention was with someone who was able to lead a case, Mosley continued. "You two gear up. Be ready in five. Ranisha from communications will take over the basics of guiding you in the right directions. I'll arrange another team of LAPD and who knows whatever assisting team I can find, to get with you in time. Now go, hurry."
They were on their feet already when Nell asked Mosley directly "Where will you be?"
Shay Mosley wet her lips and sighed deeply. "I'll do my utmost to try and get Henrietta Lange opening up and share details. Which won't be easy, seeing that she still appears to feel bitter for not being able to work alongside of me."
o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)
He was hurting, ran a fever and unable to think of any escapes any longer. Duct tape did it. Not only were Callen's hands and ankles bound with duct tape, his hands and arms were also taped backwards around the passenger chair of a van. Blinded windows. Breathing was difficult, since his mouth was also taped. Callen was aware that he needed to think clearly and to try not to hyperventilate. In this same moment he was so tired of what felt like a battle he may lose anyway. The agent wasn't feeling like an agent at all. At this very moment, he realized how scared the people he'd met in the field and whom he had rescued in some way, must feel. He never felt that fear before, not until now.
Mauro was driving the van and Callen didn't have a clue as to where they were going, nor how long they were on their way already. Mauro had the van on the 405, heading North, and Callen did recognize Inglewood. He had the city map in his head, and it was as if the drive was in the direction of Culver.
o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)o)
"The one-o-five, still heading West, near Lennox now." Ranisha's words came rather tight. Clearly she was not accustomed to such a task.
Eric tapped on the petite screen in the dashboard of the large Ford SUV, one of the standard cars available at NCIS. "At this speed, where would we meet this car Ranisha?"
It was quiet on the other side for a moment. "Four-o-five, at the intersection 2A, Hawthorn – Lennox. Keep driving." All she was focused on were the two red dots which were closing in on each other.
"Beale, Mosley in here. You were right, Hetty put a tracker on Callen's clothing. We've got Hetty isolated from Barnet and she's pretty sure that Paul Angelo is going to do Callen harm if he doesn't hear from her or Barnet soon. If not he already has… LAPD also eliminated a companion who was outside our HQ, clearly waiting for Barnet."
"Copy that Boss." He glanced at Nell, all in control behind the wheel. She was so much more like a field agent than he was, but then, next to her, he had the feeling the two of them were in charge with this situation.
"East Imperial Highway. You should have visuals at the car right now, Eric." Ranisha said. "But I don't have a clue what this car looks like."
"Nell will switch lanes by now. Could you share your screens to my phone?"
"How do I do that?" Ranisha asked, and both of them recognized a sense of panic. "Oh wait. Miss Mosley is here right now. I will ask her."
There was some mumbling in the background and Eric shared a sight with Nell. "Keep driving," Eric said, and he tapped his earwig again and said "Ranisha? Keep talking please," Eric asked.
"Beale, this is Mosley. LAX may be the direction. I've got you on screen. Got a chopper up, as unseen as possible, so I've got live feed too, sending it over. Five cars between yours and Callen's. You're following a dark green Mercedes, sedan. No back-up team available yet, not in 10 minutes from now. No action required from you except following this car and stay discrete until my next instructions."
He nodded and after a nod of Nell, who listened to Mosley's orders too, he repeated 'Copy that, Boss."
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