Hi everyone sorry for being quiet but been a busy time at work, this is a longer chapter hope you enjoy as before all mistakes are mine and I'm just borrowing my fav 80's TV show characters.

Chapter 66

How could I not realize this was happening? I promised to protect her and now all I am seeing is my failures. I should have looked at that tape again. I should have followed up on the loose ends this case had. If it had been someone else I would have done this. I should have handled this as a regular case or brought in Vince and Hoyt to go over the evidence with me, I was not thinking correctly. This had hit too close to home.

I blame myself wanting to tie it up with a bow and show her that it was over and she was safe had taken precedence in me doing a thorough investigation. This was the outcome a maniac had been following her and now listening to everything we've discussed. How long had this been going on and if Popeye hadn't put two and two together we'd still be in the dark.

Luca's people got to the office in record time. They came in through the service entrance to the floor we were on. If this asshole was staking out the building then we wanted him to think we didn't know about the bugs in the office.

Luca and Popeye took control after what had happened upstairs. They had gotten two of Luca's people the same height and hair color to take their place in the police car. Once they switched clothes they had been taken in by Myers and Johnson to keep the ruse going. Hoyt went along with the ruse wanting answers but CJ asked him to be patient that all would be explained.

The next part of the plan was acting like it was business as usual. We called Chris to come in to the office like a regular business day, she had to make it seem that the guys that showed up were Too Mean's crew ready to install the safe rooms in CJ's and the one behind her desk.

CJ was against her coming in saying she had put enough of her family in danger but we had to overrule her. The argument was epic between all of us and her. She relented when Chris got on the phone and said it was her family also and if she could help in any way she was going to and she was not the boss of her.

CJ wavered and reminded her that technically she was the boss of her but she understood why she felt compelled to help out. She reluctantly agreed. I promised CJ that she would never be out of sight of Luca's crew, me or Uncle Roy. He was driving her over after she went to change.

"We have a meeting today with the child advocate, Ms. Bloom. Maybe we should postpone it."

She looked torn not wanting to lose this opportunity to help Jake but also afraid what danger she could add to his life.

"Maybe we can change the location? If we call her and ask to meet her at the hospital instead of here. It will give Luca's people time to do a thorough sweep and if we have enough manpower get one of those rooms up and running. Your safety is my number 1 priority CJ."

She nodded and went to call Ms. Bloom. Luca was on the phone as was Popeye. I walked over to hear what they had going on. Luca was asking for another team to go over to my house to do the sweep and asked that the cars be checked. He also asked if I had an extra set of keys to CJ's car and my Mercedes. I told him I'd call Star to find the keys.

Everyone was aware of what we suspected. That the jackass might have bugged mine and CJ's house and if we were correct he knew all about Star, Carol, Maureen, Momma G, Jake and the rest of our family.

I called and Tiny answered. I asked how everyone there was and he sighed.

"As good as to be expected Houston. Ma is trying to put a brave front for Star but she started to smoke again. Momma hasn't picked up a cigarette since my Dad died. Don't worry she's smoking on the balcony, maybe your Uncle can talk to her when he gets back? Ms. Star wants to help. She wants to go back to the pier to talk to her contacts saying it would take a load off your back if we continue trying to find Jake's Mom. She says you are paying her and wants to keep her end of the bargain. She's being stubborn and I might have to hog tie and duct tape her to the chair if she tries to sneak out of the house again, thank God Will left Beast or I'd have to call in the Calvary to go out and find her."

I remembered what Popeye had said earlier and I agreed, these women will be the death of us. I needed to find a special treat for Beast he had been their rock and protector that dog was meant for our family even though we had a rocky start.

"Tell her she is not going anywhere and if she has any notion to sneak out I will personally tan her hide, or better yet I'll tell Uncle Roy he has a hankering to box someone's ears in."

He relayed the message and she came on the phone, "Boss man we need to resume our fact finding if the jackass thinks we are hiding then he might do something stupid, I thought it was business as usual. Come on. I know I should have some info today everyone is should be around and hungry. I need to feed the masses and if I'm not around it will raise suspicion. Tiny will be with me, come Boss man let me help it's what you are paying me for. I can't help at the office let me do what I can here. Oh and don't tell Boss Lady I heard how frantic she sounded when she was talking to Chris. I'll be extra cautious, I promise."

I rubbed my head and Popeye hung up and looked at me as she continued to plead her case. I tilted the phone so he could hear, he rolled his eyes and mumbled all the women in his life were out to kill him. I chuckled and covered the phone and told him I was having the same thought a minute ago.

Tiny got back on the phone, "I hate to admit it she's got a point. Star is a fixture around the pier. Yesterday when she didn't show up at her usual haunts a lot of people came by asking for her and asking questions if she goes MIA for two days it might spook those that she talked to about Jake. As much as it pains me we need to act like we don't know this animal is after our CJ and the rest of the womenfolk."

Popeye walked away said he didn't like it but agreed as did I. This was getting too complicated. I told him about Luca's guys coming over and where the spare keys were. Luca came next to me and asked if he could talk to Tiny.

"Hey bud, Trevor, Wick and Jonah are the crew coming over and once they are done they will be staying. I can't believe I'm saying this but go with her to the safer areas to see if she could get any information. If anything feels off, get her out of there. Take Wick with you, he will cover, don't hesitate just go. I already sent some guys over to Carols and Maureen's place. I'm not taking any chances. When Wick gets there, have him call me. "

He hung up and I grabbed his arm. "Thank you, I know this is not your fight but I'm glad you are here to help us. If I had done a better job in investigating this I would have figured out there were 4 not 3 I dropped the ball."

He shook his head, "No you didn't, and you both went through a trauma I don't even want to imagine. It would have killed me to see my best friend tortured, I don't want you to think like this Houston. It's not going to do you or us any good if you are letting this fester. It needs to stop, we need to move forward. Once we find this asshole then we will go over everything but right now buddy I need you here 100% I'm counting on you as is she."

He motioned to CJ. She was sitting on a chair away from all of us and I nodded to Luca. I walked over to her and she didn't move. I stooped down and grabbed her hands. She looked up.

"When is it going to end? Why me? What is so special about me? This guy's been following me for how long and now he knows about everyone, even Jake. Houston you don't think he'd try to harm him do you?"

I pulled her forward and she grabbed me tight. "He is in the safest place he could be. They will not let anyone in there that isn't cleared to be in there. We will give Roxy and Emma a heads up okay?"

She nodded and said she wanted to call right now.

"You didn't tell me what Ms. Bloom said can we meet her at the hospital?"

"I'm sorry, yes she said if we could be there at 11:00. At the same conference room we were at yesterday. She said she had a meeting with her boss. Apparently someone had called her at home yesterday and now she wanted a meeting to discuss Jake and the progress of the case. I asked her if this was good or bad. She said good, I quote, 'you have very important friends that have called in favors and now this is on a fast track in your favor so I will fill you in but whatever you two are doing keep doing it'.

I smiled at her, "See things are falling into place. Just have a little faith CJ, we are trying to protect everyone go call Roxy and Emma give them a heads up and maybe they can tell us how or boy doing."

She kissed my cheek and went to a phone to call the hospital.

"So who are these guys? The truth would be really good right now Houston." I turned to my friend. I wanted to tell him but I had to tread lightly.

"Michael, do you trust me?"

He looked at me and nodded, "then give me some leeway here, once I can fill you in I will. But there are some things that need to be settled and I don't want you to be put in a position that could jeopardize your career. All you need to know is they are a new branch of our family tree and they are helping us keep everyone safe. They are good guys and I need them to keep her safe."

I looked at CJ as I said the last of my sentence. He put a hand on my shoulder, "I swear you keep me on my toes, I'd think my job would be boring if all of you weren't in it."

I chuckled. "Thanks I needed that laugh and it goes both ways. We are happy you and your family are part of our lives."

The elevator chimed that someone was coming and everyone stopped. Popeye stepped in front of CJ as did Luca building that human wall again. Hoyt looked at me and nodded. The doors opened and it was Uncle Roy and Chris. We all relaxed again.

"Where's my niece?" Luca and Popeye parted and she came forward. He took her into his arms, Chris was next. We started to talk about what we wanted her to do. Chris was going to go in and open up the office like normal. She would be alone for 1 minute. Uncle Roy and I would walk in next. I would go over what had happened in the morning and how CJ was down at the police station trying to get our friends bailed out.

That was the trap we were setting up. The office was bugged and the animal would go there knowing she was alone without any of us to protect her. He would take his shot Popeye and Luca would bet their lives on it. They wanted to go down there but said Luca's team would do the job.

He had to think we didn't know about the bugs. Make him feel that he was still pulling the wool over our eyes. Just like the guys I wanted to be there when they caught him but I had more important things to do and I was putting all my trust in Luca's people.

He had taken over, he had a plan up in running in minutes. Along with the two guys that took Luca's and Popeye's place, they had brought a female that was a former military. Sheila was a friend of theirs; she was the same build as CJ but her hair was straight, she had a wig on and could pass for CJ if she kept her hood up. She had followed the decoys in the police car. Since CJ's car was still at my house, Sheila had used my red convertible sports car. I asked that she be careful with it.

She smiled. "So I can't drive it like I stole it? Bummer."

She went to the station keeping in contact with Luca through a satellite phone and said she was not followed. Maybe it was too early for the worm. But she would stay there for a while till at least we had finished the sweeps at the house and the office. Luca said he had the last of his guys keeping an eye on the police station to see if anything was out of place. Hoyt called the front desk and said to keep an eye out for anyone asking about Luca's and Popeye's arrest. Hopefully he would try and take decoy CJ and we'd get to catch our enemy.

"Houston, Luca's crew are all ex-military, they know how to handle themselves so don't worry, wish I could be out there to take this jerk down. But I have a feeling he's not working alone. So I just got off the phone with my contacts with the names you gave me. They are not very nice people. Duval stuck out and I'm not sure if you are aware he was extradited to some backward country and well you guessed it escaped. He's on the run as is his son. The ex-boyfriend/fiancé is still in prison but is not too happy with you saying you set him up for the fall that it was all due to your jealousy and you brainwashed Beautiful against him to believe the lies, this guy I'd like to go see he's not talking kindly about our girl. I'm waiting on the preacher and the guy that tried to kill her with his Laurel and Hardy lackey's."

I looked at him. What lies was Robert spreading about CJ, I hope she never had to find out.

"Excuse me what do you mean Duvall was extradited? I had put in a special request with the CIA and FBI to inform the Police Department if any changes occurred no one told me they were extradited, and the report is spreading lies, let me talk to the warden and see what I can find out. She's my friend too and I don't like people talking crap especially about her."

Hoyt was upset and Popeye smiled. "I like this guy we might be friends."

He then started to read off what he had found out but I wasn't listening. I was reliving that time. I didn't want to think that he could be behind her abduction, but it would make sense. When we had been taken to the island I was thinking we needed to escape. I needed to figure out a plan when I tried to get the upper hand and take Duval hostage. I thought it was going to be easy only to realize it was a test and I had failed. He wanted to see what I would do to protect her and when he had her standing in front of a firing line waiting to die her eyes never left mine. She didn't cry out tears just streaming down her face. What were her thoughts in those moments? Mine where my time was up and seeing her killed in front of me would be the last image of her I would have because I would be dying next thinking I didn't want to live without her in this world.

"Hey, Houston, did you hear a word I said? What are you not telling me? I need transparency from you and please don't hold anything back."

I nodded and went into detail of the whole incident from us going with Vince to check on security, Duval's son not getting the job done and me going after him and being the star witness to his trial. I touched my shoulder where the bullet had gone in. CJ and Murray made me take time off to check out the resort I was thinking of buying and taking my best girl with me to get a different point of view.

Popeye chuckled, "Right the only view you wanted was her in a bikini."

I started to turn red and he punched my arm, he wasn't wrong. I continued with the story and told him how she had passed out and the last thing I remembered was going to check on her and nothing else. They had hijacked our plane and taken us to Duval Sr. He had her for two weeks, she had a run in with him. She told me about it and I wanted to go down to Florida to teach him a lesson. He wanted to be entertained and well he didn't say please and she tried to escape but was caught. I told him how Vince helped me convince everyone I was retracting my statement and him hitting me in the face and bad mouthing me to anyone who would hear. It was all an act. We flew back to the island and I went to save CJ. I finished the story and looked over and she wasn't sitting in the chair. I looked panicked.

"Calm down Cowboy, she's gone to the bathroom one of Luca's guys went along to make sure all was clear."

"Do you think it's Duval? He had a reason for revenge but why use these guys, you said they wanted revenge for their brother being killed because of you. Did you check that lead?"

Hoyt came up to us and handed him the file. I opened it up and gave him a brief summary of Eirik Hanson, had a couple of brushes with the law but was hanging with a rougher crowd when he and a couple of his buddies decided to try and kidnap the daughter or a high profile businessman. We had been hired to be the middleman in the handoff. But it went south. They had wanted more money and there was fighting amongst them and he had a change of heart and had tried to help her escape. When all was said and done Mr. Hanson had been killed, the daughter shot and the rest of them had been captured. I had shot him. CJ tried everything she could to try and save him but it was too late. Word got back to his family and they had shown up for the arraignment of the other 2. Swearing I would pay for what I had done letting him die. CJ defended me saying we had done everything in our power to save him but they started to taunt her and tell her to watch her back. I had enough and we left.

"I should have taken it more seriously. I honestly thought it was just the bad guys letting off steam. I was so wrong."

I walked away and sat on the couch. Not wanting to talk anymore, needing to regroup, I felt what little control I had left slipping and I didn't have the luxury to think that I needed to be in the here and now. We had an enemy that needed to be dealt with.

"Nephew, stop right now. I see it in your face, stop with the doubting, we can't dwell in the past. We need to face this and we are very lucky we have them here. It's fate we met all of these new branches of our family. So we are getting ready to go up. It will be Chris first, then us. The crew will arrive and start demoing the office for the safe rooms while one will be doing a sweep for bugs. You are not the only one that failed her. I was an operative. I should have been able to spot everything that they did. But I wanted to shield her from any more danger. We won't make that mistake again right?"

I nodded and Chris came over to us as did CJ.

"Chris, are you sure? I feel it should be me going up there maybe I …."

"Nope you are not taking my place so just get that out of your head. I am going to do this and I feel safe. Luca gave me this." She showed us a small gun. "I know how to shoot thanks to you three so I will only be alone for 1 minute. Please CJ let me help."

I reminded her that we would be right behind her and if CJ went up it would throw a wrench into our plans.

"Is she still trying to get you not to go? Not going to happen. Beautiful, the plan is solid. Heck we even have a snipper across the way he is keeping an eye on the building and so far nothing is out of place. Chris is safe, Luca wired her with a mic and a panic button if and that's a big if anything feels off she just has to push it. I'll be in the stairway just in case. So stop worrying that pretty head yours."

I smiled at him. He was on edge as was I but we couldn't let her see this or she would be running up those stairs. There was no way this jackass was getting to Chris or anyone else and the panic button and mic was genius and I could see CJ relaxed.

"Can we all monitor it? Can it be put on speaker?"

Luca turned up the sound on the mic and we could hear ourselves. The elevator doors open. Chris stepped in and pushed the button to our office. She was talking in the elevator as instructed by Luca. She had an ear bud to hear us. She asked if we could hear her. Luca responded as the doors opened she stepped off the elevator, Uncle Roy started the stop watch and the longest minute of our lives started.

We got in the elevator when it came back to our floor. We stepped in and waited to press the button. Once it got close to the minute, it started to move up to our office.

"We talk about the Too Mean's guys coming in to demo the area for the panic rooms, okay Mattlock?"

I nodded, "How could we have missed this Uncle Roy? So much could have gone wrong."

"This isn't the time or place to do this let's get this charade over, I want to see if this jerk had the nerve to bug our offices."

The doors opened and we greeted Chris. She asked where CJ was and I gave her the story of what had happened earlier and how she was down at the station trying to get them out. She said she made a fresh pot of coffee and would give me my messages and Uncle Roy's in a minute.

"Oh before I forget Too Mean's crew is coming today, correct? Did you want me to move my work area today? Work with BABY or in CJ's office."

I smiled at her, "That is a good question, you might have to go home for the day if they get to be too disruptive, we told our clients we'd be taking time off and technically we should be back fully by tomorrow so it might be your lucky day, you might get to go home."

She thanked me and I went into the main area looking around wondering where these bugs were. Uncle Roy asked about what had happened in the morning and wondered how much trouble our two new friends were in. He kept talking. I listened while walking around the office and seeing if anything was out of place. The elevator signaled someone was coming. We paused and watched Luca's crew come in through the lobby asking for me.

I showed them where I wanted the Safe Rooms to be placed, Mike his head guy made notes and pulled out a wand and motioned to keep speaking. We did and he was checking the room and had a headset on so no noise could be heard. He stopped by the bar and waved the wand again. He motioned for one of his guys to bring over a ladder and he stepped up. He put on gloves and pulled out the bug. I closed my eyes and was about to curse when Uncle Roy grabbed my arm and shook his head. Mike put it on the bar counter and started to look around again. He found three more on this level, one by Chris's desk, one in CJ's office and one by BABY. On the lower level one in the gym and the other by the shower there were none in the spare room.

The crew started the demolition. We said loud enough that it was not safe to hang around and we'd be going home for a couple of days. We all left together and made our way downstairs to give the news to Luca, Popeye and CJ.

"You were right, the place was bugged, and he must have called the police. He heard everything that's been going on for who knows how long. Luca, your guy will be bringing down the bugs Uncle Roy says they look pretty sophisticated high end. So we need to stay away from there."

I pulled CJ close knowing this was gonna drive her to the edge. Luca called to get Momma out of the house and over to the Bar. He'd have guys watching her there and Tiny was taking Star out to follow up on leads. CJ asked about her sisters. Luca said he had it covered.

The phone rang and it was Sheila he put her on speaker.

"Luca, I'm okay but someone tried to grab me when I left the police station, Kyle and Wes where picking up their stuff and I was just coming out to let you know what was happening. There were three of them all masked up I hate to say it but they did get a jump on me but what they were expecting was the guys they saw what was happening they got spooked and threw me in the middle of oncoming traffic they saved me but the perps got away. We are sorry. Someone yelled out it's not her that's why he threw me into traffic. No plates and the police were here and will be pulling any surveillance tapes."

CJ tried to turn and she was ready to bolt but I held her in place. I whispered in her ear to stop and we had it covered.

"Really what if that was me? What would have happened to me? I can't do that again, I won't."

She pushed away from me and went to sit on the couch, Uncle Roy motioned me away and went to go talk to her as did Chris.

I closed my eyes. I whispered to the other two what the hell happened? Maybe this wasn't such a good idea to have Luca's people take the lead.

Luca came right to my face. "My people are the best, ex military, CIA, FBI and police officers. Those guys got lucky. I need to get debriefed to see what the hell happened. Trust me I will find out what went wrong. We flushed them out so they know we are aware of them. I'm sorry Houston but don't doubt my crew ever."

The phone rang and Popeye picked up and he looked at me and said it was Too Mean.

"Houston, we have a problem. Someone broke into CJ's house. Everything is alright but her bedroom. It was ransacked and they left a message.

Popeye had seen me look over to CJ and back to them I whispered what Too Mean had said.

I asked Too Mean what he meant left a message.

I tilted the phone so they could hear.

"Houston it's bad, it says, Hello Princess I'm watching and waiting till we are together again. See you real soon."