Don't own Chuck
Beckman slowly came to rolling and moaning on the bed. She felt like she'd been kicked in the head by a mule. Her first thoughts were that this was all Roan's fault by making her try all those drinks. Even if she didn't remember drinking that much but her head and stomach were telling her she had. She reached over to where Roan should've been but he wasn't there.
"Just like you," she moaned as she rolled over and sat up on her side of the bed. "Get me drunk then take off. At least I still have my clothes on but where am I?" She said as she started looking around the cabin and noticed it wasn't theirs.
"Geez, how much did we drink to end up here?" she said as she tried to get up. She felt a little unstable on her feet but she was mobile enough to make it to the door.
"Crap, what is this?" she said when she tried the door but found it was locked. "Hey, someone let me out," yelled Beckman as she banged on the door. But after a while of not getting any answer she went to the porthole to look out.
"I don't like this," she said as she tried to look outside but the outside covered was closed which mean she up the polluted stream and she knew it. She was locked inside with no means of getting out.
"What to do now," she said as she looked around the cabin. There was a small bathroom and in it there seemed be fresh water in the sink. But what she was missing was her bag, her phone and weapon.
"What happened last night," she said to herself as she sat back down on the edge of the bed trying to think. Everything was a bit of a haze which she had blamed on the alcohol but now she wasn't sure.
"Think," she said to herself. Then somewhere from the fog that had filled her memories of the last twenty-four hours she began retracing her steps. "Okay so I remembered drinking with Roan and Spud in the lounge. But for the most part I was just taking the glass and touching it to my lips. I wasn't drinking or that's what I remember doing but then what did I do? And how did I get here?"
She started worrying that this was the section that was used only when they had a full boat load of passengers which mean it was closed off now.
"If this is the case then no one will come looking for me until they miss me," she said to herself. "But what about Roan? Surely, he'd come looking for me," she said to herself when suddenly the door to her cabin opened and two men came walking inside neither of whom she recognized. One man was holding a tray with a covered dish and a bottle of what looked like water on it.
"What's going on? Where's my friend who was with me?" she said but got no answers. The one man just sat the tray down then started to leave.
"Hey, I asked a question and I expect an answer," she said as she moved towards the open door but the other man blocked her escape route with his body then he raised his shirt to expose a Colt revolver tucked in his belt.
"I just want to know what's going on," said Beckman wondering if the men even spoke English. The other man got between them and pointed at the tray then the two men disappeared closing the door behind them. She heard the key turn in the lock then there was silence.
"Geez, what have we gotten ourselves in the middle of," she said as she took the cover off the dish. "Well they don't want you to starve," she said as she found a full English breakfast complete with Heinz beans and blood pudding along with bacon, eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes and toast.
"I'm not one to complain," she said as she picked up the bottle of water. "But I could really use a good cup of Joe to wash all this down with," she said as she inspected the bottle for signs of tampering or syringe holes. Content there were none she cracked the seal and took a swallow.
"You've been drugged," she told herself as she drank some more to get the sensation of cotton mouth out. "That's why you can't remember and you feel like you do." It was obvious to her that she'd been kidnapped but what about Roan.
"If you've been kidnapped then what's happened to Roan? Maybe he wasn't considered high value and then left him or... No, we're not going there without proof," said Diane as she picked up her plastic fork and started eating.
"Not the best thing to digest on a queasy stomach but you need to keep your strength up and wait for an opportunity to dish out a little payback. If they ask for a ransom they'll find out soon we don't negotiate with terrorists... then there's the omega protocol and I left Mary in charge. Boy, this gets better by the minute which is more than I can't say for this food. The eggs are over cooked, the toast is burnt and the bacon is lip. I guess it could be worse," she said as she continued eating.
"Oh, I hear you complaining," she said as her stomach growled. "But remember beggars can't be choosers and we've eaten worse and held it down." She said thinking about some of her misadventures she'd had with Roan. "I swear if they've done anything to you they'll pay and it will be slow and painful. I'll see to that even if it's the last thing I do."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Morgan and Alex walked into the Flying Dutchman Bar and Grill. The name seemed appropriate considering they were tracking down a ghost pirate and a very alive third mate. Like most bars the lighting was dim when they entered and it took a few minutes for their eyes to get accustomed. Morgan was the first to the bar while Alex was momentarily distracted by someone who walked towards the rear as they came in.
"I'm sorry just one moment," said Alex as she interrupted Morgan who was about to question the bartender. "What's back there?"
"The restrooms," said Morgan. "See the sign hanging over the corridor. If you need to make a pit stop go ahead. I can handle this."
"No, that wasn't why I was asking and no, I don't need to make a 'pit stop'… I saw someone go back there when we came in and I was wondering what he was doing back there."
"Well, the sign is a dead giveaway and I think you can figure it out on your own," said Morgan. "Now, if you don't mind we need to get down to interrogating." Alex gave Morgan a look as he tried to sit on the bar stool and impress the man on the other side of the counter.
"My dear barkeep can I ask you a few questions? I don't want to take up much of your precious time," said Morgan. But the bartender wasn't that impressed.
"The only thing free in here is water and that's only if it's from the tap," said the man as he sat his tip jar next to Morgan.
"We're federal agents and this is a federal investigation," said Morgan as he pulled out his badge. "Just a few questions then we'll be out of your hair."
"Look up and down this bar how many paying customers do you think I need to make ends meet? I can tell you a lot more than you see here right now. When the landlord comes and asks me for the rent what am I supposed to tell him? I was too busy working a federal case with two fancy federal agents to make the rent? For all I know you got that badge with ten box tops of Frosted Flakes and nine ninety-five plus tax."
"Okay, here's a twenty," said Alex as she dropped the bill into his jar. "We want to know everything you can tell us about Black Bart?"
"First thing is we don't mention that name in this bar and if you say it again you're going to have to leave. Anyone who mentions that name has problems and I don't need any problems up here in my bar. That person you mention brings some bad mojo with him and I don't want any of that."
"But Black..." Alex almost said the name when she caught the looking in the bartender's eyes. He wasn't playing around. "Okay, I'll play along. The person we mentioned before has been dead for centuries now and yet you think he's involved in what's been going on around here?"
"Look, it's like this, I'm not sure either way so I'm just playing it safe. I think you'd do the same if you were in my position. I mean why take the risk when I've got bills to pay. You might be right but I don't want to end up like all those boats that were attacked. They were boarded by someone now weren't they? There's no imagination there."
"But that doesn't mean it was a ghost who attacked them. I think you're letting superstition and your imagination get the best of you."
"That maybe but why take the risk and that's all I've got to say on the subject. Your meter just ran out so if you want more information it's going to cost you another twenty."
"Morgan, I caught this one. Now it's your turn to drop a twenty in the jar. Come on it's only fair," said Alex as Morgan reached inside his trousers. "What are you doing? People are looking!"
"I've got to pull it out of my money belt. You don't walk around with your cash in your pockets. That's a good way to get it stole. Like this my money is safe, who's going to put their hands in my pants?"
"I'm sure not," said the bartender as Morgan pulled out a twenty-dollar bill. "You can just drop it in with two fingers and put it over to the side so I know which one needs to be disinfected."
"Funny, very funny. I don't suppose I can get a receipt. I need a receipt to file with my travel voucher for reimbursement. No, huh? Well I thought as much but I had to ask."
"Okay another twenty and another question so what will it be now?" said the bartender. "Maybe you want to know about the Bermuda Triangle or area Fifty-one?"
"Seeing as we're federal agents, we know all about area fifty-one and believe me it is crawling with aliens from all over the galaxy."
"Really," said the barkeep. Some of the barflies that were in the joint their ears piqued on what Alex said and moved closer to hear.
"No, of course not, I was just pulling your leg like you were ours about your pirate story. The last you're your so-called ghost pirate boarded they proved to be your run of the mill modern in the flesh robbers or pirates..."
"You're talking about what happened on the Annabel Lee," said the bartender. Morgan and Alex looked at each other. "What? I see the look on your faces. You want to know how do I know? News like that travels fast around here. I've got a friend who has a friend who works down at the Coast Guard. That's how I knew. I was just telling Spud he was lucky he didn't go out with them when you two walked in..."
"Wait a minute you were talking to Spud... I mean Robert O'Brien. You were talking to him when we walked in? He was right here?"
"If that's his real name? Yeah, I was talking to him. He was sitting right there where you two are at now. He did look a little out of sorts come to think of it."
"This man," said Alex as she showed the bartender a picture on her phone. "This is the man you were talking to? Look, I don't have time to screw around anymore with you," said Alex as she drew her weapon.
"Yeah, like I said I was talking to him. I know Spud... we all do. He even had one of his buddies call him by name when he came it. But he's gone too. Hey, let's take this down a notch or two and put away the hardware. We'd hate for that to go off in here," said the bartender. He moved back away from Alex and Morgan as the crowd around them dispersed.
"Call this in," yelled Alex. Morgan pulled out his phone. "What's back there other than the restrooms," said Alex as she gave Morgan a look then turned back to the barkeep. "What's back there?"
"Nothing just the restrooms, a storage pantry and the fire exit that's it. Now can you tell me what's going on? What's Spud done? There has to be a mistake Spud's a quiet guy who pretty much keeps to himself."
"He's wanted for questioning and is a person of interest," said Morgan after he told Chuck what had just happened and hung up. "Alex, where are you going? You heard what John told us to wait for back up."
"We don't have time to wait for back up," she said as she went back down the narrow corridor. She cleared the female restroom then kicked open the male restroom door with her weapon at the ready.
"What are you doing," said Morgan as he came in behind her. "This is the little boys room. You step outside and let me clear this one."
"Oh right," said Alex. "I'll check that pantry." They both met up back in the corridor. Spud was in neither place so they went out the fire exit.
"He must've gone straight back here when he saw us enter. Crap, you know what this means? We could've had him."
"You don't say," said Alex. "I knew I should've gone after that guy as soon as we entered. Only a guilty person runs when you enter a room."
"That's good to know from here on out," said Morgan. Alex just shook her head then walked back inside. "Well it is," he said as he tried to keep up.
"I'm going to need a detailed description of what he had on and where you think he might have gone. Don't even give me any crap about that tip jar or I'll shove that up so far you'll sound like a baby rattler for the rest of your life."
"Now you're starting to scare me," said Morgan. "You're beginning to sound just like Casey," he said as she gave him a look. "Which is a good thing everything considered."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Chuck texted Mary everything that had happened and where Morgan and Alex were so they could rendezvous with them. He and Casey were on their way to the Annabel Lee so there was no way either he or John could get to them anytime soon. Mary pulled herself and Sarah out of the meeting with the principal then headed over to Morgan and Alex.
"Here you can read what Chuck sent me," said Mary as she handed Sarah her phone. "This might be the break we were looking for and they're nearby."
"He probably came ashore near here and realized we'd be looking up and down the beach for him so he started looking for someplace to hole up. I wonder what he did with the boat and people he hijacked."
"You can ask him when we find him. I'm thinking about doing a spiral search pattern from the bar working our way outward."
"Or we can us tech and tap into the CCTV feeds. Chuck's bird is overhead now so we've got eyes in the sky," said Sarah as she operated a tablet.
"Well, you can do that but I'm going to start working my search pattern. Call it old habits but they've always gotten the job done. Sometimes the old ways are the best way before we had all these toys."
"Toys? Your husband is the one who came up with all these 'toys' as you call them. I bet you guys went through a lot of shoes back then."
"I don't need you to remind me what my husband did. I think I know quite well rest his soul. But sometimes Stephen wasn't very practical and you need a little gumshoe every now and then. However, if you're trying to impress me now would be the time to pull a rabbit out of your hat?"
"Just give me time," said Sarah as the satellite image was starting to come in and she acquired the CCTV feed from a bank camera across the street.
"Well, we're here," said Mary as she hopped out of the SUV. "You can stay here will I coordinate with our people. I just need for you to tell me which way we should start left or right?"
"Good you're here," said Morgan as he came up behind Mary with Alex following up behind him. "We went fifty yards in both directions but no one's seen him."
"We're waiting on technology now to tell us where we need to go. If we don't have anything soon we'll start working in a circle from here. This guy is well-known on the island so someone has bound to have seen him. Any moment now," said Mary as she looked back at Sarah. Sarah glanced back and wanted to tell her that her constant nagging wasn't helping any but then she acquired the footage.
"There we go. I'm watching the CCTV feed but our man never leaves the alleyway. I see you two coming out but there's nothing except a van parked in the way before. Let me look from overhead. Okay, I've got him coming out but... that's why I didn't see him. He jumped into that van that was parked here."
"That's nice now how about something we can use? A license plate, make, model other than white. Any time now would be nice."
"I have it pulling away," said Sarah as she held her tongue. She really wanted to tell Mary what she thought but concentrated on the task at hand. "I'm going to switch to CCTV feeds to see if I can read the license plate. There's a camera on the light down at the intersection they're going through and... okay, I've got the license... oh crap!"
"What's the matter? You look like you've seen Black Bart... that means you've seen a ghost," said Morgan. Alex punched him in the shoulder. "Ouch! Well it does."
"No, it's not Black Bart... it's the van. I saw the other side as it turned at the intersection. It's a supply van for Lockhart Elementary school. The school where we dropped Sam off before coming here."
"Crap, everyone in the SUV we need to get there and get there now. We can get the principal to hold a fire drill and get all the children out of the school."
"Alex, I need for you to look after Bunny," said Sarah as she pulled her Smith and Wesson from her bag and checked it. "I'm going to put a vest on then I'm going to walk in that school and get Sam out. Don't try and stop me this is my daughter."
"I know who she is and if that's the case she's also my granddaughter but let's not lose our heads here. We can get everyone's child out safely if we just remain calm."
"You just want to take the perp alive. I swear if he gets anywhere near Sam, he's dead and I'll hurt anyone who gets in my way."
"If that happens I'll be the first one to give the green light on the shoot but let's not forget that he's our first real lead."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
[A little while before]
A man stepped out of the Flying Dutchman holding his hand over his eyes to block the sun as he put on a pair of Ray Bans. He walked around the corner and saw Spud come running out tripping over a trash can before running for a white panel van. The man watched as Spud got inside and hid in the back. The man took out his phone and dialed a number as he got on a scooter.
"Hey Luiz, it's me Rocco. I hear you're looking for Spud. I just met him at the Flying Dutchman then two G-men... well one G-man and a G-woman came in then he hightailed it out of the back. Hold on I'm going to have to put you on Bluetooth."
"What's going on there? Why do you need to put this call on Bluetooth?" said Luiz. "You said there were agents? Are these agents after Spud?"
"I don't know they came in and he ran out. I'd just said hi and was about to get him in the back but then they came in and everything went to crap. I've got you on Bluetooth because I'm on my scooter following him. Spud jumped into a van and hid in the back. The driver just came out and they took off. I'm right behind them."
"Good, when you stop give me a call and let me know where you are. I'll send some men over to pick up Spud and I'll make it worth your while."
"The sign on the side of the bus reads Lockhurt Elementary School. I think that's where the driver is heading."
"I'll have some men there waiting. I won't forget this," said Luiz as he hung up. He sat there smiling when one of his men opened the door.
"Sir, Donna Rosenda and your guest are on the chopper waiting for you. Donna Rosenda wants to know what's holding you up and if you'd be so kind as to hurry along."
"I'm sure she said it that way," said Luiz as he got out of the car and walked over to the chopper. He climbed in the back sitting next to Roan who was still out.
"Is there anything I should know about Luiz?"
"No mother, just taking care of business... just taking care of business like normal," he said as the chopper lifted off and they headed out to sea.