Bye Bye Baby
A/N: Sorry! I'm a bit late getting tonight's update up but better late than never! Again watch out for the chapter I posted earlier within the 24 hour time frame to make sure you're up to date before reading this one ... ;-) Enjoy!
Chapter 9
Mike let out a low whistle and caught one of the uniformed officer's attention as they headed off towards the rear of the shed. Gesturing wildly he called both officers back and sent them across to check out the parked silver sedan.
"We don't know if there's anyone still in there so be careful you two. You hear me now?" Mike whispered as he watched the two young officers heading off in the direction he sent them.
Then he turned along with Norm and they carefully made their way as quietly as possible towards the front of the storage shed just as a young girl's screams pierced the air, coming from inside. Not having been seen yet, Mike used the element of surprise to his advantage. Gesturing for Norm to slip around the other side under cover of darkness, he waited until his Sergeant was in position and watched as two men exited the door to the shed, one in front and the other muscular man dragging a young girl with him, behind the first, his strong arm around her midriff and the other clamped around her mouth, effectively muffling any more screams. Mike allowed them to get just a small distance from the shed when he shouted out, startling the two men.
"POLICE! You're surrounded. Let go of the girl and put your hands in the air."
Mike frowned as the first man shouted something in a foreign accent and quickly produced a weapon and fired it in his direction as the second man tried to drag the girl back towards the shed. Mike ducked and heard the bullet whizz past him before Norm drew the gunman's fire by returning fire. Hell broke lose as the sound of gunshots shattered the night air and then followed the high pitched sound of screeching tires. Mike looked to his left and saw the silver sedan backing up at high speed, sending both young officers diving to avoid it. As it then sped forward, Mike saw the two officers getting back up and firing their weapons after it. As the sedan went out of sight, Mike shouted at the officers.
"Well don't just STAND THERE. GET AFTER THAT CAR!"
Mike watched as Jefferson and Pearce ran back towards their black and white to start the pursuit. As they sped off, Mike noticed that Laura was struggling with the second assailant and not making it easy for him to pull her back inside.
A constant gunfire exchange was taking place at this stage between Norm and the first man who had used an abandoned boat beside the shed for cover. Several bullets were exchanged before Norm got the upper hand and the gunman fell sideways, in a heap on the ground, clutching his chest where Norm's bullet had successfully hit its mark. What happened next took place in mere seconds as the girl bit into her captor's hand and as he yelled and loosened his hold momentarily, she kicked out and freed herself, running back towards the shed, screaming as she did. Mike watched in horror as the second gunman produced a weapon and aimed it after the fleeing victim. Mike raised his gun and shouted at the second man, his 38' special carefully aimed.
"DON'T DO IT!"
The gunman ignored Mike and a single shot was heard. Mike held his breath as the gunman turned and tried to aim his gun towards Mike but staggered instead and fell face first forwards onto the ground, Mike's bullet having hit its mark with deathly precision. The girl disappeared into the shed and while Bill appeared back around the corner having heard the gunfight, he and Norm surrounded the two downed men, relieving them of their weapons. Mike hurried into the darkened storage shed. Using his flashlight to light up the interior he spoke with concern and sympathy in his voice.
"LAURA? Laura, it's Lieutenant Mike Stone ... Are you alright? You can come out now. It's safe. I'm here to help you. "
He shone the flashlight from side to side, squinting his eyes in the darkened shed until the beam alighted on a huddled figure in the far corner. The young woman was sobbing and shaking as she rose slowly and walked shakily towards him. He hardly recognized the disheveled young woman whose eyes were wide with fear and even her hair and clothes were tossed and crumpled. She covered her eyes from the strong beam of the flashlight as she stammered heartwrenchingly.
"Lieu ... tenant Stone? Is ... that really ... you?"
"Yes Laura. It's really me. You're safe now. Come on. Let's get you out of here."
The young girl reached him and practically fell forwards into his arms as she clung to Mike for dear life, her heart wrenching, terrified sobs echoed and seemed to fill the confined space in the storage shed. She stayed that way for a minute or two as the trauma from her all too recent ordeal poured forth uncontrollably. Tears streamed down her face causing streaks to form down both cheeks as the dust from the disused shed mingled with the newly shed tears and she stuttered between her hysterical sobs
"They ... They were going to ... kill me ... Lieutenant ..."
Mike hugged her close and consoled her, speaking quietly and assuredly as he reached into his pocket and produced his ever ready crisp, white handkerchief and handed it to Laura who accepted it gratefully.
"There, there now. I know. Everything's going to be alright now. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you. I promise. "
Still clasping the young frightened girl close to his side he brought her with him out of the shed. There was frenzied activity outside as another patrol car had arrived on the scene, Norm was performing CPR on the first gunman and Bill Tanner had removed his jacket and covered the second gunman's face and upper body as he saw Mike exit with the young girl, so that she wouldn't have to look at it. Bill exchanged a look with Mike and shook his head as he saw Mike glance at the newly covered body. Mike frowned and nodded his understanding to Bill. He hadn't had any choice but to shoot to kill. Merely grazing the gunman could have still resulted in the young girl's death and he consoled himself inwardly that his actions had been necessary despite the fact that taking another man's life never sat well with him. It was an unfortunate and sometimes necessary part of his job and another innocent person's life had been saved as a result. A baby still had her mother because of his actions. Sensing the inner struggle his superior Officer was experiencing, Bill felt the need to speak out.
"You had no other choice Mike. It was him or her" he added pointing to the still sobbing girl beside his Lieutenant.
Mike smiled at his colleague and nodded again and Bill felt his words had helped.
"Any ID? "
Again Bill shook his head.
"Nothing Mike. No wallet or anything. "
Mike scowled and then heard the disgruntled curses of his Sergeant as he looked and saw Norm abandon his chest compressions and stand up, looking remorseful at his Lieutenant.
"I'm sorry Mike. He's gone. I didn't mean to kill him ... but it was dark and ... DAMN IT! He might have been able to tell us something ..."
Mike handed Laura over to Bill for a moment or two as he approached Norm who was kicking the disused wooden boat in frustration. He grabbed the burly man's shoulders and turned him to face him.
"NORM! It's alright ... These two weren't going to be taken alive. It would have been either you or him and ... well ... I'm glad it's not you. Ok?"
Norm calmed a little as Mike's words sunk in and touched him.
"Ok ... Thanks Mike."
Mike patted his Sergeant's shoulder and then issued instructions that he knew would keep Norm's mind on the job and away from what had happened.
"Secure the scene for me will you? Get the boys in here and Bernie and see can we identify these two somehow. I want no stone unturned. Got it?"
Mike watched as Norm straightened up and his ploy worked. Norm's voice spoke unwaveringly.
"You can count on me Boss. I'll get it done."
"I know I can Haseejian. That's why I'm leaving you in charge."
Norm beamed and nodded and Mike chuckled as Norm headed off behind the older man barking instructions in true Haseejian style to the men in uniform who had recently arrived. Then heading back towards Bill, Mike noticed Laura was speaking hysterically to his Inspector. As he approached them, she turned towards Mike and fled into his arms, this time at a slight distance, but speaking equally as hysterically as before.
"Where's Brigitte? Did they get my baby? Is she alright? "
Mike once more held her close and rubbed her back soothingly.
"Hey now ... Calm down ... Brigitte is fine ... She's with my partner ... We'll get you two reunited soon, ok? I promise. But right now I need to ask you some questions ..."
After hearing the words that her baby was alright, Laura slumped in Mike's arms from the relief and the aftermath of her ordeal and Mike practically carried her with Bill's help back towards the beige Galaxy. Seating her in on the back seat, Mike got down on his haunches to talk to her from where she now sat but before he could ask a single question another police car drove up beside them with lights flashing. Out jumped Dan Healy and he made his way towards them. Mike stood back up and saw his colleague's concerned face and drew him to one side as he came closer, out of Laura's earshot.
"Dan? What's the matter? What's wrong?"
Glancing over at the young girl in the back of the car and then lowering his voice he spoke anxiously.
"Bad news I'm afraid Mike. We found the missing girl, Patricia Callaghan."
Mike knew by Dan's tone that the discovery was not what they had hoped for.
"Where?"
"Two blocks away from the Hostel ... In an alleyway ... Shot twice in the back ... Execution style ..."
Mike swallowed hard. They'd gotten Laura's whereabouts from the poor girl and then when they hadn't needed her anymore she had become an unwanted witness and her life had been brutally taken. Dan saw Mike's face contort in rage and waited for him to respond. When he finally did, his voice held contempt and anger.
"I WANT these guys Dan. You hear me? I want you to get onto Rudy. Get him to organize a task force. We're going to need more manpower and resources. Get the lab boys over there. I want every piece of evidence and eye witness material you have on my desk pronto. Ok?"
"You got it, Mike " Dan replied and headed back again to his vehicle at lightning speed.
As Mike stood there and Dan's words fully sunk in and the fate of the two young recently slain girls angered him, another disturbing thought crossed his mind and in a hurried and panicked fashion he ran back to where Laura was sitting.
"LAURA? Did you tell your friend Patricia at the Hostel that you were going to be hiding out here this evening?"
Laura looked startled by Mike's anxious tone but she nodded grimly.
"Yes ... Why?"
Mike's blood chilled in his veins and he felt as if there was a boulder after appearing in his throat that refused to be swallowed. With a tremble in his voice and in a lower tone he asked the question he knew he didn't want to hear the answer to.
"Laura ... did you tell her where you were leaving the baby? ..."
Laura's eyes widened with confusion but also with a growing fear that she couldn't fully explain. Mike's tone and demeanor were scaring her. She looked at the older man and stammered.
"Yes ... She was the only one I told ... Why? "
Mike reeled where he stood and felt Bill Tanner's hand on his back steadying him. Bill saw the blood practically drain from his Lieutenant's face and grew concerned.
"MIKE? ... What's wrong? "
Mike seemed to pull himself together quickly and raced around to the front of the car and sat into the driving seat, shouting back as he did to a startled looking Bill.
"THEY'RE GOING TO GO AFTER STEVE AND THE BABY!"
Another scream erupted from the back seat as Bill tried to console the young girl this time as he also listened to Mike's panicked voice speaking into the receiver.
"DISPATCH? This is Inspector 81. Lieutenant Mike Stone. I need you to call my house straight away and tell Inspector Steve Keller to take the baby and get out of the house NOW! It is NOT SAFE. Repeat, he needs to LEAVE STRAIGHT AWAY. Over?"
The radio crackled.
"Understood. Over."
Mike sat tapping the steering wheel with nervous fingers as he prayed he wasn't too late. Mere seconds later his worst fears were realized as the radio crackled again.
"Dispatch to Inspector 81. There is no answer at your house Lieutenant. Shall we send a car over there? Over?"
Mike swallowed hard and yelled into the receiver as Laura started hysterically sobbing again and Bill felt his own heart race at the latest grim developments of this case.
"Dispatch, I need all cars in the vicinity to converge on 768 De Haro Street. Possible armed and dangerous subjects on site. Officer requiring assistance. I'll meet them there. In the meantime keep trying to reach him. OVER."
Mike got back out of the car and rushed towards Bill.
"Bill, take Laura to Bryant Street and don't let her out of your sight. She'll be safe there. I'm going to need the keys of your car."
Bill nodded and handed Mike his car keys and then Mike grabbed Laura's hand.
"Laura, it's alright. We don't know anything's happened to them yet. Steve might have just fallen asleep and hasn't heard the phone. Listen to me now. I need you to go with Inspector Bill Tanner here back to Bryant Street. You'll be safe there. Ok? I'll let you know what's happening as soon as I know anything. Will you do that for me please?"
Laura nodded as more tears cascaded down her cheeks.
"Please Lieutenant Stone ... don't let them hurt my baby ..."
The young girl's tortuous plea touched both Mike and Bill and Mike merely nodded and squeezed the girl's hand comfortingly before leaving them both and taking off in a run for the green LTD behind them. Getting in and starting the engine, Bill watched as his Lieutenant drove off at high speed, the worry on Mike's face behind the steering wheel visible even in the dim light as he passed them by and Tanner found himself praying that Steve was alright.
The traffic was light for mid morning thankfully, but Mike still broke several speed records on his way home, the siren's mournful sound echoing the deep rooted fear in his gut that his worst nightmare was about to become a reality. Although he had told Laura that Steve had probably just fallen asleep to try to comfort the young girl, he didn't buy that for a second. Steve was a very light sleeper and even if he had dozed off, as exhausted as he had been, the phone's rings would have woken him. If Steve wasn't answering the phone it was because he wasn't able to and that was what scared Mike the most. Mike arrived at De Haro Street at the same time as two other black and whites and together with weapons drawn they mounted the many steps to Mike's house, still in darkness due to the broken streetlight, Mike leading the way.
As they reached the top, the slightly open front door was the first ominous sign they found. Pushing it open slowly Mike entered, his weapon scouring the fully lit room, followed closely by four other officers. The room was empty with not too much disturbed from the last time he had been there. A lamp was knocked over and there were signs of a small scuffle but thankfully no blood and more importantly no bodies. Mike turned to the officer directly behind him and glanced at his name tag.
"Officer Bennett. Get your partner to call for the lab boys. We're going to need them over here. You take one more officer and check the rest of the house. "
"Yes Sir ... " Bennett replied before heading off to carry out the Lieutenant's instructions.
Mike holstered his special and stood staring at the room. The television was still on and he walked carefully around the room careful not to touch anything that might yield fingerprints. Then he spotted it in the corner of the room. Steve's gun. He swallowed hard as his emotions threatened to overwhelm him as he got down on his haunches and studied the familiar gun lying now hastily discarded on the carpet in front of him. He should never have left him. Now he had been taken along with Brigitte. Mike knew that they were dealing with very dangerous and heartless individuals. Having killed two young girls already in cold blood, killing a cop and a two month old baby would be of no consequence to them. Mike knew that they wanted the baby to get to Laura but Steve was of no use to them whatsoever except perhaps as a hostage to bargain with. The longer they had Steve, the less chance they had of finding him alive and right now Mike wasn't even sure how long ago they had been taken. He hoped against hope that the fact that no bloodstains had been found so far meant that for now he was alive and unharmed but he also knew he had to find him and fast.
As he stood consumed by feelings of guilt and worry, someone entering the room hurriedly behind him drew his attention and he sniffed back the emotion and stood, clearing his throat as he did to see Dan Healy heading towards him.
"I just heard over the radio Mike. What's happened?"
"They've taken Steve, Dan ... and our witness's two month old baby ... He was minding her here for me while we looked for the girl ... I ... I never should have left him here without back up ..."
Mike's voice broke and Healy knew this was taking a great toll on his Lieutenant. Feeling an equal amount of apprehension for Steve's fate, he patted Mike's shoulder and spoke as comfortingly as he could.
"We'll find them Mike. "
Dan's words pulled him out of his despair and he cleared his throat again and nodded gratefully.
"Yes, yes we will ... We have to ... He's counting on us, Dan."
