Disclaimer – I don't own them, I just borrowed them. Numb3rs and its characters are the property of those that created them. No copyright infringement intended. All real organisations are used in a fictional sense. Original characters and the storyline are mine however.

CHAPTER TWO

-100-1111-1110-

Don noticed movement to his left and watched as John melted into the crowd carrying the lethal bag. Telford had opened one of the doors and stood waiting for Don to follow, he appeared confident and his hands were still empty of weapons. He didn't need any, not any more. Don went through the door into the hall beyond. Telford walked silently behind him except for directions at junctions. They finally reached another door which opened onto a parking lot out the side of the building. They stepped out into the bright light, squinting as their eyes adjusted to the sunlight after spending so long in the relative darkness of artificial light.

Don looked quickly around and saw no-one in sight. It was a staff parking area, no shoppers loading bundles into cars or fighting over parking spaces. The side of the building from which they had emerged was a blank wall, no windows. Don also saw that Telford's hands were still empty. If he was quick enough, he thought, he could prevent Telford getting to the remote.

Telford saw the agent's resolve. He had been expecting it. He'd let the agent get a few steps ahead of him for just this reason. He quickly drew his gun and pointed it at Don, releasing the safety and putting his finger inside the trigger guard. Don froze. All his training told him that you didn't put your finger on the trigger until you were about to fire. He firmly believed that Telford had received the same training at some point which served to make the threat all that greater.

"I don't have the remote, Eppes. But I am the only one who knows who does." Telford warned. "And I am the only one who knows when I have to call to prevent detonation."

Telford waited a moment allowing his words to sink in. He removed his finger from the trigger, slid the safety back into place then without warning tossed the gun at Don. Despite it being counter to all his training Don instinctively caught the weapon. He dropped the magazine out and seeing that it was in fact loaded slid it back home. He racked the slide ensuring that a round was in the chamber before raising the gun and pointing it at Telford. His thumb flipped the safety so that it clicked off and now it was Don who slid his finger inside the trigger guard. It had taken only seconds and had happened without conscious thought.

Telford waited patiently, unconcerned at the gun pointed at him.

Don struggled with his thoughts and emotions. He now had Telford at gunpoint and could end this now. His finger tightened, taking up the slack on the trigger. The gun suddenly shook violently, Don immediately pulling his finger outside the trigger guard as he could no longer guarantee where the bullet was aimed. His arm dropped to his side as he almost dropped the gun. He just couldn't do it. Killing Telford would just sign the death warrants of innocent shoppers.

He then thought of himself, of what place he might hold in Telford's plans and what he could do to remove himself from them. His grip tightened as he started to turn the gun on himself, raising it towards his own head but realised he couldn't do that either. If he died here, either by his own hand or Telford's, no one else would know about the bombs. The nails and ball bearings he had seen packed in with the explosives would cause devastation. And that was just the one bomb, he couldn't bear to think of the death toll from five. He couldn't allow that to happen. He had no choice, he had to play along for now at least. Teeth clenched, he slid the safety back on, reversed the gun and handed it back to Telford, butt first.

Telford silently accepted the weapon, holstering it without expression. He pulled a cell phone from his pocket and dialled a number. "I have him. … He's compliant. … We're on our way." He hung up and put the phone back into his pocket.

Telford pointed at a white SUV and Don started walking. He wanted to scream with frustration and kill something, preferably Telford, but could do nothing except meekly follow the other man's instructions. He was once again under Telford's control. This time was worse, this time it was by his own will, albeit under duress. There was always a choice. He'd had a loaded gun in his hand, the ability to control his own destiny, but was unable to use it. As his father had once said, the trick of making decisions was being able to live with them afterwards. The consequences of resistance were too severe for him to disobey at this point. He was resolute however, that he would not comply with instructions to kill or make it possible for Telford to kill anybody else.

He headed towards the passenger side as the vehicle was unlocked. The keys were then tossed at him and he was told he was driving. Don changed course and got into the drivers' seat. Following directions Don drove them across town. Telford again refused to speak during the trip except to give instructions. Don's repeated demands that Telford make good on his promise and allow him to call in the bomb threat were met with silence.

"Turn in here." Telford pointed at the basement garage entrance at the side of a multi-story office building.

Don turned in and touched the card Telford provided to the panel at the gate which opened to let them through. He worked his way down the levels until Telford was satisfied and allowed him to park. Don climbed out and waited at the front of the SUV for Telford to join him. "Now what?" He demanded as Telford just stood there.

"We wait."

"For what?"

"For me." A new voice answered from behind the SUV.

Don, already extremely tense, was startled. He spun and reached for his holster forgetting in that instant that it was empty. His hand touched air and he remembered. He raised his hands as he saw that the stranger had responded in kind and now had a gun pointed at him in reaction.

"That was foolish, agent." Telford admonished. "If Luke wasn't a professional you would be dead by now. That would be inconvenient for us after all the trouble we've gone to."

Luke approached keeping his gun aimed steadily at Don. "Skittish."

"That's to be expected." Telford replied casually. "And planned for."

Telford pushed an unresisting Don face first against the side of the SUV then reached under the agent's coat to the small of his back.

"You don't need them." Don said as his handcuffs were pulled from their pouch. "He startled me. You know I'm no threat."

Telford ignored him, snapping a bracelet around Don's left wrist and then pulled his right hand behind his back to meet it. Don rested his head against the SUV as he allowed himself to be restrained, more control lost. "I'm sorry." He said softly. "I overreacted. It won't happen again. I'm compliant." He gritted his teeth as he used Telford's word.

"I know you are. But this is necessary for security reasons." Telford explained stepping back.

Don turned around and was slammed back against the SUV by Luke. Luke grabbed hold of his lapel and braced his forearm across Don's chest.

"No one told you to move." Telford produced a small roll of surgical dressing tape. He tore a small strip off then raised it towards Don's face.

Don flinched, pulling his head away. "What are you doing?"

"Whatever I want with you, agent. Or have you forgotten?"

Don glared at him until Luke abruptly pressed hard with his forearm. He grunted as Luke's elbow dug painfully into his chest. It seemed an answer was needed. "No, I haven't forgotten."

"Then close your eyes."

Don obeyed and felt strip of tape being gently applied to his right eyelid, taping it closed. Seconds later a second strip was applied to his left eye. Don experimentally tried to open his eyes but couldn't. He felt the first stirrings of panic but managed to push it down. If Telford was going to kill him he'd had ample opportunity. He even had permission, Don though bitterly. Don tried to think on the bright side, being blinded could actually mean he had a real prospect of surviving this encounter. He was being taken to something they didn't want him to see. If they were going to kill him then it hardly mattered what he saw. He was pulled forwards slightly, away from the side of the SUV and something was wrapped around his head and tied tightly. It felt like a strip of cloth, a blindfold.

"Come." Telford said.

Don felt each man take him by the upper arm and start to pull him along, guiding him around obstacles. He heard automatic doors open and he was pushed forwards a few steps before being stopped. He heard a key being slid into a lock and turned, followed by a button being pressed. Don felt pressure against his feet. They were in a lift heading upwards. During the ride the two men turned Don around, causing him to almost lose his balance but he recovered himself quickly.

He heard the 'ding' and felt the momentary lightness as the lift finally stopped. He was propelled out and directed along a short distance before he heard a door close behind him and he was pulled to a stop. Don was instructed to sit as he was pushed slightly backwards and felt something bump the back of his lower legs. It was a lounge chair of some sort. He knew he would have significant difficulty in getting himself back up as it was so deep and soft. He adjusted his hands as best he could; despite the padding it was uncomfortable to be sitting with his hands trapped behind him, the cuffs digging into his back and wrists.

"We finally get to meet Agent Eppes." An electronically distorted voice said suddenly.

"Who are you? What do you want with me?" Don demanded lifting his head towards the sound. He decided that this must be the mysterious employer that Telford had referred to.

"Who I am is unimportant." The distorted voice answered. Don couldn't even tell if the speaker was male or female. "I have been watching your work for some time now."

There was a pause as if a comment was expected. "Yeah, well that's great." Don said finally, losing patience. "But it is about time someone told me what is going on here. There is a mall full of people which you've filled with bombs and I want to know what you want. Or, so help me, I will make your goons kill me here and now so I'll be useless to you." He struggled to the edge of the seat, trying to rise.

A hand pressed firmly on his right shoulder, a thumb digging into the nerve on the muscle causing pain to shoot down his arm. As he cried out something struck him hard across the face. Don felt his lip split, the coppery taste of blood on his tongue.

"Enough!" The distorted voice instructed. The speaker seemed displeased with the assault on the agent. "I think he's been pushed far enough. He has the right to some answers now."

Don licked his bloodied lip as the hand lifted from his shoulder. His arm continued to ache but it would pass.

"You know what we do." The voice said, more a statement than a question.

"You kill FBI agents and informants." Don answered bluntly.

There was an electronic sigh. "I suppose from your perspective that's correct."

"Now you've moved into terrorism."

"Not exactly."

"Then what do you call the bombs at the mall? Designed to kill and maim as many people as possible." Don said heatedly.

"You've heard of Zuheen, Eppes?"

"What do you know of Zuheen?" Don asked. Zuheen was an international terrorist credited with numerous high profile bombings of hotels, police stations, office buildings and recently a railway station in various countries around the world. Zuheen always announced his attacks, daring the police and military to find the explosives and stop him. So far they had always failed, Zuheen never gave enough time, and many officers had lost their lives in the process. The nominated targets had always been destroyed, some with a great loss of civilian life.

"He is in the US as you know."

Don didn't answer that, the suspected whereabouts of Zuheen was supposed to be a secret. But Telford and his employer always seemed to be able to find things out that were supposed to be known internally to the FBI so Don wasn't all that surprised that they knew.

"What you probably don't know is that Homeland Security and the National Joint Terrorism Task Force have lost track of him."

Don didn't know that. That put a whole new terrifying slant on things. He'd received the briefing note advising all team leaders that Zuheen was believed to be in the US, more specifically the west coast. The Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task Force had lost Zuheen's trail a month or so ago but had gathered intel that the terrorist had made it onto the continental US. The briefing note had stressed that it was a possibility with a BOLO attached. It was not revealed that the DHS in conjunction with the NJTTF was actively watching a confirmed target. That would mean that Zuheen was positively in the US.

"How do you know this?" Don asked.

"We came across the information in New York a couple of weeks ago. During the background check on Gerhardt and the informant we found a connection to Zuheen. Gerhardt refused to cooperate, but the informant gave us a little."

"Before you killed them both." Don said bitterly. He didn't care if the agent was dirty or not. Actually he did, but that was hardly relevant any more. She had been summarily executed and he was here now with her murderers, unable to act.

"That is done, Eppes. There are more important issues to address here." The voice sounded annoyed.

"So why are you going to blow up a mall?"

"We want Zuheen. He is here in LA. We will do what it takes to get him. So will you."

"I already told Telford, I won't kill for you or help you kill."

"I'm sure you want Zuheen as much as we do."

"If Homeland Security lost him they can find him again. I'm not going to help you blow up a mall full of people to get him." He failed to see how that would help but it seemed to be what they were trying to do.

Telford spoke. "I already told you agent, I don't need your help to kill."

"Hopefully we can avoid that." The electronic voice added quickly. "We want to make Zuheen reveal himself. From what we can tell of Zuheen's character he won't be able to resist protesting his innocence. You see, you are going to tell the world that the mall is in his hands."

"What?" Don again struggled to sit forward. He then turned his head towards where he'd last heard Telford's voice. "That's what you meant by saying I could call this in. You want me to protect you and blame this all on Zuheen. Where's my evidence? They won't believe me."

"Proof will be provided. The rest is up to you."

"You want me to shake things up, get Homeland Security, the NSA and FBI all running around beating the bushes to drive Zuheen out." Don concluded. He then admitted: "Yes I want Zuheen, everyone does."

"Then don't disappoint me, Eppes."

"Prove to me that he really is here and I'll get the word out. But you've got to pull those bombs out of the mall."

"They stay." The voice said firmly. "It is distasteful to us, but it has to be done. Without suitable motivation it will take too long to find him. Make no mistake, he is planning something on our soil and we are going to stop him."

Don hung his head. He had no choice. "Alright. Let me call it in and I'll tell them it's Zuheen."

There was a sudden snatch of music. Don thought it must have been a cell phone starting to ring before it abruptly stopped. The music sounded familiar, the signature notes to a piece of classical music that he knew but couldn't immediately place. He filed it away carefully in that part of his mind that training had created to perfectly recall details. If he heard it again he would remember.

"Telford, explain the groundrules."

"We'll let you go, agent. You call in the bombs, you tell them it is Zuheen. You've been contacted by the bomber's men and you are their link to the government. Make that very clear."

"You want me to set myself up as Zuheen's target." Don stated. If they were right and this would force the terrorist out of hiding then Don would be his immediate target as the visible messenger.

"Yes. Zuheen finds you, we find Zuheen." Telford confirmed. "Once you've called it in the mall is to be locked down, no evacuation. Any sign of evacuation or if bomb disposal attempts an entry then we set one of the bombs off."

"No." Don protested, but Telford carried on.

"You will be available to us at all times. If we call, you come running. If you disobey us or reveal our plan we set one of the bombs off. There are five bombs, it is up to you how many of them go off."

"I won't be in control of this investigation, it will be taken out of my hands." Don argued.

"You are the bombers contact, they will keep you close to get instructions from you. We will call with those instructions when necessary. The media will know you are pivotal to this and you will speak with them. The FBI will not be able to keep you out."

It could work, Don thought. He would be the contact between the bombers and the FBI. The bombers just weren't Zuheen. Telford and his boss were working well beyond the levels they'd previously demonstrated but they seemed to be confident and in control. Don was somewhat amazed at their ability to put together such a major operation in a short period of time. But he suspected that they had probably recruited more ex-military men to aid them after the last ones had been executed by Telford. Unfortunately he fully believed that they were able to carry out their threats. He'd already seen that Telford was an extremist at heart, it seemed his boss was no different. Don could still see no alternative at this stage other than to cooperate.

"How long do I have?"

"Twenty-four hours." The electronic voice answered.

"Then let me go, I have work to do."