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 ELEVEN

-100-1111-1110-

During the exchange with Barnathan Don had seen Megan standing nearby, her stance indicating to him that she wanted to see him. As the senior DHS agent walked away Don followed Megan into the conference room that his team seemed to have adopted.

"Meet Agent Wachowski." Don said as the man in question followed him in before taking up a position inside by the door. "You know I shouldn't be talking to you."

"I know, but we've got some good news for you, Don." Megan started, barely giving the DHS agent a glance.

"Zuheen's been found?"

"No, nothing to do with this mess. It's Telford."

Don went cold. They didn't know, they couldn't know. How could they have any news about Telford? The thoughts raced through his mind before he could stop them. 'Nothing to do with this mess', Megan had said.

Megan mistook his silence for recollection. Despite Don's protestations of being unaffected of the events from all those months ago she knew he had faced some demons. "We got him."

"Got him?" Don questioned with some relief. It would explain why he hadn't turned up at the meet. "Where? How?"

"Colby and David went out to, ah, um," Megan paused for a moment. She was not used to keeping secrets from her boss. "They went on a tasking and saw Telford driving past. It was one of those one-in-a-million flukes."

Don was amazed that Telford had allowed himself to be caught. He then realised that Telford wouldn't be too worried about that. He would rely on Don to get him out. A weight descended on his shoulders, his stomach cramped painfully and his vision dimmed. He fought not to double up and grab at his waist.

"Don?" Megan asked with concern. "Are you alright?"

It took a deep breath before he could answer. "Yeah, just surprised. I wasn't expecting that. Where is he?"

"Here, in interrogation room one."

"Has he said anything yet?" Don looked through the glass walls of the conference room and saw Granger and Sinclair waiting outside the door to the interrogation room. The same one he'd been spending time in recently being grilled by Barnathan.

"Not a word. We were about to take him down to booking when I heard you were on your way back." Her gaze moved to Wachowski still standing against the wall inside the door.

Wachowski took that as an invitation to join the conversation. "Who is this Telford?"

"It's from another case." Megan told him. "A murderer who's killed at least three agents over the last few years. He also kidnapped Don."

Don started for the door. "I want to talk to him."

"Do you think that's wise?" Wachowski asked.

"Let him go." Megan said before Don could speak. She then quickly filled Wachowski in on the situation as they followed him across the office.

Don didn't stop as per protocol, he went straight up to the door and let himself into the interview room. He didn't know what else he could do and hoped that no-one would be hurt. His weapon was still in the holster at his belt.

Telford was sitting patiently as if without a care in the world, shackled hands resting on the desk. "We meet again."

"Yes." Don said. He was all too aware of all the monitors in the room and couldn't think of what else to say for the moment.

"I need to make a phone call." Telford said calmly but pointedly.

Don knew that the call would not be to a lawyer, it would be to his employer. The call would determine if a bomb was detonated. "You'll get your phone call." Don's message was clear. He would cooperate. He caught the other man's eye then glanced slowly down to his right, as he turned slightly presenting his right side allowing his coat to open. He looked back up to see that Telford had correctly interpreted Don's meaning, his gaze resting briefly on the agent's holstered weapon before lifting.

"What are the charges?" Telford seemed prepared to play along. He could have demanded the gun and Don would have had no choice but to hand it over. But that would have ended Don's usefulness, exposing Telford and revealing the whole deception. No one would believe that Telford was working for the real Zuheen.

"You're going to be charged with the murder of three federal agents, the murder of three federal witnesses and two counts of kidnapping of a federal agent." Don said stepping into range. His tone aggressive, he had to make this look good. "How's that for starters?"

Telford stood. "Sounds like you're going to try to fit me up good and proper. But you forgot one thing, agent."

"Oh yeah?" Don stepped closer, deliberately leaving himself exposed. "What would that be?"

"Procedure." Telford said.

Despite expecting the move, hell, he had made it possible, Don was still startled when Telford lunged at his waist. Don made an intentionally ineffectual blocking move and thus failed to prevent Telford's hands wrapping around the butt of his Glock. An adrenalin charged heart beat later the weapon had been drawn and the muzzle was pressing deeply into the hollow of his throat. Don realised that even without his complicity Telford would have stood a real chance at succeeding at such a manoeuvre.

"Never bring a gun into a room with a desperate man." Telford finished as the door crashed open. He didn't sound desperate, just his usual calm self.

Don was positioned with his back to the door but he didn't need to see to know that Granger and Sinclair were there, guns drawn. "Everybody, keep cool." Don said.

"Unlock these cuffs." Telford ordered.

Don fished his keys out of his pocket and unlocked the cuffs around Telford's wrists. Don was very careful not to jostle the gun that was still pressing firmly into his neck. He tossed the cuffs over onto the table before automatically putting the keys back into his pocket.

"Back." Telford ordered, shoving Don with the gun causing him to take a step backwards towards the door. Telford looked past Don at the other agents. "Back."

Don turned his head trying to see his team. Then, before he realised what had happened, Telford had pushed his left shoulder back with his gun hand and had pulled his right shoulder with his other hand. The result was that Don was very quickly spun on the spot, ending up with Telford's left arm around his neck. Don was pulled firmly against Telford's body as a shield. Don's hands automatically went to Telford's forearm, applying pressure downwards to protect his airway. Telford was now pressing the gun into the side of Don's neck just under his right ear. Don felt it was no accident that the muzzle was jabbing painfully on the sensitive nerve located there. It was a pressure point often used by police officers for pain compliance.

As Don winced he saw his team facing him, each with their weapon drawn and pointed at him. At least that's how it appeared to his perspective as Telford was sheltering directly behind him making a shot impossible. Wachowski had joined the FBI agents, but was just as unable to act as they were.

"Put your weapons up." Telford demanded. "There is no need to make more of a fuss than there's been already."

For the moment it appeared that no one else was aware of this little drama being played out on this corner of the floor. The MIR was on the far side away from them and that's where all the activity was centred.

"Tell them." Telford hissed into Don's ear as nobody moved.

"Do as he says guys. He's got nothing to lose." Don instructed. They knew Telford's history. He screwed his eyes shut briefly, breath hissing through his teeth as Telford pressed sharply with the gun on the nerve under his ear. The pain compliance technique was being used against his team.

Megan moved first, dropping her aim before showing her palms. She glanced at her colleagues as she holstered her gun. David and Colby followed suit, trusting Megan's judgement. Wachowski hesitated the longest.

"We get into a fire fight and he'll kill Don. You know what's at stake." Megan told the junior agent reminding him of the bigger picture. "Put your weapon away."

The DHS agent finally put away his gun. He stood back with the others as Telford started moving towards the lift, holding his hostage tightly. Telford suddenly changed course when he saw the two DHS agents on guard duty before they spotted what was happening. They stopped instead at the door to the stairs. They'd moved only a few yards and were still in sight of the interrogation room. "No alarms. Any attempt to stop me and I'll kill your boss."

"How do we know you'll let him go once you're out?" Granger asked taking a small step forward. His gun was holstered but his hand was firmly around the grip.

"You don't. But you know I won't hesitate to kill him if I'm left with no choice. Another dead agent won't cause me any bother."

Don felt the steady pressure of the gun against his neck. His intimate contact with Telford's body told him of the man's confidence. "Stand down, Colby." Don ordered. He didn't want any of his team hurt.

Just at that moment a familiar head appeared around the corner, the dark curly hair framing a puzzled expression, mouth opening to speak. Don knew he had no time, Charlie was now at risk. Without instruction he reached out his left hand and opened the door making it possible for Telford to drag him into the stairwell. As the door swung shut he saw Megan's slight frown and measuring gaze. He realised she suspected something was amiss. The last thing he saw was Charlie, his mouth closing on his brother's unspoken name.

Out of the view of an audience Telford released his hold on the FBI agent, giving him a slight shove down the first flight of stairs. Don moved, leading the way downwards, rubbing gently at his sore neck. He passed the door to the lobby, but stopped at a word from Telford. He turned to find Telford hiding the gun at the rear of his waistband.

"Good work, Eppes." Telford congratulated him. "Now we will just walk out, two agents on a job."

Don glared at the man. It was all he could do to not smash his fist into that smug expression. "It won't work, they will be waiting for us."

"I don't think so. Your team will hold off a little longer, I think, before they come after us."

"Maybe they will, but not Wachowski."

"Your DHS guard. I believe your team has him under control for now."

Don stared at Telford. That was a slip. How could Telford possibly know that Wachowski, by name, was his guard? He had always thought that there was someone else on the inside, inside the FBI, passing on information to Telford. Now he knew that someone had to be there on the same floor as the MIR, closely involved in the operation. There was no other explanation. It was now specific, Don had a starting point to find Telford's source.

"Let's go, agent." Telford waved Don to the door.

Don opened the door cautiously and peeked out through the crack before opening the door fully and walking out purposefully. There had been no obvious signs of trouble. Telford had been right. Don continued walking directly across the lobby to the exit, Telford close beside him. He realised that they did look the part of a pair of agents heading out to an assignment. His empty holster was hidden by the coat he hadn't had time to remove before letting Telford jump him. Despite the late hour the lobby was a hive of activity and no one paid them any attention as they left.

---

A/N: Oh, boy...