Chapter 15

XXXXXXX

"Man, I feel like we just left this place," Danny grumbled as they all stepped out of the sedan. He stifled a yawn and said, "I was hoping to get some sleep."

"Terrorists are so inconsiderate," Martin joked as he slammed his car door shut.

Danny threw him a dirty look before walking ahead of them to where other agents were gathered, waiting to storm the yacht.

As soon as Danny was several paces ahead of them, Chao quietly asked, "Does he always whine this much?"

"Yes," Sam and Martin replied in unison. They glanced at one another, smiling awkwardly at each other before shifting their attention to where Frasier was standing outside a non-descript van filled with surveillance equipment.

She had to admit she was thankful for this distraction. She was certain that she wouldn't be able to get any sleep tonight after having such a painful conversation with Martin. As difficult as it was to do, she had to admit that she felt a sense of relief at having been honest with him.

"What's he been up to?" Martin asked as he approached.

"He's just been sitting in his yacht talking on the phone," Frasier said, motioning to the expensive yacht across the bay. "He's all alone."

Martin reached into the van and grabbed a pair of binoculars. He walked to the edge of the pier and studied the yacht. Sam came to stand next to him and he wordlessly lowered the binoculars, handing them to her. She gave him a grateful smile as she accepted them. He tried to smile back but it didn't reach his eyes. She lifted up the heavy black device and looked through the lenses to see a man in his mid-forties chatting on his cell phone while pacing the deck. She heard Martin move and when she turned to look at him he was gone, he had walked back to the van to coordinate with Frasier. She shivered and she wasn't sure if it was from the cold draft from the water or by the loss of him by her side. She looked through the binoculars again to see the suspect go below deck. Satisfied, she turned and headed back to where they were all gathered.

Martin started putting on his Kevlar vest and said, "Let's get ready to move in but be sure to tell your men that we need to get him alive."

An agent handed her a vest and as she put it on she stole a glance at Martin. She had always admired the way he could wear Kevlar. It made him look dangerous and sexy. She heard Frasier chuckle and looked over to where he stood putting on his standard issue navy blue FBI windbreaker.

He jutted his chin over at the yacht and replied, "Judging by the look of that fancy boy it shouldn't be a problem."

Danny, now wearing his own vest and windbreaker, stood next to the open van door and laughed in agreement.

Frasier and Martin planned how best to approach and after they radioed the boat they had positioned in the bay in case the VP tried to attempt a water escape they broke into three units and made their way to the large boat.

Sam was paired with Danny and another agent while Chao and Martin comprised the second, leaving Frasier with two of his own men. She held her gun in her hand with the safety unlocked as she and Danny boarded the boat. She and Danny headed downstairs and she glanced up to see Chao and Martin walking softly to cover the deck. He gave her a reassuring nod before she disappeared below.

Since Danny was ahead of her, he paused in the doorway and met her eyes to make sure they were both prepared. She gave him the nod and seconds later they strode into the living area of the yacht.

Kramer had his back to them as he continued his conversation, "I pay you to handle my money! I know it's one in the morning but I don't know if I can call you before the market opens. I just need you to sell it all and transfer it to my account in…"

Sam and Danny cocked their guns and announced themselves, "FBI!"

"What the...?!" Kramer was so startled by their presence that he spun around so fast that he tripped over his own feet and fell to the floor. His cell phone flew out of his hands and skidded to the other end of the room.

Danny smirked and as he walked over to cuff Kramer he said, "That was a lot easier than I thought."

Sam smiled at him before shouting up the stairs, "We're clear! We have Kramer."

"What the hell is this about?" Kramer asked as Danny snapped the handcuffs on and pulled him up.

"We're here about the disappearances of Dr. Shapiro and the Grimaldi family," Sam replied as she holstered her gun and scanned the room.

All of the color drained out of Kramer's face as he replied, "I don't know who you are talking about."

Danny studied the man's complexion and said, "Nice try. Now get your ass upstairs."

Once they were all gathered on the deck, they sat Kramer down on one of the lounge chairs and started questioning him. As soon as he realized that they knew all about his large transfers to an account in the Cayman Islands and the rushed flight to London he cracked like an egg.

Even though there was a cool sea breeze in the air, he had large beads of nervous sweat on his forehead. He was visibly scared as he said, "I don't know where they are. I only gave them the Anthrax. I didn't know they were going to kidnap anyone." He gave them large pleading eyes and finished, "As soon as I heard you were investigating I was afraid they would think I ratted them out. I just panicked. You have to believe me."

Martin sat in a chair directly in front of him and said, "First things first. Who are they?"

"I don't know all their names," Kramer replied, squirming in his seat. "I only meet them a handful of times and they were really secretive."

"So you sold anthrax to people whose names you didn't know and only meet a few times," Danny commented. "Way to be patriotic."

Kramer looked annoyed and frustrated. "I was pissed off at Pegasus. I wasn't thinking clearly…"

XXX

Kramer pulled his Mercedes into his driveway and opened his door to get out. As he stepped out his foot was submerged into a pothole filled with water. "Fuck!" He finished getting out of the car and slammed his door shut. "Perfect ending for a perfect fucking day."

"Mr. Kramer?" a low throaty voice asked.

He looked up to see two men walking up his driveway. He looked down at his leg to inspect the damage to his shoe and gruffly replied, "Yes, can I help you?"

The taller of the two, a dark complexioned Asian man said, "We would like to make you an offer."

Kramer finally looked closely the men, trying to size them up. The taller man was wearing khaki pants and a dark blue sweater while the other one, who was more muscular, was wearing worn blue jeans, a t-shirt and a black jacket. "I seriously doubt you guys have anything I'd want."

The taller man gave him a knowing smile and said, "It's not about what you want, it's about what we want. And I promise you, we can make it to your great financial benefit."

As soon as he heard that his interest perked up. He studied them a little closer and asked, "Oh yeah, how's that…?"

"You can call me Paik," the man replied as a small smile crept onto his lips. "We would like to arrange a purchase…"

XXX

"They offered me three million dollars for some anthrax," Kramer finished.

"And you sold a highly lethal amount of a biochemical just like that?" Danny asked, snapping his fingers for emphasis.

"No," Kramer replied, shaking his head. "They told me they knew that I was going to be replaced in a month once the new CEO was put in place."

"So, what? You were pissed off about being fired from your little job so you decided to sell a deadly weapon to some terrorists?" Sam asked pointedly.

"No, not right away," Kramer replied, his voice tinged with regret. "But damn it, by firing me before the start of the new fiscal term they would cut me off from millions of dollars! I was pissed off!"

"So you decided to get your money by any other means – even illegal ones," Martin commented. He leaned in close and asked, "What next? When did you give them the anthrax?"

"A few weeks later," Kramer answered. "It took some time to arrange. But that's it. I didn't know anything about the kidnapping of those doctors."

Martin and Sam shared a look. He leaned in, meeting Kramer's eyes and said, "We only told you we were investigating the kidnapping of Dr. Shapiro, we didn't say anything about the Grimaldi's being doctors too."

Kramer winced, knowing that he had been caught. "I want to talk to my lawyer."

Danny grabbed Kramer by the collar of his polo shirt and said, "A lawyer isn't going to do you any good if these terrorists kill them. You will be executed as an accessory to the murder of three people and a little boy."

Kramer went bugged eyed with fear of being put in jail and blurted out, "I want to make a deal!"

Danny let go and Kramer cowered away from him. Martin, playing the role of 'good cop' motioned for Danny to step away and said, "Start talking and we'll see what we can do."

Kramer adjusted the collar that Danny had grabbed earlier and began, "I thought Paik and I were all done but he called me about a week ago…"

XXX

Kramer was checking the navigational equipment on his boat. He made some notations on his clipboard when he heard Paik's voice, "Permission to board, matey."

He looked over to see Paik and the other man standing on the pier. He hung the clipboard on the wall and walked out onto the deck saying, "What are you doing here?"

Paik smiled and boarded the yacht. "Now is that anyway to treat a friend?"

"We're not friends," Kramer argued, his eyes moving nervously between the two men. "What do you want?"

Paik sat down on the bench on the deck, looking completely comfortable. "I have another request."

Kramer shook his head. "I can't get anymore anthrax. The company discovered that the last batch is missing and now the entire company is conducting an investigation."

Paik nodded knowingly. "I suspected that would happen but that's not why I am here." He stood up and leaned on the ships railing, studying the water below. "It seems we are having more problems than we anticipated on preparing a device for the anthrax. I had to let some people go."

"Sounds like a staffing issue," Kramer replied.

Paik turned around, grinned evilly and said, "Exactly. So I need you to recommend some scientists who can handle the job."

"Sorry, I don't know any terrorists," he replied, folding his arms across his chest.

"Sure you do, Mr. Kramer, you're one."

Kramer's posture stiffened and he tersely replied, "It was a one time deal. I just gave you the stuff. I don't want anything to do with…"

For the first time, Paik lost his cool. "You are just as culpable as we are! You supplied us with the chemical and as far as the law is concerned you will be just as responsible for whatever we do." Kramer lowered his head, defeated. "Now, if you give me the name of some scientists I will consider out business relations as being over."

Kramer shifted nervously, weighing his options. He glanced at his feet, wondering if his soul was worth the money he sold it for before he looked up and replied, "I know three…"

XXX

Martin sighed heavily and said, "So after you gave him their names what happened?"

"Nothing, they left," he replied, frowning nervously.

"Do you have any idea where they hangout, anything like that?" Martin asked.

"When we arranged the drop off we meet at a warehouse near Chinatown," Kramer replied.

"Where near Chinatown?" Frasier asked, pulling out his cell phone so he could call tech support.

"Near I-10 and Olympic," he answered. "The building had a big faded green mural of a dragon on the wall." Frasier started chatting with his tech person when Kramer looked back at Martin and said, "That's all I know, I swear." Martin motioned for another agent to take Kramer away and as they escorted him, he shouted back, "What about my deal?"

"Oh, I guess we forgot to mention that we don't make deals," Sam replied sarcastically. "You'll have to talk to the DA's office. But hey, if they ask me if you should get the death penalty or a life sentence, I'll recommend life, okay?"

Kramer managed to have a stunned look on his face as he was taken away.

Frasier clicked off his phone and said, "My tech guy told me there are two possible locations. Here are the addresses." He handed Martin two slips of paper. "I think we should hit both spots at once. I can take the first one with my guys and you take the other."

Martin nodded. "Sounds like a good idea." He stood up and looked over at Danny and said, "Sorry, brother, it looks like you're not getting any sleep anytime soon."

Danny grinned and replied, "If this next bust goes as easy as this one, I'll be in bed in two hours."

Martin laughed and as they all stepped off the boat Sam trailed behind, saying a silent prayer that it would be an easy raid. But as she slid into the backseat of the sedan something in her gut told her that it wouldn't be.