Autobot Angel

Chapter 17: To Catch a Killer

Speed sighed, working down the list of search volunteers. The Feds were down to the last of the original evidence from the kidnapping case and the CSIs had been drafted to go through the last of the material. All of them, agents and CSIs were armed with their sketch of the killer. The CSIs had Autobots peeking over their shoulders in an effort to be helpful. The ghosts couldn't pick up the photos but they were an extra set of eyes in case they came to a close match. Unfortunately, they weren't anywhere near a close match. Plus it was getting near the end of shift. Speed looked down at the next name. Thomas Krane. Speed pulled out the driver's license photo and froze.

Prowl looked over his shoulder. "That's him."

Half a second later Speed had a group of six Autobots clustered around him, staring at the driver's license in the CSI's hand. The other CSIs looked up, prompting the Feds to look up as well. Speed gave a grim nod to the room and started to push back his chair.

"Give him some room, guys," Prowl remarked with a tinge of amusement. Speed saw Calleigh grin at the Autobots' antics. For millennia-old robots, they could sure act like kids sometimes. Speed walked over to Dave and handed him the driver's license.

"That's him, Agent Turner."

Dave nodded. He turned to his team. "Susan, silent alarm. Let's start taking this guy's life apart."

Susan smiled and rose, pulling out her cell phone as she strode to the door. Speed watched her go and then switched his attention back to Dave. "What now?"

Dave's smile was fierce. "We start taking his life apart. Check his financials, see if his movements match what we know about him. It will take a bit. The timing will be critical. I want to catch him mailing another package. We'll find him, set up surveillance. Hopefully he'll slip up and leave us something to work with."

"How long?" Delko demanded, wanting this threat to Speed gone. Autobot rumbles told the CSI that the ghosts agreed.

Dave grimaced. "I hope about a week. Before Sara's murder, we could practically time the package arrivals. Now? We're working on ifs and maybes. We don't know how he was affected by her murder. The fire aside, he may have decided to back off and lay low. Or he may have accelerated his timetable." The agent lifted his hands in a gesture of helplessness. "Bottom line, we have no idea what he's going to do. Barring another package, if he tries something, security is an illusion. All we're going to be able to do is react. I want him alive but that may not be possible."

Prowl scowled. "He has a point. We're not dealing with a rational being here."

"Were we ever?" Ironhide asked. "Megatron's nuttier than a…"

"We know that," Ratchet interrupted, knowing his friend had a colorful way with words. "But this man? Prowl is right, Megatron at least had the virtue of not being completely insane."

"You mean this guy might try anything?" Windcharger inquired.

"Yes," was the tactician's cool reply.

Dave sighed. "Until we've got this guy, I want Detective Speedle in protective custody."

Calleigh opened her mouth to protest but Speed's wave cut her off. "I understand," Tim said, voice soft. "You don't want this guy coming after my friends."

Dave nodded. He looked up as two agents entered. "Ben, Travis, get Speedle to the hotel. We've got our guy but I don't want any mistakes at this point."

Calleigh smiled at Speed's look. He wasn't excited with the prospect of spending the night in a hotel. "See ya tomorrow, Speed."

Five Autobots, plus Delko, echoed her sentiments. Prowl simply strode to Speed's side.

"You're not leaving without me, you know."

Thomas Krane smiled as the CSI exited the lab, two agents in tow. He started his car's engine. Tonight, he would have what he had waited for. Even the robot couldn't stop him now. He glanced down at the taser, having acquired the weapon for the robot. He'd upgraded it, to make its charge effective against the machine he'd encountered. Krane watched the FBI vehicle pull out of the parking lot and slid out after it.

Speed sighed, settling on the bed. The agents were in the adjacent room and Prowl was standing guard, sapphire eyes hard and sweeping the area. Speed grinned up at his protector.

"Think something's going to happen?"

"I have a bad feeling Speed. It feels wrong. Where is this guy? Why did he simply vanish after the fire? I may not be as paranoid as Red Alert, but something is…off."

"We've got him. What could go wrong?"

Krane slipped into the room. The Miami-Dade badge had gotten him the required room key. He looked at the bed, lips curling in a smile. Tim Speedle. He started toward the bed…

Prowl tensed. Krane. "Speed! He's here, Krane's here."

Speed jolted up, startled and still half-asleep. Prowl felt the change and launched himself forward, giving a yell. His doorwings lifted in anticipation. The other lifted a device and fired. Prowl twisted but couldn't dodge. Pain shot through his systems and he screamed, unable to stop the sound. It ripped from his vocalizer and rose in volume. Behind him Speed yelped and Prowl heard the CSI dive for his gun. He could see Krane covering his ears, vaguely heard the FBI agents give cries of alarm. The electricity pounded into his spark and the Autobot twitched, fighting to keep online. Speed… He lifted his head and Krane kicked him, taking full advantage of Prowl's weakness. "Speed, run…" Prowl managed. Krane stepped past the fallen Autobot and Prowl fought to rise, to twist. He yelped as he fell, landing so that he could see Krane lift a gun. Speed's wasn't high enough to shoot.

"Come or I zap your friend again."

Speed hissed, furious.

"Come. I doubt he would survive another attack and I would still have you."

Speed's glare spoke volumes but he let his weapon fall nonetheless.

"No…" Prowl whispered. He could feel his spark fading anyway. Krane laughed and hauled Speedle out of the room. The tactician opened his comm., praying the others would hear him. "Ironhide, Ratchet, Wheeljack, Brawn, Windcharger. I've failed. Krane has Speed. Find him, don't worry about me. When you do…" Prowl struggled to stay online. "…kill Krane. Primus be with you…" Prowl's head sagged back as his optics dimmed.

"Prowl? Ratchet's coming, hold on…" Ironhide's voice came through the communicator. But it did not reach audios that would never hear again. For the second time, Autobot Prowl lay dead. The agents that entered the room; Krane had managed to trap them while he snatched Speedle; knelt before the robot, not believing their eyes. Neither saw the tall redheaded female enter the room. Nor did they see her kneel before the Autobot, hand reaching into his torso to pull out a dim spark…

A/N: --sobs, grabs tissue-- So sad. Speed kidnapped and Prowl dead, again. Before you lynch me though, I have one word, one name: Elektra. The mysterious female is about to strike. –grins-- Never underestimate a female. Next chapter: A promise kept