Lala sat at the interrogation table watching the two marshals in front of him. The blonde he knew from the shooting the other balding man he figured was her boss.
"Where did Liam Sykes take Marshall?" Mary asked heatedly.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Lala replied.
"Let's see if I can refresh your memory?" Stan said laying a set of photos that showed Lala from the time he injected Marshall until he showed his face to the security camera in the parking lot.
"I want my attorney," Lala replied.
"You get an attorney and bets are off. There will be no plea deals. Do I make myself clear?" Stan asked.
"Gonna offer me a new life again? Better yet, you two gonna make trips to keep business down like your partner. We might not be so kind if that happens again. I want my lawyer," Lala said.
"Fine," Mary huffed, before storming out of the interrogation room heading into the observation room followed by Stan
Seth was about to say something when his cell began to ring.
"Mann."
"Still haven't found your son, marshal."
"Liam Sykes," Seth replied, gaining everyone's attention in the observation room. Stan pulled his cell out to make sure Seth's phone was being traced.
"We've made a little progress. Not bad."
"What do you want Sykes?"
"I have a little gift for you," Sykes replied, moving his cell phone so Marshall could use it.
"Sykes, this game is getting really old. I want to talk to my son," Seth said, heatedly.
"Dad?"
"Marshall. Son, are you okay? What did he inject you with?" Seth asked, feeling relief that Marshall was still alive.
"Drugged? Nauseous, not sure hard to think. Getting better though not so fuzzy. Basement, cuffed to pipe," Marshall said loudly as Sykes realized what his hostage was doing.
"You son of a bitch," Sykes raged, before punching Marshall in the face.
"Sykes, you lay another finger on my son and so help me I'll kill you when I see you," Seth warned just before the phone went dead.
"What the hell happened?" Mary asked.
"Marshall was trying to give me information, Sykes got mad and it sounded like he hit him," Seth said, relaying the details.
"How does a basement help?" Cody asked.
"Less than three percent of homes in Albuquerque contain basements," Mary said.
"How do you know that?" Derek asked.
"How well do you know your brother? When I was house hunting he was rambling off his normal useless trivia including that statistic," Mary replied. "Were they able to trace the phone call?"
"Not enough time," Stan said.
"So if Liam has Marshall in a basement, the house would have to be abandoned, condemned, foreclosed or for sale. He wouldn't be fresh out of prison with enough money to buy. He wasn't here for that long before he was arrested so I doubt he has many friends," Mary replied.
"We'll run a list of properties with basements with the aforementioned criteria. I also want to know what the connection is between Sykes and Lala. I want to know all visitors Sykes had, his cell mate and any friends he made while in prison. Mary, why don't you and Seth run the information on Sykes, Derek and Cody you get a list of homes for us to check and I'm going to reach out to the director to see if she can get someone to talk to Amber and see if she has any idea where Liam would take Marshall," Stan said.
/\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Mary and Seth were waiting on the information to come in from the prison. While they waited Seth thought about what Stan had said when handing out assignments.
"Billy and Amber are no longer in Albuquerque are they?" Seth asked.
Mary looked at Seth knowing he knew she wasn't supposed to talk about witnesses. Looking around to make sure no one heard she decided that what she would say wouldn't hurt anyone.
"We don't know where they are. They relocated them for security reasons, after the incident with Amber. Why?"
"They are part of the equation in this puzzle. Liam's after what she took from him. We know he wanted that money. It's why we were able to get him," Seth replied.
"The problem that comes into play here is Lala. I still don't get the connection. I understand why he would help hurt Marshall. Lala doesn't like your son, at all," Mary said.
"Why?" Seth asked.
Mary explained what had happened with her shooting but made sure to leave out the witness part. It wasn't that she didn't expect Seth to put it together, but she'd made a promise to Marshall after the whole Raph thing to never reveal their jobs to anyone without talking to him. She continued to explain what Marshall had done to try and find her shooter.
Seth was about to comment when they heard the fax machine kick in. Mary quickly grabbed the papers as they came in.
"Stan!" Mary yelled, after reading over the cell mate information.
"What's wrong?" Seth asked.
"We've just found our connection between Liam and Lala," Mary replied as Stan entered the room.
"How are they connected?" Stan asked.
"Liam Sykes was cell mates with one Carmello Sono," Mary replied.
"Carmello hooks Sykes up with Lala and promises another chance at peace talks if he helps out Sykes get his money. Lala's crew and the Cinco Vipers still need to restore the peace treaty in order to prevent more blood shed over turf. If they work together they make a bigger profit. Lala helps as a sign of good faith plus he hates Marshall. That would be the added bonus, but what does Sykes give Carmello? What does Sykes want with Marshall and Seth? We need the answers to both of those questions," Stan said.
Cody and Derek entered into the room carrying sheets of paper with them.
"We've found just a little over 50 houses that have basements that are for sale," Derek said, before noticing his Dad seemed to be mauling over something. "What did we miss?"
"I have a Marshal friend that lives near the Federal Penitentiary that Carmello was shipped off to. I can ask him to talk to Carmello and see if we can get anything else from him. Seth and I will try and get Lala to talk to us. He might open up more now that we have more information. Mary, Derek and Cody you start checking houses. I'll round up some more marshals and see if Albuquerque P.D. can give us some officers to help out. If you find any sign of Marshall. I want a call immediately."
"Got it Stan," Mary said, signaling for Marshall's brothers to follow her.
/\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Liam was pissed at the marshal for giving out clues. He knew that the word basement would narrow the search and would make it easier to find them. He took his rage out on Marshall before injecting him again with some Ativan. He needed to be able to have the inspector's help in order to get him out of the building. There was no way he could get him up the stairs and into the house. Waiting until the effects started he uncuffed the marshal. As Liam helped Marshall stand up, neither man noticed the items slip out of his blazer pockets.
Liam managed to get Marshall into the back of the van before taking a quick check around the neighborhood to make sure no one saw them. Once he was certain he climbed into the van and began his search for a new location to hide out.
Pulling out his cell phone he hit speed dial.
"We have a problem," Liam said.
"What kind of a problem?"
"I need a new location to hide our friend," Liam replied.
"I believe Carmello had that taken care of as part of the deal."
"Tito, I do believe that Carmello put you in charge until he gets out and our agreement was that you'd provide me with a secure location for our friend," Liam replied.
"There's a vacant church. If you mess this up, you're on your own. Carmello doesn't like it when things get complicated," Tito cautioned.
/\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Stan entered the interrogation room while Seth observed.
"Still looking for your inspector?" Lala asked smugly, before getting a glare from his attorney.
"How's that peace treaty deal coming with Carmello?"
Lala looked up surprised.
"Are you insinuating my client is involved in something?" the attorney asked.
"No actually that would be a fact. See we've managed to start putting the pieces of the puzzle together. Things aren't looking so good for your client," Stan smiled.
"Are you asking to deal?" the attorney asked.
"I'm not compromising on the aiding and abetting in the kidnapping of a federal agent. The problems for him will come up with what other charges will go with that. We have Lala for the kidnapping. There isn't a single jury that wouldn't find your client guilty. If your client comes clean with his information on the connection between Carmello and Sykes other then the fact they were cell mates for awhile, I'll deal on the other accessory charges that will be pending. The only exception to that will be if my inspector doesn't come back alive. Then your client goes down as an accessory to the murder of a federal agent. It's a one way ticket to the federal penitentiary with no way out," Stan said.
"I need to confer with my client," the attorney replied.
"You have fifteen minutes and the offer is gone," Stan said before walking out of the room.
"Think he'll bite?" Seth asked.
"He has nothing to lose. Sykes has no gang turf so turning him in won't change Lala's standings within the gangs if he gave him up. Carmello is already in prison for Lala ratting him out. His crew knows he'll do what he has to in order to stay in charge. He's got nothing to lose by talking to us except for a shorter sentence," Stan replied.
"That could work for or against us," Seth reminded.
"I know, but right now it's a shot I'm willing to take. Worse thing Lala doesn't talk to us. It leaves us where we already are. Best thing it gives us the connection between Liam and Carmello. Liam had to have something to offer Carmello, or there's no way they'd be working together," Stan said.
"We need this puzzle together quickly. I don't even want to think what Liam maybe doing to my son. I know he needs him or he wouldn't have taken him, but what does he need him for?"
"We will get your son back. Whatever Liam's done to Marshall, we'll help him through it. Your son is a lot tougher than you give him credit for Seth. He doesn't let it show and that gives him an advantage. Most people think he's an easy target. He's not. Mary's right when she call him a secret badass," Stan replied.
"I hope you're right, Stan."
"I am, Seth. Now if you'll excuse me I want to see if our local gangbanger is ready to talk," Stan said, heading back into the interrogation room.
/\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Mary, Derek and Cody were getting frustrated. They had already checked about twenty of the houses on their list. They had ten more to go.
"The other teams aren't having much luck either," Mary said, hanging up her cell.
"Marshall has to be around here somewhere. Let's go check this one off the list," Derek replied frustrated.
Derek, Cody and Mary were almost to the door when a neighbor came out.
"If you're looking for the two men that were staying there, they left a little while ago," the elderly man said.
"How long have they been here?" Mary asked.
"I don't know. I hadn't realized someone moved in until I saw the one man helping the other into the van. I watched from behind the curtain to see what they were doing there. The clean cut man looked sick, but the other man was looking around like he was waiting for something," the man said.
"Did you get a good look at the two of them?" Cody asked.
"Yes, I also got the license plate of the van they were driving. I may be retired from the sheriff's department, but I didn't lose my skills," the man replied.
"Was this one of the men?" Derek asked pulling out a picture of Marshall and Jamie.
"That was the sickly looking one," the man confirmed.
"Can I have the license plate number and make and model of the van if you know it," Cody asked eagerly.
Mary opened her cell and hit speed dial two.
"McQueen."
"Stan, we need a crime scene team and I need a license plate run on silver Ford Econoline E-350," Mary said before giving him the license plate.
"Thank you, sir. Someone will be by to take your statement, shortly. Let's go check the house and see if we can find any clues," Derek said.
The three crossed back over to the house and began to sweep room to room.
"Guys, the basement entrance is back here," Mary called out, after they cleared the rest of the house.
The three made their way down the stairs after finding the light switch.
"Marshall mentioned a pipe," Mary looked for anything that he could've been cuffed to.
"How about a metal support pole," Cody asked noticing the one in the middle of the room.
"Why didn't Marshall fight back?" Derek asked, as they made their way towards the pole.
Mary noticed the syringe along with two other things on the ground. She moved forward to look them over.
"There's still something left in the syringe. He didn't fight back because he was injected again. We need to find out what he's putting into Marshall's system," Mary replied looking at the other two items. "Marshall's ID and his Star Wars lightsaber pen."
"Damn it!" Cody yelled in frustration. "We were so close."
"We'll find him. I'm sure by now there's a BOLO out for the van. This Sykes guy is going to have a hard time hiding Marshall. Especially with everyone looking for him," Derek said.
They went upstairs to look for any other clues. Not finding anything Mary, Derek and Cody directed the crime scene team to the basement. They wanted information on the syringe. If he had injected Marshall with any kind of poison they could be running out of time.
"The second you find out what's in that syringe, I want to know," Mary cautioned the tech.
/\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Stan entered the interrogation room.
"My client is willing to deal," the attorney offered.
"I'm not sure he has anything left to deal with," Stan warned. "Sykes moved Marshall from the house he was hiding him in. He won't come to you for that. Sykes is connected to Carmello through a prison cell. So really what do you think your client has left to offer?" Stan asked.
The attorney looked at his client knowing this wasn't good. He could see the light come on in Lala's eyes. His client didn't want to go to prison.
Lala let the information sink in and knew if he wanted to stay out of prison he would have to speak up.
"I know what the deal worked out with Carmello and Sykes is. I also know Sykes will go to Carmello for somewhere else to hide him. I know who in the Cinco Vipers would have the information. If I give you this information, I need to be moved somewhere else. They'll kill me here," Lala replied.
"If your information pans out then you'll get put into witness protection," Stan said.
Lala looked to his attorney. The man nodded at him to take the deal.
"Alright, I'll take the deal," Lala replied.
"Start talking," Stan ordered.
"Carmello wants to take his side business to the next level. He wants the Cinco Vipers to spread out of Albuquerque and grow their drug trade. With the extra capital they can arm themselves better and have more of the good life. The problem with that is unless he wants to hook up with a larger gang he's have to have a way to transport the goods. Sykes robbing sprees has left him many associates within the moving truck industry. I'm not just talking the U-Move either. Apparently this Sykes guy knows people that own actual moving companies. They can design the trucks so they can carry the goods from one location to another and transport the goods that way. If they use companies like the U-move it still can be done without the people renting the trucks to be any wiser same goes with the professional movers. They could arrange so only a few knew about the compartments. If my gang and his gang join forces we could use some of our members to branch out to other kids looking to belong somewhere," Lala said.
"What exactly does this have to do with my inspector being kidnapped?" Stan asked confused.
"I don't know what that is about. My sticking the needle in his neck was a test of loyalty to continuing the peace treaty. Sykes wanted your marshal for something, but what I don't know. To find what you're looking for you're going to need Tito. He's the second in command and running the Vipers until Carmello can get out of jail. Tito will know where your man is."
"What did you inject into my inspector?" Stan asked.
"I don't know. Sykes gave me the goods before we went inside."
"How did you know where to find my inspector?"
"A couple of members of my gang followed him after seeing him coming out of an apartment building. The Vipers and my gang were out looking for any sighting of him in order to help Sykes. When he went to the store it was the perfect time to grab him. We called Sykes on a throw away phone and told him where to meet me," Lala replied.
"We'll keep you here until we check out your story. You will answer any more questions we have for you," Stan warned before leaving to meet up with Seth.
"It explains a lot," Seth said.
They were interrupted by Stan's phone ringing.
"McQueen."
"Stan, it's Mary."
Stan listened while Mary filled him in on what they had.
"Mary, I need you to go find Tito and bring him in. He's our ticket to Marshall according to Lala."
"On it," Mary said hanging up.
/\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Marshall woke to the taste of bile in his throat. He quickly turned his head before getting sick on the floor. His mind was stilly fuzzy and he just felt strange. He knew something happened to him and that it wasn't good, but for the life of him he couldn't seem to put anything together. His stomach was still turning in knots and he was fighting so hard to keep his eyes open. Promising himself he'd just close them for a few minutes, he fell into a deep sleep.
Liam walked into the church to see the marshal asleep on the church floor. Anger raging inside him at the inconvenience the marshal had caused him by relaying clues about their location. Liam decided to take his anger out on the sleeping man.
"Can't help play the hero could you?" he asked while kicking Marshall in the sides hard. When the marshal didn't stir he rotated between kicking and hitting all over the man's body until his rage subsided. "Now it's time to call Daddy and get things moving."
"Mann"
"You didn't teach your son to not play the hero, old man. He's paid the price for his mistake. Once he comes too, he's going to feel all sorts of pain," Liam mocked.
"What do you want Liam?" Seth asked, rubbing a hand over his face trying not to think about what Sykes could've done to Marshall.
"You want your son back, and I want justice."
"What kind of justice are you looking for Sykes?" Seth asked.
"Your son in exchange for Amber and Billy," Liam replied.
"How do you expect me to get them?" Seth asked, stalling for time. Hoping this time they can trace the call.
"You're a U.S. Marshal figure it out. I'll give you two days to bring them to me," Liam said.
"How do I know you won't kill my son?"
"I'll let you talk to him shortly before the exchange. I'll call you an hour before with a time and location. Don't be late or you won't have your son anymore," Liam replied before hanging up.
Stan looked at Seth. "Well?"
Seth told Stan what Liam wanted.
"You know that we can't arrange an exchange," Stan warned Seth.
"Billy tried to protect Marshall once before. He would probably help him again. We can make sure they are protected going into this," Seth replied.
"It's not that simple," Stan cautioned.
Seth looked at Stan and figured out what he wasn't saying.
"You can't bring them back from where they were moved."
"No, we offered protection in exchange for their testimony. We can't put them in danger to save Marshall. You know that Seth you did a stint with WITSEC," Stan replied.
"The call wasn't long enough for a trace either," Seth said, knowingly.
/
Mary, Cody and Derek were scoping out the Cinco Viper's territory along with a good portion of the Albuquerque P.D. So far they had yet to see any sign of Tito.
"Why does Lala have such a strong dislike for my brother?" Cody asked, as they pulled over to keep an eye out on a known hang out for the Vipers.
Mary explained what happened after her shooting with Marshall visiting Lala everyday.
"Does he realize how easily they could've killed him?" Derek asked angrily.
"Trust me he's already received a lecture on it. If he wants to live to see his next birthday he won't be doing anything that stupid again or I'll shoot him myself," Mary replied. "What's the story with the three of you anyways? Marshall doesn't talk much about either of you and I know full well that there's a reason for it. Don't lie to me and say it's nothing either. I'm not in the mood for anything short of the truth. I need to know if your being here is going to help or hinder his recovery. If it's the latter I can guarantee you that I'll put you on the next flight out even if it means handcuffing you to the seat. "
"Let's just say we have a lot to make up for," Cody said.
"In short form, you're like your father. You judge Marshall for the way you perceive him to be, but not for who he really is. You don't understand him, but more than likely haven't really tried to. It's easier to ignore or talk around him unless you're in the same room," Mary replied angrily.
"Marshall's different than we are. He's more curious and abstract. He's a great uncle and godfather to our kids. They probably understand him better than we do and that would be our fault. Dad, Cody and I all care about Marshall or we wouldn't be here. We may suck at showing it and I know it's something we need to work on. He shouldn't feel isolate by his own family. You're awful protective of my brother. What's your story?" Derek asked, deciding if she was going to get personal so was he.
"Marshall is my partner and best friend. I'll always have his back," Mary said firmly.
"No need to get defensive," Cody said.
"There he is," Mary said before she could make a comment back to Cody.
Cody and Derek looked to where Mary was pointing.
"Let's get him," Derek replied.
Noting there was only Tito and two others, Mary, Derek and Cody moved to surround them. Mary took point. Stepping in front of Tito she pointed her Glock at him.
"U.S. Marshal. Tito you're coming with us," Mary said.
"You going to make me?" Tito asked.
"We're going to make you," Derek replied harshly causing the three gang members to turn around. The two with Tito reached to grab their guns.
"Those hands goes any where but someplace that I can see them, you're never going to use it again," Cody warned. "Right now you don't want to give me more of a reason to shoot you."
"We haven't done nothing to you fed," Tito replied.
"Somehow I think helping someone kidnap my brother is a lot more than doing nothing to me," Derek said.
"Tito, you're coming with us one way or another," Mary warned.
Tito started forward towards Mary when he suddenly nodded to one of the other gang members. The man reached to pull out his gun and was shot immediately by Cody.
"Next one won't be a shoulder shot. Try something again and you die," Cody hissed out.
Mary cuffed Tito before calling in the shooting and requesting for an ambulance. Once the police arrived they gave their statements before taking Tito in for questioning.
/\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Tito was sitting at the table while Mary and Stan glared at him.
"Where's Sykes, Tito?" Mary asked.
"Who is Sykes?" Tito replied.
"The man you helped to kidnap and hide a U.S. Marshal. You in a hurry to share a cell with Carmello? Who will run the Vipers in your place? Danny Alvarez?" Stan asked.
"Danny isn't ready to run the Vipers," Tito replied heatedly.
"Where did you tell Sykes to move my partner?" Mary asked.
"I want my lawyer," Tito said.
"Well I want my partner back," Mary hissed.
"I lawyered up, now bring me my attorney. As of this second we have nothing left to discuss. It might take awhile for my lawyer to arrive. The clock's ticking," Tito said with a smirk.
Stan grabbed Mary before she could lunge at Tito and forced her out of the room. As much as he'd like to let her kill the gangbanger, it wouldn't help Marshall.
"I could've made him talk Stan," Mary said angrily, as they headed into the observation room by Seth, Derek and Cody.
"What's the significance of two days? Why is there a timeline on all of this?" Seth asked.
"Maybe that is when Sykes has to come through with his end of the bargain for Carmello. I'm going to have the police run squads continually through both hoods. Lala and Carmellos' gangs are going to be watched at all times and business is about to take a drop," Stan said. "Mary, see if you can find someone from the gang task force that knows where they could stash Marshall without it being obvious."
"Do we have Tito's cell phone number?" Seth asked.
"We can see about any incoming or outgoing calls. Sykes had to have called him to get a location. If they're in the middle of dealing he's still need to get in touch with Tito," Derek said.
"I'm on it," Cody replied following Mary out of the observation room.