INTERAGENCY COOPERATION
CHAPTER 2
"In the Middle of a Maelstrom"
Summary: The agents of NCIS Special Ops & the FBI meet up again when their cases collide as the agencies hunt for stolen pathogens, terrorists and an unusual street gang...putting an undercover Deeks in the middle. Story takes place a few months after the funeral (NCIS LA epi. -"Human Traffic"), from chapter one. Deeks is still bouncing back and forth between LAPD and NCIS.
A/N: I find it interesting that on Numb3rs & NCIS LA they talk a lot about LAPD working with them to set up stings, road blocks and BOLO's, etc. So I figure, sooner or later one of Marty's cases would cross paths with an FBI's case, and how would his NCIS team feel about "their detective" being used by another federal agency; and how does Marty feel being pulled in so many different directions?
A/N: I'm picturing the "Benefactors" gang to be like the TV Leverage team only on the 'wrong' side of the law.
***NCIS LA*****NUMB3RS*****NCIS LA*****NUMB3RS**
The stillness of the night was shattered by the sound of multiple gunshots echoing through the Biology building; moments later, three, darkly dressed men came crashing out of the building at full tilt and flying into the open side of a dark colored van that screeched out of the parking lot.
Seconds later a man dressed as a security guard, flies out of the door and fires off a few shots at the fleeing van.
NCIS LANUMBERS
The area was bustling with LAPD when the two dark colored SUV's pulled up to the scene and several men in suits got out.
Lt. Gary Walker of the LAPD Gang Task Force recognized the men and broke off from the scene to meet them.
"Epps," Gary acknowledged, nodding to the other men a few paces behind him.
"Hey Gary, what 'a' ya got," Don asked as his eyes swept the area.
"Got a dead suspect, a dead scientist and three missing vials of a weapons grade pathogen," Gary reported succinctly.
Don raised his eyebrows in surprised, "Does this have some gang connection?"
Gary motioned for Don and his agents to follow him into the building, leading them to the crime scene.
"Dead suspect is an affiliate to a new gang in LA." Gary said, pointing to the body bag being loaded on a gurney.
"About six months ago the task force was made aware of a new gang that moved into the area, call themselves 'The Benefactors'; word on the street is that this group will do any job for the right price. What's unusual about this group is that they have very few core members, when they take a job they go out and "recruit" the needed talent from the locals, trying to keep their hands clean, so we haven't been able to directly tie this group to anything. The area gangs have been up in arms about their people being used...couple gang bangers have ended up on slabs downtown for refusing 'The Benefactors' job offers; and if they can't find what they need on the streets then the Benefactors seem to move on to the average citizen...a computer tech from a downtown firm was reported missing about ten days ago, found him yesterday in his apartment, shot execution style and rumored to have been approached about doing a 'job' for the Benefactors."
"Anyone know what kind of job the Benefactors needed the tech to do," Colby asked.
"The guy was low level tech at a computer firm...didn't have access to anything significant. Nothing about him stood out, until tonight...he graduated from Cal Sci," Gary said.
"And now we have missing pathogens," David mused, "So maybe the gang needed the information on the pathogens or the security systems."
"Good possibility," Gary agreed.
"So we need to listen to the chatter...see if anyone is in the market for biologic weapons," Don said.
"We know the group was hired to steal it for an overseas buyer," Gary interjected.
"How," Don asked in surprise.
"Got an undercover in place...been in sporadic contact with The Benefactors for the last six weeks..." Gary supplied.
"Guy must have one hell of a cover story, doesn't sound like this group messes around," David commented.
"Dirty cop with judicial skills can go a long way for this group...getting them out of a few legal jams, heads up to a few stings and he was in," Gary said with an amused chuckle, "He's one of the best...could sell ice to Eskimo's."
"Where was your guy tonight," Colby asked.
Now Gary frowned, "He contacted us about seventy-two hours ago with sketchy Intel on their latest job...he knew they were planning on stealing weapons material for an overseas buyer...he just wasn't in the know as to the who or what...LAPD had their eye on major weapons distributors and alerted the military bases...wasn't until one of the officers recognized the suspect from the daily updates that they called me in. If we had made the connection between the dead tech and his connection to Cal Sci sooner we might have prevented this."
"Sound like your man wasn't in on the kidnapping of the computer tech or he would have reported in," David commented.
"Seventy-two hours...and you haven't heard from him since," Colby commented, adding grimly, "That's a long time to be out of contact."
Gary nodded grimly, "I know the boy can get himself out of a tight spot but these guys are ruthless."
The agents nodded in sympathy. "We'll check into the overseas angle, see who has feelers out for biologic weapons tech."
Just then an LAPD officer approached the group, "Lt., security has the tapes cued up and they also made us a copy."
"Let's see what we got," Gary said, following the young officer. Don, Colby and David fell in behind the officers.
The men watched the multiple screens that showed the various labs and hallways in the Biologic section of the science wing, after several moments the hall camera's leading to the dead scientists lab went to snow, but moments later the screen in the lab showed the door being slowly opened and four, masked men entering.
"Why do we have camera's in the lab and not in the hall," Don asked the tech.
"All the hall cameras in all the buildings are on the same school wide system, can be accessed from any security office on campus...some of the labs, because of the sensitive nature of the research, are on individual closed systems...so even if they cut off the main access the closed systems are safe and continue recording." The tech explained.
The men move through the lab with stealth and efficiency...one staying at the door as look out, one moving towards the office and two going to check the storage freezers.
After about ninety seconds they noted the man at the door, frantically trying to get the attention of the others in the room, and moving away from the door.
"The cameras aren't functioning but we know this is where Dr. Carlson came in," the tech commented.
The four men made it to various hiding places in the lab as the door was seen to open again, an older gentleman entered, flipping on the lights and heading towards the back to his office.
The office was much too small to offer cover for the thief and the professor turned on the lights to his office to find a gun in his face. Back-peddling out of the room offered no escape as he stumbled into the other three men.
The one from the office grabbed the professor roughly and dragged him back into the room, shoving him forcefully into his desk chair and waving a gun towards the computer.
The professor shook his head vigorously, and the thief pushed his weapon into the man's forehead. Another thief was then seen moving up and pushing the weapon away and then stooping down to say something to the professor.
The professor seemed to deflate and nodded his head to whatever the stooping man said, then turned and booted up his computer.
Another of the thieves was seen to put what they could only assume was a flash drive into the hard drive and a few moments later retrieve and pocket it.
The first thief then pulled the professor up out of his seat and pushed him back into the lab, waving his gun toward the freezers. The professor again looked to be protesting and the thief again raised his gun, only for other thief to again intervene and lead the professor to the freezers.
"You think that's your man with them?" Don asked, looking over at Gary. "He keeps running interference for the professor."
"Might be...he wasn't recruited to be a thief though, he handles their legal matters," Gary mused. "Might be a test of his loyalties..."
The agents and officer continued to watch the silent video feed.
The professor had opened the freezer and gently pulled out a small silver box and reluctantly opened it at the gun waving by the first thief. The thief nodded and motioned for one of the other thieves to place the silver box into a small cooler that had been retrieved from a nearby shelf.
The thief motioned for two of the men to head out the door, leaving himself, thief #2 and the professor alone. The professors eyes got wide and he took a few steps back to hit the freezer, raising his hands in the classic defense posture as the thief raised his gun to the professor yet again.
The second thief grabbed his arm in apparent protest but was angrily shaken off. Though they could not hear the words or even see the thieves' faces they knew from the body language that they two men were having a heated argument.
During the argument the professor began inching away from the two men, and had just reached for the nearby fire alarm when the first thief suddenly looked up, raised his gun and fired in one fluid motion.
The second thief moved towards the downed man while it was obvious the shooter was anxious to leave and motioned towards the door. The second guy looked up and said something then went out the door.
They watched the thief check the professor for a pulse and drop his head when it was obvious he didn't find one. He then stood up and went to the office was seen to write something on a piece of paper before leaving the scene.
The tech stopped the tape and looked at the agents, "That's it; since they disabled the main system we don't have the hallways or the outside, the security officer was who was checking on the disabled cameras came upon two of the suspects and managed to shot one as they fled."
"Let's see what CS techs found in the professors office," Don said as they all filed out of the security office.
The lab area was still a scene of organized chaos as the officers and crime scene techs went about their jobs.
"Good, Lt. Walker, we were about to come looking for you," a young officer said, approaching the group and holding up a large evidence bag with a piece of paper in it, "The tech guys found this...seems to have been left for you."
Walker took the bag and looked at the message...
Walker...beyond Benefactors...Amal Hamat...Hetty...
The officer sighed loudly, running a tired hand over his face. "Dammit,"
"Gary?" Don questioned in concern.
Gary handed the note to Don who skimmed it and handed it off to the other two agents to read...
"Hetty, who's that," Colby asked.
"Hetty is a very scary little woman who happens to run the LA special ops for NCIS...and if Deeks wants her team involved then we're dealing with some heavy hitters...no doubt terrorists..." Walker answered gravely.
"And your man would know about NCIS special ops how, they don't exactly advertise..." Colby asked, remembering a few run- ins he himself had had with them when working army CID.
Gary couldn't help a small chuckle, "Would you believe he is the liaison officer between LAPD and NCIS; apparently, they crossed paths a few years ago when their cases crossed and somehow he seems to work with them as much as he does LAPD."
"Busy man," David commented.
"He's that good, been rumored Hetty wants him as an agent, but so far he's still with LAPD." Gary said. "Just not looking forward to telling her we lost one of her favorite boys."
Don looked over at Colby, running a hand through his short hair, a confused look on his face, "Colb, why does this all sound familiar to me; NCIS, and the name, Hetty?"
Colby thought for a minute, then nodded, "The funeral, about four months ago...we met those NCIS agents and Traynor's partner...they mentioned a Henrietta Lang; remember, Charlie knew her..."
Don nodded, "What was the detectives name...Dan, no, Derrick...Deer..."
Walker looked at the agents and asked slowly, "Deeks?"
NCIS LANUMB3RS
The whistle alerted the three NCIS agents that they had a new case.
Filing into ops the agents took up their usual positions waiting to hear about their latest assignment.
"Mr. Beale," Hetty said.
Eric pulled up the robbery footage and began to narrate as they agents watched the video, "Last night a gang that the LAPD has had under investigation broke into a biology lab at Cal Sci and stole three vials of weapons grade pathogens, and the professor in charge of the research project was killed. LAPD first contacted the FBI but now they want our help."
"Another agency just handing over a case...why," Callen asked with suspicion.
"Because they have good Intel that the pathogens are going to an overseas buyer...quite possible a terrorist group and since the FBI is limited to the US borders they need our help," Hetty began to explain.
Eyeing Hetty suspiciously, Kensi asked, "Hetty, if LAPD was first on the scene why didn't Deeks contact us about this last night...why go to the FBI first?"
"I can answer that," a new voice said from the doorway and the agents were surprised to see a uniformed officer and three men in suits standing at the entrance to the ops center.
"Lt. Walker I presume, and these must be the agents from the FBI," Hetty said as she approached the four men.
"Ms. Lang," Gary greeted the woman then turned to introduce the agents. "This is Lead Agent Don Epps, Agent David Sinclair, and Agent Colby Granger."
Hetty nodded, "Agent Epps, nice to meet you, your brother speaks very highly of you."
"Thanks for that, he said...well, he didn't actually say anything about you; classified and all," Don said with a chuckle.
Hetty just nodded and gave one of her knowing little smiles before turning to her agents, "These are agents Callen, Sam Hannah and Kensi Blye."
"We've actually already met," Callen said. "You came to Traynor's funeral."
The agents traded nods, Sam looked around all the 'agents' and officer in the room before asking pointedly, "So, what aren't you telling us Hetty? No offense to Lt. Walker, but why isn't Deeks the one filling us in on all of this?"
"Lt. Walker, perhaps you need to fill in the team on Mr. Deeks latest assignment." Hetty said.
Looking at the screen, stopped midway through the robbery, Gary said, "Finish the tape."
The room was silent as the agents watched the robbery play out. When the agents turned back to Walker and the three FBI agents Gary was holding out the evidence bag with the note.
It was quickly passed around the room, "Deeks wrote this? So he was involved with the robbery."
"He's been undercover with the group for about six weeks or so," Gary said and proceeded to give the NCIS agents the same case Intel he had given the FBI the night before.
"And you haven't heard from him in almost four days and we're just now hearing about it, last time LAPD lost contact with Deeks on an undercover he nearly died and that was only for fifteen hours," Callen ground out angrily.
"It was a local gang, when we got the Intel on the weapons we informed the proper agencies. There was nothing to indicate the need for other agencies involvement, much less NCIS..." Gary defended.
"Until now," Callen interjected.
"Mr. Beale, you and Miss Jones need to alert Homeland Security, have the airports on elevated security...we need to know if any known terrorists with a link to Amal Hamat are entering or leaving the country in the next forty-eight hours."
"On it Hetty," Eric said, turning to his computer.
"What do you know about this gang...do you think they're on to Deeks," Callen demanded.
"I wish I knew the answer to that," Gary said with a worried sigh.
ncis la numb3rs ncis la numb3rs ncis la
Deeks was standing, staring out a dining room window. He was starting to really feel the pressure; he'd been out of contact with his handlers before, but never for this long. He desperately hoped that Walker found his note and contacted Hetty...the LAPD were in over their heads on this one; hell, who was he kidding, he was in over his head on this one, and time was running out of time.
"Marty, what's got you so antsy lately," said a tall, thin red headed man that came out of the kitchen carrying two coffee mugs.
Deeks turned to the man and took the proffered mug, taking a quick sip, "Just not used to being so cooped up man, haven't been surfin' for days ya' know; and I do have a 'regular' job I need to get back to soon before someone starts getting' suspicious."
The man laughed easily, "You're like a kid without his Ritalin, you know that...we gotta stay off the grid 'til the buy...with Harris getting' capped we can't afford for the cops to link us to him...you know that."
"Yeah, I know it's just hard being out of the loop and all...you'd think by now Terry would trust me...fill me in on what's going down," Deeks grumbled.
"Ah, man, don't take it personal...Terry don't trust no one...hell, I've been with him for three years and I'm still 'need-to-know' half the time," the man replied, "Listen, how 'bout a game of cards; when Terry gets back we'll see about talking him into a quick trip to the beach."
"Yeah, sounds good," Deeks said with a sigh, "So how do ya' wanna lose today Frank?"
...NCIS LA...NUMB3RS...NCIS LA...NUMB3RS...NCIS LA...
A/N; sorry for the delay...got to many pans (stories) going at once...starting off a little slow, but when you have a case story ya' gotta lay the ground work...
...preview of next chapter—Deeks finally contacts his handler and the teams make plans to catch the Benefactors in the act...and retrieve the pathogens...but two more agents will have to risk their lives undercover when the terrorists up the ante...