Chapter 4
Special Agent Darrell Price had spent a week going through all of the information the agency had on the McKenna kidnapping and cross-referencing it with information on Agent Tanner. Another week had been used trying to make contact with Tanner. He had tried him at home, missing him by only minutes, then came a children's center where the man volunteered, a soup kitchen followed. At both places he had missed Tanner. He had last tried to catch up to the man in a local park where he was known to perform katas. Darrell had to look that up never having heard the term before.
Having given up on meeting Agent Tanner outside his work Darrell now stood in front of the Federal Building housing the Denver ATF. He hadn't wanted to drop this news on the young man at work but there didn't seem to be any choice. Squaring his shoulders he stepped into the lobby. "Good morning," he greeted the young woman manning the reception desk, a security guard stood nearby in case of trouble.
"Good morning," Amanda smiled up at the tall, handsome man standing in front of her. "How can I help you?"
"I'm Special Agent Darrell Price, FBI," he introduced himself. "I need to speak with Agent Tanner, is he in?"
Amanda frowned. "Do you have identification?" she asked in a suspicious tone. The last time an FBI agent came here looking for one of the seven, that had been Agent Tanner too now she thought of it, he had turned out to be an imposter. His true purpose had been assassination and he had very nearly succeeded. From what Amanda had heard if it hadn't been for Agent Larabee the assassin would have carried out his contract and disappeared. Amanda wasn't about to let another so-called agent into the building if she could help it.
"Of course," Darrell replied. Withdrawing his wallet from his pocket he showed her the proof of his identity.
"Could you take it out of the wallet please?"
Darrell was surprised at the request. Security at the federal level was of course more stringent but he had never been met with such coldness at any other federal facility. He considered arguing but quickly dismissed the thought. If they were checking this closely he knew there must be a good reason. Without a word he removed the i.d. and handed it to the young woman.
"Wait here please," Amanda instructed. Taking the i.d. into a small office she checked computer records. When those verified the agent's identity she then used a direct line to call FBI headquarters, further verifying Agent Price was who he claimed to be. Transferring the information to the visitor's information form she then returned to her desk, handing the identification back to the patiently waiting man. "What do you wish to see Agent Tanner about?" she asked as she bent her head to the form once more.
"It's about an old case that may involve him." This he was familiar with. A moment later he accepted a visitor's pass and instructions as to how he could find Agent Tanner.
As he stepped into the bull pen Darrell took a look around the room, quickly spotting the young man he'd come to see. Stepping over to the desk, he pulled out his i.d. holding it so the Agent could easily see it. "Agent Tanner, I'm Special Agent Darrell Price from the FBI," he said.
Vin closely examined the offered i.d. though he knew Amanda would have already done so. "What can I do for the FBI?" he asked his tone just barely civil. After the way the agency had treated Ezra none of the seven were very trusting of the feebies.
"Is there somewhere we can speak in private?" Darrell asked, aware of the others listening attentively to their conversation.
"I..."
"Something I can help you with?" Chris asked startling the FBI agent. He had seen the man approach Vin's desk and flip out an i.d. of some kind. In spite of not hearing the conversation he knew from his friend's body language and expression the visitor wasn't welcome or trusted.
Darrell jumped. He hadn't heard anybody approaching the desk. Turning he took in the sight of the imposing leader of the seven. "Agent Larabee?" he asked needing confirmation.
Chris nodded. "What do you need...Agent Price?" Chris asked, peering at the visitor's pass the man wore.
"Actually I'm here to discuss an old case with Agent Tanner," Darrell replied tamping down on the fear this man inspired with only his presence.
"Ain't never worked with the FBI," Vin drawled.
Darrell turned back to the desk. "It's not a case you worked Agent Tanner but it does involve you on a personal level. I really think we should discuss this in private."
Vin exchanged a look with Chris. "I reckon we can use Larabee's office." Standing up he led the way to the small office.
Darrell turned to close the door, surprised to see Chris Larabee entering the room. "Agent Larabee this case doesn't involve you."
"I'm not leaving unless Vin asks me to," Chris calmly informed the other man.
"Chris can stay," Vin said, putting a stop to any protests the feebie could make.
"Agent Tanner there is no need for a witness; you're not in any trouble." Darrell assured the younger agent.
"Good to know but Chris stays."
The firm tone told Darrell the man wouldn't change his mind. "Very well," Darrell conceded. Taking a seat he opened his briefcase and removed a file. "What I'm about to tell you will no doubt come as a shock to you Agent Tanner."
"I'm listening," Vin said relaxing into his seat.
Chris watching Vin carefully wasn't fooled. The younger man might look relaxed but Larabee knew better. Vin was curious, so was he if he told the truth, but he was also apprehensive.
"The case I referred to goes back twenty-six years," Darrell began. "A couple by the name of Jack and Elizabeth McKenna living in Bend Oregon were getting ready to leave the local hospital. They were meant to take their newborn twin sons home that day. Unfortunately somebody else had other ideas."
Chris watched with concern as Vin began to pale. No doubt he could see where this story was going. Reaching over he squeezed the back of the younger man's neck in a comforting gesture.
Vin shot Chris a grateful look. "What happened?" he rasped.
"One of the twins was kidnapped from the hospital. He was never found, that is until now," Darrell explained.
"I ain't got a twin. My mother was Cynthia Tanner." Vin could feel his anger threatening to erupt and he struggled to tamp down on it. He had never been quick to anger, growing up the way he had he couldn't afford to be, but any hint of somebody tarnishing his mother's name was guaranteed to bring his formidable temper to the surface.
"I don't know all of the circumstances Agent Tanner but I did do a bit of preliminary investigation before I came here. Cynthia Tanner adopted you as an infant; the records are clear about that."
Vin surged to his feet, lips set in a determined line as his blood turned to ice. "That's a lie," he snarled.
"Vin sit down," Chris brusquely ordered. He knew his friend was close to losing control of his temper.
"My mother didn't kidnap me," Vin snapped, ignoring his friend and boss.
"I didn't say she did," Darrell calmly reminded him.
Vin sat. "What are you saying then?"
"There is compelling evidence that you are the child of Jack and Elizabeth McKenna, kidnapped from your hospital bassinet when only three days old. We know from the records that Cynthia Tanner adopted you a short time after the kidnapping but we don't know if she had any involvement in the kidnapping."
Vin latched onto that like a drowning man grabbing for a life preserver. "I told you she didn't kidnap me. And you're wrong about the adoption." He refused to believe his mother would keep something so important from him.
"Agent Tanner the evidence doesn't lie."
"Bullshit! Evidence can be manufactured or misidentified. " He wouldn't believe what this man said, he couldn't.
"Nobody created the documents proving you were adopted nor did I mix your records up with somebody else's."
Vin stood up so that he towered over the still seated agent. "Before she died my mother told me not to ever forget I was a Tanner. It was important to her and I ain't gonna let her down." With that he marched from the room, slamming the door behind him.
TBC...
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