Part 3
Vin sighed and ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. This was the fourth roof top Nathan and him had looked at and, so far, they'd found nothing to indicate that Clark or anyone else had been in the area and watching them. "When did I get this reputation anyway?" he wondered. "It's not like I'm a psychic or something, geez." He turned toward the low wall that went around the entire rooftop and put his hands on his hips. He stepped closer to the edge and squinted at the bombsite. Not much anyone could see from this far away.
"Sometimes a feeling is just a feeling," he muttered, his hand once again dragging through his dark hair.
"You find something?" Nathan came up beside him.
Vin shook his head. "Nope." He took another step toward the wall and walked slowly beside it, focusing on the roof.
The black top was covered with a soft gray sooty dust. It looked like it had recently been worked on. Suddenly,he pulled up short. Right in front of him in the dust and soot were scuff marks that looked very fresh. Squatting, he looked closer.
"What do you got?" Nathan asked.
"Looks like someone was here." Vin looked over the wall, down to the site. If he had a good set of binoculars he'd be able to see everything going on at the site, especially where they'd been having their meeting. He turned back to the ground. "See here." He called to Nathan. "Looks like he was on his knees, probably elbows on the ledge."
"Binoculars?" Nathan asked.
"I reckon. You got your camera?"
"Yup." Nathan reached for the case slung over his shoulder and pulling the camera out, popped the lens cap off. Quickly, he started snapping pictures of the area Vin pointed out. He wondered where this case was leading. The fact that Ezra had stepped in with the details connecting John Michael Clark had surprised him. For all Ezra's efforts to appear aloof and indifferent, Nathan was slowly learning to see past the act. Granted,he'd be the first to admit his instincts were usually to jump to unflattering conclusions where Ezra was concerned, but he was working on it. He'd learned that despite Standish's aversion to work, the Southerner was meticulous with the details of his cases, it just caught him off guard to find out that Ezra would put as much time and effort into a case that he hadn't even been assigned to. Vin interrupted Nathan's thoughts.
"Hey, Nate, check this out."
"What?"
"Looks like he left us a good footprint here by the door." Vin pointed to the ground next to the exit leading to the lower floors. "We came up over there." He motioned to the second door.
"You think we just missed him?" Nathan focused the camera carefully, trying to get the shoe print as clear as possible.
"Naw." Vin looked out over the skyline. "If he was watching us, he saw all of us look up here and I'm betting he hightailed it out of here then."
"I have to agree with JD, sounds like a pretty stupid chance to take." Nathan stood again and put his camera away.
"Not if he's playing the game," Vin told him.
"The game?" Nathan's eyes met Vin's.
Vin nodded. "The way the bombings have been so far, he's leading us to think this is all a campaign of some sort right?"
"He's making his politics clear, yeah," Nathan agreed.
"What if it's all just strategy? You know, keeping us all focused on that one point when politics really has nothing to do with it. Maybe he just gets his kicks out of blowing things up."
"You think that's why he was watching us?"
"Not sure, just a thought."
"Makes sense though, I guess… if any of this can make sense."
"Yeah." Vin frowned and pulled his cell phone out of the leather case attached to his belt. "Better call in Downing's techs."
Ezra watched Payton Downing closely. He knew the man was giving his ideas consideration, but at this point he wasn't sure how much credence Downing was giving him. He'd like to think that the agent sitting opposite him would have no doubts of his credibility, but Ezra knew better than that. The Bureau might be large, but it was worse than a small town when it came to gossip and rumors and he had the uneasy feeling that his history with the agency would come up in the conversation sooner or later.
A light breeze rustled the papers on the table and, instinctively,the group of agents reached to settle things and keep anything from blowing away. After what felt like a prolonged silence, Downing looked directly at Ezra. "So, other than the signature similarities, you really have nothing else to tie these two incidents to Clark."
Ezra's expression didn't change, but Chris and Josiah saw the flash of indignation in his green eyes. When he didn't answer immediately,Downing continued.
"You know, Agent Standish, you do not have the best reputation in the Bureau."
"Listen, Downing," Chris cut in but Ezra spoke up.
"I am well aware of my reputation."
"There are men who claim you are a loose cannon. You're unable to work with those in authority. You're a wild card, unpredictable and unreliable," Downing went on.
"As I said, I am well aware of my reputation," Ezra repeated, his face showing no signs that Downing's words effected him at all.
"Payton," Chris growled. "What does this have to do with anything?" He was not going to allow Downing to continue to berate Ezra.
"Larabee, Southeast is going to be here any minute now, looking for concrete facts that prove Clark is our man. When they find out Standish is the agent that drew the connection…"
"Then don't tell them, Ezra interrupted.
"What?" Downing and Chris asked together.
Ezra looked from one man to another. " I cannot explain why I've connected this case to Clark in anyway that would satisfy you or the task force, but I know it's him. The most important thing is to put an end to these bombings and, if that means leaving me out of the equation so they'll cooperate, so be it. I need to catch up on my sleep anyway." He stood and handed his file to Josiah. Suppressing a very real yawn, he moved directly towards the coffee, not even caring at this point that is was probably just sludge. He was exhausted and he needed some aspirin.
"Ezra shouldn't have to explain himself." Josiah's normally gentle voice was almost harsh as he stared hard at Downing. "You know very well that there is plenty of connection here to call in the task force. Ifwe hadn't, you guys would have been down our throats before we could blink." He swallowed and cleared his throat, straining to keep his voice even. "Standish's reputation might be shot, but for all his faults, over half of that rep was given to him by your organization. If you asked me, there'd be no decision to make. I'd trust my life to that man and his instincts over you and your years of experience right now, even when he's working on less than half a nights sleep and dealing with a concussion." With that the large man nodded once to Chris and left the table to find Ezra.
Chris smiled inwardly,but kept his face serious. He waited for Downing to speak.
"It was a valid concern, Chris," Payton spoke up finally.
"No, it wasn't."
Downing tried to smile. "Think of it as me playing devil's advocate then, these thing will come up when the others get here."
"They don't have to," Chris said tightly.
"You and I know that, but Southeast gets a look at Standish, they're gonna sound off first and listen later, maybe… But." He looked evenly at Chris. "I think you and Standish are on track. There's a feeling with this one that screams Clark. I just wish we could be sure. No signs of ' Army of Justice' letters?"
"None, but Josiah's starting to think those were decoys anyway." Chris didn't miss the fact that his friend had changed the subject rather abruptly.
"Then what's the man's point?"
Chris shrugged. "Maybe he's just a twisted man playing games."
Buck smiled attentively at the pretty lab technician while JD stood out of the way, shaking his head and listening closely. He knew from experience that Buck was too busy flirting to be paying close attention to what Janelle was actually saying.
The woman smiled at Buck's compliment about how she looked today and tilted her head to the side slightly. JD could tell immediately that she was seeing straight through his roommate.
Janelle pushed a strand of her long dark hair back up into the simple clasp she used to keep it out of her way while she worked. "That's what we have so far." She nodded to the paper in Buck's hands, but spoke mainly to JD. "He's definitely using roofing nails." She turned to pick up her copy of the report and Buck was surprised by the Celtic knot work tattoo on her neck, right below her hairline. He never figured Janelle as the tattoo type. He loved a woman of mystery.
"Buck." JD smacked his arm, bringing his attention back to the lab.
"What?" He scowled at the kid.
"Where you listening to what Janelle just said?"
"Yeah, yeah." Buck nodded. "Roofing nails."
Janelle laughed softly and shook her head. "I'll let you explain it to him. I have to get back to work on your other tests."
"Thanks,Janelle." JD grabbed Buck's arm and started dragging him towards the door.
"Talk to you later." Buck strained to catch another glimpse of the sashaying lab coat.
"Buck." JD let the door swing closed behind them. "The case." He waved the paper in Wilmington's face.
Buck sighed and tried to refocus. "What about it?"
"The nails, they're a certain brand."
"Yeah." Buck paused and leaned against the wall.
"This company went out of business two years ago." JD waited for the implication to sink in.
"Were these new?" Buck asked suddenly.
JD's head bobbed. "Yup, Janelle said there's only 12 hardware stores in Denver that still have stock."
"She's sure?"
JD grinned. "Has Janelle ever let you down?"
Buck laughed. "Not yet, but I'd like to…"
"I don't want to hear it." JD held up a hand to cut Buck off. "I'll call Chris. We need to go by and pick up the picture of Clark, then hit some hardware stores."
"You have a list already?"
"If you'd been paying attention to what she was saying you'd know that, Buck."
"Oh I was paying attention," Buck insisted.
"Not to what she was saying." JD skirted out of reach before Buck could swing at him.
Josiah was interrupted from finding Ezra immediately by Nathan and Vin's return. "What did you find?" he asked.
"Someone was there, watching," Nathan told him. "Vin found where he was slouched down on the roof, probably using binoculars. Also found a good footprint in the dust up there."
"You didn't stay?" Josiah handed a cup of coffee to Vin, then turned to get one for Nathan.
"FBI sent us back. They had it covered."
Josiah didn't miss the tension in Vin's voice.
"What's been happening here?" Nathan asked after thanking him for the coffee.
"Well, we hashed through the details, again, then Downing basically questioned Ezra's reputation."
"What?" Both Nathan and Vin turned sharply towards where they'd seen Downing, but encountered Chris instead. He'd heard Josiah's comment and their reaction.
"He was just giving us an unwanted preview of what to expect when the task force gets here," he explained. "He believes Ezra's right about the connection to Clark.
The three men stood quietly mulling over the news before Chris spoke up again. "JD just called. Looks like Clark has been out of circulation too long for his own good."
"Meaning?" Vin sipped his coffee.
"Brand of nails he used, company that made them went under two years ago. Only twelve stores in Denver still carry any in their inventory."
"So, there's a good chance he bought them at one of these stores," Josiah finished.
Chris nodded. "Buck and JD will take six. I want Vin and Ezra on the other half."
"Did I hear my moniker?" The group turned as Ezra approached and though the scenario caused a flare of apprehension that they were talking about him, he refused to let himself show it.
"I'm sending you out with Vin to check hardware stores." Chris chuckled at the face Ezra made and quickly explained the reason.
"I see, and Mr. Tanner and I are to take Mr. Clark's photograph around while we inquire?"
"Yup."
"Won't that stir up the media?" Nathan asked.
"Probably, but they already know something is going on." Chris motioned to the barricade behind which dozens of news crews were set up. "The good thing is, Clark's face was never as prominent out here as it was back east. That should help you keep a low profile. Nathan, you and Josiah get us some pictures to use." He pointed to the camera. Nathan nodded. "You know the drill, check in every hour or sooner if something comes up. I'll stay here with Payton and greet the task force."
"Lucky you." Vin grinned. "Come on, Ezra, let's check out some of Denver's finest."
"I can't believe I've been reduced to visiting hardware stores." Ezra sighed distastefully as he rubbed his temples and walked with Vin towards the jeep.
"You'll manage." Vin laughed. "What's that line your mother always uses on you? Appearances are everything?"
Ezra looked at Vin. "Precisely my point, Mr. Tanner."
"Yeah well, It's Chris' way of keeping the heat off you when the task force pulls in, so accept the intent graciously." Vin shook his head at Ezra's astounded expression as he climbed into the jeep. "You must have gotten hit harder than we thought, Ezra. You're getting rusty at seeing through us."
Ezra flashed a sarcastic grin, but bit back his normal disdainful comment about the transportation that he was forced to endure, instead choosing to study the 8x10 picture of Clark.
"Where the hell did you get this information?" Agent Brian Schoolcraft fumed as he waved a file in Chris' face.
Larabee bit his tongue and tried to remind himself that losing his temper would do nothing to help this case. He felt more than saw Downing shift uncomfortably beside him and wondered what on earth had led him to send his entire team out so he would face the vipers alone. "It's all a matter of public record." He smiled one of his best, knowing he tended to look menacing when he did.
"Not all of it, Larabee," Schoolcraft barked. A large, prideful man with years of FBI experience, he was familiar with Larabee and his team and was determined not to be intimidated.
"What's not public knowledge, we obtained through research." Chris leaned forward slightly, daring Schoolcraft to accuse him of anything.
Schoolcraft scoffed, but didn't continue his tirade. Instead he turned his attention to Downing. "What have you found out, or did Standish drag us all out here for nothing?"
Chris glared at the man, his patience was now gone and he wondered how the task force had found out that Ezra was behind the Clark lead.
Downing jumped in before Chris could speak. "No, Schoolcraft, I'd say you need to have your men settle in. This looks like it could very well be Clark's work."
"Doesn't follow his pattern, two in a row so close together like this," Brian pointed out.
"He didn't have a pattern," Chris answered.
Downing nodded his agreement. "He's right, there was no pattern of set time between the Southeast bombings, but the individual bombings match, right down to a second bomb aimed at emergency workers."
Schoolcraft sighed heavily and sank into a nearby metal folding chair. "All this was covered on the national news so there's still a possibility Standish is wrong and this is just a copycat."
"It's possible," Chris admitted, knowing the statement was directed at him. "But I'm pretty sure your boy isn't hiding in the woods anymore."
Schoolcraft stared at Larabee, the two men sizing each other up. He didn't understand the ATF agent's faith in a character like Standish, but the man had a point. "Better bring me up to date so we can catch this guy then."
"We are heading for a Chuck's Hardware." Ezra shook his head and grimaced. "Yes, it's the fourth place on our list." He repeated the address, "See you there." As he was putting his cell phone away, he caught Vin's questioning look. "Buck and JD have are going to join us for our last three stops."
"They come up dry?" Vin asked.
"As the Sahara."
Chuck's Hardware was worse than Ezra had imagined. He barely managed to control a shudder when Vin opened the front door, causing a small bell to ring. "How quaint," he drawled, glancing up at the offending noisemaker.
"Turn on the charm, Ezra. You deceive people for a living, you can certainly pretend not to be disgusted," Vin teased softly as he peered around the dimly lit store. Shelves were stacked close together creating narrow aisles of everything from nuts and bolts to PVC pipe and toilet plungers. To the left side of the store was a small check out counter and a graying man in a green flannel shirt. He was taking care of a customer while a couple of other men milled at the back of the store around a tiny desk with a coffee pot and styrofoam cups littering its surface.
Ezra followed Vin down an aisle, knowing the sharpshooter was waiting for the clerk, who he guessed was Chuck, to finish up with his customer before questioning him. Vin paused in front of a display and zeroed in on the assortment of roofing nails. He picked up a box and tapped the brand name twice, indicating to Ezra that it was the kind they thought Clark was using. Ezra nodded his understanding, then moved on into the next aisle. A light buzzed annoyingly above him and the two gentlemen by the coffeepot were laughing over something they thought hysterical. Somewhere in the store he could hear a radio tuned to a country station. Sighing,he looked at a display of tarnished doorknobs and tried to fathom why anyone would want to buy one.
The little bell over the door rang and Ezra, along with everybody else in the store, automatically looked up. He half expected to see Buck and JD lumber into the building, but instead it was just another customer. Ezra took in the man's appearance and dress with an instinct that came from years of observing people. The tall man scratched his dark beard, and stuck his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. He wore a black t-shirt and a hooded gray sweatshirt.
Just as Ezra was about to dismiss the man, the stranger looked directly at him. Their eyes met and Ezra saw the recognition dawn in the brown eyes before it even connected who he was looking at. They stood frozen for a minute, two men staring at each other over rows of do it yourself home improvement books.
Ezra's mind raced into action. "Vin," he almost barked as he reached for his weapon.
Clark spun and threw himself out the door, bowling over an unaware Buck in the process.
"What the?" Buck yelled as he picked himself up the ground and started to yell at the retreating figure until he had to jump out of Ezra's way and struggle to keep his balance again. He stared, open mouthed at Ezra running after the man that had knocked him down.
Vin was out of the door next, dialing his phone and keeping an eye on Ezra. When he saw Buck, he threw the phone at him, yelling over his shoulder as he ran. "It's Clark. Tell Chris where we are.I've got to back up Ezra."
Buck looked at the phone then passed it to JD. "You heard the man."
"What?" JD put a hand on his hip and watched Buck run after Vin and Ezra. "This is so unfair."
TBC...