Without a Trace
In Deep
Chapter Four
Touch and Go
"You bring a woman instead of Jack Malone, Agent Fitzgerald and you are forgetting with one simple phone call.
I can finish your missing agent's life is that what you wish Victor? "
With the tone cutting a deadly edge across to us both my gaze moving with pain from what is sitting directly out of place on this desk before us and linked deeply to the victim - his FBI cards…
As Martin's father now finds a worthy retort:
"Nuru you know dam well what I wish for and if Agent Malone were here now he would tell you the exact same thing."
The words holding the air stagnant as I now leap in my gaze settling to where it had been:
"Actually Agent Fitzgerald Jack would not have put it near as politely as you and I'm not here instead of Agent Malone Nuru."
With William Nuru's dark piercing gaze now forcing my eye to lift. From the personnel possession that sits directly between us the sunlight hitting of it.
As I now take the initiative:
"What you thought Jack sent a woman to do his dirty work and belief me you do not want to see him either."
Our eyes now meeting coldly Agent Fitzgerald also sending Nuru a half, smile to those words and it is one threat. That the man directly across from us has managed to take at face value as he changes the subject deliberately:
"I did not think an unruly Cuban FBI agent who almost got your son killed three years ago.
Would be off any interest to you even now Victor?"
The dark features giving a full smile. As the man beside me flinches at the words used with Victor's gaze slowly falling to what is in his own hand. What he had read articulately on the road here and questioned me on at the same time.
My own information sparse in comparison to the assistant directors of the FBI with it being the personnel folder Jack gave Victor directly before leaving him. As my thoughts now tide to what little the victim has shared in the nine full years I have known him and when it comes to it.
It is simply him by nature and what makes him all the more unique for it. My own gaze drifting directly with that one thought to the personnel possession before me. The blood that can just be visibly seen splattered on the FBI cards and it can only be Danny's blood….
As my dark eyes lift not wanting to think anymore about the implication's represented by Nuru's cruel gift to us. With Agent Fitzgerald fighting back, drawing on his experience and everything he has been able to read briefly into Taylor's past:
"Three lives are gone already thanks to you and Agent Taylor was not the one who almost got my son killed.
That was you and Danny is the one I have to thank for the part he played in saving my son's life for like Jack. He might not play by the rules but he's ten times the man and more than you'll ever hope to be Nuru."
The words coming to a halt as Victor reaches out lifting the FBI cards from their place as William Nuru finds a digging reply:
"Maybe it would have been better if they had both been killed in that one ambush Victor and then we would not be having this conversation now."
William Nuru flashing us both a toothy smile with Fitzgerald hitting back quickly this time round:
"You asked me if his life was off any interest to me and you've made more than sure already it was my business to find out.
For where he was born is the Island your hoping to sway politically and though Jack Malone saved your own son's life Nuru.
He managed to ruin your career while at it and this is your own personnel revenge on him is it not? "
Victor Malone's words causing a slight twitch from the expressionless features as he smiles the agent beside me giving him just what he wants to hear:
"I have nothing left to loose, Agent Fitzgerald and is it not the case of an eye for an eye?
One that a Cuban American FBI agent's life is now hanging by Victor and right now neither, your money or will to corporate is helping him in the least."
The words dying at that, as his gaze readjusts towards me:
"His captor has told me many things about him Vivian and if Agent Fitzgerald here knew his full past.
He would be wondering why the FBI was allowed to take on the likes of Danny Alvarez in the first place."
With Victor's gaze swinging to me, the FBI cards falling with a deafening thud back onto the glass table. The folder with Taylor's personnel records doing the same. Revealing the copy of Danny's old FBI photo along with it and right now we are both falling for the bait:
"What do you mean Nuru?"
As Nuru returns the serious look:
"I did not think the FBI employed murderer's Agent Johnson."
His gaze now challenging us both Victor's eye again finding mines. As he now looks painfully back towards the folder, which has fallen open on the glass table. What Nuru is now reading greedily the assistant director quickly lifting, the private and confidential material along with the photo out of view.
Shifting the FBI cards cunningly back towards William Nuru in the same move as the sunlight now hits directly of them:
"You are one to talk for starters and I have also met Danny Taylor once. In the time he has worked with my son but even without doing so.
The personnel information within this file and the fact he has spent to long under one Jack Malone.
Makes your words complete lies and if that is the best you can do then we are leaving now."
As my gaze now shifts to the assistant director the smile I am unable to hide, forming of its own accord as Victor's serious gaze lifts a notch. Wiping my own smile clean away and whether we like it or not.
Nuru would not have voiced those words without there being some small element of truth in them as he now fires back at us:
"That won't be necessary Agent Fitzgerald and we have time to negotiate yet."
The words now hanging with a menacing glitch attached to them Victor no longer wavering under the harsh gaze he is now receiving. Nuru making the most of the attention he is now getting as my thoughts cascade away from the current situation.
Listening only to the clipped words between these two foes and the missing vulnerable colleague stuck in the midst of it. Along with the uncertain fact that we don't even know whether he is still alive or not.
As William Nuru now gives us something of use on the flip side of that same coin and bringing my own thoughts back from where they had been:
"What makes you so sure my accomplice is a Cuban Victor?"
With the words causing a short pause from Martin's father as I try my own different tact:
"You seem to know a lot off Agent Taylor's past and whoever we are looking for is someone our missing colleague.
Trusted explicitly with the most important details of his life is that not so?"
Our eyes now meeting Nuru realizing in the same moment he has the upper hand once more:
"Yes Vivian but I have looked too into the unit you work for and perhaps it was the wrong agent who took the bullet three years ago.
For though Danny Taylor is not the type to talk about his past I am well aware how much he means to Jack and yourself.
Plus appropriately it is you he turns to Agent Johnson and though I can assure you he is still alive. His condition is well critical at best."
The eyes staying latched on mines Victor remaining silent beside me, his features turning a shade paler as my gaze quickly moves. Finding solos in the only thing linked directly to the victim something which had been on him this morning.
As my thoughts merge their, my gaze holding still on the FBI cards as my thoughts back step to the office we had left behind. To the facts which had only come to light then. Samantha owing up before the assistant director the man more to the point.
Sitting beside me now and doing everything in his power to help us while at it. For an agent who long ago had practically told me and Sam that he in no way liked Victor Fitzgerald. With my thoughts wondering what Danny would be thinking now if he was the one sitting here.
With my gaze staying put on those personnel FBI cards my emotions now finely breaking free completely with my other female colleague at least. Giving what the hell has been wrong with him lately.
Something that for the last week has left me and Martin tail spinning with neither of us seeming to be able to reach him, as my thoughts digress to Jack's informed words this morning. That he has been drinking again too and what I know now for the first. That he has been seeing Agent Spade.
As my thoughts tumble outwards to the off the wall behavior, the despondent mood and the defiant nature. What has forced me in this last week to draw him up on it consistently for an agent who has hardly ever needed that kind of infliction from his superiors with my own word's back-firing.
Getting instead that fiery temper of his in response with that in itself finding a whole new level one that he knew just how to re- inflict at the right moment and it was the dark mood that it has been transposed with. That has caused both me and Martin the highest concern.
With Jack from the start turning a blind eye to it only instead at my own word. Drawing him up on the mounting paperwork as my thoughts kindle to yesterday the mood he had left in and the gaze that he had sent both Samantha and Malone before leaving….
Jack not even, picking up on that and what Danny has never been able to hide well. The pain and rejected look that had glistened unwarranted in those hazel soft eyes Nuru being right on part of it. That at any other time the Cuban would have turned to either me or Jack in crises as my gaze levels back to those FBI cards.
That are, unable to answer my own painful thoughts as I feel anger and hurt again towards our head agent. With him in no way doing anything about the off-balanced strange behavior that has been his younger colleague's traits for the last week.
As my memories now flood back thinking only of missing colleague to when he had told me as any loyal son would a mother of that failed bar exam and his older criminal brother. The past more importantly that they both shared.
With that thought sparking to what I had informed Jack of then and it was something he had followed through on then. Making sure Danny was ok with that furthermore not being the case now.
That our lead agent had instead only shuffled the issue leaving, the vulnerable agent to his own devices as my thoughts go further back in time to when Jack Malone. Had more than one thing to say about his Cuban colleague something that brings a smile to my face even at this moment.
The smile now awning a little tugging to the other thing attached to it. That trouble is also never far around the corner either where agent Danny Taylor is concerned. As my eyes close the memory sharpening of nine years ago the smile coming back.
To the new rookie who had caused more than one commotion then with the end of his first day being one that none of us were ever likely to forget in a hurry:
"Viv why are you backing a rookie agent up when he almost got you killed back there."
Jack Malone's gaze now finding mines as I look across his desk:
"If you did not notice Agent Malone he put himself in harm's way to safe, you from getting the wrap or are you discounting that fact at this moment?"
The dark eyes now giving me a defiant look the reply coming squarely:
"Vivian that's not the point and you know it. He jumped the gun and almost got both you and Sam killed."
With the words remaining on professional mode as I look at him with what I've been thinking all day finely finding voice:
"Odd statement coming from a man who does that ten times a day and never thinks about the consequences of his actions.
Plus actually in some respects it makes you quite alike if you don't mind me adding."
The handsome set features giving me a mad glare as he finds a different point of view:
"He's stubborn, quick tempered and does not listen to a word either you or I say Viv."
As I now find a smile Jack picking up on it as I realize we've turned the corner:
"He comes with a name Agent Malone and you are also just mad because the NYPD recommended him specifically to you or is it the further fact.
Agent Taylor is eager to learn, passionate about the work and everything you were at his age too?"
The words now managing to off balance Malone and the fact I've hit a raw nerve the handsome features hitting me a further glance as the answer comes:
"Agent Johnson Danny Taylor bends the rules in the way the Indians did at Little Big Horn and look at where that got them."
With Malone's gaze not playing on the humor of his words as I now butt in:
"Well he's Cuban Jack and for a rookie he's a pretty sharp shooter."
Our eyes meeting again as I now get it thrown back at me:
"Exactly Vivian and where do you think he learned that from for it was not from the NYPD either."
The dark eyes falling away as I defend my earlier statement:
"Great Jack you have not even looked at his personnel files and more to the point. We've still got a lead in this case thanks to Danny."
With the words working the reply coming fast:
"He's a fired up kid who is out of control Viv and have you got anything else worthwhile to add Agent Johnson?"
As I smile aware I've cornered him off from saying anything more as I take the pitch:
"Yeah I do actually Jack. For like me you've seen the look in his eye along with vast amount of potential in him and why do you think they recommended him to you in the first place?"
With Malone's deadpan humor now hitting me back:
"Because he's a wild card Viv and we needed the agent."
Our gaze once more locking as I box him in:
"You are still hurting over the agent we lost Jack. Plus you are taking it out on the one person who deserves it least and you also heard no argument from me when you took on Samantha too."
The dark eyes giving a glare to now match them and it is all even with him now calling it quits:
"Send him in Agent Johnson."
Our eyes rising back level on that statement as an unfamiliar voice now startles us both:
"Actually I'm right here Jack."
The two heads rising in unison to my Cuban tone and I am standing silently just inside the glass door of this bright unfamiliar office. With neither of them having, heard me enter this room Agent Johnson holding the same expression as her superior the man who is my new boss.
Whose gaze has not moved of me and I have been standing here for a little too long. Something they both know too as my gaze drifts round this important room uncertainly now finding my voice.
As my hazel eyes lift to meet the steal gaze of the man in charge:
"Agent Spade told me I could come in sir and we could both hear you loud and clear in the corridor agent Malone."
As my hazel eyes remain steady on that gaze waiting now on whatever is going to come next. Swallowing as I now fidget nervously with my tie as I look back out through the glass door. To my other new colleague who has just caught my bosses gaze.
With the look in his eye changing the gaze coming straight back to me as agent Malone speaks firmly:
"That does not give you the excuse to come into this office agent Taylor and don't believe everything your blonde colleague tells you either."
The tension melting slightly Vivian giving me a look to tread carefully though as I take it as the go ahead to speak, my hazel eyes drifting back out through the glass. The blonde no longer there as I now gingerly take another step further forward into this office:
"Our lead loitered up Jack."
With Malone's eye shifting of me to agent Johnson the two sharing a look I don't completely understand yet. As I now mutter in Spanish my boss picking up on it:
"It is touch and go, to whether she's still out there alive. That's what you are thinking Taylor isn't it?"
As the dark eyes fall on my own seeing the first real visible look of conviction in those eyes as I add my own words:
"I don't trust the guy Agent Malone."
The statement causing the two agents to again share a look, agent Johnston sending another smile to her boss as he now speaks to her:
"Send Samantha and whoever else you can find out there but don't go with them Vivian. For agent Spade can handle it herself from here on in."
With agent Johnson now rising, from her seat her eye finding mines the trust and shared understanding in her gaze. Giving me a little hope that I can weather the storm of my new boss's temperament something I have felt the sharp edge of all day.
As the second in line of command adds something else before leaving her gaze swinging between us:
"Good catch on our lead agent Taylor and I don't think you'll need all the reference material Jack throws at every other rookie."
Her smile now going directly to the lead agent as she sends me a wink, something that helps make me feel a little bit more at ease with her now quickly leaving. As my gaze shifts back to where it had been the set features not having changed any as I come fully forward to the desk.
The dark eyes now looking, directly into mine. With him making no further move to answer the talking going to have to come from me. As I now bite my lower lip nervously well aware too for the reason why he is so, mad at me.
As I find some sort of response thinking while at it. About the conversation or almost argument between agent Malone and Johnson I had eavesdropped on and should not have:
"Jack."
With calling him by his first name not doing any good as I now receive a more than mad glare as he replies:
"It is Agent Malone or Sir while you are in this office kid."
The words causing me to recoil, the look even more so as my hazel eyes quickly move and it's the third time today. He's deliberately called me a kid with my twenty-seven years not matching his years over me as he now uses it cleverly:
"What you did was youthfully unjustified no matter the circumstances Danny."
As I now fight back:
"It was the right thing to do agent Malone even if you don't agree with me sir."
Our gaze meeting as I take the seat across from him, my head bowing as I bite my thumb nail anxiously knowing I'm about to feel the blunt force of his full anger. With the old habit not taking away the pain of this first day as Jack's dark gaze comes back this way. The look unreadable as he now completely throws me:
"What made you so sure he was the ring leader in the first place agent Taylor?"
The words causing my head to jerk up awkwardly my memory stirring flooding back directly to thirteen years ago. With the very way my boss has put this unrelated question being enough to stir what still resides yet deep in my own heart. To the part I thought I had left long behind when I had changed my own surname.
To the gangland past that had been more than my own youth as I remember yet Eva Sciorra. Who for as long as I could remember held my heart and soul as one with her dying then and there on that night long ago with that second shot from the sixteen year old kid's weapon.
Also meant for me and it had not come to pass - as the memory tides guilt and fresh unyielding pain forging itself along with the memory of Eva's two brothers Raul Sciorra specifically the individual who without exception.
Had always been the ringleader in those days and I've yet to answer this man before me. As I brought decidedly back to the present:
"You don't say much even for a rookie Danny."
With the individual across from me trying his hardest to figure out what I am now thinking, the gaze more of a father to a distant son. As I give him an offbeat reply my hazel eyes closing momentarily trying to take away what I am unable to block as my professional mode kicks in way to quickly:
"Sir it is not always the one you expect who is the ringleader especially when it comes to drugs and weapons."
The dark eyes now giving me a half puzzled look as he now digs deeper with him knowing I've been referring to my own past:
"Did you learn that in Cuba kid?"
As the gaze now ricochet's of mine. My gaze staying level on his and what is unfamiliar along with it. That I cannot shake the feeling of trust that he is now offering unconditionally in a way a father would a son.
With my thoughts breaking their thinking about my own late father in that second. As I shake my head quickly changing the subject while at it knowing he's getting way to close. Feeling my loaded fiery temper ringing through while at it and that I am not going to be won round that easily:
"I'm not a kid agent Malone and are you going to throw a whole load of reference material at me or not sir?"
My hazel eyes looking directly into his, silence filling the air between us as my gaze moves instinctively, round this vast office. To the personal photos in front of his desk along with the other stuff that is now further intriguing my gaze the answer now coming hotly on my own heels:
"No agent Taylor but no, more heroic's either tiger."
With it now being my turn to give him a puzzled glare. Aware that it is the first time he has said anything remotely bordering on the right side of the equation. The tiger comment almost giving a grin from me and he has not let the subject go either:
"You grew up on the wrong side of the streets that much is obvious Danny and you were brought here illegally to by the looks of it."
The words causing me to freeze the dark eyes staying put with him now watching my every move as I nervously touch a few strands of my jet black hair. The thought entering for a second time today that Jack Malone is not someone to get on the wrong side off.
As my gaze quickly diverts and it is the truth as I swallow hard fighting my own emotions hard. My confidence falling away along with it aware that he's still a stranger to me as I now doggedly respond.
With him instantly seeing through it as I use his first name:
"Did you get that from just one day Jack?"
With it again being the wrong thing to say to him the deadpan humor failing miserably. As I get it thrown back at me in a different way:
"Got any family here in New York agent Taylor?"
Our eyes meeting and its more than one thing he is asking for as I try to remain cool my hazel eyes once more doing a circuit of this office and the realization. He has won over my own loyalty with lying furthermore not being an option with this man.
As I figure out the best way to put it thinking about that other individual while at it. The person who is my only blood family left:
"My older brother brought me here when I was twelve, agent Malone."
The answer not telling him anything more than is necessary and I've paused for far too long as it is. As my new boss now makes a crucial judgment:
"You don't talk to each other and going by the look on your face he's behind bars agent Taylor?"
With the formal tone forcing a flinch from me the dark eyes seeming to read my very heart and soul and it is more than that. My own trust having been won over along with it as my gaze slowly rises this time not trusting my own words as he again reads the look in my eye:
"It's you who does not speak to him but you still miss your older brother Danny."
The words causing me to bite my lower lip hard the look again trying to penetrate what I am thinking, as my thought's fall back to Rafael the brother I have not seen in seven whole years. As I now bite my thumb nail again as two memories fall into one.
Of the night Eva died, her brothers who are both know dead as something else kick's in that one of them had been ironically killed by an FBI agent. The career that I myself have now chosen as I shrug that after thought off.
Remembering the two figure's who had so marked my teen years along with the foster care as I now draw a sharp breath not wanting to remember those dark times, Rafael following into the same bracket as those two brothers of Eva's.
As my memories slice and dice to why I had so, wanted to become a lawyer in the first place something linked closely to my last foster family. As my thoughts turn on themselves to Rafael's last words to me in that jail, that I would never make it as a lawyer.
With my reason for going to him then being more important than I had ever let on to him and it was linked back to that night years before. To the loss that I have never gotten over along with my parents and what I had kept from Rafi at fourteen what I had only told that cadet cop in confidence.
That I had been the one to turn on the sixteen year old kid first - my fiery temper burning out soon enough, my intention only to hurt as the memory reforms. To what Raul did after that taking that kids life completely.
My hazel soft eyes now closing in pain - the sixteen year old kid's name in-printed in my own memory for life and the fact like Eva and though sixteen year old Jared Hawking had been the one to shoot her. He had not deserved to die either with myself Eva, Raul, Rose Sciorra and Max Wilkins the fifth kid.
Being trespasser's and thieves as my memory gauges to the drugs that had been in that place as the thought shatters to the small part I played in it. Max Wilkins getting off without any charge in the end, Raul and Rose rightfully blaming me for their sister's death something they had made sure I would never forget.
Even though it is something I simply never can with the passing of each year only making it worse and that I should have died then on that night long ago. With Max Wilkins like the Sciorra brothers remaining on the wrong side of the law as my thoughts now snap completely.
Coming back to the original base too Rafael the last time I seen him with our last words not being good ones and what I had also told him then - the decision that I had already made to make up for the years lost on the wrong side of the streets.
By going to college and trying to make a career for myself something more to the point I had already being doing for a year. Before visiting Rafael in jail as I remember now the family from my last foster home the man who had inspired me then.
A lawyer nearing his own retirement and they had no family of their own Cuban too and he had died just before I had taken up college. With it partly being the reason why I had chosen that career over any other, the other part of it linked forever back to that night.
The wrong I had committed then of hitting that kid first as the thoughts shift. To the figure I had trusted and met through college. As I flinch remembering the drinking that still ruled my life at that time my own dark uneven past coming out freely enough because of it and that the close friend.
I had trusted way back then was partially Cuban as well and a high flyer with my thoughts flashing again to my closest drinking buddy the truth of who he really was coming far too late. The unaccounted for soul individual to witness what went down the night Eva and Jared Hawking were killed….
…With him seeing only a small part of it and he had not believed me on the rest of it. As I swallow harder. To when he had broken his real name to me and his further direct blood tie to Jared Hawking along with the fight which followed…
One which had nearly again taken my own life … as Jack Malone once more breaks into my own thoughts his tone sharp and unyielding:
"Did you hear a word I just said agent Taylor?"
As I shake my head finding that worried look in his dark eyes once more and he's apparently now moved the subject matter on. My not answering not doing him much good either with a professional mandatory form now sitting before me and I've missed the pro-form that goes with it as I finely find some sort of response:
"You want my signature Jack?"
The dark magnetic gaze now forcing my own to buckle under it as I am now handed a pen, an unusual one at that and it's a fountain pen as he now replies:
"Old Christmas present from my wife Danny."
With my gaze finding his, my thought's hanging back to where they had been to my own dark past of my twentieth year in particular Rafi seeing it then too and it was ironically my jailed brother I had run to afterwards.
Rafael not getting the truth from my sealed lips either as I remember the full extent of that conversation one where I had practically said goodbye to him. As my handsome features now twist painfully instead.
To the fate of the man I had once called my closest friend. His all out revenge almost succeeding along with his dark purified hatred towards me as I feel deep fear once more to what he would have done had someone else not got in the way first….
As I now reply off handily on what I am currently holding the light gleaming of it:
"She's got good taste Agent Malone."
With the pen being high quality as I now carefully sign and date the all important form before me as I'm once more off balanced by the words hurled at me:
"No pick pocketing agent Taylor but you can keep it you want."
My head rising, my handsome features whitening drastically and it is only an innocent comment that Jack Malone has thrown my way my gaze steadying a little. As I carefully sit the pen before me my hazel intense eyes, focusing only on it and the pain of my life with him reading my very thoughts:
"So you are not going to tell me the big bad you are hiding way back their Danny?"
The question causing my head to jerk up once more our eyes meeting in an unspoken understanding as my eyes now slowly close in deeper emotion. The steal gaze staying strung on me as my thoughts catapult back to my long dead parents, the guilt and pain of what happened then.
Eva being the one to pick up the pieces after their death with my older brother Rafi the individual now behind bars doing all he could for me. By bringing me here to New York, to see the Statue of Liberty with my own eye as my hazel eyes now open.
Feeling the light in this darkened office as my thoughts shine remembering Cuba now too, my homeland and my childhood as my thoughts now tumble. To the New York of my teen years with the Statue of Liberty meaning only more with the passage of time spent here.
As my thoughts return to that night in Harlem thirteen years ago the loss, pain and guilt entwined to my own soul. Eva nothing more than a sweet memory tied somehow now to my own late parents. With the fact I had got away unscathed and unhurt from that night doing nothing that it had instead found other ways haunt me.
With Raul Sciorra being right in his accusation one that he had threw at me at any chance. That I had been the one to make the first move on Jared Hawking, with taking another's life being what I had been unable to do. That it is simply not part of me as my thoughts turn to Jared Hawking's half brother and my closest drinking buddy in my youth.
His revenge when it had come coldly sweet, his callousness and culpability etched entirely on me with high reason and it was furthermore an unlikely co-incidental source that had saved my life that night. As I now blink with running to Rafi then not easing the pain and guilt of that night either.
One that had been the reincarnation of six years before as my thoughts twist painfully now to the one further desperate reason I had decided to become a lawyer. Adjoining the Taylor part to my name too as the memories re-interconnect to the look on my big brother features and what had shown too. On the man who had saved me the night before and that Rafael had seen through it.
Guessing correctly what was in my heart and soul though I had told him nothing with him being right on something else while at it that I would never make it as a lawyer as I think now to my other words to him that I had dealt with my own past.
As my head now rises fighting my own judgment on that score feeling helplessness at all I've put up a fight for and that it does not bring back the loved ones I have lost as my thoughts again turn indirectly towards my drunken father and Eva.
With my only blood tie left being someone I share more in common with than he even knows with my choice at twenty. To heal the wounds of that dark past never completely receding that they are still with me now.
My near escape from deaths clutches at twenty only causing another to pay the price like his half brother before him as my thoughts break free there… to what I had spent most of my youth fighting the stealing of rum not taking me away from the streets where I had settled in New York.
Sport and Basketball being the main pursuit my foster care had thrown at me. As I hold there on what had refined my later youth Elena the only other woman I had get close and known during my time in foster care re-entering my life after that fight.
With night classes and the drive to learn my career putting the past behind me along with the alcoholism what had sent Elena back out my life. Not coming to a crashing halt till after that failed bar exam. With the NYPD offering a position and any reasonable job prospect sobering me up along with it and that in one way or other.
I had not been cut out for them either - as my gaze at last lifts fully to look at this individual across from me the set features sending me a look once more and I've done little to dig myself out the current scrap that I'm in.
With my new boss still looking for an answer to the question which has sunk more than close to my beating heart as I reply in the form Jack is not expecting:
"Agent Malone have, you not done things you later regret Sir?"
My gaze now meeting, his fully as I now carefully lift the pen from its place putting it slowly into my shirt pocket. The question diplomatic and honest hiding, myself behind while at it as I feel a momentary flash of fear aware that I've given him nothing of my past.
As my eyes close remembering that face from back then the one which haunts me even yet…
With my hazel eyes now opening forcing that dark tortured past back to where it belongs. Jack Malone's gaze remaining strung on me and what has now passed between us with the lifting of that pen.
As my hazel eyes buckle under his firm gaze. Diverting instead to the only other thing that has been intriguing me from the start the personal effects on the desk a picture catching my own eye with him now speaking informally:
"Taking you on could simply be one of them Danny."
His features now turning to a half smile humor venting in the words as I respond in Spanish:
"Tregua Jack?"
The left arm now reaching across, in a gesture of a hand-shake as I respond quickly with my eye turning back to equally quizzical as he follows through on my own thoughts to this unlikely truce and it's the first warm gesture I've had from him all day:
"Rookies do not take that sort of heat in their first day Agent Taylor and whatever your regret is Danny. It's what you do afterwards that counts."
With his words getting no further, the phone on his desk causing the dark eyes to move with my own gaze now unable to focus. The words hitting hard to the background I have tried to leave behind me and the other far reaching reason why joining this section of the FBI had appealed to me so much.
As my hearing now picks up Agent Jack Malone's hushed tone with it being my new blonde colleague he is talking to the phone going down hard as his words indirectly pick on my thoughts:
"She did not make it Agent Taylor."
The dark eyes now looking directly in mine with his earlier statement having reached a far distant shore of my own memories as I instinctively find another subject:
"You have a daughter Agent Malone?"
With a hint of a smile now escaping the set features the reply coming fast:
"Two actually Danny and coming in on a case that does not work out makes it a whole lot easier, on the next round."
As our gaze merges slowly the words causing me to swallow Jack not stopping on that note:
"Ten percent who are pronounced missing are, never found even by us Agent Taylor and like Nataille. Even if we do succeed it's sometimes already too late Danny."
The words now hanging there the weight of the job I've just enlisted to, hitting with a deeper gravity and pain as I think about what Agent Johnson said earlier:
"Does that include loosing agents out on the field Sir?"
With the slight change in subject matter hitting a raw nerve with Jack Malone:
"It's not the same thing and you know it Agent Taylor. Plus for your own information the agent you are replacing was caught in the cross-fire and he died doing his job."
The dark eyes showing a flash of pain as my eyes fold under the look with him knowing what I am thinking:
"You did the right thing today Danny and not giving up in this line of work is a must."
With the tone clenching on something else my gaze sliding to the official document I have just signed as I now let a thoughts slip. Diffusing the emotional tension along with it:
"I hate planes Jack."
As I now see I a bemused look Jack hitting back on a different slant:
"So does my oldest daughter Agent Taylor and Vivian was right about you."
The latter comment causing me to look up and I'm not altogether sure what he's meaning by it as the features return to serious:
"I need to see Nataille's parent Danny and I would usually bring the first timer with me.
However Agent Johnston will have the paperwork to deal with and if you don't mind staying on you can wrap the case with her."
With him now rising from his desk, the little light of this office bathing my own features as I follow suit catching him up, as I give that all important office one last glance before falling into step beside Malone. Another thought prying on my mind:
"You are going to meet up with Agent Spade Jack?"
The comment more a statement than anything our gaze coming level, the reply a little sharp even to my own ears:
"Yes but only to talk to the parents involved Agent Taylor."
His steal gaze re-settling on me as, I now shift my eye away thinking about the blonde who had out with Agent Johnston been the only one to cut me any slack. As Jack Malone pinpoints my thoughts:
"Don't get any idea's Danny she's dating anyhow."
As I now add my own further quirk:
"What if she was not off limits sir and it would not stop you Agent Malone."
My one day's interpretation of their relationship somehow finding voice and I've over stepped the mark by a long chalk as I find the harsh tone towards me back in action:
"Is that meant to mean something Danny and at least when it comes to woman you are pretty hard to shut up."
The words causing us both pause, Jack handing the current missing file folder over to me the glare enough to keep my mouth firmly shut as the open office area comes back into view. Agent Johnston giving us both a steady glance, Malone barking his order's even from this distance Vivian now sending a smile my way.
As my boss again sends me a look:
"Tomorrow be here on time Agent Taylor or else."
His steal dark eyes staying put as I get the line:
"You are going to send me back to Cuba if I don't sir."
The comment causing a smile between the two older agents as my boss replies fully:
"I could do a lot worse Danny.
For an aim like yours would make the military a viable option and for a first day you did well or at least it is what Viv thinks hotshot."
His smile now broadening my upbeat reply adding to it:
"I'll pass on the military Jack the FBI suites just fine and Vivian's opinion seems about right boss."
Agent Johnston now shifting a smile between us Jack giving me another direct glance the reply leaving me stuck for words:
"Yes Danny and I might even buy you a watch one day if you last long enough."
The words halting there as my gaze switches to the practical well-worn watch I am wearing. As Vivian now carefully takes her instructions from him. Our boss now nodding to us both before leaving my gaze watching Malone go as my only other colleague left now makes a further comment:
"His barks worse than his bite Agent Taylor plus that last part was a, complement from him believe me."
The words not altering my own perspective as I give my head a well earned scratch thinking more know about Samantha Spade than Malone as my superior colleague now tries to gain my attention:
"Danny he also left you with work to do and I hope you like nightshift's for he's throwing you right in at the deep end."
As I now take the seat next to her the gaze one of warmth and support as I fire back:
"Is he always like this Agent Johnston or is it just me?"
Our gaze meeting as I decide to keep quite realizing this woman has worked beside him for far longer than anyone. As she catches the look I am unable to hide from her:
"Call me Viv Danny and rookies always get it hard your no exception to the rule there."
With my hazel eyes sensing the, but as she gives me the answer on a different front:
"Jack's still beating himself up over whom you are replacing Danny and it was a friend he came up through the FBI beside, plus you were not what he was expecting either Agent Taylor."
The tone almost motherly as the gentle smile releases my own inner fears as I let her do her job our gaze coming back to meet as I comment acknowledging the underlying truth:
"A young missing woman still died because of me Viv."
With Agent Johnston not letting the words pass:
"Agent Malone never said that Danny and her family will at least have closure Agent Taylor."
The words giving away Vivian's other emotions our gaze meeting for a longer moment than required with my Cuban tone hitting out again:
"Catching the bad guy does not always work in missing person cases does it?"
With my words causing a smile and it is not the only thing Agent Johnston is thinking as I now in turn put the question back to my other two colleagues who have left:
"Jack and Agent Spade seem close Viv."
The young fledging rookie agent now giving a lightening, fast glance as my head lifts to the statement and his other words with my hand lightly touching his as I answer:
"They are just friends Danny and are all Cuban's this curious when it comes to their colleagues?"
Vivian's hand now, leaving my own. The dark eyes playing of mines with the trust and caring gaze of Jack's second in command causing me to break in a full smile. Bringing the pen that Malone gave me out from my shirt pocket while at it Viv noticing it too as I reply in Spanish:
"Siempre Agente Johnston."
The light in this main office now hitting of the pen Danny has just brought out his pocket. The Spanish always comment causing a comical smile across the young handsome features as my gaze holds fast on the elaborate pen.
Something which could only, have come from Agent Jack Malone himself the young agent beside me completely unaware of how significant it is. As the hazel sensitive eye's again looking this way as I see the intense emotion and fire that underlines this rookies approach to everything….
….The next words now bouncing of the last the look one of needed support and guidance. As the memory of nine years ago now fades the humor and gusto, that completes his character shining through along with the FBI agent he has become…..
…With my thoughts turning in on themselves. My dark eyes opening seeing the FBI cards that still sit before me in this articulate drawing room. Nuru's cold words hanging with deathly intensity as my emotions cave completely.
My feelings responding to the conflict between Jack and Danny the younger agent coming of worst Malone only gaining an easy excuse. To leave the vulnerable agent alone when Danny had been torturing himself over Samantha Jack's return to command being the other indirect catalyst as Victor Fitzgerald now voices my own thoughts:
"If you lay another finger on our agent Nuru it will not only be Jack Malone sending you to hell."
The tone pricking the air William Nuru returning the words the vicious smile all apparent:
"It was not me who done your agent harm in the first place Victor and you are in no position to lay any threat against me."
With the assistant director of the FBI, now finding a new level of emotion his gaze falling on Taylor's bloodied FBI cards his tone even more deadly than of his counterparts:
"You have taken three lives already another hangs by a thread until his death. Plus you know you are playing right into Guantanamo Bay being shut but for what greater purpose Nuru?"
William Nuru's gaze finding Fitzgerald's the look clashing directly as the assistant director beside me answers his own question:
"It's not just the ransom money is it Nuru it is making a bloody violent statement to get what you want."
Victor's words causing that same smile to form Nuru informing:
"In the current climate the ransom money is not beyond Washington and you know what way Cuba will turn when it comes to the extradition of those three criminals Victor."
With the choice words tagging the air Fitzgerald bringing our reason for being here back into the equation:
"Does that include killing our agent or is that just for afterwards."
The silent look giving statement to the answer as the assistant director looks to the FBI cards that sit on the glass table:
"You'll get what money Washington left me at midnight but only if the agent lives Nuru."
Victor's words hoisting the emotions as the reply comes swiftly of his Nuru's gaze looking to Danny's FBI cards:
"Then it is up to the American people and Cuba to whether your agent makes it or not is that what you really want Agent Fitzgerald?"
The tone stinging the air Victor's gaze finding mines as I bring the only other thing Fitzgerald has not mentioned into it:
"What about your, own countries relations with Cuba are you willing to jeopardize that too Nuru?"
With the words causing only a mere shrug from our counterpart as he raises the game once more:
"I will go public Agent Fitzgerald and what you are offering does not guarantee Danny Taylor's life. However I will leave you to think on it if you wish?"
As the dead gaze now switches between us. The grin spreading on the iron features neither of us replying to his words the assistant director only picking up Danny's FBI cards Nuru making ready to leave.
My own glance hitting Fitzgerald's and what he now holds in his hand the only link left to the victim with him not leaving it unsaid:
"Nuru I'll contact Washington but if anything more befalls Danny Taylor it will be you hanging for it."
The words rebounding as William Nuru turns back to face us:
"If you want proof he is still alive you will see it very soon with your own eyes Victor and send agent Jack Malone my regards for his agent is living on borrowed time from here on in."
With Nuru switching, his gaze directly onto me the look, unsettling as he makes a further point:
"Our country will come off favorably and as bargaining chips go your agent is only of so much use to us."
The taunting gaze leaving the unsaid to do the damage Nuru leaving as quickly as he had entered to begin with the deep silence now filling the air as I vent my anger at both Jack and Nuru onto Fitzgerald:
"Victor we're worse off now than we were two hours ago and Malone would have finished Nuru off."
Our eyes now meeting Fitzgerald quietly handing over my missing colleagues FBI cards his words this time surprising us both:
"Taylor does not like me much I figured that out the only time I met him but I have absolutely no intention of letting him, die Agent Johnston.
Plus we're going to give Nuru exactly what he wants even if Washington says otherwise."
The words causing a pause as he now grins looking at Taylor's details once more:
"Danny might hate me Vivian.
But it will be over my own dead body that we will loose him and we've got Cuba to think about as well."
With my reply now tipping of his:
"There's too much at stake Cuba will do only what is necessary and are you planning on raising the ransom money yourself Victor?"
The words causing an arched eyebrow from my counterpart:
"All in goodtime Vivian and are you going to tell me what's going down between you and Jack or have I to keep guessing?"
As my head now rises, disbelief crossing my features as the assistant director makes a good enough guess:
"I know it involves our missing colleague in one way or other and it cannot be good by the look on your features."
With the tone hitting the mark more than the words as I reply off-handily thinking more about Danny while at it:
"Jack's return to command last month did nothing for Agent Taylor Victor."
The set emotional gaze now finding mines as I give a complete answer:
"Agent Malone had words with our missing agent over how he was denoted in the first place Victor."
Victor's eye now reading my inner thoughts and the other loose cannon of the situation:
"He left Danny be even though his younger colleague has been behaving completely erratically in the last week."
With the words finding a release to my other emotions:
"What I told you about Agent Taylor on the way here still stands Agent Fitzgerald but Jack played his part in it too sir."
The anger revealing further as the assistant director makes a further point:
"Jack's feelings for agent Spade are, part of this too is it not so Vivian? and I, am fully aware that emotionally Danny was in a mess before this.
Which is not helping the team he is part of at this moment is it?"
My gaze now dodging full hardly as I flinch under the words used with my reply being stopped by my own mobile phone. Victor's eye falling objectively on me to answer it as I obey finding Jack on the other end of the phone.
The tone miles from its normal professional manner as I quickly pick up on the key points answering Malone's question to me while at it, the tone becoming even more defeated with the answer as he now hangs up.
With the line dead as I ring off Martin's father tagging another vital point onto my own thoughts:
"Whatever Nuru says Washington will not want those three criminal's extradited in any way. They have global terrorist links and its American soil they will be coming to in a matter of months.
Our president eased restrictions on Cuban's. Plus Cuba needs Guantanamo in a way America does not Vivian and it's our agent's life they are gambling with."
As I realize why Victor has thrown those words up my reply equally swift:
"Only Washington can answer part of that Victor and I gather you picked up on Malone's words to me."
The response now one of a smile and that I have finely managed to humor him a little:
"I'm not telepathic Viv but I guess it is more bad than good."
Our gaze meeting and he, has not forgotten his earlier words about Jack either as I respond:
"We need to get to Harlem immediately the cops have found a vehicle and thanks to Danny's brother our team has somewhere to start digging Victor."
As Fitzgerald now stampedes the situation:
"These walls have ears Agent Johnston and I can only assume Harlem is what Nuru can only have been talking about before he left in reference to Agent Taylor."
The words causing a sharp nod from me our eyes merging in understanding as we now make a move. Fitzgerald slipping a note on the vacant table we have left my gaze now deliberately catching his as I get an answer:
"Only giving him the hook Vivian and well money seems to help."
His stern features giving an unaccustomed grin as he goes back to the earlier subject as our pace now mounts leaving the meeting room far behind us:
"Nuru referred to Danny's past for a reason Agent Johnston and for certain it is our only sure lead we have only it's a pretty negative one."
With my own thoughts now touching with his:
"I trust Jack completely on that score Victor and he's got another lead of some sort. For Taylor might not talk much about his past but we both know him like the back of our own hand Agent Fitzgerald."
As our eyes now meet in quite understanding Fitzgerald throwing the vehicle keys my way as we walk out into the cold bright sunlight as Victor reads between the lines:
"For Danny's sake I hope your right Vivian for whoever is holding him is not going to give him back alive. Unless we do something about it quick and Harlem had better be might good Agent Johnston."
~*~
The Harlem back drop draws shadows over the scene
TO BE CONTINUED
P.S This time a lot quicker!