Chapter 6: Lead

Alex and Jack left the car garage and went back to the Utah Federal Building. Alex made a bee-line for their temporary office, so engrossed in his own thoughts that he completely forgot about Jack.

"Alex, what the heck?" called Jack as she ran to catch up with him.

Alex did not reply. Instead, he stormed into the office, letting the door nearly close in Jack's face, and flipped open his cell phone.

"Wheeler?" he barked into the phone.

"Yeah, Mahone. What is it?"

"D.B. Cooper was driving a 1965 Chevy Nova."

"There's nothing on file that Cooper even had a car, Mahone," replied Wheeler skeptically.

Alex tried to restrain his anger and distrust for the agent. Now was not the time to bring up all his misgivings and to lose his temper.

"Charles Westmoreland did," he retorted, as he scanned something on his computer screen, "The car had a sixteen gallon tank with approximately eight miles to the gallon."

Jack sat down behind her desk and narrowed her eyes at Alex, trying to figure out where he was going with this.

"He stopped once in American Ford and then came back later that night. But why would he head towards Mexico and then turn around and drive back?"

Jack's eyes brightened suddenly.

"The money," said Jack and Wheeler simultaneously.

"Exactly," replied Alex, "He jumped from a plane with five million dollars."

Alex looked around on his desk for a piece of paper and began to scribble down some numbers.

"I figure he couldn't go more than sixty-five miles from American Ford. I want everything you can get within a sixty-five mile perimeter of that area. That's where he dumped the cash and that's where the cons are."

Alex ended his call with Wheeler and put away his cell phone. His hands were trembling and he fumbled for his pen. He swallowed two of the pills and took a deep, calming breath.

"Alex, you are a genius!" exclaimed Jack, shaking her head in disbelief.

Alex smiled slightly, "Just doing what I have to do."

"Still…"

Alex smiled again and glanced over at her.

"You're not so bad yourself, you know. You figure things out pretty fast too."

Jack sneered, "Yeah, like five minutes after you do."

They both laughed.

"You know, in another life, we would have been great partners."

"We're great partners now, Alex."

Just then, Alex's phone rang.

"Mahone."

"Alex," said Wheeler, urgently, "Woods Garden Center in Toole, Utah."

"What about it?"

"Get there…now. The cons may have just been there."

Alex and Jack walked up to the Woods Garden Center in Toole. An officer was standing outside, waiting for them.

"I hear you've had a little action in Toole today," said Alex.

"A bit," said the officer, crossing his arms, "Don't see how it warrants a visit from the FBI, though."

"A stolen car was found just outside of town belonging to a girl who goes to school in St. Louis. Am I getting that right?" he asked, sarcastically.

"Yes, sir."

"And in here," said Jack, approaching the glass door, "The owner's girlfriend reports him missing and his friend comes by to check it out and he goes missing too."

"Yeah, but he was known to drop everything and go boar hunting when the opportunity presented itself."

While the officer continued to ramble, Alex walked up beside Jack and peered in through the glass. Something on the floor caught his attention. It was a baseball bat and a small pool of blood nearby.

"So really," continued the droning officer, "There's no need for you to be here."

Alex did not reply. Instead he picked up a nearby potted plant and threw it through the glass section of the door.

"Hey!" yelled the officer, "What do you think you are doing?"

Jack just watched Alex quietly. From the short time they had been working together, she knew that it was best to stay silent and to let Alex do his thing.

He reached in through the broken glass and turned the door handle on the other side.

"Mr. Mahone…"

Alex motioned for the officer to be quiet. He could hear muffled grunts coming from somewhere in the store. Alex drew his gun and approached what appeared to be a store room. Jack followed his lead and drew her gun as well.

Alex unlocked the door and flung it open. Inside, the two missing men were tied up with duck tape on their mouths. Alex put away his gun and ripped the tape off one of the men.

"The cons are here!"

Meanwhile, David "Tweener" Apolskis pulled into a gas station. Inside, the cashier recognized the con. As Tweener walked inside, he saw the man talking on the phone.

"Hey, yo," he called.

"Just one moment, sir."

Soon, the cashier laid the phone down and turned to Tweener.

"How can I help you?"

"Just need some gas. Pump three," he said handing him some money.

"Did you say pump three?" asked the cashier, stalling.

"Yeah."

"That one's sticking."

"Then I'll move my car."

"No need, I'll get the mechanic to pump it for you."

As Tweener continued to protest, he noticed that he phone was off the hook. It was lying on the counter. He looked up at the man and saw a glimmer of fear in his eyes. Tweener panicked and bolted.

As he ran out of the store, police sirens filled the area. Soon, several marked and unmarked vehicles began pulling into the gas station.

Tweener, in a blind panic, ran right into the hood of a black SUV. He glanced at the driver before turning and running away.

"That was him!" yelled Jack as she watched Tweener scramble away from their car.

"We got him," replied Alex as he stepped on the gas.

They followed Tweener until he climbed over a fence. Alex threw the car in reverse, hoping to cut him off.

"We're going to have to finish this on foot," said Alex as he leapt out of the car, gun in hand.

"Right behind you," replied Jack as she turned and ran after him.

Soon, they had Tweener in their sights. He was heading for another chain-length fence.

Alex fired his weapon at the ground. Tweener slammed into the fence but did not attempt to climb it. He knew he had been caught.

"Put your hands on your head and drop to your knees," ordered Alex, keeping his voice calm.

Jack tore around the corner, but stopped when she saw that Alex had the situation under control.

Tweener had yet to obey Alex's orders.

"Drop!" yelled Alex.

Finally, Tweener complied.

"Where are they?" asked Alex, voice tight, as he slowly approached him.

Tweener did not reply. He closed his eyes, the feeling of defeat finally settling in.

Alex did not have patience for this. He snarled angrily.

"Where…are…they?"HeyHehwaerga

I don't know what that is after "Where…are…they?" but I can't get it to go away….sorry!

PLEASE REVIEW!

TO BE CONTINUED………….