Obsession
Disclaimer: See Prologue
A/N: References to the Black Swan Theory were taken from "Wikipedia". Possible spoiler for the Black Swan Episode.
Sun -Tzu The Art of War
All war is based on deception.
Chapter 11
Tuesday
The next morning Charlie joined Don at FBI headquarters to collect any new data that the team had uncovered. While he was there Don and the team reviewed the information that David and Colby had gathered from the yacht explosion.
Another note had been found at the dock and Colby walked over and pinned it on the board beside the other messages.
9 5 3 14 5 16 4 21 14 9 11 20 5 1 3 11 2 1
Charlie didn't waste any time in transferring the figures to a board. Everyone watched in silence as he quickly assigned each number a letter. At first they just looked like a jumble of letters until he moved them around . When he was finished the new message read: impudence I take back
"I have more to add to the message now." he announced as he approached the board that held the incomplete message. He added the new words and successfully completed the first part of the message.
The LAPD and FBI will pay for their impudence.
I take back
Don leaned back in his chair. "Well, at least now we know the motive."
"Yeah, revenge." Megan agreed, "But what is he planning to take back?"
Frustrated, Don stood up and approached the boards, studying the message and the photographs. "Megan, you got anything that we can use here?"
She pulled at a strand of hair as she paced around the floor. "I've got nothing. This guy is not staying with any particular M.O. and so far the only connections that we have are the notes and the explosions."
"Did Hendricks send us anything else on the dead guys from the drug bust?" Don asked as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe we can find a link there?"
Colby moved to his desk and clicked on his computer. He scrolled through his messages and was soon printing out the photographs of the two dead men.
"Raphael Mendoza and Jose Gutierrez, both have long rap sheets and were members of the 18th street Mexicali's." He paused as he read over the report. "Hey!" he exclaimed. "Didn't narcotics tell us there were two bodies?"
David pointed at the pictures on Colby's desk and with a smirk on his faced asked. "You mean those two dead guys?"
"Funny David." his partner retorted. "Check this out. According to this report there were three bodies, two downstairs and one upstairs." Raising his eyes to meet Don's he asked. "Did you guys see a chalk outline up there?"
Don shook his head. "No, but then we didn't have time to go in every room. Is there anything on the third guy?"
"Not really, says here that he was already dead when the bust went down. He was younger than the other dealers and didn't look like one of them. The report says there were no obvious wounds and that they were waiting for the autopsy to give them the cause of death."
"That autopsy should have been finished by now and that report updated. " Don bent over the desk and picked up the photographs. "Are you sure the results of the autopsy aren't included there?"
"Let me check again." Colby said as he re-checked the report. "Nope, nothing regarding the autopsy. Wait, here's something else they didn't tell us."
Don sat on the edge of his desk. "Well?"
"Oh, sorry." Colby quickly replied. "The note was found on the dead guy upstairs."
"Remind me to thank them for the information sharing." Don added sarcastically as he walked around the room.
"So, what if the dead guy upstairs was our connection and had nothing to do with the drug bust." He turned suddenly and faced his team. "What if the bomber didn't know about the drugs being sold at the warehouse. Let's say that he just figured the warehouse would be a good place to leave the dead guy, lead us there and then set off the bomb, only the narcotics team got there first and we didn't find out about it until the next day."
Don motioned with his hands as he spoke and glanced at his brother for confirmation. "Like that black swan thing you used on that case a couple of months ago. You know, the one where the bomber just happened to be at the same place as our drug bust, a seemingly random occurence."
Charlie's eyebrows rose and he grinned at Don, delighted that he had remembered and had applied it accurately. "That's it exactly."
"What?" Don asked, pretending to be insulted. "I do remember some of your theories." His admission elicited a few snickers from his fellow agents and his own face broke into a smile in response.
The young professor had noted O'Connell's look of puzzlement and went on to explain the theory a little further.
"Patrick, according to Nassim Nichols Taleb's definition, a black swan is a large-impact, hard-to-predict, and rare event beyond the realm of normal expectations. Taleb also argues for the use of counterfactual reasoning when considering risk..."
"But we don't really need to know that part, right?" Colby interrupted.
Charlie smiled and slowly shook his head. "No, I guess we don't really need to discuss that part of the theory."
"Colby, let's see a picture of this guy." Don asked, bringing the teams focus back to the case.
The younger agent scanned through the report again and shook his head. "Sorry, Don, they didn't send one."
"What's with those guys, we should have had all of this from the "get go." He met Colby's eyes. "Get back to them asap, we need to identify this guy. I have a feeling that he is our missing link."
"Right away, Don."
"So, you do think we were the target?" Megan asked.
Don sat back down on the edge of Colby's desk and crossed his arms. "It's starting to look that way. I mean, think about it, he didn't blow up the warehouse when the narcotics team was there. If his goal had been just to kill FBI agents he could have done it then."
Don turned to David and Colby. "What did you get on that yacht?"
David flipped open a folder on his desk and removed three photographs. The first two that he gave to Don were copies of the California Driver's licenses of the owners of the yacht. The third one was a file photo from the Los Pedros Marina of the yacht itself.
"It was one of those super-yacht's." Frowning he opened a small notebook that he had removed from his pocket. " The yacht was bought at an auction by a married couple in San Pedro, a Jason and Angela Martin, but we haven't been able to make contact with them yet." He paused and grimly added. "The coast guard found two bodies in the water but they were burned so badly that any I.D's will have to be made through dental records."
David shrugged his shoulders. " The Martin's appear to be clean, no criminal records so far but were still checking."
He took the three photographs along with the pictures of the two dead drug dealers and pinned them on the boards with the others.
Don sighed and rubbed his chin. "I have a feeling that the Martin's aren't going to be able to answer any of our questions."
While Charlie listened to the exchange a sudden feeling of trepidation came over him. "It can't be the "Imperious", Bashere can't be back!" he thought, fighting down the panic that threatened to engulf him whenever he thought of the man. He cleared his throat and with a slight quiver in his voice he asked . "What was the name of the yacht?"
Don glanced at Charlie with concern. He didn't have to see the sudden fear in his brother's eyes or hear the slight tremble in his voice to know what he was thinking and immediately tried to ease his fears.. "There are a lot of yachts at that Marina, Charlie."
David understood his worry as well…they all did. He shook his head and spoke up quickly. "It wasn't that one Charlie, this one was called "The Rising Sun."
"Not anymore." Colby added sarcastically.
"Well, let's search it's history anyway, maybe the connection is the boat and not the people." Don stood up and walked over to stare at the message. "We need to find the connection before he strikes again."
Charlie looked over the stacks of files on the desk. "Well, I can get started on these anyway, maybe I can come up with something."
The team had put together two boxes of files for him and he intended to use the super-computer at CalSci to speed things up a bit. Classes were over now so he didn't expect to have any opposition to his request to use it. However, his first step was to input the pertinent data.
Don followed his brother's eyes as he surveyed the two boxes. "This is going to take you most of the day."
Charlie nodded slowly and then a teasing expression flitted across his face. "Yeah, you volunteering to help me do it?"
"Sorry, Buddy, I've got too much to do here." His brother retorted with a grin.
"Ah…. Don… I could help him with it, I really wouldn't mind doing it." O'Connell offered, as he walked over to stand beside the young professor. " I'm caught up with my reports and I don't have anything new to work on right now."
All eyes turned toward the Irishman as he eagerly turned to face Charlie. "I'd consider it a honor, Professor." he added hopefully.
Charlie shrugged and locked eyes with Don. "I really could use a little help , so what do you think?"
Don's brow furrowed as he considered the offer remembering how uncomfortable Charlie had looked when they had arrived yesterday, not to mention the trust issue that he was having with the man.
Taking Charlie by the arm, he turned and said. "Give us a minute." He lead his brother through the door and out into the outer office.
Charlie's eyes showed puzzlement as he turned around to face Don. "What's wrong?"
In a low voice he asked. "Are you sure about this? Yesterday I sort of got the impression that O'Connell made you a little uncomfortable."
Charlie's face relaxed into a smile. "Yeah, I'm sure and besides once I start lecturing about the algorithms his eyes will start glazing over the way yours do and he'll probably lose his enthusiasm pretty fast."
Don grinned and shook his head. "Okay, if your sure."
Charlie nodded his head and as they returned to the conference room Don motioned to the Irishman.
"Looks like you've got computer detail, Patrick. Gather your things, Charlie's ready to head back to CalSci."
"Thank you, sir" O'Connell said excitedly. "You won't regret this."
"I won't regret it, but you might." Don patted Charlie on the back and added. "Once the professor starts talking you may regret volunteering for this assignment."
"Oh, no sir, I can't wait to hear about the many mathematical applications that he has used on your cases."
Charlie couldn't stop his grin as Don rolled his eyes behind the Irishman's back. He raised his own eyebrows in response as he picked up one of the boxes and started for the door.
"See you later, huh?" Don called after him.
Patrick grabbed the other box and quickly caught up with Charlie. They headed for the elevators, with the Irishman talking animatedly to the young professor all the while.
Colby joined Don as he watched the elevator door close. "I don't know who to feel sorry for, Charlie or Patrick." he commented dryly.
"I feel sorry for Charlie, I think he's in for a long afternoon." David added. "That man has been waiting to talk to him ever since he got here." He glanced sideways at the lead agent. "So, you don't believe that he is working with the bomber?"
"Still just speculation, David." Megan added her opinion as she joined them.
"Speculation's all we've got right now guys, what we need is some good hard evidence." Don said as he turned away and headed back to his desk.
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Towering over the city from his lofty perch, Henri Bashere tightened the belt on his luxurious robe. The penthouse boasted it's own Jacuzzi and he had just taken advantage of it and was in an exceptional mood. Standing on the balcony, he ran his eyes over the city below him. Ants, he decided, the millions of people below him, running here and there reminded him of ants; little bugs that he could just step on if they crossed his path. Henri smiled at the thought, he enjoyed stepping on the ones that managed to get in his way. He eased himself down and stretched out on the plush lounge chair loosening his robe so the sun could warm his chest and legs. His drink was sitting on a table near the chair and as he sipped it, the remaining aspects of his plan played through his mind.
The yacht had been destroyed and along with it anyone who thought that they could actually own something that belonged to him. Two more events to play out before the "grand finale" on Friday and then he would simply disappear without a trace, with Charles Eppes at his side.
The phone rang interrupting his daydreams and he answered it with a slight irritation to his voice.
"Yes, I'm expecting them…send them up." He stood up and tightened the belt on the robe as he made his way to the door. He looked through the peep hole in the door before opening it and allowing the two men to enter the room.
Bashere strolled over to the bar and mixed himself a fresh drink. "Well, did you take care of that loose end?"
Picarry nodded his head. "It's done, we made it look like a robbery. Do you want his computer or should we destroy it?"
"Just make sure it gets destroyed." Henri took a sip of his drink. "You found nothing else, he kept no other files?"
"Nothing, we got everything." Picarry was puzzled and just had to ask. "I thought you liked his work, what did he do wrong?"
"He got careless, the young man knew that he was being followed, he's even considering a security alarm for his house." He stirred the ice in his drink with his finger. "We need to back off just a little so he'll let his guard down." He looked up and studied the two men standing in front of him. "After all, we can't risk his big brother putting a guard on him, can we?"
Bashere's gaze could be unsettling, and the two mercenary's standing in front of him were not immune to it's effects.
Alexis Krill, hardened South African mercenary, feared no one but Bashere's stare was enough to give him pause. The man's eyes reminded him of a shark's eyes, dark, without feeling, dead eyes. He shuddered and cleared his throat, breaking eye contact before asking.
"Do you need us for anything else tonight?"
"No, I'll send word when I need you again. " Dismissing them with a slight wave of his hand Bashere turned and headed for the balcony. "Your money is in the envelope on the desk and make sure you lock the door on the way out."
Dismissed, the two men hurried over to the desk and quickly divided the money between them before they left the apartment carefully locking the door behind them.
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Charlie pressed the last key with a flourish and checked his watch, three hours and fifteen minutes to compile all of the information. True to his word, O'Connell had shown that he was up to the task and had rapidly keyed in his share of the data. Now both men stood and stretched sore muscles and tired fingers.
The Irishman arched his back and let out a groan. "Man, my back is really stiff."
"Occupational hazard," Charlie retorted with a grin.
"What's next Professor?"
"Well, next I feed the information to the super-computer and let it do the data-mining for us."
He pressed a few more keys on his laptop and sent the data stream to the computer.
"Well, that's all we can do for now. The data run will probably take most of the night and I'll collect it first thing in the morning and see if we have a hit."
Patrick checked his watch and moved closer to the younger man.
Charlie was in the process of putting his laptop in his bag and hadn't noticed the man come up behind him.
"Professor, since we can't do anymore here, and it's close to six o'clock, I was wondering if you had any dinner plans?"
Surprised, Charlie turned to face the Irishman and stammered. "I'm sorry….ah….I really should head home…my a…Dad will be expecting me."
"Oh, of course, I just thought it would give me a chance to ask you about a few of your mathematical applications." Disappointment reflected in the man's eyes and as he turned away he added. " Perhaps we can do it some other time."
Charlie felt guilty, the Irishman probably didn't know too many people here and he had gotten the impression that Don's team didn't like him very much.
"Look, why don't you come home with me and have dinner with us and afterward we can discuss some of your case scenarios."
"Are you sure your father won't mind.?" Patrick asked excitedly.
Charlie responded with a smile. "I'm sure, but I'll call and let him know to set another plate."
They gathered up the boxes and headed out to the parking lot.
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Alan brought his hand up to stifle the beginnings of a yawn but it was too late, it seemed to take on a life of it's own and was loud enough to get Don's attention. They were watching a baseball game that had gone into extra innings but the elder Eppes was losing his battle to stay awake.
"Maybe you should go to bed Dad." Don suggested after the yawn had subsided.
"I will, I just wanted to wait until you guys were ready to go up." His glasses had slipped down on his nose and he peered over the tops of them at his son. " You are staying over tonight, right?'
Don studied his father. "Do you still feel like something is going to happen? I mean …like that fish... thingy... you talked about the other day?"
Alan sighed and nodded unhappily. "Yeah, the feeling's still there and it's growing stronger Donnie." He pulled off his glasses and rubbed at his eyes. "Charlie is feeling better though, he says that he doesn't feel like he's being watched anymore"
Don nodded. thoughtfully. "I know, he told me that too."
They heard the kitchen door close and watched as Charlie came into view. He shuffled slowly through the room, coming to a stop at the bottom of the stairs.
"Who's winning?"
"Tie game." Don answered. "Has O'Connell left?"
"Yeah." The youngest Eppes arched his back in a stretch and yawned tiredly. "I finally had to tell him that I was getting tired so that he would leave. " Another yawn escaped him before he could finish. "He's really eager to learn about my work." He rubbed at his eyes and glanced at his brother. "You staying?'
"Yeah, I guess so." he answered, yawning himself.
Grinning, Charlie headed up the stairs. "I have first dibs on the shower."
"Not if I get there first." Don called out as he switched off the TV and he and Alan follwed Charlie up the stairs.