Sam slammed his fist on the table. "You mean to tell me that after watching all the footage of the hospital security tapes, we STILL can't get a clear shot of the guy? Are you sure the guys watching the tapes are trained agents and not monkeys?"
Pearce had been updating Sam on where they were with finding Fiona's attacker and progress on bringing down Anson. Sam was getting more and more agitated as the meeting went on. "Calm down Sam. We are doing the best we can. The footage is lousy at best and Michael collided with the attacker at an odd angle so we only have a partial face to match up. It's going to take time. Even if we figure who this guy is, it still doesn't prove Fiona's innocence." Pearce tried to reason with Sam. However, she was learning he was harder to deal with than Michael.
"How's the investigation into Fi's case going? Are they done with checking bomb signatures?" Sam was throwing questions out at a rapid pace.
Pearce was growing frustrated. "All of this takes time. All of the information we have from you and Michael will have to be investigated. You know how long this all takes to investigate. The results will either free or convict her." She softened her tone. "I know how hard it is to be patient when Michael's falling apart. Focus on finding Anson. Bring him into custody alive and maybe we can get him to talk. No matter what happens, we need more evidence. Next time he calls you, try and draw out the conversations more. The longer he talks..."
"The looser his lips will get. I hear ya. How are we on getting extra protection for them?" Sam asked.
"I have extra protection in place for Michael's mom. I had to call in some major favors and make a lot of deals just to get Michael to be allowed in Fiona's room. If I ask for more people on her, they'll bar anyone, including Michael, from seeing her. I think in his present mental state that would be a mistake." Pearce said.
Pearce and Sam reviewed some information in a file that she had on her desk. About ten minutes into their work, there was a knock on the door.
"Agent Pearce, we traced the call Mr. Axe received and its coming from an abandoned office complex in Coral Gables. I have the coordinates for you and the floor plans you'll need." the young agent said as he laid out the plans for Pearce.
"Sam, do you feel like commanding a team and do some Anson hunting?" Pearce asked.
Sam smiled. "You know I do! I'm bringing Jesse on this one." Sam saw Pearce's face turn cloudy. "I need someone on the team that I know and that I trust. Mikey is out right now, Fi is in surgery, so that leaves Jesse."
"Fine, but he's your responsibility. No cowboy stuff. If Anson is there, grab him and bring him back here."
Sam left Pearce's office and quickly called Jesse. "Jesse, drop what you are doing. We might have a lead on Anson and I need your help."
Maddie had fallen asleep in the waiting room. Fiona had been in surgery for almost four hours to repair the damage caused by Anson's henchman. The nurse began to gently shake her awake. "Mrs. Westen, Fiona is out of surgery. She's back in her room now. If you want to go sit with her you can."
"Thank you. Have you seen my son? Last time I saw him he was in the hallway." Maddie asked.
"He's still there. He's actually been sleeping in one of the chairs in the hall. Do you want me to wake him?""
"If Fiona isn't in any danger right now, could we let him sleep a little longer?" Maddie questioned.
"She's stable and we are watching her condition closely. I think if we wait a hour before we get him, she'll be fine."
Maddie thanked the nurse for her kindness and went into Fiona's room. Once inside, she gave Fiona a kiss on the forehead and sat down next to her. Taking her right hand, she patted it and began to massage it. "Fiona, its Maddie. I'm here with you while Michael takes a little break. You just rest and get better. Sam's off working on getting you free from jail. It's going to be ok."
For a few moments Maddie was quiet. She watched the monitors and she rubbed Fiona's arm. "You must have been a handful for your mother. I know you are a handful for me. I always worry about you because you have a special place in my heart. You do. You aren't just the girl who found Michael in Miami. You aren't just the girl who puts up with his crazy quests and keeps him grounded. Do you know what else you are? You are my daughter. I remember the day when you had a terrible fever and you didn't want Michael to know you were sick, so I took you to the doctor, we got you medicine and you slept on my couch the whole day. I guess it was your high fever, but you called me mom a few times. I loved that and I love you. I know I can't replace your mom back in Ireland, but I hope I'm doing a good job of taking care of you here. Do you know what else? A mother knows when her kids are innocent. You might be an expert in explosives, but I know you didn't blow a building up with two guards inside intentionally. That's not you. That's my girl. If you knew they were in there, you would have gotten the guards and anyone else out that was innocent and then blown up the building. I know you have a heart of gold and I don't care what anyone else says. Michael wouldn't love you as much as he does if you had a black heart. So, you need to get better because Michael needs you..." Maddie's eyes filled with tears as she whispered "and I need you too little girl."