Andi watched Eliot. She was impressed with her uncle. He was sitting calm and collected, scanning faces inside and outside the small coffee shop. Yet at the time, he managed to pay attention to Xavier, who was firing off as many questions as possible. He was totally freaking out about how awesome he thought Eliot was.
"Did you really take out two guys? How long did it take you? Did you use ninja moves on them? Do you have spy training?"
Andi was impressed that Eliot hadn't snapped at Xavier. She would have. Instead, he smiled and let Xavier ask all the questions he wanted. Andi smiled too. Xavier hadn't even realized that Eliot wasn't answering any of his questions.
After a minute, Eliot stood up, "Andi, can I use your phone?"
Andi nodded and pulled her phone out, handing it to Eliot.
Eliot took the phone and walked over towards the counter as he dialed.
Andi looked over at Xavier. He was looking at his shoes, fidgeting. After Eliot had left, Xavier's excitement seemed to melt away. After a minute, he looked up at Andi, "Is Dad gonna be okay?"
Andi bit her lip. She didn't want to treat her brother like a little kid; he was smarter than that. Their parents did enough of that anyway. Still, there was no reason to be more pessimistic than necessary, "Yeah. You know Mom and Uncle Eliot aren't going to let anything happen to him."
Xavier nodded and looked back down at his shoes. Eliot walked back over to the table and handed Andi her phone, "Come on. I'm taking you guys to the police station."
On the way to the police station Andi pulled her phone out and discretely checked the last call made. Eliot had called her mom. She debated back and forth whether to ask Eliot if her mom had found anything. She glanced at the clock on the dash. It was 9:15. Were they going to the police station because they figured out where Dad was? She was pretty sure that wasn't it by looking at Eliot's face. Mustering up her courage, she asked, "Did they find anything?"
Eliot kept his gaze focused on the road, "No."
Andi looked down and played with the case on her phone. Just because they hadn't found anything yet didn't mean they wouldn't. They would find Dad. Everything would be fine.
When they got to the police station, Andi noticed her mom's car sitting in the parking lot. Xavier jumped out of the car and rushed up the steps, but Andi stuck close to Eliot. She watched him as they entered the station. His eyes scanned the room, pausing for just a second on every weapon.
"Mom!" Xavier shouted, rushing forward and flinging himself around his mother.
Juliet stumbled back a bit, wrapping Xavier in a tight hug, "Hey. I hope you didn't give your uncle too much trouble." Juliet straightened up. She looked over at the Chief, who nodded at her, before saying, "You guys go wait in the conference room, okay?" Andi opened her mouth to object, but Juliet put her hand up, "Andi, I know you want to help but I need you to watch your brother right now."
Andi nodded dejectedly and trudged after Xavier.
The Chief stepped forward and shook Eliot's hand, "Chief Karen Vick. It's nice to meet you. Although, I believe I met you at Shawn and Juliet's wedding."
Eliot smiled, "Yes ma'am." Juliet bit her lip. The Chief straightened just bit, but allowed it to slid. Eliot continued, "Eliot. I'd like to help in any way I can."
The Chief nodded and motioned for them to follow her. Once they were inside the Chief's office, she motioned for them to take a seat, sitting down in her own chair, "I assume you are aware of the current situation."
Eliot tilted his head to the side, "To a degree."
The Chief continued, "The best we can tell, Mr. Spencer was attacked outside the Psych office. He was most likely injured in the process and then taken to another location. Mr. Spencer's only current case involved a bank robbery." The Chief paused and looked at Juliet.
Picking up where the Chief left off, Juliet said, "Shawn spent most of the day working on the bank robbery case. Gus said he and Shawn went back by the bank that was robbed. Gus went back over there just to see if anyone saw Shawn since they were there earlier."
Eliot nodded, "How long has it been since Shawn went missing?"
"We don't know," the Chief replied. "At most, about four hours. At least one."
Eliot nodded. His face had hardened. His eyes got a faraway look in them. Juliet recognized it. Shawn got the same look in his eyes all the time. "Any convicts Shawn's put away get out of jail recently?"
"No," the Chief replied, an intrigued look crossing her face.
"Any family or friends of them have something against him?"
"No," the Chief replied again.
Looking over at Juliet, Eliot asked, "Did you find anything at your house?"
Juliet shook her head, "No. Both guys were already gone when the car got there."
Eliot nodded. He glanced at Juliet before standing up, "If you'll excuse me for just a minute." He nodded to the Chief and left the office. Once he was outside the office, Eliot scanned the department, walking into an empty corner. He reached into his pocket, pulled out his earpiece, and put it in, "Hardison, you on?"
"Eliot? Man, what you doin' on the comms? Ain't you spose to be driving?"
Eliot rolled his eyes, "You got your computer handy?"
"Do I have my computer handy? Does the Doctor wear a bow tie?" Hardison scoffed.
Eliot's scowl deepened, "Shut up. I need you to track a car."
"Just track some random car or do you have a preference?" sarcasm laced Hardison's voice.
Eliot bit down on his lip. They were both still testy after their long job. Doing everything he could to hold back his temper, Eliot hissed, "Black van. San Francisco. Saw it a little over an hour ago." Eliot listed off the license plate number and Shawn's address.
"Ok, I've got your van."
"Tell me where it went."
"Alright, I can send a map with the path marked out to your phone. I've got it a ways, but I lost it once it went outside the city."
Eliot pulled his phone out, the map now displayed on the screen, "Okay. Can you find the van's movements earlier this week?"
"Anything particular I should look for?"
"See if it was parked outside a private detective agency called Psych."
"Is that seriously what it's called?" Hardison asked. "'Kay, I've got the van parked in front of 'Psych' almost four hours ago."
"Dang it," Eliot hissed.
"What exactly do you need to know this for? You ain't stalkin' nobody, are you?"
"Three guys," Eliot muttered suddenly, his brow furrowed.
"'Scuse you?"
"There were three guys at the house."
"Ok," Hardison drew the word out.
"It doesn't three guys to break into a house."
"Well, what would you need three guys for?" Hardison asked, giving up on trying to follow Eliot's thought process.
Eliot's head snapped up, "To get someone out of the house."
"So..."
"I gotta go. Stay on," Eliot took the earpiece out and put it back in his pocket. He turned towards the conference room. The blinds were open, but the room was empty. He turned back towards the Chief's office, "Juliet!"
Juliet came out of the Chief's office, "Eliot?"
Eliot rushed over to Juliet, glancing around the department, "Where are Andi and Xavier?" Juliet gave him a confused look. Eliot gripped her arm, "Where?!"
A scream came from outside the building. Juliet spun around, her hand flying to her mouth. Eliot pushed past her and rushed out of the building, flying down the steps. Xavier lay crumpled on the sidewalk. The black van Eliot had seen earlier disappeared around the corner. Andi was gone.
I love writing scenes between Hardison and Eliot. They are so fun, especially Hardison's part. I almost made a Star Trek reference instead of a Doctor Who one, but I am not a big fan of Star Trek. Therefore, I couldn't bring myself to type a Star Trek reference. Anyway, thank you so much for reading this story. I would love it if you would review and let me know what you think, but all I really need is to know you guys are still reading. Thank you so much. *internet hug*
