"What's the call here Greg?" Ed asked.
"Boss?" Ed asked, "What's the call?"
"If we're going to make a move on Leroux, we need to do it know." Megan noted over the radio.
"Eagle two- have you been compromised?" Greg asked.
"Negative boss, eagle one has Adam secured. I can stealth behind Leroux and take him into custody."
"Can you do it silently- without weapons?" Greg asked.
"I don't know. Probably." Came Megan's answer.
"Eddie- you got Leroux?"
"Negative, no solution."
Megan and Jules looked out into the backyard through the finished part of the new addition to the house.
"Part one of three done." Megan said, as she started counting on her fingers, "Close to another 200 more studs, a thousand screws, and three more long nights of 'huh' only to realize I was looking at the wrong part of the schematics."
"I can help you with the last part." Jules commented, as she took a seat, "I think she's going to like it."
"Me? Or the baby?" Megan asked, as she helped her mom into the chair, and then sat beside her.
"Both." Jules said, as she looked over to Megan "Thank you."
"For what?" Megan said, as she picked up an old copy of Ontario Outdoors Magazine that they put on the coffee table in the new room.
"For helping me with this, the baby- everything."
"What else am I going to do?" Megan asked, as he turned the page quickly, choosing to not read on how to gut a deer, "Did dad ever go hunting?"
"He used to." Jules answered, "He used to hunt bears up north with his dad when he was younger."
"And when he was talking to my grand-dad." Megan added, "I don't remember him."
"Your dad pretty much stopped talking to him when he started living in Toronto."
"What's that beeping noise?" Jules asked, as she looked around.
Megan took a small device off of her belt.
"They gave you a pager?" Jules asked.
"We're on call this weekend." Megan answered as she got up, "I gotta go in. Hey mom-"
"Yeah?"
"Are you coming back to SRU?"
Jules thought about the question. Is she coming back?
"Well, the bereavement leave is over, but I'm on maternity leave now, so probably not anytime soon."
"Ok." Megan said, as she gave Jules an unexpected hug, "See you later."
Megan entered SRU in full uniform and at a good, steady pace entered the debriefing room.
"Sorry." Ed said, "How's the renovation going?"
"Good. Finished the first level, onto the 2nd floor." Megan answered, "What's the call?"
"From Guns & Gangs-" Greg said, "They have an inside guy- Adam Ceasor, working with the Paradio gang."
"The guys suspected with the weapons smuggling all over Ontario?" Spike asked, "The latest tie to them comes from a bunch of handguns and assault weapons that were found in the St. Lawrence River between Brockville & Cornwall."
"That'd be them." Ed said, "Now apparently, they weren't able to find anything out that they didn't already know with the inside guy. The problem being, is that Adam needs to be safely extracted without tipping off the gang."
"We got a cover story?" Megan asked.
"Guns and Gangs are working on it." Ed said, "The biggest problem, is that the rendezvous for the extraction is Hotel de Prada."
"Seriously?" Spike asked, "Is this even going to be possible?"
"What do you mean?" Megan asked.
"Hotel de Prada is suspected to be owned, operated and staffed by the DiCamilo gang." Ed explained, "The de Prada has also been a host of previous drug busts and raids, and the DiCamilo gang insider tells us that its rigged with highly secretive, password encrypted CCTV,"
"Easy peasy." Spike answered.
"Interior and exterior motion sensors," Ed continued.
"A bit harder, but crackable,"
"On-site armed security,"
"Nothing Textbook and Eddie can't handle." Spike commented.
"And FD Protection & Security, state of the art, high class security system alarms and encryption." Ed finished.
"Which is a problem," Spike said, "FD won't release a Police & Security system pack, which allows emergency access into their systems. That and they are known to be very secretive on adding different and new technologies into their systems for a higher price. The database I have on them is minimal at best- only basic emergency over-ride codes- nothing that a floor manager wouldn't have."
"What can we expect Spike?" Ed asked.
"Seeing as the hotel is DeCamilo, and they are probably going all out, and lining the pockets of FD with as much money possible we could be looking at motion sensitive pressure plates, infrared laser protection, eye and fingerprint access control, and even more stuff. The only way we're getting in there is if we're let in."
"So we'll have to do it that way." Greg said, "Megan, Spike, civilian suit up- you're going undercover."
"What's the plan?" Ed asked, as he brought up the blueprints of the hotel on the projector, "We only have plans for the top three floors, and the first floor."
"Plans for four floors in a ten floor building?" Spike asked out loud, "Six floors blind. Yeah, great idea, sending in undercover units in."
"No other option, Scarlatti." Greg said, "Megan and Spike will roll up in a Mercedes that Guns and Gangs will let us borrow. You will go in and book the honeymoon suite on the 7th floor- Guns and Gang's assures us that the room is already wired with cameras and bugs, so we're covered."
"If it isn't?" Ed asked, "I don't want to risk it. In ear monitors for both Spike and Megan."
"Ok, Ed." Greg said, "Once there, I'll call in the signal to G&G, and they'll act on a warrant for a house on Syne that they've been sitting on."
"This house belongs to?" Spike asked.
"A numbered company which has had frequent dealings with the Paradio's downtown coffee shop." Greg continued, "When the Paradio's in the hotel find out that their Syne location has been compromised, they'll start packing up and moving operations somewhere else. During that distraction is when Spike- who we'll name Eagle One will go up to the 10th floor penthouse and extract Officer Adam Ceasor. Meanwhile, in the honeymoon suite, Megan will prepare a series of rope harnesses for Spike, Adam and her to rappel down the black wall and into an alley, where I'll be with the unmarked SUV for extraction."
"And me?" Ed asked, as he had noted that Greg left out his involvement, "Where do you want me?"
"Across the street in the Royal Bank's CEO office, as a Sierra in case we have to go lethal."
"Copy that." Ed said, "Let's move."
Megan rode with Spike in the black Mercedes-Benz that was supplied by Guns & Gangs.
"Leather seats!" Spike exclaimed when he got into the driver's seat, "I hate the cloth ones in my Sunfire."
"Radio check Eagle One & two." Ed radioed to them.
"Loud and clear." Spike responded.
"Right in my ear." Came Megan's.
"Weapons & gear?" Ed asked.
"Glock 26's in the small of our backs, and concealed cuffs in my pants." Spike replied.
"Cuffs in purse." Megan responded, as she looked over the nice leather purse she was given as part of her civilian clothes outfit, "Hey boss? What's our story- as the undercovers?"
"Uh, I didn't think about that." Greg admitted over the radio, "Think of something."
"A newlywed couple on their honeymoon?" Spike suggested.
"Please Spike," Megan said, "Husband cheating on wife in a hotel with a hot, young girlfriend?"
"That sounds believable." Ed replied, "But let's change girlfriend to…"
"Ed!" Megan exclaimed, "No!"
"Fine- girlfriend it is."
"Eagle one and two on location." Spike said, as Megan and him got out of the car, "Valet parking."
"Copy that- I'm on the ground off of black, eagles." Greg radioed to them, "Stay concealed and blue. Eddie?"
"Sierra One, in position, eagles one and two processed by security at the main doors- allowed entry. Mission is a go."
"Copy that." Greg said, "Keep me updated."
At home, Jules started to go through things in her mind.
Finish the renovation. That should bring us to almost the end of the second trimester. Me and Megan will start attending the pre-natal classes. Do I want to bring Megan? She said she would, and I definitely want her there when I'm giving birth, so she should go to the classes with me.
She looked down at the coffee table, where she picked up the book that Megan had bought her, but hadn't started reading yet.
'What To Expect When You're Expecting'- real original. I think I've heard that somewhere else. 'What To Expect When You're Expecting- the clear and concise guide to the happy birth of your child. Chapter One- The Responsibilities of Raising a Child'. Yeah, I know you have to be a responsible parent to a child- but a whole chapter dedicated to it? 'Ensuring you know what is best for your child', 'Proper feeding of your child', 'Career sacrifices to ensure that you bond with your child.' Wait- I'm expected to sacrifice my job for the baby? Yeah, ok sure, there's the maternity leave and all- but what about after that? Am I expected to only work part time? The taxes and bills won't pay for themselves… but I suppose Megan could help me out, right?
"The eagles have got their room." Ed informed over the radio, "Entering the 3rd elevator from the left to go to the seventh floor."
"Ed, do you seriously need to commentate everything?" Megan whispered over the radio.
"Yup, I like sports." Ed replied, "My eyes have been compromised. Eagles- what do you see?"
"The inside of an elevator." Spike whispered, as the elevator stopped on the third floor.
Once the elevator stopped, and the doors opened, a large, tall man entered.
"10th floor, sweetheart." He said, as he graced Megan's cheek with his head.
Megan had to fight her temptation to swat the man's hand away and to place him in a pair of cuffs, but she fought the urge, and instead pressed the button for the 10th floor.
The elevator continued up, and let Megan and Spike out on their floor.
Once the elevator doors went closed, Spike looked around nervously and grabbed Megan's arm and hauled her into the room that they rented.
"Boss- did you access the CCTV?" Spike asked, "You should've been able to with the instructions I gave you."
"Yeah, why?" Greg asked.
"Look back in the camera in the elevator, and look at the guy who entered on third floor."
"You know him?" Greg asked.
"You got Wordy in the truck with you, right?" Spike asked.
"Yeah, Wordy is here." Greg replied, as he used a laptop to go back on the CCTV records, "Why?"
"Ask him if he recognizes the big guy."
Once Greg found the right camera, he reversed the feed, and found the image of Spike, Megan and the unidentified man in the elevator.
"You recognize him?" Greg asked, as he spun the computer around for Wordy to see.
"That's Leroux." Wordy said.
"Who's Leroux?" Megan asked, as she started on making the rope harnesses with a bundle of rope in the purse.
"Robert Jones Leroux-" Wordy informed over the radio, "Spike- how'd you know?"
"I recognized him from a picture from the database when the Central Dispatch Office needed their computers purged of the malware virus."
"That still doesn't answer my question." Megan asked, "Who's Leroux?"
"Robert Jones Leroux controls over half the drugs in the city. Big fish." Wordy explained over the radio, "We've been trying to put him away for a long time. This is the first time he's been spotted in the last three months. You guys will have to grab him before you blow your cover- we need him off the streets."
"We're here for an extraction of Officer Adam Ceasor, Wordy," Ed reminded, "Which one takes precedence?"
"Preferrably- both."
"Can't have both." Ed said, "Spike- what floor was Leroux headed to?"
"10th." Spike replied.
"Yeah, definitely can't have both Wordsworth."
"We need our guy, Eddie," Wordy complained, "He's been undercover for the past six months- hasn't been home, hasn't seen his wife, his kids- how would you like it if someone did that to you?"
"I know, Wordy, but we can't do it."
"I think we can," Megan said, "Spike can go after Adam like planned during the distraction. Before the distraction, I can pick the lock to the custodial closet near the elevator. I noted that it has an eye in it."
"We'd need an elevator over-ride for that to work." Spike said, "All I have is my phone and PDA. If the boss backs out of the FD database I set up for him on the laptop, I could use the PDA to hook up to the database. Once in, I can connect to the wireless network with my phone and create a five second network brown-out using an IP spoof. During the brown-out I could theoretically latch on to the local FD database and extract the over-ride codes. Once the brown-out is done, and no one noticed, I can then use my phone, and with another IP spoof, send the over-ride code to the elevator controller."
"And you can do all of that from where you are?" Wordy asked.
"Of course I can." Spike replied, "Theoretically."
"You sure, Spike?" Greg asked.
"Sure…"
"Spike, if you say 'theoretically' again, I'm going to smack you."
"Yeah, it's doable."
"What's the plan then?" Ed asked, "If Spike's over-riding elevators, then Megan needs to do the extract."
"It won't take me long Ed," Spike replied, "I can do it on my way up to 10th- I can make it look like I'm texting. I'll need to get up to 9th though before the distraction starts to give me a head start on the over-ride."
"And are we sure Leroux is going to come down the elevators?" Ed asked, "What if he's not alone? He's probably going to have a bodyguard."
"I'll detain both Ed." Megan thought of the solution, "Then Spike descends the elevator over-ride and I walk out the front doors."
"Not if security doesn't catch you." Ed pointed out, "And if they know who Leroux is, they may use you as target practice."
"I can handle it, Ed." Megan assured.
"Wordy- you sure you want to do this?" Ed asked, "Because we're taking a huge risk here. We're sending Spike up almost to the target without a distraction, and we got one officer in training arresting a drug lord and his hired muscle."
"We need both Ed."
"No, what we need is a priority." Ed instructed, "Make up your mind. Leroux or Ceasor? If you say both, I'll accept that, but then you'll need to prepare yourself to answer another question."
"Both. What else?"
"Which one would you rather let die? Officer Adam Ceasor, or kingpin Leroux?"
"If Leroux dies, then all of this is for nothing." Wordy pointed out.
"What's the directive?" Ed asked Wordy, "Whose life is the priority?"
"Leroux. Leroux is the priority."
"Team One- new deal." Ed summarized, "From his location, and ascending to 9th floor, officer Scarlatti will attempt to over-ride the elevator to stop at the seventh floor. Upon his confirmation at 9th, Sargent Greg Parker will call in the distraction. Using the distraction, Officer Scarlatti will extract Officer Adam Ceasor from the penthouse to a secure location. As well, during the distraction, Officer In Training Perrasmith will enter a facility closet on 7th floor, across from the elevators and await for Robert Jones Leroux to be stuck on seventh floor. Perrasmith will detain Leroux and will carefully descend the building into the lobby for safe extraction of Leroux into a waiting undercover 56th division car, which Guns and Gangs Officer Kevin Wordsworth will call in. The priority here is Robert Leroux. Am I clear Team One?"
"Copy that."
Spike left the room and started working on the over-ride on his way up to 9th floor. Meanwhile, Megan was pacing the room, waiting for the distraction so she could enter the closet across the hall.
Then her phone vibrated with a text message.
'From K. Wordsworth- Have something to drink from the mini-bar, it's on G&G'
Megan opened the fridge and saw that it was stocked with several bottles of wine, coolers, beer, and other alcoholic beverages.
She whipped out her phone and took a photo of the bar and texted Greg, 'Boss?'
After a few seconds Greg replied, 'Have a beer. Take the edge off.'
Once she knew that Greg was ok with her having a drink, she didn't think twice, and grabbed a beer, twisted the top and took a chug.
Not as good as I thought it would be.
"Eagle one in position, awaiting distraction." Spike radioed in.
"Copy that, phoning in distraction." Greg replied.
Megan put down the beer, and removed the two lock picks from her purse that she'd need.
Once at the door, she peered out the eye hole.
"Hold- I see Leroux! I repeat- Leroux is on the 7th floor!"
"What?" Ed asked, "Boss?"
"Can't do it." Greg said, "just finished calling in the distraction."
"Alright, they know." Spike said, as he could hear activity from above him on the 10th floor penthouse, "Heading up to extract Adam."
"What's Leroux doing?" Ed asked.
"Pacing the hallway, looking for something?" Megan suggested, "You don't think he's looking for us, do you?"
"I doubt it." Wordy butted in, "Your entry into the hotel was solid, no holes."
"I got Leroux," Ed suggested, "He's in a windowed section- I have the solution."
"Ed- you can't take it!" Wordy yelled.
"I have Ceasor, and we are secure in a 9th floor bachelor suite." Spike radioed, "Eagle two?"
"I hear you, eagle one." Megan radioed back, "What's next? Do I approach Leroux?"
"What's the call here Greg?" Ed asked. "Boss- what's the call?"
"If we're going to make a move on Leroux, we need to do it know." Megan noted over the radio.
"Eagle two- have you been compromised?" Greg asked.
"Negative boss, eagle one has Adam secured. I can stealth behind Leroux and take him into custody."
"Can you do it silently- without weapons?" Greg asked.
"I don't know. Probably." Came Megan's answer.
"Eddie- you got Leroux?"
"Negative, no solution- he must be mobile throughout seventh floor."
"Am I approaching?" Megan asked.
"No- here's what we're doing." Greg said, "We're going to make him come to us. Spike- you and Ceasor descend to 8th floor, from there, there is a fire escape ladder- once you open the door to it, the alarm will go off. This will start an evacuation. Megan will evacuate, just like anyone else. Once in the evacuation zone, she will approach Leroux, with Ed covering her as Sierra. She will attempt to detain. If Leroux struggles, or Megan loses control, Sierra- you have Scorpio."
"We need Leroux!" Wordy yelled, "What part of that don't you get?"
"Settle down, Officer Wordsworth," Greg said, "because I value the lives of my officers over the lives of a criminal."
"Copy that," Ed confirmed, "The evac zone is north west of your position?"
"Correct, Sierra- watch it." Greg confirmed.
The fire alarm went off.
Megan pretended it was real, and bounded out the room without looking through the eye hole.
Had she had looked, she would've known that she was going to run right into Leroux.
"There is a fire- we must go!" Leroux commanded, in a deep French accent, as he ushered her to the nearest flight of steps, "Your boyfriend- in the elevator, where is he?"
"He went to get ice!" Megan exclaimed, lying and faking hysteria at the same time.
Once at the bottom of the steps, Megan opened the fire escape door which lead into the back alley, which was approximately north of where Greg was parked. Before she opened the door wide to let Leroux through, she made sure that Spike and Adam got into the undercover SUV beforehand.
"What are you waiting for?" Leroux said, as he shoved Megan to the ground, stepped over her and into the evacuation zone.
"Megan- I don't see you, where are you?" Ed asked, "Reply, or I'll take the shot."
"I'm fine." She whispered, as he grabbed for the compact handgun concealed on her back, drawing it out and pointing it at Leroux, "Hands in the air, put them up now!"
"Who are you?" Leroux asked her.
"OIT Perrasmith from the Strategic Response Unit- show me your hands, and put them on your head- now!"
"Policiers!" he exclaimed, as he drew for something in his pants.
"Hands where I can see them!" Megan ordered.
But Leroux's hand never came back out of his pocket, as Ed lined up his shot and took it.
Greg, Wordy, and Spike all bounded out of the truck, guns in their hands.
It was a good thing, because the high powered shot that took out Leroux caught the attention of the security guards who now had their guns trained on Megan.
"Lower your weapons!" Spike yelled at them, "Lower them!"
"Sierra One, coming to you." Ed informed, "Five minutes out."
"Put your weapons down, or you will be shot- do you understand?" Wordy yelled out.
"Carefully put your guns on the ground, and put your hands on your head." Greg carefully articulated.
"She'll put down her gun first." The security supervisor said, as he readied an AR15.
"No she won't!" Ed yelled from behind her. "Put the guns down, and hands where I can see them."
"You know you we are- and who you shot, right?"
"That's right." Ed replied, "Surrender your weapons, and I'll make a good long note of it that you were co-operative with the police."
"Fine." The supervisor said, as he spoke French to his subordinates.
Once back at SRU, Spike and Megan changed.
In the locker room, Megan looked in the mirror at her one side of her body, where she had made contact with the ground when Leroux pushed her. Up her leg, and around the one side of her leg was a big reddish bruise. Her stomach wasn't too bad, but her face had a few spots where some loose rocks and pebbles drove into her skin, causing her to bleed.
"Hey there." Came a voice.
Megan quickly covered her chest, as she spun around to see Kiera.
"Kiera? I thought you guys had your own change room?"
"They're renovating it." Kiera said, as she made no intentions of hiding the fact that she was checking Megan out.
"Yeah, great. Do you mind?"
Kiera broke her glance at Megan's body and started to leave, "Looking good."
A/N: Say whaaaaaaaaaat? That's right, A New Beginning fans, that's right.
Keep those boots on.