The Bad Guys Never Forgive & Never Forget
Chapter 4
"So, Lt. Marshall Phillip Masterson's file, it's all pretty standard stuff in his service file..."Eric began as soon as Callen stepped into Ops that afternoon.
"Problems, Mr. Callen," Hetty inquired.
"Masterson...don't trust him," Callen said succinctly.
With a small snort, Sam said, "You don't trust anyone G; what make this guy stand out?"
"He has Deeks riding 'in' the transport with Harkins," the agent replied, eying his fellow agents to see if they would feel the same way as he did about that idea.
"Isn't Deeks supposed to be running point...for any sign that Harkins people are planning on busting him out," Sam commented, mirroring his partners earlier sentiment, "...kind of hard to do in the back of a closed van; unless they want Deeks making an ID with a gun to his face."
With his suspicions confirmed, he nodded, "hence, the not trusting him part," he said, before fixing his operation's manager with a pointed look.
For her part Hetty held up her hands in defense, "Yes, Mr. Callen, I agree it sounds odd...and I will look into it."
"Harkins wouldn't pass up a chance to take out the cop that brought him down," Sam commented knowingly, fixing his partner with a pointed look, he added, "or the agent."
"But I won't be the one in the van with him," Callen countered.
"What's Deeks think about all this," Sam asked.
"He doesn't like it...doesn't understand it either," Callen said. "Puts him right in the line of fire if Harkins' people were to manage to attack the convoy, Deeks would be a sitting duck in that van with Harkins."
Frowning, Sam asked, "So what are we gonna do about it?"
"Exactly what we are doing," Hetty suddenly interjected, "we will be watching from ops while Mr. Callen rides with the convoy..."
"Can't we pace the convoy, it's a public roadway," Kensi interjected.
"The Marshall's are setting up checkpoints along the back stretch of road that an attack would most likely take place; they'd spot our tail," Hetty explained.
Face creased in thought, Sam said, "Eric, pull me up the route the Marshall's mapped out."
"What are you thinking, Sam," Callen asked his partner, moving up to join him at the big screen.
"We may not be able to pace them through the whole route, but we could pace them to here," Sam said indicating an area of the map before moving to another section and continuing, "then someone else can pick up four miles later on this side..."
"At least we'd be a lot closer if anything happened than being here in ops," Kensi said.
Hetty eyed the map and considered her agents plan; she too was having serious reservations about the whole operation and didn't like the idea of her liaison officer without the back up of his team.
Finally she nodded, "very well...make it happen..."
...NCIS LA...
The morning of the transport dawned overcast and drizzly...the gray skies matching the detective's mood as he pulled into the parking lot of the Marshall's LA field office.
He sat in his car watching the activity in the parking lot as the prison transport van and the three SUV's that would be accompanying the convoy were given last minute checks. So lost in his thoughts he jumped when there was a sharp rap at his window.
"Damn it Callen, trying to give me a heart attack," Deeks grumbled as he opened the car door, but made no attempt past turning in the seat, to leave the vehicle.
Choosing to ignore the diversionary tactic, Callen asked, "You okay...you were a million miles away just now?"
"Just thinking," Deeks said absently, running his hands over his lap and giving a sigh.
It was on the tip of Callen's tongue to razz the detective with some quip about not straining himself with the effort, but the tight look the detective had stopped him, "you alright?"
Finally climbing out of the car, Deeks responded, "all this...there's something off...it's one thing to take precautions; anyone would with a prison transport...but, I don't know, something feels off...almost forced, about this whole thing...it's almost like they want Harkin's to try something..."
Callen raised a surprised brow at the detective's assessment and feeling even more suspicious as the team was experiencing similar reservations about this operation.
Sighing deeply and shrugging his shoulders, Deeks continued, "I don't know, maybe I'm just edgy seeing Harkins again...knowing what he's thinking-all kinds of ways to torture me for settin' him up."
"Well, you're definitely not on his Christmas card list," Callen responded, and trying to show the detective they had his back on this and his gut wasn't wrong he added pointedly, "and we're with you on this...there is definitely something off about this transport."
A dark, haunted look in Deeks absent gaze set off Callen's radar, causing him to ask pointedly, "you saw it didn't you; were there when Harkin's had some of those men tortured..."
"Not for the party, but I definitely saw the aftermath," Deeks said with a hoarse whisper, unable to stop the small shudder that swept over him, "if I would have been there while it was happening...I don't know," Deeks expression was tortured and uncertain as he caught Callen's gaze before continuing, "I mean, I've been there, seen guys put the beat down on each other while I was undercover; but this...this was different. I don't know if I coulda' maintained it man...even if it was another crook he was torturing...I don't think I coulda' kept cover; not found some way to have helped the poor bastards..."
Knowing that the violence criminals often subjected their peer too was always something an undercover had to face, that there was always that dilemma and choice about whether or how to intervene; and for that, Callen had no real words of comfort or advice. What would he have done in Deeks place, if he were the one watching someone get tortured, he couldn't even begin to fathom an answer.
Putting a hand on the detective's shoulder and giving it a squeeze, he said, "we do what we can...and when we can sit back and see anyone hurt, even some of the scum we arrest; then in makes us as bad as they are..."
Masterson saw the detective and agent standing at the edge of the convoy and scowled angrily. The Lt. had too much riding on the success of this op to have NCIS interfering with his plans. He moved quickly towards the two men, and without preamble, barked out, "About time you got here...convoy is due to pull out in twenty...detective, you're in the van."
Masterson thrust out two comm towards the men as he continued, "Here's your comms. We have one car on point and two tailing the van...you, agent Callen, are in car two."
Before either man could comment or protest, Masterson turned back to the convoy preparations and began barking out needless orders to his men.
Deeks spent a moment turning the comm over in his hands before putting it in his ear while Callen just stuffed his in his pocked as he raised a hand to his ear and commented, "...you get that...Masterson is putting as much distance between me and the van as possible..."
"You know what to do, Mr. Callen," Hetty replied.
Callen nodded and reached into his other pocket, pulling out an earwig and handing it to Deeks, "Whatever is going on, we got your back."
Deeks grinned and took the small device, quickly positioning it in his other ear, "Wow, feds in stereo. Hey! Hi ya Eric..."
"Mr. Deeks, it would be most prudent that the Marshall's and especially Lt. Masterson not know of our little communication..." Hetty advised.
"Will do, Hetty," Deeks acknowledged, "just feel a hundred percent better knowing you guys have eyes on this..."
"Remember what I said, when I first offered you the liaison position...you belong to us now..." Hetty replied with a gentle smile.
Giving Callen a smirk, Deeks commented cheekily, "take me, I'm all yours Hetty."
Callen just shook his head, an amused smirk playing across his features, "better be careful what you wish for their Deeks..."
Surprise on his face, Deeks replied innocently, "What...me, Hetty loves me; right Hetty...you wouldn't..."
Her stern tone belied by the smile in her voice, Hetty interrupted, "Mr. Deeks, I believe you have an appointment with the back of a transport van...and it would be best if you maintained radio silence as it were..."
"Aye, aye Captain Hetty..." Deeks said, giving an exaggerated salute, before catching Callen's eye and adding earnestly, "but seriously, thanks for this, guys..."
"Yeah, yeah...just get in the van shaggy..." Sam interjected over the comms.
"Kensi and Sam are going to be pacing the convoy on either side of the route...if anything happens..." Callen informed the detective, leaving the sentiment unsaid but clearly understood.
Shaking hands, Deeks said, "Thanks man. See you at the end."
The two men parted company and climbed into their respective vehicles as the transport prepared to pull out.
...NCIS LA...
Masterson called out to his second in command, "Craig, what's the hold-up...get it in gear, we're leaving."
The dark headed Marshall held up a staying finger, ending his call moments later and approaching his boss.
"What's up..." Masterson demanded of his SIC.
Shrugging, Craig answered, "Nothing, just double checking with our teams along the route, all clear..."
Masterson eyed the man curiously for a moment before giving a curt nod and climbing into the passenger side of the van, while Craig went to the driver's side.
Giving his boss a self-assured smile, Craig asked, "...you ready for this?"
Nodding, Masterson said, "Let's go."
In ops, Hetty and the tech's watched the convoy pull out; Eric saying into the comms, "they're heading out...they should have the prisoner and back on the road to the MDC in two hours..."
From the comms, Kensi and Sam responded, "Copy that."
...NCIS LA...
a/n: thought I'd be into the meat of the story by now, but these darn "team-bonding" scenes just keep presenting themselves and who am I to refuse some "family time" with the team ! Anyway, it will probably be finished up in 2-3 chapters...