In the morning the pack of reporters had multiplied overnight and not only them but usual blasé New Yorkers were staring at them as if they were a new exhibit at the zoo. All this attention as if they were goldfish in bowl was getting to them both but they ignored it. It was just one more burden to carry.
/
Earlier previous day Carmine Bracken was leaving Homeland Security Building. Her friend Senator Donald Humpheris from Wisconsin who happened to be the chairman for the appropriation bill on Homeland Security was called then persuaded by holding up much needed funding unless his friends and associates were released.
Agent Fallon getting orders from on high did not like it but ordered them released but they were going to be arranged tomorrow.
Once in the limo the tirade began.
"How dare they come and raid my legitimate business! How dare they parade me like some common criminal! We are here fighting against those who would destroy us. This is how we are treated?" Carmine ranted the driver said nothing nor did the passengers with her.
"It was that woman Beckett or whatever she calls herself. Let's see what she is hiding! I want it all on the web for everyone to see who she really is! And when that is done eliminate her! I want her gone!" Carmine ordered.
Listening to her orders her right hand lackey sent word to their hacker friends. Then when they arrived at the mansion he held back from the rest and called their favorite FBI agent Arnold Avery. He told him of the plot to bomb Kate's car. Then he hung up. Secure in the knowledge he would try to save her.
What the lackey did not know was Agent Avery was expecting the call and had it recorded. This was a confession. Everyone in the task force would be advised of this recording after he was dead.
Arnold had decided he would sacrifice herself so that Kate would live. He knew who they would use to place it and when it would detonate. He hoped he would be there in time to intercept her.
/
Kate was entering the precinct everyone tried but failed miserably not to look at the Lt. She may have had her private life spread across the web. But she commanded respect for the position of Lt.
As soon as she reached the security of her office she called a meeting. All of her people were there to give updates on what was discovered. Ryan started first since he had the most to give.
"Lt. as your request there was massive response from the public and your suspicions were correct. Agent Avery was at the terminal at the Night of May 13, 2013. And we have been able to track him with help from our friends at Homeland Security and the FBI plus an assist from the Coast Guard. We tracked his whereabouts before the shooting. The last security cam shows him with the rifle case and entering the building which CSU did confirm was the shooter's nest. CSU reported a sample of blood and partial print was found in the room confirming he was there." Ryan said.
"Good work Ryan we have him with motive, weapon and opportunity. It is time to send out that warrant for his arrest!" Kate said.
"Ok Lt." one of the other detectives left the meeting to send out the warrant.
"Ok Espo what do you have?" Kate asked.
"We have been tracking and we have a recording of a conversation but it was scrambled. Our techs are working on it. Plus we have been following his movements. Lt. he is no longer in DC." Espo said.
"When did he leave?" Kate asked.
"As best as Homeland Security can tell last night after receiving this phone call." Espo said.
"OK Espo try to find him again you know the drill all roads, train and airports. We need to find him." Kate said.
"Kate that phone call could have been to warn him of our certain intent to locate and confine him." Rick said.
"Yeah possibly he ran but there was no real reason for it. We had not narrowed it down to him until today!" Kate said.
"Oh yeah so what could have been so important that he would flee as soon as he got the call?" Rick wondered.
"You keep on pondering that while I go and update Gates on the case." Kate said kissing him.
Before she reached Gates door she got a call from Agent Mark Fallon from Homeland Security. She listened carefully what he found. She then hung up.
Kate knocked on her superior's door and Gates ordered her in.
"Lt. you have anything to report?" Gates asked looking over her glasses at her.
"Sir I am here to report we have narrowed the field to only one suspect." Kate said.
Well Lt. Please spit it out I can not wait here all day. I am being summoned to 1PP to brief the higher up. Gates said.
"Yes Sir. This suspect is Agent Arnold Avery of the FBI." Kate said.
"Are you sure Lt. this is a very serious charge." Gates said.
"Very sure Sir, enough to have him arrested and questioned." Kate said.
"Very Good Lt. Lay out your evidence against him." Gates said.
"Sir do you remember our conversation about the corruption of Senator Bracken with in all Law Enforcement Agencies." Kate asked
"Yes go on." Gates said.
"Using the taskforce connection with the CIA we determined that Agent Avery was part of that corruption." Kate said.
"You are telling me that a decorated Military vet whose FBI record is spotless was touched by this corruption?" Gates said incredulously.
"Yes sir and we recorded conversations between him and known associates of the Dragon. These conversations prove his involvement Sir." Kate said.
"Lt. That is very hard to believe but if you have the records then I must accept it go on." Gates said.
"Sir then there is motive. Senator Bracken had the flight I was on bombed to crash. 4 members of Agent's Avery family were on board. They did not make it Sir. Being part of this corrupt organization he knew the bomb maker. Sir we have evidence of the bomb being built and shipped to the Xe Corp owned by his Bracken's niece Carmine Bracken and Homeland Security going though their files found the receipt of the bomb and the orders to eliminate me by placing the bomb on the flight by the hydraulic lines."
"So Ex Sen. Bracken killed his family? He did this just to kill you?" Gates said realizing the enormity of this conspiracy. "Ok Lt continue."
"Sir on the day in question getting surveillance from cameras and other devices we have determined Agent Avery was with a rifle case and standing in front of the building which CSU determined was the sniper's nest. One partial and a blood smear places him in that room. Sir." Kate said.
"So where is Agent Avery now?" Gates asked.
"Unknown at this time Sir a warrant has been issued but we do know he was in DC last night but received a phone call tracked back to an aide to Carmine Bracken. He disappeared afterward." Kate said.
"So he was tipped off?" Gates asked.
"Not likely Sir since only this morning did all the evidence came together. Last night nobody had a clear picture who was the shooter." Kate said.
"Very Good Lt. Keep on it…Kate speaking of pictures I am so sorry what happened to you." Gates said.
"Sir that we believe was a character assassination triggered by Carmine's arrest in DC. The CIA has located the hackers in Russia which have been arrested. Sir. They were part of what the CIA call Operation Conner. They have decrypted the orders from General Mast himself. He is about to be arrested along with 125 other conspirators across the world." Kate said.
Gates was stunned by what Kate had told her. This criminal Empire of Ex Senator Bracken was immense.
"Is that all Lt?" Gates wondered if there was more.
"Yes Sir at this time I have this report ready for you to present to 1PP. Also be advised there are members of NYPD which are involved in this corruption. Do not be surprised the Chief of Detectives is one of them." Kate said.
How many officers are involved? Gates asked.
"54 current and former officers are being arrested by Homeland Security Sir." Kate said having just gotten off the phone with Agent Mark Fallon.
"54 officers?" Gates said.
"Yes sir. The raid on Xe Corp held all the documents." Kate said.
"I see anything else?" Gates wondered.
"Sir the FBI is also raiding and arresting in police depts across the country." Kate said. But that is part of their purge created by the Homeland Security discoveries. There will be more as they search those files further." Kate said.
"Ok well that is much to take in." Gates said. "I can only say Good work Kate! You are a credit to everyone who wears this uniform. You are dismissed."
"Thank you Sir I appreciate it." Kate said then left the thoroughly stunned Captain.
/
Kate was dead tired the arrest around the country and world had shoved her private humiliation off the airwaves and nothing but praise for her was being said instead.
Kate and Rick were still being hounded by Press and gawkers. They saw them as they came out of the precinct together. Rick moved to sign Autographs while she went to the car. There a loud cheer when the crowds saw her. The Unis were trying to hold the crowds at bay.
She had opened the door and was about to enter. A man broke through the barricades shoved Kate out of the way then took her keys. He jumped in the car started it then left. The car sped about 150 yards then it exploded! Kate dirty but safe rushed into Rick's Arms. She did not see who her savior was. It was caught on video though.
Rick who was no where near the car because he was signing autographs for the crowd happened to turn to look at his wife and saw who it was running toward her car.
"Kate are you ok?" Rick said hugging and kissing her.
"Yeah Rick I'm a bit shook up but ok. Who was that?" Kate asked.
"Kate that person who pushed you out of the way was Agent Avery." Rick said shepherding her back to the safety of the precinct.
"Agent Avery? Why?" Kate cried holding on to her husband.
"I figured it out while you were talks with Gates." Rick said.
"Figured out what? Rick let's go home I can not handle any more crowds." Kate said.
"Sure Honey there is a Limo waiting for us in the back of the precinct." Rick said.
Entering the precinct she was confronted by a very worried Gates followed by most of the detectives under her command who had the windows rattled by the explosion.
"Lt. are you all right?" Gates asked.
"Yes Captain I am fine a little dirty from rolling on the ground but fine. Please I want to go home." Kate pleaded.
"You heard your commander. Open a hole!" Gates yelled.
Kate and Rick were escorted by NYPD finest and a protection detail was posted at the loft to force the crowds away.
\\\\\
At the loft Kate was met by a very worried Alexis who was watching the news at the time of the explosion. Martha with Jim stood next to her Colin and Jackson was missing.
Alexis quickly hugged Kate then spoke.
"I saw the explosion on TV I saw who stole your car too." Alexis said. "I am glad my Mom is alright."
"Katie Bear are you ok?" Jim said hugging her after Alexis moved away.
"Dad I am fine just dirty and tired I want to take a bath" Kate said leaving everyone behind.
They all descended on Rick with their questions.
Rick told them all he knew and after the hysteria ended he went looking for his wife. He found her relaxing in the tub.
"Tough Day huh?" He said as he massaged her back.
"Yeah Tough Year" Kate said.
"I can agree to that. Kate are you sure you want to keep on doing this? I was on a call with Gina while you were in with Gates." Rick said.
"So this little problem makes you answer her calls now?" Kate smirked.
"Uh… Yeah… anyway Kate they are offering 100 million for your memoirs. You should not be out there anymore. When that explosion happened I thought of all the times we cheated death. We can no longer do it especially with little ones on the way." Rick said.
"Yeah Rick I am tired and I can not think about this right now. Take me to bed!" Kate said.
"I will after I shower. You were not the only one to get dirty!" Rick said.
"Well I might reconsider and shower with you." Kate seductively said.
"I would appreciate that Kate." Rick said kissing his wife.
They kissed and Rick got naked then jumped into the shower along with Kate.
They were in the shower for a very long time.