Don't own Chuck
Jamil rode in a cab over to the Iraqi consulate on Wilshire and as he was riding he looked out the window trying to get his ideas straight in his head. Truthfully he wasn't sure why the Cultural Attaché wanted to talk to him but since the attaché had called him he couldn't turn him down. Albeit he was more than a little perplexed but he repeated to himself that he'd been called.
"Well buddy we're here," said the taxi driver as he pulled up outside the building. "I hate to tell you I told you so but it looks like it's all locked up."
"I don't understand I'm not that late," said Jamil. He paid the taxi driver then got out but as he did a man called to him from across the street.
"Well I'm glad to see this wasn't a wasted trip for you. Tell you what I'm going on break now and I should be back in service in about an hour I'll swing by and pick you up if you're standing here. If not that means you've made your own way back."
"Okay it's a deal," said Jamil as he paid him slipping him an extra twenty. "Now let's go see what's going on," he said as he crossed the road the taxi pulled out.
"Dr. Al-Bayati," said the man greeting him after he crossed the road. "I think we already know each other."
"Yes from the museum, you're the curator right? But I was expecting to meet the Cultural Attaché," said Jamil. Everything was getting confusing.
"Yes I know something came up at the last minute so he asked me to meet you. Jump in my car and we'll run to the museum where we can talk."
"Okay but I should call my wife and let her know where I'll be," said Jamil as he got into the curator's car. He pulled out his phone but Dr. Mason took it from him.
"That's not a good idea. Listen as far as anyone is concerned we never met. Just sit back and enjoy the ride I'll explain everything when we get to the museum.
If the car hadn't been moving Jamil would've gotten out. He didn't like this, he didn't like it at all but there wasn't anything he could.
"I want to know what's going on right now or at the next red light I get out," said Jamil. The curator remained silent then as he began to ease into a red light Jamil started to open the door.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," said the doctor. "Open the glove box and look inside first. I think you might want to change your mind."
Jamil shut the door then opened the glove box inside the glove box was a small monitor. It was receiving live feed from a room with two men. One had a sniper rifle while the other one had binoculars.
"I don't understand this is supposed to be important to me why?" asked Jamil as he looked back at the curator.
"Guys show our friend who you're watching," said the curator. One of the men touched his ear then nodded. They connected the video feed to the rifle scope. Jamil turned white when he saw his wife and daughter through their hotel window in the scope sight.
"Who are you and what do you want?" asked Jamil. He felt a cold chill run up his back. "Listen I don't have any money..."
"I don't want your money. I want to give you some as a matter of fact but you need to play ball will us. I'm sorry you had to see this but you have to know we're serious and when we want something we get it," said the curator as he pulled into the museum parking lot but when he did he found the museum crawling with men in black. "But it looks like we won't get that chance to talk tonight. Go back to your hotel room and wait for me to contact you. Your flight home just got delayed by a day."
"What do I tell my wife? She's going to ask me about my meeting tonight."
"The more she knows the more she becomes a risk and you won't like how we deal with risks especially when they become too great."
"If you touch my wife or daughter I'll kill you," said Jamil as he smashed the monitor on the dashboard.
"Interesting display of totally useless violence you didn't really think that was going to intimidate me did you? I'll be in touch and don't think about hoping the first flight back to London we've got men everywhere. Now you can go," said Dr. Mason as he reached over him and opened the door. "You want to get out before I have to explain to these men why you're here with me."
Jamil got out in a daze. If he hadn't been sure he was awake he would've thought he'd been dreaming or better having a nightmare but he was wide awake. He hailed down the first taxi he could find then had the driver take him back to his hotel as fast as he could.
"How'd it go," asked Noora. But Jamil didn't answer he just went straight to the windows and closed the curtains.
"I want the curtains drawn at all times from now on," he said. He could see the puzzled look on his wife's face. "This is L.A. and people... strange people could be looking inside our room."
"You're scaring me. Did something happen at your meeting? You seem different is everything okay," asked Noora. Her husband hadn't been like this since the fall of Saddam and what happened to his father.
"Everything is fine. The attaché couldn't talk much because he got called away on an important matter but he asked me to postpone our departure for a day. I had no choice but to agree."
"Said like that it sounds like he had a gun to your head," said Noora as she laughed but Jamil didn't. "That was a joke. You're supposed to laugh. Are you sure everything is okay?"
"Of course I am and stop hounding me over it. What time is it? It's late why is Samaa still up? She should've been in bed hours ago."
"She wanted to stay awake so you could tuck her in and give her a good night kiss," said Noora. She knew something was wrong but her husband was shutting her out and she couldn't figure out why.
[Back at the Museum]
The curator got out of his car and walked over to the group of men in black that were combing the museum from top to bottom. It was obvious they were looking for something and he was afraid he knew what it was. He walked across the gravel parking lot to the path past the three black Escalades with official on their license plates.
"Excuse me but what's going on," asked the curator as he walked into the museum atrium. The glass walls were still boarded up with plywood. "Who's in charge here?"
"That would be me," said Chuck as he walked down from above. "I'm sorry I'd hoped you would've been here when we arrived so I could tell you that we've come back to do a better search of the premises."
"I hope you have a warrant to go along with that excuse," said the curator as he looked around at the agents going through everything. "You know these things are priceless?"
"Hardly," said Chuck. "It seems your Dr. Daniels might have fibbed a little when he appraised their validity."
"I see and you're the expert now," said Dr. Mason. "But you haven't answered me about your warrant. May I see it?"
"I don't need one, this museum was built with Federal funds on federal land given to the State. If you want I can call the governor and ask permission but that would just piss him off. However, if you want to knock yourself go for it. I'm well with in my juridical mandate. As far as being an expert well I am in a certain manner. You see this," said Chuck as he walked down to the Curator. "This is a book that Dr. Daniels published on ancient Sumerian art and culture..."
"I didn't mean anything by asking to see your warrant I just have to answer to the trustees and I know one of them is going to ask. Where did you say that book came from? I've never seen it before," said the Doctor. The one book he forgot to grab from Daniels' office now came back to haunt him.
"This came from Dr. Daniels' office. I don't suppose you've ever been there?" The curator shook his head. "Interesting, but as you can see he's put these markers and strange enough these are all the statutes and artifacts here..."
"That's not so strange he was verifying them from the photos and his notes. It makes perfectly good sense actually."
"Then explain to me this," said Chuck as he showed the photos he had of the lamassu on his phone then he showed him the ones in the book. "Don't you see it? The scar that goes down the back in the book is missing on yours. The cuneiform on some of these pieces is a nice reproduction but the writing doesn't make sense because someone didn't pay attention to the details."
"I don't know if Dr. Daniels knew how to read cuneiform. I certainly don't and it's rather remarkable as well as unique that you can."
"I could prove it to you if any of these texts made sense but the fact is Dr. Daniels did know cuneiform," said Chuck. "See all these footnotes they're text he translated for his book so something isn't right here."
"Well then I suggest you find Dr. Daniels and ask him but why are you searching the museum? Didn't you do that the other day?"
"That's when we thought the canisters went down the port in the floor," said Chuck. "But they couldn't have... or better they could've dropped them down it but the drain would've been empty."
"I thought there was water in that all the time," said curator. "Or that's what one of the men who came and cleaned it said."
"Yes there's water but not water enough to move those canisters that only happens when there's heavy rains in the mountains. It causes something similar to a flash flood but once that flood water goes through it returns to its previous levels. So do you have any idea why the robbers would place you by the port?"
"I don't know," said the curator. Suddenly he felt very warm as all eyes seemed to fall on him. "I guess you'd have to ask the men who broke in."
"I was thinking maybe they wanted to plant a ruse to throw us off their tracks. Do you remember hearing them say anything or do anything that can help us?"
"No I'm afraid not it was all so fast I was inside with my back to the door when I turned around they were in and your people were all shot. I panicked when I saw all that blood then I was out."
"You said they were Middle Eastern but they had ski masks on so I'm assuming you knew they were Middle Eastern from their accents. Strange that you could tell they were Middle Eastern from their accents but you can't tell me one word they said."
"You're right I could be wrong but I was scared... I don't mind telling you I thought for a moment when they barged in that my life was over."
"I see," said Chuck. "Now if what I read is right you became curator after the previous curator resigned then disappeared, right?"
"He moved down under if memory serves me right. But you'd have to check with someone in administration if you want a forwarding address. But I think he's living in the outback and I don't think they get mail out there."
"I see well I've taken enough of your time. Oh one last question do you have any assistants here in the museum to help you?"
"Just volunteers from time to time but no one on the payroll. I get a lot of help from college students who are trying to earn extra credits."
"Very well my men tell me you're all..." Chuck was about to say 'done' when one of the men in black came up to him and whispered in his ear. "It seems I was about to speak too soon. Our men have found something."
"Really where?" said the Curator as he followed the mass of men outside to a tool shed that was setup too make repairs to the museum after the attack.
"What've we got," asked Chuck as he walked up with the Curator following behind him. John looked at the man then at Chuck.
"We found two canisters inside with yellow biohazard labels. At least they were nice enough to label them. I've got a special decon team coming in to pick them up."
"Good no one should go inside the shed nor should anyone touch them except the decon team," said Chuck.
"Roger that. I called Beckman and I thought she was going to have kittens. Can I ask what am I supposed to do with a sombrero?"
"You're ready now for the next Cinco de Mayo. I don't know I was there and I thought it would be nice to bring everyone back a souvenir."
"I would've appreciated a nice bottle of Tequila instead but I appreciate the gesture just keep that in mind next time."
"I'm going to head back in if there's nothing else," said the curator. He was trying to get away so he could report in.
"We don't need you anymore for now but we might have more questions later on. I don't suppose you know who has access to this shed?"
"That would be the maintenance company repairing the damage done to the museum. That reminds me I don't even have a key I should get one."
"It's on your grounds I would think you should have access," said Casey. "If I were you I'd already have one but that's just me. I thought you were leaving?"
"I am," said the curator. He turned and left as John and Chuck watched him as he walked away. He felt their stares in the back of his head. He needed to make a phone call but he had to be careful what he said or he'd end up on the short list for sure.
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Sam was sitting on her bed looking at the doll that Banai sent her with her sombrero on. It was a little too big and kept falling down over her eyes then she had to constantly keep pushing it up. But it was the doll that was perplexing and a little scary for her. She knew she should appreciate the offer as an act of kindness. However, the faceless figure of a girl doll with no eyes and ears, no nose and lips, no facial features at all just black string hair with a dress on was a little too much.
"What's the matter," asked Sarah as she walked in. She noticed Sam sitting pensive on her bed looking at the doll.
"What am I supposed to do with this? I don't know what to do with it? I should name her but how do I know it's a her? Just because she's wearing a dress and has long hair I've seen men at Venice Beach with the same outfit on."
"Excuse me who took you to Venice Beach," asked Sarah. Sam didn't say anything she just kept staring at her doll. "I won't push it but I think I know who." Sam just shrugged her shoulders.
"She's kind of scary like this with no face. But why do they make a doll then not put a face on it. I don't understand."
"It has to do with their religion they don't believe in making images of people. You can ask Samaa tomorrow she can explain it better than I can. But remember the beautiful handwritings of Razhib that's where that comes from. However, we should ask Noora and Samaa to explain it."
"Okay," said Sam. She took the doll and was going to set it face down on a table she had in her room but when she jumped off her bed her sombrero fell down over her eyes. She still had the doll in her hand so she ended up hitting herself in the face with it as she tried to push her hat up.
"Let's take this off for now," said Sarah as she took her hat off then she kissed her on her knot. Sam sat the doll down then she wanted her hat back.
"I got an idea," said Sarah. She went to the bathroom with Sam following behind her. She wasn't going to let her sombrero out of her sight. Sarah took a hand towel wrapped it up and put it inside then put it back on Sam's head.
"There you go Juanita," said Sarah as she placed the hat back on Sam's head. Sam moved her head around and it stayed in place without falling over her eyes.
"Muchas gracia señorita bonita," said Sam. She smiled and giggled as she ran back to her room then slammed the door.
"Hold on a second I want to know where that came from," said Sarah as she went back to Sam's bedroom.
"What's going on," asked Alex. "Dad and Chuck will be a little late coming back home. It seems they found two of the missing canisters."
"Nothing just someone has been learning Spanish and I want to know from whom. You don't think Sam's been listening to Big Mike go on about Morgan's mother?"
"No I don't think that's it. What did she say anyway?"
"Someone told me muchas gracia señorita bonita," said Sarah loud enough for Sam to hear her which made Sam laugh that much more on the other side of the door. "For someone's information I'm not a señorita anymore but a señora."
"I know where she heard that. Morgan's started watching this stupid Mexican telenovela and one of the men was trying to hit on this attractive girl called Juanita. She did him a favor and he said muchas gracia señorita bonita."
"If she isn't repeating Casey now she's repeating soap operas. Good grief where has parental guidance gone to."
"That's what I say with Morgan every day," said Alex as they both started laughing outside Sam's door.
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The curator made his way back to his office where he closed the door. He poured himself a Scotch then went back to his desk. He thought back to Chuck's question about the previous curator. He was somewhere out to sea by now, one of the first items thrown down the port in the floor. But now he had to phone in and report they'd lost two canisters; however, on the plus side he'd made contact with Jamil. Well he couldn't put it off any longer. He dialed the number and put it on speaker while he kept track of what was going on from his window.
"It's me I've got good news and I've got bad news. The good news is I made contact with Jamil and put the fear of... well fear in him. I think once he comes to grips that we'll own him he'll play ball with us."
"That's good did you give him the package to deliver in London? Our customer in the new IRA asked that it be hand delivered."
"There was a small snag I'll get it to him tomorrow that leads me to the bad news. I've got G-men crawling all over the museum..."
"Don't tell me they found the two canisters? I knew we should've put them all together but you wanted to keep them separated."
"I needed some of them handy to make the canister we're delivering to the Irish and besides everyone knows it's not good to put all your eggs in one basket."
"Why did they come back to the museum I thought they already searched the place. Do they suspect you?"
"No I'm fine, there's no problem with my cover whatsoever. It was Daniels; I swear he's haunting us from the grave. Anyway they're on to the fact that the museum pieces here were fakes so they came back to get a closer look and in doing so decided to search again."
"Are you sure that's the reason because I don't see how they'd go from fakes to searching again something doesn't sound right."
"Well they also figured out that the two canisters couldn't have been floated away using the county drainage system. The water level wasn't high enough..."
"Now that sounds like a reason to search to me, but you should've been on top of that. If those canisters had been moved to the safe house then they wouldn't have been found."
"I'm sorry if I've been a little bit busy these past few days but if you'd helped out then maybe I could've done something about them."
"There's no need in copping an attitude with me. It doesn't change anything we're still minus two canisters and you're sure you're not compromised?"
"Yes positive," said the curator. "Look I have to go before one of those apes in black suits walks in. I'll be in touch." He hung up then downed the rest of his Scotch wondering what was going through his boss' head.
[In an office in the Iraqi Consulate]
"Of course I'll talk with you Commandant, I know who you are Ali Al-Najaf, the man to go to when you need things done. Now tell me what's going on with the Brigadier. He tells me everything is okay but I take it you disagree.