Bobby had clearly memorized his way through the maze of hallways and exited out a side door next to a park-like area, on the far side of which was a parking lot, where presumably the van awaited them. "How bad?" Darien asked. Holding that question in had taken major effort, and he'd waited until outside on the off chance Alyx might pick up the sure to be volatile emotions that the answer would inevitably bring.
Hobbes shoulders slumped and his steps slowed dramatically. "Bad. There were a dozen of them, and only three survived. I plan to interview them, but none of them are fit to do so yet. Whatever she did, and I'm not saying they didn't deserve it, she did it thoroughly."
Which is what Darien feared after being told most of them hadn't survived. Alyx clearly didn't remember any of it and he could only wonder if her mind was indeed sheltering her from the memories, if it was the rape or her response that it was hiding. The rape would be bad enough, horrible to put it mildly, but killing her attackers, most likely with her mind, her own probably crawling through theirs and recording every thought and emotion as she did...whatever it was that she did that... that would damage her beyond measure. She hated that darker side, fought every day to keep the more volatile aspects of her personality under strict control, to have failed and failed utterly no matter how justified... it was little wonder she'd made herself forget.
"You want the details?" Hobbes asked holding up the file.
Darien shook his head. "No, don't want to risk Alyx picking it up from me. What I don't know can't hurt her." He gave Bobby a weak smile. "Besides those are just the prelims, right? No way they've done detailed autopsies yet."
"Right, but even these are scary reading, my friend." Bobby got back into motion heading across the grass for the parking lot. "Most of them have been identified and they're all gang members."
"The Kings," Darien guessed.
"Some of 'em. Got five different gangs here. Most of them smaller ones, and across the whole spectrum. Blacks, Whites, Mexicans, even some Asian. Which is damn strange as these groups generally don't work together." Bobby paused, scratching the top of his head. "These guys are usually trying to kill each other over petty shit or territory, it don't make sense, them working together."
"And why target Alyx?" Darien mused. "Maybe this does involve Lenny and he doesn't realize it. Take down his pet Fed as a prelude to move in on his territory?" It wasn't all that farfetched a suggestion. "All the small groups get together, take out the big mobster and divvy up his territory afterwards." It did make some logical sense, except for the various gangs managing to ignore their personal hostilities long enough to work together to first come up with and then execute the plan.
"Yeah, does make sense, but it don't feel right." Bobby met Darien's eyes squarely. "Does it?"
Darien shook his head as Bobby pressed the button on the keyring to unlock the van doors. "No, it doesn't, but we should talk to Lenny first. It's his home ground, maybe he's heard something that could help us."
"You really think he'll spill to us?" Bobby asked as he slid into the driver's seat.
"For Alyx, I think he'd give us muscle to help hold down the bastard that did this." Darien wasn't kidding, based on what she had discussed about the mobster over the months, he'd do just about anything for Alyx, and she for him. Yes, there was a definite line drawn with the Fed/crook opposition, but once Alyx deemed you worthy, and so long as you stayed that way in her eyes, there was little she wouldn't do for you, as Darien well knew.
Hobbes snorted. "I think you're probably right." He started the van and backed out of the spot. This back lot was a maze in its own right, but Hobbes had clearly mastered the convoluted route needed to get back to the main gate and the highway. In no time at all, they were back on the road and headed towards downtown. This was looking to be a mess all the way around.
Darien was pretty certain Alyx had never really tangled with any gangs, much less the Kings except for the occasional gun running bust done by the Agency. It was possible she'd crossed paths with gangs while on assignments for other agencies, especially the ATF, but the ones involved in this mess were all local and not likely to have been someone she'd've encountered while in, say, Korea. The Agency usually left the gang control to the local cops as the petty ante trouble they stirred up tended to be minor in comparison to oh, saving the world. Chrysalis made the Kings look laughable when push came to shove, so why in heaven's name would they go after Alyx? Even assuming a target of opportunity going after her made no sense. It was doubtful she carried anything of value on her when she went to visit Lenny, she rarely wore a gun or badge on those visits, so it wasn't likely she'd done so this time. No need to advertise her, in the eyes of other law enforcement agencies, potentially compromising relationship with one of the top mobsters in SoCal.
"Fawkes, my friend, she's gonna be all right," Bobby said quietly, glancing quickly over at his partner before turning his full attention back to the crazy downtown traffic.
Darien ran a hand through his hair. "Do we keep saying that just to try and convince ourselves or do you really believe that?"
Bobby grunted as if kicked. "The former, at least for now. None of this is making a lick'a sense. I'm hoping checking out the crime scene will give us a direction to go in, 'cause I'm feeling like a weathervane in a tornado right about now."
"Dude, you gotta stop watching those specials on the weather channel, even if the metaphor was pretty good." Darien shook his head in wry amusement.
"What? A little knowledge never hurt no one."
"Oh really, Mister-retro-virus-made-me-super-smart-and-almost-killed-me," Darien came back with quickly, his tone both serious and amused.
"Okay, smartass, point taken," Hobbes said with a chuckle. "Still, we need info, info that makes sense."
"Thus going to Lenny's place," Darien pointed out. "And maybe check out Mom's across the street?"
"Now, you're thinking. The kid noticed them for a reason, even if she don't know the why of it. Might not be a bad idea to check it out." Hobbes pulled onto the street that ran behind Lenny's restaurant, where the VIP parking lot was located and cruised on past, making note of the location of Mom's convenience store and the collection of hoodlums hanging about on the stoop. There were less than a dozen, but the ethnicity ranged across the board, black, Asian, Latino of various types, just as Alyx had recalled. Very strange if the place was run by the Kings, one of the larger black gangs in the area. Taking the next left, he pulled into the main parking lot for In Vino Veritas, the restaurant that was also the home base for Lenny's current activities. He liked tradition, that's for certain. Alyx had mentioned the man was old school all the way, very big on family and trust and the whole shebang, which apparently made the man very easy for her to manipulate. They pulled in and were stopped by an attendant. A flash of Hobbes' badge got them waved in and directed over to one side, where there were several empty spots.
"Reserved parking for cops?" Hobbes mused, clearly at a loss at the seeming special treatment.
"Don't ask me, never been here before. Everything I know about Lenny comes through Alyx and the file we have on him," Darien answered, getting a look of surprise from his partner. "What? Alyx was hanging out with the local mob boss, of course I checked him out."
Hobbes shut off the engine. "I'm impressed. Seriously. You usually can't be bothered crack open a file on an existing case and you went and looked in one voluntarily. It must be love."
Darien shook his head grinning. "Concern for my partner. I'd do the same for you."
"Like I said, love." Hobbes climbed out of the van and Darien followed, both of them walking to the front door of the Italian eatery under the watchful eyes of half a dozen guards. Oh, they were pretty good, none of them looked the part, but Darien had had plenty of experience spotting undercover security long before joining the Agency and had gotten miles better since then. They were allowed to enter unmolested, but when being asked if they had a reservation by the pretty, and armed, brunette at the hostess stand, the obvious muscle moved in.
"Can I help you gentlemen?" he asked with false politeness as he adjusted his sport coat just right so that the bulge of a handgun in a shoulder holster could be easily seen.
"Hoping so." Bobby pulled out his badge. "We'd like to talk to Mr. Facinelli about the incident that took place yesterday."
The muscle looked over the badge and sneered, "Why is Fish and Game interested in an assault and battery?"
"Because the assaultee was their partner, I'm willing to bet."
The owner of the smoothly spoken words appeared with a matched set of mob muscle following behind. He looked like he'd stepped off the front cover of GQ, wearing a perfectly fitted suit that probably cost more than Darien made in a year... legally made, that was, as he had more than a bit stashed away from various after-hours activities. His voice was cultured and crisp, not the usual deep Italian via Brooklyn accent that one would expect after years of movie and television stereotyping. In his mid-forties at a guess, he landed somewhere between Hobbes' less-that-stellar height and his own. Dark, almost black hair and eyes the color of newly printed money, which was oddly apropos in Darien's opinion. He'd seen the photos in the file, of course, but they failed to do the man justice as he radiated a presence that could not be denied. Alyx was right, at first blush, Leonardo Facinelli was a good egg. Not that he was the least bit surprised to confirm Alyx's character assessment.
Lenny held out his hand to be shaken. "How is Miss Silver?" he asked as Darien grasped the man's hand in a firm and only slightly competitive grip.
"Kid's been better," Bobby answered as he took his turn.
"Kid?" Lenny echoed with a look of confusion.
Darien shrugged. " 'Cause she looks so damn young," he answered. "Is there someplace we can talk?"
"Of course." He gestured towards the back of the restaurant. "Should I have Carmen join us?"
"He the one who called it in?" Bobby asked and Lenny nodded. "Better, we'll have some questions for him too."
Lenny glanced over at one of his bookends, who gave a quick nod and trotted off to find Carmen. Once comfortably seated at table in the back away from the patrons - he'd allowed Bobby to choose the first seat; the paranoid agent taking one that allowed him to see all the entry ways and that put his back up against a blank wall, a mirror over the bar permitting him to see anything, or anyone behind him. Typical Bobby Hobbes. Darien took the seat to his left, leaving Bobby's right side where he carried his weapon free and unobstructed. Lenny seemed to know exactly why Bobby had chosen as he had, a tiny smile causing fine lines to appear about his eyes.
"Now, how can I help you?"
"Hoping you can fill in some of the blanks. The kid... Alyx took a blow to the head and doesn't remember anything," Hobbes explained. "Any chance you have surveillance outside your VIP entrance?"
Lenny spread his hands. "Now what kind of host would I be if I recorded the movements of our most valued guests?"
"A smart one?" Darien suggested, certain the tapes existed, in high quality color and not some crappy low rez black and white. "Any opportunity for blackmail." Darien shrugged at the narrowing of the eyes his partner gave him. "What? It's what I would do."
Lenny chuckled. "Very perceptive. I am willing to assist, of course, and will supply you with copies of the relevant times, however..."
"Anyone not involved won't be there," Bobby assured him. "We just want to catch who did this to the kid."
"Didn't the SDPD ask for the tapes?" Darien questioned, not believing the local cops were really that stupid.
"They did, but for them they don't exist," Lenny told them, voice bland.
"Ah," Darien said with a nod. "Got it." He turned to Hobbes, "It does mean anything juicy we can't use as evidence."
"We'll manage. Right now, we're up against a brick wall. I'll take any sledgehammer I can find."
Darien really had to convince Bobby to stop with the metaphors, or teach him how to use them properly. "Mr. Facinelli-"
"Lenny," he corrected. "Unless you have some concern my relationship with... your partner will affect your standing in the government."
Hobbes shook his head. "That is the last thing we're worried about... Lenny."
"Excellent. Let the corruption begin," Lenny said, an irrepressible grin lighting up his features.
Darien felt pretty certain that Lenny didn't really consider it a joke, though there was that added dash of humor to keep the two feds from spooking. He'd be more than happy to have a couple more agents, agents of a similar caliber to Alyx, in his pocket even if only in the eyes of his competitors. The man was good, Darien had to give him that. Just their coming here and walking away unharmed would up Lenny's status. But why would he need that? Could someone actually be moving in on his territory as they had speculated during the ride over? Might it actually be someone more dangerous than some upstart gang-bangers? New world versus old? That would make for one hell of a war in the streets of San Diego. A war Darien would much rather see stopped in it's tracks here and now.
"Who is moving in on you?" Darien asked, not really surprised at the sudden lack of joviality in Lenny's eyes though the smile remained precisely in place.
"If I knew that they wouldn't be trying any longer, would they?" Lenny answered frankly, surprising both agents with his candor.
"You think they went after the kid to get to you?" Hobbes volunteered to fall upon that particular sword.
Lenny tapped a manicured finger on the tabletop. "Let's just say I have some concerns in that direction, but do not know for certain."
Hobbes turned to Darien, a grim look on his face. "How long ago did this push start?" Darien asked, wondering exactly how long Alyx had been a target thanks to this man.
"Six weeks ago we noticed changes in the local gang structure. It began with the Kings, whose territory abuts my own, and has spread from there... But I have the feeling you know all this." Lenny met each of their eyes in turn until Darien finally nodded. "I take it Alyx's attackers were made up of various gangs?"
"Yes," Hobbes told him, "and we're wondering if the real target was you."
"Me or my... business?"
"There's a difference? Take you or the business out and the other one is lost, so..."
"True enough, as you should well know having dealt with Mr. Castignacci personally."
Darien winced and muttered, "Why is it everyone remembers me doing one lousy job for Johnny Books?"
Lenny shook his head and chuckled. "I wasn't referring to that job you did for him, but the fact that you helped arrest him."
Darien knew his eyes had widened in shock and surprise, but couldn't stop the reaction before it had occurred. "Huh. Alyx tell you about that?"
"No," Lenny answered, clearly not about to elaborate. "Ah, here's Carmen now."
"Boss," Carmen said with a nod before taking a seat across from Darien. "How's Red?" he asked, looking straight at Darien.
"Red? Oh, the kid; the red hair and all. She's... she'll live, but is out of commission for a while." Bobby settled back into his chair, not to get comfortable, but to shift his view in the mirror from what Darien could tell. Even knowing Alyx was a friend to these guys did not ease his paranoia one whit.
"Damn it," Carmen growled, quite obviously unhappy about what had happened, though Darien could only wonder why.
"Now Carmen, it is not your fault. You know how stubborn Miss Silver is," Lenny reassured his man. He turned to the two agents who both had matching looks of utter confusion on their faces. "It's Carmen's job to escort our VIPs back to their cars, to insure their safety, Miss Silver always refuses."
"But you followed after her anyway," Hobbes observed.
Carmen shook his head. "Not then, I always head back to watch the security monitors, just in case. She's stubborn, but," he shrugged, "shit happens."
"It does indeed," Hobbes agreed. "So what did you see?"
"That's just it, nothing. She wasn't on the screen at all, never showed up by her car. By the time I made it outside she was gone. I searched for her, since her car was still in the lot; after about ten minutes I heard the screams... Male screams. A few minutes later she staggered out of the building next door, wearing not much more than her shirt, covered in blood and scrapes." He stuttered to a halt, Darien surprised that the man actually sounded upset, almost as if he actually cared about Alyx. He might, or he might just care that he'd failed in his duty, especially if said duty was to keep her safe on the orders of his boss Lenny. "I could tell she'd been hurt pretty bad, but it looked like most of the blood wasn't hers. I radioed for help and went to her. She had no idea who I was at first and... and..." He stopped the look in his eyes one Darien had seen a time or two before when Alyx had been at her scariest and most out of control.
"And what?" Hobbes prompted.
"I thought she was gonna kill me," he whispered, voice hoarse, "but then she blinked and just collapsed. By the time the EMTs showed up she was completely incoherent, couldn't focus her eyes, had no idea who we were or what was going on." He glanced over at his boss who nodded for him to continue. "I saw some of the... bodies when they were brought out." His voice dropped, so that Darien had to strain to hear him. "She broke them." He shook his head, as if trying to toss off the memory the way a dog tosses water off its back. "Boss had me escort her to the hospital; no way we were leaving her alone a second time. I stayed until your Agent Drake and two other agents arrived."
"So the video was looped? Who has access?" Darien was an old hand with looping video cameras, but was mildly surprised that Lenny's guys had fallen for it.
Lenny shook his head. "Not possible, not the way the system is set up. To loop the video you'd have to hack it, since none of the cameras were physically touched."
"Yes, possible, you'd just have to be damn good... or on the inside," Hobbes pointed out.
Darien saw the tightening of Lenny's jaw and heard the sharp intake of breath from the muscle standing behind him. A raised hand calmed the mook right down.
"If, and I stress if, it was my people I will make certain it is taken care of." The black tone to Lenny's voice gave lie to exactly how said miscreant would be dealt with after a recorded confession Darien was quite sure. "Though it does mean there will probably be nothing useful on the tapes you've requested."
"Which is why you agreed to let us have them," Bobby couldn't resist pointing out. "We want to check out the crime scene."
Lenny got to his feet, the chair moving smoothly and silently across the tile floor. "Of course, Carmen will be more than happy to accompany you and make certain that you remain unmolested."
Darien jumped on those words. "So you are having problems."
"Always, but I have the feeling Alyx's definitive statement will send the same message I've been attempting to, if without the subtlety. I only wish to make certain any retaliation does not occur when guests are present," Lenny explained, for the first time sounding like the mob boss that he was. He'd do anything necessary, take advantage of any opportunity, if he could work it in his favor. Darien couldn't exactly complain, as he'd do the same if he were in Lenny's place. He just disliked the fact it was Alyx the mobster was using this time around.
"We'd appreciate the escort," Hobbes said with a nod, probably wanting to question the mook some more out of the purview of his boss. Bobby Hobbes would work every angle he could as well, and without Lenny breathing down his neck the mook might open up a bit more.
"Done," Lenny agreed instantly, "we'll have you on camera as well, though we'll lose you once in the other building. It's been stripped down for renovations and I've not had new security installed yet. Next week is the soonest." He bowed his head, a momentary look of guilt washing across his features. "I thought it was unnecessary as there's nothing of value inside right now, construction doesn't begin until next month."
Darien didn't know what to say, he'd thought Alyx was little more than a useful pawn to the mob boss, but based on the man's quite real emotions, he cared about Alyx, though he might still use her as no more than that proverbial chess piece. "Lenny, even if you were the ultimate target, which has yet to be seen, it wasn't your fault. Alyx is a big girl and well able to take care of herself. Someone went to a lot of effort to get to her and lost quite few people to do it."
Lenny nodded, a soft sigh escaping past his lips. "My property, my responsibility." He spread his hands in an obvious request for understanding. "You will have whatever assistance you need to catch the orchestrator of this, just ask."
Darien with total honesty in his voice, said, "Thank you. We'll give you a heads up if you are the target."
"Fawkes," Hobbes squawked.
"Hobbes. He's risking a hell of a lot to give us access, the least we can do is return the favor." Bobby frowned deeply so Darien brought out the big guns. "Alyx would want us to."
Bobby closed his eyes for a long moment then nodded. "All right." He looked across the table at Lenny. "My partner here is right, if it's info we can give you we will."
Lenny nodded solemnly, as if realizing how difficult that decision had been for Hobbes, and it had been, and Darien knew he'd be hearing about it later.
"See, the corruption is moving along smoothly."
Darien snickered, not able to disagree. "So long as the corruption is mutual."
Lenny laughed. "Of course, I wouldn't have it any other way." He gestured towards the side of the room. "Now, please, we both have work to do. Carmen will show you the locations and make sure you have those files before you leave. Just... Let me know if she's all right, please?"
The please was sincere and Darien could only nod mutely. Lenny then excused himself, the muscle following along behind, heading off to do whatever mob bosses do in the middle of the afternoon. Darien's stomach growled then, reminding him that it had been quite a while since anything of value had been scarfed down.
Carmen blinked. "Was that you?"
Darien ducked his head sheepishly. "Yeah, sorry."
"Not a problem. You like ravioli?"
Darien turned to face the man, noting that, while he had the build of a linebacker, he wasn't over muscled and could probably move a lot faster than one would think. "Yeah, why?"
Carmen waved a hand and a waitress magically appeared at his side. "Ravioli for two, with the works." He paused to look at the two agents. "Red wine, the boss' private stock, have it ready to go in twenty." The girl nodded and trotted off, the gentle sway of her hips quite a nice view.
"Carmen, we can't accept-" Hobbes tried, only to be cut off.
"You can and you will. Save the wine for later when you're off duty, I have a feeling you're both going to need it after the day you've had." Carmen rubbed the top of his head, making the short hair stand up momentarily. "Red is good people and you need to eat if you're gonna find who ordered this."
The logic of the man was impeccable and Hobbes nodded in acknowledgment. Yeah, maybe it might look like a bribe from a mobster, but in Darien's mind, he was a concerned friend looking out for those who could get the job done. "Thanks," he told the mobster in all sincerity. "So you don't think these gang bangers came up with this on their own?"
Carmen shook his head. "Not a chance. Oh, I could see them grabbing some random chick and gang raping her in a heartbeat, but Red was not random. She was grabbed to send a message, I'm just not sure the message was for my boss," Carmen told them candidly, revealing there were actual brains behind the muscle.
"Who else could it be for?" Hobbes asked in honest curiosity.
Carmen turned to face Darien. "You."
"Me?" Darien repeated, more confused that anything by the statement. "Aside from the nightly news, I've never had run-ins with any of these gangs, even in my... previous profession." Very true. He'd made a point of staying as far away from gangs, both in and out of prison, as possible. Most thieves did, even those that hired out on occasion. Getting involved with gangs or the mob could get one very dead very quickly, as Darien's short lived association with Johnny Books proved.
Carmen smiled grimly. "The gangs don't give a flying fuck who you are, but the guy running the show... He might."
"He?" Hobbes repeated. "You know who it is?"
Carmen shook his head. "The boss would've eliminated the problem if he knew. He in the generic sense of the word, could be some dame you've pissed off in a past life for all I know."
"Yet you think your boss isn't the target." Hobbes pushed, wanting every bit of information he could pry out of the man.
"It's just a feeling . I've been in the biz for a while, and this ain't how the game is typically played, even if the rules have changed over the years." Carmen was being amazingly candid, and it had to be on Lenny's orders, no way the man would risk his place in the hierarchy, or his life, over a fed no matter how cute.