Don't own Chuck
The team was planning out their next move in Castle and hey agreed they should go try to bring Carmen or Eileen or whatever her name was in. However, it was getting late and soon either Chuck or Sarah or both would need to go pick Sam up from school. Someone also needed to touch bases with Kat to check on Bunny and then there was dinner to arrange. It was clear to everyone that domestic obligations were getting in the way of their mission.
"We can call Carmen's agent and get her home address. Once we have that then we can stake out the place and grab her when she shows up... a simple tag and bag."
"Sweetie, you're right but one of us needs to go get Sam and I was thinking that should be you. I need to find out what's going on with Jack. I think you should agree and if it were Mary I'd let you take the lead."
"Somehow I doubt that and there's no guarantee her agent will cooperate and give up the address or that Carmen will show up there."
"I wish you wouldn't call her Carmen. Her name is Eileen. Carmen is a fictional character who doesn't exist and believe me when I tell you her agent will talk," said Casey as he cracked his knuckles. "They all do in the end just some need a little encouragement."
"Okay, I'll go get Sam and touch base with Kat but if the stakeout drags on then Morgan and I will take the second shift..."
"Grimes and you on a stakeout? That's just asking for trouble or better an accident waiting to happen. You're both poster children for friendly fire."
"I'd feel better if you guys brought Alex along with you but that's only in case we have to wait for a long time. This isn't our first stakeout so we won't need relief for a while. I just need for you to cover for me with Sam. She'll want to talk about what happened today with her new class and I won't be there to hear her..."
"I could call you and you could talk to her on the phone. We could do a conference call so we all could talk together."
"And maybe we could all hold hands around a campfire singing Kumbaya too. Chuck, we're on a stakeout not camping out. We'll sit in the Crown Vic and wait for Carmen to come home... crap now you've got me calling her Carmen. What I mean is wait for however long it takes without any distractions..."
"But John," said Chuck but Casey cut him off.
"I mean no distractions of any kind and above all not kissy faces on the phone," said John as Chuck put his hand up like he was in school. "What is it that you haven't understood Bartowski?" growled Casey.
"I was just going to say we can go upstairs and grab her on the floor," said Chuck as he pointed to the woman dressed like Carmen Sandiego in the monitor who'd just walked into the Buy More.
"That will work too," said Sarah as she pulled her Smith and Wesson from her purse checking it then slipping it under her jacket behind her. Chuck gave her a look. "What? A girl needs to be prepared for anything that comes along."
"Crap, we need to go before the bullet magnet strikes again," said John as they saw Morgan come out of his office then headed straight for the Carmen lookalike.
"I can call him," said Chuck.
"Come on there's no time," said Sarah as she grabbed him by the arm and hurried him to the elevator.
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The false Jack Burton walked out of the office building as the staff for the Irvine and Sons Law firm started to enter. He even held the door for them tipping his hat as they filed past him then quickly disappeared. Darting around the corner he found a car and driver waiting for him. He smiled as he got in closing the door behind him.
"Well, it's all done. Everything is set in motion so we can get out of here," said Jack as he got comfortable in the passenger's seat. "Eileen will do our dirty work for us then get herself killed. But was all this necessary?"
"No, but this will help us retrieve the pen drive from Jack. If you'd been a little more convincing with Abe you wouldn't have let it slip through your fingers."
"Me not having him convinced? If he hadn't been convinced he wouldn't have mailed me the pen drive. I couldn't help it if he looked up the real Jack Burton's address. You came up with the Ponzi scheme and got him to buy into it."
"And that worked but we need that drive with its account passcodes so we can grab the money. The Ponzi scheme was supposed to make him more cooperative not send him over the edge. You were supposed to keep track of him. If you hadn't let him run to Embassy none of this now would be necessary."
"Are you sure this plan of yours is going to work? Can we go over it one more time," said Jack as he pulled out a flask from his jacket and took a hit. "I'd offer you a swig but you're driving."
"That's a good excuse for not sharing and yes, I'm sure my plan will work. We've caused enough confusion with both the Americans as well as the Circle that we'll be able to waltz right into Jack's office and grab that envelope Abe sent him right from under their noses."
"You mean, I'll be able to walk right in there. I'm the one with his neck on the block here and don't think I haven't realized that no one knows about you Carmen."
"In a few minutes, if you've sold the plan right, I'll be dead and once the Circle's henchmen take out Jack, you'll be dead too."
"Then we both have clean slates and blackmail material that will make us filthy rich. We can retire somewhere and order cocktails with little umbrellas in them on the beach."
"No Marcus, we'll be able to buy the beach and the island and no one will be able to find us because they'll think we're dead," said the woman as she drove them to LAX. "Let me deal with the car and you get us checked in."
"Roger that," said Marcus as he got out at the sidewalk kiosk with their bags. He was greeted by an airlines representative who took everything from him.
In the meantime, Carmen got rid of their vehicle. She drove the car to an isolated part of the parking garage that was poorly lit. When she got out she intentionally left the keys in the ignition and the doors unlocked. However, she also left a little present for anyone who thought about going for a joy ride. Under the driver's seat she placed an incendiary grenade attaching a wire from the pin to the door. Content with her work she made her way back inside the terminal to find Marcus.
"Do you have our boarding passes," asked a blonde woman in dark sunglasses. Marcus turned and smiled at her.
"You know I almost didn't recognize you in that getup. But I think I prefer you with bark hair. The blonde look just doesn't fit you."
"Never mind that now just give me my boarding pass then let's get through security and on to our gate. You're going to have to ditch the flask before we go through security."
"Adieu good friend," said Marcus as he took a hit in line causing a few heads to turn then dropped it in the trash can.
"Will you stop that. What part of incognito don't you understand? You're attracting attention we don't need," said Carmen as she looked around at the CCTV cameras. She could just as well be sitting on that beach drinking her Mai Tai all alone she thought as she looked at Marcus
"Or with a upgrade companion," she mumbled as she looked him over as the TSA agent passed a wand over him and made him remove his jacket. "Yes, definitely an upgrade."
"Ma'am can I have your boarding pass and passport," said the agent next to her.
"Right, I'm sorry I was just thinking... never mind here you are."
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Morgan noticed the Carmen Sandiego look-a-like as soon as she walked in. He immediately thought it was some sort of joke that Large Mart was pulling on them in retaliation for something someone had done to them. He'd gotten a call from Large Mart complaining about someone posting a meat chart of a pig on their front doors.
"You're going to sue us for mental anguish because of a meat chart? Listen buddy, I should counter sue you for the mental anguish. ... Because you're making me listening to you. ... What? I don't care if Kevin Bacon is having a hard time with this or if the pig in the chart is a cousin. Introduce him to Jimmy Dean and that will calm him down. ... Yeah, yeah I hear you. I'm tires of chewing the fat with you. Can make it a BLT on whole wheat? Subway makes a sizzling crispy bacon, egg and melty cheese on freshly toasted Flatbread. Tasty ingredients that's hard to imagine," said Morgan. There was a sudden click and the line went dead.
"I need to find dumb and dumber. I'll bet anything they're the ones that started this," said Morgan as he got up and walked out of his office. Just as he did he noticed Carmen Sandiego walking in through the front doors.
"Augh, heck no, Large mart is going to have to get up pretty early in the morning if they think they're going to get this one over me," said Morgan as he headed straight for Eileen. "So, any lady can you tell me where Carmen Sandiego is and before you try you can cut the crap I know who put you up to this."
"You do? But why? I told him I could handle this. Oh, never mind, you're not the one I'm looking for," she said as she glanced down at the photo in her purse. "Can you please go away and let me do this? You're ruining this for me."
"I'm not ruining anything. I'm the manager and I'm keeping you and those lamebrains from..." Morgan started to say Large Mart but Chuck called him off. Then everything started moving is slow motion. Chuck had come up from Castle with Sarah and Casey who were circling around Eileen on both side.
"This is for Jack," Eileen started to yell as she pulled out her stub nosed thirty-eight and pointed it at Chuck. But as she was about to fire Casey stepped out from behind a row of vacuum cleaners and grabbed her gun hand. Sarah stepped out from the opposite side and landed a right cross to Eileen's jaw. The gun went off as she dropped to the floor.
"I've been shot," said Morgan as a stream of kitty litter came down on him. Eileen had taken out a bag of kitty that was over Morgan's head.
"What's going on," yelled Big Mike as he came running on the floor from the breakroom. "I thought I heard a gunshot."
"It's nothing," said Casey as he recovered the weapon slipping it into his belt. "The lady wanted to return her handgun and didn't have a receipt."
"We don't sell firearms. Can you imagine how much trouble the ignorant twins would get into if we did. But then again maybe we'd lose them to friendly fire. On second thought no, we shouldn't they're just a liable to shoot one of us. Son, I'd recommend you get yourself cleaned up before you go out back. One of those cats out there might try to bury something in your pocket you'd rather not find. Well, that's it for me I need to run home."
"You need to go home now? It's not time to close up yet and someone' got to clean up this mess. Why do you need to go early any way," he said before he realized what he'd asked and immediately regretted it.
"I'm meeting your mother and remember when you asked where those cats were that were making all that noise? Well, they've come for a visit again. You'd better look out because big cat's on the prowl this evening."
"Casey, can we try that again but make the aim a little lower somewhere right between the eyes. You can put me out of my own misery."
"Don't tempt me. Chuck, you grab one side and I'll grab the other. We can take her into Morgan's office then send her down the shoot into castle. Once we have her there we can put her in detention. I hope you didn't bust her jaw because we need her to talk."
"I just gave her a little tap. It's not my fault if she's got a glass jaw."
"I for one am glad you gave her that tap. But why did she yell 'this is for Jack'? I think we need to get Beckman on the horn and get to the bottom of this once and for all."
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The bell sounded and all the children filed out of their classrooms flooding the hallways. Teachers stood in the corridors yelling at the kids to walk not run, but kids have only one speed – fast. Especially when thinking about getting the prize seat on the bus home. That was amplified by all the kinetic energy they'd built up sitting at their desks which was suddenly released. All this contributed to making the hallways a cacophonic symphony.
"Do.. do you wa..want come ho..me with me," said Marty as he tried not to stutter but the harder he tried the more he did.
"No, my parents are just late. I'll go to the office and call Aunt Kat. She'll know what's going on and worse comes to worst she'll come to pick me up."
"Yo..ur d..ad is p..probably fighting a dr..agon like y..ou s..aid." Marty tried to speak but he liked Sam and that made his stuttering worse. She was the first kid he'd met who didn't make fun of the way he spoke and treated him normal or what he thought normal should be.
"I shouldn't have told you that so please don't tell anyone else. It can be our secret," said Sam as she held up her pinky. They did a pinky swear and Marty was in heaven. She waved goodbye as he ran off to find his parents while Sam turned back going into the school then walked into the office.
"Is anyone here," she yelled but no one answered. "Crap, what do I do now," she said thinking things couldn't get worse when the lights went turned off.
"No, I'm going to get locked inside," she said as she hurried back to the main doors only to find them locked. "No, now what am I going to do?"
She started walking back to the office in the darkened corridor but the school without children inside and in the dark was a little creepy. She made her way slowly feeling the hair stand on the back of her neck raise up.
"Well, this was a bad decision," she said to herself as she felt a knot in the pit of her stomach. She took a big gulp when she saw a shadow move coming towards her. She looked around thinking about where she could run to and hide. But just as she was about to make a break for it she heard the shadow call to her.
"Sam, is that you? What are you still doing here? You should be on your way home by now," said Kathy the Principal as she came out of the shadows.
"Phew, you scared me there for a few seconds. I went outside but no one was there so I came back inside to call and no one was in the office then the lights went out. I ran to the front doors but they were locked and now I'm here."
"Yes, I'm going to have to talk to our custodial staff about shutting down and locking up so quickly after school. I was making a round through school to see what I've got here. It's easier to look around when no one is in the way. Come on into my office and let's call your parents to see what's held them up. How about some exercises to keep you busy until they get here? You can find X?
"Why? Is he lost?" said Sam as she smiled at Kathy. The Principal laughed.
"Now that kind of answer is what your teacher is complaining about. At least when you're in class with her can you try to be a little more serious."
"Yes, Ma'am," said Sam as Kathy led her into the office then on into hers.
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Mary went downstairs to the boutique in the hotel lobby to look around. She needed a new jacket to replace the one that caught on fire before and when she saw the London Fog trench coat on the mannequin she had to have it.
"Ma'am, I'm sorry but that particular model is temporarily out of stock. Might I interest you in something else? We have other brands such as Hart Schaffner or Stacy Adams. All are reasonable priced and are very similar to that one."
"You're not out of stock as long as that one is on the mannequin. I'll take it and pay you regular price even if it is a display model."
"But ma'am, I don't know if I can. Are you sure you wouldn't like to look at some others before making a decision? As I was telling you we do have others that look very similar."
"If you want to make a sale you'll start stripping her or I'll take my business somewhere else but not before I have a chat with your manager."
"Very well if that's what you want just one moment," said the salesclerk as she had to call another assistant to help her take down the dummy to remove the coat. A few minutes later the clerk was about to pack the coat.
"You don't have to do that I'll wear it out and can I get an oversized Fedora to match," said Mary. The clerk nodded then came back with the hat. "Yes, that's what I was looking for."
Mary paid for everything then she walked out in the Leipziger Platz. It was late but the city seemed to never sleep. She heard music and people laughing in the distance. It reminded her of earlier times... happy times but she had to squash an insect. Looking at the tracking signal the target had been stationary for a while so now it was time to put eyes on him.
"Taxi," she yelled hailing down the first one that stopped for her. She gave the man the address the tracking indicated, and in a few minutes, he was pulling up in front of a hookah lounge.
"Are you sure this is the place you wanted?" said the taxi driver. He had every right to question her judgement. The place looked like a dive and from across the street there seemed to be only old men inside.
"I just need to meet a friend then she's going to take me to her home," said Mary as she paid the man. "Don't worry about me I can take care of myself."
"Tell you what I'm going to circle the neighborhood if I don't pick up any fares I'll come back and check on you. If my grandmother were out I'd like someone to look after her."
Mary didn't know whether to be glad at the gesture or angry at the comment. She looked at herself in the glass of a Turkish bakery with bread piled up inside.
"I don't look like a grandmother... maybe a mother but definitely no grandmother. That cabby must have problems with his vision. Maybe that's the reason he drove the way he did," said Mary as she crossed the street then walked in front of the Hookah parlor. She thought for a moment about walking inside but that would've caused too much attention.
"Crap, that's the guy from the other night at Abe's place, Omer. He's going to remember me," she said as she quickly walked past. "You don't forget someone who taps you twice in the chest. But it makes sense he's here and I bet he's the one who tapped Gina. If I had taken him out the other night she'd probably still be alive. That's hindsight and you've got a mole to catch but you can't be seen. Crap now what?" she said as she watched Omer walk out of the lounge and get into a black Mercedes.
"You need to follow him," she said to herself but luck was with her and the friendly taxi driver pulled back up.
"I thought I left you on the other side of the street," he said as he slowed down next to her. "What's the matter? Your friend's a no show." Mary saw Omer pulling out so she jumped in the cab.
"You see that Mercedes that's just pulled out. I want you to follow it and don't lose it or let him see us. There's an extra hundred euro on top of the meter. Now go!"
"What? Who's that guy? Don't tell me that's your daughter's husband and you think he's stepping out with another woman?"
"Yeah, exactly so follow him. He's getting away," said Mary. There was no need that Captain Awesome should ever learn about this nor did she think he had roaming eyes.
"I hope your daughter knows what you're up to or you're going to cause a big problem in your family. These things never end well."
"It sounds like you're talking from experience," said Mary as she keep a watchful eye on Omer's black Mercedes.
"Let's just say you're not the first person to jump in may cab and say follow that guy. You know it's funny because it's usually the guy who does the stepping out..."
"And the mother-in-laws who handle it," said Mary as she pulled out a Beretta from her bag and attached a silencer.
"Hold on lady we don't need to do anything drastic. You'll do better to take every dime in court and leave him his cab so he can continue to pay for the rest of his days."
"I'll take that under consideration. Now, don't lose him or you'll piss me off and believe me when I tell you that you don't want to do that. I'm not your typical granny."
"You can say that again," mumbled the driver.