Don't own Chuck
Sheila waited in her office and waited for Philip to contact her but he never called. She finished her coffee and a few minutes later Hector stuck his head in her door armed with notepad in hand telling her they had to leave for the morgue. She looked at the clock on the wall and shook her head wondering what Philip was up to and why was it taking so long.
"We really need to go," said Hector. "The traffic here is always a bear and going to the morgue is going to take time. Chief Hernandez underlined when I called him that we needed to be punctual."
"Okay, okay let's go," she said as she grabbed her bag. A few minutes later they were in their Land Rover driving through bumper to bumper traffic on a busy dusty street. Hector was yelling at the driver that they were going to be late and he was cursing back honking his horn to get people to move but they just ignored him. Sheila took advantage of the situation and tried to call Philip while they were stuck. But he wasn't answering and all her calls were going to voice mail so she called his office in the DGSE
"Yes this is Sheila Swanson for Philip DeGasse," she said. "... I see he's out for now and you don't know when he's coming back. I see. Well can you leave a message for him tell him? Can you tell him I called and I'm waiting on that package he promised. You can also tell him that the next time I see him I'm going to kick him in the Seine. ... He'll understand. Thank you." Sheila hung up and looked at her phone perplexed.
"Is everything all right Chief? You look a bit worried. Chief Hernandez promised to cooperate so this should be a piece of cake if we hurry up and get there."
"What'd you say? Oh no, it's not that I was... well I called a friend and asked a favor. He promised me he'd get right on it and now he's not in his office which is unlike him. He never leaves the office during the day. Well I can't think about that now back to the mission at hand. Ask our driver to pullover we can walk from here. It will be faster. He can continue on and meet us outside the morgue when we're done."
"That's a good idea," said Hector. He tapped the driver on the shoulder and had him pull off. They walked through the busy streets making there way past the vendors and hawkers until they came to the city morgue located in the basement of a government building. Like most morgues the first two things that hit her when she walked in was the cold that sent a chill up her back and the smell of formaldehyde that turned her stomach.
"Chief Swanson I'm sorry we have to meet like this," said a man in a military uniform with more gold on than is in Fort Knox. "I just signed off to release the body to you. I'm sorry but I really have to go there's some place I have to be."
"I appreciate it but I'd like to sit down with you sometime and pool our resources together and talk about what we're going to do about Ettore La Barba. Maybe if we go at him together we can take him down."
"Well my door is always open so you can stop by whenever you want just call first because I'm kind of busy these days. It's probably better if you call and make an appointment. If there's nothing else I've got to run."
"Well there is something I'd like to have a chat with the coroner who performed the autopsy and retrieve Martin's personal effects."
"The coroner is in the back doing another autopsy on a gang execution. We found pieces of the guy all over the city now the doc is putting him back together as far as personal effects. There are none that's how we knew it was a mugging all his pockets were turned inside out. You can go back and talk to the Doc but I warn you it's not for the faint hearted."
"I investigated a Tong gang operating out of the port in Marseille that took hatchets to their victims so a dismemberment is old hat for me. Thanks Chief I'll be in touch," said Sheila as she started heading back then turned. "Hector if you want you can wait here I'll be right back."
"Thanks Chief I think I'll step out to grab a smoke," said Hector as he went out after the Chief Hernandez. He was right behind him but the Chief didn't know he was there because he pulled out his phone and called a number.
"Señor Ettore this is Emilio," said Hernandez. Hector knew he was in the wrong place so he let the Chief go ahead. "I just talked with that crazy chica from Interpol and I think she's going to be a problem. ... Okay we can talk about it at your ranch I'm on my way," he said as hung up his phone then hurried out and got in his waiting car.
Hector walked out after Hernandez left and watched him sped away. He took out his notepad and began jotting down notes from the conversation he overheard.
Meanwhile back in the Morgue Sheila walked back and found the coroner piecing back together a mangled corpse. She could've sworn she heard him singing.
"Head bone's connected from the neck bone, neck bone connected from the shoulder bone
Shoulder bone connected from the back bone, back bone connected from the hip bone, Hip bone connected from the thigh bone, thigh bone connected from the knee bone…"
"That's nice Doc but can I get a moment," said Sheila. He looked up at her and smiled. "We can dispense with formalities. You don't have to worry about giving your hand to shake." She said his hands were cover with gore.
"Yes this is a nasty one and singing helps me to forget what I'm dealing with. This poor guy was done in by his own gang from what I've been told because they thought he was an informant. If you notice inside the mouth the tongue has been ripped out. I found it in his stomach when I examined it for content."
"That's interesting but I'm here about Martin LaBlanc what can you tell me about his autopsy? Was there anything unusual?"
"No pretty much like it appeared. Single GSW to the chest. I dug a nine mil slug out of him. It's up on that table," said the Doc as he pointed. "There's also a wedding band and a Rolex,"
"You said wedding band and Rolex? I thought this was supposed to be a mugging. The Police Chief just told me that Martin had all his valuables stolen?"
"I don't know I just know what I found and they're up there. The only thing I can think of is the mugger didn't need a watch."
"Thanks Doc I'm taking Martin's things the Chief already signed off on it," said Sheila as picked everything up.
"Hold up there before you run off I need you to sign that your received all those goods. The inventory is next to them just sign by the items your taking."
"Okay all done," said Sheila as she looked over the inventory sheet. It was done as soon as the body came in and according to the inventory there was supposed to be in addition to these things his wallet, phone and weapon.
"Humm, I wonder where this stuff ended up at," said Sheila as she looked over the list. "I think I know do I dare ask for it back this evening."
"Well if you don't mine I need to get back to work, said the Doc as he turned back to the task at hand. Now where was I at? Oh yes thigh bone connected from the knee bone knee bone connected from the shin bone shin bone connected from the ankle bone. Ankle bone connected from the heel bone heel bone connected from the foot bone foot bone connected from the toe bone…"
Sheila left before he started singing the refrain. Outside the morgue she found Hector puffing away nervously.
"You know that's dangerous for your health," she said as she came up. He jumped almost out of his shoes tossing the cigarette.
'I wish you wouldn't do that," said Hector. She could see something was bothering her so she took him to a bar across the street.
"What would you like a coffee or tea? Or maybe you'd like a soda," asked Sheila. She ordered an espresso coffee
"I'll have two fingers of Bourbon neat," said Hector to the bartender. "I should explain," said Hector as he took out his notepad. Sheila rolled her eyes as the bartender put their drinks in front of them. Hector downed his Bourbon then ordered two fingers more.
"You need to slow up there it's not even noon yet," said Sheila as she watch Hector's face flushed. "Now do you mind telling me what's going on?"
"While you were with the coroner I overheard the Hernandez talking with Ettore. He told Ettore he just talked with that crazy chica from Interpol and he told Ettore he thought you were going to be a problem."
"What else did he say," said Sheila. Now she knew where Martin's personal effects went."
"Yes remember he said he had to go because he had a meeting to attend. He told Ettore he'd talk to him more at his ranch and that he was on his way there when he left. What does this mean?"
"That I'm probably going to see Chief Hernandez this evening. I need to be dropped by my apartment on the way back to the office. I want you to go in and type up your notes then put them in the safe in my office. "Here give me your notepad," said Sheila. She wrote out her combination for him. "That will get you in it."
"But you shouldn't write out the combination that's not secure," said Hector as he took his notepad back.
"Would you've remembered it if I'd told it to you? Don't worry I'll change it tomorrow if I'm still alive," she said.
"What do you mean still alive?"
"It's nothing I'm just joking. You know going to the morgue can give you a dark sense of humor. Anyway have the driver drop me off and you do that."
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Alex knew she had one shot and one shot only so she took the Big Mac over to the corner of the room where she broke the cameras. She carefully but quickly removed the sesame seeds from the bun then ground them with the toe of her shoe trying to make then into a coarse powder. Once she had that done she loaded it in the stray then she took a few bites of the burger.
"Not bad," she said as she looked at it. "It probably would be better with cheese but not bad," Alex said as she continued eating. Then she ate a few fried washing it down with a little coke she drank from the cup. Suddenly she heard the key in the lock. It was time for her to put her plan into action.
"Here's your ketchup," said Paolo as he came in through the door. Alex sat on the bed with her arms wrapped round her stomach bent over moaning.
"I think there was lactose in that burger," she moaned. Paolo saw the half eaten burger and smiled. Now he could finish this farce.
"I'm sorry," he started to say as he pulled out the syringe from his pocket. "But everything has to come to an end sooner or later." He popped the cap and pushed her back on the bed but as she fell back Alex pulled the straw out and blew the sesame powder into Paolo's face. She caught Paolo with his mouth open.
"What the…" he started to say but his throat seized up. He started clawing at this throat he couldn't breathe. He felt like someone had their hands around his neck strangling him. Alex jumped up grabbed the syringe from Paolo and waited for the man watching from the surveillance room to come in. She stabbed him square in the chest and pushed the plunger.
"Augh," said the man as he dropped to the ground going into convulsions. Alex grabbed both their weapons then ran out into the house. Suddenly she realized she didn't know which way to go but that wasn't going to stop her. She knew she had to get out and get as far away as possible.
Paolo thrashed around on the floor fighting to stay conscious. He knew he was about to go into anaphylactic shock. This was something he always knew could happen so he was prepared. He reached in side of his jacket and pulled out a self-injecting syringe of prednisone. Already he was light headed and was about to pass out when he popped the cap jabbing himself in the thigh.
The feeling of being strangled immediately subsided and slowly he was able to breathe again. He gasped at first then slowly his breathing became regular. Rolling over he tried to get up but fell back down. He laid there for a few minutes then he tried again. This time he got up to his feet propping himself against the wall he made it outside.
The problem Paolo had was everyone was on the other side of the house greeting the house guests that were arriving. He didn't think he'd need anyone so he sent them all over to help Ettore. Slowly he regained his strength but in the meantime Alex had more time to get away. It seemed like an eternity but he finally got to the surveillance room and picked up a radio. The first time he tried to call in the alert his voice failed him. He swallowed hard then cleared his throat.
"All stations this is Paolo," he said in a hoarse raspy voice. "The prisoner has escaped put the ranch house in lock down. Search everywhere and when you find her shoot on sight."
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Chuck dropped by Sheila's and found her waiting outside her house. A number of other cars had stopped before seeing if she needed a ride but when she flashed her badge they quickly drove away. Casey put up the partition as soon as he pulled up then he got out and opened the door for her. She got in and sat facing Chuck and Zondra.
"Good evening Ms. Swanson," said Chuck. "You look lovely this evening. I think I'll be the envy of ever man there with two beautiful women with me."
"Just how old are you?" asked Sheila smiling at him. "The way you flatter do I have worry about you?" she said as she laughed.
"I'm sorry buy my heart is already spoken for but that doesn't mean I can't admire the view," said Chuck as he took out a flask from his jacket and offered her a drink. She took it and examined it.
"This is the Volkoff seal," she said. "I know he had a number of sweat shops in South America where he produced weapons but I heard he was arrested…"
"Dead actually but that's another story. I guess I should tell you not to get mad at your friend in Paris if he hasn't called you back on your request for facial recognition," said Chuck. He could see her face turn gray as she reached for her purse. "Don't over react. Your friend is okay I made sure of that. You see when you start looking into me there are people who get nervous. My people look out for me and sometimes they're overly protective."
"What did you do to him? You said he was all right can I believe you?" said Sheila as she looked back and forth at the two of them.
"I give you my word and my word is everything. Believe me I don't give it lightly. So tell me how are you going to play this? Are you going to walk straight up to Ettore and tell him he's under arrest? You know how I feel about that?"
"Well do you have a better idea? One that hopefully doesn't end with me getting killed? I'd like to avoid that if at all possible." Chuck laughed.
"I'm sure you do and so do I. Here take this," said Chuck. He handed her a syringe. "That's a powerful tranquilizer. You can either inject him or slip it into his drink. It has the added effect of simulating death. You get that to him and his men will think he's dead…"
"Then his whole operation with fold in on itself like a house of cards. I like it I just have to get close enough to him to give it to him and make sure I give it to the right Ettore."
"The right Ettore? So you know about the double?" said Chuck as he looked surprised over at Zondra. Now he was starting to understand Ettore's plan.
"I think you just confirmed it. But I met this other Ettore at the ranch who said his real name was Morgan Grimes and that Ettore was holding him prisoner on the ranch with his fiancée. Even though he seemed a little too interested in me to have a fiancée. My friend you detained was supposed to verify it for me."
"What did this person at the ranch ask you to do?" But as they were talking it seemed as if sort of argument broke out in the front seat.
"Excuse me for one second," said Chuck. He opened the intercom. "Will you two try to act professional or am I going to have to come up front." There was a sudden silence.
"I'm sorry you had to hear that," said Chuck. "But it's so hard to find good help these days. So you were going to say what he wanted you to do."
"Yes, well he wanted me to extract him. But I had the idea that if I arrested the real Ettore La Barba then they'd have no need for him. In fact if I had Ettore in custody they couldn't show the other one in public without everyone realizing there was a double."
"Or they could just eliminate him all together because he knew too much," said Chuck as he took a hit from his flask then passed it to Sheila.
"I don't think. I thought if that happened then they might hold him to see how things shook out with Ettore before they tossed him aside. In that time when they wouldn't know what to do it would give a chance to launch a rescue mission and pull him out," she said as she took a hit then passed it back to Ettore.
"Hold up there it's my turn," said Zondra not wanting to be left out. She was getting a little tired of being ignored so she grabbed the flask and took a hit then passing it back to Chuck. "You think a lot of yourself don't you? You're just going to walk up to Ettore and flash what to get him to come along with you? No offense sister but they're not that great. Then you're going to do what? You're going to launch a rescue or recovery mission?"
"Natasha I think that's enough," said Chuck as he tried to no avail to get Zondra to shut up. She only confirmed what he already thought of her.
"No she needs to hear this," said Zondra as she pounced on Sheila. "Give me a break by the time you get anything together that guy's head you're trying to rescue will be on a fence post out front of the ranch house."
"Well I think I know what I'm doing. You know I didn't get my position on my looks. I don't need to hang on the arm of anyone to make myself feel important."
"More important! Listen sister I didn't get my partner killed having him search Ettore's Penthouse by himself without back up while I was making doe eyes or doing the nasty with the enemy."
"Wait a minute how did you know Martin was killed in the Penthouse? His body was found behind the hotel where the Manager moved it. Geez it was you who killed him," said Sheila as reached for her purse.
"Don't do that," said Chuck as everything seemed to be falling apart quickly. Sheila pulled her Beretta Bobcat and Zondra pulled her Beretta cougar. "Stop now" said Chuck as he cringed waiting for the sound of gunfire but miracle of miracles no one fired.
"Listen, we've all got a mission to do here. Sheila look at me don't look at Zondra. Yes that's her real name the saw way mine is Charles Carmichael. We're with the agency. Our mission is to recover a missing colleague that the Ettore you met kidnapped. I can't get into how he kidnapped her but we're her for her."
"But you're not Russian… I don't understand," said Sheila all this is too much and she was so confused. "What am I supposed to do now?"
"You're supposed to go forward and do what you intended to do, arrest Ettore using the tranquilizer I gave you."
"Chuck we're approaching the gate," radioed Casey back through the intercom. "You guys back there need to get your crap together or we're all dead."
"So Sheila what is it? Can you still work with us?"
"Okay, let's do this," she said as she put away her pistol. But afterwards we're going to have to sit down and talk this out."
"It's easy. Your boy was crooked or if you prefer bent and he got what he deserved."
"Zondra enough," said Chuck. "Or so help me I'll use that tranquillizer on you and leave you in the trunk. Now everyone head in the game."