Here is where the case starts. Right now it's looking like this might be a shorter story than my others. I'll have to see where it goes.
Thank you everyone for your interest and comments.
Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS:LA.
Sam walked into the boat shed to find Granger, Hetty, and Navy Captain Frank Wright sitting at the table.
"This can't be good." Sam said taking in the scene.
"Thanks for coming Sam." Granger said looking up. "I believe you know Captain Wright."
Sam walked over to Wright, holding out his hand. "Yes. He was my LT in the SEALs. Hello, Sir. I would say it's good to see you, but you don't look happy."
"Regardless of the circumstances, it's good to see you Sam." Wright took the offered hand. "Unfortunately this isn't a social call."
Sam just nodded his head. Being the only one here was giving him a bad feeling. This was what happened right before an agent got sent off on their own to the middle of nowhere.
"Relax Mr. Hanna." Hetty, as always, knew what Sam was thinking. "The entire team will be briefed on what we are about to hear. Captain Wright requested you to be here."
Sam could feel the tension leave his shoulders. "What's up?"
Wright began is presentation. His tablet was already wired into the big TV screen. Pictures appeared at each tap of the tablet.
"This is Dr. Matthew Monroe. He is a top chemical engineer for USAMRID. He has a top secret clearance along with several special access only clearances. For the last year, Dr. Monroe has been cataloging and destroying chemical weapons and their component parts seized from countries in the Middle East."
"Seized?" Granger raised an eyebrow.
Wright set the tablet on the table. "What I'm about to tell you isn't just classified, it never happened. It violates treaties, international law, and, depending on who you ask, federal law. When certain countries in the Middle East became unstable, special forces groups were sent in to secure and remove WMDs before they fell in the wrong hands."
"Why remove them?" Sam asked. "Just blow them in place."
"It was deemed too risky to destroy them in place. Contamination and verification of destruction being the major concerns. Instead they were seized, secured, and transported to Dugway Proving Grounds for destruction. There, Dr. Monroe led the team that was ridding the world of these weapons." Wright picked the tablet back up. "Two weeks ago, Dr. Monroe, his wife Christie, and their 16 year old daughter Amanda disappeared from their home. The home itself was burned to the ground to destroy any evidence we may have found. At the time of the family's disappearance, roughly 200 lbs of chemicals needed to produce Sarin gas were also removed from Dr. Monroe's lab."
"So what are you thinking?" Granger wanted to know.
"We believe that Dr. Monroe's wife and daughter were taken and used as leverage to force him to steal the components. He stole components because all the active weapon material has been destroyed. It's also possible that it is a play for time. Whoever is doing this will need him to create the Sarin gas before getting rid of him or his family."
"Why are you telling us?" Hetty inquired.
"Communications have been intercepted, emails and cell phone, from the LA area discussing creation and delivery for an event. We believe the doctor is here along with his family. That's all we have, based on very slim intelligence. We don't have a group name or structure. We don't have targets. Other than the missing components we don't even have a threat. We need your help. It's your city. We came to NCIS because you understand the delicate nature of what is happening here. If we go to FBI, ATF, LAPD, or anyone else this will be on the six o'clock news. That's one of the reason's I'm here personally. After the NSA leaks a month ago, the Admiral didn't even want this over secure communications. A SEAL team and containment group have quietly been moved into the LA area. They are on immediate standby incase anything is found."
"I have to ask." Hetty pointed to the pictures on the screen. "How did the family go missing with no one noticing? I assume there are standard security protocols."
"The wife and daughter were thought to be visiting relatives in South Carolina. After the doctor went missing and the fire, the relatives were contacted. They have had no contact with the family for several weeks."
"So the wife and daughter have been missing longer than the doctor?" Sam wanted to be clear.
"Yes."
"How much longer?" Hetty asked the next logical question.
"That we aren't sure about."
"You don't have much to go on, Captain." Granger was used to being behind the eight ball, but this was ridiculous even for him.
Wright let out a sigh. "Yes, sir. We know. We aren't even sure how they contacted the doctor yet. All his electronic equipment was destroyed in the fire."
"Even so, can we get the damaged devices? I would like to have them to go over." Hetty had the utmost respect for the Special Forces community's people, but there weren't Eric and Ashley.
"Absolutely. I'll get them here immediately." Wright nodded his head toward Hetty.
"Is there anything else you can tell us?" Sam wanted to be sure he hadn't missed anything.
"Not that I know of." Wright reached into his breast pocket pulling out a portable hard drive. "This is everything we know. Even the stuff that didn't actually happen. It's encrypted and at the conclusion of this operation should be destroyed."
Wright set the drive on the table in front of Hetty, Granger, and Sam. All three just looked at it.
"Oh, good heavens." Hetty exclaimed reaching out for the object as she narrowed her eyes at the two men. "It isn't going to bite."
As they stood up to leave Hetty looked at Owen and Sam. "I hope everyone enjoyed their lunch. It appears it will be a while before we get another good meal."
Kensi and Deeks were the last to arrive back at the Mission after Eric sent out the alert call. One look at the empty bullpen and Nell standing at the bottom of the stairs instantly set Deeks on edge. He began patting his hands all over his body. "Oh crap. Have I been shot again?"
Both Nell and Kensi gave him withering glares, but Kensi did refrain from punching him in the shoulder. It seemed like a really good idea, but she didn't.
"If you don't hightail it up to OPS, you might be." Nell spun on her heel and marched up the step.
Kensi shot another narrowed eyed glare at Deeks. "That was not funny Marty. You have been shot more than anyone else on the team and have been a member for the shortest. Do not joke about getting shot." She turned to follow Nell up the stairs.
"This cannot end well." Deeks followed the two women up the stairs.
Deeks noted all the somber faces as he entered OPS. He took his spot beside Kensi. His sense of concern increased when Hetty started giving the briefing rather than Nell.
Hetty pointed to the three pictures on the screen. "This is Dr. Matthew Monroe, his wife Christie, and daughter Amanda. Dr. Monroe is a specialist in chemical weapons at Dugway Proving Grounds. For the last year he has been disposing of seized chemical weapons. As of two weeks ago, Dr. Monroe, his family, and several hundred pounds of chemical agents have gone missing from Dugway. The Monroe's house was destroyed by fire around the same time. It is believed that the doctor's family is being held hostage to force him to steal the raw materials for and then create Sarin gas. It is believed that the family is being held somewhere in the LA area. It is also believed that the Sarin gas attack will take place in the LA area. There is no time frame for the attack."
"Is there any good news?" Deeks asked hopefully.
"No. This is all bad." Granger fielded the question. "We have no starting point. No target. We aren't even sure who took him. We are two weeks behind whatever they are planning. Including the time to travel here and set up a lab, he could have already completed the process of creating the toxin."
Everyone noticed Nell put her hand to her ear piece and step off to the side. It was unusual for her to take a call in the middle of a briefing but not unheard of. Everyone had turned their attention back to Granger when Nell's voice rose.
"You what?! Hold on, I'm putting you on speaker, please repeat what you just said."
The speakers in OPS came to life and a voice came flooding into the room. "This is Staff Sargent George Lendel. I am a recruiter for the Marines in downtown LA. A mother and her daughter just entered our office claiming they have been kidnapped and held by terrorist. I called my superior. He contacted NCIS who said there was a missing persons on the two women and transferred me to you."
"What are their names Sargent?" Sam asked.
"Christie and Amanda Monroe."
"Are they still there?" Callen asked.
"Yes, sir. They are sitting in the break room now."
"Sargent, close your office. Remove anyone who isn't active military. My same is Agent G Callen. I will be there in the next half hour. Don't let anyone in that office until I get there. Are you armed?"
"We have weapons in the safe."
"Get them. You shoot anyone that comes through that door."
"With all due respect, sir, you don't have the authority to give an order like that."
"This is Assistant Director Owen Granger, NCIS. I do have the authority to give that order and it is given. If you have any questions about those orders, you contact your direct superior, I will be calling him shortly."
"Yes, sir. We will secure and wait for Agent Callen." With that the line went dead.
"Let's go." The team raced from OPS to retrieve the wife and daughter.
The drive to the recruiter's office looked like some sort of street race. Kensi and Sam flew through traffic at twice the recommended speed limit and no concern for safety or traffic laws. They arrived at the recruiting office in twenty minutes.
Callen jumped from the Challenger, sprinting toward the door. He pulled his badge from his belt and placed it against the glass. "I'm Agent Callen. Let me in."
The Marine standing behind the desk rose and opened the door.
"Are you Sargent Lendel?" Callen asked.
"Yes, sir."
"Where are the two women?"
"This way sir."
The team followed the Sargent to a small room in the back of the offices. There they found them, each holding a coke, and staring at the floor.
"Mrs. Monroe? I'm Agent Callen, NCIS. I'm here to get you to a safe location. Can you tell me how you got here? Where is your husband?"
The woman looked up from the floor at Callen. You could see that it was taking her some time to process the question. "Where are we?"
"You are in Los Angeles."
She nodded her head, but Callen wasn't sure if she was actually paying attention.
"How did you get here, Mrs. Monroe?" Callen tried again.
Her eyes snapped to his. "Matt set a fire. To act as a distraction and destroy the chemicals. Maybe kill them, too. The entire building was in flames. We jumped through a broken window. We were looking for a police officer. Amanda saw the Marine sign, so we came here." Christie closed her eyes. "Matt didn't make it. He fought with one of them, because they saw us go out the window. I saw the explosion that killed him." Christie hugged her daughter tighter.
Sam walked out of the room. "Eric, Ash. Have there been fires this morning? Any that is still burning near this location?"
Ashley responded first. "There is a fire at an empty office complex nine blocks south of your current location. Started around an hour ago."
"Inform the responding units that it might be a HAZMAT situation. Contact Captain Wright and tell him we think we found the location of manufacture. We are going to be bringing back the mother and daughter shortly."
Sam returned to the room just in time to see Callen help her from the chair. He turned to the Sargent. "These ladies were never here. If anyone comes asking about them, deny everything and call me." Callen handed over a card. "We are taking them to a secure location."
Deeks and Kensi headed for the front door to check the street. After verifying everything looked normal they signaled to Sam and Callen. The men helped the two women out of the office and into the back of the Charger. Sam and Callen then got in the Challenger to follow Kensi back to the boat shed.
"We are on the way back with the mother and daughter. The mother says Dr. Monroe deliberately set the fire to give is family a chance to escape and destroy the chemical compounds." Callen waited for a response from OPS.
"Roger that, Callen." Eric responded. "Captain Wright had been contacted and has a team in route to the fire to deal with any contamination. After Mrs. Monroe and her daughter are secure, Hetty wants the team to meet him at the location of the fire."
"Understood. We'll be back in about thirty."
Granger and Hetty were both at the boat shed when the team arrived.
"Hello. I'm Owen Granger. I'm assistant director of NCIS."
"I'm Herietta Lange. OPS Manager for NCIS. Can we get you ladies anything?"
Both women shook their heads. Hetty walked both ladies over to the sofa and asked them to have a seat.
Hetty returned to the group and picked a case up off of the table. She opened it, presenting the contents to the team. "These are automatic syringes. Twist the top and push the button. A needle will extend and inject Biperiden into your system. If you have to use them be sure to aim for your heart. We are not going to take chances. If you are exposed to Sarin gas, use these immediately. Understood?"
Everyone nodded their heads.
Granger motioned for the team to come closer. "Captain Wright and a team from Dugway are at the fire. They are supervising the firefighters and local HAZMAT. It's still burning so we aren't sure what's there yet, but preliminary results show the fire is hot enough to consume the chemicals without emitting dangerous by products. It has already been decided that the wife and daughter will be reported as having died in the fire. From here an NCIS tactical team will move them to a safe house. You guys get down to the fire. Let us know what you find."
"Right." Callen answered. With that the team turned and left the boat shed.
Granger turned, walking over to stand behind Hetty as the mother spoke to her.
"He told me to turn this over to the authorities. I guess you can make use of it." Christie handed Hetty a USB drive.
Hetty took the drive from Christie, handing it directly to Granger. He slipped the device into this pocket and quickly left the boat shed heading for the Mission.
As Granger entered OPS he pulled the USB drive out of his pocket, setting it on the table in the center of the room.
"Miss Jones? Christie Monroe was given this drive before her husband started a fire to help them escape and to destroy the weapon he had been building." This got both Eric's and Ashley's attention. "We don't' know what's on it, but could you please let me know if it is anything useful."
Nell picked the device up off the table, plugging it into a nearby workstation. The device opened on the screen showing a series of files.
"It looks like we have a series of pictures and spreadsheets." Nell began tapping the large wall screen to bring up the pictures. "The pictures look like they were taken with a lap top or cell phone camera. The lighting is really bad."
"He probably took them with the computer he was using to create the weapon. His captors never thought about disabling it." Ashley added.
"The spread sheets look like inventory of the chemicals he had and what he had and had not used, along with measurements of how much Sarin gas he had made." Nell stepped closer to the screen reading the spreadsheet. "Something here doesn't look right. Some of these aren't using all the compounds. A lot of this isn't Sarin gas. It's not anything really. It looks like he only created a very small amount of the actual toxin."
Granger nodded his head. "He was buying time. They probably tested the first few batches he made to be sure it worked. Probably tested on animals so no one would notice. When they stopped testing, he stopped making the real thing. He was just buying time to get his family free. Then he set the fire to free them and destroy everything. I hope his plan worked, otherwise there is a small group of fanatics running around LA right now with a chemical weapon."