"I tried dialling 911 on my way up the stairs" Skye said.
"999 is a better number to call in the UK." Ward advised her, while Rob laughed.
He got through and asked for the police.
"Is that the police? Good. There have been five people break into my house. 22 Chesterton Way. They are still here, but there is no need to rush. And just so you know. There are weapons markers on the house." Ward said to the police dispatcher before hanging up and turning to Skye before continuing: "You have twenty five minutes until the ART arrives."
"ART?" She asked, confused.
"Armed Response Team." Rob explained.
"Why did you tell them there were weapons markers on the house?" Coulson asked.
"To buy us more time. The fastest response time for the police to this area is ten minutes, the fastest ART time is twenty five." Ward said. He left the room to go and wait for the police.
Skye, realising she was on the clock pulled her laptop off the floor where it had dropped when the burglar had been apprehended and opened it. She quickly accessed every database she could while May took pictures of the five visitors and sent them to her.
"Ok. First scumbag coming up. Walter Davis, 28, lives in London."
"You're a long way from home aren't cha?" Coulson asked.
"Rap sheet: Burglary, common assault, fencing stolen property. Pretty basic for a thief." May said, looking over Skye's shoulder at the screen.
Skye tapped the keys on her laptop a few more times and brought up the file on burglar number two. Once she had told Coulson him details she moved onto burglar number three and then four. She was just starting on number five when Ward came in with one of the officers.
"Impressive. You did this?" the officer asked, nodding at the thieves.
"Some of us did, yes." Coulson told them.
The officer walked over to the men and looked at the knots that were binding them to chairs. He had never seen anything like them before.
"Would you care to untie these knots?" he asked.
Ward flicked out a knife and cut the ropes of the first four men, who were immediately put in handcuffs. He was just about to cut the fifth one loose when Skye told him to stop.
"James Matterson, 31, armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, also convicted for Ward's Specialty. He's wanted by the Metropolitain Police, MI6, the CIA and last but by no means least, S.H.I.E.L.D.
"What did he do?" Coulson asked her.
"Set a S.H.I.E.L.D safe house on fire."
"He held a gun to my head!" The thief that Ward had pointed his gun at said as he was dragged out of the room and out to a waiting van.
"Is this true?" The officer asked Ward.
"Don't answer that Ward." Coulson told him. He turned to Skye.
Ward placed his gun on the counter and turned to face the officer.
"Who are you? His lawyer?" The officer asked.
"No. I'm his boss." Coulson told him, showing the officer his I.D "And this gentleman is staying here."
The officer inspected Coulson identification closely before turning to Matterson and saying.
"Oh man, you broke into the wrong house buddy! Mr Coulson, I would like my men to search the rest of the house, make sure it is safe and the weapons are secure."
Coulson looked at Ward, who nodded his approval.
"That's fine. Ward here will show you the cage."
"It's in the basement." Ward told the officer. He reached the basement door and was about to scan his thumb print to open it when he heard screaming and shouting from the front room. The officer took off in the direction of the shouts while Ward, followed. He had forgotten about the spider's web.
When they reached the front room they met up with Coulson, May, Skye, Rob and Tilly, who flicked the light on. The sight before them made those in on the joke laugh, the others wonder what the hell had happened. The officers had made their way through some of the string before being caught up in it. The noise they were making had clearly woken Amber and Kain who had sat bolt upright into a facefull of string and were now trying to fight their way out of it.
Their screams had woken Fitz-Simmons who stumbled down the stairs in their bedclothes, rubbing sleep from their eyes. They were not expecting so many people and were wondering what had gone on. They hid confused smiles when they saw the police officers tangled up in string.
"My team like practical jokes. Why do you think they were up at three in the morning?" Coulson told the officers as they worked to free them and the interns. The officer who had wanted to inspect Wards gun cage was satisfied that it was still secure as it had required Ward's thumbprint to access it.
"You do realise that we have left your wanted man alone for the last half hour." The officer told Coulson.
"It's ok. We know how to restrain people so they can't escape. Which reminds me; I need to organise a pick up. Please excuse me." Coulson replied, pulling his phone out of his pocket and dialling.
"Everything is in hand. All parties are in custody and we are good to go. Here is a crime number just in case anything happens and you can also give it to your insurance company when you get that window changed." The officer said to Ward, handing him a slip of paper.
"Thanks. Enjoy the rest of your shift." Ward replied, showing the officer the door. When the police had left Ward locked the door and made his way back to the kitchen where everyone had regathered.
"Pick up is in six hours." Coulson said, hanging up the phone, "You can all go back to bed. I will stay here till backup arrives."
Coulson shepherded them all out of the kitchen and turned to put the kettle on. It was already five am. He turned to the visitor and saw Ward checking the rope binding him. He also looked to see Skye perched on a barstool at the end of the kitchen bar tapping away one handed at her laptop. Rob was also still there. He was filling the kettle and pulling four mugs down from the cupboard.
"Ward, Skye. What are you still doing here?" He asked them.
"With our injuries we'll get to sleep and then have to wake up again." Skye told him.
"Rob, there is no need for you to stay."
"I'm an early riser. I'd be up in half an hour anyway. I might as well stay."