TPOV

Finally, we head for the parking lot. I am struggling to keep it together. I thought I was tough. I can remember a night in Iraq where I played cards all night. I won $180.00 off my buddy Wilkie. The next day I was gathering his body parts up after an IED. As bad as that was, I was able to hold it together. I didn't cry when I picked up his boot with the bloody stump of his foot still inside and I didn't puke but seeing Ana half-dead, bald and bruised, its fucking taking all my self control to simply walk and not think.

So I walk. I don't speak. I try desperately not to think, but what I can't control are the images of Ana laying in that bed, trying to cling to life battered and bruised. I push the images away and concentrate on how many paces there are in each cement block of sidewalk. When we get to the car, I open the rear door for Gail, I say nothing and shut it. I know it was rude but I really don't care. I think Grey understands because he hasn't said a word either.

I concentrate on the job at hand. My eyes are everywhere. We've only gone a few blocks when I notice a possible tail. I tell Grey to hang a right. The car follows. We do three more right hand turns, and the white Honda Accord stays with us. Fuck! I am about to text Welch when I see an incoming message from Sullivan. 'Intruders in the house' Are you fucking kidding me?

I see he copied Welch, and I see Welch's reply , "Sit tight, help on the way. Protect Barney at all costs." I'm thinking he must have the guys in the penthouse lobby or the roof assisting, so I let Welch know our situation and that the boss is driving. I know he must be cursing; this is exactly why people in security don't want their clients driving. The driver is always a target and he can't get down and hug the floor.

While I wait for Welch's reply, I advise Grey to head for I5 north. Then I look for a real time traffic report and see we are okay. Still no reply from Welch. I text him we are taking I 5 North and will try to stay in the outside lane.

It would seem this is a well planned multi prong attack. First Escala, and I have to admit that is really freaking me out. The trip to see Ana was kind of spur of the moment. No one knew Sullivan and Barney would be there alone, at least they shouldn't know. Are there eyes and ears on Escala? Was it a feign to draw attention and resources while Grey remained the prime target? Is it possible that Barney was the target? I think of the security in the penthouse lobby, stairwell, garage and roof. My gut says immediately, no one goes up against that kind of fire power and successfully enters the penthouse unless they have a prime target. They had to have been after Barney. The Accord has increased their speed. I order Gail to get down on the fucking floor and for Grey to open the sun roof. I slip off the sling on left arm and unholster my weapon. The Accord is behind us now and closing rapidly. I lean out the sunroof and bracing my weapon against the roof I fire off a volley of shots aimed at the grill. I smile grimly when I see the cloud of steam and and target the front tires. I manage to take out the drivers side tire and watch the Accord careen off the road. I slide back down text Welch that the obvious tail has been eliminated. As professional as this operation has been, I am certain there are at least 2-3 other car juggling positions that I will not be able to identify as a threat. Whoever is behind this operation has very deep pockets. We need to plan not just our exit from I5, but what is our destination going to be? It would appear Escala is out. My brain is fried. I cant think of anything right now except to watch for suspicious cars. Hopefully, Welch can come up with something.

IN ESCALA

Barney looked at the information on his screen and groaned. No matter how hard he hard he tried to keep up with Jack Hyde, he was always one step behind. He had uncovered a great deal of evidence that Hyde was a miserable excuse for a human being who appeared addicted to violent sex and blackmail and dealt with the sale of pedophile videos, but establishing an connection between Hyde and Schneiderman had never happened. Barney dug deeper. He worked all through the night, drinking Mountain Dew and typing away. He was sure there was a connection; he just had to find it.

He had planted dozens of traps to try and catch a communication from Hyde to Schneiderman but they all came up empty. He was racking his brain, trying to think what he had missed. In the background he could hear someone say his name but his keyboard was calling him, so he ignored it and typed faster. He looked briefly to his right and knew it had been Gail leaving him a tray.

Hours passed. He was getting close. He knew it. Alerts were going off left and right. Then it happened, Barney had him! It was Hyde's personal pc communicating with Schneiderman's pc.

The next thing Barney knew, alarms were going off everywhere and he was frantically trying to stave off a vicious counterattack. As fast as he typed, it didn't seem fast enough and then suddenly everything went black. It took Barney a moment to realize this wasn't a black screen issue, it was a power failure. While he was considering the effect of the black out, the new security guy entered the room with his gun drawn and a finger to his lips urging silence.

He gestured to Barney to come close, then he whispered to him there were intruders in the house downstairs. Sullivan looked nervous, very nervous. Barney appeared startled. Sullivan knew he had to keep Barney safe. The intruders were already exploring the first floor, there was no way to get to the safe room downstairs. His options were limited. He sent a quick text to Taylor and copied it to Welch. Then he grabbed Barney and explained his plan. Barney agreed and Sullivan pulled him out into the hallway and looked for the central air return. Finding it at the end of the corridor, he released the latch and urged Barney inside and reset the latch. Then he returned to the room Barney had been using and pulled down the curtain rod. Wrapping the sheet curtain around it, he lit the end and then crept downstairs. Using his makeshift torch, Sullivan activated the smoke alarm system, and the automatic sprinkler system near the stairs. Then he quickly returned upstairs.

Almost immediately, chaos broke out downstairs. Sullivan crouched near the head of the stairs, ready to take out anyone attempting to come up. One guy, dressed in black and masked came running out headed for the stairs. Sully never hesitated, firing his gun without hesitation and watching the man drop. Two more masked men came, one fired up at him while the other dragged the body Sully had shot out of sight.

Suddenly, it was deathly quiet. Sullivan stayed, crouched in position, prepared to defend to the death. Sullivan waited impatiently. He was pretty sure the intruders had left, but he couldn't take that chance. He wanted to search the downstairs and secure the exits, but keeping Barney safe was his prime directive. So he waited. He looked at his phone but the only message he had received was, "Sit tight, help on the way. Protect Barney at all costs. "

Finally, he heard someone call out,"Sullivan, its Welch. Where are you?" in the same moment he received a text from Welch, that he was in the penthouse and to stand down and reveal himself. He crept back to Barney and tells him he wants to see Welch with his own eyes before letting Barney out. Then Sullivan hears his name called again, slightly more frantic. He peers down into the Great Room and sees Welch and a half a dozen other men. He stands up and calls out "Here."

Welch looks up and smiles in relief. "Barney?"

"I'll get him."

Sullivan goes and unlatches the grill letting Barney free at last.