CH35
It is still the same day: (January 4, 2001)
Rick took a moment to unhook his weapon and attach his silencer while he kept an eye open and listened to Jack explain everything he was seeing, knowing Jack was telling Jill the same thing.
Rick also knew it was going to be dark soon and it was getting colder. "Jack, have Jill tell Kate to find something to cover her mouth with. Even if she is invisible, her breath in this cold weather will give her away." After that Rick opened his coat, pulled his shirt out, used his knife to start a cut, and ripped the lower portion off. Closing his coat he wrapped the strip from his shirt around his mouth and tied it into place.
"One car has blocked your truck in place while the other is parked across the street. There are three at the truck while the other two are walking across the street. One in each group has an AR-15 while the others have hand guns." Jack told him.
Rick decided to take the initiative using his Ranger training, not his FBI training. Rick fired a burst into the legs of one of the men that was crossing the street, watching him fall down screaming in pain.
His buddy suddenly falling and screaming had the other man's attention, allowing Rick a moment to put a burst into his legs, causing him to also fall to the ground howling in pain.
It was a calculated risk to Rick's mind. It took two bad guys out of the fight while at the same time alerted the other three that they had a fight on their hands, which was not good.
Kate had already activated her invisibility and was working her way down the side while keeping an eye on the interior as she made her way towards their truck.
She was suddenly surprised when one of the men came around the corner with his weapon out causing Kate to become frightened and stand still. It appeared, however, that he saw nothing so Kate aimed her weapon and fired three quick rounds into his legs, causing him to drop to the ground and cry out in pain.
It was now that Kate saw a guy inside the building who immediately opened up and started firing blindly in her general direction. Kate fell to the ground so that all the rounds that penetrated the outside wall went over her. Problem was it left her blind except for the guy she had dropped who was holding onto his legs moaning in pain.
Unbeknownst to Kate, Rick had looked through one of the destroyed windows and emptied his clip into the guy's body, killing him outright. Rick ejected his spent clip and slapped in a new one.
"Drop your weapon and you can get out of this alive. All of your other friends are out of action," Rick yelled out and stepped out into the dirt drive that went past this building where the two men Rick had dropped earlier were located.
"I won't ask you again." Rick shouted, moved slowly till he was across the street and headed for their car.
Kate, meanwhile, was up on her feet. She backed up to the edge of the building and slipped inside. It was here that she saw another guy working his way from one cover location to another on the opposite wall on the inside. Kate also saw an additional guy with an AR-15 lying on the ground inside in a pool of his own blood.
The first guy made it to where the burnt wall was gone and was looking outside and back inside. He obviously didn't see where either of them were located. Kate used the edge of the building as cover. She backed up and lifted a good sized rock and heaved it at him. As luck would have it, it hit the gun he was holding causing him to drop it momentarily.
The guy scrambled to recover his weapon and stood up to take a wild shot in Kate's direction. She shot him. At the same time Kate saw him dance from the short burst that Rick put into him, killing him.
"Clear?" Rick asked Jack who asked Jill. Jill was able to get a response from Kate. "Clear."
Rick emerged from his position. He removed the weapons from the men in the street while still invisible and heaved them past their car then left the men bleeding in the middle of the dirt road.
Rick looked inside the building and found two dead guys. He knew that left one somewhere. "Kate!?" Rick yelled out.
Rick heard Kate's voice tell him "Here" as she ended her invisibility. He was impressed since he hadn't really seen her. However, he did catch some movement to his left when Kate's first guy came crawling around the corner with a weapon in his hand.
Rick acted on instinct and put a burst into him, killing him. "Castle?" Kate's voice sounded concerned. "I'm fine," Rick responded and ended his invisibility surprising Kate since she hadn't seen him standing near one of the guys she had shot who had an AR-15.
Kate stepped her way carefully over to him and hugged him. "You sure you're alright?" Rick needed to hear it again.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Honest. I shot that guy in the legs however I was forced to shoot this guy, just before you killed him. Is there anyone still alive?" Kate didn't know.
"Just the two guys out in the dirt road slowly bleeding to death. Move their car and then help me load them in the bed of the truck and we can take them to the local hospital," Rick asked her.
"To the local IRA member who doubles as this towns doctor, and probably told these guys about us?" Kate questioned.
"If he wants his friends to live, he'll help. I just have to watch him like a hawk while you call in the reinforcements so they can go get the cache of weapons," Rick told her.
They had to find the keys first, which happened to be in the pocket of the dead man with the AR-15. Kate moved the car and then backed up the truck so they could load the two still living in it.
This time Rick drove while Kate kept her eyes on the two in the bed of the truck with the little window behind them open. "Go see if our good doctor is in. Just remember he may have sent these guys, so he isn't expecting us to show up," Rick warned Kate and watched her go inside with her weapon drawn.
Moments later the good doctor emerged with Kate right behind him holding her weapon on him. "If you want to help your friends live Mr. Dolan you'll help me transfer them inside where I will be watching the three of you. The other three are dead. Unless you want to join them, you won't do anything stupid."
Rick noticed the doctor's recognition of Rick using his real name. "We need to go back inside to get the gurney and wheel them inside." Dolan told them.
Rick helped Dolan move them inside with Kate remaining inside with the first man while they pick up the second. Kate left the room to make her call while Rick watched Dolan tend to these two's gunshot wounds.
"Ná insint dóibh aon rud Dolan," one of the men who was injured told him. "Ní bheidh a bheith i bpríosún a shábháil tú ó dúinn má flap tú do liopaí."
Dolan remained silent and continued to work on the other one's leg. "Tá go soith go bás nuair a fhaigheann sí anseo i dhá lá," the same guy told him.
Dolan had finished with one and had started working on the one with the mouth. "Ní mór duit a fháil ar bhealach chun rabhadh connolly go bhfuil an airm nochta, ní mór dúinn sin a thógáil amach go soith."
Rick was enjoying the guy with the mouth who obviously didn't think Rick knew what he was saying, which happened to be the truth. Rick knew that Jack could translate when they were alone later, so he just stood there watching the three of them. He knew that Jack was informing Jill who would tell Kate.
Kate was being connected with Agent Darrigo. "Agent Beckett, what have you got?" Kate was standing just inside the front door looking outside; It had long since gotten dark.
"Sir, we have found that our vic is actually one Captain Robert Nairac, who was working as an undercover British officer gathering information on the IRA. Apparently there is a strong contingent of IRA members in this area."
"We found a weapons cache where we were attacked by 5 men whom we believe are members of the IRA. Three are down while two are being tended to their wounds by an IRA member who is the local doctor. He is the son of Michael Dolan, sir."
"The two injured are speaking Irish Gaelic, believing that we can't translate, sir. They are presently worried that they will lose their weapons cache. They need the weapons to attack a person that they are only referring to as 'Bitch.' We believe this person is due to arrive in or near this area in roughly two days' time. They want her dead sir." Kate passed on what they knew and were still learning.
"Beckett, this is Shaw. You're sure they said Michael Dolan?" Jordan asked. Kate now understood that she had been on speaker the entire time. She didn't know why Jordan was still in New York and in the office this late. Or maybe she wasn't and was on conference call. It would explain the delay in being connected with Darrigo.
"Yes ma'am, we have whom we believe to be his son posing as this town's doctor, who may in fact be just that. We believe that Michael Dolan is in the Lake George area and is married to an American citizen. He may be using her name as a cover to prevent himself from being discovered." Kate was only just now speculating on Dolan hiding behind his wife's name.
"Special Agent Darrigo, I can't begin to express how important it is that we get our hands on Michael Dolan. If you need extra men you know the procedures. It is your office."
"Beckett, are you and Castle secure?" Jordan wasn't interested in losing these two.
"We're fine for now sir. We will likely transfer these two to the local sheriff's office. We don't believe the Sheriff himself is involved in this. We think he is a retired officer from another city looking for a nice quiet town to wind down his career in but his deputies may have ties to the local IRA, ma'am," Kate informed Jordan and Darrigo who was likely still listening.
"How long have you two been up Beckett?" Jordan asked.
"We drove the 4 plus hours to get here and have actually been up since 5 this morning, getting into the office early. We wanted to avoid the long line at security." Kate didn't feel tired at the moment.
"I advise that you secure your prisoners as best you can there in the hospital as well as secure Dolan's son. We can't have him warning his father that he has been found out. We'll get you some relief as soon as possible. Hang in there Beckett. …Darrigo, we need to talk." Kate had been dismissed. She stepped into the room to watch Dolan finish working on the last of the two of them.
"I'm going to the truck, we've been asked to secure these three in this building." Kate whispered into Rick's ear and went back outside and down to the street. She unlocked the shotgun that was in the extended cab area and lifted up the bag that was also there with a grunt since it was heavy and walked back inside.
Kate pulled Rick aside a respectable distance but still in view of their 3 friends. "We've been ordered to secure these 3 in this building. I think they are planning on a raid in Lake George. They seem to want his father pretty badly," Kate told Rick. She bent down to unzip the bag after handing Rick the shotgun, fishing out the extra pairs of cuffs that were located inside it.
They secured the two injured men to a table using the cuffs while using another pair to secure Dolan to a chair that he can at least lie back in.
Rick and Kate retreated to the front door. "I take it Jack told you what Mr. Big Mouth said?" Rick was hoping he did since Rick still didn't know what he said. It was only now that Jack told him. "Guess that explains why they are interested in Lake George. Did they speculate anything on who this bitch is who is showing up in two days' time?" Kate shook her head.
"Whoever it is, it sounds important to them that she dies," Rick commented trying to think.
"What are you thinking babe?" Kate inquired.
"They have some heavy weapons that they have hidden away. AR-15's that may possibly have been modified to be capable of firing on full automatic. Flash bangs and at least two if not three RPG's."
"If I was going to set up an ambush on a motorized convoy I would use an RPG on the most heavily armored looking vehicle or one that held most of the soldiers as my first shot. Open up with my AR-15's and when the support team exited the cars and took cover to return fire I would throw the flash bang or grenades if I had them."
"The final 2 RPG's would be forward and to the rear, in case the car I was after tried to leave that way. Blow up the front end and shoot the door open to get to who I wanted. Kill him or her or take that person and use him or her as a bargaining chip to get something I want." Rick was thinking aloud.
"And kill him or her after they get what they want," Kate added, watching as Rick nodded his head.
"Whoever it is, is worth something-a reason to take this risk and anyone who is that important is going to be heavily guarded," Rick pointed out.
"I don't understand something then. If this person is that important, why isn't he or she flying to get there? Even if it isn't a commercial flight, there are private jets, helicopters, even a simple twin engine turbo prop," Kate mused.
"Maybe they are." Rick went back to thinking.
"Can you shoot down a plane or helicopter with an RPG?" Kate was happy Rick had been a Ranger; he knew the answers to these questions.
"A jet or plane no, and even no for a helicopter if it is high enough. They would need a stinger missile system for that. No, what they are after is on the ground. However say everyone thinks the target is going by air but in fact is traveling by ground." Rick replied.
"The air story is a cover for the ground transportation. But to know that this person is actually traveling by ground means…" Kate's voice trailed off.
"That they have a mole or at least a leak in their security measures. Someone on the inside somewhere has sold this person out." Rick finished for Kate. "Call Darrigo, I'm going to go check on our guests." Rick left Kate who pulled out her phone.
"Agent Beckett, has something happened?" Darrigo answered her call with a question.
"Castle and I have been talking sir. We know they plan on using these weapons to attack a target with and they want whoever this person they call 'Bitch' badly. However AR-15's, grenades and RPG's are only good for ground targets. We are speculating that their target might possibly be advertised as traveling by air, however that route is a decoy and they are traveling by car."
"However the only way this group would now that…" Darrigo cut Kate off. "Is if there is a leak. DAMN IT!" Darrigo finished for her. He wasn't the Special Agent in charge of the New York field office for no reason. "Yes sir, we believe so." Kate told him.
"Nice work Agent. Frazier and Hammond are headed your way using lights. Estimate 3 hours till they get there. Stay where you are and stay safe. We are in conference about how to enter Lake George. If you learn anything don't hesitate to call." Darrigo said to Kate.
"Yes sir." Kate ended the call and went looking for Castle. She found him and took him aside. "Frazier and Hammond are three hours out, we've been ordered to stay here. They are working on a plan on Lake George." Kate briefed him.
"What babe?" Kate could see Rick thinking again.
"We have his son. If he is a loving father like any good Irishman, he would be in contact with his son." Rick pointed out.
"Meaning our Dolan here has a way of contacting his father," Kate replied.
"We need to search this hospital again, only this time look for something else," Rick told her.
"I'll search, you watch our friends." Kate kissed Castle and walked off, heading upstairs to begin working her way down.
"Jack, can you keep an eye on this building? Dolan may be expected somewhere, or the guys they sent may be expected back soon. They may even be a part of the ambush," Rick asked him.
"Hacking the CIA again and re-tasking one of their satellites. Not to worry-they see nothing. Coverage will only last just short of 3 hours however. It will be another 30 minutes before the next satellite is in the area," Jack warned him.
"It'll have to be enough, thanks," Rick said. Rick continued watching their guests while his mind kept spinning. There was something and he just knows he's missing it.
It was an hour later and Kate was back downstairs to check on Castle. Rick took Kate aside. "Anything?" Rick queried.
Kate shook her head. "Nothing so far, it is possible that it is on his person; we only searched the guys we shot," Kate commented.
"I've been thinking. They call this person Bitch with such venom and they are the IRA, who could they hate that much?"
"And I'm wondering if this person is that hated and powerful enough, the ground transportation would be large. Armed escort out in front, the target in the middle followed by another armed escort. Two or three armored SUV's front and rear with the target in another armored SUV between two cars." Rick was trying to think.
"But they only have 3 RPG's total, they would never succeed." Kate pointed out.
"They would if this was only one of two or more teams all equally armed." Rick said to her.
"Lake George!" Kate looks up at Rick, suddenly seeing where he is going.
"Go call Darrigo and then get back to searching. We'll search the son after you finish the hospital." Rick wasn't convinced that the son would keep something that important on him.
"Agent Beckett?" Darrigo answered after just one ring.
"Agent Castle and I have been speculating again. If the IRA hates this person this much and they know this person is traveling by car with a decoy by air, the support would likely be large and armored."
"What if this group is only one of two or more teams? What if Michael Dolan has another team or two in Lake George? One team attacks the front, another the rear, likely our team, with maybe a third as a flank waiting in a critical spot." Kate concluded.
Darrigo was silent for a time. "I'll take it under advisement and consult with Agent Shaw. We may need more men to go into Lake George. Is it still quiet there?" Darrigo was curious.
"So far all is quiet sir. We are searching the hospital to see if the son has anything that would pin point his father's location, sir." Kate informed him.
"Keep up the good work Agent. Call me if you have any more of these insights. Questions, no matter if they appear to be stupid, are to be shared. Hammond called in to say they are 2 hours out. I've given them your numbers, so they should be in contact when they are close." Darrigo advised Kate.
"Yes sir, thank you, sir." Kate ended the call. What the hell had they gotten themselves into?
Kate went back to Castle and pulled him aside. Kate however had to stifle a yawn before she said anything. "Hammond and Frazer are 2 hours out, they will call us when they are close."
"Castle how much ammunition do you still have?" Kate was trying to think ahead.
"I still have everything for my SIG 22, and I'm down to my last 2 clips for this baby, one of which is half empty and that's it." Rick answered.
"I've got 2 – ½ clips left, however we have 50 rounds in the bag along with the shot gun and 12 spare shells." Kate told him.
Rick thought about it. "You take the shot gun and the shells and give me about a third of that 50. We need to find something on Michael Dolan," Rick remarked and went back to watching over his guests.
Kate placed the shot gun and the spare shells where she wanted it and put most of the 50 rounds in two of her pockets while giving Castle the rest and then continued searching.
An hour later Kate's phone vibrated while she was on her back on the floor in some room searching everywhere she can think of. "Beckett." Kate answered.
"This is Hammond. We are about one hour out. We are running with lights on and passing everyone we come across. Are you still secure?" he inquired.
"We're fine still, no activity. Be advised Lake George may be infested with an IRA hit team or two," Kate warned them.
"So we have been informed. We plan on killing the lights as we pass through though we will maintain our speed. Verify your location." Hammond was being careful.
"All green, still at the hospital with three guests. Agent Castle is watching them." Kate had faith that Castle was still awake and watching them.
As it so happened at that moment:
"How about a bathroom break Mr. FBI guy?" Dolan asked.
"Not a chance." Rick replied.
"I really do have to go man." Dolan whined.
"I don't care if you pee in your pants or have diarrhea in your shorts, the answer is no." Rick responded and moved to check on everyone's cuffs, including Dolan's who jerked on them when Rick got close.
"My lawyer is going to have a field day with you and your treatment of us." Dolan hissed at Rick.
"I let you save your friends. I could have left them to bleed to death and it's not my fault you can't hold it." Rick countered and went back to his seat to watch them.
Meanwhile Kate found a safe hidden behind a lower drawer of the desk that she pulled out. "Finally." Kate started smiling. "Jill?" Kate knew Jill could open it.
"Safe is now unlocked." Jill told her.
Kate got down on her hands and knees, opens it, and started pulling everything she found out of it. "Let's see what we've got," Kate murmured to herself.
"$20 grand, what appears to be a list of phone numbers with code names by the look of it. I wonder if one of them is Michael? Oooo, and one cell phone." Kate turned it on. "And it's charged, meaning someone keeps it that way, though it looks like the battery is down to half power. …Jill?"
"Scanning… This phone has only been used to send and receive calls from a single phone number. Jack is presently searching that number. …Jack has said that number is unlisted as is the number for this phone." Jill informed her.
"My money is on it being Michael Dolan," Kate said to herself and pulled out her cell phone.
Rick meanwhile is being shocked on his arm, which got him up and away from his guests. "Yes Jack." Rick said.
"Satellite coverage shows two trucks pulling up out front with infrared indicating two men per truck." Jack told him.
"SHIT! Tell Kate!" Rick barked out and tried to think of a plan.