Not a fool this time…. Chapter 19
Monday morning Walter sent a message to Richard to meet in his office to discuss the property and inquire on the price, what was to be done with everything in the fully furnished rooms and whatever else needed clarification. Richard responded to come when convenient would be in office all day.
"Walter, for you, $500K, appliances and furniture included- I had gotten all that stuff for the house so no sense removing it. You can change the décor over time to better suit your taste, as you and Gale please- dare say one of the spare bedrooms will turn into a nursery at some point, right? Anyway, that is well below the prices of surrounding properties in the neighborhood. Like I said, it has just been sitting vacant so a good deal for both of us. You get a nice property for cheap…. by LA standard, anyway, and I won't have to continue paying property tax on a vacant place….. don't like paying taxes."
"Looks like you sold your house," Walter said. "Gale likes the place and I like the built in security. How soon could Ralph get situated in one of your condos?"
"That may take a bit longer," Richard said. "He has to go through the process of graduation- my people are working on that already. If he tests OK, he may be graduated by the end of this school year which is what five months I think. Pretty quick."
Walter thought for a moment. "He could stay at the garage or have his college buddies stay with him- I would rather no one be alone there, even with the stepped up security. I could have Gale move into the new place immediately for the security, and I remain at the garage- I do not want strangers there until I move my servers and electronics out. Start the paperwork for the house sale and let's get it done. I will have to check over the place better for setting up my computers and equipment, see where the circuits can best handle the load."
"Go spend time checking the place and getting the layout for what you need. I will call Adam and Sue and let them know you will be popping in and out as needed as new owners." He chuckled, "they can introduce you and Gale formally to Peaches and Cream. I can have everything ready for signatures within a day plus all the necessary inspections and other stuff needed to be done to transfer- my agent will get it done ASAP."
"Going to be strange living in such a large place after being in the garage all these years. Have your agent contact us- want it in a suitcase full of cash or is a check OK?"
"Very funny, Walter." Richard laughed, "I will take a risk and take a check- a twenty per cent charge if it bounces, though."
"When the paperwork is completed and ready for signatures, both Gale and I will be joint owners- I have to start thinking of all that legal paperwork- wills, trusts and the rest seeing as I have a family, now." Walter rose to leave, shaking hands with Richard. "As always, Richard, a pleasure doing business with you."
Walter left to drive to the garage to let Gale know they bought the house. He wanted to take her along when he goes over to check circuits and where best to locate his electronics safely. When he came around to pull up to the garage he saw three black SUV's like Cabe used to drive and three men in dark suits at the door of the garage. He pulled up and got out of the Ferrari, "This is the offices of Cyclone Securities, may I help you?"
"We have a request by Homeland Security for Walter O'Brien, owner of Cyclone Securities to come in for questioning."
"I am Walter O'Brien. What are the charges?" Walter looked at the security camera and shook his head in hopes Gale would see and not come out of the securely locked garage. "Why are you here?"
"No charges, merely wanting you to come in for questioning."
"Questioning about what? Give me a time and place I will willingly come into your office with my attorney and answer any and all questions. Let me know the subject matter beforehand and I will have all pertinent information with me at that time."
"We would prefer you come with us now."
"What you prefer is immaterial. Either have an arrest warrant or some other legal paperwork specifying why I am to be removed from my workplace or be sued for harassment, unlawful detainment, and anything else I or my attorney can come up with."
"You are aware a person can be detained on a 24 hour hold with cause," one agent said pushing Walter against the car and handcuffing him. "Shall we go?" he said opening the door of one of the SUV's and pushing Walter in. The three SUV's then drove off.
Gale was watching the entire episode on the security feed. She copied it and sent it off to Richard with a message asking if he knew who Walter's attorney was as it had never been brought up in the time she and Walter were together.
In short order Richard replied- he had no idea. He would be sending an attorney to the Homeland office to inquire what was going on and would let her know when he found out.
The main office of Homeland Security LA office, at the reception desk, a dark suited man walked up and said to the woman behind the counter: "Joe Bennett, attorney representing Walter O'Brien who is presently being held by Homeland Security. I am requesting a conference with my client, as well as an explanation on why he has been detained."
The woman looked to her computer but could find no information on a Walter O'Brien. She relayed that information to Mr. Bennet who then requested a meeting with the sector manager.
"Mr. Clark is not available at this time." The receptionist said.
"Who is next in authority?" Mr. Bennet inquired. "That Mr. O'Brien has been pulled off the street in front of his office without a warrant, explanation, or allowed to see his attorney is cause for legal action. Where is Mr. O'Brien and what was the reason for his apprehension?"
"There is nothing logged in on a Mr. O'Brien- he has possibly not as yet been processed." The receptionist said. "You can be seated and I will get that information to you as soon as he has been processed."
Joe Bennet, sat in the waiting area, pulled his phone out of his inside jacket pocket to text Richard Elias:
Richard- homeland- nothing. Send security feed to Jessup for forensic exam- vehicle ID, facial recog, etc. Does not feel right- should have been processed by my getting here- Joe
Ralph waited after school for some time then called an Uber for the ride to the garage. When he entered the security code to enter the garage, Gale was at Walter's desk crying, Richard Elias was standing by the desk talking to her. "What is going on? Where is Walter?"
Gale looked up, "we don't know! I am making a copy of the security feed when he was arrested, TAKEN!"
Ralph went to the desk with Gale's desk top and brought up the security feed, watched when Walter was handcuffed and put in the SUV. "Those are not government plates on those SUV's" he said. "Looks like Homeland, but don't think they are." He then started hacking into the local security feeds of stores and street to track where the SUV's traveled. "They are not heading in the direction of the Homeland office." Ralph said continuing to tap on the keyboard to follow the SUV's through the neighborhood.
Richard went to watch Ralph's screen when his phone buzzed. Pulling it out, he read Joe Bennet's text. "Looks like you may be right. My attorney at Homeland says Walter has not been processed and should have been by now if they had him." He then called his corporate security head Dave Jessup. "Dave, three black SUV's left the Cyclone Security office about an hour and a half ago- they need to be located, tracked, and watched for a possible kidnapping. Get on it ASAP- full force, notify police when appropriate."
"Six blocks out the SUV's split up." Ralph said continuing to focus on the screen.
Gale reviewed the original security and wrote down the license plate of the SUV Walter was put in. "Ralph, here is the plate of the one Walter is in," and handed it to Richard to show Ralph. Ralph checked the plates and said "the one he is in is headed south on the five. They are staying a steady ten mph over the speed limit. Easy to do this time of day."
Richard pulled his phone out again and called Dave Jessup. "Dave, the SUV is going south on I-5. Get the office in Oceanside on it- they may be that far south by now. Get the San Diego office on it as well- they may be heading for the border, if so intercept- I will have all the legal issues covered if it is a problem. The possible victim is Walter O'Brien, so get a picture for definite ID." Richard listened for a few minutes. "Good, keep me informed and if O'Brien is OK when found."
Richard then turned to Gale. "Gale, Jessup's crew have located the SUV and have notified Oceanside PD of the situation. The police may try and do a normal traffic stop to get the SUV off to the side of the road. Jessup's Oceanside office personnel are in vehicles working to get into position in the traffic to be around the SUV. The more control of the situation the better- I am sure Walter is aware of what is going on- he is exceptionally observant and will do all he can to protect himself."
"I am tapped into the area traffic cams real time, now." Ralph said. Richard and Gale crowed around the desk watching the screen of the grainy feed. "That must be the SUV with the cop car behind it with lights on." The SUV slowed to pull to the side of the road with the cop car behind it. Both stopped and the officer exited his car when the SUV floored it to take off. The cop ran to get back into the patrol car to pursue when a full-size Dodge Ram crew cab dually cut in front of the SUV causing it to go off road, onto the shoulder, over the side of the embankment and roll to land on its side on the surface street.
"WALTER!" Gale yelled. "OH MY GOD!"
"Look, the SUV driver has climbed out- he is armed!" Ralph yelled. "Two cars are on the surface road behind the SUV…. oh shit, the driver is shooting at the SUV, shots fired, the SUV driver is down."
Richard was holding Gale while she watched the screen, hands at her mouth, eyes wide and streaming tears. "Oh god, oh god…. oh god…. Walter," she whispered over and over.
Richard's phone buzzed. "Yeah. We are watching on the traffic cams feed- not the best for detail to see what is going on. Is O'Brien there, is he OK?" Richard said. "If O'Brien is in that SUV, he may be injured, find out if he is there and is OK….. I'll wait." He pressed the phone against his shoulder, turned to Gale. "This is the guys on scene, we will know what is going on in a moment." Then put his phone so everyone could hear and put it on the desk. They could see the grainy traffic cam feed that numerous people were moving in on the downed driver. One kicked the drivers dropped weapon to the side while two other men went to the SUV and opened the doors. One climbed in and raised an arm with thumb up. The person on the phone: "the occupant inside the SUV is handcuffed, unconscious, but don't see any blood at this point. Ambulance has been called and on the way." There was a pause when two more men and the cop could be seen converging on the unmoving driver. "Driver was shot…. didn't make it. Can hear the ambulance sirens, occupant has been positively ID'd as O'Brien-banged up from the rollover, breathing but out cold….. don't move him until medics get here." The ambulance could be seen on the traffic cam feed pulling up to the SUV, the medics piling out with equipment. The back doors of the SUV were opened from the inside. Within a few minutes, the stretcher pulled close, Walter with neck brace was lifted out to be placed on the stretcher, moved to the ambulance and transported to the local hospital. "The downed driver has been ID'd as a cartel member by the local police officer….. computer in the squad car has him on facial recognition….. why would a cartel be interested in grabbing this guy… guess they were headed for the border… transport him across outside the official port….. not the smartest move." Richard picked up the phone. "You guys did a great job. I will be at the hospital O'Brien was transported to if any other information needs to be reported. Need to call for a chopper so signing off for now."
Richard then called Joe Bennet sitting at Homeland to let him know he was right, Homeland didn't have O'Brien so he could return to the office. Then he called for a helicopter transport from LA to Oceanside. "Come on Gale, give me the keys to the Ferrari and let's head to the airport- be a short ride to Oceanside. If possible I will get Walter transported to the clinic up here." He took the keys from Gale, turned to Ralph, "you hold down the fort until we get back- keep the place locked up tight. We will let you know Walter's condition when we get there."
Richard and Gale walked into Walter's room in the hospital in Oceanside. He was awake and per the nurse could be discharged. He smiled from ear to ear when Gale walked into the room.
"What an exciting day, huh? We buy a house, I get kidnapped, star in a news feed on the freeway, and you got a helicopter ride. Thanks Richard."
Gale took his hand, "how do you feel? Are you OK, really?"
"Sore from the jostling in the rollover, but I had braced myself as much as possible being handcuffed. Heard the gunshots so stayed low. Crazy day, my love, but ending well." Walter said smiling then kissed her hand holding his. "How long to figure they weren't Homeland? I saw the plates that is why I didn't want you coming out or they would have grabbed you as well."
"Ralph got an Uber home from school and spotted that right off. He was instrumental in finding the vehicles and their direction." Gale said. "Richard was on top of the entire situation."
"Well, while sore and some bruising, I am ready to get out of here- do not like hospitals." Walter said. "I'll foot the helicopter bill this time, Richard."
"That's not necessary, Walter, give me a minute- going to call and let Ralph know you be OK and heading home shortly. By the way, that kid is cooler in an emergency than many adults. He is impressive."
Landing at the airport, Gale and Walter thanked Richard for all his help then got in the Ferrari, Gale behind the wheel. "You need to spend some time taking it easy, Walter," Richard said while calling for a car to get home. "I do not want to see you anywhere near work for at least a week. And get into the new house…. security is a good thing. We can see about moving all your electronics this week."
Walking from the car to the garage door that was opened by Ralph, Walter raised his arm- "very happy to see you, but no hug- nothing broken, but my whole body is sore. I do not recommend rolling a big vehicle while inside it. If not already, by tomorrow I will be all kinds of black and blue," Walter said. "All I want right now is a shower and to lay down….. and thank you Ralph- you were instrumental in getting me located. Thanks."
Gale helped him as he stiffly climbed the stairs to the loft. "Not quite the wonderful day one would expect when purchasing their first house. But, all the paperwork should be ready for our signatures in a few days. You will be off birth control and I won't be able to do anything. Not quite how I expected this day to end when I woke up this morning."
"Walter, why did these guys grab you? There was a lot of thought in this whole mess- acquiring three SUV's like Homeland would have, the guys- one of which is dead." Gale said helping him undress. "They part of the cartel from years ago when you got Richard's daughter, or some other past Scorpion case? Think these kind of things may happen again?"
"I sure hope not." Walter said. "It does make one ponder, though- why now."