Weathered 24
x x x
A/N: I brought in my two favorite US Marshals for this chapter. There are a couple of references to that show, but if you don't know the characters, you won't be lost. The focus is on Alex and Bobby.
Monday–6:00 am
Tucson, AZ
They talked the hotel desk clerk into finding a couple of to-go cups of coffee because breakfast wasn't available when they checked out of the hotel. They'll grab breakfast somewhere later.
The plan is to track down Malik's hideouts and see what they can find. They'll keep Dunkirk in the loop about anything they uncover. If they need help right away, they'll reach out to the Tucson PD.
Luckily, Dunkirk knows some people in both Tucson PD and the Arizona State Police. He'll refer to Alex and Bobby as private investigators instead of agents. This way, they can go after Malik on their own without having to worry about one of his informants in the bureau getting in their way.
They're mostly on their own, but they accept the risk.
Alex drives them along a county road with very few street lamps. Not much of anything around for miles.
The sun is still below the horizon, so there isn't much daylight. They thought it would be best to get an early start and see what they're in for. They're still concerned about staying hidden from the bureau and US Marshals now that they've left Phoenix.
Bobby spots the warehouse at a bend in the road. "That's it. Turn left after the pile of dirt."
She slows the car and pulls into a dirt and gravel lot. One street lamp provides lighting over the parking area, but not much else.
The warehouse is mostly obscured from the road by the pile of dirt. It's a white brick building, 5 stories tall and no larger than a retail store.
If they don't find anything, they'll watch the space for a few days.
Malik's operation is expected to unfold in the next two weeks. Ideally, they want to shut it down before it gets going. According to Bobby's UC, besides human and weapons trafficking, Malik plans to bring all US product shipping to a standstill. They suspect he plans to target the Department of Transportation's safety inspection database.
Alex parks the car, they get out and step toward the back of the car. They open the trunk and Bobby retrieves a lockbox. Inside is a Glock and a semi-automatic shotgun.
"Your choice," says Bobby.
"I know you're going to want the shotgun," Alex says, grinning.
"I'm fine either way."
"I'll take the Glock," she says.
They're not expecting to find anyone here at this hour, but can't rule out the possibility of someone showing up. There might be cameras around.
Bobby also retrieves a flashlight, then closes the trunk and they approach the warehouse.
There's a steel door on the outside with a flimsy lock. They break it easily and get inside.
They enter and turn to their left, where they find a wooden door with three heavy chain links and pad locks securing it.
"None of this keeps out the FBI, the Marshals or the cops," says Alex, shaking her head.
"I know," he agrees. "So far, none of those groups were even looking at this space."
Back at the car, Bobby retrieves a set of bolt cutters and they return to the front entrance. He's successful in cutting through the chains, and they go inside.
Bobby aims the flashlight around so they can see what is inside. The warehouse is one wide open space.
A couple of long foldable tables are set up with wooden shipping crates stacked on either side. Other than some duct tape, rope, and cutters which someone picked up from a hardware store, the space is mostly vacant.
A few of the windows are cracked. Water is pooling along the back wall and corners of the warehouse.
There are two rooms in the front corner of the building which may have been used as offices when the warehouse was operational.
One door sits open and empty, but the other one is closed.
There is plenty of evidence someone's been here and is securing the building, so the closed office door raises suspicion. They walk over to try the doorknob. The door is also locked, but they force it open. One look inside and their hearts sink.
There are about 12 children; boys and girls, approximately age 10 to 18, sitting on the floor. Arms and feet tied with twine or duct tape. All the children look up at them but are too scared to speak.
There's no furniture. A couple of empty paper bags from local fast-food places are lying around. There's a small restroom in the back, but it probably has no plumbing.
They tell the kids in English and Spanish that they're police officers and will get them help. It's the simplest explanation for now, and at least it reassures the kids.
Bobby pulls out his cell phone to call the Tucson PD, but there's no cell phone signal. "I'll have to try outside," he says, and leaves the room.
Alex stays with the kids. She remembers the cutters sitting on the table and goes to get them to remove the rope and tape from their hands and feet. The police will hopefully bring water for them to drink.
She tries to reassure them. Most of them are in tears, but they haven't taken their eyes off of her.
A couple of minutes later, Alex finishes removing the tape and twine. Bobby returns with a worried look on his face.
Shit. What happened?
Without saying a word, he gestures for Alex to follow him. She tells the kids they'll be right back.
They exit the building and there's another car parked in the lot. A man and a woman stand beside it.
Bobby already knows them. He turns toward Alex while gesturing to the two visitors. "US Marshals. Inspectors Mary Shannon and Marshall Mann."
They ordered Bobby to put down his shotgun. It is sitting on the ground near the two US Marshals. Bobby shuts off the flashlight he'd been carrying and sets it down near the car since the skies have gotten lighter as dawn approaches.
The Marshals step forward to greet her. "Hi Amy. We're here to take you two back to Phoenix," Mary prompts.
Alex shakes her head. Anger and tension are rising in her. "Not happening!"
"There are twelve children inside that building," Bobby says as he points. "They're malnourished, likely abused, and scared to death! Victims of human trafficking by a perp we're investigating."
"He's right. Forget about us," Alex urges. "Take care of the kids. There are also 6 crates in there. Could be random supplies, but might also be gun parts or bomb-making materials, etc."
"We'll take care of all of that. We want the two of you safe as well," says Mary.
"Who sent you? Agent Lewis?" Alex groans.
"The guy responsible for this is a terrorist! She and I know the background. We're better prepared to take him down," Bobby argues. "If you send us away, you won't get far."
"It's our orders. But we will protect you," says Marshall.
"No, see… You can't!" Alex argues. "This perp has people inside the bureau. We're not safe in Witsec! He burned down our house in Phoenix, and that was in a gated community of government and military employees! Let us protect ourselves!"
Suddenly, Bobby notices a truck and a van coming down the county road toward the warehouse. The vehicles slow to a stop near the entrance to the warehouse. He gestures toward them, alerting the Marshals. "Those aren't cops!"
The building had cameras. Bobby and Alex suspected it, but there wasn't time to look for them.
Marshall and Mary turn around and the four of them watch the vehicles pull into the parking lot.
"You two… Get back inside," Mary orders Alex and Bobby, gesturing toward the warehouse. Mary and Marshall pull their weapons.
Alex and Bobby exchange a glance and Bobby retrieves the shotgun he set on the ground. "Unless Tucson PD is seconds away, you're gonna need backup."
A man in the passenger side of the first vehicle leans out the window with a gun and fires toward the group. He aims at Marshall, but misses.
Marshall returns fire, but also misses. Bobby fires his shotgun and hits the shooter in the shoulder. The shooter lets out a groan and ducks back inside the vehicle and it slows to a stop.
Bobby lowers his gun. "Still want us to go back inside?"
The van behind the truck pulls to the right of the truck and stops. Three people jump out of the and start firing.
Alex and Bobby duck behind their car and fire at the three shooters.
Mary hits one shooter, Alex hits another, and Marshall hits the third. As Mary and Marshall approach the drivers, both hop out of the vehicles and hold their arms up to surrender. They're both put in handcuffs.
Bobby intercepts the passenger with the gunshot wound to his shoulder, who is trying to escape, and walks him over to the US Marshals.
One of the injured men down on the ground tries to get up, and Alex approaches with her gun still drawn. The man reaches for his gun and Alex kicks it. "Yeah, let's see you go for it," she smarts.
Marshall retrieves his phone and calls the Tucson PD for backup, while Bobby and Mary watch the other two downed gunmen.
A few minutes later, Tucson PD pulls up in three vehicles and takes over arresting the shooters. EMTs arrive to treat or hospitalize those with injuries. Then they'll be released back into police custody. The truck and van drivers are brought to the Tucson PD station for processing.
A separate US Marshals van arrives to assist the 12 children found on site.
As the vehicles leave, Alex, Bobby and the two US Marshals stand beside their vehicles.
"Where were you planning to stay?" asks Mary.
"My former boss in Chicago owns a cabin in Tucson," says Bobby. "We'll stay there until we've gathered enough to stop Malik."
"How do you plan to do that?" Mary asks.
"I had a UC while working with the feds," Bobby explains. "I had enough to figure out this location," he gestures to the warehouse. "It's more than what anyone else has found. We're working with my former boss, Agent Dunkirk, as PIs."
"We'd have to turn this over to the feds anyway," says Marshall.
"But not yet," Bobby stresses. "We're on the same team here. Let's stop this guy."
"Are you two hungry?" asks Mary.
They both nod.
"Let's go to a diner, get some breakfast and talk this out."
xxx
Moments later, the four of them are seated in a booth at a diner in Tucson.
Mary, who had been on a call, sets her phone down on the table. "Okay. I got them to issue a court order. Tucson PD is securing the warehouse so Malik won't be able to get in at all. Following a two-week period to make sure there are no claims to the property, it'll be bull-dozed."
"Thank you," says Alex.
Bobby nods in agreement. "When I met you two back in January, you were on loan from Albuquerque. So, you're still here?" he asks.
Marshall nods. "Yep." He puts his arm around Mary and grins. "Me and Miss Susie Sunshine," he teases. Mary picks up his arm and flings it back.
The server steps up to take their order.
"I'll have the oatmeal with skim milk. Sliced banana." Marshall looks over at Mary with a smug grin. Then to the server, "and raisins."
"I'll have the Tex-Mex burrito omelet," says Mary.
"Nice palate," Marshall teases her.
"What?" Mary huffs.
"You're sitting in the back seat with the windows down on the way back to the condo."
Mary looks at the two FBI agents. "Yes, he and I have to share a two-bedroom condo here in Tucson." She shakes her head.
Alex and Bobby place their orders and the server collects the menus and leaves.
"Anyway, yes, Gavin. We're working in the Tucson area. Just temporary. Or at least that's what they told us two months ago," Marshall adds.
"If we stay any longer and I might miss my sister," Mary teases.
"I miss my family," Alex admits with a sigh. Then to Mary, "Are you going to take us into custody?"
"Yes. We have to," says Mary.
Bobby looks at Mary. "I know you're doing your job. But Ea—" He pauses, then remembers, "Amy has been through enough."
"Gavin and Amy, we know what you've both been through."
"Enough! Alex interjects. "I'm Alexandra Eames, this is Robert Goren. Goren and Eames or Bobby and Alex."
Marshall and Mary nod. "Okay. Just for Witsec, you know…" says Marshall.
"We know."
"We just want this man caught so we can get on with our lives," Bobby comments. His gaze lingers on Alex for a moment.
"Not my first day on the job, Agent," Mary teases. "And I wouldn't let anything happen to her."
"We were cops in New York. This situation came up because of the last case we worked. We had to let a man walk in order to protect the investigation that was going on. We lost our captain, a good friend, who had been working undercover," says Alex. "By letting that man go, we also derailed Malik's plans."
Mary nods. "Cases like this one can take years."
"They don't have to," says Bobby. He glances at Alex again, thinking about everything she'd been through and how much he wants things to get better for her. "Let's work together. We know this guy. We don't need the feds for now. I've got my contact in Chicago. Just give us a few days."
"We don't like the feds either," Mary quips.
"Present company excluded," says Marshall.
"That's okay. You can hate the feds," says Alex.
They spend an hour just talking about the job and their backgrounds. Mostly lighthearted and casual.
After breakfast, they move their plates aside and return to the case.
"So, what's your plan look like?" Marshall asks.
Bobby gets up from the booth, intending to retrieve his binder and the tablet from the trunk of the car, then pauses. "So, to confirm, we're working together on this case."
Mary nods.
"We're here to help," agrees Marshall.
"We still have to follow some of the Witsec guidelines. But we will protect you as long as he's out there. I mean that." Mary looks them both in the eye. "What you went through in Chicago never should have happened. I read all about Kirkpatrick too. Nothing like that has ever happened on my watch and it won't."
"We appreciate that," says Alex. She pulls the car keys out of her pocket and hands them to Bobby, knowing that he plans to go get his binder from the car.
"Just a second. Be right back," Bobby says and leaves.
While Mary and Marshall chat, Alex's gaze wanders around the dining area. Suddenly, she spots three men sitting together who look familiar. She questions whether her anxiety about seeing Malik again is causing her to see others from her abduction. But then one of the men turns his head slightly, and it's confirmed. They're Malik's associates.
"Marshall…" Alex prompts.
They stop talking and look at her.
Alex gestures toward the long counter where some of the diner customers are seated. "The third, fourth and fifth from the right of the man in the hat."
"Who are they?"
"Malik's associates."
Mary and Marshall look over.
"Is Malik here?" asks Mary. Marshall takes out his phone and calls for back-up.
Alex's eyes drift around the restaurant. She doesn't see him and shakes her head. "Malik was in Phoenix. I saw him twice the night that I arrived with Bobby. That was before he or one of his associates set fire to the house. I swear we can't get ahead of them!" Her eyes are welling up with tears. "You have your work cut out for you."
"On their way," says Marshall after he ends the call.
"What's taking Bobby so long?" Mary asks.
"I don't know." Alex lifts her head and checks the window, then remembers they're parked on the other side of the restaurant. She stands up. "I'll go see. Probably got distracted while reading something in the notes."
She exits the diner, walks down the front stairs, turns toward the car, and her heart nearly stops.
Malik has a gun to Bobby's head. Both look over when she appears.
"Go back!" Bobby warns.
She shakes her head. Eyes filling with tears. "You can have me. Let him go!"
"No!" Bobby argues.
"Stay back!" Malik orders. "One step and I shoot!"
"Take me instead," Alex argues again.
Three police cars turn into the diner lot. Malik yanks Bobby by the arm, moving him away from the entrance and out of sight of the officers.
The police exit their vehicles and enter the diner.
Alex tries to avoid Malik seeing her, but continues to follow Malik and Bobby. While ducking behind an SUV and wondering if she could grab her Glock from the car before Malik notices, someone grabs her arm from behind.
It's Rodden. He had wandered outside when the cops arrived.
Rodden is tall with a large frame. She hasn't seen him since New York. She wished like hell she never had to see him again.
Alex remains still, with Rodden keeping his hand on her arm. Both of them watch Malik, with Rodden likely waiting for instructions.
If she and Bobby could communicate with a glance or a gesture, they'll find a way out of this situation.
"Let her go!" Mary orders. Rodden and Alex look over at Mary, who had just stepped out of the diner and started approaching them.
Malik and Bobby had moved around the corner from the entrance, still within her line of sight, but out of Mary's.
"Mary! It's fine." Alex let her gaze drift to the right, signaling to Mary that Bobby is in trouble.
Mary catches on and continues toward the side of the building where they are
"US Marshals! Drop your weapon!" Mary orders Malik.
Rodden suddenly tightens his grip on her arm and pulls her away, intending to escape while Mary is focused on Malik.
Alex leans hard into Rodden's grasp, catching him off guard, and quickly frees her arm. She throws her weight against him again, causing him to lose his balance. There is only a second or two before he could recover, so she knocks into him once more, forcing him to the ground.
While focused on keeping Rodden down until she could get Mary or Marshall to cuff him, Alex hears two gunshots.
She immediately lifts her head to look for Bobby, who is on the ground about 20 feet away, holding his arm. He doesn't appear to be hit, just knocked down by Malik.
Mary had shot Malik, probably hitting his arm. Malik could move and starts running toward Alex, likely intending to grab her.
Mary tries to intercept Malik, but Alex gets there first. She steps into Malik's path and throws a punch, connecting with his jaw, causing him to hit the ground.
Malik is down.
It was probably the most satisfying punch she had ever thrown in her life.
"Nice punch!" Mary says as she moves to handcuff him.
Marshall walks up, sees Rodden trying to get up, and handcuffs him.
Malik's other two associates were being held back until more information could be gathered about the charges.
"What is going on?" asks Marshall, who joins the group.
Alex searched for Bobby, but he had already gotten up and come over to her.
"Are you okay?" she asks as they hug one another.
"Yeah, just got shoved by Malik as he tried to run away."
"We got him." She smiles at Bobby, who follows her gaze to where Malik is handcuffed on the ground.
"She punched me!" Malik claims as the police surround him. "The petite woman punched me! I'm filing charges!"
"Good luck with that," Alex replies.
Bobby stands beside her and puts his arm around her.
"What are the charges for the two men inside, inspectors?" asks an officer. "Inspector Mann was telling us this is part of a federal case. If so, we need to consult with the feds. This is out of our jurisdiction."
"It's part of a federal investigation. Hold Malik for the attempted murder of two federal agents," Mary gestures toward him. "The others can be detained for questioning. They're wanted for the rape and attempted murder of a police officer in New York."
The officer nods. "So, this is going to be a long night."
As Malik and the others are taken into custody, Alex, Bobby, Marshall and Mary return to their table.
"It's going to take us a few days to sort this out," says Mary.
"We expect that."
"Provided we get enough, we can request to have you two removed from Witsec. Again, it's entirely your call."
Bobby nods. "We'll take it."
They look at one another and exchange a kiss.
xxx