Simon chewed angrily on his unlit cigar, watching as SWAT retrieved the four bodies that had been brought out. Once they were out of the danger zone he headed towards where the ambulances and paramedics had setup. The gathered crowd of detectives and patrolmen parted before him, no one wanting to get on his bad side today.
Reaching the cordoned off area, he demanded, “Who’s in charge here?”
“I am. You are?” A tall woman replied. She wore the uniform of a paramedic, her long black hair pulled back into a tight braid.
“Captain Banks. I’m in charge of the police here.”
“Maggie Dumont. I’m guessing you want a status report?”
Simon nodded.
“Alright. Just give me a minute.”
She moved efficiently from body to body, talking to the medics at each, sometimes examining the body herself. Finished with the last one she returned to Simon.
“I’m guessing you already suspected they were all dead. Two are definitely gunshot victims. The elderly couple most likely suffered from some sort of cardiac arrest. I can’t tell you for sure but it looks like they were probably gassed. Most people it would just knock out but someone with a heart condition or infirm it would likely kill.”
“And you know this because?”
“Army medic. Did some time in the Gulf during Desert Storm.”
“I see. Thank you.”
“No problem. You want me to call the morgue boys for these people?”
“That would be a good idea. Thanks again.”
“No problem.”
With a nod Simon headed towards the diner. As he got closer he could see that Jim, Blair, Chris and Vin had arrived and from the looks of it Jim and Chris were the only thing keeping Vin from killing Carlos.
Great. Time to play referee and hope that everyone comes out of this alive.
*******
JD groaned behind the gag in his mouth as he shifted again, trying to relieve some of the strain in his arms. As it was his legs were beginning to quiver from standing on tip-toes. Not that he had a whole lot of choice in that regard. The pipe his hands were cuffed over was just high enough that he couldn’t stand flat anyway, putting more pressure on his arms and wrists.
He had no idea how long he had been there. When he came to from whatever she’d shot him with he had already been chained to the pipe. She’d then spent awhile taking her anger out on him before the other guy showed up. After they’d left the small area had been plunged into semi-darkness when she turned off the lights. There was still some light from a dim bulb further down the corridor but it wasn’t much.
Letting out a sigh of frustration, JD tried to work the muscles in his jaw a little bit. He really wished that she’d taken the damn ball gag off when she’d left. Not even so that he could call for help, which as much as he’d like to think someone would hear him he doubted it, but so that his jaw would stop cramping. JD really didn’t understand how anyone could stand to wear one of these things for any length of time. He and Casey had gone into a sex shop once and there’s been some on display. Neither one of them had been willing to try it at the time and JD was glad they hadn’t now.
A squeaking sound to his right had JD twisting around nearly losing his balance. Once he’d regained his equilibrium he strained to see in the darkness. He heard the sound again. He tried to shout through the gag, hoping that even muffled someone would hear him. The squeaking got closer and JD could see two little red eyes glowing in the dark.
Rats.
JD whimpered. He’d never really had a problem with the creatures but he’d never been tied to a pipe and unable to defend himself either. He just knew he was going to be having nightmares for weeks after this.
*******
Vin paced restlessly as Chris, Jim, Blair, Simon and Carlos studied the schematics of the hotel. He knew he should be doing the same, should be helping to develop a plan, but he couldn't concentrate on that. All he could concentrate on was the fact that Ezra was being held hostage in that hotel by the madman that haunted his nightmares. Not only that, but the demon that haunted Ezra's nightmares was also somewhere in there. And he was stuck here waiting.
He snarled at the waitress when she asked him if he wanted anything. Hell, no, he didn't want something to drink or eat. What he wanted was to go charging into the hotel and kill the son of a bitch who'd taken *his* Guide hostage.
A hand on his arm brought him to a sudden halt. Without thinking, he pivoted on his heel, fist flying to punch whomever had grabbed him. Another hand caught his fist before it could connect.
Vin found himself facing a startled Chris. Jim was holding his arm.
"You need to focus, Runt," Jim said softly. "I know how you're feeling. You want to go in there and rip apart anyone standing between you and your Guide. Doing that is going to get you both killed. We can't just go charging in there."
"If Moran..."
"Moran isn't interested in Ezra. I doubt he'd even think it."
"He went after Sensei's kid brother."
"That's an obvious link, Vin. Don't give him more credit than he deserves."
"Hey, guys," Carlos interrupted. "I think we've got a way in.”
This stopped everyone in their tracks as they all turned to look at him. Carlos swallowed hard at the amount of attention he was suddenly receiving.
“What did you find, Sandoval?” Simon asked. He knew how intimidating Jim could be and Larabee and Tanner weren’t any better.
“There’s a sewer access here,” he pointed to a symbol on the schematics he had laid out on the table in front of him, “in the basement.”
“So? They’ve probably got it wired already in case any tries to access it,” the Bomb Squad Captain said.
“If they knew about it,” Carlos replied. “These aren’t the public records for the hotel. These are from City Maintenance, which the public can’t access. I checked the hotel blueprints and this access isn’t on the originals or the addendums. As far as I can tell it’s in a fairly out of the way spot so they shouldn’t have even noticed it.”
“Good work, Sandoval,” Simon said. The others nodded though they were largely ignoring him in favor of studying the schematics.
“This can work,” Jim said finally.
“Yeah,” Chris nodded in agreement. “This place is a virtual maze. Plenty of hiding places.”
“Air ducts are big enough to fit in,” Vin added. “Even rated to support up to 250 lbs. Think you can fit, Cap’n?”
“Ha ha, Runt. 220.”
“Lose some weight recently?”
“Keep it up, Tanner, and we’ll see who has the last laugh.” Jim glanced at Chris. “Military?”
“Navy SEALs.”
“Good. Me, Larabee and Tanner will go in first. The Bomb Squad and a SWAT team will follow behind us. We’ll…”
“I’m going with you,” Carlos interrupted.
Jim looked at him steadily. “Were you ever in the military? Any Special Forces training?”
“No. But…”
“Then you’re not going.”
“But...”
“You’re not going and that’s final. Same goes for you, Chief. We’ll stay in radio contact but you’re staying here.”
Blair looked like he was going to protest for a moment then just nodded. “Fine. Constant radio contact.”
“As much as I can, Chief. As I was saying, Vin, Chris, and myself will go in first and make our way to the Presidential Suite where Moran is holed up.” He looked to the Bomb Squad Captain. “I want to know as soon as you guys know if you can disable these things. Moran is psychotic but he’s never been suicidal. On the off chance that he is serious I want them taken care of as quickly as possible.” Jim looked at his watch. “Alright, people. We’ve got 40 minutes before Moran executes someone. I want everyone who’s going suited up and ready to go in five. Move it, people.”
There was a flurry of activity as everyone moved to get ready. Within the allotted time they were all geared up and met back at the counter in the diner. Carlos was still studying the map.
“There’s sewer access right behind this diner,” Carlos pointed it out on the map, tracing the path they would need to follow with his finger. “Once you’re in you head north 100 feet then turn left. That will take you straight across under the street. At this T intersection you’ll make another left and go 175 feet. Make a right. 25 feet from there you’ll find the access into the hotel. It’s the western-most edge of the hotel. As near as I can tell it’s a maintenance area but I can’t be sure.”
“That’s good enough. Good work, Sandoval.” Jim clapped him on the back. He looked around at the others. “We’re on a time limit with this so work fast but play it safe. We don’t want to give Moran any reason to get an itchy trigger finger. Watch yourself, Runt. I know you want to find Ezra but we need to take down Moran first. You got me?”
When he didn’t respond right away Jim grabbed his shoulder and shook him. Vin glared at him but met his gaze. “I got you, Cap’n.”
“Good. Let’s get going, people. Time’s wasting.”
Vin turned and took the lead heading out to the alleyway. As they followed behind him Jim gave Chris a meaningful look. Chris nodded in response. He would stick by Vin. It would be his responsibility to keep the new Sentinel focused on the task at hand. Jim didn’t envy him.
******
The first thing Ezra felt was pain. Whoever had knocked him out had done so with a good amount of force. His head was killing him and he probably had a good sized lump to go along with it. Groaning, he tried to bring his hand up to his head only to find it wouldn’t move. It took him a moment to blink open his eyes, the light of the room blinding him the first time. When he was finally able to open his eyes with minimal pain he found himself in a large bedroom. Hardly what he’d expected to see considering he’d been in a conference room when he’d been knocked out. It was at that point that he realized he was tied to a chair, which explained why he couldn’t move his arms.
“You’re awake!” A feminine voice practically squealed followed by the woman coming into his line of sight. She was well-dressed, beautiful and vaguely familiar. Maybe she had been one of the hostages? Or someone he’d seen at the conference? Though that didn’t explain why he was tied up at she was not.
“Yes, apparently I am. Do you think, perhaps, Madam, you might effect my emancipation from these bonds?”
“Oh, sugah, you always did like using those fancy words of yours. The answer however is no. I went through all the trouble of having you tied up. I’m certainly not going to untie you now.”
“I’m sorry, Madam, but do we know each other? Why would you want me tied up?” There was also the question of how had she gotten him away from the men who’d taken over the hotel, but he figured that could wait for the moment.
“You don’t recognize me, sugah? I’m hurt. Truly I am.” She shrugged and smiled. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. You only met me twice when I looked like this. Calla Lily Harrington, at your service. Well, technically you’re at my service, aren’t you?”
Ezra struggled not to show any reaction as she giggled madly. He had met Calla Harrington a couple of times during the course of the investigation of the Valentine Stalker case. She had been ruled out as a suspect relatively quickly. That she was standing here now with him as her captive had Ezra questioning every theory they’d had about that case. Then something she’d said caught his attention. “What do you mean when you looked like this? How else have I met you?”
“Hmm, let see, you might remember Lacey Jones.” She pulled a pair of tortoise shell glasses from her pocket, slipped them on, and then quickly twisted her hair up into a bun. Her whole demeanor changed to one of prim innocence.
~~~~
"Happy birthday, Ezra," said Lacey Jones, the secretary for the Violent Crimes division as she handed him his mail.
Ezra looked up from the file he was reading. "Birthday? Thank you, my dear, but it is not my birthday. That's not for at least another three months."
Lacey brushed a strand of pale blonde hair behind her ear and pushed up her tortoise shell glasses. "Oh, but you got a birthday card. Or I assumed it's a birthday card." She flipped through his mail and pulled out a pink envelope with 'Ezra Standish' written on it. "See?"
He stared at the pink envelope in horror.
~~~~
"No." Ezra shook his head in denial. The woman standing before him couldn't possibly be the shy, sweet girl who'd gotten him coffee every day for six months.
"Yes," she purred as she straddled him, her arms looping around his neck. "Or maybe you'll remember Becca Lynn DeShaw better. You sure knew how ta get mah motah running," she said in a thick Southern drawl, leaning in close to him, her lips almost brushing his as she ground her pelvis against his groin.
~~~~
"Good Lord," Ezra panted, turning his head to smile at the young woman lying next to him. "I swear, Miss Becca Lynn."
"You swear what, Mistah Ezra Standish?" she grinned as she rolled onto her side, her hand moving to caress the smooth planes of his chest. "Mmmm, you sure do get mah motah running, Mistah Standish."
"Really, now."
"Really," she purred, then laughed when he rolled her onto her back and pinned her to the bed.
"Well, we're just going to have to do something about that, aren't we?"
~~
"Come in, Becca Lynn. Thank you for coming over," Ezra said as he held the door open for the curvy brunette.
"Is everything alright, Ezra? You look pale, sugah." She reached up to gently cup his cheek, concern on her face and in her voice.
"I...please sit down, darlin'. I need to talk to you."
"Alright," she said, her own voice a little shaky as she sat on the couch. "What's going on?"
"I...I told you that I've been working on a big case at work, right?"
"That Valentine Stalker person. That poor woman. The paper didn't give any details but it sounded awful."
"Yes, it is. It's a very difficult case, very draining. I think, for now, it would be best if we stopped seeing each other. I need to concentrate on this case right now, and I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to give you the attention you deserve."
"You're breaking up with me?"
"No. Not really. Not permanently. I just need some time right now. As soon as this case is over, I promise I will call you."
"Cross your heart?"
"Cross my heart."
"Are we still going out tonight?"
"Of course. Unless I'm needed at work, I'm all yours for the evening."
"Good. Then I think we should stay in so I can make sure you don't forget me," she said, snuggling up close to him.
"I could never forget you, darlin'," he murmured as he brought his lips down over hers.
~~~~~
"Dear Lord, you were both of them? But you were in Europe. And what was done to those people... How could you? How could you kill my friends like that?"
"Oh Ezra. Ezra, Ezra. Sugah, don't you know a woman can do anything she sets her mind to? Hasn't Maude taught you anything? Speaking of Maude, how is she enjoying the French Riviera with, oh what was his name? Ah, yes, *Fitzgerald*. Don't look so surprised, sugah. I know everything there is to know about you, about your friends. Everything. I couldn't be with you, but I made sure I knew all there was to know. Because you're mine, Ezra Standish. You always will be."
“Why? Why are you doing this? You killed all those people. You drove your father to suicide. Why would you do something like that?”
“Because, sugah, I always get what I want. Dearest Daddy always taught me that if you want something you should go after it with everything you have. He taught me by example you know. I was ten the first time he decided he wanted me. At first I tried to tell him no. Grown-ups weren’t supposed to touch you,” she paused biting her lip as she smiled and ground her hips down again, “down there. But he was my Daddy and he loved me, told me I was his special little girl, told me how pretty I was, and how much he needed me. I loved my Daddy, loved how he made me feel. So special. Like I was the prettiest girl in the world. And the things he did to me… They felt so good. Then when I was fourteen I became pregnant. I was so happy.”
Ezra listened with growing horror as she talked about how delighted she was that she was going to give her ‘Beloved Daddy’ a baby. She told him how she’d believed her Daddy would divorce her ‘Mean Mother’ and marry her and they’d live happily ever after. The woman was seriously disturbed and apparently had been since childhood, was all Ezra could think.
“Then I miscarried my baby and Daddy sent me away to school. He said it was in my best interest, but it wasn’t. I wanted to be with my Daddy. I wanted to make another baby with him. Then I found out about her.” The last word was snarled as she pushed away from Ezra to stalk across the room. “That Deveraux woman. I found out how Daddy had been cheating on me with her. I realized then Daddy would have to be punished for being bad. So I waited and I learned what I needed to so that I could punish Daddy. Of course Mother needed to be punished first. It’s amazing how easy it is to convince a person they’re losing their mind until finally they just snap one day. It was so much fun teaching Mother that she should learn when to leave things alone.” She smiled wickedly but it turned to scowl once more. “I thought Daddy would send for me then. That he’d want me home. Instead he married that gold-digging bitch Melinda. He gave her not one, but two children. Those should have been my children. My children! Now Daddy really needed to be punished. I went to Europe for school and found myself a nice boyfriend from the wrong side of the tracks. He was so easy to manipulate. The violence turned him on so much.
“Unfortunately he started talking about what ‘liberties’ he was going to take with that Deveraux woman when we finally kidnapped her. I couldn’t allow him to do that so I had to get rid of him. That was alright though, because I had already met you, my love.” She smiled as she straddled him again, her hands gently stroking his face and hair. “So handsome. So smart. Such a gentleman. So insatiable in bed. I knew the moment I met you that I had found the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. The man who was going to give me beautiful babies. Things were going so perfectly. I didn’t even mind when you temporarily broke things off with Becca Lynn. I knew you would come back to me once I had gotten rid of Daddy. It was so easy making it look like he’d killed himself. But you didn’t come back to me did you, Ezra? You proposed to her. You were no better than Daddy. I had to punish you. Don’t you see? You had to realize what a bad boy you’d been. Then you disappeared and I couldn’t find you. Until three years ago when I started the rumors about you being on the take. How quickly they brought you back in from the undercover work. Then you moved to Denver to join your precious little team 7. I planned it out all so carefully. That idiot Moran screwed things up a bit, but in the end I still got you, my love.”
This time as she leaned in close, she did kiss him. He kept his lips clamped shut, trying to turn his head to the side, but she had a strong grip on his hair, holding him in place.
"Don't you get it, Ezra? My sweet love. We were destined for each other. We are soul mates."
"No! Never!" Ezra shouted at here. "There isn't a chance in hell that we could ever be soul mates. You're an evil sociopathic bitch."
*crack*
Ezra's head snapped to the side from the force of the blow.
"I will tolerate many things, but I will not tolerate verbal abuse from you, Ezra." She glared at him as he blinked owlishly. Then she smiled and leaned forward to lick at the small bit of blood on the corner of his mouth. "We are mates, my love, and it's time you fulfilled your husbandly duties."
Ezra stared at her uncomprehendingly until she slid off his lap and began to undo the button of his pants. Anger and fear crashed over him in equal waves as he began to struggle against his bonds.
"No! Get away from me! Stop! Get off me, you bitch!" Ezra's head snapped back again as she slapped him. He didn't stay stunned for long, struggling anew as she reached into her bag and pulled out a ball gag.
"It didn't have to be this way, my love. I wanted to hear your moans of pleasure. I wanted to hear you crying my name as you spill your seed deep in my womb."
"Nev...mmmph!" Ezra's words were cut off as she gagged him. He raged against the gag, pulling ineffectually at his bonds, but the ropes were tied too well and just cut into his skin.
He struggled helplessly as she undid his pants and worked them along with his boxers over his hips. He shouted into the gag as she cooed at him, telling him how virile he was, how they would have so many fine babies together. When his body began to respond to her ministrations, becoming aroused at her touch, Ezra fled into the recesses of his mind. He left behind what was being done to his body and found a place that was safe, a place where no one could hurt him.
*****
It didn’t take them long to get through the sewers to the access grate in the hotel. Climbing the ladder to the grate, Jim slipped a small mirror on a stick through an opening, rotating it until he was certain he wouldn’t set anything off the second he opened it. Satisfied he pushed it open and pulled himself up. Chris and Vin came up right behind him followed by the bomb squad. A few quick hand gestures sent the bomb squad in one direction while Jim, Chris, and Vin went in the other direction.
They found the grate covering the entrance to the ventilation ducts. Jim and Chris quickly got it open. Before Vin could climb Jim grabbed his arm.
“Once we’re inside we split up. Vin and Chris, you two stick together. I’ll head to the far side of the hotel before starting up.”
“What’s the point of splitting up?” Chris demanded. “We’ll just have to find each other again when we get up there.”
“True, but if we’re spotted it won’t be all of us together. It’ll leave someone able go after whoever got caught. I want you two to stick together though. Vin, runt, you’re still learning how to use your senses which means you’re going to be more susceptible to zone outs. Right now Chris is the best one to bring you out if it happens but only if he’s near you. I’ve got Blair on the radio so it’s not a worry for me. If you find any of your guys and can get them free without getting caught do so and have them start getting people out of here. I’ll do the same. Otherwise I want to meet up just outside the Presidential Suite where he’s holed up in fifteen minutes. That gives us ten minutes until his first deadline. We good?”
Surprisingly it was Chris who took a moment to nod his agreement. Thinking about it as he crawled into the ductwork, Jim wasn’t really surprised. He and Chris were both leaders, both Alpha males as Sandburg would put it. Neither one of them liked giving up control. In this case though, Jim knew more about their enemy and he knew what Vin was going through with his senses. Thankfully Chris was man enough to know when he wasn’t the right person to lead. Now Jim just hoped he was.
**********
Jericho moved quickly through the basement hallways heading down to the boiler room where he’d found Calla and her prey. He still had time before that valve was supposed to go, but he didn’t trust her not to come down to play with the poor kid some more. He also didn’t know how much time he would have before Moran’s plans went arse over tits.
He paused at a bend hearing voices just ahead. Inching forward he stopped once he could hear what they were saying.
“Who ever rigged this is a genius. Fucking Nuts, but a genius”
“So glad you approve, now can you disarm it?
“Yeah”
“The design is great until you get to here. It looks like to get the layering effect but still have …”
“I don’t care how just do it”
“Yes, sir”
Jericho sighed, pulling back from the bend. ‘Wonderful, the bloody bomb squad’. Quickly reviewing his mental map of the basement levels, Jericho made his way around them. He only hoped they weren’t as incompetent as some of the squads back home. This place would be a pit of rubble if they screwed up.
A few minutes later he made it to where he’d found Calla and the kid. He was still in the same spot, slumped over, arms bearing most of his weight. Not the most comfortable position.
“Hey, boyo, you awake?” Jericho hissed quietly, moving closer to him. There was no movement from the kid, except the steady rise and fall of his chest as he breathed, until Jericho touched his arm. Suddenly the kid lashed out with his legs, catching Jericho in the side. He dodged the next kick, getting behind him and wrapped a hand around his mouth, muffling the already muffled cries even more.
“Calm down boyo, ‘M not here to hurt. Bloody hell will you shut up before you bring the whole place down around us?”
He was another minute before he slumped back against Jericho, his breathing harsh behind the gag.
“Ye done now?” When he didn’t get a response Jericho sighed. “If I take off the gag, ye promise not to yell? I’m not working for that psychotic bint I swear”
After a moment he felt a nod and relaxed. It only took a few seconds for him to undo the ball gag and toss it to the side. The kid let out a couple of hacking coughs that had Jericho looking towards the hallway.
“Who are you, why”, cough, “are you helping me?”
“Names Jericho. As for why” Jericho shrugged. “Dying for a cause is one thing. Dying because some bint has gone totally ‘round the bend is another” He paused, then shrugged again. “I’ve seen too many innocents die.”
“I’m hardly innocent.”
“Is that so?” Jericho smiled moving to look at the cuffs, holding the kid in place.
“It is! I’m older than I look. I’m an ATF Agent, JD Dunne.”
“Truly now? Taking in kiddies now are they?”
“You know, for someone who’s rescuing me, you’re spending a lot of time insulting me.” JD paused, biting his lip. “You’re not getting me free just to take me up to him, are you? ‘Cause if you are, I think I’d rather boil to death”
“Him”, Jericho questioned, pausing to look down at JD.
“Moran, the other psychopath in the building, at least I assume he’s the one who took it hostage.”
“Aye, he is. What do you know about him that makes being cooked like a stewed plum seem pleasurable?”
JD shrugged, then winced. “He’s after my friend Vin and a couple of his friends. He... tortured Vin pretty badly and.… and for no reason at all. Just cause he could.” JD looked away. “Vin’s… He’s one of the strongest people I know. I don’t think I could survive what he could.”
“Well I don’t know about that” Jericho replied casually, going back to the cuffs “but seemed to me you were standing up to that bint just fine and she definitely gives me the willies. Bloody American bracelets.” He spat, “Sorry, boyo, but this is going to take me a while.”
JD craned his neck around, but couldn’t see much without sending waves of pain through his arms and shoulders. “Is my pack around? Mostly grey with streaks of green, red and blue?”
“Umm, yeah. There it is.” Jericho grabbed it from the corner and brought it back over.
“Inside there’s a false lining in the bottom. Just be careful with what’s in there. A lot of it can be fragile.”
Jericho shook his head at all the tech gadgets. “Got enough gizmo’s, boyo? What’m I looking for anyway?”
“The key to my hand-cuffs, which might work on these or” he paused grinning when Jericho lifted out a thin black cloth case, “my lock picking set.”
“You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you?”
“The most interesting people usually are. So are we getting me out of these the easy way, or the hard way?”
“Let’s find out.” Picking up the key, Jericho rose to his feet. It only took a few seconds to find out it wouldn’t work. “Fooking shite.”
“Hard way?”
“Hard way,” Jericho confirmed. “Sorry, boyo.”
“Yeah, story of my life.” JD paused as a thought occurred to him. “You wouldn’t happen to know what time it is. Not to put, uh, any pressure on you or anything but we are under a deadline.”
“Six, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Plenty o’ time.”
JD nodded, relaxing as much as he could. He pretended not to hear Jericho’s muttered, “I hope.” He needed to believe that he would get out of this in one piece.