Ionshaker (Part I), Felix Timothy [fox in socks read aloud TXT] 📗

a haystack. Why? Because even if they knew the exact make and license of the motorcycle Trey had stolen, Brett knew Trey wasn’t an idiot. He would ditch the motorcycle sooner rather than later.
He had a bigger issue to worry about other than Trey. His job.
They were immediately summoned by Anderson.
“This Trey situation is out of hand.”
“We’re doing everything sir,” Nicole promised.
“Do you even have a clue of where he is?” Anderson started off easy.
“We believe he’s headed to San Francisco,” Brett said.
“What beats me is how just an ordinary man trounced an entire team of experienced detectives with a ton-load of resources at their disposal. You know what that tells me Brett? You’re not half as seasoned as I thought you were. And you know what follows…?”
“No dad. You can’t replace him,” Nicole interrupted.
“I can’t - are you sure? All he ever does is smile for the cameras and issue empty threats. Up to now, you two don’t have even a single name, because even this Trey you are seeking, you want him to help you get a name because you believe its not him. And you expect me to keep the same sloppy detective in charge? Sweetheart – I can and I will.” Anderson said with all seriousness. The gloves were starting to come off.
“I’m not saying it doesn’t look bad. But believe me, Brett is the right person for the job,” Nicole continued.
“Oh really?” Anderson mocked.
Brett was quiet as his defense attorney did the heavy lifting.
“We believe this is greater than just capturing a fugitive.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes sir,” Brett resurfaced. What kind of man would he be to let Nicole fight the entire battle? A weak man. And he didn’t want to appear that way, especially in Anderson’s eyes.
“We believe some kind of a powerful underground network is trying to cover up something bigger and Trey is just a fall guy.”
“Then why is he running? Why can’t he come to us and explain?”
“Because he believes staying off the grid is the only way he can protect Robin Ironside.”
“And why does Robin Ironside need protection? I mean who is she?”
“We don’t know sir. We’re still trying to piece everything together.”
“See why I have to take you off this case? You don’t have answers to the important questions and I need someone with answers, so that when Guy Jorgo summons me and asks me the same questions I’m asking you, I don’t look like a crackpot.”
“Please sir, I just need a little more time.”
“You’re off the case. You’ve wasted precious time, got the media meddling in our affairs, squandered valuable resources and still got nothing. You’re a drag Brett, and I can’t afford to keep you on the case.”
“We have a mole dad,” Nicole Butt in.
The two men instantly turned to Nicole. Even Brett hadn’t seen that one coming.
“Are you crazy Nicky?” Her father asked with a flushing scowling face.
“No I’m not crazy. Some sort of mysterious network behind everything that has been happening has infiltrated this field office, that’s why we’ve been unable to apprehend anybody.”
Nicole was not mincing her words.
“Do you have any idea of the seriousness of your allegation?”
“Yes, Dad.”
“And can you substantiate?”
“Today I was following up on a lead and I had the precise location but before I got there, the suspects were tipped off. All I was able to recover was a self-destructing laptop. That’s why you can’t reassign the case, we simply can’t trust anyone.”
She made a good point. Brett was quiet; Nicole had managed to get her father’s attention. Nevertheless, Anderson needed a name.
“I understand, but I’m also under pressure from Guy Jorgo.”
He said slowly and calmly. They understood where he was coming from.
“I have a meeting with Brooke’s shrink this evening. She admitted to me earlier today that she’s in bed with the network though she couldn’t say much in her office, it’s bugged. So, we’re just asking for this evening. By tomorrow you’ll have a name to give to Guy. Please dad. He’s been on the case since its inception and I promise we’re gonna get you something worthwhile.”
Anderson exhaled heavily.
“You have this evening. This evening only.” Then he raised his voice, and looked at Brett. “If you don’t give me something by tomorrow morning, kiss this case goodbye.”
“Thank you, sir,” Brett replied quickly before Anderson changed his mind.
“Now get out of my office.”
They quickly shot to their feet, Trey being the first to exit.
“Nicole, a second…”
She turned and paused at the door.
“About this meeting, I can find somebody else to go.”
“No, Dad.”
“You said it yourself, it’s not just one person we’re up against, it’s an underground network and if they get wind of the meeting, things could get ugly.”
“Are you being a lousy detective or a concerned father?”
“The latter I guess,” he smiled.
“Thanks for worrying. But we both know if I don’t show up, she won’t talk and besides, we’ll have a full tactical team in place just in case.”
“Your mother wasn’t so stubborn, where did you get your big head Nicky?” he joked.
She smiled, said, “I love you, “ closed the door behind her and went straight to Brett’s office.
“You owe me big time partner,” she said with a smile storming in.
“How much?” Brett replied coldly.
“A lot.”
“Credit card, check or cash.”
“What are you talking about?” Nicole wondered. It was supposed to be a joke.
“Means of payment. You said I owe you.”
“Sometimes a simple thank-you-Nicole might do the trick,” she hinted with a warm smile.
She was serious; she just wanted a little appreciation for her input back in Anderson’s office.
“Oh, that should be cheap. Then, thank-you-Nicole. Are we even now?” He asked rather rudely.
Brett and Nicole were on totally different planets.
“Seriously Brett?”
She was hurt by his insensitivity. But there was still time to make her smile, if he carefully chose the next words to come out of his mouth.
“Seriously what? I told you what you wanted to hear, didn’t I?”
“I just saved your butt in there, what is your problem?” She asked starting to get angrily.
“Yeah maybe that’s the problem.” Brett’s replied.
“Are you kidding me?”
“No I’m not. I don’t need you defending me,” he replied harshly.
“Why because it makes you look weak? If it weren’t for me you’d be off this case,” she said with her voice beginning to skyrocket.
“You really think you’re that important to my job?” He asked stepping closer to her.
“Good question, well answer me this - who called the other for back up because they were scared to face their boss…alone? Jerk.” Nicole yelled and furiously stormed out of Brett’s office.
What a day? Brett wondered then slapped his palm on the wall in frustration. He had no leads, he had lost Trey, he was on the verge of loosing the investigation, and last but not least – he had lost his one and only true ally.
But that was just the beginning, the shaking had just started and more was yet to come.


28


The fully equipped black GMC covert operation van had been parked on 14103 Street, and the tactical team had taken cover on the rooftops of the surrounding buildings, lurking in the darkness of the night, their riffles aimed down at the park, wearing night vision glasses, listening to their transmitters, waiting for the word.

The game plan was simple. Brett and Jack would remain in the van to monitor the park and Nicole, and Shirley would be the operation’s third eye, monitoring the whole thing on the big screen back at the office.

That evening, Nicole wore a white T-shirt under a light jacket with blue jeans. She’d also donned gold earring transmitters and a matching gold necklace with a heart-shaped locket – a decoy video camera.
“Can you hear me?” she asked Jack who was busy cross-checking the transmissions.
“Yes Nicky.”
“What about video?” She asked waving her palm across the locket.
“It’s perfect.”
Nicole’s palm was visible on multiple screens.
“7:50, it’s time to go,” Brett said after being quiet for a while. Since the little mishap in Brett’s office, things were still a little awkward between them.
“Sit close to the street and remember she needs to give you names.”
Totally ignoring Brett, she hopped from the back of the van, crossed the street, entered the park, saw an empty bench and sat on it. Glancing at her wrist watch, it was 7:53pm; she had to be patient for seven more minutes.
Everything seemed normal as a cool breeze blew through her hair.
“Here we go; a woman is approaching from your left. Don’t turn, be calm, let it be a surprise,” she heard Jack’s voice through the transmitters.
“Copy that,”Nicole replied.
“You’re early,” Jordin said sitting next to Nicole, with her eyes still surveying the park.
“It’s good practice to be early for appointments.”
“Tell that to my patients.”
An awkward moment elapsed.
“I had rehearsed how I’d begin but clearly that didn’t help. So I’ll just skip to the end,” Jordin broke the silence.
“Fine with me.”
“There’s a group calling itself Al Fakir…”

As soon as Jordin started, Shirley came in urgently, “A black van is coming in hot from your north, with two masked men aiming guns at your bench. Get down now!”
But it was too late. The van was already passing by the bench and before Nicole could even flinch, she was hit from the back, instantly dropped to the ground like a log, and remained there face-down, motionless.

In the meantime, the snipers were firing at the fast disappearing van as Brett sped across the street like a man infected with mad cow disease. He quickly knelt next to Nicole and grabbed her calling out her name in panic.
“Nicole, Nicole. Nicky!”
He sincerely hoped she was still alive as he called and shook her.
“I’m good. I wore a vest,” Nicole finally opened her eyes as Brett sat down on the grass with her head in his arms. He so wanted to make her feel safe.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered.
“What! It wasn’t anybody’s fault.”
“No, I’m not talking about that.”
“What are you talking about?” Nicole asked sitting straight on the grass.
“Back at the office…” Brett started with mixed emotions. He wanted to revisit the awkward moment in his office. Finally, he was ready to open the Pandora’s box and tell her what he’d always held back ever since he first saw her, ever since he first head her voice, ever since he first smelled her perfume, and explain to her how she took his breath away each time she smiled at him, walked with him, and teased him. He was ready to confess everything.

As a personal shock, he realized firsthand that death or a near-death experience can shake someone to release all the bottled up feelings, and reveal deep-seated secrets, suppressed emotions and unspoken passions.

Yes, Nicole’s near-death had broken the emotional Ironman.

“How is she?” Nicole changed the subject, getting up and turning towards Jordan who was lying next to them in the grass, gaping at them with wide lifeless eyes. Trey stretched his left hand and gently brushed down his palm over Jordin’s eyelids to shut her eyes.
Afterwards, Brett helped Nicole to her feet, led her