ACT 4
Thirty minutes later, they were parked in the rear parking lot of a restaurant. Nick had
gotten his equipment from the trunk and was just about done setting it up in the front
seat. James looked at his watch, pressing the illumination button. It was a quarter to
eleven. "Okay, I'm all set. Give me the disc."
James handed it to him and he slipped it in. His fingers went to work over the keys.
James leaned over to see as boxes and scrolling lines of text appeared on the screen of
the laptop, moving at a rapid pace. Nick obviously knew what he was doing. The fast-moving
lines would have lost anyone else, but Nick was trained in this type of work. He had a
quick eye and could catch the little things he was looking for.
"Good old Steve. Never lost his touch."
"What do you mean?"
Nick gestured at the screen. "Disc's got a couple encryptions. Won't take me long
to get through them." And he went to work again, his fingers flying almost effortlessly
back and forth across the keyboard. "I'm in," he said a short time later.
James looked back, leaning over. "What do you got?"
"Just a second. I'm looking through them. Steve set up some decoy files."
Nick spent roughly fifteen minutes sorting through them, deleting the decoy files
and finally locating the one Steve had meant for them to find. "Here we go," he said, and
angled the laptop so James could see.
Nick opened the file. "Looks like a bank account. An off-shore one. Switzerland."
James shook his head. "It's always a Swiss bank account, hu?"
"Yeah, because they don't ask questions when you make an eighty million dollar
deposit."
He scrolled through the information. "There." James pointed at the screen. "Fifty-
two million dollars."
"That's a helluva paycheck."
"What was Steve on to? Was Drax buying something?"
"Or selling something. Look at this." He pointed at a box he had highlighted. "The
transaction's taking place tonight right here in Los Angeles."
"Transaction of what?"
"Let's see." Nick hit a few keys, and another window popped up. "Man. You don't
want to know. Drugs, guns, ammunition, artillery. He's selling enough stuff to start his
own dirty little war somewhere. He's selling stuff that's been seized by the agency over
the years."
"What's this here." James pointed at a small bar that read TARGET.
Nick clicked it with the mouse, and another window opened.
"Oh my God."
The window contained a black-and-white photo of a man in a suit standing at a
podium. It was obviously a picture from a speech or something similar. The name under the
photo read "Sen. Edward Johnston."
"Senator Johnston?" James asked. "'Target?'"
"Drax is planning an assassination."
"Johnston is coming to L.A. tonight for a dinner benefit I think. But why would
Steve send us the transaction information? The agency's been doing that for years. Hell,
we even got ropped into doing some of those gigs, remember?"
"All too well," Nick said with a nod.
"Wait a minute. Johnston's spearheading an investigation to find out where the
government agencies get their covert-op funding."
"What do you want to do with this information?"
James checked his watch. "I think the senator's supposed to speak this evening.
We'll have to stop Drax before then. He's supposed to call sometime this morning to set
up a trade, the disc for the girl."
"What do we do in the meantime?"
Chase and August came into Jensen's office. "Any word on James yet, Captain?" Chase asked.
Jensen shook his head. "Nothing. No one's seen him."
"How about James's former boss? Drax was his name?"
Jensen nodded. "Nothing from him either. There's something fishy about that guy,
though. There's something go on."
"What do you think?" Chase asked.
Jensen said, "I'm not sure. But there's definitely more going on here than we've
been told. I'm beginning to think maybe James has been caught in the middle of something,
and that Nathan Drax is the real person we should be after."
"What makes you think so?"
Jensen shrugged. "A hunch."
"You think maybe his fingerprint on the gun casing might have been a plant?" Chase
asked.
"That's a possibility," Jensen said. "He was with the agency for years. They could
have easily gotten his print. Get back out there. Look for James. We need to find out
what he knows. Because something big is going on. And it could be terrible."
James closed his cell-phone. "Michael's not answering."
He and Nick were sitting in the far rear corner of a restaraunt. After their
discovery of what was on the disc, Nick talked him into going for some breakfast. James
didn't feel like eating, but knew he was hungry and should have something. Even after the
waitress brought their food to them, he didn't eat much.
"I can't ask you go through this with me," James said. "You came out and did your
part. I don't want you risking your life."
"Hey, don't say that. I did my part, but I'm also going to do what I was trained
for. Protecting the lives of those I'm working with. I'm here. I'm involved now, whether
you like it or not. And I'm going through it with you. You know, Drax will kill you and
girl even if you give him the disc."
"I know. But I have no choice. It's my best chance to get close to her."
"And try something?"
"What else is there? It's try or don't."
"Hey. Remember what the master said. 'Do, or do not. There is no try.'"
It took James a moment to catch the humorous reference and allow himself to laugh.
He admitted that it was something he needed, too. Something small to help relieve the
tension momentarily. He savoured it, because he knew the tension would soon get even more
intense in just a short amount of time.
And the time was now. His cell-phone started ringing. He looked at Nick. "Here we
go," Nick said.
James took his phone out and answered. "Yeah."
"Twenty-four hours have passed," Nathan Drax's voice said. "Do you have the disc?"
James picked the disc up and looked at it. "Right here in my hand."
"Good. Very good. I can now put down the gun I was going to use to kill your pretty
little girl incase you didn't have it."
"Let me talk to her."
"Not right now, detective."
"Let me talk to her, or you don't get the disc. What have you got to lose by
letting me talk to her for ten seconds?"
There was a moment of silence, and then he heard Jennifer's voice in his ear.
"James?" She sounded like she had been crying.
He closed his eyes, feeling a sense of relief. "It's okay, Jen," he said calmly.
"Everything's going to be okay. Just stay calm. I'll see you soon."
"Yes, you will," Nathan said, his voice returning to the phone. "Now, you have what
I want, and I have what you want. The Ovington Arms, this evening. Be there. And come
alone." The line hung up.
James closed his cell-phone. "He wants to make the trade in one hour."
"Where?"
"The Ovington Arms. Seedy little place downtown."
"Then let's get ready, hu?"
The Ovington Arms was a ten-story building near the downtown area. It was obviously
rundown, not a well-kept kind of place. Within its rooms, daily, where many law-breaking
activities, from drug-making to dealing, prostitution to hitman hiring. It was popular
among the sleazy element for its cheapness and the fact that everybody there minded their
own business, and loathed by police because of the daily--and on some occasions hourly--
calls that took them their.
As the sun was beginning it's descent toward the horizon, two cars rounded the
corner and pulled to a stop at the curb. Both were black with heavily-tinted windows. The
rear door of the first one opened, and Nathan Drax stepped out. Accompanied by Mike
Anderson and one other, he was joined by four men from the second car as he walked up the
sidewalk to the entrance. One of the others opened the door for him, and they stepped in.
The lobby was sparse, not much beyond a dusty couch and chair positioned around an
old battered coffee table. The floor hadn't been cleaned properly in years. The front
desk was protected by a series of thick counter-to-ceiling bars. The clerk looked up upon
hearing their arrival, but could tell they were there for some sort of shady business,
and wisely directed his attention back to the magazine he'd been reading.
Their room was on the third floor. Nathan stepped in. Mike shut the door behind
them. Nathan turned, glancing around. There was just a couch, a chair, and a table. "Well,
it seems either we're a little early, or our guest is a little late. We'll give him twenty
minutes."
Moments later, there was a knock on the door. One of the men opened it. James stood
outside. Nathan stood from the chair. "Ah, James. Please, come in."
James stepped inside. The man shut the door and gave him a quick pat-down. "He's
clean."
"Would you like to have a seat?" Nathan said, gesturing at the couch.
"Where is she?" James said.
Nathan said. "She's perfectly alright. Once you give me the disc, I'll make a call,
and she'll be free."
"Make the call now."
"I'm afraid I can't do that until I have the disc."
"She goes free first, then you get the disc."
"Better do as he says," someone said.
James looked and saw Mike Anderson step out from the kitchen. "Mike?"
"I'm sorry, James."
"I don't believe you, Mike. I trusted you."
"I had no choice."
"We don't have all day," Nathan said. "James, hand over the disc or, believe me,
I'll have something very unpleasant done to your beautiful girl."
James just stood there, glaring at Mike.
Nathan gestured at one of his men. "Carlos, get the disc from him."
Carlos took a step forward. James looked at him and pointed a finger. "Don't take
one damn step or it'll be your last." Carlos took two steps back, swallowing nervously.
Out of the corner of his eye, James could see the guy on his right slowly inching toward
him. He reached inside his jacket and took out the disc, holding it up.
Nathan smiled. "Now that's more like it, James."
"Okay, now first things first," James said. "I give you the disc, and you clear me
of Steve's murder. My name gets clean, your name stays clean. Everybody's happy. How
about that?"
Nathan looked at him, as if trying to figure something out. "Done. You know, I have
to be honest. I really didn't want to kill Steve. He was a good guy. But, when someone
threatens to expose what you've done and take you down for it, well . . . you just can't
let them live. May I please have the disc now?"
James held it up. "It's all your's."
Mike walked across the room. James just looked at him as he approached and put his
hand on the disc, but then he paused. He looked at James, and the detective could see
that something was going on. Mike opened his mouth, and James could make out a silent
"one." Then a "two." And then "three."
And then the scene exploded. Mike spun around, producing a gun in his hand as he
thrust another one into James's and opened fire. Everything seemed to be happening in
slow-motion. James dropped the disc, a blank one he had gotten on his way to the Arms,
and made for the kitchen with Mike. There was the sound of breaking glass, and Nick
appeared swinging threw the window on a repelling harness, planting his feet into the
chest of a man and knocking him to the ground. He hit the floor and rolled, coming up
into a crouch and firing. He hit one guy in the shoulder, throwing him back against the
wall.
"Hey, Nick," Mike said as Nick ducked around the corner.
"Hey, Mike. How you been?"
"Better. And you?"
"Can't complain," Nick said, and turned back to open fire.
Nathan had taken cover behind the couch as his men returned fire around him. "Kill
that son of a bitch!" he yelled about the shots. "And somebody get that disc!"
Mike looked around the doorway and saw one man making for the disc. He raised the
gun and squeezed the trigger, and the guy's foot went out from underneath him as the
bullet hit his knee. He dropped to the ground screaming.
"Nice shot," James said as he slapped a new clip in.
"Thanks."
Nathan looked around the couch and saw the man lying on the floor, holding his knee.
"Get me that disc! Get me that damn disc!" The man just rolled around on his back, hands
clamped over his knee, screaming. Nathan pointed a gun at him. "Get me that disc now!"
Seeing the gun, the man briefly managed to silence his scream long enough to pick
up the disc and flick it across the floor to Nathan. He quickly tucked it into his jacket.
"Thank you," he said, and fired two shots, killing the man. "I don't like seeing my men
suffer."
"Do you see Drax?" Nick yelled.
"Must be hiding." James fired, dropping another man.
Mike looked at him. "Just like old times, hu?"
"Don't remind me," James said, and leaned around the corner slightly, firing.
Beside Nathan, one of his men was crouched to reload. "Sorry," he said, and shot
the man in the leg. He fell to the ground screaming. Nathan got to his knees and pulled
him up. He stood, holding his own man in front of him like a human shield as he made for
the door. James lined up a shot, but ducked back as Nathan fired, hitting the door frame
inches from where his face had been. Nathan fired blindly at the doorway as he dragged
his man toward the door, then him man drop to the floor as he flung the door open,
disappearing into the hall.
James looked back around and saw the open door. "I'm going after him! Cover me!"
Nick and Mike kept the rest pinned down as James hurried around the corner and
bolted out the door. He saw Nathan escaping and yelled his name, bringing the gun up.
Nathan spun and fired, and James threw himself into the adjacent hallway. He heard the
bullet hit the wall he had been in front of. He scrambled to his feet and peeked around
the corner just in time to see Nathan's head disappear down the stairs. He jumped to his
feet and ran down the hall.
Nick took down the third and fourth man, and Mike dropped the fifth. The gunfight
over, they stood and looked around at the scene: bullet-riddled walls, shattered windows,
and a few dead bodies. "Think the landlord'll notice?" Nick joked.
James came down the stairs to the lobby. He saw Nathan by the door, gun raised, and
all he had time to do was push himself from the steps as the muzzle flashed. He landed on
his side and slid for a few feet, firing back, but Nathan had already turned out the door.
The window shattered behind him as he ran for the car. He flung the door open and pulled
the driver out, throwing him onto the sidewalk and slipping in behind the wheel.
James ran out through the shattered window set into the door and took cover behind
the second car as Nathan fired back at him, leaning out the window. James was still
concealed when he heard the car engine start up and the squeal of tires. He looked up
through the rear windshield of the second car and saw Nathan racing away. James ran out
into the street, narrowly avoiding the front bumper of a car as it schreached to a stop.
He regained his balance and took aim at the fleeing car, focusing his eye down the top of
the gun. His finger lightly touched the trigger.
But the car hung the corner, and then it was gone. James lowered the gun. He stood
for a moment longer, then turned. The driver of the car ducked in his seat when he saw
the gun, but James calmly pulled back one side of his jacket, showing him his badge as he
walked back to the Arms.
He met up with Mike and Nick in the lobby. "Nathan?" Mike asked.
James shook his head. "Got away."
"Damn it."
James stepped aside with Mike. "What was going on here? Who's side are you on?"
"I'm on your side, James. I always have been, I always will be. I've been planning
to take care of Nathan myself for years. But I had to work my way up the chain of command
so that I could get close enough. I was just waiting for the right time. When I found out
you were involved, I had to play it safe and pretend I was still on his side. I wanted to
tell you from the beginning, but I was afraid something might happen and he'd find out."
"Well, I'm glad you're on my side. Because if there's one man who can take me out,
it's you."
Mike smiled. "We have to get Nathan. I know where he has your girl."
"Where?"
"Pier 29, L.A. Harbor."
Chase was just getting up from his desk when his phone starting ringing. He answered.
"McDonald."
"Okay, now first things first," a recorded voice said. He recognized it as James
and motioned for August to come over and listen. "I give you the disc, and you clear me
of Steve's murder. My name gets clean, your name stays clean. Everybody's happy. How
about that?"
Then they heard Nathan Drax's voice say, "Done. You know, I have to be honest. I
really didn't want to kill Steve. He was a good guy. But, when someone threatens to
expose what you've done and take you down for it, well . . . you just can't let them
live."
A click, and then James himself said, "That's the proof, Chase. The proof that I
didn't kill Steve Parnell."
"James, where are you? You have us all worried."
"I'm fine. I can't explain everything right now, but I need your help with
something."
"Sure. Anything."
"You know about Senator Johnston speaking at some dinner benefit tonight?"
"Yeah, what about it."
"There's going to be an assassination attempt."
"What?"
"I'm not sure when, but you have to get over to wherever it is he's speaking. I
have the proof, but I can't get it to you. You're gonna have to trust me, Chase."
"I trust you, James. Where are you?"
"I'm going after the guy responsible for Steve's murder. I have to go quick. I
don't know how long I have until he gets away. He's probably making plans for an immediate
exit. Be careful out there, Chase."
"Wait, James. James? James." The line was dead. Chase hung up and looked at his
partner.
"What did he say?"
Chase hung up. "We have to get to where Senator Johnston is speaking tonight. There's
going to be an assassination attempt."
"How do you know?"
"James has the proof, but can't get it to us. He's going after the guy responsible
for Steve Parnell's murder."
"Looks like Jensen was right," August said as they hurried down the hall. "There's
something going on. Something bigger than just one man's murder."
Nathan Drax hurried into his office and slipped the disc into the computer. His fingers
flew over the keyboard, accessing the disc. He smiled to himself as the screen flashed
OPENING FILE, but the smile faded when it began flashing: I HAVE IT ALL. YOU LOSE. He
yelled out in frustration and shoved the monitor off the desk. It broke apart on the floor,
shattering the screen and emitting sparks and smoke. He stood and, in a rage of fury,
flipped the desk over.
The door opened, and a man with a rifle rushed in. "Sir, what's wrong?"
"Call our buyers. Tell them we've changed the time of the exchange."
"To when?"
"Right now. And make sure Dennis is in position to take out Johnston."
"Distinguished guests," the announcer at the podium said. "We are here tonight to hear
from a brave man who is daring to take charge, to take the government by the collar and
demand answers, the honorable Senator Harry Johnston."
The crowd erupted in applause as Johnston stood from the table. He turned to face
the audience, smiling and giving a wave, then took to the steps and climbed the dais.
From atop a balcony that gave him a clear view of the stage and floor below, Dennis
crouched and opened the large case, revealing a shiny black rifle. He lifted it from the
foam-lined interior, slipping the scope on and locking it into place.
Outside, several black-and-white patrol cars parked at the curb. Chase braked hard,
and he and August climbed out and hurried toward the hotel with the other officers. The
senator's bodyguards were already signaling for them to stop as they enterted the lobby.
"What's going on here?" the one asked.
"There's going to be an assassination attempt on the senator," Chase said. "Where
is he?"
"This way." The guard lead them toward the conference room.
In the balcony, the gunman finished preparing the rifle and turned back to face the
stage. Crouched on one knee, he could level the barrel across the top of the railing,
right at Johnston as he spoke below.
The guards and officers rushed in from the side, bounded up the steps, and nearly
tackled the Senator to the ground getting him out of the way. The gunmen squeezed the
trigger. The shot missed and struck the podium. The guests screamed, startled by the shot,
and started running for the exits.
"Don't move!" Chase yelled as he appeared at the back of the balcony with August.
The gunman swung around with the rifle. Chase and August each fired off a single
shot, and the shooter tumbled over the rail, crashing into one of the tables below. They
went to the railing and looked down. The officers had closed in on the lifeless body, but
realized he was done. Looking at the stage, they saw the senator had been saved, his
guards were helping him to his feet.
It was a large cargo ship docked at Pier 29. One of the guard's was making his usual
rounds, armed with a sub-machine gun slung over one shoulder. He stepped past a corner
and was promptly knocked unconscious by a fist. James stepped out and stood over him.
"Night-night," he said, and walked on.
Nick and Mike were making their way up the other side of the ship, watching each
other's backs. As another guard rounded a corner, Mike jumped into action. He knocked the
gun from the man's fist and gave him a karate chop to the neck, sending him smashing to
the ground. They moved on.
James stepped up to the edge and looked over. A line of cars was coming down the
dock, where a group of armed guards were already waiting. The men climbed out from the
cars, submitted to a quick pat-down, then they all started up the ramp to the ship. He
turned just in time to see a guard coming around the corner. He kicked the gun from his
hand, swung a left and right, grabbed the guy's arm and spun him around, then drove him
head-first into the bulkhead. A dull thud, and he slumped to the ground. James picked up
the man's rifle and moved away.
He met back up with Mike and Nick and watched as the men reached the ship and walked
across the deck. They saw Nathan coming down a flight of steps. He looked like he was in a
hurry. "Welcome, gentlemen." They offered to shake hands, but he ignored them. "We've had
some last-minute complications arise, so I'm afraid we will have to do this rather quickly
so that I can be on my way."
The three of them stood. "Hold it right there!" James yelled.
The guards turned and opened fire. James ducked and shot back, dropping two of them.
The men who had arrived in the cars scattered to find cover. Nathan bolted for the stairs.
James tried to get a shot off, but the guards and their automatic machine guns kept him
pinned down. "There's another way up there," Mike said, and gestured around the side.
"There's a door that way. Just take the stairs all the way up."
"Okay, cover me." James jumped to his feet and ran as Mike and Nick cut loose with
a barrage of fire. James heard bullets striking the deck behind him, but poured on the
speed and threw himself behind the next place of cover. He looked up and saw the door
ajar. He ran to it and flung it open, and raced up the steps.
The door was kicked open, and Jennifer turned over. Nathan came in and quickly
began uncuffing her. She struggled to get free. "Take it easy, my pretty. I'm getting out
of here, and you're going to insure me."
"Insure this," she said, and raked him across the face with her fingernails.
He yelled out and slapped her with the back of his hand, throwing her onto the bed.
He stood and touch his fingers to his cheek, then pulled them away. Blood dotted his
fingers. "Oh, man, that was good."
Outside, Chase, August, and at least a dozen uniformed officers came up onto the
deck where the firefight was going on. They yelled, "L.A.P.D.!" but quickly ducked for
cover when the storm of bullets turned their way.
James made his way down the hall. He rounded a corner and threw himself back as
Nathan fired off two shots. He held Jennifer tightly around her waist. "James!"
"Jennifer!"
"Don't try it, James!" Nathan yelled. "One wrong shot and your girl's history!"
"Touch her and I'll kill you, you son of a bitch!"
James risked a peak around the corner and saw Nathan turn a corner down the corridor.
"James, help!"
"Everything's gonna be okay! I promise!"
"Don't make promises you can't keep, James!" Nathan's voice echoed through the halls.
James took another look around the corner and, seeing the coast was clear, made his
way down the hall.
Chase aimed up and took out a guard on the second level. He toppled over the railing,
screaming as he fell to the deck below. One of the uniforms took a hit to the shoulder and
fell back, and August took out the guard who'd made the shot. "Who the hell are those other
two guys over there?" he asked.
Chase looked and could see two men hiding side-by-side, returning fire at the guards.
"Who cares as long as they're not shooting at us."
The next door James opened took him outside. To his left the walkway was empty. To
his right was a muzzle flash, and a bullet striking the door frame inches from his head.
He moved back inside and heard the clattering as Nathan took to another flight of stairs.
He leaned out, but his view was obscured by the roof edge. Staying close to the wall, he
moved down the catwalk toward the next series of steps.
The gunfight was just about over. A few officers had been killed, but more than
half of the guards had been dropped, and the rest were giving up. Chase and August left
their cover as the remaining officers moved in to make arrests. Chase saw the other two
men put their guns down and walk over with their hands held out to show they were empty.
"August," Chase said. "It's the guy that was at James's apartment last night."
"You must be Chase McDonald and August Brooks," Mike said, and introduced himself
and Nick and quickly explained who they were.
"Where's James?" August asked.
"He went after Nathan."
James reached the top of the steps and came out onto the roof of the superstructure.
The gun came up in his hand. Nathan was standing at the edge, holding Jennifer in front
of him. "This is the end of the line, James," he said. "Drop the gun, or the girl gets it."
"Don't do it, James," Jennifer said.
James stood firmly, gun clenched in his fist, lining up a shot.
"Don't try it, James," Nathan said. "You're good. But you're not that good. Mike
was the sniper, not you. Now drop the gun, or the girl goes bye-bye."
"Don't do it," she said again. "He'll kill us both."
"Yeah, that's right. I'll kill you both if you don't drop the gun. Now do it now!"
James stood in place, the screaming words flooding his ears: Jennifer's cries to
take the shot, Nathan's screams to drop the gun. The words all seemed to mix together,
and on top of all that, he could practically hear his heart racing. It was fast, furious.
His finger barely touched the trigger. The words seemed to build in volume, building,
building, until--
James lowered the gun to his side. Nathan smiled. "No," Jennifer said quietly.
"Now that's a good boy," Nathan said.
Then it all seemed to happen in slow-motion. Chase was coming up the stairs as
Nathan raised his gun. He yelled out, "James!" Jennifer wasn't watching. She was turned
away, eyes closed, crying. The looked like it appeared out of nowhere as James raised his
gun and fired a single shot. Silence.
Jennifer felt Nathan's grip on her loosen and pull away. He stood for a moment,
weakly. His arm dropped to his side, and the gun clattered on the roof. Then he fell back,
disappearing over the side of the roof. James hurried forward and caught Jennifer in his
arms. Chase stood by the stairs, watching in amazement.
James held Jennifer tightly as she cried into his shoulder. "James. I was so . . . "
"It's okay," he said. "It's okay. It's all over. Everything's fine now."
As he held her, he glanced over and could see Nathan's body lying on the deck,
surrounded by cops. Chase walked up behind him and looked as well. "Nice shot, James.
How'd you do it?"
"Sometimes you have to go away in order to come back," he said. "That's the first
they teach you."
"Who?"
"I don't remember," he said, and looked at him. "That's the second thing they teach
you."
Chase smiled. He holstered his gun and looked back over the edge as James turned,
walking back across the roof with an arm around Jennifer.
| INDEX |
