Inevitable Series 04 The Unrelenting Read online

  "You don't know that, Jim."

  "Yes, I do know that and so do you. That's why I can't believe you were just going to go." Blair started to protest but Jim held up a hand stopping him. "I don't care if he threatened me or not. You don't ever just take off like that." Jim put his hands on his partner's shoulders. "Listen, Blair, you are part of a team now and I don't just mean you and me. I mean Major Crimes. At no time does any member of that team go into a dangerous situation on his own. Do you understand?"

  "I understand. And Jim, thanks, man."

  Jim cuffed him on the side of the head. "Just don't forget it." He checked his watch. "Okay, we've got less than an hour. We need to get with Simon and start the ball rolling if we're going to catch this son of a bitch."

  #######

  "This is ridiculous." Blair stared at Rafe in the long-haired wig and grungy clothes. "He's too tall, my clothes are not that bad and man, my hair does not look like that."

  "Just pipe down, Sandburg," Simon said around his cigar. "It's the best we could do in the time we had. Besides, all we need is to draw the guy out."

  They were gathered about three blocks from Piermont and Stead, preparing to go over their plan one more time. A plan that had been put together too hastily for Blair's comfort. He shook his head. There was just too much that could go wrong and that thought sent a chill through him.

  Brown surveyed his partner. "I think he looks pretty good." He reached out and straightened the wig.

  Rafe slapped his hand away. "Cut it out. It took me forever to get this thing on right."

  "But it's not on right," Brown said, reaching out again.

  Blair turned to Jim as the wig dipped lower on the right. "This is not going to work. Just let me meet the guy. You'll all be watching. Nothing will happen."

  "You're staying with me, Sandburg," Simon said, moving up behind him. "Because where you're concerned, something always happens."

  Blair glanced at Simon but could see the teasing look behind his eyes, knew the captain didn't blame him for this current mess, only wanted to help end it. His gaze traveled over the rest of the men around him. Jim had told him he was part of the team. Part of Major Crimes. He had never felt quite so sure of that until this moment.

  "Okay, let's go over the positions one more time." Simon moved to the map laid out on the hood of his car. "We've got Taggert posted here," he said, pointing at a highlighted section of the map, "at the corner of Stead and Detective Santos is at Piermont." His hand shifted ever so slightly left. "As soon as we I.D. the vehicle, they'll move in and block him. It's a pretty deserted area so we shouldn't have a lot of traffic in and out." He looked up, his gaze coming to rest on his youngest detective. "Brown will be in the building directly behind you and Jim will be across the street. You got it?"

  Rafe nodded, his eyes narrowed slightly as he took in each direction. "Got it, Captain."

  "Keep your head down as the vehicle approaches. We don't want him to recognize you as a decoy and bolt before we're ready."

  Rafe nodded again, licking his lips. Blair thought he looked nervous. Scared. He tried not to think of the bulletproof vest he knew the young detective was wearing beneath the shabby flannel shirt.

  I should be doing this.

  He hated the idea of someone else being put in a position of jeopardy for him. But there was no point in arguing. Jim and Simon had made it clear that there was no way they were letting him stand out on that street corner.

  Probably think I'd just hop right into that car and take off with the guy.

  He swallowed hard at the thought because that was exactly what he had been planning to do until Jim got him to admit the truth about the phone call. Part of him had been relieved that Jim figured out what was going on and had pushed him into confessing the nature of the call. But another part of him felt guilty over that relief. Because now Rafe was in a potentially deadly situation because of it.

  "We've got a little more than an hour's worth of daylight left, gentlemen. If the guy doesn't show by then, we pack it in. We're not staying out here after dark." Simon folded the map and tucked it under his arm. He turned to Rafe. "We'll have eyes and ears on you the entire time. Just keep your head down and your eyes open."

  Rafe adjusted his wig one more time before heading off toward the direction of Piermont and Stead three blocks away. Brown walked beside him, staying with his partner as long as he could before splitting off and taking up position inside the building behind him.

  Blair watched them until they disappeared around the corner of the nearest building and were gone. He turned back to Jim. "I still think I should be going with you."

  "Blair, I can't have you with me. If this guys sees you, he'll know that Rafe is not you and the whole thing will be blown."

  "I just don't like this. What if you need me?" He stepped closer and said more quietly, "What if you zone out there, man?"

  "We'll be in constant contact." He shoved a small radio into Blair's hands before hooking his combination mouth and earpiece around his ear. "I have a radio to contact the rest of the team but you'll be on your own frequency to me on this thing in case I need you for the sentinel stuff." He raised one eyebrow. "Can't have the guys wondering if you've lost your mind as you try and talk me out of a zone-out now can we."

  Blair knew Jim was trying to lighten his mood but it wasn't working. "This just feels wrong. Like we're making a big mistake."

  "Just get in the car, Sandburg." Simon opened the passenger door and waited for Blair. With more than a little reluctance, Blair crossed to the car and slid inside. Simon slammed the door before moving around to the driver's side and getting in. They were parked in an empty lot three blocks from Stead and Piermont. Far enough to not be seen but close enough in case they were needed.

  Blair watched as Jim jogged around the corner of the nearest building and was gone. Lifting the radio to his lips, he pushed the button on the side and said, "Can you hear me, Jim?"

  "Loud and clear, Chief," came the swift reply.

  Blair glanced at Simon as the captain spoke into his own radio but Blair couldn't make out any of the conversation. He turned back to his own radio. "Jim, tell me what's going on. What do you hear?"

  "Brown's heart thundering in his chest," Jim said, his voice tinny sounding through the small radio. "He's worried about his partner."

  "He's not the only one, man."

  Simon nudged Blair on the arm. "Rafe's in position."

  Blair nodded and pushed the button on the side of his radio. "Rafe's in position, Jim."

  "Yeah, I know, Chief. Besides having my own radio, I can also see and hear him."

  Blair shook his head. Of course Jim would know. He'd have no problem keeping track of everything that was going on. "Sorry man, must be my nerves."

  "Just relax, Junior. Everything's going to be fine."

  "Famous last words," he muttered.

  #######

  Jim shook his head at his partner's mutterings. He hoped this guy would show and they could pick him up and be done with this. He didn't know how much more Blair could take. Especially with Frank Croft's death. The kid hadn't even really had time to process that yet. When he did, he knew Blair would be consumed with guilt. But right now, it was this setup that was twisting Jim's gut into knots. He had a feeling that it wouldn't be as easy to catch this guy as they all hoped. Nothing was ever that easy...especially when it came to cases involving Blair.

  But it's not my partner's fault.

  Simon liked to believe that somehow Blair was responsible for any and all the trouble he got into. But Jim knew it simply was not true. Blair was in trouble because Blair was with Jim. And someone like Blair really didn't belong in Jim's world. He was too good natured, too trusting. And his dislike of guns doesn't help. But he was also courageous, intelligent and determined. And it was those qualities that had helped them solve more than one case and had kept him alive for the last three years.

  "What's going on, Jim?" Blair's concerned voi
ce poured from the radio, pulling Jim away from his thoughts.

  Jim did a quick scan of the area, watching as Rafe paced back and forth beneath the street sign marking the corner. "Nothing's happening." Jim chuckled. "But I can hear Rafe muttering about the hair. He says its itchy and he's wondering how you stand it."

  "Mine's natural and it feels great when the ladies run their fingers through it."

  Jim laughed. "I'll let him know you said that."

  "Can't, man. He'll wonder how you heard him in the first place."

  Jim shook his head. "Right."

  Brown's voice came over Jim's other radio. "What time is this guy supposed to show?" he asked and Jim could still hear the underlying nervousness in his voice. Brown didn't want his partner standing out in the open acting as bait any longer than he had to.

  Jim pushed the button on the side of his radio. "Sorry, Henri, but the man didn't say. Just told Sandburg to be here in an hour." Jim sent out his senses again. He could hear Taggert nervously tapping his fingers against the wheel of his car and Santos at the other end of the block whistling under his breath. They were all out here for one reason and one reason only - to get the guy who was now threatening his partner. He knew that if tonight did not payoff that they would all come out and do this again if necessary. Because sometime over the last three years, they had all come to accept Blair as one of their own. And they protected their own.

  Jim did another quick scan but still heard only the men from Major Crimes. Dialing back his senses, he pushed the button on the side of his radio. "Okay guys, we've been out here fifteen minutes. Let's give it another half hour and then Rafe can pull the hair."

  Brown laughed. "He'll be relieved to hear that."

  Jim hit the button for the mouthpiece to Blair, wanting to fill his partner in on the latest plan. "Listen Chief, we're going to give this another half hour then pack it in. But I have a feeling we've been stood up."

  He released the button and waited. No answer. Just silence.

  "Did you catch that, Chief?"

  Another hesitation, then, "Have you always called him that or did it come over time?"

  Jim looked up sharply as the sound of Lee Brackett's voice spilled into his ear. No! He turned and sprinted back toward the direction of Simon's car. Within minutes, he could see the captain slumped over the wheel. Alive but clearly unconscious. Blair was no where in sight. Jim skidded to a halt beside Simon's open window and moving gently, laid the captain back against the seat. A thin line of blood trailed down the side of his face. Jim could see the lump on his head where Brackett had hit him. Simon moaned softly as Jim probed the wound, the captain already starting to come around.

  Straightening, satisfied that Simon was going to be all right, Jim scanned the entire area. Nothing. He punched the button on his mic again. "Brackett, you bastard, I want to talk to Blair."

  "What is it with you and your partner insulting my mother."

  "Brackett," he ground out, "put Sandburg on. Now!"

  "Say something." Brackett's voice sounded suddenly distant, as if he were holding the radio away from himself. Then an instant later, "This sucks, Jim."

  Jim let out the breath he was holding at the sound of Blair's voice. He was alive...and sounded ticked off which probably meant he was not hurt. "What now, Brackett?" He sent out his hearing, searching for Blair's heartbeat. Again, nothing. Wherever they were, they were not close enough for Jim to pick up on them.

  "I just want to talk," Brackett said. "Meet me in twenty minutes at Harson's Station. Come alone and I mean really alone this time or I'll hurt Sandburg."

  "If you hurt him--"

  "I know, you'll hurt me. It's a vicious cycle. Listen, I don't want to hurt Sandburg. I just want to meet with you and I don't have a lot of time so don't be late."

  The radio clicked off just as Jim's other one came to life. It was Brown updating Simon, telling him their perp was still a no show. Jim told Brown to pull Rafe and get to the captain's car immediately but did not give any other details. Turning off the radio, he tossed it into the now empty passenger seat.

  #######

  "Do we really need the cuffs, man?" Blair sat belted into the passenger seat of a late model olds, his hands cuffed uncomfortably behind him. His door was locked but the window was open, a light breeze tousling his hair. The sun filtered through the trees, low in the late evening sky. They sat parallel to the abandoned railroad station at the end of Harson Road waiting for Jim to arrive. Blair checked the clock on the dashboard. Brackett had told Jim to be here in twenty minutes. That time was nearly up and Blair hoped that Jim would not come. He hated the idea of being used as bait to lure his partner here.

  "The cuffs are an added precaution," Brackett said from beside him. "This is all for your own good really. That's all I'm doing, looking out for your welfare. Just like I was trying to with Alex."

  Blair eyed him sideways. "That's what I was thinking as Alex was dragging me out of that mill at gun point. I was thinking, 'Gee, I bet Brackett's worried about me now'."

  "I was going to help you."

  "Until Alex caught you. Then you threw me to the wolves."

  "I was going to come back," he argued. "I just didn't see how I could help you if Alex shot me dead."

  Blair turned toward him, studying the man beside him. And suddenly he realized something that hadn't occurred to him until that moment. "You didn't kill Frank Croft." It was not a question but a statement of fact. Brackett was not a cold-blooded killer and Blair knew it.

  Brackett kept his gaze forward. "No, I didn't," he said simply.

  "But you know who did." Blair was sure he was right. Whoever had called him at Frank's house had threatened to do to Jim what was done to Frank so obviously they had known about Frank's death. Yet it hadn't been Brackett on the phone. So who had called him? And where was he now?

  "If it's any consolation, they didn't mean for him to die. At least, I don't think they did," he finished softly. "They were just looking for information and it went too far."

  "And Rebecca Lowry?" Blair asked, wondering if Jim had been right about the connection.

  "Oh, they meant for her to die." He looked at Blair, a cold glint in his eyes. "She was going to interfere with their plans for you so they decided she had become a ...liability."

  A stab of fear coursed through Blair. He shuddered. "Who are they?"

  "Why don't I explain it to both of you." Brackett nodded toward the windshield.

  Blair turned his attention forward, straightening in his seat as Jim's truck pulled into the road before them and stopped several feet back.

  Brackett pushed open his door, crossed to Blair's side of the car and struck the gun through the open window, resting the barrel against his head. "Just relax," he whispered. "This should all be over soon."

  "Yeah, that's what I'm worried about," Blair said, trying to ignore the cold steel denting his temple.

  #######

  Jim turned off the ignition but did not get out of the truck. Sending out his senses, he surveyed his Guide. Blair appeared to be unhurt. His heart rate normal for someone with a gun pressed to his head.

  He had heard their conversation about Lowry and Croft. Had been listening to them for several minutes before actually pulling into the clearing. He had wanted to get a feel for the situation before arriving. What he had heard made him more uptight than ever. Whoever Brackett's superiors were, they were well-connected if they could get to Rebecca Lowry while she was behind bars. And crazy enough to assault a police captain and risk taking Blair while half of Major Crimes was just three blocks away.

  "Get out of the truck, Ellison," Brackett called, his finger tensing ever so slightly on the trigger of his gun.

  "Just relax, Brackett." Jim pushed open his door, keeping his hands away from his sides. Not wanting to take any chances where his partner was concerned. "You okay, Sandburg?"

  "He's fine," Brackett answered for him.

  "Take the gun away from his head," Jim s
aid taking a tentative step forward, relieved that Brackett had not asked him to give up his weapon. "And I want him out of the car." He knew as long as Blair was in that car with the gun to his head, there was no chance of him getting away. Jim wanted to change that.

  "Fine. If it'll move this along faster. Fine." Opening the door, he leaned in and undoing the seatbelt, pulled the anthropologist roughly out. Blair stumbled, nearly falling but Brackett grabbed him by his coat and hauled him upright, keeping him in front of him as a shield. "See, he's fine. Tell him you're fine."

  "I'm fine," Blair repeated wincing slightly as the gun was jammed into his ribs. "How's Simon?"

  "He's going to be okay, Chief," Jim said, taking another step forward.

  "I just want to talk," Brackett said, tightening his hold on the younger man.

  "You let him go and we'll talk."

  "I let him go and you'll arrest me," Brackett countered.

  "I'll arrest you no matter what."

  "Not if I have Sand--"

  "Okay, this is getting us no where," Blair said, cutting off Brackett's latest threat. "Jim, tell Brackett you'll listen to him. Brackett, take off the cuffs and let me go." Neither man moved. "Come on, my arms are getting sore, I'm hungry and I've got a class tomorrow and I still need to look over my lecture notes."

  Jim shifted his gaze to his partner. Blair looked exhausted. Jim knew he hadn't slept well in the last week. Hadn't eaten anything today except the small sandwich he'd had at lunch. He needed to end this as soon as possible and get his partner back to the loft. "Let him go, Brackett and I'll listen."

  Brackett said nothing but a moment later, Jim could hear the sound of keys and Blair drew his arms in front of him, rubbing his wrists. Slowly, he crossed to Jim. "You're okay?"

  "I'm fine," he said but the weariness was evident in his voice. "Let's just get this over with so we can go home."

  Jim nodded then shifted his gaze back to Brackett. "You've gone to a lot of trouble to set this up, Brackett. What do you want?"

  "This set-up was not my idea. It was a test...for me. You think I got away at that mill? I was collected by my 'superiors'. I've been sitting in a dark room for the last month as punishment for my failure with Alex. To make up for it and prove myself worthy again, I was supposed to snatch Sandburg out from under the noses of everyone in Major Crimes."