“I doubt it,” said Monica. “Frank looked like he could sleep for 6 months.”
“What’s your guess?” Cody asked Alex.
She swallowed her coffee before answering. “Somehow, I think they will.”
Before Cody got to ask why, he heard noise and turned to see Jake and Frank coming in. Monica got off the couch and Jake sat Frank there.
“How are you doing, Frank?” Alex asked, thinking he didn’t look so good.
“All right,” he answered, sounding tired. “I remembered what happened.”
They all smiled at him, overjoyed.
“Who was it?” Alex asked.
Jake sighed. “He didn’t see his face.”
The smiles disappeared.
“What?!” they all said together.
“You tell them, Jake,” Frank said, too tired to tell the story again.
“The ‘mailman’ did make it seem like he needed Frank to sign something. He kept his head down, making it look like he was going through the mail in his hands. Then Frank started to open the door, but the guy pushed it open and shot him in the arm. Frank drew his gun and was hit in the shoulder.” He sighed. “That’s it.”
No one said anything for a minute, as they all pictured the horrible scene.
Suddenly Cody said, “MAIL!”
They all looked at him, in question.
Cody jumped up from his chair. “Mail! When we went to your place that day, Frank, there was a piece of mail on the floor, and I picked it up, assuming it fell off your coffee table, or something. He must’ve dropped it!”
“Fingerprints!” said Alex, jumping up herself.
“Go get it, Cody,” Monica demanded.
“Yeah,” said Jake, elated that they finally might get some answers. “Go get it, and run the prints.”
Cody nodded and ran out of the room, not even bothering to answer.
“You are evidence, baby,” he said, as he picked it up with a handkerchief, stuck it into a plastic bag, and ran out.
They all looked up as Cody ran into HQ waving the plastic bag. They barely had enough time to glance at it as he ran into another room to get the fingerprint-dusting supplies.
Monica followed him in, curiosity getting the better of her. A minute later she called out, “Hey Frank, you’ve been offered a credit line increase on your American Express Platinum card.”
“American Express Platinum?” Jake repeated. “Wow.”
Alex was impressed as well. “Geez, you must have better credit then the President.”
Frank laughed. “Reading…other people’s mail…is a crime,” he called out.
“Opps,” Cody and Monica both answered.
Alex looked at Frank with concern. His voice sounded pain-filled and weak, and he looked paler then when they’d arrived. As if he was slowly deteriorating….
“You okay, Frank?” she asked.
“Fine,” he mumbled.
“No you’re not. Lie down before you fall off this thing,” she commanded, taking his good arm, and helping him.
Jake helped too, looking at Alex nervously when Frank closed his eyes, with a wince.
Alex mirrored the expression. “He belongs in the hospital, he’s pushing himself when he shouldn’t even be moving.”
“I know, I should’ve never let him out,” said Jake, noting that Frank seemed to already be asleep.
Suddenly the sound of *clickity clickity click* filled the room, and they realized that Cody and Monica had come out and were now in front of one of Cody’s computers.
“Okay, prints submitted,” he said. “I put a special ‘Urgent: needed asap by the DOJ’ note on it.”
“Now we just have to hope that whoever shot Frank has been fingerprinted in the past, or we’ll be back at square one,” Alex said.
“He has,” said Jake. “I know it. He better, because I’m going to find him one way or another, and he’s gonna pay for this.”
“GUYS!” He tried to yell and whisper at the same time.
“The prints?” said Jake, as they all hurried over.
“Yup, you’re not gonna believe this,” Cody said, shaking his head. “Rafael had a brother, and the prints are his!”
“A brother?!” said Alex.
“Yeah, younger by 2 years. With his older brother and daddy gone, he must’ve inherited everything.”
“Everything,” Jake repeated, scratching his chin. “I wonder if he did inherit it all.”
“You mean the drug business?” Monica asked.
“That’s exactly what I mean,” Jake answered. “Out of curiosity, Cody, when did Rafael’s father die?”
Cody brought up the death certificate again. “On…October 20. Less then a week later!”
They all turned and looked at Frank, still asleep on the couch.
“You don’t think he intends to try again on his father’s anniversary, do you?” Alex asked, afraid of the answer.
Monica was the one who replied, her profiling mind helping her to decide, “Yup.”
When Frank said those words to the Atty. General’s wife, he never dreamed that the outcome of that case would decide his fate a year later. He thought back to when the kidnapper had held a gun to the little boy’s head, and taken off running. Frank had gone after him, and heard a shot. He hadn’t known that Rafael had aimed to shoot him, and Alex had saved his life by killing him.
All this time Rafael had a brother bent on revenge…and he’d almost had it. From what Monica just said, he still might.
Frank sighed, and opened his eyes. “People,” he called.
If the situation hadn’t been so grim, Frank would’ve laughed at the speed in which they all ran over to him. Before anyone had a chance to ask it he was all right or needed anything, he spoke.
“I agree with Monica. He wants me dead; he won’t stop because of one failed attempt.”
Alex and Jake exchanged glances, not realizing Frank had been awake, and listening.
“Do you have a plan?” Jake asked him.
“I do,” said Cody. “Today is the 18th, we have to find the sucker before the 20th!”
Everyone made a face at him.
“Cody’s right,” said Frank, getting a smile from the computer whiz. “And it looks like there is only one way to go about this.”
“How?” they all asked, except...
“No way,” said Jake.
Everyone looked at him.
“I know what you’re about to say. You think we’re gonna let you use yourself as bait, the way you are? You can’t even stand up on your own! You’d have no chance to defend yourself at all!”
Frank sighed, knowing that Jake would object.
“He has a point, boss,” said Monica.
“You know he’s right, Frank,” Alex agreed. “What could you possibly do? You’d be completely at his mercy.”
“A sitting duck,” Cody threw in.
Before he had a chance to reply, pain stabbed through Frank’s shoulder and arm, and he held his breath for a minute, trying his best not to let it show. When it subsided he asked, “Anyone else have any ideas, then?”
Jake nodded. “Yeah. Let us handle it! Your only job right now is to eat and sleep. Can’t you see your making yourself worse?”
Frank sighed. Feeling helpless was something he absolutely hated. He was used to being in control, not letting a situation get the better of him.
First time for everything.
Frank studied his team as they all just stood there looking at him. Jake radiated confidence. He knew he could catch Frank’s shooter. He was glad to see that Jake had lost the cockiness that he’d had when Frank had first joined the team.
Alex had sympathy written all over her face. Frank had seen from the beginning that she was an emotional woman.
Monica looked sympathetic too, but there was also a look of, ‘Idiot, doesn’t he know his own body’s limits?’ on her face.
Cody was trying to look stern, but Frank could see he was bursting to say something. He looked a question at him, and Cody tried not to smile as he said, “I was just wondering what you would do if we tied you up.”
Everyone looked at him, not expecting Cody to say that. They started laughing.
Frank tried to look serious as he said, “I’d fire you.”
Cody made a mock-hurt face. “Aww, boss! After all the computer hacking I’ve done for you?” He shook his head. “What does it take to get some appreciation around here?”
“Not tying up your boss, that’s for sure,” said Jake, smiling. “Unless you want to die young.”
They all smiled, and were silent for a minute. Jake sighed.
“Seriously Frank, you can’t do anything in your condition. We can find him, we need to find him! I have a plan.”
They all listened intently.
“What?” Frank asked.
Jake sighed. “Well, we think he got his father’s business, right? Selling drugs. If we throw his name around, maybe someone knows of an incoming shipment. We can surprise him there and pick him up not only for attempted murder, but for drugs, too.”
Frank nodded, tiredly. “That is a good idea.”
Alex sighed, not liking the look of Frank’s pale skin. “That’s enough for now Frank, get some rest; you need it badly.”
Frank said nothing, blinking sleepily. He was beginning to get a headache now, and he knew Alex was right. “Don’t take him out…without me…” he whispered slowly, ignoring their looks of disbelief as he fell back to sleep.
“Sorry, to tell you the truth, I’ve never even heard of the guy.”
Jake smiled to himself as he thought about what he’d done next. He’d given Vinny a punch in the face that would’ve made Frank proud, took his $20 back, and walked away. What could the jerk do, tell the cops ‘he wanted info on a drug lord and I pretended I knew and took his money’?
Jake sighed, hoping Alex was having better luck.
“Alex?” he said into his earpiece. “How you doin’?”
“Terrible,” she answered. “I just had to beat someone up.”
Jake almost busted out laughing. “You did? I’d hate to see what his face looks like! I did too.”
“What, beat someone up?” Alex asked, as she turned a corner into an alley.
“Yeah.”
“Well, at least we’re having some fun,” Alex said with a smile.
“Good point.” Jake saw the bar he was looking for up ahead, and he went in, knowing he would find the man he wanted.
“Beni!” he yelled.
Jake suddenly heard a commotion, and watched as a man ran full speed to the other side of the bar.
“Same old Beni,” Jake muttered, as he chased after the guy, who ran into the men’s room. “Idiot always traps himself.” He ran in and kicked open the only stall that was closed, to see Beni cowering as he stood on top of the toilet.
Jake shook his head at him. “Why you always run from me, Beni? I’m smaller then you.”
“But your badge is bigger then me!”
Jake laughed as he grabbed Beni by the front of his jacket and pulled him out of the bathroom and out of the bar.
Beni submitted totally, shaking in his boots as he wondered what he’d done—or been caught doing, anyway—this time.
Jake stopped on the sidewalk, and looked at him.
Beni never changed. He was taller then Jake, but not as tall as Frank. He had scruffy brown hair and a long nose that looked like it’d been broken a few times.
“Okay, Jake, uh…what do you want me for?”
Jake said one word. “Ortega.”
The reaction on Beni’s face might’ve gone unnoticed by someone else, but Jake knew him well enough to see it.
“Raul Ortega. Where can I find him?”
“Oh come on, I don’t know.”
Jake took his badge out of his pocket and tossed it up and down in the air, providing the intimidation factor.
“Oh man he’ll kill me…hey, can you provide protection for me if I tell?”
Jake’s eyebrows raised. You mean I actually found someone who knows? he thought. “Sure. I’ll provide protection. I want Ortega that bad, Beni.”
Beni made a face, probably wondering what Ortega had done. “Ortega has a shipment that I heard about, coming into Lake Michigan on the 21st.”
Jake let go of Beni’s jacket, and turned around with a frustrated sigh.
“What?” Beni asked.
“That’s too late,” Jake said. “Look, are you sure about the date? Have you heard anything else about his activities, anything sooner then that?”
"Hey man, you know me, you know I'd tell you if I knew, right?"
Jake gave him a skeptical look for an answer. “Whatever. Thanks Beni, I’ll be seeing you,” he said, liking the look of horror the threat created in Beni’s face.
As he turned to walk away, Beni spoke again.
“You forgot something, Jake.”
Jake shook his head with a smile, and took the $20 bill out of his pocket that he’d taken back from Vinny earlier. He folded it up and tossed it to his ‘friend’, who smiled as he clutched it and ran back into the bar.
Same old Beni. “Alex?”
“Yeah.”
“Find out anything?”
Jake heard her sigh. “No. You?”
“Yup.”
“What?”
Jake smiled. “On my way back to the car.”
“I’ll meet you there.”
“Okay.” Jake jogged the distance, hoping against hope that Beni hadn’t lied to him. The only problem now was keeping Frank safe through the 20th.
“How you feeling, Frank?” she asked, walking to the couch.
“A little better,” he answered.
Alex could see no change in his face, and wondered if he was lying. She went along with it, however. “Good.”
“We may’ve found out something,” Jake said.
Frank’s eyebrows went up.
“Someone heard that Ortega has a shipment coming in on Monday, on a boat from Lake Michigan.”
“That’s too late,” Cody said. “Monday is the 21st.”
Jake nodded. “I know, but that’s all we could find out.”
No one spoke for a minute, but then Frank broke the silence.
“I have every confidence in you all, to keep me safe.”
They all just looked at him, shocked to hear him admit to needing help. They all enjoyed the massive compliment however, and smiled at him.
“That’s right, Frank,” said Cody, with a huge grin. “If anyone ever kills you, it would be one of us!”
He was walking down the pier to Lake Michigan, and there was nothing in sight. No boats, no parked cars, absolutely nothing. The Lake was blue and beautiful, as usual, and he could see birds standing at the edge.
Suddenly, he heard a gunshot. The bullet hit the back of his left shoulder, and went out the front.
He fell to the ground, and went to pull out his gun—but it wasn’t there. He tried to get up but couldn’t, as Raul Ortega—wearing a mailman’s uniform—walked over to him, grinning madly.
“Finally, the mighty Frank Donovan pays for his crime!” Ortega said, pointing his gun at Frank’s head.
“Crime?” he gasped, watching his blood spread around him on the asphalt.
“You killed my brother in cold blood!” Raul shouted.
“Is that what Ritger told you?” Frank said, not surprised at all.
“That’s what he told my father. My father died from a broken heart, because of you!” And with that, he pulled the trigger.
“Frank! Take it easy! Calm down.”
Jake. Frank realized where he was, and it felt like deja vu. He took a shuddering breath, still hearing the echo of the gunshot in his mind. “Sorry, Jake. Again.”
Jake let go of him, and watched as Frank closed his eyes with a tired and frustrated sigh. “You okay?” he asked.
Frank nodded.
“Same dream?”
Frank shook his head. “This time Ortega got me.”
Jake frowned. Got him? Ortega did get him the first time.
“Killed me, I mean,” Frank explained.
“Oh,” Jake answered, not knowing what else to say. If there was one thing about himself that surprised Jake, it was that he never dreamed anyone actually killed him. A few times it almost happened, but he always woke up first.
He sighed, and opened his mouth to speak, but he saw that Frank’s eyes were closed.
“Frank?” he whispered.
No answer. He’d fallen back to sleep.
Jake just sat there for a minute, and looked at his watch. 3am, on Saturday morning. The anniversary of Alejandro’s death was Sunday. Jake sighed, and scrubbed his hands over his face. He didn’t doubt that Ortega would try to kill Frank again. He wondered if Raul had his address, and knew that he had Frank here with him. For all he knew Ortega could be watching his apartment, just waiting for Frank to come into view in a window so he could shoot him. Yeah right, as if Frank was capable of walking around or something.
Jake jumped slightly at a noise that suddenly came from Frank that sounded like a startled gasp. He was about to shake him awake, figuring it was another nightmare, but Frank calmed and continued to sleep, so Jake left him alone. He settled back in his recliner and tried to go back to sleep himself, but it was a long time before he was able to.
Jake jumped out of his chair before he was even fully awake. He grabbed the gun that he’d kept with him and stood flat against the bedroom wall behind the opened door, as he heard footsteps tiptoeing closer.
He prayed that the person couldn’t see Frank.
Jake waited for the right moment, and then jumped into the open doorway, pointing his gun.
“Hey!”
Jake lowered the gun.
Alex lowered her arms. She shook her head. “Do I look like Raul Ortega to you?”
Jake snorted, taking a step back to let her into the room. “For a Fed, you don’t sneak very quietly.”
“It isn’t my fault your floor squeaks!” She walked over to the bed, and felt Frank’s forehead. “How’s he doing?”
Jake shrugged. “Not bad.”
Alex frowned at the feel of Frank’s still-too-warm skin. “What was the shrug for? Did something happen?”
Jake made sure that Frank was still asleep before answering, in case Frank wanted what had happened kept in confidence. “Nightmares.”
Alex shook her head. “Nightmares? Frank Donovan?”
“Yeah.” Jake went back over to the recliner, and sat down.
“About what?” Alex whispered.
“First one was the shooting. At 3am today it was Ortega killing him.”
Alex made a sympathetic face. They sat there in silence for a while, watching Frank sleep. “I wonder how long it’ll take him to recover.” Alex whispered, as she studied his pale face.
Jake sighed. “He’s got a pin in his arm, remember. They have to take that out. Then he’ll need therapy.”
Alex shook her head, putting her chin in her hand. “I wonder how he got involved in this line of work?”
“You want to know?” they heard.
Frank was awake. He opened his eyes, and gave them a tired smile.
Alex smiled back at him. “How you feeling?”
“Fine.”
Alex made a face at him. “Sure you are. Jake, where’s his medicine?”
“I’ll get it.”
After Jake left the room, Alex asked, “Are you really gonna tell us how you got into this?”
Frank nodded. “Why not. I know everything about all of you…it’s about time you learned something about me.”
Yes, it is, Alex thought. “We know more then you think,” she teased. “Cody’s computer can find out anything.”
Frank looked at her in surprise, wondering just what they had found out. But then he saw that the joking look on Alex’s face, and he smiled.
Jake came back in with Frank’s antibiotic, and helped him take it. “Wanna take one of these, now?” he said, holding up the pain pills. “You don’t need a clear mind anymore, you remembered the shooting.”
Frank hesitated. He liked having a clear mind—or as clear as it could be, considering the pain. He hated being controlled by drugs, and this drug definitely controlled his brain. But then again, it would be nice to lessen the pain.
“Come on, Frank, you’ll feel better,” Alex said.
Frank sighed, but then nodded, and took them.
“I’m holding you to that,” he said to Alex.
“To what?”
“Feeling better.”
Alex smiled. “You will. Now tell us, before the pill knocks you out!”
Jake laughed.
“All right. When I got out of college, I became a cop.”
“A cop? Where?” Alex asked.
“Washington DC. Before I knew it I made Sergeant, and then Lieutenant. I was the youngest Lt. on the force.”
Alex and Jake listened intently, in awe.
“Then I was promoted to Detective. The FBI was impressed by a call I was involved in, and they recruited me.” He paused for breath. “Then the CIA stole me, and after that the DOJ ‘permanently borrowed’ me,” he said, with a smile.
Jake and Alex just stared at him.
“Is all that for real?” Jake asked.
“Every word,” Frank said, as his eyes suddenly started to drift closed.
“What was the case that impressed them?” Alex asked.
“Hostage…situation…” Frank’s eyes closed, and stayed that way.
“Frank? Don’t go to sleep yet! Tell us more!”
Too late.
“Ohh, Jake, you shouldn’t’ve given him that pill!”
“Pill?”
They turned to see that Cody and Monica had come in.
“Hey the floor didn’t squeak for them,” said Jake.
“Huh?” said Cody.
“Nothing,” Alex said. “Guess what? Frank was a cop!”
“We’re all considered cops in a way, Alex,” Cody said.
“She means a cop cop,” said Monica. “How’s he doing?”
“Ok. He could be better though, I think.”
“I can’t wait till we catch this guy,” Cody said. “Wanna help me beat him up?” he asked Jake.
“Definitely.”
“Cool. What you got to eat in this place anyway. We can make the women cook.”
Both Alex and Monica shot Cody indignant looks.
“Okayyyy…how about we let them clean the mess instead,” he said, jerking his head towards Jake’s kitchen. “Come on, tell me more about this ‘cop’ thing.”
Monica laughed softly after they’d left. “Morons.”