Learning to Drive... Him Crazy

by Misty Malone

  Cal got his phone out and with the help of the FBI agents they quickly had a text they were all happy with, and he sent it. It read, 'Call your younger brother when you have a minute to yourself.' While they waited and hoped for a response, they talked about their plan, and Lieutenant Berry passed the plans along to the men they had assembled.

  Captain Wallace asked about the ruby, if it was somewhere safe. Alana offered, "I have it here. I had it hidden in my apartment, but for some reason that didn't seem right to me, so I brought it with me."

  Agent Barstow asked, "It didn't seem right?"

  Alana quickly tried to dismiss her concern. "Sometimes things just don't seem or feel right to me. I didn't want to be at my apartment tonight, it just didn't feel right, and that's why I'm over here."

  Agent Barstow suggested to his boss, Captain Wallace, "Do you suppose we should get someone over to watch her apartment tonight? If John's partner knows she has the ruby they may send someone over there to get it."

  "Good idea," Captain Wallace agreed. He asked, "Lieutenant Berry?"

  "I'm on it. I'll send someone over to check on it and watch it."

  Cal's phone rang and everyone was quiet and turned to him. "It's John," he said.

  "Good. Find out if he's alone for sure. If he is put it on speaker," Captain Wallace instructed.

  As soon as Cal answered John asked, "What's wrong, Cal?"

  "This is very personal. Are you totally alone, John?"

  "Yes. What's wrong?"

  "Your partner's not even with you?"

  "No one. What's going on?"

  "John, I'm going to put you on speaker and let Captain Wallace of the FBI explain it to you."

  "FBI?"

  Captain Wallace answered, "Hi, John. This is Captain Wallace. It seems you may be in danger. We believe all the officers there, including Joe, your partner, are in on these jewel thefts."

  John quickly summarized the situation. "Then this is all a hoax, simply a setup to get rid of me since I now know."

  "Exactly," Captain Wallace confirmed. "We have a team of agents ready to go, but we need your cooperation."

  "You got it. Just tell me what to do," John quickly said.

  "The first thing we have to do is get you out of there. If you try and leave now, though, I don't think they'd let you go very far, and they'd know something's up and they'd scatter. We want to get you safely out of there and take all of them into custody. As soon as we're in place I'll text you again. Make sure you're alone when you check the text. Then you go directly to one of our cars. Our agents will be watching for you. Use the code word sherpa if an agent approaches you. They'll know it's you and get you out of there safely."

  "Okay, got it," John responded.

  "Now, can you tell us what you know about their plan, where we can find any of them?"

  John relayed everything he knew of what he thought was the police department's plan to get the thieves. They all talked about what their plan probably was to eliminate John so he'd know what to watch out for.

  Captain Wallace asked, "Is there anything else we should know, now that you know what's going on?"

  John thought a minute and said, "Oh, my gosh. You say Joe is in on it, and I led him straight to Cal's house. You've got to move them, right now. Get them out of there!"

  Agents Barstow and Kline quickly went to the front and back door of the house, guns drawn. Captain Wallace asked, "How, John? What happened?"

  "Joe and I were talking earlier, and he asked if Alana was home in her apartment tonight protecting the ruby. I said, no, she didn't want to be alone tonight, so she went to spend the evening with Cal and Kelli at his house. He asked about the ruby, if she'd take it with her to keep the chain of custody. I said, no, probably not."

  Captain Wallace said, "Okay, then they may have sent someone there to find the ruby. It's a good thing she didn't stay home tonight."

  Cal moved over to give Alana a reassuring hug. "Good thing we listened to your instincts, Alana."

  "But I led them straight to Cal's house," John said.

  "Don't you worry about them, John. There are a couple agents over here and we'll keep them safe. You worry about you."

  Lieutenant Berry spoke up, "I've got three more on their way. We'll keep them safe, John. You keep yourself safe."

  Captain Wallace talked to John again quickly and then told him to get back there before Joe and the others worry. He suggested if anyone asks what's up he tell them their aunt was involved in an accident and Cal's going to let him know when he knows if she's okay. That will give him a reason for a second text.

  It seemed to Alana that everything happened extremely fast that night, but at the same time it was like the night would never end.

  Three more agents showed up at Cal's and they decided it was safer to keep them there with six agents there to protect them than move them, making them vulnerable outside the house and in a vehicle, and risk the chance of being followed anyway. Captain Wallace stayed with the three of them in an upstairs bedroom, while the other five were spread around the house at doors and windows, watching for any movement outside.

  The last three agents to get there had been at her apartment first and reported that someone had been there apparently looking for the ruby. Her apartment had been ransacked. Kelli and Cal surrounded her with their arms and supportive words. She reached up and touched the ruby, still hidden in the center of her hair, glad she'd decided to bring it with her. She was concerned about her apartment, but didn't really give it too much thought. She was more worried about John.

  The agent stationed downstairs by the back door used a radio to alert everyone in the house of movement outside. Captain Wallace left the light on in the bedroom they were in, but had them all duck down and, staying away from windows, moved them to another bedroom, with his finger over his mouth to keep them quiet.

  They waited quietly, while one agent stationed himself in the upstairs hall, alternately watching the steps and peering outside through the corner of a window. The four agents downstairs had spotted two men outside, one in the back and one at the side. At the same time the agent by the back door reported someone picking the lock, while the agent at the side door reported the same thing. They both waited behind the doors, while the other two moved into place off to the side, but in front of them.

  * * * * *

  Alana, Kelli and Cal were in the dark upstairs bedroom, quiet and hunkered down, listening closely. All of a sudden there was some kind of commotion downstairs and officers were yelling, "Police," and "Freeze," and "Get your hands up where I can see them," and all sorts of terrifying phrases. The girls huddled close to Cal, drawing comfort from his presence, while Captain Wallace moved to the door to guard it and see what was going on downstairs.

  Finally an officer downstairs yelled an all's clear, and the officer in the hall and Captain Wallace headed toward the stairs, after telling the three of them to stay put until they came and talked to them.

  When Captain Wallace went downstairs, he found two men dressed in black, in custody, hands cuffed behind them. He was told they both had guns drawn when they broke in. He questioned them, hoping to get some information that would help their agents in the field. Unfortunately, they had been told their job was to retrieve the ruby from Alana's apartment, where Joe said it was hidden. When they hadn't been able to locate it at her place they contacted Joe. He asked John if Alana was at home, and when John said she was at Cal's house Joe sent them there to retrieve the ruby, no matter what they had to do to get it. They knew nothing about the plan or what was to happen at Newjangles, other than they said they had to get rid of John because he knew too much.

  They wouldn't admit it, but Captain Wallace assumed retrieving the ruby was one of their jobs, but they were also to eliminate the three of them, since they more than likely knew as much as John. They swore the only thing they knew about what was to happen that night at Newjangles was it was supposed to go down a little after 12:30, which was in roughl
y ten minutes.

  Captain Wallace got word to the men in place at Newjangles. Lieutenant Berry sent a text to John, and luckily he was able to get away to call him back. Lieutenant Berry gave him the time line they were anticipating, along with the plan the FBI would follow. He relayed to John the locations of the three unmarked FBI vehicles closest to him and the agents with the vehicles. John saw his partner, Joe, looking around for him, and quickly got back into place.

  Joe came over to him and said, "Chief Nelson just radioed to be on alert. They spotted what they think is the delivery vehicle headed for the store."

  "Bring it on," John said.

  "Everything okay?" Joe asked. "I saw you on the phone again. News about your aunt?"

  "Yeah. She's in the hospital, but she'll be fine. I'm glad he let me know now so it's not on my mind."

  "Yeah, me, too. You need to concentrate fully tonight."

  "Look! There's a delivery truck. Here we go!"

  Joe nodded and said, "Looks like this is it. Be careful, partner." He paused, looking at John several moments before he ran back to his assigned location.

  John had been having a hard time believing his partner was involved in this whole ordeal, but after seeing Joe pause, he knew Cal and the FBI guys were right. He saw a momentary look of regret in Joe's eyes, and he'd never made a comment to him before like the 'be careful, partner' comment. He was glad he had at least a moment of regret. The truth was, though, his partner knew the plan and what would likely happen and he participated in it willingly.

  That fact pushed John to square his shoulders and get ready for what was about to go down. He glanced over his shoulder and made sure the FBI car was still sitting in the warehouse parking lot across the alley. He located his backup car in case something or someone blocked his way to that closer car. They were both in place, right where Lieutenant Berry said they'd be.

  John was to wait behind the garbage dumpster and watch. The plan involved timing. Once the man or men in the truck got the store's freight door open to receive the shipment, John was to wait two minutes to let them start unloading the truck. They wanted to be sure to catch them in the act of unloading the merchandise. Other men, who were closer, were to wait one and a half minutes. The plan was for all of the men to come out from their cover and converge on the receiving dock at the same time.

  He watched and as soon as the men got out of the delivery truck he did a quick glance around at the other men who were closer than him on both sides of him. They were all intently watching the truck and/or their watch. This was his chance. He quickly turned and headed toward the alley, following the path he'd already set out in his mind. There were a couple big trees, an old shed, and two semis parked along the road that he'd planned to use as cover. Moving quickly from one to the next, he was ready to run across the alley to the FBI car when he heard gunshots behind him.

  He made one last dash to the car, and the man inside the car opened the door, looking at him expectantly. John said, "Sherpa," and watched the man's face anxiously.

  "Oh, good. Welcome, Officer Humphries. I'm Agent Ryan Reed. I'm not sure exactly what's going on back there, but let's get you out of here. Duck down." As soon as John was down so he wouldn't be seen, Agent Reed drove away, keeping his speed down, trying not to draw attention.

  When they were three blocks from Newjangles, Agent Reed said, "Okay, you can sit up now. Help me watch for anyone following us." He proceeded to zig zag his way through town, while both men watched the mirrors for anyone who may be following them. When they were finally convinced no one was trailing them, Agent Reed went to the FBI offices and entered through the secure underground garage.

  Agent Reed had radioed ahead that he had John and would be coming to the offices, but didn't ask for an update, preferring to concentrate on making sure they weren't being followed. Now they hurried into the conference room where Lieutenant Berry was. They were anxious to find out what was going on at Newjangles that involved gunshots.

  * * * * *

  Alana, Kelli and Cal were still upstairs hunkered down in the dark bedroom, wondering what was happening downstairs. It appeared things had settled down now, so they assumed things were under control.

  "What do you suppose happened?" Alana asked, eyes wide.

  "I don't know," Kelli answered, "but I don't like it."

  Cal, who had one arm around each of the girls, tightened them a bit as he said, "It sounds like it's over now, though, so I'd say someone broke in and they have them in custody."

  "People breaking into your house is a little too surreal," Alana mumbled.

  "Yeah, but it doesn't really surprise me," he said. "The officers said they trashed your place looking for the ruby, but they obviously didn't find it. John had no idea Joe was involved when he told them you were over here, so they probably assumed you'd taken the ruby with you."

  "I thought about all that," Alana said. "But it's the next part that scares me."

  Kelli looked at her, confused. "What next part?"

  "What were they going to do when they got here? If they came over here and broke in to get the ruby, I'd say they weren't leaving without it, no matter what they had to do to get it. And then do you think they'd leave us here, knowing who they were?"

  Kelli looked like a doe caught in the headlights. "You're right, Alana. We were all in danger, not just John."

  "We aren't now, though," Cal said soothingly, "so don't get all upset here. We're safe, and surrounded by FBI agents that will keep us safe."

  "Now we just have to worry about John," Alana said.

  Chapter 10

  John was in the conference room of the FBI office relating everything that had happened that evening, and the meetings leading up to that night. "Now can you tell me what happened out there? What were the gunshots all about? Was anyone hurt? Do you know who was in charge of this operation or what they were doing with the gems? Do you know who all was involved?"

  Agent Reed held up his hand. "Whoa, one at a time. I'm sure you have a ton of questions, and we'll try to answer them for you. We don't have all the answers yet, but we hope to soon, and when we do, we'll share everything with you."

  "Thank you," John said. "I appreciate it. Was anyone hurt tonight?"

  Lieutenant Berry explained, "Apparently one man was hit by a bullet that ricocheted off something else, but he's going to be all right. He's at the hospital now. That was a Detective Dan Moss."

  John shook his head. "Are you sure all these guys were in on this? Some of them, like Dan and Joe, I never would have guessed would be involved."

  Lieutenant Berry said, "It's too soon to get confessions or much information from all of them yet, but I understand Dan did ask if he would be recovering there in the hospital or in the medical ward of the jail. I guess that's pretty much a confession."

  "Yeah, I guess so," John said with a bit of a chuckle. "So did you guys get everyone?"

  Lieutenant Berry looked down at his notes. "Well, you said there were nine others besides yourself involved in this, and we have seven. We'll have to find out which two we're missing. If we're lucky, it'll be the two they arrested breaking into your brother's house."

  John sat straight up. "Someone broke into Cal's? Are they all right?"

  "They're all fine," Lieutenant Berry assured him. "We sent two agents to Alana's apartment, but when they found it trashed, we sent them to Cal's, since you said you told Joe that's where she was. We were right, two guys showed up there. They're bringing them in right now, so hopefully we'll soon know if they're our two missing police officers."

  "I've got to call Alana and let her know I'm okay," John said. "She'll be worrying herself half sick until she hears from me. Do you have any idea how soon I'll be able to go home?"

  Lieutenant Berry thought a moment and said, "Actually, we'll probably be taking you and those three to a safe house until we have all of the officers in custody."

  John's eyebrows shot up. "Do they know that?"

  "I doubt it," t
he lieutenant said. "When you call her why don't you tell them that. Maybe you can assure her you'll be there, as well, just precautionary until this mess is all wrapped up. As a mater of fact, now that you've told us how many officers were there and we know we're missing a couple, we need to do that soon. You go ahead and call her so she's not worrying, and I'll go make the arrangements to have them taken to a safe house. We'll send a couple more agents to lay back and follow them, make sure they get there okay. I doubt any of the police officers know where they are other than Joe, but better safe than sorry."

  Lieutenant Berry got up and left the room, phone in hand. John walked over to the corner of the room to have a bit more privacy as he called Alana. He wasn't surprised when Alana, sounding very relieved, said, "Oh, John, I'm so glad you called. Are you okay?"

  "I'm fine, honey. How about you?"

  "I'm okay. We're all okay. This is a lot scarier in real life than when you watch it on television."

  John chuckled. "Yes, it is. Maybe you watch so many of them, they seem run of the mill to you now."

  "Maybe," she conceded. "Are you coming here to Cal's soon?"

  "No, actually, I'm not, honey."

  "Why not? You said you'd come here as soon as you can."

  "I know, but there's been a change of plans. I'm not going there because you won't be there. I'm going where you'll be. I'm anxious to hold you in my arms and see for myself that you're okay."

  "What are you talking about? Why won't I be here?"

  "Honey, put me on speaker a couple minutes, please, so all three of you can hear me."

  "Okay," she said hesitantly. He heard her call Kelli and Cal over to listen, then said, "Okay, John, go ahead. We're all here."

  "Hi, guys. Are you all okay?"

  "We're fine, John," Cal assured him. "Are you?"

  "I'm fine. Listen, the FBI caught most of the officers that were there tonight, but two of them somehow eluded capture. Until they find them, have all of them in custody and have a chance to talk to them and make sure there wasn't anyone else involved that knows about our involvement, they want to take us all to an FBI safe house."