Chapter 16

  I could hear the sounds of fleeing birds and the rustling of leaves as I skulked through the trees, but more than that, I could hear the sounds of voices; not hushed speeches barely heard over the wind, but raised voices of men and a woman, and the closer I got, the easier it was the make out the words.

"Jesus Liam just shut the hell up. Do you want somebody to come running over here?"

"We're in the middle of nowhere you idiot, who the hell is gonna hear?"

"Jesus will the both of you just shut the fuck up?" another frustrated voice chipped in.

Through it all I could hear the wailing of a woman, almost drowned out by the sound of the other voices.

I navigated through the trees with caution—bent at the waist with gun in hand. When I was close enough to the voices, I slowed my pace, bending lower to hide myself behind the tall shrubs and large tree trunks.

The first thing I saw was a red shirt and as I crept closer; the body that was in it. It was a man— a teenager really—looking to be somewhere near the age of eighteen. He also wore a black baseball cap which created a shade over his face making it impossible for me to see his eyes. In his hand he waved a gun; flailing it about as though he didn't have his hand on the trigger.

I crept closer, practically crawling on the ground in order to keep myself hidden.

"He's gone. He's gone." I heard the pained wailing and the same words being repeated again and again, and when I was close enough to hear the sniffles of the woman, I stopped and listened.

"We gotta get outta here before someone shows up."

I was flat against the rich soil, but when I lifted up on my elbows and looked between the spaces in the shrubbery, I saw them—teenagers. Just a bunch of teenagers. I counted four of them, not including the girl rocking back and forth on the ground beside an unmoving body. Three out of the five of them held a gun. I cursed under my breath.

"We gotta move the body." Red shirt announced. He was the only one whose expression seemed unworried. He made his statement as though talking about something as simple as the weather and even though I couldn't see his eyes, the set of his jaw and his confident stance told me everything I needed to know; this was the person responsible for the body on the ground.

I rose higher on my elbows so I could get a better look at the body. It looked to be a male and the bloodstain on the back of that his shirt was enough to let me know that he couldn't possibly be alive. The girl on the ground beside him was covered in his blood and leaving enough prints on the body to implicate her in the crime; if her very presence didn't implicate her enough.

"You killed him. He's gone. He's gone." She continued too sob, bloodying the hair she pushed out of her face.

"Come on Jenny, get up." Striped shirt demanded, though he looked as terrified as the white-shirted guy trembling beside him.

"He's gone..." the girl was now whispering over and over in a daze. I studied their faces, taking in their expressions and their clothes, while hammering their names in my head whenever they were called.

"It's his fucking fault, get up." Red reached over and grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet.

"What about the body?" this from the striped shirt who now looked like he was about the throw up.

Red shirt looked between the girl falling apart beside him, then down at the body with a scowl.

"Leave it, we don't have time."

"We can't just leave him here Carl. He's still our friend." Striped shirt continued and Carl gave him a look that could have peeled paint.

"He was our friend." He said coldly. "Now he's dead and it's his own Goddamn fault. Let's go." He barked.

"Carl—"

"Now!"

I didn't think about the repercussions. I didn't think about the fact that I was outnumbered or that these were armed men. I just knew that I needed to prevent them from leaving; at least until the chief sent backup.

I pushed up from my position with my weapon raised, but just as I was about to announce my presence, a hand wrapped around my arm and I was pulled back to the ground.

I spun quickly, ready to take down my attacker and froze with my weapon pointed at the intruder. Then I cursed when my mind registered just who knelt there in front of me, with hands raised as if he could ward off a bullet. I pulled him down roughly.

As the party of five fled and lost themselves amongst the trees we lay in silence and when they were out of sight I released him.

"What the hell are you doing?" I hissed and he glared at me.

"What the hell are you doing? You were gonna get yourself killed!"

I pushed up from the ground and jogged the short distance to where the body still lay. When he stood to follow, I shot him a look and he went right back down to the ground. I tested the pulse even though I knew it was futile. The man; whoever he was, was dead.

I looked toward the path where the five had escaped, then back at Jason. "Did you call my dad like I told you to?"

He nodded. "He's says to sit tight. Backup's coming."

"Didn't I tell you to stay in the car?" I scolded. And he frowned and pushed off the ground once again to come stand beside me.

I glanced around the place, making sure we were at least hidden well enough just in case they decided to come back. When I glanced back at him, he was staring down at the bloodied body in shock and in that moment I felt the anger well up inside me.

"When I tell you to do something in a situation like this, you need to damn well listen." I said harshly and while he looked at me, he didn't back down. Instead, he folded his arms before him and glared.

"You were the one trynna get killed."

I shook my head and looked back toward the trees. When I looked back at him, my tone brooked no argument. "Get back to the car and wait there."

"You can't go after them." He argued. "They got guns."

"And I'm trained for this. Go Back!"

When I turned to go, he grabbed my arm again and I cursed.

"Jason I don't have tim—"

"Please Michael" he was pleading now. "Let's just wait like your dad said. Please!" When I looked into his eyes I saw the type of fear I'd only seen in them once before; when he'd thought I was going to take Timmy away from him and I felt some emotion stir inside my chest. I looked at him, then back toward the trees. I was running out of time.

I gave him a little shove in the direction we'd come. "Get your ass back and wait for me!"

This time he finally drew back, eyes wide and lips trembling, but a moment later he spun on his heels and darted through the trees and back towards the car.

When he was out of sight, I took off into the trees after the five teens; hoping I'd catch up to them before they managed to escape.

I could have run forever, searched every crevice and behind every bush in that area and it would still be pointless. Fifteen minutes later and I had no damn clue where they were. The trail ended at a makeshift parking lot at the far end of the compound and I knew without having to wonder, that they were gone.

I ran a hand over my face and cursed under my breath, before holstering my weapon and going back the way I'd come. By the time I was halfway back to the car I was stopped by armed bureau agents I knew by name and I explained to them what had happened and just how many they were looking for. There was dozens of them out there and after I'd given my description of the five teens, they took off into the trees to search. It didn't matter though. They would come up empty handed.

I continued on my way, feeling pissed and irritated and...pissed. I passed a few of the guys standing around the body. One of them took pictures and I stopped long enough to watch them turn him over. Just another kid. Jesus.

"Michael" I glanced up at the sound of my dad's voice and sighed when I saw his expression.

Here we go.

"Are you out of your mind?" he raved as he approached me and I kept going, forcing him to follow.

"No dad... not that I know of." I said with irritation.

"You hear gunshots and you go running in like some hotshot? What the hell is wrong with you?"

I glanced his way and shook my head at his thunderous expression as he walked beside me. "I know I should have waited for backup...don't start."

"Then why the hell didn't you?"

"If I were anyone but your son we wouldn't be having this conversation."

He cursed. "If you weren't my son I'd be suspending you for being stupid and reckless." He practically shouted.

"Dad, there was a scream and shots were fired. I acted on instinct, hoping I'd be saving a life. It's no more than any of us would have done. Including you."

My dad sighed but offered no argument. "Tell me everything."

So I told him what I'd seen, finishing up the recount by the time I reached the car. Jason stood by the door, giving his statement to agent Daley, who stood with a pad and pen, scribbling down his words.

"You think maybe they were dealers?" dad questioned and I shook my head.

"I couldn't tell you. They were just a bunch of kids with guns."

Dad patted me on the back. "Go give Daley your statement. I'm calling in the sketch artist; you can give him your description in a few minutes." He said. "I already called in. They're blocking the roads now and everyone's on the lookout. We'll find them."

I nodded, making my way to the car where Jason stood; his eyes darting from Daley to me and back.

I came to a stop beside him and folded my arms as I listened to his recount.

"...and then Michael told me to go back to the car so I did and then you guys showed up." He finished with a glance my way and I frowned down at him.

"Just let me know if you remember anything else alright?"

Jason nodded.

"Michael." Daley greeted and with a nod in return we got down to business. I described the scene in detail, told him the names I'd learned and the words they'd spoken. I described their clothes, the type of guns they'd held, down to the expressions on their faces and the more I described, the more I pissed I felt at not announcing myself earlier. They might have surrendered when they'd learned I was FBI or they might have run. Anything could have happened, but more importantly, I would have probably have at least one of them in custody by now.

By the time I was done giving my statement, it was time to give my description to the sketch artist. Through it all Jason stuck by my side without a word and around us, agents milled about, making calls, bagging whatever evidence they'd managed to find and packing up.

It wasn't long before the reporters showed up and started getting in the way. No doubt this had already made the news. I managed to dodge all questions relating to the events of the day and shield Jason from it as well.

By the time we'd all done our parts and were back on the road, heading to my parent's house, nighttime had already fallen. The others were still out there, blocking roads and searching vehicles in town and those going out and even though I itched to be out there with them, the chief had made it clear that I was still on sick leave.

That I'd deal with in the morning. At that moment I tried to push what I'd witnessed from my mind and instead focused on picking up Timmy and getting us all home.

In the passenger seat beside me Jason was silent, but I could also see that he was upset and dammit so was I. What he'd done today was foolish and reckless and if I could just reach over and shake the life out of him I would.

"I didn't do anything wrong." He said then, breaking the silence for the first time since we'd entered the car.

"You put yourself in harm's way after I specifically told you to stay in the car." I said, trying to keep a civil tone. "If you hadn't gotten in my way I could have—"

"They would just shoot you and you'd be dead."

I glanced over at him for a second, then focused my attention back on the road. "Jason, this is what I do for a living."

"There were five of them and one of you. It don't matter what you do for a living. There were five of them!"

"Yeah and three of them had guns. What if they'd seen you? What if I'd accidentally shot you when you snuck up on me? You put us both in danger today because you couldn't just follow simply instructions."

"You're dad said you were stupid to do it and it's true." He countered and this time I chose to remain silent just in case I ended up saying something I'd regret.

From the corner of my eye I saw him fold his arms and turn to look out the window. He was pissed, I was pissed, my dad was pissed and five homicide suspects had escaped. What a great fucking day this had turned out to be.

The front door opened just as I turned into the driveway and my mom stood just inside the frame, holding Timmy's hand.

I slammed the car door shut behind me and made me way up the short stairs and to the door where my mom, looking worried, wrapped me in her arms.

"We're fine mom. I swear." I reassured her and glanced down when Timmy latched on to my leg.

"Don't you scare me like that again Michael." She scolded with a watery smile.

"I won't mom." I said then lifted Timmy off the ground.

His eyes were red and his cheeks tear-stained. "What's wrong big guy?" I asked him softly as I wiped the stray tears from his face with the tail of my shirt.

"He's been crying for you two." Mom explained and I rubbed his back as he clung to me; still sniffling.

"Daddy." He mumbled when he spotted Jason behind me and when Timmy reached for him, I handed him over.

"Come on, I'll make you guys some hot chocolate." Mom ushered us inside.

Twenty minutes later we were all seated in my parent's living room, hot chocolates in hand. I'd relayed the events of the day to my mom who'd been shocked and disturbed by the fact that teens had been involved in the crime. Across from us, in a single chair Jason sat with a grumbling Timmy in hand. He'd been stuck to his father since we'd entered the house, refusing to let him out of his sight.

It was clear that he was upset at being left behind. It was just one of those days.

"They'll find them Michael, especially with your father on the case. You know he won't give up." Mom was telling me and I shook my head.

"I'm not sitting this one out. Coming back to work two weeks earlier won't make much of a difference."

Mom took a sip of her hot chocolate. "You know how your dad gets."

"He's just going to have to get over it." I told her seriously. "This is my case."

"Daddy no leave Timmy." Mom and I looked over at father and son. Timmy was frowning up at Jason, who only sighed.

"I told you I'm sorry babe." He said, but Timmy's frown only deepened.

"Daddy no leave."

"Okay...I said I won't leave you again."

It was only then that the little guy stuffed his two fingers into his mouth and laid his head on Jason's chest.

When Jason looked up our eyes met and just as quickly, he looked away. I sighed, depositing my half empty cup on the coffee table.

"We'd better head out now mom. Timmy's probably tired." I told her

"Of course sweetie." She said standing when we did and when I bent to pick up the cups, she was adamant that we should leave it for her to wash up.

"Thanks for today mom. Lunch was great" I told her and she hugged me and Jason, though Timmy clutched Jason tight when she tried to hug him.

A minute later we were on the road again. This time Jason was seated in the back with Timmy, who'd made a fuss when Jason had been about to leave him to sit in the front.

"Two weeks aint gonna kill you." Jason broke the silence.

"No, but it won't make a difference either."

"Your dad can do it and all those other agents."

I shook my head. "I'm taking this case Jason."

"Your dad won't let you."

"Then I'll just have to find a way to convince him."

For a moment there was dead silence, then; "What if you get hurt?"

"I won't."

"How do you know?"

"Because I'll be careful."

I glanced into the rearview mirror to see him shaking his head. "Like you were careful today?"

I didn't respond. I wouldn't apologize for my actions and intentions today. Tomorrow morning I'd be officially taking the lead on this investigation. One of those teens had murdered that boy and when I'd had the opportunity to bring them in, I'd lost them; that was on me, and some way or another I'd find a way to convince the chief that he needed me on the job. 

                                                                            AUTHOR'S NOTES

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO JASON AND THE CHIEF! 

THANKS FOR READING!

-DoUbLe.A

-unedited