Chapter 22: Bond

Warren decided his life was perfect. This revelation came to him as he was taking the garbage out back. Garbage from his fiance's mini-baby shower. Coffee cake and fruit juice, was there ever a more perfect combination? Warren certainly couldn't think of one.

It was as he was contemplating this that Warren realized something was wrong.

There was no change in the night air around him. Everything was just as still, just as silent as it had been a moment ago. The feeling was coming from inside Warren. Something was wrong. He knew it with a certainty.

Brooklyn.

Her name flashed in his mind. Brooklyn needed him.

Dropping the trash, not caring that it wasn't in the trash can, Warren turned back to the building and charged inside.

Brooklyn was trouble. He could feel it. There was no need to question the feeling. He was a haltija, if his vaki was in danger he would feel it.

He ran full speed into the library running into Kieth who was rolling a cart laden with books from behind the front desk.

“Whoa, what the-” Kieth grabbed onto the cart to keep it from toppling over.

“Kieth, where's Brook?” Warren demanded to know.

“What-”

“Where?!” he cut him off urgently.

“In the back.” Kieth pointed behind him. “She was looking for a book. Why?”

Without bothering to answer him, Warren ran around him and the cart and charged through the isles calling out her name loudly. His voice echoed back to him somehow louder in the normally quiet library. He heard a pair of footsteps running just behind him and knew Kieth was on his tail.

Warren turned down the last isle and almost turned to run back because there was no one there when he noticed a book laying on the ground spine up. It had fallen open onto the ground and a few pages were sticking up at odd angles.

“Oh, man...” he heard Kieth say behind him. The book was enough evidence as to what must have happened. There was no way Brooklyn the librarian would ever treat a book so carelessly.

“Is there an exit back here?” Warren asked looking around.

“There's a fire escape that way.” Kieth pointed behind him.

Warren turned and saw the green letters of the glowing exit sign like a beacon.

Without waiting to see if Kieth would follow or not, Warren pushed past him and slammed open the exit. His fears were confirmed when no alarm went off after opening the emergency door.

“The alarm...” Kieth murmured behind him, echoing his thoughts.

“Go find Jack.” Warren ordered as he looked around the mostly deserted parking lot. “Tell him to lock down the complex.”

“On it.” Kieth said as he turned to obey the order.

Warren called out her name knowing it probably wouldn't do any good. His nerves were humming. She was near, he could feel it. She wasn't dead, he would know. He had to find her.

The only questions was where she was...

Warren scanned the parking lot quickly. He recognized all of the cars in the lot and none of them were big enough to hide two adults without some sort of sign that they were there.

Warren.

Warren's feet felt like they were moving by themselves as he ran around the complex. It hadn't been a voice that called out to him, there had been no unusual sounds. It had been his own power as a haltija reaching out for Brooklyn. He heard her calling to him and his instincts knew the way even if he didn't.

He heard them before he saw them. The hit man had chosen a night of the new moon and the world was the darkest it could be at any time of the month. However, the still of the dark night just made it easier to hear and Brooklyn was by no means a pushover.

He heard the shuffling first and forced more speed into his legs to follow the sound.

It took a moment to make out their gray forms in the shadow of the complex. It took another one to differentiate between Brooklyn's flailing body and her attacker's struggling one.

He felt a rush of pride as he ran up to them because she was putting up too much of a fight for him to have the opportunity to harm her.

Warren skidded to a halt beside them and reached down. A moment later, after a brief tug of war, Warren was throwing the man off of Brooklyn.

“Warren!” she gasped recognizing his shape immediately. “Don't let him get away!”

Forcing down the urge to make sure she was okay, Warren turned just in time to see the hit man scrambling to his feet. Warren knew the man would run and try to come back another day rather than facing him. This time, however, Warren was there. He wasn't knocked out, he wasn't away from the scene and he wasn't going to let the attacker get away.

Warren charged after the hit man, Brooklyn climbing to her feet behind him. The hit man was fast but Warren was faster.

XXXXXXXXXX

“He's uglier than I thought he would be.” Kieth said unhelpfully as he looked the hit man over.

“I doubt his attractiveness plays any factor in how good a job he does.” Crispin signed with a smile.

The two of them were on guard duty over the man who had refused to say a word since Warren had dragged him into the complex.

Warren and Jack were with Brooklyn making sure both her and the baby were alright. Until they got back Crispin had been appointed by Jack to make sure the hit man didn't escape. He was handcuffed to a chair but there was virtually no chance that he would escape a siren. Kieth had volunteered to stay and was sitting cross legged in front of the hit man and looking him over with a critical eye.

He was older than Kieth expected with gray peppered through his dark brown hair. There was a scar under his right eye shaped like a sickle. Other that, there was nothing physical outstanding about him.

“I guess the scar kind of works but I thought he would look scarier.” Kieth shrugged, slightly disappointed. “Movies kind of make life a let down, you know?”

“You shouldn't expect life to be a movie.” Crispin told him wisely. “Movies are completely unrealistic.”

“Yeah, but they're exciting.” Kieth grinned wide, stars in his eyes. “There's always an adventure right around the corner. The excitement is awesome, the girls are hot, and the hero always lives to see another day. Another adventure.”

“That's in a movie.” Crispin shook his head at the younger man's description. “Real life is-”

“Boring?” Kieth cut him off.

“Harder.” Crispin corrected. “Movies are easy. Life is a thousand times more difficult. Here is real life, fear accompanies that adventure of yours which makes it considerably less fun. Real excitement, real adventure can't be found in those movies because it always fades to black before it starts.”

“That is such an old man thing to say.” Kieth groaned as he rolled his eyes. “Come on, Crispin. You aren't even middle aged yet. You're still young, don't act so old.”

“Wisdom isn't related to age.” Crispin signed. “You'll see someday. Looking for adventures is foolhardy.”

“Yeah?” Kieth leaned back on his hands. “Well, until I realize that, I'm going to enjoy being young and having my adventures.”

Crispin was shaking his head at the kid's youthful idiocy when the door opened and Jack and Warren walked inside. “Where's Brooklyn?”

“In my office.” Jack said to Crispin though he was looking at Kieth. “She'll be safe there for the moment. Why are you here, Kieth?”

“Aw, come on Jack.” Kieth looked unhappy at the prospect of being kicked out. “I was there when Warren discovered she was missing. I want to know what happens.”

“You don't need to be here.” Jack told him firmly.

“Can you go stay with Brooklyn?” Warren asked him before he could argue. Kieth was still young enough not to respect his superiors completely and Jack didn't deal well with insubordination. “I know she's safe now but, just in case...?”

Kieth sighed heavily as he got to his feet. “Yeah, yeah. Alright.”

Jack watched him leave and as soon as the door shut behind him said, “Kid needs to learn manners.”

“Being young isn't a crime.” Warren said with a smile. He was feeling considerably more chipper since he had dragged the hit man into the complex and practically threw him at Jack's feet.

“Neither is being stupid.” Jack told him. “I don't deal well with either case.”

“Well, they're wrapped up together in that one.” Crispin signed thinking about the conversation he had just had with the boy. “He'll grow out of it.”

Jack nodded and looked over to the hit man as if just discovering he was there and he was only mildly interested in him. “Has he said anything?”

“Not a word.” Crispin smiled as if that pleased him. “What would you like to do?”

“I'll speak to him first.” Jack walked forward and looked down at the hit man. “If that fails, I'll let you at him.”

Crispin nodded calmly as Warren watched the exchange. It didn't matter to him what Jack did with him. He knew Jack would get results one way or the other and he could wait to receive them. He was feeling very patient along with his new found happiness.

“You two go ahead and make sure Brooklyn is okay.” Jack told them without looking at them as he grabbed a chair and moved it in front of the hit man.

“Alright.” Warren agreed happily. “Come on, Crispin. Let's stop by a vending machine on the way. I'm hungry.”

Crispin nodded his agreement as Jack sat down.

Neither man said a word even long after the door closed behind them. They just looked each other over. The hit man's eyes were hard, determined. Jack simply looked bored like the hit man was a TV program that he was being forced to watch.

Finally, Jack said softly, “I'm pretty sure someone within MCRC hired you. All I want from you is his name.”

The man didn't respond, Jack didn't look at all surprised.

“You don't have to tell me.” Jack shrugged as if it didn't matter. “If you don't speak to me I'll send Crispin to make you talk.”

“Siren induced confessions aren't admissible in court.” the man spat at him with a sneer.

“Who said anything about court?” Jack asked curiously. “I don't really care about putting you in prison. I will, of course. But, before that, you have information I want and I'll do what I need to to get it from you. I would rather not make Crispin do it. He doesn't like to take people's will from them but he will if I order it.”

“Who says your siren will have any affect on me?” he grinned.

“He will.” Jack said simply. “I've heard it said that when a siren takes you over it feels amazing. Like you're flying. Of course, with one word Crispin can have you so terrified you'd never notice that.”

“I won't talk.” the man insisted.

“You will.” Jack told him. “If you talk to me, it'll be easier on you. If I have to force Crispin to do it, I won't let him be gentle.”

“I've never turned rat.” he said. “If you want the name, you'll have to force it from me.”

“Very well.” Jack stood up abruptly and fear came into the man's eyes. He had thought Jack had been bluffing. “I'll send in Crispin in a moment.”

Jack left the room, ignoring the man's calls to wait. He had never intended to get the information from him himself. He just wanted to make sure the man had enough time to dread the experience that awaited him. No one hurt Jack's people without Jack forcing them to pay.

XXXXXXXXXX

“See, you just place it in your ear like this.” Dr. Fontane demonstrated by placing the ear plug into his ear with a smile. “And that's it!”

“Really?” Kieth asked, his eyes bright.

“Absolutely.” Dr. Fontane nodded happily. “With these, you can hold a normal conversation with any siren. It's going to be huge.”

“Why are you here?” Brooklyn demanded to know with her arms crossed.

They were in Jack's office where she had been left. She was sitting in Jack's chair glaring at Dr. Fontane who had come in to speak to Crispin about his new invention. Crispin and Warren were ignoring him by discussing what they were going to do with the hit man. So Dr. Fontane had turned his attention, and his exhibition, to Kieth who was listening eagerly.

“Come now, Brook.” Dr. Fontane pulled the plugs from his ears. “I already apologized.”

“Apology not accepted.” Brooklyn told him clearly. “Go back to your lab.”

“A man just can't live down one mistake.” Dr. Fontane shook his head sadly.

“So how many of those plugs do you have?” Kieth asked him, pointing the buds in the older man's hands.

“Just this one pair.” Dr. Fontane held them up triumphantly. “They work flawlessly on the recording of Crispin's voice.”

“Flawlessly?” Brooklyn repeated doubtfully.

“Well, they have a few bugs.” Dr. Fontane admitted sheepishly. “But I'm working those out. Soon enough, these will be ready for the general public.”

“I would rather they stay in MCRC for awhile.” Jack told him as he entered his office. Brooklyn automatically stood up.

“Did the guy talk?” Warren asked like he already knew the answer.

“No.” Jack said simply then gave a head jerk to Crispin.

His loyal assistant nodded once and left the room to go speak to the hit man.

“Aw...” Dr. Fontane watched Crispin go unhappily. “And I was hoping he would speak to me.”

“Dr. Fontane, why don't you go back to your lab?” though it was a suggestion, the order in Jack's voice couldn't have been more clear. “We have work to do.”

“Oh, but-” Dr. Fontane started to object but a cool look from Jack stopped him. He had just recently gotten his privileges to Crispin's voice back, he didn't want them revoked again. So, mumbling unhappily, he left the office.

“Are you still alright, Brook?” Jack asked her.

Brooklyn nodded with a smile. “I'm fine. Better now that he's safely in custody.”

“And you, Warren?” Jack looked over to the haltija.

Warren looked surprised at the question. “Uh, I'm great. Actually. Getting better all the time.”

Jack nodded, pleased with his answer. “Now we just wait until Crispin gets what we want.”

“Who do you think hired him?” Brooklyn couldn't help but wonder out loud. The list of suspects was longer than was comfortable. “Will that really be our traitor?”

“Even if he isn't,” Jack said returning to his seat, “I'll bet he can lead us to him. And if we can find him, we might find out who and what Intrebari is.”

“Then what?” Warren asked as Brooklyn walked around Jack's desk to stand at his side.

“What do you mean?” Jack looked the pair of them over critically. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

“I mean, what do we do once we find out what Intrebari is?” Warren asked. “They've obviously got money, they're powerful. Do you really think we can take them down?”

“'We' aren't doing anything.” Jack told him sternly. “As of this moment, you two are out of this.”

“What?” Warren and Brooklyn said at the same time.

“Why?” Brooklyn finished alone.

“You really have to ask me that?” Jack asked her as he sat back in his seat. “I can't work with a pregnant woman and your place is in the library anyway.”

“Well, I can't argue with that.” Brooklyn admitted with a smile. “But Warren...?”

“Is going to be a father.” Jack finished for her. “He should focus on that and take some time off from field work for a while.”

“Really?” Warren asked, looking excited at the prospect.

“I always need paper pushers.” Jack told him without a change in his expression. “I'll need you to help deal with the hit man of course. After that, though, you're on desk duty.”

“Thanks.” Warren smiled down at Brooklyn who leaned comfortably into his side.

“Jack?” Brooklyn spoke up after a moment.

“Yes?” he answered as he considered waking up his computer and getting some work done. He knew that Crispin wouldn't take that long though and he wasn't sure it would be worth it.

“Just out of curiosity since we're off the case and all,” she just wanted to know, “what are you going to do when you find out who the traitor is?”

“Deal with him.” Jack said simply.

“What if it is one of the heads?” she pressed. “I mean, I can't imagine Victor would have such an error in judgment...”

“Anyone can make a mistake, Brook.” Jack told her. “Even Ozera isn't perfect. He's an asshole, he's just better at hiding it than most.”

“I imagine he'll be just as angry at the traitor as you.” Brooklyn couldn't help but smile. The idea of Victor and Jack working together was an amusing one to her. She couldn't wait to see it.

“I hope someone's there to capture it on film.” Warren remarked quietly.

“Crispin will be there.” Brooklyn said, completely sure. Jack didn't go anywhere without Crispin lately. “Maybe if you ask nicely he'll record the whole thing.”

“My assistant is not your camera man.” Jack cut into their conversation. “And I couldn't allow such footage to be shot. MCRC has a reputation to uphold and it would be tarnished if such a video leaked out.”

“I guess that's true.” Warren agreed with a sigh. “Darn shame, we could probably sell tickets.”

Before Jack could come up with a response, the door opened and Crispin walked back inside. His face was still serene but there was a new hardness in his eyes.

“Well?” Jack prompted him, getting to his feet. “Who was it.”

Crispin's hands lifted slowly. It seemed to take forever for him to sign, “Eisenhower. He was hired by Eisenhower.”

“Eisenhower?” Brooklyn repeated. She wished she was surprised.

“Well, I wish I could say it was nice knowing him.” Warren said under his breath as he and Brooklyn turned to Jack.

There was no change in his expression, his body hadn't even tensed up. But the fire of anger in his eyes had been frozen over. Warren discovered that the ice was scarier than the flame.

“Embezzlement and treason.” Brooklyn said softly in wonder. “I mean, I knew he wasn't a nice guy, but still...” it was just hard hearing exactly who had turned their backs on them.

“He said that Eisenhower paid him to go after Brook.” Crispin continued. “Said that he was worried Brook had seen something she shouldn't have. Something that would link him to something big. Eisenhower never told the guy what it was but he made it sound like it was big and dangerous.”

“Intrebari.” Jack guessed with no effort. “I guess we've found out where that money was going.”

“But I didn't see anything.” Brooklyn protested. “What made him think I saw something?”

“The guy said that Eisenhower was just paranoid. That he hated you and didn't want you poking around in his business.” Crispin told her.

“Well, I guess now we watch Jack hang Eisenhower up to dry.” Warren grinned.

“You could try not to look so happy about it.” Brooklyn rolled her eyes.

Jack was about to give them permission to leave so that he could get to work on the next steps when his cell phone in his pocket started ringing.

As if annoyed with the interruption, Jack yanked it out of his pocket and answered with a rude, “What?”

The other three watching Jack couldn't hear the person on the other end of the phone but they could see his eyes narrow at whatever was being said.

“Are you serious?” he asked in disbelief. After a moment of listening, he said, “Very well. Thank you for calling.”

Jack hung up and looked around at the curious faces around him.