Secrets and Oaths✓

Cornered

It had been thirty-six hours since Charlie had been taken. I had been released from the hospital this morning and had insisted that Andy take me to the station. I wasn't going to sit on the sidelines while everyone else was out looking for him. Jacob was waiting for us there, as Walker had authorized protective custody for them, as well as Jimmy who I ran and hugged. He was a little surprised but at least he accepted it and hugged me back. "What do we got?" I asked, taking my spot at my desk.

"Nothing. Road traps haven't turned up anything. He hasn't been seen at any border crossings or any major means of transportation. Bus stations, airports, no one has seen him." Walker informed me. 

"Do we know if he left town?" I asked. I wouldn't put it past the sick bastard to stick around to see if I lived or died from his stabbing. 

"We're not sure."

I turn to Andy, trying to piece together a timeline. "How long after you dropped Charlie off did you come back and find me?"

"I never left. I didn't recognize a truck I saw parked outside your house so I parked in front of your neighbor's house and waited. I saw him leave with Charlie and ran in, knowing you had to be in some type of way if Charles was able to get out with Charlie. When I called 911 to get an ambulance out to your house, I also called in a kidnapping."

"Ok. So he's had him... what... thirty-six hours. Nothing in his M.O. would suggest that he's going to hurt him. But Charlie isn't going to cooperate forever. Charles has no ties here, no house, no job, nothing. He wouldn't be able to get too far."

"Does Charlie have any access to funds?" Walker asks.

"No. He's fifteen. If he needs money for anything I give him cash. He has an allowance but he typically blows through that as soon as it's given to him."

"Well then they have to be somewhere close. They wouldn't be able to get too far with no money plus every law enforcement agency on the east coast has been made aware of him by now. He'll need to lay low for a bit, wait out the searches." Walker says. 

"He'd need somewhere isolated to do that. It'd be hard to keep a fifteen year old quiet for an extended period of time. He's been in hiding for seven years. He's good at remaining below the radar. If we don't get a lead soon, we're going to lose my brother." I stopped and thought for a bit. I was trained to do this but between Charlie being taken and the conversation Andy and I had at the hospital yesterday, there was just too much going on in my head. "Where would we most likely not look? Let's say they were able to slip pass the road closures and got out of town. He wouldn't want to go too far because he'll want to know when the search is called off. But something that's out of the way where we wouldn't notice someone coming and going." I walk over to one of our technical analysts. "Can you bring up properties right outside of town that would provide him that type of privacy?"

"I got five."

"Any that are either abandoned, for sale or in foreclosure?"

"Brings it down to three."

"Any that have more than one building on the property?"

"One. There's an old dairy farm on the south road out of town. Previous owners are dead and the property is currently in limbo. The bank owns it but there's been no moves to sell or anything."

"I got you, you son of a bitch. Walker, mobilize S.W.A.T. I want everyone armed and ready in the next thirty minutes." He nodded and reached for his desk phone, calling it in.

I was in the back, fastening on a bullet proof vest when Andy came up behind me. "I don't think it's a good idea for you to go." he says, wrapping me in a hug. I sag into it, feeling safe for the first time in thirty-six hours. 

"I have to. This is my fight. I wasn't strong enough to finish him in Memphis and look at all that has happened since. Look at what you and Jacob have lost because I couldn't pull my gun on my father. I won't hesitate a second time. This time he dies."

"And what will you lose in the process?"

"You heard the doctor yesterday. The baby is fine. A little worked up but ok."

"I'm not worried about the baby. I know it's fine. I'm worried about you. What doing this will do to you."

"I'll be ok Andy. I promise." He didn't look convinced. "I mean it. I'm going to go and get Charlie back and then we'll have the rest of that conversation we started yesterday. We have a lot of planning to do." I tell him before pulling him down into a kiss. 

We jump apart as someone is clearing their throat. Walker is standing at the entrance to our gear storage closet, doing his best not to make eye contact with either of us. "S.W.A.T.s ready to go when you are Kat."

"Ok. Let's go get this son of a bitch."