Silent Justice

Silent Justice 1

Tomas Sandoval sighed as the light ahead went from amber to red. I’m never gonna get there! he thought in aggravation. He willed the light to green, snarling at it as the traffic continued through from the other lanes. He had to get to his destination, had to see for himself if Tiffany was wearing what she said she would be wearing. Or, is not wearing the better term for it?! Tomas smiled to himself as he thought about the direction their date was going to be heading, and he knew the roses he had just picked up would accelerate that direction. 2

The light ahead turned green just as the passenger side door open and a man clambered in. Tomas looked at him in shock. “What the??? Get the hell outta my car!” 3

The man shook his head. “They’re going to kill me!” he yelled. “Drive!” 4

All of Tomas’ old police instincts kicked in as he drove through the intersection. “Who’s going to kill you?” he asked warily. He kept one eye open for any weapon the man may have had. 5

“They are!” The elderly man looked out the rear window. “Take me to the nearest police station!” 6

“I plan on.” Tomas turned onto a back street and headed towards the closest precinct, which was four blocks away. He hazard a glance at his occupant. “You wanna tell me what this is all about?” 7

“No!” The man continued to stare out the rear window. “They’re coming!” 8

Tomas looked into the mirror in shock. Sure enough, a black van was following him. He turned left down the next street, then took a right…the van stayed with him. 9

Tomas gasped in shock and surprise as a car pulled out in front of him. He swerved hard to miss it, and headed for the ditch. “Hang on!” was all he managed to get out before the car hit the embankment and crashed in an undignified manner into the shallow water. 10

The man looked at him. “Remember this,” he whispered. “The essence of the danger is silent justice.” 11

Tomas blinked at him in numb shock and nodded as the door beside him was pulled open. A set of strong hands yanked him free of the vehicle, and he was forced to the ground. 12

---------- 13

Tiffany reached blindly for the phone as it hit its third ring. “Hello?” 14

“Hi, Tiff,” the voice on the other end replied. “It’s Brent. Is Tomas there?” 15

Tiffany Chambers sat up on the couch. “No, he isn’t…he stood me up again last night.” She paused, waiting for Brent to come to the defense of his friend and business partner. “Brent?” 16

“Something’s wrong,” Brent said quietly. “Tom didn’t come into work this morning…he’s not at his place, and he’s not answering his pager or cell.” 17

Tiffany stood quickly at the worry in his voice. “Calm down, Brent,” she said as she headed towards the bedroom to get dressed. “I’m sure he’s fine.” She tried to pull a shirt on, and dropped the phone. “Shit!” 18

“Tiff?” Brent’s voice came from the receiver on the floor. “You there?” 19

Tiffany scooped up the phone. “Sorry, just getting dressed. I’ll meet you at SecondThunder in twenty minutes.” 20

“Okay.” 21

“And if Tomas shows up before I get there, tell him that he is in…” she trailed off, and swallowed. This was not like Tomas at all. Every time he had stood her up, he had always called to let her know that he was sorry. “Just tell him to wait there.” 22

---------- 23

Tomas rolled over slightly and tried to focus as he opened his eyes. He looked around the small white room, jumping in shock as a voice boomed through it. 24

“What did he tell you?!” 25

Tomas pushed himself to his feet. “I don’t know what you mean.” He looked around for the source of the voice. “Who are you?” 26

“Silence!” the voice snapped loudly. “The man you picked up last night…what did he tell you?!” 27

Tomas spotted the small camera and speaker on the ceiling and walked to it. He looked straight into the camera. “I have no idea what you are talking about. I was on my way to…” He stopped, something in his mind telling him not to mention a girlfriend. “I was on my way home, when some guy jumped in my car, asked me to take him to the police…then someone forced me off of the road.” 28

“You are lying!” 29

Tomas had not thought it possible, but the voice had seemed to get louder. “Why would I lie?” 30

“Because you are working with him! I know exactly who you are, Mr. Sandoval.” 31

Uh-oh! “Then you know that I have no idea what you are talking about.” Tomas ran his hands through his hair. “I think it’s time you let me out of here.” 32

“You will remain here until you tell me what the professor said to you.” 33

“What professor?” Tomas waited for a reply, but none came. “Hello?? HEY!” He jumped at the camera in the ceiling, his fingers narrowly missing it. “Let me out of here!” Tomas pounded a fist against the wall in frustration. 34

---------- 35

“I’m starting to get worried,” Brent said as he sat on the corner of the desk. “It’s not like Tom to do something like this.”  He glanced at his friends empty desk, located in the corner of the ‘Second Thunder Investigations’ office. 36

“I know,” Tiffany said softly. “When did you see him last?” 37

“Just before he left for your place last night,” the private investigator replied.  “He said that he had one stop to make, then he would see me this morning.” 38

“One stop?” 39

Brent nodded. “He mentioned something about picking up some roses for you.” 40

Tiffany smiled, then remembered her boyfriend was missing. “You called the hospitals?” 41

“Just after I called you. He hasn’t been admitted to any, and…” Brent stopped as the phone rang, and he reached for it, hoping that it was his friend. “Second Thunder Investigation.” He listened for a moment. “Yeah, she’s here.” 42

Tiffany took the phone from him. “Hello?” She closed her eyes as the person on the other end talked. “I’ll be right there.” She lowered the phone and stared at it. 43

“What?” Brent asked softly. He took the phone from her shaking hands, dread building in the pit of his stomach. 44

“That was Cortez,” Tiffany said. “They found Tomas’ car…” 45

Brent’s eyes closed briefly, as a hard looked crossed his face. “Is he…” 46

Tiffany shrugged. “He was calling from the precinct…all he knows is that there is a body.” She stood quickly. “I gotta go.” 47

---------- 48

Detective Jennifer Hendricks sighed as the phone rang. “I’m on days off!” she complained to it before answering. “Hello?…I’m on days off, Cortez.” Jenny listened for a moment. “Tell her I’m on my way!” She hung up the phone, grabbed her jacket, and ran out the door. 49

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Tomas leaned against the wall and stared at the camera in the ceiling. He had been from one end of the small room to the other, but beyond the securely closed door, there was no other way out. He knew that even if he had told these people what the man in his car had told him, he would probably not be walking out of there alive. My only chance of getting out of here is to play dumb. He vaguely remembered hearing silenced gunshots coming from inside his car as he lay on the dirty ground, and he was certain that the man who had gotten into his car had been the recipient of those bullets. 51

All I gotta do is bide my time, and pray that Tiffany finds me. He smiled at the thought of her, and hoped that she wasn’t too mad about him missing their date. At least this time I have a damn good reason! Tomas laid on the floor and closed his eyes, determined to rest so that he could make his escape at the first possible opportunity. 52

A loud clanging sound echoed through the room, causing Tomas to jump. “There will be no sleeping!” a voice blared over the noise. 53

“What?!” Tomas got to his feet and glared at the camera. “Let me out of here,” he said in a dangerously low voice. The noise continued. “Let me outta here!” Tomas screamed. “Do you hear me?!” 54

“What did the professor tell you!?” 55

Tomas tried to mentally calm himself down, a feat that was almost impossible due to the unnerving effect of the clanging noise. “I already told you that!” 56

“You will tell us! You will break!” 57

Tomas shivered at the venom in the voice, but put on a brave face. “I can’t tell you what I don’t know!” he yelled. He blinked, startled as the noise stopped. 58

“You will tell me!” the voice reverberated through the stillness. 59

---------- 60

Brent had the door open even before the car skidded to a stop. He jumped out and ran to the sight of his childhood friend’s car, pushing past the uniformed police officer that tried to stop him. Tiffany showed her badge, and followed Brent through the ‘police line’ tape. All she could think of was that she might have lost the one good thing in her life. 61

Detective Richard Ryan stepped in front of Brent before he could reach the car, and put a hand on his shoulder. “This is a crime scene,” he said sternly. “Don’t go any further.” He spotted Tiffany, and motioned her over. “It’s not him.” 62

Both Tiffany and Brent stared at him as the words took effect. Brent sighed in relief as he sat on the bumper of the nearest police cruiser. “Where is he?” 63

Ryan shrugged. “No idea.” He looked at Tiffany again. “All I know is that I have a “John Doe” in the passenger seat with three bullets in him.” 64

Anger built up inside of Tiffany. “Are you accusing…” 65

“Hold on!” Ryan held up a hand. “You know I don’t like Tomas, but I know he wouldn’t do something like this.” 66

Tiffany nodded. “No, he wouldn’t…I want to see the vic.” 67

Ryan hesitated, then motioned to the tarped figure on the ground. Tiffany walked over, knelt beside it, and slowly lifted the tarp. She stood in shock, and turned. “That’s Professor Malcolm Hill.” 68

“Who?” Ryan joined her. “You know him?” 69

“Knew of him,” Tiffany said. “He works for the rival company my ex-in-laws own.” She called over one of the officers. “Check with ‘Hedge Industries’, and see if Professor Malcolm Hill still worked there.” 70

Ryan stared at her. “This is my investigation, Chambers.” 71

Tiffany folder her arms across her chest and glared at him. “I am in a very bad mood today, Dick… do not add to it!” She whirled to face Brent. “Mr. Malloy…I am hiring you to find Tomas Sandoval.” 72

Brent nodded as Ryan snorted in disgust. “Let’s get started,” Brent said as he stood and walked back to the car. Tiffany followed without further word to Ryan. She paused as she saw a familiar car pull up to the scene. 73

Jennifer Hendricks hopped out of her car and hurried over. “Cortez called me.  What happened?…Where’s Tom?” 74

“I don’t know, but I plan on finding out.” 75

---------- 76

Tomas moaned in annoyance as the loud clanging sounded again. He sat up and glared at the ceiling. “Yeah! I’m not asleep, okay?!” He looked at his watch, surprised to see that he had been captive in the small room for nearly twenty-four hours. No, correction…I’ve been here longer than that. I’ve been awake for nearly twenty-four hours. 77

He stood and stretched, trying to get the circulation moving, trying to stay awake. “Like that’s gonna be a problem,” he muttered under his breath. He wandered around until he was directly under the booming speaker. “Shut up!” he yelled. 78

---------- 79

Jenny finished the last of her coffee as she reached for the file on the other side of the table. She looked it over for the fifth time, trying to find something that would lead them to Tomas. There had been no witness to the accident, and she doubted that they would find any since the area of town Tomas had disappeared in was a notorious “I didn’t see a thing” zone. She went to put the file down, stopping when she spotted a word. 80

“Hey!” She turned to the others in the room. “I think I might have something.” 81

Tiffany got up from her spot on the couch. “What?” 82

Jenny held the papers up. “Brent said that Tom was going to get you some roses.” 83

“True,” Brent said from the other side of the living room. 84

“Well…there is a flower shop about four blocks from where the car was found.” Jenny smiled. “I know that shop…it’s been robbed a few times, and they put in a surveillance camera a few months ago.” 85

“So…we get the footage, and check to see if Tom was on it,” Tiffany said. “It’s a long shot, but…” She swallowed, and finished in a whisper, “If it means that I get to see him again…”  She cleared her throat. “Let’s get to that flower shop.” 86

---------- 87

“He’s getting rather tired,” a man announced. “Should we give him a few hours to rest?” 88

A tall woman shook her head. “No. He should break soon, then we will know what secrets Professor Hill told him before he…died.” 89

The man nodded and went back to watching the screen. The man he was watching paced the small room constantly, pausing on occasion to check out his surroundings and to glare up at the camera in the ceiling. 90

---------- 91

Tiffany inhaled deeply as she entered ‘Apology Flowers And Gifts’, and felt a sad smile start. She walked to the cashier, showed her identification and requested authorization to view their security tapes. 92

The clerk, who happened to be the owner, quickly agreed and set off for the back. He came out, handed videotape to her, and then went back to his perch behind the counter. 93

Tiffany walked back to the car, climbed in the passenger side, and leaned back wearily. Brent gave her an encouraging look, and pulled away from the curb. Tiffany sat there, wrapped in her disturbing thoughts, not noticing the city that passed by her. 94

It’s been over thirty-six hours since Tomas disappeared. She looked out the window. We’re not going to find him.  She blinked back the tears at that thought, then she realized that Brent was talking to her. 95

“Huh?” 96

“Are you okay?” Brent asked again, his blue eyes filled with worry. 97

“Yeah…no.” Tiffany wiped a tear from her cheek. “What a I gonna do??” She started to tap her hand against the dashboard. “I mean, Tom is the best thing that has happened to me in a long time. I know we fight half of the time, but…” She stopped and stared out the window. 98

Brent nodded slightly. “It’s okay, Tiff.” He paused, trying to decide if he should say what he knew she wanted to hear. He finally decided that the truth would be the best. “You remember the first time Jenny and I broke up?” He waited while she acknowledged him, and nodded. “Well…ha…I’m not sure if I should tell you this, but the night that Tomas found me drunk…well…he sat me down, and gave me a rather good talking to.” 99

“What did he say?” Tiffany asked, grateful to have a conversation that would keep her mind off of the dread she was feeling. 100

Brent turned down the street to Tiffany’s house and pulled over to the curb. He shut off the car and faced her. “He told me, in no uncertain terms, that if you love someone, you shouldn’t let a stupid argument get in the way.” He stopped, then decided to go on. “That was when he told me that was the reason he…tries so hard with you.” A sad look crossed his face when a tear rolled down Tiffany’s cheek. “I’m sorry.” 101

“No, don’t be.” She ran a hand over her face. “Ohhhh…what am I going to do if…?” She stopped, opened the door, and got out.   102

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Tomas jolted awake when the annoying sound started again. “Oh, come on! Give me a break!” He leaned against the wall and tried not to yawn. 104

“What did he tell you?!” 105

“Nothing!” Tomas yelled. “He told me nothing!” He stood and glared at the camera. “How many fucking times do I have to tell you that?!” 106

“What did he tell you?!” 107

Tomas yelled in aggravation and put his hands over his ears. “Go away! Leave me the fuck alone! Let me out of here!” Don’t swear he chided himself. It will only show them that they are getting to you. He inhaled deeply. Come on, Tiffany…find me! 108

---------- 109

“See anything yet?” Brent asked as he sat on the couch beside Jenny. 110

She put the video tape on pause, and looked at him. “Nothing. The tape isn’t time stamped, so there’s no way of knowing exactly when Tomas might have shown up…if he did at all.” She motioned to the hallway behind her. “How’s she doing?” 111

Brent sighed and put his arm around her. “Tiffany is sleeping. She’s scared.” 112

“And how are you doing?” Jenny asked as she kissed him lightly. 113

“I’m…okay,” Brent said. “Worried, but okay. I have to think positive about this. Tomas has been through a lot before, and come away basically safe.” 114

“Basically.” 115

Brent nodded. “He always manages to pull through.” He leaned back onto the couch. “Let’s see the rest of the tape.” 116

Jenny pushed the button and settled back into the couch. She tried to concentrate on the film in front of her, but the nearness of Brent made it hard for her to think. She programmed her mind to notice the image of Tomas, while her thoughts centered around her lover. Just as her imagination started to turn to what her and Brent could be doing, she spotted an image. 117

“Tomas!”  She paused the tape quickly, jumped up, and ran to the bedroom door. 118

“Wait!” 119

Brent’s voice caused her to stop just outside the door. “We should watch first…” 120

Jenny nodded reluctantly. She wanted to let Tiffany know that they had proof that Tomas was at the store, more to the fact that she was worried about her partner’s behavior. Ever since she had been at the academy, Tiffany Chambers had been a sort of role model for her. To see that person unsure, and vulnerable had made Jenny start to doubt her beliefs. 121

She returned to the couch and put the video back to play. She watched as Tomas bought a rather large bouquet of multicolored roses, stopping to talk with the clerk for a few minutes. He walked out of the store, and then his car appeared at the edge of the screen. She leaned forward as a man got into the car. 122

“Oh.” 123

Brent leaned forward, his attention solely on the screen. 124

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“Arrrrggghhhhh!” Tomas jumped at the speaker as he yelled, his fingers brushing the metal. “Enough with the noise!!!!” 126

“What did he tell you?!” 127

Tomas let loose with a string of Spanish profanity, the type of words that would have earned him a guaranteed months grounding from his mother when he was a child. 128

“What did he tell you?!” 129

“Is that all you can say?!” Tomas yelled over the noise. “Isn’t it obvious that I don’t know anything????” 130

“I think that you do know something.” 131

“What am I suppose to know?” Tomas asked in desperation. 132

---------- 133

Brent rubbed his eyes as he walked down the street. He showed Tomas’ picture to a group of women, and sighed when no one recognized him. He continued on, hoping that there would be at least one person who had seen something. He met up with Gabe Paulson, one of Tomas and Brent’s friends, and the two crossed to the opposite corner. 134

“Excuse me, ma’am,” Gabe said as he held up the picture. “But have you seen this man?” 135

The elderly woman took the photo and raised it to her eye. “No…what did he do?” 136

“He’s missing,” Brent said a he took the picture from her. 137

“Does this have anything to do with that murder the other night?” 138

Brent and Gabe exchanged looks. “Yes, ma’am, it does.” 139

“Did they find the van that forced the car off of the road?” 140

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“Let me sleep!” Tomas yelled at the ceiling. He banged his head against the wall. “Please!” 142

“What did he tell you?!” 143

Tomas tried to massage away the tension by rubbing his temples. “I’ve been here for over two days!” he screamed in anger over the clanging noise. “Let me go!” I can’t take this noise much longer! He put his hands over his ears in a vain attempt to block out the sound. Can’t think…too tired…musta got a concussion from the car accident.  “Enough with the noise!!!” 144

The man watched the screen and smiled. “He’s about ready to break,” he reported. “A few more hours should push him over the edge.” 145

The woman nodded. “Once he tells us which code Hill passed on, then you may kill him.” 146

“Of course.” The man paused. “What if he’s telling the truth, and he knows nothing?” 147

“He knows,” the woman replied. “It’s too much of a coincidence that Hill was with him. Tomas Sandoval is an ex-police detective, and is currently a private investigator.” She shook her head. “No…Professor Hill obviously hired him for protection.” 148

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“Right there!” Brent exclaimed as he paused the video tape. “A black van!” He slowly forwarded the tape. “I can’t make out the plate.” 150

“I’ll take it in, and get it enlarged,” Jenny said. “They can have it done by tomorrow morning.” 151

“Why didn’t that woman call the police?” Tiffany asked from her chair beside the couch. “She could have saved us almost three days.” 152

“She was scared,” Gabe said. 153

“Scared?” Tiffany repeated in disbelief. “Scared!?” She stood quickly and stormed out of the house, slamming the door on the way. 154

Tiffany leaned against the railing on the steps and stared at the traffic going by. Scared? She took a small pack out of her pocket, opened it, and withdrew a cigarette. She hesitated, then lit it, coughing as she inhaled deeply. 155

“Oh, Tomas,” she whispered. “Where are you?” She was silent as she smoked, trying to fight the images that popped into her mind. 156

---------- 157

It was approximately into his third day of forced sleep deprivation that Tomas finally snapped. He lunged at the speaker when the noise started again, his anger giving him the strength to reach the metal surface. He fell to the floor as the speaker came out of the ceiling, and he stared at it before grounding it into the floor with his heal. 158

When the speaker was no more than a shattered memory, he leaned against the wall and slowly sank to the floor. “Fuck you!” he yelled at the ceiling. “You’re not going to break me! You hear me!?” He laughed to himself. “Even if the professor told me something, do you think that I would tell you?!?” 159

He pushed himself against the wall as the door swung open. He waited a few moments for someone to appear, then stood and slowly went to the opening. He stepped out into the hall and looked around. 160

Spotting no one, he set off at a trot. He followed the hallway for ten minutes, before he found an unlocked door. He opened it gratefully, stopping when he saw that it led back to the room that he had been held in. Tomas stared in shock at the walls, trying to fight the desperate tears that threatened to flow. 161

A man appeared in the doorway. “Ready to discuss why you are here?” 162

Tomas glared at him, all the frustration and anger he had experienced since being there coming out at once. He jumped at the man, knocking him to the floor. The man pulled a gun out of his jacket and pointed it at Tomas. 163

Tomas paused for a fraction of a second, then attacked. 164

---------- 165

Kyle Chambers smiled at the person standing in the waiting room outside of his office. He motioned her in, then shut the door behind them. “To what do I owe the honor of this visit?” he asked as he took his seat on the other side of the desk. 166

Tiffany sat down. “I’m here in an official capacity, Kyle.” She leaned forward. “Three days ago Malcolm Hill was murdered.” 167

“I heard about that,” Kyle said. “Pity…but what does that have to do with me?” 168

“There was another person in the car…that person is missing,” she said. “Would you know what Professor Hill was working on?” 169

Kyle leaned back and regarded his ex-wife coolly. “Are you suggesting that we had something to do with this?” 170

“Not at all, Kyle. But, this company is in direct competition with the company Hill worked for. And, if I remember correctly, you’re usually both working on the same things at the same time.” 171

“What we do is strictly classified. It wouldn’t do good for me to tell you government secrets, now would it?” Kyle smiled slightly. “Besides, if the other person in the car was caught in the middle, all I can say is…give it a few days, the body will show up.” 172

Tiffany stared daggers at him, then stood slowly. “What were they working on?” 173

“Are you all right?” Kyle asked. “You got this…” He stopped as it occurred to him. “The missing person is someone you know?” 174

Tiffany hesitated, then nodded. 175

---------- 176

Tomas bent low as he jumped at the man in front of him. He felt, more than heard, the bullet as it whizzed dangerously close to his head. The man’s face registered shock as he pulled the trigger again. The gun was forced out of his hand as Tomas kicked it, then he was slammed to the wall by a full body check. 177

Tomas stumbled back as he was kicked in the groin, then launched himself at the man. He grabbed his arm as it reached for the gun, and twisted violently. He heard bones snap as the man yelled out in pain, then he brought his knee up and slammed it into the other mans face. The man fell to the floor in a heap. 178

Tomas knew that he should grab the gun and leave, but the events of the past few days clouded his judgment. He picked up the gun, pointed it at the figure by his feet, and smiled slightly as his finger tightened on the trigger. 179

---------- 180

Kyle unlocked a door, entered, then closed it. He walked to a file cabinet. “What I am about to show you cannot go any further than this room.” He waited while Tiffany nodded. “For the past few years, we have been trying to find an antidote to a virus. We’re very close, and, we suspect that ‘Hedge Industries’ is close, too.” He pulled out a file and handed it to her. 181

“What virus?” Tiffany asked as she opened the file. 182

“A rather nasty one that was discovered while…some company…was testing out various options for insertion…somewhere.” He leaned against the filing cabinet. “The virus is called ‘Silent Justice’, so you can figure out what it was intended for.” 183

“Did you make it?” 184

“No…we deal strictly in anti-virus, and antidotes…you know that.” He looked at her. “This missing person…” 185

“Tomas Sandoval.” 186

Kyle nodded. “I hope you find him.” He reached out and took the file back. 187

---------- 188

The gun moved slightly as Tomas pulled the trigger. He stared at the body, then his gaze moved to the hole in the wall a mere inch above the man’s head. He sighed at what he had almost done. 189

The man on the floor moaned slightly and opened his eyes. He jumped slightly at the site of an extremely angry face staring at him from behind the barrel of the gun. He moved back against the wall. 190

“Why am I here.” The voice was dangerously low and even. 191

The man stayed silent as he watched the gun move towards his face. 192

Tomas bent down and grabbed him by the front of the shirt, dragging him to his feet. He slammed him against the wall and shoved the gun into his face. “Why am I here.” 193

“You really don’t know, do you?” the man finally said. 194

Intense anger flashed across Tomas’ face. “What the hell do you think I’ve been trying to tell you?!” he yelled. He brought his hand back and slammed it into the man’s face, breaking his nose. All judgment was gone from his brain as Tomas continued attacking the man. 195

Reason finally broke through the haze, and he stopped, letting the body fall back to the floor. He looked at his bloody hands, and slowly fell to his knees. Tomas put his hands against the sides of his head, and rocked back and forth. 196

“Oh, God,” he mumbled. “Oh, God…no, no, no, no.” As the past three days came crashing down on him all at once, a noise started in the back of his throat; and he stared at his hand as a primal scream emerged from his lips. 197

---------- 198

Jennifer Hendricks grabbed the piece of paper, and headed out the door. “Thanks, Cortez,” she said over her shoulder. She ran to the car and jumped in. 199

“Well?” Brent asked. 200

“The plate on the van that followed Tomas belongs to a defense contractor,” she said. “They have a building on the outskirts of the city.” 201

“We’ll start there then,” Brent said as he glanced at the address. “Call Tiffany and tell her to meet us there.” 202

---------- 203

Tomas rounded a corner, stepping back slightly as two men walking from the other end saw him. He turned running back from where he came, but stopped as soon as he went a few steps. The two men ran around the corner in pursuit. Tomas acted swiftly, catching one man across the neck with an open hand. He turned on the other, not even watching as the first fell to the floor, gagging and gasping for air. 204

Tomas fell to the floor as a foot hit his midsection, and he swept out a leg, catching the other man just below the knees. He swung out with the gun and connected with the other man’s chin. He heard a bone crack as he scrambled to his feet and took off down the hall again. 205

Damn it! This is getting out of hand…hope I didn’t hurt them…I hope I did hurt them…Oh, God…I gotta find someplace to think…I have to get out of here…I have to rest…I have to keep moving…Tiffany…Tiffany…Tiffany…Tiffany… 206

---------- 207

Tiffany ran up the steps to the courthouse, barged through the doors, and hurried to a small office. She knocked, entered, and stopped short when she saw that the Judge she had come to see was not alone. 208

“What are you doing here?” she demanded. 209

Detective Richard Ryan stood from his chair. “This is my case, remember?” 210

“Dick,” Tiffany said in an annoyed voice. She decided that it wasn’t worth it, and turned to the Judge. “Do I get my warrant?” 211

Judge Harper nodded. “There is enough evidence to support a search of the premises.” He held out a paper. 212

Tiffany took the search warrant. “Thanks,” she said and turned to the door. 213

“Just a minute here,” Ryan said. “You’re too close to this case, Chambers.” 214

Images of her fingers digging into Ryan’s eyes flashed through her mind as she turned to face him. “Your point being?” 215

“My point being,” Ryan began, “is that you’re going to need someone with you to make sure you don’t go crazy during the search.” 216

Tiffany stared at him as what he said registered. 217

---------- 218

Tomas stumbled as he ran down the hallway, landing on his knees. He stayed there for a few minutes, trying to get his thoughts in order. Gotta find the way out…Gotta find who’s behind this…gotta get up and get moving. He stood slowly, half tempted just to stay on the floor, close his eyes, and sleep. 219

He took out the keys he had taken from the man in the room and tried on of the doors. It opened and he peered in cautiously. He ran to the window on the far wall, and looked down at the vacant lot behind the building. His gaze went to the high fence about twenty yards back. He reached a decision, opened the window, and climbed onto the fire escape. His head started to swim as he looked at the ground five stories below him. 220

Swallowing hard, he gritted his teeth and climbed down. He pressed himself against the building when he reached the ground, and listened. He headed slowly for the fence, constantly looking around for anything that could case him problems. He was about five feet from his target when he heard the sound of running feet. 221

Tomas jumped at the fence and scurried up it as gunshots erupted behind him. He threw himself over the top, and landed in a pain filled heap on the stony ground. He turned, fired a few shots at the men chasing him, then set off at a dead run across the field. 222

---------- 223

Brent pulled off onto a side road, slowing as the ruts started to become larger. “You’d think that a company like this could afford better roads.” 224

“Did you hear that?” Jenny said. “It sounded like gunshots!” 225

Brent pulled over and shut the car off. His head jerked up at a sound. “That was gunshots.” He jumped out of the car. “Come on.” 226

As they set off quickly in the general direction the shots had come from, Brent knew that somehow Tomas  was involved. He prayed that they would make it in time to save his friend. 227

---------- 228

“I want to make one thing clear here,” Ryan said as he pulled up to the building. “You tell Tomas about this, and I will make your life a living hell.” 229

“Business as usual, eh Dick?” Tiffany opened the passenger side door and hopped out. 230

A tall woman met them just outside the door. “Your search warrant?” she asked as she held out her hand. She read it over after Tiffany handed it to her, then looked at them. “I can assure you that we have no unauthorized people here.” 231

“Then you won’t mind if we look around then,” Ryan said as he walked past her and into the building. 232

Tiffany nodded politely to the woman, then followed Ryan. 233

---------- 234

Tomas hit the ground hard, picked himself up, and continued with his mad rush through the forest. He could hear the men behind him, and knew that they were close. He jumped as a bullet imbedded itself in the bark of the tree beside him. He turned to the right, and slipped on the ground. Pain erupted in his side as a foot can in contact with his ribs. He rolled over and looked into the face of a uniformed guard. 235

“Well, go ahead,” Tomas spat in anger. He tensed as the man started to pull the trigger. 236

A sudden movement caught his attention, and he watched in wonder as a blonde blur knocked into the guard. The figure delivered a series of punches, then turned from the now unconscious guard, to Tomas. 237

“Are you okay?” Brent asked as he crouched in front of him. 238

“I am now,” Tomas said in a shaky voice. His eyes grew wide as another figure appeared and raised a gun. Before he could get out a warning, the man fell to the ground in a heap. 239

Jenny dropped the large branch she was holding, and approached. 240

---------- 241

“Where are you going?” Ryan asked as Tiffany walked down a hall. 242

“Down here,” Tiffany said. 243

The woman, who had since introduced herself as Captain Parker, U.S.M.C., hurried to walk in front of Tiffany. She stopped in the middle of the hall, and faced them. “This section is completely off limits…even to a search warrant.” 244

“Why?” 245

“It is in the interest of national security…that is all you need to know.” 246

Tiffany folded her arms across her chest. “Silent Justice,” she said, and had the satisfaction of watching the surprise on the other woman’s face. 247

Captain Parker recovered quickly. “Where did you hear that?” 248

“I have my sources, Captain…that is all you need to know.” Tiffany walked past her. “Coming, Richard?” 249

Ryan followed as Captain Parker lagged behind; whispering into a hand held radio. 250

---------- 251

Brent grabbed onto Tomas’ arm and steadied him as he stumbled. “Easy, buddy.” 252

Tomas nodded, but kept moving. “Where’s the car?” 253

“This way,” Brent said. “You want to rest for a few minutes? You look tired.” Truth be told, he thought Tomas looked like hell. 254

“Well, I haven’t slept since I’ve been here,” Tomas replied. He stepped over a root, caught his foot on it, and fell to the ground. Brent put a hand under his arm to help him up, but Tomas pulled away. “Don’t,” he whispered. “Just…don’t.” 255

Brent was about to say something but Jenny touched his shoulder and shook her head. They watched as Tomas slowly got to his knees, then his feet. 256

“Tom?” Jenny asked. 257

“What?” Tomas kept his back to them. He didn’t want to turn around; didn’t want them to see the pain, anger and frustration in his eyes. 258

“It’s okay, Tom.” 259

Tomas closed his eyes. It’s okay…it’s okay…it’s… He spun around and glared at them. “No, it’s not okay.” The calmness in his voice was a direct contrast to the anger in his eyes. “I have just spent…I don’t know how many days…locked in a small room, being…” He stopped and looked at the ground. “They wouldn’t let me sleep,” he whispered. 260

Brent and Jenny looked at each other, unsure of what to say. Tomas took note of their uncomfortable silence, and smiled slightly. “Oh, come on you two. I’m going to be…okay. I’m just really tired.” He turned and started to walk. “Let’s just get to the car.” 261

---------- 262

Detective Ryan bent low as he inspected the bullet hole in the wall. “This is recent,” he said as he stood. He looked at Captain Parker. “When did this happen?” 263

“A few days ago,” she replied. “We had an unauthorized entry, and this was the result.” 264

Tiffany sighed. “Look, lady…there is a person missing, and we have every reason to believe that they were held on these grounds. I want to hear the truth, and I don’t care if it’s a national security matter.” 265

Captain Parker folded her arms across her chest. “I have already told you that the man you are looking for is not here.” 266

Tiffany smiled. “Did we mention that the missing person was a man?” 267

“The search warrant said you were looking for…” 268

“A ‘T. Sandoval’,” Ryan finished for her. “No mention of gender.” He took his cellular phone out of his pocket. “Now, either you tell us, or in five minutes, we’ll have this place crawling with NSA, CIA, FBI, and anyone else you can think of.” To suit action to his words, he started to dial. 269

“You cannot do that,” Captain Parker said. “What we do here is…” 270

“Highly classified, yeah, I know.” 271

“Oh, hey, Dick,” Tiffany said. “Don’t forget to call the local news. They’d be mighty interested to know about ‘Silent Justice’.” 272

Ryan nodded, then moved out into the hall as someone answered his call. Captain Parker took out her radio, “Code Alpha.” 273

That sounds bad! Tiffany thought. Within moments, she could hear running in the hall, and the sound of Ryan protesting as his phone was ripped from his hand. She stepped back as two uniformed guards entered, guns drawn, and then slowly raised her hands. 274

---------- 275

Jenny hit the redial on her phone, frowned, then hung up. “Still no answer,” she reported. “I’m going to call the precinct.” She dialed again. “Cortez? It’s Jenny…is Tiff there?” Disbelief crossed her face as she listened. “They did? When?…Thanks.” 276

“Well?” Brent asked as he drove onto the highway. 277

“Tiffany and Ryan left for here two hours ago,” she said. “We didn’t pass them…if they saw your car parked, they would have stopped…I got a bad feeling about this.” 278

“Me too,” Brent said as he pulled a quick U-turn and headed back for the dirt road. He glanced in the rear view mirror at Tomas, who was staring vacantly out the window, his head on his open palm. 279

---------- 280

Tiffany turned and glared at the guard behind her. “No need to be pushy!” He replied with another shove to her shoulder. She sighed, and started to walk again. “Did you get through to anyone?” 281

Ryan shrugged. “I don’t know. They took my phone while I was on hold.” He glanced at her. “This is all your fault.” 282

“I never invited you along, Dick,” Tiffany replied. 283

“I was trying to...” 284

“Whatever,” she snapped back. “You wanted to come along so you could lay into Tomas for being kidnapped.” 285

He glanced at her in shock, saw her wink her eye, and caught on to what she was doing. “What if I did? This is, after all, so typical of the trouble that guy causes.” 286

“No, it isn’t!” 287

“He’s a magnet for trouble!” Ryan argued. “Everywhere he goes, something happens…and it’s usually all his fault.” 288

Tiffany stopped walking and faced him. “You are such a jerk, ya know that?!” 289

“Keep moving,” one of the guards ordered. 290

“You keep outta this!” Tiffany snapped. She put her hands on her hips and leaned close to Ryan. “Ya wanna know somethin’? You have been an ass since the first time I met ya, and ya keep gettin’ more obnoxious as time goes by!” 291

Suddenly, she struck out with her arm, catching the nearest guard in the middle of his face. The guard instinctively put his hands to his face, allowing Tiffany to grab his gun. Before the other guard could react, she already had the gun trained on him. 292

“Nice and easy now,” she said. “Hand the weapon over to Detective Ryan…butt end first.” Ryan took the gun from the other guard. “Now, ya got two choices,” Tiffany continued. “You can take us to Mr. Sandoval…or I can kill you.” 293

“He’s not here,” the first guard said. 294

“Ohhh…wrong answer.” Her finger tightened on the trigger. 295

“He escaped earlier today.” 296

---------- 297

Captain Parker looked at the man beside her. “This is getting out of control. I have received orders that we are to move out immediately.” She paused. “’Silent Justice’ will be put on hold pending a full investigation.” 298

The man sighed. “In other words, brass is covering their ass in case Sandoval makes it out alive and talks.” 299

“Exactly.” Captain Parker took a few things off of her desk and put them into a box. “Find someplace safe for our police guests.” She looked away and out the window. “Preferably someplace permanent.” 300

“Yes, ma’am.” 301

---------- 302

Tiffany stopped and looked around. “Which way did we come?” 303

Ryan glanced around the corner. “This way…I think.” 304

“Face it, we’re lost.” 305

“You want I should stop the next armed guard we see and inquire as to where we are?” Ryan asked sarcastically. 306

Tiffany smiled sweetly. “I think that would be a grand idea.” She paused, as if reconsidering. “On second thought, no…I wanna get through this day alive.” 307

“And you call me obnoxious.” Ryan peeked around a corner. He started down the hallway, not seeing Tiffany as she stuck her tongue out at him. 308

An alarm suddenly sounded, causing both of them to jump slightly. “What the?” Ryan asked as he looked around. 309

“I think they know we’re on the loose,” Tiffany said as she opened a door and poked her head in. “Come on,” she said. “We can get out through that window.” 310

Ryan walked to the window and looked. “It’s a two story drop, Chambers.” 311

“You would rather stay here and get shot?” Tiffany opened the window and lowered herself out. Please let me land right! 312

---------- 313

“Texas Rangers are on their way,” Jenny reported as she put her phone away. 314

“Good.” Brent parked the car about a mile from the main building, then turned to face the other two. “Ready?” 315

“Yeah,” Jenny answered. 316

“Let’s do it,” Tomas said. 317

Brent looked at him. “You sure you’re up for this?” 318

“Yes.” 319

---------- 320

Tiffany grabbed onto Ryan’s arm as he started to fall and hauled him to his feet. “Move it!” she yelled and shoved him through the trees. 321

“Don’t push,” Ryan snapped as he nearly avoided smashing his face into a large spruce. He stopped running and pointed. “There’s the fence.” 322

Tiffany looked behind her. “I think we lost them!” 323

Ryan paused to catch his breath. “We should have gone…the other way…” He inhaled deeply. “There’s nothing in this direction.” 324

Tiffany squinted. “Is that…Hey!” She smiled and started for the fence. “That’s Brent’s car!” 325

Ryan sighed slightly as he followed. “How are we going to get over the fence?” 326

“Over, under, or through…I don’t care,” Tiffany said as she reached the fence. “I just want to be on the other side of it!” 327

Ryan arrived beside her. “No one’s here!” He leaned against the fence in aggravation. 328

“Don’t pout, Dick,” Tiffany said as she started to climb the fence. “It’ll give you wrinkles.” She paused at the top and looked down. “Coming? Or are you gonna become a resident.” 329

Ryan shot her a dirty look as she hopped easily to the ground on the other side of the fence. “Just keep a lookout for those guards.” 330

---------- 331

Brent stopped and looked around. “I’m not sure if we’re going in the right direction.” 332

“We could go back and wait for Ranger Evans,” Jenny suggested. 333

“That might be a good idea.” He looked at Tomas. “What do you think?” 334

Tomas closed his eyes slightly. “Yeah, fine, whatever.” He turned silently and headed back for the car. 335

---------- 336

“Where do you think you’re going?” 337

Tiffany turned. “I’m going to follow the road, and get…” 338

“We should wait with the car,” Ryan said. “They’ll be back.” 339

“What if they need our help?” 340

Ryan shrugged. “Not my problem.” 341

“Your kindness towards others is most heartwarming…Dick!” Tiffany turned and continued in the direction she had been going. 342

---------- 343

Brent, Jenny, and Tomas hid behind a large tree as a vehicle approached. Brent took one look as the truck rounded the corner, and stepped out of his hiding spot. He waved as he walked onto the dirt road. 344

A forest green Dodge Ram pickup stopped and a window rolled down. “Need a lift?” Ranger Frank Morris asked. 345

“Glad to see you,” Brent replied as the others joined him. He helped Tomas into the back of the truck and climbed in with Jenny. 346

Ranger Charles Evans turned to face them. “We’re going in through the main entrance. The FBI will meet us there.” 347

“Do they have jurisdiction here?” Jenny asked. “This is a military instillation.” 348

Morris smiled at his friends. “Not anymore. As of one hour ago, it was officially closed down.” He looked at Tomas. “Good to see you.” 349

Tomas smiled weakly. “Yeah.” He closed his eyes and leaned against the box of the truck 350

Morris looked at Brent, who replied with a small shake of his head. 351

“Why is it officially closed down?” Tomas asked as he opened his eyes. 352

“Budget cuts,” Ranger Evans answered. “Or that’s the reason they are using.” 353

Tomas snorted in disgust and closed his eyes again. 354

---------- 355

Captain Parker was void of emotion as she took one last look at the military compound in the rearview mirror. She watched as the car she was in rounded a corner, then she turned her attention to what lay in front of her. It had been a pity, really. She had liked Dallas, and had been intrigued by the prospects of Silent Justice. 356

But, that was life in her branch of the military…when threatened, pack up and relocate; leaving nothing behind to show that they had even been there. 357

But, I did leave something behind she thought as the car pulled onto the main road. That damned Sandoval, and those two annoying cops. 358

Captain Parker shook her head. Ah well, such is life. I'm in no hurry. Besides, revenge is much sweeter when the other person doesn't expect it. 359

---------- 360

Tomas shook his head as he walked through the room. "There's nothing here." 361

"They left in a hurry," Jenny replied. "Looks like they took everything…including ‘Silent Justice’." 362

Tomas whirled to face her. "What?" His eyes narrowed. "The essence of danger is silent justice." 363

"Pardon?" 364

"That's what the guy…uh…Professor Hill? Told me to remember. Just what the hell is Silent Justice?" 365

Jenny shrugged. "According to Tiffany's research, it's an experimental bio-chemical the government has in the works." 366

"That's why I was held here?" Tomas asked in anger. "Because of some dumb ass project?" He rubbed his eyes. "This chick kept asking me for the codes that Hill passed on to me." 367

Ranger Evans looked up from his spot by the doorway. "What codes?" He approached with a FBI agent. 368

"No idea," Tomas said. "That's all he told me…the essence thing." 369

The FBI agent glared at Tomas. "What exactly…word for word…did Professor Hill tell you." 370

"The essence of danger is silent justice." 371

"That's it?" 372

"That's all he said after we were forced off the road." 373

"Does that mean anything to you?" Evans asked. 374

"Yes." The agent took out his cellular phone, turned away, and made a quick call. After he hung up, he turned back to the group and motioned to the empty room. "None of this ever happened." 375

"The hell it didn't!" Tomas said. 376

"No," the agent said slowly. "National Security says that this never happened." 377

---------- 378

Tomas rubbed his eyes as he stepped out from the darkness of the building into the afternoon sunlight. He looked around for Tiffany, sighing when he could not find her. 379

"There's Brent." Jenny pointed as his car drove up. She frowned as Ryan stepped out of the passenger side. "Where's Tiff?" 380

Ryan shrugged as he walked away. "No idea. She took off after we escaped and found the car." 381

"And you let her go?!" Tomas asked. 382

"Hey!" Ryan walked up to him. "I didn't let her do anything!" He turned away. "Besides, if anything happened to her, remember…it's you she went to look for." 383

Tomas’ eyes grew wide as he started towards Ryan. Brent grabbed an arm and held him in place. 384

"It's not worth it, Tom," he whispered. He watched as Ryan walked away, oblivious to how close he had come to bodily harm. "Just sit down and relax." 385

Tomas glared at Ryan's retreating back as he sat against the bumper of Ranger Evan's truck. He glanced as a police car puled up, and started to stand as the door opened. 386

Tiffany got out, a huge smile crossing her face as she spotted him. 387

“Tiff!” Tomas jumped to his feet and started towards her. He held on tightly as Tiffany threw herself into his arms. He pulled back, bent his head, and kissed her. 388

Tiffany held onto him, not wanted to let go. Tomas moved back slightly and looked into her eyes. “Miss me?” 389

“No,” she whispered, then kissed him again. 390

“Didn’t think so,” Tomas murmured against her lips. 391

~ 392

The End. 393

~ 394