Chapter Text
Wednesday, January 7, 2009 Villa Scorpio Command & Control 8:30 PM
In his secret room, Andrew sat facing two monitors - one displaying a topographical map of Port Charles with the harbor in the center and the other showing a control interface for the wide channel receivers the team relied on to detect the tracking devices affixed to the shipment. Prospero napped in his daybed.
Lined like dominoes alongside one wall were three stalls encased in ice blue glass. Each stall contained tall, onyx-like cylinders with a curved control panel. On each cylinder's control panel, a green button glowed a red light pulsed furiously. Each custom server was on and, by the red pulses, each was working steadily on myriad tasks.
Outside on the periphery of the orchard fields rose a tall transmitter officially licensed to WKPC but unofficially hosting a series of extreme-range signal receivers. If a dog had been present, it would have heard the sudden increase in high-pitched electronic humming as Andrew tuned the receivers and raised its power consumption to maximum. He did the same with the transmitter on the Majestic's rooftop. All in all, Andrew had a nearly 300 mile radius of receiver and transmission coverage.
"The power company is going to have questions in the morning but we'll deal with that tomorrow," said Andrew out loud. He keyed a reminder note to have the wind turbines operational as soon as possible.
On a computer set up on a bench streamed out the live radio broadcast from WKPC. Maxie and Dillon were doing a live interview with Katherine interspersed with excerpts from her recordings and incoming calls from her fans and admirers. Tiffany was connected to the radio station by phone and interjecting her questions and anecdotes during the interview. It was quite a treat for the listening audience and a good front for all the behind the scenes activities at the station.
In his earpiece, he had a direct feed to the communications system. He could hear Lorraine's reports as well as reports from the field.
Captain Sam Wells' voice came over the earpiece. "One commercial van and one flatbed truck. One pallet loaded on the van. They're going back for another one." On one of the main speakers came the unknown voices of the men transporting the shipment. Currently, they were aboard the Arcturus removing the shipment. The listening device on the first shipment picked up their conversation.
"Watch where you're going will ya!"
"Let's get this loaded! The night watchman will swing by in thirty minutes."
"Not our fault they told us the wrong storage locker, boss."
"Oof! I said lift on three not on two, retard!"
"In Lorenzo's day, we wouldn't be sneakin' 'round in the dark like this."
"You got a job, don't cha. Stop yer bellyaching and get this out to the truck."
In the Barn, the displays that Andrew watched were also shown on the large screen monitors watched by Jacques, Alex, Dimitri, Tiffany, Patrick and a curious Thanos.
Alex listened with one ear while cleaning and inspecting a pair of pistols small enough to be readily concealed even if the owner was clad in an evening gown. Next to her Dimitri let out a disapproving sigh.
"It's a precaution, Dimitri," said Alex.
"I would believe you if Charlotte weren't involved."
"If ... if she begins something, I would prefer to be the one to finish it."
"Do you believe that Charlotte would come prepared for ... for battle?" asked Dimitri.
"You of all people should know how foolhardy it is to underestimate her."
"Touche," said Dimitri.
They all watched the enormous display as three orange dots representing the chase cars en route from the villa inched closer and closer to the blinking red dot hovering over the docks. On the river, a yellow dot sped at full speed towards the harbor. It was the Switch team on the Kestrel - Sean and Lars' team codename Gershwin. The backup team, Copland led by Shane, glowed green heading out to the docks from the DigiMaze location in a small moving truck carrying the fake shipments .
"ETA roll call," came Anna's voice. "Chaser 2 ETA Docks 15 minutes."
"Chaser 1," came Robin's voice. "ETA Docs 10 minutes. We're taking a shortcut. Follow us in, Chaser 2."
"Copy that," said Robert in Chaser 2 with Anna.
"Copland ETA Docks 5 minutes," said Shane.
"Gershwin ETA at Marina now," came Sean's voice. "Copland, stay back until final location is known. Do not follow."
"Copy that. Copland out."
"Chase 3 ETA PCPD 15 minutes," said Mac.
In the Barn, Thanos nodded approvingly towards the screen. "Extremely professional very unexpected."
"I thought you would be pleased," smiled Jacques.
"Are they for hire?"
"Not for private or covert endeavors. However, Trident Security Management is a commercial concern ideally suited for physical and digital security system implementations."
"Thank you. I may have need of them soon."
The two men turned their attentions to the display and the audio.
Sean's voice said, "Driving to docks ETA 5 minutes." On the display, the yellow dot left the river and was steadily moving over land.
"Second pallet loaded on flatbed truck," said Sam. "Van and truck heading out. Following at a distance."
Once more, they could hear the movers' voices coming from the van.
"Hey, Freddy, you know where ya goin'?" "Shut yer yap and let me drive, will ya!"
"Just tryin' for some conversation, sheesh."
There was the sound of rustling paper. "Same old drill, Kelso. We're takin' this one to the park. Hiram's gonna take the other one to the warehouse. Got it, paisan?" "Two places?" asked Sean. "We didn't think about that one."
"It's your call," answered Robert in Chase 2.
There was a short pause as Sean did some quick thinking. "Raine, pull Team Bach from Delafield duty. Have Nestor offload shipment two from Copland's van. Robert, take charge of the second switch."
"Copy that," said Robert.
"Copy," added the night's dispatcher Lorraine.
"Copland, once you've offloaded shipment two, I want you to shadow me."
"Copland copy," came Shane's voice.
Sean began "Robert, when -"
Andrew's voice cut in quickly. "We have a second issue. The second shipment isn't the second shipment. Pulse readings are negative from shipment two. I show shipment two still on board the Arcturus intact and in place. It should have been the one loaded on the truck."
"They took the wrong one," said Anna in disbelief. "And now we can't trace the truck."
Sean deadpanned. "Good help is so hard to find these days.
"Let's not panic just yet," cautioned Robert. "We just have to finish the job for them. Raine, tell Ravel to hot foot it to the Arcturus. I'll meet them there. We'll get the right one off. Anna, drop me off then take charge of Bach and switch out shipment two as originally planned. We're in for a long night."
"Sam, do you have visual on the flatbed?" asked Anna.
"Affirmative on visual," answered Sam.
"Stay on him," said Anna. "Mac, you'll have to help Sam on the tail."
"You got it," said Mac. "Location, Sam?"
"On Stanhope crossing Margate," said Sam.
In the next few minutes, the dots moved along the streets like a hyperactive video of PacMan. The van in purple veered north away from the docks. The orange dotted Chaser 1 with Giles and Robin were on intercept course to the van from the northwest. Sean and Team Gershwin in yellow were maneuvering to follow from the marina. Team Copland in green set off from the docks following the purple dot. The white dot of Team Ravel led by Simms made its way quickly from DigiMaze to the docks. Mac and Sam, dark blue and orange dots, periodically changed places following the flatbed. Soon, Anna's orange and Nestor's gray dot were trailing them.
Patrick blinked and rubbed his eyes as he tried to follow all the moving dots and their dynamic trajectories. Emma slept in her crib beside him blissfully unaware of all the excitement swirling around her.
Giles' voice came on. "I believe we are going in circles."
"They might be lost," added Robin. "This is an office park not warehouse space."
"Look. They're stopping by that building," Giles said. "Unloading dock on the right side."
"Control, location is 46 Runtyne in the Durham Corporate Office park," Robin said.
"Copy," responded Lorraine. "Did you receive, Gershwin?"
"Affirmative," came Lars' voice.
"Chase 1 commence with next operational phase," ordered Sean smoothly.
"Copy," said Giles.
A few minutes later, Robert reported in. "Second shipment recovered. Ravel heading to base."
"Copy that," said Anna. "Chaser 3, anything?"
"They're slowing down. Wait." Mac said. "They're unloading."
"Problem here," came Sam Well's voice. "I have a tail on me."
"Location, Chaser 3?" asked Anna.
"What tail?!" asked Robert.
Mac answered quickly, "Warehouse 8 at Perino Storage Inc."
The lights in the Barn flickered once, twice then no more. The displays flashed once then went black. All ambient noise ended.
"We lost power? Now?!" asked Patrick out loud. "This doesn't happen on Mission Impossible."
Alex laughed. "This is real life, Patrick, when the worse happens at the worst possible time."
"Stay calm," advised Jacques. "By design, core systems are unaffected I'm told."
The emergency lights activated. Andrew's voice came over the speakers. "Circuits overloaded. Switching to backups now."
"Andrew is ever present but not. Where IS he, Jacques?" asked Thanos.
"Elsewhere," came the succinct reply. "Laxity, Thanos, remember."
"But-" Thanos began to say.
"No. You shall turn a blind eye to all you see and hear. Is that understood?"
"Fine. I shall not include such details in my official report," Thanos replied.
The displays turned back on as did the speakers and lights.
Robert's furious voice could be heard. "Sam! Cuff him and keep him there."
An indistinct male voice could be heard. "What's with all the cloak and dagger stuff? Can I help?"
"Be a good boy and shut up!" snarled Robert. "I want to speak to you when I get there."
* * *
Durham Corporate Park 9:30 PM
Giles snapped several infrared pictures as the three men loaded the shipment onto a trolley and disappeared into the building. Once the men were out of sight, Robin and Giles ran stealthily to the rear of the van. Giles kept look out while Robin affixed two tracking devices in two different places - one on the underside of the bumper and the other just underneath the sliding doors. Task done, they both ran to the Mercedes to wait and watch.
"Chaser One, phase complete," reported Robin.
"Good," said Sean. He and Lars' team were parked two blocks away waiting for the all clear before attempting a switch. "Now, we wait."
Team Copeland's large truck slipped in besides Sean and Lars' position.
After fifteen minutes of waiting, Robin reported in. "Control, van has left."
"Copy that. Switch is a go!" said Sean. "Go for switch!"
A few minutes later, Copland's truck backed into the recently vacated loading dock and the switch was made without further incident.
"Control, switch one is completed," reported Sean. "Chaser One return to base. Copland return to base. Job well done all of you."
* * *
Perino Storage, Inc. 10:15 PM
Robert stalked toward Sam's car which was discreetly parked out of sightline view of the storage building. Behind him, Team Bach waited for instructions when to initiate a switch.
Mac stood by the car talking intently with Detective Lucky Spencer. Robert did not wait on ceremony. He grabbed Lucky by the shoulders and slammed him against the car.
"What fool stunt is this?" hissed Robert.
"Easy there, Robbie," said Mac.
With his face smashed against the car roof, Lucky managed to say "Wanted in ... to ... to help."
"You are not on this case. You are off duty. You were told that your help was unnecessary," Robert said pronouncing each syllable clearly. "Are you DEAF and DUMB?"
Mac stood shocked at his brother's behavior and demeanor. He seemed to be in a murderous rage. A rage that was held back with the most tenuous of control.
"The first rule is to follow orders, isn't it?" barked Robert. "Isn't it?!"
"Yes, yes, sir," cried Lucky. "Wanted to help. Just-"
"You will speak only when spoken to!" ordered Robert. "This operation is extremely important to me. I will not allow you or any other hotheaded piss ant to screw it up and jeopardize our lives even more! I don't care whose son you are."
"But ... Sam needed help and -"
"Stop trying to talk your way out of trouble, boy. It doesn't work on me," said Robert. "You will cease poking your nose into my business. Is that understood?"
Mac physically shoved Robert away from Lucky. "That is ENOUGH! Take your hands off my officer. I agree that he shouldn't have been here but you're crossing the line. I'll talk to him."
"What are you running, huh, a nursery or a police department?" said Robert sarcastically. Without a backward glance, he jogged to join Sam at the warehouse.
* * *
At Warehouse 8, Anna crept closer to the flatbed truck as she leapfrogged from one stack of crates to another ducking and moving forward without a pause. By the warehouse's massive sliding doors, Sam stood on alert should Anna need her inside. The three Alcazar men slipped the pallet off the truck then pushed and pulled it to a spot a mere fifteen feet from the front of the truck.
The closer she got, the more Anna's ears strained to hear the men's ongoing conversation.
"How do I know? Some bigwig from South America," said one.
"Rosales? He's dependable," said another.
"I wonder what goodies are in there this time, Danny?" said Buster.
"Can't top the last one," said Danny.
Anna affixed the last of the two tracking devices. She retreated to the shadows continuing to listen.
"Is it still in the safe?" "Yeah. They don't know what to do with it. Can't open the damn thing."
"A fancy lock?"
"An electronic lock and Sonny's worried about blowing up his place if he tries to open it," replied the man named Danny.
"What the hell's in it? TNT?"
"I know Lorenzo wanted something really special and Rosales gave it to him in that briefcase. Sonny says Lorenzo bragged that he had a super bomb."
Rudy the third guy laughed. "Ha, ha, imagine it blowing up Sonny's precious warehouse!"
The other two joined in the laughter. Among the crates, Anna watched silently as the men positioned the shipment and then quickly got back into the truck. Outside, Sam heard the flatbed truck's rumbling start. Nimbly, she moved away from the door and the truck drove out. One of the men closed and locked the warehouse doors. After five minutes, Anna ducked her head out of the side door. "Sam! All clear!" Anna said. On her IPhone, she reported in. "Shipment two ready for switch. Bach, get over here."
"Good work, luv," said Robert standing by her watching her back.
"We have to talk later, privately," said Anna. "I found out about Alcazar's last shipment."
"On a scale of one to five, one being benign and five being a serious threat, it would be what?" asked Robert.
"A ten," answered Anna.
It took no time at all, the warehouse doors were be picked open, the wrong shipment switched with the fake one and the warehouse closed again.
Their night's work was done. Tomorrow was only a few hours away.
Continued In The Telltale Lie Book 4