Mind (the) Game

by Kelly Shade

  “Why would you help me?” Blake lifted up the card and saw that there was a phone number, but no name on it.

  She gazed at Jonathan questioningly. He also stared at her for some time. J was deciding if he had to share his reasons. Jane waited patiently for an answer, knowing that this time it may be an honest one.

  “Because I owe Jim!” J said firmly and walked out leaving Jane wondering what was his connection with this Jim.

  Chapter 22

  No re-Morse

  The next morning was full of news. Jane shared with Ryan, that Jonathan visited her the night before. Gray wasn’t happy about it, but managed to hide it. Since Ryan started controlling his emotions, he and Jane were getting along pretty well. Blake and Gray were both ignoring their partners which caused problems between Ryan and Barlow, and Jane and Kyle. At this point neither Ryan nor Jane cared about their love life, they both wanted to catch Morse and that was the only thing that mattered. For Blake, Morse was the great evil in her life, the one responsible for every trouble, for the misery, the loneliness and for her cold heartiness. For Ryan, Morse was the one who ordered his mother’s murder, the reason Gray had no family, the one who caused the greatest pain in Ryan’s life.

  “This is where we lose Morse’s trail. Maybe here he switched cars.” Ryan pointed at the map on the screen.

  “And you can’t find anything after that?” Nick asked.

  Hunt, Lee and Valdez were trying their best to figure out where Morse was headed. Valdez had checked Morse’s finances, Nick had interrogated several prisoners who used to work for Morse, Hunt was pulling all the strings he had to find out where is the bastard. Unfortunately, no one had success and they were back at square one, which was sitting around Ryan’s desk and reviewing the recordings of the murder at the gas station and of the street cams where Gray found and also lost Morse’s black Ford sedan.

  “Maybe we should go and ask around the place we lost him? Maybe someone saw Morse switching cars!” offered Ian desperately.

  “Morse is too careful. He won’t make two mistakes in a row.” Hunt said firmly.

  “Yeah, it’s pointless.” Lee agreed with Hunt.

  “But what if it’s not?” Blake joined in.

  “Jane, Smith covered that yesterday. The FBI found the Ford deserted on the side of the road. And there were no witnesses, it is in the middle of nowhere.” Ryan shared his opinion in a low tone of voice.

  “I think we should check again.” Blake stood up and waved to Ian “Come on, Valdez, road trip!”

  The others agreed to let Jane and Ian go and check Blake’s theory. She and Valdez hurried to Jane’s car and drove off to San Diego. The trip was about two hours in which they barely talked to each other. When they were closing in on the location, Ian spoke “Why Kyle Collins? Why not Ryan?”

  “Well, I don’t really know.” Jane lied.

  “I’m glad you have someone in your life, Jane,” Ian said “but I think you are searching for men you don’t love. You are afraid of a commitment.” He sighed “But I may be mistaken, I wish you and Collins all the happiness in the world. You deserve it!”

  “You are not mistaken.” Jane admitted “But it is okay for now.” Blake stopped the car and got out, Valdez after her. They both looked around. They were in the middle of a main road out of San Diego. There was no houses or any civilization nearby, there was no way someone witnessed Morse’s escape. Blake took the binoculars from the trunk of her car and looked around with them. She saw a farm, around five hundred feet away from the road and decided they should check it.

  Ian and Jane walked through the grass and to the farm. They jumped over the small fence and headed to the house. Jane and Ian were almost at the front door when a man with a gun showed up from behind and shouted “No trespassing on my land! Get out now!”

  “Sir, we are from the police!” Ian turned around slowly. “I’ll show you my badge, don’t shoot!” he said and slowly reached to the inside pocked of his blazer and took out his badge.

  The man hesitated for a moment but he put down the weapon and walked towards them.

  “What are cops from LA doing in San Diego?” asked the farmer.

  “We are investigating a case. We are here to ask you several questions, that’s all!” Valdez explained.

  The farmer welcomed them at the outside table, they all sat down and Jane asked the first question “Did you, by any chance, saw that car” she showed him a photo “and this man yesterday morning?”

  The farmer took the photo and stared at it for some time, then he spoke “You know what, I did.” He scratched his head and made a grimace “I saw the bastard yelling to another man. That’s why I took a good look at him and his car. I was about to go to them but they broke it off. They even left the car on the road!”

  “Did they got into another vehicle?” Ian asked politely.

  “Yeah, another car came and the old guy, from this photo, went in the new car and the young one walked away on foot.” Answered the farmer.

  “Can you describe the car this guy got in?” Blake asked, pointing at Morse on the photo she was holding.

  “Dark red Mercedes. New car, expensive!” the farmer explained.

  “Did you see the license plates or the model?” Valdez asked.

  “Not really.” Said the man “But it was a Californian plate, I’m sure about that.”

  “Thank you, sir, you’ve been very helpful!” Valdez said and he and Jane went in their car.

  On their way back to LA Jane was driving furiously, much above the speed limit. She wanted to get at the office as soon as possible. Valdez informed the LAPD team and agent Smith about the new information and now everyone was looking for that car.

  They arrived at the Station and hurried to the office to check if the team had found something.

  Blake went to Ryan and asked “What’s up?”

  “Nothing for now, but I will find it!” Ryan was determined, he didn’t looked away from the computer even for a second.

  Jane collapsed in her chair, waiting for results. Nick, Ian and Ryan were checking traffic cameras and satellites. Blake thought about calling J for information but soon she dropped the idea. Jane knew that her team and the feds were capable of finding the car Morse escaped with and she was sure she didn’t need help from the thief.

  And soon Ryan shouted “Found him!” and Jane jumped from her chair and, with the others, she went to Gray’s desk.

  Ryan had found a footage of Morse and his driver on a traffic light near the place Morse switched the cars. Now they had the license plates and the face of Morse’s companion.

  Ian hurried to search for the driver in the system but he couldn’t find him. He used the face recognition software but unfortunately the man wasn’t in any system.

  “The driver is eighter with no convictions or he is a foreigner.” Nick concluded after a while.

  “I’ll call Tylor, after all the FBI has more recourses than us!” Blake decided this was the best thing to do.

  “You are right! I’ll contact Barrett!” Hunt had showed up moments ago and after saying this he disappeared again.

  Blake dialed Tylor and after explaining the situation and he confirmed he is on it, Blake hung up and went to the kitchen area.

  It was afternoon and Jane needed her dose of caffeine. For some reason Jane wasn’t worried about Morse, and Ryan had noticed that. He followed her, saying he also needed a coffee.

  “Why are you so calm?” Ryan asked while they were waiting for the coffees to be done.

  “I don’t know. But I am.” Jane was honest in that answer. She also didn’t understand why she wasn’t nervous or anxious about Morse.

  “We almost have him, Jane!” said Ryan excitedly.

  Blake glanced at him with a sad smile.

  They went back and continued with the search. Soon enough Ryan found Morse’s car driving on highway I-10.

  “He is heading to LA!” Ian said pointing at the map.

  Jane reac
hed for her phone and before she was able to dial Tylor’s number, he called her first.

  “We know who Morse’s companion is!” Smith said “He is Ethan Brooks, ex CIA.” Smith continued.

  “That’s why we couldn’t find him.” Blake answered quietly and then continued with the information they got.

  The time came, they were after Morse and this was their chance to finally catch him. This time they had the upper hand – Morse didn’t know they were after him.

  Jane, Ryan, Nick, Ian and Hunt hurried to the FBI’s office where Barrett was assigning the teams and preparing the chopper for lift off. Jane, Ryan and Tylor were in the helicopter while Barlow with her team and the LAPD team were going to chase Morse on the ground. One more team was assigned to intercept Morse’s vehicle.

  Blake and Ryan followed Tylor on the chopper and when they settled, and the pilot was ready, they took off.

  Ryan was looking down nervously, Tylor was communicating with the teams on the ground. Blake was leaning back on the seat with her eyes closed, waiting.

  “Here he is!” Smith shouted to Ryan and Jane after some time and quickly reported the coordinates to the other teams.

  Blake looked down and saw the red Mercedes. Her heartbeat increased, she wanted to jump over the car and take out Morse but there was no way she could manage to do that. Blake stared at the moving car then turned to Tylor.

  “Where are the teams?” she asked nervously and looked down again as if she was waiting for the car to disappear.

  “Twenty minutes away.” Answered Tylor.

  Blake and Ryan glanced at each other worryingly and both of them looked at the vehicle below. There was nowhere Morse could hide, nowhere to run without being seen but Jane and Ryan knew he was smart and if there was a way, Morse was the one to find it.

  There were just a few cars and a truck on the road which was good. This way the chase was easier and there was lower chance of collateral victims.

  Blake was impatient. She was biting her lips and thinking what was next.

  “We got him, Jane!” Ryan initiated a conversation hoping she would calm down.

  “No, we are just watching him.” Blake answered.

  “What happened with the calm you from an hour ago?” Gray said with a smile. It was obvious Ryan was optimistic.

  Blake looked at Ryan and got even more worried, then she glanced at Tylor who was examining a map of the area. Jane stared at the map and saw there was a tunnel coming. Blake fixed her eyes on the car again. The vehicle was in the fast lane, trying to overtake the truck, or at least that what it looked like in the beginning.

  “Look!” Jane alerted Ryan and Tylor and they both looked down.

  Instead of getting in front of the truck, Morse’s car drove closely behind it. Blake saw how the trailer ramp dropped down and the Mercedes drove in the trailer with fast speed.

  Tylor hurried to inform the teams about the truck.

  “He planned all of it! He knows we are onto him!” Gray said loudly.

  Blake glanced at him with ‘you-don’t-say’ kind of look.

  The truck was getting closer to the tunnel and Jane had a weird feeling in her gut that something was about to go wrong.

  Tylor ordered the team who was supposed to intercept Morse and to blockade the tunnel. The other teams were already behind the truck, Morse had nowhere to hide.

  The truck went into the tunnel. The FBI team had made a blockade on the other side. Blake was nervously looking around the area, expecting to see a way out for Morse, but there was nothing. Only warehouses were near the highway and there was no road out of it from the tunnel. Morse had to get out straight where the feds were waiting.

  The chopper was making circles above the tunnel, Tylor didn’t want to get down until Morse was captured. Smith was worried that Jane might do something stupid and that was the reason he wanted her on the helicopter with him.

  Minutes were passing by like hours. Blake was getting more and more anxious. Morse wasn’t coming out. Tylor ordered the pilot to land the helicopter in the meadow near the tunnel.

  The chopper was just a few inches above the ground when Blake, Ryan and Tylor jumped out and ran towards the tunnel and the chopper lifted off again as ordered. Three cars stopped at the entrance and Hunt, Ian, Nick, Barlow and seven more federal agents got out of them.

  Blake and Ryan ran straight into the tunnel while Tylor went to his colleagues to explain the situation. Morse was in there, probably with two or three bodyguards but Jane didn’t care. She was ready for a fight.

  Blake heard the footsteps of the teams behind and in front her. Tylor ordered all of them to go in.

  Jane saw the truck in the middle of the tunnel and ran as fast as she could. Ryan followed her. Blake was at the side of the white truck with huge trailer. She slowed down, took her weapon and slowly approached to the door, Ryan after her, also with gun in his hand. Jane was ready to open the driver’s door, she gestured Ryan to cover her and with a fast move she opened the door and pointed the weapon to the driver.

  With horror Jane realized that Morse’s companion, Ethan Brooks, and the driver of the truck were dead. Blake waved Ryan to come closer and on his face appeared fear when he saw that the two men were shot in the foreheads. The other teams surrounded the truck with weapons pointed at the trailer. Tylor, Barret and Hunt approached with two other agents who opened the door and quickly moved to the side.

  The red Mercedes was there. Tylor, Barrett and Hunt went in the trailer. Blake and Ryan were watching them from outside. Tylor and Connor went on the sides of the car, the windows were tinted, they couldn’t see anything. Barrett was at the back of the car. Hunt and Smith opened the front doors together and shouted “Don’t move!”

  Blake was expecting something to happen but nothing did. She saw Tylor’s and Connor’s disappointed expression and knew Morse had escaped somehow.

  “It’s empty! He is not here!” yelled Tylor angrily.

  “Boss, Perkins saw Morse running towards a warehouse!” shouted one of the federal agents.

  Before Barrett was able to make his orders Jane ran out of the tunnel and up to the meadow on the right side of the road where were several warehouses. Blake scanned the area with narrowed eyes and saw him. Morse entered the most distant warehouse.

  Ryan, Ian, Nick and Hunt ran towards Jane shouting “Did you see him?”. The FBI’s tactical team was running in front of Barrett, Barlow and their team.

  “There!” Jane yelled and pointed the place she saw Morse at and ran towards it with the LAPD team.

  It was just five-six-hundred feet away but Jane felt as if she was running thousands. Blake had to get him this time! Maybe he really made a mistake and he was about to pay for it. Jane was squeezing the gun in her hand, hoping to use it. The thought of putting a bullet in Morse’s brain was giving her strength. “A little bit more!” Blake thought. She could see the entrance door of the warehouse so close to her. A few more steps and she was there.

  “Blake! Wait for the tactical team!” Hunt shouted at her but she wouldn’t listen.

  Jane wanted to be the one to kill Morse. She took a deep breath and slowly approached the door. Ryan and Ian followed her but Nick was stopped by Hunt. Gray and Valdez kicked the door open and Jane walked inside with cocked gun and determination to end Morse at the moment she sees him.

  Jane looked around. The warehouse was empty. From the inside it looked like it was still under construction. There was nowhere Morse could hide.

  “What the…?” murmured Ryan when he realized the same thing.

  Blake didn’t answer. She had a weird feeling in her gut. She though it was because of the adrenaline but soon she realized that wasn’t the reason. Jane looked around again and turned back. Fear was written on her face, the kind of fear she never showed to anyone, the pure horror of death.

  “RUN!” Jane shouted at Ryan and Ian and pushed them forward.

  They didn’t ask why, they knew that if Jane is scared there must b
e a damn good reason for that. Valdez and Gray ran out. Blake was steps behind them when the feds walked in.

  “STOP! It’s a trap! Get out, NOW!” Jane pushed several of the agents but they were determined to go in.

  Blake saw Ryan dragging Stacy Barlow, his girlfriend, out. She was also fighting him. Jane couldn’t stop fifteen trained agents so she went through the door pushing Hunt and Nick away from the entrance.

  “Where is Tylor?” Blake asked panicky.

  “He must be inside with the feds! Why? What is happening, Jane?” Hunt answered and walked towards her but she pushed him to turn around.

  Blake searched for Smith with eyes but she couldn’t see him. Jane made a few steps towards the entrance gate of the warehouse but a loud explosion followed and the blast lifted her in the air.

  Jane could only see flames and blurred people flying in every direction. Blake’s ears were ringing, she could not hear anything but that ringing sound. She felt she was falling down and soon she crashed on the ground face down. Everything went black in front of her eyes. The sharp pain was the only thing which indicated she was still alive. Jane couldn’t hear, she couldn’t see anything but darkness, she couldn’t move but she was half conscious.

  Morse lured them in that warehouse on purpose. He wanted to blow up not only Jane but all the teams who were searching for him. After all, Michael Morse didn’t make a mistake, he had planned everything.

  Blake, still half unconscious, thought of the FBI team which was in the warehouse. They were all dead, probably. Then she tried to remember where Ryan, Ian, Nick and Connor were when the explosion happened. Were they far enough? Were they alive?

  At last, a sudden thought which pierced Jane’s heart as if with a dagger – Tylor. Tylor was with the feds, inside. Or was he? Blake couldn’t reckon if she saw him. But he couldn’t be anywhere else, Smith must have been inside. Jane felt the hot tears in her eyes. The physical pain wasn’t important now, she couldn’t even feel it, but the one in her soul, heart and in her whole existence was unbearable. Tylor was dead and Jane couldn’t stop the grief and the guilt she felt.