by Margaret Kay
“Hi Joe,” Sienna said softly as his scarred face displayed on the laptop. She was alone in one of the small study cubicles in the library. She gazed out of the glass windows at the children in the library, fifth graders, before her eyes came back to the laptop. She knew no one could see the laptop screen or hear her conversation. She still felt paranoid at having this conversation with Lassiter here at school.
“Hi Sienna. I’m told you had a rough day yesterday.”
He didn’t waste any time. “Yes, you could call it rough. I really thought I was going to die.”
Lassiter gave her a sympathetic grin. “You made it through and are alive and well. Looking back at your last month, you’ve made it through a lot. I’m not sure what I can do for you. Seems like you have it under control.”
“What?” She demanded. “I’m not one of you! I’ve had nothing under control! This stuff is not anything I’m trained to handle. I was scared, yesterday and every day before that.”
Lassiter nodded. “You have a survival instinct that has served you well, no matter how afraid you’ve been. Having it under control has nothing to do with fear or any other emotion. It’s about pulling something from deep inside yourself that gets you through. That’s what you’ve done, and that’s what you will do today when you are sitting across the desk from the man who was most likely responsible for your husband’s death.”
Sienna frowned and shook her head.
“You can do this, Sienna. I know you can. You need to fortify yourself and get through it. We’ll deal with how it affects you after. We need you to do this. And I think you need to do it for yourself too. How many conversations did you have with Valle over the last year? Don’t you want to turn the tables on this monster who told you he was sorry about your husband’s death, that he caused?”
She nodded. “Yes. If he killed Greg, I want him to pay. But I don’t know if I can calmly sit across from him and not let it show that I know.”
“Yes, that’s the hardest part. As you look at him, envision the handcuffs getting slapped on his wrists, the cell doors clanging shut, locking him away for the rest of his life for the crimes he has committed, especially Greg’s death. That’s usually enough for most to put their game faces on and perpetrate the ruse.”
Sienna nodded again. “I just want this to be over.”
“And it can be for you after we get the tracker in him. But we need your help to achieve that.”
“I know Madison will be sitting there right beside me, but what if he suspects something and pulls a gun out and just shoots us both?”
Lassiter’s lips curved into a small smile. “He’s not going to do that. And even if he tries, he won’t be fast enough. Madison will already have one out, and pointed at him under the table, covering him. She’ll shoot him before he even unholsters it.”
“That’s not very comforting,” Sienna complained.
Lassiter laughed. “It’s supposed to be.” He gave her a second while he watched her roll it around in her brain. “The team is the best at what they do, Sienna. Madison won’t hesitate for even a second if she thinks either one of you are in danger. Remember that if you start to doubt you can remain calm while talking with the man who is responsible for not only your husband’s death, but also the deaths of tens-of-thousands of men, women and children annually from the drugs he moves into the country. You didn’t ask for this, but I know it’s not something you can turn your back on either.”
Sienna shook her head again. “You make it sound so easy.”
“It’s not. I know that. But I also know you have what it takes to sit there and just be his daughter’s teacher, exactly what you’re supposed to be. Smile sweetly, all the while envisioning this son-of-a-bitch locked away for the rest of his life in orange pajamas, along with everyone in his network. They make billions while causing overdoses, murders, car jackings, and other thefts, all the things that are inherent to or caused by the drug trade.”
“It’s a national epidemic,” Sienna agreed.
Lassiter nodded slowly, his eyes focused on hers. “It is and it’s because of guys like Valle that it is. Get pissed at him, pretending to lead a normal life while causing so much harm. He was responsible for your husband’s death, Sienna, and nearly everything that has happened to you since. Get pissed off about that too and if you do, I doubt sitting across from him will be too much of a problem for you. If anything, we’ll have to worry about you grabbing Madison’s gun and shooting him, yourself.”
Sienna laughed nervously. “I’d never.”
Lassiter laughed, more relaxed than she had. “I know that too. Maybe also envision that little scene to keep your head in the game.”
Sienna nodded and smiled. “I can do this. Thank you for helping me to put it into perspective.”
Joe smiled as well. “That’s what I’m here for. Now, stay focused and have faith in the team. It will be over before you know it.”
“Thanks, Joe.”
The call ended and she carried the laptop back to Anthony.
“Feel better?” He whispered.
“Yes, I do,” she replied.
Garcia nodded back towards her classroom. “Go get them.”
An hour after the end of the school day when all the children and most of the other teachers had left, Madison led Doc into the classroom. Sienna and Garcia were within. Garcia had just finished installing a camera that was focused on the table where the conference would take place. Cooper still sat in the parking lot to provide cover and keep watch on the main entrance to the building. He had his laptop open in the SUV and watched the footage from the camera in Sienna’s classroom come online.
“I’ve got a good feed,” Cooper said. “Camera is functioning.”
“Roger that, Coop,” Garcia said. He hopped down from the chair he was standing on to mount the camera. “Okay, you ready?” He asked Sienna
Sienna’s eyes swept between Madison, Doc, and Garcia as she lifted the classroom wall phone from the cradle. She took a deep breath before she dialed the number from the slip of paper in front of her. She knew the Shepherd Security Ops Center was recording the call, and that Madison, Doc, and Garcia, as well as Cooper in the parking lot, would hear both sides of the conversation through their comms.
After three rings, Raul Valle’s familiar voice answered with a calm and friendly greeting. “Raul Valle.” Of course, the caller ID would show the school’s name as the origin of the call, so he would answer with a welcoming tone.
Sienna took a deep breath and forced the most pleasant and professional tone of voice she could muster. “Hello, Mr. Valle. This is Sienna Andrews, Sophia’s teacher.”
“Yes, hello, Mrs. Andrews. What can I do for you?” His voice was even, no hint of surprise.
“As you know from the school calendar, next week are the end of the school year conferences. I actually need to get as many of mine done this week instead. I’d like to schedule a time with you, if you are in town to discuss Sophia’s progress during this summer semester and her placement for next year.”
“I have to go out of town for business beginning tomorrow. Luisa would of course come in whenever you need her to.”
“Could you come this afternoon or early this evening?” Sienna pressed. “Of all my families, you are one of the most involved fathers. And this meeting is really important to agree on the correct first grade placement for Sophia. She is very bright and has made major advances during this summer semester. There are a few options that you will need to consider.”
There was a delay. Sienna’s eyes intently focused on Anthony’s as she waited.
“Yes, I could make that work,” Valle answered after a length of time that would usually be considered as awkward.
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“Heads up, everyone,” Cooper’s voice came. “Target has entered the lot.”
Within the building, Garcia informed Sienna. Her eyes darted to Doc’s and then to Madison’s, who also heard Cooper’s message through their comms.
“Just stick with the plan,” Garcia said. He pressed a quick kiss to Sienna’s lips and then he and Doc went through the doorway that joined Sienna’s class to the room next door and he closed them within.
“Hiccup in the plan,” Cooper broadcast. “The Santana woman and child are with him.”
“Luisa Santana and Sophia are with Valle,” Madison filled Sienna in.
“Oh, no, now what?” Sienna asked.
“We stick to the plan. Xena, Charity will need to get the two females out of the room so you can drug the target,” Cooper ordered.
“Roger that,” Madison said. Her eyes were locked on Sienna’s. “We stick with the plan. You will need to get Sophia and the Santana woman out of this room so we can disable Valle.”
“Xena, you will have to administer the sedative via the ring poke,” Doc said. “I have the correct amount loaded in. Remember you must hit the jugular vein or carotid artery in the neck for it to act as fast as we need it to. As soon as he is out, you let us know and I’ll be in.”
“Roger,” Madison acknowledged. Sienna watched her put the tray of the spiked treats into a drawer to hide them.
A few minutes later, Raul Valle, AKA Ernesto Mendoza walked through the door with Luisa Santana and little Sophia Valle. After Madison was introduced as Student Teacher Ms. Hayes, the five of them sat at the table they had set up for the conference. Sienna had a row of nick-knack toys on her desk that they moved to the table to have several sharp objects that could be blamed on the cut that would be made to hide the tracker.
Sienna began the conference, recapping Sophia’s wonderful school year. She showed her ‘parents’ her most recent work. Madison watched Mendoza closely throughout. He played it cool. And she noted that Sienna held it together. No one would guess she knew the man who sat across from her was responsible for her husband’s death.
Then Sienna laid out the options for first grade. The elementary school had a first-second wing with two different types of classes, a traditional, or a looping classroom, where the student has the same teacher for two years. Then she advised them about a magnet school that focused on STEM and had a traditional nine-month school year rather than the year-round schedule at this elementary school.
“One area of concern going into first grade,” Sienna added, “would be if you take Sophia out of school for two continuous months again. If you can schedule future extended trips in the summer, the traditional schedule of the magnet school might be better.”
“That was a one off,” Valle said harshly.
This was a different temperament than Sienna had ever seen from him. She forced a pleasant smile. “Okay, then if that is not a consideration, you can evaluate all three options for what you think is best.”
“Which option do you feel is best for her?” Valle surprised Sienna by asking. She was also surprised by the intense stare he regarded her with.
“I think Sophia will do well in any of the options. I feel it is important to involve the student in the decision too, tour the classrooms and the magnet school, talk about it as a family and decide together,” Sienna said. She glanced at Luisa Santana, who merely smiled politely.
“Can we see outcomes from the different options?” Valle asked, again surprising Sienna.
“The data is inconclusive,” Madison jumped in. “I’ve done quite a bit of research into alternative classroom models, and the outcomes are as individual as the students, the program, and the teachers. I can go over that with you during the next section of this conference.”
“Sophia, I can show you the first-second wing right now, while Ms. Hayes completes the conference with your dad,” Sienna said. She turned back to Valle. “Since our Student Teacher needs to complete several solo conferences as part of her rotation, I’d like to leave you to speak with her further about her research into outcomes, while I show Sophia the first-grade rooms. Would that be okay?”
Valle glanced between the two women. That was the first hint of suspicion Madison picked up on. “Perhaps you could just step out, Mrs. Andrews. Call me overprotective, but I know the school is more than half-vacant and the security is lax. I just don’t like the idea of my daughter wandering around without me.”
Sienna wasn’t sure what to say to that. Her eyes flashed to Madison’s.
“I’m required to complete one section of the conference without the student present with one of her parents,” Madison said.
“Usually, the student just hangs out in the hallway with the classroom teacher while the Student Teacher completes the conference,” Sienna added.
Valle’s eyes shifted uncomfortably between the women. “Luisa, you should go on the tour of the first-second wing as well.”
Luisa came to her feet immediately. “Come, Sophia, let’s go take a look.”
“Great, we’ll be back in a few minutes,” Sienna said. She closed the door behind herself after she had ushered Luisa and Sophia out into the hall.
Madison handed the placement sheet to Mendoza across the table, purposely missing his hand. The paper wafted to the floor. “Sorry,” she said, getting up to retrieve it.
She came beside him and placed the paper on the desk in front of him. As she pointed out the sections with the different options and relayed the anticipated outcomes, she eyed his neck. The pulsing of his vein was clear. In one smooth, quick motion, she pressed her hand, with the ring, to his neck and injected the sedative.
Mendoza glanced at her and formed the word, “fuck,” before he collapsed.
“He’s down,” Madison said quietly to alert the others. “Repeat, target is down.”
The adjoining classroom door swung open. Garcia and Doc rushed through. Doc quickly glanced over his skin, palpitating for the proper fat to muscle ratio.
“I can inject the tracker here in the upper arm,” Doc said. Then he lined the device up. He dispensed the tracker into Mendoza’s arm, and quickly followed with a superficial laceration with his scalpel beside it. He rubbed the edge of the metal star figure to the wound, transferring some blood onto it, and then laid it on the ground beside Mendoza’s still figure. He nodded at Madison. “Charlie, we’re ready. Target should regain consciousness in fifteen minutes.” Then he and Garcia disappeared back within the adjoining classroom.
“Roger that, Alpha,” Taco’s slight east coast accented voice broadcast through everyone’s comms. He pulled out from behind the building that hid the ambulance, hit his lights and siren and proceeded towards the school.
Sienna delayed Sophia and Luisa Santana in the library for as long as she could, showcasing the computer lab that the first graders used several times a week. She hoped the others in the room would be done long before they reentered. She paused at the classroom door after she had cracked it open and spoke loud enough so that anyone within would clearly hear that she was there. “I can set that appointment and tour up of Magna Academy if you would like before you make a decision, but at least you have seen the first-second wing and the options there.” Not hearing anything within, she opened the door slowly, glancing in to find only Madison, kneeling on the floor beside Raul Valle’s still body. “Oh my God! What happened?” She rushed in followed by Luisa and Sophia.
“He just passed out,” Madison said. “I dialed nine-one-one.”
“Padre!” Sophia yelled. Luisa Santana restrained her when she tried to rush to her father.
Just then, the sirens were heard pulling into the lot. The ambulance pulled up in front of the building, it’s flashing lights momentarily coming through the open classroom blinds before the ambulance drove forward to the main entrance.
Taco and Powder, in EMT apparel rushed into the room, each carrying a hard-sided medical kit. They attached leads to the unconscious man’s chest and displayed his heart rhythm on the screen. Powder was taking his blood pressure as he came slowly awake, reacting with a start.
“Stop!” Mendoza commanded as he pushed the EMT’s away with both his flailing hands. “What did you do to me?”
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br /> “You passed out, sir,” Taco said. “Please lay still so we can examine you.”
“I’m fine,” Mendoza argued.
“Do you have a history of blackouts or seizures, sir?” Taco asked.
“I said I’m fine!” Mendoza repeated with more force. He pulled at the EKG leads.
“Sir, you lost consciousness,” Taco said, leaning in and flashing a penlight into each eye.
“Get off me!” Mendoza pushed Taco away.
“Let me at least clean and bandage that wound,” Powder said.
Mendoza’s eyes flashed to his arm. “What the hell?”
Powder lifted the bloodied star from the floor beside him. “Looks like you cut it on this.”