Chapter 73

"Here comes the newest shots from the parks and recreation, Max said." His fingers slapping at the computer keys. As soon as the crime scene swept Paisley Floyd's kitchen, they set up an impromptu at a command center around her kitchen table. Everyone gathered around the monitor, searching the photo's that came up.

Dean shook his head in slow motion. "Brandon chose well. I have lived here half my life and never knew there was a park with so few trees and so much open space."

It was what everyone was thinking. Brandon had called back twice, short calls from pay phones, telling Brian where exactly where to go. He described the sloping valley at the park where he would trade Brian for an unknown woman and child he claimed he currently had. He'd described the open field where kite flying and jogging and Frisbee were popular. and the stone culvert that dipped low in the middle of on field.

The culvert was a dead end. Just drainage for the park, It didn't actually lead anywhere. Just a little stone well where supposedly Brian would find the woman and the little girl.

"That must be it." Harrison said pointing to the screen, each taken from a different angle.

"Christ." Dean muttered. "He can see us coming from three hundred yards."

"How good is your best sniper with a long gun?" Brian asked.

"Four hundred yards if you just want to hit him. Can hit any button you specify at three hundred."

"OK." A button at three hundred yards was pretty good.

Dean; "Doesn't matter anyway. Brandon knew what he was doing. Look at that. Where the hell am I going to put a sniper who can't be seen?"

"What about Brandon?" Harrison asked "A shot gun was missing from Damien's along with three pistols . Brandon could of nabbed a long range rifle, to for all we know. Something didn't show up in inventory."

"Unless he spent part of last year belonging to the military." Stard said, " He dosn't know how to handle rifles. He is a torture man. Rifles are clean and quick, impersonal."

"Not fun at all." said Dean

"You are saying he is only carrying a long dull knife?" Harrison asked.

"The good news is__" Stard began

"There is good news?" Max asked

"Brandon is improvising. This thing with Brian isn't part of what he planned and prepared for. He came to town with antiques, not a G.I. Joe. So either he is desperate, and we have blocked him from doing anything else, or he has found a reason for vendetta against Brian. Because he is with Sarra, probably."

Brian thought about it. Brandon hadn't seemed angry when he spoke about Brian having sex with Sarra, he almost sounded humored. He was more out of control when Brian accused him of killing his sister.

"Enough. Lets get going." Dean said. "Its almost five. We have a plan, as foolish as the plan is." He said looking at Brian. "But we still have to catch him."

"You mean kill him." Brian said and Dean said. "Sure."

They were set up less than an hour later on a concrete slab at under the oaks. They used picnic tables, under a roof that probably leaked when it rained, with two vans filled with electronics and surveillance equipment. Max's cords were strung to a generator in the nearest van, in case he ran out of juice somewhere in the course of the stand off. Brian cringed at the idea it might take that long.

Five agents were in on it. Dean, Max, Stard, Harrison and of course Brian. Dean might have wanted Brian out, but Brandon wanted him in.

Brian unfastened his holster.

"You OK?" Harrison asked.

"Get away from me." Brian growled. "You act like I have never done a hostage situation before."

"I am guessing you have never went up a physco who's hurt someone you love."

Brian gave him a hard look. "Then you don't know me very well, do you?"

Harrison's face lost a shade of color. Brian took pity on him. "I am OK."

And he was. At least now he was finally doing something. Brian was happy to replace Sarra as a target. Come ahead you son of a bitch. He thought. Come get me.

And Brandon had. Unfortunately, a mother and daughter had been his tools. Brian didn't kow to believe him after his first call, which had indeed been traced to the mall. But when Brandon called the second time, Brian heard the woman's terrifying sobs in the background.

"I wanna talk to her." Brian said "And she better be able to talk."

"Talk bitch. Tell the man what's happening."

A voice that was shaky and terrified. "He-h-has my daughter and m-me." Horror drenched her words."He is going to k-kill us."

And then Brandon was back. " So you come. bastard. Come get this Bitch and her kid."

He hung up. Been on the phone too long and knew all about tracing calls.

Brian looked at his watch, almost six thirty. The woman and her child had likely been taken around two, the best he could figure. They still didn't know there identities. No one reported a woman and a child missing. Someone still thought they were spending the day at the mall.

Brian punched in Eddie's number, needing the OK that Sarra is fine and safe.

Eddie answered in a quiet tone. "I just checked on her man, she is out. Fell asleep an hour ago. Do what you gotta do."

Dean and Brian walked to the back of the second van where O'ryan handled magic of television news casting on her head set. "You got the cameras under control?" Dean asked.

"Yeah." she answered. "We moved them all out about twenty minutes ago. Except for that smart ass who was fired from channel 3 last year, Jamie Lynn. He freelances now and gave me a hard time. I threatened to arrest him for obstruction."

Dean rubbed his chin. "I remember him from the assassination attempt on the Governor last year. No morals. And he would sell his own mothers tits to the devil to get something on film."

"Yeah." said O'Ryan. "Your standard reporter."