| The Ties That Bind Episode 13 |
| ** "One more move like that and you're dead." Richard Daniels held a tight death grip around Maureen Webb's neck. "It wasn't smart to get Dominguez and Chamberlain involved. "You shouldn't be here." Maureen struggled to break free of Richard's grip as he held her against the car. "If it weren't for you and your big mouth, that wouldn't be a problem, now would it?" Richard knew that Maureen's statements had a lot to do with his being fired. "I'll go to the police. Carmen already knows." Maureen and Carmen called Joe Dominguez and the SIU the week before to let them know that Richard had reappeared and was harassing them for what happened the year before. "You and Carmen won't be alive long enough. You ruined my life and I'll ruin yours." He slammed her against the car and ran off into the trees that surrounded the school. Richard knew the area well and he'd know where to hide. Maureen struggled to regain her composure a moment before she ran into the school. She went straight into the main office and walked into Carmen Thomas' office. "Carmen, he was here. We need to stop this before it gets any worse." "I'll call Captain Bridges once classes start." Carmen could tell Maureen was shaken from what just went on. ** "Captain Bridges, this is Carmen Thomas. We had spoken last week?" Carmen knew the phone call couldn't wait any longer. "Yes. What's new?" Nash had anticipated it wouldn't be long before she called him back, men like Richard Daniels just don't go away. "He's made some threats. I think he's serious." There was no way Carmen was going to risk the lives of the faculty or students with Richard Daniels on the lose. "I see. Do you want me to put someone inside?'' Nash already had the perfect plan in mind. "Can we be discreet? I don't want to scare the children or the parents." The last thing Carmen needed was to bring the parents into this again, that's what got them into the situation to begin with. "Absolutely. I'll call you with the details this afternoon. We'll have someone in there tomarrow." ** "I've got a gig for you two tomarrow.'' Nash looked across the table at Joe and Rachel. "What kind of gig?" Joe was intrigued, hoping it was something interesting since Nash didn't use that term often to describe their assignments. "Riley School. They need two officers to come in and do a presentation about safety and the law. You two are perfect." Nash smiled as he saw their faces change. "I told them you'd be there at ten, Ronnie's got some stuff set up for you two and he'll tell you the details." Nash didn't want Joe to worry about Lucia's safety, he thought as long as Joe and Rachel were there, everything would be fine. ** "Hey, Nash. Have you seen Rachel?" Harvey had been looking for her all afternoon. "She and Joe are with Ronnie. Their giving a presentation tomarrow at Riley School." Nash chuckled at the the thought of Joe and Rachel with a gymnasium full of kids. "What's up?'' ''I just wanted to to run some facts by her. It can wait." "Okay. Do you have a minute to run a search on Richard Daniels?" Nash wanted to check out his record before he got too far into planning tomarrow's schedule. "Sure. Why?" "He was fired from Riley almost a year ago. A bit of a disgruntled employee. He's been harassing some of the staff recently and has been seen on the property. The school wanted to wait and not cause a commotion. They called and I convinced them to let me put Rachel and Joe in after he made some threats." Rachel and Joe were the best options for the case. Joe knew the school system from his kids and Rachel had a kind, motherly quality about her when she was around kids. "I see, do Rachel and Joe know about Daniels?" Harvey wondered exactly what they had been told about the case. "They know enough. Get me those files A.S.A.P.'' Nash walked off and Harvey wondered why the whole deal seemed so suspicious to him. Something wasn't right. ** It was well after ten and Nash was still at the SIU perusing the files Harvey had given him on Daniels. Things were a lot worse than he anticipated. He couldn't risk telling Joe and having him back out now... ** Joe looked across the car at Rachel as they drove over to Riley School. "How'd Nash pick us for this gig anyways?" He had wondered why Nash would chose him and Rachel for a job like this knowing they'd could probably be much more productive doing something else. "You're the one with the daughter here." That was the only logical reason Rachel could find for Nash placing Joe on the case, but that still didn't explain her own presence. "It's your fatherly image backed up by the law, Joe." "I know, but why are you here? Are you exuding some type of matronly, motherly influence or what?" Joe couldn't picture Rachel with kids, not meaning she'd be a bad parent, but that she's still a little kid-like herself. He didn't know the whole story. "No, I'm probably here to represent equality in the workplace." As the approached the school, Rachel asked "are you ready to do this?" "Let's go get this over with. Maybe Lucia's friends will think I'm cool." Joe smiled, imagining all of Lucia's friends wanting his autograph at the end when the whole ridiculous scare was over. "Don't push it, Joe." ** ''Thanks for coming today. Nash and I have already discussed everything and I've got the younger kids with you for now and we'll switch after lunch. I've spoken with all the teachers and they know what's going on. Are you two ready?" Rachel and Joe wondered how Carmen could be so calm and collected with a madman threatening her school. Rachel and Joe shook their heads, they were as ready as they could be. "Let's go." Carmen led Rachel and Joe towards the gym. Rachel was initially overwhelmed by all the kids. "Come on, McCabe. This is no time for you to be quiet.'' Joe smiled and waved as they walked through the gym while Rachel remained stiff and nervous. "No wonder why kids are afraid of cops, loosen up.'' "Kids, this is Inspector McCabe and Lieutenant Domingues. They're here today to talk about keeping safe and the law. I want you to give them your full attention. After lunch, the other group will come in and you'll have storytime today in the library.'' She paused a moment, "they're all yours. I'm in the office if you need me." Joe smiled and took the floor, much to Rachel's relief. "I'm Lieutenant Dominguez..." ** "That wasn't a smart move, Captain. You shouldn't have put two officers inside." Richard Daniels laughed wickedly into the phone. "Guess they'll be around for the show." He connected the wires to the bomb he had rigged in the school's basement. This was the last of the explosives he had to set up, "or fireworks so-to-speak." "Don't do anything stupid, Daniels." "I don't have anything to lose. Hope you said your good-byes this morning." Daniels began to walk up the stairs from the basement and head towards the gym. "Such a wonderful presentation they're putting on, too bad it will have to end so soon." Daniels hung up the phone, "should'nt be long now at all, kids. Mr. Daniels will return." Nash stood for a moment over his desk, carefully considering his next move. Harvey came up to him with the paperwork he had requested. "Get back up from Bayside and Sunset over to Riley School. Daniels has the place rigged and he's not about to go down alone." Nash had faith in Rachel and Joe that they'd do everything in their power to keep those kids safe. "How long do we have?" Harvey wasn't sure how quickly he could get word out to the other stations and get their guys prepared. "Not long enough. We've got to get there quick." Nash didn't know what to do next, he didn't want to jeopardize the lives of two officers or those kids, there had to be a way out. ** Joe was beginning his slide show presentation as Rachel's cell phone began to ring. She walked out of the gym to answer. "McCabe." "Rachel, it's me." "You're interrupting his slide show." "Get those kids out of there and quick. He's inside and he's got the place rigged." "What?" "He's got explosives set up in the school and he's most likely armed. Get your kids out of the gym and the rest to a secure area, like the basement. Harvey already called Carmen and the back up. We'll be there soon.'' A look of terror now crossed Rachel's face, he hadn't warned them it could be as bad as this. "Okay." Rachel hung up her phone and placed it back in her pocket. She walked back into the gym. Joe saw her approaching and walked to meet her half way. "That was Nash, we have to get everyone out." "Okay. Let's go." Joe stopped the slide show and walked to the front of the gymnasium, whistling loudly to get their attention. "Kids, remember how I said we might have a practice emergency drill today? It's time. Find a teacher and let's go." As the kids scurried about the gym, a great deal of noise was made. "Remember, keep real quiet.'' ** Joe and Rachel each led a group of kids outside to practice their drill, hoping they'd be safe. The other kids were taken to the basement of the school with their teachers. As the teachers they were with took attendance, they noticed two girls were missing from the kindergarten class. One of the frantic teachers approached Joe, who was busy scanning the children's faces for that of his daughter. "Two girls are missing. They must be in the bathroom. I have to go back in." She pointed to the second floor window. "I have to go." "You can't go back, not with Daniels inside." Joe wasn't about to risk the life of another person. ''We can't just leave the girls in there." Joe looked over to consult Rachel, who was already running back towards the school. Joe hurried to catch up, "McCabe. No! You can't go back in there.'' Joe turned around to find Nash walking up along the lawn. "Where's McCabe?" Nash looked among the crowd of teachers, students and parents that had already arrived but she was no where to be found. "There's two girls missing, she went back inside.'' Joe hated to tell Nash that Rachel had gone back in, especially after Nash had given orders that once they were out --- they were to stay out. "Dammit." Nash knew she'd do something like that, it was that damn maternal instinct. He would've done it himself when the coast was clear if he had been there, but he knew there was no way Rachel was going to sit around and wait if children's lives depended on her decision. Another officer approached them. Joe impatiently asked the officer, ''have you found Lucia yet?" "No, we think she's one of the girls that's still inside." "NO!" Joe struggled to break Nash's grip as he held him back so he wouldn't run in. "Joe, if you go in there, there's a good chance we'll never see those girls or McCabe again.'' This was an option Nash wasn't willing to accept. ** Rachel went quietly up the stairs, listening for the girls or Daniels. She followed the sound of the girls down the hall. Rachel could hear one of them in a room at the other end. She slowly walked down the hallway, with her gun ready to fire. She approached the room and looked in, finding Lucia tied to a chair in the front of the classroom. She struggled to make a sound. Rachel crept across the floor and set her gun down on the desk so she could untie her. "Lucia, everything's going to be okay.'" Rachel wondered where Daniels and the other girl were. Rachel undid the gag around Lucia's mouth first, hoping she'd be able to tell her something. "Do you know where Mr. Daniels is?" "He went down the hall. I want my daddy.'' Lucia was beginning to cry and Rachel couldn't risk Daniels knowing she was inside. "I know, but right now, we have to stay very quiet so we can get you and your friend out of here." Daniels walked back towards the room after checking the bombs, sure everything would go as planned. He walked into the room, remaining completely silent after seeing Rachel there with Lucia, he hid behind the door. Rachel reached for her phone, so she could let Nash know she found Lucia. She began to dial and hit send, it began to ring. "Come on Nash, pick up..." "Nice work, Inspector. But you're not getting out of here. One move, and you're dead." Daniels took the phone out of her hand and put it to his own ear, waiting for Nash to pick up as he held her wrists together with his other hand. "McCabe?" Nash was startled to see her number on his cell phone. "Let me talk to Dominguez." Joe was the one Richard had the problem with, and he wanted to make a bargain. "Dominguez speaking," Joe was willing to do just about anything as long as his little girl was okay. "You cant undo the damage you've already done with my reputation, so what's your little girl and her friend worth to you, Joseph?" He figured Joe would offer anything at this point. "What do you want?" "Maybe a call to Inger would set your mind straight?" "What are you trying to do?" "Are they worth the life of your pretty little partner, the one you keep on the side? Bet the other parents wouldn't look kindly upon their SIU Lieutenant cheating on his wife." Richard assumed Rachel was having an affair with Joe after seeing them together in public and since she had been with him to pick up Lucia on more than one occasion. "What?" Joe knew he was talking about Rachel, but he didn't understand why he'd think they were having an affair. "I've seen you with her. Nice touch, Dominguez. Sending in the girlfriend to rescue the kid so you can save your marriage." "You're sick." "You thought I'd tell your wife. You helped Maureen get the school board to fire me by pulling up my records so I wouldn't squeal. Looks like you're going to lose your family just like I lost mine." Richard's wife had left him and taken their children after he was fired from the school. He had never told her about his prior record with the police. Joe threw the phone down in disgust, Nash picked it up. "Tell Dominguez I'll call him back in two minutes, he has to decide between his little girl and his lover. I'll let you know about the other kid later." Richard hung up the phone. "Care to tell me what the hell's going on between you and McCabe?" Nash looked at Joe, wondering what he missed. There was no explanation to be given, nothing had gone on. It was all part of Daniels' plot. ** Nash's phone rang exactly two minutes later, as Daniels held his gun to Rachel's head after tying her arms. Lucia was standing next to Rachel, too afraid to move after she had been instructed not to by Daniels. "So, what's it going to be? The homewrecking partner or your daughter?" Richard looked at Rachel and Lucia, knowing Joe would be truly torn. He leaned in to whisper in Rachel's ear, "guess your affair ends here. Better tell your lover good-bye, Rachel." Joe looked at Nash, and then gave his reply. "Give me Lucia." "He chose his daughter, no surprise there. Perhaps you'd like to make a final request of Joe? I mean, he did just condemn you to die. Tell Joe to admit he doctored my records to get me out, so I wouldn't expose your little affair to his wife and friends and maybe I'll let the other girl live." Richard put the phone to Rachel's ear. "I'm going to release her, I'll deal with you when I get back." Richard watched her for a moment as she began to speak. "Joe, tell them you lied. Admit about our affair and tell them you doctored his file.'' Rachel thought for a moment after Richard left the room. Fearing he'd return the moment she said anything that might help them outside, she began in Spanish, "por favor, no haces nada. Todavia no puedo encontrar la otra nina. Ayudame." Nash looked at Joe, "is that Rachel? What's she saying?" Joe was astounded by Rachel's idea to speak in Spanish, realizing he'd be the only one to understand. It took a minute to process. "Esperate." (Wait.) "She said we shouldn't do anything, she still hasn't found the other little girl and she needs help." Rachel waited while he updated Nash. "No se lo que el va a hacer. Por favor, si muera, dile a Nash para informar mi familia. El va a entender." Rachel knew that if she died, Nash would tell her family and he'd let Cecilia's adoptive parents know what happened. Joe looked at Nash, knowing that Rachel was willing to die for her job and to save his daughter. "She said she doesn't know what he's going to do. If she dies, she wants you to talk to her family. She said you'd understand." Nash realized what she meant. Richard walked back into the room, "she's on her way, Joe." Richard looked at Rachel and grabbed the phone. "Go get your kid, Dominguez. Put Bridges on.'' He paused while Nash picked up the phone. "Hope you said your good-byes.'' "Let me talk to Rachel." Nash wasn't going to let her die, not now. Richard considered it for a second and put the phone to her ear. "Rachel, it's me, Nash. We're gonna get you out of there. Don't worry." "Does he have Lucia?" Nash looked forward to see Joe running to grab Lucia as she came out of the building. "Yes, he does. We'll get you out of there in no time." Richard took the phone away and began. "Bridges, I've decided. I'm gonna keep the other girl." Richard hung up and pulled Rachel towards the door, "let's go." ** "This is really good, Inspector. This other little girl I've got here, her father also signed the petition to get me fired. He was the school's lawyer. Too bad Cecilia Chamberlain's father can't revoke his decision. Think he'd change his mind?" Bill Chamberlain was even more a part of this than Dominguez was, his daughter was the ideal target. Rachel was paralyzed with fear upon hearing the little girls's name. She wasn't going to let him kill her, even if it meant she had to die herself. "Joe said he'd tell everyone what he did, leave her and the other kids alone. You've got me.'' Rachel didn't care what she had to do, but he wasn't going to get the little girl. "That's really not enough. These people cost me my job, my family, my friends --- my life. There's no hope for me. I want these people to suffer as I have.'' He showed Rachel the detonator, "the bomb's in the basement, where you'll be joining them." Richard led Rachel over towards the stairs, "once I hit this, forty-five seconds and it's all over --- kind of like how it was with Dominguez, huh?" Richard gave an evil smile and shoved her down the stairs with one clean push. "I guess we should both learn our lessons from sleeping with co-workers.'' Richard headed back down the hall towards the other stair case. Rachel struggled to move from where she had landed. One of the teachers came out from a doorway to help her. "Are you okay?" She worked quickly to untie Rachel's hands. Rachel wasn't going to let her pain allow him to get away. "Get the kids out. There's a bomb in the basement." The teacher helped pull Rachel up. "Move it! Don't worry about me. Keep the kids in the back." She ran to get the other kids out. Rachel stumbled as she tried to go up the stairs. She pulled her gun from her ankle holster and continued up. ** Rachel could hear Richard down the hall, she walked down towards the room. She found him in front of a window, holding Cecilia. From what she could see, he was making his final address as she saw everyone looking on. ''I'm sorry everyone, but this is how it has to be." Luckily, Richard didn't know she informed the teacher about the bomb and that the kids had gotten out. Rachel aimed her gun; she had a clear shot to his chest as long as Cecilia didn't move, she'd be okay. Rachel couldn't risk this girl's life. She closed her eyes and fired. Richard slumped down and sent Cecilia to the floor. The detonator fell from his hand, his weak arm reached for it. "No inspector, you're not gonna win. You're not gonna take this from me.'' She threw herself to the ground, sliding to knock the detonator from his outstretched hand. He pressed the button as the it hit her palm. Richard grabbed her arm to hold her down, she fired again with her free hand. Rachel had hit his leg this time, disabling him in pain for the time being. "Cecilia, run to the window." Cecilia looked at her, completely confused as Rachel struggled to get up. "NOW!" Rachel slumped back down and hit her head. Harvey saw Cecilia by the window and shouted to Nash, "there's the little girl. Grab the ladder." Nash quickly directed the fire department crew towards the window where Harvey saw the girl. He sent Antwon over. Antwon climbed the ladder and reached up, missing the window sill by a foot. "I can't reach her, she's too far.'' Rachel opened her eyes and saw fifteen seconds remaining on the timer. Cecilia was sitting on the window ledge. "I can't reach. I'll fall.'' Rachel moved as quickly as she could and tried to reach up to the window ledge from her position. She couldn't do it. As she saw Daniels starting to stir, she stood up momentarily and handed Cecilia to Antwon. "Get her down, the place is going to blow. Move it Antwon!" Antwon passed the little girl down to Harvey as the EMTs came towards the building with a guerney. Rachel looked at the counter, six seconds remained. "Rachel, I'm coming up." Antwon tried to hurry back up the wrungs. "No, don't move. You've only got four seconds." Richard grabbed her leg and pulled her down to the floor. "You're not getting out of this alive." Once Rachel disappeared from his view, Antwon quickly backed down the ladder and ran. Rachel held her gun and aimed it at Richard, "think again." "Rachel! Rachel! Nooooooooooooooooo!" The far end of the building blew up and the explosions rapidly advanced. Everyone was sure she was gone after they heard a shot. Rachel fired again at Richard, hitting his hand this time. She had no time left before their section of the school would blow. She looked out the window and decided it was her only way out. Before Richard could stop her, she sat upon the window sill and jumped, falling two stories. "Rachel!" Nash ran to her side as soon as she hit the ground. He picked her up and ran back towards the crowd, anticipating the building would blow up... but it never did. He hadn't rigged the entire school as he said he would. ** "Harvey, I have to stick around and check things out. Can you ride with McCabe to the hospital?" Nash had wanted to go himself, but he wanted to be assured that Richard Daniels hadn't gotten out alive. "Sure.'' Harvey looked down at Rachel, thinking back to their afternoon in Monterrey the week before. "Looks like you're stuck with me again.'' Rachel gave a weak smile, "guess I'm just lucky." Nash waited until Harvey and Rachel left before he went to talk to one of the other officers. "Did they find Daniels yet?" Nash hadn't heard any big commotion, but he was hoping Daniels would be dead. "No Captain, we think he may have gotten away after Inspector McCabe jumped.'' Daniels was no where insight when they inspected the building, their final conclusion was that he escaped. "Dammit. Make sure somebody is at the hospital 24/7 with McCabe and at the Dominguez place until this guy is caught.'' He didn't want any further incident between Daniels and the SIU. "Yes, Captain." He waited a moment, "is there anything else?" "Have they gotten an ID yet off that other girl?" "Yes. Cecilia Chamberlain. We called her house and her father is overseas. Her nanny is with her now. She'll be fine." The name was all Nash needed to hear, he instantly knew who the girl was. ** |
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