3C3Victoria

Harvey could see the fire raging ten blocks away. The light filled the sky. It was like a beacon breaking through the fog rolling in across the bay. "Pick up!" Harvey had been trying to reach Evan and Michelle on their cell phones for the past ten minutes. Neither one was answering. "Please be ok." He didn't know what he'd do if either one of them was injured, or worse. He tossed the cell phone onto the seat. Then it started to ring. Glancing at the digital display, he recognized the number as it flashed on the screen. Nash. Harvey tried to ignore the incessant ringing. He had to remember to never tell Ronnie a secret. The other man couldn't bend the truth if his life depended on it.

Finally, Harvey couldn't ignore his cell phone any longer. "Leek."

"Harvey."

"Yes Nash?" Maybe if he played innocent his boss wouldn't get too mad at him. Harvey ran through a yellow and approached the inferno running out of control on the docks.

"I thought I told you to stay put."

"But I have to..."

"When I give you an order I expect you to follow it."

Harvey slammed on the brakes and vaulted out of the Ranchero. "Yes Nash."

Nash sighed. "Look Harv, I know you're worried about them, but I need your expertise on this one."

"What if it was Joe?" He felt guilty using Nash's friendship with Joe against his superior, but Harvey was desperate. Harvey scanned the area madly. It was like pea soup. He couldn't see anything.

Nash was silent for the longest time. "Just get back to the SIU. Joe and I are headed downtown."

"You got it."

"And Harvey?"

"Yes?"

"Call me when you find them."

~~~~~~~~~

Evan touched his throbbing temple. The air had that unmistakable smell. He knew without looking that he was bleeding. "Michelle?" Groaning, Evan weakly pulled himself up onto his knees and looked around the room. He couldn't see Michelle anywhere, but then it was picth black and he had trouble focusing. "Chen?" There was no answer.

~~~~~~~~~

"Nashman. Look over there. Isn't that...?"

"By God yes it is. Ha-ha. Now we've got this guy." Nash and Joe dodged an ambulance as it careened around the corner. "Let's go."

Joe checked his watch. "You think we'll make it?"

"Let's hope so Bubba. If Harvey can work his magic we'll have this last one defused with time to spare." Nash pulled out his cell phone and dialed the familiar number.

"Evan?"

"No. Nash. What's wrong Harvey?"

"I found Michelle. But Evan's missing."

"Missing? What do you mean missing?"

"After the explosion they sat down to wait for the emergency vehicles. Michelle said someone got the drop on her and Evan. She was chloroformed. When the medics revived her Evan was gone."

"Harvey, I want you back at the SIU right away."

"But Evan..."

"I need you to capture the video on this last device. We've only got forty-five minutes before this thing goes off. There's no way the unies are gonna get the core cleared out before three."

There was a pause on the line for the briefest second before Harvey's soft voice responded to Nash. "I understand."

"We'll find him Harvey. I promise you that. But first things first."

Harvey hung up the phone. After checking on Michelle one last time he shuffled towards the Ranchero. The door slammed shut with a thud. "Bro. Wherever you are, I hope you're safe."

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