3D2Victoria

"Alright people. We've still got a lot of work to do." Nash surveyed the faces of his team. He had ordered them to return to the SIU for a quick conference. All three explosive devices had been found and lay inert on the table in front of them. Luckily, there were no casualties. This time. Now his team was faced with the task of locating this nut before another bomb was set off, or worse. "Any leads on Marshall's whereabouts?"

Harvey vaulted from his chair. "Nash, you know this was way too easy. There's something else going on. I can feel it in my gut."

"I agree Bubba, but one thing at a time. Joe, do we have any idea where Marshall might be hiding?"

"No. The last anybody saw or heard from him was before the bust two weeks ago. Not even a peep since."

Evan leaned over the back of his chair and pulled Marshall's file toward him for a closer inspection. "I thought this guy had skipped town."

"Maybe he came back," Michelle wondered. "Unfinished business."

"But why?" Evan flipped the pages, hoping to find an answer somewhere inside.

Michelle pulled up to the table. "We did close this guy's operation down. That can't have gone over too well with his bosses in Jersey."

Nash rubbed his jaw. "Ah, I don't think so. If the mafiosos were really upset with Marshall, I doubt he'd still be alive."

"There's got to be somebody who knows this guy's deal." Michelle fiddled nervously with the cap to her water bottle. "What about his right hand man. Martin Spence or something?"

"Martin Spencer." Joe shook his head. "I doubt we'd have any luck there. He went into hiding about that same time."

"What about...?"

Nash held up his hand. Harvey was standing with his back to the group. Nash tried to draw him back into the conversation. "Harvey, you knew Marshall. Any ideas on where he might be hiding?"

Harvey turned from the window. "I don't know boss. It's been so long. We weren't all that close at the Academy. After he got kicked out that first semester I didn't keep track of the guy. He was always bad
news."

"How so?"

"Well..."

"Excuse me, Captain. This just arrived by messenger." Ronnie handed Nash a small brown envelope.

"Thanks Ronnie." Nash ripped open the package. His eyebrows drew together in a frown. "Harvey, it's for you."

"Me?"

"Yeah. Looks like your friend Rick sent us another calling card." Nash handed Harvey a small digital computer disk, "Can we make a copy of this before we boot it up? I don't want a repeat of this morning."

"No problem. Give me five minutes." Harvey headed out front to his computer terminal, followed closely by his colleagues.

"Evan. Hold on a minute, will ya?"

"Sure Nash. What's up?"

"I want to know if Harvey's instructor from the Academy had any insights into Marshall's motivation."

"Not really. He did say though that Harv and Rick had a big falling out over something mid-semester."

"Any idea what that was?"

"Nope. All he said was that Harvey and this Marshall guy were like oil and water for two months."

"Ok. Thanks."

Nash picked up his coffee cup, went topside for a refill, and stepped outside momentarily to catch some air. He didn't like the way this investigation was going. There was definitely bad blood between Marshall and Harvey, but he hoped that whatever it was wouldn't interfere with the case at hand. Time was slipping away. The longer Marshall stayed at large the harder it was going to be to catch him.

~~~~~~~~

"Hi Harvey. It's been a long time, hasn't it...pal?" Harvey shifted uncomfortably in his chair. The image was jumpy, but Rick Marshall's face was clearly visible this time. He wasn't attempting to hide anymore.

"Oh by the way, since you and I are such GOOD friends, I'll let you in on a little secret. In the future I suggest you keep a shorter leash on that wife of yours. Let's just sat that Bonnie is...well, that little lady of yours is quite a free spirit, if you catch my meaning."

Harvey clenched his jaw. The pencil he gripped tightly in his left hand snapped like a twig as Rick's laughter echoed hollowly in his ears. And even though Nash, Evan, Michelle and Joe didn't say anything, he was aware of their startled reactions to Rick's 'confession'.

Harvey resisted the urge to put a fist through the computer screen as Marshall continued. "...certainly has been an interesting day. But the fun's not over yet. I've got one more chore for you to do today. Let's just hope you are up tp the challenge. I have planted another bomb. Just one this time, Harvey dear, so you shouldn't have too much trouble defusing it, provided you can get there in time." A computer generated image of the Golden Gate Bridge popped up on the screen. "At precisely 5:01 PM this afternoon I will detonate another bomb. The device is strapped to the bridge's central support structure. If you can get to it, dear friend, you might be able to disarm it in time. If not, rush hour will have a whole new meaning."

Michelle's face was white. "Oh my God!"

"Can you believe this guy?" Evan shot up out of his seat.

"All those people."

"The bridge's gonna be packed. And with the long weekend..."

Nash held up a hand to silence the two younger inspectors. "Chen. Cortez. Quiet."

Harvey watched the animation sequence unfolding before him. If his eyes could be believed, the bomb was at the base of the largest structural support, and at least ten to fifteen feet below the surface of the water.

As soon as the animation sequence had finished, Marshall's face once again fazed into focus. "I only have two rules. No one, and I mean NO ONE besides Harvey gets within thirty feet of the bridge. If anybody
else tries to defuse, disarm, touch or monkey with this bomb I will light the fuse. Trust me, I'll do it. Now Captain Bridges...bridges, get it?" Marshall seemed pleased with himself for being so clever. "You and your team can try to divert traffic off the bridge, but only with the condition that no cops step foot on the bridge, is that clear? Ok. That's it. Happy hunting gentlemen...see you on the flip side." The video file stopped on the image of Rick Marshall's smiling face. The image stayed frozen on Harvey's computer screen, his grin twisted and grotesque. Harvey glanced at his watch. It was 4:12.

Nash moved into high gear. "Ok people. Let's move. We've got forty-five minutes. Joe, coordinate the evacuation. Make sure the unies know the score."

"You got it Nashman."

"Michelle, you take the south end and Evan, I want you positioned at the north end of the bridge. Make sure you're at least fifty feet from the nearest approach. I don't want this guy getting trigger happy." Nash picked up his phone and dialed the Harbour Master. "We'll have to get you there by boat. Harvey?"

Harvey sat unmoving, his gaze fixed on the frozen image on his monitor.

"HARV!"

"Huh?" Harvey swiveled around in his chair. "I'm sorry Nash. What?"

"Are you gonna be able to handle this? I need to know."

"No problem. You can count on me boss." Harvey just hoped he'd be able to deliver. If the claustrophobia didn't get him, he would still have to deal with the freezing cold temperatures of San Francisco Bay in mid-November. Harvey shuddered. This was not going to be easy.

~~~~~~~~~

"MOVE IT! We don't have much time. I want to be out of here in twenty minutes." Rick packed up the laptop in preparation for his departure. "Everything goes. Not a trace, got it?"

"Yes sir." Martin gathered up the files from the table and started loading them into boxes. He watched Rick carefully, contemplating whether he should question his boss about the tape they'd just made.

"What is it?"

"I'm sorry?"

"You want to ask me something, It's written all over your face."

"Um..."

"Spit it out." Rick yanked open the drawer to his deck and started dumping the contents into a packing crate. "I haven't got all day."

"Did you really sleep with Leek's wife? Or was that just to piss him off?"

"Yeah. I did." Rick leaned back in his chair and smiled. "He had it coming."

"But..."

Rick was beginning to loose patience. He picked up a paperweight off the desk and tossed it in Martin's direction, narrowly missing his target. "What?!"

"It's just that, well... I mean, that explains what his problem is with you, but I still don't understand why you hate him so much."

"It was payback." Marshall resumed his work. "That choir boy is the reason I got kicked out of the Academy. If it wasn't for him I'd have made it."

"And so...?"

"NO! I've finished answering your questions. Now get back to work. I'm sure they've gotten our little surprise by now so we don't have much time." Rick slammed the drawer closed. "I'll finish in here. OUT!"

Martin quickly retreated from the room, leaving his boss to stew.

Rick had waited for this day for so long. Nothing and no one was going to stop him from getting what he deserved. Before this day was over he was going to se to it that Harvey Leek was dead.

~~~~~~~~