Fic: Lead (Numb3rs, David Sinclair / Ian Edgerton, Charlie Eppes / Colby Granger)
Title: Lead
Fandom: Numb3rs
Pair: Charlie Eppes / Colby Granger,
David Sinclair / Ian Edgerton,
Don Eppes / Martin Fridegord
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Not mine, etc.
Feedback: Always Welcome
NUMB3RS Main List
Follows:
Replacement
Increasingly Creepy
Scorched
and
Unknown Territory
“Let’s think about this.” Don took a black marker and wiped the whiteboard clean. “Carson left last night after eight. He took several boxes with him.” He marked the time on the board. “He called the office this morning at five thirteen.”
“David left to work at six. The local PD got the call about the car fire at eight twenty-three. We have no sightings of him between them.” Colby continued. He glanced to the corner where Ian was stretching his knuckles. He hadn’t said a word since they had returned to the office.
“We got something.” Parker announce and bounced in. “Carson’s car was spotted in Mount Washington after midday.”
“Any idea where he was going?” Don perked up.
“No, but that was just the first half of it. Few hours later a man fitting his description was seen driving back here in a different car.”
“So he dumped his own car and got another one, but why would he come back?” Don mused. “He must know we’re looking for him.”
“Unless he left David somewhere before he turned back.” Charlie opened some maps on the computer screen. “Jenny, can you show me the place where he was seen after twelve?”
Parker leaned closer and pointed to a spot on the map.
“And when he was driving back?” Charlie stared at the two points. He hit Print, and turned back to Parker. “How much time was there between those sightings?”
“Wait a sec….” She glanced at her notes. “Two hours and…… twenty minutes.”
“Good…..” Charlie took the print and draw a circle on it. “Considering the available roads and the amount of time he needed to drive back he had to stop somewhere here to switch cars.”
“And maybe dump David.” Don added. “What kinda area is that?”
“Empty.” Charlie tapped few keys to enlarge the map on the screen. “There’s something…. What’s that?” He pointed to a mark on the map.
“That’s…..” Parker snapped the map down and started tapping the keys furiously. “Aha! It’s a junkyard.” She paused. “They mainly recycle metal. Like cars.”
A long silence followed. Don and Ian were the first ones to react. Both headed to the door and Don turned back to talk to Parker. “Call them right now, they got to stop all activities in that place till we get there, and get locals to search the place.” He was interrupted by his own cell phone. “Eppes. Where? Are they sure? Thanks.”
“”What?” Ian demanded.
“The same car Carson came back with was found. It was parked on the streets, couple blocks from your place.”
“I’m going there.”
“We gotta wait for back-up-”
“No.” Ian stated. “You go check out the junkyard, I’ll handle this.”
“You can’t-”
“Try to stop me.”
“I’m not going to stop you.”
“I know.” Ian walked out.
-------------------------------------------------------
He twisted the key in the lock and opened the door. His went straight to his gun holster. The noises made it easy to determine where Carson was. Footsteps were coming from the living room, accompanied by a faint sound of music. Ian listened more carefully. It was that same awful band David had been playing constantly in the car ever since their album came out couple weeks ago.
Ian grasped his gun in his hand and silently moved to the living room. The sigh made him blink several times before it sunk in. Taylor was standing in the middle of the room, rummaging a pile of clothes. He had shaved his head and his clothes looked familiar. David’s suit and the same tie he had worn last week.
Taylor noticed Ian and gave him a wide grin.
“Sorry about the mess. That closet in the bedroom is a mess, it was just easier this way.”
“What the hell are you playing?”
“I’m not playing, I’m totally real.”
“Where’s David?”
“Don’t worry, he’s not coming back.”
“Where is he?”
“Why do you keep asking that? I’m here. Anything he can do for you, I can do better. By the way, you like the hair? If this is what you want in a man I can do that.”
“Where is he?”
“What’s wrong with you?” Taylor let out an exasperated sigh. “Why do people always make the wrong choices? No matter how I try make them see it, they just stick to their illusions. I’m perfect for you. I’ll do anything for you. That’s how it is. You don’t need anyone else.”
Ian shoved his gun back to the holster.
“You know how Eppes and Granger and all those people work? They conduct interrogations and go into those mind games, try different tactics, waiting and waiting to get something out of their guy.”
He grabbed Taylor by the collar of his shirt and showed him against the wall.
“I don’t play those games.”
-------------------------------------------------------
“He’s not answering his phone.” Colby hung up and looked out of the window. “Are we close?”
“Maybe ten minutes.” Don answered, trying to focus on driving. He snapped his cell phone open and put the call on speaker. “Eppes.”
“It’s me.” Parker greeted. “The locals tried to call you but they couldn’t get through.”
“Went drove some time in the woods, the signal comes and goes.”
“Anyway, they found something from the junkyard.”
TBC