Part Thirteen

"We let some of the fire fighters in so they could make sure the fire was actually out," said Vic, when she reported to Drake and the local heads of the FBI and Marshals' Service that afternoon. She was in her armor - hastily cleaned though still smelling of smoke - with her helmet in hand. She grinned. "Our evidence people had a bit of trouble keeping them from throwing everything in those rooms off the balcony into the part of the lawn outside the hotel which they had cleared, though."

"Their job is to make sure the fire is out," said Drake, philosophically. "Ours is to preserve the evidence."

"Fortunately, they settled for tearing out the ceiling panels over the actual fire and checking up there. They found some scorching and heat damage, but no fire. They also set up fans to help clear out the smoke. That seemed to satisfy them, at least for the joined suites. They checked some other parts of the hotel - mainly making sure the alarms and sprinklers there were working - then left."

"So far there's no word from the city police," said the FBI Special Agent in Charge Dianne Colby. She grinned at Drake. "When they do respond, if they call me I'll be sure to tell them this was all your idea."

"Gee, thanks," muttered Drake. He sighed. "Actually, that's a good tactic. Chief Soviren is already a lot more upset with me than either of you. Might as well keep it that way."

This was just the preliminary report. The FBI and Marshals' Service would hear in detail from their own people later about the exercise. Vic had no doubt that her own performance would be closely examined.

* * *

"I have to say, I'm impressed with your performance," Drake told Vic, later, in his office. "Both my counterparts are, as well. You're still inexperienced, but you know it, and know when to ask for more experienced help and how to take it gracefully."

"I'm a bit surprised as such a glowing review," said Vic, shifting uneasily, a bit embarrassed. "I mean, I know there was no way the suspects already being gone was my fault, but I half expected someone to say so."

"Oh, a few people did. We bosses know the timing wasn't your fault. However, we did have some criticisms. You can expect a full review in your in basket, probably tomorrow."

"Gee, thanks, boss," said Vic. She sighed, her smile vanishing. "Any clues, yet, on where the thieves went after leaving the hotel?"

"Nothing yet. However, I'm optimistic. The local FBI has some good people. What they can't do, they know to send to the main lab. Also, I notified Sharma of our miss, and she's promised to keep on the case. We'll find them."

* * *

A call the next morning brought Vic to the evidence room of the FBI's section of the federal building. Multiple items from the shared suites she had led the raid on were laid out on tables. As other lab workers performed their sometimes arcane tasks, their supervisor waved to Vic and motioned her over.

"I need you to check something," said Special Agent Flinders, the chief evidence guy for the local FBI, peering at her over his half-frame glasses. He indicated one particularly unsavory item with his vinyl-gloved hand. "Do you smell anything unusual in this trashcan?"

Not sure she wasn't being pranked, Vic leaned in a bit and sniffed cautiously. She looked startled, leaned in closer and took a good sniff.

"Garlic!" said Vic, as she straightened. "Well, lots of other stuff, most of it nasty, but that's what stands out."

"I thought so. I remembered you saying you smelled garlic at that branch bank. So when I caught a whiff of it I figured I'd verify it with you."

He smirked.

"You aren't the only one around here with an educated nose."

"Okay, that's another link - if a fragile one - between the people in the suite and the bank robberies. Does it help us find them, though?"

"Not that alone, but it's a part of the puzzle." Flinders grinned and motioned Vic to a nearby table. A slim and energetic man, his unbuttoned lab coat actually flapped a bit as he moved. This table held documents of various types which were being processed. Most were at least a little scorched, but even some pieces which were carbonized were being conserved and examined. Flinders picked up a processed piece of paper which had definitely seen better days. "Here's another bit of evidence. A more important one, but connected to the garlic."

The item - laminated between plastic sheets - was a stained and slightly scorched receipt. From a sandwich shop.

"From the information automatically printed on this we know which specific place this was obtained from, and it's only a couple of blocks from the hotel. We also have the date and time, which was recent enough we figured the people there might remember a customer who asked for extra garlic. Two agents went there early this morning, the same time of day on the same day of the week as on the ticket. The employees remembered a customer who stood out because he would come in three or four times a week and place a big order for takeout. One of the items would always have extra garlic."

"I bet whoever got that was a joy to work with," said Vic, with a laugh. For some reason the song "Everything is Food" started playing in her head.

"Probably," said Flinders, with a smirk. "Anyway, we got a pretty good description of the guy who placed the orders. We're running that, as well as the prints and the DNA we've recovered so far, through the system. By the end of the day we might just have at least one name."

"That is good news," said Vic, seriously.

* * *

"More information on the sword thieves," said Drake, the next morning, after calling Vic to his office. "The FBI sent us files on five guys who were in the suite, including photos. Also, overnight there was an increase in activities presumably involving the thieves. Now it appears that not only is the original customer looking for them, but they've split into two groups, one of which is very angrily and actively looking for the other."

"No honor among thieves?" said Vic, not surprised at this news.

"More like temptation getting the best of someone," said Drake. "We figure they split into two groups when they left the suite, each group taking a sword. Now, at least one of those groups appears to have gone rogue. More likely, they both decided to cheat their client, then split over the details once physically separated. Anyway, local police and several federal agencies are already tracking down members of all three groups. Unfortunately, so far law enforcement is still playing catchup with the law breakers."

"Anything specific you need me for?" said Vic.

"Not yet. We probably will soon, though. Just can't say exactly when or exactly what for."

* * *

The break in the swords theft came unexpectedly, as they so often do. Vic was on her way home that evening - in civvies but with her armor's undergarment on under her clothes and the rest of her "duty" outfit in a case in the back of her wagon - when her new brilliant phone rang. Knowing from the ring that this call was forwarded from the city, she pulled over to the first parking space she could find, in order to devote her full attention to the call.

It was, indeed, a call for her help. Vic got the details, then hit her lights and siren and hurried to the scene.

Said scene being a mess. There were over a dozen police cars, about the same number of ambulances and many bystanders milling around the edge of a large section of business district street. Vic parked just outside the cordoned-off area and sought out the officer in charge. She quickly got the low-down on what had happened here.

In response to 911 reports of a gang war, multiple police units had quickly made their way to a location in a business district. Only to discover that Dare had arrived first. The "gang war" turned out to be a three-way conflict between those working for the customer who wanted the swords and the two groups of thieves. Then Dare arrived and managed to take out several members of each group (as well as, unfortunately, several other people) and was proudly waiting for the police to arrive so she could smugly hand over her captives. Only to be informed - at gunpoint, with several of those guns being M-16 assault rifles loaded with "enhanced penetration" ammunition - that she was under arrest.

Outraged, she had fled. So had some of those she had attacked, who took advantage of the police focusing their attention on Dare to escape. Most of those she had disabled were still at the scene, but some of them were innocent bystanders. All were denying being participants in the fight, as well as denying ownership of the various weapons used in the conflict. Among those who got away were the thieves from both groups of sword holders.

"What a mess," said Officer Davis, summing up after that rushed briefing to Vic.

"Well, it looks like you don't need me," said Vic, with a sigh. "Dare is gone. The suspects in the theft are gone. The swords may have never been here."

"Oh, didn't I tell you? Four guys - one of them carrying a long case - were spotted running out of the other end of that alley over there by 911 callers. Thanks to all this mess, by the time anyone could respond they were long gone, but we've still got uniforms canvassing that street."

"Well, if you don't need me here, I'll get my armor on and head over there and see if I can be of any use."

"As long as you're close by in case Dare comes back."

* * *

The officers going building-to-building on that next block had little to show for their efforts so far when Vic checked in with them. At most buildings they couldn't even get anyone to respond. At most of the others they only got a security guard, who uniformly had no idea what the cops were talking about. This was a depressed business area; all of the buildings were closed, most for the night, some for months or years. The two 911 callers who had reported the fleeing people had both vanished. They would have to be tracked down later, through cell phone records.

The officers were still trying to find more witnesses in the area. Vic decided on a different path.

She walked back to the alley she had just gone through, remembering seeing something which would help. Vic went to a fire escape in the alley. There, in near silence, with a casual grace which would have surprised any witnesses, she jumped high enough to grab the bottom of the lowest landing - not the ladder - and swung herself onto it. From there she went quietly up the steps to the roof.

Vic walked slowly around the edge of the roof, looking and listening intently. Her refurbished helmet had external microphones to provide synthesized stereo sound, and smart amplification. That is, faint sounds were amplified, while those already loud enough weren't. There were surprisingly many sounds of activity in the apparently still neighborhood. Even excluding the cops working along both sides of that one street. Anyone looking up would have seen Vic, in her light-colored armor, her head swiveling around to catch sounds, but people rarely look up unless something attracts their attention and Vic was being very quiet.

Satisfied she'd seen and heard everything she could from that first perch, Vic took a short, running start and jumped to the next roof, landing with very little sound. She made another quick circuit, then proceeded to the next roof. Then the next. Then the next. She heard many odd things and even saw a few, but nothing actionable or connected with the thieves.

Just how far she should travel - in any direction - she didn't know right then. Vic decided to go as far as she easily could from roof to roof. That turned out to be about half a block. Clearing alleys between buildings was one thing, but the five lane street at the end of the block was another. Instead Vic descended and crossed to the other side, then went up the fire escape on the building there. There were few bystanders around and none seemed to notice Vic. For her part, she had no idea what she should even be looking for, but felt due diligence required her to cover both sides of the street for the entire block. She seriously doubted the thieves were still anywhere near, but they might have left a clue she or the officers on the ground could find.

Vic went roof to roof all the way to the other end of the block on that side, then descended, crossed and went back up. She traveled via her elevated path back to the building where she had started, with nothing to show for her exertions beyond some exercise.

She sighed, stepped to the edge of the roof and put one foot on the raised lip, resting her forearms on her leg as she idly looked around. There was nothing unusual coming through from the external mics on her helmet, nothing pertinent on the police channels from the built-in radio...

A bit of motion caught her attention, but it was just a uniform finishing at one building and heading for the next. Vic sighed again and relaxed. She noted that she felt a bit antsy, and made herself relax.

Well, at least it's a nice night to be out and about, she thought. Might be late for supper, though. Good thing I called Michelle on the way here.

Again, motion seen from the corner of her eye caught her attention. Thinking this would be another uniformed police officer she turned to look. Only, the motion was not from a doorway. It had come from the end of an alley, just up the street from where she was and across. It didn't repeat.

Probably nothing. Maybe a cat or dog or some other critter. Or even someone working late looking to see what was going on. Still, the police are already past there. I should check it out.

She didn't really want to, and there was more than an uncharacteristic touch of laziness involved. Something about that alley struck her as... wrong, even from this distance. However, Vic stirred herself. She went roof to roof until almost across from the alley, then down the closest fire escape, then across the street. The whole way she kept out of line of sight of the alley. Just in case.

Vic flattened herself against the front of the building there and took a quick peek into the dark opening. There was nothing visibly out of place - to normal vision, to the enhanced vision of the helmet, or to her sense of perception - but something definitely felt wrong. Maybe that was her sense of perception, trying to warn her of something just out of range. Only it didn't feel like that...

The chi of this place is all messed up, she realized. She felt an odd, impish impulse. Or would that be
ki, since the swords are Japanese?

She shook her head. Where had that come from? Even if the circumstances were totally innocent, such thinking could be distracting, and this might be a dangerous situation.

Vic considered her next move very thoroughly. She could go to the roof of this building and look down, but she'd been there just a few minutes before and hadn't noticed anything unusual. She could call on one or more of the police officers canvassing the street, but she couldn't see any of the uniforms at the moment. She could use the new cell phone function in her helmet to call one of her police contacts or the dispatcher for help, but who knew how long that would take to arrive? She decided to simply walk - slowly and warily - into the alley.

In some part of her mind Vic knew she was doing something wrong, but the effect of whatever influence she was feeling was a bit like being drunk. Except...

She stopped, and did some focus breathing. Her head cleared. Just as the three men charged out from behind a dumpster at her.