The blockade at the mouth of the street told Michael it would be very unlikely for Elias to wrest his warehouse back by force. There were five men positioned around a pair of army Humvee vehicles turning back anyone who ventured too close. He could only imagine what was stationed at the facility itself and what assets had been tapped to keep it secure. Elias had found out that Agent Anders Sieb was here from Washington, somehow was led to the warehouse and was presently tearing it apart. Sieb was the head of the US government task force that was meant to deal with the possibility that the rose was real and it’s information correct. His team had been tracking Delega and the Keeper’s for sometime. Even though the government considered the whole thing highly unlikely, they still threw millions of dollars just to be sure. If something bad did happen, they wanted the information to be able to come out on top.
Michael drove up to the blockade and pulled over to the side. As he switched off the ignition one of the guards came to his window.
“Sorry sir, this street is closed until further notice. You’ll have to turn around.”
“I need to speak with agent Sieb,” Michael answered. “I can deliver Rock Tilton. Relay that message and I’m sure he’ll have some instructions for you.”
The man nodded and backed off towards the rest of his squad. He talked into the radio and after a few short words came back to the window.
“Get out of the car, we’ll walk from here.” Michael got out. Immediately he was pushed up against the hood and was being frisked. He was unarmed having left his weapons in a second car on the next street over. He prided himself on always being one step ahead.
He felt a forceful hand grab his shirt and pull him back, “let’s go,” one of them said.
“After you,” Michael held out his hand in the direction of the warehouse. They started briskly walking, a young soldier flanking him on either side. The two way street wasn’t only used for Elias’s warehouse but it was the access point to almost a dozen more. Those lots were eerily silent as though the military quietly shut them down for the day.
They arrived at the entrance to Barrion Imports and he wasn’t surprised to see a great presence of military force. The personnel consisted of fifty or more armed men stationed around the perimeter. He could expect the same number to be roaming the interior as well. They passed through dozens of government vehicles and white vans before arriving at a plain side entrance.
As they entered the structure the first thing he noticed were the shell casings on the ground and the bullet holes dotting the walls. The remnants of the earlier gun battle between Elias and Delega, he presumed. After a long hallway they came to the main hangar. Here, people in lab coats outnumbered the military. They were setting up workstations and tagging various odd looking items. They were systematically going through everything in the facility, categorizing it and then hauling it away to some government center. Elias would be furious if he knew what they were doing.
Through the chaos they marched him to the opposite side and through a set of doorways leading to another short hallway. Down at the end, they entered past a sliding glass door with thick double pained windows. Inside, a man rested against the opposite wall with his back facing Michael.
“Stay here until you’re aloud to leave,” the guard instructed and then shut the door leaving the two men inside.
Michael immediately addressed his companion, “Agent Sieb?”
The man turned at the sound of his voice. Michael almost laughed when he recognized Seth Delega. His arm was wrapped in a sling. It rested against his chest, covering a dark red bloodstain the shape of a long oval. There was even more spatters of blood covering his pants.
“What happened to you,” Michael asked. “You look like shit. Though I did figured it was you who led Sieb here after Rock told me you were partnered up with military men. Did your plan not work out the way you anticipate?”
“You look like your brother,” Seth said. “Cocky fuck that one.”
“I won’t argue. We are twins.”
“So why are you here?”
“I don’t know if I should answer to you. What part do you play in this? What arrangement is there between you and Sieb?”
“Let’s just say I gave him this place and all my information so he can obtain the rose and however high he rises because of this, I come along. Also I control much of what is going on, I make many of the decisions if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Well then, I can deliver Rock to you and everything he has in his possession. How’s that for a start.”
The door opened behind him and Michael stepped out of the way as another man entered the room.
“Cooper,” he sneered. “Should have known it was you, where’s your sneaky little shit brother.”
“Agent Siebiscut, it’s been awhile, he’s part of the reason I’m here actually.”
“You better have some interesting fucking news or I’m libel to just keep you here for awhile. How does that sound?”
“Well, I was just telling Seth, I can give you Rock Tilton, on a platter. I can tell you where he’s going to be, when he’s going to be there. Then you can do the rest.”
Agent Sieb looked him over. The man had interrogated Michael once before, almost four years ago. It was involving a murder he committed of a governmental employee who had offended Gavin in some minor way. Unfortunately, Michael had slipped up in the disposal and became a suspect, though his lawyers easily had the case dismissed due to lack of evidence. Since then, the two had come in contact a fair number of times involving the Keepers movements in relation to the Delega Group. Due to their prior relationship both he and Sieb didn’t have to feel the other man out. They fell into the old routine.
“Ok I’ll play,” Sieb said casually. “What do you want?”
“Two things. I want a place in the safe zones should you acquire the rose and I want you to use your resources, technology, and men, to get my brother out alive, away from the keepers, who now hold him hostage.”
“Your brother’s a hostage,” Seth started laughing. “Looks like I’m not the only one who’s on the outs.”
Michael darted towards him and pushed him up against the wall, slamming his back into a spongy surface. The force knocked the wind from Seth Delega and he winced in pain from the contact with his arm. “Another word and I’ll snap your neck,” Michael whispered. Seth’s eyes bulged in obvious fear but he didn’t struggle. Michael slowly let him go and backed away.
Seth quickly regained his courage, “fucking piece of shit,” he snapped. “Do you know where you are? I could have you strung up and left for dead, I could have you beaten and never heard from again. I could.”
“Quiet Delega!” Agent Sieb broke in. “Where is your brother being held,” he turned back to Michael.
“One of two locations, I don’t know which, you’d need to hit both simultaneously.”
“If we do this, I also want the location of Elias.”
“Of course. But I want my brother freed first, then I’ll give you the locations of every place I know he’s been at.”
“I think that would be acceptable,” Seth said.
“You aren’t making the decision Delega,” Sieb returned.
“And here I was under the impression you had power,” Michael smirked.
“I do. Remember our agreement,” Seth took a step towards Sieb. “I am in charge down here.”
“But now that I have this man and his cooperation, why do I need you?” Sieb pushed Delega away from him, drew out a gun and fired twice into the man’s chest. Seth Delega jerked as the bullets tore through his body. His face held a bewildered expression as he fell against the wall, finally coming to an awkward slumped pose in the corner.
Michael’s ears rang from the sound, but he held his position. He wasn’t caught off guard by the sudden act. Delega was far out of his territory, his safety. It was only a matter of time before he was
expendable to this man. “So I take it all decisions go through you. And now I know why I was brought to a soundproofed room.”
Agent Sieb smiled. “You’ve always been observant.” He holstered his gun.
“I figured it was him or me once I got in here, but I was fairly confident that I still had information you needed. Trust me when I say, when my information runs out, you won’t ever see me again.”
“Smart man.”
“So do we have a deal?”
“When do I meet Rock?”
“Soon, but before you do, I want my brother out and once out he is to let me know he is safe. I need to hear from him.”
“Fair enough.”
“And one more thing.”
“Yes,” he saw Agent Sieb’s patience wearing thin.
“No teams, no guns. If Rock so much as smells it, he’ll leave. And I know he’ll have people watching.”
“What’s to stop him from killing me. What’s to stop Rock from walking away? I might get nothing from this.”
“True. But where are you without me? Archiving this shit here. Interesting to be sure but not the path to get you the rose. Rock can give that to you. I’m giving you a chance to talk to him, convince him. He’s very reasonable. He wants out of this, that I guarantee. And he wants his girl back who is being held by Vitori Delega, perhaps there is a trade of services that can be made. I don’t know. I’m here for my brother and a spot in the safe zone, that’s all. If I get what I want, I’ll help you all I can. But I think I’ve overstayed my time here. I’ll be missed if I don’t get back.”
Agent Sieb took a step away and opened the sliding door. “Ok Michael. I’ll agree. When and where is the meeting and I’ll need the information on your brother’s holding as soon as possible to get the plans laid.”
Michael walked past him. “I’ll call you with the details when I’m clear of this place.” He smiled. “I don’t trust you.”
“And I don’t trust you,” Sieb replied.
“That’s unfortunate as I’m your only real lead.”
“It is. Do you want my number?”
“I have it,” Michael said casually.
“How?”
“We’ll be in touch. Be ready to leave in fifteen minutes.” Michael started down the hallway as two men came up to guide him out. He thought that went very well. Agent Sieb seemed reasonable if not paranoid. And Seth Delega was dead. That was unexpected but somehow, very satisfying.
Chapter 44
Florida, August 2012