An Apple for Zoë ~ The Forsaken (21 page)

"Where do you know them from?" asked Summers.

James swallowed hard, "From Hell."

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

 
From Hell

Field Director Paige Collins of the FBI, power walked across the marble tiles of San Francisco's City Hall. Her black heels struck firmly with each step she took and her toes gripped the inside her shoes tightly, as if to reflect her determination. At five foot four she was a petite woman, but her small frame was not to be underestimated. She could debate with the fiercest of opponents and also had engaged in her share of fights growing up.
 

Fortunately for Paige those days were now long behind her. Now she did her fighting with a razor wit backed by the power of the FBI. Paige was a beautiful woman whose long chestnut hair was always parted to the side usually draping over one shoulder of her tiny figure. She was naturally attractive and equally as sexy. Her eyebrows were fiercely dark and she knew this had always been to her advantage. Not only did it distract most men, but also most women recognized it as a strength that was not to be questioned. Paige Collins was indeed a force to be reckoned with. She did not lose and she expected her agents to share in her veracious will to solve all cases handed down to her department. She also wouldn't tolerate any agency or law enforcement institution to usurp her authority or to undermine any of her agents.
 

Paige pushed open the double doors of Mayor Hamilton Bransford's office and confidently walked to the edge of his desk. Sitting directly across from her was San Francisco's most powerful and influential man. Facing him down in his own office could be a career killer for Paige. Bransford's expression to her was a mix of surprise and arrogance. He gave her an incredulous stare and she returned his look with a dose of her own arrogant spite. Paige Collins was not afraid of Hamilton Bransford.

She glanced to her right and there, standing silently, was Captain Debra Shelton. From the look on her face, she already carried the marks of a political slapping. To Paige's left were both Inspector Thomas James and her best agent Ashton Summers seated on black leather sofa. Neither one of them spoke.
 
Bransford's face was red. It was obvious he had been screaming for answers and had everyone in the room shaken.

 
"Summers, I want you and Inspector James to wait for me downstairs," said Paige as she kept her eyes locked on Mayor Bransford. Summers and James began to stand when Bransford barked the order for them to sit back down.

"They're not going anywhere until they explain to me, why they thought it necessary to turn the streets of my city into a war zone!"

Paige took in a calming breath before she spoke. "Mayor Bransford, my agent and an Inspector James, were not just victims of random violence. They were the targets of two of the most dangerous criminals on the FBI's most wanted list."

"And they came to my town to track down your agent!" he barked.

"They weren't after Agent Summers, they were after me," said James.

"No one told you to speak," growled Bransford.

"Excuse me, I will hear anything my agent or Inspector James has to say. And I'll thank you to show them a little more respect, if you don't mind," Paige said firmly as she continued to stare Bransford down.

"What are you talking about, Tommy?" inquired Shelton.

"I was the focus of the attack, it was just Agent Summers bad luck to be in the car with me at the time."

"Oh bad luck? That's how you're defining what happened on our streets today? So it's just bad luck when machine guns and a vehicle just short of being a tank are used to terrorize the people of San Francisco?"

"Mr. Mayor, let's put this into perspective. Both Agents Summers and Inspector James are safe, the Baranova Sisters were taken into custody alive and while what happened was an extremely dangerous event. None of our citizens have been hurt or killed," said Shelton.

Bransford stood up with so much force he sent his chair slamming against the wall. His brown eyes glared over his black-rimmed glasses. "Don't get me started on citizens being hurt or killed Shelton! Have you forgotten the hotel full of dead citizens found just yesterday? And now I'm learning San Francisco has been home to Nazi Hermann Kritzler for the last 20 years! Perspective? Give me a fucking break," he spit as he began to pace behind his desk, stopping only long enough to point a long, thin finger at Captain Shelton.
 

"You're going to burn for this Shelton, you, James and your whole fucking department. As for you Collins, you ever storm into my office again and speak to me in that tone, I'll have your skinny ass back in Hoover town stacking toilet paper in a closet, do I make myself clear!" he shouted, causing his gray hair to spill down over his glaring eyes.
 

Paige looked Bransford directly in the eye and spoke in a calm even tone. "I understand your frustration and recognize the pressure someone like you is under in a city such as this. However, having said that, your arrogant behavior tells me that without the title of this office and a team of professional ass kissers at your side, you're no more than the governor's bitch. Who, I might add, is just as spineless as you are. I do not have time nor patience for a bunch of elitist pricks who spend most of their time mutually jerking each other off. Now what your problem is, I can't say. Maybe you weren't hugged enough as a kid or you didn't measure up to your father. Either way, I'm here to tell you that Captain Shelton has the full support of the FBI. Agent Summers is in charge of this investigation with Inspector James as liaison of this city. As for me and my skinny ass, well, in just about an hour It will be sitting behind your fancy desk and this city will be under the jurisdiction of my directors who, as you know, reside back in Hoover town. They will be—without a doubt—very glad to inform your state leaders that they have every confidence in my abilities.
 
Do I make
myself
clear?"

Bransford was silent. As much as she infuriated him he knew she could back up everything she just said.
 

"Now, if you will excuse us Mr. Mayor, I'd like to speak privately with Captain Shelton, my agent and the inspector," she said as she crossed the room to the double doors. Paige held one door open to inform Bransford he was excused. Slowly the mayor pushed his chair back to his desk and stormed past Captain Shelton. As he made his way out the door and into the hall.

Captain Shelton was trying to hide her smile as she watched Paige take her place at Bransford's desk.

"Captain, don't ever hide a smile, guilty one or not," said Paige acknowledging the Captain's enjoyment of seeing someone put Bransford in his place. "Inspector James, is there anything you need before you and Agent Summers leave for Hollywood?"

"Yes director, I'd like full federal clearance."

Paige looked at James with an emotionless expression.

"Done. Anything else?"

"I do have one special request, Director Collins."

Paige gave James a slight smile, "I thought I just gave you one."

"It's important," said James.
 

"Okay I'm listening."

"I'd like CSI Jessalee Rivera on board with me as a consultant."

"You realize she is related to one of the victims," stated Paige.

"I do, however I feel that is to our advantage. The fact is the fire in the hotel destroyed our crime scene, leaving us virtually no evidence."
 

"And you feel her relationship to the victim may give us a deeper insight," stated Paige.

"Yes, she is also a witness to the what happened to Agent Summers and I at the hospital."

"I'll grant the request with the understanding that you assume full responsibility for her involvement with the case."

"I accept those terms director, thank you."

"Inspector James, you also understand, because she is family to Valerie Rivera, we can never present her as a witness in a court of law."

"Yes, but you're still willing to let her consult in the investigation?"

"It's a means to an end," said Paige flatly.

"Thank you. Now may I ask you is there anything in particular you want from me?" asked James.

"Yes there is. Captain Shelton, I want you to take Summers and James to the federal detention center and give them this note, it gives you the authority to supervise," said Paige as she handed Shelton the piece of paper.

"Supervise what?" inquired Shelton.

"Inspector James's private interrogation of the Baranova Sisters."

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

The Baranova Sisters

Stasya Gusarov announced her name to the heavily armed guard standing behind the bulletproof glass entrance of the federal detention center. The emotionless guard looked her over. Her long raven black hair was wound tightly into a bun. She kept her hands placed in full view of the guard as she tightly gripped her attaché case. She could feel his gaze waiting for her to look at him. She raised her sky blue eyes to his. Even though the security glass separated them her body still shook with an involuntary chill.
 
The guard consulted his approved list of names until he came to hers. Number 6. Stasya B. Gusarov. He motioned to her to step into inside the cylindrical room to his right, known as "The Capsule."

"Remove your overcoat before you step inside. Do you have a weapon in your possession?" he asked.

Stasya quickly followed the guard's order and removed her long gray cashmere overcoat. She placed it on the hook provided by the sliding door that would give her admittance to the capsule.
 

"I am not in possession of a weapon," she said waiting for the door to slide open. Stasya hated being screened in the capsule. The room was always extremely cold and the result was always the same. She knew the guard would be staring at her overly erect nipples.
 

"Place your briefcase on the conveyor table to your left please," commanded the guard calmly.
 

Stasya put her case down and waited. Seconds later a loud electrical buzz sounded. The door slid back allowing her to step inside while at the same time sending her case through a separate scanner. By the time her security scan was over, the conveyor belt would have delivered her case to the other side of the room.

"Please step to the center of the capsule and wait for the door to close behind you, then raise your arms to your sides in the form of the letter 'T' and close your eyes."

Stasya did as ordered. The moment her eyes closed another electrical sound came and she could hear the door slide closed behind her and feel the scanner pass in front of her as another scanner passed behind her. The guard watched the monitor from his side of the room and was satisfied with the result.

"You may lower your arms now and open your eyes," said the guard, pressing a button that activated the door on the opposite side of the capsule.

"Please step all the way through, your case is waiting for you to your left. Your coat may be collected upon your exit scan of the capsule when you are finished. You may now proceed to interview station seven, follow the red line on the floor to your destination," said the guard as he watched her step into the hallway. Stasya quickly gathered her case and put her back to the guard, she knew all too well the scanners gave the guards a perfect view of her anatomy and she wasn't giving him any more time than necessary to imagine her undressed. As much as she despised it, Stasya Gusarov realized this was the price one paid to be a translator for the federal government.

Stasya walked quickly down the long, windowless hallway. The glare of the overhead lights made the white walls and floor blur into one another. The red line below at her feet kept her focused on her destination. As she turned the corner she was met by another armed guard who stood in front of the door marked "Station 7." He wore a black beret and gray colored fatigues.
 

"Commander Gusarov?" inquired the guard. Stasya nodded and watched the guard come to attention and give her a proper salute. She nodded once again accepting his professional courtesy.
 

"You identification please, Commander."

Stasya placed her case on the floor and reached inside to retrieve her official federal ID. She handed it to the guard, who slid the card through a portable scanner.
 

"Thank you. Please place your right eye against the retinal scanner at the door," the guard instructed.
 

Stasya stepped up and placed her eye against the device and waited for the beep. A loud click sounded inside the door announcing the bolt had unlocked.
 

"Thank you, Commander," said the guard as he handed her back her ID and held the door open for her.
 

Once inside, Stasya made her way to an office that was marked, "Ready Room." She found it was unlocked. She stepped inside, closed the door and locked it. Behind her was a large oak desk with a single file lying dead center on top of it. She sat her attaché case down on the desk and reached inside to remove a large file which looked nearly identical to the one already there. The only difference was her file had a white label surrounding it with bold black print that read, "Cmdr. S.B. Gusarov-Eyes-Only." Stasya took her seat, broke the seal and began to read.

Inspector James and Captain Shelton stood in front of the interrogation rooms at station seven. From their position, they could see into both rooms through the two-way glass. Separated by soundproof walls, sat the Baranova Sisters—Devonia was on the left, Tarista on the right.
 

"Well if this ain't a shit load of deja vu," said Shelton. "Last time we did this the whole damn place went up in flames."
 

"And our witness with it," added James as he watched them intently.
 

Looking left he recognized Devonia as the driver of Hummer. She sat silently with her chin on her chest and her hands folded together on top of the table. Obviously she was handcuffed to a solid steel ring just under the table. She was still covered in blood and wearing the black tank top.