"You have no idea where our eye witnesses are at?"
Seth was livid. Mike was trying to keep his partner together, but even he was having issues with this turn of events.
"I'm sorry, we just don't know where they are", said the dispatcher over the radio.
Seth and Mike were still outside the lab at Crimson, Seth launching the CB back into the squad car. He walked down the street away from the lab. Mike was close behind.
"Where you goin, man?", Mike asked.
"I need to blow off some steam", Seth replied.
"This I can see."
"I don't understand it, Mike. How do five people and a corpse, in custody, just DISAPPEAR?"
"Maybe we should ask a magician? Copperfield comes to mind."
"Can you just take this seriously for five minutes, Mike?"
"Whoa, Seth," he motions for Seth to stop, which Seth abliges. "I am taking this serious. I'm just not going off half cocked about this."
"And why not? Our case is missing!"
"There has to be a reasonable explanation that makes since here. Now have you tried raising the car they were in?"
"Dispatch couldn't get them, said all they received was static."
"Tried the phone?"
"No signal."
"Who took them in?"
Seth stared at Mike on that one.
"I can't recall," Seth replied.
"Have you checked any squad car cameras yet?"
Seth pointed at Mike and the two men headed back to the bevy of police automobiles that littered the street. They found one with a clear view of the location of the lab, where the car that picked up the witnesses would have been located.
Seth opened the door and sat in the driver's seat, pulling up the video files of the camera on the in-car computer console. He found the most recent files and click the link to open them. Video began to play, showing the front of the lab with a black and white, unmarked police van present. Seth fast forwarded to a point where the witnesses were being brought out. He could see them all clearly entering the van.
"Can you read the license plate?", asked Mike.
"Hardly, we're going to need to enhance it," replied Seth.
"Well, that's a start."
Back at the department the video was being enhanced by the forensics videographer. He was able to zoom in on the license plate of the van to get a clearer picture of the plate itself, and its lettering. Finally, they had a break.
"That's T-C-L...", said the videographer.
"Yes...," continued Seth, impatiently.
"...5-4-6. TCL-546. South Augustina plates."
Seth began moving away, jotting down the plate number. Mike thanked the videographer and apologized for his impatient partner.
"Run this plate, get me any and all matches," said Seth, handing his pad to Mike.
"Aye, capt'n!", said Mike, giving Seth a mocking salute.
"You're not funny, Mike."
"I'm hysterical, and you know it!"
Seth actually produced a smile, despite his obsessive compulsive demeanor at the moment.
"Gentlemen!"
A man stopped Seth and Mike in their tracks. Both me took notice of the bald-headed man now standing before them smiling. The man had a grin from ear to ear, with no teeth showing. He bore a striking resemblance to Pat from The Fleece that was currently with Jay and the others.
"My name is Agent Paul, FBI."
"Agent Paul?", asked Seth, staring at the man.
"Yes, I believe you have something I need."
"Oh really?"
"Yes. I need to confiscate your pad and any tapes you have of the scene at Crimson from earlier this morning, along with any other recording equipment that was used. This investigation has now fallen under federal jurisdiction, and your captain has assured me your full cooperation."
Agent Paul continued to smile at the two men.
Neither Seth or Mike could speak at the moment. They were a little in shock.
Agent Paul continued to smile.
"You smile a lot," said Mike.
"I hear it's my defining characteristic," replied Agent Paul.
"Yeah, why don't we go talk to our captain, right now," said Seth, motioning towards the captain's office.
Seth didn't hesitate, he made a b-line for the office, highly perturbed. Seth and Mike walked in, with Agent Paul close behind. The captain looked up from his paper work and stared at the three men.
"Come in," said the captain, sarcastically.
"What's going on here, captain?", asked Seth.
"Isn't it obvious? Agent Paul is taking over the investigation. A few hours ago the feds came in and reported that this activity this morning was consistent with a string of suspicisious incidents they have been observing for months."
"Did they take our eye-witnesses?"
"Your witnesses whereabouts are still...," started Agent Paul.
"I am addressing my captain, thank you," interrupted Seth.
Agent Paul stopped speaking and smiled at Seth.
"Don't start with me this morning, Jennings. I'm in no mood. You hand over whatever Agent Paul wants, without hesitation. Is that clear?", said the captain.
Seth looked at Agent Paul, who was still smiling. Perhaps more of a smirk now. That did no amuse Seth.
Seth looked back at his captain, "Crystal."
Seth slapped his pad in Agent Paul's chest. Paul caught it before it hit the floor. Seth and Mike then exited the office. After Seth and Mike left, Agent Paul expressed his gratitude. The captain responded with his usual banter of policy and regulations.
Agent Paul agreed with him and made his way out the door.
As Agent Paul went over to the main desk of the station to acquire the necessary information he asked for, Seth and Mike could only watch.
"That's amazing. Feds just come on in and take our case right out from under us," said Mike.
"Now you're fired up?", said Seth.
"Well, that pisses me off, man. I was looking forward to finding that van."
"We will."
Mike looked back around at his partner, a smile beginning to form on his face.
"That's what I love about you, man. Never give up, never say die."
"Never say never either."
"Well, what we waiting for?"
"After he leaves, we'll pull up the back-up files of the scene and still run the plate. We'll start our own investigation, with or without the captain's approval."
"That will piss him off. I'm in."
Seth smiled at Mike.
Agent Paul turned to exit the building. Mike darted towards the door to get a look at the car Agent Paul was in. Seth urged him not to, but Mike did it anyway. The only bizarre thing, no car other than those that should be present was out there. There had not been enough time for Agent Paul to climb into a car, start it, pull off and out into traffic before Mike reached the front door. It was as if Agent Paul had simply disappeared into thin air, without a trace. Mike looked around the parking lot, but unless Agent Paul did 100 and squealed the tires the whole way out of the lot, there was no way he could have left in that amount of time. Mike, disgusted, proceeded back inside.
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