Chapter 23: Head

“Wh-what do you mean 'dead'?” Brooklyn couldn't stop herself from asking in disbelief. She knew exactly what those words meant, yet somehow they didn't make any sense. “He can't be dead, we just saw him.”

“How did he die?” Warren asked as Crispin walked over to Kieth who had turned pale.

“I'm cool.” he told him, trying to smile.

“They found him in the Galleria, his throat cut.” Jack told them sitting down heavily.

“Could it have been a robbery?” Crispin asked, turning from Kieth who was trying to pull himself together. Kieth was still young and the news was even more unbelievable to him.

“Nothing was touched but Eisenhower.” Jack shook his head.

“Intrebari?” Brooklyn suggested. “It makes sense they would want to get rid of him if he was our traitor. But how did they find out we knew?”

“The cops said he was killed some time this morning.” Jack told them. “If it was Intrebari, I doubt they know that we know. Most likely, he was becoming too much of a liability.”

“Which means our lead is a bust.” Warren cursed. “And we're back at square one.”

“Maybe not that far, but it is a set back.” Jack agreed. “Alright, we're going to tear Eisenhower's life up. I want him looked at from every angle. Any secret, I want brought out. Crispin, get a hold of Ilia. I want her tracing that money trail while it's still hot and I don't care how you get her here to do it. Warren, go find Joe and Kai, bring them to me. I'm putting them to work in New York immediately. Any questions?”

“Yeah,” Brooklyn spoke up, “what about me?”

“Brooklyn, go home.” Jack told her definitively. “I can't use you and it's late. You'd be better off sleeping.”

“I agree.” Warren smiled at her. “You should get some rest. We'll be fine here.”

“W-wait!” Kieth spoke up from the corner. He looked slightly ill. “That's it?”

“What's it?” Warren asked as they all looked at him curiously.

“We're just moving on? Just like that?” he looked disturbed at their actions. “You just found out a friend of yours is dead? Don't you...care?”

“Eisenhower was hardly a friend.” Jack told him, his voice stern and steady. “Moreover, he was a traitor. He knew what he was getting into when he got involved with Intrebari, I have no pity for him.”

“But...that seems so cold...” Kieth seemed to deflate slightly.

“I told you.” Crispin signed with a sad look in his eyes. “It's not so thrilling in real life, is it?”

“No one likes a know it all, Crispin.” Kieth said but the words were weak.

“Kieth, you go home as well.” Jack instructed. Kieth was still young enough for the sting of death to be this hard and Jack took pity on him. “You'll go back to work in the offices tomorrow.”

Crispin expected Kieth to look disappointed about that but he just nodded solemnly.

“I-I got to go make a call real quick.” he announced suddenly and rushed from the room.

“Poor kid.” Warren shook his head sadly. “Did he know Eisenhower?”

“He's just compassionate.” Brooklyn smiled at the closed door her old assistant had escaped through.

“He'll toughen up soon.” Jack agreed. “In the meantime, we have to work quickly. Crispin?”

Crispin nodded and left the room to go text or call Ilia, whatever was necessary.

“Warren?” Jack looked at him. “I'll get started on the plane tickets and other arrangements. You go get Joe and Kai. They're probably at home, sleeping.”

“I doubt Kai will appreciate the wake up call.” Warren grinned wondering how the stoic merman would react. “I'll see you later, alright?” Warren said to Brooklyn.

“Be careful.” Brooklyn smiled as she reached out to hold him.

“Don't forget to lock the doors and windows, alright?” Warren reminded her as he nuzzled her hair.

“I won't.” Brooklyn promised. She was already looking forward to Warren's warm bed as her house was already under construction. She didn't want to be woken up by it in the morning. “Come back soon?”

“As fast as I can.” Warren promised, leaning down to kiss her gently.

He stood back regretfully. “Alright, I'm off.”

Just as he turned to leave, the door opened back again and Kieth walked through. He looked better than before but his face was still a bit pale. Brooklyn made a quick decision.

“Kieth?” she smiled at him compassionately. “Do you think you can drive me home?”

“Huh?” Kieth looked surprised at the request.

“Well, me and Warren took the same car to work and he's going somewhere else.” she explained. “I need a ride home. You up for it?”

“Uh....sure.” he answered hesitantly. “I was going to ask if you wanted a ride anyway.”

“Great.” Brooklyn beamed at him. She turned to Jack. “You'll keep me updated?”

“As much as you need to know.” he promised making her laugh.

“Of course.” she turned back to Warren and ran her hand along his arm. “I'll see you at home.”

“Love you.” he winked at her as she stepped forward and grabbed Kieth's arm.

“Shall we?” she asked happily.

Kieth walked with her down the hall looking away from her. Brooklyn was getting worried at the lack of his usual exuberance.

“Are you having second thoughts?” she asked him suddenly.

“What?” he asked sharply, his head jerking around to stare at her wide eyes. “W-why do you ask that?”

“It's just you're used to the library, not criminal.” Brooklyn explained, patting his arm comfortingly. “I was just wondering if you were regretting the transfer.”

“I do miss the library.” he admitted, forcing himself to smile. “It was quieter there.”

“You should know, things like this don't happen often.” she explained. “Jack runs a tight ship. He wouldn't let things like that just happen. You'll be okay, he'll make sure of it.”

“I guess I'm just kind of disturbed about how little he cared.” Kieth admitted as they stopped in front of the elevator. He pushed the down button absently. “I kind of expected a little more emotion.”

“Jack and Eisenhower never really got along.” Brooklyn told him. “Trust me, there's no love lost between them. Added to that, he betrayed MCRC. That's worse than a slap in the face to Jack.”

The elevator doors dinged open and they climbed in.

“I guess it's different for old people, huh?” Kieth asked as he pushed the button for the ground floor.

“What do you mean 'old people'?” Brooklyn asked dryly.

“I'm not calling you old!” Kieth cried immediately. “I just...I don't know.”

Brooklyn laughed gently. “That's good.”

“It's good not to know?” he asked her unhappily.

“It's good you can admit it.” Brooklyn told him. “That's one of the first signs of growing up. Admitting you don't know and knowing you can be wrong.”

“Do you old people always talk like fortune cookies?” Kieth asked her, his familiar smile back in place.

“You're lucky I'm supposed to remain calm while I'm pregnant,” Brooklyn nudged him playfully, happy he seemed to be coming back to himself, “or I might take offense to that.”

The doors opened and the two walked out together.

XXXXXXXXXX

“Hey, Crispin!”

Crispin turned at the sound of his name and saw Ray jogging towards him. He had been looking for a room in which to call Ilia who was ignoring his texts. He would force her back because Jack would make him, he was already planning on apologizing when she arrived. It wouldn't be hard to find a room far away from others who might her him since the complex was practically deserted so late at night.

“Why aren't you at home?” Crispin asked Ray. “It's late.”

“I was just finishing up some work.” Ray said looking away guiltily. “And the Misses is going through menopause and I'm looking for any excuse to stay at work.”

Crispin shook his head with a smiled. “What did you need?”

“I was looking for Dr. Fontane.” he said looking around as if hoping the doctor might walk around the corner at any moment. “I know he stays here overnight a lot. I've been looking for him. He said he wanted to run some tests on those earplugs of his with someone other than himself.”

“And you volunteered?” Crispin signed dryly.

Ray grinned sheepishly. “You don't understand, she's going to be growing horns any day now.”

“He was in Jack's office earlier.” Crispin grinned. “He wanted me to see the earplugs myself. I don't know where he went after that.”

“Aw, man.” Ray groaned. “And I was really looking forward to that.”

“I think O’Connell in accounting had a lot of filing that she was willing to do anything to get done before the week was out.” Crispin suggested happily.

“You're a life saver.” Ray beamed. “I'll see you around.”

Crispin waved him away as he walked back, whistling happily. Crispin could only hope he would one day have the opportunity to hide from his wife while she was in menopause. As a siren, one of the rarer mythic species, it wasn't likely. Humans didn't want to pair with such a dangerous mythic and the only other sirens he knew were in his own family.

He shrugged. At least he had a good job. That was better that most sirens had. Walking he pulled out his phone and hit Ilia's number.

It was answered after only a few rings by a male voice. It was Ilia's partner, she called him boy toy, Dallas. “Hey, Crispin. If that's you don't say anything.”

Crispin obligingly said nothing. He didn't need Dallas in his thrall, he needed Ilia. Dallas would follow her if she decided suddenly to come back but it wouldn't work the other way around. Dallas would know Crispin had her but he would follow regardless. Ilia would wave Dallas away and take perverse joy in it. He could put them both in thrall but he would rather not.

“Ilia's working at the moment.” Dallas said after Crispin didn't answer. “She's unhappy you and Jack keep bothering her.”

“Is that Crispin?” Crispin heard a female yell from the background.

“Yeah.” Dallas called back. “He's probably tired of you ignoring his texts and wants to talk to you directly.”

“Give me the phone.” he heard her say back.

A moment of silence later, Crispin heard Ilia's voice much clearer when she said, “Crispin, don't say a word.”

Crispin remained silent as he grinned at the absurdity of the conversation.

“You're laughing at me, aren't you? I can feel it.” she grumbled. “Look, this is important. I finally started getting some stuff off of that hard drive Joe sent me. I've got an e-mail from Rachel Cohen on it. She e-mailed somebody about how three MCRC ships had left port towards the Atlantic base. Crispin, Cohen's the traitor!”

Crispin hung up the phone immediately and turned to run back to Jack's office. Eisenhower and Cohen? Not one traitor, but two? He had to move fast.

XXXXXXXXXX

“Are you absolutely sure you're okay, Kieth?” Brooklyn asked as her former assistant drove through the darkness.

“Yeah, I'm good.” he answered, his voice was strained. Brooklyn was really beginning to worry. This couldn't be a result of Eisenhower's death, Keith didn't even know him. Something was really wrong.

Without warning, Kieth took a turn onto the highway.

“Um, Kieth?” Brooklyn looked around. “My house isn't this way.”

“I know.” Kieth grinned over her in what was supposed to be a reassuring way. “I just have some things to pick up on the way.

“Oh, okay...” Brooklyn agreed telling herself to calm down. Nothing was wrong. Kieth was just realizing that the path he chose was more dangerous than he realized. It wasn't that odd for him to be behaving strangely. The hit man was locked away, the traitor was dead, she was fine. She had no reason to be worried.

So why was she?

XXXXXXXXXX

Warren was continually pushing the doorbell to Joe's apartment when the feeling of nervousness started.

He looked up and around, startled. It came from no where but he could definitely feel it. There was no reason for it though.

His first thought was of Brooklyn but he discarded the idea. She was probably already safe in his house. If something was happening to her, he would feel a great deal more than mild discomfort.

Before he could begin convincing himself to call her and check, the door opened and a bleary eyed Joe glared out at him.

“Do you know what time it is?” she demanded to know as she finished tying her robe closed. She looked like she had just fallen to sleep.

“I've got orders from Jack.” he said to her squashing down the feeling. “He wants you and Kai in his office now.”

“Now?” Joe repeated incredulously. “Why?”

“We found our traitor.” he said simply. He could see that woke her up the rest of the way, her eyes sharpened and her shoulders straightened.

“Who was it?” she asked.

“Eisenhower.” he answered. “Jack needs you in immediately.”

“Alright, we're coming.” Joe began brushing her bright red hair back with her fingers. “Give us ten minutes.”

Warren nodded as she closed the door, he heard her calling out for Kai to get out of bed as she did so.

His job done, Warren turned to leave to return home to Brooklyn when he felt his phone vibrate.

He pulled it out and saw it was a text from Crispin:

Cohen's guilty, too. Jack needs you in. Now.

“Cohen, too?” Warren repeated. Two traitors? He didn't even believe it. However, he obeyed the text and ran back to his car, happy Brooklyn was safe at home.

XXXXXXXXXX

“Kieth, where are we?” Brooklyn asked looking around, concerned. They were leaving the city and Brooklyn didn't like the direction he was taking her. There was no one and nothing around this area.

“I told you, I needed to pick something up.” he answered her but she no longer believed him.

She looked him over skeptically. His hands were clenched on the wheel, his knuckles paling from the force of it. His eyes were darting around nervously, his fingers tapping restlessly. He was lying.

“Kieth, where are you taking me?” she asked him, surprised her voice was so calm.

“Don't panic. Please.” he begged quietly. “He won't hurt you. He promised me.”

“Who won't hurt me, Kieth?” Brooklyn's voice was steadier than her nerves which were humming as her heart began to pick up speed. “Who, Kieth?”

“He promised.” he repeated more like he was talking to himself. “He's never lied to me before. You'll be okay, Miss B. He just wants to talk.”

“Who just wants to talk, Kieth?” Brooklyn's hands were starting to shake.

Keith didn't answer.

XXXXXXXXXX

“Cohen and Eisenhower?” Warren asked Jack as his boss listened to his phone ring. “You're sure?”

“Ilia found an e-mail on a hard drive we found on the base.” Crispin told him.

“Hello, I need to speak to Cohen, it's important.” Jack said into the phone. There was a brief silence. “I see. Thank you. Goodnight.”

“Well?” Warren asked as he hung up the phone. The anxiety that he had felt earlier was starting to build and he was nervous.

“She's gone.” Jack tossed his phone onto his desk. “She left her house about an hour ago. The maid said she didn't say where she was going or when she would be back.”

“Running?” Warren guessed. He looked at Crispin who had an odd expression on his face. “What's wrong Crispin?”

“I just had a thought...” Crispin signed hesitantly. “I could be wrong though.”

“What thought?” Jack asked him.

“Well,” Crispin hesitated, then signed quickly, “Ray came up to me earlier. He was looking for Dr. Fontane. He couldn't find him.”

“The doctor?” Warren repeated as Jack grabbed for his phone again.

They watched as he dialed a number then waited. Four rings later and Jack cursed. Warren and Crispin remained silent as he dialed another number then waited. Four rings later, he threw his phone back onto his desk.

“Fontane isn't answering.” he said. “Neither is Carter.”

“Hey, look, I know we're not perfect,” Warren held up his hands like he was trying to calm his boss down, “but all three heads? There's no way all three are involved. There's no way we wouldn't notice that. He probably went home. They're probably sleeping.”

“I have to know for sure.” Jack said coldly. “Crispin, find Dr. Fontane.”

Crispin nodded and walked quickly from the room.

“Weren't you supposed to go home?” Jack asked Warren. “Go be with Brooklyn. I've got this under control.”

“Are you sure?” Warren asked cautiously. “I can stay. Neither of us would mind.”

“Go home, Warren.” Jack said, the order was unmistakable.

Still feeling worried about Brooklyn, Warren nodded and left the room a little too eagerly. He would get home and see she was just fine. Of course she was fine. He was overreacting because he was tired and it had been a long day.

All three heads, he thought as he walked fast down the hall. How could all three heads be guilty of treason and no one had noticed?

XXXXXXXXXX

Kieth pulled up in front of what looked like, to Brooklyn, an old abandoned shack.

Without looking at her, Kieth jumped out of the car and walked around to her side. He opened her door and held out his hand like a gentleman offering to help her.

Brooklyn didn't move.

“Why, Kieth?” she asked him. She was scared, her limbs were shaking, she had to force back tears. “Why?”

“Come on, Miss B.” Kieth ignored his question and waved his hand in an effort to get her moving. “If you don't climb out yourself then-”

“Thank you, Kieth.”

They both turned as a tall, dark man walked out of the shake. He was smiling calmly and staring at Brooklyn with a terrifyingly predatory gleam in his eye.

“Alin?” Kieth looked at him like the other man terrified him. “What are you doing here?”

“That's hardly your concern.” Alin said to him. “Thank you for bringing her here, you can go now.”

“But...” Kieth looked between Brooklyn and Alin, obviously torn.

Alin, ignoring him, pushed him out of the way. There was nothing gentlemanly in the way he reached down and grabbed Brooklyn's arm and pulled her from the car.

“Leave, Kieth, we have no more need of you tonight.” Alin said as he began pulling Brooklyn towards the door. She was pulling back against his grasp but his grip was unshakable.

“You're not going to hurt her, right?” Kieth asked him, his voice shaking. “He promised he wouldn't hurt her.”

“What happens to her is none of your concern” Alin looked back at him. “Leave, Kieth, while he's still in a good enough mood to let you.”

With that, Alin dragged Brooklyn who was dragging her feet to the front door and pushed her inside.

“That's her?” she heard a woman ask as the door shut behind them. “I'm kind of disappointed. She's shorter than I thought she would be.”

Brooklyn's eyes burned when a lamp was suddenly turned on. She wondered, for a moment, how such an out of the way shack could have electricity. Then she saw the woman walk forward with a travel lamp in her hands and her question was answered.

“Well, hurry up.” the blonde beauty glared at her. “He doesn't like to be kept waiting.”

“Who doesn't like to be kept waiting?” Brooklyn asked refusing to move from the spot Alin had left her in. She heard tires in the dirt driveway pull out and knew Kieth had left her behind.