Beta: Thank you to Emarie34

Disclaimer: I don't own Numb3rs. If I did, unlike CBS, I would never think of stopping the show.


CHAPTER EIGHT

“Okay, what do we have?” Don asked as he entered the conference room.

David turned around, a little surprised to see his boss at work but made no comment, and replied, “We’ve located Isabella Mansini. Or at least, we know where and with whom she lives.”

“It seems that after her boyfriend got killed, she switched to the Big Chief,” Colby explained.

Don frowned. “The Lobos? You mean you know who he is?”

Colby grimaced. “Not quite. We have a name, though. Mickey.”

“I have LAPD watching the place. They’ll let us know if there is any movement there,” David assured.

“We’re also watching the café where her brother Adriano usually hangs out,” Nikki said.

“Good. What about the other brother, Luigi?”

“We haven’t been so lucky. We don’t know yet where he is but my guess is that, if we catch the sister or the brother, he’ll eventually show up,” David supposed.

Don nodded. “That was the plan, David. I want to be notified as soon as we have something on one of them. Good work everyone.”

“Actually, you should congratulate Robin. She’s the one who made the guy talk,” Colby said.

Don looked at him, amused. His team noticed that it didn’t surprise him at all.

“Boy, she can be scary when she wants to,” Nikki commented.

That surprised Don, who raised an eyebrow. “She scared you?”

Nikki nodded with force. “Oh! Yeah! Man, the way she looked at the guy, I thought she was going to eat him alive. I swear Boss, never think of cheating on her or you’re dead meat.”

Don burst into laughter. “Thanks for the warning. I’ll keep that in mind.”

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They waited three days before LAPD finally called. There was movement at Mickey’s villa. Don sent David and Colby to check on it and they came back with a furious Isabella Mansini.

She was taken to the interrogation room where Don was already waiting for her. With a hand gesture, he ordered her to sit down opposite him at the table and then he waited in silence.

A little taken aback by his attitude, she obeyed. She expected him to question her, shout at her or even mistreat her. She had heard all kinds of stories about interrogation methods but she’d never heard of any involving silence.

Don remained quiet, just watching her, leaning in his chair.

After a while, the young woman couldn’t stand it anymore and said, “What are you waiting for? Your boss?”

“I am the boss,” he replied quietly. His answer unsettled her even more.

“So what do you want? Why am I here?” she asked with arrogance.

Don, still staring at her, said, “Isabella Mansini.”

She was about to answer back when she realized that he had used her real name. Her eyes locked on his for a moment then she finally said, “Okay, so you know my name. So what?”

“Where are your brothers, Adriano and Luigi?”

Again she stared at him warily, her eyes narrowing. She tried to judge whether he really knew something or was just fishing for information but his face was a mask showing no emotions. She fidgeted on her seat, trying to regain some self-control but the agent’s constant gaze on her was making her more and more nervous.

Don was about to reply when the door opened and Liz entered, holding a folder. She pointed at something on a page. The lead agent took the folder, nodded and Liz left. He placed the folder on the table, smiled strangely and started to read out loud.

“Isabelle Mansini, aka Montana, aka Marple. You like names starting with an `M` don’t you? The trouble is that you can change names as often as you want, that won’t change your fingerprints… or your DNA. And that’s a shame because your DNA was matched with one found at a crime scene five years ago in New York. And from what I read, all the evidence points at you as the killer.” He leaned forward. “So, you see, now I have a good reason to keep you here.”

“I’ll tell you nothing.”

“Whether you talk or not doesn’t matter.”

She suddenly understood. “You’re going to use me to get to my brothers!”
Don got up, took the folder and left without answering.

Isabella shouted, “That won’t work! They will find you and kill you for that!”

Great, more death threats. Lucky Robin or Dad aren’t here to hear them. I’d be good for another lecture, he thought as he closed the door behind him.

David was waiting for him outside the room. “How do you want to play it?”

“Her brothers must know by now that she’s been arrested. They’re going to try to get her back. Spread the word in the streets that she’ll be transferred to the detention center tomorrow,” he ordered. “You’ll be in charge of the operation.”

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Posted inside a surveillance truck, Liz was watching the surroundings on the monitors. She suddenly tapped on the technician’s shoulder. “Could you zoom in on this vehicle, here?” The technician obeyed. She squinted slightly, trying to see better then seized the radio and announced, “Possible suspects in a dark blue Honda parked two hundred yards left of the entrance.”

“We need to be sure,” David replied. “Send the girl.”


Adriano and Luigi had parked their car at a safe distance from the back exit of the FBI building. They knew that their sister would leave from there. Soon, four agents appeared surrounding the young woman and forced her into a van.

“It’s her!” Adriano said angrily.

Luigi armed his machine gun and replied, “Okay. Just follow them. We can’t attack now. The place is swarming with feds.”


“Suspects are armed with automatic weapons,” Liz confirmed.

“Okay let’s go,” ordered David.


Adriano started the engine but the van their sister was in didn’t move.

“What are they doing?” Luigi worried.

Suddenly, Adriano caught a shadow in his rear view mirror. Half crouched, David was slowly and silently approaching, holding a gun. Adriano looked over his shoulders and saw Colby moving on the other side of the car.

“S**t, the cops!” he shouted as he put all his weight on the accelerator. The two agents fired but the car had already turned into another street.

“Don, they saw us,” David shouted in his mic as he ran back to his car, followed by Colby.

Don hadn’t quite agreed with David’s plan. He would have preferred cars to block the adjacent streets and more agents to surround the suspects. But his SAC wanted a softer approach. David was afraid that, if the Mansini brothers saw too many agents, they would shoot and it would end in a blood bath. Having given full command to David, Don chose not to go against his decision.

Instead he stayed in his car ready to back-up his men if needed. When he saw the car driving off at top speed, he swore under his breath and started the chase. There was one thing he hadn’t mentioned to David though. He had contacted the ADS, the police air unit, to ask for a helicopter to be prepared to take off from the FBI building roof in case of problem. The chopper was in the air as soon as they received Don’s orders.

“3695 to Tango Charlie 468, what’s your position?”

“Tango Charlie 468 to 3695. We have eyes on the suspects’ vehicle. They’re entering San Diego Freeway, heading south. It’s going to be hard to keep an eye on them with this traffic.”

The co-pilot looked down and noticed a black SUV with its flashing lights on. “3695, you are about five hundred yards behind the suspects.”

Don sped up and passed the cars in front of them. He positioned himself just behind the brothers and both cars started a dangerous pursuit between the other vehicles: the brothers trying to outdistance Don, the agent trying not to lose them.

The traffic was getting more and more dense and Don had to slow down. He really didn’t want another accident: he could still feel the effects of the previous crash.

They passed Venice, then Marina Del Rey and the airport.

“3695, suspects have abandoned their vehicle at the train station.”

Don swore. They were going to escape. Before the agent could reply, the pilot added, “3695, a train has arrived. One of the suspects got on.”

“Which direction?”

“Redondo beach. The other suspect is still on the platform.”

“Keep watching the train until LAPD or one of my men can take over. I’ll try and intercept the one at the station.”

“Roger that 3695.”

Don pulled over at the bus terminal and rushed towards the station. The elevator was filled with tourists and their luggage. He tried the stairs but a group of students carrying heavy backpacks were blocking the way. He finally managed to reach the top of the stairs, just in time to see Luigi stepping into a train and the doors closing behind him.

Don closed his eyes in frustration then called David to announce he had lost the suspect. David didn’t have better news. The helicopter had lost the other brother.

“Sorry Don,” David said in a pitiful voice. When Don didn’t reply, he knew in was in trouble.

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The agents spent the rest of the day trying to get information on where the two brothers could hide but without much success.

Late in the afternoon, Don decided to stop at Charlie’s. He found him working in the garage.

“Hey Buddy. Shouldn’t you be resting, with your broken arm?”

Charlie turned around to look at his brother. “I’m fine. Any news?”

Don sat down on the couch and rubbed his face with both hands. “No. They’re going to be on their guards now. We blew our only chance to catch them.” He sighed wearily.

“They’re not going to give up on their sister. They’ll try again to free her.”

“Oh, definitely! That’s what worries me. At least this morning we were holding all the cards. Now we have to wait for their next move,” the agent replied, both upset and frustrated. “Did you have a look at the files I sent you?”

“Yes, but to be honest, I don’t have enough data to pull something out. Those guys could be anywhere.”

“Not anywhere Charlie. The Mansinis infiltrated three different gangs. Surely they must have a central meeting point. We also have the villa of that guy, Mickey, where Isabella Mansini was arrested. Maybe you could do a triangulation?”

“I can try but I can’t promise anything. I really don’t have much to work with…” He stopped then put his hands together and half-smiled. “But I could try something else, though. It’s based on…” He stopped again. The look on his brother’s face told him he was not in a mood for a math lecture. “But it’s going to take some time,” he finished quickly.

“Okay, do whatever you can, Charlie. I’ll appreciate any help.”

Alan and Amita entered the garage.

“Donnie! I thought I heard your voice. Are you hungry? There’s some pizza left.”

While both mathematicians started to discuss Charlie’s idea, Alan tugged Don towards the kitchen then to the table and pushed him into a chair.

“Sit down. I’m going to reheat the pizza.”

“Dad, I can do it myself, you know,” the agent protested softly.

“Yes, yes I know that, but I don’t see you so often now that you and Robin are back together. Not that I’m complaining about you being with Robin, far from it. But you’re still my boy and it’s normal that I take care of you. So, sit down and let me prepare you something to eat.” He looked at Don intently and frowned. “Did you have lunch today?”

“Dad,” Don moaned.

“What? It wouldn’t be the first time you skipped lunch because you were too busy… And you look beat by the way. Bad day?” Alan asked as he put the remains of the pizza in the microwave.

Don rubbed his eyes. “Yeah, you could say that… We almost had the brothers Mansini and we let them go.”

“How?”

Don shrugged. “Bad luck, I guess.”

Alan frowned. He knew there was more to it. “Mmm… How so?”

Don hesitated and glanced nervously at his watch then scratched the back of his head. “I… I gave the command to David and, let’s just say that he didn’t … make… the right decision.” He shook his head. “Actually it’s my fault. I had the feeling it would go wrong but I let him go ahead with his plan anyway. It’s my fault,” he repeated.

Alan observed his son for a short moment before sitting next to him. “If David wants to be a lead agent one day, he’ll have to face his mistakes. You put him in charge. He screwed up: his responsibility, not yours.”

“It doesn’t work that way, Dad. Alright he was in charge but I’m still the boss. So the responsibility is mine. We could’ve had those guys if I had…”

“Don!” Alan cut him off with a severe tone. “There’s no point regretting what happened today. Don’t beat yourself up now, it’s too late anyway. You think it’s your fault? Fine, there’s nothing I can say that’ll change your mind. But there is one thing I know, it’s that you did your best. Don’t look back.” The timer of the microwave rang. Alan gently patted his son’s knee. “Your dinner is ready.” He got up. “You’re staying over tonight?” He placed the piece of pizza on a plate and gave it to his son.

Don grimaced quickly. “I don’t know Dad. Now that Amita lives here with Charlie, I feel like I’m intruding. They deserve some privacy and… and… “

“What should I say, then?” Alan snorted unhappily. He knew exactly what Don was talking about. He too felt like he was imposing sometimes. “Alright, so you’re going back to your apartment. That’s what you’re saying.”

“It’s better for everyone,” the agent replied, biting into the piece of pizza.

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Don felt like he had just closed his eyes when his alarm clock went off. He stretched, got up and put the coffee machine on before going to take a shower. He was pouring himself some coffee when he noticed there was a message on his cell phone. It was Charlie. Don smiled when he heard the time of the message: 1 am. Who’s the workaholic? he wondered as he pressed the key to listen to the message.

“Hey Bro. My computer has just finished its analysis. I have a class tomorrow morning that I really can’t cancel. Can you come by? I’ll explain to you what I found. See you.”

Twenty minutes later, he was parking his motorcycle in the alleyway leading to the back garden and entered the craftsman house.

“Charlie!” he called out. Then he stopped short. Something was amiss, although he couldn’t tell what it was. Instinctively he placed his hand on his gun, ready to draw it and stepped forward carefully.

“Dad? Charlie?” he called again, his eyes darting around the room. He moved slowly towards the kitchen and was about to push the door when it burst open, making him jump and take one step back.

Alan appeared, closely followed by two men threatening Charlie and Amita with a gun. Don drew his glock and pointed it at the men. It was the Mansini brothers.

To be cont'd

Helen, you're doing a great job with this story, and I'm very much enjoying it. Keep it up

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"The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time." --Bertrand Russell.

wow. your story is like a rollercoaster ride!! awsome work!! can't wait for the next chapter

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Nice update.

Thank you so much everybody!