Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Family Ties ❯ Chapter 61 ( Chapter 61 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Une explains the breakthrough to the guys and Heero's all set to leave now to locate Duo. Two policemen are called to a neighborhood to investigate a funny smell coming from a house.

Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama / Hentai / Romance / Suspense / Angst | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 07.18.2009 | Pages: 8 | Words: 7.4K | Visits: 286 | Status: Work In Progress

“Family Ties”

January 2007 ShenLong

Chapter 61

“You think you may have seen a couple of the missing people?”

“Yeah,” Harold replied.

“One moment sir.”

Harold waited as his call was transferred.

“Missing persons unit. I believe you have some information regarding a missing person?”

“I was just watching the telly and saw some pictures of four guys that are missing,” Harold began. “I'm pretty sure I saw two of them today.”

“I see, sir. May I have your details?”

Harold duly gave his name, address and phone number.

”Thank you, sir. Now, which of the two did you see and where?”

Harold gave the person all the information he could, explaining he couldn't be a hundred percent sure, but from what he remembered they bore a close resemblance to two of the missing men.

“The shuttle port has security cameras?”

“Yes, yes it does.”

“Right. Thank you for your information, sir, you've been most helpful. We will look into this and contact you should we need any further details.”

“Just trying to be a good citizen,” Harold replied.

“Have a nice evening, sir. “

“You too.” Harold hung up and returned to the lounge room and his wife.

“Well?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I told them all I could remember,” replied Harold, sitting back into his armchair and stretching his legs out in front of him.

“That's good. I hope it helps them.”

Harold nodded and returned his attention to the television and watching the soap opera that was now screening.

* * *

The four agents arrived at Une's office, Wufei knocking on the door whilst the others remained slightly behind him, fidgeting nervously.

“Enter.” Une looked up as the four agents came in. “Take a seat, please.”

Trowa and Quatre took the two seats to the left leaving the other two for Heero and Wufei.

“You said there had been a breakthrough?” Heero asked as he leaned closer to the commander's desk.

“Yes, there has.” Une pushed a piece of paper to the side, pulled another to the front and then looked at her agents. “The pictures Summer had printed have been put into circulation and the Preventer Branch on L2 has had a call from someone who thinks he saw two of the missing men; namely Maxwell and the guy, Duric.”

“When? Where?” Heero all but yelled.

“Take it easy, Yuy and let the commander finish,” Wufei said as he put a restraining hand on the Japanese man's arm.

“It was in a shuttle port I believe, sometime this afternoon.”

“I'm going,” stated Heero and started to get up from his chair.

“Agent Day, sit down!” barked Une in a tone that said she wouldn't tolerate anything less than prompt compliance.

Yuy sat, glaring at their commander.

“I have agents from the L2 branch going out to the shuttle port as we speak. They will speak with the authorities there with the intent of retrieving the security cameras' footage. If Maxwell was there it should be caught on camera as those ports are monitored around the clock. That footage will be sent directly to here through Preventer's secure Internet line. I expect to have it by the morning.”

Heero shifted in his seat.

“Once it arrives I want you, Yuy and Chang, to go through it with a fine tooth comb.”

“Understood,” Wufei replied.

Une turned her attention to Trowa and Quatre. “Have either of you found anything of interest on the senators' hard drives?”

“We're not sure,” Trowa began. “There's the usual things one would expect to find, but then I stumbled across a folder on Wainright's drive that doesn't strike me as being the sort of thing one would expect to find.”

“Oh? Care to elaborate?”

Trowa rubbed his chin. “It appears the senator had an interest in networks and systems. I found evidence of his researching into systems such as communications, banking, transport and the like.”

Une frowned. “I suppose the man could have a hobby of that sort.”

Trowa shook his head. “No, I don't think so. I'd like to continue with the search though, see if I can uncover anything further, something that might give us a clue as to why he was interested in such systems.”

“Then continue with your investigations tomorrow,” replied Une and then turned her attention back to Heero and Wufei. “How is your investigation coming along?”

“We spoke to a proprietor who was listed on the bank accounts as having supplied items. He was most helpful and gave us not only a list of the items purchased, but also the point of delivery,” Wufei explained.

“And?”

“It was L2,” Heero whispered.

“This is getting more and more complex by the minute,” sighed Une.

“There's more. Along with several armaments on the invoice, there were items such as circuit boards, chips and other electrical equipment. It doesn't add up.”

“You're right. That is a little weird. Have you looked into any of the other suppliers yet?”

“No. I have agents from other branches checking for us but I do not expect to get anything back from them until tomorrow at the earliest,” stated Wufei.

“I see. Okay, gentlemen. I suggest you leave this for now, go home and try to get some rest. I will see you all back at work in the morning. Once I have the security tapes from the L2 branch, I'll send for you. Goodnight.”

The four agents stood and with their own good nights, left the commander's office.

* * *

“Ah, Heero,” said Sally as the young man entered the hospital room she was sitting in with Nurse Brown.

“Sally, Nurse Brown,” Heero returned as he strode across the room to the bed with Wufei behind him.

Keitaro's face lit up when he heard his father's voice and he gurgled happily, reaching out his pudgy arms to be hugged.

Heero's face broke into a soft smile and he reached for his son, picking him up and cradling him against his chest. “How are you, Nurse Brown?”

“Much better, thank you. I'll be better still once I'm out of here though,” the nurse said.

Chuckling, Heero looked to the nurse. “Not fond of hospitals?”

“Not when I'm on the other side,” came the reply.

“Now Margaret, I did say if all was still okay tomorrow that we would look at releasing you,” Sally soothed.

“I know, but I can't see for the life of me why I can't go home now. I'm fine, I know what I can and can't do and believe me, I'm not about to start swinging off the chandeliers!”

Heero's eyes widened, Wufei blinked and Sally almost choked trying not to laugh.

“Chandeliers?” Sally snickered.

“You know what I mean,” huffed the nurse. “Just let me out of here and I promise to be a good little nurse and take things easy.”

“Sorry. No can do. You'll just have to be patient and wait for tomorrow.” Ignoring the growl from the irate nurse, Sally turned to the two agents. “Any further developments?”

“Hai. We just might have a breakthrough. Someone at a shuttle port on L2 believes he's seen Duo.”

“Oh my lord!” exclaimed Margaret.

“We should be able to confirm if it was him tomorrow. The Preventer branch on L2 is sending agents to the port to obtain the security camera footage,” Heero said.

“And if it is him?” whispered Sally.

“Then I will be going to L2,” said Heero in a tone that said he would be on the first flight out, permission or not.

“See, you'll have to let me out tomorrow,” Margaret stated. “If Heero is going to be off to L2 then I'll need to be home to look after Keitaro. He can't take the child with him.”

That was something that hadn't crossed Heero's mind. He had responsibilities now, he couldn't just drop everything and shoot off into space, no matter how much he wanted to.

Sally sighed and raised her hands. “Okay, okay. I give up. If everything is okay through the night then I'll release you first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Thank you,” replied the nurse, her tone smug.

“Come on, Yuy, we need to get moving. That child needs to be fed and put to bed,” Wufei said.

“Thank you for watching him today, Sally, you too Nurse Brown,” said Heero.

“No problem, Heero. It's been a pleasure,” replied the two women.

“Good night.” Heero turned to leave, the chorus of good nights following him.

* * *

“Come on Tom, we got a call to attend.”

Tom paid for the coffees and donuts, hastening back to the patrol car and climbing inside. “What's up?” he asked as he passed over a coffee and tucked the bag of donuts into his lap before securing his seat belt.

“Someone called headquarters about a house. Seems there's not been anyone there for a few days and there's a bit of an unusual smell coming from it. Captain wants us to go do a preliminary check of the joint.”

“Geeze, I thought it was something like a murder the way you were yelling, Barry,” Tom said as he sipped his coffee.

“Nah, nothing like that,” Barry chuckled. “You know that nothing exciting happens around here.”

“Good. That's just the way I like it.” Tom finished his coffee and ate a couple of donuts, leaving the others for his partner. “Where is this place?”

“Should be just around the corner. A neighbor called in, said they hadn't seen anyone for a while but there was this smell so we gotta go check it out.”

“Probably someone went on holiday and left their garbage can full,'”replied Tom.

“Well, we will know soon enough. Here we are.” Barry pulled the patrol car to the side of the road and cut the engine. “That's the place there,” he said. “Neighbor that called lives...” he glanced at the notepad he'd written the details on. “... there, number 67.”

The two officers exited their vehicle, putting their hats on and strolled up the walk to the front door of number 67. Barry knocked and waited. Moments later the door opened.

“Mrs Penshaw? I'm Constable Stevens and this is Constable Pritchard. You called the station about your neighbor's house?” Barry said as he introduced both himself and his partner.

“Ah, yes. Thank you for coming out. I'm not sure if there is anything wrong, but I haven't seen anyone at the house for the past three days. I didn't really think much of it at first, but then my dog managed to slip her collar when I was walking her earlier and she shot into the garden next door. I went in to get her and that's when I noticed this funny smell coming from the place. I tried knocking on the door but there was no answer. It might be nothing at all, but, that smell, it didn't seem right.”

“No problem, Mrs Penshaw. We'll go take a look around. As you say, it's probably nothing, but it pays to be sure,” replied Tom.

“Thank you. I hope I haven't wasted your time,” said Mrs Penshaw.

“I'll come back shortly and let you know if we find anything.” Tom turned to his partner and with a roll of his eyes that the lady couldn't see, the pair left the porch and walked back out to the sidewalk. “Nosey old biddy,” he said under his breath.

“Oh, I don't know. She didn't seem to be the kind to put her nose into her neighbors' business,” replied Barry.

With a shrug of his shoulders, Tom turned off the sidewalk and along the path to the house in question. He knocked on the front door and waited.

“You smell that?” asked Barry as he wrinkled his nose.

Tom took a couple of sniffs. “Yeah, that's pretty foul.”

Barry knocked again, a little harder this time. “That must be an awful lot of trash to smell that bad.”

Tom just nodded.

After waiting a few more moments and still not getting a reply, Barry tried again, knocking loudly and calling out at the same time, “Hello, this is the police! Anyone home?”

“Let's check around the back,” Tom suggested when their repeated knocking and calling resulted in nothing.

“Good idea.” Barry followed his partner around the side of the house and towards the back. They tried to look inside windows as they passed, but the curtains were drawn, preventing them from seeing anything. Reaching the back door, Barry tried the handle to find that it was locked. They tried knocking and calling out again.

“No one home by the look of it,” Tom stated. “That smell though.”

“Yeah. I'm gonna call the chief and let him know what we've found so far and see if he will give us permission to enter the premises,” replied Barry and went back to the patrol car, Tom went back to the front door.

“What did he say?” Tom asked as Barry returned.

“He said it's probably nothing, but given the smell we had better check it out. We have permission to enter.”

“Okay. You want to see if any windows are open? Or do you want to break the door lock?”

“No need for theatrics,” Barry said with a shake of his head. “We need to be discrete and keep this to minimal property damage.”

“Then we look for an open window first then.” Tom walked to the side of the house again and began to check all the windows he found. None would yield. The windows on the other side and front were similarly closed and locked.

“Let's try the back,” said Barry.

Again, all windows were secure.

“Guess we will have to break one,” sighed Barry.

“Why not break the small one just to the side of the door, then you can climb in and open the back door for me?” Tom replied.

“Why don't you climb in?” Barry retorted.

“Because I won't fit,” his partner replied with a smug smile.

“I keep telling you to quit eating those donuts,” huffed Barry, but duly drew his baton. Moving to the small window, he swung the baton and brought it against the glass, the sound of shattering glass greeting their ears. Using the baton to knock all the shards of glass out the way, Barry prepared to climb in.

“Fuck, that smell is worse,” he muttered as he did his best not to gag.

“Just hurry it up, will you? Our shift finishes in a couple of hours and I'd like to be knocking off on time for once.”

“Okay, okay. Quit your griping.” Barry managed to climb inside and seconds later was opening the back door, charging out to the fresh air and drawing in deep gulps.

“You okay?” Tom asked, concerned with his partner's state.

“Yeah. That smell is really foul.” He pulled a handkerchief from inside his pocket and put it over his nose and mouth. “I suggest you do the same,” he told his partner.

Tom did as Barry suggested and the pair entered the house.

Tom tried the light switch and the bulb flickered before lighting up fully. “At least the power's still on.”

“Then it can't be a fridge full of decaying meat,” replied Barry. Given the strength of the smell, that's what Barry thought they would most likely find.

They were inside a kitchen, the light making it much easier to see. Nothing looked out of place. A few dishes on the sink, garbage bin only containing a few wrappers and bits of paper.

“Let's go through and see if we can find where this smell is coming from,” Barry told his partner.

The two police officers made their way out of the kitchen and along a hallway. As they found light switches, so they turned them on. The first two doors they came to opened into bedrooms. Nothing appeared out of place. Beds were made and the rooms neat and tidy. Pressing on further into the house, there remained two more doors up ahead.

“The smell is getting worse,” Tom commented.

“I think it's coming from behind that door,” Barry replied and inclined his head to the door on their left.

The pair paused outside the closed door, neither one really wanting to open it, but knowing they had to.

“This is ridiculous,” muttered Barry as he looked to his partner.

“Don't look at me, I really don't want to go in there,” Tom said. “I'll go check the other room.”

“No you don't,” growled Barry. “You're staying right here with me.”

“Fine.”

Barry reached for the door knob and closed his fingers around it. He swallowed and then shook his head and gave a snort. “I'm a fucking copper, for crying out loud! There's nothing in here that I have to worry about.” He took a deep breath and still berating himself mentally for being such a wimp, he opened the door and stepped inside.

It was dark and gloomy in the room, Barry's hand automatically swiping down the wall, looking for the light switch. The smell was much stronger in here, to the point where it was almost overpowering.

Tom had never smelt anything like it in his life - it was a sort of sickly sweet odor.

Barry's hand managed to find the light switch and his fingers pushed it.

Instantly the room was bathed in a pale light.

Barry's eyes widened in shock as he looked around what was obviously a lounge room.

Tom ran into his partner's back. “Why'd you sto... Oh fuck!” Tom back pedaled rapidly, hand clasped over his mouth as he charged for the back door and fresh air.

Barry didn't have the chance to move. His legs turned to jelly and he vomited right where he stood. “Oh, crap,” he managed to get out between heaves. Once his stomach no longer had anything left in it to expel, Barry managed to get his legs working and shot from inside that room, the horror there following him in his mind. He found Tom out the back, throwing up in the flower bed. It made him feel a little better that he'd not been the only one to react in such a manner.

“I gotta call the chief, this needs experts in this field,” he managed to say.

Tom just nodded and continued to enjoy his coffee and donuts a second time.

Barry staggered back to the patrol car and grabbed the radio handset. “Chief? Yeah, it's me, Stevens. I think you better send out the homicide squad.”

~ * ~

tbc...