Hunting the Fox

Chapter 10

Kiera sat at a table with her chin supported by her hand, drumming her fingers on the table as she stared out the window across the street. Across the street was the entrance to the Foxhole bar alleyway. She was hoping to gain access to the alley, but it seemed that D.C. Metro police were not finished with their investigation.

Kiera watched the two uniformed police officers standing guard at the entrance to the alleyway. Yellow crime scene tape ran across entrance. Kiera sighed heavily. Kiera realized that she would not be able access the alleyway without the police arresting her.

"Ma'am," Kiera heard a young female say.

Kiera looked up to see a young female holding a cup of coffee.

"Your coffee," The woman said, "I put it into a disposable cup for you."

"Ah, thank you." Kiera said, "Can I ask you a question Tiffany?" Kiera noticed the name on an employee badge.

"Sure." Tiffany said with a bored look.

"What happened over there?" Kiera asked pointing over to the alley across the street.

Kiera took her coffee and saw the young woman expression change from bored to excitement.

"Some woman was attacked in the alley two days ago. The attacker found dead after a man saved the woman from the attack. Then last night, two guys tried to get into the alley after the police left."

"Two guys?" Kiera probed.

"Yeah," Tiffany acknowledged, "My friend Beth was closing up for the night and saw the two men looking around in the alley. She called the cops. The cops scared whoever was in the alley and they have had the police guarding it ever since."

'I wonder if they were looking for that phone' Kiera thought.

"Thanks," Kiera said.

"No Problem," The young woman took on a bored expression again and walked away.

'So how do I get into that alley?' Kiera thought then an idea came to her.

She pulled out her phone and opened up her text.

'Sandra,' Kiera texted, 'I need a favor.'

Kiera waited a moment then her phone vibrated.

'What kind of favor?' Sandra texted back.

'I am at the alley were I was attacked. Police are guarding the place and I need to get in.'

'What? Why do you need to get in there?'

'I think there is something important that was left behind and someone has already tried to get into the alley.'

'What is in the alley?' Sandra texted back.

Kiera sighed and thought for a moment, then texted. 'Ryan left something, but I don't know what.'

Kiera thought, 'She does not need to know everything right now.'

'What did he leave?'

'I don't know, but I need to find out. Can you get the police to leave for a bit, so I can find out?'

'Give me a few minutes to work something out.'

'Thanks and I will be sure to let you know what I found.'

'Oh you owe me more than that.'

'Fine, whatever you want.' Kiera texted back with a sigh and blew back a lock of hair.

Kiera looked at the alley again and she sat up straight noticing a lot of activity happening across the street. The police officer had his head tilted and was listening to his radio. The other police officer looked at the one receiving the call and made a 'what gives' gesture. The first officer shrugged and pointed towards the police car. They both walked towards it and left.

Kiera's phone vibrated on the table. She picked it up and there was a text from Sandra.

'You have 15 minutes until they have to return. Make god use of the time.'

"Thx and I owe you.'

'Oh you bet you do. Now go.'

A minute later Kiera was standing in the alley. It was a warm May morning and the alley had a slight smell of garbage and urine. She sipped her coffee looking around the alley trying to remember where Ryan was when he hid the phone. She did notice the camera above the door. It was barely noticeable in the mid-morning light.

Kiera walked up to the alley door and turned around. Scanning the area, she picked out the most likely area that Ryan would have stashed the phone. Quickly walking over to the spot, she moved some of the garbage out of the way. She felt her heart beat with excitement then her excitement turned to disappointment.

'What did you expect Kiera.' Kiera thought kneeling. There was nothing there, 'Did someone else find it?'

As Kiera stood something, small and black caught the corner of her eye. Turning her head, Kiera moved some garbage bags with her foot to uncover the black rectangular item. Uncovering it, Kiera gasped as she noticed a flip style cell phone lying on the ground.

'This is what Ryan took from the agent and hid.' Kiera thought and leaned over picking up the phone.

Kiera felt excitement as she picked up the flip style phone. She opened the phone and pressed the power button. She realized that she was holding her breathe and let out a sigh of relief when the phone powered on. Her relief turned to confusion when the screen came up with a bluish blank screen. Pressing some buttons, nothing happened.

Kiera flipped the phone closed and put it in the front pocket of her jeans. Pulling out her phone from her back pocket, she saw that eight minutes had past by. Quickly scrolling through her contacts, Kiera found the number she was looking for. Pressing the connect button she put her phone to her ear and waited.

"Hey Kiera," said the bubbly Midwestern voice of Kate.

"Hey Kate," Kiera responded.

"First Sandra now you," Kate laughed, "What did I do to become so popular."

"Sandra called you?" Kiera asked in a confused voice.

"She needed some phone information on someone." Kate said in a casual voice.

'That must have been when she was investigating Marcus.' Kiera thought.

"Anyways, I need your help with a flip style phone I found."

"I'm intrigued, go on."

"I believe a terrorist was using this phone to contact someone, but when I turn it on. The screen lights up and then nothing."

"It's a burner phone." Kate said in a bored voice.

"A what kind of phone?"

"A burner phone," Kate repeated, "A one-time use type phone. You can buy with cash and no contract."

"Why would someone want that type of phone?" Kiera asked confused.

"I thought you psychologist were smart."

"Humor me Kate." Kiera said in an irritated voice.

"Keep your pants on Kiera. A burner phone would be used by someone wishing to remain anonymous." Kate said with an exasperated voice.

"So there is no way to find out who the person would have called?" Kiera asked feeling disheartened by the news.

"I did not say that," Kate sighed dramatically, "I will need to look at the sim card, if it is still in the phone."

"It is located by the battery right?"

Kate made her voice sound like an announcer. "Winner, winner. You get a chicken dinner."

"Ha ha," Kiera said with a mock laugh. She placed her coffee on the ground and pulled the phone out of her pocket. Turning I over Kiera popped the back off. To her surprise, there was a small rectangle of yellow plastic next to the battery. "It is still in the phone."

"Awesome, I need you to send me that sim card." Kate said excitedly, "I have a program that can pull any information off of that card."

Kiera extracted the sim card, slipped the plate back on the phone, and stuck the phone in her back pocket.

'Now we are getting somewhere.' Kiera thought excitedly as she stooped to pick up her coffee.

"I will sen..." The sound of approaching footsteps interrupted her.

's**t, the police are back.' Kiera thought as panic rose in her throat.

Kiera tucked the sim card into her bra. Turning around she stepped back towards the Foxhole's back door. Expecting to see the police coming around the corner she thought of a story as her heartbeat faster. What she did see caused her to freeze in her steps. The police did not come in, but two tall men came around the corner into the alley. She noticed that they both looked eastern European by the way they dressed.

The first person was bald with tribal tattoos running down his bare arms and up his neck. A cold chill of fear ran down Kiera's spine as she saw the second man. It was the police officer from the video footage. He had the same handlebar mustache and long scar running down his cheek. They stood in the alley a she observed that they were blocking her way.

'These two are not going to let me leave.' She thought swallowing and noticed how tense they looked.

"Hi guys," Kiera said trying to make her voice sound calm, but heard it tremble slightly, "Can I help you?"

"Give us the phone." The bald one demanded in a German accent.

"I was looking around the place, kind of cool to find a crime scene." Kiera said trying to think quickly, "Thought I would get some pictures for the Washington Post."

"Don't play stupid girl," The mustache man said menacingly, "We heard you talking about a phone." The man stepped forward and held out his hand, "Give it to me and you will not get hurt...much."

"I'm con..." However, before she could finish her sentence. She saw the mustache man advance on her and swing an open hand towards her face. Kiera stepped back on instinct, stumbling a bit. She felt the wind whip past her face as the bow missed her face by inches. Kiera breathing heavily from fear noticed the man was not happy about missing her and took another menacing step towards her.

Kiera glanced down at her coffee and a plan came forth. She thumbed the lid off the coffee and with one smooth motion threw the hot coffee into the mustache man's face. To her satisfaction, she noticed that he was not expecting her to do that. His arms did not come up quick enough to protect his face. The hot coffee splashed him in the face and she quickly dropped the empty cup.

"Argh, you b***h!" The mustache man yelled trying to wipe the hot coffee from his eyes with his coat sleeve.

Kiera took advantage of the situation to get around the man. She attempted to sidestep the mustache man, but the alley was narrow. As she stepped around the man, he grabbed out and caught her by the wrist. Instinct from her CIA training kicked in. She grabbed hold of his hand at the thumb area a twisted it, breaking his grip on her wrist. Kiera twist the arm until she had him hunched over. She kicked out, hitting him hard in the side and letting go of his arm at the same time. The mustache man slammed hard against the alley wall.

Kiera did not waste time to see if he got up. She turned to see the bald man stepping up and swinging his right arm at her in a haymaker punch. Kiera knelt, barely ducking the blow. She struck the side of the man's left knee with a vertical punch, while holding her phone in her right hand. She smiled as she felt the knee buckle. The bald man was thrown off balance from his missed punched and the buckling of his knee. He fell into the wall and crumpled onto some garbage bags.

Kiera dug in her heels ready to run as if from a starting line, but suddenly fell forward as she took off in her run. Something made contact with the small of her back. She threw her hands out in front of her to brace her fall. Her phone flew from her hand, skidding across the pavement as she hit alley floor. She gasped for breath as the impact knocked the air from her lungs. She tried to get up on her hands and knees, but a foot knocked her to the ground.

She felt her right arm roughly grabbed and bent behind her back. Kiera cried out as pain lanced up her arm and shoulder. She knew it must be the mustache man because she saw the bald man standing up slowly and leaning against the wall

"Damn, should have broken his arm.' Kiera thought trying to pull her arm out of his grasp. He responded by tightening his grip. Tears formed in her eyes from the pain.

Kiera turned her head to see the mustache man's face fed from the hot coffee. She involuntarily smiled ad realized that was a mistake. The man's face became enraged he punched Kiera hard in the kidney and another quick punch to her side. An electrical shock of pain rippled up her spine. Gritting her teeth, she looked through tear-covered eyes as a third blow came towards her face. Kiera moved her head quickly to the side. The blow struck her in the temple. Stars erupted across her vision and her ears rung from the blow. She felt her body go limp as blackness closed in around her vision. She dropped her head onto the ground as she took short quick breaths.

"Stop!" Kiera heard the bald man shout, "I don't think the hellcat is going to give us anymore problems."

"The b***h burned me!" The mustache man yelled holding Kiera's arm tightly behind her back, "I'm going to mess her up."

As Kiera's vision came back into sharp focus, she heard a click and something shiny gleamed near her face. Her body felt heavy and her head stuffed with wool. She felt the grip on her arm let go as the man used her ponytail to pull back her head. She saw the gleaming object was a knife. The mustache man had the knife held close to her left eye.

"Give us the damn phone." The bald man cursed.

"It is in my front pocket." Kiera answered catching her breath. Slowly she placed both hands on the ground close to her body. Pulling in her reserve strength and taking a deep breath, Kiera shoved upward with her hands and knees. To her surprise, the mustache man fell off her and hit the ground.

Kiera rolled onto her back. Trying to get up, she felt another foot make contact with her chest and knock her back down onto the pavement.

"Don't get up," Growled the bald man pointing a gun at her, "Now get the damn phone." Kiera saw him looking down at the other person with a disgusted look.

The mustache man stood up and put away his knife. He reached down into her front pocket of her jeans. Kiera shuttered as his hand slid down her hip into her pocket. He pulled out the phone with a smirk on his face.

"I got it." The mustache man said excitedly.

"Check it for the sim card." The bald man ordered, "He will be pissed if we don't get it."

Kiera felt a cold sweat break out on her forehead. "If they discover it is gone." Kiera thought.

As the mustache man was fumbling with the back of the phone, Kiera heard the squeal of tires and a siren. The sound seemed to be getting louder. She noticed the two men looking at each other with a worried expression. Kiera stayed on her back and watched them.

Both men suddenly ran out of the alley and down the street as a police car screeched to a halt in front of the alley. A D.C. metro police car braked hard in front of the alley. Police officers got out of the car in a rush and yelled down the street at the two assailants to stop.

"Ma'am, are you alright?" Kiera heard one of the officers asking her a question as he knelt next to her.

"I think so," Kiera took a deep breath, "I just need a second." Kiera sat up trying to stand. Her back and side hurt like hell.

"I think we need to get you to the hospital." The officer suggested. She observed his name under his badge as Officer Smith.

"Thank you Officer Smith," Kiera said weakly, "But I think I want to go home." She stood up as the officer helped her to her feet. Kiera's head swam and her vision started to blacken. Her knees felt suddenly weak. Kiera started to fall forward the officer held on to her supporting her.

"Johnson!" Officer Smith yelled, "We need to get her to the hospital."

Kiera sat propped up in bed holding an ice pack to the side of her head. She was in a curtain off area in the emergency room. Officer Smith asked her questions about the assailants and why was she was in a crime scene. She tried explaining that a man assaulted her in that alleyway a few nights ago. She wanted to go back to the alley to get a sense of what happened that night.

"Well you are lucky to be alive," Officer Smith said, "Those two looked dangerous."

"It looks like they bit off more than they could chew, if you ask me." Officer Johnson added.

"Can you remember anything about them?" Officer Smith asked. Kiera saw him give his partner a stern look.

"It was all a blur," Kiera replied closing her eyes for a moment, "I wanted to get out of there."

The curtains parted and Kiera opened her eyes to see Ryan walk in with a panicked look on his face.

"Excuse me sir," Officer Johnson placed his arm in front of Ryan, "We are conducting an interview right now."

"It's alright Officers," Kiera said feeling safe, "He's my boyfriend."

"Kiera are you alright?" Ryan inquired with a concerned tone as he stepped forward next to her.

"I'm fine," Kiera replied smiling, but winced in pain. She noticed a dark expression cloud Ryan's face. The look scared Kiera.

"Officers are you done questioning my girlfriend?" Ryan glanced toward the Officer. Kiera felt her heart skip a beat when he made the statement.

"I think so," Officer Smith said shrugging, "If you remember anything else, here is my card." The Officer handed her a card. "Come on Johnson, we need to file a report."

"What happened? Why were you in that alley? Ryan questioned her. Kiera saw that he was clenching his jaw as he spoke.

'Who is he angry at?' Kiera thought.

"I wanted to know what happened to me," Kiera said seriously, "I'm psychologist and I'm interested in criminal psychology." Kiera looked at him directly trying to hide her lie.

His shoulders sagged a bit, "Kiera you should not have been in that alley." Kiera saw that he knew something and was hiding it.

Kiera sighed and looked at her hands, "On Saturday before you called me, I asked the owner of the bar to send me the video of the assault." She looked up through her eyelashes. She was surprised to see he had not changed his expression, but his eyes had a downcast look as if he was guilty.

'What does he know?' Kiera thought watching him carefully.

"Anyways I wanted to see if the guy left anything behind, which could help the investigation." Kiera explained, "Did you know that he was going to drug me." Kiera made it out to be a statement.

"We should take you home," Ryan said with a sigh and not responding to her last statement.

Kiera did see that the statement shook him somehow, 'Tell me what is going on Ryan?' Kiera thought willing him to answer.

"Once I get you home safe, I need to talk to some people." Ryan said running his fingers through his hair.

"Who do you need to talk to Ryan?" Kiera asked looking concerned and a bit angry, but she decided not to press the issue.

"I have some contacts," Ryan told her as he sat down on the bed, "They might be able to find the two guys who did this to you." Kiera noticed that he was holding back, but kept quiet, "They can help bring in these two guys before they hurt anyone else." Kiera watched him as he cupped her cheek. Kiera tilted her head into his warm palm and sighed. "Also I did see the syringe that the guy had. I made sure the police knew about it."

"Thank you Ryan," Kiera said slowly.

"I don't know what I would do if they...," Ryan groaned. She heard the stress in his voice.

Ryan hugged her tightly, "I don't want to lose you again." Kiera heard a lot in that statement. From her training as a psychologist, the hug and statement told her that he either felt responsible or was responsible.

They both heard someone clearing a throat. Looking up Kiera noticed a Doctor standing in a lab coat. Ryan removed his arms from around Kiera and stood by her side.

"How is she Doctor," inquired Ryan looking at the Doctor's name on the lab coat, "Davis."

"Are you related to Doctor Reid?" The Doctor asked looking bored and tired.

"He's my boyfriend," Kiera answered with a small smile at the thought of him calling her his girlfriend. The thought brought her back to their high school days, "It is ok."

'Ok," Doctor Davis said pulling out a chart and flipping through the pages, "You have some bruising over your kidney, but it is not damaged, a few scrapes and a minor concussion from the hit to your temple. I would recommend you rest for a few days. I took the liberty of filling a prescription for the headaches that will come." He looked at her directly.

"Can she go home?" Ryan asked as Kiera looked up to see concern across his face. The look on his face caused tears to form in the corners of her eyes. She quickly wiped them away as Ryan looked down at her.

"We would prefer she stay overnight, but she is okay to go home." Davis replied, "She is not to drive anywhere or engage in strenuous activities for a few days." The Doctor chuckled at that last comment.

"I will ensure she gets the rest she needs," Ryan said holding out his hand, "Thank you Doctor for taking care of her."

Kiera blushed at the last comment from the Doctor.

"That is what I'm here for," Davis said shaking his hand, "But from what I heard Doctor Reid seems to be quite capable of taking care of herself. She gave those thugs quite the beating from what I heard on the ER floor. Oh before I forget here is your phone and prescription." Doctor Davis reached into his lab coat and produced Kiera's phone and a prescription bottle. She noticed the screen was shattered.

"Thanks Doctor." Kiera mumbled taking the phone and the bottle. Pressing the home button the picture of her and Ryan at the cabin appeared, but the cracks on the screen distorted the image.

"Oh," The Doctor held out a tissue, "Your nose is bleeding."

"What," Kiera touched her upper lip with her fingers and felt warmth. Pulling her hand back, she saw blood on her fingers. She took the tissue and wiped the blood away.

"Is she ok Doctor?" Ryan asked with a worried tone.

"Her test came back clean." Davis replied rubbing his chin, "It might be from when she hit the ground, but I think it would not hurt to run a CT scan. We will schedule something when you feel up to it."

"That sounds good." Kiera replied throwing the tissue in the wastebasket.

Ryan opened the door to Kiera's condominium and walked around the place. He checked every room to before the place was safe. Giving her a long kiss, he said he needed to talk to his contacts.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay?" Kiera pouted.

"I need to handle it now, while the leads are still fresh." Ryan held her close. "I will be back tonight with dinner." He winked.

"Ok, but you be careful." Kiera warned, "Don't do anything foolish."

"I will be careful Gazelle." Ryan replied with a sly smile and a quick peck on the lips.

As soon as Ryan left, Kiera's phone vibrated. Looking at the Caller ID though the cracked scree she saw it was Kate. Pressing the connect button she held the phone close to her ear.

"Hello Kate." Kiera said wearily sitting down on the couch and gritted her teeth from the pain that flared up.

"Are you okay Kiera?" Kate asked with a worried tone in her voice.

"I'm okay," said Kiera, "A bit battered and bruised."

"As soon as I heard the threating voices, I contacted D.C. Metro."

"Good call," Kiera said, "That call saved my life, since they were after the phone or should I say the sim card." Kiera reached into her bra and pulled out the small rectangular plastic.

"Well rest up and I will send someone from the D.C. field office over to pick up the card."

"I plan too, but keep this as quiet as possible. I don't want Marcus to get wind of this."

"I got a guy," Kate laughed at her own joke, "Rest up and relax girl."

"I plan too." Kiera said, "Bye Kate."

"Bye Kiera." Then the line disconnected.

As soon as Kiera lowered the phone and closed her eyes, the phone vibrated again. She opened her eyes and gave the phone a weary look.

"Hello Sandra," Kiera said after pressing the connect button again and answering the call.

"Marcus is pissed," whispered Sandra over the phone, He is demanding to know what you were doing in that alley."

"I was...wait how did Marcus know I was there." Kiera stumbled over words lost in her train of thought.

"Come on Kiera," Sandra said exasperated," Big brother is always watching. We track all field agents."

'Damn I should have known.' Kiera thought clenching her fist.

"I was trying to find out more about what happened in the alley." Kiera said cautiously keeping her voice neutral. "I saw the video of the attack from Friday night. First the guy was going to drug me for some reason and second Ryan hid something in the alley and I had to find it."

"What did you find?" Sandra asked in a whisper.

"The agent had a burner phone. I thought it would give me some clue to why the agent was going to drug me and not kill me."

"What are you saying?" Sandra whispered.

"I'm saying the agent could have killed me when I screamed, but he knocked me out." Kiera replied, "I was able to get the sim card and I'm sending it to Kate for analysis." Kiera paused for a moment, "I think Marcus is behind this somehow."

Kiera did not know why she said that, but she had been thinking it over. Everything made sense to her. From the message, she received from him. To the attack in the alley and finally Marcus was hiding something. Sandra was silent on the line.

Kiera threw caution to the wind, "When I was given a message from Steve. He said a Puerto Rican person gave him the message and a Puerto Rican person retrieved the video of my attack the next day from Steve. Besides me, Marcus is the only one who would have known about the phone." Kiera explained, "I think Marcus sent those two guys to get the phone."

More silence on the line.

"Sandra?" Kiera asked.

"There is more going on." Sandra answered in a whisper, "Something big is happening here I don' know what, but Marcus is up to something...Look I have to go." Sandra said quickly, "Marcus is coming for a status report." Then she hung up.

'What the hell?' Kiera thought, 'What did she mean by something big and she sounded worried.'

Kiera sighed and stood up stretching. She decided that she needed a shower and a change of clothes. The shower made her feel ten times better, but she still felt sore and tired. Kiera took one of the pills to help with the pain flaring up throughout her body. The pain felt like tiny pin pricks. Not painful, but it was annoying. Before she sat on the couch, she placed the sim card in a small envelope and placed it in the cabinet behind a box of cereal.

Stretching and yawning she fed Ginger and took off her glasses. Laying them on the coffee table, Kiera lied down on the couch and rubbed her eyes. She turned on the television and watched a documentary. The couch felt wonderful as if she was floating on air.

'The pills must be making me drowsy.' Kiera thought.

Her eyes felt heavy and before she knew it. She was asleep as the remote fell out of her hand.