New York City/OTCF Headquarters
John Connolly stared at Sheila Cooper and Sam Williams as they made their report after returning from the Wisconsin Penitentiary.
"So based on what you two have found, we now have a bona-fide killer out on the streets. Well, we have no choice but to issue a warrant for the arrest of Nick Costello," John said.
"Captain, it's been over twenty years and we only have the word of a convicted felon to go on. And if I may add, a felon who has nothing to lose and may have given us false information to better his own situation," Sam responded.
"Nonetheless, we can't take any chances. We need to bring this guy in to at least question him and get his true identity resolved, once and for all," Connolly said in a concerned voice. "Sheila, what's the story on Tyler Santiago?" he asked.
"Sir, he called but refused to come in. Mr. Santiago stated he was very busy at the time, but would voluntarily come in a couple of days," she responded.
"Really?" the captain remarked. "So we sit around and wait until Mr. Santiago decides he will talk to us? Do I have it right, Ms. Cooper?" the captain asked her.
"Um… No sir, I didn't mean for it to come across that way," Agent Cooper responded.
"Well, I don't have time to pussyfoot around. I am issuing a warrant for both Nick Costello and Tyler Santiago. I need to know the whereabouts of both these men prior to going before a judge for the warrants. Therefore, you two need to provide me with that information. Find out where they are," the captain ordered.
Realizing that the captain was not in a good mood, both Sheila and Sam got up and walked out of the office without saying a word.
"Sam, I'm going back to see Tyler's old chief and partner. Maybe they can tell me where he is," Sheila said.
"Ok. I will try to track down where Mr. Costello might have headed. I presume he is probably in Chicago. He should be easy to track. I'll let you know if I find out anything and you do the same," Sam told her.
"Sounds like a plan. We'll chat tonight," said Sheila as she reached into her desk and pulled out her gun, holstering it under her jacket as she headed for the door.
Sheila's thoughts were on Tyler. She was determined to try to persuade him to come in without a warrant. It would be in his best interest.
Thirty minutes later, she was at the 25th precinct sitting in front of Chief of Police, John O'Malley. "Chief, I need to contact Mr. Santiago. Our captain wants to issue a warrant for his arrest and I don't think that would be in his best interest," Sheila told O'Malley.
"Miss Cooper, I don't know where Tyler is and if I did, I don't know if I would necessarily tell you. What do you want with him anyway? Why can't you just leave him alone?" the chief pleaded.
"Chief, you obviously don't know. We have reason to believe that the man Tyler shot, the same man that killed the judge, is Tyler's father," Sheila said.
The news caught O'Malley off guard.
"What! What are you saying? That is the most ridiculous thing I ever heard. Where do you people come up with these things?" John O'Malley responded.
"You think I want to believe it? You think I want to see anything happen to Tyler? If it wasn't for Tyler, I might very well be dead right now," Sheila said almost shouting. The chief stared at her for a few seconds and could see the concern in her eyes.
"Ok. Ok what do you want me to do?" asked O'Malley.
"Is there any way to contact him?" Sheila asked in a calmer voice.
The chief stood up, walked over, and opened the door."Russo, get in here!" he shouted out.
A second later Detective Eric Russo, Tyler's ex-partner, was in his office.
"Where is your ex-partner? And don't give me this bullshit that you don't know," the chief asked him.
"I don't know. Really, I don't know," Eric responded.
Sheila turned to Eric and told him what was going on. Told him about the assassin being related to Tyler and that a warrant was going to be issued for his arrest.
"Oh, my God! You have to be kidding me. How can that be? He shot at Tyler more than once. Crap, Tyler shot and killed him," Eric said aloud.
"Well it's true he shot. However, we never found the body and we think the guy survived," Sheila said.
After a few seconds, Eric spoke up. "Chief, he called me a few days ago. He wanted me to find out about a guy who lives in California, this lawyer. Wait, I think I still have the name," Eric said as he got up and raced over to his desk. He shuffled some stuff around, finally retrieved a piece of paper and returned to the chief’s office, closing the door behind him.
"The guy is some sort of lawyer-slash-accountant. Goes by the name of David Spencer and lives in Daly City, California," Eric said.
Eric handed the paper containing all the information on Mr. Spencer to the chief who in turn handed it over to Sheila.
"What's the connection to Tyler?" Sheila asked.
"Don't know, Tyler didn't elaborate," Eric responded.
"Do you know where he is?" the chief asked Eric.
"No, Chief, Tyler wouldn't say," Eric answered.
Sheila thanked both the chief and Eric, and assured them she would do all she could to bring Tyler in safely, and hopefully without a warrant.
Returning to her office, she immediately went into the FBI database to try to find out what they had on David Spencer. Not finding anything, she decided to call him.
"Hello," Sheila heard a voice on the other end say.
"Hello. Is this David Spencer?" Sheila asked.
"Yes, who's calling?" David countered.
"I am Agent Sheila Cooper with the FBI and I would like to ask you a couple of questions," Sheila informed him.
"What kind of questions?" David responded, a little apprehensive.
"Do you know a Mr. Tyler Santiago?" Sheila asked him.
There was a short hesitation.
"Um… I don't recall," David answered.
"Mr. Spencer, we are looking for Mr. Santiago, and if you know his whereabouts it would be in your best interest to tell me where he is," Sheila said.
"I do know a Mr. Tyler Santiago. But I don't know where he is at this time, and that's the truth," David responded.
"When did you last see Mr. Santiago?" Sheila asked.
"I don't remember," he answered, sounding a little annoyed.
"Ok. You listen up. Either you start cooperating, or I will have agents knocking at your office, and at your home, with warrants for your arrest for hampering a federal investigation. Do you understand?" Sheila now said in a raised voice.
Again, there was silence at the other end.
"I met with Mr. Tyler Santiago a couple of weeks ago," finally came the response.
"There in California?" Sheila asked.
"Yes," answered David.
"Mr. Spencer, I have reviewed your files and it's simply a matter of time before you will want and need the help of the FBI. I don't forget favors and would really be very appreciative if you would give me any or all information on the whereabouts of Mr. Tyler Santiago. Have I made myself clear?" Sheila asked.
Again, there was a hesitation at the other end.
"What is it you want to know, Miss Cooper?" David asked her.
From David Spencer, Sheila was able to find out exactly where Tyler was staying. David Spencer was also kind enough to elaborate, in detail, his connection with Tyler.
"Holy crap, Tyler. What the hell did you get into?" thought Sheila.
Hooking up with Sam later that day, Sheila told him everything.
"I am going to fly out to California and confront him."
"Are you nuts? You can't do that! The captain will have a cow," Sam warned her.
Sheila stared at Sam and nodded. "You're right." She picked up the phone. "I am going to call the captain and tell him everything. I am going to ask him to let me go and get Tyler," Sheila said.
"What?" Sam stared at her as he watched her dial Captain John Connolly's number.
"Hello, Captain," Sheila said into the phone.
"Yes, Agent Cooper. What can I do for you?" the captain said somewhat groggily, having been awakened from a nap.
Sheila told him everything she learned and asked permission to go and get Tyler.
The captain hesitated before responding with, "Miss Cooper, I trust your instincts. Take Sam with you and don't screw this up."
Sam watched as Sheila put down the phone, turned to him with a smile on her face and said, "It's a go and you get to babysit me." Sam smiled back at her.
"I sure hope we won't regret this," Sam said."We better be back before Thanksgiving, because my ole lady is going to kick my ass," he told her.
"Don't worry. I'll tell her it was all your idea," Sheila said laughing.
"What… What?" Sam said turning toward her.
"Kidding, really just kidding," Sheila responded as they grabbed their briefcases, armed themselves and headed for the door.