Blueblood 5.1: Red Alert!! - 1. The Investigation Begins

Colin and I didn’t even bother to put anything else on as we hurried with Ruben to the control room. I felt odd as neither Colin nor I bothered to even put shoes on. Ruben looked rough as he went with two barefoot, robe-wearing men through the almost disserted corridors of the VUN.

“I’m not Stan,” Ruben said as we came in quickly and he sat at the computer. He touched the recessed keyboard on the black glass surface and did a little hunt and peck as he typed, “I don’t have his speed or…”

“What happened, Ruben?” Colin demanded a little heated. Not angry at Ruben, but what happened.

Ruben waved at the overhead screen. A map of the Caribbean came up and blinked a single red light and the only indicator said “John.” I mean on the whole map, only one individual pinpoint was John. “Whoever took George, knew he had a tracker. It’s being blocked. I can’t locate George anywhere.” He hit another command and the map shrank as the world grew on the screen. He pulled back and there were pinpoints that said Mark, Stan, Kev, Ellis, Gaius, Vlad and the rest here and in Charleston. Every member of the VUN Internationally was there, but no George. Ruben even typed George’s name and Buddy said “Searching.” Then the letters in blinking red said: “Not Found.”

“How is that possible?” I asked. “His PDTU should indicate where he is even if he were dead or even if his PDTU were destroyed there should be something. It’s not a mechanical or computerized device. What did John say to you?”

“That he and George were…roughed up and John was knocked out,” Ruben reported. “When he came to, George was gone.” The phone was ringing again…or Buddy was ringing. Ruben touched a button and Stan’s face appeared gigantic on the screen overhead. He clearly had just gotten out of bed like the rest of us.

“What’s happening?” Stan instantly demanded worriedly. “The warning sounded. I read John, but not George at all anywhere.”

“How did you…” Ruben began as his eyebrows rose.

“My Sentry Buddies!” Stan answered quickly. “Now, what happened?”

“George disappeared,” I answered. “Obviously, you have a computer with you. What does Buddy say to you?”

“Nothing.” Stan grimaced. “My sentries woke me up. They are programmed to alert me with a problem. What is the problem? The PDTUs should not just simply vanish. Even if it were removed, it would register somewhere. The PDTU doesn’t do anything really mechanical. The elements in the PDTU make it so Buddy that can read the body...even if they are crushed. It’s the person that tells Buddy who it’s reading. There should be readings from those elements not in a person that Buddy reads.”

“How long ago was it that George and John roughed up?” Colin asked Ruben.

Ruben shrugged. “Just a couple of hours ago. John came to not even an hour ago. He called us immediately. Buddy started alarming ten minutes before I woke you up, so thirty minutes ago George went dark.”

“That’s when Buddy woke me up, too,” Stan said quickly as Mark could be seen moving into the screen behind Stan saying something to Stan quietly. “Mark is booking us a flight. We’ll be on our way in a few minutes to head toward Miami.”

“Guys…” Colin started with that tone that said it wasn’t necessary.

“No!” Mark jumped in arguing quickly moving his face closer to the camera. “Don’t say we don’t have to. We do! How can we stay and enjoy this when George is gone? We’re heading there as soon as possible.” He said firmly.

Colin nodded. “Thanks.” He looked at me. “I think the others should stay where they are.” He shrugged with a smile. “Let them have their honeymoon.”

I nodded agreeing. “Until we know where to look for George.”

“Where were George and John?” Colin asked Ruben.

“In a private beach house in Barbados.” He was now a unit director. “Actually, Gentlemen.” He looked at the screen. “Mark, can you make your flight to Barbados instead of here?”

Mark nodded. “Not a problem.”

“Stan, can you use what you have of Buddy remotely, using that laptop?”

“No problem,” Stan answered.

Ruben said to me. “They are FBI.” He told Colin. “This is why they are here and trained to do. Not just hunt vampires but investigate.”

“We’re not concerned with the jurisdiction of the FBI,” Colin said thinking. “But it is another country.”

“It is a Commonwealth of Great Brittan,” I said simply. “Mr. Mattingly with MI5 will help.”

“We can get Edwin, Matt and the others back…they will help. I need to talk to John.” Colin sighed and got the phone attached to Buddy.

I sighed. “This was a very distinct possibility when we let the world know about us,” I muttered to no one.

“John…” Colin said when John answered and immediately John was crying and begging us to do something and find George. “We are doing that, John. Mark and Stan are on the next flight to Barbados. Stan will be calling soon. Have you called the Bajan Authorities?” Colin was nodding. “Well, do that...we don’t want problems with them. Stan and Mark will be there shortly and help...” he hesitated, “to make sure nothing is missed or overlooked.” He looked at me. “Devon and I will meet you there.”

“You two are taking the VUN plane?” Stan asked. “I have equipment on her that will help.”

“I’ll make sure we do,” I said to Stan.

Colin and I returned to our apartment and showered and changed quickly. He and I packed quickly, but we did not intend to really stay. We could if needed to. Colin called and asked the plane be readied to leave for Barbados. I called Mom and Willie in Charleston informing them what happened. Both were willing to come back to New York, but I said until we knew what to do next to remain where they were but to be ready. The same with Gabriella and Alex in Charleston. Colin accessed the VUN portion of Holms' Laboratories and put a notice on the webpage what happened, but not to call or get involved until we knew what needed to be done. They would be updated when we knew something.

It was a short trip from the VUN by helicopter to the airport and we quickly were on the way. Talking to Mark and Stan, they would have to either fly to Miami International Airport from Key West or drive. So, we flew to the little airport in Key West.

Then we were to fly to Barbados. George and John had a nice villa on Mullins Beach.

“Who knew where George and John were going?” Mark asked. “I didn’t even know.”

Colin shook his head. “We didn’t ask.” He shrugged. “George made the arrangements. All I knew was they were going to the Caribbean. It wasn’t until this morning when I found out where.”

“George probably made contacts to make those arrangements.” Stan ventured pulling his laptop out. “I did an initial search of Buddy’s search engines. Buddy has a program running for everyone in the VUN.”

“You go through their email,” Colin said nodding.

Stan was tan, but I saw him pink up a little. “Well, yes...” he patted his laptop. “Not me personally, but Buddy here does. All the logins and whatever is done through Buddy.” He typed quickly. “Even Gina’s emails to Kelly are logged and scanned. I don’t care what it says, but Buddy is programmed to search the content, not just keywords. Even Kelly, Karen and the others are scanned. They aren’t on Buddy’s systems, but Buddy can access and scan their emails and searches.” He sighed as he read the screen. “George contacted a woman in Barbados that he rented the villa from. Then, Buddy accessed her computer and scanned hers. Even phone calls are scanned. What is said and the content. The FBI has a program that does that. Buddy just does it...” Stan shrugged, “better.”

“The only ones that knew were the people for the makings of this trip,” Mark said thinking.

“And who George may have asked about where to go,” I suggested.

“They won’t hurt him,” Mark said confidently as he worked the situation out in his mind. “Not much anyway. They didn’t take anyone else. Just George. They could have taken or even killed John, but they didn’t.”

Stan was nodding as he studied his computer and what Buddy was telling him. “They need George for what George is. He’s a vampire and scientist.”

Mark nodded. “He discovered a serum for the venom. The venom, we now know, was also discovered by Kev. George is the one to find a way to make the venom not work as it is supposed to.”

I sighed frustrated. “The possible suspects are countless. All the scientists from Europe, Scandinavia…China! Hell! The Australians!”

Mark nodded. “Or even someone else.”

Colin’s hand ran comforting on my back. “We’ll find him.”

Stan suddenly nodded. “Yes!” He nearly shouted as he turned his computer around so we could see the screen. “I ran through the archives. Searching the time that George’s PDTU stopped giving Buddy his location and status.” He pointed to a couple of dots. John and George in Mullins Beach together at 23:36. (That’s 11:36 pm for you nonmilitary folks or who just don’t know the twenty-four-hour clock.) Then they are separated. Ten minutes later, George’s PDTU stopped giving Buddy anything. Just stopped giving Buddy someone to pick up. “It doesn’t tell us who, but we know when.”

“As sensitive as Buddy is…does it say if he was stressed?” Colin asked. “Heart rate, respiration is monitored…is there any trauma?”

Stan gave a nod. “Stress and trauma is…” he shrugged, “a normal part of a human’s life. Heart rates increase when excited…” he blushed again. “…by emotion as well as physical trauma…or sex? Buddy can’t tell by just the readings.”

In normal circumstances, Stan’s comments would have been funny, if not charming. These weren’t normal circumstances.

We landed at the airport near Christ Church, just south of Bridgetown. What can I say, this was Barbados, it was warm! Everyone was dressed for that. We didn’t take the time to change. We rented a car with GPS and rode to the address we now had for where George and John had stayed.

Pulling into the drive area I saw it was nice here. It was right on the beach. And pink. It wasn’t the color that was appealing to me, but it was cozy. Not huge, but well maintained. We saw different cars and a van parked…and I don’t care what the country…cars used by police or investigators were the same.

We entered the house and…well, it was a mess! It was pink on the outside, but white and blue on the inside. Stone floors covered in rugs of blue and white. There was a sofa, L shaped that was also white with blue. There were large glass doors that opened to a white patio with blue plush chairs to lounge on while enjoying the view. There was a white banister beyond which was the white beach sand and blue waters. Very nice, but the first thing was furniture in this room was overturned and broken. Broken glass everywhere. There was a glass table to eat on where the glass had been shattered.

The pillows that had been on the sofa were scattered and nothing was where it should be. John was sitting in a chair nearby as someone was speaking to him.

John looked up and his face suddenly looked relieved. “Colin! Devon!” John hurrying over to us. “He’s gone!”

Colin hugged him as I joined the hug rubbing John’s back. “We know,” I said quietly.

“Can I help you?” A male voice asked.

Colin nodded. “Sure, find our friend George.”

The man that spoke was of African descent. More than ninety percent of this island country were African descended. He was a handsome man in his forties. “And you are friends of Dr. Holms?” He pointed to John as he was being comforted. “And of Mr. Burke’s.”

“I’m Colin Wentworth,” Colin informed him shaking the man’s hand. He brought me closer to him. “This is Devon Wentworth. Mark Goddard and Stan Martin. John and George are so important and good friends to us, they are our family. What do you know?”

The man nodded. “Ah, yes…our Prime Minister told us you were on the way.” He smiled a little suspiciously. “Apparently, someone from England called and said you would be assisting with the investigation.” He waved to the other people in the house who were doing things…dusting for prints? Taking photographs. Looking around. “The investigation is ongoing. How are you helping?” He challenged.

Colin smiled, but it was a little feral. “Well, my husband and I won’t be investigating the crime scene.” He pointed to Mark and Stan. “These two will. They are with the FBI.”

“Your husband.” The man said to confirm. “From the United States.” The man said pointing out the problem without saying that was a problem.

“Does that matter?” Colin asked. “Our being from the United States or that we are married?”

“Barbados is not really gay-friendly,” I said. “However, your own Attorney General said gays should be left alone.”

“Yes, is that a problem?” Stan asked. “Mark and I are married.”

The man shook his head. “Not for me.”

“A man disappears and there are agents here that can help,” Colin said.

Stan nodded. “Well, I was…Mark still is still with the FBI, but I am helping.” He pointed to the others investigating. “Can I ask them what they have so far?”

Mark seemed to transform. The nice man Mark was still there, but he spoke firmly. “I don’t care whose jurisdiction this is. How is having another few eyes a problem? We have the skills to help. I sense it is a problem for you.”

The man nodded with a light chuckle. “I’m David Mason. I am in charge of this investigation. The concern is about those other eyes causing more problems than helping.”

“We both know how to maneuver in a crime scene,” Mark said simply.

“Can we speak with John now?” Colin asked.

Mr. Mason nodded. “Certainly.” He was about to move off and smiled. “Of course, Mr. Burke, you know not to leave.”

We took John outside on the patio and sat. He hadn’t slept in a while but had cried and looked like it.

“Can you describe who took George?” Mark began touching John’s knee. We all gathered with him, each making physical contact with John.

John nodded. “Yes, large men…five of them just came in the open doors.” He waved to the patio doors that were still open. “They didn’t speak much. They were white. When they did speak, there was an accent. We heard it in Romania. They spoke English with the accent that wasn’t Romanian. It was very much like Iilya’s.”

“Russian?” I asked.

“Russian or Ukrainian.” John nodded. “Some country like that. It was subtle. They spoke English well, but…” he chuckled. "After so many years…and with as many accents we heard recently, it was easier to detect.” He let out a sorrowful sound and said in almost tears again. “They said George was coming with them. They never even asked. George said he wasn’t going with anyone…that we were on our honeymoon.” John started shaking. “They grabbed him. I fought them. George fought them.” He leaned forward putting his hands over his face.

“Okay, John,” Mark said softly. “He’s alive. They want him for something. They will keep him alive.”

“We’ll find him,” I added.

David Mason came out on the patio. “Well, we’ve covered most of the house.”

We heard a woman scream inside. We all headed back in quickly. At the entrance of the living area, a blonde woman stood with a somewhat chunky dark-haired man, both looking horrified at the wreckage. The woman’s well-manicured hands covered her mouth. She walked slowly in waving her hands at the inside.

“Wha…wha…” she began. “What on earth!?” She all but bellowed at the scene.

David Mason looked at her as he approached them. “And you are?”

The dark-haired man looked up. “We’re the Lowensteins. We own this property. We were at our home in Florida when we got the call that a crime was committed here and there was damage. We came immediately.”

The woman turned to her husband. “The only crime I see is this, Mortie!” She looked around more at the people here and the destruction. “Who did this!?”

David Mason smiled at her. “That’s why we’re here...to find out.”

“Sylvia.” The man said barely tolerant. He looked at the investigator. “What happened?”

“The place was wrecked!” Sylvia stated to her husband waving at the house. “We have the Fergusons coming next week!”

John was upset already and this woman’s lack of understanding was pushing John to anger. “I’m sorry that my husband being forcibly taken from this lovely home inconvenienced you, Mrs. Lowenstein.” He growled shocking her.

“Sylvia!” Her husband said sharper to her. “They are investigating.”

“Well, couldn’t they straighten things up as they went?” She went to pick something up.

“Stop!” David commanded quickly holding his hand up to her. “Don’t touch anything until the investigation is done! Or I’ll arrest you for interfering with a criminal investigation.”

From the accent, I knew the two were from New York. He was a businessman. She was a woman probably in her fifties that had cosmetic surgery to look in her thirties. Her face was wrinkle free and taunt, but they forgot the neck. Why do they always forget the neck? I doubted she had done much physical labor in her life!

“I’m sure you have this place insured,” Colin said sadly.

“Yes.” Sylvia Lowenstein looked around. “But, we have other clients.” She said weakly.

“It’s all about you?” John asked walking closer to her which Colin held him back. “My husband was taken!! You…stupid cow. You’re worried about your clients?” He tapped on his own chest. “What about this client?”

I took John by the shoulders and pulled him back against me. “We’ll find George.”

Stan walked to the middle of the room. “If I can, please?” He looked at Mark. “I have a case in the car. If I take a 3D scan of the area, I can use Buddy to see more if I do a scan.” Stan looked at John. “Did they go anywhere else in the house?”

“No,” John answered. “Just here.”

Stan nodded and walked over to David Mason. “I have equipment in the car to bring in.”

Mark nodded. “I’ll get it.” He said going outside the front door again.

Stan looked around the room at the others working there. “These people wore gloves, but if I can get their fingerprints in my database, we can eliminate them.”

David Mason frowned again. “You want to fingerprint us?”

Stan nodded. “I do.”

“We have them on file at the office...”

Stan smiled. “That won’t be necessary. If you all could?” He waved at his laptop. He went to the computer and typed quickly and the screen changed. “Simply press your hands here.” He pointed to the white hand sized square.

David’s eyes widened but did what Stan asked him to do. One by one each of them did what Stan asked while he opened the case and took out six little...things. They were round about the size of baseballs each and black.

Stan grinned at Colin, Me and John...and David Mason. “Remember, Buddy has a 3D scanner? Well, these will do the same thing. Tied in with Buddy, my laptop will take a scan of the room making a three-dimensional scan of the room and all its contents.”

David was the first to look amazed. “Then when we just did...?” He pointed to the room with his thumb over his shoulder.

Stan nodded. “Is a very important thing in an investigation, but my computer can do it and log all that is here...including the fingerprints, soil samples, and other items and will be in the memory to look at later.”

David’s eyes widened. “Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever seen something like this.” He thought and nodded. “No, I know I’ve never seen it. Not even on CSI or any other show! Star Trek maybe with those tricorders...”

Mark grinned with a slight bounce. “Now, do you think we might be able to help?”

Stan nodded. “They are just tools. We have them, so we might be able to help.”

Sylvia Lowenstein had been listening. “What about my house? Can that fix this?”

I saw John was ready to pounce! Grabbing him I held him back, pulling him to me. “We’ll find George, John,” I assured again. Even Mortie Lowenstein rolled his eyes at his wife’s comment.