Case Reopened

Breaking In (Part 4)

She hooked on her shoulder holster, unlocked her gun case, and loaded her gun. Tucking it into the holster, she tugged her jacket back on.

"Carter-"

"I do not care," Carter said. "I don't know how long ago he was taken and I'm not losing a second. Send for help. I'm going now."

Carter hung up and slipped her phone into her backpack as she raced out the door and down the stairs. At the front door, she calmed her pace and opened the door easily as if she was simply leaving. She tucked her hands into her jacket pockets, holding it closed so her holster wasn't visible.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs, Bridgette called out as the family approached. Carter kept her expression unbothered, even managed to smile a little but her eyes locked with Darrel.

"Carter, we got you-"

"Darrell," Carter said evenly. "Take everyone inside and lock the door."

Carter smiled but she saw he understood her when he nodded curtly.

"What-"

"Let's eat inside," Darrell said, wrapping an affectionate arm around his daughter's shoulders, in a subtle move to direct her towards the house.

Carter's mother glanced at Carter but Carter only smiled and tilted her head towards the house.

"I'll be right back to get some of that ice cream," she said cheerily.

"I'll put it in the freezer," Erica said.

"Sounds good."

Once Carter heard the lock of the door engage, Carter casually looked both ways before jogging across the street. She ascended the steps to the Franklin house. She gave the door a quick knock and waited. When no one came, Carter knocked again, still with the easy sound of someone just stopping by.

When the door opened, Carter wiped out her gun and pointed it at a startled Victoria.

"In," Carter commanded.

Victoria backed up slowly and Carter eased into the house, nudging the door shut behind her.

"I'm FBI. I know you're involved with your husband's business," Carter said.

"I don't know what-"

"This is going to go a lot faster when you realize you can't lie to me and that I know everything. Right now, I'm here to get my partner back. So you are going to take me to him. Right. Now."

Carter infused the last two words with all the rage and coldness that flowed through her.

Victoria didn't move and Carter took a single step forward, letting the gun be the only threat that needed to be spoken. Victoria swallowed and nodded quickly.

"Slowly," Carter said as Victoria turned around, Carter wasn't taking any chances, knowing there were likely hidden weapons throughout the house.

Putting a hand on Victoria's shoulder, Carter followed her through the house and down a set of stairs to a finished basement.

"Victoria, what are you doing? I told you to-"

Thomas cut himself off as he spotted Carter right behind his wife. As he did, three other men, with the build of enforcers, noticed her as well.

Carter pushed Victoria to the side as the three men drew their weapons. But two of them were already crumbling by the time the third got off a shot. The bullet cut right past Carter's neck as she fired on the man and he folded.

Swinging her gun around, she trained it on the stunned Thomas. Fury burned through Carter as out of the corner of her eyes she found Mason. He was tied to a chair with his head bent. What wounds he had, she couldn't fully assess.