Part 3

Upon his return to Section, Michael discovered Davenport's team had brought in the pastry chef from Amanda's Diner. He went to observe Madeline's interrogation.

"So, you're saying you weren't in today?" Madeline asked, holding a very dangerous looking implement in her hand. The man in the chair squirmed and the sweat was beginning to trickle down his face.

"No ma'am. I called in sick today," he mumbled.

Madeline walked around behind him. "You called in sick. Funny, you don't seem sick to me. Now, it's up to you. Either you tell me the truth, or we'll have to do this the hard way."

The man visibly paled. "I'm telling you the truth. I called in sick. Okay, so I'm not really sick. Some guy paid me $500 to call in sick. Said he wanted to play a joke on Amanda, that they were old friends. They went to culinary school together. I needed the money, so I figured no harm done. Right?"

Madeline walked around in front of him again. "So you took the $500 and called in sick. When did he contact you?"

The man seemed to relax a little. "He met me outside the restaurant two nights ago as I was leaving. He said he just got back to town a few days ago and wanted to surprise Amanda. Once I agreed, he paid me the $500 cash on the spot."

Madeline nodded. "What was his name?"

The man thought for a moment. "I'm not sure. I wasn't really paying much attention. I think he said something like Michael Samuel, something like that. Only it sounded kind of French, you know."

Madeline smiled. "Michael Samuelle?"

The man nodded vigorously. "Yeah, that was it. He seemed like an okay guy, so I went along with it. Did he hurt Amanda? Is that why I'm here?"

Madeline began pacing again. "Amanda is fine. But someone from the restaurant poisoned three people today. Apparently they used the chocolate mousse."

The little man paled again and talked rapidly. He was clearly flustered. "Are they okay? It wasn't Amanda. She would never do anything like that. It must have been that Michael guy. No one who works for Amanda would ever do anything like that."

Madeline nodded. "Can you describe this Michael for me?"

The man thought for a moment. "I can try. Like I said, it was evening and it was kind of dark. I didn't get a real good look at him."

Madeline stopped pacing right in front of him. "I'm going to send in a computer artist. I want you to describe the man to him. Once we have an accurate picture you will be returned home. However, if we find out you are lying, we will come after you."

The man took a deep breath and released it as the smartly dressed woman left the room. 'What kind of police station is this?' he wondered. He had never seen anything like it. The quicker he was out of here, the better.

Madeline saw Michael standing outside the room. "You heard?"

Michael nodded. "Someone knows us," he volunteered.

"It would appear so. Someone knows you very well. Even down to your favorite dessert. Have you uncovered anything?"

Michael shook his head. "I have a contact working on it. I should hear something shortly." They both returned to Comm just as Birkoff was receiving an incoming transmission.

"What is it, Birkoff?" Michael questioned.

Birkoff turned to them. "I just received this. I haven't been able to trace it yet. It's from the group that poisoned North, Kathy and Sherry. Operations needs to see it right away." Madeline nodded. "I'll get him."

At few minutes later, Michael, Madeline, Operations, Walter, Birkoff, Davenport and Rita were in the briefing room.

"Okay, Birkoff, let's see it," Operations commanded. Birkoff punched a few keys on the computer in front of him and a video image appeared. The face was a caricature of Michael's.

"Hello Section One. I hope we've gotten your attention. I understand you have a few very sick people about now. It's a shame. You just can't trust the food in restaurants these days." Then he laughed wickedly. "Oh, but I'm here to allay some of your fears. You don't have to worry, they will live. After the initial symptoms wear off, which should only last another hour or so, they will come around." Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, but they knew something more was coming.

"Now, don't you feel better?" the voice teased. "But I do have a bit of bad news for you as well. You see, there are consequences that you haven't discovered yet. It won't take long once they wake up for you to realize this. There is an antidote, and we will be more than willing to share it with you, provided you play along nicely. All we ask is that you refrain from interfering with our next little excursion. If you do as you're told, you will have the antidote in plenty of time. If you don't, well, let me explain it this way. The consequences you discover when they wake up will become permanent in 48 hours if they aren't given the antidote. So, if our little mission in Turkmenistan goes off without a hitch, your people will recover. Thank you for listening. I'll be in touch."

The screen went blank. Everyone sat there for a moment and then Operations jumped up. "That is blackmail, pure and simple. I will not stand for it. We cannot allow terrorists to dictate to us what we will and will not do. Birkoff, find out what's going on in Turkmenistan in the next 48 hours. We need to get a team there. Michael choose a team and have them on standby."

"What about the antidote?" Walter asked. "They won't give it to you if you mess with them."

Operations stopped and glared at him. "We'll cross that bridge later. You can start working on one yourself. Get what you need from Medical and get started. First we need to find out who we are dealing with. Then we'll decide whether it is worth getting the antidote."

Everyone in the room stopped short at that statement. "Whether it is worth it?" Rita jumped up. "Weren't you just telling the doctors that you can't afford to lose those people? Now you're going to just let them suffer whatever the consequences are, permanently?"

Operations turned his glare on Rita. "That is not for you to question, Rita. I've made my decision. Dismissed."

The others quickly got up and left. Madeline studied Operations for a moment. "Do you think that was wise?"

He shrugged. "It will motivate them to work faster. Once they find out who we are dealing with and what was used, then we'll not only take out the group but we'll get that antidote."

"If its not too late," Madeline cautioned. Operations nodded his head in agreement.