Sons of Liberty: Stood A Final Watch

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Brand and Kane reach Naslund's apartment and find some disquieting news.



"William Naslund." Garrison tapped a finger against the nametag beside the buzzer in the lobby of the small apartment building. According to the records they had requisitioned about Naslund, the old man still lived independently, despite the fact that he was nearing ninety. A nurse visited him three times a week, and he had a maid service to help with the cleaning. The deeper they'd dug into the files on Naslund, the less like a potential terrorist mastermind he became, and the facts fit closer to the profile that Barnes had given Kane.

Naslund had officially left the military following the Korean War, and worked as an insurance investigator for several years, before returning to the DoD as a consultant in the early sixties. He had finally retired following the Gulf War, and moved to California with his wife the next year. Unfortunately, she only survived a year before dying from a stroke.

Digging into his records had suggested at least a partial motive; Naslund had been a strong advocate for veteran's rights and benefits. Kane unearthed hundreds of letters to newspapers and members of Congress over fifty years, mostly to do with shortcomings in the policies regarding former soldiers, evolving from basic elements like jobs to psychological care and protection from predatory creditors. The most recent was dated less than a month ago. He was a member of a dozen veteran's organizations, although all of them were 'vanilla' on the FBI watch lists - no history or indication of illegal activity. It read like an old man who never really left the Army behind, and felt his duty to his fellow soldiers was not something that ended with his service.

"He must be something, to still be living on his own like this. They don't make them like that anymore." Brand pressed the buzzer, reaching past Garrison to do so, her shoulder brushing his chest. "Let's hope his mind is as strong as the rest of him or this will be a wasted trip."
Kane bit back a response, and waited as the buzzer rang one, twice, and three times without response. Finally, they buzzed the superintendent, and flashed the badge as the old Korean man came to the door.

"'elp you?"

"FBI. We're looking for William Naslund?"

"Enh? Mister Naslund?"

"Yeah."

"Hospital. Two nights ago." The man said sadly, shaking his head. Brand and Kane exchanged a look.

"We need to know which hospital he was taken to and to take a look at his apartment." Garrison said and the man shook his head.

"Private. I-"

"You see this badge?" Brand shoved her identification up close to the man's face. "It means you do what I say. Otherwise I'll have Immigration down here, knocking on doors and asking questions. You might not have anything to hide, but I'm sure someone in this termite mound will, and I'll be sure to let them know just who brought down seven kinds of hell on their heads. You don't want that, do you?" She smiled then, almost sweetly. "Now. Which hospital?"
The man blanched and ran to produce a copy of Naslund's apartment key and the information he'd been given about which hospital the old man had ended up in. Kane gave Brand a look but didn't say anything. He thought the hard line was unnecessary here, but as much as he was pre-deposed not to like Brand, he had to give her the honest benefit of the doubt thanks to being assigned with her. Quickly, they ended up in the apartment, still messed from the EMT's getting in and taking Naslund out.

Each taking a half, they started to methodically search through the belongings. Naslund's apartment was small, neatly squared away, and unremarkable. Brand was going through the carefully labeled folders in his desk when Kane noticed a hand written letter and pocketed it. Despite the nature of the assignment, he didn't trust that SHIELD wasn't getting a copy of Brand's own investigations. The talk with Barnes had stirred up suspicions that the Bureau wouldn't be hijacked by politics before they got close.

"Anything in the desk?"

"Invoices, bills, the usual crap. Oh, hello..." She pulled out a dog eared address book. "This might be fun."

"Good. Why don't you take it over to the hospital. Get his file and see if anyone has been listed as visiting or his next of kin. I'll finish up the search here and call you for a ride." He knew that Brand didn't like it, wanting to keep her eyes on him at all times. Which was exactly why he was sending her off.

She mock-pouted at him. "Anyone would think you wanted to get rid of me, Agent Kane," she replied, slipping the address book into an evidence bag and then into her purse. "Be good now and I'll see if I can't get you any of that hospital Jello." She left the small apartment, exaggerating the swing of her hips as she walked.

He keep the pleasant smile on his face until she closed the door. Brand was a very attractive woman, but he's trust fucking a rattlesnake before her. As soon as she left, he pulled out the letter and his cellphone.

"Jean? It's Garrison. I need you to check out an Isaiah Bradley in Oakland. I'll text you the address." If there was something more tied to the government, he didn't trust Brand to bury it in exchange for a leg up with her career. Which meant it was up to Kyle and Jean to find out what the connection was.