Lady in Black
Part 1
Hawke, Caitlin and Dom sat in Michael's office waiting for him to return from a last minute meeting before he met with them.
"Did Michael say what this is about?" asked Caitlin.
"No, he just said he had a new mission for us," replied Hawke.
A few moments later Michael came in with a woman that that none of them had ever seen before. Hawke stood up to greet her as she entered the room.
She had a slightly dark complexion with beautiful flowing dark hair. She wore a black jumpsuit that was smartly accessorized. Hawke couldn't take his eyes off of her. She had one of the prettiest faces he'd ever seen.
"This is Ms. Perez," said Michael as he introduced her to the group. "She's the reason I've called you here today."
"It's nice to meet you," said Hawke as he held out his hand to her. "Here, you can have my seat."
"You can call me Teri," she said with a smile as she nodded a thank you to Hawke for giving up his chair to her.
Hawke found a spot to stand and lean against the wall as Michael filled them in how he needed their assistance.
"Teri's brother Carl Perez has been working with us on the development of a new powerful aircraft," he explained. "Two days ago, he and the plans for it both disappeared."
"Did he defect or run off on his own?" asked Hawke.
"My brother is loyal to this government," Teri insisted. "He'd never do such a thing."
"We think he's in danger and someone has gotten their hands on him and those plans," replied Michael. "We think he may be stalling whoever has him and they need some additional leverage because someone tried to grab Teri last night when she was out to dinner with friends. Until we get a lead on where he is or who might have him, I need for you to help protect her."
"No problem," replied Hawke. "She can stay up at the cabin."
Caitlin sat back and listened to the conversation. "Great, there he goes again," she thought to herself. "What is it with him and these women?"
Finally speaking up she said, "Teri is welcome to stay at my place too. I'm sure no one would think to look for her there."
"I think the cabin is safer," Hawke interjected.
"I agree," replied Michael. "Go ahead and take her there now. I'll be in touch when I find out more about her brother."
Hawke held out his hand and helped Teri out of her chair. She held onto his arm as they walked out of Michael's office with Caitlin and Dom in tow.
As soon as they got back to Santini Air, Hawke escorted Teri to their helicopter and they headed for the cabin. Caitlin went back to work with Dom. He couldn't help but notice how quiet she was.
"Hey, what's eating you?" he asked as he noticed she seemed to be staring outside deep in thought.
"Nothing," she replied. "Do you mind if I head home? I'm not feeling so well today."
Dom shook his head. "Okay, okay, go ahead," he said. "But you know this won't be anything long term with this lady don't you?''
Caitlin sighed and then stared at Dom. "I'm not worried about that Dom," she said sadly.
"Sure, sure," he replied. "And I'm a millionaire."
Caitlin smiled at him. "I'll see you tomorrow," she replied.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Back at the cabin, Hawke made dinner for Teri and poured them both a glass of wine.
"It sure is lovely here," she said with a smile. "I appreciate your hospitality. I just pray they find my brother soon."
"Are you and your brother close?" he asked
"Very close," she replied. "We are only ten months apart in age. We grew up doing everything together including college. I don't know what I'd do if I lost him."
String sighed. "I know how you feel," he said. "My brother has been missing for a long time."
"Yes," she replied. "Archangel told me about him. Saint John right?"
Hawke shot her a slight smile. "Yeah," he replied. "There isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss him. But don't worry I know Michael is doing everything possible to find out who has your brother. When he does, I promise you I'll help get him back."
"You are so sweet," she replied as he moved to sit down beside her on the couch.
"You're beautiful," he replied as she leaned in to him giving the queue that it was okay for him to kiss her.
The next morning, Michael flew out to the cabin to meet with them. "I called in Dom and Caitlin," he said. "We know who has Teri's brother. I'll fill you in as soon as they get here."
After landing, Caitlin lagged behind Dom as they headed towards the cabin. "Cait, we have a job to do," he told her. "Don't let this get to you."
"I know," she replied. "Don't worry, I'm a professional."
They were greeted by Hawke and Michael as they entered the cabin. Caitlin went and sat down at the bar with Dom while String stayed on the couch with Teri.
"I'm afraid this is going to get rather personal Teri," said Michael. "It appears that your ex-husband Samuel Price is holding your brother against his will."
Teri shuddered. "That bastard," she yelled. "How could he do this?"
"Were you aware of your husband's illegal activities?" he asked her.
"Yes," she replied. "It's the reason I divorced him and reverted back to my maiden name. I knew he was heading down the wrong path and I didn't want anything to do with it."
String grabbed her hand and squeezed it. "It's okay," he assured her. "We'll get your brother back."
"I want to help," Teri insisted. "Is he holding him at out at the ranch?"
"Yes," replied Michael.
"I can give you the layout of the grounds and the main house," she said. "If he's keeping him against his will, he's probably holding him in the west wing."
"Okay, Hawke help her draw up the plans and review them with Dom and Caitlin," replied Michael. "I have a meeting in an hour and I should have an update for you and a timeframe to head out there after that."
"You got it," replied Hawke who immediately began to help her sketch out the information.
Caitlin walked outside and sat on the porch while they were working. After a few minutes, Dom got up and followed her.
"Are you okay?" he asked while sitting down beside her.
"Sure," she said while not really convincing anyone including herself. "This is how it always is isn't it? Hawke finds himself a new lady and we are his faithful sidekicks."
Dom laughed. "Sidekicks huh? That's not so bad is it?"
Caitlin shrugged. "I don't know," she replied. "I think I might be growing tired of it. I've been thinking about moving back to Texas."
"What?" asked Dom. "I thought you liked the excitement with Airwolf as well as the movie stunts we've been doing?"
"I do," she replied. "But sometimes that's just not enough. I've been content for awhile now but I think it's time I found more. I mean, I want to find someone to share my life with and I don't think I can find it here doing what I've been doing. This isn't the lifestyle that supports a healthy relationship."
Dom sighed. "You got that right," he replied. "I'd just miss ya if you leave. So would String."
Caitlin looked back towards the cabin. "Oh, I'm sure he'd find a way to console himself," she said with a smirk.
"You know he's not serious about her," replied Dom. "String just likes the ladies."
Hawke called them back in to go over their plans for getting Teri's brother back. Caitlin was to go in as a decoy by pretending to be someone selling makeup door to door. Dom would fly back up in Airwolf and Hawke would sneak in the back during Caitlin's distraction. Teri would stay in Airwolf with Dom unless needed otherwise.
"Sounds like a good plan," said Caitlin."I can handle that. Do you know if they have any kind of air defense at the ranch?"
"He does have a small helicopter that he keeps heavily armed," said Teri. "You wouldn't want to allow that thing in the air."
"Don't worry," replied Dom. "I can beat anything he throws at me. You'll see."
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
The next morning, Caitlin drove up the ranch in her disguised make up van. She pulled into the long driveway and parked just outside the front door. She was greeted right away by a nice looking gentleman who she noticed was wearing a gun in a holster.
"Can I help you?" he asked her as he made his way towards her.
"Yes," she replied. "I was looking for the lady of the house. I'm starting my new business here selling makeup and I thought woman who live out in this area would appreciate the mobile service."
The man stared at her and then her van. "I'm sorry, there are no females here," he replied.
"Oh, that is too bad," said Caitlin as she moved closer to him. "A good looking man like you and you're not married?"
Mr. Price grinned at her. "Well, I'm divorced," he admitted.
"Wow," she replied while flirting with him. "Some women don't know a good thing when they find it. Oh well, I'm sorry to waste your time."
Caitlin started to head back to the van when he called out to her. "Would you like to stay for lunch?" he asked. "I might be able to help you with your business."
Caitlin smiled to herself and turned back around. "That would be wonderful," she replied. "I'm Miss O'Brien by the way."
"Samuel Price," he introduced himself as he extended his hand to her.
Caitlin followed him inside. She had accomplished her part of the mission by keeping him busy. Now it was Hawke's turn to come in and get Teri's brother out.
Hawke, Dom and Teri were watching just outside of view. They had to make sure Caitlin got in before Hawke made his move.
"He took to her kind of quick didn't he?" asked Hawke.
"My ex-husband is a lady's man," said Teri. "Women are drawn to him and he likes to have plenty of them around. She's very pretty. Of course he'd want her."
"Let's get back to Airwolf," replied Dom. "I don't like the idea of her being in there too long."
"Me either," replied Hawke. "I'll contact you as soon as we get Teri's brother out of there."
String managed to sneak in the back door of the main house using the key that Teri had given him. He overheard part of Samuel and Caitlin's conversation as he moved towards the west wing.
"Your catalog is impressive," said Price. "The earning potential here is high."
"Thanks," she replied. "I'm tired of working mediocre jobs and punching a time clock. I want to be my own boss."
"What if I said that I might want to invest in your business," he replied. "I mean, I need my attorney to look over it all and draw up the details but I am very interested."
Caitlin smiled at him. "Wow, you sure move quickly when it comes to making decisions."
Price moved closer to her and put his arm around her. "When I see something I like," he said. "I go for it."
Hawke watched as Price leaned in and kissed Caitlin. Then he quickly slid down the hallway towards the room where Teri figured her brother was being held. Just as suspected, there was a guard just outside of the room. Someone inside the room called out and when the guard turned around, Hawke hit him over the head and knocked him unconscious.
After finding the key to the room hanging on the man's belt, he quickly opened the door to find Teri's brother Carl on the other side. Carl was about to swing at Hawke but he quickly and quietly stopped him. "I'm here to get you out," he said. "We're helping your sister."
Carl followed Hawke out into the hallway towards the back of the house. Caitlin continued to keep Perez occupied as long as she could.
"Wow," she said after he kissed her again. "You sure make it hard for a girl to say no to you."
"Then you'll stay a little longer?" he asked with a smile.
"Sure," she replied as the two heard gunshots outside the back of the house.
Two guards ran into the room to check on Price. "Stay with her," he instructed one of them while he ran out back with the other.
Hawke and Carl took off towards the back of the ranch. Price and his men followed and began shooting. Before they could continue, Dom swooped in with Airwolf and began shooting lines in the dirt to keep them back and allow Hawke and Carl to get further away.
Meanwhile, Caitlin was trying to find a way to get out of the house. "Look, I think I'll just come back later," she told the guard as she headed for the door.
"My instructions were to keep you here," he said as he stepped in front of her.
"Yes, it's not safe out there for you," said Price who had come back into the house through the rear door.
Caitlin turned to see him standing there with three other men.
Hawke and Carl made it to Airwolf and quickly climbed inside. "Did Cait make it out?" he asked Dom.
Dom looked over at him. "I'm afraid not," he replied.
"Damn it," replied Hawke.
