The Magician's Assistant

by Hitomi Zotz

A magician & his assistant, a pair of thieves, revenge & justice, 2 halves of the 1 card. All is not as it seems with this case as the team are contracted to save a magician's assistant in Mexico City when a theft goes wrong & the magician leaves her for torture. Finding out the cartel she is involved with has a wide reach drags the team deeper and darker than they've been before.

2. Chapter 2- Abra Kadabra

Fat thumbs and late nights equal wrong uploads! Sorry guys that chapter was for my Mafia III fanfic, correct chapter on now as per below!

Mexico City, Mexico

The group of fugitives that made up the A-Team looked up at the tower block across the road with a mixture of awe and apprehension. "What are the chances he's on the bottom floor?" Face quipped sardonically with a small smile.

"Are you guys going to tell me how we got here?" B.A snapped. He was feeling a little groggy and wasn't convinced that he had slept through a car journey from Tijuana to Mexico City. He rubbed at his neck in irritation, convinced there was a spot or bite there.

"We told you B.A, it was a taxi," Hannibal retorted calmly. "Now, the security guard at the entrance makes me think we might not be able to just walk through the front door."

Hannibal scouted round the area briskly. It was after nine in the evening, local time, and the streets were full of life. Behind them was a restaurant with an alleyway beside it that looked like it held a few discarded boxes amongst its trash.

"Gentlemen I think someone has a catering service due," Hannibal said with a smirk. "Face you head in the side entrance and see what uniforms you can snag, Murdock you and I are going hunting for catering boxes, they'll be perfect to conceal our guns, and B.A you can keep watch."

"You don't think they might notice their food doesn't smell?" B.A quipped sceptically as he shook the bag of weapons he was handling. Hannibal had been very quick to ensure B.A's hands were occupied when he had come to in the taxi.

"We won't give them a chance to," Hannibal retorted happily, "all we need to do is get ourselves through that front door and then it's up to the penthouse."

"You assume," B.A scorned.

"B.A has a point," Face remarked in a calmer tone, "we don't have a lot of information on this man or his home, there could be alarm systems, more guards, security cameras and we don't even know if this woman is up there or not."

"Face come on now, I thought you liked a challenge," Hannibal scorned him with a mocking grin. "Especially where a damsel in distress is concerned."

Face smiled back and said serenely, "I like a sure thing Hannibal and I like to know there's a guaranteed profit. With a potential cartel member I'm not sure either of those things is going to happen for me."

"Ah señor but this is an adventure," Murdock piped up happily with a false Mexican accent, "up to the tower to get the maiden." He cupped his hands to his mouth and hollered across the road in a mock English accent. "Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down your hair!"

"Shut up you fool!" B.A snarled as he grabbed Murdock by the scruff of his neck and pulled him back to the shadows of the alleyway. "You tryin' to draw attention to us? Damn crazy fool gonna get us caught before we've even started! And why did you swap accents anyway?"

Murdock looked at B.A like he was the mad one. "Medieval knights weren't Mexican," he retorted like it was obvious.

"Alright fellas let's get moving already," Hannibal commanded before B.A could yell another response.

B.A released Murdock with reluctance before turning to face the front of the alleyway. He scowled and muttered under his breath how he wouldn't have slept for that long in any car especially in such a warm climate.

Face led the way down the alleyway to the open side door of the restaurant. White light poured out from within accompanied by the sounds of food cooking, kitchen hands cursing, and numerous cooks bustling to and fro. It was thriving with activity, evidently a popular spot.

"Alright," Face murmured quietly as he glanced back at Hannibal and Murdock, "I'm going to get to the lockers where the uniforms should be, you guys get what you need."

Face hurried in without waiting for a retort. He didn't bother trying to be subtle, instead he marched with authority, turning so it seemed like he had come through the double doors that led out to the main restaurant. "Outrageous! Outrageous!" he cried out loudly.

As all eyes turned to Face in confusion, Hannibal took the chance to dart in, ducking low to sneak behind the cooks who were all facing Face. Murdock followed behind, his eyes darting left and right as he marvelled over ingredients before recoiling in horror from a raw fish. "Poor little guy," he sympathised as he stared at its glassy eye, "what an unfair fate."

"Murdock you eat meat all the time," Hannibal reminded him quietly as he glanced back at the pilot.

"I know but that coulda been a wishing fish colonel or it could've gone in a bowl."

"Well I'm sure it didn't suffer," Hannibal assured as he led the way through a door to the left. They found themselves in a small room stocked with empty boxes ready to be filled with delivery food. Hannibal grabbed a few of the larger ones along with some heavy duty bags. "Hmm we need something fancier," he murmured before gesturing for Murdock to lift a few.

"I think I know what to get," Murdock said happily. "Let's get these boxes outside first."

The pair hurried back on their way into the main kitchen where Face was claiming in a combination of Spanish and English to be a health inspector.

"I want to see your uniforms now!" Face snapped loudly before poking the stunned looking chef hard in the chest with one finger. "Look at this, it's not even white anymore!" He yelled so convincingly no one had bothered to ask for proof of his identity yet.

Hannibal grinned and shook his head before heading back to the debris ridden alleyway. "Alright Murdock, B.A and I will start putting the guns into the boxes, you get what you think we need to make this presentable."

"Right boss." Murdock nodded and headed back into the kitchen area.

The pilot's dark eyes glimpsed his desired prize just as it was being wheeled out into the dining area. With a cry of dismay he stood upright and ran after it, forgoing any attempt to stay low key.

Face missed Murdock darting into the dining room as he was now following after the chef to the staff locker area.

Murdock skidded to a halt in the dining area as a large tank on the left distracted him from his goal. He gaped in horror at the lobsters contained within and cried out dramatically, "don't worry little sea creatures I'll make sure you're liberated from the pot and sent swimming home! Er..." He paused and looked to the cart he had been pursuing. "But not right now, I'm on another mission, I won't forget you though fellas!" He raced towards the dining cart, both hands coming down on the silver dome on it before the waiter could lift it. "No lo siento," he babbled to the waiter with a shake of his head. He looked to the startled diners and waved his hand in a firm gesture. "Huevos podridos!"

He hoisted the silver dome and the tray underneath it from the cart, ignoring the diners remarking that they hadn't ordered any eggs. "Sorry," he murmured as he hurried back to the kitchen preparation area, "first Spanish food name I could think of." He burst through the double doors dramatically, yelling to the alarmed cooks, "liberate the lobsters!"

Murdock hurried out the open doorway and was about to be pursued until a returning Face got in between the fleeing Murdock and his would be pursuers. Face, arms laden with uniforms, snapped loudly, "all of these need disposed!" He stepped backwards to the alleyway and added loudly, "and this open door is a health hazard!" He grabbed the door with one hand and slammed it shut before turning and letting out an exasperated sigh.

"Colonel we have to go back after we get the witch," Murdock remarked rapidly, "see they've got prisoners in there!" He gestured back to the restaurant frantically with one hand.

"Murdock she's not a witch," Hannibal said calmly.

"What do you mean prisoners?" B.A snarled over Hannibal as he looked at Murdock with suspicion. "Like slaves?"

"Oh yes," Murdock retorted sincerely, "and they've got 'em locked up in a tank just waiting for death!"

"In a tank?!" B.A exclaimed in a mixture of disgust and puzzlement. "Fool what do you mean? Are there people being held hostage in there?"

"Lower your voice B.A," Hannibal commanded, "I'm sure our captain doesn't mean people."

"No," Face explained calmly, "I'd say that's why he was shouting to liberate the lobsters." He looked at his eccentric friend kindly. "Isn't that it Murdock? You want to aid the helpless crustaceans in there?"

Murdock nodded eagerly. "Yes Faceman, it ain't right, they've got no say in the matter and it's like a beauty contestant, not good for their self-esteem, death if they're picked but feeling self-conscious if they ain't."

"You are crazy," B.A grumbled with a roll of his eyes, "talking about freeing seafood!"

"Anyway gentlemen," Face interrupted, "let's hurry up and get changed before some of the restaurant workers come out and investigate."

In a matter of minutes the four were clad in uniforms matching the restaurant, except for B.A who were too muscular to fit his properly and had to settle for donning an apron and a baseball cap, both with the company logo. He complained about the attire the entire stretch of road they had to cross to reach their targeted building.

The apartment block was sleek, black and modern and had two guards standing to attention at the large glass doors that led into it. Both were openly armed and regarded the group with immediate suspicion.

"Important delivery for Mr. Castillo upstairs," Hannibal announced brazenly as he stepped forward.

"He didn't mention he was expecting food," one guard retorted with a hostile look.

"You guys don't look local," the other murmured as he pushed back the bottom of his jacket to flash his gun at them.

"This," Murdock remarked seriously as he lifted the silver domed tray slightly, "is the special, an expensive delicacy and since Mr. Castillo already paid for the food in advance I don't think he'll be happy missing out. We got this especially imported for him," he spoke briskly, "took two days to prepare, fresh outta the oven tonight and it's only good while it's still warm, you leave it for more than a few minutes and it's spoilt."

"That's right," Hannibal commented with a solemn nod, "cost a lot of pesos but we can take it back if you want to explain the loss to your boss."

The pair of guards exchanged a look. "I'll give him a ring," the first suggested.

The second frowned. "Didn't he say he was dealing with something? I don't think disturbing him is wise."

"Well let us disturb him then," Hannibal suggested with a smile, "we could really use a good tip."

The first shook his head. "I'd rather confirm," he decided.

"Why don't you take a look at the special you're gonna spoil first?" Murdock suggested. He grinned and said, "come on, step up and see it." He lifted the lid just a small crack prompting both guards to step forward.

B.A set down his bags and stepped behind the pair. Before they sensed him he banged their heads together. "Confirm that sucka," he scoffed as they fell unconscious to the ground.

"Subtle," Face taunted with a wary grin and a shake of his head. He glanced towards the glass doors, half expecting an army of guards to come racing down.

Hannibal bent down and confiscated the guards' guns quickly before taking their card passes and keys. "Let's go," he ordered as he lifted his bags again.

The group hurried into the lobby area and over to the lifts. Face paused to smile winningly at the desk clerk and say, "we've got a food delivery."

Hannibal pressed the button for the lift and it arrived within seconds. They all stepped inside and looked to the buttons. B.A reached up to disable the camera, pushing it upwards forcefully whilst Murdock reached out a hand to the buttons.

"Not right now Murdock," Face said as he grasped the captain's hand.

"Aww but Faceman I like to see 'em all lit up," Murdock complained.

The button for the Penthouse needed activated with a key. Hannibal had to try three of the ones he had stolen before he got it working. The lift started moving, playing an upbeat Latino tune as it did.

Murdock started to dance enthusiastically to it until B.A planted two hands down firmly on his shoulders. "Cut that out," he ordered sternly.

"I like this song B.A let me move," Murdock retorted moodily.

"Fool you ain't never heard it until now," B.A grumbled back.

"I ain't never heard it out loud before," Murdock corrected as he craned his neck back and up so he could smirk at B.A upside down, "but I've heard it plenty in my head."

"We need to get ready," Hannibal ordered.

They lifted out the boxes they needed, except for Murdock who remained holding the silver dome. When the lift binged they were granted entry to an lavish living room setting.

Hannibal scanned it quickly. There wasn't a person in sight. All the lights were on, half-drunk glasses and remnants of cocaine littered the marble coffee table and music played softly from a radio suggesting there had been people here not that long ago. Hannibal became aware of the sounds of whooping and jeering that indicated everyone was outside through the open balcony doors at the back of the room.

"Weapons out, we can seize the element of surprise," Hannibal ordered. He counted the abandoned glasses hastily, there were three. Of course it meant little, there were probably plenty of men out there who had taken their drinks with them to whatever was going on outside. "Move slow and quiet," he said sternly as he took out a Browning Hi-Power and holstered it against his belt before reaching for an Uzi.

Outside was a large patio with a swimming pool complete with three deck chairs, and an outdoor table with a closed parasol. The patio was lit with tall, wooden torches embedded in stone, two positioned theatrically on either side of the woman who held the men's attention. She had her hands suspended in manacles attached to two wooden posts and was standing on a wooden crate with a noose about her neck, attached to what appeared to be a hastily set up wooden beam supported by the two wooden posts the chains of the manacles were attached to.

One man stood opposite the woman, with six men forming a semi-circle of observation behind him. Behind her was another man holding a long, dark whip.

The man facing her flickered between grins and scowls as he waved a Colt in the woman's direction carelessly. "I'm tired of waiting for an answer, all I'm giving you is a choice in death, you can die from blood loss or if you lose your footing maybe it's a hanging and if you don't die from hanging I'll blow you brains out," he vowed in English in a voice thick with a Mexican accent.

Her head was bowed and she remained defiantly silent.

The man ran a hand through his oiled back black hair. "I'd rather you tell me what I need to hear and live or, at least die quickly."

The whip struck without warning and the woman gave a gasp of pain. Her chains jingled as she stumbled slightly on the box.

"Cabrona," the man hissed out. "I hope you choke, it would be disappointing if you broke your neck."

There was a loud clang as one of the manacles suddenly snapped free and smacked off the wooden post.

"Oops," the woman murmured quietly in a voice tired and heavy with frustration.

The man's bitter brown eyes filled with darkness as rage consumed them. "God damn magic tricks! Hang cabrona!" He charged forward quickly.

She looked up at him at last showing off a black eye and a bruised cheek. "No last words?" she quipped quietly. Her free hand moved frantically against the remaining manacle but she was panicking as the man neared her and it wasn't coming free. "Abra Kadabra-"

The manacle snapped free just as the box was kicked out from under her and suddenly she was choking and gasping for air as her body jerked on the rope like a puppet on a string. She had made the manoeuvre too late and unwittingly helped the man to hang her. Both her hands went to the rope automatically but then the right dropped away to hang at her waist.

The man stepped back from her twitching body with a scowl as he readied his gun just in case.

He was forced to turn suddenly as B.A unleashed a spray of bullets, unable to retain his rage as the woman was hung.

Knowing death was close, the woman made a last frantic attempt at life. She swung purposely from left to right, gaining momentum with each swing.

"Alakazam," she hissed out hoarsely as she reached the necessary height to throw at a torch the powder she had tugged out from a small, hidden pocket at her lower back.

There was a loud boom drawing everyone's attention back to the hangman display as the wooden posts caught fire and black smoke filled the air.

"You're going to die cabrona!" the man who had conducted the affair shouted with a crazed anger as he charged forward again.

The gunfire seemed to be everywhere but the A-Team held the advantage despite being outnumbered by three. B.A had already disabled two men with some choice punches and gunshots and the rest were still reeling from the surprise of the attack combined with the unexpected minor explosion.

The woman felt a rush of horror as the sparks danced at her eyes and she felt the heat come with the noise of the explosion. Her body flinched, aches old and knew reminding of her of the damage heat could do. She trembled on the ground, eyes closed as she tried to block it out. The fear was difficult to squash, even as the primal instinct to survive tried to kick in it crippled her.

At the rattle of gunfire her eyes snapped open and she rose to her feet and started to run. She didn't consider where she was going except to get away from the fire and the sparks.

The noose remained about her neck, the rope snapped from the beam and now flying loose behind her. It proved to be a hazard when the enraged Mexican loomed out of the smoke behind her and snatched the rope with one firm hand.

The woman let out a cry of surprise as she was yanked back viciously and fell to the ground.

"You're a brujería!" he snarled at her. "Let's see you magic away this!" He pointed his nozzle down at her head.

There was a loud clang as a metal dome collided with the man's face sending him reeling back in surprise. Before he could recover a metal tray followed, dazing him and causing his vision to flash red with the impact.

"That's some real fast food service," Murdock bragged happily.

"Murdock let's not forget who we came to help," Face piped up as he reached for the woman and tugged her back to her feet. "That was some impressive handiwork," he marvelled at her.

"Idle hands are the devil's playthings," she mused quietly as she glanced up at him with a dull curiosity, "makes you wonder why people frown on lock-picking."

"Indeed." Face released her to fire a shot with his Colt .45 before the Mexican could shoot at them.

The man let out a hiss as the bullet narrowly missed his right shoulder.

Face recognised him as Josias 'Joe' Castillo and he filled with hate as he aimed his gun again.

The woman looked at Joe with an icy expression of loathing. She patted down her arms and seemingly producing a card from nowhere in her right hand. "For you," she said, voice still quiet, as she held it up to him.

Joe's dark eyebrows narrowed as he made out the Grim Reaper figure on the card. "You're mistaken brujería," he sneered, "that one is for you." He raised his gun to aim but the woman moved quicker.

Another handful of the powder was flung, this time at the torch to Joe's right.

The woman gave a small fleeting grin, gone as quick as it appeared as Joe screamed as he was burned with the second explosion. "It burns doesn't it?" she snarled. "You shouldn't play with fire."

"Aww I didn't bring no marshmallows," Murdock pouted.

"Um I don't mean to interrupt this," Face chirped, having righted himself to his feet after being rocked to the ground by the explosion, "but we need to go."

Hannibal and B.A were already at the balcony doors, B.A was waving them over whilst Hannibal held their assailants back with a spray of gunfire.

"They've called for backup, it's time to go!" Hannibal called cheerfully.

The woman looked at him in disbelief. "But he's not dead," she snapped.

"And neither are you," Face reminded her, "be grateful." He grabbed her right hand and pulled her along. "Murdock are you coming?"

"Sure Faceman, pity we can't stay for dessert," Murdock retorted.

The group hurried back to the lift but Hannibal purposely hit the button for the tenth floor, so they could avoid an ambush outside the lift on the ground floor.

"You need to lose the jewellery," B.A scorned the woman as he eyed the noose about her neck.

"Really?" she replied sardonically. "I thought it was rather fetching."

"Well at least there's a sense of humour there," Face murmured.

The lift pinged and the doors opened.

Hannibal ushered them out to the floor and scouted for the fire escape.

"Who are you?" the woman queried. She appeared fatigued, her body slouched, her eyes were dull and her skin, that which wasn't bleeding or bruised, was wan with a thin sheen of sweat.

"Introductions when we're at a safer spot," Hannibal retorted as he found the fire exit to the balcony. The door was alarmed but it didn't take much for B.A to disable the sensor and force the door open. They headed out to the metal balcony with a metal staircase leading down several flights to a set of dubious ladders. It took three firm kicks from B.A to free the ladders and send them rattling towards the ground. They got stuck two thirds of the way down but Hannibal reasoned that it would be a safe enough drop.

B.A descended first and Murdock followed.

"You next," Hannibal ordered the woman.

The woman glanced down to the white empire line dress she adorned, it was ripped and smeared with blood at the back thanks to being dramatically torn open to welcome the whip.

"Virgin sacrifice?" Hannibal quipped tauntingly.

"Something like that," she murmured dryly. "A real cliché."

"Well Murdock won't peek, now get climbing," he ordered.

She moved to the ladder, the rungs were cold to the touch and she welcomed it as she started descending. The evening air was warm but bearable, even in her risky attire she would have gladly welcomed a breeze for some relief from the heat.

She glanced down and swallowed hard, tightening her grasp and halting her descent as the world suddenly blurred and spun.

Murdock sensed her halting and glanced up. "Don't look down," he suggested with a smile.

"Don't look up," she scolded him as she leaned into the wall. She shook her head with a weak smile. "Shit what am I saying?" she mused to herself softly. "Hell look all you want, I don't care it's just I don't have very nice underwear on." She kept talking, talking was a distraction, it took her away from the height and the looming concrete below. Her hands faltered she could reach it in seconds.

She swallowed hard and continued babbling on. Sometimes it didn't matter what she said, sometimes it worked and she could delay the bad thing simply by speaking. They didn't always know the truth from the lie.

"Funny, they only ever think of the outerwear when it comes to sacrifices and murder," she babbled, "no one ever considers what a sacrificial woman should be wearing underneath."

"Hmm, I'd like to wear a toga," Murdock decided, "very official, all the comforts of a bathrobe but not so casual."

"What exactly would you want to be wearing underneath?" Face pried as he started to climb down.

"Face," Hannibal chided as he looked over and wagged a scorning finger down at the lieutenant, "save it for later."

Face grinned up at his superior. "She brought it up."

The ladder moved without warning, descending rapidly with a loud rattle and several shakes. Face lost his footing and the woman let out a cry of protest as the sole of his right foot stamped down on her head. She swung outwards with the blow, clinging onto to the rails precariously with one hand.

The whites of her eyes showed as she gazed at the world below and a cry of alarm escaped her.

Murdock let out a delighted 'whee' before the ladder came to a halt as it hit the ground at last. "Aww that ride was too short," Murdock lamented. "B.A could you hold it steady?" he called out crossly.

The woman tried to swing inwards the same time Face tried to correct his footing. The result was Face's left foot coming down on the woman's left hand causing her to yelp in pain and release the rung instinctively. She fell down with a scream of terror, hitting Murdock as she did and bringing him down with her to land on top of B.A. Luckily, the world below had not been as far away as she had thought.

B.A immediately unleashed a flurry of muffled curses and yells as he tried and failed to push himself up from underneath the pair of tangled humans.

Murdock found himself burrowed beneath folds of the white dress and pushed them off before reaching around worriedly for his missing red cap.

The woman struggled off B.A, shaking in disbelief as she struggled to accept that she had survived the drop and was largely uninjured. She looked to B.A nervously before glancing at the ground and then at the ladder. Her heart was pounding and she was soaked in sweat, too warm again but alive. She looked back to B.A "It must have been you," she murmured. "Thanks for the landing."

B.A scowled back at her, ill-liking her odd gaze and unable to work out if her statement was mocking or not. He shoved Murdock off him and hastened to his feet. "Face, Hannibal you suckas better hurry or you're gonna find two dead bodies down here!"

Hannibal let out a chuckle before he started his descent at last.

The woman lifted up the dented red cap resting to her right and pushed it back into shape before presenting it to Murdock. "Yours?" she quipped quietly.

He took it from her with a grateful nod and placed it back on his head. "Got to keep my thoughts from escaping," he explained hastily.

She nodded empathetically before tugging off the noose at last and tossing it to one side.

"Your underwear looked pretty good for a sacrifice by the way," Murdock assured her with a grin.

It was odd but the crude jest seemed to be what she needed and she felt a smile tugging at her lips and allowed it to bloom as some of the fear slipped away with it. "Well good, the night is young, I could still get sacrificed," she replied calmly before standing up.

Face and Hannibal joined them with better grace and together they hurried to the back of the building, round a corner and across a road to hail a taxi.