Disclaimer: I do not own or make any profit off of the Airwolf name or any of the characters involved within. My stories are for entertainment purposes only.

For The Love of Money

Chapter 4

"Michael!" Hawke called out as he and Dom approached the yellow police tape marking off the edge of the crime scene. Turning from his position at the command post, the spy motioned to the officer guarding the restricted area to allow both Dom and Hawke through.

"You made good time," Michael said to the two pilots as they approached.

"Yeah, we brought the Sikorsky. She's fueled and ready to go and as I told you on the phone, I'm ready to fly them wherever they want to go," Hawke informed him.

"Yeah, well about that…" Michael said somewhat nervously as he stroked his mustache.

"What?" Dom prodded.

Before he could explain any further a man wearing slacks, a white dress shirt and a loosened tie around his neck approached Michael from the command post truck. "Who are these men?" he inquired of the spy with a stern look on his face.

"Captain Stan Miller, this is Dominic Santini and Stringfellow Hawke, the two pilots I told you about," Michael said making the introductions. "They also have the co-worker inside the bank."

"Ah, yes, Archangel said you may be able to help us out," the apparently frazzled police Captain replied as he shook each of their hands. "Did you bring us a chopper?"

"Yes, sir," Dom replied. "We've got a Sikorsky S-76 we use for charters. Should be able to get about a dozen people in it, if needed."

"I'll be piloting," Hawke informed him. "Just tell me how you want the pickup done." On the trip over, Hawke and Dom had discussed options of which one would be the best to pilot the gunmen and any hostages. Hawke quickly claimed the duty saying that he would want Dom following in Airwolf which had also been brought to an undisclosed nearby location that Dom could get to shortly.

Captain Miller looked at Michael in confusion when Hawke was finished. "You didn't tell them?"

"Tell us what, Michael?" Hawke asked sensing things were getting ready to go from bad to worse.

"If everyone would give me a chance, I'll explain everything," Michael said with frustration. "Let's go over here behind the truck so we can talk a little more privately," he suggested as he led the three other men to a less-public area. Turning back to the pilots, Michael continued. "Okay, just before you arrived a few minutes ago, we had contact with one of the men inside…a Sam Breckenridge. He's apparently the ring-leader and an employee of the bank from what we've learned. The loan manager to be exact."

"Wait a minute!" Dom exclaimed. "That's the name of the guy Caitlin was going to see."

"Yes, apparently so," Michael confirmed. "Anyways, Mr. Breckenridge contacted us and demanded that any aircraft we sent be landed on the roof of the bank and then left unattended. He says anyone found within 100 feet of the aircraft when they board will be systematically eliminated along with at least one hostage for each person they saw, his words exactly. Evidently they don't have need for a pilot since they have a perfectly good one inside."

"Caitlin," Hawke growled as he realized what Michael was telling him. "Dammit! There was never going to be a loan for her was there, Michael? This was just all part of an elaborate plan to provide them a pilot!"

"That's what we figure. I'm sorry, Hawke."

"Mother of God," Dom exclaimed under his breath. "What do we do? Even if we follow them in Air…" Dom glanced towards the police captain warily before continuing…"uh, in that military aircraft you told us to bring… once they take off, there's no way we can shoot them down. Not with Caitlin aboard!"

"And chances are they'll kill her as soon as they get wherever they're going," Hawke added.

"Unfortunately, that's the way we see it, too," Michael agreed. "At least we can be pretty sure she's alive and unharmed for now. They need her to fly them out of here so maybe that'll give us some time."

"Speaking of which, how much longer do we have on the time limit they gave to get the chopper to them before they start shooting hostages?" Hawke asked.

Looking down at his watch, Captain Miller gave them the bad news. "As of right now, about 53 minutes."

"There's something else you should know about that as well," Michael said as he adjusted his glasses. "He's got at least two children under the age of ten in there and he's made it clear that they'd be the first to go."

"Mamma Mia!" Dom said. "You think he'd really do it, Michael?"

"I don't know, Dominic, but it's not a chance I'm willing to take. Are you?"

"What about going in before they leave?" Hawke asked.

"No way," Captain Miller said. "This guy's intimately familiar with the building. He's got all viable entrances guarded. We try to storm that building in any way and it'll be a bloodbath before we get within 25 yards of the place."

"Dammit!" Hawke yelled between clenched teeth, his rage clearly visable. "There's got to be something we're missing!" Hawke yelled angrily. "I'm not just going to let them take Caitlin out of here just so they can kill her. You've got all of this damn equipment and personnel, Michael, DO SOMETHING!" he yelled as he got right in the spy's face.

"String!" Dom yelled as he grabbed the younger man by the shoulders and pulled him back. "This isn't Archangel's fault. You've got to calm down. It's not going to do anybody any good to lose it."

Looking at Dom, Hawke shrugged out of the older man's grip and nodded begrudgingly. Turning around he walked off a few steps and took a deep breath to gather himself. After a minute or so, Hawke had regained his composure. "Look, I'm sorry Michael but there's something we're just not seeing here. Maybe we're looking at it from the wrong angle."

"What do you mean, kid?" Dom asked.

"Well we keep thinking about what WE can do to help Caitlin. What if we give Caitlin something that she can use to help US?" Hawke asked.

"Like what?" Captain Miller asked.

"I'm not sure yet," Hawke asked as he looked at Dom. "C'mon, let's go back and take a look at that Sikorsky, see if there's something we can do. I have an idea but I'm not sure we have the time or equipment to set it up."

"Hawke, time is short. If you've got something I need to know in 30 minutes," Michael informed him.

"Michael, if I've got something, you'll know in fifteen," he said as he headed out towards the helicopter.

TBC….

A/N: Third chapter of the day! The muse is in high gear. Can't guarantee I'll get another one up before the weekend's over but I'll do the best I can.