Chapter 4: Jigsaw

Hannibal glanced anxiously at Murdock. He knew the pilot would be struggling to cope with what was happening mentally.

"You okay, Captain?" asked Hannibal. "Do we need to take you to see a doctor to look at those injuries? That's one hell of a shiner you've got there!"

Murdock shook his head, touching his black eye delicately.

"No Colonel, I'm okay," he replied. "Ribs a bit sore, but nothing serious to worry about."

After establishing that Murdock didn't need medical attention, Hannibal went to make the call to the General. Craig took the opportunity to take home Amanda so she could make arrangements to stay with her sister. He returned a couple of hours later, having safely left her at her destination.

Shortly after Craig arrived, Face came running in with a message from the General, who had sent through the information they were waiting for on the van's fax machine.

"What's the SP, Face?" asked Hannibal.

Face began reading from the fax message.

"Profile on Juan Fernandez:

Ethnicity: Mexican/Guatemalan

Active member of the Gulf Cartel until his death on 29 July 1983.

Status: Sicario (Hitman).

Territory: USA: Louisiana/Illinois/California/Brownsville.

Criminal activity: money laundering; kidnapping; theft.

Killed in California as a result of a bullet to the head from an AK-47 rifle."

"AK-47?" queried Hannibal. "We don't carry that in our armoury."

"I guess he must have got killed in the cross-fire from his own guys!" said BA.

"I guess," reflected Hannibal, a deep frown spreading across his face. He was relieved that the man's killing had not been as a direct result of the A-Team, but it didn't make him feel any less good about it. "Anything else, Face?"

Face skimmed quickly over the profile.

"Just goes on to confirm that he was generally a foot solider for the Cartel," he said. "Carried out assassinations and other violent crimes and defended his territory from rival gangs and the Mexican Military."

"What about Rafael Fernandez?" asked Murdock, anxiously.

Face continued reading from the fax.

"Profile on Rafael Fernandez:

Ethnicity: Mexican/Guatemalan

Active member of the Gulf Cartel. Supervised hitmen and would carry out low-level assassinations without permission from his bosses. Would have reached Drug Lord status before being sent to prison in 1967 for his involvement in drug and weapons trafficking. Sentenced to 20 years. Released: 1987.

Status: Lugarteniente (Lieutenant).

Territory: Mexico: Matamoros, Tamaulipas.

Criminal activity: drug trafficking; people smuggling; extortion; kidnapping; murder; prostitution …"

"Okay Face," cut in Hannibal quickly, as Murdock and Craig both turned a deathly shade of white. "I think we get the picture!"

"This has got to be the sleaze ball, Hannibal!" barked BA, clenching his fist in anger.

"Still doesn't explain how he knew Murdock was here, though," questioned Craig.

"Well news of the A-Team's pardons was plastered all over the TV," said Face. "Come to think of it, didn't the media give mention that Murdock was living in Angelino Heights? After all, he was the only one with a fixed address at the time."

The others pondered over Face's comment. It did seem pretty plausible. Although they had been very careful about making sure no-one close to the team were implicated in the report, information about their return to Los Angeles had leaked out. Hannibal finally broke the silence.

"I guess it wouldn't have taken too much intelligence to track Murdock down," he said. "After all, this guy has obviously been harbouring a grudge for the last 5 years."

"I think the pieces of the jigsaw are finally beginning to fit now," said Face.

"What do you think our chances are of finding Kami, Hannibal?" asked Craig.

"This sounds more and more like an opportune kidnapping," replied Hannibal. "I think Fernandez is just winging it at the moment. That could give us the advantage."

"What do we do now?" asked Murdock.

"I'm afraid we're going to have to wait for him to make the next move," replied Hannibal. "In the meantime, I'll get Stockwell to get the wheels in motion to find out where we can find this scumbag!"