Chapter 6: Face -v- the Diary
Face was a little bit peeved when he realised Hannibal had taken the Vette. He was sure he would be bombarded with another load of questions once he returned with BA from the storage depot. Especially when the Colonel insisted that he rode with him in one of the escort cars back to the airport.
But, surprisingly, Hannibal didn't give him the third degree about the state of the Vette. Apart from a few sarcastic comments, he didn't ask for any details.
In fact, he seemed more concerned about the state of Face's health. It was obvious he was in more pain than he was letting on. His movements were stiff and laboured and the side of his face was a mass of multi-coloured bruises.
"Make sure you get checked out properly when we get back to Langley!" ordered Hannibal, as he gave the Lieutenant a couple of aspirins to take the edge of the pain. He knew Face wouldn't take anything stronger, but he didn't want him to suffer unnecessarily.
"Yes, Sir," replied Face, meekly. He was rather ashamed of his previous, unprofessional behaviour. He had a lot of respect for Hannibal and the last thing he wanted to do was alienate him.
"Hannibal … about what I said before," he stammered, uneasily. "I … I … didn't mean it."
"I know, kid," replied Hannibal, switching easily into paternal mode. "Is there anything you wanna tell me, Face? I might be able to help."
It was on the tip of Face's tongue to spill the beans. God knows, he had thought of nothing else since he had driven back to Osceola National Park. But what could Hannibal do? Persuade Stockwell to give up the diary? There was more of a chance of Face joining the priesthood first! There was enough knowledge in the diary to bring down half the crooked politicians in Washington. Stockwell wanted that knowledge because then he would have the power that went with it.
Face had no doubt that Hannibal would do all he could to help. He would go after Radcliffe at a drop of a hat and would probably even catch him. But where would that leave Ellen? Radcliffe could order a hit on her from anywhere and at any time – even from a prison cell!
And if there was the remote possibility that Hannibal could retrieve the diary from Stockwell, then all the team would be in trouble. It could even put their pardons at risk and Face didn't want that to happen.
No, this was just one problem he had to deal with on his own. And if it meant he had to leave his family to keep them safe, then he was prepared to pay the price for betraying their loyalty. So he smiled back engagingly at Hannibal.
"It's nothing I can't handle, Colonel," he replied, with as much confidence as he could muster.
Hannibal bit back his frustration. Boy, why did Face have to be so stubborn!
"Okay," he said, keeping a lid on his frustration. He handed Face a bottle of water. "Take your medicine, kid."
Face played with the pills remorsefully in his hands for a few seconds.
"Just for the record, Hannibal," he finally said, shyly. "I wish you were my father!"
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The team had now arrived back at Langley. Due to Face's injuries, the General had agreed to give them some extended leave. Face was disappointed with the decision. He had hoped that Stockwell would have a mission lined up for them. He felt like a sitting duck waiting for Radcliffe's man to contact him.
On leaving Radcliffe, the driver had blindfolded Face before taking him back to his Vette, so he had no idea where he had been kept captive. After helping Face to pull his car out of the ditch, he gave him a cell phone, together with details of a telephone number, where Face could get in touch with his contact, Vincent Luciano.
After agreeing on a mutual "code" of contact, Face's instructions were to keep the phone until such time as they were ready to move. Face had discretely hidden the cell phone as soon as he had arrived back at the lodge and then again on returning to Langley.
A few days had now elapsed and Face was sitting alone in the bedroom. He stared ominously at the post card that had just been given to him by Frankie. The words "T, Let's have dinner - L!" were written frivolously on it. Frankie, who shared the bedroom with Face, winked knowing at him before going down to breakfast.
The post card was the signal that Face was to contact Luciano immediately. He would already have followed Face to Langley. Face had given Radcliffe's driver details of the special mailbox address that the team were allowed to use, if they wanted any personal mail sent to them. Of course everything would be vetted by the Ables first, before they delivered it to the house. They were used to Face receiving love letters, so weren't at all suspicious by the request!
Face hesitated before making the call. He was having second thoughts about the whole damn thing and was questioning his motives for not telling Hannibal. Did he really care if Ellen became a target? After all, she had hardly welcomed him into her life with open arms! He didn't owe her anything.
He sighed heavily. Despite his feelings of resentment, he knew he couldn't live with himself if anything bad happened to her or her family. After all, it wasn't his sister's fault they had a fugitive for a father and that she had become mixed up in this mess!
He slowly dialled the number. Luciano promptly answered it.
"You took your time, Peck!" he snarled.
"Well I had to wait until I was on my own," replied Face, indignantly.
"General Stockwell will be on a private flight leaving the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport at 14:00 hours this afternoon to Cuba," came back the swift reply. "He has business with the State Officials to discuss certain contents of the diary. We need to move now whilst security around him is at a bare minimum."
By "bare minimum", Face assumed the General wouldn't have his guard dogs, Samson and Delilah, in tow. He briefly wondered how Luciano knew this information, but thought it best not to ask for clarification. He also knew that Stockwell would have the diary with him. There would be no way he would let it out of his sight – it was far too valuable!
"What do you want me to do? asked Face sullenly.
"I need you to get us past security and in to see Stockwell before he departs," said Luciano. "I'll leave the creative details up to you – just get me on that plane somehow!"
"Er, wait a minute!" interjected Face. "I can't just get up and walk out! In case you've forgotten, I'm under constant surveillance."
"It's your call, Lieutenant," snapped back Luciano.
With that he hung up. Face cursed under his breath. How the hell was he going to swing this? He looked at this watch. 8.30 am. Didn't give him much chance to get a scam together. Not only did he have to come up with a plan to breach security, but he also had to find a reason for leaving the house that wouldn't arouse Hannibal's suspicion. There was only one thing that might work.
He left his room and made his way downstairs. He paused in the hall, pondering over his game plan. He suddenly heard Hannibal coming down the stairs and quickly grabbed the nearby phone.
"Yes, okay, fine," he said in his most charming voice, pretending that he was talking to one of his girlfriends. I'll see you there, honey!"
He put the phone down to find Hannibal staring at him, with a wry smile on his face.
"You going somewhere, kid?" he asked, raising his eyebrows at him enquiringly.
"Gotta lunch date," responded Face, brightly, waving the post card casually at Hannibal. "I'm just about to clear it with Carla. I'll be along for breakfast shortly."
Hannibal didn't question Face's answer. It wasn't unusual for the team's resident Romeo to have a date lined up during their rare R&R time. All social outlets were always reported to Carla – General Stockwell's personal assistant - who made the customary arrangements for an Able to be in attendance somewhere in the background. Face picked up the phone again, as if he was going to make the call to Carla, whilst Hannibal made his way to the kitchen for breakfast.
Face waited for Hannibal to leave the hall before ringing Carla.
"Yes, Lieutenant," she asked, in her usual unemotional, monotone voice.
"I want to see the General," requested Face, keeping his voice low.
"Why?" she immediately asked.
"It's personal," replied Face.
There was a pause at the other end. Face knew he would need to give Carla more than that if he had any hope of being granted an audience with Stockwell.
"I want him to find out if AJ Bancroft mentions my mother in his memoirs", he suddenly blurted out, off the top of his head.
There was another pause.
"The General is very busy at the moment," she finally replied. "He is currently working on his private plane before flying out from the airport later today on some business."
"If I could just see him for ten minutes or so - I won't take up much of his time," implored Face, hoping to appeal to the softer side of the PA. "It's just … well …. it could be my only chance of finding out anything about her."
Face could hear pages being flicked over in the background, before Carla spoke again.
"OK, Lieutenant Peck," she finally relented. "I've slotted you in for midday. "The General will probably take a break for lunch then. I'll send Able 9 to pick you up at 11.30."
"Thanks, darling," replied Face. "Say, perhaps we could do lunch ….".
But Carla had already hung up the phone before Face had a chance to finish his sentence. Face sighed heavily. He went back upstairs to his room and fished out the cell phone from under his bed. He rang Luciano and relayed back to him his proposed plan.
"Good!" responded Luciano. "I'll intercept Able 9 and pick you up at 11.30. Make sure you don't keep me waiting!"
The connection broke off as Luciano hung up. Face hid the cell phone again and trudged downstairs to join the others in the kitchen. BA and Frankie were already at the table, eating their breakfast. Murdock was notably missing. He didn't stay in the main house with the rest of the team and had his own apartment a couple of miles away. Face's stomach churned as he realised he would probably never see his buddy again.
"Muesli?" asked Hannibal, breaking into Face's thoughts. He was standing by the cooker, grilling bacon and tomatoes whilst expertly flipping a fried egg at the same time.
Face nodded in acknowledgement as he sat down next to BA.
"Did you get clearance from Carla?" continued Hannibal, as he prepared Face's cereal, cutting up some strawberries and sprinkling them over the top. Face always liked strawberries mixed in with his muesli!
Face nodded again.
"Car's coming for me at 11.30," he said, as Hannibal put the bowl down in front of him. Face held Hannibal's gaze before adding in a slightly shaky voice, "Thanks, Colonel."
