Chapter 10

"You're not seriously gonna take this kid on, are you, Sam?"

"Ha, no way, Mike! Not that I'm afraid of losing, but...well, it wouldn't be professional. Not to mention I'd be running the risk of him trying to take me out in the pool."

"You mean, he'd be running the risk of getting his butt kicked in the pool," Jack threw in his opinion as he tossed another log on the fire. "Joel, that is, not you Axeman."

"Thanks, Jack."

Jack nodded and turned to Michael. "Seriously, Sam was always the best in class in the underwater combat exercises. I'd be more scared for the kid."

"Whatever. The point is, this Joel is setting you up for something, and I don't like it. I think you need help."

"What'd you have in mind?" Sam studied his friend. He was supposed to be home with his new family, but instead he was hanging out in Sam's back yard trying to get in on the action.

"I thought maybe you could use another pair of eyes in that school."

"I don't know, Mike. We'd have to split the fee three ways then," Jack said as he glanced at Sam with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Besides, what would you do? We've already got Sam infiltrating as a teacher, and sorry man, but you're too old to play a student."

"I think they need a secretary in the office," Sam suggested as he scratched his cheek while he thought. Then his face broke into a grin. "Just kidding, Mike! Seriously though, a maintenance guy is as good a cover as any. You'd have access to the entire building all day and after hours if needed."

"I agree, a maintenance worker is the best cover." Jack glanced at Michael. "Seriously, Mike, you should be home with Fi and Lucas, but if you're that hard up to work with us, welcome to the team."

"Thanks," Michael said with a smile.

Getting down to business at last, Jack said, "I think Mike's right, that these guys have been pushed enough. They're going to try something soon, and you're sticking your neck out to be their target."

"On purpose. I want them to go after me, rather than some unsuspecting student." Sam's eyes reflected the fire from within as well as the flames dancing before him.

"I wish we didn't have to have them go after anybody," Jack said as he shook his head. "But then what would be the point to us being there?"

"Exactly," Sam exclaimed. "We're trying to catch them in the act, and the only way to do that is to create a situation where we have control, but they get trapped. Right, Mikey?"

Michael nodded. "I'd like to shadow these kids for a few days, kind of pop in and out so they don't get suspicious, but enough to have a feel for them and their behavior. Maybe spy on them interacting with the other gang members." Michael glanced at Sam and Jack. "Now that's something you guys haven't really been able to do, at least not you, Sam. Jack?"

"I've been trying to keep an eye on them but like you said, it gets too hairy when they see me following them around, so I've been really limited in what I can do."

Michael nodded. "Okay, it's settled then. Call your friend Carl and tell him I'm the new maintenance guy starting Monday."

"Okay."

"Thanks, Mike."

"No problem, Sam. I just don't want you to get into something you can't get yourself out of."

"Unlike some people I know." He gave Michael a look.

Michael decided to let that one slip by. With a grin, he stood. "Okay, I have to get back home. Night Sam, Jack, see you at school on Monday." He clamped a hand on Jack's shoulder. "Thanks for letting me in on this job."

Michael disappeared into the night, and it was just the two men. "I suppose I should get inside and hit the sack. Five classes a day is rough!"

"Oh, like gym is all that bad?" Jack barked out a laugh.

"When you have to keep watching your back, you betcha! Home ec would be tough with that kind of pressure!"

"Yeah, cooking utensils can be dangerous." Jack snickered.

"In the wrong hands, they could be." Sam gave him a meaningful glance, the silence lengthening as they remembered a time long ago.

"You still won't forgive me for that..."

"Hey, I forgive you, but the memory will always remain. All I can say is, thank God for MREs. Little chance of your buddy giving you food poisoning in the field."

"Oh, I'm hurt!" Jack sniffled dramatically. "And with that, I'm off. See you tomorrow, Axeman!"

"Night, Jack." Sam stood and began to put out the waning fire. When he sufficiently doused it with water and all that rose up were weak tendrils of steam, he retreated to the house. Yvette was asleep and so were the kids. He took a quick shower to get rid of the smoke smell and slipped into bed. "I'm going to need a lot of protection soon. Thanks for getting Mike involved." With that final whispered prayer, he fell asleep.