It was beginning to look like there could be some rain coming in, so Murdock was taking some time to add more materials to the upper sections of their camouflaged hideaway so that, hopefully, they could avoid getting soaked. While working, he began humming, then singing without paying much attention to the fact he was doing it.

"Seven horses seem to be on the mark."

Alyona paused and frowned as she handed Murdock one of the branches he asked for.

"Do you have a radio playing?"

That had Murdock giving her a puzzled look.

"You know exactly what little I have with me, little lady. Why would you - wait."

Holding up a hand for silence, Murdock went quiet himself and faintly heard the same song he'd been singing coming from deeper in the woods. Looking back to Alyona, he questioned her softly.

"Do you mean you hear the same song that I do?"

"Yes - shouldn't I?"

"Well, normally when I hear music, it's just in my head. But if you hear it too . . .?"

Putting down the branch, Murdock checked to make sure he had the gun, but handed the knife to Alyona.

"You stay here, out of sight. I'm going to go see who the Doors fan is out there."

Alyona nodded and held tightly to the knife as Murdock made his way out. Since he judged the voices were headed his direction, he moved a few yards away before finding a tree to climb to get a better vantage point. The singer was male -not Morrison, by any means, but a good voice. When he caught his first good look, he nearly fell out of the tree in relief. The main trouble was that Mark wasn't alone, leaving the problem as how to contact him without getting shot. Getting shot was one of his least favorite things to do.

He considered sending Billy, but Billy getting caught in friendly fire wasn't an option either. Then a smile formed and Murdock joined in singing on the chorus of the song.

When he heard Murdock's voice coming from not too far away, he activated his communicator.

"April? I hear him, luv. Now I simply need to find him."

"Thank heavens. My team and I will start working our way back put. We'll met you at the rendezvous point."

Signaling to his party to watch the perimeter, Mark stopped singing as he moved closer to where Murdock's voice seemed to be coming from.

"HM? Come out if you can. We need to get out of the area while some of our people have the birdies drawn elsewhere."

A rustle from a bush confirmed Murdock's location, as he emerged and immediately wrapped Mark in a hug as the other agents around tried to maintain their serious demeanor - with varying degrees of success.

"Man o man, is it good to see you, Higgins, but I'm not alone. Got a little gal with me that could use asylum."

Mark hesitated, then pulled back from Murdock to look his friend in the eyes.

"Are you certain of that, HM? From what traffic we were able to pick up, it sounds as if she was intended -"

"To trick me? Not my first rodeo, Higgins. Things went her way a little too well when she helped me escape, but she confessed to me before I called her out on it. And I think she's sincere. Did you know those guys are recruiting at colleges? That's not very nice of them - especially since they don't seem to be very honest about what kind of used car they're actually selling."

With barely a pause for breath, Murdock continued.

"Anyway, I know taking her back around the other folks in your club would be a bad idea until you can check out her story, but can you at least get her into a safe house? If she is sincere, I doubt those guys will take it well when they figure it out."

"That I can promise you. We'll get her somewhere safe. Perhaps she might tell us a bit of how T.H.R.U.S.H. is operating at colleges. Now let's fetch her and get out of here before they come looking for you again."

"Those helicopters were them, weren't they?"

"They were. So, how much further until we get to her?"

"We're there, Higgins."

Mark looked around carefully. Murdock sounded serious, but he sounded serious when he talked about his invisible dog as well. Before he could question it, Murdock called into a thickly vined area.

"Come on out, little lady. Higgins is an old friend of mine."

One of the team literally jumped when Alyona seemingly appeared our of nowhere. Mark had seen where she came from and moved closer, examining the well camouflaged shelter before whistling softly.

"I'm impressed, HM. Old Man Cutter should have you teach a class."

Giving the side a pat, Murdock shrugged.

"It's okay for a rush job, but you should have seen the tree fort I had as a kid, Higgins. Now that was a thing of beauty."

"You can tell me all about it later. If we don't get moving soon, April will have both of our hides for worrying her."

"Well, guess I'll have some apologizing to do. I'm afraid I can't do a quick time march on this foot."

The largest member of the search party moved forward, clearing his throat.

"No insult meant, sir, but I could carry you out of here to speed things along."

Murdock crossed his arms and studied the man for a minute.

"What's your name?"

"Richard Logan."

"Carry how? Fireman, bridal, or piggy back?"

Logan looked puzzled and glanced from Mark to Murdock before venturing a choice.

"Err - piggy back?"

Murdock grinned and clapped his hands together.

"I have never in my life turned down the offer of a piggy back ride. You've got a deal."

The sound of an explosion in the distance had the group hurry their preparations. Mark gestured to Alyona.

"You follow behind Logan and HM - I'll bring up the rear in case we have company."

She hesitated for a minute longer. Alyona still had serious doubts about where she wanted to be, but she was pretty sure now that she didn't want to remain where she'd been. It was time for a leap of faith and her intuition led her to trust Murdock. Decision made, she hurried into position as the group began to move quickly back to the clearing where April and her team would be waiting for them.