25 Where's Face?
Disclaimer: I do not own The A Team movie or television series or any of the delightful characters found on The A Team.
The bedroom was dark. The bed itself, made of rough-hewn logs, loomed enormous in the small area.
Hannibal expected he might find Face and Melody there.
He was wrong.
Hunkered near the window, Melody gazed up at him. She was shivering. "John?"
I suppose I should be relieved the two of them aren't in bed examining the quality of the sheets, but . . .
"Where the hell's Face?" His voice came out in a harsh hissing whisper filled with enough anger to cause more trembling in the young actress.
Rather than have her stand up and become a target for whoever was out there, he crept over to her. Cupping her face in both hands, he peered into her eyes.
"Where's Lieutenant Peck?"
His touch melted the dam holding back her fear. She threw her arms around his neck and sobbed into his shoulder.
For a moment, Hannibal didn't know what to do with his hands. Hesitantly he lifted one and patted her back.
For a few seconds she couldn't speak. Then she slowly got control of her fear and drew back a little to look at him.
"Now, can you tell me why Face isn't here at his post?" The Colonel softened his tone. This was, after all, a young woman, and not one of his men. The authoritative voice would return when he located his Lieutenant.
She searched his eyes as she spoke. "Temp saw someone circle around and hide behind the outhouse."
Temp? Face works fast. He's already gotten through to her.
"He thought he had a good chance of sneaking up on whoever it was and flushing him out."
If the Lieutenant's desertion of his post wasn't so serious, Hannibal would have found humor in the phrase 'flushing him out.'
"He took a gun with him. I told him I had one stuck under my mattress for protection." She held up a revolver, obviously too heavy and large for her hand.
Hannibal sighed.
She probably didn't know what she needed to defend herself and bought it in some second-hand shop out of fear.
Peering out the window through the light rain, the older man picked out the small wooden outbuilding. Nothing was moving.
"Okay. Melody, leave your gun with me and go see Murdock. Tell him the Colonel said to keep you safe. Tell both Murdock and B. A. to wait for my orders and continue to watch the van."
"What are you going to do?" she whispered.
"Just do what I told you." He pointed and lightly pushed her forward. She scrambled toward the living room on hands and knees. The Colonel cast an appreciative eye on her slim figure as she went.
It's no wonder she caught Face's eye at that fine arts festival.
He caught himself thinking about what it would take to charm her away from his Lieutenant, then shook his head.
I have to tend to business. And right now, that means finding out what happened to Face.
As soon as Melody was through the door, Hannibal snaked his way around the bed and toward the door leading outside.
His hand was on the knob when it twisted. Quickly hiding behind the opening door, he waited until the shadowy figure started to close it before tackling the person. The two fell on the bed, the shadow pinned belly down under the Colonel.
For a few seconds the shadow squirmed to throw his attacker off, then relaxed.
"Who are you and what do you want with Melody Raymond?" Hannibal rasped.
Face murmured, "Lots because she's a perfect 36-24-36. Really, Colonel, you're not my type."
Hannibal let out an exasperated growl and released the younger man.
"Do you mind telling me what you think you're doing going after someone alone and deserting your post?" he muttered.
Face raised his eyebrows and smiled. "Well, for one thing, I got our stalker. He's unconscious and locked in the outhouse. I also disarmed him." The Lieutenant held up a pistol and widened his smile.
The Colonel frowned.
That's interesting. There's more than one of them. Is this a hired hit? But they didn't shoot to kill.
"Then there's two of them because someone else just opened the van door and got in."
Face's triumphant expression turned serious.
The con man scanned the room. "Where's Melody?"
The older man gestured toward the main room with a slight motion of his head. "I sent her out to Murdock. He'll keep her safe. He's going to have to guard the cabin. Took a gunshot in the arm."
Face glanced toward the living room, concern in his expression.
"It was a through and through. Shouldn't do more than be painful for a few weeks." Hannibal paused and added, "By the way, the next time a woman tells you she has a handgun and can protect herself with it, ask to see it." He held up the Colt .45 Peacemaker and showed the Lieutenant.
Face gave a low whistle. "She told me she was scared but that's . . . " He was at a loss for words.
Hannibal ignored the comment. "I have a plan for capturing the guy in B. A.'s van. Let's just hope there's only these two."
"And if there's more than these two?" The Lieutenant raised his eyebrows with the question.
"Then we'll know that for sure, now won't we?"
Face sighed. "That's a lousy plan, Hannibal."
"You haven't heard it yet."
I'm getting a little tired of everyone making comments about my plans. Don't they always work out in the end?
"Okay, tell me and then I'll tell you it's lousy." The Lieutenant folded his arms and waited.
"Everyone's a comic. Alright. Here's what we're going to do . . . "