The Case of Kinnegal's Banshee
Disclaimer: I do not own The A Team movie or television series or any of the delightful characters found on The A Team.
Chapter 26 The Return of Billy
The best armor is to keep out of range. Italian proverb
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When he saw the danger Dani was in, Murdock put one arm out to stop B. A. while a plan to rescue her was formulating in his mind. When the muscular Sergeant scowled, the pilot pleaded with him.
"B. A., I know you said you didn't want Billy or Captain Cab or anyone else with us but I gotta let one of 'em handle this. The element of surprise, ya know? They won't see it comin'. When I distract 'em, get Dani outta there and into the van, fast as you can. Tell 'er to lock it 'n' then you get back here. I'm gonna need your help."
Without waiting for B. A.'s assent, Murdock staggered toward the small group, his arm extended as if trying to pull back on the leash of a strong-willed dog.
As he went, he yelled, "Back, Billy! Heel! Heel, boy!" He let the imaginary dog pull him into the circle, his right shoulder smashing hard into the upper body of the nearest thug and knocking him off balance. Dani stared at him with fear in her eyes, knowing what he was doing and why he was doing it.
"Sorry," he grinned and slipped into a slow drawl. "My dog don' mind too good." He gaped at the bottoms of Brendan's jeans with wide-eyed manic horror. "Billy! There were plenty a trees ya coulda done that on. Ya didn' have t' use his leg for yer business. I'm so sorry." He peered into Brendan's face and cocked an eyebrow. "I know you, don' I? Yer definitely familiar. Oh yeah, you like t' carve up people in bar parkin' lots."
He backed away from Brendan, then darted out of the circle toward a faraway tree, all four assailants following him. B. A. used the opportunity to rush forward, grab Daniela by the arm and push her toward the van. "Go, get in and lock it, li'l sister. Stay there, no matter what happens."
"But H. M. . . ." She stared at the tree where the four young thugs had Murdock cornered, his back against the thick trunk. He had lost much of his drawl and was mocking them, drawing their attention away from B. A. and her.
Over the distance, they could hear him ranting. "Not so brave when you don't have a broken beer bottle, are ya? Come on. I can still take every one of ya without even tryin'." He glanced their direction, silently urging Dani to seek shelter. Grinning at his attackers, he crooked his pointer finger and beckoned them closer. "Come on. Wanna see crazy in action? Try me."
B. A. glanced over his shoulder, knowing Murdock was ramping up the provocation to buy them time. He also realized the pilot would continue even if he was being beaten to within an inch of death if it meant the girl would be safe. "Got no time for argument, sistah. Do what you're tol'!" The Sergeant shoved her and sent her scrambling toward the van.
As B. A. made sure Dani obeyed, Brendan motioned for his three companions to attack the pilot. Murdock waited for them, his eyes darting from one to the other watching for the first punch.
When it came, he anticipated it and ducked. With the sound of knuckles breaking, the assailant's fist slammed into the tree. The young thug staggered away from the attack, howling and clutching his hand.
The second blow followed immediately as another of Brendan's friends caught Murdock solidly in the stomach. He doubled over, his breath temporarily taken away by the impact. Within seconds, he righted himself, panting and leaning against the tree trunk for support. "Is that the best ya can do?" he gasped. He crouched down and raised his fists. "Come on. That was just a lucky punch."
B. A. rushed across the snow-dusted grass toward the remaining three troublemakers. While the Sergeant gripped two of the assailants by their hair and banged their heads together, Murdock grinned at Brendan.
"You're not so tough when you don' have people backin' you up, are ya?" the Captain sneered.
The ringleader charged him. The force of his impact knocked both of them to the ground. Brendan straddled Murdock and drew back his fist. As he swung at the Captain's jaw, Murdock swiveled his head away from the punch. He used the momentum of the swing to throw Brendan off himself and onto the ground.
He climbed atop the younger man to hold him down and prevent another attack. For seconds, that was all he did.
Murdock didn't know exactly where the intense anger came from that suddenly welled up inside him. Thoughts of what Brendan and his friends had intended to do with Dani and the pain over what she had done mingled in his brain.
Before he could control his emotions, something inside his mind snapped. He pummeled the younger man repeatedly, breaking his nose, blackening his eye, splitting his lip. Not until B. A. gripped both of his arms from behind and pulled him off did Murdock feel his volcanic temper begin to dissipate.
"We got company, man." B. A. nodded toward two black sedans with tinted windows that had parked in front of and behind the van.
Murdock swung his head in the direction the Sergeant was looking. Still winded from the exertion of the attack, he wrested his arms from B. A.'s grip and muttered, "Yeah, 'n' they don't look like they came to party with us."
From the front car, Sly and two large well-muscled men climbed over the fence and approached the small group.
With a cold smile, Sly nodded at Brendan's three companions and uttered two words which were immediately obeyed without question: "Go home." The three stumbled their way across the park, none of them looking back to check on their leader.
He turned his attention to Brendan and motioned for the two muscle men to pick the young thug up from the ground. Brendan quivered in their grasp. A stream of blood dripped down his chin onto the snow at his feet, tinging it snowcone red.
"Mr. Tabio is very unhappy that you failed to fulfill your responsibility to us. He said to let you know the deal is off." Sly gestured toward the front sedan with his head. "You'll come with us and wait to explain to Mr. Tabio why you made him so unhappy."
Brendan's eyes grew wide and his breathing hitched in his chest as the two men dragged him toward the car.
Sly turned to Murdock. "Mr. Tabio wishes to speak to you. Come with me."
B. A. growled a warning and started to follow. "Alone," Sly emphasized and gave the Sergeant a menacing stare.
B. A. clenched his fists and moved toward the strongman but Murdock raised one hand to stop him. "It's alright. I think I'll be okay. I need to do this. Go see that Dani's safe."
The Captain nodded at Sly and walked alongside him to the sedan in the rear. The strongman patted him down for weapons and opened the back door. Murdock slid his lanky frame into the vehicle and Sly closed the door on him.
B. A. did not like this at all. Mobsters weren't known to have friendly talks with outsiders in their private vehicles without the conversation leading to something injurious. He let out an anxious sigh and strode to the van to check on Daniela as the crazy man had requested.