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 28 A Full Report
A little fire to warm you is better than a great one to harm you. Irish proverb
oooooo
As soon as B. A. opened the pub door Face was there to meet him. He glanced behind the Sergeant at the sidewalk beyond.
His brow furrowed with a puzzled frown. "Well, did you find her? And where's Murdock?"
Hannibal's face lost its smile as he positioned himself in front of B. A. "I would like to know the same thing, Sergeant."
"He didn't go off on his own to find her again, did he? The last time he just about got blown to tiny little pieces." Face sighed in exasperation.
B. A. glowered at the two men. "You don' know me very well if ya think I'd let the crazy man run off t' mess wit' the Mob." A smile flickered across his face and vanished just as quickly. "They're patchin' things up out in the van. They'll be comin' in soon."
Face grinned and said under his breath, "Attaboy, Murdock."
"Everythin' been quiet here?" B. A. glanced around the bar room. Momma and Keelin were sitting at a trestle table drinking coffee. There would be no customers until later in the afternoon when the pub opened for business.
"Quiet as a church in a small town on a Monday afternoon. Right, Hannibal?" Face stated with satisfaction.
The door opened and Murdock and Dani strolled in, arms entwined around each other. It was obvious to everyone from their smiles and the pilot's relaxed mood that many things between them had been resolved.
"It took you long enough to get back here, Captain." Hannibal demanded the younger man's attention. "Care to give a report?"
"Yeah, man. You was too busy to say anythin' to me 'bout what Sly's boss tol' you in that car o' his," B. A. muttered.
Murdock stared down at the floor, an uncomfortable expression on his face. He hugged Dani closer and unconsciously kissed the top of her head while he waited for the Colonel's response.
Both Face and Hannibal raised their eyebrows at the statement. The Colonel gave Murdock a questioning look. "I think a full report is in order, don't you?"
The Captain sighed and glanced at Dani, reluctantly releasing her to join Mrs. B. and Keelin at the table. "Yes sir."
"Join me, gentlemen?" Hannibal led the way to the other trestle table on the other side of the doorway.
"Want coffee, guys?" Keelin brought four cups, the coffee pot and some milk to the table.
"Might as well. Explainin' might take a bit." The Captain settled himself onto a bench and gave the young woman a weak smile.
"Milk for me, Keelin," B. A. reminded her.
Once the four cups were filled, Keelin excused herself and went to refill the women's coffee mugs.
When the men had positioned themselves around the table, the Colonel leaned forward and looked at Murdock. "Well?"
"Wasn't Scalatini I talked to. It was Tabio. Figures I wouldn't a talked to the big boss." The Captain drew circles with his pointer finger around the whorls in the wooden table surface. "The Kinnegals won't hafta worry about Brendan causin' trouble anymore." He gave each of them a meaningful glance before returning his gaze to the tabletop and taking a sip of coffee.
"Gotta agree, Hannibal. Kid was dragged away to a car 'n' looked like they weren't gonna just talk to 'im either. Wouldn't wish that on anybody, what's gonna happen to him." B. A. frowned. "But th' fool here thought nothin' 'bout gettin' in the other car wit' Tabio."
Murdock grimaced. "You really think I coulda refused and kept us alive? Just glad you didn't go ballistic when I was in the car with 'im. Anyway, looks like Dani has the all-clear to go back to L. A. with us and never be bothered again."
"Then they don't know that they have duplicate photos or a key to nothing. That's good." Face took in a deep breath and released it slowly.
"They don't know yet, Lieutenant. They'll figure it out when they can't find anything that key fits. I don't think we should be around when they do." The Colonel's expression was grim as he scrutinized each man.
Face glanced across to Keelin and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "One loose end we haven't figured out yet, though. We know how the 'banshee' was created but what about the white vapor Murdock, you and I saw, Hannibal? You said earlier you had an idea about it?"
The Colonel grinned. "Want to follow me?" Hannibal led the way outside and around the corner of the pub. Bending down on one knee, he pointed to a hole about the size of the other two holes B. A. found in the cellar. "Look familiar?"
"What does this has to do with the mist?" Face raised his eyebrows.
"Yeah, Colonel. I don't think I get it." Murdock frowned as he knelt beside Hannibal and peered at the hand-drilled hole. "So there wasn't a ghost?"
"Ain't no such thing as ghosts," B. A. mumbled but even he was curious. He stared at the larger hole made by the explosion and then at the smaller hole in front of them.
Hannibal pulled a metal tube from his pocket and fit it into the hole. "I found this when I came out here to take a look at the blast site. What happens when you pack this with small chips of dry ice, add water and plug one end?"
"The dry ice'll turn into a white vapor and escape outta the other end." Murdock whistled in admiration. "Kind of a clever way to conjure up a spirit. Thought I was goin' crazy for a while."
Hannibal straightened and gestured for them to come back inside. They sat down around the table, satisfied there were no more mysteries to be solved at the pub. Keelin came and refilled their cups, giving Face a sweet smile as she did.
"Tabio hinted 'round that we should think 'bout headin' back in a few days. Probably the sooner the better. " Murdock traced around the blemishes in the wood with his finger, avoiding their eyes. "They know all 'bout you guys 'cause they snooped into my records."
Hannibal and Face exchanged concerned looks. Neither man wanted to push B. A. into returning to Los Angeles prematurely. He got to see his mother too seldom. Murdock looked crestfallen as well and tentatively reached out a hand and patted B. A.'s shoulder.
"Don' wanna cut short visitin' with Momma but won't be safe for her or us if we're still here when they find out what they have." The Sergeant scowled his resentment. He glanced over at his mother who was in the middle of telling a story about B. A.'s childhood. "Maybe nex' time, Momma," he mumbled. "Maybe nex' time we won't get chased outta town by nobody."
