Summary:

Shane phones in an update to Rick.

"Will Dixon? Who the hell is that?" Rick asked into the phone.

"Not sure yet man. Used the boomerang ears. Heard Ed talking to his whore. He said that Dixon was on his way back from Georgia. She asked Ed if Marie was ok with Will. So, Will Dixon is the guy who was spying on ya. Still not sure Marie's last name or how she fits in the picture. They been talking about snatchin' a little girl. What's weird is that it's not Sophia they are mentioning. It's a younger girl. I think they said her name was Ella or Ellie."

"Shit. Call you right back man".

"Lori – call Carol and Andrea. We gotta stop these cars for a pow wow and NOW."

Within five minutes, they had pulled over at a local gas station. How was Rick gonna tell a man he just met that his daughter was in jeapordy? He paced and bit his lip until everybody had piled out of their cars and joined he and Lori at the back of the building by the car wash.

"Daryl, Carol . . . . there is no easy way to say this. Ed is involved, but was not the person spying on ya'll earlier. Daryl? Who is Marie?"

"Ella's mom. She dumped Ella off with me when she was two weeks old. Meth head. Hasn't seen her since."

"Who is Will Dixon?"

"My good for nothin' pa. Drug dealer and all around criminal. Why Rick? What's going on".

"Shane and his man say that Will and Marie showed up at ole Ed's house. They were doing some high tech listening in. Found out that the target is Ella. They want to snatch her. Don't worry Daryl. We won't let them get near her."

"He tries, I kill him. Ya gotta know that 'officer'. If I did, would you arrest me?"

"Stop it Daryl. We aren't going to have to worry about that. Shane is asking permission to take out both Will and Ed. Ed is involved, and is plotting something that Shane and his man can't pick up on. He knows it involves both Carol and Sophia though. We just dont' know what it is."

Carol groaned and walked away from the group and stood alone about ten feet away with her back to the others. How had this happened? As soon as she and Sophia were happy and moving into a new stage of their lives with Ella and Daryl, this had to happen. Ed would make sure to ruin every part of that life. He would never stop. Could she give the order for Shane and his man to get rid of Ed? Would that be even enough? What about Marie and Ed's whore? Would they come after them? Could she live with herself if she did that?

Daryl walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her from behind. Trying to give her comfort. "It don't matter what we do woman. Nothing we do is threatenting to the girls. What matters is what Will and Ed do. We just have to respond to it. There is the threat. We have to stop it. We have to."

"I know. I just wish it wasn't a bloody end that we will have on our concsciences."

"Not on ours Carol. On Shane's. We won't know when or if it happened unless we ask. Been talking to Rick. That is how we can stay in the dark if we want to. But I don't want to. I want to know when they are gone."

"Maybe we can just call the police – get them sent to prison?"

"Won't work. Shane said that they have a contact on the inside that keeps them outta jail."

"Do we have any other options?"

"Unless you want to run away to somewhere nobody knows us and get new identies, then no."

"OK. Have Shane and his man take care of Ed and Will. Leave the women alone. I don't think they will be much of a treat without their men."

"Same thing Lori said. OK – lets go back to the others."

It was decided with Shane that he would take out the men, but do it at a later time. The group needed to get to the resort casino, and be on camera at all times. Merle could not be on duty – he had to be part of the "family vacation" on camera to avoid accusations about messing with the survelience.

With that settled, they all piled back into the caravan of vehicles, and continued on their way to the resort casino.

Once they were there, Merle confiscated a conference room. He called Glenn and T-Dog in to talk to him, Rick, and Daryl.

"Listen here boys. We always work well as a team. I'm gonna need your help this weekend. We are going to take over three adjoining suites on the 11th floor. You both are going to be switching from normal duties to playing guard duty for our group. Don't ask a lot of questions. All you need to know is that we heard rumors of one or both of Daryl and Carol's girls being snatched. One of you will be with them at any given time. We need to sell this as a normal extended family holiday. Which means that as of the end of todays shift, you will have no regular shifts. You will be considered "off duty" as far as the resort is concerned. You are part of the family vacation. You will have hidden weapons on you at all times though. We all need to be placed where constant video survellience is present. Don't ask for details. The less you know, the better. Is this acceptable to you?"

"Sure Merle" Glenn and T-Dog both agreed.

"This is for your protection. Nobody can accuse you of anything because your asses will be on video survelience 24/7. Nes Pas?"

"Just tell us when and where to meet you all man" T said.

"Duties begin when we leave the rooms to go to dinner at the buffet. 5:30 sharp. Weapons concealed and hot. You won't need to use them, but better safe than sorry. In the meantime, the girls are going to call you "Uncle T" and "Uncle Glenn.". Even though ya'all are family anyways, it is best that others hear the girls refer to you as this as often as possible. All the adults know what is going on. Sophia, Carl, and Ella know something is up because we thought Ed drove by us earlier today. They don't know the specifics, and as far as I am concerned, they will never know. The women know – but try not to burden them with the info. We need to sell this as a happy family vacation. Lots of food, lots of play, lots of togetherness. No opportunity for anybody to be alone and off survelience unless it's into one of the suites.

Daryl spoke then. "These are the worst possible men. Drugs, abuse, and looks like child porn from what Shane said."

Rick added "These types of investigations are hot until it is known that the people doing it got was coming to them. Law enforcement down here don't waste much time investigating after that. Know that from personal experience. Guess the perv who took pics of Carl was tied up with Will and Ed as well. Shane said he can see kiddie porn though the window.

"Everybody on board?" Merle asked.

Nods in the affermative sent all the men on the way to find their family. Vacation time was ready to begin.

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