Chapter 4

Hey guys, thanks for the reviews. As promised, here's another one.

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Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.

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The US Marshalls vehicle was waiting when they landed. Their prisoner was supposed to be taken to a safe-house where she was supposed to stay while awaiting trial. Steve and Danny shook hands with the two Marshalls and assisted their prisoner into the back of the vehicle, once again in hand cuffs, but Steve had long since done away with the leg chains.

So far, nothing spectacular about Jersey that Steve had noticed yet. But then again, they were still just at the airport. One thing for sure, the weather was bad. It was damned cold, and he didn't like it. After they hand over their prisoner at the safe-house, signed the proper papers and washed their hands off their burden, Danny had promised to take him to his parent's house and show him all the Jersey sights he had been raving about. The flight had been 7 hrs long ad it was already well past 9pm when they arrived in New Jersey. Not much to see at night but lights as they drove out of the airport. In the morning then, right now, they had to properly see their package safe and secure at the safe-house.

They made small talk with the Marshalls, managed to learn that it was going to be another 2hr drive to the safe-house, located somewhere remote. That's all they could get; the location wasn't given. Steve understood the need for secrecy regarding this whole thing now. Why make a fuss? So, he relaxed.

They had already driven for about half an hour, getting out of the City Centre passing through what he could perceive to be the not so impressive parts of New Jersey, dilapidated buildings, junkies and prostitutes loitering in the streets and such. Not all that great but hey, this was the mainland, so maybe this was just the bad side, every City had them.

"Nice! I gotta say, I'm very impressed with New Jersey so far Danny. Look at this, what there not to like?" Steve chided. "Not one pineapple tree in sight so far." He mocked.

"And I'll take that point anytime, Steve." Danny said.

"Never been to New Jersey?" On of the Marshalls asked Steve.

"No. First time. I've traveled widely but never been to New Jersey. I'm from Hawaii." Steve answered.

"Ohh, the paradise on earth. Great for you." The Marshall said, impressed.

"Oh, please don't take his side. His head could not grow any bigger right now." Danny complained. "We, New Jerseyans should stick together. We got great sights to show. Trust me, Hawaii has nothing but sand beaches, water everywhere, pineapples and sunshine all the time!"

"Sounds like paradise compared to this cold." The other Marshall said.

"That's what I've been trying to tell him." Steve quipped.

"Oh please! The guy has never even seen snow." Danny complained.

"I've seen snow…"

"Just wait till morning, and I get to show you all the great sights…."

Whammm!

A black SUV rammed into theirs and it took a spin off the road. Their vehicle finally came to a stop and Steve could only grunt in pain as he tried to bring the situation into focus. His head was spinning but other than that, he seemed to be in one piece. What the hell!

"Danny." He groaned, looking for his partner first. It was quiet, smoke coming from the horse making visibility minimal. "Danny!" He yelled this time.

An answering groan.

"You ok buddy?" Steve asked, moving to check his surroundings, looking for Danny.

"I'm good, I'm good. You?" Danny asked as he came fully awake.

"Good." Steve said, "Check on the Marshalls." He said as he scooted back to check on their prisoner. She seemed to be out, but there were no visible injuries. Cuts and bruises, sure, but he hoped there were no other more serious injuries. He nudged her awake, once, twice, then she stirred groggily. Steve took a relieved breath, she seemed to be alright.

"Danny? The Marshalls?" Steve asked.

"They are…" Danny's answer was cut off as he recoiled from a gunshot that just whooshed through and got one of the Marshalls in the head.

"Shit! We're in deep shit Steve. We gotta move!" Danny exclaimed as he dogged another bullet. By now bullets were coming in regular intervals. Machine guns. Damn it!

"Out out out!" Steve yelled as he pulled the prisoner out on the other side, Danny managing to get out too, gun ready, already returning fire.

"Shit! It's an ambush." Danny said.

"No kidding." Steve deadpanned, returning fire too, taking cover behind the vehicle. The Marshals were toast, both had managed to catch a bullet each. They had been targeted. These people knew what they were doing, and Steve didn't need to crack his head to know what they were after.

He looked suspiciously at his prisoner who was now alert and huddled next to him, hiding from the bullets too. Steve didn't think there was any need for the charade, they probably wanted her alive and she knew it.

"Are these your people?! Huh?! Did you somehow tell them that you were being transported today and to wait for us with this little surprise?!" Steve yelled at her, tying to return fire at the same time. They were pinned down.

"Huh?! Is this your doing? Are these your people?!" Steve yelled again and she just shook her head, seemingly terrified too. Seemingly. Steve was not buying anything at that moment.

"Steve we gotta move. We can't get them all. I'll cover you, go for that alley." Danny yelled, returning fire. They had managed to gun down three so for. They estimated they had another three remaining gunmen hot on their tails. They made a run for it; Steve dragging his prisoner with him.

Good thing about this dilapidated part of town in Jersey, it had so many alleys, good for hiding out when one was on the run. From the Police, say. Or trigger-happy assassins.

Danny caught up with Steve and their prisoner, panting, bleeding from the shoulder.

"You got hit?" Steve asked in alarm.

Danny looked down at his shirt sleeve. "Just a graze." He dismissed. "Look Steve, this looks like a mob hit." Danny turned to their prisoner. "They yours? Are you associated with the mob?"

She shook her head, eyes now wide open with fear and shock, maybe. "No, no I have no idea…"

"Let's move. We'll deal with this later." Steve said. "We gotta lose them Danny. This is your forte. Where are we headed?"

''Follow me." Danny said, leading them into the dark alleys. A bullet zinged passed Steve's head and they picked up the pace, dodging bullets.

"My cuffs. You have to take them off, they are impeding me." Their prisoner said in a small but strong voice, looking up at Steve with luminous, seemingly innocent eyes.

Steve assessed the situation. He wanted to say no. Those people were most likely hers, on her side, not out to kill her. It was too damn convenient that they had managed to take out the Marshalls first, Steve and Danny sitting in the back with the prisoner would have been too risky a shot. They were here to rescue her, most likely. This was a prison break of some sort and Steve was not having it. She no longer had the leg chains so she could run just fine with the hand cuffs on.

"Please." She pleaded. "They are most likely her to kill me and I can't run like this. Not the way you want me too."

Steve pondered it some more. Ok, he was a Navy SEAL, she could never our run him even if she tried. For the sake of expediency, he had to comply. So, he grudgingly too off the cuffs with a warning.

"If you try to weasel out of this lady, I swear to God…!"

She just nodded and fell into step with them. They ran for a couple more blocks, zigzagging into alleys until they felt they had made enough of a maze to give their goons a puzzle.

Finally, they found a little closed dark alley with enough space for them to take shelter. And make a plan.

….