Chapter 25

By late morning the next day I was sat in an old Nova waiting in the carpark of a McDonalds. I felt physically uncomfortable as I tried to breath against the restrictions of a Kevlar vest. I was wearing clothes that were typical for me as a bounty hunter, jeans, boots and a thick hoodie. The hoodie was loose to allow for the vest and had a large hood that at the moment was pulled up over my hair. I was drumming my fingers against the steering wheel impatiently as I waited for Xander to return with a burger and fries.

I pulled the sleeves of the hoodie down, over my hands, pushing my thumb through the hole that Ella had created, pleased with the way that they covered my scars but gave freedom to my fingers. Ella was so understanding and was all too keen to suggest things that she thought would make my life easier for me, including trying out different types of meals.

To anyone seeing me I may have seemed to be relaxing in the car, but I was far from it. My eyes were moving between the side mirrors and the rearview mirror checking the people who were walking past. I knew that Ranger knew where I was, hell, I had enough trackers on me to light up a Christmas tree and I was pretty sure that Hector had eyes on me as well. At the planning meeting everyone had agreed that having black SUVs anywhere near Mooner's house would attract too much attention, so I wasn't the only one driving around in a car that looked ready for the breakers yard. Of course, they weren't because work had been done on them to make them super safe and reliable.

I spotted Xander heading back to the car holding onto a large bag and a bottle of soda relieved when he eventually got into the passenger seat. Starting the car, I eased out of my parking space and then onto the street.

"All clear Annie"

I heard Xander tell me that knowing that he was listening through an earbud to the other members of the team. I hadn't wanted one in case it distracted me, but I was wearing a mic that would be recording everything that was said. If Hector or Ranger were following me, I couldn't make them, no matter how much I looked around, so decided to just focus on where I was going. Tank and Binkie were watching Joe to make sure that he didn't cross paths with me and as I was nowhere near the Burg, I actually started to feel reasonably calm. Certainly calmer than I had been earlier in the morning. I'd been a nervous wreck just thinking of being out on the streets of Trenton, so afraid that I'd be seen by someone who knew me.

There was no conversation between Xander and me which had me feeling a little guilty for volunteering him to be the one who would be with me. A quick look sideways and I knew that I'd been right. He was wearing torn, frayed jeans with a rust colored sweat top and a pair of worn trainers. It wasn't just what he was wearing that gave him the look we needed, it was the way his hair looked disheveled against a face that hadn't seen a shaver for a few days and the black square glasses. Xander had refused to have a stud earing even after Les offered to push a needle through his lobe, so Ella had once again come to our rescue. Hanging from one ear was a silver model of the insignia used in Star Trek. Mooner would love it.

Checking the mirrors, I pulled up in front of Mooner's house so that my door was against the sidewalk. I waited until Xander was stood by my door before getting out and in one step was knocking on Mooner's door. Now usually Mooner was keen to answer the door, something about parcels being due, so I was little worried when no one answered the door straight away. I used my fists to be sure that I could be heard and was so relieved to see a shadow behind the glass. A minute later the door opened, and I was stepping past Mooner into his hallway. For once Mooner was quiet as he watched first me and then Xander stood waiting for him.

"Dudette? Wow, is it really you?"

"Yeah, how's it going Walter?"

"Err, great. Why're you here? Did I miss my court date?"

As Mooner walked past me I followed him down the hallway and into his living area. What struck me was how tidy the place was, well, a hell of a lot tidier than usual. I could actually find a place to sit down on the couch.

"I aint seen you for, well an age. Why are you here?"

As I looked at Mooner he didn't seem as spaced out as usual or as forgetful. His eyes seemed focused, and his speech made sense. I was almost of the mind that Mooner wasn't under the influence of any drugs.

"I, err, had to leave town. Mooner we've been friends for ages, haven't we?"

I sat forward on the couch as I looked at Mooner as he sat in the chair opposite me.

"Of course we have. You're always good to me, you even watch the reruns with me"

For hours on end, especially Star Trek and let's not forget Bewitched.

"You saved me and Dougie from that mad woman"

Who could forget that especially as the whole fiasco was the fault of DeChooch. I pushed aside the result of trying to get DeChooch into the station and thought of ways to use what Mooner had said to my advantage.

"Walter, something bad has happened and I think that a young girl is in serious danger"

The reaction from Mooner gave me everything that I needed to know. As he sat there staring at me, he kept opening and closing his mouth as though he was unsure of what he should tell me.

"How did you know Jethro?"

That had his attention, and he obviously didn't see my question as threatening.

"He was Dougie's friend. I got to know him when he was buying stuff there, Nice guy, did you know he loved Red Dwarf, said that he'd seen every episode"

"Really?"

I said to be polite and to hopefully make Mooner feel more comfortable.

"He had a little sister Mooner and I want to help her. It's not right that she has to hide out. I mean, I hate having to stay inside and hide all of the time"

"You know, how?"

I leant further forward and placed my hand on Mooner's knee because I didn't want to spook him even though I was pretty sure that Cassie was here.

"Mooner, you've done really well looking out for her. You've even cut down on the pot and the cakes. Let me look after her now, she'll be safer with me"

Mooner quickly looking at the door that led upstairs told me that Cassie was hiding up there. The problem was, did I try and get Mooner to take me up to her or just go and find her myself?

"Can I go and talk with her?"

A nod of his head was all that I needed, so I left Xander with Mooner. I'd given Xander a lot of information on ways to keep Mooner occupied so was relying on not being disturbed. I made my way up the stairs, pushing open a door that led to the bedroom at the front of the house. The bed was unmade and there were men's clothing all over the floor, so I assumed that this was Mooner's room. The next door opened into an empty bathroom which left one more room to look inside. This door was closed so I knocked lightly before turning the handle. The door opened into another bedroom but this one was totally different with a lilac bed cover and soft toys resting against cushions. I couldn't see anyone at first glance but as I stepped through the door my eyes caught sight of a young girl stood in the corner, holding out a stun gun.

I stayed where I was and looked from the gun to her face. She was a pretty girl with long brown hair that had colored beads running through it, held back by a band around her head.

"Dougie has some amazing clothes, doesn't he?"

Not what she was expecting to hear from me, but it didn't make her look less scared.

"I'm a friend of Dougie and Walter. I've helped them out in the past. I'd like to be able to help you as well Cassie"

I saw the slight shake of her head so knew that trying to be her new best friend wasn't going to work. This kid was smart.

"Your brother was killed after he was asked to do a stupid thing. He told you to disappear here if anything happened to him. Cassie the man who killed your brother has a lot of contacts and if I can find you then he will do eventually"

"Why?"

I wasn't sure what she was asking me, why was her brother killed or why did Jethro tell her to hide. Maybe she had no idea why someone would be looking for her.

"Jethro obviously thought that you would be in danger. I think that you might be as well. I can help you to disappear where no one will ever find you. Someplace that you'll like but I need for you to trust me Cassie"

At least the stun gun was now by her side but talking to her honestly about Jethro was making her upset.

"I'm so sorry Cassie. Jethro was a good brother to you. He may have done something stupid, but he didn't deserve to die"

That had her head coming up and looking at me, the look of annoyance evident on her face. What was it that I'd said to have her react to me like that?

"He didn't do anything. That man, well he told him he had to do it, but Jethro told me that he never went through with it. That's why he said that I had to hide, in case that man came after me"

I took a small step forward and held a hand out to Cassie praying that she'd take it and not stun me. I was so thankful when her hand came out to hold onto mine and the stun gun fell to the floor. Instinctively I pulled her into my arms, hugging her to me. I knew what it was like to be on your own to not have family to love you. Yeah, Mooner had done his best to look after her, but this wasn't a life that she deserved. Hell, she couldn't live in a room at Mooner's for the rest of her life.

"Help me to get that man"

I felt the nod of her head before I put distance between us.

"Pack what you want to bring and then let's get out of here"

I probably shouldn't have said that because ten minutes later I was strugling to carry a suitcase down the stairs. I found Cassie with Mooner, saying goodbye to him, but I was pretty sure that there was a sense of relief in both of their faces. Mooner's sense of dress had certainly rubbed off on her. She didn't look like some twelve year old kid with the short skirt and tight pink T-shirt and beads throughout her hair, but maybe her looks could be deceptive enough that if anyone saw her they'd think that she was older than she was. I gave the keys to the car to Zander and let him carry the suitcase out of the house and then followed with Cassie next to me. I'd just got Cassie into the back seat as Xander closed the trunk with the suitcase in when there was a squeal of tires behind me. My heart sank as a car came to a screeching stop and I recognized who was in the driver's seat.

"Get her away, quickly"