Title: "Just Another Small Town Problem" (Chapters 4, 5, & 6)
Author: TrueOnyx
Summery: The guys stumble across a young woman being threatened by an extortionist.
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: The A-Team is the creation of Stephen J Cannell and Frank Lupo. They belong to Universal and Stephen J Cannell
Productions. No copyright infringement intended.
Comments: This is my first story, so like it or hate it, please let me know.
"Just Another Small Town Problem"
by TrueOnyx
Chapter 4
After waiting for the men to return from getting dressed, Sam began to explain her situation to them over coffee.
"So this Corliss guy has been demanding payments from you for 'protection' from his goons?"
"Yeah, that's about the jist of it."
"Why did you just start standin' up to this guy?" asked BA.
"My Uncle Peter used to run this place when I was a kid. I moved away about three years ago to go to college, so I can only assume that Corliss came to town then. About four months ago, Uncle Peter died of a massive stroke, so I came back to run this place; I was the only family he had. Corliss left me alone for a while, but . . . "
"Now that sleaze is demanding 'back pay'."
"Exactly."
"Why not go to the police?" Murdock asked over his coffee cup.
"Corliss has them scared stiff. This is only a small place, and Corliss has a bunch of big guns working for him." She looked around at the men with an expression bordering on desperation, "I'm at my wits end dealing with this mess. If it weren't for the fact that I have so many medical bills to pay, I'd just sell the place and say to hell with it! . . . I . . . I don't mean that. This is the only place I can call home, and I could never sell it, it's just that I don't know what to do any more!" She sighed heavily, and rested her head in her hands.
Hannibal looked around to each of his friends, who nodded their heads in agreement to Hannibal's unasked question, "Miss, it looks like you could use the A-Team."
"I wish. But I'm sure I don't have the kind of money it would take to hire them, even then, I wouldn't know where to look for them."
"Well Face, you're in charge of finances. What do you think?"
"I believe that Sam and I could work something out."
Hannibal continued, "And as to where to find 'em, we're right here." With a flourish, he pulled out a cigar, bit the end off, and stuck it in his mouth.
Sam sat in shock, "You mean you guys are . . . "
"The A-Team," Hannibal finished for her, while lighting his cigar.
"Kinda numbs the mind, don't it."
"The only 'numb mind' here is yours, sucka'."
Hannibal stood up and introduced the team, "This is Templeton 'Faceman' Peck, 'BA' Baracus, 'Howlin Mad' Murdock . . . "
"And you must be 'Hannibal' Smith! I've read all about you guys, but I never thought that I would actually meet you! Oh, I don't know if it would mean anything, but I know what they said you did, and I don't believe a word of it."
Hannibal's smile softened a bit, "That means everything to us."
Face cleared his throat to get Hannibal's attention, "So, what's the plan, Hannibal?"
"We need to inform Mr. Corliss, that his protection is no longer required."
"Why do I think that this is going to be much more difficult than it sounds?" Face complained.
Hannibal just grinned.
Chapter 5
"Hannibal, do we really have to use Clarence again?"
Hannibal, who was putting the finishing touches on his mustache, sounded hurt, "Why Face, you mean to tell me you don't want to do this?"
Sam, knowing that Hannibal was just messing with Face, played along by putting on her best 'puppy dog' look.
Face became more uncomfortable, "No, it's just that I don't want to be 'Harold' again."
"Well, I guess I could take in Murdock, and you could stay with BA . . . "
Face blanched at the thought, and revised his statement, "Ok, ok. I'll do it, but this is the last time!"
'Sure it is kid,' Hannibal thought to himself. He knew if the time called for it, Face would do anything, whether he wanted to or not.
"Corliss' place should be right up this road, but he has several guards and cameras everywhere." Sam faced Hannibal, "Do you think Corliss will fall for this?"
"Oh, he'll believe what I tell him, but something tells me he won't be open to what I have to say."
"Then why go in character? Why not go as yourselves?"
"It's called 'The Jazz', darlin'," Murdock supplied from the seat next to her.
"'The Jazz'?"
Murdock began to recite as though he were a Harvard professor, "'The Jazz' is the adrenaline rush caused by the anticipation of a series of prearranged events, otherwise known as a plan."
"I think I understand."
The van pulled up near the front gate of a palatial estate.
"Ok Sam, you stick with me and Face. BA, you and Murdock know your cue. It's Showtime!"
Chapter 6
The guard walked over to the passenger side door with an annoyed look on his face, "Hey, where do ya think you're goin'?"
"My name is Clarence J. Wickersham III and I am here to see Mr. Corliss."
"No one sees Mr. Corliss unless I know about it."
Sam popped her head up from the back seat, "We're here to see Mr. Corliss about our little financial arrangement."
The guard leered at her, "So you finally came to your senses, huh. Mr. Corliss will be glad to hear that."
Clarence, sick of being ignored, interrupted, "Would you stop wastin' our time and open the front gate so that we don't have ta run it over."
The guard scowled, but walked over to his stand and began to speak into a walkie-talkie. After a few brief words, the front gate swung open and the van made its way up to the main door of the house. A group of men, who were very obviously armed, surrounded a man wearing a deep blue suit and greying hair. BA came up to the passenger side door and opened it, while Murdock opened the sliding door. The sound of whining could be heard from the back of the van, "But Uncle Clarence, why do I have to be here? Can't Sammy and I go back to the inn while you take care of this?"
"Harold, would you stop your belly achin'. I would think that you would be halfway interested in the welfare of your future wife?" Clarence turned and looked down at the man in the suit, "You Corliss?"
The man in the suit had paled ever-so-slightly at the bit of conversation that he heard, but he regained his composure when asked the question, "Well, you apparently know who I am, but I cannot say the same for you."
"I am Clarence J. Wickersham III, this is my nephew, Harold (he's a little slow, but a wiz with figures), and you've already had the pleasure of meeting my future niece, Samantha."
"Yes, Samantha and I have had some business in the past couple of months. What can I do for you now?"
"Harold, give him the numbers."
Harold stepped forward, pulling a slip of paper from his coat pocket, "Well, let's see, that's one hundred dollars per month for three years plus interest, add . . . um, how much were the medical expenses, Sammy-darling?"
"Two thousand, eight hundred, Harry-dearest."
". . . Add twenty-eight hundred for medical expenses, and let's not forget pain and suffering, your bill comes up to an even seven thousand dollars."
"A bill?! You gotta be kidding me."
Clarence stepped forward, "I don't kid Mr. Corliss. Samantha here is a member of my family, and I don't like it when little weasels, like you, harass my family. Now, you have two choices; one, you give Samantha what you owe her and then you leave town for good, or two, I take the money from you and you go to jail. Which is it gonna be?"
"I'm not goin' anywhere."
"That's what I thought you'd say. Boys . . . " As Clarence, Harold, and Sam moved out of the way, BA and Murdock sent a spray of bullets above Corliss and his gang. A couple of the more adventurous members of the group went after Clarence, Harold, and Sam, but were deterred by the guns aimed at them.
"Ok boys, I think that Mr. Corliss got the point. If you want to reconsider, Corliss, come by the 'Blue Lagoon' in three hours. Let's go."
The team quickly piled into the van and sped off toward town. As they drove away, Corliss was picking himself up off the ground, "I don't like being harassed either, Wickersham. Everybody get ready to go. NOW!"