Teaching Them A Lesson Part 6
By Angievette
"Tonight has to be the worst night of my life!" Face was not happy. "I mean, here I am in my beautiful new apartment, with all the latest technology, and not a beautiful girl in sight."
He sighed, dramatically and swallowed the remainder of his whiskey.
"It's so quiet as well. I mean normally, I'd be grateful for the fact that Murdock is out tonight but that just makes matters worse. The fact is that he's gone to the pictures with Amy, and I swear there's something going on there although he says not. The fact is he's out, Amy's out, Tanya's gone to see BA coaching the kids, which means he's out as well. Hannibal's out with Sheryl and Jo-Jo, my so-called girlfriend, is out with another bloke, not just any bloke either, one that probably will want to rip my head off when he finds out I'm part of an elaborate plan to get him arrested. Which leaves me, here in my apartment and the only one of us without a date! And do you know what makes it worse, I'm sat here talking to Murdock's invisible dog!"
Face looked at the empty dog basket, placed lovingly next to the fire by Murdock before he left for the evening. Next to it, he'd placed a bowl of water and a handful of dog biscuits. Face shook his head and poured himself another glass of whiskey.
"Cheers, Billy," said Face and downed the shot in one swallow. "Here's to an evening of my own company."
Face started to pour a third glass, then stopped.
"I'll be damned if I'm staying here on my own all night," he thought. He stood up and picked up the keys to the Corvette. "I'm off out. Bye Billy," he called then shook his head, realising what he had done. "I'm getting as crazy as Murdock."
Jo-Jo was walking through the school when she passed Sheryl in the corridor talking to Caroline Denver, one of the other teachers.
"Oh, it was a great night, he was so charming."
"I still don't know what you see in him," said Caroline.
"What about those lovely blue eyes he's got?" said Sheryl. "The way they twinkle when he's happy or the way they darken when he's cross or worried about something. And his smile, he's got a really disarming smile, it makes any woman go weak at the knees. Do you know that four women tried to get him to dance with them last night? But he didn't leave my side all night. It was incredible."
"All night?"
Sheryl blushed red.
"I'm 29 years old, Caroline."
"All right, all right," said Caroline, laughing. "I just wouldn't have put the two of you together, that's all."
"I think he's lovely," said Sheryl. "I'm so glad he came to work here."
Jo-Jo watched them go past and her eyes darkened with anger.
"I'll kill him," she thought. "Kill him with my bare hands."
"Settle down, please. I said, settle down and do it quietly," said Face, walking into his class the next morning. "Miss Farmer will be taking the lesson again today so quieten down and pay attention."
The students watched as Face sat down at the back of the classroom. One of the girls near the back of the class spoke to him as he passed.
"Are you all right, sir," she said. "You don't look very well."
"I'll be fine, thank you. Just need to sit quietly for a while, that's all."
"Heavy night, sir?" one of the lads piped up. Face gave him a withering stare as best he could manage with a gale force hangover. Sheryl began the lesson and was just starting to teach the students about voice projection when there was a knock at the door and Jo-Jo entered. She beckoned Face over. She led him to the staff room and closed the door.
"What's up," asked Face, puzzled. "Couldn't it have waited?"
Jo-Jo brought her hand round and slapped Face's cheek, hard.
"What the hell was that for?" asked Face in amazement. "I know we're supposed to have split up but that's taking it too far."
"So's spending the night with another woman."
Face stared at Jo-Jo in surprise.
"What woman? I never went out with another woman since I met you."
"Liar," spat Jo-Jo. "Where were you last night?"
"I was out on my own."
"Yeah, right, you expect me to fall for that one?"
"It's the truth, I was on my own and just a minute, how did you know I was out at all?"
"I tried phoning you."
"Weren't you out with darling Richard last night?"
"Yes but I rang you when I got home. And you know I'm only going out with Rich as part of the plan."
"I know that but I really wasn't out with another woman last night."
"I don't believe you."
"Why not?"
"Because I overheard her talking about you. Seems she's quite taken with you, you're lovely blue eyes and charming smile. Can't blame her really, that's what I fell for."
Jo-Jo's eyes filled with tears and Face tried to comfort her but she pushed him away.
"Leave me alone, Peck."
Face's eyes filled with confusion and hurt.
"Fine, Smith," he said and turned to leave the room. He came face to face with Tarrance.
"Very nice, Peck. Even keeping up the pretence when no-one else is around."
Face stared at him and then grinned.
"Can't help it I she winds me up, can I?"
"Cut the crap, Peck. I know it's a show, especially for my benefit."
Face looked at him in surprise.
"What are you talking about?"
"I know that you two never split up in the first place. I also know that you two are part of an elaborate scheme by Smith to nail me and my colleagues. I know that you aren't crooked and that Smith is in on this whole scam."
Face continued to stare at Tarrance while he spoke. Tarrance stared back.
"I also know that you are all connected. Very convenient, you all turning up to work together at the same time."
Jo-Jo came and stood next to Face and slipped her hand into his. He gave it a discreet squeeze to reassure her.
"I don't know what you're talking about," said Face. "I have a class to teach, if you'll excuse me."
"No, you don't. Miss Farmer is taking your classes for the rest of the day and you, me and Miss Lynch or Smith, I should say, are going to take a little walk and see your friend, Mr Murdock."
"The janitor?" asked Jo-Jo. "What's he got to do with this?"
"Don't play the innocent little girl with me," said Tarrance. "Just count yourself lucky that I'm not letting Rich loose on you. He's not happy about being taken for a ride by you."
Jo-Jo shut her mouth and stuck close to Face. Tarrance pushed Face and Jo-Jo out of the staff room and down the corridor. Tarrance paused outside the janitor's office then pushed the door open. Murdock jumped up in surprise and Amy, who was visiting Murdock at the time, let out a small squeal of fright. Tarrance grinned.
"Well, I knew I was onto a losing streak but I never knew you were seeing the cleaner."
"Janitor," said Murdock, indignantly. "I'm a janitor. We do much more than clean, we tidy, we mend things, we ensure the smooth day to day running of the entire school."
"Shut it, funny man," said Tarrance. "Or your girlfriend might get a nasty bruise on her face."
Murdock snapped his mouth shut and Tarrance smiled.
"Well, I'm going to keep the four of you locked in here until classes have finished. I've got plans for all of you, Smith included and I can't wait to see the look on your faces when I'm through with you all."
Tarrance slammed the door shut and they heard the key turn in the lock. When the sound of footsteps had died away, Face tried the door. It was completely locked.
"Damn. We can't warn Hannibal or BA as to what's going on," said Face.
"I'm sure they'll find out soon enough," said Murdock, grimly.
"I'm bored," said Amy. It had been two hours since they had been locked in the janitor's office. Murdock and Jo-Jo were playing cards and they had drunk endless cups of coffee. Face and Jo-Jo hadn't spoken to each other since they had got there and even Murdock had noticed. He'd tried to question Jo-Jo carefully while playing their game but it was difficult to do so whilst Face was in the same room. Amy sat with her back to the wall and sighed. "I'm bored," she said again.
"If you say you're bored one more time," said Face. " I swear I'll do something unspeakable."
"You gonna talk to her?" asked Jo-Jo, sarcastically.
"Oh, at last, she speaks to me," said Face.
"Hmph," was Jo-Jo's only response. Murdock couldn't stand it any longer.
"What's the matter with you two?" he asked. Jo-Jo placed her card down on the table.
"Snap," she said. Murdock looked at Face for an answer instead. Face pretended to be interested in the sports pages of yesterday's newspaper.
"I see the Bears won again," he said to nobody in particular.
"Are either of you listening to me?" asked Murdock.
"Listen, Murdock, I know you mean well but it's our business," said Jo-Jo.
"That's right, Murdock," said Face. "Just as you and Amy is your business."
"There is nothing going on between me and Murdock," said Amy, jumping to her feet. "Is there, Murdock?" She looked at Murdock for confirmation.
"Well?" asked Face when Murdock didn't respond straightaway. "I noticed you didn't deny it when Tarrance said it."
"I did too deny it," said Murdock.
"Wrong. You denied being a cleaner and went off on one of your mad raves about being a janitor who does more than clean. You never denied a relationship with Amy."
"Well, I'm denying it now," said Murdock.
"And I second it," said Amy. "Murdock and I are friends, always have been, always will be."
Face snorted disbelievingly.
"Besides," said Amy. "Shouldn't we be thinking about how to get out of here and warn BA and Hannibal?"
"I think we should just sit tight and wait for Tarrance to make his next move."
"And that's your grand plan, is it?" asked Jo-Jo. "Well, I'm not sitting around here waiting for them to go and hurt BA or Uncle John."
And how do you propose to get out? Fly through the window like Batman? Or crawl down the wall like Spiderman? Or better yet, shrink yourself down, slide under the door, turn invisible and slip into the office and rematerialise and tell Hannibal what's going on."
Face finally paused for breath and the other three just stared at him. Finally, Jo-Jo spoke.
"You do talk utter crap."
"Well, honestly," said Face. "If I thought getting out of here was a good idea, don't you think I'd have picked the lock by now?"
Jo-Jo started to speak then stopped. Face was right, although she'd never admit it to him. He could have picked the lock and got them out. She also knew that Face was in command when Hannibal wasn't there. She sat down and picked up her cards, without uttering a word to Face.
"Your turn," she said to Murdock. Murdock sat down and carried on the game.
"How do you think Tarrance found out about us?" asked Murdock.
"I don't know," said Face. "I'm sure he has something planned for all of us and I'm also sure I'm not going to like it."
The room lapsed into silence except for the turning of the newspaper pages and the slap of cards on the table.
"I'm bored," said Amy.
They all turned and looked at her.
"Somebody hold me down," said Face.
On the other side of the school, Hannibal opened the door of the gym.
"Thanks, BA," he said, starting to leave the room. He paused to watch BA finish up refereeing a basketball game. Hannibal smiled. Perhaps if things had been different, BA would have made a great teacher, permanently. Hannibal closed the door quietly and started to walk back to his office. The bell rang signalling the end of classes for the day and as it was a Friday, the students were more eager than usual to get out of the building. He opened the office door and came face to face with Prisner, sitting in his chair with his feet on the desk.
"I trust you have a reason for being in here," said Hannibal.
"Sure," said Prisner. "I've come to collect you and escort you to the gym."
"Gee, you should have said," said Hannibal, grinning. "I've just come from there. If I had known you wanted me in the gym, I'd have stayed there. Saved you a trip."
Prisner smiled and stood in front of Hannibal.
"Wise guy, huh?" he said. Hannibal felt two arms come from behind him and secure him in a vice like grip. Prisner punched him hard in the stomach and Hannibal doubled over, but kept the smile on his face. Hannibal felt the arms release him and he turned to see Adams grinning at him.
"I should have known it was you. Wherever Laurel goes, Hardy follows."
Adams frowned and went to tackle Hannibal but Prisner held his hand up to stop him.
"You'll get your chance soon enough," said Prisner. "Meanwhile, we're gonna go for a walk to the gym and see your friend, Mr Baracus."
"I'm sure he'll be delighted to see you," said Hannibal. "Especially with a .38 revolver pointed at him."
"I don't think he'll be much of a problem when he sees it pointing at your head, my friend," laughed Prisner.
"Good point," said Hannibal.
They walked down to the gym and Prisner opened the door. BA was still there, tidying away the basketball equipment from earlier. All the students had now left and the school was eerily quiet. BA looked up as Hannibal came in.
"Hey, Hannibal," said BA, then stopped as he saw Prisner and Adams enter, Prisner's gun trained on Hannibal. "What's goin' on?"
"Beats me," said Hannibal. Prisner closed the door behind him and sat down on one of the benches, as though waiting for someone. Adams leant against the wallbars. Hannibal leaned over to BA.
"Something's going on and I don't like it," he whispered.
"At least the others are on the outside. When we don't turn up, they'll come looking for us."
Hannibal nodded but then they both turned as the door opened again and Amy, Jo-Jo, Face and Murdock fell into the room, followed by Tarrance. Hannibal groaned.
"Nice to see you here, Smith," said Tarrance. "Now, I'm sure you won't mind if the three of us leave the six of you on your own. You see, we have lives to continue with and I'm sure you'll enjoy the quiet of a weekend here. Oh, and just in case you think someone will help you, I should point out that we have the lad, Peter, I think his name is. Bright lad, but shame he had History as a last lesson."
Hannibal bristled with anger.
"If you hurt him, I'll personally bury you with next years trees," he said. Tarrance just laughed.
"Enjoy your weekend, Smith."
"How did you find out?" asked Jo-Jo.
"It's surprising how much is revealed on a first date," said Adams, grinning at her. "While you were in the kitchen making coffee, I did a quick sweep of your place. Found out that you shared the place with Miss Allen and you also keep a picture of your uncle by your bed, who shares an uncanny resemblance to our dear headmaster here. We knew that Peck had worked with him before, we just guessed the rest. Marvellous coincidence that you all started work at the same time."
"You had to be in it together," said Prisner, getting to his feet. "Now, once we've taken care of the lad, we'll be back for you lot and don't place any bets on the authorities finding your bodies for a while."
The three crooks grinned as they left the gym and the team heard the unmistakable click of the key in the lock and a large thud as a large heavy object was placed in front of the doors. Amy sat down and Jo-Jo sat next to her. Face looked at Hannibal.
"They've got Peter, Hannibal. We can't let anything happen to that kid. It's our fault he's involved in this, after all."
"But how do we get out of here?" asked Amy. "It's a gym, what can we do?"
They all looked at Hannibal, waiting for an answer. It didn't look good.
TBC