Chapter 3 …and so it begins.

Bobby Hobbes as Robert Hutchins sat alone in the club car. He had left a little over an hour ago after Claire told him Fawkes needed some rest. He'd been staring out the window at virtually nothing for the better part of twenty minutes now. When he looked away he saw Fawkes coming his way on crutches. He paused by the table his eyes tearing up. His hands were still quite tender and his side couldn't take the pressure for much longer. Hobbes knew Fawkes shouldn't be doing that and he jumped up as quickly as he could to help him to a chair.

"Hey partner, what' ch'ya think your doin' huh?" Robert took the crutches and eased him slowly down. "I'm gonna go back and get your wheelchair okay?"


Bobby was about to leave when Fawkes grabbed his arm. "Hobbes…I mean Robert don't! I needed to get out of there Claire's asleep … she's exhausted and needs to rest…so please Robert let her sleep would ya?" Fawkes put his head down in relief that he'd finally made it.

"Okay Fawkes, but I'm only letting this go cause its Claire we're talkin' about here my friend. Besides, the way she's been worryin' and fussin' over you lately she could use the rest. But, just know that as soon as you're ready…"


"Yeah okay, I don't think I could make it back on these things anyway." Fawkes gripped the crutches at his side and slid down to a comfortable position in his chair.

Bobby was nervous and looked around the car was practically empty except for a few and any one of them could be the killer. The fact is 'any' of the guys pretending to be agents could be the guy. The question Bobby was left with was …which one?

Suddenly Bobby was awakened from his thoughts. "Hey Robert!" Fawkes whispered. "I've been thinkin'…"


"You been thinkin' huh Fawkes? Thinkin' about …what?" Bobby shifted in his seat trying to at least seem interested. The thing was, Darien didn't have good ideas much, but when he did it usually meant trouble. Cause once the kid got somethin' into that fool head of his there was no stopping the kid, period.

"Well Hutchins, its just… like I said I was thinking. Well… it's just… this …whole killer thing. The fish said that this guy leaves a black glove at the scene …right?" Bobby sat forward resting his hands on the table he was even more interested now.



"Yeah, so? What?" Darien looked at Hobbes like he was stating the obvious. Getting no reaction except a look of confusion from Bobby he went on. "I was thinking that we do a little research of our own under the radar if you know what I mean." He did his little head bob and eye thing to get Bobby falling in line with his thinking "Ya know, see many of these guys even own black gloves."


"You gotta be nuts my friend. Most of these guys are gonna have a pair of those seeing as how their gonna need 'em to go with their suits partner. Sorry, but that's just a waist of time. Now ya see why Bobby Hobbes is your associate…my friend."


"Yeah whatever 'Hutchins' but most of these are gonna have white…not black."


"Yeah, I guess so you got me there my friend. You get some rest and we'll go tomorrow when everyone's at breakfast."


"Okay…but uh…Hobbes? That's why you got me for an associate, my friend." Darien took a large swallow from his drink that the waitress had brought some time ago. He really wanted to get things going now or maybe a little later this evening really. But, then maybe Hobbes was right. That little trip on the crutches had been tougher than he'd thought it would have been.

As Hobbes was about to leave for the wheelchair they were interrupted by an older gentleman who couldn't be much older than Bobby. Thing was he fit the part of filthy rich guy way better than Darien or even Bobby for that matter.

"Ah, Mr. Drake, Mr. Hutchins…I'm" He had to think for a minute while holding his drink before continuing. "I'm Dan Smythe of the New England Smythes. May I…?" Darien nodded and motioned to the seat next to Hobbes.

"I haven't seen you two around here before."


"Oh, we've been around my friend!" Bobby was a bit on the defensive.

"Robert!" Darien reached across the table to try to settle Hobbes down, but it just brought a twinge of pain from his side instead. So he continued with a strained voice. "Robert, I don't think that's what the man meant 'Robert'!" That statement brought with it a deadly glare from Darien.

"Yes, Mr Drake is right actually. Its just that I've been on this trip for eight years now and this is the first time I've ever seen you two here."


"Uhm…Dan is it?" Dan nodded. "Dan, what Robert was trying to say was that we've been 'around'. But, we haven't been around here, it being our first year and all." Darien took another sip of his drink and brushed his hand through his hair. This was really wearing him out. He was beginning to think that Hobbes was right, tomorrow would be a better idea.

"Ah! I see." Dan took a drink from his glass and relaxed in his chair a bit.

"You said you've been here for eight years." Fawkes thought if this guy had been here 'that' long he might know somethin'.

"Well…yeah I have actually. In fact, don't tell anyone, but those of us who have been here a while aren't supposed to say anything. But, you guys look like maybe you can keep a secret."


"Oh yeah, sure we can can't we … Hutchins."




"Yeah, oh yeah." Bobby then took an almost too big a gulp from his glass as Dan continued.

You see every year for the past twelve years from what I've heard. There's been a 'real' murder committed on board. Not any of this murder mystery crap!"


"No way…really?" Fawkes was trying to sound surprised when in reality he really wasn't, of course.

"Yes, Mr Drake, truly so my friend. You see each year a man is killed never a woman mind you. He leaves a black glove at the scene of his crime. And…each year that I have been unfortunate enough to be here the conductor was murdered first. Then after approximately three or more weeks on this train of death, two more high security agents have been killed. But, mind you, they usually have a position closely related to some of the more secretive agencies in the network. I'm just grateful that I am not one of them my friend. And, if I were you I'd be grateful also."


Bobby and Fawkes looked at each other in virtual shock as they took a sip of their drinks. Bobby just drank air and turned his glass upside down shaking it looking for liquid, which the waitress promptly took care of. Once she left he leaned forward speaking in as low a tone as was possible and still be able to hear him. "No way can this guy have that kind of clearance my friend 'no… frickin'… way'!"


"That is what I had thought Mr. Hutchins until the same circumstances occurred each and every year that I have been so unfortunate to be invited to this deadly affair, sir."


"Hey man, thanks! You wouldn't happen to own a pair of black gloves now would ya?" Fawkes cut straight to the point.

"Me? Absolutely not my young friend. I do not wear gloves. You see I have an allergy. As of this moment I have yet to find a pair that I could wear without breaking out in a most horrible rash."


Darien nodded and apologized weakly. Then, he looked over at Hobbes. "Robert, could ya help me out here man. I think I want to go back to my room now."


Dan took that as his cue to leave. Just as he was about to, Claire came up pushing Darien's wheelchair.

"There you are, do you know how stupid that was? You could have torn some of your stitches. Your leg may be coming along quite well, but you are in no way in any shape to be gallivanting around on your own. Besides those crutches are completely out of the question…F-f-o-x!" She had to think about it to remember not to call him Darien.

"Yes, I know keep, and let me tell ya I won't be doing it again any time soon. I've learned my lesson." Darien ran a tired hand through his hair, which brought instant concern from Claire.

"Let's get you back to the compartment and check you over." Darien nodded in agreement.

Bobby and Claire helped him into the wheelchair while Dan tried with difficulty to introduce himself to the lovely lady that had suddenly made her presence. Fawkes noticed this and gave the man a deadly glare. He was playing his part well, besides he wanted this guy to stay as far away from Claire as he could get him to.

"Hands off there, buddy." Fawkes finally said before he was wheeled from the dining car. Claire then turned in astonishment. She kindly introduced herself as Miss Caitlin Keeply soon to be Mrs. Fox Drake. The man was fully astonished. He suddenly felt highly uncomfortable and made his leave.

The trio began to laugh as they made their way to their compartments. The guy had been quite a gentleman, but he was also quite gullible. As they arrived back at the compartment Claire checked Darien over thoroughly. His hands were quite tender and he tore a couple of stitches. He was exhausted and needed to rest but other than that he was getting along quite well. Considering the past few months, he was much better than expected.

===================

An older looking man not much older than Bobby sat alone witnessing the entire scene. He needed to get as much information as he could on these three newcomers. His source would be of at least some help he was sure. Scanning the pictures he had taken he sent off a secure email. If this one couldn't help he would have to make arrangements with his alternate source.

===================

The night was quiet. Darien tossed and turned in a rather uncomfortable bed. Above him Bobby lay snoring loudly. The guy could sleep through just about anything. Darien sat up swinging his leg over the side of the bed and carefully moving the other leg to rest beside it he moved slowly to the wheelchair. He couldn't take the curiosity. He needed to know who this guy was.

Quicksilvering he rolled from compartment to compartment and car to car looking for any kind of evidence he could find. Several hours later he was exhausted, the quicksilvering had taken its toll. He looked at his wrist he had three segments green. Deciding he'd done enough for one night, he started back to his own compartment.

On his way there he found a picture of himself, Bobby, Claire, and that Dan character by one of the tables in the dining car. It was difficult for him to reach, but he did. Darien was quite confused because he hadn't seen anyone in the car earlier. In fact he had thought that they were virtually alone. He figured the guy must've come in later or had been hiding somehow.

Bobby was still asleep when Darien returned. It was late or early, depending on how you wanted to look at it. Darien was completely exhausted, but he decided to stay up and wait for Hobbes to wake up anyway. He leaned his head against the window and watched as the scenery went by.



These past few months had been a nightmare. With the beatings, the tree, and not to mention Michel he had been through a living nightmare and wanted it to end. Mostly he wanted the pain to end. His leg was getting better, but everything just hurt so much he could barely make it anywhere for very long without becoming so exhausted he wanted to just die. The pain was so bad sometimes that it made him want to turn around and run, and if he could he would have.

=====================

Chaz Borden woke to find an urgent message flash on his computer screen. It was from Kenny. Chaz looked at the message and knew right away he couldn't do what Kenny wanted.

Chaz had met Dana a few years ago at a convention and married her shortly thereafter. She was everything to him. Last year he found out what she and her father Kenny were 'really' up to. When he'd been sent on a case by his father Rupert Borden, who he'd been working with at the time and got more involved with Kenny and Dana's little crime wave than even he would have wanted. Those men died because of info that 'he' provided and Dana snuck out.

He tried to warn them once he found out what she'd done, but it was too late. She insisted that if he loved her, he would help her. Help her he did and has been ever since. He loved her too much to leave her alone in the middle of this mess.

The problem was it was that damn mystery train. The one Chaz wasn't supposed to know about, but did. After Toni Kenny's wife was killed 'accidentally', they say. Kenny began to set up a plan to stop the whole thing. The problem was that he got in over his head and the murders became easier and easier. And, the connections became deeper and deeper into the crime world. Then he decided to involve Dana using guilt over her mother's death as leverage.

Even now he knew that they were in too deep. Chaz began relaying information about his grandfather and the agency about six months ago. For some reason they were hiding something. Kenny figured it had something to do with Toni's murder. He had to find out the truth. Then Chaz went in undercover as one of Michel's henchmen thanks to Kenny and his connections. They found out one of the things they had been hiding. If they were hiding that, then what else was there? For now, they had found the weapon they were looking for thanks to that information. The one way to stop this train. And that was found in one Darien Fawkes 'the invisible man'.

Chaz hadn't wanted to give Kenny that information, but Kenny forced it out of him. Chaz looked at the picture in front of him he knew Darien after what he'd helped Michel do to him. Bobby he'd met a few times, but the woman he had no idea about. Chaz typed up an email. But, instead of giving Kenny the information Chaz took a risk and deleted the email he was about to send. He just couldn't do it. He had to tell Kenny he wanted out, Dana wouldn't like it, but hopefully they'd both understand and let him go. Somehow, he had to get Dana to get out too. The question was, how? Deciding the answer would somehow reveal itself later, he got up and got himself ready for his first day at the agency.

This year no one would die because of him, he was sure. At least he wouldn't have that on his conscience.

=================

Bobby woke up slowly, but ready for the day and maybe a little investigative work with the help of his partner. Sitting up he stretched and looked down to the floor and gasped in shock. Laying sprawled out on the floor beneath him was a very unconscious Fawkes. "Fawkes!" Bobby screamed and he pushed himself a little too hard off the top bunk. He stood there with a pain filled face as a surge of pain shot up his leg. He slowly looked down at it. There was a small amount of swelling beginning to form around the top of his ankle.

Bobby put it out of his mind as much as he could to help his partner. He bent down to the floor hissing at the pain, Fawkes was out cold. There was a large gash at the side of his head. It looked like it was still bleeding. And, by the looks of the floor and his face he had been bleeding worse than this. Bobby had no idea how this happened the first thing he thought of was that he was sleep walking and fell, of course who wouldn't with his injuries. Bobby got a wet rag and tried to wipe away the blood as best he could.

Once he finished he turned Fawkes over and that's when he saw something clutched in his hand. Bobby pried whatever it was from Darien's hand, when he saw what it was. Bobby's blood began to boil. "I'm going to get whoever did this to you I promise partner, I promise." Bobby got up and went after Claire. The pain in his ankle had been replaced with sheer anger.

When she got there Claire cleaned Darien's wound, checked him over and her and Bobby got him into bed. Once he was resting what seemed to be comfortably Bobby stepped back to let Claire put in the IV she was inserting in his arm. "Is the kid okay there, keep?"


"Yes Bobby." She said as she stood. "Looks like he just hit his head, his sides a little more tender than it was, but I think that's from the fall. His body needs to rest that's likely why he hasn't come to yet. You however," she motioned to his swollen ankle. "Bobby what happened?!" She checked it over and found that it was just sprained, but he did need to stay off of it for a few days.

"Sorry keep, I think I landed a little too hard."


Claire bandaged his ankle, handed him the crutches and told him to stay off of it. Bobby took the crutches, and went to the bathroom to get dressed. When he returned he told Claire to keep a good eye on Fawkes and hobbled out the door.