Chapter 4
"Where are we going Relena? I mean, who can we trust?"
"Catherine. She lives just outside of the city. I believe we'll be safe there."
"Why? 'Cause neither of us have kept in contact?" Hilde laughs at their lack of communication between their high school friend. Relena smiles as she speed up.
"Exactly."
Duo sits in his dark apartment. Pondering whether or not it's safe to leave. Quatre did not seem all too pleased with the girls being in his room. And he knows Quatre isn't the saint he appears to be. An evil hides behind his eyes, just waiting to be released. Duo will make sure he's not there when that happens. Also, he'll make sure the girls aren't there either. Thinking about the girls he sighs. Where did they go? He should have followed but the moment wasn't right. Too much to be concerned with. Quatre, Relena and Hilde, The Third Hour, and now Hero. Duo heads outside to his balcony as he thinks back at Hero. Why did he have to come? Now this could mess things up. If he wasn't careful, Hero might ruin everything. Seeing there is nothing he can do as of now, Duo looks around the area. Making sure it's all clear he jumps the little space between his balcony and Hilde's. Landing without a sound he moves to the door and slips in. He might as well get back to work.
Trowa opens Duo's door. He puts the master key away as he enters. Closing the door he surveys the room. No sign of Duo. Hmm. He heads for the bedroom but before stopping in front of the open glass door leading to the balcony. Trowa peers out and then quickly returns inside. Nothing. Maybe there is a computer in here? Ah, there is. In Duo's bedroom lies a mass of cloths on the floor, a bed with sheets all over the place (He must have trouble sleeping.) and a computer on a small desk.
Trowa turns on the PC.
Duo enters Hilde's room.
As Trowa waits for the computer to boot he walks around the bedroom. Looking for anything.
Duo comes to find an address book lying on her dresser.
Sitting back down Trowa starts to hack Duo's files.
Looking through the address book he finds only a few names and addresses. Mostly family but none live too close for her to got to. He then comes across an address.
"Who are you Maxwell? What are your secrets?"
The page in the address book is drawn all over with harsh, ruff pencil marks. She must have been very angry with this person. No wait, persons. Duo looks closer to the names. Mother and Father. Making a note of this he continues to look through until he finds an address close by. Just right outside the city.
Trowa keeps an eye on the clock as he searches Duo's computer. He didn't bring his silencer so he would have to fight him hand to hand. Trowa smiles. He hasn't done that in a long time. Looking over to the corner by the closet he sees some weights. Duo must work out.
After writing down the address he returns the address book. Making sure he left nothing he heads for the balcony.
Trowa turns off the computer and heads for the other rooms. He first enters the kitchen but not before looking out the open glass door.
Duo slowly closes the glass door and readies himself to jump across.
Trowa stands in the kitchen, not sure what he should be looking for.
Duo jumps. He makes it but a passing car cause him crush is body to the floor.
Trowa hears a noise from the balcony. Silently he waits.
Duo slips back into his room. Closing the door, he makes sure it's locked before heading for the front door.
Trowa sees Duo lock the balcony door. He waits for him to pass before following. Duo grabs the door handle. Trowa reaches for his neck. Slam. Trowa outstretched hand curls into a fist. He moved to fast for him. Damn him.
"Till another day Maxwell."
Duo rubs his neck as the hairs stand up. Confused as to way, he looks to his door.
"Ah, I don't have time for this." He locks his door and heads for his car.
Quatre watches the screen as Duo leaves. Once the man is out of view he turns back to the tracking device.
"I found nothing." Came the calm voice of Trowa.
"Hmm. Nothing at all?"
"Nothing solid but he is up to something. He wasn't in his room when I got there but he came through his balcony. I believe he was in the girls room."
"Shit. He could be the FBI! They have been a bother for sometime."
"It wouldn't surprise me." Trowa looks over Quatre's shoulder. "A tracking device?"
"Yeah, we put it in Hilde during the surgery."
"I thought we learned our lesson with Dorothy? Isn't that what killed her?"
"No. The car crash killed her. But it was the parasite that was causing her the pain, which made us send her to the hospital. We thought it was something bigger, not the stupid parasite pushing out the device."
"Really? Why would it do that?"
"It pushed it out because it wasn't organic, making it of no use or a danger to the body."
"Why did we put in her if we know this now?"
"Trowa. We need to keep track of her. If she complains about neck pains then we'll know what to do. Besides, Dorothy had it in her for over a month. We have plenty of time."
"Hn."
"My neck hurts!" Hilde winces as she touches a sore spot on her neck. "Ah, it feels kinda like a lump. Hey Relena? Could you feel this?"
"I can't now Hilde. I'm driving."
"Well, how much longer?"
"Not much. We'll be there in five minutes."
"Hm. Good. I think I need to put ice on it."
"Yes. I hope she doesn't mind us coming!"
"Nah, ouch. She won't. What I'm more concerned about is if this will endanger her life?" Relena sighs at Hilde's statement. Yes, this might kill them all. But Relena will be damned if she didn't find the reason why they were killed.
"Maybe they put something in your neck?"
"You think so?" The panic look in her friends eyes make Relena wish she didn't just say that.
"We're going to the doctors . . ."
"No! I don't trust them. Not even Dr. Po."
"But Hilde . . ."
"No. I'll be fine. It's properly nothing. A pulled muscle or something."
"Hmm."
Catherine sips her tea as she watches the television. She tries to get as comfortable as possible; her broken ankle doesn't help the process.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Damn it all! Sally! Sally? Could you get the door? Please?"
"Sure!" Sally takes the pot off the stove and pours the hot water in to the teapot. Turning off the heat she grabs the teapot and drops it off for Catherine before opening the door.
"Hello? . . ."
"YOU!!" All three women yell.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Yells Hilde.
"I'm making a house call for a friend of mine. What about you?" Hilde winces in pain as she rubs her neck. Sally's eyes widen from her actions. Is it happening already?
"A friend? You mean Catherine!" Relena says as she helps Hilde inside.
"Sally who's at the door?"
"Hold on!" Sally turns to Hilde. "Where do you hurt? Your neck?"
"Yeah . . .but don't help me. I'm fine."
"N-no! No your not." They look at Sally as she tries to cover herself up.
"What do you know?" Says Hilde.
"Sally!!!" Yells Catherine in concern. Relena turns to deal with her old high school friend.
"Your test results are still in the lab. I have nothing else but that. But let me look . . ." Hilde smacks her hand away. Stepping back, Sally sighs. This is going to be a long night.
Duo pulls up to the house on the address. He can see Relena's car in the driveway. Duo cracks his back and neck as he readies himself for a long hard night. He's going to stay here all night and make sure the girls are ok. They have come this far in tracking down the Third Hour. This girl is important to them and Duo will find out why.