CHAPTER NINE
Face sat bolt upright.that was the second time he'd had that dream. Last night and the night before. But today it was going to happen; today he was going to die. It was 6:30 am on Saturday morning.
*** Katie rolled over and picked up the phone. It was 6:40 am.
*** Murdock put the phone down and turned to Frankie. 'She's on her way. Is he ready?'
Frankie nodded and Murdock took a deep breath. 'Ok, let's get this show on the road. Time to head for the apartment.'
He and Frankie got into the car. In the back, Father Selini lay unconscious, sedated and with his hands tied.
'Sorry Father, I really am, you have no idea how sorry.' Murdock told the lifeless form of the priest.
It was 6:45 am.
***
Katie fitted the key into the lock of the apartment; it had been a long time since she'd been here. She opened the door and saw Murdock standing with his back to her.
She couldn't move, in that moment an onrush of memories hit her, the good, the bad and the ugly all at once.
Her eyes flicked to the door of the bedroom, in that bedroom she'd nearly died but in that bedroom she and Murdock had.she forced herself not to think about it. She couldn't think about any of this right now, she had more important things to do.
'I'm sorry.' Those words came from Murdock who still had his back to her. 'I know it's hard for you being here.'
An image flashed through her mind of Murdock holding her over the toilet and ramming his fingers down her throat to make her bring up the drugs and alcohol she'd consumed. Hard on the heels of that image was another of Jerome, then one of Murdock shoving her against the wall as she told him their relationship had meant virtually nothing to her.
God, so much had happened here.too much. She could feel Jerome everywhere; a sudden irrational fear gripped her. When Murdock turned round it wouldn't be Murdock, it would be Jerome.
Murdock turned and looked at her. He could see from the rise and fall of her chest that she was scared. He moved nearer to her and put a hand on her arm. 'It's ok.'
'Sorry.' She whispered ashamed of the way she was acting. She pulled herself together.
'It's ok; you don't have to be sorry; I'm the one who's sorry. I hate bringing you here but I don't really have any other choice. I need your help.'
Katie nodded. 'What can I do?' As she spoke Frankie emerged from the bedroom and through the open door she saw the inert figure of a man lying on the bed. She pulled back from Murdock's reach. 'W.who is that?'
'It's ok.it's alright.'
'Answer the question Murdock, who is that?'
'He's a priest; he's the one who's going to give the guy's their last rites.'
Katie swallowed and nodded, moving closer to the bedroom. 'Why is he unconscious on our bed?' She didn't realise that she had said our and not mine or yours. Frankie raised an eyebrow upon hearing that but wisely he managed to keep his mouth shut.
'I.I need him out of the way for a while. Katie.he's ok. I didn't hurt him.'
'Yeah? Well that's quite a bump on his head there Murdock.' She tried not to get angry.
He took a step closer to her, a kind of intensity about him now. 'I don't have time for this now Katherine. I need your help and I have to know if you're willing to give it to me. In just over an hour the guys are going in front of a firing squad to be executed and I cannot let that happen, I just can't.'
She nodded and finally tore her eyes away from the figure of the priest lying bound and gagged on the bed. 'Ok.I'm listening.'
'Before I tell you I need to know if you're willing to help. If you're not then I don't want you knowing what I'm going to do.'
'I wouldn't be here if I wasn't willing and I have a pretty good idea of what you're going to do anyway.'
Satisfied with that he continued. 'I need you to follow my instructions to the letter. At exactly 7:12 I need you to make a telephone call to Barrier Island; I'll give you the number. You're to tell them that you're the cleaning lady for The Church of St Michael's, tell them that you went back to the church for something and found Father Selini unconscious in the bathroom. Tell them you were worried because you knew he was due to be at Barrier Island to perform the last rites for some prisoners. Keep it short and say as little as possible, once you've done that go with Frankie and take the boat over to Barrier Island. Whatever you do, stay in the boat. Can you do that?'
Katie thought of what would happen if she were caught.her daughter would lose her mother as well as the father she had never known. It was an agonising decision but at the same time she knew that she couldn't stand by and let three innocent men die.
'I can do that.what about you?'
'I'm going in there as Father Selini.'
'I don't understand.'
'They'll be on the look out for me, for anything to happen. They'll suspect something. But.if they thought they had the impostor then they wouldn't suspect anything.'
Katie tried to make sense of this. 'So, what you're saying is that you're the diversion for Frankie to get in there undetected?'
'That's it exactly.'
'Why do you want me on the boat with Frankie? If you're so concerned for my safety why don't I just stay here?'
'Because.' He didn't know what to say, in truth he didn't have a good reason for her being there. He just wanted her to be near.he needed someone he trusted, someone he could count on. Someone he knew Stockwell couldn't employ to mess things up. But how could he tell Katie that in front of Frankie?
'Murdock.if something happens to Frankie or you, then I will do my best to help the guys.' She raised her chin and her face took on that stubborn look he remembered so well. 'Don't get me wrong, I don't want to be left behind, I'm with you every step of the way.' She couldn't tell him that she thought she shouldn't be here either; if they thought she was connected then she didn't want Megan to be around when that happened. She didn't want her daughter to have to see her mother arrested.
His eyes held hers for a long moment and then he nodded. 'Ok. Now I have a boat to catch.' He disappeared into the bedroom to get dressed.
He came out dressed in the priest's clothes. He wrote a number and a name on a piece of paper. 'Here you go. That's the number and the name of the guy who you have to speak to. Remember.7:12 exactly. No later and no earlier.'
'I've got it Murdock.'
He'd just turned towards the doorway when she spoke again. 'Good luck.' He turned back and looked at her long and hard. They both had tears in their eyes but he forced himself to turn away without going to her and putting his arms around her. If he did that then he'd never leave.
He put a hand on Frankie's arm and applied a small amount of pressure. 'Take care of her.' He whispered. It was an order not a request.
The time was 6:54 am.
*** Stockwell left Barrier Island after his meeting with the A-Team. As he approached the boat, Murdock got off it and the two passed each other without a word spoken.
It was 7:10 am and at that precise moment, Face was asking BA what he was going to have for his last meal, unaware that in the outside world three people were fervently working to help free them. The wheels were already in motion, the plan in action.
***
At 7:12 Katie placed the call from a call box near to the pier. She replaced the phone and looked at Frankie.
'Let's do this.' She turned and walked towards the landing stage, Frankie following her. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach and she had to take a deep breath before she spoke to the guard. She felt very much as if she was going to be sick. She'd never had to do something that depended so much on whether people would live or die.
*** It was 7:25 when they arrived and as instructed Katie stayed in the boat. So this was where the team would die. No, she couldn't think that, the plan would work. Frankie had explained it to her. There was nothing for her to do but wait and that was perhaps the worst of all. Finally she heard footsteps behind her and Murdock was sitting next to her.
Neither said a word to each other but he did give her hand a quick squeeze. She felt very much like crying. Every part of her seemed to be alive with so much adrenaline that it hurt. She needed to do something instead of just sitting here wondering. But she knew however bad it was for her it would be ten times worse for Murdock.
As Frankie approached, Katie moved so that she was sitting opposite to Murdock. A quick glance at her watch showed her that it was nearly 8 am. They'd be leading the guys out now. There was a sick feeling in her stomach, what if this didn't work? It had to work.
Frankie took a seat next to Murdock. 'Did you make the switch ok?' Murdock asked.
'What would sound better? I think or I hope?' Frankie answered and Katie had to swallow very hard at that point to stop herself from crying.
The boat cast off and then they were out in the open sea. At 8 am precisely several shots rang out as one. Katie saw Murdock flinch, his mouth slightly open in shock and his hands balled into fists. At the sight of the despair and anguish that was in his eyes she buried her head in her hands and started to cry. She had never seen him look so lost, so scared, again the image of the frightened child rose in her mind. His eyes were what struck her most, usually so full of mischief; they were now so full of pain that she could hardly bear it. She had never seen him look like this and she never wanted to again. It was ripping her in half, he was hurting so much and she could do nothing to help. He could well have just lost the only three friends he had in the world.
Frankie looked at her for a moment before getting up and touching her shoulder. She raised a tear-streaked face to look up at him. Frankie motioned for her to sit beside Murdock; with a grateful smile she did so.
Murdock put an arm around her and she hid her head against his shoulder. His hand stroked her hair gently and though they said nothing, they each knew the pain the other was feeling.
*** As Katie stepped off the boat Murdock took her hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world for him to do. She was glad for the distraction; her mind was so full of memories. All she could see was the guys as she first remembered them when they'd come home with her dad and Murdock and then again on the day of her father's funeral. The look in each of their eyes, not of pity but of genuine grief at losing a friend and for her and her mother, for losing such a wonderful man. Now she saw them as they had been when they had thought Murdock was dead.although they'd nearly fallen apart they'd each made sure that she was ok in their own way. She knew she would never again know three men such as those. But it might work.it had to work. For Murdock it had to work, he couldn't survive without them; she knew it even if he didn't. At the moment of the gunshots she had seen it in his eyes, a look of such sorrow and pain, and somewhere in there a hint that he no longer wanted to live. He had looked as if he wished that it were he who had been shot.
Stockwell was standing at the landing stage waiting for them. Katie couldn't breathe. Murdock still had hold of her hand and together they approached him. Suddenly she wished she was far away from here, she didn't want to be anywhere near Stockwell right now. His very presence unnerved her but she couldn't pinpoint exactly why.
Murdock stopped and looked at the general. 'I'll take it from here Mr Murdock.'
Murdock nodded, Stockwell would ensure that the bodies of the team didn't meet with any unfortunate circumstances, and he'd also help get them medical attention as soon as the pills Frankie had given them had worn off. As much as he hated to admit it, Murdock knew that he needed Stockwell's help.
Stockwell's gaze abruptly shifted to Katie. 'Miss Anderson, I'm surprised to see you here.' His tone was calm and his surprise sounded almost genuine.
'And why would that be?' Katie asked coolly, Murdock's fingers tightened on her hand.
'I wouldn't expect you to be rushing to the aid of three guilty men especially when you have a daughter to think about.'
Katie could say nothing, Murdock might have lost his only friends if this didn't work and Stockwell had just shattered his world completely.
When he spoke it was not what Katie had been expecting. 'They Didn't Do It.' Every word was perfectly formed, every letter precise, she could almost hear the capital letters. There was no trace of a Texan accent, for the first time she felt afraid of him.
Then he looked at Katie. 'You didn't tell me you had a daughter.'
Katie couldn't think of anything to say to that. Stockwell was just turning away but at Murdock's words he turned back and raised an eyebrow. 'I would have thought you would have known about your own child Mr Murdock.'
The look on Murdock's face made Katie's anger flare. He looked like he had when Carl had stabbed him in the stomach it was that same look of stunned surprise; that sick look on his face as if his world had just ended. But then, it just had. She turned to say something sharp to Stockwell but thought better of it when she saw his face. He was doing this on purpose! He hated Murdock and he wanted to hurt him the worst way he could.
'I will contact you shortly.be ready and ensure you're not followed.'
Murdock didn't answer him and Katie could only nod and watch as Stockwell turned and walked away.
'Daughter?' Murdock was stunned and Katie turned to look at him, swallowing nervously. 'What did he mean they were guilty? A-am I missing something here?'
'Murdock.I didn't want to tell you but.'
'Didn't want to tell me what?'
She hesitated and then she was against the wall and he was staring furiously at her. 'Didn't want to tell me what?'
She looked at the ground. 'They admitted to committing the murder of Morrison.'
'No.they didn't do it.' The obstinate note in his voice surprised her and she knew she was seeing the very depth of his loyalty to the team. 'I know they didn't do it. Why would they say they were guilty?'
'Laskow.he.he wanted them to say that you'd been acting in a questionable manner when Morrison was killed, try to shift the blame onto you. Of course Hannibal said no but when he realised that you'd found Qui Et, he knew that if Qui Et gave evidence stating the team was innocent then they'd go after you. And you'd have no hope of proving yourself innocent.'
He stared at her numbly and then he shook his head, a slight edge of laughter in his tone as he spoke. 'Oh Hannibal.you're so stupid.'
She smiled. 'That's what I said you'd say.'
'I'm just one person.they're three. I can take care of myself.'
She nodded and looked at the ground again. 'I wasn't going to tell you but.I didn't want you thinking that they'd actually done it. But they saved your life Murdock.they gave up their lives for yours.'
He looked down at her. 'What about my daughter?'
Her mouth had gone suddenly dry. 'What about her?'
'So she is mine?'
She pushed past him, trying to avoid the question. He reached out lightening quick and caught her arm, pushing her back against the wall. 'Is she mine?' This time she saw the anger and the hurt etched quite clearly across his features.
She didn't look at him as she spoke, looking instead at the ground. 'Yes.she's more like you every day. Sometimes I look at her and I can see so much of you I can't even see how she looks like me anymore.'
He shook his head angrily. 'How the hell could you not tell me about her? Huh? That's my child! My daughter.did you think I wouldn't want to know? I can't believe you'd keep me from my own child! What gives you the right to play God and decide whether or not I can be her father!'
'I couldn't tell you.'
He didn't let her finish. 'No! Not couldn't, wouldn't! You wouldn't tell me! I gave you everything Katie and you threw it back in my face. I gave myself to you heart, body and soul and you treated me like crap!' His eyes blazed with anger and betrayal.
'Murdock.you don't understand.'
'You're damn right about that! I don't understand! First you tell me there is no baby and then that you got rid of her, and finally you run out on me! If you didn't want me to be around or you wanted someone else why didn't you just say? Or do you just like putting people through hell and treating them as if they're a worthless piece of shit?'
'Don't judge me over something you know nothing about!'
'I know nothing about it because you pushed me away!' All the anger and pain he had felt over the last few days was coming out full-force now.
'Yeah well you know the law Murdock.when a woman has an abortion the father doesn't have the right to know about it much less make a decision.'
Next thing she knew his fist had met the wall. She was so shocked by the action that she couldn't respond or even move. He was staring at her, breathing hard and she saw that he was just as shocked as she was over what he'd done. She could see blood on his knuckles and on the wall. He was in pain, clearly, but he was ignoring it. He didn't show it, not once, how badly his hand was hurt.
'Why?' He asked and this time there was raw pain in his words, a deep pain that she didn't want to know or feel. It was similar to that she had seen when they'd heard the gunshots go off. Once more she heard them in her mind.many as one. 'Please baby, please.just tell me why.'
She looked up at him, still hearing in her mind the smack of his fist hitting the wall.so angry, would he, could he ever turn that anger on her? No, of course not, he wasn't Jerome; he'd never lay a hand on a woman in the wrong way. How could she give him the answer he so badly needed? Jerome had told her what would happen if she told him but.Stockwell had told Murdock that Megan was his.he already knew that meant Jerome couldn't do anything to Murdock. Couldn't he?
Murdock looked at her face, wondering why she couldn't tell him. What could be so bad that she couldn't answer that one question? Why couldn't she trust him to look after her? To look after their daughter?
An image flashed into Murdock's mind, Katie lying on their bed, one arm outstretched. Unconscious. She'd nearly died and that SOB had nearly killed her and then he remembered that look that would come into her eyes whenever Jerome's name was mentioned, like a deer caught in the headlights. The same look that was in her eyes now. Murdock frowned as understanding suddenly came. 'Jerome got to you didn't he?'
She nodded slowly. 'H...he said if I told you, if I stayed with you, he'd kill you and he'd kill her.'
The angry look in Murdock's eyes vanished and he pulled her close. 'Oh Katie, I could handle 1000 Jerome's for you and our daughter.'
At that Katie started to cry, she buried her head against his chest. Letting the familiar smell of him wash over her.she'd missed him too much.
She felt something wet drip onto her cheek and realised with a shock that Murdock was crying too. All the anguish and pain he'd gone through over the last few days, he'd built a wall against it. Now that wall was crumbling away and he could no longer keep the tears inside. The guys had died.it wouldn't work, he'd heard the gunshots, seen it in his mind. They were dead.how could he think the plan would work? It was too little too late; he hadn't managed to keep Katie, to keep his daughter, to help them. How could he think he could help the guys?
The answer was a quiet whisper in his mind. 'Because they always survive, that's what they do.'
Katie pulled back. 'Murdock we have to go. It's going to look pretty strange if people come along and see me holding a crying priest.'
Murdock wiped at his eyes and didn't look at her for a long moment. 'Can I see her?' His eyes were fixed resolutely in the wall where there was an ugly smear of dried blood from where his fist had hit hard, cold stone and bled.
Katie nodded and took his other hand. 'Yes.you can see her and we'll get your hand looked at too.'
'It's fine.' But she knew how much it must be hurting. 'Not broken or anything.'
They walked in silence to the car where Frankie was anxiously waiting for them, after Katie had given him her address and he'd gone to pick up the van, Murdock got in the car.
The silence between them was less now, there, but comfortable. As if they'd exorcised all the ghosts that had been haunting them and Katie felt for the first time in years, somehow safe and unafraid, the only fear now was for Murdock and for the team. He was still angry and still hurt and she knew that but she also knew that he'd gotten a lot of that hurt and that anger out. He understood now what it was that had made her leave.
Face sat bolt upright.that was the second time he'd had that dream. Last night and the night before. But today it was going to happen; today he was going to die. It was 6:30 am on Saturday morning.
*** Katie rolled over and picked up the phone. It was 6:40 am.
*** Murdock put the phone down and turned to Frankie. 'She's on her way. Is he ready?'
Frankie nodded and Murdock took a deep breath. 'Ok, let's get this show on the road. Time to head for the apartment.'
He and Frankie got into the car. In the back, Father Selini lay unconscious, sedated and with his hands tied.
'Sorry Father, I really am, you have no idea how sorry.' Murdock told the lifeless form of the priest.
It was 6:45 am.
***
Katie fitted the key into the lock of the apartment; it had been a long time since she'd been here. She opened the door and saw Murdock standing with his back to her.
She couldn't move, in that moment an onrush of memories hit her, the good, the bad and the ugly all at once.
Her eyes flicked to the door of the bedroom, in that bedroom she'd nearly died but in that bedroom she and Murdock had.she forced herself not to think about it. She couldn't think about any of this right now, she had more important things to do.
'I'm sorry.' Those words came from Murdock who still had his back to her. 'I know it's hard for you being here.'
An image flashed through her mind of Murdock holding her over the toilet and ramming his fingers down her throat to make her bring up the drugs and alcohol she'd consumed. Hard on the heels of that image was another of Jerome, then one of Murdock shoving her against the wall as she told him their relationship had meant virtually nothing to her.
God, so much had happened here.too much. She could feel Jerome everywhere; a sudden irrational fear gripped her. When Murdock turned round it wouldn't be Murdock, it would be Jerome.
Murdock turned and looked at her. He could see from the rise and fall of her chest that she was scared. He moved nearer to her and put a hand on her arm. 'It's ok.'
'Sorry.' She whispered ashamed of the way she was acting. She pulled herself together.
'It's ok; you don't have to be sorry; I'm the one who's sorry. I hate bringing you here but I don't really have any other choice. I need your help.'
Katie nodded. 'What can I do?' As she spoke Frankie emerged from the bedroom and through the open door she saw the inert figure of a man lying on the bed. She pulled back from Murdock's reach. 'W.who is that?'
'It's ok.it's alright.'
'Answer the question Murdock, who is that?'
'He's a priest; he's the one who's going to give the guy's their last rites.'
Katie swallowed and nodded, moving closer to the bedroom. 'Why is he unconscious on our bed?' She didn't realise that she had said our and not mine or yours. Frankie raised an eyebrow upon hearing that but wisely he managed to keep his mouth shut.
'I.I need him out of the way for a while. Katie.he's ok. I didn't hurt him.'
'Yeah? Well that's quite a bump on his head there Murdock.' She tried not to get angry.
He took a step closer to her, a kind of intensity about him now. 'I don't have time for this now Katherine. I need your help and I have to know if you're willing to give it to me. In just over an hour the guys are going in front of a firing squad to be executed and I cannot let that happen, I just can't.'
She nodded and finally tore her eyes away from the figure of the priest lying bound and gagged on the bed. 'Ok.I'm listening.'
'Before I tell you I need to know if you're willing to help. If you're not then I don't want you knowing what I'm going to do.'
'I wouldn't be here if I wasn't willing and I have a pretty good idea of what you're going to do anyway.'
Satisfied with that he continued. 'I need you to follow my instructions to the letter. At exactly 7:12 I need you to make a telephone call to Barrier Island; I'll give you the number. You're to tell them that you're the cleaning lady for The Church of St Michael's, tell them that you went back to the church for something and found Father Selini unconscious in the bathroom. Tell them you were worried because you knew he was due to be at Barrier Island to perform the last rites for some prisoners. Keep it short and say as little as possible, once you've done that go with Frankie and take the boat over to Barrier Island. Whatever you do, stay in the boat. Can you do that?'
Katie thought of what would happen if she were caught.her daughter would lose her mother as well as the father she had never known. It was an agonising decision but at the same time she knew that she couldn't stand by and let three innocent men die.
'I can do that.what about you?'
'I'm going in there as Father Selini.'
'I don't understand.'
'They'll be on the look out for me, for anything to happen. They'll suspect something. But.if they thought they had the impostor then they wouldn't suspect anything.'
Katie tried to make sense of this. 'So, what you're saying is that you're the diversion for Frankie to get in there undetected?'
'That's it exactly.'
'Why do you want me on the boat with Frankie? If you're so concerned for my safety why don't I just stay here?'
'Because.' He didn't know what to say, in truth he didn't have a good reason for her being there. He just wanted her to be near.he needed someone he trusted, someone he could count on. Someone he knew Stockwell couldn't employ to mess things up. But how could he tell Katie that in front of Frankie?
'Murdock.if something happens to Frankie or you, then I will do my best to help the guys.' She raised her chin and her face took on that stubborn look he remembered so well. 'Don't get me wrong, I don't want to be left behind, I'm with you every step of the way.' She couldn't tell him that she thought she shouldn't be here either; if they thought she was connected then she didn't want Megan to be around when that happened. She didn't want her daughter to have to see her mother arrested.
His eyes held hers for a long moment and then he nodded. 'Ok. Now I have a boat to catch.' He disappeared into the bedroom to get dressed.
He came out dressed in the priest's clothes. He wrote a number and a name on a piece of paper. 'Here you go. That's the number and the name of the guy who you have to speak to. Remember.7:12 exactly. No later and no earlier.'
'I've got it Murdock.'
He'd just turned towards the doorway when she spoke again. 'Good luck.' He turned back and looked at her long and hard. They both had tears in their eyes but he forced himself to turn away without going to her and putting his arms around her. If he did that then he'd never leave.
He put a hand on Frankie's arm and applied a small amount of pressure. 'Take care of her.' He whispered. It was an order not a request.
The time was 6:54 am.
*** Stockwell left Barrier Island after his meeting with the A-Team. As he approached the boat, Murdock got off it and the two passed each other without a word spoken.
It was 7:10 am and at that precise moment, Face was asking BA what he was going to have for his last meal, unaware that in the outside world three people were fervently working to help free them. The wheels were already in motion, the plan in action.
***
At 7:12 Katie placed the call from a call box near to the pier. She replaced the phone and looked at Frankie.
'Let's do this.' She turned and walked towards the landing stage, Frankie following her. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach and she had to take a deep breath before she spoke to the guard. She felt very much as if she was going to be sick. She'd never had to do something that depended so much on whether people would live or die.
*** It was 7:25 when they arrived and as instructed Katie stayed in the boat. So this was where the team would die. No, she couldn't think that, the plan would work. Frankie had explained it to her. There was nothing for her to do but wait and that was perhaps the worst of all. Finally she heard footsteps behind her and Murdock was sitting next to her.
Neither said a word to each other but he did give her hand a quick squeeze. She felt very much like crying. Every part of her seemed to be alive with so much adrenaline that it hurt. She needed to do something instead of just sitting here wondering. But she knew however bad it was for her it would be ten times worse for Murdock.
As Frankie approached, Katie moved so that she was sitting opposite to Murdock. A quick glance at her watch showed her that it was nearly 8 am. They'd be leading the guys out now. There was a sick feeling in her stomach, what if this didn't work? It had to work.
Frankie took a seat next to Murdock. 'Did you make the switch ok?' Murdock asked.
'What would sound better? I think or I hope?' Frankie answered and Katie had to swallow very hard at that point to stop herself from crying.
The boat cast off and then they were out in the open sea. At 8 am precisely several shots rang out as one. Katie saw Murdock flinch, his mouth slightly open in shock and his hands balled into fists. At the sight of the despair and anguish that was in his eyes she buried her head in her hands and started to cry. She had never seen him look so lost, so scared, again the image of the frightened child rose in her mind. His eyes were what struck her most, usually so full of mischief; they were now so full of pain that she could hardly bear it. She had never seen him look like this and she never wanted to again. It was ripping her in half, he was hurting so much and she could do nothing to help. He could well have just lost the only three friends he had in the world.
Frankie looked at her for a moment before getting up and touching her shoulder. She raised a tear-streaked face to look up at him. Frankie motioned for her to sit beside Murdock; with a grateful smile she did so.
Murdock put an arm around her and she hid her head against his shoulder. His hand stroked her hair gently and though they said nothing, they each knew the pain the other was feeling.
*** As Katie stepped off the boat Murdock took her hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world for him to do. She was glad for the distraction; her mind was so full of memories. All she could see was the guys as she first remembered them when they'd come home with her dad and Murdock and then again on the day of her father's funeral. The look in each of their eyes, not of pity but of genuine grief at losing a friend and for her and her mother, for losing such a wonderful man. Now she saw them as they had been when they had thought Murdock was dead.although they'd nearly fallen apart they'd each made sure that she was ok in their own way. She knew she would never again know three men such as those. But it might work.it had to work. For Murdock it had to work, he couldn't survive without them; she knew it even if he didn't. At the moment of the gunshots she had seen it in his eyes, a look of such sorrow and pain, and somewhere in there a hint that he no longer wanted to live. He had looked as if he wished that it were he who had been shot.
Stockwell was standing at the landing stage waiting for them. Katie couldn't breathe. Murdock still had hold of her hand and together they approached him. Suddenly she wished she was far away from here, she didn't want to be anywhere near Stockwell right now. His very presence unnerved her but she couldn't pinpoint exactly why.
Murdock stopped and looked at the general. 'I'll take it from here Mr Murdock.'
Murdock nodded, Stockwell would ensure that the bodies of the team didn't meet with any unfortunate circumstances, and he'd also help get them medical attention as soon as the pills Frankie had given them had worn off. As much as he hated to admit it, Murdock knew that he needed Stockwell's help.
Stockwell's gaze abruptly shifted to Katie. 'Miss Anderson, I'm surprised to see you here.' His tone was calm and his surprise sounded almost genuine.
'And why would that be?' Katie asked coolly, Murdock's fingers tightened on her hand.
'I wouldn't expect you to be rushing to the aid of three guilty men especially when you have a daughter to think about.'
Katie could say nothing, Murdock might have lost his only friends if this didn't work and Stockwell had just shattered his world completely.
When he spoke it was not what Katie had been expecting. 'They Didn't Do It.' Every word was perfectly formed, every letter precise, she could almost hear the capital letters. There was no trace of a Texan accent, for the first time she felt afraid of him.
Then he looked at Katie. 'You didn't tell me you had a daughter.'
Katie couldn't think of anything to say to that. Stockwell was just turning away but at Murdock's words he turned back and raised an eyebrow. 'I would have thought you would have known about your own child Mr Murdock.'
The look on Murdock's face made Katie's anger flare. He looked like he had when Carl had stabbed him in the stomach it was that same look of stunned surprise; that sick look on his face as if his world had just ended. But then, it just had. She turned to say something sharp to Stockwell but thought better of it when she saw his face. He was doing this on purpose! He hated Murdock and he wanted to hurt him the worst way he could.
'I will contact you shortly.be ready and ensure you're not followed.'
Murdock didn't answer him and Katie could only nod and watch as Stockwell turned and walked away.
'Daughter?' Murdock was stunned and Katie turned to look at him, swallowing nervously. 'What did he mean they were guilty? A-am I missing something here?'
'Murdock.I didn't want to tell you but.'
'Didn't want to tell me what?'
She hesitated and then she was against the wall and he was staring furiously at her. 'Didn't want to tell me what?'
She looked at the ground. 'They admitted to committing the murder of Morrison.'
'No.they didn't do it.' The obstinate note in his voice surprised her and she knew she was seeing the very depth of his loyalty to the team. 'I know they didn't do it. Why would they say they were guilty?'
'Laskow.he.he wanted them to say that you'd been acting in a questionable manner when Morrison was killed, try to shift the blame onto you. Of course Hannibal said no but when he realised that you'd found Qui Et, he knew that if Qui Et gave evidence stating the team was innocent then they'd go after you. And you'd have no hope of proving yourself innocent.'
He stared at her numbly and then he shook his head, a slight edge of laughter in his tone as he spoke. 'Oh Hannibal.you're so stupid.'
She smiled. 'That's what I said you'd say.'
'I'm just one person.they're three. I can take care of myself.'
She nodded and looked at the ground again. 'I wasn't going to tell you but.I didn't want you thinking that they'd actually done it. But they saved your life Murdock.they gave up their lives for yours.'
He looked down at her. 'What about my daughter?'
Her mouth had gone suddenly dry. 'What about her?'
'So she is mine?'
She pushed past him, trying to avoid the question. He reached out lightening quick and caught her arm, pushing her back against the wall. 'Is she mine?' This time she saw the anger and the hurt etched quite clearly across his features.
She didn't look at him as she spoke, looking instead at the ground. 'Yes.she's more like you every day. Sometimes I look at her and I can see so much of you I can't even see how she looks like me anymore.'
He shook his head angrily. 'How the hell could you not tell me about her? Huh? That's my child! My daughter.did you think I wouldn't want to know? I can't believe you'd keep me from my own child! What gives you the right to play God and decide whether or not I can be her father!'
'I couldn't tell you.'
He didn't let her finish. 'No! Not couldn't, wouldn't! You wouldn't tell me! I gave you everything Katie and you threw it back in my face. I gave myself to you heart, body and soul and you treated me like crap!' His eyes blazed with anger and betrayal.
'Murdock.you don't understand.'
'You're damn right about that! I don't understand! First you tell me there is no baby and then that you got rid of her, and finally you run out on me! If you didn't want me to be around or you wanted someone else why didn't you just say? Or do you just like putting people through hell and treating them as if they're a worthless piece of shit?'
'Don't judge me over something you know nothing about!'
'I know nothing about it because you pushed me away!' All the anger and pain he had felt over the last few days was coming out full-force now.
'Yeah well you know the law Murdock.when a woman has an abortion the father doesn't have the right to know about it much less make a decision.'
Next thing she knew his fist had met the wall. She was so shocked by the action that she couldn't respond or even move. He was staring at her, breathing hard and she saw that he was just as shocked as she was over what he'd done. She could see blood on his knuckles and on the wall. He was in pain, clearly, but he was ignoring it. He didn't show it, not once, how badly his hand was hurt.
'Why?' He asked and this time there was raw pain in his words, a deep pain that she didn't want to know or feel. It was similar to that she had seen when they'd heard the gunshots go off. Once more she heard them in her mind.many as one. 'Please baby, please.just tell me why.'
She looked up at him, still hearing in her mind the smack of his fist hitting the wall.so angry, would he, could he ever turn that anger on her? No, of course not, he wasn't Jerome; he'd never lay a hand on a woman in the wrong way. How could she give him the answer he so badly needed? Jerome had told her what would happen if she told him but.Stockwell had told Murdock that Megan was his.he already knew that meant Jerome couldn't do anything to Murdock. Couldn't he?
Murdock looked at her face, wondering why she couldn't tell him. What could be so bad that she couldn't answer that one question? Why couldn't she trust him to look after her? To look after their daughter?
An image flashed into Murdock's mind, Katie lying on their bed, one arm outstretched. Unconscious. She'd nearly died and that SOB had nearly killed her and then he remembered that look that would come into her eyes whenever Jerome's name was mentioned, like a deer caught in the headlights. The same look that was in her eyes now. Murdock frowned as understanding suddenly came. 'Jerome got to you didn't he?'
She nodded slowly. 'H...he said if I told you, if I stayed with you, he'd kill you and he'd kill her.'
The angry look in Murdock's eyes vanished and he pulled her close. 'Oh Katie, I could handle 1000 Jerome's for you and our daughter.'
At that Katie started to cry, she buried her head against his chest. Letting the familiar smell of him wash over her.she'd missed him too much.
She felt something wet drip onto her cheek and realised with a shock that Murdock was crying too. All the anguish and pain he'd gone through over the last few days, he'd built a wall against it. Now that wall was crumbling away and he could no longer keep the tears inside. The guys had died.it wouldn't work, he'd heard the gunshots, seen it in his mind. They were dead.how could he think the plan would work? It was too little too late; he hadn't managed to keep Katie, to keep his daughter, to help them. How could he think he could help the guys?
The answer was a quiet whisper in his mind. 'Because they always survive, that's what they do.'
Katie pulled back. 'Murdock we have to go. It's going to look pretty strange if people come along and see me holding a crying priest.'
Murdock wiped at his eyes and didn't look at her for a long moment. 'Can I see her?' His eyes were fixed resolutely in the wall where there was an ugly smear of dried blood from where his fist had hit hard, cold stone and bled.
Katie nodded and took his other hand. 'Yes.you can see her and we'll get your hand looked at too.'
'It's fine.' But she knew how much it must be hurting. 'Not broken or anything.'
They walked in silence to the car where Frankie was anxiously waiting for them, after Katie had given him her address and he'd gone to pick up the van, Murdock got in the car.
The silence between them was less now, there, but comfortable. As if they'd exorcised all the ghosts that had been haunting them and Katie felt for the first time in years, somehow safe and unafraid, the only fear now was for Murdock and for the team. He was still angry and still hurt and she knew that but she also knew that he'd gotten a lot of that hurt and that anger out. He understood now what it was that had made her leave.
