CHAPTER ONE
June 2001 - Los Angeles
Michael Jonathon Murdock took a bite out of his sandwich and listened intently to John Smith Junior as he talked about his father's latest escapade. Johnny, like his father, was something of a leader. He was tall and broad shouldered and out of all of them he was the one who took charge when things got rowdy which was often.
John Smith Senior may have been in his latter years but that didn't stop him from living his life exactly the way he wanted to. Michael's father often said that he would probably live longer than any of them he was so hyped up on 'Jazz'. This expression that was often used within his father's circle of friends intrigued Michael, he had never understood it.
Michael's father was Captain HM Murdock and not even Michael knew what the HM really stood for. His father was an expert pilot and could fly anything with wings, or so he boasted. Michael had inherited his father's love of flying along with his height and soft brown eyes.
Captain Murdock had been in the Vietnam War with Colonel John Smith, Sergeant Bosco Baracus and Lieutenant Templeton Peck and they were close friends, in fact they were more like family. And so their children had become friends, they had all grown up together and their friendship had remained solid all through elementary and middle schools.
Now they were in high school and were still friends often spending lunches together as well as every spare hour outside school.
Michael took a minute to look round at his group of friends. Sitting to his right was Daniel Peck and his twin sister Maria. Both had blond hair and green eyes, they got on well together although Maria was sometimes annoyed by the way Daniel treated his girlfriends. Daniel was the same as his father had been until he'd met the twin's mother. He went through women at an alarming rate and Michael struggled to keep up with who his best friend was dating next.
Over in the corner was Brandon Baracus, he was a well muscled, young black man. Although he looked tough he was one of the nicest people that Michael knew. Not that Brandon couldn't look after himself if he wanted to. He was incredibly intelligent which was something that people who met him didn't always realise at first glance. He and his father could often be found under the hood of BA Baracus' van working on some mechanical problem. Brandon had inherited his father's mechanical genius but preferred working with wood than with anything else. At this moment he was whittling away at a piece of wood, his long, deft fingers working it into a shape of its own. Michael had no doubt that whatever it turned out to be, it would be a work of art.
To Michael's left were his brother Nicky and his sister Emily. Nicky was something of a wild child and was frequently arguing with his father over something or other. In contrast to Michael, Nicky hated flying with a passion. Nicky was quick tempered and always seemed ready for a fight.
Michael's attention was drawn to Emily; she was the apple of everyone's eye, had her mother's eyes, her father's smile and loved animals. She was the peacekeeper of the group and often tried to mend the rift between her brother and father. She was the youngest of all of them.
Michael was the oldest of the group, the first-born but it was usually Johnny who took the lead which never bothered anyone, somehow it seemed right.
'Hey Mikey, you with us?'
Michael blinked as he realised that Daniel was talking to him, in fact all of his friends were staring at him.
'Sorry guys, I kinda switched off there, what are we talking about?'
Johnny smirked. 'If it isn't about flying you're not interested are you?'
Michael just smiled not bothering to defend himself against the good natured teasing. 'Sorry, where were you?'
'Just about to explain about this year's vacation, thought you might be interested.'
Michael sat up straighter, each year the kids and their parents went away for a couple of weeks together. It was always a lot of fun and he looked forward to it.
'Sure, might be.'
This brought laughter from everyone. 'Come on Johnny, of course he's interested. Dad promised that he could pilot the plane this year. That's all he's been talking about for the past month.' Nicky smirked at his brother.
'That's if my dad'll go.' Brandon spoke up.
'Your dad always goes Brandon he just pretends he doesn't want to go.' Maria said turning to him.
'He hates to fly.' Brandon shrugged.
'I die before I fly.' Nicky said in an eerie impression of BA Baracus.
'We go through this every year Brandon; he says he doesn't want to go. Your mom coaxes him into going and he pulls out at the last minute so Dad either has to hit him with a piece of 2 by 4 or give him a sleeping pill.'
'Yeah and your dad gets that look in his eyes when he gets to use the 2 by 4 Danny. Do you remember that year he forgot the pills and couldn't find any 2 by 4?' Johnny asked. 'Yeah, Murdock was going crazy because he thought we'd have to drive down so he gave him an injection from Kelly's bag. It turned out to be an animal tranquillizer, BA was singing all the way.'
'Trust your dad to give him an animal tranquillizer Mike.'
Michael smiled and nodded. It was never a quiet time when they went on vacation. Something always happened.
***
Michael walked into the family kitchen to find Face sitting at the table. This was nothing unusual, one or other of his dad's buddies was usually here. His mother was busy cooking dinner and looked up.
'Hey honey, good day at school?'
Michael nodded. 'Great Mom, what's for dinner?'
Kelly smiled. 'Meatloaf.'
'Yummy.' A voice said from the doorway and Michael turned to see his father leaning against the doorframe with a grin on his face.
Kelly laughed lightly. 'You'll have to wait like the rest of them.' She said smiling adoringly at her husband.
Murdock pretended to be upset and pouted. 'Aww come on, I've been at work all day and I'm starving.'
'If you think hauling over that heap of junk you call an aeroplane is work then I don't know what it was that I was doing all day.' Kelly teased.
'Kelly, it is not a heap of junk or at least it won't be when I've finished with it.'
'Yeah.' Face put in. 'That is a good aeroplane, the guy I brought it from said it was one of the best, ok so it's got a little bit of rust and the propellers don't work properly but it's still a good plane.'
Kelly just laughed. Face was well known for his ability to get almost anything you wanted even it wasn't always in mint condition. He and Murdock had bought the plane so that Murdock could do it up which meant that Murdock spent more time down at the airfield than at home. 'Face you did not buy it, you scammed it.'
'Kelly I'm hurt that you could think such a thing.' Face protested and Kelly shook her head wordlessly, Face never ceased to amaze her.
'You ready to fly kid?' Murdock asked his son.
Michael grinned. 'I'm always ready to fly Dad.'
His father grinned back and Face smiled in amusement. The resemblance between father and son was easy to see in that moment.
'Have you done your homework?' Kelly asked.
Michael put down his bag. 'I'll do it when I come back Mom.'
'And what about your chores? Are you going to pay Emily to do them for you again?'
'You paid Emily to do your chores?' Murdock asked and Michael nodded sheepishly.
Murdock shook his head. 'You're supposed to bribe her not pay her.'
'Murdock!' Kelly exclaimed. 'Don't encourage him.'
Face laughed and got up. 'I'd better go home, Dana's cooking dinner as we speak. Nice to see you Kelly.' He kissed Kelly's cheek.
'Good to see you too Face. Take care.' She kissed him back and turned again to her meatloaf.
'See ya Faceman.' Murdock said with a grin. 'I'll see ya down the airfield bright and early tomorrow.'
'I didn't tell you? Dana and I are going to see her mother for the day; I can't get out of it.'
Murdock shook his head. 'No, Face you didn't tell me. Doesn't matter, catch ya later muchacho.'
Face nodded and with a wave to Michael, he left for his own house. Almost as soon as he'd gone the telephone rang.
Murdock picked it up. 'Hello, oh hey Brandon. Listen, can you tell your dad I'm ready for that engine when he is. Sure, he's here. Mike, Brandon for ya.'
He passed the phone over to his son and then scooped an apple out of the fruit bowl. A hand reached out and took it from him promptly. 'No.' Kelly said. 'We'll be eating in an hour; I don't want you filling up before then.'
'It's just an apple Kell, perfectly healthy.' Her husband protested.
'And what about after that, what comes next? Twinkies? Oreo's? I know you Captain; you've got a garbage disposal for a stomach.'
Murdock grinned and wrapped his arms around his wife's waist. 'That's why you love me baby.' Kelly laughed and kissed him.
'Wait a minute Brandon, you want me to what?' Michael asked into the phone.
'Look man it's important, I was researching in the library for that paper we have to do on the Vietnam War and I found something you should take a look at.'
'Brandon, I have homework to do, Mom's not gonna let me out of the house this close to dinner and Dad already wants to take me out in the plane. I can't be in all those places at once.'
'Please Mike, I've called the others too, they're on their way over. It's real important, man.'
The sense of urgency in his friend's voice convinced Michael that this was serious.
'Ok Brandon, I'll be there as soon as I can.'
He put the phone down with a sigh and Murdock looked over. 'Everything ok Mike?'
'Yeah, Brandon wants me to go over to the library, says he's got something to show me.'
Kelly frowned. 'Right now, this close to dinner?'
'He says it's important Mom.' Michael shrugged. 'He sounded, I dunno, insistent.'
'I have to admit honey, if Brandon thinks it's important then it probably is. He's usually so laidback, unlike his father.' Murdock said wryly. 'Guess this means we won't be flying today.' He sighed and Michael turned to his mother for her approval.
'Ok but don't be too long and try to be back before dinner.' Kelly told him not looking particularly happy about it.
'I will, thanks Mom.' Michael kissed his mother's cheek and grabbed his baseball cap from the table before running out the door.
***
It didn't take long for Michael to reach the library, he went inside and found Brandon on one of the computers surfing the Internet. Next to him on the desk was a stack of photocopied pages. On seats round the table near him were Nicky, Emily, Maria, Danny and Johnny.
Brandon turned to greet him as he approached. 'Hey man.' He said and held his hand out for Michael to shake. Michael did so then grabbed a chair and sat round the table. Brandon left the computer and sat with them.
'Hey, so what was so important that you dragged me all the way over here when I was just about to convince Mom to let me go fly with Dad?'
Brandon didn't smile, he looked deadly serious. 'Like I said I found something you should take a look at.' He handed Michael one of the photocopies, frowning he accepted it noticing that the faces of his friends were likewise serious. Even Danny's usually smiling features were sombre.
Michael looked down and felt an electric current of shock run through him. Staring him right in the face was a picture of his father, Brandon's father, Maria and Danny's father and Johnny's father.
'The A-Team escapes prison?' Michael read taken aback. He wasn't sure what to make of it. 'Last night three men escaped on the way to Fort Bragg where they were to serve a life sentence for theft and murder.' Michael felt sick to his very stomach. 'The three men, Colonel John 'Hannibal' Smith, Lieutenant Templeton 'Faceman' Peck and Bosco 'BA' Baracus, are believed to be armed and dangerous. Captain HM 'Howling Mad' Murdock, the fourth member of the unit, is currently residing in the psychiatric ward of the Veteran's Administration in Westwood. His is alleged to have been working with them when the crimes were committed but could not be reached for comment.'
Michael stopped reading unable to go on, there was more but he couldn't bring himself to read it. 'What kind of sick joke is this?' He demanded angrily.
'It's all true.' Danny said quietly. 'Brandon found more articles.'
Johnny picked up the thread. 'Apparently when our dad's were in 'Nam they murdered one Colonel Morrison and robbed the Bank of Hanoi. Well, except for your dad, they don't think he actually participated in the robbery and murder, he was just their pilot. He went crazy over there and they committed him to the VA.'
Michael was shaking. 'No, no way. It can't be true.' He swallowed hard and shook his head.
'Mike.' Emily said gently. 'It is.'
'What are you saying?' He asked desperately, pleadingly. 'That our father is crazy, Em? Because that's what it sounds like?'
'No.' Brandon interrupted. 'Not anymore, they found him sane in '86. The others got their pardons soon after.'
'They were on the run for well over ten years.' Danny told him. 'Several people tried to capture them but failed. Each time they avoided the military and the papers are full of stories of people who've been helped by a group of unidentifieds. A couple of times they were caught but each time they escaped.'
Michael took off his baseball cap and twisted it around in his hands. 'This isn't possible.'
Nicky stood up and threw a newspaper photocopy at Michael it landed on the table in front of him; he kept tossing the pages at his brother. 'Take a look Mike; you'll see it's all there in black and white. He's a nut, a crazy goddamned nut!'
Michael sprang out of his chair so hard it tipped over backward; he grabbed Nicky and slammed him back into the wall. 'No! Don't you ever talk about our dad like that again. If you do I swear I'll.' He broke off and released his brother. He picked up his cap and replaced it on his head.
'Mike.' Maria said. 'Fighting isn't going to help any. Johnny what are we going to do?'
Michael turned on them before Johnny could answer. 'I'll tell you what we're gonna do, we're gonna ask them, confront them about this whole crazy shit!' He turned and began to walk out of the library, shoving out of his way the startled assistant who had come to see what all the noise was about.
'Mike!' Danny called after him. 'Damn.' He whispered under his breath and got up to follow his best friend. Michael hardly ever swore and to hear him do it now was proof of just how angry his friend was.
He caught up with him in the foyer and grabbed hold of his arm. 'Mike, think about this before you go charging in there accusing them of anything and everything.'
Mike rounded on him, his eyes blazing. Danny couldn't remember seeing his friend so angry, what was worse was that it was a cold kind of angry that cut right through you. 'They lied to us Danny. They acted like model citizens, like they're better than we are when all this time.' He broke off unable to finish the sentence.
'Look man, I understand and I'd expect this kind of behaviour from Nicky but not from you.'
Michael laughed bitterly. 'Yeah well my dad's crazy which means I probably am too, that's the sort of thing that changes a guy, don't ya think? You know I could accept inheriting his flying genes and I could accept the fact that one day I was probably going to lose my hair. But you know what? I can't accept this; I can't accept the fact that one day I'm going to lose my mind as well. I jut can't. They had no right to keep this from us, to just let us find out like this as if we don't matter and I am not going to sit by and let them get away with treating us like this.'
He walked away but Danny still followed him. 'You know what I think this is about?' He asked barely able to keep his own anger under control, his usual suaveness and charm gone. 'I think that you've put your dad up on a pedestal, in your eyes he's perfect, can't do anything wrong. And now you read this and realise that he's not as perfect as you thought and it hurts so you're going to go home and take it out on him when all he was probably trying to do was protect you, trying protect all of us.'
Michael ignored him and carried on walking. Normally Danny was the one person who could get through to him but not today, not now, not after this. When he'd seen that photograph and read the article something inside him had changed.
June 2001 - Los Angeles
Michael Jonathon Murdock took a bite out of his sandwich and listened intently to John Smith Junior as he talked about his father's latest escapade. Johnny, like his father, was something of a leader. He was tall and broad shouldered and out of all of them he was the one who took charge when things got rowdy which was often.
John Smith Senior may have been in his latter years but that didn't stop him from living his life exactly the way he wanted to. Michael's father often said that he would probably live longer than any of them he was so hyped up on 'Jazz'. This expression that was often used within his father's circle of friends intrigued Michael, he had never understood it.
Michael's father was Captain HM Murdock and not even Michael knew what the HM really stood for. His father was an expert pilot and could fly anything with wings, or so he boasted. Michael had inherited his father's love of flying along with his height and soft brown eyes.
Captain Murdock had been in the Vietnam War with Colonel John Smith, Sergeant Bosco Baracus and Lieutenant Templeton Peck and they were close friends, in fact they were more like family. And so their children had become friends, they had all grown up together and their friendship had remained solid all through elementary and middle schools.
Now they were in high school and were still friends often spending lunches together as well as every spare hour outside school.
Michael took a minute to look round at his group of friends. Sitting to his right was Daniel Peck and his twin sister Maria. Both had blond hair and green eyes, they got on well together although Maria was sometimes annoyed by the way Daniel treated his girlfriends. Daniel was the same as his father had been until he'd met the twin's mother. He went through women at an alarming rate and Michael struggled to keep up with who his best friend was dating next.
Over in the corner was Brandon Baracus, he was a well muscled, young black man. Although he looked tough he was one of the nicest people that Michael knew. Not that Brandon couldn't look after himself if he wanted to. He was incredibly intelligent which was something that people who met him didn't always realise at first glance. He and his father could often be found under the hood of BA Baracus' van working on some mechanical problem. Brandon had inherited his father's mechanical genius but preferred working with wood than with anything else. At this moment he was whittling away at a piece of wood, his long, deft fingers working it into a shape of its own. Michael had no doubt that whatever it turned out to be, it would be a work of art.
To Michael's left were his brother Nicky and his sister Emily. Nicky was something of a wild child and was frequently arguing with his father over something or other. In contrast to Michael, Nicky hated flying with a passion. Nicky was quick tempered and always seemed ready for a fight.
Michael's attention was drawn to Emily; she was the apple of everyone's eye, had her mother's eyes, her father's smile and loved animals. She was the peacekeeper of the group and often tried to mend the rift between her brother and father. She was the youngest of all of them.
Michael was the oldest of the group, the first-born but it was usually Johnny who took the lead which never bothered anyone, somehow it seemed right.
'Hey Mikey, you with us?'
Michael blinked as he realised that Daniel was talking to him, in fact all of his friends were staring at him.
'Sorry guys, I kinda switched off there, what are we talking about?'
Johnny smirked. 'If it isn't about flying you're not interested are you?'
Michael just smiled not bothering to defend himself against the good natured teasing. 'Sorry, where were you?'
'Just about to explain about this year's vacation, thought you might be interested.'
Michael sat up straighter, each year the kids and their parents went away for a couple of weeks together. It was always a lot of fun and he looked forward to it.
'Sure, might be.'
This brought laughter from everyone. 'Come on Johnny, of course he's interested. Dad promised that he could pilot the plane this year. That's all he's been talking about for the past month.' Nicky smirked at his brother.
'That's if my dad'll go.' Brandon spoke up.
'Your dad always goes Brandon he just pretends he doesn't want to go.' Maria said turning to him.
'He hates to fly.' Brandon shrugged.
'I die before I fly.' Nicky said in an eerie impression of BA Baracus.
'We go through this every year Brandon; he says he doesn't want to go. Your mom coaxes him into going and he pulls out at the last minute so Dad either has to hit him with a piece of 2 by 4 or give him a sleeping pill.'
'Yeah and your dad gets that look in his eyes when he gets to use the 2 by 4 Danny. Do you remember that year he forgot the pills and couldn't find any 2 by 4?' Johnny asked. 'Yeah, Murdock was going crazy because he thought we'd have to drive down so he gave him an injection from Kelly's bag. It turned out to be an animal tranquillizer, BA was singing all the way.'
'Trust your dad to give him an animal tranquillizer Mike.'
Michael smiled and nodded. It was never a quiet time when they went on vacation. Something always happened.
***
Michael walked into the family kitchen to find Face sitting at the table. This was nothing unusual, one or other of his dad's buddies was usually here. His mother was busy cooking dinner and looked up.
'Hey honey, good day at school?'
Michael nodded. 'Great Mom, what's for dinner?'
Kelly smiled. 'Meatloaf.'
'Yummy.' A voice said from the doorway and Michael turned to see his father leaning against the doorframe with a grin on his face.
Kelly laughed lightly. 'You'll have to wait like the rest of them.' She said smiling adoringly at her husband.
Murdock pretended to be upset and pouted. 'Aww come on, I've been at work all day and I'm starving.'
'If you think hauling over that heap of junk you call an aeroplane is work then I don't know what it was that I was doing all day.' Kelly teased.
'Kelly, it is not a heap of junk or at least it won't be when I've finished with it.'
'Yeah.' Face put in. 'That is a good aeroplane, the guy I brought it from said it was one of the best, ok so it's got a little bit of rust and the propellers don't work properly but it's still a good plane.'
Kelly just laughed. Face was well known for his ability to get almost anything you wanted even it wasn't always in mint condition. He and Murdock had bought the plane so that Murdock could do it up which meant that Murdock spent more time down at the airfield than at home. 'Face you did not buy it, you scammed it.'
'Kelly I'm hurt that you could think such a thing.' Face protested and Kelly shook her head wordlessly, Face never ceased to amaze her.
'You ready to fly kid?' Murdock asked his son.
Michael grinned. 'I'm always ready to fly Dad.'
His father grinned back and Face smiled in amusement. The resemblance between father and son was easy to see in that moment.
'Have you done your homework?' Kelly asked.
Michael put down his bag. 'I'll do it when I come back Mom.'
'And what about your chores? Are you going to pay Emily to do them for you again?'
'You paid Emily to do your chores?' Murdock asked and Michael nodded sheepishly.
Murdock shook his head. 'You're supposed to bribe her not pay her.'
'Murdock!' Kelly exclaimed. 'Don't encourage him.'
Face laughed and got up. 'I'd better go home, Dana's cooking dinner as we speak. Nice to see you Kelly.' He kissed Kelly's cheek.
'Good to see you too Face. Take care.' She kissed him back and turned again to her meatloaf.
'See ya Faceman.' Murdock said with a grin. 'I'll see ya down the airfield bright and early tomorrow.'
'I didn't tell you? Dana and I are going to see her mother for the day; I can't get out of it.'
Murdock shook his head. 'No, Face you didn't tell me. Doesn't matter, catch ya later muchacho.'
Face nodded and with a wave to Michael, he left for his own house. Almost as soon as he'd gone the telephone rang.
Murdock picked it up. 'Hello, oh hey Brandon. Listen, can you tell your dad I'm ready for that engine when he is. Sure, he's here. Mike, Brandon for ya.'
He passed the phone over to his son and then scooped an apple out of the fruit bowl. A hand reached out and took it from him promptly. 'No.' Kelly said. 'We'll be eating in an hour; I don't want you filling up before then.'
'It's just an apple Kell, perfectly healthy.' Her husband protested.
'And what about after that, what comes next? Twinkies? Oreo's? I know you Captain; you've got a garbage disposal for a stomach.'
Murdock grinned and wrapped his arms around his wife's waist. 'That's why you love me baby.' Kelly laughed and kissed him.
'Wait a minute Brandon, you want me to what?' Michael asked into the phone.
'Look man it's important, I was researching in the library for that paper we have to do on the Vietnam War and I found something you should take a look at.'
'Brandon, I have homework to do, Mom's not gonna let me out of the house this close to dinner and Dad already wants to take me out in the plane. I can't be in all those places at once.'
'Please Mike, I've called the others too, they're on their way over. It's real important, man.'
The sense of urgency in his friend's voice convinced Michael that this was serious.
'Ok Brandon, I'll be there as soon as I can.'
He put the phone down with a sigh and Murdock looked over. 'Everything ok Mike?'
'Yeah, Brandon wants me to go over to the library, says he's got something to show me.'
Kelly frowned. 'Right now, this close to dinner?'
'He says it's important Mom.' Michael shrugged. 'He sounded, I dunno, insistent.'
'I have to admit honey, if Brandon thinks it's important then it probably is. He's usually so laidback, unlike his father.' Murdock said wryly. 'Guess this means we won't be flying today.' He sighed and Michael turned to his mother for her approval.
'Ok but don't be too long and try to be back before dinner.' Kelly told him not looking particularly happy about it.
'I will, thanks Mom.' Michael kissed his mother's cheek and grabbed his baseball cap from the table before running out the door.
***
It didn't take long for Michael to reach the library, he went inside and found Brandon on one of the computers surfing the Internet. Next to him on the desk was a stack of photocopied pages. On seats round the table near him were Nicky, Emily, Maria, Danny and Johnny.
Brandon turned to greet him as he approached. 'Hey man.' He said and held his hand out for Michael to shake. Michael did so then grabbed a chair and sat round the table. Brandon left the computer and sat with them.
'Hey, so what was so important that you dragged me all the way over here when I was just about to convince Mom to let me go fly with Dad?'
Brandon didn't smile, he looked deadly serious. 'Like I said I found something you should take a look at.' He handed Michael one of the photocopies, frowning he accepted it noticing that the faces of his friends were likewise serious. Even Danny's usually smiling features were sombre.
Michael looked down and felt an electric current of shock run through him. Staring him right in the face was a picture of his father, Brandon's father, Maria and Danny's father and Johnny's father.
'The A-Team escapes prison?' Michael read taken aback. He wasn't sure what to make of it. 'Last night three men escaped on the way to Fort Bragg where they were to serve a life sentence for theft and murder.' Michael felt sick to his very stomach. 'The three men, Colonel John 'Hannibal' Smith, Lieutenant Templeton 'Faceman' Peck and Bosco 'BA' Baracus, are believed to be armed and dangerous. Captain HM 'Howling Mad' Murdock, the fourth member of the unit, is currently residing in the psychiatric ward of the Veteran's Administration in Westwood. His is alleged to have been working with them when the crimes were committed but could not be reached for comment.'
Michael stopped reading unable to go on, there was more but he couldn't bring himself to read it. 'What kind of sick joke is this?' He demanded angrily.
'It's all true.' Danny said quietly. 'Brandon found more articles.'
Johnny picked up the thread. 'Apparently when our dad's were in 'Nam they murdered one Colonel Morrison and robbed the Bank of Hanoi. Well, except for your dad, they don't think he actually participated in the robbery and murder, he was just their pilot. He went crazy over there and they committed him to the VA.'
Michael was shaking. 'No, no way. It can't be true.' He swallowed hard and shook his head.
'Mike.' Emily said gently. 'It is.'
'What are you saying?' He asked desperately, pleadingly. 'That our father is crazy, Em? Because that's what it sounds like?'
'No.' Brandon interrupted. 'Not anymore, they found him sane in '86. The others got their pardons soon after.'
'They were on the run for well over ten years.' Danny told him. 'Several people tried to capture them but failed. Each time they avoided the military and the papers are full of stories of people who've been helped by a group of unidentifieds. A couple of times they were caught but each time they escaped.'
Michael took off his baseball cap and twisted it around in his hands. 'This isn't possible.'
Nicky stood up and threw a newspaper photocopy at Michael it landed on the table in front of him; he kept tossing the pages at his brother. 'Take a look Mike; you'll see it's all there in black and white. He's a nut, a crazy goddamned nut!'
Michael sprang out of his chair so hard it tipped over backward; he grabbed Nicky and slammed him back into the wall. 'No! Don't you ever talk about our dad like that again. If you do I swear I'll.' He broke off and released his brother. He picked up his cap and replaced it on his head.
'Mike.' Maria said. 'Fighting isn't going to help any. Johnny what are we going to do?'
Michael turned on them before Johnny could answer. 'I'll tell you what we're gonna do, we're gonna ask them, confront them about this whole crazy shit!' He turned and began to walk out of the library, shoving out of his way the startled assistant who had come to see what all the noise was about.
'Mike!' Danny called after him. 'Damn.' He whispered under his breath and got up to follow his best friend. Michael hardly ever swore and to hear him do it now was proof of just how angry his friend was.
He caught up with him in the foyer and grabbed hold of his arm. 'Mike, think about this before you go charging in there accusing them of anything and everything.'
Mike rounded on him, his eyes blazing. Danny couldn't remember seeing his friend so angry, what was worse was that it was a cold kind of angry that cut right through you. 'They lied to us Danny. They acted like model citizens, like they're better than we are when all this time.' He broke off unable to finish the sentence.
'Look man, I understand and I'd expect this kind of behaviour from Nicky but not from you.'
Michael laughed bitterly. 'Yeah well my dad's crazy which means I probably am too, that's the sort of thing that changes a guy, don't ya think? You know I could accept inheriting his flying genes and I could accept the fact that one day I was probably going to lose my hair. But you know what? I can't accept this; I can't accept the fact that one day I'm going to lose my mind as well. I jut can't. They had no right to keep this from us, to just let us find out like this as if we don't matter and I am not going to sit by and let them get away with treating us like this.'
He walked away but Danny still followed him. 'You know what I think this is about?' He asked barely able to keep his own anger under control, his usual suaveness and charm gone. 'I think that you've put your dad up on a pedestal, in your eyes he's perfect, can't do anything wrong. And now you read this and realise that he's not as perfect as you thought and it hurts so you're going to go home and take it out on him when all he was probably trying to do was protect you, trying protect all of us.'
Michael ignored him and carried on walking. Normally Danny was the one person who could get through to him but not today, not now, not after this. When he'd seen that photograph and read the article something inside him had changed.
