CHAPTER TWELVE
Murdock stood at the bottom of the fire escape that went down the side of Miguel's building. He was reading a newspaper waiting for his signal. The bathroom of the apartment was the only room that wasn't bugged; it would be here that Murdock would make his entrance.
Round the corner Johnny and Hannibal were slouched on a bench in disguise as drunks, they had a perfect view of the building Stockwell had commandeered as his headquarters. They would know the instant that any trouble started.
Face, Maria and Danny were on the rooftop of a nearby building, guns at the ready, surveying the street below. They were keeping eagle eyes on Murdock.
Brandon and BA were in BA's van, listening to the microphone taped to Murdock. They'd know every word that was said.
In the car that Face had scammed, Joseph sat watching carefully, he knew the routine of the guards that constantly observed Miguel's apartment. In two minutes the guards would change shift and that was when Nick would move and the ball would start rolling.
Murdock whistled as he pretended to read the newspaper, he was nervous and tried not to look at his watch too often. It seemed to be taking forever and what made it worse was the fact that he knew that across the street his son was preparing himself to kill the man that he was going to impersonate.
He saw Nicky walk over to one of the men that were standing on the corner and talk to them. There seemed to be some hesitation before the guys walked away and left Nick standing there alone.
Nick stood there for a few minutes until the men were out of sight and then hurried over to Murdock. 'Ok Dad lets go, thought they weren't going to buy it for a moment there.'
Murdock nodded. 'Thought you had problems.' He pulled the fire escape down and started to climb, Nick following behind. 'Moving into position now BA.' Murdock said softly into the microphone taped to his chest.
'Right.' BA said and then nodded to Brandon. His son picked up his own radio. 'Face, Hannibal, Joseph. Murdock's getting into position now, get ready.' An affirmative came back from all three and Brandon nodded at BA.
'All clear Murdock. No crazy daredevil stunts fool, just get him and get outta there.'
'You got it big guy.' Murdock answered; they were outside the bathroom window now. He eased it up and climbed in. Nick spoke into his own radio.
'He's in position Brandon'
'Right.' Brandon answered. 'Danny, where's Miguel now?'
Danny, perched on the rooftop was looking at his laptop which showed a view of Miguel's apartment. About an hour earlier, Johnny had managed to get in and out of the apartment successfully planting a bug in the blind spot that Joseph had told him about.
'He's in the living area right now, he's up and heading your way. Tell Murdock to get ready, he's moving towards the bathroom.'
'Ok.' Nick said as he heard Danny's voice in his ear. 'Dad.' He hissed. 'He's headed your way, it's time.'
Murdock nodded and climbed into the shower and drew the curtain concealing himself. Miguel would never know he was there until Murdock made his move. The door to the bathroom opened and shut and Murdock pulled back the curtain and kicked Miguel in the stomach. He bit down on a groan as he felt a muscle pull. He hadn't used that move in quite a while.
He slammed Miguel's face into his knee and the man crumpled to the floor. Murdock hurried to the window and opened it. Nick climbed inside, as Murdock busied himself putting on the hairpiece and glasses, Nick picked up Miguel and got him out of the bathroom and onto the fire escape. He was halfway out of the window when he turned to look at his father; he had to admit that the disguise was good; he just hoped it was good enough. Something made him climb back in the room and he hugged his dad.
Murdock was startled. 'Hey.' He said softly and hugged him tight. 'See ya soon kid.' He ruffled Nick's hair affectionately the way he had when Nicky was a kid and for once his son didn't protest.
'Dad, I'm sor.' Nick stopped unable to say it no matter how much wanted to. He took a step back and grinned at his father. 'Good luck, Dad.'
Murdock nodded. 'Thanks.' He grinned back. 'And I know you are, now go.'
In the van BA grinned to himself as he overheard the conversation, he'd seen in the last year that the gap between father and son was slowing being bridged and had sensed that this day had been soon to come. He had a feeling that from now on there would be less tension between Nicky and Murdock.
Nicky climbed out the window, shut it and slapped Miguel's face; the man came awake with a jerk. 'Whaaa.'
'Shh.' Nick told him, a hard grip on his shoulder. 'You make a sound and I'll kill ya, got that?' He produced a gun from about his person and pointed it at Miguel. 'I'm not afraid to use this so I want you to go down this fire escape nice and slow, no tricks cos if you do you might end up missing a head, got that?' He grinned at Miguel and Miguel nodded vigoursly.
'Who are you?'
'You could say I'm a friend who's looking out for your best interests. Now up and just in case you got any funny ideas there's a sniper on the roof of the next building who will shoot if you try anything. You just keep that in mind when you're climbing down.'
Miguel obeyed and climbed down the fire escape with Nick following.
***
Michael walked out of Stockwell's building and took a deep breath. It was time and everything hung in the balance, what he did now would determine what would happen to him afterwards, it could mean the difference between a life and a death. The question was who would be the one who would live and who would be the one that would die?
He patted his jacket and felt the reassuring weight of the gun concealed there. He still wasn't sure that he could do this but he knew better than to think of just turning and running for the bus station. He was fully aware that he was being closely watched on all sides and Stockwell would find him, there was no escape. It was now or never and never wasn't an option he even wanted to consider.
He walked into Miguel's building feeling unnerved by the tramp that was watching him from the bench outside. A cleaner in the lobby looked up at him as he mopped the floor and Michael felt a weird sensation that he knew the guy somehow but the face wouldn't click in his mind.
He entered the elevator and punched the button for the third floor, the elevator rose leaving behind the cleaner who pulled out a radio. 'He's heading up to the third floor now.' Johnny said and the tramp outside on the bench discreetly spoke into his own radio.
'Ok good, follow him up Johnny, Joseph it's time. Cut the wires when Danny gives you the signal.' Hannibal replaced his radio. He got up and headed to the van. Hopping inside he pulled off the alcohol and smoke smelling overcoat and the wig and moustache. 'Ready BA?' He asked grabbing a semi- automatic.
BA gave a sharp nod and handed the headphones over to Brandon. 'Let me know if there's any trouble.' He instructed, taking a gun for himself.
'Sure thing Dad.' He spoke into the radio. 'Dad and Hannibal are ready for you Face.'
Up on the rooftop Face watched Hannibal and BA step out of the van. 'Right there.' He handed the binoculars over to Maria and his gun to Danny. 'You sure you're ok with this?'
'We're fine. Now go.' Danny told him, sneaking a quick look at the laptop. Murdock's disguise was really effective; he had to look hard to make sure that it really was his godfather there.
*** Michael knocked on the door of Miguel's apartment feeling extremely nervous. His palms were sweaty and felt slightly nauseous. There was the sound of a voice from within. 'It's open.' Swallowing hard Michael opened the door and stepped inside.
The apartment was familiar to him as his own home and it felt strange stepping into it. Miguel was seated in a chair with his back to Michael. Michael approached, one hand reaching inside his jacket for his gun.
Miguel stood and walked towards him and Michael's eyes widened with shock as he recognised his father.
Up on the roof Danny gave the signal. 'Now Joseph, he's recognised him.'
Down in the street below, Joseph cut the wire that BA had tapped into the bugs that Stockwell's men had placed.
In the apartment that faced Miguel's apartment the laptop on the desk showed only static, in Stockwell's office the big screen monitor also showed static. Instantly men ran from the building heading for Miguel's apartment. Amongst the confusion, Hannibal, Face and BA slipped inside.
*** For a long moment Michael could do nothing but stare at his father and Murdock pulled off the wig and glasses. 'Mike.' He said and still his son stared dumbly at him.
'You're.you're.Miguel.'
'I know Mikey, I know what you're here to do and I'm here to stop it, I'm here to bring you home.'
Michael swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry. 'Home?' He whispered hoarsely. For a year home had been just a distant dream, a vague memory of times when he hadn't had to fear for his life, when he hadn't been trained to think of death.
Seeing the shock on Mike's face, Murdock grabbed hold of his arm and hauled him into the bathroom. 'Come on.' He slammed the door shut and locked it. 'I'm not gonna make you Michael, you want to stay here fair enough, but Son, I refuse to let you work for Stockwell, the man is slime.'
Michael licked his lips. 'Stockwell..' Again words failed him, for a moment he'd been so completely fooled, so sure that the man walking towards him was Miguel, if he'd fired the gun earlier, if he hadn't hesitated.he couldn't think it.
'We don't have much time Mike, I can't make the choice for you, I can't make you come home, and I know that. It's up to you but you have to decide now because any minute this place is gonna be swarming with Stockwell's guys and you'll be in a very tight spot, we both will.'
A strange sense of calmness came over Michael and he looked up at his father who he hadn't seen for a whole year. 'I can't Dad.'
Murdock shook his head. 'Joseph told me everything and I'm not going anywhere, none of us are, you have nothing to worry about. Please Michael, I'm asking you now, we want you back where you belong, we want you home. Don't walk out on us again.'
From outside the bathroom there was the sound of the apartment door bursting open. Michael looked at the bathroom door and then back at his father, he'd made his choice, he just hoped it would be the right one.
Murdock stood at the bottom of the fire escape that went down the side of Miguel's building. He was reading a newspaper waiting for his signal. The bathroom of the apartment was the only room that wasn't bugged; it would be here that Murdock would make his entrance.
Round the corner Johnny and Hannibal were slouched on a bench in disguise as drunks, they had a perfect view of the building Stockwell had commandeered as his headquarters. They would know the instant that any trouble started.
Face, Maria and Danny were on the rooftop of a nearby building, guns at the ready, surveying the street below. They were keeping eagle eyes on Murdock.
Brandon and BA were in BA's van, listening to the microphone taped to Murdock. They'd know every word that was said.
In the car that Face had scammed, Joseph sat watching carefully, he knew the routine of the guards that constantly observed Miguel's apartment. In two minutes the guards would change shift and that was when Nick would move and the ball would start rolling.
Murdock whistled as he pretended to read the newspaper, he was nervous and tried not to look at his watch too often. It seemed to be taking forever and what made it worse was the fact that he knew that across the street his son was preparing himself to kill the man that he was going to impersonate.
He saw Nicky walk over to one of the men that were standing on the corner and talk to them. There seemed to be some hesitation before the guys walked away and left Nick standing there alone.
Nick stood there for a few minutes until the men were out of sight and then hurried over to Murdock. 'Ok Dad lets go, thought they weren't going to buy it for a moment there.'
Murdock nodded. 'Thought you had problems.' He pulled the fire escape down and started to climb, Nick following behind. 'Moving into position now BA.' Murdock said softly into the microphone taped to his chest.
'Right.' BA said and then nodded to Brandon. His son picked up his own radio. 'Face, Hannibal, Joseph. Murdock's getting into position now, get ready.' An affirmative came back from all three and Brandon nodded at BA.
'All clear Murdock. No crazy daredevil stunts fool, just get him and get outta there.'
'You got it big guy.' Murdock answered; they were outside the bathroom window now. He eased it up and climbed in. Nick spoke into his own radio.
'He's in position Brandon'
'Right.' Brandon answered. 'Danny, where's Miguel now?'
Danny, perched on the rooftop was looking at his laptop which showed a view of Miguel's apartment. About an hour earlier, Johnny had managed to get in and out of the apartment successfully planting a bug in the blind spot that Joseph had told him about.
'He's in the living area right now, he's up and heading your way. Tell Murdock to get ready, he's moving towards the bathroom.'
'Ok.' Nick said as he heard Danny's voice in his ear. 'Dad.' He hissed. 'He's headed your way, it's time.'
Murdock nodded and climbed into the shower and drew the curtain concealing himself. Miguel would never know he was there until Murdock made his move. The door to the bathroom opened and shut and Murdock pulled back the curtain and kicked Miguel in the stomach. He bit down on a groan as he felt a muscle pull. He hadn't used that move in quite a while.
He slammed Miguel's face into his knee and the man crumpled to the floor. Murdock hurried to the window and opened it. Nick climbed inside, as Murdock busied himself putting on the hairpiece and glasses, Nick picked up Miguel and got him out of the bathroom and onto the fire escape. He was halfway out of the window when he turned to look at his father; he had to admit that the disguise was good; he just hoped it was good enough. Something made him climb back in the room and he hugged his dad.
Murdock was startled. 'Hey.' He said softly and hugged him tight. 'See ya soon kid.' He ruffled Nick's hair affectionately the way he had when Nicky was a kid and for once his son didn't protest.
'Dad, I'm sor.' Nick stopped unable to say it no matter how much wanted to. He took a step back and grinned at his father. 'Good luck, Dad.'
Murdock nodded. 'Thanks.' He grinned back. 'And I know you are, now go.'
In the van BA grinned to himself as he overheard the conversation, he'd seen in the last year that the gap between father and son was slowing being bridged and had sensed that this day had been soon to come. He had a feeling that from now on there would be less tension between Nicky and Murdock.
Nicky climbed out the window, shut it and slapped Miguel's face; the man came awake with a jerk. 'Whaaa.'
'Shh.' Nick told him, a hard grip on his shoulder. 'You make a sound and I'll kill ya, got that?' He produced a gun from about his person and pointed it at Miguel. 'I'm not afraid to use this so I want you to go down this fire escape nice and slow, no tricks cos if you do you might end up missing a head, got that?' He grinned at Miguel and Miguel nodded vigoursly.
'Who are you?'
'You could say I'm a friend who's looking out for your best interests. Now up and just in case you got any funny ideas there's a sniper on the roof of the next building who will shoot if you try anything. You just keep that in mind when you're climbing down.'
Miguel obeyed and climbed down the fire escape with Nick following.
***
Michael walked out of Stockwell's building and took a deep breath. It was time and everything hung in the balance, what he did now would determine what would happen to him afterwards, it could mean the difference between a life and a death. The question was who would be the one who would live and who would be the one that would die?
He patted his jacket and felt the reassuring weight of the gun concealed there. He still wasn't sure that he could do this but he knew better than to think of just turning and running for the bus station. He was fully aware that he was being closely watched on all sides and Stockwell would find him, there was no escape. It was now or never and never wasn't an option he even wanted to consider.
He walked into Miguel's building feeling unnerved by the tramp that was watching him from the bench outside. A cleaner in the lobby looked up at him as he mopped the floor and Michael felt a weird sensation that he knew the guy somehow but the face wouldn't click in his mind.
He entered the elevator and punched the button for the third floor, the elevator rose leaving behind the cleaner who pulled out a radio. 'He's heading up to the third floor now.' Johnny said and the tramp outside on the bench discreetly spoke into his own radio.
'Ok good, follow him up Johnny, Joseph it's time. Cut the wires when Danny gives you the signal.' Hannibal replaced his radio. He got up and headed to the van. Hopping inside he pulled off the alcohol and smoke smelling overcoat and the wig and moustache. 'Ready BA?' He asked grabbing a semi- automatic.
BA gave a sharp nod and handed the headphones over to Brandon. 'Let me know if there's any trouble.' He instructed, taking a gun for himself.
'Sure thing Dad.' He spoke into the radio. 'Dad and Hannibal are ready for you Face.'
Up on the rooftop Face watched Hannibal and BA step out of the van. 'Right there.' He handed the binoculars over to Maria and his gun to Danny. 'You sure you're ok with this?'
'We're fine. Now go.' Danny told him, sneaking a quick look at the laptop. Murdock's disguise was really effective; he had to look hard to make sure that it really was his godfather there.
*** Michael knocked on the door of Miguel's apartment feeling extremely nervous. His palms were sweaty and felt slightly nauseous. There was the sound of a voice from within. 'It's open.' Swallowing hard Michael opened the door and stepped inside.
The apartment was familiar to him as his own home and it felt strange stepping into it. Miguel was seated in a chair with his back to Michael. Michael approached, one hand reaching inside his jacket for his gun.
Miguel stood and walked towards him and Michael's eyes widened with shock as he recognised his father.
Up on the roof Danny gave the signal. 'Now Joseph, he's recognised him.'
Down in the street below, Joseph cut the wire that BA had tapped into the bugs that Stockwell's men had placed.
In the apartment that faced Miguel's apartment the laptop on the desk showed only static, in Stockwell's office the big screen monitor also showed static. Instantly men ran from the building heading for Miguel's apartment. Amongst the confusion, Hannibal, Face and BA slipped inside.
*** For a long moment Michael could do nothing but stare at his father and Murdock pulled off the wig and glasses. 'Mike.' He said and still his son stared dumbly at him.
'You're.you're.Miguel.'
'I know Mikey, I know what you're here to do and I'm here to stop it, I'm here to bring you home.'
Michael swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry. 'Home?' He whispered hoarsely. For a year home had been just a distant dream, a vague memory of times when he hadn't had to fear for his life, when he hadn't been trained to think of death.
Seeing the shock on Mike's face, Murdock grabbed hold of his arm and hauled him into the bathroom. 'Come on.' He slammed the door shut and locked it. 'I'm not gonna make you Michael, you want to stay here fair enough, but Son, I refuse to let you work for Stockwell, the man is slime.'
Michael licked his lips. 'Stockwell..' Again words failed him, for a moment he'd been so completely fooled, so sure that the man walking towards him was Miguel, if he'd fired the gun earlier, if he hadn't hesitated.he couldn't think it.
'We don't have much time Mike, I can't make the choice for you, I can't make you come home, and I know that. It's up to you but you have to decide now because any minute this place is gonna be swarming with Stockwell's guys and you'll be in a very tight spot, we both will.'
A strange sense of calmness came over Michael and he looked up at his father who he hadn't seen for a whole year. 'I can't Dad.'
Murdock shook his head. 'Joseph told me everything and I'm not going anywhere, none of us are, you have nothing to worry about. Please Michael, I'm asking you now, we want you back where you belong, we want you home. Don't walk out on us again.'
From outside the bathroom there was the sound of the apartment door bursting open. Michael looked at the bathroom door and then back at his father, he'd made his choice, he just hoped it would be the right one.
