The grunting and muffled yells of Joseph Lucco aka Joey Luck, woke Dylan who had fallen asleep on the couch. "Damn," she yelled sitting up and rubbing her eyes. She looked at the clock it was seven in the morning and the sun was up but no sign of Mitchum. She went into the kitchen and picked up the phone and called the FBI agent's number. He answered on the second ring. "Mitchum."

"Agent Mitchum, Lucy here," she said angrily. "I just woke up and saw that there is a man by the name of Joey Luck still bound and gagged in my living room. I thought you were coming by to get him."

"I am Dyl..Lucy, on my way now, but we had a problem. Right after you called a homeless man found the body of another of the Chief's assassins at the dump; a guy known as Manfred 'Big Man' Sayer."

"I've heard of him," said Dylan hoping up on the counter top.

"I figured you would have. He didn't die pretty. There was lots of blood. Look I'll give you the details when I get there. Meanwhile don't go near Lucco. I'm bringing back up and we will take him away." Mitchum hung up before she could tell him about the rug.

"Oh well," she thought, "just another surprise for him." She took a shower and placed the black wig on her head. It really did make her look like another person. She flipped thought the closet and learned that Lucrezia obviously lived in a black, white and metallic world. All the furniture in the apartment was white with chrome trim but all the clothes were black except for a few white cotton and silk shirts. She smiled as she thought to herself, "Must be standard high class assassin clothing. Anthony must have done this every morning. It certainly does make getting dressed easier if not duller," as she pulled a pair of black pants with flared bottoms and one of the crisp white shirts off the hanger. She decided it needed a little something so she tied it at the bottom. "I feel so Audrey Hepburn," she said to herself looking in the mirror then added Alex's suede boots.

The door bell rang. She cautiously looked out the peep hole it was Mitchum and a two other men so she opened the door. "Hey," she said.

"Lucy, Agents Daniels and Miller," said Mitchum going inside and scanning the premises. Daniels and Miller politely nodded. "So where is he?"

"Living room," she said and followed the three men. Joey started yelling though the gag again when he saw them. "Sorry about the rug," Dylan said sheepishly.

Mitchum just glared at her. "Daniels, take the garbage out," he said waving to the bound man on the floor. "Miller, call for a steam cleaner." Miller nodded and pulled out his cell phone. "I thought I told you this place is for show."

"Well obviously you didn't tell him that before he broke in here. I did what I had to do and if there was a little blood."she tried to continue but Mitchum cut her off.

"A little blood? It looks like you slaughtered a cow!"

Dylan smiled, "Well at least you know I can do the job."

The agent had to relent and admitted that he had doubts about her. "Yeah you can do the job, but should it come down to you and our agent at the competition tonight I still want you to go down. Got it? Anyway sit. I need to tell you about 'Big Man'."

Dylan sat on the couch and folded one leg underneath her. Mitchum didn't say anything; he just glared at the angel. "Okay so right after you called I got dressed and left to come over here. On the way I received a call from the LAPD, about the discovery of a body at the dump. I didn't think it had anything to do with men or this case until they told me that it had been identified as Manfred Sayer, the Big Man. He had interesting wound that had the homeless man who found him declaring that the body was Jesus." Dylan didn't say anything she waited for him to finish the story. "He had been stabbed through his right hand with what we think was a long narrow dagger. He had another mark similar about four inches above his wrist that went straight though his arm and one that matched in his chest. The homeless guy obviously compared his wounds to that of the crucifixion. What we are going on the theory that these guys, Sayer and Lucco were out to eliminate the competition."

"Why," asked Dylan.

"Why? Because they are dangerous assholes I guess," replied Mitchum.

"No, why would they have to eliminate the competition. Last night you said that Lucco was part of the Chief's 'stable' already. If he was in then why kill the competitors?"

Mitchum looked at her like she had said the dumbest thing he had ever heard, "Because they want the big job. The Chief doesn't think those he has are good enough; they are insulted so if they eliminate the competition then they prove that they are the best. Here," he said handing her a piece of paper. "I printed this out last night from the office. You need to see this."

Dylan unfolded the piece of paper he handed her. On it was the same email that the Thin Man had received. It told that the competition was no to the death but anything goes along with the list of competitors. "Why don't you take the list of competitors and see how many are still standing after last night," she asked.

"Already did that," he answered smugly. Dylan disliked him more and more but had to admit that he was good. "Out of the sixteen on the list only half are still alive or not in the hospital with serious wounds. I would think it would make tonight's job easier but now since they did manage to survive the attack I would say you are up against the best of the best."

Dylan looked at the paper and wondered if that was a good thing and said, "I guess that would make me one of the best of the best."

*-*-*-*-*

At nine on the dot the two remaining angels and Bosley sat down and waited for Charlie's morning call. It wasn't like his calls to be late but Natalie and Alex knew something was going on. "Bosley," said Alex sweetly.

Bosley held up his hands to fend her off, "Whatever it is you want the answer is no, Charlie wouldn't like it."

Alex and Natalie exchanged looks and Alex continued. "Come on Bos. Where is Dylan? We went by her place last night and she had moved out. You can tell us what is going on."

"Yeah, Bosley," said Natalie starting in on the poor man as well. "If Dylan is in some kind of trouble we can help her."

Bosley looked at the two girls and jumped off the couch. It was hard. They could break the toughest man; he hadn't a chance with them. He briefly considered telling them but didn't have a chance as Charlie's voice rang through the room from the white speaker box.

"Good Morning Angels."

"Good Morning Charlie," they said in their duet.

"I want to save the Hardy case until later. First off I want to discuss replacements for Dylan."

"Man he is good," thought Bosley to himself, "He is really playing up that Dylan isn't coming back."

"We have several candidates, Bosley will you turn on the monitor?"

Alex scooted forward on the couch and said, "I don't think we should replace Dylan yet. I think we should give her a chance to think this over. Let us talk to her Charlie and she will come back."

Although she couldn't be seen Natalie nodded enthusiastically.

Charlie gave a tired sigh. "Angels you have to accept that Dylan has moved on and we have to as well. If it makes you girls feel better we don't need to hire a replacement right a way but I would feel better if we decided on someone. Let's look at the candidates and you tell me what you think.

After their morning meeting with Charlie, Natalie and Alex left the office together. "You know I've been thinking about that Alantra woman in Dylan's apartment. I'm going to check her out," said Natalie. "There was something about her. I know I know her from somewhere."

"Good idea. I think I'll see what I can find out about Lucrezia. I hope she isn't also a one name actress. I'm going to drag Jason out and we'll check out some of the clubs in Hollywood. They said she was rather 'gothic' looking so I think I can find her. Or at least get a lead on where she might be."

Natalie leaned over and hugged her friend, "You know I hope Dylan is alright."

"Me too but she is pretty tough. Whatever she is up to I don't think Charlie would let her do anything that would get her hurt. I just hope we can keep putting off this case for Mr. Hardy long enough to locate Dylan." Then the two women separated, got into their respective cars and drove off to look for their lost angel.

*-*-*-*-*

As nine in the evening approached Dylan started feeling apprehensive. Maybe she wasn't cut out for a solo mission like this. She needed to talk to her friends so she picked up the phone and called Bosley. There was no answer at the office so she called Mama Bosley's number.

"Bosley residence," the older woman answered.

Dylan swallowed hard and asked for Jimmy afraid if she called him Bosley his mother might recognize her. "Can I tell him who is calling?"

"Lucy," she said with a hint of hesitation. From her end of the phone she heard Mama Bosley set down the receiver and yell, "Jimmy get your butt out here. You've got a phone call from a lady friend. .Who? Says her name is Lucy." Then she heard Bosley running to get the phone.

"Hey how's it going," he asked.

"Not good. I am so nervous, but I can do this right? Charlie wouldn't have sent me in if I couldn't."

"Of course you can do it. You're tough and smart and can take anything thrown at you." His comments made Dylan feel better, not so alone. "Thanks Bos. That's what I needed to hear. I hope this case is over soon. I can't wait to come home."

"We can't either. Oh," said Bosley dropping his voice so Max and Mama couldn't hear, "Alex and Natalie aren't giving you up without a fight. They don't believe you really quit and I have a feeling they are looking for you."

There was a knock on Dylan's door. She glanced at it then said into the phone, "Thanks again Bosley. Look I have to go. I hope to talk to you again soon." But she was thinking she hoped to be alive to talk to him again. "Bye Bos."

"Bye Dy-Lucy." As he hung up the phone he never noticed that someone else hung up before him Max had listened in on the extension.

Dylan hung up the phone and answered the door. Outside stood Mitchum and one of the two men that had been with him in the morning, Dylan thought his name was Daniels and a woman.

"We tried calling where were you" demanded Mitchum in his obnoxious way.

"I was on the phone. Wait, don't tell me the phone is for show and I shouldn't use it," she replied sarcastically.

"Actually yes, but you can in an emergency," he said seriously. "We got a busy signal and thought one of Chief's men may have come back."

"I'm fine. Nervous but fine."

"Nervousness is okay just don't show it. Here's the deal, normally for something like this you would wear a wire but you are going to be checked when you go in so we have this, state of the art microphone. These are brand new just issued to us at the bureau last month," he said handing a small white cap to her.

"Oh I know these," she said enthusiastically, "It's a molar mike," and she placed it on her back tooth.

"You know these," asked Daniels surprised.

"Yeah Charlie has had these babies for the last five years." For some reason the small familiarity of the mike made her feel more comfortable than she had in the past two days.

"Ok Lucy, we are going to stay with you following you all the way to the docks. Our agent inside." started Mitchum.

"The one with the crooked nose right," asked Dylan interrupting and heading into the bedroom to change.

"Yeah him, we want him to go in first. Once he is in place we will send you in. Try to be natural there.well as natural as you can be. as assassin-like as possible. This," he said signaling to the woman who had arrived with them, "is Agent Matthews."

"Nice to meet you," said Dylan shaking the woman's hand.

"Likewise," said the woman with a smile.

"Agent Matthews is here to assist you in getting ready, choosing and appropriate outfit, you know the usual."

Dylan nodded sagely, "The usual."

Agent Matthews placed her hand on Dylan's shoulder, "Show me the bedroom and I'll transform you into your character." The two women went into the bedroom.

"Relax Dylan," she said smiling. "I'm not Mitchum. I know he can be an ass but he is a good agent. And I'm calling you Dylan and not your code name because I know you are nervous enough without me calling you a name that isn't yours."

"How did you get on this case," Dylan asked.

"Take off the wig." Dylan complied with Matthews' request, "I've been working on this case for a year now. Okay into the bathroom we are dying your hair."

"No," said Dylan firmly.

"Fine if I had hair that color I wouldn't want anyone to touch it either. We'll work with the wig and make it stay on." Matthews went to the closet and flipped through the hangers. "All black," she said more to herself than Dylan. "I know that you want to know everything about this case but let me say that I can't tell you. This role you are playing is very important and tonight is only a small part. What is going down could upset the course of the US for a long time; that is all I can tell you." Matthews pulled a shirt out of the closet then opened the other side and looked for something in the way of pants. "Here," she handed Dylan the shirt, "Put this on."

"That important huh," Dylan asked as she pulled the top over her head.

"Very. There are a few things you need to know that Mitchum doesn't even know. The first is don't trust the guy he is sending in. I have a feeling he has been bought off. Second.ah perfect," she pulled out a pair of pants, "try these. Second you don't have to be anyone else. Just go in there and be yourself. I don't think you need to change your personality, your name and your look. Plus the look change will alter little ways you carry yourself. But as an angel you probably know that."

Matthews then walked over and looked in the jewelry box as Dylan pulled on the pair of pants. "Perfect," the female agent said to the angel and handed her a silver belly chain with a silver cat hanging off it. "You pick the shoes."

Dylan looked through the several dozen pairs in the closet and pulled out Alex's boots. She wanted some part of her friends with her.

Matthews moved her finger in a twirling motion, "Okay spin, and let me see you." Dylan did as she was told. "Has to go," said Matthews in a disappointed tone.

"What?"

"The gold necklace, it doesn't fit your new image. What is that anyway," asked the agent coming closer to look.

"It's a medallion from the orphanage. I got it from a." she hesitated not quite sure how to refer to Anthony, "friend. He died a year ago." Matthews looked at the young woman in front of her.

"Its obvious he meant a lot to you. Fine keep it, but if Mitchum complains though it goes. Now let's see if we can work on the wig." It took forever to get the wig just right and so a simple flip wouldn't cause it to fly off, finally they were ready to present Lucrezia Darness to the agents in the living room.

Dylan walked out of the bedroom wearing skin tight black leather pants, and cropped black Lycra shirt with long sleeves that ended in flares. Her black wig was on and her green stone eyes of the cat on her belly chain shone in the halogen track lighting. "Do I look okay," she inquired of the two men. Daniels made an audible gulping noise upon seeing her and Mitchum just stared. It was one of those moments when she missed Natalie and Alex, being all women had its strong points.

"Looks good," said Mitchum finally. If we leave now we can watch who shows up. As Dylan followed Mitchum and Daniels out the door Matthews handed her a black leather jacket and whispered, "Good luck." Dylan smiled she was going to need all she could get.