Dylan was quickly settled in the new hospital room and Bosley was crawling
on the floor under the swinging bed table looking for a phone jack. "They
told me one was here somewhere. That's what they said, 'Bosley you can find
one near the bed.' But do I know where? No. I'm down here with God knows
what kind of rabid dust bunnies."
"Bosley," called Dylan smiling at her friend, but he kept rambling on about dust bunnies and diseases left on the floor. "Bosley!" she called a bit louder this time getting his attention. Kneeling still on the floor he turned and looked at a now semi-health Dylan who was beaming a big smile at him. "Up here Bos," she said pointing to the outlet in the electrical strip to the right of the bed.
"Well that was my next place to look. I didn't think they'd want people all crawln' around on the floor pickin' up other peoples sicknesses." The angels all giggled. Bosley plugged in the speaker phone and as soon as he did it rang. He hit the button and out came the well loved voice of their employer. "Good Afternoon Angels"
"Good Afternoon Charlie," the trio chimed in perfect unison.
"Before we discuss anything else I want to apologize to Dylan. I should have never sent you in to that situation, but despite all that happened you handled it perfectly. I am so glad you are better. I can't tell you how worried I was."
"Thanks Charlie," said Dylan. "You don't have to apologize and actually other than the almost dying it was kind of fun." Alex and Natalie who sat on either side of Dylan's bed placed their arms around her.
"Well that's good to know because it isn't over yet. Agent Daniels is dead and Agent Matthews is missing."
"That's right," said Alex leaning around Dylan to speak to Nat. "We became so involved with Dylan we forgot about the news report."
Natalie said, "Right, Charlie we heard on the news that Daniels was shot a point blank range and his body was found hanging off an exit sign for the Expressway."
"That's correct Natalie. The police have compared the ballistics to that of the gun that killed Agent Mitchum, they are a match," said Charlie.
Alex looked confused, "But the police had the gun when they arrested Daniels. Who would have taken it from the evidence locker and used it on him."
"Right and more importantly how did Gloria escape?" asked Dylan.
"Matthews and Daniels didn't escape. They were released into FBI custody yesterday morning. Currently the prime suspect is this man," said Charlie as Bosley passed around copies of a fax of a picture.
Dylan's eyes widened as she saw the man in the photo. Even with out the extra make up that he had on the night of the competition there was no mistaking him for anyone but "the vulture". "I know this man," Dylan said coolly.
"Who is he?" asked Alex.
"I don't know his real name but he was the FBI agent fighting at the Chief's competition. They called him 'The Vulture' because of his nose. Mitchum had made a big deal out of how I should take a fall if it came down to me or him being selected. I never had to. Anthony fought him first and won."
"Well," said Natalie holding the picture at various angles, "I suppose his nose does look a little like the beak of a lapped faced vulture but not really like that of Griffin vulture."
"That's it get her started on birds," groaned Dylan playfully.
"Hey birds are our friends," declared Natalie with fake indigence.
"The man's name is Reynold Clarke; he has a long list of disciplinary actions against him. He had just been removed from his latest probation at the FBI and now this. He is considered dangerous and on the loose with Agent Matthews. Natalie, Alex, you need to bring this man to justice. Dylan, I know you are sitting there with a pout on your face," said Charlie. Dylan looked at the other two wondering how he knew. Alex and Nat just shrugged their shoulders. "But you need to get better, completely better before you jump back into duty. Understand."
Dylan answered with a disappointed, "I understand."
"Alex, Natalie, good luck. Dylan, get well."
"Bye Charlie."
"Man," said Dylan plopping back on the pile of pillows. "I am going to go nuts sitting here and doing nothing."
"Maybe the Thin Man will visit," said Natalie. "Until then, rest and watch TV." She kissed her friend on the cheek, as did Alex and they pranced out of the room and held the door open for Mr. Getty.
"Dylan," he said happily standing in the door way, "I can't tell you how happy it makes me to see you getting better."
Dylan wasn't sure how to react. She had just learned that he was her father and hadn't really had the time to process the information. "Mr. Getty, come in."
"Are you sure? I don't want to disturb you if you are resting."
"Very sure. I am so bored I could pull my hair out." Realizing what she said made her think of Anthony. She hadn't seen him since she had woken up in ICU. "So how are you?"
"Alive thanks to you and the other angels. I can't say that my secretary Mr. Bell faired so well. He was found dead in my hotel room with a puncture wound through his heart," said Getty sitting in the chair next to her bed. His words made Dylan's blood run cold. "I think we know who did that don't we." She wasn't sure how to respond. She chewed on her lip not saying anything. "I was fond of Mr. Bell but I do owe your life to.what's his name? Anthony?"
"What do you mean you owe my life to him?" she asked puzzled.
"The man went and found a cure. A cure that your doctor was told was impossible to make. He with the help of a friend, who is another doctor in the hospital apparently, insisted that Dr. Johnson give it to you. If it hadn't been for him you would have died."
Speaking more to herself than Getty she said, "That's the second time he saved my life." It was now Getty's turn to look puzzled. Seeing the expression on his face she explained. "First you should know my mother named me Helen and I was Helen Elaine Zaas until I was 20. That is when I got involved with a guy I shouldn't have." It was embarrassing enough when she had to tell her friends the mistake she made dating Seamus. Telling the man who was her father was even harder.
"Who was that?"
"Seamus O'Grady," she said flatly.
"O'Grady, you mean." he started and they finished together, "the Irish mob O'Grady."
"Yep the one and the same. I put him in jail and by doing so I had to go into the witness protection program. That is where I got the name Dylan Sanders. I can tell you Dylan is nothing that Helen was.well maybe a little bit." She reached over and took the pitcher off the table and poured herself a glass of water. All the explaining she was doing had dried out her throat.
Getty reached out and took Dylan's hand. "That is why I couldn't find you. I looked. I waited ages to look but I finally did and all I found were dead ends. When I heard you name was Dylan Sanders I assumed I had the first name wrong and your mother married so you took her husbands last name."
Dylan closed her eyes. "My mom died when I was six. She never married. I think she was too in love with you to find anyone else." She could feel the anger and resentment building towards her newly found father. She didn't want to hate him but she remembered the dream she had on the plane. She remembered the man who argued with her mother and made her cry, it was Getty. She took a deep breath to calm herself down. She reminded herself it was nice to know that he was her father but she wasn't required to have a relationship with the man if she didn't want to. The problem was she did want to. She had waited years for this and here he was.
"Dylan." he began but she cut him off. "No, let me finish telling you how Anthony saved me." She told him the exact same thing that Anthony had told Dimitri but she left out the kiss. That she felt was something private between the two of them.
"My God, Dylan that is some story. Are all your jobs like that? Are you sure that is what you want to do with your life?" he asked concerned for her welfare.
"I'd say ninety percent give or take are like that and yes, I am sure this is what I want to do with my life. Being an angel has given me direction, the self-worth I was lacking before and Charlie has been like a father to me," said Dylan. Then she registered the hurt look on Getty's face at the comment about Charlie. She couldn't help it if it was true and neither could he.
Getty smiled at her. "I couldn't have asked for stronger, braver, more beautiful daughter." He kissed her head and his cell phone rang. "Yes, I'll be right there," he said to the person on the other end. He then turned to Dylan, "I have to go now, company business but I'll be back in a couple hours to check on you and we can discuss the Anthony situation in more detail." Dylan smiled and waved good bye as he left the room still talking on the phone. She didn't know what Getty' idea of handling the situation would be but she was sure she would find out.
*-*-*-*-*
Gloria's job was to find out where Anthony was she would do that by locating the angel's room. She was certain if he was there in the hospital and that is where he would be. She had only one focus and that was seeing him dead like her sister. If she had to take out the angels that would be fine by her as well, but she knew that Clarke wanted to kill the Thin Man personally. It was an ego thing since he had defeated Clarke at the competition and she didn't approve of doing things for egotistical reasons. One thing she did approve of however was inflicting the maximum pain possible on ones enemies; no one was better than Clarke at that.
"Nurse, nurse," she turned realizing that someone was speaking to her.
"Yes," she said to Dr. Leon Williams.
"I need you to take blood from this patient in room 319. Then run it down to the lab," said Leon handing her the patients chart.
This was her chance she realized; maybe this doctor could help her out. "I heard that the girl hurt in the WTC was brought in a few nights ago. Have you heard anything about how she is doing?"
"She's doing great; they hope to release her soon. Now please take care of the blood work its urgent," he said rushing off to check on his next patient.
"Wonderful!" thought Gloria. "The little bitch lived and my sister died. Where is the fairness in that?" They would now have to take care of both the Thin Man and the angel. It would be even better if they were together at the time. He could watch his little girlfriend die. Now she had to find which room and if she was going to be released soon they would have to work fast. That is when she Clarke walking towards her. "What are you doing here?" she hissed. "I thought we had a plan we were following."
"We were. I decided to change the plan."
"Without consulting me," she was mad, no more than mad, pissed off. He always did this to her changed the plan at the last minute then blamed her when a mistake was made.
"I am FBI agent Reynold Clarke; I am looking for room 312. I have to ask the patient some questions about what happened at the WTC the other evening at the Arie Crown Theater. Could you show me where that is, nurse?" he asked being the consummate professional. Even Matthews had to smile at that. Clarke could be charming if he wanted to and this was one of the times.
"Right this way sir," she said and led the way down the hall to Dylan's room.
"Bosley," called Dylan smiling at her friend, but he kept rambling on about dust bunnies and diseases left on the floor. "Bosley!" she called a bit louder this time getting his attention. Kneeling still on the floor he turned and looked at a now semi-health Dylan who was beaming a big smile at him. "Up here Bos," she said pointing to the outlet in the electrical strip to the right of the bed.
"Well that was my next place to look. I didn't think they'd want people all crawln' around on the floor pickin' up other peoples sicknesses." The angels all giggled. Bosley plugged in the speaker phone and as soon as he did it rang. He hit the button and out came the well loved voice of their employer. "Good Afternoon Angels"
"Good Afternoon Charlie," the trio chimed in perfect unison.
"Before we discuss anything else I want to apologize to Dylan. I should have never sent you in to that situation, but despite all that happened you handled it perfectly. I am so glad you are better. I can't tell you how worried I was."
"Thanks Charlie," said Dylan. "You don't have to apologize and actually other than the almost dying it was kind of fun." Alex and Natalie who sat on either side of Dylan's bed placed their arms around her.
"Well that's good to know because it isn't over yet. Agent Daniels is dead and Agent Matthews is missing."
"That's right," said Alex leaning around Dylan to speak to Nat. "We became so involved with Dylan we forgot about the news report."
Natalie said, "Right, Charlie we heard on the news that Daniels was shot a point blank range and his body was found hanging off an exit sign for the Expressway."
"That's correct Natalie. The police have compared the ballistics to that of the gun that killed Agent Mitchum, they are a match," said Charlie.
Alex looked confused, "But the police had the gun when they arrested Daniels. Who would have taken it from the evidence locker and used it on him."
"Right and more importantly how did Gloria escape?" asked Dylan.
"Matthews and Daniels didn't escape. They were released into FBI custody yesterday morning. Currently the prime suspect is this man," said Charlie as Bosley passed around copies of a fax of a picture.
Dylan's eyes widened as she saw the man in the photo. Even with out the extra make up that he had on the night of the competition there was no mistaking him for anyone but "the vulture". "I know this man," Dylan said coolly.
"Who is he?" asked Alex.
"I don't know his real name but he was the FBI agent fighting at the Chief's competition. They called him 'The Vulture' because of his nose. Mitchum had made a big deal out of how I should take a fall if it came down to me or him being selected. I never had to. Anthony fought him first and won."
"Well," said Natalie holding the picture at various angles, "I suppose his nose does look a little like the beak of a lapped faced vulture but not really like that of Griffin vulture."
"That's it get her started on birds," groaned Dylan playfully.
"Hey birds are our friends," declared Natalie with fake indigence.
"The man's name is Reynold Clarke; he has a long list of disciplinary actions against him. He had just been removed from his latest probation at the FBI and now this. He is considered dangerous and on the loose with Agent Matthews. Natalie, Alex, you need to bring this man to justice. Dylan, I know you are sitting there with a pout on your face," said Charlie. Dylan looked at the other two wondering how he knew. Alex and Nat just shrugged their shoulders. "But you need to get better, completely better before you jump back into duty. Understand."
Dylan answered with a disappointed, "I understand."
"Alex, Natalie, good luck. Dylan, get well."
"Bye Charlie."
"Man," said Dylan plopping back on the pile of pillows. "I am going to go nuts sitting here and doing nothing."
"Maybe the Thin Man will visit," said Natalie. "Until then, rest and watch TV." She kissed her friend on the cheek, as did Alex and they pranced out of the room and held the door open for Mr. Getty.
"Dylan," he said happily standing in the door way, "I can't tell you how happy it makes me to see you getting better."
Dylan wasn't sure how to react. She had just learned that he was her father and hadn't really had the time to process the information. "Mr. Getty, come in."
"Are you sure? I don't want to disturb you if you are resting."
"Very sure. I am so bored I could pull my hair out." Realizing what she said made her think of Anthony. She hadn't seen him since she had woken up in ICU. "So how are you?"
"Alive thanks to you and the other angels. I can't say that my secretary Mr. Bell faired so well. He was found dead in my hotel room with a puncture wound through his heart," said Getty sitting in the chair next to her bed. His words made Dylan's blood run cold. "I think we know who did that don't we." She wasn't sure how to respond. She chewed on her lip not saying anything. "I was fond of Mr. Bell but I do owe your life to.what's his name? Anthony?"
"What do you mean you owe my life to him?" she asked puzzled.
"The man went and found a cure. A cure that your doctor was told was impossible to make. He with the help of a friend, who is another doctor in the hospital apparently, insisted that Dr. Johnson give it to you. If it hadn't been for him you would have died."
Speaking more to herself than Getty she said, "That's the second time he saved my life." It was now Getty's turn to look puzzled. Seeing the expression on his face she explained. "First you should know my mother named me Helen and I was Helen Elaine Zaas until I was 20. That is when I got involved with a guy I shouldn't have." It was embarrassing enough when she had to tell her friends the mistake she made dating Seamus. Telling the man who was her father was even harder.
"Who was that?"
"Seamus O'Grady," she said flatly.
"O'Grady, you mean." he started and they finished together, "the Irish mob O'Grady."
"Yep the one and the same. I put him in jail and by doing so I had to go into the witness protection program. That is where I got the name Dylan Sanders. I can tell you Dylan is nothing that Helen was.well maybe a little bit." She reached over and took the pitcher off the table and poured herself a glass of water. All the explaining she was doing had dried out her throat.
Getty reached out and took Dylan's hand. "That is why I couldn't find you. I looked. I waited ages to look but I finally did and all I found were dead ends. When I heard you name was Dylan Sanders I assumed I had the first name wrong and your mother married so you took her husbands last name."
Dylan closed her eyes. "My mom died when I was six. She never married. I think she was too in love with you to find anyone else." She could feel the anger and resentment building towards her newly found father. She didn't want to hate him but she remembered the dream she had on the plane. She remembered the man who argued with her mother and made her cry, it was Getty. She took a deep breath to calm herself down. She reminded herself it was nice to know that he was her father but she wasn't required to have a relationship with the man if she didn't want to. The problem was she did want to. She had waited years for this and here he was.
"Dylan." he began but she cut him off. "No, let me finish telling you how Anthony saved me." She told him the exact same thing that Anthony had told Dimitri but she left out the kiss. That she felt was something private between the two of them.
"My God, Dylan that is some story. Are all your jobs like that? Are you sure that is what you want to do with your life?" he asked concerned for her welfare.
"I'd say ninety percent give or take are like that and yes, I am sure this is what I want to do with my life. Being an angel has given me direction, the self-worth I was lacking before and Charlie has been like a father to me," said Dylan. Then she registered the hurt look on Getty's face at the comment about Charlie. She couldn't help it if it was true and neither could he.
Getty smiled at her. "I couldn't have asked for stronger, braver, more beautiful daughter." He kissed her head and his cell phone rang. "Yes, I'll be right there," he said to the person on the other end. He then turned to Dylan, "I have to go now, company business but I'll be back in a couple hours to check on you and we can discuss the Anthony situation in more detail." Dylan smiled and waved good bye as he left the room still talking on the phone. She didn't know what Getty' idea of handling the situation would be but she was sure she would find out.
*-*-*-*-*
Gloria's job was to find out where Anthony was she would do that by locating the angel's room. She was certain if he was there in the hospital and that is where he would be. She had only one focus and that was seeing him dead like her sister. If she had to take out the angels that would be fine by her as well, but she knew that Clarke wanted to kill the Thin Man personally. It was an ego thing since he had defeated Clarke at the competition and she didn't approve of doing things for egotistical reasons. One thing she did approve of however was inflicting the maximum pain possible on ones enemies; no one was better than Clarke at that.
"Nurse, nurse," she turned realizing that someone was speaking to her.
"Yes," she said to Dr. Leon Williams.
"I need you to take blood from this patient in room 319. Then run it down to the lab," said Leon handing her the patients chart.
This was her chance she realized; maybe this doctor could help her out. "I heard that the girl hurt in the WTC was brought in a few nights ago. Have you heard anything about how she is doing?"
"She's doing great; they hope to release her soon. Now please take care of the blood work its urgent," he said rushing off to check on his next patient.
"Wonderful!" thought Gloria. "The little bitch lived and my sister died. Where is the fairness in that?" They would now have to take care of both the Thin Man and the angel. It would be even better if they were together at the time. He could watch his little girlfriend die. Now she had to find which room and if she was going to be released soon they would have to work fast. That is when she Clarke walking towards her. "What are you doing here?" she hissed. "I thought we had a plan we were following."
"We were. I decided to change the plan."
"Without consulting me," she was mad, no more than mad, pissed off. He always did this to her changed the plan at the last minute then blamed her when a mistake was made.
"I am FBI agent Reynold Clarke; I am looking for room 312. I have to ask the patient some questions about what happened at the WTC the other evening at the Arie Crown Theater. Could you show me where that is, nurse?" he asked being the consummate professional. Even Matthews had to smile at that. Clarke could be charming if he wanted to and this was one of the times.
"Right this way sir," she said and led the way down the hall to Dylan's room.