A/N: I'd like to thank everyone for their reviews. I'm sorry that it took me so long and that I needed so much time to get the story going, but Dylan's current state of mind, is important. I think now there be more interactions between Anthony and her.

Chapter 7 A new client and an old acquaintance

After Charlie had hung up the mood was pretty crushed until Natalie suggested that Jason, Pete and Max could go up to the race track and have some fun while they waited for their boss to call back. Bosley showed them the way out using this chance to remind them to be careful or to risk Mama Bosleys wrath upon them.

In the meantime Dylan asked her fellow angels whether they thought Seamus might already be involved in the new case. Alex leaned back thinking and said: "Possible, but unlikely. I doubt that he is in any shape to walk around and gloat about what he has done - and I think you know very well, that this is what his revenge is all about!"

Natalie nodded wearing her cheer-up smile that had seemed to have lost his effect on Dylan once Seamus was involved - or the Thin Man. "Even if he is - no way he is able to handle you", Nat added with confidence. She could one second be so silly and the next moment so utterly sincere. "No matter when he dares to cross our way again, this time we are going to send him back to prison till Judgement Day."

"I wish I could feel that confident about it, too", Dylan replied unhappy. Since for a change the red haired angel was in the middle of the seating arrangements she was instantly hugged from both sides.

The angels were all aware what a dangerous foe Seamus O'Grady was and none of them had been happy about his survival. But to Natalie and Alex he was no more than that and so they were alert but not mortified. He was Dylan's nemesis from the past. Her first love, her first betrayal and by doing what had been right, she had created an enemy that had come back and torn her peaceful life apart.

"Hey girls, what about all the long faces - you act like someone had died", Bosley said as he came back and saw them cuddled together. He felt obviously like missing the link and concerned the same time.

"Dylan is just worried about Seamus trying to kill us", Nat explained.

"Ain't he in some sort of coma?" Bosely wanted to know.

"Not any more, he escaped and that does not point out that he still is", Dylan said.

Alex nodded: "The O'Gradys could have got him out of there anytime, but he depended on the machines."

"So you are going after him?", Jimmy said feeling a bit left out.

"Depends on the new assignment", Natalie said and you could see that she thought it was a good idea to go after Seamus first. The last time they had been occupied otherwise, forced to focus on the rings, but if they got the chance, they should try to locate him.

"Even if it is not about him, one of us might be able to steal some extra time and look after him", Alex said. "I already had looked a bit on the O'Grady Files, I think it would not be that much of a problem."

"Yeah, I did not know, when did you do that?", Dylan said surprised.

"Right after we found out he survived, I wanted to get a hunch of how dangerous the family might become", Alex explained and just before anyone was able to ask what she found out the doorbell rang. "I'll get it", Dylan said and stood up. She did not knew why she rushed out to fast, maybe she expected a exploding parcel or Seamus on the doorstep. The red head wanted to deal with it, but she was not prepared for what she saw instead.

As she opened the door she was unable to open it more than a little bit and a petite, very pale looking woman with curly raven hair was pushed through the gap into her arms. Dylan saw her frightened bright blue eyes and realised that he woman was around 30, but her real attention was fixed upon the silky mass of long black hair that blocked her sight out of the door.

Then Dylan saw a delicate, dark skinned hand holding a gun observing the street in front of her. Finally the stranger woman holstered it and moved backwards into the hall closing the door. The black woman was about Dylan's age, but a little taller. A friendly smile and sign of relief appeared on her beautiful face as she looked at Dylan. "We're safe for now, Dr. Crushner", she informed the tense woman that the angel hold by the shoulders. "You must be Dylan Sanders, I'm Aurelie Barracuda. I'd say we have a phone call."

"We'll see", the addressed girl replied eyeing her guest. As she realised that the woman was probably able to stand on her own she carefully realised her from her guiding hold. "Do you mind telling me what is going on and why do you carrying a gun?"

"All in good time, but when I'd makes you more comfortable you may take my gun", Aurelie opened her blazer again and a nicely fit holster with a gun inside appeared under her left arm. "I'm sure we were not followed."

Dylan took the gun a beautiful weapon, but she was not too fond of them. "Ok, let's go to the office."

Dr. Crushner clad now to Aurelie's arm and as they reached the office she lead her to the empty sofa. "Angels, Bosley, Charlie", the black woman said doing so.

"I'm glad you made it - where you followed?", Charlie inquired. He just had called as Dylan left the office and briefly informed them about Aurelie Barracuda and Dr. Anna Crushner.

"I don't think so", she looked at Dylan as she added: "But I'd like to stay alert just in case."

The red head handed the pistol pack. She was still a little unsettled by her dramatic entrance, but if she was alright with Charlie that was good enough for her. Since the other seemed to already knew more, she sat quietly on her normal place next to Alex. So the Asian angel moved closer to Nat without taking her eyes of the speaker-box. Natalie smiled at her and then again at Aurelie. While Dr. Curshner was staring at the floor in front of her. Bosley was fumbling as noiseless as possible in his huge desk drawer.

"Let me brief you all on the situation", Charlie began. "Dr. Anna Crushner is one of the most brilliant scientist of the Black Arrow Company."

The woman Charlie spoke of barely seemed to notice anyone's presence. As Bosley offered her a drink from a bottle his brother had kept for such purposes she looked up. Stared at the glass almost like she expected it to be poisonous. It was obvious that this women was scared to death. She was naturally thin, but it seemed she hadn't slept or ate properly for days. With a nod from Aurelie she took the glass and nodded a thanks to Bosley.

In the meantime Charlie had went on explaining: "The B.A.C. is specialised on defence weapons and countermeasures regarding biological or biochemical weaponry. They mainly deliver to our government and some of our alleys. Dr. Crushner is the assistant to the head of the research staff - Dr. Margaret Sattler."

Charlie stopped a moment while the angels and the others took a look at the pictures of Dr. Sattler and the firm logo that had appeared on the big screen. "Dr. Crushner had found crucial evidence that her superior had not only conducted illegal research to make her own weapons, but wanted to sell it on the open black market."

"That's almost unbelievable", explained Alex. "I read many articles about her, I can't believe she would do such a thing. She is respected scientist and businesswoman. I wonder why Dr. Crushner did not went to the officials with her evidence."

"I-I wanted too!", Dr. Crushner said and a slight east European accent showed through. Then she took a deep breath, every was listening to her, as she went on. I was collecting it secretly, it took me three weeks, I did not want anyone to notice what I was doing. One night I was gathering everything, putting it in the car and then…" she stopped for a moment. Then with her head hanging low she finished: "It exploded. I was luckily war enough away." Anna sighed and run her fingers through her locks.

"That was all the proof I had. They knew and I ran for my life. I did not even dared to go to my apartment. I got as much money as I could then I stopped using my card. I ran from the lab in Seattle to Washington. There I was nearly shot in a café."

Aurelie took over: "I happened to be in that café. You might heard about the incident in the news. Somebody had shot straight at her head. But Dr. Crushner ducked just in the moment and it hit the waitress behind her. Just this one shot. The distance was incredible. The bullet did not matched any other records. I'd had a hunch then, it was a professional and I was right."

Anna nodded: "She saved my life and she offered me the help of her agency."

"Agency? You are also in the business?", Dylan wondered.

"Not exactly, we are specialised in security, bodyguards and such things. Our boss was for over ten years one of the men that protected the president. So he do has contacts. Like Charlie here and some others. Unfortunately so has Dr. Sattler and not only in our government as it seems. There had been other attempts and it won't stop until we have some proof."

"So that's why you come to us. You need someone to break in and get it", Natalie concluded.

Aurelie nodded: "You are the best and have the experience. One time or another they'll be successful."

"They? Is there one person more with Dr. Sattler?", Dylan said.

"Dr. Crushner things she is the head, no partners, but some of the scientist know. No, with they I meant … hard to explain." Aurelie rubbed her chin with one hand. "I told you there were already more attempts to kill Dr. Crushner. The second time I killed the attacker, no fingerprints, no name - It all points out to a certain organisation. There is no proof for their existence, but it matches the theory. Always changing weapons, no traces and once one is killed he is replaced with an other member. Otherwise I could not explain the second attack barely 20 hours later."

The black woman seemed very concerned and Dr. Crushner looked like puppy left out in the pouring rain. "You seemed to have had former experience with them", Alex inquired.

"True, my first actual assignment. My partner and I were getting our client to a safe house. We arrived I went on to check the surroundings. Then suddenly he appeared. Stabbed them swift as hell. A scary appearance, as I approached the car he was gone and they were dead. If I only had a weapon then!", Aurelie bit her lip.

"Stabbed? With a rapier?", Dylan frowned. Could have been him, she felt her stomach turn to ice.

Aurelie turned her gaze to the read head, she had the strangest look in her face and replied: "No - actually it was a kitchen knife. You never believed someone of his stature could move so fast…."

"Angels I know it is Christmas, but this can't wait. I trust you can find a way in one of the labs, that had been used for the illegal experiments and take Dr. Crushner there. Despite Alex wisdom in this field, you need the doctors help to locate the proper data."

"Understood Charlie", Natalie said, before Alex added: "That should be interesting."

"Don't worry, Charlie, it's no problem at all", Dylan added. That was much better than hanging around on parties where everyone had someone except her.

"I'm glad to hear that. Take Care, Angels", Charlie said and accompanied by a three-voiced "Goodbye Charlie" he hung up.

Dr. Crushner gathered her strength and briefed them on the B.A.C. facilities that were involved in the illegal experimentation and production. The angel agreed to take a look at the nearest location this very night and scope out security. They doubted that Aurelie would let them take the doctor anywhere near that place before they knew for certain how to get in and out.

While the angels prepared for their ride, Bosley showed Aurelie and Dr. Crushner one of the guest rooms of the agency. He had offered them to stay home at Bosley's, but the Doctor did not wanted to endanger anyone else. While the woman settled down in the large double bed room, the angels got all dressed up for their mission. It was certainly a challenge to break in such an exclusive firm, but that made it more interesting to them.

Alex was finished first and called Jason, who was stuck with Pete at Bosley's place. The Asian angel informed the others, that the boys were having supper there and added a note from Pete, that he loved Nat and called their neighbours. Then the angels had to endure Natalie talking about how sweet their neighbours were, taking care of Spike now and then. It was already known fact, that Spike was one of the three babies the neighbours took Susie had, but it did not stopped Nat from mentioning it again.

Then the angels took the agency's helicopter and flew 200 miles north-east and changed to an unregistered car from there. It head at high speed to the facility and the girls left the car some miles before in a side street. It was night and only the lights from the B.A.C. complex made it possible to make out the way. They entered the property through a self made hole in the wire-net-fencing. That part was easy, Charlie's angels were all taken by the excitement of the new assignment and could barely keep from talking as they moved closer to the buildings.

Now it was imperative to be absolutely silent. Everyone wished they had molar mikes with them, but it was too dangerous. The transmissions could be picked up by the security central and they could be heard whispering to each other. Around the buildings several guards took their rounds. The entire complex was made of a main building with all the offices, some warehouses and isolated laboratories with extra security.

Dr. Crushner might need to get inside all of them, so they separated. Alex went to the main-building - probably the most dangerous job. There were many lights illuminating the front and side entrances. Two guards passed by every 10 minutes. Like a shadow the Asian woman slipped in and out of dark corners wearing a tight, black leather suit and her hair back into a knot. Her eyes moved left and right, behind her and all around, checking that she was not seen and where and when to go next.

Nat had not half as many guards as she approached the laboratories. She made it to one of the roofs, checking the circles the guards made and became quite taken with their sense of duty. No chatter, no distractions - strict and forbidding they took their turns. It did not made it easier, but the blonde angel did not mind, it was her idea of fun.

It was Dylan who was almost bored. At one time she had seen a heel of a guard, but that far the warehouses were only secured by electronic locks not even very complicated, but the doctor had spoken of extra security inside, so she went inside. The were cages holding extra locks, and other rooms completely shut off by huge steel walls and a key card lock. She took photos and moved to the next one.

Suddenly she had a feeling of being stalked. She moved around and hid behind a staple of wooden boxes. The red head did not hear anything, so she climbed on the flat roof. Where she laid and waited. Then the angel was sure - somebody else was lurking around and not patrolling. Probably one of Dr. Sattler's men t hat waited for Dr. Crushner. She really wished she had a head set, but the person might indeed hear the whispering. It was already tuff to move so silently.

So Dylan did a little stalking, which became easier as she thought. Whoever the person was he felt confident enough to lit a cigarette right in front of her warehouse. Unfortunately she could see nothing, but a dark figure in the bad light. It was typical - Nat and Alex dancing around the lit buildings and she lurked around were she could barely see.

There was something familiar about the smoker, but definitely no guard. So she jumped down directly at the lurker. She was caught in mid-flight by a foot that send her crashing into the hard concrete. But Dylan was more surprised as she looked up and saw into a very familiar face. It was the thin man - Anthony, those eyes, that look, but he was dead. She panted heavily for he had hit her in the chest, but she did not felt the pain.

Frozen in her movement she had only managed to get up halfway and was still squaring were she had landed. She blinked her eyes and stared at him. It was him, but he was dead. Was it a doppelganger? A twin? As the thoughts rushed through her head she noted something else. He pointed a rapier directly at her heart. Her instincts told her to do something and she obliged. Anthony was dead and this might be the guy that worked for Knox, maybe they had been different person from the beginning and they had never known.

She put her weight on the hand she still had on the floor and her right food. Then her left one went flying and kicked hard into the thin man's hand. He lost the rapier which impacted a few steps from them. As soon as her feet touched the ground she took the draft from the movement and kicked with her right foot hard into his stomach. Now she was standing and faced a new attack of him. Strangely she had the impression he was holding back.

Before she found the words to address him suddenly even brighter lights from the main building flashed over the grounds and the nasty sound of an alarm roared in their ears. "Alex", Dylan said and for a moment her eyes turned in her direction. She paid for her inattention with a sharp pain and a strain of hair. Shocked she looked at the thin man sniffing at it and caressing his face with it. Then he turned and ran away into darkness.

Not sure whether to see to Alex or to follow the angel lost a couple of seconds before she set after him. It was so strange, the guy that worked for Knox might be another one, she thought again and was near total confusion and brain-lock, but he also died, or at least should be dead. Also they did not found the body, but she has seen Anthony's - she had identified him. Whoever had ripped out her hair tonight, he vanished like when the angels were lead to Knox.

Dylan dropped to the ground and only as she heard guard approaching with dogs - she jumped up and head toward the fence. Alex was there cursing and Nat tried to calm her down. As they saw her they ran for the car and stepped on the gas.