Thanks to Melanie39 for beta-ing. Love her to bit's, I've missed her skills these last few chapters.

Disclaimer- I still own nothing to do with The OC.

The Accidental Hero

Ryan sat at a table and nursed another scotch. So he was over the limit now but he really didn't care. He felt ill. How had things gotten so twisted? The cops being in on the scam was just peachy, it added a whole new level of shit to the already huge pile.

He felt a slap to his back that knocked the wind out of him. Cody sat down opposite him. Ryan glanced over to see Pete standing at the bar.

"I see you've started without us!"

Cody nodded to the drink in front of Ryan.

"Why am I here Cody? I kept my end of the bargain."

"Yes…yes you did and that was very wise, but the thing is Ryan…we've been thinking how useful you could be to us."

Pete banged down two bottles of beer on the table.

"What …nothing for me Pete? You wound me."

Ryan gave Pete a look of pure hate. He then turned back to Cody.

"Why do you need me for anything? Or are you getting greedy? Tell me, is it a straight partnership between you two and Parker and O'Farrell or are they just getting a kickback from you?"

Cody narrowed his eyes and turned to Pete.

"See Pete? I told you he was smart. Didn't I say that the kid was as slick as owl shit?"

Pete looked worried.

"How the fuck does he know about that?"

Ryan sat back and wondered if this revelation was the thing that was going to get him killed.

"It doesn't matter how he knows Pete. What does matter is that him knowing changes nothing. If anything it makes things easier now that he's figured it out. You see Pete, what Ryan doesn't realize is the cops can get us onto the fancy estates and no-one bats an eyelid about a cop car patrolling but having someone on the inside so to speak will be the icing on the cake."

"No way." Ryan shook his head. "I'm not casing any houses for you."

Cody brought his face up close to Ryan's.

"Oh but you are. You see the thing is… you get invited into these houses and you are going to prove to be very useful to us."

"Fuck you…I'm not getting involved in this."

Cody's hand shot out and grabbed his throat. Several people looked over idly but no one remained remotely interested and they went back to their drinking.

Ryan gasped as Cody squeezed slightly.

"Get this straight in your head boy…you may think that you're all safe in your castle on the hill now but think of this little scenario. That fine Mrs Cohen driving home late one night from the office? She sees the flash of lights in her rear view mirror and pulls over like the responsible citizen she is…. it's easy to make her disappear…Pete here could finish what he started…hell, we all could have a go."

Cody gave his throat one last squeeze before he slammed Ryan's head back against the wall behind.

Ryan shut his eyes and rubbed his neck. He was in over his head now and there was no way out.

Cody smirked.

"I think he's got it now Pete…go get him a beer."

The first one had been easy. They had all been invited to an anniversary party for the CEO of one of the local banks. Ryan had wandered unnoticed through the house noting where the alarm sensors were located and the weak points of entry. It had been easy.

A few days later at the dinner table, when Sandy had mentioned the fact that the Petersons had been burgled, tied up and beaten like they had been, was not so easy. That's when it hit home that he was now implicated in this up to his neck. There was no turning back.

Sandy sat down on the bed and removed his shoes and socks.

"Do you think Ryan's O.K?"

Kirsten looked around from the table where she was taking her make-up off.

"Why do you ask?"

"He doesn't seem himself at the moment. I know he's normally quiet but he's more so recently. Even Seth has noticed." Sandy looked over at the pool house as he spoke, the lights were still on even though it was late.

"I think he's just worried about what he's going to do when he goes to college. I do think that he's actually going to go for architecture. All week he's turned up at the Newport group. He's asked if he can do that permanently to get a feel of the place…it must be boring as hell for him but he insists on staying and getting a lift home with me."

"I suppose it could be just that…it's a big thing for him to think about. But I'm not so sure it's just that. Has he mentioned if he and Marissa are O.K?"

"They seem to be…Seth would have said something if they weren't." Kirsten replied.

"Maybe I'm just being too sensitive. We know what Ryan's like but every time I try to speak to him he makes an excuse. You don't think Dawn is contacting him do you?"

Sandy couldn't shake the feeling that something was up with Ryan. He sighed. He'd get to the bottom of it eventually.

The second and third jobs were large houses on the beach. It was the same drill as before.

When Kirsten mentioned to them all as she unpacked the Take Out, that the Simpson's had been burgled and that Phil was in hospital with a suspected heart attack after he had tried to protect his wife from one of the men, Ryan finally lost it. He managed to sit through dinner. He picked at his food, he smiled at Seth's stories but inside he died.

He retreated to the pool house and paced, his hands laced behind his head. Panic had set in. He wasn't a bad person but he was fucking up people's lives. He had to do something, he couldn't go on like this. He couldn't sleep, couldn't eat and he felt permanently sick. His brain kept working over and over, trying to find a solution. The only one that came to hand whirled and crashed around his head. He wasn't a weak person but at this point in time there was only one way out. If he wasn't around anymore then Pete and Cody wouldn't have a hold over him. He wouldn't be a great loss to society…hell, one less Atwood in the world would be a bonus as all they ever seemed to do was screw up. But then the fear lodged itself in his mind that if he did end it, who would look after Kirsten? What if they took it out on her the fact that they had lost the golden egg?

He had to end this. He had to end this now. He just didn't know how.

Ryan waited under the pier. He was surprised to see officers Parker and O'Farrell turn up for his meeting with Pete and Cody, this was a first.

"We thought it was time we all got to know one another, seeing as you're part of this merry band Ryan…" Cody grinned.

"Look, people are getting suspicious." Ryan looked at the cops.

"No shit Sherlock! But we know for a fact the police haven't put two and two together yet." Parker laughed.

"It's only a matter of time before this scam is up. That's why we are stepping up this operation." O'Farrell stared at Ryan.

Cody got a piece of paper out of his pocket.

"Here is a list of events. Make sure you go."

Ryan peered at the list.

"Half of these we won't be invited to…you'll have to think of something else."

He thrust the list at Pete defiantly.

Pete grabbed Ryan's wrist and twisted. He put the page back into Ryan's hand.

"Make sure you get invited."

Cody lit a cigarette. "You'll see that there are some written instructions for you this time. Don't screw up."

Ryan looked at the page again.

"I can't read the fucking writing. What the hell does that say?"

He pointed at the scrawled paragraph at the bottom.

"Shit Cody, I thought you said this kid was smart?" Parker crowded Ryan and grabbed the sheet. He frowned.

"Fuck O'Farrell! You write this while you were jerking off?"

"See. I told you I couldn't read it…" Ryan responded with a slight pissed off edge.

O'Farrell grabbed the page from Parker.

"Jesus…what is wrong with you all…it's perfectly clear. See…"

O'Farrell explained the instructions to Ryan.

"You got that? There is no room for a fuck up on this one. We need you to disable the alarm before we can go in. It's easy on that model, that's why I recommended it, the stupid idiots asked me for advice on a new alarm system what with all the burglaries in the area."

O'Farrell laughed.

"It'll be like taking candy from a baby…are you clear on what you need to do?"

Ryan nodded.

"You're right Cody, he is smart." O'Farrell leaned in. "You mess this up and you'll know about it."

Pete punched him on the arm as they left.

Ryan crept back to the pool house. The main house was in darkness. He put on the side lamp and sat on the bed. He got a pad out and started to write. He wrote solidly for two hours before he put the pen down.

He walked to the kitchenette and rummaged through the drawers before he found what he wanted.

He made sure the house was locked before he posted his keys, wallet and the letter he'd just written in the mailbox.

He took one last look at the house before he walked away.

He walked down the drive with his bike. He rode to the pier and waited for the dawn before he dialled Cody's number.

"Cody, we need to talk. Meet me in half an hour, usual place."

Ryan rested his head against his knees.

There was no good way to end this but it would all be over soon…one way or another.

Tbc.

I hope this chapter clears up a few things for some of you:0)

Thanks to all who reviewed...I do a little chair dance whenever I see that someone has taken the time. (it's the only exercise I get so help keep cheeky healthy!)