'Get the hell out of my way.' Hawke's eyes were lit with the dangerous glint of a predator that would have had most men running for cover; Michael wasn't most men.

'You know you can't go back there.' The spy insisted, keeping his position in front of the van doors. They'd run an audio scan for Caitlin when she hadn't turned up after her shift and overheard Darrow telling his men to move her to the meat factory with the other girls.

'The odds aren't in your favour.' Michael continued. 'You'll likely get the two of you killed.'

A muscle twitched in Hawke's jaw; the only sign that he'd heard Michael at all. The two men stared at each other for a long moment.

'We have the information she got for us and she's wearing the tracer; we won't lose her, Hawke.' Michael said gently.

'You going to guarantee me that, Michael?' Hawke bit out.

'String…' Dom's voice heavy with worry crackled through the radio.

'We have to plan this properly, Hawke.' Michael said calmly. 'If we panic and rush in there, she will end up dead. You know that.'

Hawke reached over and pressed the radio mike on. 'Stand down, Dom.'

'But String…'

'Keep tracking Caitlin but rendezvous with Michael and me at the usual location. We need to come up with a rescue plan.' Hawke signed off before Dom could protest again and stabbed a finger into Michael's chest. 'You'd better be right about this, Michael because if anything happens to that girl…'

'I know.' Michael said quietly and wondered at Hawke's automatic defence mechanism of calling Caitlin 'that girl' whenever she was in trouble; he wasn't even sure if the pilot knew he did it.

They had to travel out to the rendezvous spot and Michael used the time to examine the information Caitlin had scribbled onto the notepaper whilst his aide examined the downloaded computer file. Both tried to ignore Hawke who brooded in the corner of the van.

'Maybe…' Michael tapped his moustache thoughtfully. 'What if we got this the wrong way round?'

'What do you mean?' Kelly asked.

'What if Darrow approached Sterling to help expand his slave trade?' Michael waved the notepaper that Caitlin had scribbled with the odd numbers and words. 'I'm sure this is a business plan showing how Darrow can dominate the business with some assistance from a big brother although Sterling isn't mentioned by name.'

'Look what I found.' Kelly turned the monitor so Michael could see. There was a surveillance photo of Linton in front of the warehouse. 'It's one of several. Darrow worked out Sterling was using the warehouse as a dummy location for the heroin and what's more he worked out where the heroin actually is.' She pulled up another photo. It showed an upscale nightclub. 'This nightclub is owned by another of Sterling's associates, a woman called Tricia Marcus. Darrow keeps his accounts on a spreadsheet. About a month ago, Farrick Textiles started to pay triple the original rental.'

'My God.' Michael murmured. 'He blackmailed Sterling into going into business with him.'

'It makes sense.' Kelly said. 'Caitlin's report of the conversation Darrow had with Sterling's men did make it seem as though it was Darrow who was calling the shots.'

'It's bull.' Hawke's voice rumbled from the shadow.

Michael and Kelly turned toward him.

Hawke gestured. 'You really think a guy like Sterling is going to let a guy like Darrow call the shots?'

'But…' Kelly started to protest before Michael shook his head.

'He's right.' Michael nodded at the pilot. 'What are you thinking?'

'I think Darrow's being set up to take the fall.' Hawke said.

'I've got something else, sir.' Kelly said. 'Darrow owns three warehouses.'

'Yes.' Michael said impatiently.

'But he's tracking two of them.' Kelly said pointing at the monitor. 'The one leased by Farrick Textiles and a second warehouse on the other side of the docks. That must be where he's keeping the women.' She hunted through the rest of the details. 'All deliveries to the second warehouse cease two days from now.'

'That must be when he's planning the auction.' Michael said.

'We're not waiting two days to get Cait.' Hawke growled. 'If you're right and Darrow is blackmailing Sterling, Darrow won't risk keeping Caitlin alive for that long.'

The van came to a stop saving Michael from a reply. Hawke jumped out and stalked over to Airwolf leaving the spy and his aide to follow.

'Dom,' Hawke climbed into the pilot's seat as Michael opened the passenger door and simply peered inside the cockpit, 'what have you got?'

'I've tracked her to a warehouse on the docks.' Dom confirmed quickly. 'But we're almost out of range. If they move her again…'

'They won't.' Hawke said reaching for his helmet.

'Where are you going?' Michael asked exasperated.

Hawke simply looked at him.

Michael sighed. 'I'm coming with you.' He handed his cane to Kelly. 'Call Zebra squad and get them to meet us at that warehouse ASAP. Keep the local police out of it, Darrow probably has someone on the inside.' He closed the door.

Hawke didn't wait for the other man to get comfortable before taking off.