XII

Murdock pulled the loose change from his pocket and slid one of the coins into the slot and dialed the number he knew off by heart.

He heard a familiar voice answer. "Let me speak to him."

There was a long stretch of silence before he heard the next voice. "Captain."

"I think we should talk."

"Really. What for?"

"Murder."

"Captain, I have no idea what you're talking about."

"How about secrets, then? Got a few to keep, haven't you?"

"You can't blackmail me."

"I never said anything about blackmail, General. But, if a few of those home truths did come out, I think we both know what would happen now, don't we."

"If I remember rightly, you have enough of your own secrets to keep, Captain.

"Yeah, they aren't as good as yours though. Let's just stick with the murder. Get one of your people to pick me up." With that, Murdock hung up.

"I don't understand why he'd set fire to the place." Face said and not for the first time, he'd been repeating himeself over and over again.

"There must have been something there." BA said, knowing that Murdock wouldn't just burn down a building unless he had to.

He turned to Hannibal for his support, but noticed the Colonel was paying attention to Frankie. BA turned his gaze upon the younger man also, seeing the look of fear there, unmasked and real.

"You Okay, Frankie?" Hannibal asked.

"No, man. I'm worried. What'll happen to my father, he might not be safe."

"It'll be OK." BA said.

"Frankie, I'll do whatever I have to to bring this team back together." Hannibal assured them. "We need Murdock here. Any idea where he is?"

Stockwell sat behind his desk on the jet, looking as he always did- smug and self righteous.

"Captain. Now, what's all this about murder?" he asked. Clearly he'd got over the threat of Murdock blowing any of his secrets out of the water.

"Don't play with me. You know exactly what's been going on."

"Well, I know that you decided that arson was a good way to solve your problems."

"It's not my problem." Murdock corrected. "But, since you know so much, I know you'll be able to inform me who exactly was behind this."

"Sorry, Captain. I know as little about this as you."

"I don't buy that."

"I don't recall asking you to. Whether you believe me or not as of little consequence to me."

Murdock rolled his eyes and let out a sigh, before moving closer to Stockwell in a sudden movement. They were face to face across the desk. "Maybe you should be a little more concerned about what happens to your investment. The team aren't puppets, you can't control them."

"I thought I was doing a rather good job of it." Stockwell said, smiling.

"It won't work. You know what I'll do to protect them. I don't care how big you think you are, if you don't help out I'll won't be accountable for what happens." Murdock stood back up. Took a few steps back.

"Sorry Captain. If I honestly believed you'd expose any of these secrets, you'd have done it when your men were facing the firing squad."

It was Murdock's turn to smile. "General, I wouldn't have used the stuff I have on you for that. I had plenty of ideas for getting the team out of there. I'd have used blackmail as a last resort. I'm using it now. If anything happens to anyone else, if anyone else gets hurt, you'll be finished. I promise you."

Murdock had to get back to the guys.

He needed to explain to them what he'd found because right now they probably thought he'd lost his marbles right about now.

First he needed to get back to his place.

Needed to clean up and get some fresh clothes on.

Everything else would have to wait for now.

Stockwell sat at the desk, contemplating the Captains words.

He knew he was serious. Knew he'd protect the team at all costs.

He'd have to get one of his top men to look into this, see what they could find out.

See who exactly wanted to hit the team so close to home.

BA watched the rest of the team go about their business, but things were far from right.

Hannibal seemed to be carrying on as usual, or at least trying to. BA had a feeling that something wasn't quite right with the Colonel at the moment and he suspected it was the turn of events and how he'd been almost displaced. Afterall, Face had called Murdock rather than him.

Frankie simply didn't know what to do. He looked to scared to say anything and just sat watching the TV and every now and then, he'd glance at the telephone.

He was probably as anxious to call his father and BA was to call his mother. He knew he couldn't, in case Murdock called in, but from the look on Frankie's face, he hadn't thought of that, he was still just to scared to ask.

Face had been very quiet earlier on, the shock numbing him.

He'd changed after they saw the news report of the apartment on fire. He looked very apprehensive now, probably worried about Murdock, as they all were as he hadn't called in.

BA knew he wasn't stupid and the pilot could take care of himself very well on his own.

But that didn't mean that they had to like it.

"Guys." Face called out as he sat forward on the sofa paying attention to the screen again.

"...the fire that earlier caused destruction at an apartment block has claimed a life. The body of a woman has been found in one of the rooms where the fire seems to have started. The Firemen who tackled the blaze have made no comments about what they believe caused the incident. The body of the woman has been taken for an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Reports from the Police department indicate that they believe no foul play was involved and this was the result of a tragic accident..."

"That's bull!" Hannibal said angrily from where he stood by the doors.

"Someone murdered her." Face said. "Why aren't they looking for the killers?"

"Because if they do, they'll come looking for you."

The men in the room looked to the door, where Murdock stood.

"Whatta ya mean?" BA asked, confused.

"Face, you never really moved Jessica's body. She had the words 'The A Team' carved into her back."

"But no one's gonna think that the A Team would kill an innocent girl, right?" Frankie asked.

"The A Team who should have been executed for the convicted murder of Colonel Morrison? What d'you think, Frank."

"So that's why you burnt the apartment." Face said.

"I didn't see any other choice."

"What about the news report?" Hannibal said, walking towards Murdock.

"What about it?"

"They just assume it's an innocent accident all by themselves. Or did someone else sway that opinion?"

Murdock moved a little closer to Hannibal. "Anyone would think you want the team executed, Hannibal. It's a good thing that they aren't looking for suspects."

"We're be looking for the real culprits anyway, won't we?" Face asked.

"That's not the point, Face. I don't like my team going behind my back."

"You're gonna start this again?" Murdock shot back.

"Start what up?" BA said.

Murdock and Hannibal seemed to be in a stare down and no one answered. Murdock broke away, turning from the group and heading back to the door.

"Wait, where are you going?" Face asked.

"Back to my place, I got stuff to do." Murdock answered as he walked out the door.

"Are you gonna let him go, Johnny?" Frankie asked.

"He can do what he likes. My biggest concern is with the team. He's walked out of here, he's walked out on us."

"Hannibal." Face said, shocked.

BA threw a look at the Colonel of complete surprise. "You're saying his outta the team?"

Hannibal looked harshly at the man walking away from him, anger flaring. He turned to answer BA, but realised his mistake. He composed himself, letting the anger go. "No, of course not. I want the team how it used to be. And we need Murdock for that. We'll just give him some time. He needs to go home for a while. Sort things out. Then he'll come back to us."

Hannibal watched as the men looked more relaxed.

It made him feel good to know he'd done that.

That's what being the leader was all about.