XIV

"What? What is it?" Face asked as BA put the phone down. "Is Murdock alright?"

"It's Erica." BA said. He didn't say anything else. He didn't know how tosay it, but he knew at least Face and the Colonel would understand.

"Oh God..." Face said. The thought frightened him, not just because another innocent person had died, but because it meant that whoever was after the team was very serious and playing a deadly game. The thoughts about where this could go sent a chill through Face's whole body.

"What she's...she's dead too?" Frankie asked, although by the look of the others, he already knew the answer. "I gotta call my father. I need to know he's okay" He said as he got up and moved over to the phone and started to dial the number, the phone pressed to his ear.

BA moved away from the younger man, giving him some privacy, but listening to what Frankie said all the same hoping that his father was well.

"Go get Murdock." Hannibal said to Face. "He's better off back here with us."

"BA, you coming?" Face asked.

BA was watching Frankie, waiting for a reaction but Frankie appeared to be waiting still. BA turned his attention to Face, "Yeah, I'm comin'."

Face looked to Hannibal. "We won't be long."

The Colonel nodded his head and watched the two men leave.

He exhaled deeply. Opening the back door, he lit a cigar and started smoking.

He was there for several minutes before he was interrupted.

"My father's okay." Frankie said, his voice full of relief.

"That's good then." Hannibal said, continuing to smoke.

"So what now?" Frankie asked.

Hannibal stepped outside into the night. He smiled at Frankie. "I think I've got a plan."

Face felt sick as he made his way to Erica's apartment, where he knew Murdock and a body were waiting for him.

He was nervous about what he'd find beyond the door. Would Erica be in the same sort of condition as Jess had been? He tried to shove the image of her lifeless body in the bath from his head and continued towards the room.

BA was waiting in the van, keeping an eye out for anyone who may causetrouble, but Face knew in reality that BA wasn't sure how well he'd handle what they were to encounter.

Face knew he didn't have far to go until he was at Erica's door.

Whatever he was faced with, he'd have to deal with it.

And suddenly, he was standing in front of that door and automatically his hand knocked lightly on it.

He barely had a chance to breathe before it was opened and he was looking into the eyes of his best friend.

The emotions Face saw in those eyes he could barely register, they were so conflicting and filtered so quickly, but he was left with the impressions of a fierce anger that was lying just under the surface and a

pain that ripped through layers of skin and flesh and went right to your heart where it hurt you most.

Face stepped closer to Murdock but the pilot stopped him.

"Let's just go." Murdock said.

"But wait, what if they know you were here?" Face said.

"I don't care. I'm not wanted like you." Murdock stated.

"Still, no need to be stupid." Face said. "You're an ex-mental patient, they'll throw that back at you."

"Face, I can't deal with that." Murdock said, indicating the room behind him. "Please, let's just go."

"I need to see." Face said.

"I can't... I need to be away from here." Murdock said.

"BA's in the van. Go down, stay with him. I'll be just a minute."

Murdock nodded and left the room behind him without another glance back. Face waited until his friend was out of sight before he went fully into the room.

No amount of preparation could help him with what he saw.

Hannibal had seen the figure moving around inside and cautiously made his way back in.

He had taken his gun out in a fluid motion and was waiting until he saw the intruder before he made a move.

Then he saw him.

BA concentrated on driving back.

He didn't take his eyes off the road, didn't want to see the haunted looks

on the others faces.

BA gripped the steering wheel tightly, angry at what was happening to his friends, angry that they were being targeted by an unknown enemy.

But once they knew who was responsible, he'd take revenge.

For two murdered girls.

For two friends.

And he'd look forward to hunting the bastards down.

"Looks like Stockwell beat us here." BA said as he parked the van at the front of the house. "Wonder what he wants."

"Maybe he knows something about Jessica's murder." Murdock said.

"How does he know about Jessica?" Face asked, curiously.

"I told him." Murdock stated flatly.

"What for?" Face asked. BA had turned round in his seat, listening intently to the conversation.

"Cover. Stop the truth coming out about how Jessica died."

"But it was murder." Face said. "She deserved justice for her murder."

"Oh come on, this isn't about justice, you know that. I told Stockwell for your own protection."

"Is that what Hannibal was talking about earlier, going behind his back? You went to Stockwell before, didn't you?"

"Yeah."

"What for?" BA asked.

"It's kinda personal. Lets just say that Hannibal had a plan I wasn't so keen on. Look, now's just not the time. Stockwell did me a little favour that he owed me and it was sorted. But Hannibal wasn't thrilled when he

found out."

"I bet." Face said. Not quite sure what to make of this new information, he decided for now, he had to concentrate on the immediate problem. "Let's get inside and see what Stockwell has to say then."

The three men climbed out of the van and made their way to the door.

As BA turned the handle, they heard a single gun shot.