Part Seven
Ronin quickly dialed Face's number. After three rings someone finally picked up.
"Hello, Peck residence."
"Aunt Rita, I need to talk to Uncle Tem."
Rita quickly handed the phone to her husband. She knew something was wrong.
Ronin hardly called him Tem. Face took it. "Who is it?"
"Ronin. Tem, something is wrong. I have this feeling."
Face nodded as he spoke into the phone. "Hello."
"Uncle Face, it's me."
"Hey, Ronin. Did the target practice go okay?"
"I don't have time for that, Uncle Face. Robbins' men took Dad and I've been
arrested."
"What? Ronin, what happened?"
"I'll tell you. Just get down here and get me."
"Okay, I'll be right there, Ronin. Which police station are you at?"
"The one on Belver Street.."
"Hang in there, kid. I'll be right there." Face quickly hung up. "Ronin's been
arrested."
"What?"
"I'm going to go get him, Rita."
"Tem, where's Murdock?"
"Ronin said Robbins' men took him."
"Oh, dear."
"Rita, don't tell the kids."
"Do you think that's fair? At least tell Todd."
"I can't. You know how Todd gets. I've be back soon with Ronin. Then BA and I
will search for Murdock."
Rita watched as Face left; she felt strange not telling Todd about his father.
Face soon arrived at the station and hurried in. He saw Ronin sitting on a
bench.
"Ronin, are you all right?"
"Are you his father?"
Face turned around and both men stared in shock.
The officer spoke first.
"Peck!"
"Easy, Decker. I'm a free man. I've been a free man for years. What's the idea,
arresting Ronin?"
"First of all, Peck, I don't have to answer to you. But he broke the law."
"What did he do?"
"He was chasing another car, speeding, and shots were fired. "
"He may have had a reason."
"Peck, no one is above the law. But why am I telling you that? Smith never did
teach you that. Did he?"
"Are you pressing charges or not?"
"Since he doesn't have a record, we're letting him go with a warning. But if I
catch him doing it again, I will throw him in jail so fast his head will spin.
Now get out before I change my mind."
Ronin stood there. He really wanted to tell this jerk off. He had seemed almost
concerned. What had changed his tune so suddenly? As they were leaving, the
officer spoke again.
"Peck, you leave this to the law. I don't want you and your friends sticking
your noses where they don't belong."
Face only waved as he and Ronin walked out of the station.
"What a jerk," Ronin muttered as he got into the car. Once Face was in, he
turned to him. "What's the plan?"
"Well, first, I'm dropping you off at work. Then, BA and I are going to try to
find Murdock."
"No way, Uncle Face! You're not finding dad without me."
"Ronin, these men are dangerous. I can't risk your life. Murdock would never
forgive me."
"I got the license number. You need me. And I'm coming."
"I said no and I don't want to hear another word."
Murdock stirred and slowly opened his eyes.
"I see you're awake."
Murdock looked up to the man who had slugged him earlier. "Yeah, thanks for the
nap."
The man, whose name was Frankie Carter, really didn't like what was going on,
but he felt he owed Robbins more than he could ever pay back. "Look, I really
don't want to hurt you. Just give Mr. Robbins what he wants, and you will be set
free."
I"f you believe that, then I really feel sorry for you."
"Mr. Robbins has been good to me. He's just a man doing business, and he did
make you a good offer for your house and land."
'You know what Mr. Robbins can do with his money - stick it up where the sun
doesn't shine."
"I don't need Mr. Murdock to get the house. He doesn't own it. Ronin does. My
spy found out. Hello, Mr. Murdock. I'm Vincent Robbins."
"Sorry I can't shake hands. I seem to be tied up at the moment."
"No matter. By five today that house and land will be mine."
"What do you mean?" Murdock replied, looking scared.
Robbins stared in his face. "Your son is going to die when the place he's going
to start working at explodes. I planted a bomb there and it will go off at five
o'clock. And since I'm his only living relative, the house goes to me."
Murdock glared at Robbins as he tried to free himself. "Ronin is my son! My son!
You heard me! You are not his only living relative..."
"You are right, Mr. Murdock, I'm not, but I will be. For you see, you are going
to be placed with the bomb."
Carter turned to Robbins, a man he always trusted. "Mr. Robbins! Innocent people
will be killed."
"Frankie, how many times have I told you? No one is innocent."
While they were talking, Murdock managed to untie his bonds and he attacked
Robbins. He had his hands around his neck and was choking him. It would have
been over but Carter pulled Murdock off Robbins. "I can't let you hurt him."
"He's going to kill my son," Murdock replied, not thinking of his own life.
"I'm sorry, but if it hadn't been for Mr. Robbins, my son would be dead. He paid
for Joey to get a new heart. I owe him a lot."
Robbins rubbed his neck and said in a raspy voice. "Get him ready. The next time
I see him, I want him in pieces along with his son."
""""""
Ronin kept quiet as Face drove him to work. When they got there Ronin got out
without saying a word.
"Ronin, BA and I will find Murdock."
"Whatever."
"With the license number, I can run it through the DMV and I'll find Murdock."
Ronin knew it was useless to argue with Face, so he turned away and headed
inside, not knowing that death waited for him.