Thanks for all the reviews. Keep them coming. Here's chapter 2.

Chapter 2

Carey was shoved onto the couch. Zack and Cody were sat down on either side of her. Carey looked at the cut on Zack's neck. He'd be alright. The leader sat down in a chair. Carey gasped. She recognized him from the news. It was Dennis Murdock. What did he want?
"Please don't hurt us," said Carey.

"No one will get hurt if you cooperate fully with us. A friend of mine is in town and needs a place to lay low. He'll be here in a few minutes," said Dennis.

"What are you doing at the Tipton?" asked Cody.

"It's the nicest hotel in Boston. It's also the last place people would think to look for me," said Dennis. Carey turned her attention to the other two men. One had silver hair and seemed to be in early forties. The other was totally bald and was looking at Carey with a sickening hunger.

"You killed those two innocent girls. How do we know you won't kill us?" asked Cody.

"I have never killed anyone," said Dennis.

"Robert Harrison is going to prove you did," said Cody. Dennis narrowed his eyes. He leaned forward and slapped Cody. Cody yelped.

"Don't touch my boys," said Carey, cradling Cody in her arms.

"We are not going to even mention Robert Harrison. That man is trying to ruin my life," said Dennis.

"This has something to do with those two girls you killed, doesn't it?" asked Zack.

"I said enough!" Dennis pulled out a gun and pointed it at Zack's head. Zack whimpered and huddled against Carey.

"Please don't hurt them. We'll do whatever you ask," said Carey.

"That's what I like to hear," said Dennis. He put the gun away.

"We're going to sit tight until you have to perform. Then you're going to go downstairs and sing while we watch the boys. John here will accompany you downstairs," said Dennis, motioning towards the man with silver hair.

"I'm supposed to trust you not to hurt my boys?" asked Carey.

"You don't have a choice," said Dennis. "If you try anything funny, John will call me and I will execute both your sons." Zack and Cody both let out a whimper. Carey held them both in her arms. They were trapped.

Dina Warren continued to cut vegetables. The news was on the reporter on screen was giving the latest updates on the Dennis Murdock Trial. Dina sighed. In less then 24 hours, she would testify against the son of one of the most powerful men in the country. She had been hiking when she saw Dennis Murdock and two other men drag the body of a young girl deep into the woods of northern Massachusetts. The prosecuting team needed her to testify against Murdock in order to make a stronger case. The defense would try to destroy her credibility and her story. Dina had to be strong. There was a knock at the door.

"Coming," said Dina. She put the knife she had been using down and walked towards the front door. She looked through the peephole. A well-dressed man was standing in the hall.

"Who is it?" asked Dina, her fingers shaking.

"Ma'am, I work with Robert Harrison. He sent me here to go over your statement one last time," said the man. He held up some documents with Robert Harrison's signature and official seal on them. Dina breathed a sigh of relief. Dina unlocked the door and opened it slowly.

"Come on in," said Dina. The man raised a gun and shot Dina in the head. Dina crumpled to the ground. Vincent Lassiter looked up and down the hall to make sure no one had heard anything. The hall remained empty. He made a search of Dina's apartment. She lived alone. Vincent left Dina lying by her front door. He walked back to his rental car, ready for the next job.

Nick watched as Robert Harrison continued to pace.

"A hit man? Damnit. How do we handle this?" asked Robert.

"Start figuring out who a likely target would be," said Nick.

"There's a lot of witnesses and lawyers involved in this case. Cops. FBI agents. It could be anyone," said Robert. He sighed and sat down in a chair.

"This is just what I need," said Robert.

"Don't start panicking yet. We don't know if a hit man has even been hired," said Nick.

"What do you know about this Archangel?" asked Robert. Nick sighed.

"He's a legend really. The best in the business. Can complete all his jobs within 24 hours. No one knows who he is or what he even looks like. Hell, we're not really sure if he exists," said Nick. Robert leaned back in his chair.

"I just want this case to be over," said Robert. Nick nodded his head. He wanted the case to be over too. And if the Archangel was hunting people down that night, it'd be over sooner then anyone thought.

Carey sighed. The men had been in the suite now for two hours. Carey had to sing in forty minutes.

"Almost time. You should get ready," said Dennis, walking over. Carey nodded and stood up.

"Mom no," said Cody, trying to pull her back down.

"It's OK, honey. I'm not leaving yet," said Carey. She headed towards the bathroom. That's when she saw a letter opener sitting on a table. She had been opening some mail earlier that day. The bald man was walking towards her. Carey saw her opportunity. She grabbed the letter opener without anyone seeing her. As the bald man passed her, she grabbed him around the neck and held the letter opener up to his jugular.

"All of you out of my suite," said Carey. Dennis shook his head. He took his gun out.

"I'll kill your buddy," said Carey. Dennis shrugged.

"OK," he said. He pointed the gun at Cody's head.

"No, wait, don-" before Carey could say anything else, Dennis pulled the trigger.

Aren't I evil? If you want to know what happens to Cody, you have to review.