Still doesn't belong to me

Penhall paced around his living room unable to settle. His pacing and constant sighs were begining to get on Hansons already considerably stressed nerves.

"Doug, he's gonna be here ok. Will you stop that, you're starting drive me insane! Anyway you'll wake Clavo."

"I can't stand all this waiting"

"Doug, will you sit down, man, he'll..." Tom was then interupted by someone hammering at Penhall's front door. "See! That's him. Now sit!" he said getting up to answer the door. As he opened it he saw the familiar face of Dennis Booker looking down at him. Same cocky smile and superior air he remembered.

"Hello Dennis" Tom said, half smiling.

"Hair's a big improvement Tommy!"

"What? You don't like prison chic!"

"Nah, never suited you!"

"Good to see you man!" Tom said offering Dennis his hand.

"Hey, Penhall!" Booker called as he walked through to the living room.

"Dennis" Penhall said jumping up with a smile. He had warmed considerably towards Booker since Hanson had been released.

"So did you find anything?" Tom asked as he handed Dennis a beer

"Not much. He has a sister that lives in the city, but that you know about. Plus I don't think she'd be too welcoming considering his goons shot her son. There's not many people with a good word to say about this guy as you can imagine. The only person that came up was this Matt, that guy who was on the ride with you Doug, remember?"

"Yeah! You think he helped organise busting Crane outta jail?"

"Well he's the only one who doesn't seem to have severed all ties with this guy"

"So what have you got on him?" Tom asked.

"Matt Anderton. 34 years old, divorced, no kids. Worked for Crane for 8 years, security division." He said meaningfully, before continuing."He has a flash apartment near the docks. No doubt paid for by his extortionate paychecks from Crane".

"Wait a minute! Security?" Doug said, eyes wide and anger rising. "You think he had some part in framing Tom?"

"I'd bet on it!" Dennis replied before pulling out a handful of computer printouts and throwing them on the table. "Farrell would have been his new boss. I'd bet he was all to eager too impress. I pulled all the files of everyone employed in security. Recognise any of these guys Tommy?"

Tom picked up the pile and began sorting through the numerous faces and facts.

"No." Tom said dejectedly as he thumbed through various Crane employee mugshots. Suddenly his brown eyes widened and lit up as they focused on a familiar face. "I've seen this guy before."

"Where?" Doug asked urgently.

"When he decided to try to make swiss cheese outta me yesterday. This is the guy who shot me and shoved Harry into the car." He answered as he passed the page to Doug.

"Jesus he's huge. Terry Leyton, blah blah blah blah.." Doug continued as he scanned the page. "Hey what does this mean? Special Operations?"

"Let me see." Dennis said as he took the sheet from Dougs grasp, Tom moving to look best he could over Bookers shoulder.

"Special Operations?" Tom said thoughtfully. "I guess that would cover an organised jailbreak."

"Check this out Hanson." Dennis said slamming the paper on Dougs coffee table. "Just did seven months for assault and battery. In Southside Penitentiary."

Tom smiled softly and sadly, " Seven months. Plenty of time for him to reacquaint himself with his boss."

"And he knows all our faces." Doug said, uncharacteristically serious.

"Bingo!" Dennis replied.

"So we know who's behind this. Now what do we do?" Doug asked.

"Find them." Booker said simply.

"You think this Matt guy could be putting Crane up in comfort and luxury at his exclusive dwellings?" Doug offered, his tone bitter.

"I don't think so. Too obvious."

"Maybe he thinks we didn't recognise him. Tom had never seen him before so he must be pretty sure he had no idea who he was."

"I don't know. Maybe." Dennis answered uncertainly.

Tom had been deep in thought as his partners debated how thin this theory was. Breaking his train of thought he said "Nah, he wouldn't be that stupid.", thinking over the possibility that Crane could be hiding out there.

"Yeah, you'd think" Doug answered.

"What else" Tom was begining to get impatient.

"Crane's also got foriegn bank accounts that the good ol' US Government weren't able to appropriate. Adds up to quite a stash."

"I'll bet" Tom said bitterly, thinking of his own now considerably smaller savings, he had thanked god on numerous occaisions that his appartment was paid for. "How do you find all this? We spent hours trailing through department precedures and came up with next to nothing. Can't even look at a building without a warrant, let alone search one. What about the employee records. Anyone in there likely to still be on the payroll?"

"Well there's a couple of guys that I remember from when I was undercover working for the guy that seemed like they were pretty loyal, but they didn't strike me as the type to orchestrate a jail break and armed kidnapping."

"He still own any property he might be using as a hideout?" Doug asked.

"Actually he does. You'll love this Penhall. He owns the flat and shop above Rocket Dog, and an old storage lock up."

"Rocket Dog? Really?" Doug repiled

"Hang on!" Tom said suddenly. "When I was talking to him, there was this noise in the background, at the time I thought it was static, you know, bad connection?" he said, a pronounced scowl distorting his features. "I don't know, could have been a train or a plane maybe."

"What are you thinking?" Doug said studying Hanson's face. After years of friendship and working together Doug had got pretty good at reading Hanson's moods and expressions, well as good as anyone can be with Hanson, and he could see that Tom was beging to piece something together.

"I'm not sure. It couldn't have been a plane, if he was that close to the airport he wouldn't be wanting a ride, he could get onto a plane anytime he wanted." Hanson was thinking out loud to himself rather than talking to those around him. "But he'd have customs and everything looking out for him, so he'd probably not get far!"

"So, you think he's somewhere near the train station?" Doug asked

"Could be. Dennis where is this lock up?" Tom asked looking over at Booker.

"Actually it's near the docks on the same route as the airport." Dennis replied.

"That's too easy! Isn't it?" Tom said his large soft brown eyes looking pleadingly at Doug and Booker.

"Yeah." Dennis answered uncertainly

"Well wherever they are they're not alone" Doug put in. "He had three other armed guys with him remember" he said pointing to Tom's injured arm.

"Yeah well, at least it doesn't hurt as much as getting shot in the ass" Tom said smiling playfully at his friend. Then more seriously,"I can't think. Too hungry."

Doug smiled at this quirk that was so typical of Hanson. "So, pizza?" Doug said, watching his partners eyes clear for the first time that evening.

"You need to ask" Dennis quipped.

"Right I'm on it!" Doug said going over to the phone and pressing speed dial.

"So what do you think really Tommy?" Booker asked

"I think Crane has no intention of letting Harry go, or the rest of us."

"What do you mean?"

"I think we're going to be walking into a trap. Think about it. We walk in at a time and place specified by Crane, who we know has five armed lackeys with him and a serious grudge against all of us. We go in, I don't think we'll come out."

"So what do we do?"

"We find out where he's holding Harry and WE spring the surprise".

"Still trying to save the world hey Hanson!" Booker said with a wry smile.

"No. There's no point." he answered flatly "I just want to help Harry"

"Pizza's on the way!" Doug said, sounding more cheerful at the prospecet of food.

"I can't believe you have that place on speed dial!" Tom said with a smile.

"Hey , I got a kid know. I have to be prepared"

"You've got a kid!" Dennis exclaimed in shocked surprise.

"Long story" Tom said as he let his head fall back to rest on the back of Penhalls old couch. As Doug began explaining how Clavo had ended up living with him, not having slept in days and exhausted from worry, Tom suddenly fell asleep.

"Is he ok?" Dennis asked gesturing towards Tom.

"Yeah, he's not been sleeping well lately, that's all."

"So you got a kid huh?"

As Dennis listened, rapt, to Doug's story of their journey to El Salvador to find Marta, the nightmares returned with a vengence. There had been no nightmares in the past couple of weeks,but that was only because he hadn't really slept. But now, exhusted and unable to keep his eyes open any longer Tom had to face his tormentors once again. However, this time instead of just blackness behind Harry, he could see a construction site in the distance, filled with huge machinery and building materials. Then as once again Doug refused to aknowledge him, he shot out his hand and forced the heavy set figure of his friend to face him. Only as he turned Tom was horrified to see Dougs face was not there! At this he woke up, familar cold sweat and racing pulse.

Doug had been finishing telling Booker his tale when he heard Hanson scream. He watched as he bolted upright, eyes staring wildly and face as white as a ghost. Then he jumped up from his chair and took hold of Hanson's shoulders.

"Tom, wake up man! It's ok. Hey, it's Doug! Tom wake up."

Booker watched puzzled as Tom grabbed at Dougs arm, shaking uncontrolably.

"Hanson?" he asked uncharacteristicaly concerned.

"He's alright, just give him a minute" Doug answered quickly.

"Penhall, what's going on" Booker demanded, watching as Tom's eyes slowly cleared and he studied Doug's face as if he'd never seen him before. This was not the Tom Hanson he had known and resented. Eventhough he would never tell a soul, at that moment watching Tom's distress he realised that part of him would never forgive himself for his part in bringing down this once focused, intelligent and, despite his slight and fragile appearence, strong young man, to this frightened kid infront of him clinging to Penhall for dear life.

"Tom, it's me, calm down" Doug said one last time as Tom decided he was actually really there. "You told me this was over Hanson" Doug said in reproachful yet kind voice.

"It wasn't a train." Tom said enigmatically.

"What?" Booker said drawing Tom's attention.

"The noise when I was talking to Crane. It wasn't a train. He's holding Harry near some kind of construction site." he said, his eyes focused and aware.

"You sure?"

"It could be" Doug said

"Booker. That lock up where was it?"

"It's a small storage building near the docks".

Tom and Doug exchanged meaningful glances as both their eyes lit up.

"That's thin man!" Doug said to his partner

"You can never be too thin Doug" Hanson said with half a smile on his face."They've all kinds of heavy machinery down there, that could have been what I heard".

"What if it's not?" Booker interupted.

"Then we keep looking" Tom replied. "We're not giving up on Harry, right?"

"Right" Doug and Booker said almost in unison.

"So, where exactly is this place?" Tom asked.

"You got a map Doug?"

"Me? Are you kidding, with my sense of direction? Why would I need a map?"

"Doug!" Tom scolded, "We're kinda in a hurry here."

"There's one at the Chapel!", he responded, face lighting up.

"With Fuller" Tom said dejected.

"He may have gone home."

"Fuller? I wouldn't bet on it Dennis"

"Oh, wait" Booker said triumphantly," I have a road map in my glove box! I'll run down, get it and I'll be back in no time." and with this dashed out of the door and down the hall.

"So!" Doug said turning to Tom. " What was that?", his brown eyes, while not as large as Hanson's were no less kind, looking at him with concern

"Don't start!" Hanson said wearily. "Let's just find Harry ok"

"When are you going to stop demanding so much from yourself and so little from us?"

"That's what Judy said"

"Well, the girl's smart. Come on Tom, we're your friends, let us help."

"After we've got Harry" he said deadly serious.

"Ok" Doug replied knowing there was absolutely no point in arguing this time.

"Got it!" came Bookers call as he burst through the door. He brushed away the empty pizza boxes and spread the map out on the table. "This is where it's situated" he said pointing out a small rectanglular shape on the edge of the docks. "It's right near the road. So, you know, good access. Should be pretty easy to suss the place out."

"Are we sure?" Doug asked

"It's not as if we have anything else to go on" Tom offered.

"Look Penhall, if Tommy's right about what he heard there's really nowhere else to look."

"Can you get us a plan of the layout of this place?" Tom asked

"Sure. We might have to stop by my office. My secretary can do anything man, most people are scared to death of her"

"Been meaning to see Bookers place haven't we Doug?" he said surpressing a wry smile.

"Oh, wait!" Doug said a little paniced. "I can't leave Clavo!"

"You wanna call Jude?" Dennis said

"No, she'd want to know why. She'd also be a little curious as to why you're here."

"Hey Elaine, my secretary, can watch him."

"She good with kids?"
"She's good with everyone Penhall. Doesn't like me much though"

"Hey, I like her already" Tom said

"Nice Tommy!"

Tom gave Booker a sarcastic smile and said "So you gonna show us your digs?"

"Ok. Let's roll"