I haven't stolen them, I'm borrowing without permission, with every intention of giving them back (well, maybe!)

Judy Hoffs had followed the van to the large compound an hour outside the city and then abandoned Bookers car before creeping through the gate in the vans shadow. She had switched the radio off half an hour ago despite Fullers angry warnings. Worried as she was Tom and Doug had been right. If they sent the entire police force after Crane he would panic and he would take it out on her unfortunate friends. She still couldn't work out what had happened, she hadn't seen those men enter the building after Hanson and Penhall had forced their way in. She just hoped Fuller could find his way there from her last known position.

The building looked forbidding. It was a huge stone edifice surrounded by high steel fences topped with razor wire, there was nowhere obvious she could find cover. Crane had taken the mostly unconcious forms of her partners in through a door in the back of the building but there was so many windows she had no idea which of the many rooms he was holding them. But she had to do something. Staying as flat to the walls as possible she made her way around the building, trying to find any way she could possibly force entry.

"What am I doing?" she thought to herself. Even if she did find her way in there was six armed men in there and they could be anywhere. No matter how many times she told herself this she still couldn't bring herself to just sit and wait. Her friends were in there and they needed her.

After she made her way round one corner she saw a window high up on one of the walls. To her disbelief it was open, and in her desperation to get in and help the others it never crossed her mind that this was just too easy. Smiling to herself, she began to cimb.

"Give it up Crane" Harry said from the corner as Doug moved protectively towards his partners. "They'll go easier on you if you cooperate."

"Harry, don't lie to him man." Tom said, mock sympathy in his voice. "

Doug helped Harry to his feet. "You ok man?" he asked him. Harry nodded as he stood up, dark eyes fixed on Crane and Hanson.

"They're gonna string you up. You had two cops killed, kidnaped and held another at gunpoint. There's no judge on earth gonna go easy on you." Tom said calmly in a voice full of bored sarcasm.

"They'll have to find me first." he said, obviously trying to sound menacing, all this earned him however was Hanson's beaming smile and Doug Penhalls wild bark of laughter.

"He sounds like a bad movie!" Doug said, trying his best to regain his composure.

"Nah, I'd say more amature dramatics". Harry added. Crane simply stood in the doorway smiling softly at them.

"You starting in real estate again?" Tom said mockingly signalling their surroundings, "Cos this dosen't seem such a good investment"

"It's a fixerupper" Crane answered.

"Apparently so!"

"So what, you just gonna keep us in here?" Dennis asked, he was standing upright leaning unsteadiliy on Harry.

"That would spoil the surprise!" Crane said still smiling. He walked over to where Tom was leaning against the wall, as he did so Doug moved instinctivley closer to his best friend in a protective gesture. "And I've being so looking forward to seeing you again Officer."

Tom smiled sweetly back at him. "Sorry, I can't say the same.",

"You've made this all to easy. Poor predictable Officer Hanson, rushing to the rescue before thinking things through. You think I'm so stupid I wouldn't think you'd be able to trace that call? You think I had no idea you'd be able to get hold of land deeds and employee records? You disappoint me. I know the police departments a little slow but I didn't think you were so trusting. Didn't think to check if anyone else was following did you?" Tom stared back at him blankly inwardly cursing himself for being so careless in his desperation to get to Harry.

"By the way, where is Miss Hoffs?"

Harry started and threw a desperate, pleading, and somewhat shocked glance towards Hanson. When Tom offered no reply Crane just smiled coldly.

"Not to worry, we'll find her. Terry!" Crane called to one of the large men standing in the doorway, "Show Officer Hanson to his room"

"I get my own room?" Tom said in his best excited kiddies voice.

"Get him out of my sight!" Crane barked looking Tom up and down in disgust. The giant referred to as Terry grabbed Toms arms and forced them roughly behind his back jarring the gunshot wound in his shoulder and drawing fresh blood. Doug stepped forward, the instinct to protect his smaller partner so ingrained by now it was automatic, but he was held back by one of Cranes other goons. Tom did his best not to aknowledge the sharp pain shooting through his shoulder, and flashed Crane his most insolent smile and quipped "I like him! Where'd you pull him?"

"Old cell mate!" Crane replied.

" You could do alot worse".

"I can't tell you how much I am going to enjoy beating that smile off your face!" Crane spat "Have fun!" he said to the giant as they passed. Tom just winked suggestivly at him as he was marched out of the room.

"TOM?"

"It's ok Doug. Look after them."

Doug turned blazing eyes on Crane. "Where are you taking him?" he spat.

"Oh not far. In fact, you'll be able to hear him just fine from where you're going."

"Touch him and I'll kill everyone of you!" he said with venom.

Two men came up behind Doug, and although he fought, kicked and punched in retaliation they eventually overpowered him and with his hands bound tightly behind him, they led him from the room under the frightened and concerned eyes of Harry and Dennis. Before leaving Crane turned to the two remaining young men and smiled pleasantly and said "Don't worry. I haven't forgotten about you two." and followed the others from the room before closing the door and locking them in behind him.

"Weren't there five of them?"

"Yeah."

"What do you think he's gonna do?" Harry asked looking at Booker with wide eyes.

"I don't know. We've gotta get outta here Ioki."

"It's ok. Jude would have seen us. She'll radio Fuller and help will be on it's way. How's the head?"

"Still there. You ok?"

"I will be".