Callahan didn't know where he was.
He did feel a slight rocking motion under his feet and wherever he was smelt of disinfectant.
"Where th'hell am I?" he thought.
Pain moved through his head from when he hit the ground and his jaw hurt.
He moved his tongue over his teeth when he sighed then he realized he was blindfolded.
"Shite," he thought as he tried to move, but he noticed his wrists and ankles were strapped to whatever he was sitting on.
"Looks like someone's awake," a distorted voice said.
"Who's there!?" Rory asked.
"I'll be asking the questions, Sunshine."
"Who are you!?"
"He doesn't listen very well, does he?" another distorted voice said.
"Who are you?!" Rory demanded a second time when he felt strong hands on his shoulders and he struggled to get free. "Let me go!"
"Not going to happen," the first distorted voice said.
"You better let me go!"
"Not until you answer our questions."
"Never gonna happen!"
"Uh…," the second distorted voice said and he wondered what was going on. "We got company."
"Oh shit," the first distorted voice said with a sigh. "Let's go."
"Where are you going?!" Rory demanded as he heard the sounds of footsteps then a door closing and he sighed. "Bastards!"
"What the hell are you doing here?" Paul demanded after he removed the headset and Murphy folded his arms over his chest.
"I'm here t'remind you who's in charge," Murphy said as he looked at the door to the room where they were holding Callahan.
"I'm in charge."
"No, you're not," made them look at Connor and he was sitting in a wheelchair. Angelica moved the wheelchair closer while he looked at Eunice, Sibeall and Smecker then he looked at Murphy.
"I thought you were gonna rest," Murphy said.
"I was, but I changed my mind. Have you talked t'him yet?"
"Nope," Murphy said with a shake of his head.
"Did I miss anything?" Romeo asked as he walked in the room and Smecker rolled his eyes.
"What are he doing here?" Paul asked.
"Connor told me you were going to talk to that asshole who was following us."
"We can't let you talk to him," Eunice said.
Connor looked at the headset as he took the headset from her and he inspected the headset.
"Is this one of those headsets that distort yer voice?" Connor asked.
"Yes."
"But it doesn't distort someone's accent. That's why I wasn't able t'say anythin'," Sibeal explained and Connor placed the headset on his lap.
"Is he awake?" Connor asked, looking at the door.
"Yes, he is. Why?" Paul asked.
"You'll see," Connor said with a grin and Smecker wondered what he was up to. "Romeo, you're with me."
"Ok," Romeo said while he walked to the wheelchair and Connor pointed to the door.
"I'm gonna need your headset," Connor said, pointed to the headset in Smecker's hands. Sighing, Smecker handed him the headset to Connor and Connor looked at Murphy. "Open th'door."
Nodding, Murphy walked to the door as he opened the door and Romeo pushed the wheelchair into the room. They could see Callahan sitting in the chair with the overhead light shining down on him and Romeo pushed the wheelchair to the chair.
"Who's there?!" Rory demanded and Connor placed the headset on. Eunice entered the room and she showed them how the headsets worked and Murphy closed the door. Nodding, Connor looked at Callahan while the guards stepped back and Callahan growled. "I know you're there! Answer me!"
"There is no need to shout. I can hear you just fine," Connor said and Eunice was surprised when he used a California surfer voice.
"Wait. You're not the assholes who were in here earlier."
"Those were my associates. Now, mind telling me who you are?"
"What will you do if I don't?"
Romeo thought for a few seconds when he walked to the chair, placed his right index finger in his mouth while Eunice gave him a disgusted look and Connor smiled. After he sucked on his fingers for a few seconds, Romeo removed his index fingers from his mouth then he wiggled his index fingers in Callahan's left ear.
"Shite! What was that?!" Rory demanded and Connor, Romeo and Eunice tried not to laugh.
"That's nothing compared to what we will do if you don't…," Connor said then he paused after he had heard the door opening. Eunice had turned to look at the doorway then she tapped Connor's right shoulder and Connor saw Angelique standing in the doorway. "Let's go."
"Hey!" Rory said as he tried to get free, but he flinched after Romeo slapped the back of his head. Callahan heard what sounded like squeaking wheels then the door closing and he snorted out a breath of air.
"Does anyone have hand sanitizer?" Romeo asked while he looked at his fingers.
"That was disgusting," Eunice said while she handed him a bottle of hand sanitizer and he shrugged his shoulders.
"What are you doing here?" Connor asked, looking at Angelique while he removed the headset.
"Sorry, but I thought you should see this," Angelique said as she handed Connor the file folder she had in her hands and he looked at the information.
"Hey, you're supposed to give that to me," Paul said.
"You're not in charge. They are," she reminded him and Smecker glared at her.
"Shit," Connor said and Murphy leaned on the back of the wheelchair so he could read the information.
"You gotta be kiddin'," Murphy said.
"Will one of you please tell the rest of us what's in there?" Paul asked, pointing to the file folder.
"He isn't workin' fer Yakavetta.," Connor said.
"Who is he working for?" Romeo asked, taking the headset off.
"Interpol."
"Did you say Interpol?" Eunice asked as her eyes widened.
"He's th'head of one of their taskforces."
"You think it was his taskforce who raided th'warehouse on th'dock?" Murphy asked.
"Aye, I think so."
"Great," Paul said with a sigh.
"What are we going to do now?" Romeo asked.
"We're gonna go have a little chat," Connor said as he pointed to the door. Nodding, Romeo pushed the wheelchair as Murphy opened the door and Connor placed headset on. Romeo placed the headset on then he pushed the wheelchair in the room and Callahan heard the door closing and the squeaking sound coming closer. "Sorry. I had to deal with something."
"I demand to know who you are!" Rory said.
"I am afraid I cannot answer that. But I do know who you are, Agent Callahan."
"Shite."
"Why is Interpol here?"
Callahan pressed his lips into a tight line and Connor looked at Murphy. They locked eyes as they had a silent conversation and Callahan wondered what was going on.
"What are you up to!?" Rory asked.
"Just trying to figure out what to do with you," Connor said.
"You can't do shite."
"Well, I could tell Giovani Yakavetta we have been talking."
"You know Yakavetta?!"
"I know a lot of people," Connor said while he pointed for Romeo to push the wheelchair so the wheelchair was near the chair Callahan was sitting on. Romeo pushed the wheelchair until he was near the chair and Connor leaned toward Callahan. His lips were near Callahan's right ear and the muscles of Callahan's jaw twitched. "Very dangerous people."
Callahan snorted a breath of air while Connor looked at Murphy and Murphy shrugged his shoulders.
"I am impressed. You don't scare easily," Connor said while Romeo pushed the wheelchair toward the door. "Maybe your tongue will loosen up after you haven't eaten for a few days."
"What movie did he get that from?" Murphy wondered as he tried not to laugh. Connor nodded as Murphy balled his right hand into a fist, walked to the chair then he punched Callahan in the face. Blood rolled out of Callahan's nose and Murphy shook the pain out of his hand. Murphy followed them out of the room when Murphy turned and he looked at Callahan. Shrugging his shoulders, he closed the door and they headed for Angelique, Sibeal and Smecker.
"Did he say anything?" Paul asked.
"No," Connor said with a shake of his head.
"Why is there blood on your hand?" Angelica asked after she had walked in the room, walked to Murphy and she lifted his right hand.
"I had t'punch him," Murphy said. She carefully moved his fingers as he noticed the blush on her cheeks and she gave him a shy smile.
"I better go see if he needs medical attention," she said as Connor handed her the headset and she and two of the guards headed for the room. One of the guards opened the door while they walked in the room then the guard closed the door. Connor frowned as he lightly shook his head and Murphy felt confusion coming from his twin.
"What's going on?" Angelina asked as she walked in the room and she headed for Romeo.
"I'll tell you later," Romeo said and she nodded.
"What are we going to do with him?" Eunice asked.
"We have no choice. We have to kill him," Paul said and the Saints glared at him.
In the other room, Callahan heard footsteps as he tried to get free and Angelica put on the headset then she stopped in front of the chair.
"Who's there!?" Rory asked.
"I'm a doctor," Angelica said as she reached for his head, but Callahan moved his head away. "Hold still. I need to see if your nose is broken."
"Fuck off!"
"Look, you either let me do this or you'll bleed to death."
"Isn't that what you want?! For me to die!"
"No, that isn't what we want. Now, hold still."
Callahan heard the door open then close then footsteps and he growled. He felt someone holding onto his head as he fought to get free then he heard breathing in his left ear.
"Sit still," Angelica said as she looked at Murphy and Callahan growled.
"Do your worst!" Rory said.
Sighing, Angelica examined Callahan when she nodded and Murphy let go of Callahan's head.
"Your nose isn't broken, but your wrists are starting to bleed from you struggling to get loose," Angelica said.
"Then let me go!"
"I am not in the position to do that. If you would just cooperate…"
"Listen, Bitch…!"
Callahan felt the pressure as Murphy started squeezing the sides of Callahan's head and Angelica frowned.
"I wouldn't call me a bitch again if I were you. It makes my friend angry," Angelica said.
"I'll call you whatever I want!"
Angelica saw the anger in Murphy's eyes as she sighed and she placed her hands on the top of the chair Callahan was sitting on.
"Have you ever heard of Il Duce?" she barely whispered.
"Aye, I have."
"Well, my friend here has studied him. He knows all the ways Il Duce can kill a person. Some of them are rather…painful."
Callahan normally didn't scare easily, but the threat he sensed in her voice made him swallow the lump in his throat and she moved back. She saw the shocked look in Murphy's eyes and she felt a cold knot building in her stomach.
"Fine! I'll cooperate!" Rory said with a sigh.
"Good choice."
Angelica pointed to the door as Murphy let go of Callahan's head and they walked to the door. The guard opened the door as they left the room then the guard closed the door.
"Well?" Paul asked.
"He's going to cooperate," she said as she walked to the door and Murphy followed her. She left the room then she stopped half-way down the hallway as she turned and he was leaning against the wall. "What was that all about?"
"You mean me squeezin' his head?" Murphy asked. He watched her walking back to him when she placed her hands on her hips and he saw the anger in her eyes. "I jus' did it. What I don't get is why you made me sound like some sort of coldblooded killer."
Angelica knew what she was about to say would hurt him when she walked down the hallway and she went back in the room. Murphy followed her into the room as he frowned and Connor felt the anger and confusion coming from his twin. Murphy barely shook his head while Angelica went to get the first aid kit and he walked to her.
"You didn't answer me. Why did you do that?"
"Not now," she said and he saw the anger in her eyes.
"Fine."
"If you two are done having a lover's quarrel, can we get on with this?" Paul asked while pointing with his hands toward the door.
"We aren't lovers," Murphy grumbled and he walked to the wheelchair.
Angelica and Smecker put on the headsets as they all headed for the door and Smecker opened the door. They went in the room when Angelica headed for the chair Callahan was sitting on and Callahan growled.
"Who's there!?" Rory asked.
"It's just me. Now, just to be sure. You are going to cooperate?" Angelica asked.
"Yes."
"Then hold still."
Angelica opened the first aid kit as she cleaned the wounds around Callahan's wrists and she cleaned away the blood from his face.
"Your boss told me you know who I am," Callahan said after a few seconds and Angelica looked at Smecker.
"Yes, we do know who you are," Paul said.
"Then you know you are not gonna get away with this."
"We just need to know a few things."
"Like what?"
"Like why you are interfering in FBI business."
"You're FBI?!"
"Maybe."
"Why the hell is the FBI working with the Saints!?"
"You know about the Saints?" Angelica asked.
"Yes."
Angelica looked at Smecker as Smecker shrugged his shoulders and she frowned.
"We cannot divulge that information. All we can say is you need to leave them alone," Angelica said and Callahan laughed.
"That isn't happening!" Rory said. "Those animals need to be taken down just as much as Yakavetta!"
"They are not animals."
"Did I hit a nerve, Bitch!? Are you their fuck buddy!?"
Before Smecker could stop her, Angelica punched Callahan in the stomach and Callahan sat forward while he coughed. He felt the bile rising in his throat as he was pushed back and Angelica held onto his shoulders.
"You listen to me, Asshole. I am not anyone's fuck buddy. What I am is the person who could fuck with your head in ways you can't even begin to imagine or make you scream in pain. So, you are going to leave the Saint's alone. Got it?!"Angelica asked with a growl and Connor and Murphy gave each other impressed looks.
Even though she could not see his eyes, Angelica saw the fear on Callahan's face and his body was trembling. She pushed off him as she walked out of the room and Murphy went to follow her. She stopped half-way down the hallway as she placed the palms of her hands against the wall and she lowered her head. She felt someone tap her left shoulder as she pushed off the wall and she was surprised when Murphy pulled her into a tight hug.
In the other room, Callahan sighed when he felt strong hands on his shoulders and he frowned.
"Are you done using me as a fucking punching bag!?" Rory asked.
"If you'd stop pissing them off, yeah," Paul said.
"Why do you have a beef with the Saints?" Connor asked after he put the headset on.
"That's my business!" Rory said.
"Do you have someone working within the Yakavetta organization who is telling you what's going on?" Paul asked.
"I will not tell you that!"
"And here I thought you wanted to cooperate with us."
"I would be a little more cooperative if I could fucking see you and you weren't using a voice distorting device!"
"He has a point," Connor said.
"Look, either let me go or kill me! Either way, you're screwed!"
Smecker started pacing when he removed the stun gun from the holder on his belt and he powered up the stun gun. Callahan yelled after feeling the electricity move through him and Romeo and Connor winced. Smecker checked his vitals as he nodded and Smecker crossed his arms over his chest.
"Take him back to where you found him," Paul said then he walked to the door, opened the door and left the room. Connor and Romeo looked at the guards and Connor pointed to the door. The guards unstrapped Callahan from the chair then they lifted him to his feet and Connor and Romeo watched them drag Callahan out of the room. Romeo leaned on the back of the wheelchair as he sighed and Connor frowned.
"You sure we're working for the right people?" Romeo asked and Connor wondered the same thing.
Later that night, Angelica tried to read the book in her hands, but her conversation with Murphy kept distracting her. She could still see the anger, frustration and sadness in his eyes and she placed the book against her chest.
"What I don't get is why you made me sound like some sort of coldblooded killer."
Was that how she really saw him?
Was Callahan right and Murphy and Connor were nothing more than animals who needed taking down?
"We can't get attached to them."
She remembered telling Angelique and Angelina those words, but…
The sound of someone knocking on the door brought her out of her thoughts as she got out of bed, walked to the door then she looked through the peephole. Murphy was standing in the hallway and she saw how nervous he looked.
"Angelica, are you awake?" he asked while knocking on the door again. "Angelica?"
A part of her screamed for her to not open the door, but he sounded like he really needed to talk with her.
"Hold on," she said as she unlocked the door and opened the door enough to look at him.
He looked so young in the dim light as he cleared his throat and he lightly bounced on the balls of his feet. She opened the door a little more as she leaned on the doorframe and he slid his hands into the pockets of the bathrobe. She saw he was wearing his boxers under the bathrobe and she admitted he looked cute with bunny slippers on his feet.
"Did you want something?" Angelica asked and he heard the cool tone to her voice.
"Aye, I do. Is it alright if we talk in yer room?" he asked.
"I don't think that would be a good idea."
"Oh."
She noticed he looked hurt and a little angry as he looked around then he locked eyes with her. His eyes looked darker, but there was a softness to them and he sighed.
"What do you want?" she asked.
"I jus' want t'know summat. Did you help break us outta prison because you were told to or, like our uncle an' Agent Bloom, you didn't think we belonged there? Did you sew us back up because you really cared about us or you were jus' doin' yer job? Did you teach me that thing so I go t'sleep because you wanted to or was it a distraction? That also goes fer you playing with my hair. Did you really like ridin' on that motorcycle and fightin' off those assholes in that alleyway with me or was that an act? Did you want to rescue me, Connor an' Romeo from the warehouse or did Smecker tell you to? Did you take care me after we came back from th'funeral because you want to or was it because Ma was here? Did you take care of my brudder's ankle because he's an eejit an' shouldn't have jumped off that fire escape or was it because, again, you were doin' yer job? Do you really think we're nothin', but cold-blooded killers or animals that need takin' down? Are we friends or am I…? Are my brudder and I…? Are we jus' some sort of research project?"
"Holy shit," she thought. Guilt moved through her as she walked closer and she looked down at his feet.
"Are those bunny slippers?" she asked after she looked down at his feet. He wiggled his toes as she softly laughed and he lifted her chin to look into his eyes.
"Stop changing the subject," he said in a soft voice.
"Well, you did ask me a lot of questions," she said with a small smile and he gave her a slightly crooked grin. "To start, I do believe you, Romeo and Connor do not belong in prison. So, I wanted to get you out of there. I sewed you and Connor back up because I did care that you were bleeding and he hurt himself trying to pick you up. I also cared when you were upset about being separated from Connor. Not just in the operating room, but in the ambulance. As for your hair…"
He didn't move as she ran her fingers through his hair then she moved his head forward so their foreheads touched.
"I like touching your hair," she said and he gave her a tiny grin. "As for helping you go to sleep, I did that because I was worried about you not getting enough sleep. And I used that concern to get you and your brother Smecker's room. I enjoyed riding on that motorcycle with you and I enjoyed fighting those assholes with you."
"You're not bullshittin' me?"
"No, I am not bullshitting you," she said with a shake of her head. "As for the warehouse, you, Romeo and Connor might not like it, but the three of us are your backup. Where you guys go, we go. I took care of you because you need comfort and, yeah, I was worried about what your mother would do if I didn't. I took care of Connor's ankle because he was hurt and, yes, he is an idiot."
Murphy snorted a laugh and she lightly moved her fingers through his hair.
"As for me thinking you and Connor are cold-blooded killers and need to be taken down. Yes, I might have thought that, but not anymore. You two are not a research project. Finally, we are friends and I apologize for making you think otherwise," she said and he heard the honesty in her words. "Now, I have a question for you? Do you think I'm some sort of cold-hearted bitch? I was being a little cold and hard on Callahan."
"Uh… Well, I did think you were pretty badass," he said and she felt a blush moving across her cheeks. "Sorry fer bein' an eejit."
"No, you are not an idiot. You should ask me things if you're not sure of my motives. Just like I should ask you things if I'm not sure of your motives."
Nodding, he moved back then she watched him walking down the hallway and she went back in her room. She closed the door as she leaned back against the door and she cross her arms over her stomach.
"Face it, Angel. No matter how hard you try to deny it. You're in love with him," her father's voice said in her head and she looked at the ceiling. Shrugging her shoulders, she walked to the bed when she placed the bookmark in the book, closed the book, placed the book on the night table, got in bed then she turned the light off. Moving the covers up, she smiled, rolled onto her left side and she closed her eyes.