London
Eight set of eyes looked into the darkness as the sound of the wind whistling moved through the darkness and the sound of heavy footsteps came closer. The sound stopped while the eyes searched the darkness then a muffled yelp filled the darkness.
"Traitors. That is what you are. You promised you would obey, but you sided with the enemy," the voice said with a slight hiss. The sound of heavy footsteps echoed in the darkness when a flash of light filled the darkness and muffled screams echoed in the air.
The hotel room was dark while Margaret listened to the soft snoring sound coming from the bed to her left and she moved her fingers over Connor's stomach. He made a little humming sound as she got out of bed and she walked to the bed, Louisa had told her how to stop Connor from snoring as Margaret gently moved Romeo's head until he sighed and she moved the blankets up, She carefully walked back to the other bed when she slid under the blankets and she snuggled against Connor, She felt him wrap his right arm around her as she rolled onto her right side and she placed her head against his head.
"Can't sleep?" Connor grumbled.
"No," she whispered.
"Want me t'tell you what we did after we left th'office?"
"Yes, please."
He lightly carded her hair as he told her and she enjoyed his fingers moving through her hair. She closed her eyes while he kissed the tip of her nose and he heard her make a deep sigh. Connor knew that meant she was asleep as he moved the blankets up before he closed his eyes and he drifted back to sleep.
In the other room, Murphy felt Louisa's fingers moving over his left side as she sighed and he looked up at the dark ceiling. His mind drifted back to the nightmare he had on their honeymoon and he heard the voices again.
"The winds of change move over both of ye. Shepherds, ye will no longer be. Peace will reign until the final call. Both of ye will stand while evil does fall. Fire burning bright as the sun will be the sign thy work is done."
"Murphy," Louisa mumbled and she curled her fingers into a tight fist against his left side. He never liked it when she had nightmares and she moved her head from his right shoulder to the center of his chest
"I'm here," he whispered. He started humming as he carded her hair and she started to relax. He looked at her as he barely saw the calm look on her face and he smiled. Closing his eyes, he kept humming until he drifted off to sleep and a peaceful look appeared on his face.
Unknown location
The elevator doors opened while Morgan walked out of the elevator car and he headed down the hallway. He headed for the security station as he nodded at the guards and he placed his hands in front of him. After being cleared and searched, he walked down the hallway then he stopped at the door to his office. He pushed the buttons on the keypad then he opened the door and he walked in the office. Closing the door, he walked to the desk as he sat down and he powered up the computer. He looked at the photograph of Margaret, Connor and their children when he blinked his eyes a few times and he moved the cursor over the photograph. He right clicked the mouse button when he looked at Delete Photograph and he clicked the button. The photograph vanished when the screen on the wall to his left flickered on and he looked at the screen.
"Sir, we have a problem," the young man said and Morgan rose from the chair, walking to the screen.
"What sort of problem?" Morgan asked.
"There was another incident."
"Where?"
"Here. In London."
"How many?"
"Eight."
Morgan folded his arms over his chest as he sighed and he lowered his head.
"Clear the area and gather the information." Morgan said.
"Yes, Sir," the young man said and the screen went blank. Morgan looked at his reflection when he walked back to the desk, sat down and he looked at a spot on the wall.
The morning sunlight woke him as Connor heard the soft sound of the shower running and a clicking sound. He rolled over onto his right side when he opened his eyes and he saw Margaret sitting up with the laptop on her lap and the pillows were propped against her back.
"What're y'doin'?" he asked with a sleepy tone to his voice.
"I am just looking at the information I borrowed from my uncle's computer," she said
"Find anythin' interestin'?" he asked while he sat up and he gently leaned against her. He looked at the screen when the door to the connecting room opened and Murphy walked in the room. His hair was sticking up and he yawned while he shuffled to the mini refrigerator. He was wearing a black t-shirt with Ride or Stay Home in white letters on the front and the white boxers with motorcycle on it. "What're you doin' in here?"
"Coffee," Murphy mumbled.
"Don't you have yer own coffeemaker?"
"Fuckin' thing doesn't work," he grumbled as he removed the coffeepot from the coffeemaker and he looked into coffeepot. "What're you doin'?"
"I am looking at the information I borrowed from my uncle's computer," Margaret said and he opened the mini refrigerator, removing a few bottles of water.
"Can I use this?"
"Yes."
Nodding, Murphy opened the caps to the water bottles as he placed the water in after he had put the coffee and the filter into the coffeemaker. He slid the coffeepot into the slot then he pushed the button and he walked back to the doorway to the other room.
"Call me when th'coffee's done," he grumbled and he went in the room. Connor smiled as Margaret softly laughed and she shook her head. The soft sound of the shower stopped as the bathroom door opened and Romeo walked out of the room with a towel wrapped around his waist.
"Who's making coffee?" Romeo asked.
"Murphy," Connor said and Murphy appeared in the doorway.
"Coffee done?" Murphy asked.
"No. Romeo asked who made th'coffee."
"Oh," he said as he walked back in the room and Romeo smiled.
"Before you ask, I am looking at the information I borrowed from my uncle's computer," Margaret said and Romeo nodded before we went to get dressed.
"So, what are we gonna do now?" Romeo asked.
"That is what I am trying to figure out."
A beeping sound made her look at the screen when she noticed the video chat window was blinking and she looked at Connor. Connor got out of bed as he went to check on the coffee and Margaret clicked on the video chat window. The screen appeared as Morgan looked at her and Margaret gave him a blank look.
"Good morning, Sir," Margaret said. Connor noticed she was going into ice queen mode as he gave her a small nod and she waited for Morgan to speak.
"Good morning. Why are you still in bed?" Morgan asked.
"I just got up."
"Where are the Saints?"
"They're dead."
"That is not what I mean."
"What do you want?"
"Is this a secure channel?"
"Of course."
"There was another incident."
"Let me guess. It's here. In London."
"How did you know?"
"It wasn't so hard once I matched up the messages with the location of the killings. The final message was 'And teeming with souls shall it ever be'. Am I correct?"
"Yes."
"Which means the Reapers are the logical choice."
"Yes."
"Which means some of them have been killed."
"Eight members of the Reapers were found dead this morning."
"I see."
"You do understand these deaths wouldn't have…"
Margaret ended the chat as she closed the window, turned the laptop off and she placed the laptop on the floor. She looked at Connor as he saw the coffee was ready and he walked to the doorway to the other room.
"Coffee's ready," he called and Murphy and Louisa walked in the room after Connor had move to the bed. Murphy walked to the mini refrigerator as he poured some of the coffee into the white coffee mug and he went to sit at the table. Louisa sat on Murphy's lap as he helped her drink some coffee then he took a sip.
"You know. If you keep doing shit like that, it's just gonna piss him off," Romeo said as he sat down at the table after he poured some coffee into a white coffee mug.
"I know," Margaret said as Connor went to get some coffee and he poured the coffee into the white coffee mug. He walked to the bed as he carefully sat down and she slid next to him. He took a sip of coffee then he handed her the coffee mug. He slid his right arm around her as she took a sip of coffee and she leaned into him. "Now, I want four of you to stay here. I'm going to Scotland Yard and speak with the Chief Superintendent."
"Do you know who it is?" Connor asked.
"Yes."
"Just one thing. We're supposed to be at the airport at noon," Louisa said.
"She's right. We were jus' gonna talk t'yer uncle then we were goin' home," Murphy said.
"Then you four go to the airport. I'll get a flight once I find out what the Chief Superintendent has to say," Margaret said. Connor looked over at Murphy as their eyes locked and Murphy tilted his head to one side.
"I know that look," Louisa said and Murphy looked at her. "You want to stay."
"Aye, I do," Murphy said.
"Me, too," Connor said.
"Well, if you're staying then I am," Romeo said.
"And you know I go where you go," Louisa said and Murphy smiled.
"I'll call Jessie and tell her we're staying," Romeo said as he picked up his cellphone off the night table then he went into the other room.
"And we need to go do some shopping. We only packed enough clothes for one day," Louisa said as she got up and she helped Murphy to his feet.
"Can I have breakfast first?" Murphy grumbled while she led him into the other room and she closed the door behind them. Connor saw the smile on Margaret's face as she took a sip of coffee and he wrapped his arms around her.
Unknown location
Morgan sat at his desk as the screen to his left flickered on and he stood. He walked to the screen when he looked at the young woman and she swallowed the lump in her throat.
"Sir, we have a problem," she said.
"Had there been a new incident?" Morgan asked.
"No."
"Then why are you bothering me?"
"You asked us to keep an eye on Miss Stone and…"
"Has she tried to leave London?"
"No, but she and one of her companions were seen leaving a hotel."
"Do you know where they were heading?"
"Yes, Sir. They got into a cab and the can is heading to Scotland Yard."
Morgan became silent as he placed his hands behind his back and he pressed his lips into a thin line.
"Have her other companions left the hotel?" he asked.
"Yes, Sir."
"Have some agents follow them."
"Yes, Sir. What about Miss Stone?"
"Have her followed as well."
"Yes, Sir," she said as the screen flickered off and he looked at his dim reflection.
"What are you up to?" he whispered, balling his hands into fists.
New Scotland Yard
The sliding door moved back while Margaret and Romeo walked in the lobby and she noticed the shocked look on the faces of people they walked by. She had brought an extra suit blazer and skirt and she was surprised when Romeo had packed one of the dark suits Jesse had given him for Christmas.
"Jessie told me to pack a suit. Never know when you'll be going somewhere fancy," he had told her in the car and she admitted he looked nice. His hair was brushed back and he was wearing his dark sunglasses.
They walked to the reception desk as the police officer looked at them and Margaret removed the billfold out of the inner pocket of the suit blazer. The officer checked her identification as he handed the billfold back to her and he pushed the button on the desk. They walked by the desk as they headed down the hallway and Romeo walked beside her.
"So, where are we going?" he asked.
"We are going up to the Special Crimes Department," she said as they stopped at the elevator and she pushed the button. The elevator doors opened as they walked in the elevator car as she pushed the button and the elevator doors closed. A few seconds later, the elevator doors opened while they walked out into the hallway and their footsteps echoed down the hallway. They stopped in front of the door as Margaret straightened the suit blazer and they walked in the squad room. People looked at them while she led Romeo to the door to the office of the Chief Superintendent and she knocked on the door.
"Come in," a male voice said as she opened the door and they walked in the office. Chief Superintendent Martin Blake looked at them as he frowned and Margaret folded her hands in front of her.
"Good morning. I am Margaret Stone," she said and she showed Martin her identification.
"What can I do for you, Miss Stone?"
"I need to speak with you about the Reapers," she said as she sat down in the chair in front of the desk and she noticed he was watching her cross her legs.
"Why would Interpol be interested in a bunch of dead vigilantes?"
"These vigilantes are connected to the Saints. You have heard of the Saints, haven't you?"
"Yes, I am well aware of who they are," Martin said as he leaned back in the chair and he steepled his fingers together.
"But you don't approve of what they did and what the Reapers were doing."
"No, I don't approve. But that stems from what the Reapers do not what the Saints stood for."
"What do the Reapers do that doesn't pertain to the Saints?"
"We have had numerous incidents of gang deaths which are linked to the Reapers. Some of the deaths were teenagers. Teenagers who never harmed anyone."
"I see. And what are you doing about it?"
"We are trying to shut down the Reapers. The problem is we don't know who they are or where they are. They are like bloody rats. Always hiding in the shadows."
"Then how did whoever killed some of the Reapers find them?"
"That is what we are trying to figure out."
Margret looked at him as she thought things over then she uncrossed her legs and she leaned closer.
"I will need everything you have on the Reapers and the deaths," she said in a low voice and Martin noticed the cold look in her eyes.
"You will need a warrant."
"I can get one and have it on your desk within the hour."
"Alright," he said as they stood and they shook hands. Romeo opened the door as Margaret walked to him and they left the office. They left the room as they headed down the hallway and Romeo looked at her.
"Are you really going to be able to get a warrant?" he asked.
"Of course," she said when they stopped in front of the elevator and she pushed the call button. The doors slid open as they walked in the elevator car and she pushed the button. Romeo sighed as the doors closed and Margaret looked up at the numbers going down.
"Come on, Guys. Let me carry something," Louisa said while she and the twins walked down the sidewalk and Connor and Murphy held onto the handles of the shopping bags.
"Nope," Connor said with a shake of his head.
"Not gonna happen," Murphy said and Louisa rolled her eyes.
"Well, seeing how I am in the company of two very handsome gentlemen, I guess I should at least treat you to some ice cream," she teased and she lightly bumped into Murphy.
"Ice cream in March? I'd rather have some coffee."
"Or a drink," Connor said.
"Aye, you should buy us a drink," he said and Louisa giggled.
"Fine. I'll buy you a drink," Louisa said with a nod.
"Hey, Lou, do you remember that pub we went to when we were here last year?"
"You mean the one across from the British Museum?"
"Aye, that one."
"What about it?" Connor asked.
"It has the best Guinness."
"Even better than McGinty's?"
"Nah."
"Nothing beats McGinty's," Louisa agreed.
"Maybe we should go back to th'hotel and drop these off first," Connor said.
"Yeah," Murphy said while he slid his right arm around her waist when two teenage boys ran into them and Louisa nearly fell. Connor had placed the shopping bags down to catch her and Murphy glared at the boys.
"Sorry!" one of the boys called out while Connor helped Louisa stand and she saw the worry in his eyes.
"You ok, Lou?" Connor asked.
"Yeah," she said while two police officers ran to them.
"Is everything alright?" the female officer asked.
"It will be once we get hold of them," Murphy said as he ran off and Connor sighed, rolled his eyes and he went to follow his twin.
"Stop! You can't…"
"They can," Louisa said with a sigh.
"Is one of them your husband?"
"Yeah."
"Which one?"
"The one with the long, dark brown hair. The other one's his twin brother."
"Well, I can't let them just go off like that," the other officer said and he went to catch up with Murphy and Connor.
"I can't believe he did that to me again," the officer said and she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Don't you hate it when they do that?" Louisa asked.
"Yeah. And he's been told off for it. I'm his partner, for fuck sake."
"Well, let's go make sure they don't do something stupid," she said as they picked up the shopping bags and they headed down the sidewalk.
Connor and Murphy were glad chasing after sheep and lambs through the hills made it easy for them to keep up with the boys as they headed down the sidewalk and Murphy could see one of the boys had Louisa's purse.
"The little shit also took my wallet," Murphy grumbled.
People got out of their way and Connor apologized as they ran by. One of the boys looked behind them as he sighed then he pushed a trash bin over and Connor and Murphy dodged out of the way. They headed down an alleyway when they saw it was a dead end and the boys turned to look at them.
"Dead end," Connor said, slightly breathless as they came to a stop and he placed his hands on his thighs.
"Aye. Now be good lads an' give me back my wallet an' that purse," Murphy said, breathing a little hard and he held out his right hand.
"Fuck off, Granddad," one of the boys said.
"Granddad?!" Connor said, looking at Murphy and his mouth fell open.
"We're only forty-seven," Murphy said while crossing his arms over his chest.
"Well, some guys our age can be granddads."
"Aye, you're right," he said as he nodded.
"Still, they did take our stuff."
Connor and Murphy walked closer when the boys removed the guns from the holsters under their jackets and the twins stopped.
"Nice," Connor said.
"Are those Colts?" Murphy asked.
"I think they are."
"Wonder where they got them."
"Dunno."
The boys gave them confused looks when the police officer appeared at the end of the alleyway and he removed the gun from the holster.
"Put down the guns! Now!" the police officer said while he pointed his gun at the boys and Connor and Murphy turned to look at him.
"No offense, but could you put that away?" Connor asked.
"Aye, we're handlin' this," Murphy said and the police officer gave them a confused look.
"You aint handlin' shit!" one of the boys said and the twins turned to look at them.
"Yeah! Just back off!" the other boy said.
Connor could tell the boys were frightened, but it wasn't him, Murphy or the police officer they were afraid of. Connor looked around with his eyes as he sensed something and Murphy noticed the look on his twin's face. Connor and Murphy looked up at the buildings on either side of them when they saw several people walking out onto the small fire escapes or appeared at the edge of the roofs and they pointed their weapons at Connor, Murphy, the boys and the police officer.