JFK Airport
The doors slid open while Jessie and Margaret walked outside and they placed their sunglasses on. Jessie looked behind her when she pointed to the planters with tall plants and Margaret frowned. Jessie had noticed two suspicious men on their flight and she saw them again when they went to get their luggage.
"Why are we hiding?" Margaret asked.
"I'm not sure, but I think we've being followed," Jessie said as she looked from behind the planter then she saw the two men and she frowned. "Shit."
Margaret looked behind the planter while she looked at the two men and she saw they were wearing black leather boots, black jeans, black sweaters and one of them was wearing a black leather jacket and the other was wearing a black down jacket. On their heads were black knit caps and both of them had blonde hair. She couldn't see their eyes due to their sunglasses, but there was something familiar about them,
"No," she whispered when she walked from behind the planter and she walked toward them. Jessie quickly walked behind her when Margaret stopped near the two men and one of the men sighed.
"Where th'hell did they go?" Murphy whispered as he blew into his hands.
"Dunno," Connor whispered when he felt like someone was looking at them and he slowly turned his head to the left. He looked at the angry face of his wife as he sighed then he nudged his twin. "I found them."
Murphy slowly turned his head when he saw Margaret and Jessie and he slid his hands under his arms.
"Where's Romeo?" Jessie asked.
"At home with Lou," Connor said.
"Is she the one who dyed your hair?" Margaret asked as she tried hard not to smile.
"Aye," Murphy said as he nodded his head.
"Let's go," she said as she walked away and Connor walked next to her. She glanced at him when she held out her right hand and he took her hand, wrapping their fingers together.
Unknow location
Morgan moaned when he felt long fingers open his mouth and something soft slide into his mouth. He was too tired to swallow as he felt the long fingers moving on his throat and he swallowed.
"Good," the voice said as Morgan groaned then he heard the sound of heavy footsteps.
"Why are you feeding him?" another voice asked and Morgan frowned.
"We don't want him to die too soon, do we?"
"Why not? After he did to us? I thought you'd want him dead."
"You're correct. I do. But, like I told you, now it not the time."
"Whatever."
Morgan heard the heavy footsteps moving away as he sighed then he felt his mouth being open again. He felt the soft food in his mouth as he swallowed then he felt a hand clamping around his throat.
"Do not take what I am doing as sympathy. You are going to die," the voice said as Morgan gagged then the hand let go. He heard the heavy footsteps moving away as Morgan groaned then he let the darkness take him.
Manhattan, New York
The soft pinging sound filled the room as the lights came on and the doors to the elevator opened. Margaret led the way as Jessie, Murphy and Connor exited the elevator car and the twins looked around the living room with their eyes.
"This looks like th'apartment we had in Boston," Murphy said and Connor nodded. Connor noticed the anger in his wife's eyes while Jessie led Murphy down the hallway and Connor cautiously walked to the kitchen. He checked the cupboards when he removed the jar of crunchy peanut butter then he looked for the bread.
"It's in there," Margaret said while she pointed to the bread box and he nodded. He got out two slices of bread as he placed the two slices of bread on the counter, opened the drawer, removed two knives then he removed the jar of strawberry jam out of the cupboard. She watched him make a sandwich when he removed the small plate from the cupboard, placed the sandwich on the plate then he picked up the plate before walking to her. She took the plate as he went to clean up and she noticed how upset he looked. After he cleaned up, he sat on the kitchen island counter and she walked to him.
"Before you yell at me, you told me you'd never make me do summat I wouldn't want t'do. Well, allowing you an' Jessie t'go off on yer own is summat I didn't wanna do. We're also a team, right? We do this together or we don't do it at all."
Margaret took a bite of the sandwich then she sat next to him on the kitchen island counter and she placed the plate on the counter. She moved closer to Connor when he slid his left arm around her and she placed her head against his head.
"Everythin' ok in here?" Murphy asked while he walked in the kitchen and they looked at him.
"Yes, we're fine," Margaret said as she took another bite of the sandwich.
"Well, we have a problem. There's only two bedrooms."
"Then I guess we're gonna have t'share," Connor said while he hopped off the counter and he went to get Margaret a glass of milk.
"But who's gonna share with who?"
"He's right. I don't think Louisa or Romeo would like the idea of Murphy sleeping with Jessie," Margaret said as Connor handed her the glass of milk.
"When was the last time we shared a bed?" Connor asked, glancing at Murphy.
"We were three," Murphy said.
"Then you won't mind sharing," Margaret said as she took the glass and the plate after Connor lifted her off the kitchen island and she left the kitchen. Murphy and Connor looked at each other as they shrugged then they left the kitchen.
9th. Street Precinct
The door opened as Margaret and Jessie walked inside and they headed for the security station. After they were scanned, they walked down the hallway and they headed for the elevator. Margaret had been sent an email to where the Herders' base was located and Connor and Murphy agreed to go there to see if they can find anything. Margaret pushed the button as the elevator doors opened and they walked in the elevator car. The doors closed as she pushed the button and Jessie glanced at her.
"May I speak freely?" Jessie asked.
"Of course. Why are you being so formal?" Margaret asked.
"Sorry. I just… Never mind," Jessie said then she became quiet and the doors opened. They left the elevator car as Margaret frowned. They headed down the hallway when they entered the squad room and they headed for the Captain's office. Margaret knocked on the door as Captain Jack Blake looked at them, nodded and he waved his hand for the them to come in. Margaret opened the door as they walked inside the office then they sat down on the chairs in front of the desk. Margaret noticed Jack had black hair peppered with white and gray hair, dark brown eyes and he wore a dark suit, a white shirt and a dark tie.
"Hello, I am Captain Blake," Jack said.
"Hello. I am Margaret Stone and this is my assistant, Jessie," Margaret said and Jessie nodded.
"I have to admit I'm surprised Interpol is interested in some local gang activity."
"I assure you, Captain, the Herders were not some gang. They are or were a part of an international group."
"A group of what? Terrorists?"
"No, they weren't terrorists. They were more or less a group of individuals who took it upon themselves to eradicate individuals who live outside the law."
"In other words, they were vigilantes."
"Yes."
"And someone is out there killing them?"
"Yes."
"Do you have any reason why they are being killed?"
"Not at the moment. But I do have a question for you. Have you ever heard of the Saints?"
"Weren't they some guys out of South Boston who took out two of the heads of the Yakavetta Crime Family?"
"Yes, that was them."
"They're dead."
"That is correct, but the Herders, as well as the Church from Greenwich, pattern themselves after the Saints."
"So, what do you need from me?"
"I would appreciate any information you have," Margaret said as she handed Jack the warrant and he looked at the warrant. Nodding, he got up when he left the office and Margaret looked at Jessie. "Are you going to tell me what's wrong?"
"I don't know if I should tell you," Jessie said as she lowered her head.
"Why can't you tell me?"
"It… I… Shit."
"Oh wonderful," Margaret said with a sigh as she sat back in the chair and she looked at the ceiling. "It's what happened at the ranch, isn't it?"
"Well, yeah, there's that."
"Jess, you know you, Romeo, Rosita and Caesar are family, don't you?"
"Yes, I do."
"And you know I would never allow my uncle or anyone else harm you?"
"Yes, I know that."
"But, like most of the people who work for my uncle, who work for the agency, you still fear my uncle's wrath."
"Yes," she said as she lifted her head. "From Day One, we were told we had to obey and do whatever he said. We had to be perfect. We were not to show any emotions or feelings. We had to…"
"I know the manifesto, Jess. Hell, I lived it. But not anymore."
"So, you're saying I can just speak my mind and I won't get into trouble?"
"As my immature husband would say, hell yeah!" she said with a grin and Jessie laughed. "Now, what do you want to tell me?"
"I just wanted to tell you that I really appreciate everything you've done. Not just for Connor and Murphy, but for me and Romeo. When you assigned me to guard Romeo while you went on your honeymoon, I never thought I'd find my soulmate. Hell, I never even knew I had one. I mean, I heard about people finding theirs, but who knew mine was this sweet guy from Boston?"
"Well, to be honest, I had a feeling you two would make a good match."
Jessie felt the blush move across her cheeks as the door opened and Jack walked back in the room. He handed Margaret the file folder then he sat down and Margaret opened the file folder. She looked at the information and the photographs when she saw a photograph of a painting of Connor and Murphy and she noticed the angel wings on their backs.
"What happened to the rest of the Herders?" Margaret asked, handing the file folder to Jessie.
"We don't know," Jack said.
"The same can be said for the groups in London and in Dorset."
"What other groups?"
Margaret had brought the files on the Reapers and the River Walkers as she handed the file folders to Jack and he looked at the information and photographs.
"They think the police are responsible?" Jack asked.
"Yes."
"Great. That's all we need."
"Are you prepared for any repercussions in case they do retaliate?"
"Yes. I have several officers keeping an eye on their base in case some of them show up."
"Won't that cause them to attack?"
"I might, but my people can handle it."
Nodding, Margaret looked out the window and she silently hoped the police officers didn't arrest or attack Connor and Murphy.
"What th'hell are they doin' here?" Murphy whispered while he and Connor looked around the corner of the building where they were hiding and they saw several police officers patrolling in front of the Herders' base.
"How th'fuck should I know?" Connor whispered.
"I thought you knew shit."
Connor shoved his brother as they tried to figure out how to get by the police officers and Connor looked up. Murphy looked up when he noticed where Connor was looking and he frowned.
"No, there is no way we're doin' that," Murphy said and Connor looked at him.
"Do what?" Connor asked.
"We are not gonna climb up to th'roof, run then jump over to th'other roof an' go in that way."
"Got a better idea?"
Sighing, Murphy looked at the fire escape ladder when he jumped up, reached for the bottom rung and he pulled the ladder down. They carefully climbed up the fire escape when they arrived on the roof and they looked around. Connor walked to the end of the roof as he judged the distance between the roof they were on and the roof across the alleyway.
"Damn. It's too far t'jump," Connor said when he noticed clothesline going from the fire escape below them to the fire escape across the way and he smiled.
"Oh great. How did I know rope was gonna be involved?!" Murphy grumbled and Connor gave him a wink. They climbed down to the fire escape when Connor tested the clothesline and he stood on the railing of the fire escape. Murphy held his breath while watching Connor walk carefully across the clothesline then he hopped onto the fire escape. He signaled for Murphy to follow him as Murphy climbed onto the railing of the fire escape and he sighed.
"Don't look down," Connor said. Murphy glared at him as he flipped his twin off then he placed his right foot on the clothesline. He slowly made his way across while Connor held his hands out and Murphy took his twin's hands before he hopped onto the fire escape. Connor smiled then looked up, but he didn't see a ladder leading up to the roof. "Shit."
"Now what do we do? If we break th'glass, they'll hear us."
Connor looked at the window when he noticed the window glass was missing and he reached in to unlock the window. He opened the window as they slid inside the room and they scanned the dimly lit room with their eyes. Connor pointed toward the door as they walked out into the hallway and they checked the rooms.
"Looks like no one's been in here fer a long time," Murphy said while they looked around one of the rooms.
"Aye, looks like they left in a hurry," Connor said when he heard footsteps coming up the stairs and he pointed to the door. They moved behind the door as the footsteps grew louder and the door was pushed against them.
"Look at this, Donovan," a male voice said.
"Yeah. Can you imagine living like this?" a female voice said.
"Yeah, I can. Grew up in a place like this."
"Shit. Guess you were glad to get out."
"Yeah, I was."
The pressure from the door being pushed against them lessened as Connor sighed and Murphy peeked around the door. Seeing no one in the hallway, they headed out of the room then they quickly headed down the stairs. The twins checked the other rooms, hid a few times when they heard footsteps, then they headed into the main room and Murphy tapped Connor's right shoulder. They looked at the mural on the wall as Connor sighed and Murphy rolled his eyes.
"Why do they keep paintin' us naked?" Murphy whispered.
"Dunno, but I do like the wings," Connor whispered when he noticed something written on the wall and he walked closer.
"What is it?"
"Jus' their part of the prayer," Connor whispered then he walked to the desk and he looked through the papers on the desk. "Looks like they believe th'cops are th'ones killin' them."
"Jus' like th'others," Murphy whispered after he walked to Connor and he looked at the papers. "Think we should take this with us?"
"Aye," Connor said and he slid the papers into the inner pocket of his black Navy pea coat. They were about to leave the room when they heard footsteps and they went to hide behind the couch. The footsteps grew louder when Connor quickly looked up and two police officers walked in the room. Connor ducked down while they listened to the footsteps and Murphy placed his right index finger against his lips.
"What the fuck is that supposed to be?" the male officer asked.
"I think they're supposed to be angels. Though I don't think angels have that," the female officer said.
"How do they make baby angels then? Hatch them from eggs?"
Murphy and Connor covered their mouths with their hands as they silently laughed and Connor quickly looked up as the female officers gently pushed the male officer. Connor ducked back down as the police officers left the room and Murphy and Connor walked out from behind the couch. They peeked out into the hallway when they quickly headed down the hallway and they headed for the back door. Connor held up his right hand as he slowly opened the door and they walked outside. Connor closed the door as they placed their sunglasses on and they headed down the alleyway.
The soft pinging sound filled the room while the doors to the elevator opened and Murphy and Connor walked in the living room. Margaret was sitting on the couch while Jessie sat on the recliner and Margaret stood.
"Where have you been?" Margaret asked.
"We had t'take th'long way home after nearly being caught at th'Herders' base," Connor said as he walked to her and he kissed her cheek.
"Aye. There were police everywhere," Murphy said while he walked to the couch then he sat down.
"Yes, we learned from Captain Blake that they were patrolling their base in hope of one of the members would show up," Margaret said.
"They ran off like th'Reapers an' th'River Walkers?" Connor asked, walking to the couch then he sat next to Murphy.
"It appears so," she said as she sat on Connor's lap and he wrapped his arms around her.
"We found this," he said as he removed the papers from the inner pocket of his black Navy pea coat and he handed the papers to her. Margaret looked at the information then she placed the papers on the coffee table then she leaned back against Connor.
"Did you find anything else?"
"We found another painting of me an' Murphy."
"This time, we had wings," Murphy said.
"Yes, we saw the photograph. I sent a copy to Louisa," Margaret said.
"So, what's next?" Connor asked.
"Jessie and I will be going to Greenwich to speak with those involved with what happened to the Church."
"Why did they call themselves th'Church?" Murphy asked.
"Aye, it makes it sound like we're some sort of religion or summat," Connor said.
"To them, you are," Margaret said.
"Great," Murphy sighed as he rolled his eyes then he laid the back of his head against the cushion.
"That's what we were afraid of," Connor said with a sigh. Margaret lifted her left hand as she stroked his cheek and Connor took her hand, kissing the back of her hand.
"You two are getting' as bad as me an' Lou," Murphy teased with a grin.
"Maybe you're just a bad influence," Margaret teased back and he nodded.
"Well, I'm hungry. Anyone want t'go get summat t'eat?" Connor asked.
"I wouldn't mind something to eat," Jessie said. Standing up, they headed for the elevator and Connor slid his right arm around Margaret's waist.
Unknown location
Jordan opened her eyes when she realized she was lying on her back, but she still couldn't move her arms or her legs. She heard the sound of heavy footsteps then something pushed down on what she was lying on and she silently wished she could see.
"Ah, you're awake," the voice said. She felt long fingers moving over the back of her left hand and she sighed. "I thought you would like it better if you were lying down."
"Who are you?" Jordan asked.
"I will tell you when the time is right."
"Is…? Is Mister Stone still alive?!"
"For now, yes."
"What does that mean?"
"It means what is means. He is alive, but he may not be at some point."
"Why are you doing this?"
"Now, that I can tell you. I am doing this…."
'What the fuck are you doing?!" a male voice asked somewhere in the darkness and Jordan felt whatever she was lying on move.
"Get out!" the voice demanded.
"Not until you tell me what the hell you're doing."
"What I do with her is none of your concern."
"I thought you'd have killed her by now. She's nothing more than…"
Jordan heard what sounded like fighting then a thud and she balled her hands into fists. She heard heavy footsteps then soft lips against the tip of her nose and she sighed.
"Sorry you had to be a part of that," the voice said.
"Are you alright?" Jordan asked.
"Oh, yes, I am unharmed. Now, I'll be right back with some dinner for you."
She felt the soft lips against the tip of her nose again and she smiled.
"You are being forward again," she scolded and she heard a strange laugh in the darkness.
"I do apologize," the voice said then she heard the sound of heavy footsteps and a dragging sound before she closed her eyes, wondering why those lips felt familiar.