The trip down to Texas was much quicker in Airwolf and String was soon within a few miles of the town.

He was flying over field after field of cotton, when up ahead he spotted something yellow at the edge of a track. Slowing Airwolf so that he could take a better look, he could see it was a plane. The plane had A.J.A.C on the side and he realised immediately that it was the plane that Cait had been flying. String landed Airwolf as close as he could get to the plane and got out.

He approached the plane and found the cock pit door open, on the seat was a bloody tissue and it was then that he noticed the canister and the chemical smell coming from it. Cait's purse was still in the cock pit, but where was Cait?

String ran back to Airwolf.

"Archangel come in, it's Hawke."

No reply

"Michael, answer me damn you, it's Hawke"

"Hawke?"

"Michael, how quickly can you get to Texas?"

"Well, actually Hawke you're in luck, I am New Mexico, I've been on business there, so I can be with you quite quickly. Can I ask why you need me in Texas Hawke."

"Just get here Michael" said String giving him the co-ordinates of his location.

Knowing it would take Archangel a while to get to him, String headed back to the Lady and decided to fly to Abe's place since there were no clues as to Cait's whereabouts that he could see with the plane.

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Cait opened her eyes, her vision was still blurry. Instantly she felt the searing pain in her hands, it was almost unbearable and mercifully she passed out again.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Arriving at Abe's String landed next to the Jet Ranger. So, Dom made it here OK thought String. He headed to the house. There was no sign of Dom or Abe, but he too saw that the house had been turned over. Picking up the phone he rang the motel.

"Hi, yes, can you tell me whether Miss O Shannessy in room 33 has checked out yet please?

"No, Sir, she hasn't checked out."

"OK, can you put me through to her room please?"

String heard the call being transferred. The phone rang and rang but there was no answer. He hung up and decided to head out to meet Michael. It was only a few minutes before he heard the familiar sound of Michael's FIRM helicopter approaching.

"Hawke! What's this all about?" said Michael heading from his helicopter towards where String was stood by the plane.

"I wish I knew Michael, but what I do know is that Cait and Dom seemed to have disappeared, and this was the plane that Cait has been flying the last couple of days. I found it here this morning, but there is no sign of Cait. But look…." said String taking Michael around to the other side of the plane. "Cait's purse it still here, there's blood on the seat and I don't like the look of that…." String pointed at the canister.

"Some sort of chemical?"

"I assume so Michael."

"So, you had better fill me in, what was Cait doing flying a crop duster in Texas?"

"She was doing a favour for Dom, for an old pal of his. Just a couple of days flying to help him fulfil a contract."

"OK….."

"Well, Dom flew down here to pick her up this morning. He made it to Abe's place, the Jet Ranger is there, the place has been turned over, but there is no sign of him, Abe or Cait."

"Right, Samantha, get this canister checked out please and find out all you can about this Abe…."

"Johnson, Abe Johnson" said String.

"I have a team on standby Hawke do you want me to get them to take a look around Abe's place?"

"Yeah you might as well Michael, I'm going to go into town and see what I can find out."

"I'll come with you."

String and Michael got into the Lady and headed to Abe's and String landed once again by the Jet Ranger. As they climbed out they could hear banging and a muffled voice.

"That's coming from the barn!" exclaimed Michael.

"Hey, Is anyone there!" came the sound from the barn

"Dom?" shouted String "stand back, I'm going to blow the lock"

Sliding back the door, Dom emerged squinting at the light and holding his head.

"Are you alright?" asked String

"Yeah, yeah, bit of a headache, but I'm OK. Have you found Cait?"

"No!" exclaimed String sharply, folding his arms and taking a few paces away.

"Where's Abe?" asked Michael

"Hospital, I took him to the hospital."

"Does he know where Cait is?"

"I don't know Michael, he was too out of it." said Dom swaying slightly.

"I think we need to get you checked out at the hospital." said Michael, putting a supporting arm around Dom.

"Hawke?"

String turned to follow them as they headed for Abe's truck and into town to the hospital.

"Take Dom in Michael, I'm going over to the motel." said String without giving Michael a chance to reply.

String went and spoke to the lady on reception at the motel and persuaded her to let him have a key to Cait's room. Opening the door and stepping inside he could see that Cait had been there, her bag was still there with her belongings. He headed back to reception.

"When did you last see the lady staying in room 33?" asked String

"I haven't seen her at all Sir, I only work weekends here."

"Ok, thank you" sighed String.

As he turned to leave, a lady who appeared to be a cleaner spoke.

"I saw the lady from room 33 yesterday morning, she was headed out towards Abe Johnson's place, but I haven't seen her since."

"Thanks" replied String. "Do you know anything about Abe Johnson? I am assuming you are local? "

"Yeah, all my life. Abe has been here years too. Keeps himself to himself you know, but I did hear that he had started to get hassle from Mr Grant."

"Who's Mr Grant?"

"He lives about 3 miles west of town. He has a contracting business and has been buying up a lot of the smaller concerns around these parts. I wouldn't say he was particularly liked, but you didn't hear that from me OK."

"Thank you, you've been really helpful" said String squeezing the lady on the arm, before putting on his glasses and heading back to the hospital.

"Where's Abe Johnson?" demanded String at the hospital reception desk.

"Are you a relative Sir?" asked the receptionist.

"Friend!"

Hearing String's voice brought Michael out to reception.

"Hawke, don't you want to know how Dom is?"

"I need to speak to Abe right now Michael."

Michael flashed his ID at the receptionist who informed them that Abe was in room 11.

Abe was sat up in bed and looked a lot better.

"Abe, who is Mr Grant?" asked String gruffly.

"You have no right barging in here like this!" replied Abe

"I have every right! Where's Caitlin?"

"I want to speak to Dom"

"You can't, as thanks to you he is in hospital too."

"Dom is?"

"Yes, someone hit him over the head and locked him in your barn!"

Abe was quiet for a moment.

"I need help…."

"Go on…." said Michael as String paced around the room.

"Someone is trying to put me out of business."

"This Mr Grant I presume?"

"Yes, he has run out all the small contracting businesses in the area, but I refused to give into him, so I started to receive threats and then…"

"He broke your arm." said String.

"Yes, and he made sure no one would work for me."

"So you rang Dominic?" said Michael

"Yes, I didn't know what else to do. It's not just the business, he is using dodgy chemicals which he gets from God knows where. They are harmful to the environment and human health. They protect the crop but they are making animals and even people sick so there was no way I was going to give in to someone like that!"

"Why didn't you tell Dom all this?" demanded String

Abe shrugged. "I didn't know it would come to this, honestly I didn't. I know where your friend is, when Grant paid me a visit with a couple of his heavies they said they had a house guest and wanted to know who she was."

"Right, come on Michael, I think's it's time we paid Mr Grant a visit but so help me Abe, if anything has happened to Cait….."

Both men turned and left the room. Dom was waiting for them in reception. He had been checked over but had been lucky and they were happy for him to leave. String walked straight past him.

"Dom, we think we know where Cait is, I'll go with Hawke, you get back to Abe's. My team is there, so we'll meet you OK?"

Samantha was outside the hospital as String and Michael came out.

"Sir, the results of the analysis we carried out on the cannister.

"And?"

"It's nothing like we have come across before, definitely some sort of pesticide, but highly toxic and corrosive."

"Thanks Samantha" said Michael as he ran to catch Hawke up. They were soon in Airwolf and flying towards the Grant Ranch.

As they flew over they saw a barn set slightly away from the ranch. There was a truck parked outside and 2 men were loading it with drums.

"Chemical drums" said Michael

"Yeah" replied String.

Check the scanners Michael, we need to see where they may be holding Cait.

"I've got one heat source in an upstairs bedroom at the back of the house Hawke, then nothing apart from one downstairs."

String landed Airwolf a distance from the ranch and both men got out. Michael had made contact with Zebra Squad, telling them to get to the ranch fast.

String rang the bell at the front door. The door opened.

"Mr Grant?"

"Yes"

String pulled his gun and aimed it at Mr Grants head.

"I believe you have something here that doesn't belong to you!" exclaimed String gruffly. Take over Michael.

"Michael drew his gun and ushered Grant into the kitchen as String ran up the stairs. Finding the locked room, he ran at it and barged it open with his shoulder. He wasn't prepared for what he saw.

Cait was still lying on the bed, she had been sick, her nose had apparently been bleeding and although only semiconscious she was sweating and groaning. Her hands were red raw and she had a rash on her face and neck. String picked her up gently and carried her back down the stairs. Zebra Squad had arrived. Sam and Frank, the two men loading the drums had been apprehended and Grant was being led away.

"My God!" said Michael when he saw Cait in String's arms.

"String hurried outside with Cait towards Airwolf. Michael followed.

"You need to get her out of those clothes Hawke, I can smell that chemical on her."

"I know Michael!" said String as they arrived back at Airwolf and he gently laid Cait on the ground.

"Let me help you!"

"No Michael, stay away, I don't want anyone to see Cait like this" said String gruffly has he removed Cait's shirt. All her beautiful freckles had been hidden by an angry red rash. String felt a tear prick his eye, which he wiped immediately away and reached into Airwolf to get a blanket which he wrapped Cait in. Taking the water carrier, he poured the contents onto her hands. It wouldn't do much, but it might ease the pain a little. He then lifted her gently into Airwolf, took off and flew to the hospital. He landed Airwolf in the street, he didn't care, all he wanted to do was get Cait some help.