Keeper of the Truth
Disclaimer: I do not own The A-Team movie or television series or any of the delightful characters found on The A-Team.
Chapter 23
As Face worked the lock on the filing cabinet drawer, he held back a smug smile. Keeper Luke seemed in awe of what he was seeing.
Should I tell him who we are . . . who Murdock really is . . . or should I let him continue to wonder?
The drawer lock clicked and he slid it open. The whole process took very little time. Leafing through the files, Face was impressed with how many names, how many property transfers and how much money the trio of fake Keepers must have accumulated over the years.
I wonder what they did with all that money? They couldn't live here in luxury without attracting attention to themselves.
He decided that would be a matter for Luke, the other Keepers and the authorities to figure out.
They probably hid the money in some bank accounts just waiting for the moment they felt they had enough to get out of here.
He felt sorry for these people. They were so naive.
I could pass myself off as a documentary movie producer and get them to tell me just about anything.
He filed through the tabs until he found Schreiker's name. Looking through, he found bills of sale but no deeds or titles.
Our client isn't going to like this very much. At least we did our part. We found out what happened to his property.
He couldn't feel any sympathy for Schreiker, abandoning his wife and son like he did. They would bring the folder back to their client and be done with the case.
He probably won't pay us but at least now these people will know they were being defrauded by those three.
"Look," he said, shutting the drawer and turning to the Keeper who stood to his left. "You need to decide what to do from here. I think you would have a good case against Amos and his two friends if you pursued it. You have all the evidence right here." He patted the filing cabinet. "But if Schreiker's file is any indication, any assets your community thought they may have had are long gone."
Brother Luke swallowed hard, nodding slowly. "We'll start over . . . or try to . . . " He narrowed his eyes as he thought aloud. "Like you said, we have Reverend Barger's teaching and principles . . . we can become more self-sustaining . . . and what little we need can be supplied by donations . . . maybe selling homecrafted goods . . . "
Face smiled and patted Luke on the shoulder. "I'm sure you'll figure something out. I've got to go."
"And what about Brother Merle? You'll take care of him . . . help him?" Luke followed the con man outside.
"We'll do the best we can. He needs people who understand what's going on with him."
"And you and your friends do?" Luke's tone was more concerned than doubting. He kept pace with the other man as he walked toward the truck.
"We do our best . . . " Face hesitated.
Should I tell him Brother Merle has a room in the VA psych ward waiting for him if we find out it's too much for us to handle?
He realized how harsh that sounded and simply said, "He responds to us. We've all been through it."
But not quite as much as my buddy has.
Brother Luke fell behind as Face quickened his stride, looking at the truck, noting that B. A. was not waiting in the driver's seat like he should have been. The truck wasn't even running.
Something's wrong.
oooooo
As he floated in darkness, Murdock heard in his mind the litany he had repeated to become a Keeper. But Barger was dead. For all he knew, Hannibal was hurt badly. Rachel, the young woman who took an interest in him, was injured. His team had set the deadly explosives that hurt her, an innocent.
As long's I live, as long's I breathe, I won't forsake my brothers 'n' sisters. I'll live in harm'ny with all . . . As long's I live, as long's I breathe, I won't forsake my brothers 'n' sisters. I'll live in harm'ny with all . . .
The accusing voices of his father and other bullies in his past reminded him of just how alone he really was right now. They tried to drown out the words he clung to.
As long's I live, as long's I breathe, I won't forsake my brothers 'n' sisters. I'll live in harm'ny with all . . . As long's I live, as long's I breathe, I won't forsake my brothers 'n' sisters. I'll live in harm'ny with all . . .
Hollis Latreque, a classmate bully from his past, sneered in his head, "So how's what your friends did part o' that thing yer sayin'? Are they livin' in harm'ny? Huh? Words're jus' words 'til ya live 'em out."
A dull ache in the back of his head and along his jaw jockeyed for his attention.
". . . Didn' mean it. Ya know I didn'. I had ta get ya in the truck, fool." That was B. A. His voice sounded remarkably soft and out of character.
Huh. A'most sounds like th' Big Guy's sayin' he's sorry . . . for somethin' . . . As long's I live, as long's I breathe, I won't forsake my brothers 'n' sisters. I'll live in harm'ny with all . . .
Was Hollis right? His team came together over there, in war-torn Vietnam, and stayed together here as a paramilitary unit. Sure, they kept a rule never to kill someone when another method would work to protect and help their clients. But they still used weapons when needed.
"Yeah, think 'bout it. That ain' livin' in harm'ny, what you guys do," Hollis mocked.
He wanted to shout "Shut up!" but couldn't make the words come out. And B. A. was mildly shaking him, getting his attention. "Wake up, Murdock. I didn't hit ya that hard, did I?"
He hit me? What'd I do now?
He focused on his team mate's voice and gradually, one by one, most of the other voices faded. They were still there but they became a vague murmur, the words difficult to understand once he stopped listening to them.
He wondered if he would ever be completely rid of all of the voices that seemed to have a resting place inside him. Reverend Barger had promised their way of life would bring his mind peace.
He was right . . . I gotta help 'em rebuild . . . I'm a Keeper now . . .
Slowly he became aware that he was lying on his back. His jaw and head throbbed more intensely as his consciousness returned. Gravel crunched under approaching footsteps.
"What's wrong? What's going on, B. A.?" It sounded like Face, a sense of urgency edging his tone.
"I had ta do it, Faceman. He wasn't gonna get in."
"He's going to have a really bad headache when he wakes up. I hope you didn't break his jaw, too," the con man continued angrily.
Yeah, I hope not either.
"I held back."
Sure don' feel like it.
"We've got to go. The fire those explosives caused and the gunshots are going to bring attention our way." And that was Hannibal, sounding a bit shaky but in charge of the situation. "Face, take over. B. A., get us out of here. Now!"
Outta here . . . outta here . . . but I'm a Keeper now. Brother Luke'll need me t' help 'em rebuild.
"Hang in there, fool." He felt a large meaty hand pat his shoulder. There was movement around him as B. A. left and Hannibal and Face took places on either side of him. He redoubled his efforts to wake up completely and took in a big shuddering breath as the image of the curtained area where the fake Reverend Barger flashed in his mind.
Moments later he heard a large truck engine roar to life and the floor underneath him vibrated with the vehicle's power. He felt the truck lurch forward and pick up speed.
Murdock tried to form words but could get out only a whisper. He forced his eyes open and stared directly up at Hannibal. Struggling to sit up, each jolt the truck made, each movement he made, sent another wave of pain through the back of his head. "I took th' pledge. I'm a Keeper now. I can't go. They need me."
"Captain, you can't stay. And we won't leave you behind." Hannibal firmly pressed his shoulders down and nodded at Face to help.
"You don't belong with them, buddy," the con man murmured. "You don't belong there. We're your friends, not them."
Murdock felt the fabric of his mind tear a little at that.
Where d' I b'long? Where?
He only vaguely heard sirens approach, pass and fade as his inner voices returned to laugh and jeer.