A/N: I'm using some of my Nanowrimo time to work on this fic, so hopefully it'll move along a little better. Enjoy.
Chapter 50
Duo watched until Gabe moved away from the hidden entrance before slipping out. He kept to the shadows while Gabe lumbered around the lower level throwing the trash around. He made the place trashier, which Duo hadn't thought was possible. Just as Duo was about to jump out of the shadows, Gabe turned and grabbed him.
"What do we have here? Where's Hilde?" Gabe demanded.
Duo glared at Gabe but didn't move. Gabe was bigger than he was by about six inches and sixty pounds.
"WHERE'S HILDE?" Gabe screamed in his face.
"Why would I tell you?" Duo sneered. "You had your chance with her and you blew it."
That made Gabe angry. He slammed Duo against the wall inadvertently hitting the catch to the hidden entry. It swung open. Gabe smirked.
"So that's where you were hiding. Hilde! Come out, come out wherever you are!" Gabe called.
Duo punched Gabe in the side of the head. Gabe dropped Duo and staggered away, shaking his head in an attempt to stop his ears from ringing. Duo didn't give Gabe the chance to recover. He threw himself at Gabe, grabbing him around the waist and tackling him to the ground. The two men fought for the upper hand.
Hiding in the closet, Hilde could hear the fighting. She wanted to go out and help Duo, but he had told her to stay put. She had to protect the tiny life inside of her. She knew what Gabe was like and she was terrified that he would kill Duo and then tear the place apart until he found her. If that happened…the thought made Hilde want to vomit. She looked around the small space hoping to find a weapon of some sort. She came up empty. A loud crash and a yell from Duo made her burst into tears. Gabe was going to kill him and there was nothing she could do.
"Trowa, I was wondering if you could keep your eyes open for another hostler," the Manager said once they were outside.
"Is there something wrong with Johnson?" Trowa asked, hiding his alarm. Had the Manager decided to fire Agent Johnson? Had his cover been blown? Trowa wasn't sure if there was another agent with Johnson's particular skill set. Une would be furious if she had to find another agent they could trust with Trowa's secret.
"No, no…of course not," the Manager replied with a wave of his hand. "However, Buttercup is getting on in age and I think it is wise to begin training her replacement. I'll be adding a new mare and another gelding and Johnson already has his hands full. The horses will be arriving soon and I'd like to find Johnson an assistant as soon as possible."
Trowa nodded. "I'll keep my eyes open," he promised. Trowa's phone started ringing. "Excuse me. Barton."
"Trowa, what is your location?"
"Just south of Glenwood."
"I need you and Quatre to head to San Francisco immediately. I'll send you details."
"Sure thing." Trowa hung up and looked at the Manager. "I've got to head out but I'll keep an eye out for a decent hostler."
Taking his leave of the Manager, Trowa went back into Cathy's trailer.
"Kiri, I'm sorry but Quatre and I have to go. We'll be back soon and we can get your statement then, okay?"
"What's up, Trowa?" Quatre asked, standing up. Trowa didn't seem upset, so he had no idea why they had to leave so abruptly.
"Heero wants us to look into something. He said it can't wait." Trowa kissed Cathy's cheek and told her, "We'll be back." Looking at Kiri he said, "If you need anything, tell Cathy. She can let us know, okay?"
He knew that Kiri should know to go to Cathy, but Trowa wanted to remind her that it was okay to ask for things.
Kiri nodded, but she looked sad. Trowa felt bad that Kiri was upset but he knew she wouldn't tell him why she was upset even if he asked. Cathy followed the agents out, glad that Kiri had stayed inside.
"Is anything wrong, Trowa?" she asked.
Trowa shrugged. "We don't have the details yet. We should receive them soon, but I hope it has to do with this case. I feel bad leaving her here so long."
"It's not a problem," Cathy assured him. "I really like having her around."
Trowa nodded. "Be that as it may, I still feel like we've imprisoned her here. It isn't like she's allowed to leave whenever she feels like it or do whatever she wants. I want these creeps behind bars so that she can live how she wants to without being afraid."
Cathy smiled. "Me, too. You better get on it, then."
"Bye, Cathy."
Trowa turned to walk away.
"Goodbye, Catherine. Thank you for your hospitality and your assistance with this case," Quatre said before following Trowa to the car.
Cathy rolled her eyes behind his back. Did he really think that being so formal with her would earn her trust back? Whatever. She decided it would be a good idea to distract Kiri by helping her put together an act. It would give her something to do and help her to feel wanted. And if Kiri decided to stay with the circus after everything was done, Cathy would be glad to keep her.
Sally bent over the toilet and vomited again. This was getting ridiculous. She made a note to get a flu shot. She'd never had the flu this bad before. At first she'd written it off as part of her hangover. When it lasted beyond the rest of the hangover symptoms she'd thought it was food poisoning from the restaurant where she'd gone to lunch with Une, but the Colonel had eaten the same thing and didn't have any symptoms. Sally was convinced it was the flu. There was a bug going around and even with all the precautions she'd taken, Sally had still managed to catch it.
With her stomach empty, she felt a little better. She brushed her teeth and went out to lie on the couch. She'd called in to work again. Wufei was supposed to check on her around lunchtime. Maybe she could convince him to take her in for the shot.
Duo kept his grip on Gabe, but it wasn't easy. The man was furious and his rage fueled his strength. Duo let out a yell as he forced Gabe to the ground. Quatre was going to kill him for breaking his coffee table, but Duo figured he'd worry about that later. Right now he just wanted Hilde to stay where she was. He was fairly certain that as long as Hilde stayed quiet Gabe wouldn't find her. Even if Gabe did manage to take Duo out, Rashid would be there soon and he was more than a match for Hilde's ex-boyfriend.
Gabe twisted and got on top of Duo. His meaty hands were around the Deathscythe pilot's neck, cutting off his air as Duo struggled to wriggle away. Duo could see the maniacal glint in Gabe's eyes. The man was even drooling a little as he leered down at Duo.
"Tell me where she is if you don't want to die," Gabe growled.
Duo couldn't answer and he couldn't push Gabe off, so he did the only thing he could. He gave Gabe the finger. Gabe punched Duo in the face and spots danced in his vision. He wished Heero was here. Heero wouldn't have gotten himself cornered like this and the two of them could take on Gabe for sure. Memories of suffocating at the Lunar Base came to Duo's mind. Yes, this was still a lame way to die. Actually, this was even lamer. He should have been able to take this guy. And this time he had Heero to think about. Heero would blame himself for not coming along to keep Duo safe.
Duo was about to give up when Gabe's weight was suddenly lifted off of him. Duo laid there, still stunned from the lack of air. Gabe didn't attack him again, but Gabe was still fighting.
Rashid had arrived.
Cathy went back inside the trailer. Kiri was still sitting at the table. "How about I start teaching you a few tricks? Then maybe we can put together an act for you."
Kiri looked surprised but she nodded enthusiastically. Cathy grinned. That had been easier than she'd thought it would be. They went outside. Beside the trailer, Cathy had a warm-up area set up. It consisted of a target and half a dozen practice knives and a tightrope strung between posts. The rope was less than a foot off the ground. Cathy used it to get her balance in the morning and to practice new moves before trying them on the higher wire.
"Would you like to try tight rope or knife throwing first?"
Cathy figured that Kiri would pick whichever thing she thought she would be better at. Kiri looked between the knives and the rope before standing next to the tightrope and looking at Cathy expectantly.
Cathy grinned. The high wire was her favorite, too. "First thing is to stand on it. Hold onto one of the posts and get a feel for your balance."
Kiri stepped up on the wire, clutching the pole while she got her balance. When she was centered, Cathy continued her instructions.
"Good. Now, give me your hand and I'll help you balance while you walk across."
Kiri held out her hand and Cathy took it. Kiri skootched her foot about an inch along the wire. She kept her grip on the post.
"You'll have to let go if you want to make any progress."
Kiri reluctantly let go of the post and took a small step. Cathy dutifully helped Kiri to keep her balance and soon the girl made it to the other pole.
"Great! Now I want you to try and walk back without my help."
Kiri bit her lip and held onto the pole when Cathy stopped holding her hand. Cathy watched as Kiri took a tentative step and let go of the pole. Kiri took another step and fell off the rope.
"Are you okay?" Cathy asked as Kiri got up and dusted herself off.
Kiri nodded, but she looked annoyed. Cathy wasn't sure if it was annoyance at her or annoyance that she'd fallen.
"I fell my first time, too. Why don't you try it again?"
Kiri sighed and climbed back up on the wire. After three more falls, Cathy decided to help Kiri again. Kiri walked back and forth along the rope ten times before Cathy told her to try it alone again.
Kiri made it halfway across before falling that time. Cathy could tell she was getting frustrated with it.
"Better. Keep practicing and you'll have it down in no time. How about we take a break from that and I'll teach you to throw knives?"
Kiri readily agreed. Cathy threw a few knives to warm up and let Kiri see how it was done.
"Okay, Kiri. Take the knife like this and then flick your wrist like this." Cathy helped Kiri to hold the knife properly and then let her throw it.
The knife handle hit the target.
"Try it again, you'll get it."
Kiri tried again. She kept hitting the target with the knife handles. Cathy had her take a step closer. This time, one of the knife points hit the target, but Kiri hadn't thrown it hard enough for it to stick. Kiri threw all six knives without success. She frowned and went to collect them. Cathy showed her again how to throw and get the knife to stick in the target. Kiri nodded her understanding and picked up another knife.
Cathy sat back and watched Kiri throw. She was holding the knives correctly and her wrist flick was good. Cathy was sure that Kiri would get it with a little practice.