TWO
Disclaimer: I do not own, nor did I create, any of the A-team characters (main or support) nor do I own, nor did I create, any of the episodes. That credit is due to Stephen J. Cannell and his associates. Any familiar catch phrases or settings also belong to the Cannell team.
Spoiler Alert: References characters, locations, plot, and revelations from Season 3 Episode 11 "The Bells of St. Mary's". including but not limited to St. Mary's School, Angels Guardians, Sr. Catherine, Billy Rey King, Charlotte King, The Bells, Dave Luna, and Zeke Westerland.
Sr. Ruth, Miss Chambers, Coach Boggs, Sr. Paulette, and Timothy are my OCs
Author's Notes: This takes place in my "A-team World" which I set up in my story "Chronicles of a Colonel". The Team has received not just pardons but full exoneration. They are free men and have established a private security company called A-team Security Co. After all who are better trained to chase thugs than these guys.
The seed for this story was planted by Peppe1951 who requested a story about the Team and their security company.
Summary: Sister Catherine explains the situation to the Team and Hannibal implements a plan. .
Return to St. Mary's: A Case Close to Their Hearts: by LAGC
Chapter Two: Setting Up the Sting
Withiin a half hour the full team was assembled in Sister Catherine's office. Face was still pacing but Murdock, BA, and Hannibal were seated.
Sister further explained that the trouble began shortly after the school publicly announced its intention to upgrade their athletic fields. The plan was to renovate the baseball field and to build a new football field surrounded by a running track on the lot behind the school building. After some resistance from the city offices St. Mary's had secured the proper permits. A local architect had donated her time to draw up the design and blueprints as well as a supply list and cost estimate. Fund raising had begun in earnest. The students had hosted several weekend car washes as well as a relay walk-a-thon. The concession stand was turning a small, yet helpful, profit due to the success of the fall football team as well as this spring's baseball team.
In two weeks a Community Corporate Gala was being held in the gym. This had been a huge success as all of the tickets had been purchased by local businesses. There would also be a silent auction during the event and Sister was hopeful about the outcome of that.
As it currently stood the school had amassed about twenty-five percent of the total estimated completion costs. A ground breaking ceremony was pencilled in for Mother's Day weekend, about four weeks away.
"It was after that announcement in the neighborhood paper that the threatening note arrived." concluded Sister Catherine.
"Don't fret Sister, we will get to the bottom of this for you." assured Hannibal.
"Yes, Ma'am, no one is gonna hurt the kids or this school. I guarantee it." added BA
Murdock vehemently nodded his agreement and cast a surreptitious glance at Face. It had been a while since any of them had seen their Lieutenant this angry The Colonel shot his Pilot a subtle nod. Then Hannibal broke Face from his agitated stomping simply by reaching out a hand which, as it always did, caused Face to magically produce a cigar for their conniving Colonel.
"Ok men. We will set this up similar to when we helped Billy Rey get his sister and her band mates away from Luna and Westerland. We will embed ourselves as faculty or staff. BA you'll be the new PE instructor. I'll be a substitute teacher. Face, you'll be the director of Athletic Fund Raising and Murdock you'll be the assistant baseball coach."
"Why just the assistant coach Hannibal?" complained Murdock with an affronted expression.
"Because, Captain, it would look suspicious if Sister replaced the current head coach." explained Hannibal.
"Director of Fund Raising?" questioned Face as he was still distracted with worry for the school.
"Of course Face. While you're out scrounging funds to complete the new athletic complex you can get a feel for who in the neighborhood might have adverse feelings about the current renovations going on here at your alma mater."
"Oh a sly angle there, Colonel." acknowledged Face as his mind began to create his persona for this mission.
"Besides Lieutenant, with your skills, I'd bet dollar to donuts that you'll triple the building fund before this case is closed." Hannibal added and watched a pleased gleam flash through Face"s eyes.
Hannibal turned to BA awaiting any comment or complaint from the Big Guy. All the Colonel earned was a nod from his sergeant as he rose from his chair.
"Which direction is the PE equipment, Sister? I'd like to check out what I'll be working with." he asked respectfully. Sister gave him directions but as she walked BA to the hall she flagged down a young boy. "Timothy, please show Mr. Baracus to the school gym. He will be our PE instructor this term."
With large round brown eyes the boy sized up BA then said,"Sure thing Sister Catherine."
As BA left a young brunette approached the door.
"Excuse me, Sr. Catherine, might I have a quick moment? Its about the auction items." she asked professionally.
"Ah, hello Miss Chambers." replied the nun. Then turning to the men she smoothly made introductions. "Gentlemen this is Miss Lily Chambers. She is the staff social worker in charge of placements and adoptions of our students from Angel Guardians. She is also the volunteer head of the fund raising efforts."
All four men nodded politely at Miss Chambers as Sister continued the process.
"This is John Smith who will be covering for Sister Paulette"s history classes while she's on retreat. Mr. Murdock will be assisting Coach Boggs with the baseball team. And Mr. Peck, an alum of St. Mary's, has volunteered to collaborate with you on the fund raising campaign. Thus alleviating some of the unfair burden that we've put upon your shoulders."
"Well hello and welcome to you all." greeted Lily as she shook hands with the three men.
"Oh, and that gentleman in the hall with Timothy, was BA Baracus who will be running the PE classes this term." added Sister.
"Well I guess its a good thing I came in now. Since my question is about the auction, it's convenient that Mr. Peck is here."
"Please just call me Templeton." said Face. "I'm eager to get caught up on the work you've done so far and to jump in to help out."
It didn't pass the notice of Hannibal nor Murdock that Faceman had instantly concealed his agitated state in the presence of the attractive social worker. Even as a free and legit man, Face retained his smooth ways.
"Yes, Lily, Temp is a whiz at fund raising. Why don't you catch him up on all the progress thus far. Oh and what did you want to ask me, Dear?"
"Well why don't I hash it out with Mr. Peck first Sister. I'm sure you need to get Mr Murdock and Mr. Smith acclimated. We can come back later to discuss things with you."
Sister nodded approvingly as Face and Lily left the office.
"She is a wonderful woman, so dedicated to our orphans. I'm so happy that she'll be able to pass the fund raising duties off to Temp. Its really been a burden on her as she has so many responsibilities as our Placement Counselor.
Sister then took Murdock to meet Coach Boggs who seemed a bit confused at having a volunteer assistant coach suddenly appear but rolled with it nonetheless. Then she took Hannibal to Sister Paulette's room and showed him her lesson plans for the upcoming week. Hannibal was personally pleased to see that the class was in the middle of a unit about U.S. Grant and his presidency. He admitted to Sister that Grant had always been a hero of his.
Fortunately by this time it was 3:30 and the majority of the students had left the building. In light of the recent threats Sister had decreed that no one was to linger without an assigned purpose or staff supervision. BA and Hannibal waited in the PE office for Murdock to be done with baseball practice and for Face to return from Miss Chambers office. By 4 o'clock all the men were seated around BA's new desk.
"Well I observed no questionables or hostiles loitering about the practice field, Colonel." reported Murdock.
"The gym equipment hasn't been too damaged either. Its just sort of old, but it will do. The lockers in the boys room took a beating though." BA said.
"Based on the fund raising records. The local businesses have been quite generous and supportive of the school's efforts. I didn't see any red flags. I'll dig deeper tomorrow." Face commented.
"I've done a perimeter sweep and there are several weaknesses. I think we'd be wise to keep a security detail here overnight. We can work it in two man shifts." declared Hannibal. "I already filled in Sister Catherine."
With that the Team returned to their headquarters to gather up the tools and supplies they'd need.