SEVEN
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.
Timothy, Miss Chambers, Coach Boggs, Sr. Ruth, Sr. Paulette, Mr. Scott, and Ms Westerman, Wallace Westerman are my OCs as are any of the assorted students at St. Mary's.
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: The pieces finally form the puzzle picture.
Return to St. Mary's: A Case Close to Their Hearts: by LAGC
Chapter Seven: Many Answers Are In
BA deftly followed Scott onto the freeway. After about fifteen minutes they exited and began to navigate a road thick with restaurants. Scott pulled into the lot of one called Jack's Steakhouse. BA continued past the lot then circled back from the next block. He parked the van on a side street behind Jack's.
"Ok Big Guy. You know the drill. You handle the Beemer. I'll go see what Scottie Boy has ordered for din din."
BA nodded, reached into the back of the van, then exited with a small nylon bag. Hannibal donned an auburn wig and dark aviator glasses then walked into the steakhouse.
He approached the hostess and placed a "to go" order. She advised him that the order would be ready in fifteen minutes so he asked for directions to the men's room and made his way to it. Spotting Scott was a piece of cake for he was standing at a table occupied by a stunning blond. Hannibal quickly surmised that she was Miss Westerman, Scott's secretary. Face had provided a spot on detailed description of her. Hannibal could easily understand how her appearance had seared an image into his Lieutenant's memory.
At first Hannibal assumed he was witnessing a tryst. It quickly became evident that romance was not on their menu. This was a business meeting. The body language at the table clearly showed that it was Miss Westerman who held the power, a fact that was quite interesting to Hannibal. He snuck into a booth next to, yet hidden from, their table. There he could easily eavesdrop without being detected.
"Well it's about time you showed up." she said coldly.
"Hey, blame your idiot brother for that. I had to stay at the office calling in all sorts of favors because that dipstick lost his gun running away from that ancient nun at that rundown charity school. It wasn't easy finding trustworthy muscle to sneak back into that school to search and clean up." retorted Scott.
"Yes my brother is a complete careless dolt. But you're the jackass for sending him on the search and seize trip to begin with. He couldn't find his eyebrows with his own two hands! And you sent him in to find the target! NOW, not only have we NOT found the package but we've lost hard incriminating evidence at the scene!
"Well for Pete's sake! He was looking for a 2 foot by 2 foot framed record. Its not like I sent him in to find a pearl in an oyster! If he hadn't made so much damn noise that nun never would have heard him. I still don't see why we simply can't just bid for the damn thing at that stupid auction. Why do we need to swipe it?"
"Because we can't have any public ties to it. No one can know that I have it! Honestly why the hell I married a guy who's barely smarter than my idiot brother, I'll forever be asking myself."
"You married me to keep your sweet keister out of prison and yourself hidden from your Uncle's less than amicable associates. Remember THAT Sweet Cheeks. I can ruin you on so many levels with one simple phone call to the right people." sneered Scott.
This actually seemed to rattle Miss Westerman who then mumbled, "Well sit down so we can order dinner like a normal loving couple."
Hannibal was very intrigued by this conversation and would have pressed his luck and stayed to hear more but his keen eyes spotted his take-out order en route to the checkout desk as well as BA pacing in the reception area. The disguised Colonel stealthily made his way to the desk, paid for the food, and left with BA.
"Success Big Guy?" he asked
"Of course, my parts of the plans always work. How about you?" answered BA.
"I overheard some intriguing info. Let's go see what Face and Murdock have come up with."
With that the two men headed back to St. Mary's.
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Murdock was waiting in the 'vette when Face returned.
"Hey Faceman, did Wally give you a reward for returning his wallet all safe, sound, and still stocked with his seven twenties?"
"In fact he did not. No one has any gratitude or manners these days." groused Face sarcastically. "Let's just hope he doesn't lose it again or that tracker BA hid in it will be pointless.
"Yeah, right on, Visage Guy. My quick yet thorough search of Wally's woe-be-gotten Ford -which by the way, Muchacho, has the same busted taillight as our Firestarter's sedan- only turned up two lost quarters and a crumpled paper with '84 gold bells' written on it." Murdock reported.
"84 gold bells? Could he have been looking for bells in the locker room? Why? Oh well wait until you hear what I uncovered … oh wait! Gold Bells! Oh I know what it all means….lets get back to St Mary's. I've got to talk with Hannibal!" Face exclaimed as he slammed the car into gear.
Once again Murdock had to make a frantic protective grasp for his ball cap.
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Thirty minutes later the four soldiers were gathered in BA's PE office. Face and Murdock had charged and found Hannibal and the Big Guy huddled around a short way receiver, munching on takeout fries. Hannibal motioned for them to be quiet. A few seconds later Hannibal removed his head set and looked expectantly at his men.
"Well Lieutenant, did you make contact with the mark?" asked Hannibal
With a stare of derision, Face replied, "Oh Hannibal, please."
"Of course we did Colonel and jolly buckets of info too." supplied Murdock.
By this point BA was also listening to their conversation while keeping one ear under his headphones. "Well spill it cuz we've got stuff to say too. Stop wasting time."
Face quickly revealed that Wallace was definitely the thug behind the locker vandalism and the arson attack. He was also the brother of Miss Westerman the secretary.
"There was a family portrait with younger versions of her and Wallace hanging over the sofa. And you're gonna love who else was in that photograph." Face paused for effect.
"I'm sure I will. But she ain't just the secretary …she's the ring leader. Scott is clearly HER lackey as well as husband." revealed Hannibal. He then brought them up to speed on what he and BA had overheard. "She is frantic to recover some item that they believe is going to be in the upcoming auction. Her name is Brenda by the way."
"So Faceman who else was in that photograph? Hannibal didn't let you tell us." interjected BA
"Zeke Westerland! Sans any blue spray paint of course. AND I know exactly what they are searching for." replied Face.
"We're waiting,Kid." prompted Hannibal between puffs on his cigar
"They want the 1984 Gold Record that The Bells donated to the auction." Face primly declared
"Why on earth do they want that!?" exclaimed BA
"Where is it Muchacho?" asked Murdock eagerly.
" I have no idea why. And it isn't here yet. Charlotte King is bringing it herself the night of the auction. She and Billy are the volunteer celebrity hosts for the evening. " answered Face.
Their speculation was interrupted by the ringing phone on BA's desk. He answered it and passed the handset to Hannibal saying, "Its Maloney. He's got the test results."
"Hi Ed, thanks for the quick turn around. Whatcha got? … Two sets of prints…oh. I thought Scott looked familiar. Thanks Ed. No, we still have it under control. We will call you in for the final collar. ….Yeah, bye."
Three pairs of expectant eyes were focused on Hannibal as he hung up the phone.
"Well one set of prints belonged to Wallace. He in the system for a string of petty misdemeanors. The other set are in the system thanks in part to us. They belong to Karl Ryack know to us now as Ken Scott.
"Ryack? Dave Luna's thug?" recalled Murdock
"Yep that's him. But as Scott he seems to have grown a full head of hair and beard." replied Hannibal.
"He's dressing a hell of a lot better too." added Face. "That's why the name of the parent company tickled my memory - Rye Nack Industries. It's an entertainment corp so it did seem odd that it spun off a construction company."
"Don't care where his hair is or what he's wearing. A thug is a thug and this one needs pounding." growled BA.
"Steady Sergeant. You'll have that chance soon enough." promised Hannibal then he continued,
"Face, call up Charlotte. See if she can -quietly- come to town early and bring the trophy frame directly to us."
"Sure thing, Hannibal. I'm on it right now." said Face as he went to his office to get Charlotte's phone number.