Lee Borden took a long drag on his cigarette and turned his face up to the bright California sun. He blew the smoke out and up into the blue sky. Taking one more drag, he stubbed the cigarette out with his toe, and turned back to the rundown house behind him. He went in the back door and down the stairs into the dark basement where his brother waited.

"What took you so long?" David asked him anxiously.

"I had a smoke, too." Lee said. "What are you so nervous about? Jesus!"

"I just didn't know where you were."

"They don't know anything yet. They are nosing around his car but I didn't hear our name once. Morons!" He indicated a thumb towards the dark, back corner of the room. "How's the boy scout?"

"Still out." David said.

"Alright, time for you to go. You remember what I said." Lee told his brother.

"Yeah, man, but I don't know. You sure that its necessary? I mean we got him."

"You don't understand a damn thing! What kind of nursery school prison did they have you in, anyway?" Lee shook his head. "You want to accomplish something - you figure out the greatest pressure point and press - you press hard. We know where that is! Now, put on your underroos and get the goddamn job done! I served ten hard years for you, little brother! This is the very least you could do to say thank you."

"Alright, fine!" David said angrily.

"Don't forget man. She's had cancer so there's no way in hell she can fight you. She's weak. I've seen her - weighs maybe a hundred pounds. Grab her. But don't take any risks. They'll leave her alone sooner or later. That's when you grab her. Bring her back here, okay?"

"Okay." David said. "I got it. I'm not stupid!"

"And don't stop to party! She might still be a looker, but leave her alone. If we party, we party here, so her boyfriend here can watch!" Lee grinned. He reached out and patted his brother's face. "Go on, little brother! The Borden boys are gonna have their revenge!"

***R***

Terry Webster found himself sitting face to face with Douglass Brundi, probably the foulest smelling man he'd ever come in contact with. Having read his file, he knew that Brundi had killed two little girls - Amanda and Allison Baker - seven year old twins, who happened around the wrong corner on a Sunday afternoon. He could barely look Brundi in the eye, the image of those two little girls burned into his memory, was ten times as bad as the smell that emanated from him.

"They don't let you shower?" Terry asked and Brundi stepped into the small interview room.

"My protest against the Man. I don't take no showers."

"Your cellmate must like that." Terry remarked and indicated the chair across from him with a sweep of his hand.

"Lee said you'd come by! I'll be damned!" Brundi said laughing and settling into the chair across the table from Terry.

"What are you talking about?" Terry asked.

"My cellmate - that's why you are here, isn't it? He said some day either a big, serious, black son-of-a-bitch or a curly-haired baby faced cop would come by and see me. And here you are!" He glanced around. "Where's curly top?"

Terry sighed. "Dead. Some moron shot him while he was trying to save a little girl from a sicko just like you."

"Ain't nobody just like me, baby!" Brundi grinned at Terry. "So you gonna ask me all kinds of questions?"

"Yeah." Terry said. "Did Lee tell you anything about . . ."

"Mike Danko, right?" Brundi smiled. "Can't find your boy, can you?" His smile was so sinister that Terry couldn't hold back his well of anger, and rising reached across the table and slammed his fist into Brundi's face.

"Easy there, tiger." Brundi said, wiping the blood from his lips. "I'm not gonna be able to talk, if I get too scared."

"What did he say?" Terry spit out angrily.

"Lots of things, but they all ended the same way - with your pal dead or wishing he was. Can I get something to eat? You know I haven't had a good cheeseburger in ages." His sinister smile reappeared.

"We'll get you a burger." Terry nodded at the officer who stood just at the door of the room.

"Oh and a milkshake! A strawberry milkshake." He smiled at Terry again. "Sure is nice to have friends with power."

Terry sighed, thinking again that it was people like Brundi that made him decide to teach at the Academy. He couldn't spend his days suspended in a pool of darkness. It was destroying him. He looked across the table, and steeling himself said, "Tell me everything you know."

***R***

Liz Conners approached Jill anxiously. She knew that Jill would put up a fight, but they had no choice. Things had become too dangerous.

"Jill, you need to go lie down. You have to rest." Liz said without any preamble.

"No." Jill's voice was sharp and angry.

"I'm not asking you anymore, Jill. I'm telling you."

"You aren't my boss at home. And I wouldn't obey you at work, either! I'm not going to lay down on our bed and sleep while he's . . ." She lifted a trembling hand to her lips and swallowed down tears. "Leave me alone."

"If you don't lie down, I'm giving you a sedative." Liz replied curtly.

"You can't do that!"

"I can and I will. Take these. They are mild - just enough to let you sleep. I can rouse you if there's need. Take them." She held her hand out with two small pills. Jill glanced down at Liz's hand, struggling.

"Let's just wait one more hour!" Jill pleaded. "I'll take them then. I can't sleep! What if there's news? What if he needs me?" Jill said with wide eyes.

"Damn it, Jill! You are a nurse! Your blood pressure is too high right now! Your immune system is still incredibly vulnerable, you are thirty pounds underweight and you've eaten almost nothing today! If you don't rest - you will collapse! Just take the damn pills!" Liz's voice rose in frustration.

"Leave me alone!" Jill said again. Liz sighed and put the pills back into her pocket. She nodded her head at someone standing behind Jill, and turning reached for the needle that she'd already prepared.

"Go ahead." She said. Before Jill understood what was happening, she was grabbed from behind by Chris Owens, who wrapped strong arms around her, binding her own arms to her side.

"I'm sorry, Jill." He said softly, as Liz Conners sank the needle into Jill's upper arm.

"Damn you!" Jill said. "I hate you! I hate you both!" She sobbed then and Liz stepped back, clearly shaken and handed the needle to Beth who carefully threw it away.

"I'm sorry." Chris said again, slowly releasing his tight grip. She began to sag - the drug already taking effect, and as she did, he bent low and lifted her into his arms.

"Put her in the girls' room." Beth said softly and Chris carried her back, laying her down on Amy's bed. Both Liz and Beth worked to tuck Jill under the covers.

"Why? Why did you do that?" Jill asked, her words slurred by the sedative. "I just want Mike." She began to sob. "Please, where is Mike? Bring me Mike!"

"Shh," Beth said trying to soothe her. "They'll find him, Jill. Shhh. You need to rest now. Close your eyes. Shhh." She sat beside her on the bed, wiping the tears from Jill's cheeks, trying desperately to calm her.

"Tricked me. . . never . . .forgive . . . Mike! Please! Mike!" She continued to say his name over and over, until at last she slept.

Liz sank onto Kate's bed then and looked across at Beth who sat beside Jill.

"Oh my God!" Liz said shaking her head at Beth. "That was . . ." She stopped unable to continue.

Beth said nothing just sat where she was weeping, and gently ran her hand back and forth across Jill's cheek.

***R***

When he first opened his eyes, Mike Danko was sure he was dreaming, and that it was a very old nightmare.

"Oh! You recognize me right off the bat!" Lee Borden said laughing.

"Wha . . . wha . . . what are you doing here?" Mike asked confused. "You are in prison."

"Good behavior. I got an early release. The parole board seems to have forgotten to notify you. That must be pretty frustrating." He pulled a chair closer to where Mike sat in another chair, bound tightly. "How is that pretty, little wife of yours? She had such big eyes! She's been sick, I hear. Too bad, that. Ah, well, she's a little beauty still, I bet - not much up top these days but she does have a sweet, little ass." He grinned at Mike whose face was purple with rage, as he struggled against his shackles.

"I doubt you'll be able to break out of those. Official grade - same as the ones they use in prison. I got real familiar with them. Now, you and me, are just gonna sit tight and wait for that brother of mine - you remember him? You testified against him and ruined his life. He just got out last week!" He rose and leaned close, so that his face was inches from Mike. "And I promised you," He said in a sharp, menacing whisper. "I promised you if you did testify I would ruin yours. Ain't it something when promises come true, at last! We'll just wait here for my little brother and see what sweet, little friend he brings with him."

Lee Borden laughed out loud, seeing the fury in Mike Danko's eyes. "You should see your face, Officer Danko. You seem pretty surprised, but not in a happy birthday kind of way. I wonder who is watching those three little girls of yours? Sooner or later, that middle one's gonna ask to play outside - you know how she loves to play soccer! I sure hope that are keeping a close watch on your girls. What's the matter anyway? You so weak you can only make women?" He rose and walked away laughing still, but then turned suddenly and slammed his fist into Mike's face knocking him backwards. He stood over him, glaring with fists clenched. "Oh, wait." He said panting. "I thought of a way to pass the time." And leaning forward, he hit Mike Danko again and again.