10:45 PM

Dominic stifled a yawn and kept his eyes on the road. They had been travelling south for over an hour. Dom felt like it was time to let Horne know they were out there.

As if String had read his mind, the pilot pulled over onto the side of the road and picked up the receiver.

"Airwolf to Horn, come in Horn. Over." He paused. "This is Airwolf calling Horn, come in. Over." He repeated it again, this time more agitated.

"Maybe they need time to get to the radio," Dominic said, trying to understand why no one was picking up their radio calls.

"Nah, Horn has someone sitting on that radio waiting for us. Airwolf is too important to him. Airwolf to Horn, come in Horn. Over."

"This is Horn. Over. I was beginning to wonder if Caitlin was right and you weren't coming. Over. How's the lady? Over."

"Just tell me where you want us," Hawke said. Dominic could hear the disdain dripping off of String's voice.

"Keep your radio on this channel. I'll contact you soon."

Hawke hung the receiver up, put the truck back into gear, and continued down the road.

10:52 PM

Caitlin was half asleep and was now wishing she hadn't eaten her lunch and dinner plates. At least with an empty stomach, she was wide awake. According to her watch, it was almost eleven. She brushed her hair back with her hand and slid a stray piece behind her ear.

The door opened and Caitlin stood to her feet. Horn walked in and the door closed behind him. "I thought you would like to know your friend Hawke just contacted me. He and Airwolf are coming to get you."

Caitlin felt her face get hot and Horn must have noticed because he asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Caitlin quickly covered. "I'm just nervous."

Horn took two steps toward her and looked her straight in the eye. Caitlin looked down. "No, my daughter used to get the same look in her eyes when she was keeping something from me. It's how I knew she was giving evidence to the police on my operations." With his thumb, he raised her chin so they were eye level. "There's something wrong with my helicopter, isn't there?"

"The Lady isn't yours, Horn."

"And, evidently, she isn't yours at the moment either. Thank you, Caitlin." Horn walked to the door, knocked twice, and it opened for him.

"Don't do anything stupid, Horn."

The door closed behind him and Caitlin fell down on her mattress.

Airwolf was non-functional. She had told Hawke that the moment they precariously set her down in the lair and she had seized up. Taking her through a gauntlet of guerilla gunfire in Brazil hadn't been hers or Dominic's first choice, but String was flying so the decision was his. Fortunately, they made it back on fumes, no guns, shaky turbos and prayers. . .lots and lots of prayers. They ended up being in better shape than the lady. That was five days ago.

Caitlin knew as a mechanic that Airwolf wasn't ready for flight. Even if the company they ordered her special parts from had delivered, it would still take two days and three people to get her back in flying shape.

There was no way Airwolf was ready to fly and she had just inadvertently given Horn this information.

What had she just done?