11:14 PM

Hawke was still travelling south on an empty, dark road when the radio crackled to life. "Horn to Airwolf. Over." Horn's voice was distinguishable even through radio waves.

With one hand on the steering wheel, Hawke answered the radio. "This is Airwolf. Over. Where do you want the lady, Horn? Over."

"The deals off, Hawke. I know somethings wrong with your lady. Over. Go back home, Hawke." The transmission ended and Hawke through the receiver against the dashboard and then hit the steering wheel.

"The only one that knew Airwolf was non-functional was Caitlin and she wouldn't give Horn the time of day," Hawke told no one imparticular.

"So now what do we do?" Dominic asked in a small voice.

3:47 AM

With two cups of coffee in his system, Dominic was wide awake and feeling none of the sluggishness from last night. After spending two more hours travelling south on a deserted road, Hawke gave up, turned the truck around and they took the lady back to the lair. After dropping off the truck, they went back to the hangar.

Hawke got to the door first. It was ajar and a light was on inside. He put his finger to his lips to hush Dominic and pulled the gun out of the back of his pants. Very gently, he pushed the door open and rushed in, gun held high.

Michael sat in the carcass of a broken down jet ranger. His cane was twirling like Gene Kelly's umbrella.

"Michael," Hawke put his gun back in his pants. "What are you doing here?"

Michael used his cane to help himself out of the helicopter carcass. "I've had this place monitored since Caitlin disappeared. This morning at two-thirty a driver dropped off a plane brown box with a video inside. My people called me as soon as the driver disappeared. Inside the box was a videotape."

"The driver?" Hawke asked.

"Employee of a twenty-four hour speedy delivery service. Someone paid him five hundred dollars under the table to deliver it since it wasn't on his route. He never met his benefactor and now he's a thousand dollars richer."

"Show us the tape," Hawke said. He could feel the tension in his jaws as he ground his teeth together. Michael was unwavered. "Show us the tape!" He growled.

Michael walked to the main office and Hawke followed with Dominic at his side. Michael was standing at the television with the remote in his hand.

"Have you seen it?" Hawke asked.

Michael nodded once and played the tape.

Caitlin was again in the white room. Her hands and feet were bound with duck tape and there was a piece over her mouth. Hawke dug his fingernails into the palms of his hands. He met her eyes and saw the panic and he thought back to the first time he met her. Nothing scared her then.

After a brief shot of Caitlin, Horn came into the picture. "Hello, Hawke and Dominic. I know I gave you until nine o'clock, but after your deception I thought it was my right to speed up the timetable. You tried, Hawke, and I applaud your efforts. In fact, I admire your hard work so much that I have decided to let Caitlin speak to you."

The camera panned over and the tape that was once Caitlin's mouth was gone. She cleared her throat and began, "I'm sorry, guys," She cleared her throat again. "He saw my reaction to Airwolf being able to fly. Don't hate yourself for this, Hawke. It wasn't your fault. I was the one that wanted to come." She paused. "Give mom and dad, my love. You guys are the greatest family a girl could ask for. Dominic thanks for the job. Sorry I left my desk in such a mess. Maybe the next pilot you hire will keep it cleaner. I love you both very much."

Michael stopped the tape and Hawke jerked his eyes away from the dark screen. "Is that it?" He mumbled through gritted teeth.

"No, but I. . ."

"Play the rest," Hawke said. His face felt hot and tears burned his eye sockets.

Michael hit the play button and Caitlin popped on again. "I love you both very much," The tape repeated and then Horn came into view again. "Remember this, Stringfellow Hawke, fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on. . ." He pulled a gun out from his shirt and shot.

Hawke jumped at the sound and the soft scream that came from Caitlin's lips. Horn faced the camera again. "You," He said and motioned for the camera to pan over to Caitlin's body. She was still tied to the chair, but her head was lagging to the side and there was blood dripping on the floor. The camera kicked off and the screen went dark.

Michael turned off the camera and wiped his good eye. Dominic grabbed for the desk as he tried to get to the chair to sit down. "Mamma mia!" He cried. "Oh, mamma mia!"

Hawke stood in the same spot staring at the screen.

I love you both very much.

His hands burned and when he held them palm up in front of them, blood dripped down from crescent shaped scratches.

Cait's blood. Cait's blood on his hands. All over his hands.

"No!" He grabbed at the first thing he could get a hold of and flung it at the TV. Sparks flew from the machine as a clipboard impacted with the TV screen. He turned to walk out leaving a cacophony of noises in his wake.