Chapter 16 – The Fall-out
Later they will find out that by slipping the bomb into the water, the detonation was somewhat diffused. The thing no one knew, not even Mr. Thompson, was that the "plutonium" was really just a bunch of rocks painted with a small trace of radioactive material. Just enough to make a Geiger counter pick up a reading. Mr. Thompson was duped by Captain D'Jean and cheated out of his million dollars. As Robert Burns would say, "The best laid plans of mice and men, often go awry." How appropriate for Thompson, Waters, and the rest of their gang. For Thompson and Waters did not get their ten million dollars, and their men did not get blown up by the bomb, so they were able to tell the police everything to try to save themselves and get Thompson picked up in the process.
As it turns out, the only part of the bomb that worked was the plastic explosives that they packed tightly around the fake plutonium. The college building was demolished, but nothing else. In fact the only thing still standing was the door, that and a piece of the floor and upper frame where Murdock had glued it. That piece left a very funny memorial to the ingenuity of the A-Team.
Thompson is watching the sky intently for the helicopter that is bringing him his money and his ride out of here. Come on Waters! You should be here in less than two minutes. I really don't want to blow up all that lovely money. Time slowly passes, but finally the alarm on his watch starts beeping.
Time's up buddy, I guess something went wrong. He leans over and pushes the button on the remote control switch. A few seconds then, Wow! I actually felt the blast. That was fun, anyway. I will have to find another second in command and start over.
Once Murdock gets the chopper under control, he turns to Face and says, "I know where Thompson is. We need to get there and pick him up, before he escapes from justice."
"Let's go. Just hope B.A. doesn't wake up before we get him."
Murdock follows the line of streets from about fifty feet up. He locates Sepulveda and goes north until he finds the building they are looking for. It is a high rise with a helo pad on top. He comes in and gently sets the bird down. He and Face jump out and head to the door where Thompson should be coming out after he gets off the elevator. They hold waiting for him.
A few minutes before, Thompson looks out the window one last time, and sees the helicopter coming. Great! He made it out! He grabs the bag that carries all his things. He has already wiped down everything to get rid of any trace of his being here. He slips gloves on his hands and heads to the elevator. He pushes the button for the roof and the doors close as he heads up.
He gets out of the elevator and walks across the small hallway to the outside door that leads to the landing pad. He turns the handle and starts to push the door open, when Murdock grabs the handle from the outside and yanks the door the rest of the way. Face is standing on the open door side, his gun leveled on Thompson. Murdock moves out from behind the door and puts his gun barrel on Thompson's forehead and cocks the gun by moving the slide back and releasing it
"Just make one move, please. I really want to blow you away."
A flicker of fear crosses Thompson's face. He finally says, "Are you crazy? Who are you anyway?"
Murdock says, "We are the garbage collectors, and we are here for pick up. Since you fit the bill, we are gonna take you out and bury you."
"Wait a minute. Please, just wait. I have money. I can get you money."
"Are you kidding me? Do we look like we want money? You almost killed 12 people at a college and who knows how many in the surrounding area, and you think money will get you off? Besides you were instrumental in the death of a very dear friend of ours. If you think we are going to let you go, you are crazier than my friend here." Face is astonished at his lack of feelings and callousness.
Murdock hasn't moved a muscle. Face begins to think that he might pull the trigger. "Murdock? Murdock, please, let the police have him. He isn't worth your time and energy to take out. We'll just turn him over and you can go back and see Kelly."
Face thought mentioning Kelly's name here might help, and it does. Instead of shooting the guy, he pulls back his fist and hits him square in the face as hard as he can. So hard in fact, it knocks him clear back in the door and he ends up slumped against the elevator doors.
Between the two of them, they get Thompson into the helicopter next to B.A. and Murdock heads back toward the college. He finds a nice open spot to land the chopper, he hopes far enough out of the fall-out area. They are a little shaken up, but no one is hurt, with maybe the exception of B.A.'s head, and Thompson's jaw, but who cares about him. Murdock and Face just sit there wondering how they got out and how much radiation they have absorbed. B.A. is still out and looking rather peaceful. He won't be for long, but neither one of them has the strength to do anything about it right now. Murdock finally switches on the chopper's radio and tries to reach Det. Johnson. He finally gets patched through and tells him approximately where they have landed and within minutes, they are surrounded by police cars. No one is making a move toward them, but they are probably not going to be leaving anytime soon. They finally unbuckle and climb out of the helicopter. They just leave B.A. strapped in, so hopefully they can get away from him before he wakes up and tries to kill them.
"Wow! That was quite a ride. Did you enjoy it Faceman?"
"Oh right, it was a great ride. However, I don't want to repeat it, ever! At least B.A. didn't have to see how we flew out of there. He might have had a heart attack. In fact, I'm not too sure I'm not going to have one."
"Aw, Face, it was just a little bumpy, I got us down okay, didn't I?"
"Right."
"And we managed to get Thompson for the police."
"Yeah, speaking of that, were you really thinking about shooting him? You had me kinda worried for a minute."
"I don't know. I thought about it, but then Hannibal said, 'it's okay Murdock, you don't have to do this for me.' Then you mentioned Kelly, and that sealed the deal."
"AAAH! What's goin' on here? Get me outta here!"
"Hold on big guy. It's just a seatbelt. You can undo a seatbelt, can't you?"
"Faceman, I'm gonna kill you. You hit me in the head. You're dead man, dead!"
"Well we may all be dead. I'm not too sure we got out of there before that bomb sent fall-out materials all over us."
B.A. walks over and joins them, getting as far away from the helicopter as possible. "Whadda you mean, fall-out? The bomb went off?"
"Yeah B.A., the bomb went off. You got to miss it all cause I knocked you out, and if I hadn't gotten you into that chopper, you would definitely be dead now, okay?"
"Well, you know I don't like flyn', but … I guess I need to tell you thanks. You too, Murdock, thanks."
"No problem B.A., but you sure missed a great ride. Right Face?"
"Oh yeah B.A., you missed a great flight." Face says dripping sarcasm.
"Where are we?"
"About ten miles from the college, I think. It was a little hairy there for a while, so I'm not positive."
"Man, my van is at that college. It better not be hurt, or I'm gonna take it out on someone, and since you're the closest, I guess it will be you!"
Murdock takes a step back, but only stares at B.A. "If you didn't park too close, the van should be okay, in about twenty years, or so, once the radiation is spent."
"What? What you mean sucker? I'm not going ta be able ta drive my van?"
"Well the half-life on Plutonium is about…" Murdock doesn't get to finish his science lesson, because at that moment Det. Johnson comes through the police line and calls out to them.
"Guys, good news! They've already run a scan on the area and there is no radiation involved with the bomb. You're all fine and there will be no ill effects to you, or the people who were within the radius of the bomb."
"Really? No plutonium, or uranium, or anything?" Face is very excited. He was envisioning his hair falling out in clumps and that wasn't a pretty sight. He automatically rubs his hand through his hair.
"Well it was still a bomb, but not a radioactive one. By the way, what did you do? It blew up most of the building, but it should've been a whole lot worse?"
"We slipped it into the swimming pool in the basement. I guess it worked, B.A."
B.A. gets a big grin on his face and says, "Yeah, good job."
"By the way, detective, we have Thompson in the helicopter. He's unconscious, but alive."
"How did you find him?"
"Well, when I got Waters in the helicopter, I ah, persuaded him to tell me where Thompson was." Murdock looks a little sheepish.
"That explains why he came tearing out of the bushes, like a demon was after him."
"Really? I didn't know I was that effective." Murdock smiles.
"But I do have one other question. Where is the money? I mean, when we grabbed Waters, he didn't have the money with him. Did he ditch it somewhere?"
Murdock hits himself in the head with the flat of his hand and says, "Oh right, it's in the helicopter."
"You mean we were flying around with ten million dollars in that helicopter, and you didn't remember, or tell me?" Face can't believe it. He has a private thought, that they could have just kept flying and lived like kings. Oh well, that's the way it goes.
Murdock comes back dragging the duffle bag. "Man is ten million really this heavy? I can't believe this. Come on B.A. give me a hand."
Detective Johnson signals and two policemen come over and relieve Murdock of his burden. He is a little reluctant to let it go, but he does. Det. Johnson follows the bag to the car.
"Well I guess that's it for here." Face is really tired and would just like to sit down now.
"Go ahead Face, you can say it if you want."
"Say what, Murdock?"
"You know, 'you love it when a plan comes together.' I know it was what Hannibal always said, but he told me you could say it, if you want."
"Right, I guess I could, but I think I'll just let that be Hannibal's line."
"Well if you change your mind, it will be okay."
"Murdock when did Hannibal tell you that?"
"Just now, when the plan was done and it worked out of course."
"But? … nevermind." He's right kid, it is for a job well done, and you have my permission to use it when your plans come together in the future. Hannibal, there aren't going to be any more plans, remember, we retired a long time ago. But you guys are so good together, and I bet you are all bored with the lives you're living now, right? Wrong! This was a one time, get the job done, sort of thing. No more, got it?
"Did you say something, Faceman?"
"No Murdock, I was just thinking out loud, I guess." Did I say that out loud? I didn't think so. Oh well this has been a long day and a trying time for all of us. I'm probably just really tired.
"I agree, it has been a long day. Let's see if we can get a ride back to the van."
Not again! How is it that Murdock keeps saying, what I am thinking. I just don't get it. I wish I knew why this keeps happening, but then again, maybe I don't want to know.
"Hey you two, come on. They said we could go back, so's I can check on my van. Come on, let's go!"
They climb into a police car that takes them back to the college. It parks in the parking lot where the police cars were parked earlier. B.A. climbs out and runs to where he parked the van. He walks all around it, checking it from every angle.
"Not a scratch on her, only a little dust from the buildin' blowin' up!"
Face and Murdock both let out the breath they were holding. They might get to sleep a little easier tonight, knowing that B.A. is not planning on killing them.
"Well, if it's all the same to you guys, I'm ready to head home. I need a shower and a good night's sleep."
"I agree Face, let's get back to your place. I'm exhausted. But, I have something else I have to do first." Murdock climbs into the van and grabs his cell phone. "I've got to call Kelly and let her know I'm okay before she hears about this on the news. I see several news channels hanging around and I don't want her worrying about me."
"Good idea. Tell her we're all fine."
"Well, I'm ready to get outta here. I've seen enough of a college campus ta last me a life time." B.A. goes to the back and opens it up so they can stow their weapons.
Kelly answers on the first ring. He knew it. She is sitting on the phone, awaiting his call.
"Hi, Hun. I'm fine and we did a great job of keeping anyone from getting hurt. Look I can't explain everything now, but we're all fine and we're heading back to Face's place now. Pause listening. Right, let me call you back after I catch a shower. I am really tired, but I'll call soon. I love you. …I will. Not much longer, I promise."
"How's Kelly doing? Is she okay?" Face feels for the two of them. This is probably the longest they have been apart since they were married.
"She's doing great! You know I wanted to tell her everything, but it's kind of hard when you haven't been around this kind of life like we have. She really just wanted to know that I was okay, and you guys, too. Of course she heard the news on the television and was worried, but now she is doing fine, just fine."
"Good. I'm sure you can fill in some of the holes once you get home. When are you heading out?"
"Well, I think we have a few things to do, like make sure everything is all cleared up, and we have Hannibal's place to clear out. I'm not going to leave all that to you and B.A. I mean, it's a lot of work and I'm not shirking my responsibility."
"You're right. We all have a few things to finish. So, I guess it's back to my place as soon as they let us go. I thought Johnson was following us back over here."
"I haven't seen him, but I say let's go." B.A. has walked up beside them.
"B.A. I don't know if we can. I hate to just sneak off. I mean we were here helping the police."
"Well, if he don't show up soon, I'm outta here. I don't like bein' here, and I'm tired and you know I get cranky when I get tired."
"I know. I guess I better call him before they haul us off to jail for blowing up that building." Face dials the phone and Johnson answers on the fourth ring. "Hey, where are you, we're down here on the back side of the college and we're being looked at sideways. Are you going to get us out of this, or do we need to just take off? … "Right, okay. Well then, we will just hang here for a few more minutes. To the guys, "He says he'll be right back. They're tying up Mr. Thompson now, and then he'll come over here. He also said to tell you guys that we did a great job, but he is going to have some explaining to do. So I guess it's up to you guys. Do we go, or do we wait for him?
I dunno Face, the police can be kinda funny when it comes ta carry'n weapons and blowin' up buildin's.
"Right, you angry mudsucker, let's just blow out of here before they know what hit them."
"Grrrr, I'm gonna blow you outta here, sucker."
"Ah Murdock, I'm trying to get him to stay." Face conveniently places himself between the two of them before something happens to escalate the problem.
B.A. turns and heads toward the driver's side of his van.
"Oh great, he's getting in the van, now how am I going to explain this to Det. Johnson?"
"No worries Face. I'll get him back over here and you can wait for Johnson. Then we'll all head back to your place. Sounds like a plan, right? Just don't let the boys in blue put you into a car and haul you away before I get back, okay?"
"Sure, I'll just wait here."
He can hear Murdock and B.A. going at it. It's kind of nice to have them all back together, even the craziness and the fighting. It's kind of like music. A very weird kind, and most people wouldn't agree, but it's music to Face's ears anyway. "Well Colonel, we pulled it off, and not a bad job if I do say so myself." Just then, Det. Johnson pulls up.
"You guys are free to go. I have some major explaining to do, but you all are off the hook." He reaches out to shake Faceman's hand. "Thanks for everything. I may be off the force, but we did a good job here, or I should say, you did a good job here, and you should get a medal or something, but don't count on it. What's with those two?" He nods toward Murdock and B.A.
"Oh, nothing. They're just discussing our next move. And you're welcome. It feels pretty good fooling the bad guys and spoiling their plans, not to mention getting the sleezeball behind Hannibal's death. Yeah, I think all in all, it was a pretty good day."
"Well thanks again. Maybe I'll see you around, but for now, you might want to just lay low, know what I mean?"
"Right, we're out of here. Let's go B.A. before they change their minds and start asking too many questions."
They all climb into the van, and B.A. squeals out of the parking lot.
"B.A. did you have to do that, there must be twenty policemen here?"
"Yeah, I did, and don't be tellin' me how ta drive. I know just what I am doin', got it?"
They are all silent, lost in their own thoughts for the drive back to Face's apartment. B.A. growled when they asked him if he was coming up. Then pulled away from the curb, leaving skid marks on the way to his own place for a much needed shower and rest.
Murdock and Face go up the elevator and into the apartment. They each head silently to their respective rooms shower and collapse on their beds. Exhaustion sets in and they sleep for hours before waking up hungry and in need of friendship after the harrowing day they have just had. B.A. comes back over around nine o'clock and they finally talk about the day and everything that happened. They fill B.A. in on what was happening while he was upstairs. They even laugh at Murdock's glue and how it worked so well. Again they stay up late and finally settle down for a good night's sleep, knowing they have been instrumental in saving lives once again.