43 More Than One Way
Disclaimer: I do not own The A Team movie or television series or any of the delightful characters found on The A Team.
In Alturas, Hannibal left the van for a few minutes to consult a phone book at a pay phone in a laundromat.
When he returned, Face frowned, wincing at the pain every movement created. "So when are we going to the hospital?"
Hannibal didn't answer the question. Reaching in his pocket he removed a cigar and bit off the end. "Give me a light, kid. This has been a long night and I need to stay alert in case we see Jack or his men."
If I'm right, Face's hiding more than he's willing to let me see.
The con man took out his own lighter and flicked it to get the flame before holding it under the end of the Colonel's cigar. As he reached over, he gasped in a sharp breath.
He placed his hand over his ribs and sank into the passenger's seat. His face went from lightly pale to deathly white in seconds.
Just what I thought.
Staring out the window with glazed eyes, Face sat up straighter as they crossed over railroad tracks and passed by a motel sign on their right. "We could've stopped there, Hannibal. Where are you going?" He glared at the man beside him who continued to focus on the street ahead of him and smoke his cigar.
"Alturas is the first place Jack and his men will think to look for us. They know you're both injured and they're more likely to think I got you to the nearest hospital than a motel somewhere out-of-town." Hannibal let the smoke from the cigar partially hide his face from the con man's angry stare.
Melody spoke up in his defense. "That makes sense, John. Jack would check the hospital first. Cedarville might have a motel."
"And how far away from the hospital is Cedarville?" Face spat the last word out.
I understand why he's so mad. But there's no way I'm going to let him go to that hospital until I'm sure the coast is clear and I can sneak him in. And we still have to disguise the fact he's been beaten nearly to death.
Hannibal was glad Melody seemed on his side in that.
He shrugged in response to Face's question.
"It's only about thirty minutes from the hospital, Temp." Melody sat up and knelt between the seats, stroking Face's arm as she did. "We won't be that far away. And I'm sure if there's any news we need to know, John will call the motel room to tell us. Won't you?"
Only if the news is good. If it's bad, there won't be a power on Earth that'll keep him from hitchhiking all the way back to Alturas to be with Murdock.
He wasn't going to admit that to the Lieutenant. "Sure. If there's anything at all, I'll phone the room."
"A thirty minute drive is like halfway around the world if Murdock's dying and I can't be there," Face muttered.
Hannibal could tell he was going to have problems with Face. But he knew how to buy himself some time.
And he hoped Melody would be up to helping him keep the Lieutenant at the motel for the time being.
"B. A. would've called if something was up," Hannibal pointed out.
And he didn't. At least, not as far as I know.
"But you were away from the van for . . . how long?" Face shot an accusatory look at the man beside him. "How would you know if B. A. called or not?"
The Colonel felt his temper rise inside. Sometimes the kid was too clever for his own good.
"He'd keep trying until he got me to answer. Would you rather I left you to be Jack's punching bag for a while longer? Now drop it, Lieutenant." He allowed the irritation to creep into his tone.
The silence in the van was almost more difficult to bear than the questions Hannibal couldn't answer. To be truthful, Hannibal had been uneasy about leaving the van for any length of time because Murdock was in such desperate condition when he last saw him.
But it couldn't be helped.
As they left Alturas behind and darkened farm fields backed by a few low hills appeared on either side of them, Face grew more agitated.
"We're getting farther and farther away from Alturas. Where is this Cedarville? Halfway to New York?" He wrapped his arms around his abdomen and glared out the side window.
Railroad tracks paralleled the highway on the left. Four miles out of Alturas, they passed through an area of high rough cut rocky formations on either side of the road before leaving the railroad tracks behind and turning east on California 299. Low hills and stands of pine trees were more common now and ahead in the distance loomed the promise of more rugged terrain.
When Hannibal was just about to conclude the Lieutenant was right to grumble about how far they had traveled, he saw worn white letters on a paint-chipped red background and turned to the left.
The motel hid from the road behind a row of trees, perfect for staying out of sight. After checking in, Hannibal drove to the unit farthest from the office and parked.
Opening the passenger's door, Face stared morosely at the 50s style gold drapes hanging at the room's window and sighed. "I'm guessing there's no hot tub or continental breakfast?"
Hannibal smiled. "Here. Let's get you inside." He wasn't surprised when Melody appeared to Face's left and draped his arm over her shoulders.
Once inside, he eased Face onto the bed and went back to the door. "I've got to get the first aid kit."
As he checked the kit, he made sure he packed a syringe filled with etomidate with the other supplies he would need.
There's more than one way to make sure the kid stays put for a while.