Lou had followed them back to the ranch while he sat on the couch and Devil was resting near his feet. Annie handed him a bottle of beer while she went to sit on the other couch and Connor and Murphy stood at the window.
Diego was in the kitchen as he sat at the kitchen island and he looked at his cellphone. He knew he had to tell Eunice about what happened, but he wasn't sure if he could trust her.
"What if she did turn on us? Connor told us she might have done the same with them. No. She wouldn't do that. Not to me. Then again…," he thought and he tapped his fingers against the left side of the cellphone.
"Fuck it," he grumbled, opened the text screen and he started typing on the keyboard.
Houston – FBI Headquarters
Eunice sat at her desk as she looked at the report then she looked at her cellphone after the cellphone made a soft beeping sound. She picked up the cellphone when she saw the text screen was blinking and she turned the chair so the security camera couldn't see the text. She pushed the button as the text appeared on the screen and she read the text.
Where are they?!
"What the hell are you talking about?" Eunice whispered.
Who are you talking about?
Don't bullshit me. Where did you take my boss, her friend and their kids?!
Someone took your boss, her friend and their kids?!
WHERE ARE THEY!?
Look. Calm down and tell me what happened.
She waited as she looked at the screen and she tried to figure out what Diego was talking about. She heard the soft buzzing sound and she looked at the text screen.
My boss, her friend and their kids were at a birthday party for one of the kids' friends. We got a call from the kid's mom and she said someone wanted to talk to my boss. My boss went to talk with them and that's when they were forced to go with them. The kid's mom said there were also two men reported seen with them as well. She said they placed in vans then the vans left.
And you think I had something to do with it?
Did you?!
Eunice felt like Diego had punched her in the chest.
After all we've been through, you ask me something like that?
Yeah.
"Shit," she whispered and looked at the text screen.
Why would I want to hurt you like that?
To draw our friends out of hiding.
"Who the hell are you…? No," she whispered when she realized who he was talking about and she typed on the keyboard.
Are you talking about Connor and Murphy?!
Who else would I be talking about?
Do they believe I had something to do with this?
They think I did!
Why would they think you had something to do with it?!
I was the one who got in contact with you.
You only did that to get information on that asshole.
Yeah. But you brought the information here instead of just sending it to me.
I thought you would want to see it in person. And I couldn't risk sending it through the mail.
You could have text it to me.
She looked at the text screen as she sighed and lightly shook her head.
"He's right," she whispered when the cellphone buzzed and she looked at the text screen.
And I know you were going to use Annie against me.
"How did he figure that out?"
Why would I do that?
To get me to do what you wanted. Or her brothers.
Look. I saw the family resemblance between Annie and Murphy, but I would never do that.
Unless someone made you. Tell me the truth. Are you really working for the FBI or for that Smecker guy they told me about?
Eunice looked at the text screen as she tried to figure out what to tell him.
Both.
You're working for the FBI and that Smecker guy?!
Long story short. He made a deal with the FBI and they assigned him to the same agency where they sent me.
Do you think they're setting him up? Or you?
Both.
Damn.
What are you going to do?
I'm going after the assholes who took my boss, her friend and their kids.
"What!?" she whispered.
You know where they are?
Yeah.
Do you need any backup?
Already got it.
You mean Connor and Murphy?
Yep.
"Shit," she whispered when someone knocked on the door. She watched the door open as Smecker walked in the room and she placed the cellphone on the desk.
"Am I interrupting something?" Paul asked with a grin.
"Yes. You are," Eunice said.
"Playing games on your phone during working hours?" he teased and she glared at him.
"No. I'm helping someone with a case."
"What sort of case?"
Eunice looked at the text screen when she sighed and she started typing on the keyboard.
Smecker just showed up. He wants to know what's going on.
Don't tell him anything.
I won't. Just be careful.
Bye!
She sighed as she placed the cellphone on the desk and Smecker frowned.
"Something happen?" Paul asked.
"Yeah. You showed up," she said.
"Are you getting smart with me?"
Smecker gave her a slightly stunned look then he sighed, sat down on the edge of the desk and Eunice frowned.
"I was talking with him," she finally said. She watched his face as Smecker tried to remember who she was talking about then he lightly nodded his head.
"Did he agree to work with us?" Paul asked.
"No," she said as she glared at him. "Want to know why?"
"Why?"
"He thinks we just kidnapped his boss, her friend and their kids."
"Why would he think that?"
"Gee. I don't know. Maybe to lure someone out of hiding."
Smecker thought for a few seconds then frowned and stood up.
"He knows about…?" he said then leaned his hands on the desk and locked eyes with her. "About that!?"
She knew he was trying not to say Connor and Murphy's name as she glanced at the security camera and she wanted badly to expose him.
"Yeah. He does," she said and he slammed his hands on the desk as he stood up.
"Did he say what happened?" Paul asked.
"They were at a birthday party when this guy showed up. Turns out they know the guy and he wanted them to go with him."
"And that leads back to us how?!"
"There were two other guys with him. And they were placed in vans."
"Vans?"
"Come off it, Smecker. I know you took them."
"Bullshit!"
"Where are they!?"
Smecker growled as he stormed for the door, opened the door then looked back at her. He slammed the door shut after he walked out into the hallway and she placed her head in her hands. She heard the soft buzzing sound as she picked up the cellphone and she saw the text screen was back on secure mode. She tapped the screen when she looked at the text and she blinked her eyes a few times.
Sorry.
You're sorry for thinking I had something to do with your boss' kidnapping?
Yeah.
Believe it or not, but I would think I had something to do with it, too.
Did Smecker say anything about it?
How did you know I would tell him about it?
Just a guess.
He's acting like he has no idea what's going on.
Which means he does.
She looked at the text screen as she frowned and looked at the security camera.
Look. I have to go.
She read the words a few times and she felt a ball of ice forming in her chest.
Don't do it.
We have to.
Wolf!
Do you want innocent blood on your hands?
"That's not fair," she whispered.
No. I don't. Do me a favor and contact me if you need help.
I'll think about it. Bye.
Her eyes widened when the screen went dark and she knew he was deleting the texts. She placed the cellphone on the desk then she placed her face in her hands and she started sobbing.
the Golden Cactus Ranch
Lou watched Diego walk in the room when Diego went to sit next to Annie and she looked at Diego.
"Are you ok?" Annie asked, wrapping her fingers around the fingers of Diego's left hand.
"Yeah," Diego said.
"You sure?" Connor asked, going to sit on the other couch and Murphy sat on the recliner. Ebony hopped onto his lap as Murphy watched the cat curl into a ball and he scratched the top of the cat's head.
Diego nodded then he looked over at Lou. Lou sat forward as he sighed and placed his sheriff's hat on the coffee table.
"Look… I know you don't wanna talk about things with me around. But Lisa is a good friend. Darcy, too. Whatever's going on? You can tell me," Lou said.
"You know I worked for the Texas Rangers," Diego said.
"Yeah. So?"
"What you didn't know is I also worked for the FBI."
"Damn. For real?!"
"Yeah."
"You think they took Lisa, Darcy and the kids?"
"No."
"Then who did?"
"I have an idea," Annie said and they looked at her. "What if Sam took them?"
"He might," Connor said and didn't care that he didn't use his surfer accent.
"Then why are we sitting here?! Let's go get that asshole!" Lou said as he stood up.
"Sit down, Lou," Annie said and he sat down.
"I cannot allow you to go with us" Diego said and Lou frowned.
"Why the hell not?" Lou demanded.
"It's too dangerous."
"I've faced tougher assholes than that idiot."
"Sam works for the mob," Diego said as he pointed to the file folders sitting on the coffee table and Lou picked up the top file folder. Lou opened the file folder then read the information and his eyes widened.
"Is this for real?!" Lou asked.
"Yeah. It is," Diego said.
"And he used Hank to get hold of Lisa, Darcy and the kids?"
"Yeah."
"Why would he do that?"
"Best guess? He wants the ranch. If he made it look like Lisa was doing something illegal then he could not only get hold of the ranch, but Chandler and Peter."
"Shit."
"Enough of this. I'm goin' t'go get Lisa, Darcy an' th'kids!" Connor said, getting up from the couch and he headed toward the doorway. Murphy placed the cat on the floor as he got up from the recliner and he went to follow his brother.
"Hold on," Annie said as she walked to her brothers and they titled their head to one side.
"Annie…"
"Sit down," she growled and gave them a look only their mother could give them.
"Hold on. Why are you so adamant about going after Sam?" Lou asked as he looked at Connor.
"Because… Because I care about Lisa an' her sons," Connor said.
"You…care about her?"
"Fine," Connor said with a sigh. "I like her. A lot."
Lou smiled.
"What about you?" Lou asked, looking at Murphy.
"I like Darcy. A lot. An' I care about Mark an' Nichole," Murphy said.
"But you two aren't even cops. You'd get your ass kicked."
"No. We won't," Connor said.
"Who do you think you are? Those Saint guys?"
"You know about 'em?"
"Have a cousin who lives in Boston. That's all he talked about when I went to see him a few years ago."
"Do you remember their names?"
"Uh….," Lou said as he thought for a few seconds then his eyes slightly widened. "Their names were Connor and Murphy MacManus."
"Still think we're gonna get my ass kicked?" Murphy said as he placed his right elbow on Connor's left shoulder.
"No," he said with a laugh.
Annie knew she couldn't talk her brothers or her fiancé out of what they wanted to do as she got up, walked out of the room and she headed down the hallway.
A short time later, Annie opened the attic door when she headed for the trunk and she knelt down in front of the trunk. Unlocking the lid, she opened the trunk and she looked at the sunglasses, the black Navy pea coats and a black case. She removed the sunglasses, the black Navy pea coats and the black case then she stood, closed the trunk lid, locked the lid, picked up the sunglasses, the black Navy pea coats and the black case.
"Please, God. Protect them," she whispered then she headed for the door.
Down in the living room, Lou and Diego wondered where she went as Annie walked back in the room and she saw Connor and Murphy were missing.
"Where're Connor and Murphy?" Annie asked.
"They said they had to go change," Diego said when Connor and Murphy entered the room.
Connor and Murphy were wearing a black sweater, a black leather belt, black pants, black socks and his black leather boots. The rosaries hung around their necks and the crosses rested against their chest. Annie placed the sunglasses, black Navy pea coats and the small black case on the coffee table and she shivered from the cold look in her brothers' eyes. They had gotten a haircut a few days ago and the sunlight from the windows shimmered on their hair.
"Thought you might need these," she said and Connor and Murphy looked at the sunglasses, the black Navy pea coat and the black case.
"What's in there?" Connor asked as he pointed to the black case.
"I'll show you after you get dressed."
Connor and Murphy placed on the black Navy pea coats then they placed on the sunglasses. A strong sense of power, strength, determination and faith filled the room and Lou's eyes widened.
"Damn," Lou whispered.
Annie walked to the coffee table when she opened the black case and she looked at the six Barrettas sitting on the foam padding.
"I found a note in th'case," Connor said while he and Murphy walked to her. "Those used t'belong t'Da."
Connor and Murphy picked up two of the Barrettas as they placed the guns in the holsters sewn into the black Navy pea coats then Connor handed the other two guns to Diego.
"He would want you t'use 'em," Connor said.
"Thanks," Diego said, taking hold of the guns.
Annie closed the black case while Diego left the room and he came back a few seconds later. She noticed he was wearing his old leather jacket and he had shown her the holsters sewn on the inside of the leather jacket. He had also had a gold chain around his neck and she knew there was a small gold cross on the end of the gold chain.
"Let's go," Diego said.
"Not without me," Lou said.
"No," Connor said.
"Look. You are gonna need all the backup you can get."
"What I need you to do is set up roadblocks in case they make a break for it," Diego said.
"Fine," Lou said with a nod.
Annie followed them out of the room as they headed for the front door and Diego opened the front door. Opening the screen door, he led the way as Devil fell in beside him and they headed for the white truck and the sheriff's car.
Lou opened the driver's side door to the sheriff's car when he got in the car and he closed the door. After he had started the engine, they watched Lou steer the sheriff's car down the driveway then Annie looked at Connor, Murphy and Diego. She took hold of Connor's left hand then Murphy's right hand as they locked eyes then she felt something moving through her.
"I'm going with you," Annie said.
"No!" Connor, Diego and Murphy said at the same time.
"They are my friends and I am going!" she said with a defiant look. They all knew how stubborn she was when she wanted to be and they got into the white truck. Devil sat in the front with Diego as Diego steered the white truck down the drive and he held the steering wheel tightly in his hands.
"Blondie… If anything happens to any of them, I swear I'm coming for you and your boss," Diego whispered and a low growl filled his throat.
Houston - FBI Headquarters
Eunice was pacing back and forth while Smecker leaned back in the high back chair and he folded his fingers together. She had been called into his office and he had told her they had found Sam's location. They had to wait for the information to be verified and she felt butterflies slamming against the walls of her stomach.
"What is taking so long," Eunice grumbled.
A soft beeping sound came from the monitor on Smecker's desk when he sat forward and he typed on the keyboard. Eunice walked to stand next to the high back chair when the image of Fred Owens appeared on the screen and Smecker arched his eyebrows up.
"Find anything?" Paul asked.
"Yes, Sir," Fred said.
"Well?!"
"The information has been verified, Sir."
"I want a full detail ready in ten minutes."
"Yes, Sir," Fred said and the screen went dark.
"I need to tell you something," Eunice said while Smecker stood and they headed for the door.
"What is it?" Paul asked.
"He's going to be there. I want his photo sent to all agents so he doesn't end up a victim of friendly fire," she said and it took a few seconds for Smecker to figure out who she was talking about.
"How did he find out?"
"That's classified," she said and he glared at her.
"Can't promise you anything."
He put up his right hand to silence her as they left the office and they headed down the hallway.
Sam Warren's compound
Lisa held onto Mark while they sat on one of the metal framed beds and she looked at the door.
"It's going to be ok," Darcy reassured Mark and Nichole as they sat on the bed and she felt guilty about lying to them.
Lisa looked at Chandler and Peter and she had been expecting them to be just as upset as Mark and Nicole. They had been walking around the room and she noticed they were looking at the ceiling and the windows.
"Ok. Which window should we try to open first?" Chandler asked, looking at the windows.
"We need to make sure no one's around before we do that," Peter said.
"Guys, what are you doing?" Lisa asked.
"We're trying to figure a way outta here," Chandler said.
"Yeah. Mister Connor said that's what they do in the movies," Peter said.
Lisa didn't mind Connor introducing the boys to action movies, but she was also a little concerned with what they were doing.
"Yeah. He said the bad guys always fuck things up and they put the good guy somewhere they don't think he can get out of," Mark said as he stood up then he frowned. "Sorry."
"No. That's ok," Darcy said with a grin.
Ducking down, the boys headed for the back windows when they slowly stood up to look out the window.
"See anything?" Lisa asked.
"There's a fence with some trees next to 'em," Chandler said.
"Think we could climb 'em?" Peter asked.
"Yeah."
"Anyone out there?" Lisa asked as she ducked down and she headed for them.
"Don't see anyone," Mark said.
Lisa slowly stood as she looked out the window and she noticed there were some crates leading from the building to the trees. Sighing, Lisa carefully stood up when she noticed the men walking by and she ducked before one of the men turned to look at the window. Lisa signaled for the boys to move away from the window. She headed for the window at the far left of the room when she ducked down and signaled for the boys, Darcy and Nichole to move to her. Ducking down, the boys, Darcy and Nichole headed for her and Lisa slowly stood up.
"Please be unlocked," Lisa repeated in her head as she slowly pushed on the window and the window moved upward. She pushed until the window was fully open and she saw the crate under the window.
"Stay down," she whispered then she ducked down and climbed out the window. She didn't see anyone as she stepped onto the crate then she hopped down onto the ground.
"Darcy. Hand me Nichole," she whispered and Darcy slid Nichole out of the window. Lisa placed Nichole next to her then she held her arms out to Mark and Mark climbed out of the window. She helped him out of the window and he hugged her.
Peter, Darcy and Chandler took turns as they climbed out of the window then they hopped off the crates. Lisa had them duck down near the crates as she looked at the trees and the fence then she held up her right hand. She ran toward the first crate then the other as she headed for the tree and she turned back to look at the boys, Nichole and Darcy. She signaled for the boys, Nichole and Darcy to run and they ran by the crates then they ran for the tree after Darcy had picked up Nichole. They helped each other climb the tree and they stood on the strong branches.
"Can you get over the fence?" Lisa asked Chandler while scanning the area with her eyes.
"Yeah. There're some branches from the other tree," he said as he looked at the thick branches of the tree on the other side of the fence.
"Let's go," she said and Lisa looked around to make sure no one was around. She frowned and she placed her hands on her hips. "Ok. This is weird. There's no one out here."
She checked the thick branches before she sent the boys and Nichole across and she watched them climb down the other tree. She and Darcy followed them as they climbed down the tree and Lisa ignored the pain of the bark biting into her hands. She pointed to the large rock near the tree as she, Darcy, Nichole and the boys ran to hide behind the rock and she knelt down next to Peter.
"Wow. Mister Connor was right. These guys are so stupid," Chandler said with a grin.
"We're not safe yet," Lisa said, looking out from behind the large rock. She swore inside her head when she saw nothing, but rocks spread out around them and she could feel the heat beating down on them.
"Damn," Lisa whispered when she sat against the large rock and the boys, Darcy and Nichole looked at her.
"Uh, Mom…," Peter said, looking to his left.
Lisa glanced over at two men standing there as she sighed and she slowly rose to her feet.
"Move," the man with slicked back black hair said, pointing to the black truck with a canvas covered truck bed.
Nodding, Lisa held onto Peter and Mark as they followed the men to the black truck and the man with shaggy dark hair and a full beard opened the back of the black truck. The men helped the boys, Darcy and Nichole into the back of the black truck when the man with the shaggy dark hair and the full beard got in with them and he closed the back of the black truck.
"You're with me," the man with slicked back black hair said, pointing the door. "Move."
Lisa walked to the passenger door as he opened the door and she got into the truck. She watched the man close the door then go quickly around to the driver's side door. The man got into the black truck as he closed the door and he started the engine.
"Are we going back to the compound?" Lisa asked, glancing at the sideview mirror.
The man didn't speak as he put the black truck in gear and the black truck headed down the path. The man turned on the air conditioning as Lisa turned in the seat and she looked at him.
"Who are you?" Lisa asked.
"Friends," the man said after a few seconds.
"Whose friends? Sam's? If you are then you can stop this truck and let us out."
"Sorry. Can't do that."
"Where are we going?"
"Somewhere safe."
Sighing, Lisa looked out the window and the man frowned, strumming his fingers on the steering wheel.