"Is she gonna yell at Mrs. Lisa?" Nichole whispered.
"Aye," Murphy whispered.
Eunice glanced at them then looked back at Lisa and she saw the anger in Lisa's eyes.
"Look…," Eunice said then paused. "I get why you're like this. You have been on guard since you married Sam Warren. He was slime. He must have used verbal, mental and emotional abuse to get what he wanted from you."
"Damn right," Lisa said then she glanced at Chandler and Peter. "He was worse with them."
"Which means you don't trust that many people."
"Knock off the psychoanalyzing shit. I already have a shrink," Lisa said then she looked at Connor and Murphy. "As for these two. I know who and what they are. I know what they've done. But they haven't done anything to make me feel that I can't trust them. What they have done is work their asses off and helped my sons overcome the damage their father had inflicted on them."
Lisa saw the small grin on Connor's face and the love in his eyes as she sighed and she placed her hands on her hips.
"I never blamed either of them for what happened. I blame Sam, Hank and people like you. We're nothing, but playthings to you. Collateral. Puppets. Toys. Well, Miss FBI Agent, I'll tell you what. We're not. And if you think otherwise? You are just as stupid as you look."
Eunice's eyebrows shot up as her eyes widened and Diego walked toward the women.
"Ok. I think we should stop right there," Diego said and they looked at him.
"I agree," Connor said as he walked to stand next to Diego. Lisa looked at Connor as he gave her a slightly pleased look and he wiggled his eyebrows up and down.
"You told me the reason Smecker might be set free has to do with you. What did you do?" Annie said and Eunice looked at her.
"I might have recorded my conversations with him," Eunice said.
"What were these conversations about?" Darcy asked.
"Her ex-husband for starters," she said as she glared at Lisa.
"Like I told your boss. I had no involvement with his business practices," Lisa said with a cold look on her face.
"We know that."
"But you'll make it look like I did if you need something from me."
"Ladies….," Connor warned with a voice which reminded Murphy of their father.
"The other thing we talked about was him," Eunice said as she looked at Diego.
"You wanted his help in takin' Sam down," Murphy said.
"Right. But Smecker knew Diego wouldn't help us."
"Because I'm retired," Diego said.
"It didn't matter. Smecker wanted you and he would use anything or anyone to get you to do what he wanted," she said as she looked at Annie.
"Why are you looking at me?" Annie asked.
"He was gonna use you as bait. Not jus' t'get Diego onboard, but t'get t'us," Connor said.
"He's right," Diego said.
"See? This is what I'm talking about. We nothing, but collateral. Puppets. Toys," Lisa said. Connor walked to stand behind her as he slid his arms around her waist and Lisa leaned back into him. Eunice saw how tender he was with Lisa as Eunice sighed then looked at the others.
"The other thing we talked about was making sure Diego wasn't hurt while we went after Warren," Eunice said.
"What did Smecker say?" Annie asked.
"He said things happen."
"Which means it wouldn't matter if Diego was caught in some friendly fire," Connor said.
"What does that mean?" Mark asked.
"It means he wouldn't care if Mister Diego was killed," Murphy explained.
"Was there anything else?" Darcy asked.
"There were a few more conversations about what we were going to do about Warren and the Saints," Eunice said.
"Why would you recording those conversations get Smecker released?" Annie asked.
"His lawyer wants the conversations dismissed on the ground I recorded them without Smecker's knowledge."
"Can he do that?" Darcy asked.
"Yes. He can."
"But he's been locked up since we were in the hospital," Diego said.
"Which means his lawyer's havin' trouble tryin' t'find a judge who will agree t'dismiss th'recordings," Murphy said.
"Or he's tryin' t'figure out how t'break Smecker outta wherever they got him locked up," Connor said.
"Is it possible for him to break Smecker out?" Diego asked while he looked at Eunice.
"No," Eunice said with a shake of her head.
"What I don't get is why you're working with these people. They're using you even more than they're using us," Lisa said.
"I've been asking myself the same question."
"She can't jus' up an' quit," Connor said.
"He's right. I can't."
They stood in silene when Nichole lightly poked Murphy in his left shoulder and he looked at her.
"Papa? I wanna go home," Nichole said.
"Yeah. Me, too," Chandler said.
"I got homework," Peter said.
"And Ebony and Devil're getting really angry," Mark said as the cat growled and hissed and the gray wolf snarled with its ears back against its head.
"Then let's go," Lisa said as she headed for the door then stopped. She turned to look at Eunice and Lisa frowned. "I think you should open the door."
"Are you kidding me?" Eunice mumbled when she walked to the door, opened the door, looked outside then looked back at them.
"Stay," Lisa said and Eunice tried hard not to roll her eyes. Eunice watched as they left the apartment then down the stairs and she glanced over at the building across the street. Sighing, she followed them down the stairs and stood at curbside as they got into the cars. She watched the cars heading down the street as she waited to see if they were followed then she went back up the stairs.
The Golden Cactus Ranch
Annie walked down the hallway as she looked in Connor's bedroom and Connor was stretched out on the bed. He had his hands behind his head as he looked at the ceiling and he had one ankle crossed over the other. He was in the middle of the bed with Chandler on his right near his feet and Peter on his left near his feet. They had their hands behind their heads and they were looking at the ceiling. She saw the sad looks on their faces as she sighed, turned and she looked at the doorway to Murphy's bedroom.
Murphy was in the middle of the bed with one ankle crossed over the other and Nichole was snuggled against his right side. Her head was on his chest and he had his hands behind his head. Mark was against his left side near his feet and he had his hands behind his head. Ebony was sleeping on Murphy's stomach and its tail angerly swished back and forth. Annie saw the sad look on their faces as she sighed, turned and she headed down the hallway.
"How are they?" Lisa asked as she walked closer and Annie frowned.
"They're miserable," Annie said and Lisa saw the anger in her eyes.
"I meant what I said. I don't blame them."
"I know, but that doesn't help the fact they're still in danger."
Annie started walking to the stairs while Lisa followed her and they headed downstairs.
"I don't blame you either," Lisa said and Annis sadly smiled then they headed for the kitchen.
Later that night, Connor and Murphy were on the couch and the recliner while watching the news report on the television and Ebony was sleeping on the top of the recliner.
"Looks like they're still searchin' fer that asshole in Dallas," Connor grumbled.
"I bet he's no longer in th'area," Murphy grumbled.
"Aye. Guys like that don't tend t'stay around fer too long."
They became quiet when Murphy looked toward the doorway to the family room and Nichole walked in the room. She was wearing a blue nightgown with butterflies printed on it and she walked to the recliner. Murphy placed the footrest down so she could climb onto his lap and she snuggled against him. He moved the lever to raise the footrest and he wrapped his arms around her.
"What are you doin' up?" Murphy asked and she looked up at him.
"Had a bad dream," Nichole said.
"What was it about?" Connor asked.
"These bad people came and took Mama, Miss Annie, Mister Diego an' Mrs. Lisa. They also took me, Mark, Peter and Connor."
"What about us?"
"This bad man shot you. You didn't get up."
Murphy felt her shaking as he rocked her and kissed the top of Nichole's head.
"No one's gonna shoot us or take you, Peter, Mark, Chandler, Mister Diego, Mama, Miss Annie or Mrs. Lisa," Connor assured her and Nichole placed her right thumb in her mouth. They became quiet while Murphy and Connor went back to watching the news and Nichole closed her eyes.
"Do me a favor an' get th'blanket off th'back of th'couch," Murphy said and Connor got up. Connor removed the flannel blanket off the back of the couch when he walked to the recliner and he placed the flannel blanket over Nichole and Murphy. Murphy nodded as Connor walked back to the couch and Connor went on his back. "Thanks."
"You're welcome," Connor said with a small grin.
"What's so funny?"
"Jus' thinkin' how cute you two look."
"You're jus' jealous."
"Maybe."
"Did you ever think we'd have kids?"
"I did wonder what sort of father I'd be if I had th'chance."
"You're doin' great so far."
"So are you."
Connor felt the peace and slight embarrassment coming from his twin as Murphy ducked his head down and shyly smiled.
"Jus' wish we didn't have t'deal with Smecker," Connor said.
"Aye. Why can't he go away?" Murphy asked.
"Do you think it's a test?"
"A test?"
"T'see if we're really serious about not doin' this shit anymore."
"Are we?"
"Don't know about you, but I am."
"Then we're gonna pass."
Connor nodded as he went back to watching the news and Murphy yawned, closing his eyes after moving in the recliner to get more comfortable. A few minutes later, Connor looked over at his brother sleeping with a content look on his face and Connor closed his eyes while placing his hands on his stomach.
Lisa found the three of them sound asleep while she was locking up the downstairs and she removed the flannel blanket off the top of the other couch. She placed the flannel blanket over Connor then leaned over to kiss the top of his head. Connor sighed with a pleased look on his face and she used the remote to turn off the television. She walked to the doorway when she flicked the switch to turn off the light then she walked down the hallway.
Houston – FBI Headquarters – two days later
Eunice looked at the report as she read the information, but she felt like something was wrong. She hadn't heard from Diego or any of the others and she was worried. She leaned back in the high back chair when she noticed the red light on the security camera was flickering. The red light had been flickering on and off for most of the day. She had called Security and asked what was going on with the camera, but she was told everything was fine.
"Yeah. Right," she grumbled She went back to reading the report when someone knocked on the door and she got up. She walked to the door when she opened the door enough to look out into the hallway and the man with white hair peppered with gray and brown hair and hard blue eyes softly smiled at her. "Hello, Sir."
"May I come in?" the man with white hair peppered with gray and brown hair and hard blue eyes asked and she opened the door some more. Before he could walk by her, the sounds of alarms filled the air and a red light filled the hallway.
"Attention! Attention! Security breech in progress! All agents are to report to their assigned areas!" came over the speakers and Eunice looked at the man with white hair peppered with gray and brown hair and hard blue eyes.
"Follow me!" the man with white hair peppered with gray and brown hair and hard blue eyes said and they quickly headed down the hallway.
They arrived at the security floor a short time later when they saw the FBI agents near the two iron doors and the FBI agent who had been sitting behind a bulletproof/shatterproof glass was standing near the FBI agents. She was wearing handcuffs and she had a look of guilt on her face. The iron doors were open and FBI agents were checking the holding cells.
"Report!" the man with white hair peppered with gray and brown hair and hard blue eyes demanded.
"I'm sorry, Sir. It appears we have had a breakout," the FBI agent said.
"Who…? No!" he said as Eunice followed him down the hallway and they stopped at Smecker's cell. The door was open and Edward Burke's body was lying on the floor in a puddle of blood. A large blood stain spread across his chest and Edward's dead eyes looked at the ceiling. "Damn."
"How did this happen?!" Eunice demanded as she stormed to the FBI agent wearing the handcuffs.
"I… I...," the FBI agent said.
"You what!?"
"Agent Bloom? That will be enough," the man with white hair peppered with gray and brown hair and hard blue eyes said while walking closer. He looked at the FBI agent who was wearing the handcuffs and she glanced up at him. "Where did he go?"
"He and…," the FBI agent said then paused.
"And who?! Who else was with him!?" Eunice demanded.
"It was Agent Fred Owens and one of the guys from reception."
"What?! Are you sure?!"
"Yes."
"Did you see where they went?" the man with white hair peppered with gray and brown hair and hard blue eyes asked.
"They went toward the emergency exit."
"Let's go," he said as he looked at Eunice.
They quickly headed down the hallway then arrived at the emergency exit area and Eunice saw the garage door was open. She looked at the emergency vehicles parked in the area when she saw three bodies lying on the floor and she pointed at them. They walked closer when they looked down and Eunice looked at Fred lying on the floor in a pool of blood. A large blood stain spread across his chest and his dead eyes looked up at her.
"Fred," she whispered.
"I want this place searched!" the man with white hair peppered with gray and brown hair and hard blue eyes said and Eunice followed him out of the room.
A short time later, they arrived at the main security room while Eunice saw the door was open and armed FBI agents were in the room. A man with black hair, a slight athletic build and gray eyes was pinned to the floor by one of the agents and the man had his arms handcuffed behind his back.
"Report!" the man with white hair peppered with gray and brown hair and hard blue eyes ordered.
"I had just started my shift when I noticed an anomaly on the screens," Agent Patrick Samson said as he looked at the screens on the wall.
"In what way?"
"The screens kept flickering. That does happen, but not frequently. I saw same people coming in the building or doing things over and over again. When I told Marks? He denied anything was wrong," Patrick said as he looked at the man lying on the floor.
"He told me nothing was wrong when I called to complain about the security camera in my office wasn't working," Eunice said.
"When I asked him again if he noticed anything? He started to get nervous. He made a run for the door, but I tackled him to the floor and used my walkie to call for help. I didn't move until they arrived."
"Well done," the man with white hair peppered with gray and brown hair and hard blue eyes said then he looked at the screens. "Have you been able to restore control?"
"Yes, Sir," Patrick said as he walked to the control panels and he typed on the keyboard. They watched the videos on the screens and Patrick tapped one of the screens. "That's Agent Quinn."
"Bring up his file," the man with white hair peppered with gray and brown hair and hard blue eyes said and Patrick typed on the keyboard. They looked at the screens when Quinn's file appeared on one of the screens and they read the information. "Damn. He used to work with Smecker."
"Sir. I found something," Patrick said as he looked at the screens. Eunice and the man with white hair peppered with gray and brown hair and hard blue eyes looked at the screen and Patrick tapped the screen.
"That looks like Edward Burke," Eunice said as she pointed to Edward walking to the security desk in the lobby.
"Do we have a time stamp on when he arrived?" the man with white hair peppered with gray and brown hair and hard blue eyes asked.
"Yes, Sir," Patrick said and he pointed to the numbers at the bottom of the screen. They watched more of the video when they saw Fred Owens walking to Edward and they looked like they were talking.
"Wish we could hear what they're saying," Eunice said when she saw Fred leading Quinn and Edward to the elevator. "Can you show us the security floor?"
"Yes, Ma'me," Patrick said and he typed on the keyboard. They looked at the images of the security floor when they saw Fred, Quinn and Edward walking down the hallway and the FBI agent at the guard who they saw wearing handcuffs pushed the buttons to open the iron doors. Patrick had been typing on the keyboard as another screen showed them video of Smecker in his cell.
Smecker was sitting in the corner of his cell and Eunice saw the crazy look in his eyes. He was muttering something when the door to the cell opened and Fred and Edward walked in the cell. Edward walked to Smecker when Edward knelt down and it looked like he was whispering something to Smecker. Smecker blinked his eyes a few times when a calm look appeared on his face and he stood up. Fred removed the hard plastic helmet and hard leather gloves Smecker was wearing and Fred tossed them in the corner of the cell.
"Shit. He was faking it," Eunice said while watching Smecker smile up at the security camera then he flipped his right middle finger at the security camera. He turned to Edward when he said something to Edward and Edward removed his clothes and shoes. Smecker undressed then put on Edward's clothes and shoes and Edward placed on Smecker's pajamas. Smecker walked to Fred as they talked then Fred handed Smecker his gun. Eunice noticed the gun had a silencer on it and she looked at Edward. She saw the fear in Edward's eyes as Smecker pointed the gun at Edward and Edward backed in the cell. They watched Smecker firing the gun then Edward fell to the floor and Smecker and Fred left the cell.
"Show us the hallway," the man with white hair peppered with gray and brown hair and hard blue eyes said and Patrick typed on the keyboard. They looked at the screen as Fred, Quinn and Smecker headed down the hallway and they headed for the emergency exit area.
"Hang on while I find the footage from the emergency exit," Patrick said as he typed on the keyboard and they looked at the screens. The video from the emergency exit area appeared on the screen They watched Fred walking to the FBI agent sitting in the security room. They talked then the FBI agent left the security room and he led Smecker, Quinn and Fred to one of the black vans.
"Who is that?" the man with white hair peppered with gray and brown hair and hard blue eyes asked. Patrick typed on the keyboard as they looked at the screens and the file on the agent appeared on the screen.
"Agent Alex Krane," Patrick said as he read the information.
"Says here that he's worked on several cases with Smecker," Eunice said.
They watched the video as Alex handed Fred the keys to the black van then Smecker pointed the gun at Alex. Smecker fired the gun and Alex fell to the floor. Smecker then fired the gun at Quinn and Fred, picked the key ring off the floor, opened the driver's side door, got in the black van after placing the gun on the dashboard and closed the door. They watched the black van head for the exit after the door opened and Eunice saw the anger on the man with white hair peppered with gray and brown hair and hard blue eyes' face.
"Does that van have a GPS?" Eunice asked.
"Yes, Ma'me," Patrick said.
"We don't need to figure out where he's heading," the man with white hair peppered with gray and brown hair and hard blue eyes said. Eunice frowned when she thought for a few seconds and her mouth dropped open and he looked at Patrick. "I want a copy make of all these recordings and sent to my office."
"Yes, Sir," Patrick said and he watched them leave the room. Sighing, he typed on the keyboard then he looked at the screens. He looked at Smecker's face as he frowned and typed on the keyboard.
The Golden Cactus Ranch
The screen door opened while Annie walked outside and she headed down the stairs. The gray wolf followed her as she walked down the path and headed for the paddocks. She knew Lisa and Darcy had taken the kids to do some grocery shopping and Diego and her brothers were on a run to the grain store, but she didn't feel like going with any of them.
"Are you ok?" Connor asked.
"Yeah. Just not in the mood," she told him, but she saw in her brother's eyes that they didn't believe her.
"You're, uh, not, um, you know," Murphy said and she saw the blush moving over his cheeks.
"No. It's not that," she told him with a laugh and lightly shoved him. "I'm just don't wanna go."
She had watched them leave, but the sense that something was wrong grew as the day went on.
"You're getting paranoid," she whispered when the gray wolf stopped walking and growled. She glanced around with her eyes, but didn't see anything. The gray wolf sniffed the ground with its ears back and Annie looked around for something to use as a weapon. The crackling from the walkie-talkie startled her as she removed the walkie-talkie from her belt and she pushed the button.
"This is Annie," she said then released the button.
"This is Kenny. We got a report from Eric. He said he saw someone snooping around the back paddock," Kenny's voice said.
"Call Lou," she said the placed the walkie-talkie on her belt. She made a small whistle as the gray wolf followed her and they headed back to the farmhouse. She walked to the bottom of the stairs when the gray wolf growled and went to stand in front of her. She saw the front door was open as she sighed and she slowly backed up. She stopped short when something was placed at the back of her head and the gray wolf growled.
"Tell it to sit or you get a bullet in your head," a voice said.
"Sit," Annie said as she looked at the gray wolf and it sat.
"Good girl. Move," whoever was behind her said and poked her in the back of the head with the gun. Sighing, she started walking and the gray wolf walked next to her. She knew she could run or order the gray wolf to attack, but she didn't want either of them to get hurt. "You know… I thought you would be a lot tougher than this. Considering who your brothers are."
"My brothers?"
"Don't play dumb with me. I know you're their sister."
"I got no idea who you're talking about."
"Right. Just keep walking."
"You do know someone saw you snooping around, right? They called the police."
"Move!"
They walked down the path as Annie scanned for any sign of Kenny, Eric, Jeffrey or any of the other ranch hands and she flexed her fingers in and out.