CHAPTER ONE

"What's so important, I had to leave my lady friend right when I was about to get somewhere?" Sam joined the others at their designated meeting place for new clients.

"Were not sure. She refused to say anything unless it was to you." Michael answered.

Looking around and only seeing his friends. "What lady?" Sam asked after ordering a beer.

"She had to use the restroom." Michael answered again.

As if on cue the woman returned. "Are you Sam Axe?" Taking her seat.

"The one and only."

Looking at everyone before back to Sam. "I hope you don't find this rude. But may I see your I.D. Please?" Holding out her hand.

"Seriously?" Reaching into his back pocket.

"I'm sorry but the person I'm here for said that I needed to talk to Sam Axe and to make sure it was him I was speaking to."

"I.D.s can be faked." Fiona told her irritated over the fact she was made to wait.

Looking at her. "I have been checking these things since college. Now I do it as a part time job on Friday and Saturday nights at a popular night club for some extra cash. I know how to spot a fake one." Taking Sam's from him.

After examining it thoroughly she returned the I.D. "So what's this important thing you have to tell me?"

"All you will need to know is in here." Pulling out a folded piece of paper.

The woman got up from the table when Sam stopped her. "This is some kind of joke right?"

"She said if you didn't believe the note she wanted me to tell you this. She'll take Freddy Krueger over your God any day."

Sam stood as the woman left them. "This is very bad. Seriously bad." Leaving as the waitress brought a beer.

"This must be serious for him to leave a full bottle of beer behind, untouched." Jesse said as they went after Sam.

Catching up with Sam. "Care to tell us what that was all about?" Michael asked him.

"A friend from the service is in deep trouble. She didn't give details but in the service we had a code for help. Her's was she'd take Freddy Krueger over your God any day."

"What can we do to help?" Jesse offered.

Standing in from to his car. "I'm not sure but we'll figure it out on the way." He got in.

The others quickly climbed into his car. "What did the note say?" Michael asking taking the front seat, Sam handing him the note. Reading it out loud. "You were wrong, Angelica. Then it gives you coordinate, to where?"

"Angelica came to me a few days after a mission. Said one of her friends disappeared a few months back and she had gotten coordinates in the mail. That she knew her friends hand writing like back of her hand. And knew that it was her friend who sent it. That was the one and only time Anjelica has begged for my help. And these coordinates are seared in my brain because where they take you, they lead to a place that would give Charles Manson nightmares."

"What is the place?" Fiona spoke. "Sam?" She spoke again when he didn't answer.

Jesse leaned forward. "Sam we need to know where we are going so we can figure out a plan that can get your friend."

"Don't worry, the one Anjelica and I used will work. We used four people last time."

"That was years ago. Are you sure it will work again?" Michael brought up.

Sam shouted. "Trust me it will." Silencing everyone for the rest of the trip.

The four of them stared across the street at the building holding Sam's friend. "You mean to tell us we're to break Anjelica out of there?" Fiona pointed at the building.

"Sam that's a high security psych ward!" Michael looked over to his friend. "The people that are in their are the dangerously insane."

"Anjelica needs my help. I'll do this with or without you three."

"We can't let you do that, at least alone." Michael assured him.

Sam looked at his friends. "Ok here's the plan…."

Two hours later Jesse and Fiona were out getting materials. While Michael and Sam worked out the kinks of the plan, since the last time it was run, there had been a few changes to the building and some things needed to be altered.

The door swung open to Anjelica's room, Sam paused in the door way. She was definitely drugged to the point she had trouble telling which way was up, let alone what was happening around her. "Sam lets go!" Michael urged loudly.

Going over to her bed side he noticed her limbs were tied down. Quickly undoing them Sam slipped his arms under, lifting her off the bed. "Oh sweet cheeks what have they been feeding you. You're a stick."

"Sam?" Anjelica's voice was light.

"It's ok, I got you." He rushed out of the room.

Michael and Sam with Anjelica climbed into the waiting car out back. Jesse sped off once the three were in the vehicle. Anjelica was sitting in the middle of the back seat curled up to Sam. "Sam…Sam don't….call me sweet cheeks." She spoked before falling into unconsciousness.

Anjelica rubbed her eyes when she sat up in bed. Fear quickly set in when she took in her surroundings. Searching the room she grabbed the closest thing to a weapon, the lamp next to her on the night stand. Cautiously she slowly came out of the room into the hallway, her arms dropped to the side seeing Sam with two strangers.

"Was starting to wonder if you'd ever wake." Sam went over taking the lamp from her.

"How long was I asleep?" Not moving from her spot.

Setting the lamp down. "Three days."

"Why don't you come and take a seat sweetie. I'll fix you something to eat." The blonde female offered.

Taking a step back. "Anjelica it's ok, that's Madeline. Her son was one of the people that helped me rescue you." He told her.

"Sam I don't remember any of that. I don't even know how you even knew where I was, let alone I needed your help."

"With all the drugs they had you on. It was surprising you could even form words in that state." Holding out his hands. "I'm Jesse by the way."

Shaking it he asked. "Anjelica, how'd you end up in there?" Sam joined them at the table.

"Monty."

Sam clenched his jaw speaking through gritted teeth. "What?" He said slowly.

"Who's Monty?" Jesse asked.

"My husband."

Madeline face them from the kitchen. "You mean to say your husband stuck in that awful place? For what?"

Sam stood. "Whatever the reason I'm going to kill him."

"Sam cool it, you won't get near him."

Glaring down at her. "Why is that?"

"Sit and I'll tell you." Not taking a seat. "Fine don't, we're going to be bailing you out of jail. It'll be like old times, me saving you instead of the other way around." Huffing he slowly returned to his chair. "He started a construction business a year after we were married. Two years later he was one of the biggest companies when I noticed his figure didn't add up. We had a huge fight and he hid me away after I confronted him." Angelica was playing with a stray stand of her clothing. "You know he is going to come looking for me."

Madeline sat a plate of food in front of Anjelica before joining them. "We have that covered." Jesse said.

Sam angrily got up leaving the house. "I've never seen him that upset." Madeline commented.

"Sam and I were super close in the service. He was the team that went in and I was the team to go after them if they got stuck. We were the people you go to if you wanted things done like that. And if it wasn't for him I would have never met Monty. So he is probably feeling a mass of a few emotions now, because of that he is realizing after three years of marriage Monty stuck me in a psych ward. Where I spent the next seven years, give or take some time. " Anjelica went to go after him.

Sam was pacing out front, kicking occasionally at his car wheels. "I should have known better."

"He fooled us both."

"How are you so calm about this? Because of me you spent seven years in a psych ward for the dangerously insane." Sam yelled.

"This isn't your fault.

Pointing to himself. "I introduced you two."

"You introduced me to a lot of guys. Just like when I use to introduce you to all those women. It's what we did. How would we have known Monty would have done what he did?"

Rubbing his face with a sigh. "It's still my fault you ended up there."

"It's Monty's not yours." Crossing her arms. "What did your friend mean by we got it covered when I said Monty was going to come after me?"

"We did what you and I did when we went to get your friend from that place."

Tilting her head to the side. "That involved her DNA and killing her off." Anjelica gasped. "You killed me?!" It was her time to be angry now.

"Not necessarily. We made it look like you skipped town and that you are heading to Canada. And just incase Monty followed you to Canada, we have a few trails that looks like you died."

"Canada! But I hate Canada!"

"Why do you care? You are not actually going there." Anjelica head began to hurt. "Anjelica? You ok?" Going to her side when she leaned forward placing her hands on her knees.

Taking a few deep breaths. "I'll be fine, I just got a sudden head ache. I guess it's my body adjusting to being clean after all these years of being heavily drugged."

Helping her. "Let's get you back inside.

Feeling a little better after getting something in her stomach Anjelica cleaned up. After she showered she came back out to find only Madeline left. "Where did Sam go?"

"Michael called. Him and Jesse went to help him with a job."

"Oh." Anjelica looked towards the front door.

Lighting a cigarette. "He won't be gone long."

Looking back at her. "I'm going to go back to sleep, I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all dear."

"Thanks Madeline, for everything."

Knocking some ashes in the tray before her. "My pleasure."

"Seriously, I'm extremely grateful. It means a lot." Anjelica smiled heading back to her temporary room.

When Sam came back Madeline said she was taking a nap. So he quietly went into the room, the second he touched her arm to wake her Anjelica swung getting him square in the jaw. Anjelica was in panic mode sliding off the opposite side of the bed.

Sam rubbed his now soar jaw looking over to his friend huddled against the wall. "What the hell Anjelica?" He noticed she wasn't playing, she was genuinely scared. Crouching before her. "Anjelica?" He spoke softly.

Looking up at him. "Sam?" She calmed down when she saw it was him.

"You want to explain the left hook?"

Looking around the room she realized where she was. "I…I was dreaming I was back at the psych ward. I thought you were that doctor who would give me elector shock therapy." Anjelica grabbed his arm. "Please don't leave me."

Walking out of the room an hour later. "Sam." Michael called when he made a b-line for the door. Chasing after him. "Where are you going?"

"To kill Monty."

Stopping his friend. "Sam you can't just kill someone for putting a friend in a mental ward."

"They gave her electro shock therapy Mike. She clocked me when I went to get her thinking I was the doctor. And that's not the worst of it. They were physically inappropriate with her while she was drugged out of her mind. If it wasn't for Monty that would have never happened to her."

"Then you know the drill. We have to go in this with a plan and a clear head. We'll take him down like all the other, make him pay."

Growling he kicked the back tire of his car. "I want to wring his neck till he stops breathing."

Watching his friend trying to stifle his anger. "What is the full story with you and Anjelica?"

"We were never together if that is what you mean." Rubbing the back of his neck. "That women had saved my life countless times. She had always been the first with her team to get me out if I needed it. She even had come after me alone when told to leave me, because the outcome to go after me would result in more casualties. I owe her a debt that I may never repay."

"Then lets get this guy and get him good."

This time when Anjelica woke she knew where she was. Scuffling out of the room finding the place empty. It wasn't till she look towards the kitchen table did she see a note address to her.

Anjelica,

Went to the store, be back soon

Fiona brought over some old clothes for you.

Madeline.

Going over to the bag Anjelica sifted thought the stuff. "She's got some good taste." Finding something she liked, she went to the bathroom to shower before getting in something clean.

"How are you feeling?" Madeline smiled seeing Angelica.

"Good I guess. Still weird to be out, I'm not quite sure what to do with myself after everything that has happened."

Lighting up a cigarette. "You poor child."

Taking a seat at the table with Madeline. "I'm just thankful in my drugged up state I was still able to find Sam." Looking around. "Speak of the devil, where is the old man?"

"Not sure." Tapping some of the ashes on her cigarette in her ash tray. "He left quickly last night."

Anjelica groaned. "Damn it, he went after Monty." Quickly getting up from the table.

"Where are you going?"

"I have to go after him. If Axe is going to take Monty down, I want to help. That man stuck me in a mental institution."

"How are you getting there?"

Heading for the door. "Hotwire a car. It's like riding a bike, should be super easy to do. Even if it's been a few years since I've had to do it."

"I'm coming with."

Stopping at the door. "Things might get dangerous. I cant have you in harms way."

"The only person who should be worried is this Monty character when I get ahold of him."

"Michael is going to kill me if something happens to you." Leaving the house with Madeline trailing her.

The three were across the street blending in with the crowd at the local bar and grill staking out the construction site. Monty was over there. They just couldn't figure out how to get to him to bring him down. He looked clean except for the wife in an asylum. Which seems to make him win the hearts of everyone. The husband who had a tragic marriage but willing to stay by his wife's side. No matter what.

So wrapped in racking their brains they didn't realize their two new additions till they were standing in front of them. "Mom! Anjelica!" Michael called out.

"What? Lost on how to take him down?" Anjelica smirked, her hands on her hips.

"What are you doing here?" Sam angrily spoke.

"What did you expect? That I'd be oblivious to what you were going to do? I'm not new."

Sam pulled Anjelica aside. "Why are you here? I have this. You should be resting, recovering."

Pulling her arm from his grip. "I'm not letting you take down the guy who put me away without me."

"We have this."

"SEVEN YEARS!" A few people looked over at them when she screamed. Lowering her voice. "He put me away for seven years Sam. The man I served with. The man who helped me come save you numerous times. The man I trusted and married is a money laundering asshole who hid me away. All because I found out what he was doing. I want my hand in putting his head on a platter."

Keeping his distance from her when he spoke. "You are suppose to be hiding in Canada, remember?" Sam brought up.

Giving her friend a knowing look. "I have a plan."

"Of course you do. Let's hear it."

Tossing some hair over her shoulder with the shake of her head. "I can stalk him since he probably thinks I'm dead by now. Only to kill me in front of him, preferably others."

"Who do we have kill you?"

"Who do you think?" Angelica smirked.

The six of them climbed out of the car to a run down a building that looked to have years of neglect. And with all the trees and bushes, you weren't surprised to miss it, the house was perfectly hidden to where you'd do exactly that if you didn't know about it.

Anjelica knocked on the door. "Go away!" The male voice yelled.

"Just open the damn door man." Anjelica yelled back.

"Why should I?"

Anjelica dropped her head back before answering. "You know this will go on all day. You are going to have to do it." Sam brought up.

Balling up her fists. "Do what?" Madeline asked.

"SHANTICLAIR!" Shouted Anjelica.

The door swung open. "Mousekowitz!" The man on the other side cheered pulling her into a hug.

"Don't ever make me do that again Sharptooth." She laughed.

Seeing Sam. "Mr. Beetle." The guy in the house spoke.

Anjelica snorted. "Oh dude I forgot we nicknamed you that." Laughter took over.

"Come in, come in." He moved aside.

The others took notice of the place, it was super tidy and obsessively organized compared to the easily disheveled outside. "Sam what is going on?" Michael whispered.

Holding up a hand. "It's ok we can trust this guy. We worked with him years ago when one of us needed to disappear."

"So what brings you here?" Their friend had them sit, bringing some extra chairs.

"Were going to need you to kill me Larry. A big ordeal in front of people."

Larry grinned sitting back in his chair. "Is this happening in front of any particular group of people?"

"One in particular actually, my husband Monty."

"Why? Is he abusing you?" Looking over to Sam. "How are you not in jail for killing the guy?"

Shaking her head. "He isn't abusing me. He actually stuck me in a psych ward. Where I had been hidden in for years till Sam busted me out not to long ago."

"Then let's kill you and get him in massive trouble for it." Larry rubbed his hands together in excitement.

The group spent the next few days making out a plan and getting Monty's schedule. They wanted to know how he spent his days. Down to the last minuscule detail.

After some time everything was set, Monty was attending a party at a yacht club. He was chatting up a few clients when Sam approached. "Monty? Monty is that you?"

"Do I know you?"

Placing a hand on his chest. "It's me Sam Axe."

"Sam! I cant believe it, it's been years. How the hell have you been?" Plastering on a fake smile.

Sam did the same. "Good. I was attending this party with some friends when I heard you were here. And I remember awhile back someone telling me you married Anjelica. Where is she?" Looking around the place. "I haven't seen her in forever either. I'd love to catch up with you both."

"You haven't heard?!" Lowering his voice. "Not long after her and I got married she was going a little crazy and I….." Marty thought he was seeing things when he saw Anjelica in the crowd. "Excuse me."

Sam smirked watching Monty head towards Anjelica. There were a lot of people to sift through, so when Monty reached where he saw his wife, she was gone. "Sir?" Fiona walked up to him. "Sir are you ok? You look like seen a ghost."

Looking around. "I…I'm fine." Finally getting a good look at Fiona his whole demeanor changed. "Hi." He grinned. I'm Monty." Fiona was going to answer when he pushed past her, he saw Anjelica, again.

Reaching the spot where she was, he found it empty, a second time. Feeling like he was losing it Monty rubbed his face as he turned back at the crowd. "Looking for me?" Anjelica spoke. She stood close enough so that no one could get a good look at her.

"Anjelica? What..what are you doing here? My men were looking for you in Canada. They found a trail saying you died."

Laughing at him. "Ya, you can thank Sam for that one."

"I've always wanted to kill her." Sam moved behind her.

Placing a hand on his chest. "Now, now Axe, you are going to have to get my sloppy seconds. He did put me away for seven years."

"I did it for your own good."

"Own good!" Sam's voice was loud enough to turn some heads.

Holding up his hands. "Please keep it down. I have some prospective clients here."

"I have a feeling you told everyone I died, so I have a proposition for you. If you want me not to go to the police with everything I have on you. You'll want to follow me."

They went to one of the many empty rooms. "What do you want from me?" He asked once the sliding doors were shut.

"I want half of everything."

"Which is considerably generous from my point of view." Sam added as he blocked the doorway.

Monty laughed at the two. "You do have some balls coming in here demanding half of what is mine."

Anjelica and Sam laughed back. "Apparently you don't know me very well." Making her way over to him. "I at one point believed I loved you. Which meant I would have died for you."

When Anjelica turned Sam had a gun pulled out. "So you have your friend shoot me?" Monty looked to Anjelica.

"You always did underestimate me." Anjelica grinned right before Sam shot her.

Blood splattered everywhere. "You…you shot her!" Monty yelled in utter shock.

"It gets better." Sam held the gun up.

Monty noticed not only was he wearing a glove, he recognized the gun. His finger prints were all over it. Sam tossed him the weapon just as someone ran into the room. It was of course Fiona who screamed, yelling for help. Before Monty could do anything there was a group of people forming. He knew someone was calling the police.

"This isn't going to hold. I'm going to walk away from this." Monty told Sam in a low voice, gritting his teeth.

Sticking his hands in his pockets. "And I remember telling you years ago. That Anjelica is hot and fun. But the second you screw her over in anyway, there is no where you can hide that will get you away from her wrath."

The police showed up and within second, fingers were pointed to Monty. "She would have gotten nothing. I guarantee that." Monty whispered passing Sam.

Sam was leaning against his car across from the local morgue. The sun had sat a half an hour ago. Checking his phone Sam looked up to Anjelica heading his way. "I forgot how much it sucks dying." Climbing in the car.

"It's been awhile since we had to murder you. In public like that too."

"So how'd it go?"

"Good. The stuff Sharptooh did put Monty away for good. Nothing he does now will get him out of this. He is ruined for life."

Resting her head back. "Good."

"You are aware that you are now dirt poor."

"No I'm not. Before Monty put me away, I set up a fail safe for me. Money was being skimmed from every dollar he made over the years. And I know a guy thanks to you, had it all put in a Swiss bank account that will never be linked to me. The money in their should help tide me over."

"Of course you did." Sam chuckled.

Pointing forward. "Driver! Take me to get me to get the best mojitos around. Now."

"I cant party too hard. I'm meeting my lady friend in a bit."

Gasping Anjelica's head shot to him. "I haven't seen you in forever. And you're already blowing me off for a women?"

"Don't give me that look." Glancing over quickly at her, he drove. "You know I hate that."

She kept making the face. "Please Sam. Please for me, your Care Bear."

"You had to throw that in their didn't you?"

Anjelica rejoiced. "Yay!" She called out.