Guilty Until Proven Innocent

[Evil Attorney]

At the range the next morning, Hank and Tanya were at the range at 7 am.

Tanya asked Hank which gun he wanted, and he chose the one most familiar to him, a Sig Saur 220, a reliable, double action .45 ACP with an 8 round magazine.

It was the weapon he carried all those years ago. This one had tritium sights called "straight 8's". One glowing dot as the rear sight, one as the front. When you see an "8" you are on target.

Hank loaded the gun while looking at it with distaste.

He sent a standard bad guy target out 25 yards out as a starting target.

Keeping the handgun unloaded, he dry fired the gun on double action several times, and then single action. He wanted to get a feel for the weapon again.

He put it down, took a deep breath and held it.

...15 years ago.......Rogger, the groups leader, and Hank were at a range in South Carolina. The first gun Hank had ever seen outside of the movies was this pistol.

Roger said "You want to press the trigger, firmly, steadily. Bring the gun up to your shoulder, so that your thumb of your gun hand index on your pec's. That way you always can feel were the weapon is. Your other hand should have a thumb indexed in yout throat notch and fingertips on your collar bone, so your hand is out of the way.

Bring the pistol into your center, mate your hands on your chest and ram the pistol out toward the target firing at maximum extention.

Like this..."

Rogger's motions were tight, flowing and percice as he lifted his shirt, drew his weapon and put a round through the targets head.

"Fast is never fast. Smooth is fast. Speed alone without percission will get you killed. Don't try for speed, try to be smooth"


...now.........

Hank loaded the gun, racked the slide, decocked it and held it for a moment. He let out the breath half way, and relaxed his shoulders.

Smoothly yet quickly he brought the gun forward and found the sights.

They were dead centered on the target.

Hank sent a 8 rounds right into the 10 ring on the target, dropped the magazine and smoothly yet quickly proceeded to put the rest of the magazines, 5 eight round magazines in total, right through the center-mass of the target.

Hank reloaded, and this time shot with one hand. The groups were more ragged, but went were he wanted them to go.

He then shot a magazine with his left hand. Slightly bigger groups than with his right hand, but all the rounds found the target, and any one of them would have disabled a person.

After reloading the magazines yet again, Hank began to double-tap. Double taps are rapid pairs of shots which are fired as a single set. Not bang and bang, but right on top of each other bandbang.

Hank locked the slide of the weapon in the open position, put it on the table and stepped back. He started to rub his eyes but stopped because of all the powder on his hands.

He hit the target return button and then stepped back and leaned against the wall with his eyes closes and head hung depressed.

The target came back to Hank and Tanya. On it was a very respectable pattern of shots for someone who had been shooting regularly and currently. The 8, 9, 10 and X ring were all shreaded with .45 calibur holes.

Not as good as what Tanya could likely mannage, hank thought, but still, his shooting was better than most police officers could do on a good day.



Hank thought objectively for a brief second and thought for someone who had been trained by a former Delta Force shooter, it wasn't acceptable. He would have to do better in the future.

He knew he wasn't a slouch with any firearm, not by a LONG shot, but good enough just wasn't in this fucked up life.

10 fucking years...he should have kept it up, even with a little target shooting on the side but even that would not have kept it up.

Running with the crew he went through an obsceen amount of practice ammo monthly. Over those 5 years he must have shot over a quarter of a million rounds.

If he wanted back to that level, he would need about a week of shooting for 8 hours a day, and not only range time, but Close quarters shooting, and shooting while moving.

Their was no way he was going to be able to get that kind of training on this range.

This was for candyassed people to make nice smile faces on paper. This was the junior junior leagues batting cages with a munchkin throwing slow balls at him.

What he needed was a week, even a weekend somewere were the major leagues practiced pistolcraft.

He sighed. Good enough. It simply wasn't, and that was what he was.

Hell, maybe it would come back to him from all those years if he let himself slide back into that frame of mind, but if he did that...he didn't want to be an animal again.

Oh that was tempting. The blood singing through him as he moved, the adrenaline playing on his nerves as he dodged a bullet, the wind of a slug passing by his face and the thrill of the hunt...

He didn't find death fun. He didn't find it exciting or a rush in it at all. That was burned out of him a long time ago.

Back then, it was a job. Today it was an obligation for blood.

Fuck it. He would find Brandon and stay human doing it. He just hoped it didn't kill him.

"Tanya, I'll be right back. The range shop sells body armor, and I'm going to go get a pair for both of us. I'm getting a level IIIA consealable vest with side plates like I used to have. Its a little hot to wear, but you get used to it. Have you got a vest or you want me to pick you one up too? Whats your size?

I got a discover card and a high limit. Don't worry about the cost. This one is on me."

Hank left the shooting area through the double set of doors which kept the sound in, leaving Tanya alone with the gun and a target who's center had been shreaded.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Jill

Okay, bluff worked...now what? Jill tried to clear the fog from her mind to search for an idea, she tried to ignore Taylor'e eyes on her which was much more difficult than finding what to say next. Everythime his eyes raked her, she had to repress a shiver of revulsion.

"Not...not so fast," She said quickly, still raking her brain for something to stall him with. "If...if I give it to you there is nothing to prevent you from doing any...anything to me you want. I...I have to know that you will get me out of here safely before I hand over what I have."

Swallowing hard, she forced herself to look into his eyes. "I want...I want to get out of here. And I want to...to disappear somewhere where no one knows I am...not even you. If this happens I will give over what I have...I'll arrange to drop off instructions to get it before I go...and...and then I won't tell anyone about anything. I don't care about it anymore. I just want out of here...I want this never to have happened."

Holding her breath, not daring to break the silence between them, she waited for his answer. Would he believe her? Would he take the bait and bargain for her freedom?

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Tanya

Tanya watched Hank shooting through the plastic protective glasses all participants and observers were issued. When he was done, she said nothing, it would be a waste of time as they were also wearing headphones to protect their hearing. The only signal she gave that she had witnessed his shooting was a raised eyebrow, a look that said that she was impressed in spite of herself to anyone who knew her...and anyone who knew her would tell you that she didn't impress easily.

Waving away Hank's offer just a little later, she said,"Don't need it. If I wasn't prepared for this job I would have been dead a long time ago." Tapping her jacket she always wore no matter the weather, she added,"Specially made. Deeper pockets for lots of ammo and weapons and the lining will stop a bullet's penetration without being too heavy. I have a friend in the business. It's one of his more successful, if unhearalded, inventions."

When Hank was gone, Tanya reached up and unclipped the target to look at it closer. She would have whistled at the tight formations and deadly leathal meaning of what she held in her hand if she had a mind to do that sort of thing. He said he was rusty, that he hadn't picked up a gun in years. She would have to take his word on that even though the target she held didn't go very far to prove that.

Okay, he had proved that he could shoot. And shoot damn well at that. And, if that was all it took to be a bounty hunter than she would have been looking over her shoulder for the competition if he had a mind. But control was an even more serious and important part of the job and she had been watching more than just his marksmanship. When he had been done, she had seen his reaction. And it didn't make her feel all that easy. He could easily be a loose cannon, especially if what he said about his past was true. And that was the last thing they needed.

By the time he had returned, Tanya had turned in the used target and relenquished their spot for another customer. Standing there lost in thought while a cigarette burned unheeded between her fingers, she looked up as he approached.

"Your a good shot," She said without preamble,"And that would be a good thing if we were out to kill Smythe. But we aren't. No matter your feelings about him I want you to remember this...killing someone is never an option. Not unless and until your own life or the life of your partner is in danger. And I mean the kind of danger where, if you don't take the punk out, one of you is going to die and there is no question in your mind about it."

Crushing out her half finished smoke, she began to walk toward the exit. "And you will remember that this is my bounty. If I tell you to do something I expect you to do it. And if you have to shoot, it damn well better be to disable because I don't intend to let the situation get out of hand."

Stopping as they exited, she turned to him and stated,"Control. That is the most important thing. If you don't have it you are a liability and liabilities all too easy become statisitcs. Do I make myself clear?"

Looking down, she saw with surprise that she had placed a hand on his chest. Whether to stop him or make her point she didn't know. In fact she could not remember consciously doing it. Removing it quickly, she started back to the car.

"Okay, next stop is Smythe's work. From what I understand your sister worked there as well. I'm not looking to find him there but some of their co-workers could be sources of information. And they just might talk more easily to Jill's brother than they would me."

 

[PhoenixPrime01]

Brandon Smythe:

Brandon had just finished going back ten years searching for missing persons and deaths where the corpse had been torched.
No mysterious torch victims, only those who'd died by accident.

The only odd thing that he'd found was the sudden and unexplained disappearance of several young women over the past several years, among them a couple of models that the magazine had used in photo shoots.

Brandon skulked stealthily out of the building via a fire exit that locked behind him and decided to check his apartment, if he could get in and out with no problems, to see if there was anything on his phone recorder, assuming the cops had left it there, and to check any new mail.

He was so desperate he was grasping at straws now, but someone, somewhere had to have information that he needed to find Jill's real killer or killers.

When he did find them his years of study in Tai Chi Quan and Aikido for fitness and self defense would make sure that the cops wouldn't have any problems with them, nor the paramedics on the way to the ER.

 

[Evil Attorney]

Hank felt her hand on his chest and his heart beat a little faster. When she removed it, some of the warmth remained and he still felt it as he moved.

He nodded and said, "I said I would follow your orders, and I will. I'm going to have to prove that to you. I can accept that.

As for shooting, well, if I put rounds around the edge of the target, I'd look like a fool and you would not be able to tell if I was capible of hitting anything or If I was putting rounds were I wanted them.

You want rounds in the shoulders or knees unless I have to shoot to save your life, mine, or someone elses, I can do that too.

Like I said before, you're in command, but I want in on this and not just as someone you babysit. "

With that Hank took off his shirt right in the store and started putting on the vest. In a moment he was finished and put his polo shirt on, then tucked the Sig-Saur into a holster which he them put in his belt at the 4 o'clock position.

(Dick is 12, asshole is 6, so its behind the hip on his right side. )

He then put the inside the waistband mag pouches in his pant on his left side, and 2 more magazines in his coat pocket.

Hank also purchaced a benchmade balisong knife with a 4 inch blade, a 14 oz flat sap, a can of OC spray and a surefire flashlight.

Surefires were capible of putting out the equivalent of a 5 D cell maglight on their lowest setting, and Hank bought one of the middle power versions even more powerful that the basic one.

The gear disappeared into his clothing, even as he moved.

He then looked at the store's optical section and purchaced a small night vision monocle. He wanted to be be able to look into a dark room without using a flashlight and see if their were any surprises.

Hank shifted then sighed.

It felt just right. He shook his head and he heard Rogger's voice in his head "...oh stop bitching. Just get to work you fucking cunt! Just do the job and cry later you groveling fuck. Brandon is out their, Man Hunter is waiting and you don't have time to be a bitchy little shit.

I didn't teach you to be a failure. I didn't teach you to waiver on things that needed to be done.

I taught you to acomplish, to survive, to work as a team and complete the mission.

You fuck up, and I'll put a bullet in you myself..."

He whispered so softly that it could have been a short breath, "Love you Rog..."

To Tanya he said, "Lets stop off at Krispy Kreme. The night janitor always stops off their after his shift in the morning. Ed has access to the entire place at night, and he may have info.

Ed and Jill used to have a thing before Ed broke it off with her. He is a grad student and spent too much time with a chemistry text book in his hands.

When they broke up, he went into a kind of a funk. Ed gave her the 'lets be friends thing' about a 2 years ago.

He is seeing a girl who works at Krispy Kreme, little 19 yrold thing.
Probably cause he doesn't have to put that much into a relationship, just bangs her, tells her he loves her and goes back to studying for his masters.

If anything was going on at Jill's place, Ed would know. Janitor's see everything."

Tanya looked at him.

Hank shrugged and said, "Ed and I trained in Judo togther for a while. He was promising but school got in his way. I still say hi and ask whats up ocasionaly.


You driving or am I?"

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Tanya

At the mention of a food franchise, Tanya's stomach growled and she groaned. Just what she didn't need...junk food. The last decent thing she had had to eat was the sandwich the day before and that seemed more like days ago.

With a sigh she nodded and motioned to the driver's seat. "You know the way, you drive," She said sliding into the passenger seat.

Leaning her head back on the headrest, she tried to make sense of everything that was going on. Nothing Smythe was doing made sense...nothing except trying to get her out of the way so he could...what? So he could do what? Most marks would have run, would have gotten the hell out of the state. She couldn't get that thought out of her head. Why was he doing this? Why was he putting himself into danger when he could have gotten clean away by now? What are you after?

As if speaking her thoughts out loud, she said,"Smythe is after something or someone for some reason. If we can figure out what and who we can find out where he will be next instead of being a step or two behind all the time. If he were a normal man commiting a murder he would have taken the first opportunity to split instead of sticking around and putting up roadblocks in our way. What is keeping him here? That's what we have to find out."

The fact that Tanya had used 'we' instead of 'me' when referring to the job gave an indication that she was beginning to think of them as a team. Even if she wasn't admitting it to herself.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

PLOT TWIST

OOC: Okay, going to give you guys a lead here but one you will have to chase down just so the story consists of more than people chasing each other. lol

IC: At that very moment in Brandon Smythe's apartment, the phone rang, and rang and rang and then the answering machine picked up. For a moment there was silence and then a small, frightened voice spoke before the machine could disconnect the call. Brandon would recognize it as Sylvia, one of the models he had used in photo shoots at times. Taylor would recognize it as one of the females that he had used in more than one way and one that was still in his employ.

"Brandon?" The female voice was shaky and the tears behind them evident,"Brandon, I have to talk to you. I...I heard them talking...I know you're still alive and...and I know you're still around."

A pause and then hurriedly,"It's about Jill. You've got to help, I don't know where else to turn...God, I hope you get this. I don't know where else to turn. I can't go to the police...they'll kill me. If they know I am trying to get to you they'll still kill me but I can't live with it any longer. Please, please meet me at..." Another if briefer pause,"The coffee shop on Lincolin and Main. The one Jill always went to after work. If you're not there by 10 I will be gone. Please...Jill...Jill...."

And then the line went dead as the machine cut the call short. In the dark apartment that Tanya and Hank had been at only a short time ago, the red light on the answering machine begin to blink steadily, indicating a call was waiting.

OOC: Okay, lets see who gets to the call first. *grins*

 

[PhoenixPrime01]

Brandon Smythe:

OOC: Enjoy the donuts, he's already on his way there. *L

Travelling the back streets and alleys Brandon makes it to his neighborhood in a relatively short time. He melts into the shadows and watches the street and cars parked along it seeking any sign of anyone watching his apartment house. Ten minutes and nothing.

He does the same around back and again nothing. Slowly, cautiously and stealthily he makes his way to a basement window he knows has a broken latch. Opening it he slides into the basement, closes the window and listens. Nothing, no sounds or movements.

He eases up the stairs and eventually finds himself outside his door. The keys slide into the deadbolt then the knob lock and he slips in pocketing the keys again.

'First things first,'Brandon thinks and heads to the bedroom closet door. Inside he uses a mini flashlight to illuminate a floorboard and prys it up with his lock blade folding pocket knife.

Under the board is a vinyl bank bag. Inside is his emergency stash money and ID in the name of Ralph Cramden with a slightly out of focus picture that could be him on it.

He cleans out the $2,100.00 dollars and ID. Clean clothes are grabbed and stuffed into a gym bag. A quick trip to the bathroom for toothbrush and paste and some makeup of Jill's.

As he exits the bathroom he spots the flashing light on the recorder. It's played and he now has a possible contact for information and a destination. Sylvia one of the models he likes working with at one of Jill's out of the way restaurant finds.

Brandon listens to all of the other messages, no help there, then heads out, locking up behind him after clearing the recorders memory chip.

Ten minutes later he's on the streets again and heading for a meeting with Sylvia.

 

[PhoenixPrime01]

Brandon Smythe:

At 9:45 he's been in the shadows in an alley across from the restaurant watching for watchers and for Sylvia to arrive. He's looked through the windows as he shambled past twice and no sign of her inside.

Dressed and looking as he does he'd never get inside so he has to make contact out here before she gets inside.

He's "aquired" an old fedor and now pulls it down and stumbles across the road to slouch against the wall not far from the restaurant door. Sticking out of his pants pocket is the neck of a bottle in a brown paper bag. Looks like wine, not the soft drink it actually is. And he waits mumbling under his breath as if talking to himself.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

PLOT TWIST (Sylvia Arrives)

At ten til the hour, a figure in a long coat with the hood up. Brandon can't see whether the figure is male or female (the belt is not done up to indicate the waist size either) but whoever it is is avoiding the streetlamps and the walk is very nervous and, at times, stumbling. When he/she nears the entrance to the coffee shop, the figure pauses and looks around as if just as suspicious of being followed as Brandon is.

A glance at a wristwatch puts the figure's hand out in the dim light for just a second and Brandon can tell that it is, indeed, a woman's slim hand. After confirming the time, she walks quietly toward one of the windows and peers in, making sure that no light falls on her face.

Obviously not seeing the person she was looking for, she glances at her watch once again and looks around. Brandon can almost sense that she is deciding whether to stay or to go. Within a few moments, she moves from where she is in the shadows and, seeming to have made up her mind, steps out in a direction ment to take her away from the coffee shop and back down the street to whatever haven she can reach.

 

[PhoenixPrime01]

Brandon Smythe:

"Sylvia," he says just loud enough to be heard. "Syliva it's me Brandon.
"Did you come alone? Weren't followed here were you?
"I couldn't go inside, to many people in there know me from coming here with Jill and besides they wouldn't let me in looking like this."

His voice was barely louder than the mumbling he'd been doing earlier and as his head swayed he let his eyes sweep the street ceasely looking for someone out of place.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

PLOT TWIST (Sylvia's News)

Sylvia gave a small shriek as soon as Brandon spoke up and lloked as if she was about to bolt. At the last second, his words and the familiarity of his voice must have sunk in because instead of running off, she gave a sob of relief and ran over to him, grabbing him by the arms.

"Oh, Brandon!" She said, her voice high and frightened. "Thank God! I thought...I thought they had followed me. If they had..." Her hand went up to her throat and she couldn't speak for a minute.

Swallowing hard, she forced herself to find her voice. "I...I don't have much time. If I'm away too long Taylor...well, he'll find out and..." She shook her head as if the thought of what would happen were too horrible to think about.

"Brandon, you have to know...the company...it's not what it appears to be. And She...oh God, She found out. I don't know how but she did. The girls...some of them are legit but most of them are trapped in Taylor's web. We...we've all done things to further our career that we don't want out. And...and he uses that...and then we're trapped...there's no escape for us. But...she did nothing but find out about it...nothing!"

As Sylvia speaks, her body moves in nervousness and the sleeve of her coat moves up her arm to reveal yellowing bruises, some in the form of a handprint. Seeming to notice, Sylvia dropped her arm and backed away from Brandon.

"Listen, I have to go...just...I don't know where she is but...you have to find out. They're going to do something horrible to her...I heard the guys talking when...nevermind...it doesn't matter what happens to me but she hasn't done anything to deserve this. You have to find her...she has information they want and she won't tell...not yet...but she will, no one can stand his kind of torture and not crack. And when she does..." Sylvia shook her head and started backing away, looking around her as if she were afraid that "they" would be right behind her.

"I've got to go. Please...please help her...please..." And, before Brandon could react, she turned and fled into the shadows, the sound of her shoes echoing down the sidewalk as she ran.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

PLOT TWIST (Sylvia's News)

Double post

 

[poohlive]

Taylor scratched his head once, giving her a hard look, wondering just what she was up to at this point. She wanted to get away, did she? He couldn't blame her, and with the trump card she posessed, that could happen.
He'd imagine his employers would make her very happy for a few years, take care of her, financially and otherwise, before having someone come in and deal with her.
She wouldn't talk, he valued that much.
Still, he would have loved to had her, make her scream under him. His oath had gone a long time to the Italians though.
"Ok. Here's the deal," He took her down from the chains, releasing her, he took off his jacket, letting her cover herself, "You make one phone call."
He handed her a cell phone, "Then, we're going to leave here, together, just you and me. No escort, no one else, just us two, we're going to go, and get the files. Once I see you have everything, and I'm happy, I'll wire however much money you want, wherever you want, and not even look back."
He shrugged his shoulders, looking back at the other men standing around, a little heart broken the party had been halted so early.
"It's the best I can give you, take it or leave it."

 

[PhoenixPrime01]

Brandon Smythe:

"You mean Taylor don't you Sylvia. He's the one who's got Jill isn't he?
"Sylvia where do they take people to hurt and torture?
"You may not know exactly where, but you must have some idea of where in general and maybe you've even heard about what type of building or whatever is used.
"Think Sylvia. Think hard. Jill needs me and I need you to help me find her and get her out of there before it's too late," he says quiet desperation clear in his voice.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Jill (Tying it all together)

OOC: Going to try and do this so that all the chars are on the same page but I would like to still continue the adventure so don't think I am working toward an ending. Just because Jill makes a call doesn't mean it's going to be easy to find her. Pooh, use your ingenuity and Taylor's resources going to make it as not easy as possible. *grins*)

IC: Jill took the phone in her shaking, numb hands after pulling the coat about her. She was gong to be allowed to make a call but to whom? Brandon had the information on his keyring but she didn't know if he knew yet. And she didn't want to call him because Taylor knew his number and, if he saw the number on his cell phone he would know who to go after and then she would have no bargaining power. So, who did she call? Her parents? No...definately not. She couldn't stand the thought of them getting involved in this and their number was on her files as an emergency number...again, Taylor could trace it.

Hank? Jill swallowed and tried to think. She had kind of fallen out of touch with her brother but they had been close at one time. In fact he was the one that introduced her to Brandon. But it had been months since they had called and really talked. When they were kids they had understood each other so well that they could talk so that the adults wouldn't know what they were really saying. It had been fun to be able to get around the grown ups then. Would he be able to interpret what she said so that Taylor, who was listening to every word, wouldn't be able to understand and find the information before she got herself free?

Taking a deep breath, she dialed his cell phone number. At least her boss wouldn't know who she was calling even if he saw the number. By the time he could trace it she hoped that she would be out of the way and able to call Hanl for real and warn him what was happening. She hated dragging her brother into this but she didn't see that she had a choice.

The moment the phone picked up, she spoke, not giving him time to say anything. "Shank," She said, using a nickname she had given him as a girl and one that he hated but also one he would understand was coming from her,"It's me. I've negotiated for the information. You know who has the key to this whole thing. I need you to be ready deliver it for me. I will call you back with when and where. Just make sure it's safe. My heart doesn't know what this is all about anymore. I just want out and I need your help. As always, keep the law out of this. Or else my safety can't be guaranteed."

Clicking off the phone and handing it back to Taylor she prayed hard that Hank had heard what she was really trying to say. To get to Brandon (her heart) and get his keys and wait for her call.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Sylvia (More Information)

Sylvia halted only briefly in her flight and then ran back, snatching something from her pocket and thrusting it into Brandons. Actually it was three somethings. Matchbooks from clubs around town.

"Tell them," She said in a breathless whisper,"Tell them that you were sent by Carlos who told you that, for the right price, you could get some real entertainment. When...when they ask for a description of what you want...just tell them...something sweet and innocent. They'll probably have taken her there."

A short laugh that was half a sob came from her. "They move you depending on how much experience you have. It will be the best place for her because the girls there are too new and too scared to say anything to anyone."

And this time she was gone into the night, leaving Brandon with a fistful of matchbooks and only a little more information than he had previously had.

 

[PhoenixPrime01]

Bradon Smythe:

He watched as Sylvia vanished into the night then Brandon looked over the matchbooks and realized it was time for another change in how he looked.

There was a second hand clothing store nearby so that's where he headed. He bought clothing he felt would make him look like a rube in town for a night of fun the headed to a flop house for a shower, change of hair color and clothing.

When he came out Brandon had coal black hair. He'd used Jill's makeup to give himself a large mole on his left cheek and had also dyed his eyebrows and the stubble he left on his cheeks, chin and upper lip.

He was dressed in faded jeans that had a loose fit, but looked okay. A button down shirt with a cowboy design on it and had a jean jacket. The PPK was in the waistband of the jeans under the jacket at the small of his back.

Before heading to one of the clubs to use Carlos's name Brandon went to a coffee and computer place and bought an hour of time onine.

Over the years Brandon has had to quite often write text to accompany his photographs for newspaper and magazines. Now he sat and wrote a story beginning with Jill's disappearence and concluding with what he'd just been told by Sylvia, including the names of all of the clubs on the matchbooks and Carlos's name.

In it he explained how an escort service was apparently a white slave ring where not all were willing participants. When he finished it he copied it and emailed it to himself, to a detective he knew well on the city force, and to several other friends he'd met ih "hot zones" around the world.

In the email he explained how he was going looking for Jill and Taylor, one of her abductors and a primary figure in the white slave ring. He asked that if he wasn't heard from in a couple of days or if he turned up dead for them to investigate and break the story.

Emails sent with attatched stories, Brandon left the computer cafe and started for one of the clubs.

 

[Evil Attorney]

Re: Jill (Tying it all together)

Hank drove toward Krispy Kreeme with mild anticipation.

Even as depressed as he was, Jill dead, back in "the life" and hunting another human being, he was going to Krispy Kreeme.

Hank usualy avoided KKD because his dentist threataned him with cutting his testicals off if he went their again, but oh...the frosting...oh the whipped cream...the chocolate...

Oh, yeah, and he wanted to talk to Ed...after he sat down and shoved a hot doughnut into his mouth with a swallow of hot black coffee and let the taste mingle till he found nirvana...

Sometimes you need to find joy in life, even if its one tasts of the perfect junk...well, it wasn't really food...the perfect doughnut.

"You don't look happy. We have a person to talk to and we are going to Krispy Kreeme. Life is fucked up, but hey, think of the whipped cream and chocolate frosted doughnuts."

With that his phone rang, and he looked down at it.

The number (Blue, the number ???) was unfamiliar, but it was local. Hank flipped the phone open and heard :

jill

"Shank, It's me. I've negotiated for the information. You know who has the key to this whole thing. I need you to be ready deliver it for me. I will call you back with when and where. Just make sure it's safe. My heart doesn't know what this is all about anymore. I just want out and I need your help. As always, keep the law out of this. Or else my safety can't be guaranteed."

The phone clicked off and Hank's blood rushed out of his face as he said "Holy shit!!!"

Crossing 3 lanes of traffic he pulled the car into the a parking lot, shut it off and stepped out.

He looked at his phone like it was a ghost.

He turned to Tanya and said "She...she is alive. Jill just called me...She called me 'shank'...noone knows that name she used for me...fuck me...I know her voice...she is scared, fucking terrified, but alive....

I know were Ed goes to school, he can wait. We need to trace that number and find out were she is...

If someone is holding my sister hostage, we have to free her."

Hank started to breath heavily and with a set jaw and a look of blood chilling consentration calmed himself down.

He said "I need to write down what my sister said to me while its still fresh in my mind. Their was a message in what she said. What, I duno, but their was a definate message."

Hank grabed a pad and in neat, small letters he wrote the message down. It was almost word for word, but the imporitant parts he got absolutely correct.

He looked at her, paused and said "When I though she was dead, Smythe was my priority. Killing him first, then bringing him in with you.

Now that Jill is alive, he doesn't matter to me anymore except as a link to my sister.

I'd rather work with you, you know this kind of thing better that I do, but I'm going to get her back even if we have to part ways.

I don't want to part ways, but things have just changed, and Jill is my first responsibility."

With the Hank looked deep into Tanya's eyes and he asked in a very soft voice, hoping her answer would be yes, "Will you help me?"

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Tanya

The first thing she saw was the blood drain from Hank's face as he listened to whoever was on the other end of the line. Before she could ask anything about the call, she was grabbing the dashboard and trying not to stiffen up, the most serious injuries in a car crash happened when a person stiffened their limbs because they were more likely to break on impact. And with the way Hank was driving and his visibly shaken condition she was sure a crash was in the cards.

Thankfully they made it to a parking lot and he stopped the car but, again before questions could be asked, he was out of the car and pacing as he talked to himself. Getting out of the passenger seat, she slammed the door and almost ran to his side. Listening to him, Tanya's mind started clicking down a list of possible explanations and, almost before he stopped talking, she stepped toward him and grabbed his arms with her hands, giving him a bit of a shake to bring him back to her and the here and now.

"Hank," she said in a firm voice, her eyes never leaving his,"Calm down! If...and I do mean if Jill is still alive you are not going to do her any good by going off half cocked and busting down doorways helter skelter. Let's think this out before we do anything at all."

Grabbing the pad from him, she scanned the message he had written down and then went over it more carefully twice more. Shaking her head, she said,"We need to follow our original plan. We go to see Ed. We can't afford to pass up any leads just because this pops up from thin air. He might be able to tell us something that can lead to whoever made this call."

With a sigh, she went back to him and laid a hand on his arm again in a comforting motion, something that was totally foreign to her.

"This may have come from your sister. If that is the case than, yes, we need to find her and we will. But we have to think of all the possiblities. Think with your head and not your heart. They could have tortured her before she died and gotten all kinds of information from her. The message indicates that there is one piece of information that she has or had that whoever is doing this didn't get but wants badly. They could have killed Jill and then gotten a girl who sounds close enough to her to fish the waters of whoever was closest to her and see if they could get that information."

Holding up a hand to halt anything he would say to argue, she continued. "Just hear me out. You want my help and I am giving you that. It starts with an objective opinion. You and your parents are not in a state fit of mind where your sister is concerned. Emotional stress can make you hear what you want to hear and rush head long into things. Whoever is doing this may be trying to play on that."

"I do know one thing for sure. This is why Smythe hasn't left and gone on the run. Something about this information has tied him to this place. He may be the one instigating it. Jill may have found out something about him and gotten the goods on him and was going to the police. If she would have told anyone the pet name for a brother it would have been her lover. He works with models and it isn't too far a leap in logic to assume he may have hired one of them to imitate her. Hell, he could be sexually involved with her and using her to do this. We have to think of all the possibilities before we go off half cocked or someone is going to get hurt."

"Our goal remains the same. We have to find Smythe and we have to find him fast. Ed can help us with that. And I need time to get in contact with some friends who can help clear up some things. The medical examiner said that the body was Jill's. He showed proof of dental records, for God's sake. Let me go through some channels to find out what is going on. We can do that while we are eating something and talking to Ed. He might be able to steer us in the right direction."

Taking her hand from his arm, she impulsivily put it on his face, cupping his cheek and making him look at her. "I am not going to abandon this. When I take something on it's for the long haul no matter how it turns out. But you have to trust me. I know that is alot to ask but you have to do it if we are going to get to the bottom of this. And we have to take it one step at a time. If...God only hopes...if Jill is alive, whoever has her is not going to do anything to her until they get whatever information she was talking about. If she isn't...than running in there guns blazing without knowing what is going on is only going to make you their next victum."

"I need to know that you are following me on this. No matter how much you may hate doing it this way, I need to know that you are strong enough to do it. I think you are. In fact I have never been more certain of anything in my life. But I need you to follow my lead so that we can get in and out of this alive. With everyone alive. We need to take time to get our facts certain and we need time to analyze this message."

Looking at the car, she gave him a half-smile, a teasing one. "And I think I am going to drive from now on so we can get there in one piece."

 

[poohlive]

Ooc: I don't know quite what that means, but I'll do my best.


Taylor was happier now, lying in the bed, next to her, nestled in his own little world. Fantasies erupted inside him, with something that either started or ended with them in the bedroom just like this. They could go so many places together, do so many things.
"We have some time then,"He said, his hand close to her, but not yet moving to touch her, "You and I, here, alone? A few hours before the deal itself is made, seems like we should be able to make the most of it."
Taylor leaned over, kissing her hard and forceful, his lips and tongue trying to be everywhere at once.
"This isn't so bad, is it?"

 

[PhoenixPrime01]

Brandon Smythe:

On his way to a club Brandon dials a number and feeds the coin slots.

When the phone on the other end is answered he starts talking and bulldozes through to the end not letting Jill's Mom say a word until he's finished.

"Hi, this is Brandon. I know you think Jill's dead so did I and I've been looking for the killer, but I've just found out from a contact that Jill's alive. She's been kidnapped by a white slavery ring located here in the city.
"I've got a lead I'm following to rescue her. Seems she has information they need to get their hands on and I'm afraid they'll hurt her a lot if she doesn't give it to them.
"I haven't got time to talk, but please, please believe me. I would never hurt Jill, I love her damn it.
"Gotta go now, but thought you two deserved to know that there's till hope. Maybe you should let Hank know too.
"Bye for now and wish me luck, I may need a bushel of it," and he hangs up.

A couple of deep breaths and he's off again heading for the club he's selected.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Jill

OOC: LOL It just means that, as Taylor, you have rescources that will let you know what is going on, such as Sylvia disappearing for a time, and you will also have sources to put up road blocks for these guys. Just use your imagination.

IC: Jill's relief at her own negotiations disappears at Taylor kisses her. Her immediate reaction was one of horror and she stiffens against him, clamping her mouth shut to prevent his tongue entering her mouth, struggling to push him away.

"No..." She says, breathless from her own struggle against his attention. Trying to get her wits about her and control the shaking that had returned in force, she searched her mind for something to delay him without making him change his mind about letting her go. "I...I need a shower and change of clothing. Please...I would feel so much better if I was able to clean up."

Forcing a smile to her lips and a calmness to her voice that she didn't feel, she added,"It won't take long and I would really appreciate it."

 

[poohlive]

A sly smile went over Taylor's face, imagining the possibilities. The request wasn't a bad idea at all.
"Of course, where are my manners. You are my guest now, and all our accomidations will be met."
He stood up, holding out his hand, and took her out into the hall. Several doorways and rooms filled up the corridor. Some of them were closed, others partially opened, revealing rooms similar to the one they had just left.
It wasn't until they made their way to a westward turn off, into another set of hallways, that sounds, muffled of pleasure and pain could be heard.
"This is a busy day for us," He mused, opening a room. It was a quiet, private room, a bed, some toys on the wall, a shower, with clear glass barrier.
Taylor sat on the bed, laying out new clothes for her, something that accented all of her good parts.
"Please, make yourself at home. This will be our little suite for the next few hours, at least."

 

[Evil Attorney]

Tanya was right.

DAM HER.

Hank was getting emotional. He knew he shouldn't. Emotion was fine to guide you, but not LEAD you.

He had to approach this like a mission.

Analytical. Exacting.

He knew how to do that, of course. It was simply that if he allowed himself to slide back into that frame of mind, the results could be...unpleasant.

Hank rested his head on the hood of the car and said "It was Jill. I know her voice, and she is alive.

The rest, you're right, we can't just ignore a viable lead and run off on something to who the fuck knows."

Hank paused and said, "Thanks for putting up with me. Krispy K is right up the street 2 miles. You take the wheel, I'm going to think on this message."

They got into the car and Hank was silent.

He wasn't thinking about the message though. He was looking at a glass cage in his mind.

Inside was a snake. Cold. Percice. Analytical. Mission Oriented.

The snake looked like Hank. It stared back at him. It smiled and mouthed the words:

"Let me out. Now or later, you will let me out. You can't do this without me. You will make use of me. You will let me out of this cage or you will get yourself killed. You will get your sister killed. "

The snake grinned

"You will get the woman killed. The pretty woman, who helps you. Without me you are a fool. Without me, you are prey. I'm your instincts, your hunting lust.

You need me."

Hank opened his eyes, looked at Tanya, his phone, the message pad and then looked at his chest.

Under his shirt was kevlar, just behind his hip was a pistol, in his pockets were various tools of the trade. So many years ago he left this all behind.

He was back into this shitty world at first to shead blood, now to save his own. Jill was alive. Jill, returned safe was all that mattered.

Hank shifted his shoulders and blinked once. In his mind he wittnessed himself grabbing the handgun and raising it up, then in slow motion smashing the glass cage in an explosion of crystal shards that cut into his flesh.

The cage was empty.

It wasn't a cage, Hank thought.

It was a mirror....

As they approached Krispy Kreem, Hank felt a cold chill rush down his spine then through his body, followed by a rush of heat following it.

As the car pulled in, he said "The VW bug, thats his car. I'll go talk to Ed and see if he heard anything strange or knows anything that can help up."

As he approached the door, his insticts kicked in. The blue van that just pulled into the lot, behind them.

Two guys got out and were approaching the door of KKD like he was, and they would reach it just as he went in, giving the men his back...
The van was making a circuit of the parking lot and would come closest to the door as the 2 men closed on him.

Smash and grab, a fucking clasic...and he was the one getting set up.

1- follow your mark into an enterance way were visibility is restricted but you are in close proximity to him
2- Bop the mark over the head with a sap or hit him with a dose of ketamine or morphine
3- As mark falls, "take mark to hospital"

The target never makes the hospital, but is usualy interrogated later them killed.

Oh, no. Oh no motherfucker, not this little piggy.

Hank pretended to stumble on the sidewalk using his judo experience to create a harmless but spectacular fall.

He hoped Tanya saw the same things as he did.

The men started to approach him and Hank began to sweat because he saw what he feared in the man on the right's hand.

A spring loaded syringe.

The man on the left approached first saying "Hey, you Ok??" and he grabbed for Hank's left arm and head. The man on the right had obviously done this before with his partner because he was waiting for a clear shot to put the needle in.

Hank's left hand with the sap slammed up into Lefty's balls once, then hank's right hand with the closed balisong being used as a palm stick locked his assilent's left hand into a joint lock which Hank used to toss hit assailent into the legs of the man with the needle.

The man went were Hank wanted him to land. The man's wrist was broken and he was knocked out by the sudden fall as he landed on his chin.

Needle man skirted back, and Hank rolled forward crashing into Needle man's legs bringing them down in a heap.

The confusion lasted only for a moment, as Needle man was obviously a Judo student too, because he tried to gain a position of advantage.

Hank was having none of that and with his right hand still holding the balisong closed and using it as a palm stick he hammerfisted needle man's straight in the "Little friends" making him turn over and choke from the pain.

The hammerfist was very short and invisible unless you were watching and knew what you saw.

The entire incident took mere seconds, and as the closest observer other than tanya were either inside the building or more than 10 yds away, It looked like the 3 stooges.

Hank stood up, taking the man with the needle up with his arm in a joint lock.

Hank flashed the needle to Tanya and said "Lets get this guy and his friend to a hospital. I think they took a nasty fall."

Hank smiled and said "I think these guys may need a lawyer to sue Krispy Kreem for a slip and fall case..."