Part 4 Scene 11

The dark van pulled in front of the warehouse. The three men in dark clothing exited the vehicle and pulled open the door, entering the building.

"Did you get him?" the tall, blond man said while he looked at the city map spread out in front of him.

One of the new arrivals stepped forward. "Yes. We dropped two grenades on him."

"And you made sure he was dead." It was a statement, not a question.

"He couldn't have survived," another of the men said.

"You didn't make sure?" The blond man's voice became sharp.

The third man sighed. "We didn't have a chance. . .too many witnesses."

The leader moved his gaze from the map to the men. "What witnesses?"

"Another man was caught in the explosion. And there was this old Chinese guy there who was trying to dig them out."

The blond man closed his eyes, fighting down his surge of anger. "You idiots. There were to be no witnesses and you were to make sure that this scum didn't walk away alive. You have screwed up on both counts."

"He's dead. He was buried under rubble."

"But you don't know that!" the man shouted, causing his subordinates to back away.

One of the men stepped forward. "Look, Brock, it's no big deal. The guy is out of the picture. He didn't have a chance to tell our plan to anyone."

"You don't know that." The man named Brock settled into a chair next to the table. "Okay. I want you to go back to the apartment and watch the guy's wife. If he's really dead the cops will show up to break the news to her."

The three men nodded and left the building. Out of the shadows, a man in a blue uniform stepped forward. Without turning to face him, Brock muttered, "Idiots. What do you think?"

"I think that you did the right thing. I can do some checking on my own, as well." The uniformed man stepped forward. "If there's doubt, do we call off the plan?"

"No," Brock grumbled. "We have a job to do. We have a great deal of money riding on making sure these negotiations don't take place. And we are going to make sure that we fulfill our end of the deal."

The uniformed man nodded in agreement and slid back into the shadows.

======================================

Part 4 Scene 12

Peter waited in the shadows. He had no desire to stand in the sunlight. The darkness matched his mood. He turned as he heard the sound of a car entering the alley and recognized it as Kermit's Corvair.

The man in sunglasses climbed out of his vehicle, his mercenary senses taking inventory of his surroundings. He immediately detected eyes on his back. Without turning around he smiled. "You have a lot of people worried about you."

Peter stepped away from the brick wall and approached his friend. "I know. I'm sorry about that."

"Don't tell me. Tell Mary Margaret. . .and Jody." Kermit shut the car door and walked to the hood of the Corvair, leaning against it. "So why did you feel the need to drag me away from the very special lunch I had planned with a certain unnamed co-worker?"

"I need your help."

"In trouble again, kid?" Kermit shook his head, knowing the answer.

"Not me. Donny."

"The explosion?" Kermit's voice held a touch of surprise.

"Yes. He's been hurt."

"Where is he?"

"The Ancient is taking care of him." Peter could barely say the words.

"You should have stayed at the scene and called it in." It was a half-hearted scolding.

"If we had, Donny would probably be dead right now."

Kermit nodded, needing no further explanation. "Who's after him and why?"

"I don't know. We haven't had a chance to talk. But whatever it is, it's making him the target of some very dangerous men."

"You bring him in and we can put him in police custody," the ex-mercenary suggested.

Peter shook his head. "No. I don't like that idea at all."

"Didn't think you would." Kermit grinned. "I didn't like it much myself. But the job requires I offer." Kermit pushed the sunglasses back up on his nose. "So how can I help?"

"I need to keep Donny safe. . .and Lula as well." Peter rubbed his forehead, trying to fight off a growing headache.

"Any ideas?"

"I was hoping you could help me out on that one, my friend."

Kermit took off his glasses. "Ideas, huh?"

Peter leaned against the car. "Surely your colorful past can be of some help."

Kermit gave the younger man a sly smile. "I might have some ideas up my sleeve." He slid the dark green shades back onto his face. "Let me give some thought to this." He pulled out his car keys and opened the door to the green sedan. "Where can I find you?"

Peter pulled out his phone. "Call me. I'll be at. . ." Peter hesitated to the next words. "I'll be waiting with Donny at Lo Si's." He couldn't help the sour tone that entered his voice.

Kermit frowned at the man's words. "Problem?"

Peter didn't say anything as he pushed himself away from the car and made his way down the alley. Watching his friend's back as he left, Kermit shrugged and climbed into the Corvair, already in the process of developing a scheme that could help Donny Double D with his predicament, whatever it might be.

=============================

Part 4 Scene 13

Peter didn't know how long he had stared at the building. While he knew that Donny needed his help, he dreaded the thought of having to face Lo Si. Taking a deep breath, he climbed the stairs and entered, stopping at the Ancient's apartment door. As was seldom the case, it was closed. He shut his eyes and raised a hand, preparing to knock. Before he could complete the action, the door opened.

"Ah, Peter, I'm glad that you have returned." Lo Si pulled the door open, allowing him entry.

Upon seeing the elderly eyes, Peter felt the anger surge again. Consciously making the effort to push it back into place, he walked past the man and into the room. "Donny?"

"He regained consciousness but is sleeping now."

"Will he be okay?"

The Ancient nodded, hands clasped together in front of him. "He needs rest but he should be fine."

"I need to hide him."

"He can not travel now."

Peter kept his voice cold and steady. "As soon as he's able, we must leave."

Lo Si nodded and then took a step toward the younger man. "We must talk."

Peter's anger rose. "No. There is nothing to talk about. What you have done speaks for itself."

"You do not understand." Peter ignored the comment and approached the sleeping man lying on the couch. Lo Si followed. "You do not want to understand."

"I understand what I need to. I understand that you took my father from me. I understand that you abandoned me to an orphanage. I understand that you have manipulated every facet of my life over the past four years." Peter pushed the sleeves up on his jacket, displaying the scars burned into his skin. His voice quivered with rage. "I understand that you used me. . .maneuvered me into taking these!"

A groan came from the sleeping man lying next to him. Peter doused the flames growing inside and kneeled next to his friend. Bringing a palm to the injured man's chest, Peter spoke softly. "Donny, it's Peter. Can you hear me?"

The closed eyelids fluttered and then opened, but saw nothing. Peter's hand pressed more firmly against the man's body so that he could feel the beat of the man's heart. It was strong and steady. "Come on, Donny. Time to wake up."

The eyes finally focused on him. "Pete?" Donny tried to rise and immediately regretted the motion. "That is. . .most uncomfortable," he groaned as he collapsed back against the cushions.

"You were hurt. Lo. . .the Ancient has given you something to help heal you."

Donny looked at the old man. "Some of those herbs? I'm allergic."

Lo Si smiled. "Do not worry about that. That is no longer a problem."

Confusion crossed Donny's features. He raised a shaky hand to his bandaged head and grimaced at the pain of the contact. "What. . .what happened?"

"There was an explosion. Men were after you. They were trying to kill you," Lo Si answered.

Donny's eyes grew wider with the information. "They found me."

"Who found you?" Peter asked insistently.

Donny looked around the room as if a spy were listening in on their conversation. Then he whispered, "One of them is a member of your former profession, Pete. The others I'm afraid I cannot identify."

Peter narrowed his eyes in confusion. "A cop? You're saying. . .?"

"One of the guys who was chasing me is a cop."

Peter had experienced his share of run-ins with dirty cops so Donny's news did not shock him, but the idea that a police officer was involved in the murder attempt on Donny's life was definitely a cause for concern. He shook his head. "Maybe you'd better start from the beginning.

Donny pushed himself gingerly up on the couch. "I. . .I was partaking of a refreshing beverage at the Shot Glass bar when I was approached by an unknown gentleman about an enticing employment opportunity."

"What kind of opportunity?"

"This I do not know." Donny shrugged.

Peter closed his eyes, reminding himself that he was supposed to have attained a higher level of patience upon taking the brands. "So what happened?"

"I was, shall we say, reluctant to accept the offer."

"Why?"

"I'm a married man, Pete. I have responsibilities now. I have to be more selective about my business opportunities. Besides, if I were to associate with an individual as suspicious as the guy who solicited my help Lula would kill me."

Peter nodded. "So he never told you what he wanted you to do."

Donny shook his head. Peter frowned. "Then why were the men after you this afternoon? If you didn't know anything, they had no reason to try to kill you."

"Ah, but you are mistaken, Pete. Just because he did not reveal their intentions to me does not mean that I was unable to overhear certain details that the individuals in question would wish to remain unknown."

Peter smiled. "I should have known. You're good, Donny. . .real good. So what did you overhear?"

"It's a nefarious plot, Pete. The men at your father's place. . .one of them was the cop. I've seen him in his patrol car a few times around the docks. He and his companions were met by the man who solicited my assistance. Their intention is to perpetuate the assassination of a group soon to pay a visit to our fair city."

"The Chinese trade delegation?"

"I do believe that is their target." Donny nodded.

"Do you know how it's going to happen?"

"I heard mentioned the use of an explosive device." Donny's eyes flashed fear.

"A bomb? Where?" Peter felt his hope rise.

"This I do not know." Donny's answer deflated the Shaolin instantly.

"Can you identify the others?"

"I believe my recollection is sufficient. And Pete. . ." Donny's voice faltered for a moment. "They saw me watching them. Which is why they are so eager to ascertain my whereabouts. That's why I've been hidin' at Bernie's."

Peter sat in silence. Before he could speak again, his cell phone rang. "Caine," he answered.

"It's me." Peter instantly recognized Kermit's voice.

"I was just getting ready to call you. We have a bad cop who's after Donny." Peter prepared to give the ex-mercenary a detailed explanation. Instead, the man's response kept him off-center.

"Then it is a good thing I called," Kermit said flatly. "A John Doe was just brought in to Nicky's."

"So?"

"It's a male. . .burn victim. General build is very similar to Donny's."

Peter closed his eyes, suddenly realizing what Kermit was insinuating. "No."

He heard Kermit sigh, the man's voice tinged with impatience. "It's a good plan, Peter."

"It'd be too hard to pull off."

"We have a body. We have the hard part out of the way."

"Donny would never agree to it."

"If a bad cop is after Donny, then we have no choice. He'll be dead if we don't do it now." Kermit was silent for a moment, waiting for some response from Peter. None came. Taking a deep breath, he continued. "This could be our only opportunity. If we don't take the shot now, we may not have the chance to pull it off later."

Peter said nothing. Kermit sighed. "If you want, I'll tell Lula."

Peter felt a lump in his throat. He opened his eyes and looked at the injured man lying on the couch. Donny was eyeing Peter, trying desperately to understand the half of the conversation he was hearing, knowing that it dealt directly with him. "What? What's going on?" Donny finally asked. "Is it Lula? Did they hurt her?"

Peter shook his head. Hearing Donny ask about Lula's well-being made Peter suddenly realize that Donny's wife could be in as much trouble as the snitch. If the men after Donny realized that the man was still alive and Lula was a key to getting at him, she would become an easy target. Coming to this conclusion made the difficult decision for Peter. Taking a deep breath, he looked apologetically at Donny and said into the receiver of the phone, "Do it."

Lo Si, standing in the background, closed his eyes and clasped his hands in front of him, nodding. Peter never saw the action.

**********************************

Part 4 Scene 14

The knock on Lula's door caused fear to pierce her heart. She had to fight the urge to run in the opposite direction. She grabbed the skillet for a second time that day and peeked through the peephole. When she saw the dark sunglasses of Kermit Griffin, partial relief flooded her. Opening the door, she put on her best face of aggression, but laid the skillet on the couch.

"So Donny's in trouble with the cops," she muttered to the somber man.

"Lula," Kermit said as he walked by the woman and into the small apartment. "We need to talk."

"How much is it gonna to take to bail out the little weasel this time?" Lula responded, ignoring the serious tone of the man's voice.

Kermit turned toward the woman and sat her down on the couch. "Something's happened."

Lula felt the sudden swell of a lump in her throat. "To Donny? He's okay, though, right?"

Kermit shook his head slowly. "Lula, I'm sorry."

Lula couldn't see past the sunglasses covering the man's eyes but she knew instinctively what he was trying to tell her. In denial, she stood quickly and shouted, "No! I don't wanna hear it."

Kermit followed her and put his hands on her shoulders. "Lula, please, you need to hear this."

Lula's hands covered her ears. "No!"

Kermit turned her toward him gently. His hands grasped hers and pulled her fists away from her ears. "Someone was after Donny. There was a bombing. I'm sorry, Lula, but he didn't make it. Donny's dead."

=========================

End Ends and Means I

Back to KFTLC Page