Morgan watched as Peter went to the car, discovered his police radio missing, and read the note Morgan had left. Seeing the blood drain from his enemy's face through binoculars, Morgan smiled.
When Kermit arrived, Morgan had become excited. Killing Kermit Griffin was a free bonus to Morgan's employers. Killing the young cop, well, he'd just use him for target practice.
As the sun set, the temperature also fell, but the cold didn't bother Morgan. The fire from anger burned through his veins, keeping him warm through the night. The two men with him, however, sat huddled around a small fire, pulling their coats tighter around them.
"You two get the traps fixed?" Morgan asked harshly.
"Yeah, Morgan. But what about that other fella?"
"Don't worry about him. I'll personally take care of that one." Morgan answered, picking up his knife, its edge shining in the firelight. "That one, I think I'll skin." The last words hissed out.
The two others shivered, no longer aware of the cold. They were cognizant of only the deep hatred boiling in the cold blooded murderer in front of them.
Under the blanket of darkness, Kermit made his way to the boathouse. After the field surgery on Peter, he had switched to mercenary mode. This was a no-holds-barred mission. As he collected the different materials needed, his mind went back to when he had first dealt with Morgan.
*****
The Company had heard rumors of one of their own had traded sides. The commander of the special unit called Paul and Kermit into his office one day, "Morgan has caught several operatives and is holding them captive though we don't know what he is doing to them. Paul we need you to find out." The commander paused, watching Blaisdell's face for any reaction; when Paul didn't respond, he continued. "Information has been received that Morgan has a place in Africa. I will give you two other men and back it up with a troop. But," he stressed, "You must get in there first."
The small group found themselves on their way to Africa and on their arrival, found more than they had bargained for.
The plantation was fenced off, the fence charged with electricity and covered with razor wire. Using specialized tools, the wires were cut after a small frame was built that would prevent any interruption in the flow of power; Morgan may have sensors on the wires.
As the group moved closer to the house, shots were heard nearby. Peering through the high sage, what they saw sickened them. Morgan and another man were bent over a body on the ground. Morgan held a bowie knife at the fallen man's head and proceeded to scalp him. Buzzards flew overhead, creating shadows that danced in a circle on the ground.
"What about that other one?" the man said as watching Morgan peel the hair off the dead victim like a hunter would skin an animal.
Looking up, Morgan peered around, his white teeth shining in the sun. "We'll get 'em. He couldn't get too far." Morgan signaled toward a truck parked in a clearing.
A truck pulled up and the dark-skinned driver listened to Morgan's instructions of taking the lifeless body and feeding it to the tigers Morgan kept in cages behind the plantation home. The man obeyed, keeping an eye out for any hidden surprises Morgan liked to leave.
Morgan and the other man slung their rifles casually over their shoulders. They walked off, following the trail of the next target.
Paul signaled by hand for the group to back up, his cast iron stomach turning to plastic and ready to empty. "Kermit, you and Mitchell find that other man they are hunting. Smitty, you come with me. We'll meet back at the camp at," Paul checked his watch "1600 hours."
Kermit and Mitchell headed in Morgan's direction. Thirty minutes later, they crossed ahead of Morgan, finding the prey huddled in a clump of vines. The man had been shot in the shoulder, clutching his right arm to his chest. The glasses he was wearing wore were covered with dirt, and an earpiece was missing, causing the glasses to be lopsided.
Fear was written over the man's face when he saw Kermit and Mitchell, both with their weapons drawn.
"It's OK. I'm Griffin, we've come to help." When the man didn't move, Kermit continued, "Listen, Morgan isn't too far behind. Come on, we have to get out of here!"
Click Click. The sound of metal rubbing on metal, bullet loading into the chamber brought both men's heads around. Mitchell lay beside Morgan's feet, his neck rimmed with draining blood.
"Well, well. What have we here? The infamous Kermit Griffin. I guess your teacher Blaisdell is here with you, also. Well, let's go find him. Oh, by the way, let me introduce you to your…" he paused for effect, "fellow prey, Mr. Blake, with the CIA."
Motioning with the rifle he had aimed at Kermit's head, the two rose and started walking back the way they had come.
Paul and Smitty found the house, its white marble exterior rising above a well-manicured lawn. Guards stood at the door; more walked the grounds. The two men reconnoitered the area and were preparing to leave when the jeep with Morgan and his friends drove up. Paul cursed silently when he saw Kermit and another prisoner in the back of the vehicle.
They watched the two men being unloaded and pushed toward the back of the house. Following under the cover of brush and vines, they saw Kermit and Blake shoved into a small shed, then watched as a padlock was placed in the hasp attached to the door.
"We have to get them out." Paul whispered. "Let's get back to camp; we can make our plans there."
"I don't think so, Paul. Look." Smitty pointed to a gathering of men, who were fanning out in a search pattern. "If we're going to do something, we need to do it now."
Paul nodded, "OK. Did you bring your toys?"
"Never leave home without them," the young sandy-haired man stated with a smile.
Paul moved off, trying to avoid the search party. Smitty moved in another direction to get a better advantage for his assault.
BOOM! The earth shook from the blast, sending dirt and clumps of grass scattering. Bodies flew through the air, landing with thuds onto the hard-packed soil. Those not caught in the blast scurried around, their leaders shouting orders. Morgan ran out of the house, his visitor close on his heels.
"Get to the shed!" Morgan shouted as another blast went off closer to the house.
Paul waited until the first explosion, then ran to the shed. The chaos gave him cover. He reached the small building and shot the lock off, then kicked the door open.
"I knew you'd do that," Kermit commented, smirking.
"Come on. We don't have much time," Paul encouraged, and ushered Kermit, Blake and two other prisoners out the door.
The second blast provided them with more cover as they ran to the jungle. Shouting could be heard as people tried to figure out where the grenades were coming from. The escaping group found Smitty as he lobed another grenade into a group of forming soldiers.
*****
Kermit remembered getting away as a company of UN soldiers overran the facility, capturing Morgan. They never found the visitor, and Morgan never revealed who the man was -- but Kermit and Paul both suspected he was the man behind Morgan's compound.
Later, based on testimony from Paul, Kermit, and Blake, Morgan had been sentenced to life in prison.
