The team was smaller than Jack had hoped.  Vanduren had given him as many officers as possible -- considering the circumstances, Jack realized the Captain had pulled everything he had to get as many officers as he could on the team.
    He must really care about Rollie and Angie, he thought.
    But the team was still small.
    Fourteen officers stood in front of Jack, awaiting instructions.  With Jack, they would make a total team of fifteen.  "All right," said Jack, loudly.  "Team A, you five, you'll take the first warehouse, number 25A.  Team B, take warehouse 25B.  I'll lead Team C, and we'll be getting the big one -- number 26.
    "I want you to examine every nook and cranny.  These warehouses may look empty, but I assure you, one of these three must be full.  If you see any signs of recent habitation; new locks, footprints, any sounds ... notify me immediately.  We are looking for two people: Angela Ramirez and Rollie Tyler."  He held up their pictures.  "They're being held by one Victor Loubar, a weapons smuggler."  He held up a third picture.  The officer studied all three closely. "Be careful.  Loubar is dangerous, and is incredibly smart.  He has evaded capture or death a number of times."
    Jack saw the officers nod as he spoke.  They realized the seriousness of the situation.  They were a competent group, from what he could see.  He knew a few of them personally; they were good people.
    Hopefully, good enough.

    Angie's first impression of the room was it was dark.
   The Loubar pushed them through the doorway, and shut the door behind himself.  The lock clicked shut.
    It took Angie a moment for her eyes to adjust.  The first thing she could make out was a long table, stretching away from them.  None of the chairs around the table were filled except for one, at the far end.  The person sat turned away from them, staring at the wall.  He was silhouetted against the light from the only light source, a table lamp, just to his right.
    She felt Rollie step forward, toward the man.
    The man's voice was clear, and ominous.  "Don't move."
    It was Loubar's voice.
    Rollie froze.  Then, he slowly moved in front of Angie.  "Loubar?" he said.  His voice was quiet, and sounded scared.
    Loubar still didn't turn around.  "I trust your accommodations were adequate."
    Rollie said nothing.  Angie felt around and grabbed his hand, hanging by his side.  She squeezed tightly.  He squeezed back.
    "I'd like to thank you, Angela," said Loubar.  "Fine work you did."
    For a long moment, it was silent.  Angie could feel her heart beating hard in her chest.  She squeezed Rollie's hand even tighter.
    "Come over here.  I'd like to show you something."
    Angie glanced up at Rollie.  She could see the fear in his eyes.  Slowly, they moved forward the length of the room.  Angie's heart was pounding so hard she felt it was going to burst out of her chest.
    As they neared him, Loubar still did not turn around.  "Don't be afraid," he said.  "It's only me ... just an old friend."  His voice rose and fell like a wave in the ocean, but Angie could detect the menace just beneath its surface.
    They were about three feet from Loubar's chair when suddenly he stood up, and turned to look at them.
    Angie gasped, and nearly screamed.
    Loubar grinned.  "My dear Angela," he purred, "what is it that frightens you so?  It's not my fault ... it's your boyfriend's ... "  He glanced at Rollie, and raised an eyebrow, as if encouraging him to say something.
    "Oh God," said Angie, covering her mouth at the sight of Loubar.
    A deep red gash ran from the base of Loubar's right eye, near his nose, down his cheek and neck, ending just at his shoulders.  The skin around the wound was torn and ripped.  It made Angie's stomach turn when she looked at it.
    "This is your fault, Tyler," said Loubar.  "That river wasn't as nice and clear as I'd thought it was.  This -- is the result of running into a little bit of debris on the bottom of the riverbed."
    "You got ... that ... the first time you escaped from us?" Rollie said, bewildered.
    Loubar nodded, eyes wide.  He was chuckling softly.  "But this wasn't the only damage you made me experience," he said.  "That gunshot ... in the shoulder ... it had me out of business for almost a year."
    "That wasn't my ... !" Rollie began, but Loubar interrupted him.  "Yes, yes.  My dear friend Elena did it," he said.  "Picky picky.  But you've always carried the blame in my heart." He said it melodically, as if he was going to break into song.
    Angie could see he was playing with them.  Why? she wondered.  "When did you start the ... army?" she asked, quietly.
    "When I was shot," Loubar said, annoyed.  "Doesn't it make sense?  I had to keep my operations going.  So I met some people.  We made a pact.  Some money exchanged hands."  He waved his hands at their surroundings.  "This is our final product."
    "Now what?" said Rollie, his voice gaining strength.  "You're getting Angie to hack into all those computer systems.  What's your next step, Loubar?"
    Loubar raised an eyebrow, and moved closer to them, slowly.  Although he was shorter than Rollie, and only just above Angie's height, he seemed to tower over them.  When he spoke, his voice was just above a whisper.  "Why should I tell you?"
    Angie didn't know what to say, and she had the feeling Rollie didn't either.
    Loubar looked at them both, then stepped back.  His tone lightened.  "Well, what do you think I'll do?" he said, laughing.  "I have a world of secrets at my fingertips ... imagine the ideas I can sell, the top secret information, the things I can manipulate ... all open, ready and waiting!"
    "Selling?" said Angie.  "It all comes down to money?"
    "What else?" said Loubar, shrugging, laughing.  "Think about it ... it's my living.  I need to live.  I need a good life."
    "They'll find out," said Rollie.  "They'll push you out of your systems once they know you're in there."
    "Oh, don't call me stupid, Tyler!" growled Loubar, his eyes darkening.  "Of course they'll find out!  That's why I have to get all my data now."  He bit his lip, thinking.  "I'll show you ... would you like that?"  He reached into his pocket, and withdrew a tiny remote control.  He pressed a button.  Lights in the ceiling flicked on.  From behind Rollie and Angie there came a buzzing sound.  They whirled around ...
    Angie's eyes widened ...
    The wall behind them seemed to be opening up.  She watched as another room was revealed.  When she realized what was inside the room, she understood Loubar.
    "Computers," she said.  "A huge computer system.  You're going to store all your information in there?"
    "Exactly," said Loubar.  "Quite a departure from my regular line of work, isn't it?  It's interesting ... I'm letting the other Victors go off in a direction I'd never have even thought of exploring.  Computer hacking ... "  He made a mock sigh, and rolled his eyes.  "To think I used to have to actually do things for a living ... smuggling weapons, working for my money ... now look at me.  I get to sit around and let others do the work!"
    "That doesn't sound like you," said Rollie, frowning.
    "You only met me once, remember?" said Loubar, raising an eyebrow.  "How do you know the real me?"
    There was silence.
    "But I am keeping you from your work," said Loubar to Angie as he sat back down.  "You must finish your job ... then I'll be done with you."
    "Done with us?" Angie repeated.
    "Yes," said Loubar.  "Didn't I just say that?"
    "Then what?" said Rollie.
    Loubar shrugged.  "I'll be done with you two.  I guess we'll have to kill you ... "
 
 
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