When Evil Prevails

Preface

Writer - Gabriel Shaytan

FX is a Rysher production in conjunction with Fireworks Entertainment Inc. and Winterset Productions Inc as well as Hallmark Entertainment.

Don’t own ‘em, aren’t bein’ paid.
 

         A cold wind blew through the darkened alleyways of New York City, the homeless drew their makeshift clothing tighter around their malnourished forms and shivered.  Darkness was falling, the time approaching when the city became more deadly.  A misspoken word or gesture could result in death as easily as just standing around on a street corner.

         Some were unaware of the danger, others left alone because the air of violence gathered around them like a cloak, they walked the streets without fear.

         Viktor Loubar was one, he was a shadow, a dangerous man.  He could become anyone, anytime, no one knew when or where he would show his face or the face of another.  He was an arms dealer, an expert in exotic weapons.  The deadlier the better.  It was his profession… and he liked it.

         From the moment he’d pulled the gun and put a bullet through his father’s skull he’d gained a reputation in the world of crime.  Using his father’s contacts he built up his own ties, his own network and allies, and people feared him.

         His short black hair rode over the top of his penetrating, ever moving grey eyes.  He stood in front of a grimy mirror, his six foot two inch frame slender but hardened by his existence on the wrong side of the law.  He was hunted, a man with no face, only a few had ever seen his real appearance and had lived to tell the tale.  The FBI, CIA, Interpol, MI5 and MI6, the KGB all of them hunted him, and all of them were corrupt, members willing to leak data about the whereabouts of their agents so he could escape… he was good for their business.

         Tonight the local cops were out in force, he'd underestimated his opponent, but he'd escaped, vowing vengeance for its own sake.  Not an easy, painless death but slow, torturous one, he wanted Rollie Tyler to beg for mercy and when he did… Loubar thought he might start on the assistant, Angela Ramirez, Tyler seemed to care for her.
 

         Unknowingly not far from where Viktor Loubar stood, Rollie Tyler paced across the floor of the loft, Angie was missing and he hadn't been able to reach her P.D.A.

         Bluey, Rollie's robotic dog barked and the door swung open, Rollie sighed in relief as he saw her standing there.

        ' Angie where were you?' he asked, moving across to the phone and picking it up.
        ' I wasn't gone long Rol, twenty minutes max.  I went to get some things from my apartment' Angela answered stubbornly.
        ' That's twenty minutes too long without you telling me Ange, you know what my nerves are like since…' he trailed off, not wanting to bring up bad memories.  It had been over four months since Viktor Loubar had raped Angela with Rollie's own face, in his bed.  It had taken Rollie several months to start feeling even remotely comfortable around Angela again, worried that she would see him and think he was Loubar, it had happened a few times when he'd come up on her without warning.
        ' Who are you calling?' she asked.
        ' Frank, to tell him you're all right' Rollie answered patiently.
        ' Rollie' Angie said in an exasperated tone.  Ever since Loubar had done what he had, Rollie had worried constantly when he couldn't contact her.  Even though it had been four months they hadn't really talked about some of the things that had happened, that had come of Loubar's display.
        ' I'm sorry Ange I couldn't help it' Rollie answered, talking into the phone quickly and then placing it back on the base.
        ' I guess it's my fault, I didn't notice my P.D.A was off until I was almost back here' Angie responded making her way to the kitchen and dropping her backpack on the couch.  ' Tea?' she asked putting the kettle on and grabbing two of the mugs labeled with the FX logo.
        ' Please' Rollie replied making his way over and sitting down.

        It had been four months since Angie had told him that nothing had changed, that was Angie, she wasn't going to let Loubar win, to destroy our friendship he thought.

        Things had changed though, things he was still trying to come to grips with, the most important being that Angela had unwittingly shown how much she loved him, that it was Loubar she'd slept with wasn't important, well it was, but she thought it was me he thought.  It had been a shock finding out that Loubar had used his face to seduce her, that he'd used her feelings to manipulate her into bed.  It made him angry and he tried not to think about it, if Loubar had shown himself he very well might have ripped out his throat with his teeth.

        Rollie admitted to himself that lately, and even before the incident he often found himself wondering about his assistant, his partner, his best friend in a more intimate way.  Something needed to be done but he didn't think she'd want to hear it, not yet anyway, their friendship needed to heal properly first.

        Angie handed over the cup, noticing again that Rollie seemed to be watching her without being obvious, he'd been doing it a lot lately and it was starting to make her feel nervous.

' Rollie, stop trying to watch me every second, I'm fine' she finished ' Have you any idea how nerve wracking that is?' she asked.

        Rollie had the good manners to look away, but after a few moments it became intolerable and he turned back.  ' Whenever you're around I can't help it.  I don't want anything else happening to you' he replied softly, looking into his cup, seeking an answer for the question he didn't know.
        ' Nothing is going to happen Rol, Loubar's run away, we beat him again' Angie answered, knowing that Rollie would never see it that way, not with the price she'd paid.
        ' We didn't beat him Ange, we both lost too much to claim that' Rollie replied looking at over at her with his dark eyes full of guilt.

         Angie saw the look in his eyes, one she'd grown to know well since the incident, it was one of guilt, she just couldn't seem to make him understand that it wasn't his fault, and if anything other than it was Loubar's, it was hers.
        Sliding down the couch to where he sat she moved closer, it was so hard!  Leaning over and resting her head against his shoulder almost set her shaking, not angry he'd called the police, he'd been genuinely worried and that showed he cared, it was one of the reasons she loved him.  As if she needed any more proof other than he'd looked after her since her father's death.

        They stayed sitting like that for some time, Rollie moving slightly to put an arm tentatively around her shoulders.  The little girl with the blue eyes and the shy smile was still there, it was just that a lot of bad things had happened, but her strength to go on was still there and he knew no one could take that.
        Finding his hand gently stroking the golden blonde locks that cascaded down, Rollie's mind was again assaulted by pictures of her, taken from different times from the last thirteen years, the time he'd known and grown to love her.

        Surprised when a knock came loudly at the loft door, Rollie rose from the couch like an uncoiling spring, he'd been wary of everyone lately, there should have been no way Loubar could have known what he had without help.
        ' Hey I was just getting comfortable' Angie said in a playful yet slightly forced tone, noticing Rollie turn to give a depressed sort of a smile at her before moving to the door.
        Angie moved over to the computer and looked at the screen, the outside camera showing Frank's car.  ' It's Frank' she called and Rollie pulled the door open.

        Detective first class Francis (Frank) Gatti walked through the open door and into the warmth and well lit loft.  Shaking hands with Rollie and walking with him as they made their way over to the couch, Frank spotted Angie over by the computer.
        ' Hey Angie.  Sarah sends her best' he called with a smile.  He remembered when he'd returned from holiday with his family only to be told what had happened, he was one of the few people that knew the whole story.  Mira knew, and Rollie of course, Vanduran had been informed and that was it.  The nurse at the small neighborhood clinic only knew that Angela had had a pregnancy test and that it was negative.
        ' Thanks Frank, tell her hi for me when you get home' Angie replied, moving across and sitting down close to Rollie, Frank was a good friend and he knew everything.
        ' How are things at the station?' Rollie asked, looking at Frank he could tell there was something the policeman wanted to say.
        ' Not bad.  I've got a new partner and so has Mira, he's driving her crazy' Frank said with a grin ' We're still working the same cases we've just got more people available now'
        ' How about your partner?' Rollie asked and noticed Frank fidget a bit.
        ' Great, a real addition to Midtown South' Frank answered and caught Rollie suppressing a grin ' Assuming he can find his way there' Frank finished.
        Rollie and Angie both laughed, both of them sounding forced, there hadn't been much to laugh about lately.  Frank looked at them and said ' How he passed the entrance test I have no idea, you know, I shouldn't tell you this but… we were the first on the scene, following some gun runners.  There must have been twenty or thirty of them, assault rifles and submachine guns and he suggested we charge them and take them out.  I don't think he's going to last too long, he IS a good shot though' Frank finished, getting another round of laughs and glad to see Angie enjoying herself as well, the mood had lightened a little at least.
        ' So what are you doing here?  I thought Sarah said something about going out tonight' Angie asked.
        ' One of the kids got sick so we cancelled.  I thought I hadn't been around for a week or so, thought I'd drop by and see how the business is treating you' Frank answered but Rollie saw the slight look Frank shot his way… something wasn't right.
        ' I'd better get this stuff sorted out ok Rol?' Angie said, picking up the bag she'd dropped earlier.
        ' Sure thing sweetie.  Just tell me if you're going out anywhere ok?' he asked pleadingly.

         Angie nodded, shooting a smile at him before saying a quick good-bye to Frank before heading upstairs.

        ' What's that about?' Frank questioned Rollie.
        ' She went out and I didn't know where she went, that's why I called you' Rollie answered.
        ' No, about the bag' Frank said explaining.
        ' Oh, she grabbed a few things from her apartment.  I asked her to stay here a while, thought it might help… you know' Rollie answered softly, hoping that Angie wouldn't hear.
        ' Rollie I know you mean well, but that could be dangerous' Frank said slowly.

         Rollie looked away, towards the stairs up which Angela had disappeared.
        ' He's back isn't he?' Rollie asked.
        ' An informant spotted him in the city two days ago.  We haven't found a trace of him yet though, we've issued an APB on him, and on the faces we know he uses other than yours' Frank replied.  Reaching over he placed a hand on the Aussie's shoulder.
        ' Thanks for the warning Frank.  I wonder how much good it will do us' he replied and Frank saw how close his friend was to coming apart.  He'd guessed that Rollie loved Angela and to him it was obvious that she returned the feeling, but now… how could Rollie do anything about it when it would only bring back memories of what had happened?
        ' Rollie, she loves you, it would never have happened if she didn't.  She's turned other guys down and made her decision stick, but never forget that it is you she loves' Frank said watching Rollie wince and knowing it hurt him to hear that.  ' I think you chose the right decision not doing anything about it straight away, giving your friendship time to heal, but you'll have to talk to her about it sometime otherwise it could blow up in your face'
        ' I don't know what to say Frank.  Even the mention of his name makes me so angry.  I can't stop thinking of what he did' Rollie admitted, glancing upstairs to where he could hear Angie moving around ' She means so much to me and our friendship is more important to me than anything else.  I just want her to be safe and happy… is that so much to ask?'
        ' In this world, with him around… it probably is' Frank answered, heading for the door ' Just talk to her' he suggested, leaving his friend to do some deep thinking.