When Evil Prevails

Section 9

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.
 

         Despite how tired she'd actually been, the night's sleep had done a great deal of good and even though she was awake early like normal, Angie felt better than she had for days.  Heading for the shower and luxuriating in the warmth, letting the water bathe her head to toe.
        Taking time to get her hair in order, a light shampoo and conditioning and then used an Aloe Vera moisturising solution on the rest of her body, gently rubbing it into her skin.  After dressing, feeling much better for the shower she found that Mira was actually up and getting breakfast ready.
        ' You're up early' Angie said in greeting.
        ' Yeah well, you are too' Mira replied with a smile, handing Angie a cup of tea she'd just finished ' So, feel better?  You definitely look it.  Might even catch Rollie looking like that' she finished with a laugh at Angie's expression.
        ' He's already caught Mira, neither of you recognised it though' Angie answered with a smug expression.
        ' I guess that's true, I probably should have known when he dumped Danni'
        ' So… what's for breakfast?'
        ' Weren't you meant to be the host?'
        ' Oh yeah.  Ok, let's see what we've got' Angie replied diving into the cupboards.
 

         Rollie fidgeted, never one to just sit around with nothing to do, he found it unbearable.  He'd already finished working on the gags he'd been assigned, working on them several hours before he was happy with how they were turning out.
        ' What I really want is to be at the loft, at least then I could browse through the VR programs or something' Rollie muttered.
        ' I know how you feel Rol, being a cop teaches you patience when you're on a stakeout but when you're just sitting around it's so boring' Frank answered from next to his friend.
        ' Let's go out, I need some air'
        ' Right' Frank answered flicking the switch on the answering machine.
         The two guys pounded the pavement, walking to the small shopping district near Frank's place.  Walking along, mostly just talking quietly as they went, looking through shop windows.  Eventually Frank got tired of tiptoeing around the subject and just asked his friend straight out.
        ' So how did things go yesterday?'
        ' Good, at least she didn't cringe after she knew it was me.  I think that having her not trust me was the worst thing I've ever had happen with her, no, it was the look in her eyes… she was afraid of me Frank'
        ' Not you Rollie, Loubar'
        ' You know we're going to have to kill him don't you?'

         Frank stopped and Rollie walked on a few paces before he realised his friend was no longer by his side.
        ' What?' Rollie asked.
        ' You know my job's to bring him in Rol, unless he gives reason I'll have to do that'

        Rollie looked at Frank, his brown eyes growing darker as he looked at the policeman.  They stood, staring at each other for several moments before Rollie said ' That's not good enough Frank' and turned, continuing to walk.

        Frank wondered at his friend, this was a side of the fun loving, caring, mechanically astounding effects artist he hadn't seen before.  In all the times they'd been in danger or handling a tough case he'd never seen this side, one who so calmly suggested that they kill someone.
        Hurrying to catch up, Frank stayed silent for a moment before asking ' You think that Angie would want that?'

        ' She shot me thinking it was him, he raped her… what do you think?'
        ' Why Rol?  I know the things that have happened with you and him and Angie but if we put him away…'
        '  It'll never end Frank, don't you get that.  Until his body is in the ground, nothing will make Angie trust me like she did and if we're going to find out what we feel that'll be the only way it's going to happen'
        ' What about the detectors?'
        ' Angela knows better than all of us how appearances can be deceiving and generated signals can be manipulated'
        ' So you're not sure this is one hundred percent positive?'
        ' It's not, but it's close and Angela's willing to go the extra little bit because she wants to believe.  If I tell her I'm me and the machine agrees then she'll trust me… to a point but no further, definitely not as far as she'll need to when we have that talk'

         They continued on in silence, Frank wrapped deep in though as he pondered what his friend had just told him.
        ' You know there is another way' Rollie said getting his attention.
        ' What is it?'
        ' If I die, she'll know it's Loubar'
        ' That's not funny Rol, you know what that would do to her'
        ' Just making you aware of the consequences of not taking the other suggestion.  Somehow he'll get to me sooner or later, or to Angie again and I'll do something stupid to get her back and he'll get us both'
        ' Well you'd better not'
        ' I won't be able to help it Frank, I love her and I'll do anything to have her safe'
 

        Angela worked on the program, fingers moving rapidly across the keyboard, re-writing the program, compacting it and increasing its speed.  It was almost done, she had thought it would take longer and wondered how long it would have taken if she'd continued last night, quite a bit longer probably, she had been pretty tired.
Mira had brought up a drink and Angie sipped it as she finished the last few lines off, sitting back and watching as it compiled.  The counter came up with a few errors and she went back, working through the code and finding that last night's effort had probably made her miss mistakes she would have caught easily in the morning.
        Quickly patching the errors, she watched as it ran through, once more compiling and compressing the program… Success at last.
        Running the program she took a shot of herself and watched as it ran against the one she'd put in the database.  After about eight seconds it was done, a match found.  Angie smiled the half-smile that she used when she'd pulled off something good and checked to make sure it would fit in the P.D.A's memory, finding that after Senjari's modifications there was ample room for it to fit.
        ' Mira' she called, rolling across to the edge and looking down for the dark haired detective.

         Mira heard Angie's call and popped up off the couch, heading up the stairs to where the blonde was sitting looking at the P.D.A she held in her hand.  She saw Angie click the photo button and saw the results return to the P.D.A's screen a few moments later.
        ' That was fast' Mira said comparing it to how long the old program had taken.
        ' That's what we needed' Angie said ' I'd better call Rollie'
 

        The answering machine took Angie's message and she was slightly disappointed that she wasn't able to talk to Rollie and give him the good news herself.
        ' They aren't there Mira'
        ' Knowing Rollie he got fed up of waiting around and dragged Frank off somewhere'
        ' He could have stayed last night you know'
        ' It's his place he could have kicked us out too, but we both know why he didn't stay'
        ' Yeah, because of me' Angie finished angrily ' When is he going to learn that I WANT him around?'
        ' Maybe when you tell him that'

         Frank was still walking alongside Rollie, they hadn't spoken since Rollie's last words about killing Loubar.  Frank could see his point, and knew that Leo, for all his time being a cop would know Rollie was right.  Loubar WOULD find a way to get Rollie back, and he'd used Angela before… that thought made Frank mad, almost mad enough to kill Loubar… almost and Rollie's reasoning that he'd try to use her again seemed borne out by the way Loubar had tried to split them up.
         He glanced sideways at the taller man, seeing the slight scowl he wore, he knew that his friend took the blame for all this mess with Angela and Loubar and that he would indeed do ANYTHING to keep Angela from harm again.
        ' Let's stop a minute Rollie' Frank said sitting down on a small retaining wall.
        ' Out of breath?'
        ' No, I want to talk'
        ' About what?  I want to kill Loubar.  You want to bring him in.'
        ' I hear what you're saying Rollie and I know you're right but that's not what I want to talk about.'
        ' What then?'
        ' Angie'
        ' What about her Frank?'
        ' You love her right?'
        ' Of course I do'
        ' I don't want her to go through life without you'
        ' Me either' Rollie said with a slight grin.
        ' I'm serious Rol and I think that you're losing sight of what's important'
        ' What the hell does that mean?'
        ' You want to kill Loubar right?'
        ' More than anything'
        ' Exactly, shouldn't you be concentrating on helping Angie first, and worrying about Loubar later?'

         Rollie sat looking at his friend, Frank was right, he'd been so blinded by the fury that Loubar's actions had instilled in him that he'd lost sight of the important things, Angie and getting back together with her.
        ' I know you hate him for what he did, and he deserves it but Angie will need your love and support more than ever now'
        ' I'll be there, we start work again tomorrow and I still don't know whether to back out of it or not'
        ' I think Angie would have some very harsh words for you if you did'
        ' That's the only reason I haven't quit, and why I probably wont'
        ' I think we should head back, if Angie isn't finished, maybe Senjari has some of his stuff done that we could go and pick up'
        ' Sure, let's go'
 

        When Rollie heard Angie's message on the answering machine he looked over at Frank who also had a smile on his face.
        ' Let's grab some lunch and then it will be time to see if this is really going to work or not' Rollie suggested.         ' I think it will, I hope it does'
        ' Me too Frank, me too'