When Evil Prevails

Section 27

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.
 

        Rollie glanced at the room they'd been left in, it was small, old and musty.  He didn't like what that intimated one bit.  It seemed to him that if they wanted to leave them there, they could all scream their lungs out and no one would hear.

        Moving back to where the man lay on the floor he checked his breathing again and sat down, considering the situation, trying to formulate a plan.  He'd already rifled the engineer's clothes for anything of use, and his own small tool set was still in his jacket but they would only help so much.

        Steven looked across the small room at his effect's expert, he'd heard things about Tyler, that was why he'd hired the man, but he'd never thought to see such a contradiction, he understood what the man had done… and more importantly why.  Whatever happened, Tyler was going to get out, otherwise…
        ' How is he?' Steven asked.
        ' He'll be fine Mr Spielberg.  He should be coming around pretty soon, actually I thought he would have by now but he'll be ok' Rollie replied not aware of his automatically polite address.
        ' Call me Steven, with what we're going through I think we can drop the formalities Mr Tyler'
        ' Thanks… call me Rollie.  Mr Tyler's always been my dad, it doesn't seem to fit me'
        ' That was a smart thing you did, knocking him out' Steven answered, pointing to the man ' At first I thought you'd gone over to their side'
        ' Just keeping him alive was my concern… we need to be thinking of a way out of here'
        ' I think that's your department, amazing escapes and all seem to be in your line of work'

        Rollie flashed a grin at the director and started investigating the small room more thoroughly.  There were a few old spray cans and several cinder blocks, obviously for repairing those that were beginning to give way.

        A plan began to formulate as he picked up one of the cans and shook it.  Hearing a swishing from inside he removed the cap from the end and sprayed a small amount of the fluid onto his hand, gently wafting it so he could smell it, since the labels had long since corroded away.
        ' Oil I'd say, or something like it' Rollie muttered lifting another can, about to spray his hand when he stopped, lifted the nozzle closer and examined it and the coating around the end.
        ' What is it?' Steven asked stepping closer.
        ' I think it's glue, that spray on adhesive you can get'
        ' So what's the plan?'
        ' Nothing at the moment' he answered, putting the cans out of sight, hearing footfalls outside.
 

        Angie swept passed Horton, spinning on her skates, hot dogging through the people on the sidewalk.  She knew that he'd seen her and if she didn't pass him then he'd begin to wonder what was going on, she was the only one on blades at the moment and she stuck out.  Her disguise seemed to have tricked him so far though and as she sat down, removing one skate and apparently peering inside the boot, muttering about shoddy workmanship, she noticed that he paid little attention as he walked past her.

        She'd already followed him for about ten minutes, nothing to her on her blades, but the weather was starting to get colder and she hoped that the man wouldn't wonder what she was still doing out if it started to rain.

        Replacing the skate she looked around, they were in a slightly run down looking area… ' Typical… why can't they ever be in a nice penthouse or something?' she muttered, standing and lifting her bag, another part of her disguise, now emptied of anything suspicious, and taking off down the street.  She passed Horton again and kept on, moving down to a small through road, glanced back and couldn't see the man anywhere.

        ' He's gone, I'm going back for a better look' Angie reported.
        ' We've stopped a few blocks up' Mira answered ' Be careful'
        ' Right'

        Skating up the opposite side of the street she looked down the small alley, seeing the man disappear around a corner.  ' Ok guys, he's taken a back alley, I'm following him'
        ' No Angie, if he sees you he's going to know something's wrong'
        ' Too late' Angie answered, moving into the alley, shoes in place, rollerblades in her bag.
        ' Damn it… Angie hold it until we get there'
        ' There's no way I'm losing him Mira, he's our only link to where Rollie might be'

        Sliding up to the end wall, Angela removed her bag and retrieved a small mirror, using it to peer around the corner.  The man was walking away, down the alley.  He crossed to the other side of the narrow lane and walked up the steps into the small two storeyed house.  Relaying the information she moved closer, hoping for something more concrete.
        Looking out of the window, Clem noticed a movement underneath the window and frowned, Horton hadn't done many jobs, usually he just worked the transport and it seemed that perhaps he'd been followed.
        ' Did you notice anyone following you Horton?' he asked calmly, he hadn't caught sight of the person but anyone so close to the house must be nosing around.
        ' No.  There was something I thought was a bit odd, a woman, on those rollerblade things.  She should have been miles away by the time I got here but she seemed to be having problems with them and she kept pace with me, at least until I came down the alley, she'd already passed me by then'
        ' She followed you, I just caught sight of someone outside the window'
        ' What do you want me to do?'
        ' Nothing, she knows you now, I'll let John handle it, he's got the right attitude'
        ' Another hostage?'
        ' Female hostages are always useful' he finished, stepping from the room and after a moment speaking with John, watched with satisfaction as he took the back door, doubling around to catch her.
 

        Mira pulled the van to a stop opposite the small alleyway Angela had taken, worried now that she hadn't heard from Angela in the last few minutes.
        ' I think we should take a look around' Mira said, looking back down the truck to where Tony sat.
        ' Yeah… Mira, I think we should'
 

        Angela looked around as the hand descended on her arm, seeing one of the men who'd taken Rollie, knowing him from when they'd left the set.  Somehow they'd realised she had followed Horton.  The hands closed around her but hanging around movie sets for so long had given her a few tricks, and Jimmy Chu had given her a few more.

        Her elbow snapped backwards under his ribs and he inhaled sharply, lessening the blow a little.  The position he'd attacked from, and the hold he still had kept her from turning to face him, so instead she slammed her foot down on the instep of his, eliciting a growl of pain.  When the hands released their grasp slightly she turned and brought her knee up towards his groin.

        Turning sideways he took the blow on his thigh and grabbed her with renewed ferocity.  ' Like to play rough do you bitch?' John snarled, spinning and slamming her into the wall of the house ' Let's see how you like it'
        ' God you're worse than my dates' Angela muttered, back to the wall hoping to get in another shot.

        He grabbed hold again and she punched him in the stomach, halting him for a moment before he spun her around, grabbed onto the back of her shirt and ran her head into the wall.
        ' Guess you didn't like it too much' he muttered, lifting her inert body off the floor and carrying it up into the house.

        ' Damn it why didn't she give us any directions, it could be any of these places and if we start searching the wrong one they'll know and clear out' Tony said ' I don't care what people think, sometimes Tyler and Ramirez are just a pain in the butt'
        ' He's also the one person you can count on to help the cops without a reward' Mira answered ' and he's saved all of us'
        ' Not me Mira… I know you've worked with him a lot and…'
        ' Tony he saved half the city, that includes you… or don't you remember when those people stole the VX nerve gas?  If that had gone off hundreds of thousands could have died'
        ' Okay, point taken let's just take a look around and see if there's anything to see... if there isn't we call in and get the place flooded'
        ' I guess that's our only option'
 

        ' Tyler… since you like looking after people here's another one' John sneered, pushing Angela's still unconscious body through the door, watching as Rollie moved forward to catch her, not betraying the fact he knew her.
        ' You should be more polite you know… then you wouldn't have to beat women up to get them to go with you… then again… maybe you would'
        ' You're so smart, let's see how smart you are now tough guy' John answered, pulling his gun and stepping into the room.

        ' John… out… now' Clem said from the doorway, his dark piercing eyes meeting those of the man and watching him flinch even though he held no weapon.  Then he saw them start calculating and smiled ' Gonna take a shot at last are you Johnny boy?  You really should rethink that'

        John swallowed, his weapon was out, not far off target but he'd seen the man shoot before… it would be a close thing.  ' Of course not, I'm on your side remember' John answered, throwing Rollie an enraged look before striding out of the door.

        ' Clem… could I get some water?  This cut needs looking at and I can't do much if I can't see it' Rollie asked, looking at the cut on Angela's forehead.
        ' I'll do better than that… and don't worry about John' Clem replied, shutting the door and Rollie listened as his footsteps echoed away down the hallway.
        ' Rollie…' Steven began, looking at Angela, stopping as Rollie shook his head ever so slightly.
        ' Is she ok?' Jack Neason, the engineer asked, he'd come around a few minutes before and seen the plight he was in, was surprised but thankful when Rollie explained what had happened.
        ' She'll be fine… one hell of a headache and maybe a slight concussion but otherwise she'll be right as rain'
        ' Who is she?'
        ' I don't know, we'll have to wait and see' Rollie replied, they'd use her against him if they knew what she meant to him.