When Evil Prevails

Section 32

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 opened his eyes, feeling the car slowing down, knowing that by now they must be nearing the destination.  Checking to make sure that the fold up bag was concealed in his back pocket, he smiled, felt the latex move on his face.
        ' If I live to be a hundred I'll never feel right wearing this stuff' he thought to himself, turning the handle and stepping out as the taxi came to a stop.
        Turning back to the driver's window he handed through several notes and turned back to look at the impressive house.  It fairly extruded opulence.  He'd memorised as much of the map Angela had fed to his P.D.A as possible, especially the doorways along the path to the safe room.
        Waiting until the taxi had pulled out of the curling driveway, Rollie turned and headed towards the door, immediately noting the guard standing to one side, headphones and microphone in place.  He recognised him from Clem's description.
        ' Toby… I'm here to see the boss' he said, changing to Clem's cultured voice.
         ' Heard you'd been taken by the cops… and that you shot Johnny' the man replied ' The boss didn't like that'
         ' Fool was going to shoot a cop… I wasn't about to do life for him… never really liked him anyway' Rollie replied ' now it's really important I see the boss'
         ' Alright Clem, you go on in.  Wait in the study and I'll let them know you're on your way' Toby answered, fingering the microphone on his collar.

         Rollie stepped past, up the single marble step and opened the door just enough to step through, before shutting it behind him.  ' Ok Rol, not much time… let's get a move on' he whispered to himself, turning and striding down the hallway.
         Moving quickly, he took in all that he could, carefully noted the Goodwin locks on the doors, good locks, hard to pick in a hurry.  Coming to the doorway to the study he glanced along the hallway before stepping inside.

         Opening the door he slipped inside, glancing around to make sure he had the place to himself.  He spotted the painting on the wall, checked the roof for security cameras before moving across.  Sliding the P.D.A from under his shirt he scanned the room once more, checking for signature signals from any listening devices. Sighing slightly at not finding any, despite Clem's assurances that there would be none, he turned his attention to the painting.

         Placing his hands at the bottom corners, he shifted the whole painting sideways, it slid, revealing the safe behind.
         ' Well here goes' he muttered, pressing the P.D.A against the safe and touching several buttons on it's face.  Lifting his gloved hand to the dial, he started moving it until the P.D.A flashed a signal announcing a tumbler had fallen into place.  Continuing with quick efficiency, Rollie worked the dial, yanking the handle open as the final tumbler was set.

         Inside the safe was a sheaf of papers.

        Pulling the collapsible bag from his back pocket he opened it out and dropped the papers and his P.D.A inside.  He was sweating, could feel it running down the inside of his shirt, on his palms under the gloves he wore.

        Pushing the safe door back into position he closed it, before stepping back and taking hold of the painting once more.

        The door handle clicked.

        Rollie swung the painting back into position as fast as he could, sliding it across in front of the safe.  Zipping the bag shut he took several steps and dropped into a comfortable chair cursing his luck… Clem had expected at least ten to fifteen minutes before the boss would see him.

        Rollie recognised the tall, hard featured man that stepped into the room, Gustav Mazarin's bodyguard.
        ' Come with me' the man said coldly.  Clem had told him that from their first meeting, they'd gotten off on the wrong foot.  Clem had said something to Mazarin who'd taken offence and Gregor had tried teach him a lesson, up to the point when Gregor had reached for his gun and was suddenly staring down the nickel plated barrel of Clem's gun.
        ' I don't think so… ask Mazarin to join me here' Rollie replied.

        Gregor glowered back and turned to the door, heading out and down the corridor, throwing looks back over his shoulder as though he worried at leaving Clem at his back.

        Rollie waited until Gregor's back disappeared before swallowing, they had never intended to have a meeting between himself and Mazarin, there was no way he would know enough to pass any test they might devise.

        It was time to leave.

        He lifted the bag from behind the chair and moved tot he door, listening intently before opening it enough to check the length of the hallway.  Slipping his head out the door he checked the opposite direction before stepping out completely.

        '  I am coming… do not be so hasty' a voice sounded behind him ' We have much we must talk of'

        He turned finding himself staring at the face he knew, the face of Gustav Mazarin, followed closely by that of the bodyguard Gregor.

        Rollie turned back into the room, knowing he had no other chance but to try and talk his way out, aware that outside, the others would be waiting, not knowing what was going on.
 

        Angie waited in the car, it had been too long now, something must have gone wrong.  Perhaps Mazarin had decided to meet with Rollie much more quickly than they'd anticipated, or perhaps they'd found Rollie with the safe open and were deciding what to do with him.

        Reaching for the P.D.A that sat on the seat next to her she gazed at it for a moment before depressing several buttons.  She watched as the video display activated.  All she could see was black.
        ' Damn it Rollie, why can't you ever leave it in the open so I can see what's going on?' she grumbled.  Pressing another icon she increased the volume and listened instead.
 

        Rollie sat in a finely appointed chair opposite the owner of the huge mansion.
        ' I told you, my lawyer got me off on a technicality… they didn't read me my rights.  I've got to report back again though, they sent someone to follow me as well but I dropped them off' he responded, outlining again why the police had let him go ' They wanted me to lead them to you, but there's no chance they followed me the path I took'
        ' What did you tell them?' Gustav asked, voice harsh, demanding.
        ' I told them I was recruited by Johnny, that he was the link to the people who organised this whole deal' Rollie replied with a smile ' That's sort of a dead end for them'
        ' I never liked your arrogance Stein… Johnny was a fool but he was loyal' Gustav answered ' So our deal is off, you failed'
        ' I want the money' Rollie began ' We had them ready, your safe house was compromised'
        ' What?' Gregor said, anger evident in his voice ' We have made no impact... this time you go too far'

        Rollie knew from the slight movements that the man was quickly losing his patience, and that he would likely draw his weapon.  He decided it was time to seize the moment himself.

        Gregor stopped as Rollie whipped the gun from his holster ' I told you once what would happen Gregor…' Rollie said coldly ' Drop the piece… now'

        Rollie kept his gaze between the two men, he didn't know if Gustav was carrying or not, he wasn't about to be taken by surprise.
 

        Angela listened with growing concern, it was obvious that Rollie was in trouble if he couldn't talk his way out of the situation… a quick getaway might be called for.  Starting the engine of the sports car she pulled away from the curb, sliding through the traffic until she was in sight of the house.

 
         ' Now you're going to get my fee Mazarin… then I'll walk away.  You send anyone after me I'll find you… you know I can' Rollie replied ' now move' he finished, gesturing with the gun.

         Gustav stood slowly, obviously greatly angered by his antics, he kept a careful watch on Gregor as Mazarin moved to another safe hidden in the room and pulled the door open.
         ' You will not escape me Stein' Gustav growled angrily.
         ' Just pay up and I'll be on my way' Rollie replied ' Count it out, I don't like being stiffed'
 
        Gustav's back stiffened at the affront, face reddening as he counted the money into a cloth bag.  Reaching two hundred thousand he turned, dropping the bag on the table.

        Rollie retrieved the other bag, looking inside, noting the P.D.A had been activated remotely, he lifted both in his free hand, gun not wavering for a moment, his eyes never leaving the two men.
        ' Tell you what… keep the money… I don't want it.  I walk out of here, you don't try and find me and we'll call it quits' Rollie answered, throwing the bag back on the table.

        Gustav stared at the man before him, eyes locking with Rollie's ' Get out of my house before I change my mind'

        ' Ok now.  Don't leave this room for two minutes Gustav' Rollie ordered with a grin, a match for Clem's.
 

        Rollie pushed the study door shut behind him, pausing to disable the lock before heading for the front door, hurrying as fast as his long stride would carry him.  Pulling the door open he stepped outside, smiling calmly to Toby, glad that neither Gustav or Gregor had, for some reason, been wearing comm gear.

        He headed down the steps with a nod to the guard, knowing that he didn't have the luxury of time to waste in conversation… it was only a matter of time.

        Gustav watched as Gregor tried the door, shaking his head.  Looking at the bag on the table he lifted it, returning the money to the safe, closing the mirror that covered it.

        Something was different, something was wrong with the reflection.

        He turned, looking about the room, his eyes falling on the painting.  It hadn't closed properly and was slightly skewed.  Moving quickly he pulled the painting back, fumbling in his haste with the tumblers before jerking the handle and opening the safe.

        ' Empty!!' he called ' Gregor… stop him, I do not care how'

        Gregor lifted his weapon, firing into the door, blowing the lock before leaning back and kicking the door open.
 

        Watching for any sign of pursuit, Rollie moved towards the driveway, far enough away not to be heard he said ' Ok Ange… now would be a good time'

 
        Angela dropped the clutch and spun the car into the driveway, accelerating around the impressive curve before skidding to a stop behind Rollie.  Adrenaline was flowing and she was ready to get the hell out of there at a moment's notice.
        ' Well that went off without a hitch' Rollie replied ' Mostly'

        Angie grinned back, then the grin fell away, her eyes widening.
 
        ' Behind you!' Angie shouted, seeing the front door flung open and the guard outside drawing down on them with his weapon.
 

        Rollie heaved the two bags inside through the window before following them, calling out ' Go Ange… Go' his legs still hanging out of the window.

         Bullets careened off the body, punched several holes in the passenger side door and shattered the rear windscreen as the car laid rubber on the driveway, front end almost hitting the road as Angie sped down the slight incline back onto the road.
 

         The sound of another car roared behind them, a large vehicle spun tires backing out of the large garage.  It started to turn and Rollie knew the chase was on.

         ' Tony… see what you can do about blocking that driveway' Rollie spoke quickly, holding the P.D.A close as he pulled the mask off.
         ' Almost there' Tony replied, skidding to a halt across the drive, blocking the car's exit, attracting the notice of several police officers stationed nearby.
 

        ' Did you get it?  Tell me you got it' Angela asked, settling down now that pursuit seemed unlikely.
         ' Yeah… I got it' Rollie replied ' Whew'