Section 40

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.
 
 

     They danced.  Joined together as much in body as in spirit, or so Rollie thought, mind drifting as they danced on, absently taking in the sight of the songline stretching from him, wrapping around one coming from Angela.  Once out on the floor all the tension had fled and he'd been ready to enjoy the evening.
     The first person to try and break in on him had met Angela's deadly gaze and had instantly vanished into the crowd, for this night there would be no others.
     Not that he'd considered it, as he'd predicted, Angela's preparations had been met by an almost audible gasp by the other ladies, even the leading actress had widened her eyes.  Not that Angela had gone overboard, she wasn't dripping jewellery or doing anything out of the ordinary.   She was just being herself.

     Angela in turn, watched Rollie, seeing the way his eyes were staring over her head, slightly out of focus, as though he was watching something no one else could see… and she wondered if that wasn't exactly what was happening.
     They danced close, in a more than slightly familiar embrace.  The music, which hadn't stopped since they'd arrived, played on, seeing that many couples had taken the floor, it was held to slower tunes.

     A moment after her observation of Rollie's eyes, those same brown orbs looked down, capturing her own.  Messages were communicated and Angela nodded.  Together they moved away from the floor, a passing waiter, almost Rollie's height, paused, offering drinks he'd been carrying.
     Accepting them with thanks, they moved again, returning to the table with Steven, finding him smiling and telling the others the tale of his abduction and Rollie and Angela's parts in it.  He grinned, looked at Rollie and suggested they make a film of it.
     ' I hope you're joking' Rollie replied.
     ' We don't need people finding out how to kidnap celebrities' Angela added.
     ' I guess so, not that it hasn't been done before'

     Rollie covered his mouth, yawning slightly, suspecting the hard months of work would catch up with him for several days yet.  Lifting his drink he took another sip, the cool drink seemed to help and he turned to Angela, surprised to she her mimicking him, hiding a yawn behind her hand.
     ' You tired?' he asked softly.
     ' Yeah, suddenly I feel really tired… sorry'
     ' It's okay… I'm feeling the same.  You want to call it a night?'

     She began to shake her head, but ruined the effect by yawning again ' I don't know why I feel so tired… I had a great night's sleep'
     ' Me too, well… as well as I usually sleep anyway'
     ' Do you want to go?'
     ' Not yet… but we've got to drive.  Probably better to go now rather than later'
     ' Yeah' she answered, looking somewhat disappointed.
     ' I'll make it up to you tomorrow' he replied, catching the look.

     Making their apologies, they headed for the door, Steven taking them aside before they left, telling them that there'd be a surprise for them coming up shortly.
     ' There's no reason Steven' Rollie argued, Angela adding her own words.
     ' That's as may be but it's my decision' he finished ' You okay to get home?'
     ' We'll be fine' Rollie answered, wrapping an arm around Angela's shoulders.
 

     The waiter glanced across as the two left, turning and casually and continuing his work, passing out glasses as he moved around the room.

     The valet bought the car to the front of the building and Rollie climbed in the driver's side, making sure that Angela's belt was properly done up before taking off, heading back through the streets to the closest of their two places… Angela's apartment.
 

     The floorboards were replaced now, and everything was in place.  The cot in the corner would soon be removed and he'd move the vantage point outside.
     ' Hey… whatcha doin'?' a voice sounded from behind him.
     ' Renovation' he replied, prybar in hand.
     ' Yeah… not much of a job so far'
     ' Well… these things take time'
     ' If you don't know what you're doin'
     ' What do you want?  You're trespassing'
     ' Cut it out… you redo the floor?  Looks like you just broke the boards'
     ' Friend, I'm in no mood for company… so get lost'
     ' You can't tell me to get lost… bastard'

     The prybar came up as he turned, catching the man on the temple, dropping him to the floor with a heavy thud.  He raised the bar again, bringing it down on the back of the man's neck, hearing a satisfying crack.  Leaning down he tested for a pulse, finding none he sat back.

     Lifting the prybar he turned back to the floorboards, removing them again, setting them aside as he enlarged the hole.  Grabbing an ankle of the dead man, he pushed him into the hole, uncaring as he broke bones to make him fit.  Once done, he pushed the boards back into place and stood, moving to the cot and beginning to disassemble it.
 

     Rollie pulled the car to a stop almost gratefully, his eyelids drooping as he climbed from the car to help Angela from her seat.  He didn't like leaving the car out in the open, but there was no other choice available, the alarm system would have to do.
     Helping Angela out, he found that as they headed for her apartment, that they were leaning on each other.

     The door swung open before them, Chiops paced into sight and they moved inside.  Rollie headed for the couch but Angela had other ideas ' No way boss.  I'm not dragging you to bed if you stop now' she explained.
     ' Fine' he answered, heading for the bedroom door, stumbling inside and dropping on the bed, fully clothed.  Angela closed the door and followed him.

     They were asleep in moments.