Elena had Rollie set up another meeting between Loubar and Angus McKay. Once again, he wore the mask of Angus Mckay as he went to a meeting with Loubar.
"Your hit will be Lord Percival Kington-Blair, a cousin of the Queen's," McKay informed Loubar as he handed him a drink. As he did so, Rollie carefully dropped a tiny tracker into Loubar's pocket. "I want to send a clear message to Her Majesty that the British monarchy is not wanted in Scotland anymore. I want to follow up that explosion with one at the Scottish Parliament building in a few weeks time, if you're available for that?"
"Let's just get through this job first before you hire me for another one," Loubar replied without emotion and still intent on murdering McKay once this job was done.
"Och, you're right. I should be making sure you complete this mission first. Thanks for reminding me."
Loubar glared at McKay.
"Lord Percy will be in Aberdeen in four days time for two weeks," McKay continued. "During that time he will be taking his yacht, The Great Scot, out for two days fishing— The Great Scot! Of all the bloody arrogant English nerve!" He grumbled as he went off on a planned tangent. Then McKay leaned in as he added; "There can be no mistakes this time Loubar. Lord Percy must not make it back."
"He won't," Loubar replied, once again showing little emotion. "I will leave for Aberdeen in three days. Make sure the money is wired into my account once this is over."
"You just worry about completing the job. We should meet once you're there before the final job. Meet me at The Black Boar Inn in Aberdeen at 4:30."
Loubar nodded his agreement.
Soon after, Rollie spoke to Elena on the mic.
"The trackers in place. There's a 10-mile radius. Make sure your agents don't lose him but don't let them get too close either. We don't want to tip him off," Rollie called to Elena.
"Don't worry. They know what to do. They are just going to let Loubar lead them to his hidey-hole. They will only go in once Loubar has left for Aberdeen," Elena informed Rollie.
"Just remember the booby trap he's probably set up."
"I know. We better get back."
"Right."
Rollie once again couldn't wait to get the GARP mask off of him. He literally felt like he was being suffocated. He wondered if it was because he was sitting across from Loubar that he was having this reaction because once again, he felt nauseous and uncoordinated. He put off further work on the plans for the boat explosion so that he could go upstairs and lie down.
Loubar left the meeting place and walked towards the subway station. He was walking past a storefront window when the reflection caught his attention. He turned suddenly, looking this way and that for the person he knew he had seen. He turned his attention back to the window and saw it again. He saw Rollie Tyler's reflection in the window. Loubar spun around and saw Tyler getting into a cab. Loubar ran after the cab only for it to disappear down the crowded street.
No! He thought. It couldn't be. Rollie Tyler couldn't be in London. But then, he thought...that might work to his advantage.
Later, as Loubar was making his way towards his apartment, he thought he saw Tyler again. This time he was in a pub. Then later he saw him walking with two other people down the street near his place. The next morning too, he saw Tyler having breakfast at an outdoor cafˇ. He lost him when he tried to catch up to him after he finished his breakfast.
Loubar saw Rollie Tyler at a dozen different places over the next few days. The most awful thing was when he caught up to one or two of the Tyler's...they weren't him at all. In fact, they didn't look anything at all like Rollie Tyler.
At some of the first such sightings the real Rollie Tyler sat in a van that was parked nearby. He was connected to the faux Rollie's by headset and whenever Loubar got too close he gave them the signal to turn off the masks. He also outfitted them with transmitters and headpieces so that they could keep an eye out for one another when he wasn't around. Soon, they reported in that Rollie's plan was working like a charm. Loubar, according to Rollie's spies, was becoming unglued.
Loubar couldn't sleep. He couldn't eat. Rollie Tyler was haunting him now in his nightmares and every waking moment. Everywhere he turned he saw his nemesis, Rollie Tyler and the hatred burned in his stomach. After this job was over he vowed to bring an end to this torture once and for all.
Angie Ramirez slept like a baby the night Rollie left. Not because she didn't miss Rollie, she did and terribly, but because she was back home and sleeping in their bed. She could smell a trace of Rollie in the bed and in his clothes. Angie ached for Rollie and missed him terribly but relived in her dreams every night the wonderful but brief and passionate reunion they shared before he left for London. She swore she could almost still feel him in her and the thought curled her toes.
Angie hated the fact that Elena had decreed that it was too dangerous for Rollie to risk phoning or emailing her. She didn't know how long he would be gone and she would have no word from him at all during these long weeks and horrors— possibly months! This would be the longest they would have no contact since he had gone back to Hong Kong searching for Taya Kwan. But those were different circumstances. Now, Rollie had walked headlong into danger and it was for her! She wished he hadn't done that just as she wished that she wouldn't react to Victor Loubar the way she continued to. Angie tried to will herself stronger but the mere thought of Loubar coming back into their lives shook her to the very core. It was worse now that Rollie was gone. Angie was taking judo and kickboxing but those were defensive moves. Loubar is a terrorist and assassin. Try as she might, Angie couldn't wrap her mind around his way of thinking, of justifying killing innocent people for money. She just prayed for Rollie to return to her safe, unharmed, and unchanged by his experience.
In the days after Rollie left, Dingo moved in downstairs on the couch or if he wanted more privacy he would stay in Leo's old room in the garage. Angie tried telling him that he didn't have to stay, that he could go back to his trailer, which was parked at Francis's place but Dingo insisted that he would stay. He gave his word to his son and he would be keeping that word. Rollie had entrusted her care to him and he wasn't about to let his son down on this important matter. Other than that, he had a hard time trying to keep his nose clean but he assured Angie that he could at least do that until Rollie returned. After that he grinned widely, all bets were off.
Angie went about trying to fix things with their contracts. She knew she had been negligent during the time that she and Rollie were apart. It was her fault. Rollie had dealt with the work plus all the other stuff he was going through and he even found time to install a panic button. She smiled at how incredible he was as her thoughts once again led to Rollie and how lucky she was not only to have him as someone to love, someone to build a life with, but as her friend as well. Not to mention her business partner.
With that, Angie took a deep breath, steeled her shoulders, and made the first phone call. She contacted Richard Owen and assured him that the work on his film was her highest priority and that it would be done soon and to his satisfaction. Then, she contacted the producer of the cable pilot she and Rollie were supposed to do and asked if they found somebody else. When he told her he hadn't, she pleaded with him for Tyler FX to be given another shot and wore him down until he agreed. She then contacted an old friend and associate of her father's who had recently retired and persuaded him to come out of retirement to help her with some of the explosive effects for the cable pilot.
Angie was working overtime, day and night, to fulfill Richard Owen's contract plus all the other work that had fallen by the wayside during her and Rollie's personal problems. It was taking her weeks to complete but it was important to her. She couldn't have Tyler FX's reputation ruined because of her and Rollie's romantic problems. This was exactly what she had been worried about, after all; that their relationship would get in the way of their work. It was also a way to keep busy and try, even if it didn't always work, to keep her mind off of Rollie. As if that wasn't enough to deal with and with all she had to do, Angie found that she was also utterly, utterly, exhausted.
Dingo tried telling Angie that she was working too hard. So did Lucinda and Mira who were concerned that Angie's worry for Rollie was affecting her health. But she told them that work was keeping her mind off of missing Rollie and, she added, she was also keeping Tyler FX in the game. Angie wasn't about to let everything her father, and then Rollie, worked for be lost. She also wanted Rollie to be proud of her when he returned, proud of the way she held down the fort and of the work she had done. Angie wanted him to know that she could handle it and that she could be trusted with the business. It was important to her that Rollie see that. They had a wonderful working relationship and now they were sharing more of themselves with each other, their dreams and their fears. Angie just wanted Rollie to know that she could handle business on her own when she needed to. She needed Rollie to trust her on that level again because she felt she let him down after their break up.
After about a month and a half after Rollie left Angie had to admit she was very nearly exhausted. She also felt nauseous and now worried that she might be coming down with the flu especially since several people on the set were down with it. Great, just great, she thought. This is really going to help things. Angie had too much work to do, she couldn't afford to get sick now. She figured the current state of her health was due to her worry over Rollie. Angie popped vitamins and power drinks and knew she better slow down but didn't feel she had the luxury.
And then one day one of the extras on the cable show she was working on made an off-handed comment that struck her completely out of left field. She commented on her exhaustion and nausea and asked her if she might be pregnant.
Angie laughed and completely discounted the suggestion but later, as she sat in the van counting days backward, she wondered. She couldn't get the suggestion out of her mind. It was all she could think about the rest of the day. The possibility both scared and excited her.
When Angie returned to the loft that night and had dinner with Dingo she barely ate anything. She played with her food and was distracted throughout dinner. Dingo figured that Angie was thinking of Rollie. They had never really talked about her relationship with his son, both of them just tiptoeing around the subject. Dingo didn't want to pry and Angie...felt funny about discussing it with him.
"You really love my boy don't you, Angie?" Dingo asked finally, during dinner as he watched Angie play with her food.
Angie blushed and smiled. She never thought that she would have this conversation with Dingo. In fact, she would have run from this conversation with Dingo. Her head lowered as she raised her eyes bashfully. "I love your son, Dingo."
Dingo let out a whoop and slapped the table, surprising Angie. He kissed her on her forehead. "You made him very happy when you came to see him on that last day. You should have seen him, Angie girl. His face was longer than his didg as he moped about day after day. I worried about him going off like that on his mission but you made things right for him. I could see it in his face and his gait. He was stronger." he patted Angie's hand. "Everything's going to be all right now, just wait and see."
"Thanks, Dingo. You don't know how much I needed to hear that right now." Angie smiled as she wiped a tear from her cheek. Dingo made her night, knowing that he approved of her and Rollie.
Dingo placed his arm around Angie's shoulder and pulled her into a tight hug. "Why don't we watch a movie or something?"
"Yeah, I'd like that" Angie smiled. "I'll just clean up this mess first—"
"You leave that to me," Dingo ordered her, as he rose up out of his chair. "I've seen how hard you've been working. You go on in to the lounge and put your feet up. I'll take care of the dishes and then we can watch a movie." He smiled at her expression. "I do know my way around a kitchen sink, you know. Oh—and just make sure it's not a sappy movie, okay?"
"How can I argue? You're doing the dishes." Angie giggled. "Thanks Dingo. Don't break anything," Angie teased with a wink.
Later that night Angie was upstairs in her bathroom and Dingo was sound asleep on the couch downstairs. She pulled out the bag from the pharmacy that she had tucked away in her knapsack. Angie slowly pulled out the contents of the bag and stared at it for a good long while before opening it. Before opening it, she took a deep, nervous, breath.
Many nervous, stressful moments later Angie looked at the results.
"Oh...my...God," Angie whispered to herself. "Oh my God," Angie sat down on the toilet.
The clock beside her bed said it was 2:00 a.m. and Angie couldn't sleep. She kept tossing and turning, her mind, racing here and there. Finally, she had enough. She got out of bed and went to the bathroom and looked at the results again. She stared at her reflection in the mirror. Angie went back out to her room and without thinking, picked up the phone and dialed.
"Hello?" came the tired, sleepy, voice on the other end.
"Lucinda?"
"Angie? Angie? Do you know what time it is?" Lucinda whimpered. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"I couldn't sleep. Lucinda...."
There was silence on both ends of the phone for many long moments. Then, Lucinda thought she heard Angie crying.
"Angie? What's wrong? Is it Rollie? Have you heard something?"
"No. No. It's not Rollie. As far as I know he's fine. It's...it's me." Angie was quiet again for a few seconds. "I'm pregnant," she paused, marveling at the words she was saying out loud. "Lucinda, I'm...pregnant."
"Oh my God! Yee!" Lucinda squealed. "Oh honey! How do you feel? Are you happy?"
"I'm scared...and nervous...and scared...and worried," Angie replied. "I'm also...over the moon." She giggled as she ran her hand over her flat belly. "I can't believe this is happening. I told Rollie that I wanted to put off having children because of Loubar but...." Angie shook at the thought of Loubar but she wouldn't let him color this happiness. "Oh, Lucinda. I'm so unbelievably happy. I want this so much. I can't believe this is happening. Rollie and I have a little baby on the way. Oh my God." She giggled. "This is going to change things a bit."
"Oh honey, that's an understatement." Lucinda laughed too.
"I mean about the wedding," Angie said seriously as she started pacing back and forth.
"So, your baby will be attending the wedding. Oh wait, you'll be like — how far along are you?"
"I don't know. I only just did the home test. Oh my gosh!" Angie stopped pacing and she sat down on the bed. "Lucinda, I still can't believe it! I want to tell Rollie. I wish I could tell him right now. I don't even know when he'll be home or if...." Angie voice was small and low as she fought back the loneliness she now felt.
"He'll be home soon, Angie. I'm sure of it," Lucinda tried to reassure her friend. "And then you can tell him."
"He'll be so excited, Lucinda. I can't wait to tell him. I wish he were here now." Angie became wistful and quiet.
Lucinda picked up on her mood. "Listen, Angie, why don't we get together for breakfast tomorrow morning?"
"Ooh, can't. Mornings have not been very good for me lately. Food and I have a disagreement going." Angie sniffled through tears that were now breaking through her reserve. She knew what Lucinda was trying to do. "Plus, I have to work."
"All right, how about dinner then?" Lucinda countered.
"Yeah. I'd like that." Angie smiled, as she leaned back on the bed.
"Great. I'll call you later." Lucinda yawned. " I'm going to hang up now. I need my beauty sleep and so do you. And don't worry about Rollie. He's going to be back real soon. I just know it."
Angie sighed deeply. She wished Rollie were here right now. She wanted to feel his hands on her tummy, feeling their baby even though she knew it was too early to feel such things. Angie sat up as she thought of something. "Lucinda?"
"Yeah?"
"Do me a favor? Don't say anything to anybody about this. I want Rollie to think that he's the first one...I mean he should have been the first one but I was so excited. I couldn't help it. Please, don't say a word of this to anybody."
"Don't worry about it. Mum's the word. Bye." Lucinda giggled at her pun and hung up.
"Bye Lucinda." Angie hung up the phone and stared up at the ceiling.
Angie rubbed her tummy where her and Rollie's baby was growing. It brought a smile to her face. She picked up Rollie's pillow and stood in front of the mirror. Angie placed the pillow under her shirt and smiled.
"Oh my God!" She laughed at the sight. After an hour of trying the pillow on under different shirts Angie sat in her chair by the window and looked out at the night sky.
"Rollie come home," Angie whispered as she touched her fingers to the window.
Rollie dreamt of Angie as he slept. He saw her in their bed, sleeping, like an angel. The morning light was filtering through the windows bathing Angie in a soft glow. Her hand rested by her cheek and she looked so young, so peaceful, and so beautiful.
Elena came into Rollie's room to check on him. He had seemed so disoriented and distracted when they got back from the meeting with Loubar that she couldn't help but be concerned about him. She sat down on the edge of the bed and looked down at Rollie. Why? She asked herself why she had let him slip through her fingers? She had always felt a connection with him. It wasn't just sex was it?
Tentatively, she reached out and caressed his face. She loved him. Elena knew that now. She loved him and it was too late. He had found someone else.
Rollie saw Angie stir and he cradled her neck in his hand and gently pulled her up to him. "Angie," he whispered softly.
"What?" Elena answered as Rollie's hand cradled her neck and he rose up to kiss her.
"Angie," Rollie whispered again as his lips found hers.
"Rollie," Elena moaned into Rollie's mouth. The kiss was searching and full of longing. Elena knew he wasn't thinking of her but she couldn't help it. He was right here, kissing her and she wanted it so bad. This kiss was different than any she received before from Rollie. It was sensual and gentle in ways their kisses had never been. So this was the way he kisses his assistant, Elena surmised. Rollie's hand came up and groped her breast, kneading it through her shirt. Elena helped him unbutton her shirt as he slipped it off her shoulders. His lips came down her neck and over the swell of her breasts.
And then, Rollie pushed her down onto the bed as he moved on top of her. Rollie's eyes were open but he didn't seem to be seeing, as he continued to kiss Elena and his hands caressed her breasts. Elena's leg wrapped around Rollie's thigh and they started rubbing against each other.
Elena couldn't believe it. It was everything she was hoping for, everything she wanted and then...Rollie went limp. His weight crushed her and Elena raised his head. He was asleep. Elena whispered his name but there came no response. Instead, Rollie rolled over and his head dropped back against his pillow. He whispered Angie's name again as he fell back into a deep sleep. He had a smile on his face because in his dream he had been with his sweet Angela.
Rollie's arm swung out from covering his eyes as he began to stir from his sleep. He was surprised when his arm rested on something...a body...warm...beside him...in bed. Rollie groggily looked around. He wasn't in his bed back in New York. No. Slowly he began to remember. He was still in the estate outside of London and someone was in bed with him.
Rollie cautiously turned to see who or what was beside him in bed. "Oh boy," he muttered to himself. There, beside him, was Elena Serrano, and from what he gathered she was naked under the covers. Rollie jumped out of the bed and fumbled for his clothes. He couldn't believe this, his mind a flurry of questions. How did this happen? When? Why?
Rollie felt sick to his stomach as he went to the bathroom to get dressed. He threw cold water on his face but that didn't help. Nothing could. All he could think was that he had betrayed Angie. Somehow, and he couldn't remember how it happened, he had slept with Elena. He had betrayed Angie. He loved Angela beyond all reason. How could he do this to her? How could he do this to them?
Elena found Rollie later that morning in the den having coffee. He was staring out the window and his head was hung low. He was staring into his cup as if it held all the answers and comfort he was seeking.
Elena grabbed a cup of coffee from the tray and joined him by the window. "Good morning," she purred.
Rollie didn't look at her. "Morning." His voice was low and full of sorrow and offered no warmth.
"Rollie I—"
Rollie cleared his throat as he cut her off. "We have work to do Elena. Best get started, eh?" His eyes still refused to meet hers.
"But I—we—"
"Morning Leo," Rollie called to his friend as he noticed him entering the room, his voice betraying his inner turmoil.
"Morning Rollie. Elena," Leo greeted the two of them. He picked up on the tension between the two and wondered what had happened. "Well, we better get you guys packed for Aberdeen, eh?"
"Yeah," Rollie agreed as he turned finally, his haunted eyes meeting Elena's. "We've got a lot to do."
They all spent the next few hours packing the equipment that Rollie would need for their trip to Aberdeen. Leo had opted to stay behind in London and go with the other agents to Loubar's hideout once they knew where it was located. Rollie still felt out of sorts and the more he thought of it the more he thought there was something wrong.
Rollie had finished packing and was sitting in the den with the Loubar mask in his hand. He stared at it and turned it around several times in his hands. He held it up to look at it though the light. He wished he had a microscope.
Elena came in to see him doing this and was puzzled. "Rollie? Are you okay?"
"Actually...um...I feel a bit...out of it, since yesterday. Ever since I wore the masks." Rollie spoke slowly, almost as if he was thinking of the words as he was speaking them, which was so unlike Rollie. "I noticed it before too, the last time I wore the masks—"
"Noticed what the last time you wore the masks?" Leo asked as he entered the room.
Elena wished that he wouldn't pop up all the time especially when she wanted to be alone with Rollie.
"Um...the way I feel afterwards," Rollie said slowly, his brow furrowed in deep thought. "I've noticed that I feel nauseous and disoriented afterwards. At first, I thought nothing of it but then it happened again and I still feel kind of...out of it."
"So what are you suggesting?" Elena pressed him.
"I'm suggesting...." Rollie looked at her tiredly, as if he was drained and did he really need to spell it out for her. "That maybe there is a correlation between the way I feel and the mask. Maybe there is a breakdown with the chemical composition, I don't know. All I know is I did not feel like myself last night." He looked forlornly at Elena as he remembered waking up with her in his bed this morning. Rollie threw the mask to Elena. "Do you think that you could have this mask analyzed for any chemical breakdown?"
"Of course," Elena answered.
Rollie moved to the window as other possibilities and complications colored his thoughts. He shook his head suddenly, his jaw clenched. "Bloody hell!"
"What is it?" Leo asked.
Rollie shook his head again as he realized the implications. "It's just that...if there is a problem— if there is a chemical breakdown that causes some kind of emotional or psychological reaction...Loubar could get off from any criminal liability. A good lawyer could make the case that he wasn't responsible for his actions because of the chemical compound breakdown. He could walk away without ever having to pay for any of his crimes." Rollie slammed his fist against the wall. "Damn it!"
Elena understood his concerns. "What if the breakdown only enhances latent traits? What if Loubar was already psychotic and this chemical breakdown, if that is really what's happening, just enhanced it?"
"That doesn't really change things, does it? He could still get off." Rollie pointed out. "A good lawyer could get him off. Damnit!" Rollie shook with emotion.
Elena touched his arm. "Not if no one knows. We don't have to run those tests. We don't have to know."
Rollie looked directly at her. "I have to know. One way or another, I have to know. Suppose the government agencies make wider use of the GARP machine. If there is a problem with it and we don't find out now, there could be dozens of Loubar's walking around out there. If we can prevent that...we need to do that."
"But what about Loubar?" Elena pressed him.
"I don't know." Rollie rubbed his hands over his face. He looked tired and worried. "What I do know is that I won't let him hurt Angie ever again, chemical breakdown or no, and that's about all I know." Rollie bowed his head as his thoughts returned to Angie and then he thought of something else. He turned to Elena. "Did your guys follow the tracker on Loubar?"
"They did." She smiled proudly. "They followed him to an apartment in the East End. They are going to wait on going in there until he leaves for Aberdeen."
"Well, at least we have that. Remind your guys to be mindful of booby traps."
"They will be," Elena assured him.
"Don't worry, pal." Leo tried to assure him. "I will be there too. I will leave no stone unturned. This lowlife isn't going to get away this time. I promise."
"Thanks Leo."
Rollie walked around the room still troubled by so many thoughts. "The uh...the other Rollie's checked in and confirmed that Loubar is spooked. He tried confronting several of them the other day but they turned the GARP unit off just in time. He can't tell whether he is coming or going." He smiled weakly. "I'm going to tell them to limit their use of the mask. I don't want them put in any danger because of me." Rollie sighed. "I'm going to go upstairs and recheck my equipment." He turned at the doorway. "Leo? Be careful when you go to Loubar's place. If he's spooked he may have some extra traps set up."
"I will be," Leo assured Rollie.