Rollie came over from his workstation, "I don't have time for this Mira," he headed for the door. What was he thinking waiting around for them? Angie was more important and Mangela's feelings meant that she needed him. So help me God, if Paul hurts her!
"Rollie this is important," Mira insisted, "Is Angie here? This concerns her too."
"No," he replied quickly, "And I have to find her myself --"
"Rollie, it's Loubar," Francis grabbed Rollie's arm, "He's back."
"He's in the States. Probably in New York," Francis continued.
Rollie spun around, "What? Probably? What happened? You were supposed to keep an eye on him. You were supposed to let us know if he got away!" Rollie's voice shook. "My God! Angie!"
"Where is Angie?" Mira asked, trying not to be affected by Rollie's accusations.
Rollie was shaking, "I have to find her Mira. I have to. She's in danger...." His voice broke.
"She went to see her boyfriend. She was going to break up with him." Mangela offered.
"Do you know where he lives?" Mira asked.
Rollie shook his head, "No. I don't. I tried reaching her on her cell but it's out of service. Mira please, please find her."
"We will Rollie. I promise," Mira called for an APB on Angie. She also put one out on Paul Richter.
Rollie went over to his computer to do his own search. He found the address for Paul's penthouse in Central Park. There was also an address for an estate in Port Washington on Long Island.
Mira, Francis, Mangela and Rollie descended on Richter's Central Park apartment. Mira and Francis had their weapons drawn as they knocked on the door. There was no answer and Rollie kicked the door in.
Rollie looked around at the place. A struggle had taken place. Furniture was tipped over and glass was broken on the floor. Rollie called for Angie as he ran through the entire apartment looking for her. There was no sign of her. That is until he spotted her sweater on the floor.
He fingered the soft material, "Oh my God," he cried, "He has her!" his thoughts immediately went to Loubar.
Mira called in the forensics team to dust for fingerprints and anything else they could find that would tell them what happened. Rollie and the others stayed in the hallway as the team arrived. Mira came out to join them.
Rollie was leaning against the wall fingering Angie's sweater in his hands. Mangela stood nearby to him.
"Do you think this Loubar has her?" Mangela asked no one in particular.
Rollie just shook his head, "You can bet that Loubar is involved in this. I don't know how but he is."
"But what is Richter's involvement?" Francis asked, "We ran a check on him. He's clean. It doesn't make sense that he's involved with Loubar."
"Do you think Richter is involved with Loubar, Rollie?" Mira asked.
Rollie looked at Mira, his eyes filled with such anguish that she couldn't hold his gaze and she looked away. "I don't know Mira. It doesn't make sense. From everything Angie's told me about him I can't see him throwing in with the likes of Loubar. And I thought... I thought he cared about Angie. Why would he want to hurt her?"
One of the forensics team came out and said that they had lifted several fingerprints. Mira left with them to go to the lab. She told Rollie she would call with the results as soon as she got them.
Rollie, Mangela and Francis returned to the loft. Rollie was sick with worry. He kept running over the possibilities in his mind, who had Angie: Loubar or Richter? Rollie was certain that Richter wasn't working with Loubar. It just didn't add up. But was he really considering all the possibilities or he was he just hoping that Richter wasn't involved with Loubar? Suddenly, he thought of something.
"Francis? Richter just returned from Washington on business. His company manufactures and distributes pharmaceuticals."
Francis looked at him, "Yeah," he answered slowly, "Where are you going with this Rollie?"
"The last news we had on Loubar was that he was keeping company with terrorists known for their use of biological weaponry," he intoned, arching his eyebrow.
Francis got his meaning but shook his head, "Rollie, pharmaceuticals are a far cry from biological weapons."
"Not really. Besides Angie said he was always going to Washington on business. She said Paul mentioned once that his company had secret government contracts. What if those contracts had to do with developing biological agents?"
"So you think Paul is involved with Loubar?"
"I don't know," Rollie admitted, his head down, "I hope not. But I think we need to find out what those government contracts are about."
"I'll get to work on it," Francis promised Rollie as he squeezed his arm.
While Francis used the phone Rollie slumped down into the couch. He still held Angie's sweater in his hands. Mangela pulled a chair over and sat in front of him.
"Rollie?"
Rollie looked up at Mangela, tears threatening to break through, "I can't lose her Mangela. I can't."
"I know Rollie. I know." Mangela was worried about Rollie. He had only seen him in this deep dark place in which he was descending once before. That was when his mother died.
Francis got off the phone and told Rollie the FBI were reluctant to share any information as usual, but were checking into the case in Washington and would get back to him as soon as possible. He had contacted agent Marty Pruitt figuring that he would be more forthcoming than others would. Rollie just stared past him, hearing the words but deriving no meaning from them.
Francis returned to the other room. Suddenly Rollie's computer beeped that he had new mail. Francis thought nothing of it at first but soon saw that it was a message from Loubar.
"Uh, Rollie? I think you better come see this," Francis called to his friend.
Rollie ran in from the other room followed by Mangela. Rollie's blood went cold when he saw the smiling evil face of Victor Loubar.
"So, Tyler, once again we see that you are no match for Victor Loubar. I triumphed last time when I tasted the sweet Angela," he looked directly into the camera, "and what a sweet little treat she was!" he laughed again, "I see she had the good sense to move on. But I know you Tyler. I know the lengths you will go to for your friends. And that is why sweet Angela is with me now, keeping me company and ready to fulfill my every desire," Loubar moved to show that Angie was sitting in a chair behind him. He laughed as he went over to her. She was unconscious and her head slumped down to her chest. It was obvious her arms were tied at the back. Loubar pulled her head back by her hair. Loubar kissed an unconscious Angie roughly on the mouth and his hand groped her breast. Then Loubar turned back to the camera, "its like taking candy from a baby," he sneered.
The color drained from Rollie's face at the display. He and the others could see that Angie had a bruise on her cheek and a cut on her forehead.
"You want me Tyler? Come and get me! But come alone or the sweet Angela dies. You have 90 minutes. But who knows? I may kill her anyway if I get bored with her." Loubar laughed his horrible laugh and then the video ended.
Francis' hand went to his mouth in horror. Mangela's eyes were closed. Rollie walked slowly away from the computer in shock, the blood drained from his face. Before anyone could say anything Francis's phone rang and he answered it.
"Mira? Yeah --"
All of a sudden Mangela and Francis scurried to the other side of the room in surprise as Rollie suddenly yelled.
"Ahhh!" a guttural heartbreaking yell. Rollie flipped the table over, sending equipment and parts crashing to the floor in pieces. He railed at Loubar, saying that he was a son of a bitch, and he would pull his heart out through his throat. Rollie picked up a chair and threw it across the room. He picked something else up and threw that across the room.
Mira could hear a ruckus in the background and was frantically trying to get Francis to tell her what was going on.
Rollie picked up another chair and threw against the makeup mirror shattering it into a million pieces. Rollie picked up a piece of wood from the broken chair and began smashing some of the parts even more.
Francis could hear Mira calling him. Finally he spoke quietly into the phone, "Mira, I can't talk now. Rollie is losing it...." he said as he nervously kept an eye on Rollie.
"I'm on my way."
Rollie finally stopped, dropping to his knees in sobs, "Mangela!" he cried, "help me!"
Mangela ran over to Rollie and knelt down. He cradled Rollie and tried to soothe him. He looked at Francis and Francis knew that he wanted to be left alone with Rollie. Francis went outside to wait for Mira. His eyes showed his worry for his friend and empathy for his pain.
Rollie sobs subsided somewhat as Mangela still held him. "I can't do this Mangela. I'm not strong enough," Rollie sobbed, "I can't lose Angie. Please help me."
"This is what Loubar wants Rollie. He wants you reacting instead of thinking. He wants to separate your heart from your head. If you do, if you let him... he will win."
Rollie moved to sit against the wall, "I know what you're saying is true. But seeing him with Angie... what he's done, what he's capable of and what he did to her on that video...." Rollie broke off again in a sob. He buried his head in his hands.
"Rollie, you need to connect with Angie. You need to let her know that you love her and you are doing everything you can to save her --"
"But how?" Rollie looked at Mangela, his eyes like those of a child.
Mangela took Rollie's hand and placed it over his heart, "You know how, Rollie. By listening and feeling, by being open to it and by trusting in your love and your heart. You have always had a connection with Angela. But in some ways it is just beginning and I believe that's why you sensed something was wrong. I don't know how strong it is but I will help you any way I can."
Rollie wasn't sure what to do but he felt lost and on uneven ground and knew that he had to do something.
"You need to go into your subconscious, Rollie, into the Dreaming. That is where we are free from burden and woe. You must seek out Angela and feel her heart. Your mind must be on that one task. Once the connection is made Angela may feel it too and in that way you will give her strength."
Rollie nodded his agreement. Mangela told Rollie to lie down as he spoke in soft, even tones. He told him to concentrate on his breathing and for Rollie to picture in his mind a place that he feels safe; to imagine the sky is blue and the sun is shining and the wind is soft on his skin.
"You are safe there Rollie. Do not be afraid." Mangela's voice intoned, "When you are ready you will know and you can concentrate on Angie," he instructed.
He asked Rollie if he could see her and at first Rollie couldn't, but then he saw her walking towards him in the bright sunshine. Mangela told him not to speak, that any words he said to Angela would be in his mind. He instructed Rollie to look deep into Angie's eyes and to not look anywhere else. He told him then that he would give him some privacy but he would be nearby when he was ready to come back.
Rollie was quiet for some time, Mangela watching intently. When he saw Rollie twitch he knew it was time to bring him back. He brought him back and Rollie opened his eyes slowly. He blinked slowly as he brought Mangela into focus.
"Well?" Mangela asked.
"I saw her. She told me not to be afraid. I felt the love she and I share...it was so strong," he paused briefly, his eyes clouded over in remembrance. "She also told me she's strong and not to worry. She told me she trusts me and she knows that we will be together soon," Rollie replied quietly.
Mangela helped Rollie stand up, "You need to be strong for each other. Her strength is yours and yours is hers. We can sense strength the same as we can sense fear. But many people feel fear stronger because they've lost the connection to one another. When they lose that connection, they feel alone and that is where fear breeds. But love and faith are stronger than fear and hatred and when you open yourself up to those connections, you are not alone. You will always have Angela with you."
"Thank you Mangela."
"No thanks necessary, Sonny boy," he smiled. "Now let's go kick Loubar's ass. But before we do, we smudge." Mangela went to his bag and pulled out a large shell and some sacred items he had collected on his travels, and started burning them. With his hand he wafted the smoke over Rollie and then himself, saying words in his language that Rollie didn't quite understand but felt stronger because of. He would have done more but they didn't have the time. When they were finished, Mangela let Francis back in, followed closely by Mira. Both of them looked at Rollie with worry. Rollie caught their concern.
"I'm okay. I'm sorry for my meltdown Francis. I uh...."
Francis shook his head, "Don't worry about it Rollie. I understand completely. If it was Sarah...."
Rollie nodded his understanding, "Mira. Do you have news?"
Mira looked at him, still unsure if he really was okay. She realized that he had a right to let off steam, "Francis told me about the video Rollie. I'm sorry."
Rollie looked down at the floor as the picture returned to his head.
"Only two fingerprints were found at Richter's apartment. Angie's and Loubar's. Which we thought was strange but it seems that Richter's staff cleaned the place pretty thoroughly after he left and they were given time off until he returned."
"What about Richter?" Rollie asked.
"Well, we figured he's either in cahoots with Loubar or Loubar assumed his identity. We have agents trying to track him down in DC even as we speak."
Rollie turned to Francis, "Did the FBI get back to you about the government contracts?"
"They did. It seems that the contracts are indeed to develop and test biological agents --"
"Wait a minute," Mira jumped in, "I thought our government banned development and testing in 1975 with the Biological Weapons Convention. Why would they have secret testing?"
Rollie ran his hand through his hair, "It makes sense in a conspiracy theory kind of way. Friendly governments have banned the manufacture and testing of the agents but terrorist groups have no such barrier. Even countries that have signed the BWC are rumored to have continued development in secret. As long as they're not caught they can do this kind of thing and get away with it. In a lot of cases too, the terrorists create stronger strains of the nerve agents since there are no restrictions on them. So in a way, it makes sense for governments continue the testing in secret because the best way to combat the threat is to be prepared for it. At least, that's the thinking of some people."
"Yeah," Francis agreed, "Agent Pruitt talked to an agent in DC and he said that these companies develop and test the agents in order to develop anti-agents in the case of a biological threat from a terrorist group. The government tries to conduct the testing in such a way that it's difficult to trace. They split it up between three of the friendly nations: the US, Britain and Norway. None of them have the complete plans. They each have a third of the plans. That way too, they are not contravening the BWC since they aren't technically developing the whole product. They believed that if they split it up that way they could thwart terrorist infiltration. I guess they were wrong."
"Okay," Mira said slowly, "How does Richter fit into this? And why did Loubar take Angie if his goal is the biological agents?"
"C'mon Mira, he took Angie to make it personal for me. He knows the way to hurt me is to hurt Angie," Rollie gritted his teeth, "As for Richter, I don't know. It could be that Richter fit into his plans. Remember Loubar was in Europe a few days ago consorting with known terrorists. Maybe the goal all along was the biological agents...and Richter's involvement with Angie was a sort of bonus. Something Loubar couldn't pass up."
Mira's cell phone rang and she moved away to hear better as the others continued to talk. She came back a few minutes later, a sad look on her face.
"What is it Mira?" Rollie asked.
"We found Paul Richter," she replied slowly.
"Where?"
"His body was found in a drainage pipe not far from his company's plant in Fairfax. He'd been shot in the head."
"Damn it!" Rollie said as he sat down, his head in his hands.