Oh yeah, if you're unfamiliar with Due South and want to know more, go here for some quickie background information.

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Rated: PG 

Ray Vecchio (aka Stanley Ray Kowalski) stared in disbelief at the pretty woman in the interrogation room by way of the one way mirror. Average height, fair haired, beautiful, all fire and life. He couldn't believe she was a dangerous thief. A thief more than willing to use a gun. One that he, or rather the other Ray, who he was impersonating while that Ray was undercover, had busted in fact. It would be real easy for her to blow his cover and thereby endanger his counterpart. He looked a question at his superior, Lieutenant Welsh, trying to figure out why he was here if she could wreck the havoc he knew she could (and had every reason to do). "Okay, so like I've busted this Morgan before. Right? And Huey recognized her and he and Dewey busted her for suspicion. So..." The thin blond man fidgeted.

Irritated, Welsh interrupted. "She says her name's not Morgan. She says she is one Angela Ramirez from New York City. I don't see it. She looks like Morgan. She even sounds like her. Get Fraser over here and have him talk to her. You too. Just don't introduce yourself."

Ray nodded his head, but was still confused. "What about fingerprints? Wouldn't that settle which one she was?"

The big man growled. "Yeah, if the computers weren't down. Check her out."

"Yes sir." Ray went to his desk to call the best friend he'd inherited along with the rest of Vecchio's life. "Hey Fraser? -- Yeah. -- Look we got this woman here. Looks like Morgan. -- Oh? Yeah, well the Lieutenant wants us to talk to her. -- What? -- Oh, she says her name's Ramirez, not Morgan. -- Yeah. Can you get over here? -- Okay. Thanks. Bye." He still couldn't believe he was best friends with a Canadian Mountie. Red uniform and all. Constable Benton Fraser was one of the best things that had come from his pretense of being Ray Vecchio. He could never have found a finer friend in life or a truer one. Ben was polite, intelligent and friendly. He was also Vecchio's and therefore Kowalski's unofficial "partner".
 
 

Ray looked up from his paperwork, relieved to see the tall Mountie in red serge enter. He smiled slightly at the familiar sight of Mountie and white wolf. For where Fraser went, Diefenbaker was sure to follow. "Hey Fraser. Thanks for getting here so quick. I hope I didn't cause any trouble with..."

"Not at all, Ray. Inspector Thatcher was very understanding." A tiny frown puckered Benton Fraser's brow for a moment. She had actually seemed relieved to get Fraser out of the Consulate. Oh dear. Between the paperwork mix-up that morning and Turnbull's and his... accident with the copier. Perhaps it was understandable. He breathed a very tiny and silent sigh. "Now. What's this about Morgan?"

"We've got her in an interrogation room. She's still claiming to be an Angela Ramirez, NYC. Says all we have to do is call her boss." Ray glanced at the hastily jotted notes Huey had passed on to him. "A Rollie Tyler. She says they're working on a movie over near the Field Museum."

"A movie, Ray?"

"Yeah. A movie. Come on and take a look at her."

Ben followed the slightly smaller man to the room on one side of the interrogation room and looked through the one-way mirror. Well, she certainly looked like Morgan. The hair was different, shorter and lighter, but that was easily accomplished by modern cosmetics. Huey was with her at the moment.

"Look. If you'll just call my boss. He can clear up everything. My name is Angie Ramirez. Not Morgan."

"Uh uh. Right."

"For God's sake! He's known me since I was eleven! He'll tell you exactly who I am. I do special effects! I'm not a thief!" She tossed her head and growled slightly in frustration.

Ben's head tilted to one side and he looked more closely at the woman. "Have you tried to reach Mister Tyler?"

"Yeah. No luck so far. We left a message at the hotel she gave us and we sent a squad over to where she said they were filming."

Francesca Vecchio, Ray's (the real Ray's) sister and a CPD civilian assistant, stuck her head in. "We got trouble guys."

"What now?" Ray shifted nervously. It was bad enough being this close to someone who could blow the whole ruse.

The tall brunette blew a bubble with the gum she was chewing. "That Tyler guy? He's been kidnapped. Right in front of the whole film crew. The director, a Ronnie Kilroy, is ranting in Lieutenant Welsh's office right now. He wants his special effects crew back... like yesterday!"
 
 
 

Ray dropped his head into his hands for a moment. "Great. Just great!"

"Perhaps the young lady is telling the truth, Ray."

"Maybe. But how do we prove it either way with the computers down? Hey Franny! Any idea when they'll get back up?" Ray asked hopefully.

"Nope. No word yet. Sorry Ray," She smiled at the dark haired, handsome, blue-eyed Mountie. "Benny."

"Come on, Fraz. Let's see what Mister Kilroy can tell us. I don't like this."

Ronnie Kilroy was a tall, slightly over weight, older man who sounded like he was used to getting his own way... or else. The balding man waved his hands wildly as he screamed at Welsh. Ray shivered slightly. He couldn't imagine anyone shouting at the lieutenant like that. Welsh was obviously having trouble not yelling back.

Fraser stepped forward, glanced uncertainly at the leftenant. He interrupted, politely. "Excuse me sir. Could you tell us exactly what happened?"

Kilroy blinked and closed his mouth, surprised by the polite inquiry and the sight of a Mountie. "What happened? What happened was my senior special effects man has been kidnapped and we can't find his assistant."

"I understand, sir. But could you describe the events. Who took him? Did you see them? What did they look like? What type of vehicle? That sort of thing, sir?"

"Well, I was discussing the set-up for the next scene with the actors. Rollie was on the phone, trying to find his assistant. Uh, Angie. She was late. We'd already done one scene without her. This van squealed to a stop next to him. The next thing we knew these two guys in ski masks jumped out, hit him in the head and tossed him into the back of the van. They took off before anybody could do anything."

"I see. What did the van look like? And how were the men dressed? Did anyone see a license number?"

"I don't know. It was just a van. Kind of beige with primer paint on one fender. They wore black, of course."

"Of course," Fraser glanced over at the Chicago officers, wondering if he should continue with the questioning. After all, he was way out of his jurisdiction. Seeing the looks he received, he nodded. "Can you describe Mister Tyler and um, Angie?"

"Tyler? He a FX man."

"Yes sir, but what does he look like? Perhaps a picture?"

"No, I don't think we have any pictures of him. He's, um..." Kilroy trailed off, trying to think how to describe a man he'd hardly paid any attention to. "He's skinny, dark hair. It's kind of long." A thought came to him and he pounced on it, triumphantly. "He's Australian."

"I see, sir. How tall?"

The director looked blankly at the Canadian who sighed inside. "Is he as tall as you, sir? Taller? Shorter?"

"Uh, about my height, I guess."

Well, not the best description. Hopefully, someone else attached to the movie could give a better one. "What about his assistant?"

"His assistant? She's an assistant! I don't know."

"Would you recognize her if you saw her?" Welsh asked, disgusted. The man was a horrible witness. Probably been working with these people for who knew how long and couldn't describe what they looked like, never mind the kidnappers. How could he be a director? Didn't that take an eye for detail? Kilroy looked blank at the question. Welsh sighed deeply. "Would someone else with the film recognize her?"

"Tyler."

"Tyler's not exactly available. How about someone else, Mister Kilroy?" Ray asked hopefully.

"I don't know. Some one probably could. I don't pay attention to assistants." The director spoke indignantly. "I have much too much to do without paying attention to every little..."

"I'm sure, Mister Kilroy." Welsh interrupted. "Vecchio, Fraser. Go check on that other case. You know the one... Morgan. I'll get someone over to question the film crew."

"Now see here! I can't have my film disrupted by police crawling all over every thing and..."

"I'd say your film's already been disrupted with one of your people snatched in broad daylight." Welsh was extremely tired of the attitude.

Ray and Ben gratefully retreated from the fray. Ray whistled softly. "Can you believe that guy?"

"Um. Actually no, Ray. I can't. I think it's time we talked to Ms. Ramirez."

"If she's Ramirez and not Morgan."

"Well. Shall we see?" Fraser stood aside to allow Ray to enter first.

"Okay, Huey we got it." Ray said, slightly nervous.

"Great." Huey stalked out of the interrogation box.

"All right. Now..." Ray looked uncertainly at the woman who was bristling at them. It was obvious that any patience she'd ever possessed had disappeared long ago.

The blonde shot a look of disbelief upon seeing a mountie, then spoke. "Look. How many people do I have to tell my name to? It's not Morgan. I am Angie Ramirez! If you'd just let me call Rollie, we can clear this all up."

"I'm afraid that will prove a bit difficult, ma'am." Fraser responded, watching her carefully.

"Difficult? Difficult?!? Come on, give me a phone. I'll call Rollie. He comes down here and identifies me. What's so difficult?"

"Ah... Miss. I'm sorry to inform you, Mister Tyler has apparently been..." Ray started.

"Been what? What's happened?" Fear and worry leaked into the blue green eyes that had been so angry a moment before. "Has something happened to Rollie? An accident? What?"

"It would seem he's been kidnapped, Ms. Ramirez." Ben said the words gently, convinced this woman was not Morgan. She was nothing like the dangerous thief.

"Kidnapped?" Angie whispered, then spoke up. "Who? How? Why?" She looked at the two men, desperate. "Why would someone kidnap Rollie?"

Ben and Ray exchanged looks, then Ray spoke. "We were sort of hoping you could tell us."

Angie stared back. Despair seeped into her heart. While she'd been sitting here twiddling her thumbs, idle, trying to get these... idiots to listen to her, her best friend and partner had been kidnapped. She hoped wherever he was that he was okay and hadn't been hurt. "I don't... I don't know." She shook her head. This wasn't helping Rollie and at least this pair was listening. The mountie had even called her Ramirez, not Morgan. "Look, please! Just tell me what happened.... Maybe I can figure it out."

"Excuse us a minute." Ray tugged on Ben's arm, pulling him out of the room. "You think she's really who she says she is. Angie Ramirez and not Morgan?"

Benton Fraser rocked gently on his heels into a position of parade rest, then spoke thoughtfully. "Yes. I do think she is Angie Ramirez. Morgan would never show that... amount of concern for another." Fraser wondered about the concern. It seemed Mister Tyler was more than just an employer to Ms. Ramirez.

Ray smiled in relief. "Good enough for me. Hey Franny!" He called to his "sister" in the bullpen. "Could you get Ms. Ramirez's things?" Franny shrugged assent and moved away to do just that. If it'd really been her brother, she'd never do it. But this Ray was a lot nicer.

"Now, Ms. Ramirez..." Ray spoke as he re-entered the room.

"Angie. My name is Angie. What happened to Rollie?"

"First things first, Angie. We need a description or a picture of Mister Tyler."

"I've got a picture of Rollie in my bag." Angie answered, part of her relaxing, even as another part tensed further, deeply worried. She took a deep breath. "He's six foot two, thin build. Brown hair, brown eyes. His hair is wavy and reaches his shoulders. He's Australian, but his accent usually isn't very strong unless he's hurt..." She gulped, then continued. "or tired or something. He has a scar on his left cheek and he's left handed." She tried to think of something to add to the description. Anything that could help the police find him.

"Very succinct, Ms. Ramirez." Fraser nodded in approval. He was glad she wasn't reacting to him the way most women tended toward. She was totally focused on helping her employer. She was also a lot more observant than the director.

Franny poked her head in. "Here's her bag." She passed it to Ray who passed it over to Angie.

Angie dug into the depths and pulled out her wallet. She kept few pictures, but always had one of her parents and another of Rollie. She removed the picture from it's place. "Here. It's kind of old." The picture she handed to Ray didn't show the scar she mentioned and was small. She rooted around some more, then pulled out something that looked like an electronic organizer. Angie turned it on and touched an icon. "This is more recent."

Ray and Fraser were surprised by the clear picture that appeared on the small screen. It showed a man with a friendly smile and warm brown eyes. It was very good. "Uh... can we print this out or something?" Ray asked.

"Yeah," Angie shrugged. "No problem. I can download it into your system if it'd help..."

Ray smiled ruefully. "Probably not. Our system's down at the moment. Otherwise you'd probably have been released by now."

"Okay. We've got a really good printer with our gear at the location. I can print it there. Unless you've got a good color printer?"

"I'm sure Francesca will allow you to use hers, um, Angie." Fraser responded. "By the way. We haven't been introduced. I am Constable Benton Fraser, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, currently assigned as Deputy Liaison Officer with the Canadian Consulate, here in Chicago. This is Detective Ray Vecchio with the Chicago Police Department. I occasionally serve as a partner with him to..."

A phone rang, interrupting. Ray reached for his cell phone in his coat pocket, but found it wasn't his phone ringing. Angie pulled out a cell phone and answered cautiously. The only ones who knew her number were Rollie and a few select friends, like Mira and Francis with the NYCPD and Francis' wife, Sarah. "Hello?" She gasped silently as an obviously disguised voice spoke.

"Listen close, Morgan. We want what's ours back. We don't it get it and your partner here won't be alive anymore." There was a sickening thud followed by a strangled cry and she paled. Rollie! "We'll call with instructions." Fingers numb and unfeeling, Angie almost dropped the phone, but after a second her grip tightened. They said they would call back. Rollie!
 
 
 

Ben eyed the pale woman with concern. "Ms. Ramirez? Are you all right?"

"That..." She closed her eyes and swallowed hard. Rollie! "It was the kidnappers. They think I'm Morgan too. They said... they said they'd kill Rollie unless I gave them what's theirs." She turned desperate eyes on the two men. "They hurt Rollie! But I'm not Morgan! I don't know what they want! I don't have it! What'll we do? We can't let them kill Rollie!"

Ray and Fraser looked at each other. This was not good.

"Okay. We get that picture out. Then we talk to Lieutenant Welsh." Ray paused, then asked. They needed to know how far Angie could go. "Can you pretend to be Morgan if you have to?"

"Yeah. Yeah, if it'll help Rollie, I'd impersonate the President!" Angie breathed deeply, shoving the fear she felt down deep inside. She had to stay calm and rescue Rollie. They had to hurry. What she'd heard... It didn't sound good.

To say Welsh wasn't pleased, was an understatement. They got the picture out where the street cops could keep an eye out for the kidnapped special effects expert. Ray drove Ben, Dief and Angie to the film location. She'd merely stared curiously at the wolf, then shrugged. Angie had far more important things on her mind. She lead them aboard the large black truck with a huge red F and white X painted on it sides and rear. Ben noticed that the license plate was for New York and had FX on it as well. The amount of equipment inside was impressive. They watched curiously as Angie took her cell phone and hooked it up to an elaborate computer set-up.

The blonde glanced at her companions and explained. "If they stay on the phone long enough, I can trace it from here."

"You can do that?" Ray asked, startled by her matter of fact statement.

"Yep. I can do that." Angie shrugged. "It's easy." A small bark made Ray jump slightly and Diefenbaker growled softly. Angie glanced over at the white wolf with gray and tannish markings.

"Quiet Dief." Fraser rested a hand on his furry companion's head and looked around curiously. There'd been no sign of any animals when they entered the large truck/van.

"Come here, Blue." Angie called to her boss's pet. The others watched with wide eyed astonishment as an insect like robot came out from under some storage units. Dief whined and backed up in surprise. "Good boy. Come here."

"Arf arf" The little robot walked over to his mistress. He stopped beside her and then patiently waited to be picked up. "Good boy, Blue. Have you got something for me?" Angie eyed the robot dog curiously. Yes, he did seem to have something. The tiny light Rollie had installed to indicate a message was blinking. It was too small to be noticeable to anyone but someone who knew it was there. Angie tried to quiet the surge of excitement she felt seeing it. It could be nothing, a message Rollie had loaded for her before he was kidnapped. Or... "Let me see, Blue." Angie placed the robot in front of the van's console and hooked him into the system. Yes! It was the symbol they'd chosen to indicate a PDA was broadcasting a GPS signal. If the batteries lasted long enough and Rollie still had it with him or at least  near him, they might be able to find him without this charade of her "playing" Morgan.

"What is it, Angie?" Ray asked.

"This symbol indicates a GPS signal coming from one of our PDA's. We can track it's location from here." Angie worked swiftly to get the coordinates. The batteries might not last much longer. They really should do something about that. Just before Angie could lock it down to a tighter location, the signal faded and died. "Damn." She muttered, frustrated.

"Angie?" Ray hesitated, then put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently. "What happened?"

"I lost the signal. The batteries must've died." She shrugged, pushing her disappointment away. "Oh well, I got a general location." She pulled up a map of the Chicago area, swiftly matching the longitude and latitude grid.

"Rail yards and warehouses." Fraser commented seeing the location. He'd learnt a lot about the city in his few years of assignment.

Ray pulled out his cell phone. "I'll call it in."

"Won't they get suspicious? If cops show up searching there I mean." Angie looked anxiously at them, her worry etched into her face. "They might kill Rollie."

"If they haven't already." Ray muttered too low for Angie to hear, but not Fraser who was closer.

"Perhaps," Fraser answered softly, uncertain how to comfort the upset woman. "We could..."

Angie's cell phone shrilled. She immediately turned back around and touched another icon. This time Ray and Fraser could hear the caller as well. "Morgan," she spoke crisply, all business.

"Ah Morgan. Excellent. Do you have our merchandise?"  The artificial sound of the voice was grating.

The blonde special effects artist glanced once over at the men, then answered. "Yes."

The voice chuckled. "I must admit you were very innovative this time. Your partner almost convinced us you weren't Morgan. He was very stubborn."

Angie shivered slightly at the ominous words. "I want to talk to him."

"Now, now," the voice tsked, "you are in no position to demand. Do as I say and you'll get him back. Don't and we will not be held responsible." The voice became colder, harder. "Bring it to the CSX Rail Yards near Lake Michigan. You know where. You'll be met. You have one hour." Click. The caller hadn't waited for a response.

"Great, be specific, why don't you?" Angie muttered, angry and worried. The call was too short to trace too, damn it!

"It matches with your coordinates, Angie." The Canadian responded. "We'd best hurry, Ray. A hour isn't very long."

"Yeah. Well, we got a couple of problems." Ray shot back. "Like what is it they want? We haven't a clue."

"No. But I could take a case. Put something heavy in it. It's the best we can hope for." Angie opened one of the multitude of storage bins, pulling out a heavy equipment case. A quick glance around and she filled it with some metal parts from Rollie's workbench, surrounding them with foam padding, so it wouldn't clank. "There. That'll have to do. Hopefully what they want will fit into something this size."

"Yeah, well, what if it doesn't or it's too big?" Ray worried at the possibility.

"I bluff," came the simple response.

"I don't like it." Ray grumbled. "It's too dangerous."

"We don't have a choice, Ray." Ben pointed out, reasonably he thought. "Let's go. I want to change before we get there. My uniform is not... appropriate for the occasion."

"Fraser!" Ray glared at the Mountie.

"Yes, Ray." The dark haired man raised an eyebrow, waiting.

"Our other problem." Ray growled.

"Yes, Ray?"

Ray ran a hand through his short hair. "Where? They didn't exactly give us directions. Morgan might know what they meant, but we don't!"

Fraser blinked and thoughtfully contemplated the problem. It was a problem too. Where? The rail yards were large. If these people, clearly dangerous, didn't see Angie where they expected Morgan. "Oh dear."

"So we bluff!" Angie was determined. She was getting Rollie back with or without any help. "We go to the rail yards where I was getting the signal from."

"Yeah, and then what?" Ray challenged.

"We... cruise around. Make sure they see me. They said I'd be met."

Ray and Fraser stared at each other. Angie saw their doubt, their disbelief.

"Look! It'll work. It has to work! It's Rollie's only chance. We don't have a choice! I don't have a choice. We've got to get going. Rollie's in danger. There's no time for this!"

Fraser and Ray look at each other at a loss. It couldn't work, but it had to work. They shrugged assent. Ben wondered at her devotion to her employer. Her willingness to walk into deadly danger. Perhaps Mister Tyler was more than just an employer to Angie. After all, she called him Rollie. He tried to picture himself calling the Inspector, Margaret or Meg on a regular basis. A warm feeling curled his toes and he shook himself. Really, it just was not done.

"We can get you some clothes from wardrobe, Constable. It'll save time."

"Very well." Fraser agreed. It didn't take long for Angie to get jeans and a T-shirt in the handsome Mountie's size. They were far more comfortable in the summer heat than his uniform. He was a bit surprised to find a name and phone number in one pants pocket when he changed though. However, Fraser was no longer quite as naive about these things as he had been. He blushed ever so slightly and shoved the paper back into his pocket. As he exited the trailer, he tried to hide his discomfort. A "Thank you kindly" was given to the wardrober and he turned to Ray and Angie. He hesitated a moment. "One more thing. They'll expect Morgan to have a gun."

Angie blinked, "A gun?"

"Oh no! No way am I giving her a gun!" Ray protested.

"You don't have to," Angie replied tartly as she returned to the FX van. A moment later she came out holding a very lethal looking handgun. "Will this do?"

"You got a permit for that?" Ray eyed the gun distrustfully. Maybe she really was Morgan.

Angie grinned. "It's a prop. Not bad." She stuck it in her belt.

"A prop? These guys are going to think it's real. And their guns are real!" Ray looked at her with a kind of sick horror. "You're going to get shot."

"No I'm not," Angie responded quietly, "and if I do..." She shook her head. "I don't care. As long as it saves Rollie."

"I can't take a civilian to get shot! Fraser!?!" Ray turned to his friend in desperation.

"I don't think we have a choice, Ray." Fraser saw a look in the woman's eyes that said she was going with or without them.

"Oh for Pete's sake," Angie went back into the van and came out with a jacket. It was too large for her and it was too hot to be wearing one, but she shrugged into it anyway and zipped it closed. "There. Now I'm wearing Kelvar. Happy?"

"Kelvar?" Ray looked at her, astounded. "That's Kelvar? What are you doing with Kelvar?"

"Ray, we need to be going. There's not much time left." Ben interrupted gently.

"Damn! Come on!" Ray headed for the unmarked police car. Angie and Dief scrambled into the back seat together, leaving the front for the taller Canadian.

Angie petted the wolf, glad for the distraction from her worry. If Rollie wasn't all right... Normally, she'd be blaming Rollie for these fixes. He was always falling into trouble... or rushing headlong into it for one of his friends. This time though, Angie hugged Dief's neck tightly, this time was her fault. If she hadn't been mistaken for this Morgan, Rollie never would have been kidnapped or hurt. And he was hurt, she knew it. The thought made her feel sick, but she didn't have time to feel sick. She had to save Rollie. Angie breathed deeply and hugged the wolf tighter. She buried her face into his neck. Rollie... A single tear soaked into the white fur.
 
 

"All right, we're here. Now what?" Ray looked around.

"Drive slowly." Angie said as she rolled the rear window down and looked out. Reaching over she pushed Dief to the floor. He moaned and whined but went anyway. Somehow Angie's need had communicated to the wolf. She rolled the other window down.

"Hey, it's too hot for the windows to be down!"

"What are you complaining about, Vecchio? I'm the one with the heavy jacket on. Now shut up and drive." Angie ordered. She didn't care, they had to find the creeps that were holding Rollie.

They cruised the rail yards for ten minutes looking for them when they saw a man dressed in black. He waved at "Morgan". Angie nodded once and spoke quietly to the men in the front seat. "Okay. Stop here. I'll step out and see what he's got to say."

"Be careful," Ben whispered, "these men are dangerous."

Angie got out of the car and moved about five feet closer to where the man stood. "Okay. I'm here. Where's my partner?" She kept her voice hard.

"Around. Now where's the stuff?" The man growled.

Angie's eyes narrowed. "I want to see my partner first."

"No. We get the stuff. We tell you where your partner is. We don't, you'll never see him again." Two more men appeared beside the first one.

Ray and Ben exchanged worried looks and scrambled out. They flanked Angie and waited.

Angie fought hard to hide her worry. "How do I know I get him back alive? He's no good to me dead."

"Trust me." came the snide reply with a cruel grin.

"No. I see my partner, you get the stuff."

"I don't think so." The man pulled out a gun and pointed it toward Angie. The other men were also pulling out guns.

Fraser jumped forward pulling Angie to the ground just as the first man fired. She grunted, then moaned softly when they hit the ground. Ray dodged behind a nearby freight car. He pulled his gun and fired back. Angie squirmed a bit and pulled out her gun. "I thought that was a prop." Fraser was startled by her actions.

"It is. They don't know that." She pointed the gun toward one of the men firing at Ray and pulled the trigger. The sound was very realistic as she fired the blanks.

"Oh dear." Fraser realized the men had no idea it was a fake as one shifted his aim and fired at them. The bullet ricocheted off of a rail.

Diefenbaker leapt through the open window and ran toward the closest man. Startled by the snarling wolf, he tried to shift his aim and shoot it. Dief was on him, growling and biting. With a cry of pain, the man lost his gun. Ray continued firing at the remaining two men. One gave a choked cry and fell. The other man, recognizing the changing odds, fled. He was gone before Ray or Dief could do a thing. The sound of an engine signalled his escape as he drove off with a squeal and clash of gears.

"Damn." Angie hit the ground with a fist. "Damn damn damn." She scrambled to her feet and hurried to the man Dief was holding. "Okay. Talk. Where's my partner?" Angie pointed her gun at the middle of his forehead.

"Find him yourself." The man snarled.

"Talk or I'll shoot you." Angie smiled cruelly as she shifted her aim further down. She clicked her tongue. "Won't be worrying about the ladies."

Ray watched the exchange in disbelief from where he was checking the other perp. Oh man, he thought and shivered. The man was dead. Looking at the determined woman, he thought the guy might have been the lucky one.

Fraser blinked at the unusual tactic. He started to say something, then closed his mouth. He waved one hand in command. "Dief." The wolf moved to his side. Both watched the confrontation with interest. Dief's tall wagged. He liked this one, she would make a good pack leader. Definitely, an Alpha female.

Angie's finger tightened on the trigger. The man raised his hands and waved them in surrender. "All right! All right. I'm not sure. The others took him away after we called you. They dumped him in the yard somewhere."

"Remember what I said?" Angie growled. "If he's dead, I'll do it."

"He was alive! Honest!" The man panicked. "He was alive when they took him. We just wanted him out of the way. We didn't kill him. Honest!"

"What about that one?" Angie called.

"No help here. He's dead." Ray responded as he moved to cuff Angie's target. "I'll call for an ambulance and get some squads out here to start searching." He went to make the call.

"Cops? Morgan? You?!? You brought cops?"

Angie glared down at him. "I'm not Morgan!" She growled through clinched teeth.

"Ray! Angie!" Fraser was down on one knee near the doorway to the roundhouse the men had apparently exited.

Angie hurried to join him.

Fraser pointed to marks on the dry, hard ground. "Tracks. Two men, carrying something heavy. Perhaps another man."

"If you say so. Where?" Angie asked anxiously as Ray joined them.

"This way. Dief. Track." Fraser waved  his hand. Wolf and Mountie moved forward, following the trail only they could see. Diefenbaker darted ahead suddenly and whined and woofed softly at the ladder leading up into a tanker car. He danced excitedly at its foot.

Angie darted past the two men and climbed the ladder. "No!" She cried as she fought to turn the valve sealing the top hatch. It was too hot! If Rollie was in there, the heat would kill him. The valve screeched then moved under her hands. She pulled the hatch open and peered down, trying to see inside. Angie groaned and dropped into the tanker. It was like dropping into an oven, the heat a physical wall. She scrambled over to the still form of her best friend. Fraser dropped in right behind her.

Rollie lay on his side, his face red and dry. His arms were tied behind his back. The man's breathing was fast and shallow. Angie brushed the brown hair back from his eyes and hissed in alarm. "He's too hot!"

Fraser frowned as he made his own examination. A dark bruise was forming on the left forearm, it didn't look right. Gently he touched the area and winced. Broken. As he reached down to cut off the ropes, the marks he saw spoke vividly of Rollie Tyler's struggle to escape despite the pain his actions must have caused him. Rope burns were visible and the skin was torn and bloody. He gently felt for a pulse. It was rapid and weak. "His arm's broken and he's suffering from heat stroke." Ben carefully shifted the broken arm forward and moved the man to his back. He looked uncertainly up to the hatch where Ray was staring down at them, worried. "I hate moving him, but we have to get him out of this heat now! Ray, do you see anything we can use as a splint?"

Ray pulled back and looked around, trying to spot something. Where? A small board lay nearby, discarded from a broken packing crate. He jumped down and grabbed it. Scrambling back to the top of the tanker, he dropped inside to join Fraser and Angie beside Rollie. "Here. Will this do?"

"Perfect, Ray." Fraser took the board and snapped it into two pieces. "Give me your belt. Yours too Angie." They promptly passed their belts over to Ben who used them to hold the splint in place. He removed his and made a crude sling. "Ray, go up top. I'll bring him up."

Ray nodded and scrambled up the ladder, climbing out of the furnace like heat inside the tanker.

Angie and Ben pulled the injured man up. The Mountie carefully draped the unconscious man in a firefighter's carry position. With Angie's hands steadying the still form, he climbed the ladder. Ray reached out and helped Ben climb out, carefully steadying both Fraser and his burden. Ray and Ben climbed down the outside ladder, Ray first, one hand holding Tyler in place. Angie scrambled out of the tanker and followed them down. With help from Ray and Angie, Fraser stretched Tyler out on the ground in the shade of the tanker. He removed his pocket knife and began to cut away his T-shirt. The spot really wasn't very cool, but it was noticeably cooler than the inside of the tanker.

With help from Ray, Angie removed Rollie's shoes and then his jeans. She winced as she felt the heat radiating off of her best friend. "Where's that ambulance?" She asked frantically. Heat stroke could cause permanent brain damage or death. Rollie needed care NOW!

Ray started to reply, then sighed in relief as they heard sirens approaching. "They're coming."

Angie stroked Rollie's hair and whispered fiercely into his ear. "Hold on, Rollie! You've got to hold on! You promised you wouldn't leave me. I'm holding you to that promise. Just hold on!" She moved away under the urging of Ray and Ben, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, watching fearfully as the EMTs started a saline IV, administered oxygen, replaced Fraser's splint and started spraying Rollie's overheated body with water. She followed anxiously and climbed into the ambulance after they loaded the gurney with Rollie. "I'm holding you to that promise," she whispered as the ambulance doors closed.
 
 

Ray first had to explain the dead perp to Lieutenant Welsh and then process the live one. Since he didn't want to cooperate and identify the third man, they headed for the hospital to check on Tyler. After Ray identified them to admissions, they were directed to the Intensive Care floor. The head nurse directed them to where Rollie Tyler was located. Both men were startled when they saw Angie, her left arm in a sling. She was helping another nurse sponge Rollie Tyler's still form while fans blew cool air toward the bed. Angie and the nurse were working around the cast on Rollie's arm and the IV feeding a saline solution to his badly dehydrated body.

"What happened to you?" Ray blurted out.

"I got shot." Angie shrugged. "I didn't realize it until I took the jacket off. It's nothing really. Not much more than a scratch."

"If it's nothing, why the sling?" Ray asked suspiciously. Great! Something else to explain to the lieutenant.

"To remind me not to use it too much." Angie soaked the sponge she was holding and turned back to Rollie. She wasn't concerned about herself, only Rollie.

"How is Mister Tyler?" Fraser asked gently.

"His temperature is down, but not enough. It's still too high." Angie answered, gently wiping his still form. "He's in a coma." She added absently, intent only on the motions that could save his life.

The two men moved closer and saw the cold packs positioned around the injured man. Ray shivered at the sight. Just looking made him feel cold.

"Is there anything we can do, Angie?" The Canadian asked.

"Catch that other guy who did this to Rollie." Angie growled as, for just a second, a look of pure hate replaced the one of deep worry and concern.

"Understood." Fraser responded. He tugged on Ray's arm and they left the room.

"Wow! I think I'm glad she's not mad at me, Fraz." Ray spoke as they reached his car.

"Indeed, Ray," the Mountie responded, "but the question is, how are we going to fulfill her request?"

"I don't know. Maybe if we tell the one we have that we'll leave him alone with her for a few minutes?"

The friends climbed into the car and Ben looked at Ray thoughtfully. "That would probably work Ray, but I doubt it would be legal."

Ray gave him a look that said 'you can't blame me for trying'. "Then I guess we'll have to do it the hard way. Rail yards?"

Fraser nodded and they headed for where they found the men who had kidnapped Rollie Tyler. They had just reached the location when Ray received a phone call. He listened closely and thanked Franny with a sigh of relief before hanging up. "Well, it's official. Angie is Angela Ramirez, not Morgan."

"I told you, Ray." Ben smiled gently at his friend. "Now, let's see about fulfilling Angie's request."

Ray nodded and the friends moved to search the area. Trying to find something, anything that might lead to the third man. Fraser put to use the talents and knowledge he'd acquired growing up in The Territories, trying to interpret the confusion of tracks concentrated around the area they'd found the kidnappers. He found and discarded the tracks they'd followed to the tanker and Mister Tyler. Now, he was looking for other things, ways to identify the mysterious third man. He identified the tracks of the men they held and looked for others. "Here, Ray. A man about six feet four," he cocked his head eyeing the tracks, "wearing size sixteen shoes, two hundred twenty pounds."

"Pretty good size feet." Ray commented as he headed for the car to get the materials to make a cast. He set about making the cast as Ben followed the tracks. "Big man. I don't want to meet him in a dark alley."

"Agreed, Ray." Fraser found the place where the car had been parked and Ray made more casts. "It was leaking oil." He pointed to the drippings.

"Yeah, but not too badly. Lot of cars leak oil."

The Canadian sighed. "Yes. They do."

"These tire tracks look like Firestones." Ray observed. "The lab will know what type. They look fairly new."

Ray followed as Fraser continued quartering the area. They didn't find much else, the kidnappers had been careful, leaving little behind. Ray took the casts and handed them in to the lab for analysis, then they headed back to the hospital to check on Tyler and Angie. If Tyler woke up, he might be able to supply a description of the other man. Unfortunately, the one in custody didn't seem inclined to talk. They approached the hospital room quietly and observed Angie and her boss from the doorway. Tyler was still unconscious according to the floor nurse, but doing better. They were surprised to see he was in what looked like a wet suit, except it was surrounded by tubes and wiring.

Angie spotted the two men and gave them a tired smile. She gestured to the still figure. "I remembered we had an air-conditioned suit in our gear. It's helped. Rollie's doing a lot better now." Angie stroked his soft curls. "The doctor thinks he'll wake up soon."

That's good, Angie." Ray shifted uneasily. "We're not having much luck finding the other guy." At Angie's glare, he hurried on. "We're working on some leads though!"

Angie gazed at them, exasperated. "You're hoping Rollie can identify the third man, when he wakes up."

"Well, yeah." Ray looked sheepish. Had he been that obvious?
 
 

A faint moan sounded and Angie's head whipped back around to stare Rollie. Unerringly, her hand slapped the call button for the nurse. She gently picked up his right hand and squeezed it. "Rollie? Come on, Rollie. It's time to wake up now." She coaxed and pleaded with her partner.

When the nurse appeared to answer Angie's call, Fraser answered her questioning gaze. "Mister Tyler appears to be regaining consciousness."

The pretty nurse gave a sharp look at the patient. "I'll notify the doctor immediately."

The doctor and nurse chased them all out, so he could examine his patient. Angie paced the hallway, worried and anxious. What if there was brain damage? What then? Rollie was brilliant, innovative... a genius. What if it was gone? What if...?!? Angie had worked herself into a frenzy by the time Doctor Caruso came out. She jumped to his side. "Doctor? Is he...?"

"Mister Tyler is doing very well. He still has a fever, but he's doing much better. He's dazed and confused, but that should wear off as he gets stronger. Because of the fever, he feels cold. I think it's time to remove that air-conditioned suit, Ms. Ramirez."

Angie nodded agreement and went inside to help the doctor and nurse ease Rollie out of the cumbersome suit. It had done its job, now nature would do the rest. At least Rollie appeared to be out of danger, she thought with a prayer of gratitude.

Rollie blinked up at Angie with dazed brown eyes that didn't seem to want to focus on anything. Recognizing his partner more by instinct than sight, he whimpered slightly. "Cold," came the soft complaint.

"Shhh. I know Rollie. You'll feel better in a minute." Angie soothed the tall man as they worked the suit off.

Rollie shivered and complained again, sounding like a small child. "Cold."

Angie stroked Rollie's long brown hair from his eyes. "I know, Rol. I know. It'll be better soon." The nurse passed a blanket to the blonde. She shook it out and tucked it around her partner. "Shhh. You're doing fine, Rollie. Just take it easy."

Rollie continued to shiver as the nurse adjusted the temperature controls for the room. "Head hurts." He shifted slightly and spoke again, still using that too soft tone. "Arm hurts."

Angie cast an anxious look at the short doctor. He nodded to her. "I'll order some Tylenol for him. A headache is perfectly normal. We can't give him anything stronger under the circumstances, but he is doing very well, Ms. Ramirez."

Angie nodded and stroked Rollie's hair, murmuring soft reassurances to the dazed man. The nurse returned with the Tylenol and they coaxed Rollie into swallowing the pills with some water. Angie kept a firm hold on Rollie's hand as he lay in the bed.

The Aussie took a deep breath and closed his eyes, fighting the pain and confusion. Brown eyes blinked open to look deep into tired blue ones and he gave her a small smile. Rollie didn't really remember how he'd gotten here or why he was here, but he knew here was a hospital. Angie looked... Angie looked so tired and worn. Had she been worried about him again? He supposed so. His tired eyes drifted down and he frowned when he saw the sling on Angie's left arm. What? "Angie?"

"I'm right here, Rol. It's okay." Seeing the puzzled frown puckering Rollie's brow, she asked, "What is it? What's wrong?"

Rollie licked his lips and looked at her. "Ar...arm?"

"Your arm's broken, boss. It'll be okay. The doctor said it was a clean break."

Rollie shook his head, frustrated. "No. Your arm?"

"Oh, um..." Angie squirmed a bit, she'd always accused Rollie of throwing himself into the line of fire and here she was guilty of that exact thing. If Rollie found out, she would be in for a lot of teasing when he felt better.... A lot of teasing. The young blonde considered her suddenly fragile partner. Was that so bad? At least he was still here to tease her. It had been so close! So very, very close!

"She was shot, Mister Tyler."

Angie started at the quiet words and threw a glare at the Mountie who had spoken.

Rollie's frown deepened. "Shot?" He looked Angie over anxiously, suddenly deeply worried.

"Yes sir. My understanding is it's a minor flesh wound."

"I don't... remember go... ing Canada..." Rollie looked with confusion at the man standing behind his partner, stoically enduring her glare of death.

Benton Fraser smiled slightly. He didn't know how Rollie Tyler had figured his nationality, but he was obviously clear enough to be correct. "Actually, you're in Chicago."

The frown eased a bit, the man reassured by Angie's obvious health. "I  ...member. We were... film... near... Field Mus... eum." He turned his puzzled, concerned gaze to his blonde partner. "You... you were... late. Cause... you were... shot?"

"Ah, no sir, Mister Tyler." Ray spoke quietly. "She was mistakenly picked up by... um, Chicago Police as a thief."

"Thief?" Rollie looked startled and his eyes asked his partner clearly, "Now, what have you done?"

"Yeah, she bears an uncanny resemblance to a thief named Morgan."

"Mor... gan?"  Rollie's voice had grown weaker. He was obviously tiring rapidly.

Angie frowned at the two men, then bent over her partner, stroking his hair back. "Go to sleep, Rollie." When he looked like he would protest, she placed gentle fingers on his lips. "Shhh... Go to sleep. You need to rest. I'll explain everything... later."

Rollie sighed in resignation and closed his eyes. He was tired. So tired. It wasn't long before he fell asleep.
 
 
 

Angie Ramirez glared at the two men. "You want to question Rollie. You'll wait until he's better. He's still weak. Until he's stronger, you will leave him alone!" She smiled, a sweetly venomous one. "If you like, Doctor Caruso will back me on it."

"Ms. Ramirez, we have no desire to cause further harm to Mister Tyler. Any questions can and will wait." The Mountie stood stiffly.

"Angie, we're on your side. Honest! We just want to make sure you and your boss are safe." Ray considered his statement. "You know Fraser, maybe we should ask the lieutenant to put a guard on Mister Tyler."

"That might be a good idea, Ray."

Ray got on his cell phone and called in the request to Welsh.

Angie relaxed a bit. "Rollie! His name is Rollie." She grinned. "If you keep calling him 'Mister Tyler', he'll get you for it when he's feeling better. Trust me. You don't want to know what he can do."

Ray chuckled. "Okay. I stand corrected. Rollie. Um, Angie... I think we should put a guard on you too."

Angie sighed, exasperated. She didn't want a bodyguard, but if it kept Rollie safe... "Look. I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying right here, so whoever guards Rollie can guard me too. Okay?"

"Ms. Ramirez..." Fraser started.

"Angie. My name is Angie. His is Rollie. Okay, Fraser?" The blonde special effects expert interrupted. "We're really very informal." She flashed a wicked smile. "And we don't bite... Usually."

"Understood, Ms., um, Angie." Fraser replied. "Are you sure you don't want to go to your hotel and change?"

"No, I don't want to go to the hotel and change." She mimicked Fraser's tone of voice, then her eyes softened. "Would you go and get changes for both of us?"

"Sure, we can do that." Ray agreed. "No problem."

Angie gave her room card to Ray. "Room 1014. The connecting door to Rollie's room, 1016, is unlocked. Just bring the small overnight bags with the essentials and a change of clothes."

When the uniforms showed up, Fraser was relieved to see one of them was Elaine Brisbass. She'd started with the Chicago Police as a civilian aid, but had gone on to enter the academy. Elaine was an excellent officer, intelligent and conscientious. No one would harm Rollie or Angie while she was on guard. He had a feeling they were still in danger, though he couldn't say why.
 
 
 

Ray and Fraser stared at the disaster that was Angie's hotel room. A careful peek in the room next door, proved it was in as big a mess. Someone had searched the rooms thoroughly, not caring about the belongings, only about finding whatever they sought. They'd even hung 'Do Not Disturb' signs on the doors.

Ray sighed, "I'll call for a forensics unit," pulling out his cell phone.

Fraser looked at the disarray and shook his head. "I wonder if they'll find anything. Oh dear, I guess collecting a change of clothes and essentials is out of the question."

Ray nodded, resigned. "Yeah. I'd say so, Fraser. I wonder what Morgan took that they're so desperate to find it." He cocked his head to one side. "Whatever it is, it's big!"

"The leftenant won't be pleased."

"No, neither will Angie. I think I'm more scared of her, than Lieutenant Welsh."

"Understood, Ray. We need to locate the third man and find out what this is about."

"Or find Morgan..."

Fraser regarded his friend thoughtfully, "or find Morgan." He smiled. "An excellent idea, Ray."

"Yeah? Um, okay, sure." Ray looked puzzled. "How?"

"We check Morgan's known haunts and see if Diefenbaker can find her scent."

Ray grinned, delighted. "And he'll lead us straight to her! That's great, Fraser!"

Diefenbaker tried, oh how he tried. Unfortunately, with absolutely no success. Morgan had gone to ground somewhere and couldn't be found. Not even by the wolf and the Mountie. Ray checked with his snitches and came up empty. The trio adjourned their search to Ray's apartment and tried to think of something else. Anything else!
 
"I don't know what more we can do, Fraser," Ray mumbled around the slice of pizza he was eating. "It's a waiting game now, unless the A.P.B.s come up with something."

Benny thoughtfully considered his slice, "Perhaps forensics found something in their rooms. They should be done by now. We should check with them, see about getting the things Angie wanted us to pick up and go visit Mister Tyler and her again."

"Rollie. Angie said call him Rollie." Ray reminded his friend. "Yeah. Okay, I'll call forensics, then we'll grab the stuff. Maybe we should take a couple of slices to Angie." He counted the remaining slices of pizza.

"That's kindly thought, Ray." Fraser nodded approval. Dief groaned, since it meant less pizza for him. "Dief, you must learn to share." He scolded his furry companion gently. Dief gave him a hurt look because he shared with Fraser and Ray... both of the Rays! "Diefenbaker!" The wolf looked resigned, sighed and laid his head down between his paws. He just couldn't win. At least the woman was an alpha.
 

The blonde turned to look at them and smiled. "You brought the stuff. Good. What took so long?" She asked, mildly curious.

"Huh." Ray shuffled a bit. "Someone searched your rooms and...."

"I see," Angie didn't seem terribly surprised or disturbed by the announcement. We've definitely spent too much time hanging out with cops, she thought. She eyed the pizza box hungrily.

"Oh, we brought you some pizza," Ray made the peace offering, relieved by her casual acceptance.

"Great! I'm starved!" The blonde special effects expert exclaimed, eagerly reaching for the box.

"Perhaps, I could get you something to drink, Angie?" Fraser placed the overnight bags into the room's small closet.

"Uh, yeah," Angie muttered as she broke the string of cheese running from the pizza slice to the box. "Um, a cola will be fine."

"Got enough for me, too?"

Angie jumped slightly at the soft, wistful words. She spun around to stare at Rollie. "You're awake."

"Yeah, and I feel better. Is there enough for me? Or am I stuck with hospital food for a while?" Rollie Tyler was definitely more awake than before. He pushed himself up and reached around to raise the bed so he could sit up. He waited patiently for Angie's answer.

"It's good to see you awake, sir." Fraser spoke politely.

"I remember you... I think." Rollie squinted at his other visitors. "You were here before."

"Yes sir. I'm Constable Benton Fraser, R.C.M.P. and this is Detective Ray Vecchio of the Chicago Police Department."

Rollie gave an amused glance at the Mountie and detective, before returning his attention to Angie.

"Rollie, I think we better wait until Doctor Caruso checks you out." Angie hated denying her partner anything at the moment. Seeing Rollie droop, the very picture of dejection, she almost relented. Before the blonde could weaken and give in, she pushed the call button for the nurse.

Rollie was still sulking when the doctor came in and shooed them all out so he could examine his patient. The good news was they were moving Rollie to a step down care unit. The bad news was he would have to stay a couple of more days. The Australian was still irritated, positive the world was out to get him when Angie and the two men joined him in his new room. He didn't want a new room! He didn't want to stay! He wanted to go home. He also wanted something to eat, something good, not hospital food. For a moment, he ignored the blonde watching him with worried blue green eyes, before relenting and turning to smile softly at her. After all, it wasn't Angie's fault and it could have been worse. He knew it.

Angie sighed in silent relief. Rollie had forgiven her. He might not feel the same after he found out this mess was her fault, but her partner and boss was generous to a fault. It might take him a little while to get over it, but he would forgive her that too.

Rollie listened to the story the detective, Mountie and Angie told him with a look of partial disbelief and total resignation. Of course, this was unbelievable and, of course, it had to happen to him... and to Angie. He watched his partner squirming out of the corner of his eye. And Angie claimed he was always finding trouble. Maybe it had rubbed off a bit... But then again, she was the one to find a murdered cyber date, so maybe it was both of them. "So what now?" He hid the smile he felt as Detective Vecchio and Constable Fraser looked at each other. So, once more the authorities didn't have a clue and it was up to Tyler FX. It had to happen, even when they weren't in New York City.

"Perhaps you could describe the third man involved in your kidnapping, sir?" Fraser requested, politely.

Rollie reached out and gently rubbed the back of Angie's hand. "Haven't any idea." He admitted. "I didn't really see them clearly. They wore ski masks."

"Damn," Ray muttered under his breath. There went any hope of identifying the third suspect the easy way or maybe any way.

"Don't worry, Detective," Rollie spoke knowingly , "we'll think of something."

Ray opened to ask what Tyler meant, but the floor nurse came to chase them away. Visiting hours were over. Any ideas would have to wait until tomorrow.

Angie watched the odd pair leave before turning to face Rollie. She was just glad she didn't have to leave. It had taken quite a bit of persuasion to get Doctor Caruso to agree to her staying here. "So, what's your idea, boss?"

"You're suppose to look like this Morgan?"

"Yeah, that's what everybody keeps telling me."

"Think you could pretend to be her one more time?"

Angie hesitated, "Rol, don't you think the guy they arrested would have told the other guy by now? That I'm not Morgan, I mean."

Rollie nodded. "Of course, he told him."

"So?"

Rollie grinned. It was a very familiar grin to Angie Ramirez. The Aussie only got that grin when he was being particularly devious. All of a sudden, Angie felt almost sorry for the third kidnapper. He would never know what hit him.
 
 
 
 

Two days later, Angie Ramirez walked across the park to where the FX van sat in front of the Field Museum. It was early and no one was around, save for the studio security guard in a trailer on the other side of the field full of equipment and trailers. She paused and gazed out across Lake Michigan, watching the fog rise in the early morning light. Happy to be working again, the blonde started whistling as she headed for the large van. A huge hand clamped over her mouth and she froze, feeling a gun prod into her back.

"Well, well. Looky here." The bass voice growled low and dangerous in her ear. "Hank says you're not Morgan. Name Angie, right?"

Angie nodded her head fractionally.

"Maybe, maybe not. You sure look just like Morgan. And I still want what's mine! I worked hard for it, Angie. So why don't you be a good girl and give it to me." He lifted his hand from her mouth. It hovered close, ready to clamp down again if she tried to scream.

You asked for it, the blonde special effects expert thought to herself. "This way." They walked toward the lake. Part way across the quadrangle in front of the Shedd's Aquarium/Seaquarium, she suddenly dropped through the pavement. The man stood there gaping as smoke filled the air around him. He gasped and started coughing hard and choking. The smell was horrendous. Gagging, he dropped his gun. He began a stumbling run, trying to get away from the odor. Unfortunately for him, it clung to him and grew stronger. Ray and Fraser appeared in front of him. Ray pointed his gun at the man. "You're under arrest. You have the right to remain silent." His eyes started to water and he frowned. "Whew! That stinks! I don't think I can finish. Fraser?"

Fraser nodded. The man did stink, far worse than a skunked wolf. Diefenbaker had taken one sniff and took off, wanting to get as far away as possible. With a mental sigh, trying desperately to not breathe through his nose, he took up the recitation of Miranda rights for their prisoner. Uniformed officers stepped forward to accept the Mirandized prisoner, but quickly stepped back, away from the smell. Ray and Fraser exchanged looks, they'd never get the suspect transported to the precinct smelling like that. Not to mention, how the other prisoners in the holding cells would react to it. When Rollie had suggested the trap, they'd had no idea how bad the odor would be.

"Uh, Mister Tyler?" Fraser spoke tentatively to the air. No response. "Rollie?" The name came out almost, but not quite, in a pathetic whine.

"Yes, Fraser?" The words seemed to come from nowhere. They actually came from the small mikes and speaker setups, the special effects experts had spread around when they set up their little trap.

"Could you... could you do something about the, uh, smell?"

Silence. Fraser heard some mumbled words that sounded like "but he broke my arm!", followed by an admonishing, "Rollie!"'

"Yeah, yeah. Hold on a minute, I'll be up with a neutralizer." The words were reluctant, but at least he was coming. The lanky form of Rollie Tyler climbed awkwardly from a trap door about four feet away. He strode briskly over to where Ray, Fraser and their huge, miserable prisoner stood. There was quite a bit of distance between them and the rest of the cops. Rollie had to give it to the "odd couple" as he'd mentally dubbed the duo, they weren't risking their prisoner escaping. He smiled sulfuricly at the huge man, then sprayed him and the air around him with the contents of a black can marked with a red F and white X. Within seconds, the odor began to dissipate. "It's only temporary. To get rid of it permanently, you'll have to wash it off with this." Rollie thrust a bar of something out toward his former captor. The man nearly groveled as he eagerly accepted it. He didn't want to experience that particular odor ever again! "All over, mind!" Rollie admonished.

Able to breathe again, Ray gave a grateful, "Thanks, Rollie!" The logistics of dealing with a prisoner smelling like that would have been an administrative nightmare.

"No problem." Rollie gave them a happy grin and turned to where Angie was climbing up from the other trap door.

"Rol, I'll never understand how you can stand this smell!" Angie complained, she'd gotten quite a whiff of it herself as she fell to the stunt bag below ground.

Rollie sniffed his assistant thoughtfully, then obligingly sprayed her too. "It's just a smell." He shrugged indifferently.

The blonde stepped closer to him, not wanting the others to over hear. "What was that about the neutralizer not being permanent?"

Rollie tried to smile innocently at her, then squirmed ever so slightly, like a little boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "He broke my arm."

"Uh uh. What does it do?" She tapped one foot, impatiently, wanting to know what type of trouble Rollie Tyler was cooking now.

Rollie beamed. "He'll match our Mountie friend's red serge once he's done."

Angie tried hard to look serious, "Rollie!" She began threateningly, but unable to prevent it, a huge mischievous grin broke out.

"And turn blue in a, um, certain strategic location." Rolled grinned smugly at his little dose of revenge. He turned to look where the subdued prisoner was being led to a patrol car. "Teach him to mess with a FX man."

"Rollie!" Angie punched him lightly in his right shoulder, then laughed in delight. "Colorful!" She nodded in approval. She'd have to make sure she found out how Rollie was accomplishing the feat. Might come in handy one day. "Is there an antidote for that too?"

"Well, yeah." His face fell. "You're not going to make me give it to them, are you?"

"No, no. Just curious."

He smiled again. "It'll wear off... eventually."

"How long?"

"About five or six weeks."

Angie nodded. "Just about perfect." It would wear off just about the same time Rollie's cast came off his arm. Served the bastard right! She hoped his new room mates appreciated his colorful look. She sighed deeply.

"What's wrong, sweetie?"

"We still don't know what they were after or where Morgan is!"

Ray and Fraser drifted over to join their new friends.

Rollie nodded thoughtfully. "Why is it I have a feeling we'll find out soon enough?"

"I don't know about that," Ray spoke up, "but thanks for your help. I wasn't sure about this trap you set up, but it worked perfectly. Welsh will be real pleased."

"No problem, happy to be of service." Rollie answered, casually wrapping his good arm around his partner's shoulders.

"Not many would go to this much effort, Rollie, Angie. I'd like to thank you as well." Benton Fraser smiled at the special effects experts.

"You're welcome, Fraser." Angie answered for both of them. "Sorry about all the trouble, boss."

Rollie gave her a one armed hug. "Not your fault, Ange. You didn't ask for it. It was just one of those things."

"We seem to get 'those things' a lot!" Angie lamented.

Rollie laughed lightly. "Yeah, guess we do. Just remember, this time you found it!"

Angie grimaced, but nodded. She'd known Rollie wouldn't be able to resist much longer.

Ray and Fraser left with promises to come back later and watch Rollie and Angie work. Rollie promised them some spectacular action scenes that night.
 
 
 
 
 

That night, Rollie wandered over to the FX van. He started slightly when he found Angie coming out. His brow furrowed as he took in the blue jeans and white T-shirt she was wearing. He glanced down casually and noticed that she wasn't wearing her blue sneakers. "Hi Ange."

Angie jumped a bit and turned to face him. "Uh, hi Rollie."

"So, ready for the fireworks?"

"Uh, yeah, all set, boss."

Rollie moved forward, passing her to mount the van. He reached inside and pulled something out, then turned back to her. "Oh, Angie. What about the stunt car? Is it set?"

Angie glanced back and then turned to look where Rollie was pointing. Before she knew it, she felt the cold metal of handcuffs fastening round one wrist. The blonde tried to pull away, but the Aussie had alreadly locked the other half around the railing in the van. She cursed and reached for something behind her that fortunately for Rollie wasn't there.

Rollie moved quickly away from her kick and grinned. "Nice try, Morgan."

"Morgan? Are you nuts, Rollie?" The woman fumed in disbelief and anger.

"Yep. Ange would never ask that question." He cocked his head to one side and contemplated the woman in front of him. "I don't think you look that much like her."

The blonde thief glared up at the tall, lanky man. She began to contemplate what she would do to him, once she got free.

"And you sure don't act like her," Rollie continued casually as he looked back to see Ray, Fraser and Angie, the real Angie he thought with satisfaction, coming toward them. "Hi! So glad you could join us."

Angie moved to stand at Rollie's side and gaped at his prisoner. "It's like looking in a mirror," she breathed in wonder.

"Nah, she's not a thing like you, sweetie." Rollie hugged her gently to his side, smiling positively.

Angie gave Rollie a sharp glance, wondering how he could be so certain, then turned to examine the other woman more closely. How had Rollie known? How could he be so certain? The jeans and white T-shirt matched her own perfectly. Morgan wasn't wearing the same style sneakers though. But how many people pay that much attention to shoes? Slowly, she began to see the things Rollie must of noticed in just a few seconds. The hardness in Morgan's eyes and around her mouth. The differences in the way they moved. "How did you know?" She looked up, curiously.

Rollie blinked and looked down into his partner's blue-green eyes. "Doesn't feel a thing like you, luv." He contemplated the thief. "Wrong shoes. And really, she doesn't look that much like you." He paused a second. "She's... she's too... hard." He shrugged, unable to vocalize it more clearly.

Angie nodded, accepting his words, but still wondering. 'Doesn't feel a thing like you'? What did that mean? Feel as in touch or something less tangible? "So, what were you doing here, Morgan?"

Morgan glared at the special effects partners and clamped her mouth tightly shut.

"Yeah, well, doesn't matter, Morgan. You're under arrest. Here, Fraz, call it in." Ray passed his cell phone to the Mountie. "You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to..." beginning the familiar litany of the Miranda Rights Act. He accepted the cuff key from Rollie and unlocked the cuff from her, prepared to replace it with his own set. Morgan slammed her elbow back into the detective, knocking him down and took off running. With an angry shout, Angie took off after her double. Fraser was hot on her heels. Fraser passed Angie and reached out to grab the thief, but she weaved to one side. Her foot caught his and he tumbled to the ground. By the time, Fraser had climbed back to his feet, Angie had caught Morgan at the edge of the lake. The two women wrestled and fought, neither getting the upper hand. Abrubtly, they fell over the edge of the small abutment, leading around the Shedd, into the lake. Fraser ran over and tried to see in the dark water. Ray and Rollie joined him, scanning anxiously for the two women. Suddenly, one of the women came up, gasping, her arm wrapped around the neck of the other woman. Ray pointed his gun, but hesitated, uncertain who was who. Fraser reached down carefully and helped the two women back up. They collapsed, coughing up water and breathing hard. Fraser and Ray looked at the two women, unable to determine which one was Morgan and which was Angie. The obvious method, their shoes, had been lost in their dip in the lake. Rollie stood and looked at the two women for a moment. Then with a certainty, the two officers found surprising, patted one on the back.

"Ange? You okay there?"

"Yeah, Rol. Just need to get my breath back." She coughed and sputtered.

"Uh, Rollie? Are you sure?" Ray asked. "I mean are you absolutely positive that's Angie?"

"Well," Rollie looked at the cop, a bit startled, "yeah. She's Angie."

"No, I'm Angie." The other woman spoke up. Rollie looked at her in disbelief. "Rollie," she whined, "don't you know me?"

"Don't listen to her, boss! I'm Angie." She glared at the other woman, openly hostile.

"Oh dear." Fraser looked at Ray and Rollie. "I'm afraid it's going to take a while to sort this out."

Rollie looked amused. "Nonsense." He pointed at the other woman, the one who first claimed to be Angie. "You, name my dad?"

The woman answered. "Dingo Tyler."

Rollie nodded and looked at the other woman, "What's your answer?"

"Dingo Tyler," the answer came with wry amusement, "and Mangela."

Rollie grinned at the two confused men. "They're both right about Dingo, but Angie knows my other father is Mangela. Need any more proof?"

Ray looked at Fraser and answered. "Just ask one more question... just to make sure."

Rollie contemplated the two women, then grinned. He nodded to the one who'd answered Dingo. "What's the stupid thing I did after my Mum died?"

She licked her lips. "Ran away."

Rollie turned to the other woman and waited.

"You climbed that mountain and fell off, Rol. Real stupid." Angie grinned at him, teasing gently.

"Right again. Satisfied Ray? Fraser?"

They nodded in satisfaction. Ray cuffed the subdued and wet Morgan, while Rollie pulled his partner to her feet.

Ray looked curiously at the tall, lanky special effects expert. "You knew all along. How?"

Rollie laughed as he wrapped his right arm around his closest friend. "Simple. I know Angie. Bloody hell, I pratically helped raise her! It was easy."

Angie wrapped her arm around Rollie's waist. "Got that right, boss." She looked over at the others. "I've known Rollie for over half my life."
 

The uniformed officers, responding to the call to pick up Ray's prisoner, approached just then. Ray gestured for them to wait a second while he recited the Miranda rights to Morgan. Finished, he passed the wet woman over to them. They kept looking back and forth between Angie and Morgan. The two cops looked at each other, then Ray and Fraser. "Uh, are you sure you got the right one?"

Ray sighed, "We're sure. Get her out of here!" The uniforms nodded in acceptance. The special effects artists watched in silent satisfaction as the woman who had caused them so much trouble was escorted to a patrol car.

Ray turned to look at the pair. "I'd really like to know what she was doing here and what this whole thing was all about. I wonder what she stole from Bill 'Bull' Kellerman. That's the big guy that grabbed you, Rollie. He runs, or should I say ran, a very profitable drug ring. Rumor has it he was setting himself up for retirement. And, oh yeah, he's really red now. All over... except for one spot where's he's blue. Know anything about that?"

Angie shrugged. "Not me, Ray. I don't understand. Red and blue?" She looked innocently at her partner. "Do you, boss?"

Rollie shook his head and gave Ray and Fraser a bright, boyish smile. "Me neither."

Ray gave them a skeptical look, but gave it up. At least the guy didn't stink worse than the slaughter houses. He'd have to live with the colors until it wore off. He assumed it would wear off... sometime.

"Unless one of them talks, we'll probably never know what it was all about." She sighed deeply and leaned against her boss. "You know, Rol, I feel sort of let down." Fortunately, he didn't seem to mind the wet.

"Oh? Really?" Rollie grinned at her and the others. "Well, maybe we can figure it out. Morgan has to have been here for a reason." The others focused their full attention on the tall Australian. "Come on, she was coming out of the van when I found her. Let's check it out."

The friends walked back to the van, piled inside and looked around. Fraser and Ray didn't see anything different from their visit the other day. Rollie began rumaging around in the bins and compartments that filled the back of the van, looking for something that didn't belonged or looked like it'd been moved.

Angie dug out a towel and started drying her hair. "Hey Fraser, where's Dief?"

"Well," the Mountie hesistated a second, not wanting to offend their new friends, "he didn't want to come. The smell. It reminded him of an unfortunate incident involving a skunk, a moose and..."

"Never mind, I get the idea." Angie smiled slightly. "Can't say that I blame him."

Not really finding anything, the Aussie sank back on his heels and thought about it. "Here, Blue! Come here, boy!"

"Arf arf," the little robot eagerly trundled out from under the computer station, walking to his master. He whined and panted slightly, his "tail" wagging.

"Good boy! That's my good dog. Such a big dog." Rollie picked up the insect-like robot and went to the workstation. "Show us what you saw, Bluey."

The robot dog barked again and the monitor began to display his security footage. "Fast forward to the last time Angie was here, Blue." Rollie ordered. Obediently, the monitor changed, then stabilized to show Angie entering the van. A small bag hung from one hand and she looked around cautiously. Seeing she was alone, she relaxed slightly, then began looking around the truck. She walked over to a rack toward the back and did something about a third of the way up. Finished, she wadded the bag up, shoved it into her pocket and left.

"Okay, Blue, you can stop." Rollie went over to the rack and bent over. He examined the tools and canisters there. He moved some of the stuff off the shelf and then paused, looking at the box in his hand. "Well, this weighs quite a bit more than it should." He looked at the others. "I think we found the source of all the trouble."

Everyone crowded around, eager to see what Rollie had found. He placed the box on the work table where everyone could see and opened it. He removed the items on top, then came to something wrapped in cloth. Gently, the special effects artist unwrapped the cloth and revealed what lay within.

"Not silver." Ray said, looking at the small ingots of whitish metal.

"White gold," Angie answered as she wrapped the towel around her neck.

"Platinum." Rollie and Fraser said together.

"Platinum?" Ray and Angie looked at each other, then the fortune that sat so innocently in front of them.

Angie reached out and gently brushed a finger across one of them. "Are you sure?" At their nods, she sighed. "Wow!"

"Double wow!" Ray added. "I've never actually seen platinum before."

"Rhodium, to be precise. It's a member of the platinum family. The most expensive member." Benton Fraser examined the bars with a critical eye.

"He's right. Tidy little fortune and virtually untraceable."

Angie reached over and gave Rollie a tight hug. "Not worth you though." She smiled warmly up at him. "You're more precious than any hunks of metal."

"Why, thank you, luv. So are you." Rollie dropped a kiss on top of her head. The FX partners watched as the others carefully put the ingots away and left to deliver them to the precinct. Rollie hugged Angie close. "Well, since we just turned a bloody forture over to the Chicago police, I guess we better get cracking and earn our bread. Time to get back to work, Ange, before Ronnie has a heart attack."

"You got it, Rol. I wouldn't have it any other way." Angie waited a beat. "Besides, now I need a new pair of shoes. Those sneakers don't come cheap, boss!"