Second Chances Part 3 - Secrets

Second Chances Part 3 – Secrets by Bethhawke.

Chapter 2

The Lair was cool, dark and quiet and the two men sat in the Jeep staring lovingly at the sleek, black helicopter.
Dominic sighed, “I've missed you baby,” he said softly.
Hawke just gave him a look and got out of the Jeep. “Come on. Michael said it was urgent and she needs a check over before I take her up.”
They spent a half hour checking Airwolf before changing into their flight suits and climbing into the cockpit. Dominic took engineering as usual while Hawke took the plot's seat. After performing the necessary pre-flight checks they rose gracefully, up through the vertical chimney that allowed Airwolf access to and from her hiding place. Once clear of the Lair and the surrounding rock formations Dominic opened a secure channel to Archangel.
“Hawke! About time.”
“Get to the point Michael. Where are we headed?”
Archangel gave them the location and Dominic keyed it into the computer while Archangel proceeded to brief them.
“We have a hostage situation. A British politician, who wishes to remain anonymous so we will refer to him as Mr White....” Dominic stifled a laugh, turning it into a cough, “...is visiting with his pregnant wife. She wanted to visit a large department store to purchase some baby equipment and in the interest of diplomacy I offered her an escort, an operative who is also expecting. Unfortunately a jewellery robbery on the floor below went horribly wrong and the thieves are now holding several pregnant women hostage on the top floor of the department store, including Mrs White and my assistant.”
“What do you want us to do?”
“We have made telephone contact with the female thief, who I believe is called Ruth, and she has requested medical help for her injured male companion. She has also informed us that one of the women has gone into labour. I plan to send Marella and Caitlin in masquerading as doctor and nurse. I need you to take them to the roof to access the department from there. While you are there you can scan audio and thermal to see if we can get any information that will give us the advantage.”
“Sounds straightforward enough, we'll be with you soon. Airwolf out.”


The department store had been evacuated and Archangel and his team had taken over the first floor. Marella had donned a white coat, with an official name badge and Caitlin had changed into a nurse's uniform, all supplied by a nearby hospital.
Archangel look at them with approval, “You both look genuine. Caitlin, can you treat the gunshot wound while Marella treats the woman and hopefully makes contact with Mrs White and my assistant?”
“I'll try, but as I'm only supposed to be a nurse I can ask Marella for help if I need it.”
“That's true. Just don't faint or anything.”
Caitlin gave him a disgusted look, “I've dealt with gunshot wounds before, both when I was a cop and from working with Hawke,” she replied haughtily, “I won't faint.”
Marella smiled at her, “Don't worry Cait, I think that was Michael's attempt at humour,” she turned to him, her face serious again, “Cait needs to know.”
Michael sighed, nodded and left the building to wait for Airwolf.
“What do I need to know? Is it the thing you were talking about earlier?” Caitlin asked eagerly.
“Yes. Michael's assistant, the one who's escorting the politician's wife, is Beth.”
“What, Hawke's Beth? But I thought you said she was......” her voice trailed off as she realised the significance of what Marella was telling her, “Oh my! Does Hawke know?”
“No.”
“Oh,” for once Caitlin was speechless.
“You can't tell him. I'm only telling you so you don't give anything away when you see her.”
“But why hasn't she told him?” Caitlin said indignantly.
“I don't know. She refuses to tell me,” hearing Airwolf, Marella looked up to the sky, glad of the diversion. “Here's Airwolf. You ready?”


Hawke landed Airwolf in the parking lot and joined Archangel, Marella and Caitlin for a quick briefing.
He looked at the plans to the building which Marella had managed to obtain and gave her a puzzled look. “Why do you need to access it from the roof? The stairs run from the ground floor to the roof and if the thieves have barricaded themselves in a room they won't be able to see them.”
“The Feds are involved, apparently this isn't the first time this couple have struck, and they don't want us trampling all over their crime scene,” Marella replied, obviously unhappy with the situation, “but at least it gives us an excuse to have Airwolf on the roof.”
Archangel continued, “They haven't requested anything but medical help as yet but I suspect they will soon be asking for transportation out of the building. Considering that they are on the top floor, a helicopter is the most likely choice and I'm hoping you,” he looked at Hawke, “will be the pilot if it proves necessary.”
“Let's hope it doesn't come to that,” Hawke replied before returning to Airwolf.


Marella unlocked the roof door and led the way down to the top floor of the building. As they approached the barricaded door a voice from the other side called to them, “Stop where you are.”
They stopped and stood still, waiting for further instructions.
There was a lot of noise coming from behind the door as Ruth moved the barricade just enough to allow them through. She opened the door slightly and a gun poked through the gap along with a threat, “Any tricks and I'll shoot you and my friend will shoot one of the hostages. Understood?”
“Understood. We don't want any trouble,” Marella answered, edging her way through the gap closely followed by Caitlin, “just lead us to the patients.”
After being searched Caitlin knelt down beside the injured man and took the bandages off his arm. It was a straightforward bullet wound, the bullet having passed through, and she proceeded to clean it up and bandage it more thoroughly.
Meanwhile Marella moved to the back of the room where Beth was sitting uncomfortably on the floor surrounded by some of the other women. She asked the women to move aside, except for Mrs White, who was holding Beth's hand.
“Are you OK?” Marella asked quietly.
“I'm fine, I just thought two medical emergencies would get you in quicker than just the one,” she grinned at her friend.
Marella pretended to examine her, all the while quietly asking questions that Ruth wouldn't be able to hear.
“Is there another way out of here?”
“Possibly through the bathroom. I was in there earlier and there is access to the roof space in the ceiling. I can't climb up there in my condition but you or Cait could, or String could come in that way if it leads to the roof.”
“How did you know he was here?” Marella asked.
“I heard Airwolf,” a look of concern crossed her face, “have you told him?”
“No, but I think he'll be finding out soon. Let's see if one of us can get into the bathroom,” she looked over at Caitlin who had just finished bandaging the thief's arm, “Nurse, if you've finished I could do with some help over here.”
Caitlin looked at Ruth who just nodded and kept her gun trained on them.
Taking her medical bag with her Caitlin joined Marella on the floor next the Beth and Mrs White.
“Please find me a container and fill it with cool water,” Marella asked Caitlin, “there's a bathroom just behind us. See if you can access the roof,” she added quietly.
“I really could use the bathroom,” Mrs White said, loud enough for Ruth to hear.
“OK but just the two of you,” Ruth agreed, “and don't be long.”
Caitlin took a jug off a nearby shelf, removed the packaging and went into the bathroom with Mrs White. They sighed with relief when the door shut behind them
“I'm Caitlin, you must be Mrs 'White'.”
“Call me Ann, I might forget to answer to Mrs White,” she replied wryly.
Caitlin stood on the sink which was almost directly underneath the access to the roof. The ceiling was quite low and she had no trouble pushing the hatch open. Gripping with both hands, she pulled herself up and peered into the dark roof space.
“It's pitch black. I'll see if I can find a light. Keep an eye on the door and let me know if you hear anyone coming.”
Ann stood by the door and opened it a crack. She couldn't see either of the thieves from the door which was in an alcove. She just hoped that if Ruth did decide to investigate that Marella could delay her.
“I've found a light. This looks like storage space. I'm going to look for an exit, shout if anyone comes.”
“Alright, but hurry up,” Ann replied, getting nervous as the minutes ticked by.
As quickly as the crammed space would allow, Caitlin walked across the roof space, taking care to keep quiet as she guessed she was probably above where Ruth was standing. At the end she spotted a door and opening it she found herself on the stairs that led from the top floor to the roof. Stepping out and looking back she realised how they had missed the door earlier; it had no handle on the outside. She took off her shoes and used them to prop open the door and climbed the last few steps to the roof.


Hawke was waiting for her, gun aimed at the doorway, which he lowered when he saw it was Caitlin.
“Dom was scanning thermal and spotted you. What's the situation?”
“Follow me, we don't have much time,” Caitlin started back down the stairs, whispering to him, “I sedated the man, told him they were pain killers, so he should be out of the picture. The woman has a gun and is standing facing the hostages with her back to the door, which she has barricaded,” she stopped and looked at him, “Hawke, Beth is one of the hostages.”
By now they were above the bathroom and they lowered themselves out of the hatch.
“What's she doing here?” he asked.
“Working for Archangel, escorting Ann,” she indicated the waiting woman who was looking less nervous now that help had arrived.
Hawke handed Caitlin a gun and told her what he planned to do.
Ann and Caitlin returned to the room with the jug of water and as she got to Marella Caitlin tripped, spilling the water all over the floor. As she righted herself she was able to tell Marella that Hawke was in the bathroom.
Marella took her lead and shouted at Caitlin, “Clumsy! Go back and fill the jug and this time be more careful.”
Caitlin struggled to hide a smile at Marella's stern words, thankful that she was just pretending, and returned to the bathroom.
“The man is unconscious and Ruth is in front of the door, at 11 o'clock. She has her gun aimed at the hostages so you'll only have one chance to hit her. I'll be directly behind you in case you miss.”
“I won't miss,” he replied grimly.
In an attempt to draw Ruth's attention away from the bathroom, Marella turned her attention to the unconscious man. “I'm going to check on your friend,” she told Ruth, walking slowly towards him, aware of the gun following her every move.
Hawke opened the bathroom door and slowly and quietly stepped into the room with Caitlin right behind him. Gun held ready in front of him, he eased his body around the corner until he had Ruth in his sight. She was looking at Marella who was kneeling in front of her injured companion but would easily see him out of the corner of her eye if he made any sudden movements or drew attention to himself. Although he was concerned about Marella getting shot, he knew he had to take the chance. Aiming carefully he took his shot and Ruth let out a cry of pain as the bullet pierced her hand. She dropped her gun, cradling the bloody hand to her body and lunged at Marella who was closest to her.
“Freeze or I'll shoot,” Caitlin shouted from her position just to the side of Hawke. Ruth froze and Marella immediately grabbed the woman, twisting her arm behind her and pushing her to the floor.
Hawke moved aside the items blocking the door to the stairs and called out to the men waiting outside. Archangel was with them and recognising Hawke's voice told them to lower their weapons as the door was opened.
“Go make your arrests.” he told them.
The FBI rushed into the room and relieved Marella of Ruth.
“What's wrong with him?” one asked her, pointing to the unconscious male lying on the floor.
“He's been sedated, he should come around in a few hours, and then his arm will hurt like hell,” she told him bluntly, “if you want him to talk you may want to withhold the painkillers.” She calmly walked over to the other hostages to see if everyone was OK.

Hawke tucked his gun into his belt and scanned the room for Beth. He spotted her almost immediately and started towards her, a welcoming smile on his face. She had her back to him, kneeling on the floor and it looked as though she was comforting a young couple. He noted that she had gained a little weight, she had been too thin last time he had seen her, a result of being held captive for nearly a month. As he got close to her she turned and the smile froze on his lips and he stopped in his tracks. She struggled to her feet and he put a hand out to help her, looking her up and down. “Got something to tell me?” he asked coldly, “you didn't waste any time, did you?” he let go of her hand and turned his back on her and spoke to Caitlin, “I'll be in Airwolf, d'you want a lift out of here?”
“Hawke...”
“Leave it Cait. You coming or not?”
“Not!” she replied angrily, turning towards Beth who was standing speechless, staring at the departing Hawke.