5:00am the next morning - Mt. Thomas High School oval
"C'mon gang, *move it*!" Maggie shouted as they ran their collective 18th lap. She gasped for more air, yelling, "Push it, team, you shouldn't be tired yet - we've only got 2 laps to go... Sprint it, people!" Last night's boozing had definitely taken a toll on the squad - Maggie made a mental note to go over the 'no drinking' rule once more. But then again, they looked like they'd all learned a lesson, even her and PJ, who looked only slightly better than the others. At least they were in better spirits...
As they finally approached the starting point after their 20th lap, PJ dived onto the grass, rolling as he hit it. Nick thought it looked like fun, so he tried it too, but the rest of the squad just collapsed, no theatrics. A few minutes later, having regained their breaths, Maggie was feeling decidedly uncomfortable with all the dirty looks she was getting. So she stood up. "All right, let's try something a little easier - relays."
And the morning dragged on.
~~~~~
5:00am Mt. Thomas High School oval
"Let's go, let's go!" Maggie shouted, trying to smile. "15 more tuck jumps and then you're ready for star-jumps! Good work, guys!" She was trying to sound sincere, but it wasn't working. PJ was right, she wasn't going to get away with slacking off, just because she was training them. Personally, Maggie was ready to drop. And this was so damn early! Better than yesterday, true - cops with hangovers was never a good thing - but still rather uncooperative. Ah well, just a little more work...
~~~~~
5:00am Mt. Thomas Recreational Shooting Center
"Great work, Dash!" Maggie grinned. "10/10 bullseyes... that's pretty hot stuff."
Dash grinned back. "Thanks, Mags. You didn't do so bad yourself."
"Yeah, but I only got 9 of them," Maggie pointed out. "Adam and Nick were the *real* hot shots."
"Hey, what about me?" PJ demanded. She threw him an apologetic smile.
"Detective work's your game, not target practice, remember?" Maggie reminded him.
"Ah yeah, now I remember," he replied. "*That's* probably why I missed those two. Or maybe it was all your fault."
"*My* fault?!" Maggie exclaimed. "No way, you missed them all by yourself!"
"Ah, but you were distracting me," he said, bopping her ponytail like an annoying schoolboy. And for lack of a better comeback, she just glared at him.
"Not long to go, gotta brush up on those shooting skills, PJ..." She replied lightly, obnoxiously. Then it was his turn to mock-glare at her.
~~~~~
One month later
5:00am Mt. Thomas High School oval
Dash threw herself onto the nice, cool grass, reaching blindly for her drink bottle. Adam kicked it over to her, and joined her, as did the rest of them shortly.
Moments later, Maggie sat up. "You know, guys, this is our last training before the Police Games."
Nick scowled at her. "Yeah, you've only reminded us about 15 times in the last half an hour. Tomorrow's the day, gotta work at it, right Coach?"
Maggie rolled her eyes at him. "Stop being a brat, Nick," she said good-naturedly. "But I did want to go over some things with you all. Firstly, we wear our Mt. Thomas polos with any shorts - just running clothes - in addition to these red bands. Now you can't forget them - They're important." She began passing out a pile of red ribbons with pins. "These will go on your arm - just here." She indicated on her own arm. "And they're basically just to show our district. Also, the judging. There'll be the same judges for each event - the Sergeant from each police squad. They'll judge everything - running, wrestling, defensive positions, relays, climbing, shooting, you name it. The whole deal. So be nice, 'kay?" The gang nodded. Maggie paused, thinking... "And so... that should be all. C'mon guys, let's go get changed."
~~~~~
4:52pm Mt. Thomas Police Station
Tom leaned out of his door. "Doyle! Get in here! I've got to discuss something with you. No, better yet - attention, all of you!" Everyone looked up from their respective duties. Maggie exchanged a quick glance with PJ - what was going on here? Please don't let it be a case, she begged. We've worked so hard for this... *please*. The Boss saw Maggie's stricken look, and shook his head. She didn't know how to interpret it, though. "Look, I've just had a phone call from Sgt. Matherson in Melbourne. They've got a case, and won't be able to get away for tomorrow. And before you ask, yeah, it's pretty serious - a kidnapping and suspected drug bust."
"So what does that mean, Boss?" Maggie asked slowly. "Are the Games still on?"
Tom paused. Bloody hell, he didn't want to have to do this to them - they'd worked so hard. "Ah, well, no. Not exactly. They've been postponed until this matter is cleared up. It's still possible that they'll be canceled, but I don't think it's likely. They just need to resolve this, and they need their full task force functioning."
There was an uncertain silence. Then Adam spoke up. "So... What do we do? Do we keep training, Boss? When do you think they'll be back on again?"
"I can't say, son." Tom Croydon replied. "I don't know when they'll be back on, so it's up to you and your coach. Probably a couple of weeks, from the sounds of things, maybe sooner."
"Right, Boss." Maggie took control. "Then as long as the Games are suspended, we'll keep training. Uh-" she held up one hand, effectively cutting off any resulting groans, should anyone be stupid enough to do it in front of the Boss. "I think that we're pretty fit, however, so.. mmm... I guess you can come an hour later from now on." Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Dash giving Nick a high-five. "*Provided*," she continued sternly, "that you keep working hard and everything, and that we don't slip. 110% effort, and all that, right, guys?"
"Right," they replied in a motley chorused. Tom slipped back into his office, allowing his officers to talk amongst themselves.
Before finishing up for the day, Maggie scribbled a note to PJ, who appeared to be working intensely on something. "Meet me at the oval around five, 'kay? I want to talk to you. Love." She purposely didn't sign her name, although she doubted that anyone could *not* guess who it was from, given the chance to guess. After all, these people *were* trained cops. But she still dropped it in PJ's lap as she headed out.
~~~~~
5:07pm Oval
Maggie jumped as a strong hand clamped down on her shoulder, and another around her mouth. A gruff voice whispered harshly, "Don't move unless I say so, Miss Margaret Doyle. Don't scream, struggle or fight me, because I guarantee you won't enjoy this half as much."
Her blood ran cold, and she stiffened in the strangers grasp. Prayers at light speed flew through her brain, and she begged that PJ would show up soon. Then her assailant began to move, dragging her backwards and slightly off-balance. He drew her into the surrounding bushland, into a particularly large and bushy shrub - kind of scratchy, she noticed. As the hands drew away from her, she whirled around furiously... And stared straight into the eyes of her lover.
"PJ Hasham, what in hell do you think you're doing?" She whispered angrily. "Damn you, why are you doing this? I thought you were my-" A finger pressed gently down onto her lips.
"Shh, relax Mags," he smiled gently at her, watching her relax exponentially. "I'm not going to hurt you - I just wanted us to talk. Privately."
She was confused. "But PJ, why? Why couldn't we just talk out in the open?"
He leaned into her, and whispered in her ear, "Because I wanted to kiss you, and I don't know how I can survive if I don't. Because I love you, Maggie, and because I can't show you out in public. Anyone might see." He started trailing soft kisses around her ear, neck and then finally, her mouth. She relaxed into him, leaning back to give him better access. Finally, she growled slightly in frustration, and kissed him thoroughly, passionately.
When it finally ended, she found herself leaning against him, and he against a gum tree. Sighing contentedly, she began drawing imaginary squiggles across his chest. But he finally shifted. Maggie frowned slightly. "What's wrong, PJ? Are you sick of this already?"
He shook his head. "Nah Mags, you know I'll never get sick of this." Ooh, you sweet-talker, you, Maggie thought. "But there's just... I, ah... There was also something about this Police games which I wanted to talk to you about."
She sat up impatiently. "Huh? But they've been postponed, why do you need to worry about them now?"
He paused. "I don't know how to say this to you, but... I think they're being rigged."
"You *what*?"
"Like I said, I'm not *sure* if it's true, but... Look, I, ah..." He stuttered under her glare. "I just... It's Murrigurra. And their *police* trainer, a certain Richard Bezzi, I don't know if you're familiar with the name?"
Of course she was. "Of course I am - he was supposed to be *our* trainer... What do you mean, he's a cop?"
"Well, I was reading through some material the other day - the Boss assigned me some reading as part of that paperwork you helped me with... And there was a particularly interesting article on police crimes, and how to pick them."
"Interesting how?" Maggie's interest was now truly piqued.
"Interesting in that it... I dunno how to put it... But it just didn't seem... well, *right*. You know the feeling?" She nodded. "It felt like it was... just screwed around, not accurate and one particular comment in relation to drug activity was... Well, let's just say that the author and I had extremely polar views, and leave it at that, shall we?"
"Not a chance, tell me more."
He continued, as she nestled into his side, still listening attentively. "So I was particularly surprised when the author's name rang a bell - and I decided to call a friend of mine who lives in Murrigurra - Mick Davis, y'know him? Anyway, this guy said that yeah, he knew Bezzi all right... Wasn't particularly pleasant, though."
"No?"
"Nuh-uh. Seems as though he's been the ringleader for some underhanded activity around the town - nothing particularly big, but nothing which went unnoticed, either. But as yet, it's been unproved. And Mick also mentioned how he'd seen the local coppers out training often - pretty much burning up the stadium, so to speak."
Maggie looked him in the eye. "And you think that this Bezzi character is trying to rig the Police Games this year? Do explain, Sherlock."
He tapped her nose, and she raised her lips to his finger, kissing it gently. Momentarily distracted, he allowed the diversion all too readily. Then, stroking the side of her face, he shook his head. "No, Mags, help me out here." He dropped a chaste kiss on her blonde hair. "I mean, can't you see it? Here's this guy, training the opposition - and face it, Mags, we're pretty tough. The plan is to train us loosely - so loosely that we don't have a hope. I wouldn't be surprised if there were other Murrigurra cops training around, either. Then it's guaranteed that they'll win - and look, it's kinda prestigious, right?"
"But why can't they just win it fairly? Face it, PJ - you haven't got much to go on but a hunch."
"But just *imagine* it," He was struggling to convince her. "Isn't it possible? Isn't it even likely? Admit it, Mags - it *could* happen, right?"
"I suppose," she relented. "But that doesn't mean..."
PJ sighed audibly, and Maggie felt the slightest twinge of annoyance that he found her so unbearably frustrating. "Anyway, Mags, we'll find out more tomorrow. I just wanted to let you know."
She gave him a small smile. "Thanks, PJ. You know I appreciate it, even though I don't buy it."
"Yet," he corrected her. "We're still to see about all this..." He pushed himself up, and extended a hand to her. They shook dead leaves and similar bush shrapnel off themselves. "But how about that walk? You said you wanted to talk to me?"
"I just did." Maggie replied, "Actually, I just wanted to be alone with you."
"Me, too," he hugged her waist. "And by force or by friendship, I think we kinda achieved that. What's say we head over 'round Wilson's farm? I heard it's mulberry season - perhaps he'd like some company?..."
She laughed at him. "You're such a scab!"
"But a cute scab," he assured her with a wink. She just hugged him tighter and rolled her eyes.
The next morning 8:42am
"And so once again," Croydon drawled, "I would like to thank everyone who made this event possible, and wish all teams the best of luck throughout this day. I now declare this year's Police Games open."
Oh, thank God it was finally over, PJ thought with more than the usual relief. He checked his watch - an hour and 42 minutes exactly. Leaning over to one side, he whispered to Maggie that she owed him fifty bucks, and she grinned back at him, replying that maybe she did, but that Nick owed her seventy. PJ shook his head - the conniving, philandering little... But on the other hand, it wasn't entirely stupid...
The atmosphere was certainly one of excitement, though. As the crowd slowly dispersed, teams started gathering to warm up. St. David's was over there, PJ noticed, with Murrigurra on the other side... And there was Melbourne, and Jackson's Gorge over to the far right... Kirragoy, Samuel's Creek, Mt. Taringa... Everywhere, people were milling around, chatting and pep-talking. And that including his own team, who seemed almost overwhelmed by Maggie's strength of presence. PJ smirked - there she was, barking commands and generally taking charge, checking the team for their correct uniform and the absence of any jewelry - in fact, it looked like she was fighting Dash for an old necklace... And Dash wasn't winning... The Boss was over at the judges' stand, with each of the other sergeants or senior representatives... And it looked like the entire town had turned up for the event. Chrissy looked like she'd turned the Imperial over to some caretakers for the day - PJ knew that she rarely closed it - and over there he spotted several friends in the crowd. It was certainly an important event for such a small town - farmers had taken time away, PJ even recognised some city folk come out for the day - at least, they *looked* like city slickers... He could pick 'em a mile away.
"Oi! PJ!" A sharp yell broke through his train of thought. "Get yourself over here, why don't you?"
"Huh?" He dragged himself up from the parched, dry grass. "Coming, Maggie, dearest," he replied every so sweetly.
Maggie rolled her eyes - he was such a smooth-talker. Not. It didn't fool her... At least, not today. "PJ," she asked. "Would you mind running this over to the tent - it's just a team list and some notes to the judges."
He nodded, taking it from her. "Sure, but, ah - where are the others?"
"Oh, I sent them on a jog up to Fish Creek and back - they just left."
He nodded. "Are you going with them?"
"I kinda have to."
"Oh, no, Mags - that's okay, I can go." He mentally hit himself for being such a sucker.
"Really, PJ? Would you? Thanks a lot - I'll just go slip this over to the tent." She took the paper back from him and squeezed his hand slightly.
"The things I do for you, Mags," he griped.
"I can't help that you love me," she pointed out sweetly, "and besides - you offered."
"Ah, you're just lucky I do love you, Maggie - otherwise you'd be running all that way yourself."
"But speaking of which, you won't catch them if you don't hurry..."
"Ah yeah... Forgot about that... Catch you later!" And PJ dropped a discreet kiss on her hand before he took off.
After he was out of sight, Maggie started to make her way over to the judge's tent. Mmm... shade... But before she got there, she was stopped. A loud voice became apparent from the hundred other voices in the crowd. "You *idiot*!" It - probably a he - spat. "Why the hell didn't you just get your lazy ass up and bash it into his thick bloody head? It's not like you didn't have the opportunity!"
The other voice was quieter, more subdued, "Lower your voice Ricky - I'd be bloody surprised if they hadn't heard that in Melbourne - just shut up a bit, all right?"
"Don't you bloody tell me what to do! You're the one who screwed up here!" By now, Maggie was intrigued. Fascinated, in fact. She couldn't actually see the owners of the voices - it was hard to locate them through the swarm
of people - but what they were saying... She shook her head - it was just talk... Still, she *was* a cop... The voice continued, somewhat quieter, and kept fading in and out of her range of hearing. "You... fool... You're an absolute moron, Charlie, you know that? And now he's... and told the girl... Bloody mother of a damned... She'll catch onto us, don't you think she won't. And they'll put us away - away again, Charlie... what that'll be like?... don't... remember?" The voices seemed to be moving further away. She strained to see them over the crowd, and damned her height - or lack thereof - when she couldn't. "They're onto us... Charlie... They're bloody... and it's all your... Ah, kill 'em. Damn you, we've got to get..."
And for the life of her, she couldn't overhear the next comment. But from the ominous tone in his voice, she started to worry about who exactly 'he' and 'the girl' were...
Get what? Get even? Get out? *Get them*?
A chill flooded through her body, making her rigid with fear. And at the same time, feeling extremely vulnerable. She was trained in this - she knew how to put two and two together... Was PJ really right? Could he be? Nah - it was just a hunch, right? But then, what were these people doing out here... Could they really be planning to...? Dropping the note on the ground, she took off suddenly. Anyone who noticed Maggie would have thought she was warming up or something, but this was infinitely graver. Scanning the crowd, she cursed herself for sending PJ off... And him for going... Great, now she had to run all the way up to Fish Creek - if they were even there.
Maggie started to sprint.
~~~~~
9:38am Somewhere between Mt. Thomas High oval and Fish Creek (approx. 8 km away)
Almost ten minutes later, PJ looked up from his jog, and told Dash to, "Shut up for a sec, will ya?" Irritated, Dash followed his gaze, and saw Maggie sprinting up the track towards them, looking absolutely stricken. PJ broke into a run, and caught her as she collapsed into his arms. "Maggie? Maggie? Oh God, what's happened to you?" Seeing her panic, he couldn't help but mirror it tenfold.
He helped her regain her balance, and as the other Heelers gathered around in concern, she began to speak rapidly. "Oh God, oh God, oh God, oh God! They're coming after us, PJ! You were right - they're out there! I didn't believe you, but - oh my God!"
PJ dismissed the others with a definite indication of his head, disallowing contradiction. They continued their warm-up jog, suddenly animated with talk and theory. Meanwhile, PJ and Maggie lowered themselves into the long grass. Maggie was still babbling urgently, more out of a need for him to know than her own fear. He *had* to know - they had to do something! He *was* right, she knew it - he had a nasty habit like that.
"Mags. Mags. Maggie, listen to me." She stopped impatiently. He continued, speaking slowly and calmly, and in such a way that she wanted to bash his face in for being so rational. "You have to slow down. I can't understand a word you're saying - you're talking too fast. Start again - where were you, and what happened?"
She recounted what she had heard, as precisely as she could. Slowly. Rationally. And PJ shook his head. "Nah - you must be imagining it. Or - no, I'm sorry - I just... I shouldn't have told you that yesterday - it was a hunch, nothing more. Just a suspicion. And you've subconsciously gone and blown it up into something tremendous - it's not true. I mean, from what you told me - they could have been talking about anyone, doing anything. And it doesn't mean that they're after us because we know something we shouldn't. That's just over-reaction."
"You think I'm over-reacting, PJ?" Now she didn't know whether to be furious or to believe him. Maybe he was... but then...
"Yes." PJ answered firmly. "Yes. It has nothing to do with us personally. And if you're still concerned, we can look into it. After all, it's our job. But it's not involving us yet."
He sounded so convinced, and so definite that she had no choice other than to believe him. She nodded slowly. "Maybe you're right... Maybe I just heard something and blew it up into something else... Maybe... Probably..." She didn't sound entirely convinced, though.
PJ pulled her into his arms and stroked her hair. "Shh... Of course you did - it's nothing. Just forget about it for now - what the Boss always telling you? Think, Doyle!"
She grinned. "Yeah, yeah, yeah - and I never seem to listen." She leaned up and kissed him softly. "Thank-you for putting up with me being such a jerk - I'm paranoid, I know it..."
He returned the kiss, murmuring, "You're not a jerk, but you *are* paranoid."
As the kiss deepened, they fell back into the grass, not knowing or caring who might be watching. Caught up in the moment, neither of them heard the click of a gun being drawn... not until it's barrel poked PJ in the head. They stopped suddenly, feeling not only like insects about to be squashed, but like bugs under a microscope as well. If it hadn't been so precarious, perhaps they would have been embarrassed, but not this time. The gun jabbed PJ again, and a gruff voice demanded them to, "Get up slowly, or I'll blow ya t'bloody hell." They began to get up, and the gun pulled away from PJ's head. He had no doubt, however, that it was still trained on one - or both - of them.
Maggie looked at PJ again - damn it, why had she let him convince her? Feeling like the ultimate fool, she locked eyes with him. Reading him exactly, she knew he believed her now. She also knew he was extremely worried, but not terrified - he thought he was going to get out of it. And finally, Maggie guessed that he was developing a plan. She just hoped he'd wait and see before jumping the man, or - as she duly noted - any of his 5 accomplices, obviously all police.
In the same instant, PJ read volumes in her own eyes - fear... verged hysteria... calmness... faith. She was keeping calm because she believed in him, she believed that he would get them out of this situation. And he believed that the two of them, together, would. He nodded almost imperceptibly to her as the first thug bound his hands tightly behind him. Maggie was also being bound by a different man, and then they were gagged. Damn this all, he though angrily. Damn these men, and damn himself for not listening to Maggie! And now he couldn't even talk... PJ wondered how
long it would take the other heelers to get to them... Or to figure out that they were missing...
A hard shove in the back sent him walking, with a man on either side, and Maggie beside them. Even if he decided to make a break for it, chances were not in his favour... Where were they going?
~~~~~
9:55am Mt. Thomas High oval
Nick paced impatiently. Dammit, where were they? The first event was starting in under five minutes, and they weren't back yet?
"Guys," Dash spoke up. "We need to decide what to do if they don't get back. The relay's starting in five and they're still off in whoop-whoop, near god-knows-where, and obviously not here. We can't do the relay with only three."
Adam and Nick nodded. "I reckon we should go look for them right now." Nick said.
"That does look like our only option," she agreed. "But what if they're uh, busy?" She had her suspicions about the nature of PJ and Maggie's relationship, but was keeping quiet for now. Still, she didn't want it confirmed today.
"How would they be busy?" Nick scorned.
"Uh, I don't know, Maggie looked pretty upset back there..."
Adam spoke up. "You don't think she's been hurt, do you?"
"Why do you say that?" Dash asked.
"I mean, maybe she took a blow to the head or something - she didn't look very okay when we last saw her."
Nick shook his head. "Nah, I think she's okay, and besides, PJ's there. She probably just took a fright about something... But at any rate, we need to find them."
"Should we give them a little more time?" Adam asked.
Dash nodded slowly. "Yeah, we can't go looking for them now - then we'll all get lost, and it will turn into a disaster."
"That means we'll have to drop out of the relay." Nick said, looking none too thrilled with the prospect. "After all the work we've put into this, they don't even have the decency to..."
"Ah, shut up, Nick," Adam demanded uncharacteristically.
Nick did a double take. "You shut up!"
Dash interrupted them disbelievingly. "Both of you shut up! I know you were upset when the Games were postponed last time - I absolutely sympathize. And I know you were furious about all the hard work we put in. But dammit, we still have to find them. They haven't come back, and either we wait for them or we go after them."
Tom Croydon chose that moment to interrupt the seemingly spirited exchange between his officers. "Ahem!" They all jumped about a mile, and looked up guiltily. "What the devil's going on here, officers? Where the hell is PJ? And Maggie - isn't she supposed to be training you larrakins?"
Adam cleared his throat. "Ah, we've kind of hit a snag there, Boss."
Croydon lowered his voice menacingly. "What *kind* of a snag, may I ask?"
Dash jumped in headfirst. "We can't find PJ and Maggie. They seem to have disappeared."
"Disappeared? People don't just disappear, McKinley - where *are* they?"
"Like I said, Boss, we don't know."
"Weren't you all together as a team?" Dammit, he did *not* need this right now.
"Yeah - uh, no. Not exactly." Dash stuttered. "I mean, we *were* together as a team, but Maggie... She stayed behind - had to hand in a team list to the judges or something."
Croydon interrupted her. "We don't have any team list from Mt. Thomas. That's what I came over here to talk to you about - where is it?"
"Maggie had it, Boss," Nick said. "And she was going to catch up with us on our way back from Fish Creek, but she didn't exactly... Well, she did, but she was kinda-"
"Upset, Boss." Dash put in. "We were running back, when all of a sudden we saw Maggie, and she looked like she'd seen a ghost. She was terrified, Boss. And PJ caught her, and then we left. He told us to leave." She added hurriedly.
"Are you kidding me, McKinley? And you haven't seen them since? How long ago was this?"
"No I'm not kidding you, and no we haven't seen them, not since well over an hour ago, Boss."
Tom sighed. "All right, so what are you going to do about it, then?"
Nick spoke up. "We're uh, we're going to go look for them, Boss, we can't do the relay without them, anyway. Hopefully we'll be back in time for the sprints."
"Very well, then, off you go," Tom consented with the air of one who'd worked too long with such novice incompetents. They'd be getting a tongue-lashing when they got back.
~~~~~
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6:07pm Property of shed
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~*~
Disclaimer: Mt. Thomas, the Blue Heelers - everything/one you recognize here does not belong to me, rather it belongs to Hal McElroy and the folks at Channel 7. If you don't recognize anyone/thing, then consider it mine.
Also, I'd like to thank Jenny Dobson for being sooo helpful, with posting this, and giving me information and everything, so... thanks Jenny!
~Rachael W. :)
10:01am Somewhere
"Git in 'ere," The first thug snarled, and shoved Maggie and PJ less than gently into an old shack. At first glance, it was absolutely nondescript. And at second glance. And probably at third, too, although PJ hadn't been given the opportunity to look it over that carefully. They were in the back shed of some old farmhouse. The house itself was rundown and decrepit, and the shed was, if anything, worse. He looked up at the roof, praying that it wouldn't collapse on them.
Just before the door slammed shut, Maggie called out, "Wait!" Her voice was muffled through the kerchief gag, but the man turned around.
"Waddaya want?"
"I just... Who are you?" she asked as clearly as was possible.
"What does it matter?"
"It doesn't, I just... who are you?" she repeated.
"M'mates call me Ricky Bezzi, and they'll bash y'up if you don't git in there *now*."
Maggie didn't want to test that prediction. "Were you going to train Mt. Thomas?"
"Yeah. What do you care?"
"Just wondering." PJ approved of her trying to keep them talking. He didn't want to be locked in there any sooner than she did.
So he spoke up, too. "I don't suppose, ah, I don't suppose you fellas are involved in any illegal riggings, are ya?" Bezzi didn't answer. "Or perhaps you're nicking money from the organization running this, so you can buy some more drugs with it, eh?" Again, no answer. PJ knew he was right - sometimes silence speaks louder than words ever could. "Thought so," he muttered as the door slammed on them. Both Maggie and PJ heard a bolt being slid into place, and the muffled commands to some one - ones? The old shack reeked of oil and dust. And Maggie was sure that she could hear the scuttling of spiders - or rodents. No, not rodents, probably cockroaches. Definitely cockroaches and spiders - redbacks? She whimpered unintentionally, and drew closer to PJ. "PJ," she muttered softly. "You got a plan?"
She felt him shake his head. "No, why - I was actually thinking of staying here awhile."
"You what?"
"Kidding. Geez, can you get this thing off me?" he said, referring to the gag.
Maggie shook her head. "Don't think so. And I can't get mine off either. But maybe if we..."
"What?"
"I could try it with my teeth?"
"Mmm... That would be nice..."
"It's not romantic, PJ."
"Ah, but I think it is."
"You're deranged."
"Thank-you. C'mon, try it."
Maggie tried to get her own uncomfortable gag as out of the way as possible, before setting to work on PJ's knot. To reach it, however, he had to bend down, a position which became increasingly uncomfortable.
But finally - "Ah! Mags, you're a gem!"
She tried to grin. "I know. What about me?"
"What about you? I *said* you were a gem!" PJ faked innocence.
"No, my gag - can you - please?"
"I'll try," he said, nibbling at the knot. Mmm... Maggie arched her neck to give him better access - this was kinda nice. And almost erotic, she thought, under any other circumstances.
A few frustrating minutes later, the gag dropped lose. "Got it!" PJ murmured triumphantly and entirely unnecessarily.
Maggie flexed her jaw. Ah, that was sooo much nicer that being gagged... Freedom. Somewhat. Feeling around the shed with her back and bound hands, she located a place which seemed relatively unobstructed. "Sit with me," she told PJ, and slid down to the floor. He joined her in a moment.
Then there was silence. Not the usual silences they participated in - this was different. Strangely uncomfortable - Maggie tried to recall the last time she'd felt uncomfortable around PJ. Not even in the mineshaft. But now - it was as though they were each relying upon the other to come up with a plan... But there didn't seem to be one available to come up with. A while later, PJ cleared his throat. "Mags, we will get out of here."
She nodded. "I'm not doubting it... Not really... I'm just really, really angry." She spoke softly, and her voice was controlled, not betraying her tumultuous feelings.
"I know exactly how you feel," he assured her. "I feel the same way." PJ paused. "It's just a matter of time, right? And we *will* get out."
"Don't say it again, or I'll think you're trying to convince yourself," Maggie warned him, only half-joking. "There isn't *real* danger here... I mean, we're just locked up in a boring old shed... Non-descript, absolutely unremarkable... And no-one knows where we are, except for a few hostile men with guns... And we don't know how long we'll be here for..."
"But they won't kill us."
"How can you be so sure?" she demanded suddenly. "How do you know they won't PJ?"
"Because they know how it goes in the country - a double murder would be huge. Enormous. And of two police officers - even bigger. Those things don't happen out here, they just don't." He paused, trying to convince her. "I know I'm right, here - we're relatively safe."
Maggie didn't say it, but PJ heard her thinking it -
He paused again, and licked his lips. "Ah, Mags - I want to apologise for that. I shouldn't have doubted you. You accepted my hunch, and I didn't accept yours. I'm just... I'm really sorry."
She shook it off. "Forget it - it doesn't matter now."
"Yes it does," he insisted. "I should have trusted you more than that, I should have known you were right - I was just being arrogant and blind."
She nudged him with her shoulder. "Nah, nothing I'm not used to," she said, and he knew she wasn't serious. It was her way of forgiving him. God, he thought, I have to be the luckiest man alive, to have her... She continued. "But, seeing as we're here now - any ideas, Sherlock?"
He pretended to think it over, then screwed up his nose in disgust at the reference. "You know, I never liked Sherlock, myself. I'm more of a modern kind of cop... Up with the times 'n all. Not a Sherlock kinda bloke, I don't reckon. In fact, if I had to choose, I'd pick the X-Files any day over Sherlock Holmes..."
"Really?" Maggie asked, truly interested. "I always thought you'd sooner go for Water Rats or something Aussie."
"Yeah, them too - Goldie's a bit of a dish, eh? But I prefer the X-Files - now *that's* real mystery work."
"Yeah, well, I don't think Frank's all bad, either, but you never know, PJ - perhaps the Victoria Police have got an x-file hidden away in Melbourne... Could be worth checking it out, you know."
"Ah, yeah, but then I'd need a partner and all that..."
"S'kay, I'll be your partner."
"No - wouldn't want you getting abducted by aliens or anything..."
"How is that relative to getting us out of here?"
PJ paused. "You know... I'm not sure. Kind of a tangent, while I.. ah, formulate my fantastic plan of escape..."
"Which would be..." she prompted gently.
"Mmm... Well, first of all, we want to get out of here..."
"Yes..."
"And then, we go home and have a nice dinner for two, with champagne and strawberries, and-"
"PJ?"
"What?"
"Focus."
"Right, Mags."
Moments ticked past, as each thought their own private thoughts.
Maggie sighed. "I wonder what's happening back at the school."
"Yeah, I wonder..."
"Do you think they're looking for us yet?"
PJ held his luminescent watch up in front of his face. "Definitely. We've been gone a fair couple of hours - they're probably out right now."
"We missed the relay."
"Who cares?"
"Nick will. And Adam. And I know that Dash was looking forward to it."
"Yeah, well, me too - we trained so hard for this, and it's finally come to a head... And we're locked away back here... Speaking of which, how's your claustrophobia?" PJ asked, remembering.
To her own surprise, Maggie blushed. "Cured," she replied quickly. Then she paused, and asked softly, "D'you reckon it's worth kicking a wall down?" They were still being wary of any eavesdroppers.
"I don't think so. We could try it, but I wouldn't like to think what'd happen if they had a guard out there."
"If they had a guard out there, it would be easy to find us. A beacon, almost."
"Probably not so lucky - if they had a guard on us, he'd be hidden, maybe in the house or something."
"So we'd have a head start if we wanted to get out."
"Not if there were two."
"What are the chances of that? They're on a team too - one person could get away, but not *that* many."
"The wall would make a huge noise, though," PJ reminded her. "And then we'd definitely get caught."
Maggie wriggled around for about the hundredth time, trying to get comfortable. "Damn it, I wish I could get these things off." Maggie complained about the hand bindings.
"Is there a sharp edge near you?"
"If there is, I can't feel it."
"And I don't think my teeth would work."
She smiled. "Not this time, although it's an idea."
He paused, and there was another silence. "Damn, I hate this."
"No party for me, either."
"Ooh, you know *that's* an idea... When we get out of here, let's have a party."
"At your place?"
"Nah, at yours. Your place is bigger, and Dash could help."
"I like that idea - let's have a big party!" Maggie giggled. "With heaps of people, and all the cops, and *lots* of party favours."
"Favours? I don't want you to get totally wasted, Mags - that wouldn't be much fun."
"Why not?"
"Well then I couldn't kiss you, and embarrass you in public."
"I don't think you could do it if I was sober, either."
"Oh? You're so harsh."
"Yeah, man, way harsh." He chuckled at her horrible surfie 'tude.
"Hey Mags, you feel like getting drunk?"
"Just wondering."
"I'm sick of this, it'll be such a relief to get out," she murmured.
"And then we'll get smashed together." PJ grinned.
"If we ever get out," she reminded him.
"Hey! Don't go thinking like that, Mags - we got out of the mine, didn't we?"
"Yeah, in fact, that was kind of-" she giggled again.
"Don't say it."
"I won't. We'll get out, anyway."
"Yeah."
11:46am Oval
The Heelers were honestly starting to panic now. Dash and Nick had gone out along the track to Fish Creek, looking for their colleagues, while Adam scouted around the local area. The Boss stayed at the judging panel, monitoring the situation. When they met up again at a quarter to twelve, Dash was truly worried and the others were more than concerned.
Tom spoke up. "Look, I know I've asked you this, but what are the chances that they've just gone off together, playing hooky or something?"
"Slim to none, Boss - you know PJ and Maggie. And they wouldn't do something like that. You said it yourself, Boss - Maggie's deadly responsible, and PJ would be out trying to pick up women." Dash stopped abruptly as she realized she'd put her foot in it. Fortunately for her, the Boss chose to ignore her scarlet face and sudden silence.
"So that's ruled out. Have they been working on any cases lately that I don't know about?"
Nick cleared his throat. "Not to our knowledge, Boss," he spoke for them all. "But like we told you - Maggie was clearly disturbed about a recent incident, worried that they'd get her, or something."
"Who's they?"
"Don't know, Boss."
"Who might they be?"
"Not a clue - neither of them said anything to us about it."
Tom sighed loudly. "All right, well I'm going to see if I can cancel the games until they're found. And hopefully call in some favours with St. David's. Wait here."
The Boss left, and the Blue Heelers were left looking at each other apprehensively. Adam regarded Dash closely for a moment before asking softly, "Hey Dash?"
"Yeah?"
"I don't suppose PJ and Maggie are... you know... I mean..." he stuttered, and she waited callously. Of course they were, she was 99% certain, but it wasn't her place to tell the others outright. Finally finding the words, Adam asked, "Are Maggie and PJ having a relationship outside out work?"
"Of course, Adam - they're best friends." She felt equally shocking for lying and loyal for protecting.
Nick glared at her. "Cut the crap, Dash - are they going out?"
"What kind of going out? To the pub? Sure."
"Dammit, Dash - this is important! We need to know that they didn't just sneak off for some romantic rendezvous, leaving us to pick up the pieces here."
"Screw you, Nick! Do you really think that they'd do that? After all the effort we've put into this? You are so wrong, if that's what you think!"
Nick softened. "I'm sorry, but look - do you know what's going on between them, if anything?"
She paused, and Adam noted the odd conflict of loyalty and friendship warring over her fine features. She sighed. "I don't know for certain, but I think so."
"Really?"
"Yes, Adam - why is that so hard for you to believe?"
"Geez! Sorry! I just... I guess I'm not surprised, but..."
"Look, both of you - I *said* I'm not certain, and even if I'm right, I don't want either of you saying anything, okay? You have to promise - Maggie'll kill me."
Nick smiled grimly. "Promise."
"Promise," Adam echoed.
The Boss finally returned. "All right, St. David's agreed to help, and if they're not found within the hour, the judges and committee have decided to just call off the games this year. Once postponed would be predictable, but twice is too much." The younger officers nodded. "You have a deadline, and although I'm not expecting you to heed to it exactly - I want those two hauled in here ASAP. If there's any hanky-panky going on between them, I want to know about it, and otherwise, just do your best."
"Of course we will, Boss. They have to be out there." Dash said.
"They bloody well better be," Tom muttered feeling an unfamiliar twinge of concern for the two of them. Raising his voice, he said, "Go scout around again - check out the track up to Fish Creek, I'll brief St. David's and join you later. Oh, and-" as they started to leave, he added, "check all the houses. I know there's quite a few small farms, and abandoned buildings, but if they were taken in the area, chances are they're hidden."
"If they're still alive," Dash muttered darkly. No-one heard her except Adam.
12:32pm In the shed
"I got it!" Maggie whispered triumphantly as she held her hands up to PJ's face. "Feel that?" she asked. "They're free! Free! Oh, it feels so *good*, PJ - here, let me help you."
"Only if you wouldn't mind," he replied with unaccustomed dour. Maggie grinned as she crawled around to his back. Working the knot, she still couldn't shake the feeling of absolute relief to have her hands free - heaven *is* relative, she decided.
Silently, she pulled and worked the knot, begging it to come undone. It had been by purest luck that PJ had found an old shear nearby him - under some sort of shelf, he'd said. And they'd played off to see who'd get it... PJ had suggested they play eyespy, and he started, but when he couldn't see anything to name... Well, she'd won, all right. But he'd probably let her, Maggie thought at the time.
"Aha! Yes! PJ, I think they cut through!" She unraveled the knot at lightning speed, and massaged his hands when they were free. Bringing them around to feel them for himself, he thanked her with a kiss.
"Mags, you are incredible." PJ said sincerely.
"Only with shears," she quipped with a smile.
"No, really - thanks. It feels so good..."
Maggie kissed him softly, "Yeah, well, anything for you, PJ,"
"That's my line!" he protested.
"So we'll share it," she replied between kisses.
1:20pm Fish Creek area
Dash jogged back over to the Boss. He looked up as he heard her, and nodded dismissively. "No, Boss," she greeted him curtly. "I just thought of something."
"What is it?" Tom asked curiously.
"Are the sheds being checked out, too?" she asked. "And cars and outhouses and all that?"
"We've been checking all the likely places, yes," the boss replied. "Why?"
"Because Adam just said something to me - he said that if he were trying to hide two people, he'd put them in a shed or something. Away from the main house, and inconspicuous."
"I thought of that," Tom replied. "And told St. David's. I meant to tell you too, but you'd already left."
Dash paused, then looked up at him hesitantly. "Boss, is she... I mean, they... I mean - do you think we're going to find them? How do you know that they haven't been driven off in the back of somebody's car?"
"Going on a hunch, Constable," he replied. "But like Adam said, it would make sense to any criminal with half a brain, or even less. I doubt they want to kill them, just scare us."
"Are you certain?"
"Only a fool is ever certain, Dash," he said with the air of one who'd seen it all. "But we do need to ascertain that they aren't around here before checking out the highways and what have you."
"Of course," she replied. "I'm sorry Boss, I'm just... worried...."
"I know you are," he said, with a streak of sympathy. "I am too, and so is everyone else. They're around here somewhere - we just need to figure out where."
"They've been missing for hours," she pointed out.
"I know." Tom said, "But we *will* find them. So get back to your area and keep looking. That's the best we can do at the moment."
But what if the best isn't enough? Dash wanted to ask. What if they're on their way to Queensland by now - or Tasmania? It wasn't so likely, but who knew what these people wanted? Up to spoil the games, perhaps, or bearing
grudges, or maybe just for the hell of it. Perhaps they just wanted to give everyone a scare... Ooh, if that was their intention, Dash though, I'll kill them. Swear to God.
As she began trudging away again, she looked dismally over the hot, barren landscape.
Where in hell are they? Dash thought finally.
4:28pm In the shed
Maggie leaned against PJ's shoulder. When were they coming? She and PJ had been lock up for hours - and she was so *bored*! Funny, Maggie thought. You know you've been kidnapped too often *when*...
She left the thought unfinished in it's irony, and checked PJ's watch again, on his wrist. He closed his fingers around hers, and whispered softly to her, "Mags, it's only a matter of time. Stick with me, here, eh?"
She replied almost inaudibly, "I know, and they'll be here soon... I just don't know which they I'm talking about..."
"The Heelers." PJ said firmly. "Dash and Nick and Adam - maybe even the Boss, I wouldn't be surprised."
"What if they get back first?"
"The... kidnappers?" The word felt strange on his tongue, he hated the feeling of being 'kidnapped'. But Maggie nodded against him. "I don't know if they're coming back, Mags... I don't know if they're still here, even."
"They probably are."
"One, or maybe two." PJ pointed out. "Enough to fight."
"Not if they're armed, though."
"So we'll just stick with the original plan, okay? Stay here until it's dark, then make our move."
It sounded more than reasonable, given their circumstance. Maggie brightened, "Hey PJ?"
"What, love?"
"You know, I'm not even scared, or worried as much as I am bored to death?"
PJ laughed, an honest-to-goodness laugh. "You serious?"
"Uh-huh." She giggled, and things suddenly looked less dire to her companion.
"I think you've been kidnapped once too often, Mags,"
"That's exactly what I was thinking. Have to play it safer - stop hearing things, stop being places..." She trailed off abruptly, as they heard a noise.
Richard Bezzi trekked through the long grass, in his police uniform. His mates were close behind him, but had customarily allowed him to lead the way. It was too easy, he thought - pretending to be searchers. They'll stay here for ages before anyone finds them. Momentarily, Bezzi questioned his judgment - they might die - but dismissed it quickly. The games had been canceled, which was a damn shame for his team, but not so crushing for him. Because as everyone had packed up, he'd been fortunate enough to discover the stash of Police Games funds... He'd quickly taken them to a 'safer' place, lest they be discovered by anyone with 'bad intentions'...
He chuckled to himself - the amount of money which had been squirreled away in there... Fund-raisers, allocated funds... It was pure genius.
As they approached the shed, he instructed his goons to spread out around the property, giving the illusion of searching. He himself called out through the door...
6:07pm In the shed
"Ello, ello, anyone in there?" A voice called roughly. Maggie and PJ scrambled to their feet.
"Yes! Yes, help us!" Maggie shouted, as joy welled up inside her - they were finally here! And the two of them were about to get out! This was incredible... Meanwhile, beside her PJ shouted similar affirmations of presence, no doubt mirroring her feelings.
But they were instantly dampened as the voice replied. "Shut up the two 'a you. And keep it down, orright?"
Maggie looked at PJ, with a mixture of disappointment and confusion across her face. What- but he was supposed to be-? PJ called through the door. "Who are you?"
The voice replied, "Haven't we already met, PJ? But I'm actually a searcher."
"You bastard!" Maggie yelled, beating her fists against the door. "You filthy, rotten, absolutely abominable piece of-"
"Hey! That's no way for a lady to speak, is it?"
"This is no way for a lady to be treated!"
"Ah well, whatever - I don't really care either way," the voice said. "But I promise ya both that you'll get out a helluva lot sooner if you keep your traps shut. If you're real lucky, I might just alert them stupid St. David's clowns to where you are. Or them Mt. Thomas folk, but they'd be a dead loss. Pretty stupid bunch, them. Let me catch 'em and lock 'em in a shed for the day... I tell ya, I don't exactly admire 'em..."
"Oh, shut up," PJ spat through the door. "How long d'you reckon it'll be till we get out of here?"
"Long enough," Bezzi replied, relishing the power.
"Then why are you here?" Maggie asked forcefully, pronouncing every word clearly and slowly, so as not to be misunderstood.
"Ah, just wanted to let you know that the cavalry's on it's way... And that we'll be watching you if you decide to make a false move."
"Why, ah, why would we want to do that?" PJ asked.
"You never know. Sometimes stupid cops get it into their heads that it'd be neat to sneak out during the night or something... Well if that's what you're thinking - you're wrong! I've got four of my men trainin' guns on this place, or they will be if you wanna try and git out."
"Won't that be a beacon?" Maggie asked with distaste.
"What? Nah - they're searching. Obviously. Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta go." And as they heard the footsteps trailing away, Maggie slumped down against the door.
She sighed. "So what was Plan B, PJ?" she asked.
He frowned. "You know, we never got around to discussing that bit, Mags."
"At least we know they're looking."
"We knew that before."
"But we know for sure. And they must be close, otherwise he would have been here to see us."
"Threaten us." PJ corrected her, as he joined her on the floor.
"Whatever," Maggie replied softly.
7:19pm Area of Fish Creek
Nick trudged through the overgrown weed and grass, wondering idly how a place as barren as this could still be so damn weedy. It was late now, and he was hungry, dirty and tired. And worried - very, very worried. Where could they be? He kicked aside an old lump of wood, wincing at the maggots which writhed beneath it. Then he heard a noise. He put his ear to the old shed, as a mounting excitement grew within his chest.
"Ssh, love - it's going to be all right, matter of time, matter of time."
"Dammit, PJ, we've been here for over eight hours, if you've been doing the maths like I have."
"They're out there, Mags - and they're looking for us."
Then there was a pause, and she answered softly, "I know. I just wish they were already here."
Nick crouched down beside the shed, hidden under some old planks of wood and the remainders of an old car. He muttered through the wood, "Fellas, must be your lucky day. This is Nick." He heard a sharp intake of breath and some mad scrambling.
"Nick?" Maggie asked desperately. "You found us?"
"Looks like it," he said with a grin. "Is this is exact location of a PJ Hasham and Maggie Doyle, missing for almost nine hours, from the track along Fish Creek?"
"The exact location is on the other side of this here wall, but aside from that... The very same, mate," PJ replied. "Although we, ah, have to warn you about something."
"What?"
"They're watching us, and they're probably watching you."
Nick cursed, and ducked even lower down, as if it would make any difference. If they'd already seen him, he'd do better to be watching his back at that moment.
"Where are they, mate?" Nick asked. "I mean, do you have any idea?"
Maggie spoke up. "We reckon there's about five of them, and they've been posing as searchers from St. David's. But they're not," she added unnecessarily. "If they're still here - there'll be at least one or two - they're hidden, we think."
"But, ah, don't look like you've found us," PJ warned. "Just pretend you're doing your shoelace or something... Is it dark yet?"
"Pretty dark," Nick replied. "I'm heading back, gonna get Dash and the Boss, Adam and the St. David's mob. I think we'll need them for back-up." He started to leave. Inside the shed, Maggie clutched PJ's leg in alarm.
"Wait! Nick!"
He turned around, muttering, "What?"
"Just... don't forget where we are, all right. There's a lot of old houses, and old sheds - and you said it's dark out... Just remember that we're here." She sounded urgent, insistent.
Nick sighed, "You know I'm not going to lose you two now. You did a pretty good job of it earlier, and besides - there's a track off to Turner's Gap nearby. This is the closest property."
"Good, good," PJ replied. "Now - go get the others, and bring them back. You'd do well to split up, look for Bezzi and his goons first."
Nick did a double take. "*Bezzi*? As in the Richard Bezzi who offered to train us?"
"One and the same. Nasty piece of work, not very amicable either."
"Righto, gotcha. I'll see what I can do about him. Sit tight, and we'll be back in a jiffy." And then he was gone.
7:25pm In the shed
Maggie sagged against PJ in relief. Finally, they were getting out of there. Her stomach rumbled indiscreetly, and PJ just chuckled.
"Ready for a pizza, Mags?"
"And a good beer," she replied. "And some hot chips with tomato sauce, and a green salad on the side. Oh, and I'd really like on of those cheesecakes that they've started making - you know, the ones with chocolate on the top?"
He grinned. "Yeah, I know - I'll split it with you?"
"Get your own!" Maggie replied, laughing. Although they were still officially trapped, a lightness of heart had spread through the air between them, and what had, moments before, been frustration and a sense of hopelessness, was rapidly becoming relief and excitement. Finally!
But what neither of them could have seen was a large man, Sam Dennis with binoculars trained on the area. He frowned fiercely in confusion, having seen the young police officer just walk away. When the kid had bent over beside the shed, Sam was certain that he'd found them. But then he just stood up and walked away, perhaps caught his shoe on a log or something. It was the netherside of dusk, so details were sketchy, but Sam was sure he hadn't discovered anything. Which was odd - wouldn't the two inside the shed have heard him? Maybe they had, and were just too frightened. Whatever. But just for precaution, Sam radioed it into his mate Ricky, on the far side of the land.
7:26pm Area of Fish Creek
As soon as he'd convinced himself he was far enough from the old property, Nick Schultz broke into a sprint. Grabbing Dash and Adam along the way, he arrived his boss' form gasping for breath. Tom Croydon immediately seized the situation, and sent the two officers by him to round up the others. Radios had been left at the station that day, and though he usually condoned the good old method of policing, this time Tom was more than slightly ticked off about it. But who could have guessed, right? Putting a hand on Nick's hunched over body, he instantly clicked into sergeant mode. "Good work, Schultz. Where are they?" He'd never been one to mince words, and Nick stood up slowly. Funny - he'd run nearly ten kilometers in what he supposed was *some* kind of record... Never done that before.
Nick shook his head. "About ten k's away, Boss. Bezzi - you know that bloke who was supposed to train us in the beginning? Well, anyway, turns out he's not quite so obliging now - he's got Maggie and PJ held hostage in an old shed near the turn-off to Turner's Gap." Dash and Adam exchanged apprehensive glances.
"Well, what now, son?" Tom asked. "D'you reckon it's safe to go in? Do you recommend any particular course of action - I mean, you were there. And why didn't they see you?"
Nick answered rapidly. "They didn't see me because it's getting dark, but Maggie reckons there's about five of them, hidden, with guns trained on the place. So, not in the immediate area, but pretty damn close. Boss. And I reckon that we have to go in - Maggie and PJ have been there for hours, Boss. But I think it was Maggie again who recommended we go after Bezzi and his blokes first."
The Boss nodded slowly. "What if we could go after them *while* having someone get them out?"
Nick considered it. "Could work, Boss. They'd be distracted, and we'd have the advantage."
"But we don't have any weapons," Adam pointed out.
"Ah, yes," Tom replied. "I meant to tell you next time you checked in. Matherson went back to the station - I gave out the key - and returned with your firearms. I don't think you'll get your own, but they're in the truck over there. Oh, and you can grab a radio while you're at it - better to be safe than... Ah, same old." He gestured to an old ute out behind him. There were already St. David's officers grabbing guns, torches and other necessities out of the boot.
"Wonderful," Nick said. "But look, we haven't got that much time, here. If we want to be able to see our ways around without torches, we have to get going. Some light's better than none."
"Right. Let's go over a plan," the Boss said, and began outlining a plan of attack, with the others occasionally punctuating him and adding details...
7:56pm In the shed
"Pst! Hey, you two, wake up!" Dash muttered fiercely through the shed. Inside, Maggie shifted slightly, and snapped to. She nudged PJ over from his position between a shelf and a lawnmower (if it even *was* that).
"Dash? Is that you?" she whispered.
"Yeah, and I'm getting you out of there." Her voice was muffled through the wood, but Maggie could still hear the urgency in her best friend's tone.
PJ spoke out softly. "Dash, what's our situation?"
"Yours? You're trapped inside an old shed, bolted and locked. To get in, we'll have to knock a wall down, or break the door. As for me, well - I just got over here. Nick came back and grabbed us, then we took off. I think the others have gone after Richard Bezzi, and are searching the place over. I didn't hear it all - the Boss just sent me off. But I think they're right behind me."
"Good on you, Dash - you're a trooper, y'know?" PJ grinned at the wall, and hugged Maggie with one arm.
"Whatever." She was obviously not in the mood to joke around. Surprisingly enough. "Look, what do you think's easier - breaking a wall, or breaking the door?"
Maggie considered this. "Probably the door, for all the junk that's piled around here. Only problem is, they'll be watching it closely."
"I think they're watching this whole place closely," Dash replied. "But the door it is." She paused, and reached for the jackhammer she'd dropped on the ground beside her. "Both of you stand back. And when the door's clear, run for your life."
Maggie's stomach growled again, and she felt weak from hunger and stress. But, she replied firmly, "Got it."
PJ echoed her. "Got it, Dash. Anything you want us to do?"
"Just go like a bat outta hell," she replied grimly. "Count of three." She ran, doubled over, to the door, and checked to see that the coast was clear. But they'd been too late - it was already frustratingly dark, with only a bright half-moon and precious starlight. Would it at least light their way? Dash wondered, then shook the thought away. It would have to do. She considered the position of her colleagues, then whispered fiercely, "One... Two... Three!" And with a mighty burst of strength, slammed the jackhammer down across the bolts, ripping them from the door
frame. The door itself had swung open, and Maggie and PJ stood inside. Dash indicated with her head - they'd have to be fast; that noise had sounded like thunder to her ears.
The three of them took off, first cautiously, and then with increasing speed. PJ was out in front, with Dash, then Maggie close behind. They were lucky in that there was sufficient light to alert them to old pieces of junk, but not so lucky in that they couldn't see potholes. The moon cast an eerie silhouette over the old property, and although it was far from light, it wasn't pitch black either. Almost like a late twilight, and around them, flashlights began bobbing as more and more searchers came around. For now, however, the coast was relatively clear. Nothing had obstructed them, and it was looking positive that they'd get out soon. However, the trio were nearly half-way across the field when Maggie started to grow aware of a fourth set of footsteps behind her. Fear suddenly gripped her in an icy wave, and she willed herself to go faster. But then something launched itself at her foot, and she fell with a cry.
PJ turned around in time to see her go down, and Dash turned an instant later. A large, anonymous figure was standing over her, reaching down. He grabbed her by the shirt and yanked her to her feet. PJ's blood ran like
glacial ice as the moon picked up a glint of silver from something at her neck.
Frozen like trapped rodents, PJ and Dash looked at each other in similar terror. But it was nothing compared to what Maggie was experiencing. Clad only in navy running shorts and a white singlet, she shivered uncontrollably - whether it was from fright, or the cooler air, PJ wasn't sure. Her eyes were wide, and her position rigid, while the arm was clamped around her chest like an unrelenting vice. PJ slowly moved up to stand with Dash, about four meters from the stranger, where he could also see more clearly. Ignoring the mosquitoes which were buzzing and nipping at his ankles, PJ caught his friend's eye, and she relaxed exponentially.
Maggie knew that he wouldn't let anything happen to her. She'd been in similar situations before, and always escaped alive, right? And PJ was always there for her, right? Right? Then why was she still shaking? Maggie told herself that it was a combination of the mosquitoes and night-time air, refusing to even consider the possibility of fear. Because if she admitted that she was scared, no - *terrified* - her assailant would have one more thing to hold over her. Besides the knife.
So when PJ caught her eye, she forced herself to appear relaxed - somewhat, anyway. She intended to be as convincing as possible, as obliging as necessary, until she got a moment's chance.
Then, for a moment, they all stood like chess characters in a state of check. Dash and PJ were unmoving, as was Maggie and her assailant. But both PJ and Dash could see Maggie wincing as the knife began to press into her neck, drawing the faintest trickles of blood, which had the colour of indigo under the moonlight.
There was total silence for a moment. Complete, all-encompassing silence.
And time stood very, very still.
Check.
Check.
A flashlight flickered over them, illuminating them for a split second, then flitted away.
Check.
8:33pm On the property.
Tom Croydon froze as he surveyed the property's panorama. A moment ago, he'd seen his three officers running madly, and he'd considered them safe. But now, he saw two of them - PJ and... Was it Maggie? No, Dash. PJ and Dash were facing an unknown man who had an arm wrapped around - it must be Maggie. Tom couldn't make out their faces, or any details, but he was willing to bet that Maggie had a gun on her. Or a knife. And even from a distance, he could see the stalling.
Under his breath, he radioed Adam and Nick individually. Dash had a radio, too, and Tom wasn't willing to risk aggravating the situation with an untimely message. He received word back, and within moments, the two were by his side.
"Schultz, you head off to the left. I'll take the right, and Cooper - I want you directly behind Maggie, in the middle. We'll spread out, and close in. I don't expect that you need to be told this, but do *not* aggravate the situation unless it is with surprise. A false move could and quite likely *will* get Maggie killed. Understood?" Nick and Adam nodded. Their boss continued. "Then we want to compromise. Maggie for the bloke's safety, if possible. St. David's will be in back-up, so I doubt he'd get far. Got it? Good. Now let's go."
They started off, but suddenly, Tom turned around. "Wait. One more thing - be careful of the rest of Bezzi's gang. We still don't know where they are, and if they decide to leap, we'll be outnumbered. St. David's is on the perimeter, but they're not close enough to be of use. If these blokes decide to run, however - let them. Now go!"
A drop of sweat trickled down Maggie's hairline as she forced herself not to cry out.
Slowly, Dash stepped forward. She spoke softly, "Let her go."
The arm around her tightened, if that was at all possible. Maggie could smell the man's rancid body odour, and feel his hairy arms around her. Oh, God...
He spoke gruffly, "Not until you drop your guns." PJ and Dash dropped them instantly. "And kick 'em away, y'hear me?" They kicked them out of reach, and Maggie couldn't sense a flash of hesitation in either of them.
"Now what?" Dash's voice was still soft and modulated, the standard tone for hostage-negotiation. Which Maggie supposed that this was.
"Now I want you to raise your hands where I can see them, and take a step back."
They did so.
"Wait." Dash said firmly, speaking with quiet resolution. "What do you want? What are you doing with her?" She nodded to Maggie.
The man paused, then glowered at her. "Well, I've gotta get outta here somehow, eh?"
PJ nodded. "I guess so, mate, but why don't we talk about this?"
The man shook his head slightly. "Nothin'a talk about. She's coming with me, and we're going now."
He started to back away, but Dash yelled sharply, "No!"
He paused mid-step. "Whaddaya want now?"
Dash leveled her gaze with his, and told him, "You can't take her."
"Why the hell not, ya stupid bitch? Why the hell shouldn't I?"
Ouch, Dash thought insincerely. "Because we can get you out of here without her."
"Stop bullshitting me," he spat.
"Nah, seriously," PJ chimed him. "Look - we've got coppers all around this place, in fact, they're coming up on either side of you," he added, as Tom and Nick came into view. Tom rolled his eyes in disgust, but PJ was not dissuaded. "You aren't going to get out of here alive. But we want you to."
The assailant didn't speak. He glared at them warily.
Dash spoke up again. "Look, we don't care what happens to you," she said bluntly. "But we care about what happens to our cop, and I don't think you want to be caught in the line of fire. You follow me?"
"Ah, fuck you," he snarled. "I just wanna get outta here, and git my money from that asshole Bezzi."
"So why take Maggie?" PJ asked, looking directly at her. Maggie looked away with tears forming in her eyes. She was so tired, and hungry and so - so - ooh! She was so angry! Who asked for this? Neither of them! And again, she was the one in danger, because she was a woman, because she was smaller. And a heartless part of her wished it had been Dash instead.
"Coz she's m'ticket out, ya stupid fool."
Dash paused. "Look, talk to this man - he's our boss."
That was Tom's cue to step forward. He lowered his gun, then dropped it. "Look, mate, here's the situation. You wanna get outta here, we want our cop back. We can get you out if you give her back. Then you can go wherever you bloody well please."
He shook his head adamantly. "Nuh. She's coming. She's small, she's weak, and she's gonna git me outta here." His eyes suddenly darted over to PJ - no, just over and past him. PJ didn't miss it.
PJ noticed how the man's eyes had darted in his direction, over his head. And he had a feeling that there was someone behind him. Listening with excruciating concentration, he heard the softest of footfalls. And as an arm raised itself over his head, PJ spun around and bashed his own assailant where it really hurt. The nose. But just for good measure, kneed him right *there*, too. The man fell to the grass, and PJ knocked him onto his back, and sat on him. Pulling frantically at the cord of his pants, he ripped it out, and bound the man's hands together tightly, then
drew his knees up and bound his hands to his knees. Satisfied, PJ stood up - only to see Maggie free, and her captor lying motionless on the ground.
When PJ had turned around, Maggie had seized her chance. With a sudden bust of adrenaline, she'd jabbed her captor in the stomach with her elbow, and as he doubled over, winded, she'd slapped him across the face with the back of her forearm. Maybe too hard. There was a sickly crack as her arm connected with his head, and his head had been knocked backwards. In an instinctive reaction, Maggie had jumped forewards, and Dash immediately stepped in front of her.
Then Adam was there, checking the figure which lay on the ground. Maggie wasn't sure whether it was even a man any longer, for she noted dispassionately that his head was at an odd angle to his body.
PJ, meanwhile, looked busy with his own attacker, tying him up with the experience of a true cowboy. She'd be sure to mention it to him sometime, and he'd most certainly broken some kind of record there. He finally stood up, and seemed surprised to see the situation he'd turned his back on. A grin spread over his face, and Maggie hurled herself into his arms. He crushed her to him in immense, indescribable relief, and for a few moments, they were oblivious to the rest of the world.
Which did not become a particularly wise move, as proven a few seconds later. A shot rang out beside PJ's ear, then another less than a half-second later, and he instinctively ducked, rolling Maggie under him. Then there was a loud thud behind him, and PJ turned to see another crumpled figure on the ground, with dark liquid rushing out of a wound - where? PJ looked up at Adam, who was holding a smoking gun and looking bewildered.
PJ rolled off Maggie, and dragged her low to the ground as they scuttled under an old car body abandoned nearby. Together they watched as all hell broke loose over their limited battlefield of a landscape. The two casualties were lying still - PJ assumed that the second intruder had been fatally wounded - but the Heelers still had their hands full.
With two men down, Richard Bezzi was already panicking. He could be the next one, and there was no way he'd get away from here. Shit, shit, shit - a mental chant grew inside his head, increasing in proportion as he clashed with some hulking policeman. He threw another right hook at the guy, and this time felt it connect.
Meanwhile, Maggie looked on in horror. It was the same horrific attraction one feels when driving past a road-side accident... A compulsion to watch, but an unnamed feeling of dread for the passengers of the vehicle. Sick horror, fascinated horror, a bystanding horror. Nick was bashing it out with one of the men - Maggie couldn't be sure, but it looked like Bezzi. And she couldn't tell who was winning. While at the same time, Adam was in a stand-off with another, and the Boss was raining blow after blow upon a now-crippled goon. She smirked grimly at that - the poor fool was probably wishing he'd never been born... Tom Croydon still hadn't lost his touch...
But Dash... Where was Dash? Maggie strained to see her friend through the long grass and obstructing shrapnel, but couldn't. Beside her, PJ shifted and looked about to dart out. She covered his hand with her own and whispered fiercely, "You can't go out there, PJ - you'll be killed!" But he shook his head, and she noted curiously that his face was a shade nastier than white, even under the poor illumination. She followed his gaze and finally located Dash... lying on the ground, motionless.
Maggie froze. No. Not Dash. Not Dash please no no not Dash not Dash oh God no please not her let her be all right God don't let anything have happened to her is she still alive oh God is she dead oh no no no no no somebody help her help her she might be dead oh God - *not Dash*! A hurricane of emotion and thought whirled through Maggie's head, she couldn't think, she couldn't watch - oh, God, not Dash!
Meanwhile, PJ saw her look, and slipped his hand out from under hers. "I'm going out," he whispered. "I have to see if she's all right." Maggie made a move to get up also, but he pushed her down, firmly yet gently. "No - you stay here. I'll call you over if it looks too bad..." And he pushed himself up and sprinted over.
Adam held his fire as the man opposite him suddenly crumpled. The Boss stood behind him, and kicked away the gun. He nodded to Adam, and Adam fell upon him with handcuffs. Croydon gazed out over the miserable scene... There was Nick, on top of some bloke suffering multiple bruises, no doubt. It looked as though Nick had the upper hand... And he himself had taken out his attacker rather quickly, if he did say so himself... A wave of pride washed over the seasoned cop as he allowed himself a moment of pride. Then he forced himself back to the situation at hand. It looked as though St. David's had begun closing in on them, probably sensing that the immediate danger had finished, but then... Tom squinted into the dark night. Over to his left was Maggie, barely visible beneath the body of an old truck or something, and Adam was taking care of another piece of scum. But then, where was PJ? And Dash McKinley? All the kidnappers had been taken out - two were dead, and three would have serious headaches, but...
Then he saw PJ off to one side - over past Maggie and a little behind her. Surrounding trees cast the area in an indigo shadow, but PJ's back was visible. The sounds of fighting and struggling had finally stopped, and the other Heelers were otherwise concerned with individual damage control. Nick looked like shit, Tom admitted, and Adam looked plain shaken, but Dash... And PJ? Was she... But she couldn't be... Could she?
He broke into a run, and headed over.
Meanwhile, PJ arrived at Dash's still body. Although he couldn't see anything at all in the light (or lack of), he ran his hands over her body, searching for bullet wounds. For the life of him, he couldn't remember how many shots had been fired that night. Thankfully, he couldn't feel any blood gushing from her, and past images of gunshot victims dissipated from his mind. But she still wasn't moving, and with his own pounding breath, he couldn't feel any rise and fall of her chest. He grabbed a wrist and held it up to his fingers, searching for a pulse. But he couldn't find one! Was she...? No - no, he wasn't a doctor, that's why he couldn't find a pulse. He dropped her wrist, and reached for her neck, pressing deeply.
And - there! PJ's fingers must have connected with an artery, because he could finally feel a pulse... Faint and thready, but definite. She was alive! PJ glanced over his shoulder at Maggie. Her face was pale and almost luminescent under the moon, and she looked like a wreck. But she was his wreck, and she was alive... He nodded to her, and she scuttled out from under the car. All the skirmish was over, and it was definitely safe, but... Dash?
As she approached them, PJ reached up a hand to her. She squeezed it tightly, and joined him at her side. Thank God - she was alive. But Maggie was appalled at her best friend's appearance. Was this really Dash? Her slim form was crumpled where it lay on the ground, and she looked tiny and helpless. A wave of guilt rushed over Maggie - this was her fault, all of it. She'd almost wished that Dash's size would be used against her in Maggie's own safety... But no - no, she couldn't think like that. It was no-one's fault, not hers, nor anyone else's. Except for the person who did
this to her. Dash's short hair framed her face in a messy, tangled bob, and her eyes were shut to the world. If PJ hadn't just nodded, Maggie would have been convinced that she was dead. But she wasn't - she was only unconscious... Only unconscious.
"PJ? Is she okay?" Maggie breathed, afraid to ask.
He looked at Dash, and then at her. "I don't know. She's alive, and I can feel a faint pulse, but she's definitely unconscious, likely trauma to the head. I don't know if she's all right, Mags."
"Oh, God..." Maggie's voice hitched as she fought back tears. "PJ... PJ, we've got to get an ambulance. This night has been so... Oh, but she *has* to be all right, doesn't she?" She was almost pleading him to reassure her, but of course, he couldn't. PJ just shrugged his shoulders slightly.
Just then, the Boss arrived beside them. "What's her situation?" he asked, cutting to the point immediately.
"Unconscious, Boss, but alive," Maggie said softly. "We need an ambulance."
Tom sighed, and reached for his radio.
Near midnight On the property
The Blue Heelers watched the ambulance pull away. Adam and PJ had carried her to the nearest road, whereupon an ambulance had arrived soon after. Standing silently, Maggie gazed upon her colleagues emotionlessly. She was too tired, too exhausted to be emotional any longer.
In terms of appearance, PJ and Adam were the only ones unscathed. She herself had rivulets of dried blood sticking to her neck in crackling trails, consistently catching her hair. And it hurt like anything, but she knew she was lucky. Meanwhile, Nick looked like he'd been run over by a truck. Bruises all over his face and visible body parts, as well as the painful way he was walking, indicated to Maggie that he'd finally met his match. It had taken some serious persuasion on his part to stay out of the ambulance himself. And the Boss was looking slightly the worse for wear, with a huge bruise blossoming over his left cheek - she figured that he'd taken at least one blow for all those that he'd given. And Dash... Well, the attendants had assured them that she'd be fine, and was showing positive vitals, given her circumstance. But she was definitely suffering a concussion - they theorized that she'd been hit over the head with a large log or something similar. And as for Maggie herself, well, she'd be fine after a long rest, a bath and some food.
She stood with one arm wrapped around PJ's waist and the other by her side, just watching. The ambulance had sent coroners out to collect the two bodies, for which all the Heelers were grateful, and would be required to close the matter in the morning. The Boss had given the orders, and a St. David's representative had agreed to be there also.
So all they had to do was get to bed. But her car was *so* far away - at the oval, in fact. And all she wanted to do was collapse. But she muttered something to the others, letting them know she was heading back, and slipped away. Soon, she felt PJ's hands at her waist from behind, and he murmured that the others were following. Right - she'd forgotten that they were all going the same way. And since their ordeal that afternoon, she and PJ had given up all pretenses about their relationship. Let the others think what they wanted to - they'd deal with it in the morning.
And without really knowing how she did it, Maggie crawled into her car and drove home, leaving that night's horrors at the oval. She didn't want to think anymore, she just wanted to sleep. But the house was so lonely without Dash. Although she had thought it would take seconds to get to sleep, after a hot shower and a huge meal, Maggie was no longer ready to sleep. She wanted to know how Dash was. She wanted to talk to PJ. She just wanted someone to hold her, talk to her, soothe her.
Maggie picked up the phone.
1:32am
His telephone jangled shrilly, and PJ reached for it in relief. "Hey, Mags, what's up?" he asked, not questioning the caller. He knew it was her. He couldn't sleep either, but was waiting for her call.
"Ah, not much... Had a pretty boring day, and now I seem to have too much energy," she replied ironically. "...Actually, I just can't sleep."
"Oh, you either?" PJ asked, in a tone that spoke volumes.
There was a long silence on the phone, then she replied petulantly, hesitantly, "PJ? Will you talk to me?"
Without asking, he knew what she meant. "Sweetheart, you know I'd do anything for you. Do you want to hear a story?"
"Mm-hm," was her reply. PJ paused for a moment, then began.
"Okay, so once upon a time, there was this young policewoman called Margaret. She was stationed in this little town out bush - a quaint little place, called Mt. Thomas, and had a habit of fighting for justice and getting more emotionally involved than her boss would often have liked. Now, in this part of the world - you know, out past Gundagai - there happened to be an old tradition of police games, and one year, Mag-er, Margaret just happened to get herself caught right in the middle of a tremendous scam. But how did it happen? Well, ah, it's a long story...."
And as the long story wound on and on, Maggie felt sleep creeping up on her. She sighed contentedly, and snuggled under her comforter. What did she do to deserve someone as kind and selfless as PJ? She listened to his voice, rather than what he was saying, but slowly relinquished control over her concentration...
And when he paused to take another breath, all PJ heard on the other end of the phone line was silence. Then, soft breathing, relaxing and comforting. He couldn't bear to put the phone down while she was still on the other end, so as he crawled into his own bed, he whispered, "Goodnight, Mags, sweet dreams," and followed suite - safe together until another day.
The End
~*~
Thanks to HM and Ch7 for letting me borrow their playground, and I promise to return the Heelers as soon as it's time for tea. Or maybe I'll kidnap them... No, they'll be returned the millisecond this is over. I don't want them, HM & Ch7 can have them. But with thanks. :)
All feedback to [email protected] would be greatly appreciated & replied-to pronto! I'd especially appreciate your comments because this is my very first BH fanfic, and I want to know how to get better. Feedback only takes a minute, but means so much...
