Feeling grumpy, Kermit Griffin decided to ignore Jody Powell when she entered his office without knocking. Jody stood silently next to his desk. It was late, the end of a long and frustrating day.

Seated at his computer, Kermit finally grumbled, "I guess if I ignore you, you won't just go away. What's up?"

"Kermit, didn't you stay late to help Mary Margaret so that she could go home?"

"Yeah, it's a drag she lives with Caine. I feel like I have to be nice to her sometimes." Kermit continued, "Why, is something wrong?"

"I think so, maybe. I was supposed to meet them at their apartment, but they're not there. There's no note, and Mary Margaret left her gun and badge in her bedroom. I walked right in and looked around because the door was unlocked."

Kermit and Jody stared at each other a moment. Jody finished, "That doesn't sound like Mary Margaret. I can't imagine where she would go without her gun and badge. Then I called Peter, and didn't get an answer."

The soft thuds and scuffs of a muffled commotion caught their attention. Rising, Kermit joined Jody to check it out.

A red-faced David Reed argued with the shift supervisor. "I'm telling you, the priest, Master Caine, told me to tell you guys she was in serious trouble!"

This shift supervisor apparently did not know Kwai Chang Caine. "You say this man, Master Caine, claimed that detective Mary Margaret Skalany is in some sort of trouble?"

Hearing Skalany's name, Kermit jumped in saying, "Thanks, Sergeant, we'll take it from here."

Grabbing David by his arms, both Jody and Kermit hauled the young man into Kermit's office. Kermit slammed the door shut.

"Okay, David, tell us exactly what you know," Kermit demanded. "First, do you know where Detective Skalany is?" At David's blank expression, he repeated, "Detective Mary Margaret Skalany?"

"No, I don't know where she is. And I don't think Caine does, either. When we got out of the car, the priest, Master Caine, he started acting really strange, just like they told me he would."

Jody interrupted, "Who told you?"

"The one guy's name is Jack, and the other's name is Clarence. I think Clarence is the boss."

"In his dreams," Jody muttered under her breath. David looked at her strangely, and Jody asked, "What exactly did Caine say?"

David held his head in his hands and rocked back and forth. "Man, I don't remember! He was talking really weird-"

Kermit interrupted, "What about the car?"

David and Jody both looked at him with puzzled expressions.

"David, what car were you driving? Was it your car?" Kermit asked, his voice tense.

"No," David answered, "I don't have a car. Jack let me borrow his car."

Kermit snapped, "Where is it?"

"It's parked in the lot." David looked confused.

Kermit jumped up and said to Jody, "Keep questioning him, I'm going to the car." Kermit hurried out leaving Jody no time to comment.

~~~

Jody turned to David, thought for a moment, then said, "Where were you driving Kwai Chang Caine, and why?"

David buried his head in his hands again, but Jody pulled them away from his face and said, "David, think. Your answer could save an innocent life. Talk to me."

"They told me he set up my mother! Him and his son! So I promised to help them, to get back at them."

"Get back at Caine and his son, Peter Caine?" Not waiting for an answer, she jumped up to request a black and white to go to Peter's apartment. She had a strong feeling that things were getting worse by the minute.

Taking detailed notes, she continued to transcribe the events as David related them. Kermit suddenly rolled into the office like a freight train. Snapping a stapled collection of papers in the air, he said, "I found this in the glove compartment. This is a rented vehicle, and now I've got a credit card number, and a name. If we're lucky, I'll be able to trace it to an address."

Jody said, "Kermit, David told me Jack and Clarence involved him in a plot to kill both Caine and Peter. I sent a car out to check Peter's apartment. We should hear from them soon."

The phone rang and Jody answered it. The unit called in, reporting no sign of Caine or Peter. They did describe signs of a disturbance, and ominously, a fire. They promised to investigate further and report any new information.

~~~

Armed with the information, Kermit started a computer search while Jody questioned David. A few minutes passed before Kermit jerked up his head and turned around. Lo Si, quietly seated in the corner, treated Kermit to a smile.

One of these days, I'm going to accidentally kill him, Kermit thought, but really believed that since Lo Si would probably outlive them all. Despite his irritation, he spoke to the elder with respect. "Welcome to my kingdom, Lo Si. May I infer that you have no idea where Mary Margaret is either?"

"That is correct, my friend. Kwai Chang thought I could guide you to her, but I, like him, am unable to locate her."

Jody turned sharply to see whom Kermit was speaking to, and Lo Si smiled at her. Jody asked him, "Then you do know where Peter is?"

Lo Si replied, "I know only that he is alive, and with his father. Do not be concerned with my presence," the Ancient One continued, "I will wait here, out of your way, until you have determined where you must go."

As he waited for his search to continue, Kermit asked, "Lo Si, the credit card is in the name of Serena Martin. That's the name the car is in, too. Does that ring a bell to you?"

"Yes it does, Kermit. The news is not good. Serena Martin is a woman closely tied to Li Sung."

When Lo Si said the name, Kermit cursed. He knew the man had sworn revenge on Caine and his family. After the incident with the bombs on the plane and at the precinct, Kermit had searched every way he knew how, but could find nothing to link Li Sung with the plot. Now he knew he had either missed something, or that Li Sung had a computer genius working for him. Pondering these thoughts, his computer beeped at him. Slamming his hand on the table, Kermit said, "Yes!"

Getting up, he grabbed his jacket and said, "We have an address. Let's get this show on the road."

~~~

Serena Martin stood by the kitchen window and watched the dark LeBaron swerve into the long driveway of the two-story colonial. When the car stopped Jack and Clarence burst out, opened the trunk and lifted a long bundle, what she judged to be roughly the size of a small rolled carpet…or a human body. The sight made her feel uneasy; there'd been little or no activity at this house since they'd arrived. Memories still haunted Serena. Two years ago, government agents had destroyed Li Sung's empire while Caine and Peter had liberated Serena and her daughter Maia. She'd left Li Sung for what she'd believed was the last time, but once again their paths overlapped. A strong but lethal force bound them and as years passed Li Sung's dominance grew stronger.

The two men entered the kitchen, forcing Serena to face reality. They carried a woman, bruised and disheveled, either dead or unconscious, and loosely wrapped in a dirty blanket. Serena straightened her elegant black and red velvet jacket and glimpsed at the reflection in the window to check her blonde hair, summoning the confidence to speak to Clarence.

"What are you doing, Clarence? Who is that? Is she alive?"

"Her name is Mary Margaret somthin'. She's Caine's bitch, and Li Sung has plans for her," sneered Clarence, then added, "Yeah, she's alive".

For a moment Serena stopped breathing. She knew he meant Kwai Chang Caine, and the woman must be his wife or lover, at the very least someone special to him. Like she once was. How could Li Sung have planned such cruelty, and how could she not have known? Caine would never believe her. She must find some way to let Caine know, find some way to help.

"Follow me," she said.

Turning, she walked out of the kitchen and into a beautifully decorated sitting room. Clarence and Jack lowered Mary Margaret onto a beautiful Oriental rug.

"Stay with her," said Serena. "I will speak to Li Sung."

"Li Sung?" Serena called softly as she entered the richly appointed study. He was bent over his laptop, typing intently. "Jack and Clarence have just brought a woman into the house. She was bruised and unconscious. I think you better have a talk with those two-they may have gone too far."

"Excellent! It's time for me to check on their progress. I left Clarence in charge, as my attention was required elsewhere. He knows that this time he will pay for failure with his life."

It seemed that Serena's suspicions and fears were true, but she didn't dare reveal what she knew.

"Who is this woman? Why have they brought her here?"

"She is Kwai Chang Caine's whore! But it is of no consequence, for she will soon be dead."

Li Sung's statement pierced through the layer of denial Serena had built around herself. The depravity of Li Sung's plans became clear to her, and she concluded that he had crossed over the line to insanity.

"Why kill her? She has done nothing to you."

Li Sung ignored her words and headed down the steps.

~~~

Serena watched Clarence talk to Li Sung, but she couldn't hear what they were saying. She took the chance and moved closer.

"Caine ran off to try to find Peter," said Clarence. "From where David left him, he'll never get there in time." Then he asked, "What if Caine sends someone else here?"

"He does not know she is here! Caine will never find his son, and Peter will die. When we are ready, we will bring him here and show him the body of his whore. You have done well. Take her away and kill her now."

Serena panicked, finding herself immersed in a horrifying situation. Surrounded by chaos, she forced herself to remain calm by thinking furiously, what could she do? Knowing her first step was to buy precious time she blurted out the first thing she could think of. "Li Sung, Caine won't get here for quite a while. Don't kill her yet. He'll know she's dead, and he won't come."

"He will not know!" Li Sung slammed down his cane. "I've been shielding all information from him. He can not know!" The look on his face was murderous, and she knew she had tried the wrong approach.

Subtly, she adjusted her tone. "Yes, I understand. I'm sorry. It's just that...." Turning away, as if embarrassed, she tried to think of another tactic.

The change of tone in her voice worked. "What is it?" Li Sung asked.

An idea formed in Serena's mind. "Well, Caine humiliated me, too."

"How?"

Knowing he might kill her on the spot and would certainly kill her when the ordeal was over, she took a huge risk and answered, "After Caine brought down your empire, we spent the night together before I returned to New York. He...used me to satisfy his physical needs. Perhaps you should make the same use of his woman. Imagine the additional humiliation you would cause him to feel."

By a slight twitch on his face, she could tell she had peaked his interest. At least she was alive to continue. Knowing Li Sung's perversity, she chose her words carefully. "Yes, she pleases him, she must be able to satisfy you. Perhaps I could...coach her, and between the two of us--"

"Very well. Be warned, if she resists, it will be most unpleasant for both of you. Make her presentable. I will join you shortly."

~~~

Feeling dazed and in pain, Mary Margaret allowed Serena to help her up from the floor. She'd regained consciousness in time to hear the entire conversation with a mixture of disbelief and horror. She didn't know Serena, but the woman must be crazy. Did she really believe that Mary Margaret Skalany would be a willing participant in a menage-a-trois with a monster like Li Sung? Once standing, she tried to look in Serena's eyes, but the older woman would not meet her gaze.

As they climbed the stairs, Serena whispered in her ear, "The room will be bugged, so say nothing until we are in the bathroom with the shower running. You must not fight this. We can buy time until," she stopped and seemed to struggle with a word, "he can get here and get you out of this mess."

Mary Margaret was stunned. Apparently Serena wanted to help her. Although she didn't say his name, Mary Margaret knew Serena meant Caine. Mary Margaret had no intention of waiting for Caine or anyone else to save her hide, but she knew she needed the extra time. Going along with Serena, she whispered, "Caine can get me out and he can get you out, too."

"Caine did that once. I came back." They had reached the top of the steps. "I'll stall Li Sung for as long as I can. Just try to remember your life is at stake. As distasteful as it may get, try to go along with him."

Mary Margaret didn't say anything, knowing she would gouge out Li Sung's eyes if he got too close. For now, but just for now, she would go along with Serena.

Once in the bedroom, Mary Margaret undressed and put on one of Serena's silk robes. She followed Serena to a master bathroom with a large Jacuzzi tub and two showers. Temper seething, body throbbing in pain, mentally viewing the borrowed time clicking away, Mary Margaret still continued to humor Serena. But when she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, and saw her own face bruised and bloodied and her hair slashed unevenly, she exploded, "Those fucking bastards cut my hair!"

Enraged, Mary Margaret spun around to face Serena. "Listen, Serena, I'm a cop, and I'm not waiting for anyone to get me the hell out of here! And make no mistake, I'm not letting this maniac get near me." She calmed a bit. "If you know Caine at all, then you must know he'd want you to help me, to help us live through this. If we work together, we just might be able to knock Li Sung on his ass. There must be something heavy in here. You distract him, I'll knock him out."

Mary Margaret figured that Li Sung was one hell of a fighter. "We also have to find something to restrain him." Unless we kill him first, she thought

"I have been with Li Sung a long time," Serena said softly. "You are a brave woman to consider a plan to oppose him. Li Sung is very powerful, more than I think you realize."

"Serena--"

"Very well." Serena turned and held the younger woman's hands in hers. "You are right, I can do no less than to help you. If you do what I say I will give you something that might increase our chance of survival." Serena took a deep breath. "In the bedroom, I have hidden a loaded pistol."

Mary Margaret gasped and felt a surge of adrenaline. "You've got a gun?" Tightly squeezing Serena's hands, she said. "You've got to get me the gun, now! Find it now while we still have the chance, before something happens! Get it, and bring it in here to me, then I'll figure out what to do next."

Serena nodded, and seemed to submit to the authority in Mary Margaret's voice because she left to retrieve her weapon. Mary Margaret nurtured this seed of hope, and started to believe she just might live through this whole sordid mess.

Mary Margaret finished the fastest shower of her life and covered herself the best she could in the skimpy red silk robe. Serena gave her a few hair clips and she managed to pull back her hair, hiding the worse of the savage cut. Seated on the bed, long legs curled, she watched Serena, who alternately paced the floor or sat on the edge of the bed. Remembering the room was bugged Mary Margaret said nothing. They had gone over the plan in the bathroom, and Serena had given her the gun--a Derringer! She cursed the small size of the pistol, but it was loaded and better than nothing. All dressed up with no place to go, they waited in the bedroom for Li Sung to appear.

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