Chapter 1.

The next vicious gut punch sent him to the ground. He hissed air between his teeth and put a hand up to cradle his ribs. He was pretty sure one was already cracked. There was no respite from this onslaught. He was instantly pulled up into a standing position and winced slightly as his tormentor came at him again.

"Don't hit him in the face," she ordered.

"I know that."

Lee tried to remain stoic in the face of this relentless torture but the next punch landed with such force he could not stifle the grunt of pain that escaped from his lips as he doubled over. Once again he was pulled upright his attackers far outnumbering him.

Rodriguez took a moment to collect himself flexing his hand.

"Mr Stetson, you are a stubborn man but you will agree to our terms." He said in a thick Hispanic accent.

"I wouldn't bet on it."

Rodriguez came at him again and Lee braced himself.

"No wait," The woman held up a hand, "he is no good to us if he is badly injured, we go to plan B. Bring him to the table."

Lee found it difficult to walk such was the pain in his gut but he was dragged across the warehouse by many hands. They brought him to a table at the centre of the stone floor warehouse and shoved him down on to a metal chair.

He watched as she took a brown envelope from her briefcase and pulled the contents out scattering them on the table.

The photographs were instantly recognisable.

The colour drained from Lee's face even as he tried to show no emotion.

"You know them, don't you mister Stetson?"

He didn't reply, his jaw was set in anger.

"Two lovely little boys. I believe their names are Jamie and Philip."

Rodriguez picked up the picture of Jamie. His smile was sleazy as he examined the boys profile.

"A good looking child wouldn't you say Mr Stetson, a lovely little boy."

Lee exploded out of his chair. He went for Rodriguez smashing a fist into his face and going in for the kill. Many hands moved quickly to bring him under control. He was punched and kicked into submission.

Breathing hard and trying to steady his ragged nerves, he looked up at the smartly dressed woman, her arms folded waiting for her people to regain control of the situation.

Once they had Lee under control with his arms pinned behind his back, she spoke.

"These two fine gentlemen have secured positions as trainee teachers at a local school. They will be teaching Jamie and Philip until our mission is complete. If you agree to help us steal the diamond the boys will have nothing more than a greater knowledge of History. If you will not cooperate the boys will disappear never to be seen again. Your choice. We know they are the children of a colleague of yours, we know where they live. We have surveillance and snipers ready. Your choice,"

After a moment Lee nodded reluctantly.

"If you touch a hair on their heads,"

"They won't be harmed as long as you cooperate. We have a package of explosives arriving at the beginning of next week. The diamond will be arriving at the Tiffany gallery on Friday next."

"It'll take more than explosives," Lee muttered.

"That's why you're on board. You have a broad knowledge of such things such is your background in security. We will need to liaise often and discuss the finer details. You will tell the world that I am your new girlfriend, you met me in a bar at the weekend."

"That won't work. I have friends who know I don't work that fast."

She went to him then.

Those standing over Lee pulled him up into a standing position as she placed a hand on the collar of his jacket.

"You will make it work."

Before he could react she pressed her full lips to his coaxing him into a passionate, heat fuelled kiss. He looked straight ahead and didn't engage with her.

She pulled away, her dark eyes hard and cold.

"You will have to do better than that Mr Stetson. You will be hearing from us."

She turned to her many henchmen.

"Take him back to his apartment. See that he gets home safe."

She took the photos and placed them back into the briefcase. Then she glided out of the room followed by some of her more trusted aides.

Others took hold of Lee, anxious to carry out her orders. They were about to move off when Rodriguez put up a hand to halt their progress.

"Wait," he ordered. He was puffing on a cigarette and gestured for them to put Lee sitting back down on the chair.

Lee eyed him warily as he was put sitting down, heavy hands were clamped to his shoulders keeping him in place.

One of the goons smiled up at Rodriguez,

anticipating his next move. He went to Lee and slowly pulled up the sleeve of his right arm.

"You punch me again and next time it will not be your arm Mr Stetson," he grinned.

Lee drew in a sharp breath as Rodriguez took the cigarette and stubbed it out on the delicate skin just below his elbow, careful to burn in a few places and make the wound deep.

"Do we understand each other Mr Stetson?" He grinned showing his gold tooth. Lee gave a barely perceptible nod and Rodriguez lifted the cigarette butt from his skin.

"Get him out of my sight,"

~o~

Dr Slone trudged down the stairs scratching his head. It was past three in the morning and he hoped it wasn't another emergency. Perhaps Mrs Grace had finally gone into labour. Surely it wasn't another false alarm. The third this month. He shook his head as he turned on the porch light and looked out.

"Can I help you?" he asked.

"Please, I just need some pain killers,"

He was standing there shivering in the pouring rain looking for pain killers, Dr Slone was not impressed.

"They don't have drug stores where you live? You know it's three o clock in the morning right!" The ageing doctor barked as he showed the younger man into the hall.

"I know I'm sorry. I didn't have this toothache when I left for work this morning, it just came on rather sudden."

The doctor turned to head into his surgery, grumbling away to himself but he swung around as he heard the sudden thump behind him. Lee had stumbled and fallen to his knees.

"What is it," he got down and helped Lee to sit up.

"It's nothing," Lee grimaced, trying to politely take the doctors hands from around his middle.

"I'm fine." He nodded.

His face had lost all colour as he held a hand protectively to his side.

"That's not nothing, what happened?" The doctor asked.

Lee tried to breathe through the pain.

"Please...I just need some strong pain killers and I'll be out of your way."

"No dice sonny Jim. Not until I get a look at what I'm dealing with."

Lee managed to stumble to his feet and he staggered back towards the front door.

"It's fine, thank you for your time," he said.

"You put your hand on that door and I'll call the cops. I presume you don't want them to know what happened to you tonight."

Lee shook his head. "That wouldn't be my first choice no."

A voice upstairs made them both look up.

"Stanley, who you talkin to," a woman's voice called out

Lee fixed pleading eyes on the doctor.

"It's just a patient Ethel go back to sleep," he called up to her.

Seconds later a door closed upstairs and they could hear the click of a light switch.

"Thank you," Lee whispered.

"You go in back and take off your shirt, I'll get something strong to help you with the pain."

~o~

Even though he expected some injury the doctor froze at the door as he surveyed the dark discolouration on the man's torso. He walked around the examination table and handed Lee a small cup and a glass of water. Lee downed the painkillers and water as the doctor looked on in shock.

This isn't good, you need a hospital. He put out hands and gently began to probe the wounds. Lee tried to brace himself as the pain was still intense.

The doctor looked up at him.

"Who did this to you?" He asked.

Lee shook his head. Such was his exhaustion he couldn't even form a decent lie.

"This is a serious assault and whoever did this needs to be punished. You need to go to the police,"

Lee looked at him. In his mind he could still see the photo stills of Jamie and Philip. He could see Rodriguez grinning down at them.

The doctor then gave up and instead bound up Lee's ribs and touched up his cuts and grazes with antiseptic.

"I'll give you a note for work, you'll need to take it easy for a while."

The doctor went to his desk.

"That won't be necessary," Lee looked rather sick as he struggled to pull on his shirt. Dr Slone went to him and gently helped him, straightening it up and doing up the buttons.

"I want to see you back here in four days time," he told him.

"I don't know if..."

Dr Slone gave him a look that brooked no argument.

"In the meantime this is my card. I want you to call me if you have any problems...medical or otherwise. You understand?"

Lee looked into the concerned face of the older man and found he couldn't speak. It had been a long harrowing day and emotion was starting to catch up on him.

"Come on," the doctor helped him down from the examination table.

"My wallet is in my back pocket," Lee told him, "if you could take it out for me..."

"This one's on the house. If you can't help a renegade on the run from the mob who can you help," the Doctor said as he showed Lee out to the hall.

"Do you have a lift home?" He asked. "If you wait a minute I can get dressed."

"No," Lee shook his head, "I have my car."

Dr Slone nodded. "Don't forget, I want to see you back here on Thursday. You can ring and make an appointment with my wife.

Thursday!"

Lee nodded, knowing full well he wouldn't be able to keep that appointment.

"Thank you," he muttered with a small smile as he headed out.

He walked to his car and managed to sit in the drivers seat without the excruciating pain overwhelming his senses. The doctor had patched him up good.

As he drove through the empty streets his thoughts crashed in on him. He thought of Amanda and her children and that surveillance team honed to take them out if he didn't do everything they said. He could not go to Billy.

These guys were good. He never saw them coming. He would have to do everything they say, until he could think of a workable plan.