With some urging and "physical motivation" Mr Smith stumbles up the stairs, falling once or twice and generally making slow progress.
"What do you want from us? Money? Connections?"
"I can put you in touch with powerful people! Just let me know and I'll make the call right now for you!"

There was no response from above to Melissa's words besides a slight scraping and shuffling sound...

"We'll get to that soon enough."

He continues shoving the man along through the house looking for the stairs upward.

Melissa turned to Michael.

"Let's give her a minute or two to think about that."

Melissa's radio earpiece buzzed with sound for a moment.

Melissa heard the radio and pouted.

She turned to the others and spoke at a volume that Mrs Smith couldn't hear.

"We got to get out of here. Cops are on their way. Let's leave quietly so the stupid lady upstairs doesn't think we've gone - I don't want here firing after us."

"Got it!" Jess declared triumphantly, holding aloft a thick manilla folder.

Jack nodded his understanding and moved quickly towards the rear of the building, collecting Jess along the way.
Meeting the second group in the hallway he acknowledged their possession of Mr Smith and rapidly, yet quietly took charge.
"Cops on the way."
"You and you," he pointed at Vincent and Robert, "Take the package to the Suburban."
"The rest of us," he indicated Eric, Antonio, Jess and himself, "will decoy in the second vehicle."
"Move!"

Nodding in understanding, Robert grabs the package by the back of the neck and shoves him along towards the doorway.

Antonio stopped Robert with a hand on his shoulder.
"One moment."
Tearing off another piece of duct tap, he slapped it over Mr Smith's eyes as a blindfold.
"Okay, go."

Earic led the way back out the kitchen door before pausing to allow Jess to take the lead to her vehicle.
"We're probably gonna need to ditch most of this stuff somewhere soon..."

If they needed to go now, Rook didn't have any more time for Mr' Smith's dawdling than anyone else.  It's almost like the lawyer was dragging his feet on purpose on purpose despite the binding of his hands and now eyes.

Gesturing for the ducttape from the big guy, he tore yet another piece off and used it to cover his mouth.  Handing the roll back, he leaned in and spoke quiet and plainly, "look mate, you go easy and the less we have to hurt anyone.  More trouble you give us, it's gunna come 'round double on ya wife.  Ya hear me?"

After giving that a moment to sink in he dropped to one knee and sucker punched the lawyer causing him to naturally bow forward.  And using the natural moment he shouldered the man and stood carrying him like a sack of potatoes.  "Sorry mate, we ain't got time for you ta drag your feet."  He then nodded for Robert to take point while he kept the lawyer moving at a speed other than dog ass slow.

Jumping ahead of Vincent, shotgun still raised but only to his hip, Robert took point leading towards the front door.  He paused briefly to gaze the exterior before opening the door and heading out into the night.

In reply to Melissa Messervy (msg # 217):


Michael gave Melissa a thumbs up to acknowledge her statement.  He moved quietly down the hallway staying well towards the wall.  Then he tiptoed down the stairs, covering the doorway with his pistol as he made his way down towards the front door.

Melissa swiftly followed him to the door, moving as quickly as she could while maintaining stealth and biting her lip to avoid screaming out about the pain from the bullet wound. Someone would need to look at that pretty quickly to make sure that it didn't get infected.

She headed for her allocated vehicle and got into her seat.

Michael pushed Melissa over to the next seat and climbed in beside her.  He started digging through his backpack for his improvised medical kit and began treating her wounded arm.

Rook left the house right behind Robert with the lawyer over his shoulder.  As soon as they got to the truck, he dumped the lawyer in the back and then jumped in after him to keep him occupied.  "Tick-tock, tick-tock.  Lets get tha fuck outta here."

Karl guides the big black Suburban SUV via a circuitous route back to the motel with Fadeyka, Melissa, Michael, Robert, Vincent and Mr Smith. Although police vehicles with lights flashing are seen and heard on multiple occasions, none appear to be paying much attention to you.

Michael's phone rings as the group bustles Mr Smith inside.
"Hey, looks like we're in trouble. Cops are onto us and we can't seem to shake them. Drawing them towards your home. We'll try and give you as much time as we can, but don't wait for us."
Jessica can be heard swearing in the background over the squeal of protesting tyres and roar of the overworked engine and gearbox.
"As soon as you've got what you need, leave. Don't wait for us, we'll find you down the road if we can get out of this."
"Ditching comms and gear in a moment and going silent..."
He paused giving Michael the opportunity to quickly respond before he hung up.

A few minutes later and Melissa began the interrogation. Her skill was immediately apparent with Mr Smith cracking like and egg and almost instantly giving up the desired information - Karl barely even needed to flex his muscles in encouragement!
"I don't know for sure mind you, but the girl is probably in Sweden by now. My client has a small island there."
It seems that using McCann as an intermediary, Smith hired the "Flaming Skulls" gang to kidnap Fiora Cutler and transport her using his clients motor yacht across the Atlantic.
The client's name you ask? Miles Malthus, a 28 year old who inherited a lot of money when he was 21 and possesses very few scruples.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:21, Wed 08 May 2019.

In reply to Jack Random (msg # 230):

"Understood.  Good luck, man." Michael replied and put away his phone.

"That was the other team.  Cops are all over them. They're going dark.  If they can get clear they will meet back up with us later.  We need to clear out of town and get mobile.", he said.

"I stay America," the Ukranian declared his intentions out of Smith's earshot.
"I have mission. Bring Jess back. Mission not done."
How he could complete his task he did not know, but he wasn't about to give up!

"Need anything more from him," Karl inquired, trying very hard to hide his Norwegian accent.
"Or is it time to dispose of them?"

Melissa looked at their prisoner.

"He has two options. He goes to the FBI now and tells them everything... or we release him and tell his bosses he told the FBI everything.

Also, where is this island in Sweden? It's got a huge coastline..."

Rook was impressed by Carrie's (Melissa's) skill at extracting information, "wow that was quick.  Me and my mates usually open with a good minute o' water boarding to highlight how bad the world just got for 'em."


Stepping away from Mr. Smith he figured Carrie had the right of it of where to dump the shitbag now that they were done with him.  But the whole mess left him considering his next steps.  Jess was his sister in arms, and she was currently playing decoy in a car chase driving that shitty van of hers.  He and Fad should have been with her, but the exit was wonky and they did what they needed to do to get clear.

And now he was sitting here with the rest of the other team spinning his wheels and it didn't entirely sit right with him.  But some of their own teammates were with Jess as well.  Everyone seemed competent, so if they couldn't get clear, "well shit."

The whole mess left him pondering his next steps.  Get clear and go back to bartending and bouncing for idiots.  Or see where this goes.  He had to admit to himself, he hadn't really had this much fun since his last deployment with his SEAL Team.