Tunderbirds: The Wiseguy's Last Stand

[Race's Girl]

Chapter One- Frank's Back-- Again

The car pulled to a halt at the rear of the building and three LAPD officers got out. One of them, her blue eyes fixed on the building in front of them, bent and spoke briefly to the woman next to her about the Chameleon again. When she had finished, her partner got out of the vehicle.

To casual eyes, they were female police officers – although a casual observer might think it strange for police officers to patrol the streets of Los Angeles in the small hours of the morning. The three approached the side door of the building where they were met by a policeman who blocked their way.

“Good evening, ladies. Can I help you?”

The first officer, Lt Michelle 'Shell' Murray, stepped forward.

“It's okay, Lt Philips. Did you see my ex-boyfriend Franklin Benedict?”

The policeman leaned forward and peered into Shell’s face. As recognition dawned, his expression changed and he stepped back.

“No, Shell, I'm sorry. Officer Grover was the last to guard him yesterday.”

Lt Philips looked questioningly at the three women standing in the shadows behind the police car.

“Everything's in order, Lt. If Frank shows up, International Rescue'll stop him.”

Gesturing dismissively to the policeman, Shell's partner Lt Alana O' Rielly turned to the side door and saw Franklin 'Frank' Benedict. Behind her, Shell radioed an update to her controller and continued with her duties.

“Chief Benedict, it's Lt O' Rielly. Frank's caught Lt Philips and tricked me and Lt Murray. Call International Rescue pronto.”

"Okay, Lt," Chief Benedict moved off and called International Rescue as quick as she could. “Calling International Rescue, do you copy? Jefferson, boys, are any of you there?”

Far away in the South Pacific, Jeff Tracy sat in his office talking to LAPD chief Caroline Benedict on the wallphone.

“So you don’t think Lt Philips had something to do with your nephew Franklin, Caroline?”

“No, Jefferson, I don’t. I’ve known Lt Philips for years and I’m convinced that he’s completely trustworthy – no matter how badly things look for him.”

“But I heard that Franklin broke out of jail just last week.”

“Jefferson, Lts Murray and O' Rielly may have thought that Franklin was there but believe me, for the other officers, he was anything but completely normal. It would be as normal as for one of your sons to take one of the International Rescue machines off the island without telling you about it first.”

Jeff grunted in acknowledgement of the simile.

“I guess. So, what do you want me to do for you, Caroline?”

“It’s more Scott’s help I need than yours, Jefferson. Your eldest son was his best friend!”

“Sure thing, Caroline though I don’t know that Scott’ll be much help – his strength is more in engineering than medicine.” Jeff thought for a moment. “Get the records sent through, Caroline. I’ll get Brains to take a look at them and if needed I’ll use a couple of other contacts I’ve got that might be able to help.”

“Thank you, Jefferson, I appreciate it.”

“Son, what’s going on?”

Scott was seated behind Jeff’s desk and looked up as his father entered.

“I heard Frank's aunt Caroline tell you that Frank busted out of jail despite the fact that Dr Benedict was paroled just yesterday.”

“Where are all your brothers?”

As he spoke, the eyes on John’s portrait flashed, accompanied by a matching bleeping sound.

“Go ahead, John.”

As Scott operated the vid-link, the portrait changed revealing the features of his younger brother.

“Thunderbird One, changing to horizontal flight.”

“F.A.B. And oh, John?”

“Yeah, Scott?”

“Make sure you don’t prang my bird.”

“F.A.B.”

John’s smile was wide and his eyes shining as he signed off – it was not often that one of the younger siblings of the Tracy family got the chance to fly the high-powered rescue ‘plane and when they did they relished it.

As Scott turned to speak to his father the eyes on Vigil’s portrait lit up. Operating the link again the portrait changed to reveal Virgil in uniform at the controls of the large rescue machine with Gordon just visible in the background.

“Thunderbird Two requesting permission to launch.”

“Thunderbird Two, you are clear to launch. Good luck.”

Scott stood and joined his father at the lounge windows where he was watching the exhaust trail of Thunderbird One dwindling to a point in the distance.

“Too bad you had to miss the rescue, Son.”

“Yeah. Well someone had to man the desk and we weren’t sure when you would be able to get away from the call. How did it go?”

“They’re still debating. They agree Brains’ findings may be indicative but indicative of just what they can’t agree on.”

Both men turned as Kyrano entered the lounge carrying a tray that he set on a low table.

“Coffee, Mr Tracy, Mr Scott?”

The two Tracy men smiled at the old retainer and stepped towards him.

“Thank you, Kyrano. That would be just great.”

Scott and Jeff sat down to wait as Kyrano poured them each a strong, black coffee.