DAY TWENTYEIGHT 22:38PM

The Ritual

Suki pulled into a crowded parking lot and she knew that she had found the perfect spot, since it was still pretty early and the place was already jumping. 

"What are we doing here?" Father Donnelly asked. He was curious as to the nature of what was going on. "You can't be serious at a time like this?"

"Father, I'm more serious than ever," Suki replied. She reached back and shook Scorpio. "Hey big fellow, it's time to make some magick." 

Scorpio awoke at the slightest touch, guns drawn ready for action. Then a quick second and they were hidden away. His reflexes honed, a panther ready to strike.

Donnelly couldn't believe what was unfolding before him. He had a hard time understanding the nature of this girl, and yet he felt inside that she seemed to be one step ahead of the game. 

The trance beat could be heard in the parking lot, the line of people waiting to get into Maggie Mae's. 

"So what is it that we're doing here?" Donnelly inquired. He got out of the car and glanced around; he seemed out of place. Like a fly in a spider's web. 

"Cast away any doubts, and join the dance," Suki said with a smile. If there was one thing she learned from Max, it was the ritual of the dance.

DAY TWENTYEIGHT 14:47PM

The Edge Of Darkness 

"You think this is far enough?" the man in the passenger seat said. 

"Yeah, I think so," the driver replied. "This is secluded and out of the way."

"Why didn't we just throw him in the incinerator like the others? Why out here and out in the middle of nowhere where he'll be found by a hunter or two lovers looking for a secluded spot to screw?" 

"You just answered that question," the driver said. He turned off the ignition and looked around. "They want this body to be found eventually. It'll be a cold case, no questions later to follow up, only hunches."

"You mean like a mob execution?" the passenger said, as he opened up the door and slid out. 

The sedan was parked on the side of a dirt road, there was nothing for miles around, no sign of inhabitants of any kind.

The driver took the keys to open the trunk. "Once we get closer to town we torch this car." 

"I hate walking," passenger-man said, as he stood by and waited for the trunk to open.

That's when a tire iron swung out and smashed Driver in the side of the skull, where you could hear a sickening crunch. Before Passenger could react, the tire iron swung around and hit his arm. 

Stone got out of the trunk - he was naked, covered in blood and his fingernails were missing. There were two visible bullet wounds, one at the back of his skull, the other in his back.

"I spent three years in a POW camp, you boys don't know jack about torture!" he said as he swung the tire iron at Passenger. 

Once he made sure both were really dead, he rubbed the back of his head and knocked on the metal plate there.

DAY TWENTYEIGHT 11:15AM

Phase Game

Max dropped a cigarette and butted it out with his heel. He watched the chopper disappear over the horizon. 

Now, it was time to answer some questions.

DAY TWENTYEIGHT 11:11AM

Swift Chalet

"It's empty, sir," Simon's earpiece squawked. "There's no one here." 

"Okay, let's go," Simon ordered. His voice showed displeasure, not at only finding nothing, but that maybe just maybe someone was playing games with him.

The strike team's orders seemed to be on the level. When they got here there was nothing though, no sign of any inhabitants. The intelligence was wrong. 

Simon picked up a stone and chucked it onto the lake. This was the third sweep of the chalet. It had been abandoned and looked like it hadn't been used since the fall.

"Intelligence my ass," Sedara said; he too was disappointed. He wanted to kick some terrorist ass. 

As the men returned to the chopper, Simon gave one last look around and then the black bird took off into the morning air.

DAY TWENTYEIGHT 9:16AM

Minutes Ticking

Susanna had turned on the radio; she wanted ambient noise in the background as she started to do the breakfast dishes. She had two other women helping her, Amber Taylor and Janice Trena, both who helped a lot around the chalet. 

With the kids up and well-fed, Milligan had decided to take them for a hike on one of the old nature trails. It was a good excuse for several others to go as well, and get some exercise and keep themselves occupied until Father Donnelly returned.

She gathered up the various bowls, dishes, plates and spoons. And began putting them on the counter. Alisha was there to help her as well, both humming along with the radio. 

Johannesberg came running into the kitchen. "There's a car coming."

DAY TWENTYEIGHT 8:44AM

The Waiting

Greg Logollos sat in the huge waiting room; there was a table by his side with a cup of herbal tea. He was sitting reading the New York Times, catching up on the day's events.

He had taken a Concorde and flown three hours to be here; he had scheduled this meeting and it was only proper for him to attend on time. 

He was far from tired, and he looked ever the professional with his chiseled good looks and his charismatic appeal. He looked like a man waiting for a lunch date.

He didn't even bother to look up as a door opened, and footsteps filtered across the marble floor. Like grasshoppers clicking their heels. 

"His Excellency will see you now, Mr. Logollos," a young man in long robes addressed him.

Greg looked up and smiled, a smile that looked like it could slice through a dark heart. 

He folded the newspaper neatly, and reached over and took a sip from the herbal tea. Placing the cup gingerly on the saucer, he stood up and nodded at the young priest.