Disclaimer – this was on my hard drive, so its mine. Isn't it? Except for the bits that aren't, of course.

***

I don't like this Hannibal." BA worried.

Frankly, neither did I.

Usually before a con Face likes takes a little time to get together his persona. I've lost count of how many times he's told me that it's the details that matter. If people are distracted by the details they forget to look at the bigger picture. Sure, he can turn on a dime if he needs to – but the kid is a worrier by nature – he likes things to be right.

Today he was just looking out of the window.

"Face." I raised my voice slightly.

No reaction.

I exchanged a look of surprise with BA. Face is conditioned to react to his name. We all are. It can save your life.

"Lieutenant." I spoke a little sharper.

Face's head came up and he doubled timed it over. "Colonel?" he asked, a little breathlessly, obviously realizing he had missed something.

"You didn't hear me the first time." I informed him levelly.

I watched the crimson flush spread across his face as he drew himself up to attention and waited silently for me to ream him out. Face knows as well as anyone how important it is to be alert in the field. Always.

To be honest, I was more worried about what was going on with the kid.

"At ease Lieutenant." I waved a hand.

Face shifted uncomfortably and shot a beseeching glance at BA. If I hadn't been so worried I would have smiled. Face knew what was coming and given the choice he'd probably have taken the dressing down.

"What's going on kid?" I asked gently.

"Yeah man. I thought you said you had a plan." BA says, not unkindly. "This don't look like no scam."

"I do have a plan." Face assures us quietly.

"What?" I grin around my cigar, trying to lighten the mood, "You're just going to march in the front door?"

I know how much Face hates it when I make him do that.

He says it lacks finesse.

"Something like that." Face screws up his perfect features into a grimace.

"What?" I am not amused.

My plans are not as "of the cuff " as they might seem. Unorthodox is one thing. Needlessly risking the lives of my men would be quite another.

"You bin hanging out too long with that Crazy Fool," BA protests. "This is Vincent Roma, we talking about, not some two bit hoodlum."

"B.A.'s right." I inform my Lieutenant tightly. "Roma is no small time crook. He plays in the big Leagues. You want to tell me what you are thinking?"

"I'm thinking that there isn't much point in doing anything else." Face said flatly.

"Lieutenant?" I growl.

He's walking on thin ice and he knows it.

Unfortunately, today he doesn't seem to care.

"Hannibal, don't  you trust me?" he asked lightly.

***

I made sure that BA and I got there early. I wanted to be sure that our utility company disguises would get us through Roma's security, so we were in position when our erstwhile Lieutenant arrived.

For once I had no idea what Face was thinking.

And I didn't like it one bit.

"Boss look what we found outside." I felt my stomach lurch as one of Roma's goons pushed Face in front of him, a gun to his head and his hands cuffed behind his back. He was pushed roughly onto his knees on the carpet

"You know you really should work on that smile," Face twisted his head back to look at the goon. "The other guys will get all the tips."

Interestingly, Roma hadn't moved.

"What was he doing?" Roma asked conversationally.

Larry and Mo looked uncomfortably at each other. I thought Face might chip in to deflect attention, but he was unusually silent.

"Um. He was just standing there." Larry finally admitted.

"So. He was just standing there and he let you walk up and take him?" Roma arched a brow.

"We had the guns." Larry put in a little defensively.

"Did you search him?" Roma asked coolly.

"Yes Boss." The goon laid out Face's 9mm and his boot knife on the desk.

"Do you have anything to add?" Roma asked Face.

"Your mother uses frozen pizza." Face quipped.

On the mezzanine across the other side of the room I saw BA roll his eyes. I grinned tightly. Kid was on the jazz.

Roma picked the 9mm off the desk and checked the barrel. I saw BA tense as he walked over and placed the gun to Face's brow.

"Show them." Roma instructed.

"Um. I'm a little tied up at the moment?" Face jiggled the cuffs.

"So you are," Roma agreed. "What else?"

"Gun, top right, knife bottom left, and stiletto small of my back."  Face told him everything.

By this point I was tempted to shoot him myself, as Roma deftly relieved him on his defenses.

"Leave us." He told Larry and Mo.

BA looked ready to shoot but Face flicked his fingers in the signal to hold position. BA looked to me. I shook my head.

Face appeared to know what he was doing.

I just hoped he was right.

"What is to stop me killing you right now?" Roma asks.

"Rifle on the roof opposite. My favorite actually. Beautiful scope. Pick the wings off a fly. I got it for Christmas." Face told him brightly. "Do you have any idea how much co-ordination it takes to be a good pilot? My friend Murdock is an excellent shot."

"You'd still be dead, before his bullet hit." Roma told him.

"True," Face shrugged lightly. "Hey, if killing me is really how you want to spend your last few moments on this earth .. personally I can think of much better things to do .."

"I'm sure you can." Roma looked at him, tucking the gun away. "For God's sake, take those things off."

"You could give me the key." Face protested, even as he worked the lock on the handcuffs and they fell to the floor.

"You could tell me why you are here." Roma retorted.

"I want to call in my marker." Face says unexpectedly.

I looked across at B.A.

I wasn't sure what should worry me most.

That Face, clearly knew one of the most notorious crime Lords in L.A.

Or, that he had done something that ensured that such a dangerous man owed him a favour.