Saints or Martyrs?

Lilith wiped the trickle of blood from the side of her mouth. How? How could Lucifer be angry with her? She looked around at her remaining men. Well not quite men, imps. Those who had died in the process of committing evil deeds that Lucifer had deemed worthy to serve him. She chose three of them, “You, come with me. The rest of you stay here and make sure they don't follow.”

One of the imps looked at her like she had lost her mind. “And how are we to do that when Lucifer himself has ordered us to protect them? They are untouchable. We're leaving.”

“You will do as I say!” Lilith shouted at the imps.

“Or what Miss High and Mighty? What exactly will you do to us? You no longer have to power to enforce your orders.” The first one said. “Come on guys let's go before the other one gets here. I suggest you do the same Lilith. I don't think either of these MacManus saints will have a problem smiting you on the spot.”

*****

Connor barely waited for the car to come to a complete stop. He pulled the Desert Eagle from it's holster and chambered a round.

“So what's the plan, Connor?” Dolly asked.

“Me only plan is ta get ta Murph.” Connor said.

“Dolly is right Connor, we can't just go runnin in there willy nilly.” Smecker said looking at the place some sort of abandoned warehouse.

Connor turned angry eyes at Smecker. “Why not? What's stopping us. They're long gone. If they were still here, would they have texted the address to me?” Connor wiped a hand across his face. His breath hitched with his next words. “They tortured me brother, me twin; and now they're finished.”

Eunice stepped up to Connor and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Come on sugar, let's go get Murphy.” She said soothingly. It seemed that no one had picked up on the idea that Murphy was most likely dead.

Eunice had realized it when Connor got the text. She doubted these were the type of people to have told Connor where to find his brother if he was still alive.

It only took Connor a couple of minutes to find a door standing ajar. The small group followed close behind him. There were in some sort of office a few desks were crammed into the small space and Connor weaved his way around them to another door marked 'Authorized Personnel Only'.

“Guys go with Connor, Eunice and I will search around the office see if they left any evidence behind.” Smecker said. When Eunice started to speak Smecker whispered in her ear, “Let's show a little respect to Murphy okay.”

Eunice nodded allowing Greenley, Duffy and Dolly to follow Connor through the door.

 

Connor didn't think Murphy was dead, he knew his brother was in pain. Connor was in a hurry to help his brother. He growled as he saw how they had left Murphy hanging by his arms. As he drew closer he saw that Murphy's shoulders were crisscrossed by welts come of them deep enough to bleed, the blood trailing down the image of Christ's legs on his brother's back.

Murphy's left shoulder was at an odd angle, dislocated. A trickle of blood ran down over his chin. Connor laid a gentle hand on his brother's face. “Murph?” Blue eyes opened meeting his own. “Tá mé anseo deartháir, beidh gach rud go breá.” I'm here brother,everything will be fine

Murphy nodded weakly. Duffy came over carrying a bundle which turned out to be Murphy's clothes while Dolly and Greenley tried to figure out how to get to the knot securing the rope since it was tied to the steel beam itself.

“There has to be a ladder around here somewhere.” Greenley said as they went off to look for one.

“Never mind a ladder.” Duffy said, seeing Murphy's ever present Rambo knife was with his clothes, “See if you can find a first aid kit.”

“Let's get yer pants on first Murph.” Connor said and with Duffy's help Murphy was soon decently covered.

Duffy managed to find a folding metal chair so he was able to cut the rope. Connor lowered Murphy to the chair as soon as Duffy climbed down.

“I'll need ta do yer shoulder first, then yer hand.” Connor knelt at his brother's side “Do ye want ta rest a minute first?”

“Just do it.” Murphy said weakly.

Connor felt Murphy's shoulder to see which way he needed to go to get the joint back in place. With no warning he wrenched hard on his brothers arm while pushing on the bone to pop it back into the socket.

“Fuck ye Connor! That hurt like a motherfucker!” Murphy said falling back against the chair.

“I know.” Connor said taking Murphy's hand and pressing each finger back into place. “We'll get ye back to Doc's and ye can drink till ye pass out.”

*****

“M-M-Murphy!” Doc said as he opened the door. “C-C-Come in lad. Are ye alright?”

“I'll live. If I can have a shot.” Murphy said. “Me arm hurts somethin terrible.”

“Aye, aye. Sit yerself down over there.” Doc said pointing to a table before hurrying off to the bar.

Everyone had soon pulled up a chair and crowded around the table. All eager to find out what they could about the people who had managed to kidnap Murphy.

“Did you recognize any of them?” Smecker asked. “Did they mention who they work for?”

“I know who she is and who she works for but tis somethin Connor and I will have ta handle.” Murph answered.

“Just tell us who she is and we'll find her Murphy.”  Eunice cajoled.

“Murph's tellin ye tha truth o it.” Connor said. “God isna tha only one above Man's law. Besides I don think her boss is too happy wit her right now.” Connor reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope that he tossed on the table. “He left us a wee message.”

Smecker picked up the envelope and pulled out a single sheet of paper. He read the message aloud.

Sometimes even the Devil can be moved to intercede.

Willful disobedience merits punishment, and she was disobedient.

Look for her in Washington, the state not the city.