Leap of Faith, Part Two: Into the Light

Chapter Ten

It felt strange to be back at the apartment where he'd first really had a chance to talk to Miranda, where he'd first heard her play something just for him. Leonardo and Raphael stood on the balcony outside Hannah's apartment, debating.

“Raph, we can't just barge in there! We need to use all of our training so we don't startle her-too much, anyway.”

“What makes you think she'll be any help at all?” Raph said sharply. “What could she tell you about Bishop that you don't already know?”

Leo shook his head. “I'm not sure, Raph. I just have a hunch.” He looked at his brother pointedly. “We've made decisions based on less before.”

“Yeah, well, how does this little 'hunch' of yours tell you we should ask this chick for info on her best friend? Should we pretend we're early trick-or-treaters?”

“Just give me a minute to think,” Leo sighed, staring at the balcony railing as if it held the key. At that moment, the door opened, and a feminine figure stepped into the room. The brothers tensed to spring away, then Raph began to chuckle softly.

“Good hunch, bro. Did Miranda ever mention that her friend was blind?”

Leo shook his head, watching the young woman make her way around the dark room with practiced grace. Even from their perch on the fire escape, they could see the milky blue color of her eyes, which made a startling contrast from her coffee colored skin and dark hair. Leo nodded to Raph, and they silently slipped down the side of the building to land in the alley. After some final adjustments to their trench coats and hats, they walked up to the building's front door and rang the appropriate buzzer. A feminine voice responded moments later.

“Miranda?”

“No, it's Leo. Miranda's.....”

“Oh, Leo. What's her last name? Where is she from?”

“Malone and Green River, Florida,” Leo responded smoothly. “She's also terrified of heights, and I'm afraid she may be in trouble. We need to talk to you.”

“We? You bring a bodyguard?”

“Just a brother, um, ma'm.” Raph grinned at the speaker. “She's got moxie. I like that.”

“Don't call me ma'm. Leo, Miranda did mention that you had brothers, how many are with you?”

“Just the one. Raph. He's basically harmless.” Leo fought back his impatience. “Can you let us up now? Time is not on our side, or Miranda's.”

“Forgive me,” Hannah replied dryly, “But I would like to live to experience another day. You don't last long in this city by being too trusting.”

The door unlocked, and the Turtles stepped inside the lobby, and quickly made their way to the top floor. They knocked on Hannah's door, which opened to reveal Miranda's band mate, still wearing her pajamas and a white bathrobe. She was an inch or so taller than Miranda, and her face was round, with full cheeks and lips. She was very pretty, and Leo noticed his brother openly checking her out. He nudged Raph, who rolled his eyes. The Turtles stepped inside and took seats on the long couch that faced the front window. Hannah remained standing, facing them, her expression passive.

“Thanks for your help, Hannah. I'm not sure what Miranda told you about me, but like I said, I'm afraid she's in real trouble. She was kidnapped yesterday, and we think we know who has her, we just don't know where. I was hoping that you might have some ideas, or information. Anything. I have to find her, I have to help her.” This last part came out a bit more choked than he'd like, and she inclined her head at his words.

“It's those stupid Pawns or Bishops or something, right? That asshole Jesse. I knew he was bad news-she's just so stubborn sometimes! Especially when it comes to men.”

“You know about the White Knights?” Raph asked, just as Leo said, “Who's Jesse?”

Hannah pursed her lips and stepped across the room to a desk, where she reached into a drawer and pulled out a photo album. “Miranda left some of her stuff here when she was moving around a lot. I also still get her mail. I think this is the right one...” She walked back towards the guys and flipped it open, running her fingers down the sides of the pages until she found what she wanted. She handed the book to Leo, who gaped at the picture. It was Miranda, younger, with shorter hair, and a smiling, red-haired guy with pale-blue eyes that he recognized instantly from the fight outside of Nautilus' practice space.

“Sullivan? Hunter Sullivan?”

“Ah, so she did tell you,” Hannah said, sitting across from them. “Jesse Sullivan. Hunter was his nickname-some shit about how he always got what he was after-he and Miranda broke up a few years ago, after he got into trouble with those....”

“White Knights?” Raphael offered.

Hannah nodded at him and put her chin in her hand. “You probably don't want to hear this, Leo, but boy, she sure did love that little punk. I mean, in the end, she saw him for what he was, but not until he broke her heart. In fact, she hasn't had a real guy in her life since him-until you that is.” She moved her eyes to him, and it seemed as though she was looking right at him, though he knew that was impossible. “She's so trusting, it's a wonder she's still alive.”

“Do you know if this Jesse has tried to contact her? Recently?” Leonardo's voice shook a little, as he stared at the picture.

Raph cleared his throat and Hannah looked towards him. “And did she ever mention anything about a dude named Bishop?”

“Is he a Knight?”

“We're not sure,” Raph replied. “We think he's behind this all somehow, but we're still working on the whole puzzle. Ever heard of the Earth Protection Force? Bishop runs it to keep us all safe from little green men.”

“Not that I know of, but I guess stranger things are out there,” Hannah replied. “And, as far as I know, she hasn't heard from Jesse since he left the country, oh, about three years ago, I guess....” She trailed off, musing. Then, “Oh, shit! Wait a minute!” She sprang up and made her way to a basket by the door, and fished out a large, cream envelope. “Miranda was so excited about this! Our gig! You know, the really important one I know she's mentioned? She said something about EPF. We were invited to play at a benefit next week.”

Leo took the envelope from her and ran his fingers over the elaborate seal in the top left, reading the words as he did so: Earth Protection Force. He showed Raph, who pulled out one of his sai and ripped it open. There were some brochures, some tickets, and a letter, which Leo scanned quickly. Raph picked up one of the brochures and whistled as he looked through it.

“Swanky place for a bar band to play at.”

“We're not a bar band,” Hannah shot back, her eyes narrowed. “We just happen to book a lot of bars.”

“There's nothing in here that might tell us why her,” Leo said quietly, placing the letter down. “Nothing at all.”

“You say that you think that this Bishop guy is behind all this?” Hannah asked. “So, why not go the the source? Find Bishop, find Miranda. Maybe the Knights are just a facade.”

“Yeah, a front for the main operation,” Raph said. “That's good, Hannah, right, Leo?”

Leo's eyes narrowed. “But what does Bishop want with her? What's his motive? Why is he going to all of this trouble to conceal his own involvement?” He glanced out at the window, and was startled to see that dawn was breaking. Pale yellow light began to trickle in Hannah's spacious apartment. We need to go home, talk to the others. “Hannah Harper, thank you for your help. My brother and I have taken up too much of your time, we should get going.”

They stood up and headed for the door, Hannah following. Before he stepped out, Raph took her hand and shook it quickly, catching her off guard. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Hannah.”

Her face was serious as she held the door open. “Just get her back in one piece.”