Chapter Five    Liz showed her guests around the house, each choosing a room as they went. "I'll leave you all to get settled in. Just holler if you need anything" she said and then walked down to her room to unpack.   "Liz?" Liz turned and saw Julie standing there. "Got a minute?" the auburn haired woman asked. Liz nodded and Julie entered. "They don't know do they?" Julie asked. Liz sighed and shook her head.  "Somethings going on here, and I don't like it" Liz stated ominously.   "What do you mean," Julie asked.    "Duncan told Kevin that Mattie was mixed up in drugs. He said she was dealing and trafficking."   A disbelieving gasp escaped Julie's mouth and she almost yelled "What", but at the last minute remembered to keep her voice low.       "When I heard his story, it sent chills up and down my spine. I didn't want to tell him that I was the cop assigned to protect him, or that Mattie is...was an under cover police officer and my older sister" she continued as she placed her police issue weapon on the night stand.   "Tell me you're not thinking that Duncan was involved with Mattie's death. Please tell me that's not what you're thinking" Julie said, as her eyes slid closed.   "I don't know Jules, you tell me. What possible reason would Duncan have for lying? My God Jules, he's worked with the three of us for years."   "That's just it Liz. He has worked with us for years- So why?" Liz shook her head sadly. "I don't know, but I intend to find out" Liz said with determination.       Unbeknown to either woman, Kevin stood just outside the door listening to this new revelation.   "You know we have to tell them" Julie said, nodding her head in the general direction of the extra guest rooms.   "I know. This is going to change alot of things. We can't let Duncan know where we are, and just to be safe we can't let on that we suspect him," Liz sighed heavily and then added, "Let's go tell them."   Kevin slipped back into his room and sat on his bed. "Sisters, the three of them. And they're all police officers. How do I manage to get myself into these things?" he muttered out loud. Things were begining to make sense now. He hadn't completely believed Det. Duncan's story about Mattie. Granted he hadn't known her well, but there we're no signs of illegal behavior. Just then he heard Liz calling him and the guys. Wearily he stood up and left the room. He met the other's in the hall.     "Let's go down stairs. There are some things you need to know." The guys exchanged confused looks, but followed the two women down to the living room.   After they were all seated, Liz said, "Let me explain and then I'll answer your questions" Liz began as they sat.   "My real name is Arianna Elizabeth Doyle. I'm an undercover cop and Julie is my sister." The looks on the guys faces could only be described as shock. "I was assigned to protect Kevin at the safe house" she said, turning to look at Kevin before continuing.   "Mattie was our older sister. She was also an undercover cop. I don't know why Det. Duncan lied to you about her, but he did. I didn't say anything to you earlier because you were pretty much out of it, and I wasn't sure how you'd react. I used the name Liz Connor's for this assignment, it changes with every assignment. It protects me and the one I'm protecting from being harmed. Not even Duncan knows its me who is assigned to this case."      "Why would he lie?" Kevin asked, interrupting Liz's explaination. Liz looked at Julie and Julie smiled in support.   "I'm not entirely sure, although I do have my suspicions. You see Mattie worked as a burrower agent. She went deep undercover, so deep that her assignments were usually six months long or longer. Her last assignment was to infiltrate the Juarez drug Cartel operating out of Orlando. She had enough evidence to take down the hirelings, but brass wanted the BIG MAN. When I talked to her a couple of days ago, she told me she was close. She couldn't go into details, she said it was to dangerous. That's the last time I talked to her" she said as a tear slid down her cheek. She brushed it off and slumped into a vaccant seat.      "So you're saying she got to close and someone found out?" AJ asked, chewing on another finger nail. "And that somehow Duncan is involved?" Brian added.   "That's whats bugging me. I have no proof, but there was no reason for him to lie. He's known us for years. He knew when he lied, that she was a police officer. He may not have known what she was working on, but he knew that much."   They sat in silence, thinking of every angle. "Maybe Duncan is involved in the Cartel, and Mattie found out" Nick suggested. Liz and Julie shared a worried look.   "Its possible" Julie whispered, as the full implication of that thought hit her.     "Liz, where would Mattie hide her information?" Julie asked expectantly.    Liz didn't even have to think about it, she just anwered. "Grandpa's Box."   Julie nodded  and replied, "I'll get on it. I need to go back to Florida. As soon as I find something out, I'll let you know." Without waiting for a reply from Liz she left the room to make flight arrangements.   "What's Grandpa's Box?" Howie asked, cutting into the silence.    "Its a special place our grandpa took us when we were little. Mattie used to leave us messages there when she couldn't directly contact us" Liz explained.   "So what do we call you?" AJ asked, finally abandoning his nail biting.   "My sister's have always called me Liz. Arianna is a family name, and it was to hard for a two and a four year old to pronounce, so Liz just stuck."      Liz smiled through her tears, remembering her oldest sister trying to say Arianna, and it never came out quite right.   "I'm sorry. I just realized that you've not had a chance to grieve" Kevin said as he slipped his good arm around Liz's shoulders. That little bit of compassion was all it took for the damed up tears to flow. Kevin pulled her in closer and stroked her hair as she cried.   "Liz, guys my flight leaves in two hours, so I'm gonna go" Julie called as she came down the stairs. She took in the scene before her and ran to her baby sister. She pulled Liz into her arms and held her tightly. "Liz, were going catch them and make them pay, but you gotta stay strong. You know Mattie'd be the first to thump you in the head for crying like this." Liz giggled, knowing Julie was right. "Okay, dry 'em up" Julie instructed as she pushed Liz into a sitting position. Liz dried her tears and took a deep breath.    She looked at her older sister and said, "Be careful and hurry back."   "I will" Julie promised as she kissed Liz's cheek, grabbed her bag and left.      "I've got a question. Why would they try and kill Kevin?" Nick asked.   "Because he was there."   "But he was inside when it happened" interjected Howie.    "He looked up and saw the shooter. He knows what the guy looks like and he can identify him him. That's reason enough" Liz answered.   "I guess you guys are getting hungry. Give me a little bit and I'll have dinner ready. Make yourselves at home, but don't venture to far."