Disclaimer: I lay no claim to any of the Charmed characters, quotes, or overt references that may appear in my stories. They are the sole property of Spelling Television. I write for my own satisfaction and for the enjoyment of those who choose to read them.

The Sins of the Father


The black limo pulled up to the old abandon warehouse. Its luxury, in direct contrast to the bareness of the dilapidated building. Two very roughed up thugs pulled the chains that manually lifted the loading bay’s heavy door. Slowly the stretch Hummer H2 rolled its way in.

A very large and buffed man exited the driver’s side, dutifully going to open the door for his employer.

Confidently, Victor Cabezas stepped out of the vehicle. He was greeted by his best underling, Julio Zavala .

“Good to see ju on da ou’side, señor Cabezas.”

Victor ignored the friendly remark and got right down to business, “Is she here?”

“Jeah, si señor. Ella ya está aquí. She's here now. Come follow me.”

Victor knew something wasn’t quite right. Julio’s eyes were constantly darting back to his two, equally nervous henchmen; all three sweating profusely. For now, he decided to just play along, letting the trio hang themselves.


@:@:@:@:@

Three days had passed and no news on the whereabouts of the missing Halliwell.

“They say no news is good news, right?” Piper asked, handing Prue a refilled cup of coffee.

“That’s what they say, but it still sucks.”

“Yeah, I know, me too. Did she sleep at all last night?”

“Not a wink, she just kept making sure I wouldn’t leave her.”

“I can’t imagine how she must be feeling, I mean, we just got them six months ago and it’s killing us, she had her for a lot longer.” Piper’s voice was sad, her tone audibly pained.

“If I ever get my hands on the guys that took her…” Prue’s fury was not only heard with her words, but seen in her icy blue eyes.

“Well, you better get in line now, cuz I have first dibs.” Piper’s normally calm demeanor was replaced with pure mother bear rage.

Prue had to smile. She had never really seen this side of her sister until the little ones came into their lives. ‘She’ll make such a great mother’.

“I will, won’t I?” Piper replied to her big sister’s mental conversation, flashing her sister a small grin.

“I hate when you do that.” Both now smiling, sad smiles, but smiles none the less. This outward display of emotion in no way ceded the roaring torment and anxiousness that was crashing onto the shore of their hearts, it just helped break the full impact.

“Where is she now?” Piper asked, but Prue’s eyes gave away the already known answer.

“Window seat, where she is everyday until we pull her away to eat or sleep…”

“Of which she does neither.“ The second oldest added, the fact breaking her already shattered heart.

“I think I’ll go check on her, OK?” Piper stated. Concern filling her face and words.


“ I think that would be a good idea. I’ll join you, eh?”

“Sure. I think she needs us both right about know.”

As they headed toward the conservatory the phone rang, its artificial tone, stopping them in their tracks.


@:@:@:@:@

Victor was livid. “I ask you to do one, just ONE simple task and you screw it up. What am I going to do with her, huh? She’s useless to me. I specifically told you I wanted….” Julio timidly interrupted, praying his plan b would be accepted by the very angry man who stood in front of him.

“Señor Victor, I think ju could…”

“I could care less what you think at this point, Julio. Here,” Victor threw him a envelope of cash, “now leave, before my rare spirit of generosity does.”

Somewhat shocked that he was still getting paid, Julio felt unworthy of taking money for a task not done properly. “No, no, señor, I cain’ let ‘ju do that. If it wasn’t for…”

“No, I insist, consider it severance pay, amigo, OK?” VC’s stern voice now softened into a tone sincerity and friendship.

Not used to seeing this side of his boss, but assuming Victor was showing him favor for all his years of faithful service, Julio picked up the packet and started to leave with his boys.

“Muchas, muchas gracias por dinero.” He shouted over his shoulder, his last thoughts were on the way he would spend it.

Suddenly a rain of gun fire echoed off the tin walled structure, bullets accurately flying… flying in only one direction.


“Julio, Julio, Julio, compañero, have you learned nothing in all these years with me? Never, NEVER, turn your back on an uncompleted transaction.” Victor admonished, as he now stood over the prone and dying body of Julio; his band of incompetents also earning the same fate.

Picking up the envelope and stuffing it back into his inside suit coat pocket. “Time to take out the trash, boys.” Victor gave his riflemen a nod, indicating they were to dispose of the bodies. The men started laughing as they saw their leader look into the vacant eyes and mockingly shake his head.

“Estúpido.”

Victor then headed back to where the little girl was being held. The more he thought about it, he realized, Julio’s mistake had proven to be an even better arrangement than ol’ Slick Vic could have ever anticipated.

Happily he strolled down the hall, reaching the room holding his daughter, Victor threw open the door and wickedly shouted.

“Hey there princess, Daddy’s home.”

The phone call being her impetus , again, the small girl clamored up her big sister’s legs to reach her arms of safety. She waited anxiously along with Piper, to find out what Prue was hearing from Andy.

“Yes, I see… No, that will be fine………… OK….. Sure, 10 is all right….. We’ll see you then…. Thanks, Andy…. bye.”

Both her sisters were staring at her with nothing but anticipation in their eyes. Sadly, Prue knew nothing more than she did before picking up the phone, but something in Andy’s voice told her to be prepared.

“Well?” Piper nearly shouted, causing the little one to jump. “Sorry, baby, I didn’t mean to scare you. Lowering her voice and rubbing soothing circles on the girl’s back, she tried again. “What did he say?”

“No news on locating her, but he says something has developed and he needs to come over and fill us in.”

“About what?”

“Look Piper, how should I know; I‘m not a mind reader, all he said was that he’d be over at 10 to discuss the matter.” Prue’s nerves were getting the better of her emotions, causing her voice to raise with each word. She instantly regretted her misdirected anger and attempted immediately to apologized.

“Pipe…”

“I know, it’s OK. It’s just, like me, you are scaring her.”

“Come here, my little one,” Prue reached out her and the child soon filled her arms, “I’m sorry, honey, I didn’t mean to yell. It’s just that I’m all jumbled up inside, you know?”

The small head nodded in understanding before resting it on her shoulder, hoping to find comfort in the presence of her remaining sisters.

Soon the hour of ten o’clock arrived and Andy, ever punctual, rang the doorbell just as the grandfather clock stuck the tenth chord.

Piper had a sleeping child in her arms, so it was Prue who answered the door.

“Andy, hi.”

“Hey, Prue.”

Their eyes locked and feelings that never truly died were being resurrected and silently exchanged. Andy knew he had never stopped loving her and realized that, that would never change. But, rekindling a romance with Prue Halliwell was not what he had come over for. So, retreating back into inspector mode he asked if he could come in.

“Uh, sure, I’m sorry. Please, please come in. We can join Piper in the conservatory.” Inwardly she was kicking herself for letting him make her feel like mush inside, but even more so for letting him see how much of an effect he still had on her. As Andy passed through the entry of the Manor, he somehow instantly crossed over the threshold of Prue’s heart as well.

The three adults awkwardly chit-chatted in the wicker-filled solarium. The room that was initially designed to therapeutically expose its occupants to the glorious afternoon sun, was currently anything but salutary.

Andy finally cleared his throat in order to regain the attention of the sisters to what he was about to tell them.

“I hate to be the one to have to tell you this, but….”

“Andy, tell me this is some sick joke you are pulling. Like when we were kids.”

“I’m sorry, Piper, but I am very serious. His lawyers have got him a new trial; he’s out on bail.”

“This can’t be happening!” Prue stated, though to no one in particular. As she paced, she continued her one-sided conversation.

“The one we can’t find stays hidden and the one we never wanna see again has just walked out of prison. What is wrong with this picture? Why can’t you just bring our little girl home, why do you have to come here and tell us this. Andy, WHY?!?” As his ex-girlfriend ranted her tone became more desperate and her questions more directional… right at him. The next thing he knew Prue was in his arms beating her fists into his shoulders and asking the question he had asked himself a thousand times over the years of being a cop…. Why?

Piper was shocked into silence and frozen to her place. Prue never gave allowance to her emotions, not even with her and now, she is releasing anger, fear, helplessness and pain all in one fell swoop. But not into her arms does she run, but into a man she hadn’t had contact with in many years, Andy. She didn’t know whether to be hurt or relieved. She had little time to ponder this as she felt the couch sink in next to her as both her sister and Andy sat down. Piper was amazed that the small child in her arms had remained motionless and asleep during the short, but rather loud outburst. The second oldest didn’t care, she was just thankful for some small blessing in the middle of all this.

Andy felt her body begin to relax as his thumb drew small circles on the top of the hand twined into his. Prue’s soft raven hair tickling his nose as she laid her weary head onto his shoulder, attempting to regain control of her emotions. Oh, how Andy wanted to take her in his arms and kiss all the hurt away, like he used to when they dated, but again, the timing was all wrong. He had more to tell them and if his hunches were right, this news would have a direct link between Victor Halliwell and their missing sister.

“Hey Prue, how ‘bout some of that herbal tea you make so well. I think we all could stand for some. I have more to fill you in on, OK?”

“Sure.” Prue was relieved to make a hasty exit, once again she had let her feelings put on a production and her heart ached with embarrassment.

As she left the room, Andy had a look of deep concern. “She’ll be OK, AJ, she just needs to regroup. You know her, she is not one for wearing her heart on her sleeve, when she does, it bothers her. You add all this to the mix and well, you get the picture.” Piper was now doing the comforting, but it was being extended to the man who was as much a sibling to her as her sisters.

“Yeah, I know. Thanks, Pipe. You always know how to steady the waters, don’t ya?”

“All part of the job, Andy, all part of the job.” Piper smiled as his sister’s ex gave her a small peck on the cheek, his way of saying he would do anything and everything to make this better.



As the trio sipped at the soothing liquid, Andy filled them in on what Victor’s life had been like, what he guessed would be his next move, and why he felt that the timing of the kidnapping was too much of a coincidence.

“You see, Lorenzo Justiniano Pérez is Cuba’s biggest drug importers and is one to be feared as well as respected. It’s Victor’s job to distribute cocaine to his boss’s US street dealers and then collect the profits, of which he is given a sizable amount. Pérez's organization’s huge and rapidly growing. Victor has been on the ‘inside’ for years. He began importing cocaine sometime after October 1991 when he smuggled one or two kilograms of high-quality powdered coke into the United States. The narcotic is, as best we have been able to figure out, concealed in woven hand-baskets that are filled in Costa Rica by Nicaraguan drug dealers Sanchez and Pereira. The coke is then repackaged into street size portions and, up until his arrest and your mom’s death, strapped to Phoebe’s waist until the money transaction took place….”

“That bastard! That must be what her nightmares were all about.” Piper was furious at how anyone could be so cruel to one so innocent.

“I agree, Piper, and I have a feeling that now that Victor is out on bail, he intends to make every effort to continue with this lucrative operation. It is our belief that Victor has received word from Pérez himself and that he wants a face to face with your father about a ‘special’ project.

Prue could see the wheels in Andy’s head turning and knew that there was more, much more behind these words.

“And you believe this because?”

“Because I was the one who had the message sent.”

Victor looked at the video camera’s screen and smiled at the results of his small production. “Yes, yes, this will do quiet nicely. Take it to the Manor and drop it off on the front porch… DON’T let anyone see you, got it!!”

“Sure thing, Boss. Consider it done.”

~:~:~:~:~

“Whoa, hold up. YOU planted the info.? Andy???” Prue was getting both nervous and hopeful. She saw the gleam in her friend’s eyes and knew it well from his days as an undercover officer.

“Victor has never seen Pérez, the man prides himself on staying invisible….”

“But Andy, Victor knows you, knows what you look like. I mean we were neighbors for years, before we moved in with Grams. You can‘t pull off being Pérez.” Piper was now getting into the conversation, her little sister now upstairs in her bed.

“I know he has seen me, but he hasn’t seen my partner.” As if on cue, the door bell rang. “That’s him now. I’ll let him in and continue filling you guys in.” Andy then headed towards the foyer leaving both women reeling with what was going on.

He walked into the room, assured and smooth. His unruly locks fell recklessly over his brow. He was very good looking as well as athletically built; judging by his cocky swagger, he knew it.

“Ladies, I would like you to meet, Lorenzo Justiniano Pérez .” Andy couldn’t help but grin as he took in the looks on both women’s faces.

“Here’s the deal. Perez, has just been arrested in a hush hush sting operation. Nobody is aware that his… out of commission, so to speak.”

“That’s where I come in.” Oh, his voice was as smooth as he was and it immediately held their attention. Andy just rolled his eyes as his colleague was milking it for all it was worth.

“I will be able to get on the inside of his operation, but from a position of authority, I will have the upper hand. This will be a chance for Victor to brag about his dealings, to the man he has openly said he admired and would love to be like. I am sure the kidnapping of your sister will be one of the first things he brings up.”

“But, what if he isn’t the one who has her, won’t we be wasting time merely on a hunch. Look, I want Victor to go down as much as you do, but NOT at the expense of losing my sister, to another form of evil…”

“Prue, I really believe Victor has her, but I have not overlooked the possibility that someone else may have taken her. My chief has set up a special task force to keep searching for her outside the realm of your dad and his group… all our bases are covered.” His muscular arm wrapped around her shoulder, and she knew instantaneously that she was still in love with him.

“If this is true and you are going after him, there is one thing I don’t get. Why did he take her? What possible benefit could she be to him?” Piper, too, was getting hopeful, but was needing all her doubts to be put to rest.

“The trial. While his suits may have gotten him a new hearing, he knows that the prosecutors have been doing their homework as well. Your sister,” Andy pointed to the upstairs, “has information that could break his case to smithereens…”

“Then why not have taken her?” Piper persisted, her questions needing answers.

“Leverage.” The bronzed Adonis with a badge answered. Confidently he strolled over to the couch, sitting down next to the woman who had yet to take her eyes off of him. “He knows, that is her soft spot, she will do anything to protect her.”

Piper was getting annoyed at the handsome man that seemed to be successfully flirting with her. “You know, it is really hard to carry on a conversation with you, without knowing your real name.”


“Oh, I’m sorry, I should have made proper introductions when he first arrived. Prue, Piper, I’d like you to meet Inspector Wyatt, my partner in fighting crime.” Andy and Prue exchanged smiles as the man Piper was smitten with took her hand, gently placing a kiss on her soft skin. “You, my lovely lady, can call me, Leo.”

“Oh pahleeze, give me a break.” Andy chuckled, knowing his good friend was just trying to relax the tenseness in the room, but also knowing Leo was equally as smitten.

~:~:~:~:~

He slowly made his way to the side yard, cautiously he moved behind the bushes that lined the Manor’s front porch. With the movements of a pro, he placed the package on the welcome mat, while with his other gloved hand, rang the door bell. With quick reflexes and precision, he was gone.

Prue was reading herself to answer the door, when Andy held her back and went for it, hand on his holster, Leo close behind. Again, fear and confusion had returned to the Manor. The girls looked at each other then back to Andy and Leo as they made their way back into the room.

“Appears Victor has made contact. Are you up to this?” Andy wasn’t sure either sister should be in the room as the video was being played, but knew neither would be talked out of it, he just had to be there for them.

“Yes, lets get this over with.” Prue spoke for both of them as she took Piper’s hand and headed towards the television.

Andy popped the video in and soon the black screen was filled the image of a tiny girl, tied to a chair where each leg was harnessed with massive amounts of explosives.

All four adults turned in horror as they heard the scream. The little girl stood in the doorway, Alfie hanging by her side, the only word she shouted as she looked at the small screen was…

“PAIGEY!!!!”