A/N: This story is 'M' for lewd language, use of drugs, addiction themes and possible nudity far into the book. Before we get started; kudos goes out to ladies of the writer's block who helped me with being my sounding board and giving me the title to the story. Yes, there are also some familiar Blacklist themes but not a crossover. This story is completely AU TLS and is set after S3~~~Enjoy
Disclaimer: I know and own absolutely nothing except my OC. Also all info I use is googled and what google doesn't tell me I make up…so just rock and roll with it! :)
Chapter 1
"We're at a dead end." James Fletcher surmised as he stood at the end of the wardroom table surrounded by the VBSS teams, Captain Slattery, Commander Meylan who was acting XO in Commander Garnett's absence.
Sasha stood at the other end of the table; her arms folded, a scowl on her face. He wished he had better news for all of them but the search for Tom Chandler had reached its end. At least for him, his bosses were calling for his return to UK. He for one would be glad to leave this fruitless venture.
"The President said if we couldn't find a lead in the next week he's canning the mission." Meylan said in a grave tone as he and Captain Slattery had their orders. They'd been given 6 months to find Tom Chandler but so far they had found nothing to help them. Every lead and contact they used came up empty.
It seemed impossible, yet someone had managed to kidnap Tom Chandler the day he'd left the Nathan James after their last venture. They'd manage to track him and his kidnappers to Europe but after that, the trail went in several directions. All leading absolutely nowhere but they hadn't given up the search.
"There is one lead we haven't tried, Sir." Wolf said, every person in the room frowned as they looked to the Australian NCO. Sasha looked at Wolf; wondering what bug was up his ass as the Australian had hated MI5 Agent James Fletcher since he stepped onto the Nathan James.
"No." James told Wolf in a firm and tired tone like they'd discussed it before.
"What am I missing here?" Mike asked as he hadn't missed the tension in the room. Hell, he knew Wolf and James didn't play well on the best of days. But now there was a real edge to Wolf. James tried to look bored but instead came off reticent to talk. Mike glared at the MI5 Agent until the man shook his head and spoke as he was on the spot. The people around the table all questioning his loyalty.
"He's talking about his sister. I told you Taylor, the British Government will not do it. So there is nothing to discuss." James said speaking directly to Wolf. Mike felt annoyed at being left out of a loop given it sounded like Wolf and James had discussed this before.
"Do what?" Mike asked.
"Release a convicted criminal. It took over a decade to catch her. Daniela Soto was a major player in the criminal world. She's a known associate of Guerrero Soto; Number 7 on Interpol's most wanted fugitive list." James told the crew. The name didn't mean a thing to any of them; all it meant was a possible lead they hadn't exploited yet.
"She's not convicted of any crimes. Your government entrapped her, arrested her but instead of charging her and putting her on trial. They just stripped her of her rights and then put her into a black site." Wolf said, he'd asked Val to look into it for him. He had needed to know the truth.
The others around the table looked confused about what was being said. But All were willing to blur the lines if it meant the safe return of Tom Chandler.
"Something you shouldn't even know." James told Wolf in a dark manner.
"But I do, I also know she's still alive. Why aren't you utilising her?" Wolf asked him snidely, he'd asked James to look into it when he'd first arrived on the ship to help liaise with European and UK government agencies in the search for Tom Chandler case.
"She hasn't said anything in 4 years. Not one word. So it's a waste of time to even try." James told him.
"She might talk to her own brother." Sasha pointed out, as she felt enraged by James' deception.
"I highly doubt it." James scoffed smugly.
"It's worth a try." Mike told James, he didn't know what went on between Wolf and James and this mystery sister, but he wasn't going to waste a potential untapped resource. Not when the clock was ticking, after everything Tom had done for him...well, Mike was ready to do whatever it took to save his friend.
"Captain-" James started but Mike cut him off.
"No, our mission is to find Captain Tom Chandler. You've been sitting on a lead for 6 months." Mike said accusing the man of obstruction. "I will go above your head if I have to, but I prefer we keep things friendly. Cooper, Taylor, Fletcher; my stateroom now." he ordered.
Tom leaned against the cold sandstone wall, he listened to the seabirds crowing in the wind, the sound of the ocean waves. He wished he could just see out the tiny opening in the wall that sent in cold fresh air and the scent of the ocean. He'd been in the tiny room for a long time.
It was a tiny sandstone dungeon-esque room which had one door in and out. There was a toilet and a basin, and a cot that looked and smelt like it had many users before him. The door had small trap door inserted which opened for two meals a day. He would've counted his meals to track time but it didn't work.
It didn't work because of the melee of drugs his captors used to keep him placid. At first he had fought against them, he had tried to escape many time but every time he captured again and drugged again. His body, and his will had been torn down. The more they drugged him, the more of the man he once was slipped away and now he just craved what came through that trapdoor with his food. He knew he wasn't this man, but the separation between the man he once was to one he was now… it was just too far a distance.
He was trapped. Vague memories of his old life haunted him and because of his failure to be able to escape to get back to his family-to his life; he needed what was in that syringe to help him escape it. The only solace was that no one would ever know what he'd become.
"Why wasn't I informed about this earlier?" Mike demanded when the door to his stateroom closed. He glared at James and Wolf for answers. Sasha was only in the room to stop him throttling the two men as he was pissed.
"It wasn't pertinent. She's not relevant to case, she was in prison-" James started only for Wolf to speak over him.
"Black site. There's a difference." Wolf corrected bitterly.
"Whatever, the point is she's been out of circulation since the before the pandemic. Thus she would not have any useful intelligence. How could we trust it given she's a criminal." James said to Mike explaining his side very calmly.
"She would have contacts that we could use, Sir. She's lived in Europe nearly all of her life. I know if we could organise an agreement to get her out a black site she'd leap at it. Who wouldn't?" Wolf asked them.
"In exchange for what? Did I mention how she hasn't talk and we most certainly will not release her." James told them all.
"You haven't told us what her crimes are." Mike said.
"She is or was married to Pablo Munez, he was a drug baron with international ties. He disappeared- presumably dead and she went back to her father. He ran a syndicate of contacts in the criminal world. They called him 'the concierge of crime'. She's known to work for him, but is the weak link. We break her, we unlock everything." James told them.
"But you got nothing from her in four years. If she hasn't cracked yet, she either knows nothing or she won't ever break." Sasha said, she didn't know why but she was pleased by that knowledge. If only because it gave them leverage to get Wolf's sister out as she was desperate to find Tom even if it meant making a deal with the devil.
"She will." James assured her.
"You said her information would be useless anyway. So why keep her?" Sasha pointed out to James, spinning his words.
"She knows where the bodies are buried, she knows the names of her father's contact list and what they do. These people could be still alive, we can capture them." James argued.
"Yet, she's not spoken a word in 4 years." Sasha countered, pleased that James had no comeback. Before James could try to argue Mike spoke first.
"Have you explored the possibility of seeing if Ms Soto would help us?" Mike asked James.
"No, and I know my government will say 'no' too." James said firmly, which told them all that James hadn't even tried. Mike quirked an eyebrow at James' statement. He moved to his desk and picked up the phone receiver.
"But you don't speak for them completely. So, here's what's going to happen. You're going to talk to your bosses and get Cooper and Taylor an interview with this mystery sister. Now." he said as he held the phone out to James.
James took the phone out of Mike's hand; ungratefully. "This will be a waste of time." he told them.