PROLOGUE REDUX

Casey had only been stationed at the embassy for a little over a month as a liaison, other agents from her class were assigned to the security detail around the Annex. The only thing she hadn't counted on was her maternal "grandfather" being there as a diplomatic attaché. When she called her father that first weekend, he reminded her to be professional, she was good at what she does and he reassured her that her existence wouldn't even be acknowledged by the man.

SEPTEMBER 19TH, 2100 HOURS

She had just returned to her room after a long day of running back and forth between the Annex, the British Embassy and the cleric. Casey had just gained support from the local cleric in an attempt to stem recent rise in violence in the city. She still had several reports to type in the morning which meant being up at the crack of dawn before the rest of the agents and yet another late night sack dinner in her hand. Thank goodness she had a room to herself, she would go crazy if she had to share with Osborn, the only other female agent. She carried her meal in the paper sack the cook always packed for when she worked late. While she fumbled with her keys, she could hear voices coming from down the hall. Instantly she recognized voices, the agents from the DSX: Webber, Akers and Reese. Quickly she got her door unlocked, she didn't like Akers, he made her very uncomfortable, as did Webber. Casey barely made it inside when the men passed by her door.

"Well, what do we have here," Akers leered, blocking her from closing her door, "Another late night?"

"Leave her alone," Webber warned, "Remember what she did to you the other day? I wouldn't push your luck if I was you."

Akers made a face at Webber, who looked at her, then nodded," Goodnight Agent Morrigan."

"Mr. Webber," she replied, then closed her door, locking it, grabbed her desk chair , putting it under the door knob to reinforce the door.

"Knock it off Akers," Webber reprimanded, "We are not here for you to get laid. We are here to complete a task, remember. And, she is completely off limits, do you understand me?"

"Why,"Akers challenged.

Whipping around on him to look him in the eye, Webber ordered, "Because I said so! She's one of the good ones, so hands off!"

"Whatever,' Akers conceded.

Casey listened to the men outside her door to make sure they were gone. She didn't like any other, something was off about the whole lot, especially Webber. She shrugged, she needed to eat and sleep, she had another busy day tomorrow.

SEPTEMBER 20TH, 0900 HOURS.

Casey made sure the Ambassador had what he required for the meeting this morning. The man was very organized to the point of obsession. She also knew that his "assistant" would not be there today, something about a family emergency back at the residence compound.

The doors to the conference room opened and both Ambassadors, the U.S. and Britain entered, followed by the local cleric plus his bodyguards.

"Good morning," Miss Morrigan, the British Ambassador greeted," Are we ready for today's negotiations?"

"Yes sir," she smiled genially, "Quite ready."

"Very well, gentlemen," the American Ambassador announced, "Please be seated. Miss Morrigan the door, please?"

She rushed to the doors and shut them from prying ears, it was going to be long, tough day.

1000 hours

Webber and his men gathered in the office given them for their duration here.

"Close the door Reese," Webber commanded, "We need to go over the plan. Everyone needs to be in their exact location at the proper time."

1030 hours

Chief yawned, looking at his watch, still another hour and half before shift change. He stood to stretch, looking down the road. All was clear, not a single vehicle in sight.

1140 hours

His replacement had come to conduct the change over. While the new guard signed into the log, going over the previous entries, the radio came to life. The Sergeant of the Guard was doing a coms check.

They were almost finished for the morning in the conference room and she was glad. The negotiations from what she was able to observe were going well enough, with only a few sticking points which they would hammer out after lunch. For once she would be able to eat a meal on time.

The station wagon turned onto the long drive toward the embassy, the driver grabbed his weapon from the passenger seat and guns the engine.

1142 hours

The explosive laden car raced passed the gate shack and the driver shot one of the three guards, swerving, narrowly missing the first of three concrete barriers in place. He could hear gunshots and the sound of bullets hitting the back of the car, but he kept going, his target just in sight. As he cleared the last barrier, he spots a man aiming a pistol at him, flooring the gas navigating the car at the man in the middle of the road. Suddenly he saw the flash from the muzzle, the bullets hitting the windshield, next the driver felt a burning sensation in his chest before everything went dark.

1144 hours

Tony had hit where he was aiming, the vehicle swerving off to the right, colliding with a parked car followed by a loud boom, a bright flash of light, followed by intense heat.

The building suddenly shook and as she turned towards the door, debris flew around her, swirling around her in a whirlwind. The force of the blast threw her backwards a several feet, where she landed on her back. She blinked looking up at the ceiling as the world began to crumble around her. She could hear the others, but couldn't see as dust from falling walls billowed up around her. Slowly she rolled over to her side, pushed herself up to a sitting a position to evaluate the damage.

"Mr. Ambassador," she cried out, "Sir? Can you hear me?"

"Miss Morrigan," the British Ambassador replied.

"Sir," she pushed herself up to stand, steadying herself briefly. She needed to get the men out of this room in case there was a secondary explosion. "Gentlemen," she urged, "We need to get out of the building."

They made their way out of the devastated building towards the front, there they saw the cause of all the damage.

"Oh my God," the British Ambassador said under his breath, "What in the world?"

Casey looked out where the front of the building should be to absolutely nothing, the façade gone. A sickly, sweet smell wafted through the gaping hole making her nauseous, she had a good guess at to what it was. Suddenly movement from under a pile of rubble, until a hand appeared.

"Hang on,' she yelled, digging faster, "Somebody give me hand!"

To her surprise it was Osborn, frantically she shoveled debris out of the way, shredding her hand in the process.

"Casey," Osborn gasped, "What? Who?"

"Don't talk," she comforted the woman, "Just stay still. Help will be here soon. Sir, would you stay with her. I'm going to check outside."

"Go," the man said, "And, be careful Agent Morrigan."

"Yes sir," she said, reaching under her skirt and pulling her weapon, chambering a round.

She stumbled over crumbled concrete wishing she was in more appropriate shoes. Once outside, Casey saw the remains of a vehicle ripped apart by the explosion. Noticing the British Ambassador's bodyguard, she shouted, "Tony! You okay?"

"Yeah," he answered, turning to look at her, "Bloody hell! Casey are you alright?"

"Huh," she blinked, confused, wondering what he was talking about.

"Come," he grabbed her by the arm, leading her to a clear patch of concrete, "Sit down, before you fall down. Don't you see you're bleeding?"

He kneeled in front her, touched her forehead, pulled his hand away to reveal blood, hers. To be honest she hadn't noticed that she had been injured at all. Her main worry was the two Ambassadors, the cleric, his people and their welfare.

Sirens blared off in the distance.

"There, hear that," Tony said, "Medics. You stay put young lady. You're a mess."

1700 hours

Twenty four dead, including the car bomber, so many innocent people injured from the blast. Casey stood next to Tony as they looked over the bodies laid out on the ground, covered with a sheet.

"You should be at the hospital," Tony said in a hushed tone.

From her bandaged hands to her head, her injuries were mild compared to some of the others, like Osborn, who was suffering from a severe concussion and internal bleeding.

"No," she shook her head, "I'm okay. Anyway, we need all hands on deck for security and recovery."

"Ah lass, let us handle it," Tony lamented.

"Again," she shook her had, "No. This is my country. Mine to defend and protect."

"Miss Morrigan," a surprised Webber approached her, "Are you alright?"

She turned to look at the man, Akers and the others just behind him. She really had no time for this. Without saying a word, Casey walked away, leaving Webber standing there agape. She had a gut feeling he and his men were tied to this, somehow. She was going to find out how and make sure they were going to held accountable.