Return to Cyprus
Chapter 1
McCall opened his eyes and immediately looked over to the woman next to him. Something had awakened him. Had she called out, he asked himself? No, she was still asleep, thank goodness. A few hours ago she had looked all of her almost fifty-five years, but now, in sleep, the face was smoother, and she looked calm.
There was the noise again. Damn, the phone. He had turned off the phone in the bedroom, but not in the office next door. Who was calling them here, at this hour? Scott? Oh, God, Scott. He was the only one who would call. Nobody else was supposed to call. Everyone who knew them, really knew them, knew not to call.
The phone burred. Grabbing his glasses from the nightstand, McCall hurried across the room, closed the door and made his way to the still burring phone. He picked it up, "Scott? What's wrong?"
"Robert," said the voice.
"Bloody hell, Control, I told you NEVER to call me here."
"It's important, Robert," Control said in that infuriatingly calm voice.
"To you it's always important, Control. To you. I don't work for you anymore, can't you remember that?" Robert snarled.
"It's about Kostmayer."
"What about Kostmayer?"
"He's missing."
"Missing? When did this happen? Where?"
"Last night. In Cyprus."
"Cyprus? You sent him to Cyprus? Again?"
"Robert, you know he's the best. Of course I sent him to Cyprus."
"What was the mission?"
"I can't tell you the details now. Your phone isn't secure."
McCall thought for a second, then asked, knowing full well what the answer was: "Why are you calling me?"
"We need your help, yours and Barbara's."
"Why us?"
"Because you're the best, too."
To Control, it was just that simple, thought McCall. But it wasn't that simple. No, we can't do it. No, SHE can't do it, not now, he vowed.
"Control, you must be able to find someone else."
"Robert, who would you suggest?" Exasperation tinged Control's voice. "How many agents do you know who are as good as you and Barbara?"
Knowing just how to get to McCall, he added: "It's Mickey we're talking about."
McCall knew he was right, but still he didn't want to think about it. Barbara and Mickey, beside Scott and Yvette, the two most important people in his life. Would he have to choose? To save Mickey, Barbara could be lost. No, it's not fair. Fair, what a joke. Nothing's ever fair…. He HAD to choose, he knew.
"Control, I won't get Barbara involved."
"She has to be involved."
"You have no idea how bad it is."
"I do, Robert. I read Dr. Stephen's report."
"You did WHAT? That was privileged information. You had no right, you bastard."
Control waited until McCall's anger subsided.
"We still need her." Control paused: "Mickey needs her."
"No." McCall could hardly believe he was saying it, but he had to choose.
For once, McCall had surprised Control. Was he actually going to turn him down? He had to think fast.
"Aren't you forgetting something?"
"And what might that be?" McCall snapped back.
"Barbara. Do you think Barbara would want you to make decisions for her?"
Damn him, McCall thought, damn him on so many levels, but damn him, he's right. Barbara would be livid if she thought he was making choices for her.
"Robert? Ask her."
He and Control both knew what her answer would be. But I am not going to ask her, McCall thought. I will not ask her.
"I've sent a courier with the information you'll need. She should be there soon."
Soon. The courier was already on her way.