Note: I do not own these characters, they belong to CA writers and USA Network.
Setting: The day before. . .a couple of hours before Annie & Simon are shot in Season 3
An unknown number called Ryan McQuaid's personal cell phone a number of times yet left no messages. Ryan was busy negotiating contracts. He just lost two big bids to larger and more established security firms. He needed to land the one he was working on for his company to gain a serious foothold in the private security world.
"Ryan McQuaid" he finally answered after he left his last meeting.
"I have a time sensitive job," said the voice on the other end.
Ryan recognized it immediately. The voice came from a Special Air Service (SAS) officer Ryan knew. They worked a few joint ops together over Ryan's tenure in the SEAL TEAM 6. He was older, as far as drawing equivalents goes, he outranked Ryan when he was active. Nowadays, he like McQuaid officially retired from the military. Ryan thought he was raising cattle on his family's dairy farm and spending his days fishing and drinking tea. He laughed, remembering the last time he saw the man on the other end of the line, it was at his retirement party. Like Ryan, his retirement from military service must have lead to a new career.
"What no pleasantries? You Brits are usually more. . ."
"No time for pleasantries McQuaid, I've been trying to get a hold of you for the last hour," the man cut him off.
"I knew you couldn't stay out of the fray," said Ryan quickly understanding that the matter was urgent.
"I have a job for you," said the man.
Ryan said, "Okay, I can get a team together ASAP."
"No, team. This stays tight, just between us," said the voice on the other line.
"What's got you so fired up?" Ryan knew his old contact. He was a serious man, but always calm and ready. Never a sign of stress or worry on his face, but Ryan could hear the urgency in his voice.
"You know him and I'm counting on your discretion, that's why I called you. You're the only man for the job."
"Who's making all this trouble for you and by extension me?"
"Simon Fischer, I need you to locate him and bring him back to the U.K."
Ryan knew Simon Fischer! He wondered what he had done.
"Fischer?"
"Your firm has done security work for him correct?"
"Uh hmm, started with his investment company, private details when execs traveled to places with security alerts from time to time and upgrading the office security systems and protocols. He was happy with the outcome and hired us to upgrade two of his residences. What's he done?" asked Ryan.
"He flew into your town yesterday and a world of trouble is ahead of him if you don't get him back here," said the voice. Ryan noted he didn't answer his question.
"He's here in D.C.?" You're going to have to give me more info so I know what I'm up against here," said Ryan looking at his watch.
"He has a mark on his head and anyone in the way will be collateral damage. I can't have him killed or taken," said the voice.
This was serious. "Who are you working for now because this sounds like. . ."
Ryan heard the older man exhale on the other end. "You know where my loyalties lie, I need to get him home, it's for his protection and that of many assets we have associated with him."
Ryan understood without the man saying so that he probably went on to work for British Intelligence, but he was always careful and had questions. . . "Why don't you loop in Langley then?"
"I can't go that route, Langley's got a Russian mole they're drilling down on, I'm afraid we don't have confidence in the CIA right now," said the voice on the other end.
"A mole? Russian?"
"That's all you need to know. The Russians are involved that should be enough to keep you alert. Find him and bring him to the location I'll give you once you're in the air," said the man.
"Russians are going to take action in D.C., that's pretty ballsy," said Ryan.
"Have you seen the news? There was a shooting at a shopping center in D.C. that's got Russians written all over it. They are trying to close the loop. Never underestimate the Kremlin and the FSB just because the cold war appears to be over," said the man.
"What about your own team?"
"I can't enter your country without setting off alarms and there's no team I can read in on this one that's why I came to you. I trust you and your discretion. Have you gone soft in the private sector? I'll make this worth your while, we have some security contracts coming up and I can make sure you bag one of them," said the voice.
Ryan was going to do it, favors or no favors. "I need more info to understand the situation and scope of work."
"If the Russians get their hands on him, it will endanger dozens of the Crown's assets and bring into question everything he's been associated with over the last few years. I trust you and have told you more than you need to know."
"I appreciate your trust and you have my absolute discretion. Any ideas on where to start looking?" asked Ryan.
"There's an American he's been linked with, Annie Walker, ostensibly she works in acquisitions for the Smithsonian, but we know for a fact she's one of Langley's from previous dealings with them," said the voice. "Find her and you may just find Simon," said the man.
"Annie Walker?" said Ryan as he thought about Simon Fischer. That name was familiar.
"You know her?"
"No, never met the woman, but I believe our firm vetted her for Fischer a couple of months ago, they were involved in a car accident in Marrakech. She's CIA? We only uncovered that she was some art geek and academic, she had a legitimate reason to be in Morrocco," said Ryan.
"Not surprised that her employment by Langley didn't come up in your vetting," said the man.
"All right, I better find Simon then," said Ryan.
"To reiterate, no trail, you do this on your own," said the voice.
"I can't haul him out of the country alone, I'm good, but I'm not Houdini! This is a two man job at least,"
"One additional man, that's it. Call me with an update at 1900," said the voice.
After he hung up, Ryan's blood was pumping. Sometimes, he really missed being in the field, but he had a lot of questions about what this whole thing was all about and even though the CIA wasn't his client, hearing that there was a mole at the agency troubled him.
Ryan put all his calls and meetings on hold and told his office that he needed a couple of days to regroup and figure out next steps after losing their last two big bids. He fired up his laptop and opened up his client folder named: Bright Star Investments and Simon Fischer. What was so important about Simon Fischer? Why were the Russians after him? How was this Walker woman involved?
Ryan stopped at a public library branch and looked up Annie Walker's address.
Next, he called a good buddy of his, someone he trusted and someone who worked on the Bright Star Investments and Simon Fischer accounts. Ryan and Jim Summers went back to when they were in the BUDS training together. He told him to suit up for every possible scenario and get ready for a local extraction. Ryan personally made arrangements to have his private jet fueled and ready. It was time to hunt down Simon Fischer.
