Chapter 4
Illya woke to the sun beating down on him. His back protested the treatment that he had received, and the sunburn he was getting was blistering and throbbing. He heard someone coming from behind him, and turned his head painfully to see a guard taking pictures of him.
Next, the guard approached him and pulled his medallion from his neck, breaking the chain.
Now what. Was Vitya keeping a record of what he was doing to gloat later or was there another reason for them. Suddenly, he realized what they were doing—setting a trap for Jo.
"Ah Illya Nichovetch, I see you are back among us," Vitya commented when he saw Illya's eyes open.
"What do you want with my medallion and those pictures, Vitya Ivanovich? Surely, you do not plan on making a photo album," Illya attempted to antagonize Vitya again.
Once more Vitya backhanded the agent, "Before we are done, you will wish you had curved that tongue of yours. Take him down and return him to digging with leg irons on, of course. And Illya Nichovetch, you will not eat if you do not dig today."
…..
Throughout the day, the guards found reasons to 'punish' him. Frequently Illya was pushed, knocked down, punched, or hit causing his back to begin bleeding again and the blisters from the sunburn to pop.
When evening came, no food was given to Illya. According to the guards, he had not worked enough. He was returned to the pit with only water for the evening. Resting as well as he could, the pain and bleeding kept him awake for most of the night.
The next morning, five days after he was kidnapped, Vitya had Illya returned to his office. "Good morning Illya Nichovetch. I see that you did not eat last night. I warned you that you must work enough to eat. However, if you are willing to do a little thing for me, I am sure we can find something for you to eat."
"Vitya Ivanovich, why are we playing these games? You plan to torture me and then kill me. Just do it and get it over with. I will not help you."
"Still stubborn and your principles are getting in your way again. All I want is to write a note telling your sister where we are."
"NEVER! You will not get me to help you or her to come, Vitya Ivanovich." Illya launched himself at Vitya but was hit from behind before he even got close.
A hand full of hair pulled up Illya's head, "Return him to the poles, Alright, Illya Nichovetch, we will do this another way." Illya was returned to the poles and left for the sun to continue its damage.
The next morning coming back to consciousness, Illya realized he had been in and out of consciousness all day and night. Still tied to the poles spread-eagle, he knew that by the end of this day, he would be died.
…..
Napoleon stopped at medical before leaving with Mark for Arizona on the fifth day after the kidnapping.
"Just wanted to check in before we leave. Mark and I are going to Arizona to follow up a lead," seeing Jo questioning eyes.
"April can fill you in. Don't give medical too much trouble and you will be discharged tomorrow," giving both of the women a peek on the cheek.
"Don't worry guys; I'll take care of her," April assured them, "Even if I've to tie her down."
This earned her one of the famous Kuryakin's glares.
…..
After the guys left, April went back to her office, and Jo slept. When she woke up, there was a brown envelope with only J. Kuryakin on the bedside table. Jo lifted the corner with a spoon and found nothing on the other side. All UNCLE communication had the logo stamped on it, and specific guidelines as to addressing it.
"This is Kuryakin. Send Security to Medical 2 immediately. Possible explosives."
She set down the phone as the alarms in the building began to ring. Slipping out of bed, she moved further away from the envelope. Suddenly, the door open and numerous agents entered. As the senior Section 2 agent on site, April followed.
"Jo, what's going on?" she asked as Jo pointed to the envelope.
…..
Using scanner equipment, the envelope was examined and a bomb was ruled out.
"We'll open it under the hood in the lab," the security chief said. "To make sure there's nothing dangerous in the envelope itself. We'll return the contains, but keep the envelope if you have no objections."
"That alright, I will be coming with you," Jo answered as she began to grab the standard UNCLE sweat suit from the closet to dress.
"Miss Kuryakin, I didn't discharge you from medical. Get back in bed," Dr. Towers interrupted her, "You're not released to the morning."
"I am going to the lab, either with or without your permission," she coolly replied.
April stepped between the two before it got out of hand.
"How about if I take her by wheelchair to the lab and bring her back when they're done?"
Jo started to object when April turned and informed her, "Take it Kuryakin or stay here."
Both Jo and Dr. Towers agree to the arrangement but he warned her, "Right back or I'll keep you here for another few days."
Although angry, Jo agreed.
April paced as Security opened the envelope and checked for any danger. After an hour, the Security Chief came out. "
It's safe, but Jo you aren't going to like it."
With this, he gave her the contents of the envelope, which consisted of Illya's medallion and pictures of him as he was now, and a note that said, "He is waiting for you. You will be contacted."
…..
Jo sat in her usual place in Waverly office. April had sat next to her giving her support and attempting to keep Jo from doing something that she would regret later.
"But sir, I need to be there," Jo demanded.
She had requested permission to join Napoleon and Mark in Arizona but had been denied.
"Miss Kuryakin. This is a trap, and I don't need to lose another agent to it," tapping his pipe on the table, "And you're on desk duty."
"Have you seen the pictures? Have you?" she yelled, "And we haven't lost him yet."
April placed a hand on her shoulder, "Easy Jo."
"Miss Kuryakin are you a Section 2 agent for this organization or not?" Waverly looked directly into her eye, "If not please turn in your ID and gun."
Jo glanced at April then Waverly. "I am sorry sir," she replied and stood to leave.
"As I was saying Miss Kuryakin, you're on desk duty for a week. I'd think that some warm weather might help your recovery. Remember however, you aren't to be actively involved in any UNCLE operations as a Section 2 agent."
Jo stopped, turned slowly, "Thank you sir," and left.
Looking at April, Waverly instructed, "When the two of you are in Arizona, see to it she does Miss Dancer," picking up the next filer as a dismissal.
As April left, he shook his head. 'Must be getting old.' he thought.
Thinking about the young people in this affair, he knew they'd do everything they could to bring back Mr. Kuryakin and each other.
…..
Napoleon and Mark were met at the airport in Phoenix by Bill Hamilton, head of the Phoenix station.
"We've all the information you requested and have started to eliminate areas which wouldn't be able to hide the prison," he explained to Napoleon and Mark as they left the airport.
The airport was located outside the city and at any other time, the agents would've enjoyed the ride to HQ. The bleached ground and multiple colors of desert sand looked as if an artist had used brush strokes of various reds. Now however each was lost in their thoughts.
…..
"Waverly called and wants you to contact him from the office when you get in," Bill related to Napoleon.
Contacting the old man after Mark and he arrived at the office, they were updated as to the pictures and medallion.
"How did they get into Jo's room?" Napoleon asked Waverly.
"Mr. Solo your sole responsibility is there in Arizona at this time. We'll deal with security here. I'll fax you the pictures immediately," Waverly was a master at dressing down an agent when they stepped out of line. "Just bring Mr. Kuryakin home."
"Yes sir," he answered to a closed communicator.
"Not much for small talk is he," Bill asked the NY agents.
"No, he's not. Alright let's see what you've completed," Mark said.
Maps and aerial photos were laid out for them. They were updated as the Phoenix office eliminated and the most likely possibilities for the prison, which still left one third of the state.
Mark shook his head, "It's like a bloody needle in a haystack mate," frustrated that time was running out.
Napoleon crashed his hand on the desk, "There has to be a way to cut this down faster," the irritation rolling off him.
"Easy mate," looking over at his CEA. "Come on Napoleon, you haven't eaten in a day that I know of and slept in a couple of days. Let's allow these chaps to do their job. We need to be rested to get the Russian back."
"I'll get my partner back," he spoke more to himself that to Mark.
Taking Napoleon by the shoulders and leading him out, Mark said softy. "I know. We'll find him Napoleon.