Chapter Four

Six months before present time

Venice, Italy

Sterling listened to the music in the Piazza in Venice. He glanced around staring at the costumes that may be disguising the mark. It was Carnevale in Venice, the festival before the forty days in the Lent season.

"Any ideas, what we're looking for?" Coleen's voice came through the ear piece.

"Anyone is a suspect," Sterling remarked. "Find DeMarco and bring him to me."

"Sure, as soon as I know what he looks like," Coleen sighed.

He walked around the historical city. There was not one person that might help them. He had had an informant, but somehow he mysterious disappeared. Now he was stuck with catching an Italian drug lord during one of the most inopportune time of the year for Italy.

"How about the ball tonight, Sterling?" Coleen asked.

"We have to go, I need DeMarco before he fleas the country."

"Trying to do that, boss."

Sterling walked around and listened to the bells of San Marco announcing that mass was over. He walked over towards the church seeing a group of nicely dress men walk out.

"I got eyes on, DeMarco," Sterling remarked. "Agent Graham, West of the church."

There was silence on her end. He waited as he took a seat on a nearby bench. He thought it was ironic that someone of DeMarco's background was a religious man. But some people like, DeMarco, believed as long as faith was there, even if their day jobs were nothing what God had in, He'd forgive them.

Sterling watched as DeMarco and his men walked outward. "Come on, Graham."

He reached into his coat and stood. He was going to take the shot if he had too.

"Agent Graham?"

There were sounds of gun fire and Sterling looked over. He saw DeMarco's men cover him. Sterling rushed in that direction.

"Answer me, Graham!" he shouted.

He felt a chill run up his spine and a nauseated feeling taking control of him.

"Graham is down!" he heard another agent say.

"Damn it!" Sterling shouted.

He pulled his badge out as he pushed through the crowd that had swarmed around the church steps. His eyes glanced around and found another of his agents pushing through.

"Go get, DeMarco!" he shouted pointing in the direction he saw the fugitive fleeing.

Sterling got through and saw Coleen down on the ground. He knelt down and she looked up at him. Her eyes were soft as she stared at him and removed her hand. Blood covered her hand and he looked at the other agent.

"Get a doctor!" he ordered.

The young agent took off and Sterling pressed his hand on the wound. He looked at her as she smiled at him.

"It's just a flesh wound," Coleen whispered.

She winced in pain as she reached up her hand to touch his face.

"Just hold on, Graham." He grabbed her hand into his. "Don't give up on me here."

Sterling was not ready to let her go. And he wasn't about to lose an agent on his watch. He removed his coat and stuffed it under her head.

"Stay with me, Graham."

"I…I want to tell you something, Sterling," she stuttered.

He took out his ear piece and leaned towards her. She looked at him as her lip quivered with the words she tried to say.

"I…I don't want this…"

"Graham, don't want what?"

She looked at him and smiled. "I want you."

Sterling stared at her. Her hand slipped from his cheek and he shook his head.

"Graham," he said. "Open your eyes."

Sterling leaned forward clasping his hands together as he counted the dots on the hospital floor. His eyes closed tightly as he waited. That was all he could do at that moment. But as he waited he replayed her last words to him.

"I want you."

"What did you want from me, Graham?" Sterling looked up at the beige wall across from him.

He leaned back into the hard chair and ran his hands through his hair. He let one of his agents get shot. There was no apology for that. The chill that ran up his spine remained. And he replayed everything in his head. It didn't make sense she didn't even identify herself as Interpol. He stood up and walked towards the hospital entrance. He saw two of his team that didn't show up right away.

"Come with me," he said.

The two agents walked with him out the hospital.

"Sir, what's wrong?" one asked

Sterling looked ahead and reached into his suit coat. "It doesn't make sense. But I think I got it now."

"Sir?"

"Who shot, Agent Graham?" Sterling pulled out his own weapon. "Two of my agents were not even near the Piazza this afternoon. Because of that an agent got shot and is probably dying."

He took a deep breath. He couldn't have it on his team. He turned and held the gun out towards them. They stepped back away from him.

"Do yourselves a favor and surrender your weapons now and I'll ask them to give you an easy plea bargain." Sterling looked at them. "Maybe if someone confesses to the attempted murder of Agent Graham they'll give you a better deal."

The two agents looked at Sterling as he stood there. There was confusion that he lost his mind. He stepped off the deep end.

"We were told to stand back," one of the agents confessed.

"Of course, by who?" Sterling raised his brow at them.

"By me, Jim," an older voice came from behind.

Sterling glanced at the two agents and he slowly turned enough to look at the source of the sophisticated voice without turning his back to two armed agents. He narrowed his eyes at the grey haired woman.

"It's amazing what our phones can record these days," the older woman said holding her black phone. "It came to my attention that two agents were constantly assigned to the same missions together. Nothing against that, but when they are somewhat involved with each other communications gets crossed. And people get hurt."

Sterling stood straight as she walked up. "Where does this concern you?"

"It concerns me, Jim, that you don't know where to cut off your own emotions for this particular agent. Look at you, a wreck ready to execute two good agents that have stood beside you since you joined us at Interpol. They were just following orders."

She stared at him and he looked at the two agents he would have killed if she hadn't showed up.

"Here's my advice, Jim. End it now or I'll do it for you. Let her live her life…she doesn't need someone like you in it. A wreck and so tightly twisted that you'll snap. Plus if you ever want a favor from Interpol I'll make sure you never get it."

"You play a hard game, Eleanor."

"I've always played hard," she said. "That's what makes me your superior. And I don't like being told no."

She patted his cheek.

"When it comes to personal matters you don't want to be on the wrong side of my gun."

Sterling smirked. "I see where she gets it from. Impulsive mannerism."

"She's my only daughter, Jim. You understand how that is? A parent will do anything to protect their child. And she doesn't need to be with someone who uses people to get to the top. Did you really think sleeping with my daughter would put you in the good graces of your superiors?"

Sterling felt that he just got hit below the belt. He didn't have his daughter close by and he couldn't protect her. He rubbed his eyes. He chuckled and stuffed his gun into a holster he had under his coat. She looked at him and patted his cheek again.

"I got word that DeMarco has been found. He'll be tied to shooting my daughter. Plus the drug charges that led to the massacre back in Barcelona. We've got enough evidence. Good job, Jim you really are worth the investment." She smiled and turned on her heels. "I'll see you back in London in six weeks to escort my daughter home. And your new team will be one member short for your next case."

If there was one person he despised in Interpol it was that woman. Eleanor Graham, made the calls and signed off on his cases. She always had some say in how his cases were to be run. She pissed him off more than once since he joined Interpol.

Six Weeks Later

London

Sterling looked at Coleen as she walked slowly. The bullet had shattered part of her rib cage and nearly punctured her left lung. It took several surgeries to hopefully have a speedy recovery.

"I heard my mother paid you a visit," she said.

"A small one. She didn't exactly grab my balls like you did that first time, but she came close." Sterling walked towards her. "She threatened me."

Coleen smiled and walked to a wicker love seat in the sunroom of her family's house. Sterling walked towards her and saw the sharpness in her eyes was just dull.

"I'm sorry," he heard her whisper.

"For what?"

Coleen looked at him.

"For my mother. She's never been this way until I met you. She's on the protective side since she's got promoted two years ago. And now she runs my life like she runs Interpol I can't do anything without her knowing."

Sterling took a deep breath.

"It has to stop." He looked at her.

She turned and looked at him. He saw her swallow and lightly wet her lips. Sterling walked towards her.

"You don't need this."

"Jim," she whispered.

"I'm sorry, Graham."

There were tears forming in her eyes. She stood up and almost toppled over. He wrapped his arm around her as she winced in pain.

"You can't do this to me, Jim. You can't run from this. You were happy…I was happy."

Sterling didn't want to admit she was right. He helped her sit down and stared at the young woman. If he didn't end what they had now, his job was at stake. He couldn't lose his job now, not when he was so close.

"I'm sorry," he said.

Coleen reached and placed her hand on his. He looked at her and placed his hand on hers. It wasn't fair for her after what she was going through.

"I won't put you in anymore danger, Graham."

"Damn you, Sterling," she snapped. "You aren't the man I know."

She narrowed her eyes at him.

"You're running because my mother told you too. Well, what does your gut say?"

"It says get out. And maybe I should have listened to it back in Barcelona ."

Coleen narrowed her eyes and glanced away from him.

"We'll always have Barcelona to remind of our stupidity," Coleen whispered.

"Barcelona."

He reached over and turned her head towards him.

"I'll be around, Graham."

She grabbed his hand and kissed it.

"Don't do this. We can beat the system," she whispered. "I know you don't want to break this off. You and I we're two of a kind. You need me, Sterling. You need what I offer to really find peace."

Sterling shook his head.

"It was fun while it lasted, Graham. But I can't risk your life and mine. Your mother was right, communications get crossed and people get hurt."

Coleen narrowed her eyes and slapped him hard across the face. He rubbed his cheek and nodded. He had worst in the past and now. If she was healed he would have gotten more than a slap.

"I'll see you around, Graham."

He stood up and Coleen grabbed his arm just below the elbow. He turned and looked at her. Her eyes pleaded with him and he grabbed her hand. He couldn't ignore the eyes that read deep into his soul. The impulsive young woman had the will to fight until she gave every last breath in her body. It was no wonder her mother worried about her.

"Don't treat me like I'm some case you completed, Jim Sterling."

There was the fire that sparked. He knew she was right about beating the system. His gaze looked around and he knelt down.

"We play it my way," Sterling whispered as he pushed back some of auburn locks.

Coleen smirked and she grabbed his hands.

"I wouldn't expect anything less, Jim."

It was safe to say that Coleen had made an impression on him. And he was willing to risk a lot so that boring life of his wasn't so boring.

One Week before Dubai

New York

Sterling walked into a small bar and looked in the corner at a table. Six of his best agents waited for him. And he smiled as he walked over to them.

"Gentlemen," he said.

"Boss."

He took a seat and pulled out a file. He was about to embark on a rescue mission that would finally take place. He had picked six men he knew who could control the situation. Each had their own perks that made them worthy. Like a group of thieves.

"Am I late," a feminine voice came from behind.

Sterling smirked and stood up. His team looked at him in confusion and he turned to her. She was sharp and his queen on the board.

"Agent Graham, so nice of for you to join us. I was just about to read them in."

Coleen walked over and looked at Sterling. She grabbed his arm lightly as she passed and he pulled a chair out.

"Should I brief them? After all this is my call," Coleen looked at him.

"We don't need to be read in, sir."

"Good then you know I've added a special team to come with us?" Sterling looked at them. "Off the books. It's a favor I'm about to ask."

The six of them looked at him.

"What are you talking about?"

"We're talking about hiring some thieves," Coleen said. "You're about to see, Jim Sterling in action."

Coleen lightly touched him on his shoulder. He looked at her and smirked. It was crazy, but it needed to be done. The case had been signed off and he just need a week to prep.

One of his men looked at Sterling.

"Who are you exactly going to ask?"

"An old friend," Sterling said. "Here is what you need to know."

Coleen pulled out some files from her coat.

"You owe me, Jim," she whispered. "I had to play weak."

"Thank you, darling."

She passed out the files and the six men looked at Sterling.

"Why them?"

"Because they're the best. And this is a time sensitive matter."

Sterling looked at the file. He hated asking favors from the team, but if he could ask this one he'd be grateful.

"Feel free to leave if you don't feel like you can't handle this, gentlemen. We won't hold it against you if you walk out right now. But there is risk involved. You could lose your jobs. Or you could be heroes for stopping a nuclear war," Coleen said.

"I don't like the idea of using a team of thieves. We're just as good as they are."

"Just pretend they aren't there," Sterling said. "After all it will almost be like they aren't. I'll take care of the rest."

They nodded and tossed the files back to Sterling.

"We'll stand behind you on this one, Sterling. But know if something goes the other way, we'll bailing on you." An agent looked at Sterling.

"Who said anything will go wrong?" Sterling smirked.