A/N- Thank you for your reviews and PMs. It is greatly appreciated. This chapter talks about Janek, spy intrigue and other such machinations. This is a Charah lite chapter.
Sincere thanks to michaelfmx for his editing and valued input into the story.
"All we can know is that we know nothing. And that's the height of human wisdom."
― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace
"Vyshinsky: 'Why then did you come back to Russia?'
Count Rostov: 'I missed the climate'
― A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles
Chapter 8
November 24th, 2010, 2pm -Bern Switzerland- Offices of Valyrian (GmbH)
Sarah reminded herself to stop at the entrance to Chuck's office and not to just barge in, after all, he was her boss. She knocked on the wooden frame of his open door lightly. "Chuck, I was wondering if I can leave a little early today … say 3pm. I've an appointment that I can't miss."
If there were no deadlines, the people on Chuck's team usually knocked off at 5:00pm.
The somewhat artificial dialogue between them was for the exclusive benefit of the other team members seated just outside Chuck's office.
Chuck looked up and caught the twinkle in Sarah's eye. He thought that maybe she might be remembering what happened last night.
They'd gone to bed immediately after Sarah's unexpected, but very welcome, sharing about her past. Chuck was still smiling to himself at that unexpected event. Sarah had such a defended and guarded persona that her actions had caught him completely unprepared.
Sarah's request for them to go to bed and for him to just hold her was quickly acted upon.
Chuck could easily see how much emotional and psychic energy it had taken for Sarah to open herself up. She must have been mentally exhausted. So when they'd gotten into bed, he'd drawn Sarah close to him. Her head was resting on his chest and his left arm was around her shoulders.
Chuck had started to relax because it was just so damn comfortable, it was just so right. He started to drift off with his eyes getting heavier by the second, Morpheus was calling his name, over and over again.
He was just about asleep when Sarah started to make little circles with her index finger on his chest. Chuck knew that an involuntary shudder had passed through his body when she started. But he tried to relax and just enjoy the sensation … but .. well .. she didn't stop .. and the idea of sleep vanished .. and .. one thing led to the other and … "
Chuck shook the memory of last night away and quickly refocused his thoughts. He cleared his throat. "Ah, yeah, sure that's no problem Sarah. You can make up the time tomorrow or the next day." Sarah arched her left eyebrow as if to say, 'Make up the time? Really! '
Chuck smiled to himself and couldn't resist. "If that's not convenient, then pop in sometime on the weekend and you can catch up on any work that you're perhaps a little behind on." He quickly looked down at the work on his desk because he didn't want to see Sarah's reaction. He knew that he was going to pay dearly for his last remark.
Same Day, 7:00pm –Swiss Government Safe House - 18 Selibuhlweg, Bern
There was a light rain falling, almost a mist, that had just started up as Chuck approached the door of the safe house. The street only had two lampposts and there were a lot of shadows surrounding the hundred year old house. Chuck wondered if the limited amount of lighting on the street had been purposely arranged by the FIS.
He knew that inside the house, they had infrared cameras set up along with normal CCTV cameras and motion sensors that had their electronic and optical fingers reaching out and ready to capture anyone who approached, be they friend or foe.
Sarah was going to address the team with her concerns and unanswered questions about Janek. She'd told Chuck she would cover all those questions with the team tonight.
Cole answered the door and quickly looked over Chuck's shoulder for any movement, or perhaps someone tailing Chuck. Chuck smiled. "Anybody following?"
Cole laughed. "Sorry Chuck, force of habit I'm afraid. I take it Casey and Sarah trained you on some basic counter surveillance methods?"
Chuck laughed. "Let's just say that once Casey's voice is in your head, it doesn't really go away."
Chuck changed his voice to ape Casey's. "Listen up Moron! Change your route, double back, stop suddenly and turn around. Use any and all reflective surfaces to see if anyone is tracking you. If you see a face twice, that's once too many, call us because you're probably in deep shit.
"And one more thing Bartowski. From time to time, disappear around a corner, or hide behind a bush or in a doorway. Stand in the shadows and watch for five or ten minutes and observe." When Chuck finished talking like Casey, he grunted once and shrugged his shoulders.
Cole started to laugh. "Why Chuck, I didn't know you were such a good mimic. By the way, I wouldn't let Casey ever hear you taking the 'mickey' out of him."
Chuck was hanging up his coat when the door to the basement opened and Emily and Sarah emerged. His eyes widened as he took in the two women. They were in loose fitting T-shirts and yoga pants, but what caught his attention was that they looked like they'd been in a cat fight.
Their hair was disheveled, plastered against their scalps and damp with sweat. Sarah had dried blood under her nose. Emily definitely had a fat lip and what looked like a bruise on her forearm.
They were both grinning from ear to ear. Chuck wondered if this was some required bonding ritual for deadly female ninja spies.
Cole shook his head. "They went out earlier and bought some tatami mats and created a little dojo downstairs. They've been at it for the last hour."
Emily grabbed two towels from the bathroom and threw one to Sarah. "That was so much fun. One of the things I hate when I'm on a mission is not having access to my regular dojo. Same time tomorrow Sarah?"
Sarah wiped the perspiration off her face. "I'm not sure Emily; apparently my boss wants me to make up the time for leaving early today for my appointment here with you."
Sarah looked at Chuck and actually winked at him. That was only the third time she'd winked at him and he loved it.
Sarah Walker might actually be changing in front of his eyes.
Chuck was about to comment when Emily cut him off. "Yes, your boss has quite the reputation at Valyrian." She looked over at Chuck. ".. for being a bit of a slave driver."
Chuck shook his head and turned to Cole. "When is it your turn to go downstairs to the fighting pit and face one of these hellions? Cole narrowed his eyes. "I'll pass. In another month, I'm due to go on a refresher course at Hereford with the lads in the 22nd Regiment. I'll get plenty of cuts and bruises then, no need to rush the pain."
They all headed for the kitchen, grabbed some water and then sat down at the Kitchen table. Eventually all eyes turned to Sarah. Chuck marveled at the sudden metamorphosis that Sarah went through as she sipped her water.
The genuine smile faded from her face. The humor and twinkle in her blue eyes he'd enjoyed so much just moments ago was suddenly gone. It seemed to Chuck that the azure blue color visibly darkened to an ultramarine shade.
Sarah moved a stray piece of hair away from her eye. "Let's go over the facts and then I'll put my questions and concerns on the table.
"Fact: We know that Janek was in Moscow in 2006 and that he was in the company of an FSB Captain , Vladmilla Tretiak, who was pretending to be a TV News reporter. That's not in question.
"Fact: We know that Janek first met Malina five weeks ago, and since then has been in an intense relationship with her. This relationship is being carried on somewhat in secrecy because of her father's disapproval of Janek." Sarah paused for a couple of seconds. "Actually, Jacob is vehemently opposed to the possibility that Malina might go back to Poland.
"Now, as you know, I met Janek last night. It was a first contact and I was being low key. I wanted to gauge Janek's personality. I also wanted to see how the two of them interacted with each other."
Sarah paused and dearly wished she could skip this next part of the briefing to spare Chuck's feelings.
Chuck hadn't said one blessed thing to her about his dislike for her trying to tempt Janek into a relationship with her. Before she continued talking she stole a glance towards him, hoping to catch his eye, so he knew this wasn't easy for her either.
But Chuck was looking down at his hands, which were folded in front of him. Damn. Sarah took a breath and continued.
"I also engaged in what I call level one flirtation with Janek." Sarah looked across at Emily, who knew exactly what Sarah was talking about.
"I dressed to get his attention, classy but nothing over the top. My body language was not suggestive but was open and very friendly. I had to be careful, since Malina was sitting beside me. I had no desire to invite her anger at me for openly flirting with her boyfriend.
"To be honest … Malina wasn't paying a lot of attention to me. She obviously is deeply in love with the Janek.
Chuck slowly raised his head in order to look at everyone around the table. He was struggling with what he was hearing. Damn it! Malina was his team member at work, hell she was more than that, she was a friend. And Sarah was his girlfriend of about two weeks.
As far as he was concerned, Sarah was playing with nitroglycerin. This whole 'honey trap' crap could blow up in all their faces. And when the smoke cleared, it could leave some permanent scars. Shit!
Sarah knew that Chuck was struggling with what he was hearing. All she wanted to do at this exact moment was to stand up take him by the hand and walk out into the backyard. She wanted to be alone with him and talk with him about his feelings and concerns, to assure him that she was okay with what the job sometimes required her to do.
The very fact she was worried about Chuck's reactions, in the middle of an important briefing told Sarah that she was changing. She was having more and more difficulty in compartmentalizing her feelings, especially when they were about Chuck.
Sarah took two deep breaths. "When I was alone with Janek, even though I was sending out signals that I might be open to any of his advances, he didn't take the bait, he was the perfect gentlemen.
"My seven years experience with this sort of thing tells me … well …. he's not interested in me. But when Malina came back and joined us at the table …. his eyes danced with delight and warmth."
Emily finally spoke. "If I was to approach Janek, do you think he would respond to a brunette, someone different? Maybe his arousal template is wired for certain types of women?"
Chuck wanted to scream. My God, how could they be so clinical and detached about entrapping a human being into betraying someone who was already in a relationship? His left leg started to move up and down nervously under the table.
Sarah was watching Emily and keeping an eye on Chuck. She felt Chuck's anger at Emily's suggestion she have a go at entrapping Janek.
Later she and Chuck would have to talk about this. She sighed inwardly; there wouldn't be a lot of sleep tonight as they tried to sort things out.
Sarah understood Emily's question. "No, Emily, I think it would be a waste of time. If Janek started out to entrap Malina, it has boomeranged on him, he's totally compromised."
As soon as the words were out of Sarah's mouth, she realized what she said and avoided looking at Chuck, since she wasn't sure if she had managed to keep the blush from rising in her cheeks.
My God, how long had it taken for her to be compromised with her asset, one Charles Irving Bartowski, a week? A month? Her heart surely knew well before her brain that she was compromised, but in the past Sarah Walker hadn't been used to listening to her heart.
Cole placed both his hands on the table. "This doesn't make sense. Is Janek working for the FSB? It seems likely. Is Janek really in love with Malina? It seems he is. So was he trying to run a 'honey trap' but got ensnared himself?
"If so, then he'll be twisting in the wind with his conscience and his very real feelings for her. He'll want to protect Malina. We can approach him and use his love for Malina as leverage to turn him."
The silence around the table was broken when Emily's secure phone buzzed and vibrated on the oak table, again and again. Emily was about to switch it off when she noticed the number. Her demeanor changed instantly and she sat up a little straighter.
All eyes turned towards Emily as the team sensed that the caller was high up on the FIS food chain.
Emily cleared her throat and pressed talk. There were several 'Jas' spoken and then Emily turned to the group. "I'm talking to the Director of FIS and to the Federal Minister he reports to. They wish to talk with the team."
Emily touched the speaker button and made the introductions in English. "Cole, Sarah and Charles on the phone are the FIS Director Frau Anna Stager and her boss the Federal Minister for security, Herr Carl Ladnier."
The Federal Minister wasted no time. "Once this call is ended, each of you will receive a phone call from your respective agencies. Your bosses will validate what I'm about to tell you.
"In about fifteen minutes you will have a special visitor. He will introduce himself to you and explain why he has come and what is expected of each of you. Let me be absolutely clear, you will give this individual your fullest and complete cooperation. We deem what comes next as an important matter to Switzerland and, as you will find out, your governments feel the same."
Director Anna Stager spoke next. "I've spoken to your bosses. We are agreed that Agent Summers will be the team leader. It is expected that the mission will take place in Switzerland. Any resource she needs will be made available to her. As of this moment, thirteen people in the entire world know about this mission. We will not be adding to that number. Good luck."
Emily made sure the call was disconnected and slumped back in her chair, lost in her thoughts and starting to sense the immense responsibility that was about to be placed on her shoulders.
Cole wondered who would reach out to him from SIS. A minute later, his secure phone started to buzz. He answered and when he heard the voice on the other end his eyes widened. The call took less than two minutes and he hung up.
He looked around the table. "I've only talked to Sir Francis de Guingand once before. I mean after all, not many MI6 agents talk directly to 'C', he is a rather remote figure in my world. He just gave me my marching orders, a very important mission, full cooperation and Emily is the team leader."
Sarah knew she was next and wasn't disappointed. She picked up the phone and sat a little straighter. She was talking to the CIA Director and the National Security Advisor.
Once again the call was brief and to the point.
Sarah disconnected the call and placed her cell phone on the table.
Chuck was beyond curious and leaned forward, waiting for her to say something. Sarah took a breath. "Well, well. It appears I'm now detached from being at the US Embassy and I no longer report to the Station Chief. I now report directly to the Director of the CIA. The other caller was the National Security Advisor and I was told how important this mission was and to give my full and complete cooperation; oh, one more thing."
Sarah looked over at Chuck and he immediately knew that what was coming next wasn't going to be great news for him.
"Chuck, for the duration of this mission, you are now in the employ of the CIA. You are my computer and technical support, and my analyst. The Director is keeping you off the official books for now. He reminded me that he is fully acquainted with your file, your past service and unique abilities. Your security clearance is now the same as mine."
The other team members were now lost in their own thoughts as each of them glanced at the clock ticking away on the side table. Intermittently, they would take turns stealing glances at the front door.
Chuck dearly wanted to get up from the table and look out the little window in the front door to see who the hell was coming. The three professional spies gathered around him were like cats on a hot tin roof, they could barely sit still.
The mysterious caller was now due in about three minutes.
Emily cleared her gun off the table and Cole did the same.
Sarah looked at Emily. "Don't the two of us look just great? We'll make such a good first impression on whoever's coming to visit."
Neither of them had changed from their sparring clothes and they still looked a bit battered and worse for wear.
Sarah shrugged her shoulders as if to say, 'Karma'.
When the knock on the door finally came, it surprised no one. Emily went to answer the door and greet this mysterious figure, who was now their temporary boss.
The man on the other side of the door was an inch shorter than Emily. He had a black Trilby hat that had seen many miles. He was wearing glasses with rounded frames and looked very average. Nondescript really, a face that could be seen a thousand times and forgotten seconds after you saw it.
He had a black woolen scarf around his neck and a gray herringbone overcoat that went down below his knees. Under his right arm was a small black leather valise.
He took off his hat. "Fraulein Summers, I believe you're expecting me." Emily finally recognized who the older man was.
The gentleman in front of her was none other than Kajetan Baran, the head of the Polish foreign intelligence agency, Agencja Wywiadu.(AW)
Emily took his overcoat and hat from him. "Welcome Herr Baran, and let me welcome you to Bern." Kajetan nodded his thanks and followed her into the kitchen.
The team had already placed a chair at the head of the table for him. They were standing, waiting for their visitor to join them. Emily wasted no time and did the introductions.
Finally everyone sat down.
Kajetan reached into his pocket for his cigarettes and lighter. "Does anyone mind if I smoke?" There was an awkward silence. Chuck cleared his throat. "If you wouldn't mind I'd appreciate it….if you wouldn't."
Kajetan smiled at Chuck and put his cigarettes back in his pocket. "Yes, of course, a habit that is no longer in vogue, pity, but it is my one vice that I allow to continue."
He looked around the table just once and made eye contact with each member of the team. Sarah thought he was comparing what he was seeing with each of their file photos. She'd done several missions in Poland and had worked with the AW, but had never met the legendary 'Kaj', for that was what his nickname was.
He gave them a ghost of a smile. "I believe that each of you has been contacted." Everyone nodded except for Chuck, who was still processing whether the CIA could just automatically recruit him into their ranks. But he was far too curious and intrigued to complain.
"To start with, let us converse in English. Good. Let me first congratulate you all for stumbling onto what was, until recently, a small operation by the AW. I believe all of you have shown a great interest in Janek Milevski, a diplomat currently posted here in Bern.
"It was an accident that one of my people spotted Miss Walker of the CIA the other night when you joined Janek and Malina for drinks and a light repast. You see, we are keeping an eye on Malina."
Sarah almost said 'Damn' out loud but bit it back. Shit! She had been made, but didn't know by whom and when it had happened.
Chuck didn't hesitate. "Why do you have your eye on Malina? And why are you letting a FSB asset even get near her?"
Kajetan inclined his head towards Chuck. "You've asked me two questions. I'm intrigued by your second question. Why on earth would you ever conclude that Janek is an FSB asset?"
Cole slid the photo from 2006 showing Janek getting out of the car driven by Alexandra Maltsev, aka Vladmilla Tretiak, over to Kajetan. He took the photo in his hands and studied it carefully.
He then took off his glasses, pulled out a tissue and cleaned the lenses. When he put his glasses back on, he nodded once. "Excellent work, your bosses spoke highly of your abilities and initiative. I applaud your discovery of our dear, dear nemesis Vladmilla.
"But first let me ask Mr. Barker a question. When you send your diplomats to Russia, what training and education do they receive from MI6? Miss Walker, I'm certain the CIA also carefully coaches all US diplomats in a similar manner."
Cole smiled. "It's an intensive course on how the FSB will try to recruit them. We cover all the seven sins, but we make them especially aware of the 'honey trap'."
Sarah smiled because she now understood what Kajetan was driving at. Emily smiled because she too knew where Kajetan was headed.
Chuck wasn't smiling because he still didn't get why everyone was smiling. "Would somebody like to let me in on what you all seem to know?"
Kajetan looked over at Chuck. "My apologies young man, I was told you're not a field agent. Your colleagues now understand that Janek immediately reported Alexandra Maltsev's approaching him. It was decided that Janek would allow the FSB to believe he'd fallen for their agent's charm.
"Inevitably, Alexandra asked Janek for some low level information.
"The Russians are past masters at this game. They know that we know they are going to try to compromise our diplomats. But they still try because if you don't put your line in the water, you'll never catch a fish.
"They didn't care about the information they were asking Janek to provide. It was a test.
All they wanted to do was plant the hook into Janek's mouth. Later, when it suited the FSB, they'd remind Janek that he'd given them classified information and if he wanted to stay out of prison, he needed to do other favors for them.
"All of this was carefully scripted by me. Janek is very smart and a most convincing actor. Alexandra, as is her custom in these cases, promised Janek much, but delivered very little in the way of romance. After one more request from her for information, which we duly complied with, we pulled Janek out of Moscow.
"The FSB still believes that Janek compromised himself and is ready to be reeled in. The FSB is infernally patient and will someday call on Janek. They will tug on the hook they believe they've firmly planted into the fish."
Chuck wasn't finished. "But why unleash this guy onto Malina? What did she ever do to merit such shitty treatment from the AW?"
Kajetan actually laughed. "Ah Mr. Bartowski, I believe, if I have the phrase correct, that you've put the cart before the horse.
"You see, Janek met Malina at an evening function. Their first meeting was quite innocent and without any intended intrigue.
"All of our diplomats are required to report to the AW if they wish to pursue a relationship with a foreign national. Janek notified us of his intent to pursue the relationship with Malina. He was quite smitten with her you see. We do a background check on the foreign national to make sure they are who they say they are. The background checks confirmed that Malina is a solid, law abiding Swiss citizen."
Emily spoke up. "So, Janek wasn't running a 'honey trap'?"
"Good Lord no, he is not a trained agent. No, his future is to one day be one of our Ambassadors. We have high hopes for Mr. Janek Milevski."
Kajetan stopped talking and asked if he could get a cup of coffee or tea. Emily asked if anyone else wanted tea, coffee or something stronger. Everyone wanted coffee because it looked like this might be a late night.
Kajetan went out into the backyard to have a cigarette.
Ten minutes later, they all sat back down at the table, Kajetan paused and looked out of the kitchen window for several seconds. Finally, after he had gathered his thoughts, he continued.
"Now, before I tell you what your mission will be, I think it is incumbent upon me to tell you why the US, Britain, Switzerland and Poland are going to all this bother. And why we're working together instead of in our usual isolated silos.
"The Russian Bear has woken up and the strongman in the Kremlin, Mr. Putin, has started to break some long established rules amongst the intelligence communities. Mr. Barker, you no doubt were fully briefed on the Litvinenko assassination that took place in London on November 23, 2006?"
Cole didn't look happy. "Yes, not really good form for the FSB to kill someone with Polonium on UK soil."
Kajetan looked at Emily. "Your government is very concerned that too many Russians are starting to abuse your world famous hospitality and, of course, misusing your banks."
He then turned to Sarah. "The US is very concerned with Putin's increasingly aggressive behavior in the Baltic, in the middle east and what might be happening on Poland's eastern borders.
"My country always looks to the East. We live closest to the Bear and are very aware of the FSB's keen interest in the Ukraine. They have been sending in far too many 'agent provocateurs' into that region.
"So, we now have a rare opportunity to hit the Bear on the nose with a stick and to remind Putin that the international community is aware and prepared to take action."
"Yesterday, we received word that Alexandra Maltsev will not be broadcasting her usual newscast. She will be on 'assignment'. The phrase is of course a euphemism. When she disappears Vladmilla is busy on FSB business.
"Vladmilla is on the move and we are hoping that she is coming to Switzerland with a small select extraction team."
Sarah wondered how Kajetan knew that. "How could you possibly know she's headed for Switzerland." For her efforts Sarah received a smile from Kajetan, as if the teacher was pleased with one of his brighter students.
"Perhaps it is because I told Janek to tell Vladmilla that he is aware of a person, an expat from Poland, living in Bern, who has a special document that the FSB and Putin must possess and destroy because of its very damaging contents."
The table exploded with questions. Chuck stood up and started pacing, wondering why he'd been plunged into the middle of geo politics and the seamier side of the spy business.
Cole's question was the one that Kajetan chose to answer first. "Mr. Barker, you've asked the key question, who indeed is this individual that possesses such a dangerous document?"
Sarah now stood up beside Chuck. "It's Jacob, Malina's father. Is that why he left Poland and his family and friends almost thirty years ago?"
Kajetan slowly rose from the table. "I wonder, Fraulein Summers, if I might have something stronger than coffee or tea. Perhaps some whiskey or brandy, before I answer Mr. Barker and Miss. Walker's questions?"
He then looked at Chuck. "I wonder, Mr. Bartowski, if you would join me outside. I would like you to tell me about Malina and her father. I believe you know both of them."
Emily went to a side cabinet and grabbed a bottle of single malt whiskey that Cole had brought with him.
Kajetan and Chuck went outside. As Chuck was going into the backyard, he wondered if he clicked his heels three times would he end up back in Burbank.
Ten minutes later everyone was once again seated at the oak table.
Kajetan took a sip of the whiskey, smiled and nodded towards Cole. "Excellent single malt. Thank you." He sat back in his chair, collecting and lining up all of his thoughts before he would deign to speak.
"I believe Jacob does possess such a document. I'm not exactly sure what the document is, but as they say, 'I have a theory'. And Miss Walker, yes, I believe he fled Poland in such haste because he'd stumbled upon something very important and dangerous to his immediate health."
Chuck took a quick sip of his whiskey. "Why on earth would Jacob even talk to you and also, why would he ever admit that he possessed such a document? Especially if he felt his life and his family's safety might be jeopardized?"
Kajetan kept staring straight ahead like he was remembering something. "Yes, why indeed would Jacob do that? He might talk to someone, if that person was a very old friend. If that person had been the one to advise him to leave Poland and never tell anyone about the document he had in his possession."
When he finished talking, he locked eyes with Chuck and a short silence ensued.
Emily broke the silence. "You, Herr Baran, are that friend. I'm assuming you met at the University of Warsaw and you had little sympathy with the then communist regime?"
Kajetan smiled. "My, my, it is so refreshing to be surrounded by such young, able and quick witted minds."
"Tomorrow Mr. Bartowksi, Miss Walker and I will visit my old friend Jacob, from my university days, and we will see what he has in his possession."
Kajetan had a kink in his neck and he moved his head back and forth a little along with his shoulders to relieve it. "I'm a little surprised that no one has asked me a critical question. Perhaps you're just being kind to an old man and being very polite and patient."
Emily touched the bruise on her forearm. "Herr Baran, what is our mission, what are our objectives with this joint operation?"
Chuck now felt the tension around the table rapidly increase. He saw Cole, Sarah and Emily lean forward just a fraction, waiting for the old man's instructions.
"Your bosses and mine have established three goals. One- Capture Vladmilla and her extraction team, alive if at all possible. Slightly wounded but breathing is acceptable. Two- Acquire the document from Jacob, and if it is what I suspect, Switzerland, Britain and the US will simultaneously release its contents to the world's press. Three – to exchange Vladmilla and her team for two agents, one MI6 and one CIA, currently being held in the Lubyanka by the FSB."
Kajetan stood up and handed a piece of paper to Sarah. "Miss Walker, you and Mr. Bartowski will please pick me up at 9am at that address. I'm told your tradecraft is excellent so we should be able to quietly slip out of Bern, unobserved, to visit my old friend Jacob."
An FIS car was waiting outside for the old man and once he got in it quickly disappeared down the road.
Everyone sat back down at the table. Each one lost in their thoughts and wondering how what was once a very straight forward mission had metamorphosed into one of the most important missions of their careers. Cole, Emily and Sarah also knew that each of them were now in the centre of a very large spotlight. Succeed and their future was assured, fail and they would be stuck in dead end jobs, laboring away at meaningless tasks until they retired.
Chuck wasn't worried about his career. He was very worried about Malina and Jacob. He didn't want them to become just some collateral damage that would be swept aside if the other mission objectives were achieved.
For nearly two years, he himself had been a pawn in a much bigger game. He vowed he'd do everything in his power to make sure Malina and Jacob would come out of this alive and healthy.
A/N – I like to keep the chapters to about 5,000 words. So depending on your perspective, the good news, or the bad news is that there will be two more chapters and an epilogue.
