AN: Warning. This chapter contains mild references to torture.
Chapter 9: Time is running out
"The building across the street has security cameras, and one is facing the street. Ask Chin to do his magic and try to find out the name of the security company, to see if he can get access to the recordings. It's possible that this camera captured the moment when those bastards took Catherine. "
Junior approaches Steve, who is standing next to Catherine's parked car and asks, "Should we take the car?" Steve looks at him for a moment, and says "No. We'll leave it here, if these men come back, we don't want them to know there's someone else in this." He knows Adler's men took Cath and Steve is not going to make the mistake of underestimate the man. Obviously, Adler has figure the scope of the operation. He has already eliminated four agents in the US soil; the apartment is a mess, so it's likely that they have caught another of the undercover agents, and now they have Catherine. Adler is sure the CIA has sent some reinforcements.
Steve speaks again with Danny, while he walks to the Toyota, followed by Junior, "Danny, please keep monitoring the satellite image in case of anyone else approaches the building. We should return to the apartment. I want to see what's on that SD card."
"You got it! We'll call you when we have something," Danny says and two seconds later, the call is over. Steve and Junior get into de car and moves away.
The man sobs softly; Catherine is silent and looks at him from time to time with an infinite sadness. She feels guilty about his suffering, but there is nothing she can do. She won't put the operation at risk, because she knows that this means allowing Adler to go unpunished. Moreover, for none reason she won't risk the lives of Steve and his team. In her mind, she curses for a second her military training and the ingrained habit of protecting the greater good.
The men have left the warehouse ten minutes ago, leaving them alone. They have not spoken until that time. Then Cath tries to explain the dilemma in which they are stuck, saying, "Chandler ..." He interrupts her and simply says, "I know... I know we cannot risk this guy continue doing business at the expense of the lives of thousands of people. It's just ..." he stops for a second and then continues, "I just want someone to make sure all this is worth it ".
"It will be worth it" Catherine assures him, thinking if there is someone who can make Adler fall, that's Steve, "I swear to you. All of this won't be for nothing."
Adler comes back, followed by his men, who stop a few feet away. Adler walks towards Catherine saying "Okay, Kali. I think you need some time and an incentive to think about it. We're going to give your partner a brief break, so now we're going to try with you." Then he makes a sign to his men to come over.
They carry a pail full of water and a thick cotton cloth. Catherine knows what is coming and prepares herself. This is not the first time someone do this to her, but she can't help but be scared. The feeling of drowning is something that frightened her since she was a child. She closes her eyes and thinks about what Steve once told her, when referring to that specific kind of torture. "The key, Cath, is to not lose focus. Everything is here." He said pointing to his forehead, "You have to breathe deeply and hold your breath long enough to prevent water from reaching your lungs. Then, when they remove the cloth, you should breathe again deeply and quickly, before they do it again. You have to remember that everything they need is information, so, at least for the moment, they will try to keep you alive."
Yes, sure! She thinks ironically, Steve is Steve. Several times his fellow SEALs and some training officers had told her that, after the week of hell and some difficult missions, they were convinced Steve had a superior resistance to torture. A resistance they had never seen in anyone else. Moreover, she had seen that resistance in the front row, during one of the missions they performed together. She tries to repeat herself, as if it were a mantra, that she would achieve it, that she wouldn't disappoint him.
Suddenly, one of the men pulls her hair back, forcing her to raise the head, the other man places the cloth over her face.
Steve and Junior arrive at the apartment. After entering, they secure the lock and Steve takes from the room's corner, the suitcase that holds Catherine's laptop. He places it on the table, turns it on, and inserts the memory card. At that moment, a screen appears requesting the password to open the contents of the SD card, Junior spits "Damn it!"
After trying with Cath's date of birth, the name of her pet, and other possibilities, Junior says, "there must be another way".
Steve is looking at the screen: Under the text box to type the password, a phrase "Incorrect password" appears and the hint of the password "What we could never have", his eyes light up and his hands move again by the keyboard , typing "D-I-N-N-E-R" and presses "enter". Magically the screen comes to life, showing images and files about the Hephaestus operation.
Junior looks back at him with the surprise painted all over his face. Steve repeats "I told you ... I've known her for sixteen years."
Steve looks at his watch, and then tells Junior, "We must go back to the hotel." He quickly closes the computer and put it back in the suitcase then Junior takes the black backpack with Catherine's small arsenal and they both leave the apartment, carefully closing the door. After a few minutes, they keep the suitcase in the trunk of the Toyota and leave the parking lot towards the hotel.
Adler is sitting in the back seat of his car. He has told the driver to leave him alone, because he needs to think. The CIA had never approached so much in the last three years and he had always been able to keep them away, until now.
But now he's between the sword and the wall, this operation has already cost too much. He has lost millions, and the worst thing is some of his best clients have moved away, because they have lost confidence. And in this business, trust is everything. Everyone involved has a lot to lose and his clients already suspect that he has lost all control of the game.
That's why the business with Holloway is so important to him. If all goes well, he will keep making business with him buying weapons for all his clients in the Middle East and this will restore the confidence.
For now, they have assured him that everything is fine. He has kept a close eye on Holloway and his partners and there seems no cause for concern. The report he received an hour ago says that the Pittsburgh man and his three partners have stayed at the hotel all day long, except for a brief morning outing to run and exercise. They have called room service for breakfast and lunch. Holloway must be taking the day off before the package delivery, scheduled for tomorrow night. "Okay, at least, this is going well" he says to himself. He can't let the CIA ruin everything and, mainly, he can't let this new client knows he's in trouble.
At first, Thompson assured him that they were just three or four agents, so it would be easy to eliminate them and cut the problem in the bud. But now he's not so sure.
What bothers him the most is that the agent in charge is a woman. He has always thought women are useless, simple decorative objects created for the pleasure of men like him. But this woman is making him change his mind, he feels that the CIA is closing the fence and he's sure Kali has an ace up her sleeve.
He quickly pulls out his phone and dials Thompson's number. The man may have been a bastard with his cousin, but he's a mercenary and he's efficient, as long as there's a good amount of money involved.
"Mr. Thompson," he says when he hears the other man picks up.
"Yes sir"
"I have the CIA operation supervisor. I'll send you her picture, her code name is Kali. I need you to break the security and find out who this woman is."
"A woman?" Thompson asks surprised. He never suspected that the leader of the operation was a woman.
"Yes," Adler says scornfully. "I'll give you until tonight to find out who she is; otherwise I'll have to dispense with your services. Are we clear? "
Thompson knows what the words 'dispense with his services' mean. Man doesn't like the loose ends and if he decides to get rid of him, he's a dead man. Adler's orders are indisputable and he knows it, but he also knows that it won't be easy to break the information about a classified operation. He'll have to try with some CIA contact, after all, he's still the SAD team commander. Resigned, he replies, "Yes, sir."
The red Toyota arrives at the hotel. Steve intentionally drives in front of the main entrance, breathing deeply when he sees that the black car is parked in its usual place. There is no sign of the two men, so they must be inside, confirming that he and his partners are still in their rooms.
When they reach the corner, Steve turns right and later enters the parking lot, going up to the second level. He places the car in an empty place and both go down, taking the computer and the backpack with them. Then, go up the service stairs arriving to their room soon after.
Seeing them come in, Crackerjack sighs loudly and says "Finally! We were a little worried here. "
Steve looks at them and draws a slight smile. The concern for Catherine has not disappeared from his face, but he remains focused and knows what needs to be done. His confidence in Danny and Chin is absolute, and their help has been invaluable. If all goes well, it's only a matter of time before they find Cath.
Steve and Junior comes close the food cart. Lynx and Crackerjack have ordered lunch for four and they are starving. While eating his hamburger, Steve places the computer on the table and opens it, to start reviewing the files, while Junior updates his colleagues about what happened during their absence.
Steve is absorbed in reading the information and can't help being proud of her. Catherine and her agents have achieved a lot in recent months. They have ruined several of Adler's businesses for the purchase of a large amount of weapons and managed to make the clients repent at the last moment. Adler has lost a few million in the process, and must be very upset, to say the least. If all goes well, all they need is to catch him at the time of the delivery and the SEAL team will take care of eliminating the threat permanently.
He is currently looking at some satellite images. The first shows the building where Adler's penthouse is, other pictures of several buildings and houses in Hong Kong, a map with some locations in Asia, which Steve assumes must belong to Adler's potential customers. A couple of images especially calls his attention. A large wooded area at the south of Hong Kong, and some images of three or four country houses and a dozen warehouses scattered throughout the area.
Again, looks at his watch, calculating the time. It must be 02:00 in Hawaii, hesitates for a moment, but decides to wait, to give Danny and Chin time to rest, even for a few hours.
Thompson sighs and decides to take a chance. Takes his phone and dials a number he knows very well. She must be waking up right now. He remembers her with a smile. Her blond hair combed impeccably, her professional expression and her sensual look. Bunty's assistant at Langley, Sarah, is a beautiful woman with a body that makes those insipid clothes look fantastic. They've been dating for more than a year. He thought it would be useful to have someone he trusts at the top of the CIA and she has exceeded his expectations.
"Hello ..." she answers.
"Hello beautiful" he greets her, impregnating his voice with a sensual tone.
"Jack ..." her voice sounds excited. "I was worried. I guess you know what has been happening, there are already four agents killed and Bunty is very concerned. Are you okay?"
"Yes. I've been lucky," he says. "We're also worried, that's why I called you. I've not been able to locate Bunty and I need a favor."
An hour later his phone vibrates. A picture and Catherine's name appear in the message, along with a phone number. Quickly, types his answer "Thanks beautiful. I owe you". A couple of seconds later he receives her answer, "I'll make sure you pay your debt" and a drawing of a throbbing heart.
The rest was relatively easy. Although Catherine's file is almost completely classified, he now knows who she is. Takes the phone and types a message for Adler with the information.
Catherine is tired. She has been tortured for almost an hour and then Adler left, after telling her, "I must say Kali, you're a strong woman. The strongest I've ever known. Many men would have already broken, but you have not, have you? We'll give you some time to think about it, but my patience is running out and the next time I won't be so complacent" to demonstrate his point, he pulls out his gun and shoots at Chandler's knee. The man screams in pain, Catherine says with an unusually soft voice but full of hate "I'm going to kill you. You will pay for this. I swear". Afterwards, the men leave and she drops her head forward, exhausted. She coughs violently and a large amount of water shoots out of her lungs. Slowly closes her eyes.
An hour later, the rusted door reopens and Adler and his men approach her again. "Have you thought it over, Kali?" Adler asks, coming close to her. When he doesn't receive an answer, he slap her face and she raises her head. A trickle of blood flows from her nose, but she defiantly says, "Go to hell!"
"Okay," he says, pulling out his gun and shooting Chandler in the chest. He knows that he must use a more radical method or she will never speak. "Damn bastard!" She screams, shaking her body.
At that moment, Adler's cell phone rings and the man walks to the exit to answer the call. A couple of minutes later he comes back, staring at the screen of his phone. Then, his gaze softens as he approaches to speak with her, slowly approaches his hand to her face, putting his palm on her cheek, sliding it down her neck, and slowly lowering touching her shoulders, breast and waist in a long caress. She flinches again, trying to move herself away, but he smiles, whispering in her ear "I like you very much, Kali. Or should I say Lieutenant Catherine Rollins? "
