Chapter 10: Now Just Hold Still
The head of the Network took a seat across the aisle from the Hardys. With a brief wave of his thin hand he motioned the men behind Frank and Joe to holster their guns. The few people still seated in the compartment were six rows back from the group, so the older man spoke freely. His voice was not one to carry.
"Well, I see you've found yourself in quite a lot of trouble," Gray said, acting very blasé about the whole situation. "How long have you been in Romania? Two days?"
Joe tensed, clenching his fists but his brother laid a calming hand on his shoulder. Frank turned to the Gray Man. "How were we supposed to know the simple mission of espionage you assigned us would end up leading us to a slave ring and Assassins?"
"The underground slave market we had been suspicious of for years, the Assassins however we had not anticipated," Gray replied.
"We had not anticipated," Joe muttered mockingly under his breath.
"I wouldn't be so quick to talk Joseph," the Gray Man smirked, but the younger Hardy could tell he wasn't the least bit amused. "Because of you our undercover operative is in jeopardy. It has taken us eight months to infiltrate the Romanian Underground, now they realize their security has been breached and are replacing all their personnel."
"You can't blame Joe for that," Frank snapped. Gray turned to the younger man and saw a glare of defensiveness in his brown eyes. Joe looked equally as angry.
"He is the one who started this unfortunate domino effect," the Gray Man retorted, but decided not to press the matter. "I will not hold a grudge. Right now we have more important problems. Namely the Assassins. I am going to assume that Darius Radu has something to do with it, considering his current position with the organization."
"Darius Radu?" Joe asked, still annoyed. "Is he an Assassin?"
"In a way. I'm sure you've been acquainted with the man, he's the head of the Romanian Underground and an ex-field agent for the Assassins. Now he does odd jobs for them...rather than risking the alternative of retiring."
The Hardys both knew the alternative. Death. Probably cyanide or another quick acting poison. The Assassins couldn't risk any leak in their confidentiality...and didn't tolerate failure, which brought about the need for cyanide capsules in the first place.
Joe thought for a moment, then turned to his brother. "Sir," he stated surprisingly calmly.
"Yes, I believe that is what he has is subordinates refer to him as. Not many know his true identity," Gray informed them.
"What about Charity? What does she have to do with all this?" Frank asked, curious to finally get some real answers.
"Charity? I don't recall ever--"
"She's the one who sold us out to the Assassins," Joe growled, still angry with the illusive woman and her sister.
"Ah, the woman following Frank." Gray nodded.
Frank looked confused. "She was following me? Wait, wait, you were following me too?"
"Well, not me directly. One of our agents heard about the explosion at Valea and managed to locate you." Gray smiled slightly, "You broke out of that hospital pretty quick."
Joe turned to Frank who was coughing slightly, trying not to make eye contact with his brother. "I was fine," he muttered to the Gray Man. "So Charity was following me?" he asked, changing the subject.
"Yes, I suppose she had previously arranged the deal with the Assassins."
"But how'd she know we were in Romania?" Joe questioned. "Do you think Charity knows about the Assassins...or just what they want her to know? I wonder how she found a job with them."
"I'm sure she joined them at her own discretion, but if there was money to be made she was probably pretty easily persuaded into helping them find us," Frank paused, "But why did they want us anyways?"
The Gray Man actually laughed. "I'm sure you're both well aware that the Assassins have a few grievances with you. However, one never knows with a group such as the Assassins. You may be seen as bargaining chips against the Network...or just an annoyance well worth getting rid of." Both brothers frowned.
"So..um, how exactly did you find us?" Joe asked.
"That's easy," Gray said, "We didn't find you, you found us." After seeing the Hardy's bewildered expressions he explained further. "After you escaped the Assassins--and I am sorry we couldn't risk helping you--" at that Joe rolled his eyes, "I assume you boarded the closest train you could. That train just happened to be the same one we were traveling on."
Gray nodded to one of the men still seated behind the boys. "Tristan spotted you. My apologies about the firearms, but it's standard procedure. We couldn't let you get off the train...just yet at least."
"Why? We already failed our mission. Apparently I have caused a massive hole to rip in the Network's operations! Why would you care what happens to us?" Joe was getting frustrated with the proceedings. Frank sighed and gave the Gray Man a contrite look.
The train rumbled on beneath them as the Network head contemplated his next statement. Joe, unfortunately, had a valid point. Although Arthur Gray was not an emotional man, he did feel some sort of responsibility for the two brothers. It irritated him to no end, but yet the feeling stuck with him.
"Maybe you should be put into protective custody. At least till Darius Radu decides to stop searching for Joe." Gray sat back in his seat, waiting for the response he knew was to come.
"I really don't think that's necessary--" Frank started but his brother's anger cut his words short.
"I am not gonna be put into protective custody! You can't be serious! Besides, Frank and I will be back in the States in a day or so. I'm not gonna spend one more day in this bloody country!"
"I'm surprised at you Joe, you're not one to give up on a mystery," Gray said frowning. He wasn't sure why he was mentioning that half of the story, it would just come back to bite him.
"What mystery?" Joe asked angrily. "Charity's a traitor, you've got some agents working on the Underground situation by now I'm sure. There's nothing to solve."
"The Ramseys," Frank said in understanding. Joe looked at his brother, the thought of Cameron and Calvin flooding back into his mind.
"But...how do you know about the Ramseys?" Joe wondered, now quiet and cool.
"Benjamin Ramsey is an old friend and ex-agent," Gray explained, slightly hesitantly. "Unlike the Assassins, Network agents are allowed to retire without consequence. His wife died in child birth, but the twins survived. He was forced to retire or give up his kids. He took the initial option. I recently got word about his two boys, taken by Darius Radu."
"I-I met him...in the Underground," Joe told Gray, "And his sons, Cam and Cal at an orphanage before I was taken to the slave market. I promised them and Benjamin I'd find them."
"Yes, well that is not your job Joe. We'll take it from here," Gray said solemnly.
"Quit being so condescending! You just said yourself that I wasn't one to turn down a mystery!" Joe hissed. The Gray Man stared placidly into the young man's fiery blue eyes.
"I suppose that was a mistake on my part," Gray replied evenly.
Frank frowned. "Joe's right. Besides we've dealt with the Assassins before--"
"Not like Darius Radu," Gray interrupted. "Unlike me he holds a grudge forever."
"Then what good would protective custody do?" Joe yelled, trying unsuccessfully to keep his voice hushed.
"Granted, protective custody might not be the best option." The Gray Man nodded. "But I cannot allow you to get involved in this investigation."
"Too late, we're already involved," Joe smiled wickedly.
"Again, Joe's right," Frank intervened. "I don't see why our help would be such a problem."
Immediately Frank was eating his words. Joe rolled his eyes at the Gray Man's incredulous expression.
"C'mon, we're not that bad," Joe said, humor mixing with his annoyance.
"I beg to differ," the Gray Man grumbled. "In any case, I thought you didn't want to spend one more day in this 'bloody country' Joe?"
"I made a promise."
"I don't care."
"You're not the boss of us."
"Oh really--"
"Could we get back to the situation at hand?" Frank asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. Joe always brought out a funny side in the Gray Man.
Joe smiled triumphantly. "We're gonna help whether you like it or not."
"Hmmmm." Gray appraised the boys for a moment then turned to the men behind them and nodded his head.
Frank and Joe turned in time to see the Network agents retrieve two sets of handcuffs from their pockets. Then they made a grab for the brothers.
A/N: To my knowledge the Romanian Underground doesn't exist. Hope you liked the chapter! Sorry for the delay!