Defeating Áglǽca

Chapter Ten

Rick, Casey, and Michael remained hidden on a cliff just above the location of the warehouse as they tried to see what was going on down below, which wasn't much. They couldn't risk moving closer, without the risk of being caught and so they stayed put, no matter how much they wanted to barge in fighting. They hated waiting.

After waiting for about forty minutes, Michael's cell phone began to vibrate in his pocket. When he pulled it out to answer it, he saw that it was an unknown number. He looked at both Rick and Casey before stepping away from the cliff's edge to talk to whoever it was.

"Hello?" Michael stated as he opened the phone.

"Am I speaking with Michael Dorsett with the ODS?" the female caller answered with a Scottish accent, similar to Billy's but not as thick.

Michael nodded to Casey and Rick in confirmation that this was finally the call they had been waiting for and responded, "Yes, this is Agent Dorsett. And who am I speaking with? After all the runaround you people have given me, this better be one of the big shots."

The woman replied, "My name is Julia Barnes, head director of MI-6, Mr. Collins' old team. I wasn't around when he was here, but most assuredly once I heard your numerous messages regarding Billy Collins, I thoroughly read his file. From what I've read, Mr. Dorsett, and the things my people have told me about him, I am not too eager to hear what you have to say."

"I beg your pardon, Madam, but I don't care what you think to be perfectly honest," Michael answered angrily. "If you knew Billy, then you wouldn't believe a word you've read or heard about him. My team and I know that no one stuck up for him when he was accused of being a traitor and no one cared enough to fight for him. Instead, they threw him out of his own country like a stray dog in order to save the face and integrity of your agency. Now, he is working with us, for the CIA, and is one heck of an agent and friend, who's in a lot of trouble right now, trying to make amends for something he was never responsible for in the first place."

"You certainly don't beat around the bush, Mr. Dorsett," she responded. "And your devotion to your friend is admirable, which is why I am willing to dig deeper and hear out what you have to say."

"Thank you, Director Barnes," Michael said. "We need your help to rescue Billy and bring down the real traitor to your agency, Dalton Sloane, aka Áglǽca."

The Director replied, "I have heard of this Áglǽca, but that is impossible. Agent Dalton Slone was killed seven years ago in the line of duty. According to the notes, Agent Collins did not have his back and was the only surviving member of the team sent in on that mission."

Michael answered, "Billy did not leak that information to your weapons dealer. Someone else did and I am willing to bet my life that it was Sloane, who is most definitely still alive. We've seen him with our own eyes."

The woman responded, "What is it that you want from the British Secret Service, Mr. Dorsett?"

"What I want is help to rescue Billy, who is currently being held by Sloane in a large warehouse in the middle of the desert, outside of Mumbai," he replied. "Unfortunately, the CIA is like your agency and is about to cut ties with Billy as well. Our director doesn't like it when anyone drags the agency through the mud and has been waiting for an opportunity to cut the ODS program once and for all. This is it. He will not sanction a rescue mission. We need your help. You can have all the glory that comes with bringing down your real traitor and we want Billy's name will finally be cleared. The Secret Service owes Billy. Will you send a team to go against Dalton Sloane and a couple dozen of his men, some of whom are Gurkha?"

"If what you say is true, then you are right about us owing Agent Collins," Julia Barnes answered. "I will send the team immediately, Mr. Dorsett, but if anything goes wrong and this mission fails, I will be happy to help your Director bring you and the others down. Do I make myself clear?"

Michael nodded once again to his friends as he responded, "Yes Ma'am. And thank you."

Just before hanging up, she replied, "Do not thank me just yet, Mr. Dorsett. We shall see."

"A team is on its way," Michael said as he walked back over to the edge of the cliff where the others were still crouched low to the ground. "I think she liked me."

"It appears that way," Casey answered. "I think she liked your ferocity in the beginning of that conversation."

Michael grinned as he turned to Rick and said, "I need you to come back to the hotel with me and help me get our things together, while we wait for the team to arrive. Casey, I need you to stay here and keep an eye on things. Call me if anything happens. I still suspect that Carter will show up to close the deal with Sloane and take the bomb. Do not move from here or do anything stupid, unless you absolutely have to. We can't risk you being captured too, unless you see that Billy is in immediate danger. We know that Billy is still alive, probably because Sloane thinks he can get information out of him about us, but chances are he will kill you straight off."

Casey nodded when suddenly they heard the sound of a helicopter coming. As it flew over them and landed on the ground near the warehouse, they saw that the new arrival was Jackson Carter, as the ODS suspected, along with another man they did not recognize and three guards.

Rick spoke up saying, "It looks like you were right, Michael. Carter has come for the bomb. What are we going to do if they leave with it? We still don't know what kind of bomb it is or what he plans to do with it."

"If he does leave with it, I'll call it into Higgins," Casey answered. "Carter absolutely hates immigrants in the United States. Most likely, the target will be in the states and something to do with an immigration office. The CIA can deal with it. Play nice with our new friends when they arrive, gentlemen."

Rick and Michael left and Casey was now alone. He pulled open his bag they had left with him and pulled out a water bottle, as well as a candy bar to eat while he waited and observed the men guarding the warehouse. After a few minutes, Casey began to sing quietly to himself in order to help pass the time, just as he did back when Rick had been shot in the leg. It helped to calm his nerves.