Fallen Angels – Chapter 10

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Harry Pearce, dressed in his usual dapper three-piece dark suit, looked at them, his Fallen Angels.

They in turn, were looking back at him expectantly.

He saw their faces and what he saw pleased him as they were not resentful or anger but acceptance.

They accepted him as their leader.

He ought to say something to them.

"You may be wondering why," he began without looking at anyone in particular. "I chose you specifically."

"Harry," Lucas cut in. "You don't have to explain. I mean you, or I should say Enoch had." He grinned at the last.

Harry glanced up at him and nodded. "Thank you Lucas. And yes, I wanted to continue the operations from when Tom decided he grew a conscious." Tom nodded. "And I agree with him but my hands were tied at that time with MI-5."

"But now," Tom added. "We're able to move under -5 without restrictions."

"Harry," Emily held her hand up. "Who, may we ask, is funding this outfit?"

He shook his head, "I'm sorry, Emily. This is still privvy to me and I can't tell any one of you about it but rest assure, they're good people too. The funding is all legal."

Emily nodded, "As long as it's legal, I'm good." She turned to wink at Lucas playfully.

He arched his brow at her as he shook his head.

Harry cleared his throat as he also caught their byplay; "As to the two of you…we'll move you to a bigger room…with a bigger bed." Harry's face began to redden as he spoke.

"Thank you, Harry." Lucas nodded as Emily leaned in and put her head on his shoulder.

Tom and Christine shook their heads as they laughed at them.

"If we could get back to your current situation Emily." Harry looked at her.

Emily frowned as she straightened her head from Lucas' shoulder, "You mean INTERPOL?"

He nodded, "Precisely. I presume Clyde Easter would not be please with your sudden absence and he would want a full report as to how your secretary and her companion were rescued from a compound full of radical Nairobian renegades."

"And I can't explain to him about our rescue mission. I'm definitely fired, for sure." Emily began picking her nails again.

"Not if I can persuade him that I ask you to help us in the rescue effort, after all, the two young ladies are British subjects therefore that made it my jurisdiction." He pointed.

Emily shook her head, "No Harry, that will be lying and I hate that because if something happens, no," she shook her head again. "I'll not put your career on the line."

Harry almost smiled but not quite as he said, "Home Secretary no longer trusts me, I think it's time I throw my hat in, as the Americans say."

Emily grinned at his joke.

But she sobered immediately, "No Harry, you must keep your current job."

Harry arched his brow at her, "Why is that?"

"Don't you see, if we all disappear suddenly, wouldn't that raise a red flag somewhere? Like MI-6 or the British government like your Home Secretary?"

"Emily is right Harry." Tom nodded. "We have been seen by the RAF in our last mission in Istanbul, they will be sure to be on the look-out for us."

"And the rescue ops here," Lucas added. "They'll be looking closely at the weaponry used on the Nairobians."

Harry looked at them and nodded, "Very well, I'll keep my day job for as long as I can. But I'll be warning you, Ruth Evershed almost discovered us."

"Harry," Lucas leaned forward. "You can bring her in, she will be an asset to us. A very excellent asset, her research work is legendary and will help Malcolm tremendously."

Malcolm nodded, "It will."

"But will she keep us covert?" Christine asked. "I don't know her a lot."

"She is a loyal member of -5." Harry said. "Let's wait awhile and see, Lucas."

He nodded, "Okay Harry. What about your tribunal?"

"What about it?"

"What do you think will be the outcome and the consequences?"

"Anything can happen, Tom." Harry looked at him.

"Harry," Lucas began.

He shook his head, "Lucas, Albany was just an excuse for a witch hunt."

"But if it weren't for me…"

"No, it's not well, it is but the Chinese and Russians would find another person to get to me, you're not to blame. You were just a pawn that got caught, learnt to forget about it." He said pointedly.

Lucas stared back at Harry before he backed away and nodded.

Emily watched their exchanges with interest and intrigued.

"When is your tribunal?" Emily inquired.

"Two days from now."

"Oh…that soon."

He nodded. "Now, if there's nothing else?"

"Actually," Emily began again. "There is another thing and it involved the Nairobian Mamte."

"Oh?" Harry glanced at her. "What of him?"

"He was not the leader of the faction. Mamte was just a second-in-command who became a casualty."

"Then we're not finished with this group?" Harry said.

"Does not look that way and I don't like it. There is still a price on my head." She said.

"That's right, Emily. And this leader, whoever he is will be back."

She nodded. "The question is when and how?"

"You're in danger and should not be left alone, Emily." Malcolm pointed out.

Harry nodded and thought for a moment and continued, "I'll have to assign a -5 detail for you..."

"No Harry," Lucas shook his head. "I'll do it."

"But you're dead, Lucas." Harry said.

"I have a better idea," Emily smiled and then turned to Christine. "How's your secretarial skills?"

Christine arched her brow at her, "Fairly decent, what do you have in mind Emily?"

"I'm about to give my secretary and her…friend a vacation and you're going to be my secretary."

Christine grinned, "Oh, I like this idea very much."

"Very well, I'll let you ladies handle the details as you will. Malcolm, keep researching on this Nairobian faction." He nodded as Harry stood up signifying the meeting adjourning.

Without a word, he left.

They staid and discuss about keeping a watch on Emily as how she'd go about her work at the INTERPOL.

"I'm still going to be there as Luke Northern, babe." Lucas insisted.

"I think I'll be an all day service man…your fax machine needs servicing." Tom grinned.

"Wow, all I needed is one babysitter." Emily shook her head as they continued to discuss their various guard duties.

….

Emily was in her office at the INTERPOL the next morning when Jenny came in.

She was much subdued when she sat down in front of her.

"Jenny, are you all right?"

She nodded with her head down, "Frieda is leaving me."

Emily frowned, "What do you mean?"

Jenny began to cry, "She says she couldn't handle my job here and she's afraid..hic!...that it might happen….hic! again…hic!"

She had a wad of tissues with her as she wiped her tears as she hiccupped between her bouts of crying.

"I'm sorry, Jenny." Emily came around and seat on the other chair opposite Jenny and put a hand on the younger woman's slim shoulder.

Jenny nodded, "She was freaking out last night and…hic! And I…couldn't…hic! Oh!" She put her face in her hands and sobbed, shoulders heaved hard.

Emily felt bad for her as she was an innocent person who happened to be incidentally involved in this.

"Jenny, do you remember the bed and breakfast my friend and I spent the weekend at?" Emily smiled t her.

Jenny raised her watery face at her boss, "Yeah…hic!"

"How about you take a few days' off with Frieda and take her to this B&B, all expenses paid plus some extra spending money?"

Jenny shook her head, "Oh, I couldn't do that boss! There's work and all and I can't leave you by yourself…"

Emily shook her head, "Don't worry about a thing, I'll…get a secretary from the pool office. And we'll manage for three days. You earned it, Jenny. After what you two went through? I think you should relax and forget about the whole thing, okay?"

Emily reached in to her bag and pulled out a package and handed it to her secretary.

Jenny opened it and read the brochures and the planner, as well as $500 pounds "Oh my god! You're the best boss!" she flew out of her chair and rushed and hugged Emily tightly. "Thank you, thank you!"

Emily laughed as she tried to breathe, "Jenny…too tight….can't breathe…"

Jenny released her embraced as she looked at Emily shyly, "I'm sorry boss! I was too…I...oh my god! This is the best ….I mean no one has never done such a nice thing for me," she began tearing again

"Jenny, I'm more than glad to do it for you, you've been the best secretary I've ever had, well the only one so far but you're the best and I want you to go have some fun and enjoy." She nodded.

Jenny rushed back to her office to pick up her purse and hugging Emily one more time she left the office.

Five minutes later, Christine, her temporary secretary was sitting by her desk in her office.

As well as a service man, working on the fax machine, which suddenly needed its annual service and maintenance check-up.

And Emily had a visitor, Luke Northern, who was an international businessman who wanted to thank Emily for her service to the Crown in the South African Embassy bombing two days ago.

Her phone rang, Christine informed her that it was Clyde Easter,

Emily and Lucas exchanged looks as she put him on speaker mode as Christine and Tom stepped into the office.

"Prentiss."

I should fire you right this moment! The other three gave her surprised looks; they were not used to the way Clyde talked.

"And a hello to you Clyde." Emily's heart was thumping rapidly as she arched her brow at the phone.

What the devil are you playing at, Emily? God damn it! Do you know what HQ wants?

"You tell me, Clyde."

Where did you get the manpower and resources to launch a rescue operation of that size? And don't fucking deny it wasn't you!

"I had help, Clyde and I can't tell you."

Excuse me? You can't tell me? What's the meaning of this shit, Emily? Why not?'

"Clyde, please will you trust me on this?"

There was a pause.

I'm sorry, Emily. I need an explanation and I need it now.

"Now?"

Are you having trouble hearing me?

"No, I heard you perfectly, Clyde. As I said earlier, I can't tell you."

Damn it, Em! He then launched into a stream of cursing in French that lasted at least two to three minutes.

Emily raised her eyebrows at his awful temper but held her stance.

Another pause.

"Are you done?"Emily pointed.

You have until tomorrow to send a full report on your assessment on of the Nairobi incident and I don't want anything left out including the weaponries. Then the line was dead.

"And have a nice day to you Clyde." She replaced the handset back on the phone and blew a breath up, her bangs flipped over and rested back on her forehead as she reclined her head back as she stared at the ceiling lights.

"I'm toasted, so bread and buttered toasted." She muttered.

Before her team could begin any discussion on this conversation, she received another phone call on her cell phone, it was from James, François Bertrand's personal driver and master servant.

"James? What is going on? Is my godfather okay?"Emily had a feeling she knew what he was going to say and she was not going to like it.

Miss Emily, he's gone! James panicked voice sounded old and scared. They have him.

"Who? Who have him? James, what happened?"

We were on our way to the Consulate for his early morning meeting, well it would have been the Embassy but since the Embassy was destroyed, we have to use the British Consulate but as I opened the door for Master Bertrand, something hit me from behind and when I woke up next he was gone. There was a note. It's for you, Miss Emily.

"What's on the note, James?"

They want to you. He said.

"Me?"

Yes, or they will kill Master Bertrand. They will be contacting you further on where to meet. Miss Emily, please you must do something! Please get him back! His heart…he had a mini- heart attack last year and the Dr. told him not to over exert himself and I'm fearing for his health.

"James, I'll get him back, have no fear. I'll let you know as soon as they call."

Thank you Miss Emily, Thank you!

Emily ended her call as she dropped the phone on her desk.

Tom immediately got in contact with Guardian who would get a hold of Enoch.

"Emily, officially, you'll have to use your chain of command and MI-5." Lucas came and put his arm around her.

"James will want the South African Consulate notified officially." He added.

She nodded as she reached for her phone again and called Clyde.

Damn! I did not see this coming! I'm sorry, love. He apologized.

"It's okay, Clyde."

MI-5 has jurisdiction on this, Em. Emily looked at Tom who shrugged his shoulders as he nodded.

"I'll get into contact with Harry Pearce."

Do that, and Emily I'm sorry. I'll be in touch. Easter out.

Emily hung her head down again as she dropped the phone on her desk.

"When shit pours, it really stinks." Emily muttered.

Lucas tried not to laugh given the gravity of the situation but what she said really made him wanted to laugh and he began to shake his head and cracked a smile that widened into a grin than laughter and soon the rest of them including Emily were laughing out loud.

As their laughter waned, Emily teared a little, "I'm going to get that bastard and get my godfather back."

"We'll get him back, Em." Lucas patted her back. "You're not alone, dearest."

"Quite right, Lucas old mate." Tom nodded.

"Hey Emily," Christine stood beside Tom. "The guys are right, you're not alone anymore. We're the Fallen Angels and we're a team…mate."She smiled at her.

Emily chuckled at her attempt of humor and nodded, "All right, you're right. Thanks everyone." She held Lucas' hand as he gathered her into his arms.

"That's the spirit, babe." He kissed her forehead. "We plan for an offensive attack the likes they've never seen."

…..

End of Chapter 10

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