Dog Will Have His Day

Summary: Alec is trying to catch the man who made him hurt Max, but he has to save her first...

Chapter 10

The gun was a solid weight against Alec's temple. He could easily disarm the party-crasher, but he had a sneaking suspicion he knew who it was.

"Alec, if you think I'm kidding, then you can think again. Put the gun down."

Alec immediately recognized the voice. It was Terry, Secretary Gordon's head of security. They'd dealt with each other whenever he and Max had crossed paths with the Homeland Security Secretary, which was often enough since Gordon was the one who'd made it possible for them to have Terminal City and for them to set up Freak, Inc.

"Since you're here," Alec kept his tone composed, "you must know what's going on and I really don't have time to mess with this guy. I need that file."

Terry pulled his gun away from Alec's head and he heard him place it in his holster. "I understand. But pointing your gun at him really isn't going to get him to move any faster. It's going to make him dig in his heels."

Alec dropped his gun and faced the Secret Service agent. "Then what would you suggest? You should be helping, not getting in the way."

"How about this?" Terry pulled a letter from his breast coat pocket and handed it to Agent Clark. The man took it with shaking hands, but did not open it.

"Who are you people?" he demanded.

Terry pulled out his ID and flashed his very impressive looking badge and credentials. "We were never here today. You've never seen any of us. Is that clear?"

"What?" the man asked, wide-eyed.

"Just read your letter," Terry ordered and the man finally began to rip open the envelope.

"Gordon sent you?" Alec asked him.

Terry nodded. "When he got the call from Mole, it took us a little while to figure out the best way to make this work for all of us with the least danger possible." He smiled. "After everything you did for him, the Secretary wanted to come himself, but it wasn't safe."

"So he sent you in his place."

"Yes." Terry held out his hand. "I never did get to thank you personally." His eyes fell to Alec's torso where he'd been so badly injured in the assassination attempt. "After what you did to save us, I'm surprised you're even standing."

"You're not the only one," Slick muttered.

Alec ignored the remark and finally accepted the man's outstretched hand. "Just doing our job."

Terry made a huffing noise that might have been a laugh. "I really don't want your job."

"Some days, I don't either," Alec replied with a chagrinned smile.

"How is Max?" Terry asked more quietly.

"Dying." The word was like a gunshot in the quiet room, startling them all. "He made sure I would have no choice except to do what he wants. And I will. I'll do whatever I have to do to save her."

Terry held up a hand in an attempt to placate him. "That's why we're all here. The Secretary owes you, not to mention the fact that he likes you two. You and your people are valuable assets. He'll protect you if it's at all possible."

"Is this for real?" Agent Clark demanded.

Everyone in the room looked toward the man, almost having forgotten he was even there. "Very," Terry answered him.

"This letter is from Secretary Gordon, himself," the man said, mouth agape. He held up the letter which was on very official and expensive looking letterhead.

"Yes," Terry affirmed.

He blinked several times. "The Secretary of Homeland Security."

"Yes."

"You expect me to believe this?"

Terry shrugged. "I am more than willing to call him personally if you need reassurance."

"I… uhh…"

Terry didn't hesitate. He pulled a cell phone out of his pocket and punched in a long list of numbers. While he dialed he said, "The Secretary has already spoken with your superior, but he cannot call you directly, as it appears your line is bugged." Terry put the cell phone to his ear and waited several seconds.

"Yes?" Alec knew the agent couldn't hear anything, but it was reassuring to hear the Secretary's voice and to know that he was on-board with getting this problem taken care of as swiftly as possible.

"I'm here," Terry explained. "He needs a little prompting."

"Put him on the phone."

Terry covered the receiver with his hand. "No names. Do not mention the file directly. We clear?"

Agent Clark nodded, still half-stunned and took the phone. He swallowed nervously and put the phone to his ear. "Hello?"

"You got my letter?" Gordon sounded pleasant, even jovial despite the gravity of the matter. Alec knew he was trying to make sure it seemed like anything but a deadly serious underhanded operation going on.

"Yes… yes, sir."

"Wonderful, wonderful. Everything was clear?"

Agent Clark straightened his shoulders, finally getting himself together. He took a deep breath, steadying himself, then nodded although Gordon couldn't see him. "Yes, it shouldn't be too hard to manage."

"Excellent. We will have to get together once this is taken care of. How does Tuesday sound?"

"Tuesday?" he repeated, surprised again.

Secretary Gordon chuckled as if this really were just a friendly conversation. "How about lunch? I'll call again to set the time once I've checked my schedule."

"That'll be fine."

"Good talking to you. Until Tuesday then."

They both said goodbye and Agent Clark handed the phone back to Terry. "What kind of crap have I got myself into?"

"Crap that's way above your pay grade," Terry answered.

Agent Clark nodded. He sat back down at his desk and opened a drawer, pulling out a manila folder and setting it on top of the desk. "The truth is, the more I looked into this, the more I had a feeling someone would be showing up on my doorstep."

"This file is hard copy only?"

"I started getting really paranoid after I began looking into this guy. Early on, I was almost certain the file had been hacked, so I decided to keep it as a hard copy and I've been keeping it locked up."

Alec's hands curled into fists, annoyed with the chatter between the two agents. He, and more importantly Max, had no time for this.

"I really don't care what's in the file," Alec cut in impatiently. "All I care about is Max and I want that file now."

"You have two minutes to make a copy," Terry offered.

Agent Clark nodded and again held up the letter he'd been given. "The Secretary asked me to turn over one copy to you and give the original to a man named Alec. That must be you?" When Alec nodded, the man moved toward a large ancient looking copier standing against the wall and began setting papers in the tray to be copied.

"Are you who I think you are?" Clark asked.

Alec raised an eyebrow. "I'm pretty sure asking questions like that is what got you into this situation in the first place." The agent shifted uneasily and Alec guessed he must have sounded a little nastier than he'd intended. Either that or he'd freaked the guy out by confirming he had a living, breathing transgenic in his office.

"If I were you," Terry stepped in, his voice a clear warning, "I would forget you just noticed that."

Clark's eyes nervously moved between Alec and Slick, but once again Alec saw that flash of intelligence and Alec guessed Agent Clark would be going over and over this conversation for quite a while, gleaning everything he could. Alec stored the information away for later. If they got out of this, knowing someone in Clark's position might prove useful. And they were going to get out of this. He would save Max.

"The Secretary may have more questions for you when you speak to him," Terry told Clark, "but for now, one of the people in his office will continue the investigation. This is a very serious matter and must be undertaken in the utmost secrecy. You understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"As soon as a secondary matter has been seen to," he looked toward Alec, and he knew he meant ripping Kincaid's lung out, "we will notify your director that your services may be needed to assist us."

"Fine."

Terry turned toward Alec. "The Secretary expects that file to be kept out of the wrong hands. Is that understood?"

"He won't get away from me this time," Alec promised.

Terry nodded and smirked. "I don't doubt it. I actually kind of pity the guy."

"Don't," Alec bit out. "He deserves everything he gets and then some."

"Fair enough," Terry acquiesced easily, probably sensing how close Alec was to the edge.

Alec was silent for a moment, his mind going over plans and more plans, then adding contingencies, just in case. He suddenly realized his eyes were closed and his teeth were clenched so tightly his jaw was hurting.

"We'll get it, Alec," Slick said calmly. "We'll get it and we'll get back to her."

Agent Clark cleared his throat and Alec looked up to see him holding out a file. Terry, he noticed, had already accepted his and was secreting it away beneath his fed approved suit coat.

Alec took the file and nodded to the man in thanks. He held out his hand toward Terry, who accepted it easily. "Thank you. And thank the Secretary for me."

"Like I said," the man answered, "we owe you."

Alec nodded, a wry smile crossing his lips. "We're kind of playing tag at this point in the favors department, aren't we?"

Terry answered with a low chuckle. "As long it gets the job done."

Alec straightened, bracing himself for what was ahead. "Kincaid won't know what hit him."

Next up... the big showdown...