Don't own Chuck
Chuck walked back down the alley behind the restaurant preparing himself mentally. He drew Casey's Colt and waited for his guests. He knew by throwing down the gauntlet like he had the men inside couldn't refuse. He just hoped he hadn't gotten too cocky this time but he had to keep them distracted long enough to get the rest to safety. But he couldn't help think, was this the life he wanted for his daughter? And was it this life that chased his father away? But these were all thoughts he had to put out of his head now. He had to concentrate and think about protecting what he loved and he knew had to do. He heard the sound of men approaching and saw their shadows on the wall.
"So you're armed, good," said their leader. "At first I thought you were just stupid but it's still three against one as they drew weapons too. This isn't some American western you might be quick but you can't get all three of us before one of us gets you."
"This is the deal we do this here you three and me but you let the rest walk free. If you agree I'll let you all live if not we'll just have to see how things wash out. Those are my terms," said Chuck flat toned staring cold straight at them.
"I take it back you are stupid. This is my deal you call out your lady partner then we kill the two of you and that's that no one else needs to get hurt but we're on a clock tick tock," said their leader just as cold.
"Well that lady inside isn't just my partner, she's also my wife, so the answer to you demand is no. We'll settle this here and between us. I've got an e-ticket to hell with your name one, you can validate it onboard."
"Big words, okay I guess we'll have to whack everyone," said the man as they started to raise their weapons.
"Wait, wait, you know I've never really been fond of guns. They really aren't my thing," said Chuck as he sat his weapon down. "I wonder what the police are going to think if they find my body with bullet holes but no bruises. Wouldn't look much like a mugging but more an execution. Then they'll do an investigation and what will they find? I haven't got an idea but I don't think your boss will be happy. I don't know if he's the forgiving type or if you guys will become lose ends waiting to be tied up. What say we do this old school a little hand to hand or are you afraid I might kick your butts."
"I take it back you're not stupid, you're insane," said the man as he pointed his gun then hesitated thinking about the hit they were to do next. "But you're right. You two go and make him look like he's been mugged."
"With pleasure you talk too much, said the one man to Chuck as the other nodded then they loosened up and stretched.
"Take your time I wouldn't want you to spring yourself or pull a muscle. I don't suppose you want to follow any sort of rules like three minute rounds or a ten count when someone goes down."
"Oh you're going down alright but you're not ever going to get up," growled one as he charged Chuck throwing a right step through. Chuck flashed. He brush blocked the punch with this left then reverse chopped the assailants throat from under with this right changing it into a grab at the same time stepping behind with his lead leg to throw the man over his hip sending him straight down on his spine. It looked almost like a pile driver in wrestling except this wasn't fake. There was a loud thud as he hit followed by a low groan along with a small cloud of dust and debris on impact. Chuck finished him off by grabbing his hair and bouncing his head off the pavement.
"Next," said Chuck as both men looked at each other. They were both stunned at how fast the whole thing was one minute their friend was up raging the next, down and out.
"Merde," said the other man as he pulled a K-bar knife slashing out at Chuck. He jumped back in time so the man cut air. Then as he lunged forward Chuck side stepped checking the knife hand with his right delivering a left hammer fist to the ribs. Holding on to the wrist Chuck extended the man's arm and in a circular aikido move he used the man's own forward momentum against him. The man flew to the ground with Chuck still holding his wrist then with a flick the man screamed in pain as his arm was wrenched out of the socket and the knife went flying. He was rolling crying on the ground holding his arm unable to move it.
"Very good Monsieur you fight well but I still have my gun and we can dispense with the dance now. I still am going to kill you then go inside for the rest."
"A couple of things you ought to know. First this little martial arts demonstration was just a diversion and a way to equal out the odds," said Chuck as he got his breath.
"And what is the second? I suppose you're going to tell the cavalry is here to save you like in your American shows. They rode in to save the day, nice try but I'm not buying."
"No not the cavalry just my wife," said Chuck as he dusted himself off. "Hi Love I really wish you could've gotten here a little bit earlier you should've seen my Steven Seagal move."
"If you don't drop that weapon I'm going to paint the walls with your fricking brains," said Sarah standing behind the man. "Sorry I tried but someone made an oopsie and it had to be cleaned up first. But I wish you'd forget that movie stuff and do some real training. I think you and I need to do some serious training in the gym."
"Oh I like that idea," said Chuck as smiled and let his imagination run wild.
"Hey, before you let things get out of control, I'm not talking about that kind of workout. Are you still thinking about the whole baseball team idea again," said Sarah then she turned back to the gun for hire. "And you drop the gun I'm not giving you another warning."
"You two are crazy," said the man as he raised his weapon to shoot Chuck. Sarah fired two quick rounds and the man dropped. Chuck went over kicking his pistol away first then he bent over to check him.
"He's gone," said Chuck as he looked up at her shaking his head. "Well he's not going to give us any answers. You know I'm getting tired," he said as he went through the man's pockets. "Cell phone, I got a cell phone."
"Good but tires of what? Us? Me?"
"No don't be silly, I'm just saying is it too much to ask for that we be able to go out without having to ask for the check and the body count at the end of the evening?"
"Sweetie you're spiralling, stop spiralling, I had to shoot him he was going to shoot you," said Sarah as pistol whipped the guy with the dislocated shoulder to render him unconscious.
"No, I know you did but I'm saying you shouldn't have to," said Chuck as they heard police sirens. "Sam was with us for Christ's sake."
"I know and you're right but you can't freak out now. Come on we need to go there's nothing else here," said Sarah. She took him by the hand and they disappeared in crowd that was gathering as blue lights came in sight then they made way their through the park.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Philip went to the Governor's mansion with the excuse he needed to recover his glasses he had left in the study. He let himself in and made it past the servants without being seen. He had to hide behind a curtain off the ballroom until a group of workers finished removing the bunting. Then when the coast was clear he made a beeline for the study using his master key he opened the door and was inside.
"Okay now we need to see if Paul's toys are going to work," said Philip to himself as he put the device close to the door. Once in place a series of numbers rolled by on the digital screen stopping when it was done and the door clicked open.
"Good, good," Philip said to himself as he opened the door and pulled out the documents inside. He leafed through them quickly until he came to a folder marked Top Secret from the Foreign Ministry but when he opened it he discovered it was written in code.
"Crap, I need the cypher," he said to himself. He knew what he needed and where it was. It was locked away in the Governor's office in the capital building. Suddenly he realized why the Governor had acted the way he had. Sensitive documents had to be kept separated from the decryption device, it only made sense. He laid them out on the Governor's desk taking photos of each page before putting them away. He had just closed the safe and was about to leave when the Governor's wife came walking in on him.
"Oh Philip you're here. I didn't know you were here? How'd you get in?"
"One of the servants let me in and the study was open. I forgot my favorite pair of glasses here last night in all the commotion and I can't read a thing without them."
"I know what you mean I have the same problem. They're quite a nuisance to keep up with I guess the hazards of growing old."
"Yes Madame," said Philip as the Governor's wife gave him a look. "I mean yes Madeleine. Well I need to go and get back to work your husband will be looking for me."
"Well I was just about to have some tea would you like to join me. I'm sure my husband can survive on his own for a little while and if he complains tell him it was my fault."
"I really do…" Philip started but Madeleine wouldn't hear any excuses.
"Philip tea is the one unifying drink that fends off civilization from anarchy and as such it is our duty to hold up its buttresses and defend it against the barbaric invaders on the other side. The only answer I'll accept from you my friend is which do you prefer, milk or lemon."
Philip resigned himself that there was no escape so he retreated with Madeleine where they had afternoon tea in the garden among the Bougainvillea. Paul would have to wait to get his intel.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Alex carried Sam back to the hotel with John and Kathleen bringing up the rear. They left the restaurant soon after Sarah left to meet Chuck. Kathleen thought the way Sarah kissed Sam goodbye was strange almost as if she wasn't coming back then asked Alex to take her back to the hotel and that that they should stay close to John. Alex didn't like it either but she didn't want her mother or Sam to see how concerned she was so she put on her game face. But she kept stealing glances at her father who she could tell was in full combat mode.
"John look at all the police at our hotel and isn't that that woman in uniform who dropped the clip board last night," said Kathleen. "There has to be at least five police cars who are they looking for Al Capone?"
"I think they're waiting for us. Kat it's time I came clean," said John as he started looking at the ground and scratching his finger with the other. Kathleen had mentioned to him that Alex did the same thing. "That woman's name was Ilsa when I first met her in Bosnia in 2004, my cover was Energy Consultant and her cover was as an AP Photojournalist. We had a fling then there was a bomb blast and I thought she was dead. Then she showed up in Burbank in 2007 before disappearing again until now. I want to say I didn't feel anything but I don't want to lie to you. You can say something now. If you want to scream and hit me go ahead I understand."
"Well I appreciate the honesty and since we're confessing I haven't been a saint either. I've had relationships and met other people. I think John I need to know what you feel for this woman."
"And if I tell you I don't know what would you say? I'm sorry, if you had asked me that before last night I'd say she was dead and buried for me but now I don't know and that's the truth."
"I think you need to figure things out," said Kat as she took this hand. "My Alex, my soldier, I'll always have him in my heart. He was my soldier who went off to war and never came home. This time with you I never expected and I'd be lying if I said I didn't like it but let's just say we take it slow and see where this leads."
"Maybe someday we can make it to Niagara Falls," said John as he led them to the hotel.
"Maybe but for right now we need to take it one day at a time," said Kathleen as Alice and the Sergeant Major came walking up to them. "I'm not going to lie; part of me would like to punch her in the face."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Chuck and Sarah made their way through the city stopping outside the hotel that was surrounded by police cars. They saw the Sergeant Major standing out front on his phone obviously directing the search for them. As they were about to go in Chuck grabbed Sarah by the arm.
"Wait we need to talk first. Those men were after us if we go in they could come back and try to finish the job. I don't know how to tell you this but to keep them safe we need to stay away," said Chuck. Sarah looked at him in silence she wanted to argue he was wrong but he wasn't. "This isn't easy for me to say and you can understand why but my father once told me sometimes to protect the ones we love we have to stay away."
"Okay say we stay away and go dark then what do we do? Where do we go? The PBY would make a good temporary base but then we'll need something else. It won't take Alice long to go looking there."
"We can tap into the CCTV on the piers for now to keep an eye out that should give me enough time to retrieve the data off our shooters cell phone. If we have time I'd like to tap into LiDar and do a scan of the area and use the military side with LWIR, DISC and a UV-LIF."
"Okay while you're doing all that I can try to contact Beckman and maybe arrangements for an evac of Sam and Kathleen through the embassy. The question is what do we do with Casey, you know what he's going to say."
"I know but for now he's on guard duty."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Alice conducted her questioning in Chuck and Sarah's room because that was where Sam had all of her things. Sam sat quietly between Alex and Kathleen as Alice tried to quietly question what was going on. Or better she was trying to be quiet but she was getting the feeling she was getting the run around and she had about reached her limit.
"John this is what I have, I've got two men in the hospital and one in the morgue. All three with records that make Hannibal Lecture look like a choir boy and the only descriptions I've got matched Chuck and Sarah but neither of whom can be found."
"I don't know what to tell you, we separated after we ate. They wanted to see the sights and we came straight back. Maybe your guys in the hospital can be enlightening you know I'd be more than willing to help. People just seem to open up to me."
"John it would be better for everyone if you read me in. I can't help you if I don't know what's going on. I've got a pier contaminated with radioactive material that my people, and when I talk about my people I'm talking about the DGSE, say is Plutonium-239, and we both know what that's used for. I've got a missing fishing boat and dead crewmembers whose medical records have mysterious come up missing along with their bodies that somehow got cremated without the approval of their next of kin."
"I wish I could help you but we're as much in the dark as you are. Everything you know we know. This was supposed to be a vacation but it's turned out to be the vacation from hell."
"Alex do you know who that woman is," asked Kathleen. "I mean you know, have you ever gone on a mission or heard your father mention her before?"
"No Mom never and I'm not just saying that to be nice to you because you're my mother. Dad has never mentioned her to me not like Gertrude."
"Yes, she's that Russian woman you father knows," said Kate with a tone that said more than words could ever.
"Mom I wouldn't worry about this woman. She doesn't seem to be Dad's type," said Alex and as soon as the words left her mouth she wished she'd never said anything.
"And what type would that be? Young, sexy, attractive, mysterious let's face it what am I compared to that," said Kate as she looked over at Alice.
"You're my mother and I love you," said Alex and as she did Sam offered Kat her Rabbit. "See Sam loves you too."
As Alice interrogated him, Casey kept glancing over at Kat wondering what was going on in her head. She was getting a glimpse into his world and he as afraid it was scaring her. She was a normal girl one who had only been as far as the bus station in Buffalo.
"John, John, are you listening to me," said Alice. "You need to take this seriously or I won't be able to help you. Get your head in the game or this is going to bite you and you just might not be able to get yourself out."
"Well then I think we should inform the Governor that the man who saved his life just yesterday is a wanted fugitive," said John as he turned the tables on her. "I'm sure he'd like to hear that especially with all the proof you have."
"Oh no you don't, you're not going to make this political. I've got the DGSE breathing down my neck ordering me to investigate."
"I think it is political and you should do just that investigate. Let's see if you can investigate and find your way out of our rooms. It's late and the kid needs to go to sleep."
"Okay we're out of here for now, but believe me we'll be back," said Alice as she got her men together and left to room in a huff.
"Well I'm glad that's over," said Alex as she picked Sam up. Sam was fighting to stay awake but losing the war.
"For now," said Casey as he went over to the balcony door and looked out at the city. "You'd think for what these rooms cost there'd be a view of the bay."
"There safe John," said Kat as she came up behind him. "I know what you're thinking."
"I never could hide anything from you."
"And I don't want you to try," said Kathleen and John realized exactly what she was talking about but didn't know what to say or even where to begin.