Don't own Chuck

Inside the black Mercedes parked in the park parking lot four men sat watching Sarah and the rest eat their picnic lunch while they plotted. They'd followed then from the casino leaving a thirty-yard cushion but now where they were with all the trees and other vehicles they had to move in closer. The team leader didn't like it but he didn't see any other option where they could keep their target under surveillance.

"Make sure that signal jammer is up and running. I don't want them to get any word about the other hit. We maintain radio silence until we pounce which will be in twenty-one minutes," said the team leader as he checked his watch.

"But if we wait until then to switch off the jammer how will we know if Ara was successful on his mission?" said the driver as he looked up in the rearview at the team leader in the back.

"You worry about this mission. He's got his and we've got ours. Our success and his are not contingent on one another got that. I'm in charge here you follow my orders. Remember your discipline and more importantly what happens to those who don't follow orders."

"We get that but just look at them," said the man next to the driver. "They haven't got a care in the world. Little do they know they're living on borrowed time. There isn't anyone around so why don't we just get out and do it here then be done with it. The longer we wait the more crap can happen."

"Because we were given a time when to carry this hit out and it's not up yet. I don't know why I was told to do it in nineteen minutes and thirty-six seconds but I can only believe it has something to do with something else which our people didn't feel we need to know about. It's called following orders. Something you people seem to have forgotten."

"Well did our people know they'd be looking right at us," said the driver. "Because that's what they're doing. Now what about your nineteen minutes and I forget how many seconds."

"It looks like they're packing up and leaving. If they go back to the casino, we'll never get at them. Well, team leader what do you want to do," asked the driver as he glanced back at him in the rearview. "We're all waiting for you orders."

"I heard you and don't take that tone with me. Start the Mercedes okay this is what we're going to do we'll follow them and see which direction they go. If it looks like they're going back to the casino we cut them off and do the hit in the middle of the street but if they go in the opposite direction, we'll wait until it's time. Whatever direction they go in now's the time to do a quick weapons check."

"I wonder how Ara's hit went. I bet he didn't have this much fun," said the man in the passenger seat as he glanced over at the driver.

"You know I can hear you back here. I'm not deaf and I can also hear that sarcastic tone in your voice. Let Ara take care of his own hit we'll take care of ours. When I say jump I mean jump and for heaven's sake don't cock this up and I mean it. Failure will not be tolerated you should all be aware of that by now. Let's try to be professionl."

"Look," said the driver. They're turning towards the beach. It looks like they've just bought themselves another sixteen minutes..."

"And fifteen seconds," added the team leader as he looked down at his watch. "You know I can almost hear your eyes roll back here."

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Back in Langley General Thomas was still in the General's office when Casey reported in. He called the General to inform her about the phone call they'd received for Chuck and what his contacts had been able to find out. The more the two generals listened to Casey the more they were sure there saw something sinister going and that somehow the two thefts were connected somehow.

"... it turned out the Skipper of the Red Star had no kin which was good for us. Because they kept his body on ice in the morgue so it was relatively easy for one of their assets to procure body fluids for a quick tox screen. The test results confirmed that the man had been murdered by a type of alkaloid poison adapted from... wait a minute I've got it written down here," said Casey as he picked up a note pad. "Yes, he said it was Taxus baccata, a conifer tree native to western, central and southern Europe, northwest Africa, southwest Asia and northern Iran."

"Northern Iran you say," said the General as her attention piqued. "It seems everything goes back to there. But if the missile was on that ferry they won't keep it in Baku for long."

"I concur," said General Thomas. "My guess is they off loaded it there in the port putting it on a couple of trucks then high tailed it out of there. Most likely they're heading for Georgia. Taking it through Turkey would be too risky with all the fallout from the recent uprising and the Kurdish population in the mountains. Georgia is relatively quiet and no major flare ups that could get tehir trucks pulled over and inspected."

"Iran missile? What Iranian missile?" said Casey still on the monitor from Castle. "The Iranians lost one of their missiles? Geez, why didn't they tie a rope to it?"

"Yes, we got that intel from Chuck who confirmed it with his contact in VAJA. I want you and your team to fly to Baku and investigate first hand. Chuck seems to think that La Barba might be involved…"

"So if I dangle Morgan about as bait I might get a bite," said Casey. "Ma'am, do I have to remind you this is Grimes we're talking about. I mean most of the time I want to strangle him but I don't know if he'd be the right person for this mission. He might be over his head with this one not to mention that this could get personal for him."

"All the more reason to send him and why not? He's the ideal candidate. If Ettore's behind this some of his men could be fooled into giving away some of his secrets so we can discover if he is involved once and for all. If he is we might even be able to find out what his end game is. Are you sure your objections aren't because of some sort of personal attachment your might have with Agent Grimes?"

"Personal attachment with Grimes? Ma'am with all due respect what have you been smoking? Personal attachments get you killed. If you want to build a tiger trap you need a goat..."

"Exactly so you see what I'm getting at then we have our man. Colonel I'm counting on you to make this happen as for the rest I think you understand what I want."

"Yes ma'am," said Casey thinking about how he was supposed to break this news and Kat's welcome home dinner which just became their good luck and hurry back supper. "Well, if there's nothing else I need to get my team together so we can fly out as soon as possible."

"Hold up Colonel," said General Thomas as he stepped in front of the monitor. "While you're over there I want you to keep your ears to the ground and listen for any rumors that might concern us or our allies."

"Yes Sir," said Casey as gave a puzzled look. "But you're being kind of vague General is there something more you can give me to go on? What kind of rumors are you talking about and are we talking specific allies or just generically all our allies?"

"Believe me if you hear what I'm talking about you'll know it. You should report what you find out straight to your General. She'll contact me then we'll get back to you with what we want done. I know I'm being ambiguous but it has to be this way."

"Roger that then ambiguous it is. I'm a marine who knows how to take orders and if you say it has to be this way then t has to be this way. Ma'am considering how everything went in France I recommend you notify Chuck about this development. If nothing else the Skipper of the Red Star was trying to reach out to him."

"Agent Carmichael's whereabouts are unknown at the moment. Last word I had about he was when he activated his emergency beacon. I have our people in Montenegro working on it as we speak and as soon as I get off the horn with you I'm going to call them for an update."

"Then I don't want to keep you I'll get off the horn and get my people organized," said Casey looking up in the store monitor at Grimes in the store.

"Well, if there's nothing else Beckman out." The monitor suddenly went blank leaving John there in front of a dark screen. He stared into it trying come up with a way to break the news about the mission without it sounding like what it was… a tiger trap with Morgan being the goat to be staked out in the open to be eaten.

"Crap and if this isn't Ettore… they could just kill him for the fun of killing him," mumbled Casey to himself. He knew Ettore wasn't the only shark in the water and if the others smelt blood they'd come running even if they weren't involved only to find Morgan as their chum.

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Banai drew a circle using their location as the center then examining the cities on the outer rim of the wheel and there he found Astara. The only city that had a port big enough for merchant vessels to pull into and on load cargo the size of their missing rocket. After rounding up his men they headed off to the port of Astara determined to get to the bottom of this. Halfway there Banai noticed his men were awfully quiet. Usually they were a little more cheerful and boisterous and he'd have to tell them to quiet down but not on this trip.

"What's wrong with you guys," he asked. "We're going to get to the bottom of this is it's the last thing we do. If you're worried about getting in trouble... well the only one with their head on the block is me."

"It's not that we all stand together and you know that," said one of his men as he looked around at the others then got quiet again.

"Okay so if it's not that what is it? Did you guys get some bad rations because you aren't acting normal," said Banai. Now more determined than ever to get to the bottom of it.

"Well, Sir we were all talking and... well, do you think we're going to find Abram there?" asked one of his men. "I can't image he'll be too happy to see us if he is."

"I don't expect he will be there," said Banai. "I doubt if we're going to find him there. He's probably already across the border in one of our neighboring countries but if he is there I want him taken alive…"

"I don't think that's going to be possible. I can't imagine him letting us take alive. He knows what'll be instore for him if we take him."

"If there's one thing you can count on my friends that is people do stupid things. Never the less we have to try. I want him taken alive so I can get answers to my questions like who's behind this and what do they want with our missile. If we don't find out that then we'll be stabbing in the dark."

"I think we'd like to know why... why betray your brothers and your country. I for one can't believe it was for money. No one can be that greedy and to live the rest of your life knowing people are hunting you. I can't see that it is worth it."

"Betraying you family, friends and country is never worth it. Someone must've put some sort of spell on him. I've heard that's possible." Everyone started laughing. "Well I did. Stop laughing at me he was tricked most certainly..."

"By himself and his pride," said Banai. "He's like a flag with no pole to attach itself to. Just blowing in the wind for eternity with no rest, no family and no friends. But we... we have each other and nothing can take that from us." Banai got a round of cheers. "Family is everything remember that and you my happy band are a part of my family."

"Sir we're almost there," said the driver. They'd commandeered a Ranger Rover with air conditioning which was a major improvement over the troop transport truck the rode into the base in.

"Good, when we get there we'll break up into two man squads. I want you to start asking around about our mysterious trucks and anyone loading merchandise on ships especially late at night and in secret. I want you to keep me constantly in touch and if not with me then each other. I don't think Abram will be there but people like him and the Colonel might be so you need to keep your eyes open. A port can be a dangerous place remember that and I want to know anything you find out that's suspicious immediately. They've got a head start on us so it's time to close the gap."

The driver pulled into the port then down to the loading piers where he parked. Banai and his men got out then dispersed in the port area. It didn't take them long to get their first lead. Stevedores working on the pier remembered the trucks and the cargo.

"Yes, I remember those trucks. There were two of them that came in to be off loaded after hours. We were all a little pissed because they came in and brought their own crew. Normally for a job like that we get some good overtime but we didn't see a penny with them. They brought their own stevedores to operate the crane and longshoremen to do the humping. We were cut out altogether and some of us went to complain with our supervisor but we were told to leave it alone. Then when some of us pressed the issue we were told that it wasn't healthy to complain if you know what I mean."

"I think I've got a good idea. I'm going to need the name of the supervisor who told you that and where I can find him. But first you don't happen to remember what ship they loaded the cargo onto after they unloaded on the pier."

"Yes, as a matter of fact, it was loaded on the Red Star... it was a Ferry that used to run between here and Baku. I say used to because that's the reason I remember it. That was the ferry's last run. The owners sold it for scrap metal and put the Skipper out to pasture along with it. Cost too much to keep him he was told. They had enough captains and no one wanted to hire a man his age. Bunch of idiots if you ask me who don't know anything but the bottom line. He was a nice old man we all called grandfather. I wonder what he's up to now."

"Well thanks for your assistance," said Banai as he took down the name of the man who intimidated the dockworkers. He definitely was someone of interest he wanted to pull in for a chat but his investigation just became international. He knew then he was going to have to go to Baku to pick up the tail and in a hurry.

"First things first," said Banai. His men looked at him. "Never mind I'm just talking to myself. Let's go play a house call," he said as he and two of his men knocked on the door of the dock supervisor. When they didn't hear anything they went inside anyway.

"If I didn't say to come in that means stay the hell out," barked an overweight man sitting at a desk submerges by stack of papers. "Unless you've got business here at the port you need to turn around and leave. I'm busy right now or can't you see that."

"Mr. Abdul Ehsan, I presume. We need to have a little talk," said Banai. The man started to get a little huffy but Banai flashed him his credentials. "You can talk to me here or I can drag you to Tehran and believe me you don't want that. I don't think your heart does either so do both a favor and cooperate. But I'm in hurry so if you want to do this the hard way..."

"Hold up there's no need in getting nasty. What do you want? I'm just a humble servant of the state here at the port. I oversee the loading and off-loading of the ships that come in and I swear I report everything that is haram like the law dictates."

"You do?" said Banai. He could smell the whiskey on his breath from where he was standing. "I was informed you told a group of dockworkers to keep quiet when they wanted to complain about being cut out of the off-loading of certain merchandise and it subsequent loading onto of the Red Star."

"Is this some kind of joke. But you told me to tell them to keep quiet if they knew what was good for them," said the man looking at Banai perplex. "Now you come and yell at me?"

"I did what? I don't know what you're talking about," said Banai wondering what game the man was playing. "This is the first time I've talked to you."

"No, I'm sorry not you... you but someone like you. He came in here flashed his credentials like you just did and told me to tell to workers to pipe down or they'd be shipped off on a one-way trip never to be heard from again."

"Did you get the name of the agent you talked to," asked Banai but he had a bad feeling he already knew the answer.

"I've forgotten his last name but his first name is the same as my wife's lazy cousin who's always getting in trouble. I tried to hire him here but he just slept at the desk all day. I asked him if he ever slept at night and you know what he told me, the pig. He told me the night was made for other things."

"I really need to hurry up here," said Banai. He needed to call in to get the authorization to follow the lead into Azerbaijan and this guy was rattling on. "So what's this first name? It wouldn't happen to be Abram?"

"Yes that's it. What a lazy bum," said the man. Everyone looked at him. "I was talking about my wife's cousin not your man. She isn't even my favorite wife yet I still have to put up with her relatives."

"Right... wait a minute," said Banai as something clicked in his head. "In those stacks of papers on your desk you wouldn't happen to have the cargo manifests for the Red Star and all their declarations?

"As a matter of fact I do," said Ehsan as he started looking through stack. "Just give me a few minutes and I'll have it for you."

"You, come here," said Banai. "I want you to grab a couple of guys then go over to the port security office. This is going to be a long shot but I want to see if we can get this band on video. If you find anything I want it hand carried to the director and put in his hands and in his hands only. I want you to select a man you absolutely trust to take it then send him."

"Why should I do that? That's your job. What are you going to do in the meantime," asked his man perplexed. What Banai asked him to do didn't make sense unless he was turning the operation over to him. "I'm sorry I just don't understand. Are you going somewhere?"

"Yes, I'm going to catch the next flight out to Baku. Don't argue we need to get there and run the lead before the trail goes cold."

"Then I'll come with you. You can take us all if you want. Banai, you are in charge and we follow your orders."

"No, I can't ask you to come with me. We don't have authorization to operate in Baku or Azerbaijan for that matter so it's better if I go alone. Don't look upset this way there's only one neck to hang and I'd hate to overwork the executioner."

"Banai, don't joke about this. They could declare you a traitor for leaving the country without authorization and for that they will hang you."

"I will explain everything to the director. As soon as you guys get clearance you can follow me but I have to go now. Remember what I told you family is everything and we're doing this for them."

"Here we go," said Ehsan as he pulled out the paperwork for the Red Star. "There was nothing strange about the cargo. Just there were some farming equipment loaded that was prescreen through customs at Baku."

"Let me see that," said Banai. "Okay so now we've got a name... Mr. Bin Abu. Run the name," said Banai as he handed his man the papers. "Here are all his particulars but I'm willing to bet it's false."