Napoleon and Illya walked into the lobby of the historic Hermitage Hotel in downtown Nashville, Tennessee several hours after speaking with the Traitor's sister. On the flight to Nashville and during the drive from the airport, the two men had discussed what Wendy, the woman who had answered the door and ultimately let them inside and Wanda, the sister from Lafayette, had told them.
"So. You believe his sisters?" Illya had asked as he merged on Interstate 40 for the short drive from the airport to the hotel.
"I do. Or more to the point, I believe that they believe what their brother told them: He was framed because he discovered who the real traitor is. I have to look him in the eyes to know if he is being truthful."
They exited the elevator and knocked on the door of room 327. "Just a moment," a voice Napoleon recognized as Walter Colton's replied. Seconds later, the door opened to reveal the man they had spent weeks tracking.
Illya stepped in front of Napoleon into Walter's personal space. "Back up and turn around!" he barked before patting him down. "Where is your weapon?"
"In its holster there on the nightstand. I've been expecting you. My sisters called me right after you left them." He watched as the Russian secured the weapon and moved to sit a distance away from the CEA so that he could keep an eye on him and Walter.
Napoleon had moved to the couch and motioned for Colton to join him. "All right, I'm listening. Talk."
"Beau Martin is a double agent for THRUSH. I found out when we were paired for 'The Broken Clock Affair.' My mistake was not informing you or Mr. Waverly immediately of my discovery. He must have figured out that I knew something and got to the Old Man first."
"I've seen the evidence that he gave to Waverly; it's very convincing."
"Of course, it is. He manufactured it to be that way! I'm innocent, Chief Enforcement Agent Solo, completely innocent. The entire time I've been moving around is to follow him and get money from friends and relatives. That's why I visited my sisters; I need money! Don't you think I'd be more financially comfortable if I were a double agent?"
While Napoleon thought, Illya asked, "Why run? Why not proclaim your innocence at Headquarters?"
Walter snorted. "I would think you would understand better than most what it means to have your superiors have a negative perception of you! All the evidence Martin claimed to be against me proves he's the traitor; he just plugged my name into it. I had hoped to catch up with him here in Nashville, but he's gone."
Napoleon reached for his communicator and assembled the device. "Open Channel D5, scrambled."
"Dancer here."
"It's Napoleon, April. I need to know if you and Mark assigned Beau Martin to an affair."
"We did, just yesterday. He was on vacation, but he's flown to Oslo, Norway on an escort mission. Did you need him for anything? We can direct him to contact you."
"No. Is Mark with you? Are you in your office or someplace private?"
"I'm 'ere, Mate and April and I are in our office."
"Good. Listen carefully and tell no one, not even Waverly, that you've spoken to me. When you get off work today, I want you both to go to Martin's apartment and go through it with a fine – tooth comb."
"What are we looking for, Darling?"
"Anything suspicious or incongruous. I hate to sound mysterious, but I have my reasons. Whatever you find, make copies of it, take pictures and make sure to leave it there."
"Consider it done, Mate. May I ask: Does this 'ave anything to do with your and Illya's mission?"
"You don't need to know, Mark. I need that information tonight. I don't care what time it is, just get back to me."
"We will."
April and Mark got back to Napoleon at ten – thirty. Illya and Walter were sleeping while Napoleon kept watch. Napoleon had shared with his partner earlier that he believed Walter but felt it prudent that they take turns sleeping in order to guard the man who was technically their prisoner.
After he spoke with the two junior agents, he woke Illya. "Looks like the three of us are flying to Norway in the morning."