Chapter 14 The Traitorous Act Affair
Napoleon and Agent Kidder stopped in front of the conference room doors to catch their breath.
"Sir, I will go in ahead of you to make sure everything's okay." Kidder opened the doors and moved into the room giving a nod to Agent Williams.
Napoleon entered a few seconds behind the agent. In spite of his rumpled and unshaven appearance the man was the epitome of calm and assured grace. His eyes sought out Illya Kuryakin's gurney but couldn't see him for the circle of protection offered by so many agents. Ignoring the panel of Section 1 chiefs and their CEAs, Napoleon broke through the circle and stood by his friend. Leaning over he spoke softly into his partner's ear.
"Hey, Partner. How are you doing?" His hand rested on Illya's leg. "I see you started the party without me."
Angry blue eyes met his for a brief moment before his friend looked away. "What kept you?" was the icy reply.
Napoleon's eyes narrowed at the rancor evident in Illya's pained voice, but he kept up the pretense of banter. "Well, you know me, Partner, I like to make a grand entrance."
He backed away from the gurney, pushed through the protective circle once again and faced his superiors.
"Ah, good morning gentlemen. It seems that we have a bit of a misunderstanding here."
"Mr. Solo, your propensity for understatement is most annoying," sputtered Fernando Yrigollen. "You are interrupting legal proceedings. There is nothing you can say that will save Mr. Kuryakin from execution. He has admitted to killing Mr. Waverly and is found guilty by the Section 1 board." He turned to several agents standing by the dais. "Gentlemen, please escort Mr. Solo back to his cell. The men moved hesitantly towards Solo while keeping a nervous eye towards Bill Williams and his security men.
Again, twenty weapons were snapped to shoulders. Some of the men broke from the circle surrounding Kuryakin and positioned themselves between Napoleon Solo and the approaching agents.
"Excuse me, Sr. Yrigollen, but you seem to have forgotten that I'm calling the shots right now," Agent Williams interceded. He turned to Napoleon and winked before continuing, "At this moment I am handing the reins over to Mr. Solo, who should have been the one allowed to lead this investigation from the get go!"
Napoleon stepped forward to address his superiors.
"Gentlemen, Agent Williams' initiative has prevented you from making an egregious error." He spoke softly, his voice taking on a low dangerous tone. "Agent Kuryakin has done nothing wrong. Mr. Waverly is very much alive and he is that way because of Illya's professionalism and loyalty to both UNCLE and Mr. Waverly."
"Mr. Solo!" interrupted UNCLE's Northeast chief, Edward Lundstrum. "How is this possible? We have witnesses that unequivocally state they saw Mr. Waverly shot. Two of your men witnessed Kuryakin's actions."
"No!" Napoleon shouted. "Mr. Kuryakin did shoot Mr. Waverly, but only with a fast acting tranquilizer to simulate death! He was trying to extricate Mr. Waverly from..."
"Mr. Solo," Henry Schmidt of Africa called out. "I am confused. If Mr. Waverly is indeed alive, why did you keep up the pretense of his death? Why would you have jeopardized Mr. Kuryakin's life by not revealing to us the truth? And, where is Mr. Waverly now?"
As the drama unfolded in the conference room, nearly everyone's attention was focused on the exchange between Solo and the board. Agent Finkmeyer, who was standing at the perimeter of the crowd, slowly worked his way towards Kuryakin's gurney. He melted into the group providing protection for the injured agent. He eyed the stainless steel tray that held three separate syringes.
"Ah yes, sir. All good questions and I'll be happy to answer them," Solo responded. "I'll answer the last question first, if you'll indulge me. Mr. Waverly is currently at one of our safe houses for his own protection, Sir."
"Tell us, Mr. Solo," asked, Tanaki Yamagoto, "why would Alexander need to be sequestered from headquarters? If circumstances are as you say, we would not be having this discussion, and I dare say, you're partner would not be facing execution.
"And you, Mr. Solo, have gone out of your way to lie to this panel and make us think that Mr. Kuryakin was dead. Why should we trust you?"
Napoleon Solo looked down for a split second, swallowed and then looked Yamagoto in the eye as he straightened his posture and addressed the panel.
"Yes, I did mislead you and for that I make no apologies. I kept Section 1 in the dark because there is a traitor amongst you and I ..."
"This is preposterous. I have heard enough!" shouted Sr. Yrigollen. "Mr. Solo, you have gone too far. Gentlemen, I submit to you that this man has sold his soul to the devil himself and will do or say anything to save his partner."
"No! No, you are wrong, Sr. Yrigollen, and I can prove it! Let me have Mr. Waverly brought here. He'll be able to corroborate what I've said."
"Why haven't you done so already?" inquired Schmidt.
"I was being held in a cell when headquarters was put under a code red, sir. All communications, both incoming and outgoing have been stopped. If you will lift the conditions I can make a call to the agent on protection detail and have Mr. Waverly here in less than an hour."
"Fernando, I think we should allow Mr. Solo to make his call."
Sr. Yrigollen reluctantly concurred. He turned to Solo and said, "We will send two of our CEA's to escort Mr. Waverly here."
"Begging your pardon, sir, but I can't let that happen. I have no way of knowing how deep this treachery lies. I will direct agents that I know I can trust to escort Mr. Waverly. I want to make sure he gets here safely. We can have a helicopter bring him here. "
Napoleon nodded to Bill Williams who picked two of his most trusted agents, one of whom was a pilot. Solo quietly told them which safe house and they were on their way. He faced the panel once again, "And now, gentlemen, we wait. I must insist that no one else will be allowed to leave this room.
"When Mr. Waverly arrives both he and Mr. Kuryakin will identify the traitor..."
Elma Townsend screamed and lunged for the gurney.
"Stop him!" shouted one of the agents.
All turned toward the voice in time to see Finkmeyer grab one of the syringes from the tray and plunge it into one of Kuryakin's IV ports.
"God damn fucking Commie! I hope you rot in ..." He never finished his rant. He crumpled to the floor with a gaping hole in his chest. Bill Williams lowered his specialized Walther, smoke still escaping from the muzzle.
Napoleon turned as Williams shouted in time to see Finkmeyer start to empty the syringe. Only half of the drug was injected before the man could finish his deed.
Agent Kidder directed one of the agents. "Get Dr. Evans here immediately!"
Napoleon and Agent Williams both rushed to Illya's side. Mere seconds had passed yet Illya was already unconscious, his breathing rate had slowed down dramatically.
"Oh, God, this can't be happening," Napoleon begged silently. "Forgive me, Illya."
Dr. Evans appeared at Napoleon's side. He inspected the half empty syringe, then checked Kuryakin's vitals. After listening to the pulse of his heart and carotid arteries, taking the man's blood pressure, and checking his pupils, Dr. Evans let out a relieved breath and turned to Napoleon.
"He's going to be okay, Mr. Solo."
"How's that possible, doctor?" Agent Williams asked.
"There is a certain medical protocol used in cases of execution by lethal injection, gentlemen. Notice the three syringes? One is filled with phenobarbital which sedates the accused and puts them in an unconscious state. Then a paralytic is introduced which will eventually cause asphyxiation and finally potassium chloride. The potassium chloride is what stops the heart.
"Thankfully, that bastard Finkmeyer, grabbed the phenobarbital. As a result, Mr. Kuryakin is only sedated. A very close call!
"I want to get him down to medical immediately so that he can be monitored carefully."
"Please, doctor, do so quickly. Agent Kidder, Weston, and Roberts! You are to go with the doctor and provide security for Mr. Kuryakin," Solo ordered. The three men nodded and left, following the gurney to the elevators.
Solo was quiet for a moment. He felt drained of all energy from the near disaster and took those few seconds to compose himself before turning back to the men sitting at the dais and addressed them with a steady voice, "You asked why I lied to you about Agent Kuryakin's death. It was for his protection. This was the second attempt to his life.
"Now, gentlemen, I need one of you to give the computer the order to cancel the code red so we can contact Mr. Waverly and get him here. Which one of you will it be?"