Note: Some of this is based on S5, but some of it is different. Want to slow it down and so wish we learned more about Caitlyn and Ryan's history. Really wonder what the writers had planned and wish we could have a glimpse into their drafts and story boards for S6. Poor S6, there's got to be ideas the batted around. What I would give to know!
Annie eventually dozed off in the Prius next to Ryan though he knew it took a while before her body fully relaxed. He used the time as he drove to go over in his head all the events that transpired leading up to the Chicago bombing. And it bugged him that nothing, absolutely nothing stood out to him. He had been busy as always, he poured himself into obtaining and maintaining contracts. In the last year McQuaid Securities hit a plateau, a problem many companies face as they mature. He was doing well, very well, the money was coming in and he was in the black. But Ryan wasn't satisfied with the slowdown. He wanted to continue to build and expand his company because he believed he did a better and more efficient job than the government could. He genuinely believed that McQuaid Securities added value and saved the U.S. government money in the long run. Of course he had many private and publically traded multi-national companies and a few other governments as clients, but his biggest source of revenue was the United States government.
As he replayed the events of the last few months, Ryan was bothered by something. He found it strange that he didn't hear from Caitlyn Cook. All the people close to him, all the people who truly knew him called when news hit the wire that he may have contacts or a relationship with those involved in the Chicago bombing, but there was no word from his old friend, his second in command, his confidante, Caitlyn. It nagged at him, but he thought the likely explanation was that she was busy putting out flames.
"Where's Ms. Cook?" demanded Arthur of her assistant.
He shrugged and said, "She left a couple of hours ago and didn't say where she was going."
"Get her on the line. We need all hands on deck now."
"On it Mr. Campbell."
Arthur wondered where she was in this crisis. The phones were ringing off the hook. Clients and government agencies were canceling contracts and the press had loads of questions that Arthur couldn't keep up with alone. He had been busy for sure when he was DCS and worked at the CIA, but running a company was a different level of management.
Caitlyn Cook was nowhere to be seen, so Campbell took over. In the middle of trying to convince clients that everything was okay and that McQuaid Securities could still handle their contracts, he received a text from Ryan. He didn't want to believe that his former student was at the center of this and at the same time words reached him that Annie was implicated in the Chicago bombing. It didn't make sense. As far as Arthur knew Annie and Ryan didn't know each other. None of it added up to Arthur. He needed to speak to Joan as soon as possible.
/ /
As Ryan brought the Prius to a crawl, Annie sensed the change in speed and began to wake up. Ryan was thankful for the quiet engine of the Prius. Annie chose wisely as usual. He chuckled at himself and said, "I owe you a apology. This was a good choice in vehicle, it's quiet as a lamb."
Annie looked surprised. "I got it for the mileage," she shrugged.
"Come on, gear up. The building is about quarter down the road, we can stash the car here." Ryan had gone into mission mode.
She watched as Ryan outfitted himself with two guns and extra mags. He also attached a knife to his ankle. "I only have one of these, you take it." He handed her his bulletproof vest.
"Excuse me, but are we going to war?"
Ryan handed her another gun and extra bullets that he pulled out of his duffel. "Langer and the likes of him are dangerous. Harris, too. You saw how dangerous yourself. They were trained to be elite operatives. If you thought your blacks ops/off book spies were scary, they are nothing compared to Langer and Wilson. All of them have military training first and most have been in combat. Langer has killed men with his bare hands. It makes your training look like a walk in the park."
"It's not my size you go ahead," said Annie handing the vest back to Ryan.
"I insist! You're not trained for combat like I am."
"I've been in a fair number of hairy situations, I use my brains not just brute force."
"I've seen you in action, you're good, but don't underestimate these guys. They not only have cunning skills in the field, they can torture anything out of a man."
"I'm not a man," countered Annie.
They trekked down the road along the woods in silence. Both alert and aware of their surroundings. Once close to the building, Ryan found a vantage point to take in the surroundings. They saw two cars outside the building. One of them belonged to Langer.
"Do you recognize the other car?" Annie's voice was muffled. He didn't hear her. She repeated herself. "Ryan, the car, do you know who it belongs to?"
Ryan's jaw tightened. He couldn't believe he was looking at Caitlyn's car.
/ /
Ryan flashed back to his college days at the Naval Academy. He met Caitlyn first during a jaunt to the University of Maryland with his roommates. A week later she invited him to her sorority tea and there he met Kelly McCormack. They shared an Irish Catholic upbringing and hit it off right away. He was a kid, he didn't understand love when his friends spoke of it, but that night he learned what it felt like to fall in love. Caitlyn and Kelly were best friends. Caitlyn was the maid of honor at their wedding. They had such a long history together, he didn't want to believe what he knew to be true. Earlier his gut told him something was off and this was verification.
/ /
"Let's approach from the side, there are no windows."
"Wait a minute, I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what it is we're going to find in there. I need more intel to do my part effectively."
Ryan had started to get up from their prone position besides boulder on the ground.
"This is a training facility. One I haven't used in more than a year. I thought we sold it. I remember signing the papers vividly."
"We?"
"Who led you to believe it was sold?"
Ryan was angry, he was trying his best to contain the growing fury, but it had reached a boiling point as he pounded his fists on the dirt. Annie pulled him back down, afraid he would be spotted.
"You're emotional. You need to check it before we go in there."
He nodded, she was right.
"Now tell me whose in there."
After remaining quiet for another moment, he spoke. "The other car belongs to someone I counted as a friend, a close friend and the second in command at McQuaid. She has access to nearly all of my missions and contacts."
"Even Flint?"
"No, all except Flint, at least that's what I thought."
"What did you use the facility for?"
"Trainings for operations, housing of operatives and others when needed."
Okay thought Annie. It was likely used as a black site by the U.S.
"What do you think we'll find there?"
"It has to do with Chicago, that's for sure. . ." replied Ryan.
"Or something that hasn't happened yet. Remember the blueprints in my safe?"
"Remind me to pay closer attention to my real estate holdings when all this is done."
"Do you have a way to get into your accounts?"
He nodded.
"What's the plan when we get there?"
"The main entrance opens into an office. There's a few back rooms, but the bulk of the place is underground. We'll stick together, it's large and I know it."
"Tell more more."
"The main hall has four rooms off of it. Two are bathrooms and two are dorm rooms. There's also a kitchen and living area in the back. There's a back entrance. The only windows are at the front and back of the building. Inside there are two lower levels. The lowest level has tunnel access that will lead you to the main road."
The pair carefully approached the building and entered.