Chapter 14 – Preparations: Part II
Before them on the conference room table, was a three foot holographic projection of the building that Shaw and Larry were using as a base of operations. It had been just outside their search area. It was defended by roof snipers and one rocket launcher on a swivel. The south end of the building was facing the open part of the docks and the ocean. This would give them an advantage. Using thermal imaging they located a few well placed guards trained to watch any disturbance from the ocean. Michael, Sam, Casey, and a few others didn't like those two options. They were already being crossed out due to the advantages that their enemy had. Only one silver lining was seen so far. The hostages were safe and kept in a central location that was easily defensible.
Zondra clapped Chuck's shoulder smiling and in her own way making sure he knew they were all still alive. Chuck nodded as Sam leaned forward.
"Well we know they're still kickin'. Knowing Larry is storing them on the third floor, we still have a shootin' match to the top. How many goons did he hire anyways?" Sam Axe asked in his informal way.
Michael nodded to Chuck who stood and walked over to the projection.
"From Ross's report, Larry has about thirty-five men on the grounds, and at least another fifteen on their own patrols. So at least fifty in town and with what he was overhearing, this main leader that is on their way here, I'd say at least another twenty-five with her." Chuck said.
Chuck noticed a crooked eyebrow from Casey and Morgan. Michael turned his head slightly and spoke.
"So who is this 'her' that is mentioning? Is there someone else was in charge of this 'Ring' and somehow is still out and about?" Michael asked.
Chuck looked back to Beckman who nodded. He went to the nearby laptop and punched up a small PowerPoint presentation. An image appeared on the main screen behind him. The image was of six individuals: Langston Graham, the Ring Director, Sizemore, the two men Michael knew as Management and Anson, plus a woman, quite attractive but almost a little out of place. Casey didn't even take a second to recognize her.
"Evelyn Shaw, so she was a traitor. But I thought your wife killed her in the 'Red Test'?" Casey asked perplexed.
Chuck acknowledged Casey and began speaking.
"Yes she completed her 'Red Test', but before she could check to make sure of the kill, police were on route, so Sarah fled. The reports that General Beckman gave me, showed that she was shot inches above the kidney and no major organs were struck. She was taken to the local hospital then treated for the wound and mild grade amnesia. A NSA team collected her and took to a mental institution in Brussels. She remained there for a time and was to be taken in to interrogate. Before they did that a fire broke out. She escaped and went off grid. It is possible she has her memories back and plans to rebuild the Ring. Though, for her to do that she needs recruits and a few good killers." He said.
Michael sat back at learning the information and Fiona spoke.
"So Charles, if Larry was involved in the Ring's startup and so was Shaw's wife. How come Daniel Shaw wasn't at the beginning? And who is the black man in the picture? I know those two are responsible for Michael's troubles." Fiona asked pointing at Anson and Management.
Sam and Jessie agree at the statement.
"It looks like the ones that were responsible for Michael's Burn Notice were part of the organization but were in the recruitment department. As for the black gentleman, he is Langston Graham, the former CIA director and the one that sent Sarah to kill Evelyn. So it is safe to say that there was an internal struggle in their ranks. Graham was murdered when the CIA tried to build the second installment of the Intersect. It seems like the Ring was splintered into a few smaller groups. That explains why they were so wide spread and may have at times not been close connected. But it is my guess that since most of the men in this picture, were killed or jailed. She's rebuilding. Daniel Shaw and Larry are the key players next to Evelyn Shaw herself." Chuck stated.
With the history lesson now complete, it was now time to plan their incursion into Shaw's base. It was not a task that Chuck was the best at planning. Though, he knew someone that was amazing at planning attacks. He would look to him to devise some 'out of the way shortcuts'.
"Michael, can you and the others work on the battle plan? I have a few things I still need to do." Chuck asked.
The others nodded as Chuck walked towards the main door. He clasped Clive on the shoulder and gesturing for Morgan to follow him. Fiona kept her eyes on them as they left. She could tell that something was still bothering him or there was a part of the plan that he could only fix. A few moments after they left, she got up and followed. She did not want to interrupt but hoping he was ok.
Larry stood on the docks, overlooking the calm evening sky and getting casual gusts of the ocean air. No matter where he went or who he had to kill. It was always the sea that seemed to collect his thoughts and focus him on the next job or the next target. He heard the door open and Shaw walk up next to him, by his stance; he was not happy to what Larry was planning or that he was taking a gamble with this tactic.
"You think I'm playing this too loose, too reckless and could jeopardize the whole plan by doing this?" Larry asked his subordinate.
Shaw held his demeanor.
"Yes." He replied.
Larry chuckled a bit and turned to his protégé, admiring how determined he was to finish the fight with this Bartowski, to make the kill.
"Oh Kid, you are such a card. I wish I had met you when I was scouting Weston… The damage we could have caused these last few years. But seriously, you need to relax. There is a plan and time for every move we make. The leader is a clever person. They reward those that follow the plan. So, don't worry about this. Just be ready to do your part to kill Bartowski and the lot. It will be a hoot." Larry gleefully said.
Larry walked past Shaw and moved over to the car that was now parked car outside. A driver was standing by the back door and waiting for him. Larry stopped then looked back for a moment at Shaw.
"I trust you brought the right one down…?" Larry asked.
Shaw gestured his head to the driver, who opened the door a matter of inches and Larry saw his traveling companion tied up inside.
"Good, then lets be off." Larry said in a very satisfied manner.
Larry opened the door a bit more and got inside, as the driver closed the door and returned to the driver's seat and drove off. Shaw looked sternly at the exiting car. He did not like this plan as it was unfolding and went back inside.
Chuck took a deep breath as the two best friends started down the sidewalk towards the park a few blocks away. Morgan had a feeling that Chuck doubted his resolve to what was coming. He had to be honest to himself. He would be a fool not to have doubts too.
"Chuck, no one is gonna think you a coward if you're scared. There is a lot is coming at you at one time. You would have to be Casey for this not to phase you… Hell, I'm…" Morgan stopped in midsentence as Chuck stopped dead in his tracks.
He looked down the hill, and surprisingly his old job the Buy More looked back at him.
"It's been a long road… Dammit Bryce, did you really think this all through sending me that damned email? What did you see in me then? What are your thoughts of me now?" Chuck wondered.
Morgan walked over then shook his friend by the arm and getting no response from him. As he waited then he noticed another person walking up behind them, a woman; Fiona. Morgan turned to face Chuck as he finally snapped out of the trance and turned.
"Morgan, can you be a dear and head back to the office, I'd like to chat with Charles privately. And be sure to let them know, we're out for a walk." Fiona sweetly said.
Morgan patted his best friend and stepped away rather quickly. Fiona walked up next to Chuck and took his arm forcing him to continue moving.
"So Charles, are you ok? Everything that has happened of late, are you holding it together?" She asked.
Chuck snickered at her question and kept walking.
"Charles…Why the laugh…Did I say something Funny?" Fi asked as he simply looked at her.
"Fi, how long have you been in the game? Did you ever wish you hadn't gotten in?" Chuck asked soul searching as Fi continued to look at him while they walked.
"I've been in this for far too long. Sometimes it feels like a century or two. As to the latter of had I wished I never had gotten in. I have never doubted my choices and I know by it has helped a lot of people. Why do you ask?" Fi responded.
Chuck stopped and looked at her directly into her eyes. She could see a lot of fear, sadness, love and hope. She wondered just what changed in him to have the innocence she had once seen in him disappear.
"For seven years, my life has been the most chaotic roller coaster ride ever. I went from a Nerd Herd associate who fixed others computers and cleaned up their mistakes. It was a go nowhere job one that I held for 5 years. During that time I yearned for a sign that something good was coming. I never expected to have an old friend send me that email and change my life. Though, since he did I discovered a calling, a passion, a family destiny and love. I could never say I saw any of this when I signed up for collage at Stanford. For half those years I wanted away from all this and the other I could not see myself anywhere but here, next to her." Chuck wistfully said as he stopped.
Fiona smiled as she tugged his arm to get him moving again.
"I remember seeing you always had your eyes on her the entire time we were working together. And if you were doing something, her eyes gravitated to you. I could tell that when she agreed to go in as a decoy to get a location on the girls. She smiled when you voiced your opinion that she should not. If I was a betting woman, I'd say you two were in love from the day you met. I was right. So what has you conflicted?" Fiona asked recalling her encounter with the dynamic duo.
Chuck stepped again with Fiona still in tow. She noticed him looking at his ring finger.
"Every day that we were together, from the cover relationship, to when it was real I saw such a grand future. Now when everything I always wanted is about to come to fruition. My worst fears come back from the dead and tear it away. It's not that I'm conflicted to do what is necessary. It is I am conflicted that doing so will take away the Chuck she fell in love." Chuck said revealing his deepest fear.
Fiona pulled the two to a stop and hugged him for all he was worth. She got the childish gasp from him like she did years ago.
"I'm so sorry for you Charles, I truly am. But one piece of advice, do what you have to, in order to save your family. However, don't lose yourself and what make you, the man you are." Fiona said confidently.
Chuck was about to say something, when they noticed a dark car pulling up nearby. The back window came slowly down. Inside was a jackal, a devil, a mastermind of pure destruction, Larry Sizemore. He leaned forward and looked directly at Chuck.
"So you're the man that toppled two organizations, no wait that was three… Correct? I can't believe you are the infamous Charles Carmichael or should I say Chuck Bartowski. How could such a pathetic fool like you take down so many and also have such a beautiful peach as her?" Larry taunted from the open window.
Fiona reached behind her back and drew an Irish made Beretta, pointing it at Larry's face.
"Larry I swear, you let his family go, and I'll give the death you should have had a year ago." Fiona swore.
Larry simply laughed and looked at Fiona.
"Always the guard dog Glennanne, well I would tell you to fire and end this age long chase, but you'd hit my passenger. I know she is not yet reached the cusp of her life. Are you as good of a shot as you claim to be?" Larry taunted again.
Chuck put a hand on Fiona's weapon and lowered it. His attention never leaving the vulture in the car as his patience began to waiver.
"What do you want Sizemore? What are you after beside my torment..?" Chuck asked visibly annoyed.
Larry sat up in the seat and grinned like the Cheshire Cat.
"Since you have so politely asked what I want Mr. Bartowski, I will tell you. I want to see you, Mr. Weston, and your entire lot dead and laying at my feet, for all the trouble you have caused me. I want your wife to watch you die as Shaw breaks every bone in your lanky body and then plants bullets in your head. After she births those two sacks of shit, he kills her in the most intimate way he deems worthy. And maybe he'll kill them too just to spite you or raise them to be the next generations of bloodthirsty maniacs, just to make you turn in your grave." Larry cackled at the thought.
Larry's gaze had now fixated on Chuck alone and he turned into the vehicle and the other door opened for a moment and closed.
"What I want is for you Mr. Bartowski and Mr. Weston is to arrive at my residence by noon tomorrow and be ready to face judgment. I know you both know the location. It will be a closed event. So if your friends show themselves before their time to die is decided; I will kill every member of your family personally. So you two do come alone and on time dear boy. Chow…" Larry said smiling as he waived and the vehicle began to depart.
As the vehicle had gone a distance past Chuck and Fiona both gasped as who they saw standing before them… Molly.