Chapter 21:

After several minutes Jack's phone rang, he answered it, and asked, "Well what's the verdict?"

Horatio replied, "I'm going to surrender myself to them."

Jack exclaimed, "Are you ouutta your fuckin mind? They'll slaughter you,"

Horatio was deeply touched that his brother cared so deeply for him after their long estrangement. He smiled thinly as he replied calmly, "I'm well aware of that, but I have to try."

Jack heaved a heavy sigh as he said, "Alright, but we're goin to be nearby."

The smile disappeared from Horatio's face as he said in an edged voice, "Absolutely not. My instructions were to come alone."

Everyone was stunned into speecjlessness for several minutes; then Jack exploded, "What the fuck do you mean your instructions. How long have you known this?"

Horatio replied, "Since before we set out for Rio. I was told if I surrendered myself to the Male Noche's; that they would let Kyle, and Madison go free."

Jack asked, "Who told you this, did he sound Latino?"

Horatio replied, "No he had a very thick Russian accent."

Jack asked, "Did he identify himself?"

Horatio replied, "He said to call him CAPT. Vukovic."

Everyone was stunned. Ari, and Daniel cursed in Hebrew, Yiddish, and Arabic as Tayvon said, "I had no idea he was here."

Wyatt said, "The last Intel we had on Vukovic said he was in a Chechan POW camp."

David said, "MI6 said he was killed by Georgian rebels."

Being the only member of the team never to meet the man they were talking about, Adrian asked, "Who the fuck is this guy?"

Jack replied, "His name is Anatoly Vukovic, he's captain in the Vozdushno-Desantnye Voiska, or VDV."

Adrian knew all to well what the VDV really was. They were Russia's premiere airborne troops. He asked, "Wonder why a Captain in the VDV is helping Siouth American gangsters?"

Tayvon replied, "Who knows with the Russkies."

Jack asked, "Did they give you location?"

Horatio replied, "Yea they told me I was to go to the big plantation on the north side of the of the coast."

Jack said, "Tommy I wan SAT footage of that plantation most ricky tick."

Tommy said as he pulled out his cell, "Copy that."

Horatio asked him, "What are you planning?"

Jack replied, "We're going to be pulling covert surveillance on the place when you go in."

Horatio exclaimed, "Absolutely not. My instructions are very clear."

Ari said, "We realize that LT. Caine, but these men are not to be trusted. They would sooner cut your throat then honor their word to you."

Horatio thought about what Ari said for several minutes, then he said, "Alright, but I do not want them to be able to spot you."

Jack asked, "What time are ya supposed to make the meet?"

Horatio replied, "4:30."

Jack's face broke out into a conspiratorial grin as he said, "That's more than enough time. Let's get it done."

As Horatio watched them break out, and sort the gear; he was very impressed with his younger brother's leadership skills. He asked him, "Why didn't you ever become an officer?"

What do you think Jack's reasons are? Next chapter is the exchange, and intorrogation of Horatio. Should it be brutal