Old Enemies
He recognized the man as Anslo Garrick, which didn't set well on more than one level. The first was that, as far as the intel Halcyon had on the situation had said, Red had put a bullet in the man's head. From the looks of him, it looked more like the face, leaving him scarred and mangled and, apparently, very angry.
The second was that Howard knew what Garrick was capable of, and it looked like he had turned his sights on them. Why then and there, he wasn't sure, but it was only a matter of time until he found out. Garrick had always been the chatty type.
Howard had woken tied to a chair, his surroundings not immediately familiar to him, but Garrick had been looming, speaking to someone on the phone. Red was strung up by his wrists.
"Red? Reddington?" Howard hissed, but barely got a twitch for his efforts from his old friend.
Garrick, on the other hand, appeared more than happy to give a little attention. He snapped the phone shut, turned his good eye on Howard, and offered a sneering sort of smile that might have sent chills through most men. "It's my lucky day, Hargrave. Not yours as much."
Howard tilted his chin a bit. "You've crossed a line there's no coming back from, Garrick. You'd have done better to continue hiding in whatever hole you'd hidden yourself in."
"Good to see you haven't changed a bit," Garrick chuckled. "Still the same ol' Howie Hargrave. Untouchable. Unshakable. Better than everyone else." He smirked. "All an illusion. That's what you deep cover boys do. How's the family these days?"
He leveled a glare along with a faint smirk tugging his lips. "You've dug your grave this time."
"He's here," one of Garrick's people said from the side and the scarred mercenary nodded, gesturing to Howard as he spoke.
"Bag him. Put him in the van. I'll be out as soon as we're done here." His grin turned vicious. "I may have had to give Red over to my employer, but you, Hargrave, are my consolation prize. I found a high bidder for you."
"No employer on the planet is going to be able to protect you, Garrick," Howard warned lowly.
The other man snorted and turned back to where Red was dangling, taking a swing at him even as the door opened down the way. Howard caught a glimpse of a familiar face before the bag went over his head and he risked a grimace once his face was hidden. Garrick might have had more of a chance than Howard would have given him with the Cabal on his side.
Notes: One thing about writing these in drabble format is that their lengths are all over the place, which has been kind of freeing for me as a writer. I'm going to do my best to post another one up this afternoon since this one is so short though.