I am well aware that it's been ages since I last updated this story, but, as you can see, I have not abandoned it. I got horribly stuck (and still am to a certain extent). This chapter is short, but it took forever to write. After much thought, however, I think I know where I want the next few chapters to go.
Thank you so much to everyone who has stuck with this story. It means more to me than you know. xo
inperfection: Oh, there's definitely a shit storm brewing... I'm glad you liked the sweet interlude! :)
NicoleR85: Thank you! After over a month (probably even two...), I have finally updated. I'm sorry for the delay!
Since it's been so long since the last update, here's a little recap:
"I should be in my own country," she said softly. "I feel like I've betrayed Hungary by working for Five and Six."
Lucas was silent, for he could not relate to her situation. He had considered leaving England a few times, but that was during his marriage to Elizabeta.
"You could go back."
"I could," she agreed and said no more on the matter.
They exchanged lighthearted banter for a while longer, until they were both yawning in tandem. Lucas drifted to sleep with an unsettled feeling, a rarity when he was with Varinia. If she did indeed return to Budapest, would he go with her?
Chapter 29: Noble Thoughts
The next day, forensics analyzed the postcard for any clues to its sender. The ink was matched to a Victoria Blue dye from a ballpoint pen, but it was such a common ink type in ballpoint pens that further identification was not possible. However, the origin of the postcard was confirmed to be Hungary.
"That seems a bit...personal, doesn't it?" remarked Dimitri, glancing at Varinia.
The linguist was in Harry's office, on the phone with the Hungarian secret service. To Lucas' relief, she did not hear the agent's comment. Until they could be certain of the sender's motives, Lucas preferred to shield Varinia from unnecessary worry.
"It looks that way," he replied, with a sigh. "For her sake, I hope whoever sent it doesn't have access to the bacteria."
"I don't think he has," said Beth. "According to Xióng's files, only the high-level operatives had access to it, so this one can't be very high-level if he's still on the loose."
Harry and Varinia joined them. Her stoic expression indicated to Lucas that it was masking fear.
"That's true," agreed Harry, "unless there's a puppet master behind the scenes directing the agents. We just spoke with AH, who have been picking up suspicious activity in Budapest. Calls made to and from untraceable numbers have spiked in the past week."
"Could they be military?" Dimitri asked.
Lucas shook his head. "If the Hungarian secret service is anything like ours, they would have accounted for all inbound and outbound military calls."
"They have," affirmed Harry. He looked at the linguist, who was uncharacteristically silent. "The numbers are unregistered, and the signals are being deliberately bounced, but the AH have managed to trace one of the longer calls to an area in the 9th District. Their agents are currently investigating it."
"What sort of area is it? Residential, commercial, industrial?" Lucas asked.
"All three," Varinia replied. "It's a big area."
"Lucas, since we have personal experience with The Cleansers, I'd like you to work with the AH on this."
Before Lucas could even nod in agreement, Varinia interjected, "I'm going, too."
"No. The postcard was addressed to you," Lucas reminded her. "You'd be walking straight into a trap."
"It's my country, Lucas," she retorted angrily. "You risk yourself to protect your country, so why can't I risk myself to protect mine?"
Lucas regarded her with a patient gaze. "Because you're not a trained agent, that's why."
"Look, if I could be the bait, the trained agents could catch the bad guys," she reasoned. "It's what you lot do, isn't it?"
Lucas turned to his superior for support, but Harry looked thoughtful.
"You're not seriously considering this, are you, Harry?"
"I don't like it," said Harry, "but Varinia is right. This may be the quickest way of drawing them out of their foxhole."
"That's exactly what concerns me," Lucas said wearily. "Varinia was abducted once before. We got lucky that time, but there's no guarantee we will again."
"Then I won't get abducted," snapped Varinia. "I'm right here, Lucas. Stop talking about me like I'm not."
"It's her choice, Lucas," Harry pointed out.
Lucas sighed, relenting reluctantly. "Fine, but I want a full security detail watching her at all times."
Varinia glared at him but bit her tongue to silence her retort. It would not do to have a squabble in front of Section D.
"Of course," nodded Harry. "There's a BA flight at 14:20, and the Hungarians will meet you at the airport in Budapest."
Tariq gave them their coms, while Beth handed them the files from the Hungarian secret service.
"Have a safe trip," she said, smiling reassuringly at Varinia.
The linguist returned the smile, though hers was much less confident. Perhaps Lucas was right and she was behaving recklessly, but she owed it to her country and her fellow Hungarians to help prevent a terrorist act.
Grasping onto that noble thought, Varinia followed Lucas to the car.
