CHAPTER 8 - Beautiful Lie
"A quiet desperation's
Building higher
I've got to remember this is just a game"
"A Beautiful Lie" by 30 Seconds to Mars.

As Mac walked up to the entrance of Toronto's iconic CN Tower, she couldn't help but look skyward seeing the upper most part of the structure swallowed by a sea of clouds. In earlier years, she would have ventured to the touristy attraction and taken in the sights of such a beautiful city. That was when she was more human, more feeling. Now, she was basically numb inside and she much preferred it that way. Instead, she had thrown herself headfirst into work and barely left her apartment unless it was a necessity.

She enjoyed being in the arms of solitude which was broken up when Keeter would visit. Ever since nearly sleeping with him, there had been some distance and Mac found it a welcomed change. She needed a work partner not a friend and certainly not a lover - although the desire to be with someone of the opposite sex concessional stirred her basic instincts. She would brush the thoughts away and take care of her own urges.

What did love have to do with anything, anyway? Didn't the Commander tell her that once? Mac scoffed at the memory and the gentle headache that kept her in check. And why did she even think about him at that moment? Cringing, she shook her head and took a deep breath.

'There will never be an us.' Her mantra stopped the headache and Mac steeled her spine as the cold air swirled around her. The night was abnormally cold and though the limousine had dropped her off as close as possible, there was still quite some walking to do. Deep inside she knew something was going to go wrong, it was an eerie feeling she'd been plagued by the entire day and one that she couldn't shake. Mac was prepared to die but, only hoped that the CIA would stop the bastards causing so much havoc in this world. Her death need not be in vain.

Preparing for her meeting with Chad possessed several logistical problems. First, there was only two entrances and exits into the base of the tower - one for guests and a hidden one for workers. However, once inside and at its highest point where the 360 restaurant was, the only means to exit was by elevator or stairs. Mac had cringed when she brought up the tower information noting it was 144 floors or 1,776 steps. Although she was fit, very fit she was sure her cardio wouldn't hold up that long should she need to escape quickly.

Then there was also the plans to carry a weapon which would likely be seized and cause more questions. She was playing a shy computer expert and that didn't warrant carrying a gun or any type of weapon. Lastly, Keeter had begged her to wear a listening device so that if something could happen, the calvary could be called in. She had refused noting that if something did happen, she'd be dead before they even managed to reach her.

Mac took a deep breath and as she stepped into the building one of Chad's guards was waiting for her. The man was huge, clearly a bodybuilder which didn't help conceal the fact that he was carrying a weapon. The suit he was wearing was entirely too tight for his build and exposed the butt of a revolver, something that seemed out of place considering most preferred to carry a semi-automatic. He motioned towards and open elevator and Mac followed him in. Once inside, the guard pressed the stop button and ordered her to spread her legs and arms. She did as told, biting back the urge to knee the man in the groin as he took his time searching her body. It felt like forever before he pressed the elevator button and sent the cabin upwards taking a full sixty seconds to reach the top.

The guard escorted her to the 360 Restaurant which was devoid of any patrons except for several other guards, one of which took her winter coat and purse.

"Jackie, you look stunning." Chad seemed pleased by her outfit, the little black dress that clung to her tighter than Mac would have liked and dipped almost indecently low. She still sported the blonde wig, its tendrils falling just above her shoulders.

From what Keeter was able to dig up, Chad was a hacker, a very good one that had been sought after by many private firms and even the military. He never accepted a contract, preferring to work for hire and increasing his wealth exponentially. That was until his youngest sister had been kidnapped and murdered six years prior by guerrillas during a trip to Peru. She had been killed savagely and Chad had considered the United States' efforts to be sub-par. For Chad, it was too little, too late and thus began an innate hatred for his country and a want to destroy it by any means possible.

Tapping a CSIS computer geek would aid him in his endeavor as Canada would often share sensitive information with the CIA and FBI.

They settled into a booth by the panoramic windows that normally would have boasted a birds eye view of the city but, was obstructed by the clouds. It was ominous and didn't improve Mac's feelings.

Chad didn't trust her, something that she needed to remedy as soon as possible. It was the reason why he brought her to the tower as he was able to control all points of entry as well as boast his wealth.

Mac needed him liking her in order to infiltrate their little clique. The hope was to, eventually, pass along another USB drive with a hidden file that would put a tracker on their system. And then another with a worm that would debilitate his network entirely. It was risky especially considering that since their meeting at the square, Mac knew she was being followed.

"You can relax Jackie, I am not going to hurt you. I just want to be friends." He said and slipped a glass of champagne towards Mac who hastily took a sip. "It's the most expensive bottle that money can buy."

Mac nodded and closed her eyes briefly as the bubbly alcohol slid down her throat. She could control her alcoholism just like she could control her emotions, lately she'd been drinking with regularity just not to the point of a drunken stupor. Mind over matter, MacKenzie.

"This must have cost you a fortune." She motioned towards the window and looked around.

Chad merely shrugged. "I'm a computer geek who happens to have the very best computer geeks working for him. I could shut down this whole tower without much effort."

Ah, that made sense now, money wasn't a problem when you could hack your way out of things. "I gave you what you wanted. Pay me and leave me alone."

Chad slid closer to her, his arm draping over her shoulders. "I want more than what you gave me, Jackie."

It was the way that he said her fake name that made a bead of sweat drip down her spine. He was trying to seduce her if not with money then with charm. Mac could see how easy it may have been for the others in his organization to join. Chad was smart, he looked for the desperate ones like the woman she was sent to play. "What do you want?"

"You have access that I need… I won't let you go until I get it." His other hand began to run over her clavicle, fingers brushing downward to toy with the necklace she wore.

Inside, Mac was boiling with rage, fighting the urge to slam the heel of her palm straight into Chad's nose. She could kill him without much effort. She could end him with the steak knife in front of her before even one guard took a shot. Instead, she reached for the champagne and drank half of the flute in one shot. "And if I refuse?"

Chad's hand stopped and he pulled away to stare at her. "I'm not the murderous type, not that way anyhow but…" He signaled for the guard closest to him who pulled out his weapon and pressed it to Mac's head. "I have ways to force compliance."

Mac faked fear something that had abated somewhat when she realized she had not been made. "What do you want me to do?"

Midtown Plaza

Detective Anthony Marx was on the CIA payroll and had been for the better part of his career. He helped by being a liaison between the police and the agency making sure the later had carte blanche without police interference.

Tonight Marx was playing chaperone to one US Naval Commander who came in search of an an agent that he had one interaction with. A beautiful agent, if he recalled correctly the stunning woman that he had helped out of a bind some months ago.

Once Webb had contacted him, Marx had picked up Harm from the airport and used his resources to find Mac. "From what I know, that goon belongs to Chadwick Armstrong. He's something of a computer specialist. Why he would need that much muscle is beyond me." He told Harm as they stood near the base of the CN Tower. They had followed her there and used binoculars to see the guard that escorted her inside.

"If the CIA sent her to him, you can bet he's not just working for Microsoft." Harm braced himself against the winds that swirled around the structure. He tightened his coat around him as the cold air had seeped inside and chilled him to the bone. He glanced up at the elevators that ascended and descended, tiny blinking lights outside of the cabins made him aware of just how high the tower stood as the top disappeared into the clouds.

Mac was somewhere inside and every nerve in his body was itching to take an elevator skyward and find her. He checked his watch for the umpteenth time to find she had been in the tower for over an hour.

"Commander, look." Marx motioned towards the exit and the five figures - four men and one woman - heading towards a limousine that was waiting on the street.

Instinctively, he knew it was her. Throughout the years he had familiarized himself with her walk and her movements, the mannerisms that were unique only to Mac. He watched as she was guided by an impeccably dressed man towards the waiting limousine.

Harm was still surprised that Chegwidden had let him come without an argument. He figured their commanding officer still struggled with Paraguay as much as he did and was fighting to right the wrongs. 'Find her Harm, bring her home.' And that was what he intended to do.

Harm sat in the passenger side as Detective Marx followed Mac and the goons the short distance between the CN Tower and a nightclub called The Guvernment made up of a large warehouse that was situated adjacent to the bay. The place had a grimy, industrial feel and something about the move had him on high alert. Once they exited the sleek limo, Harm watched as Mac's date pressed his hand to the small of her back dipping down to lightly caress her six as he escorted her into the building.

Every jealous bone in his body begged him to jump out and pummel the guy into the ground, not ceasing until he was dead. It was one thing to deal with a man that she was dating - although he often fantasized about punching Mic - but, it was another thing to watch her allow this particular piece of shit touch her.

Harm knew his jealousy was unfounded, she was on assignment and, he too had flirted and seduced to get the job done, much to her chagrin. If it were any other man, she would have beaten them to a pulp. "Commander, where are you going?"

"Stay here." He said tersely to Marx and then crossed the street working the darkness of the alley beside the building to his advantage, stopping at a corner where he had a clear view of the guards. Glancing around, he found no other way to enter the establishment save for an emergency ladder straight above that he could not reach. He'd have to enter straight through the front.

"How can I get in there?" Harm asked Marx when he returned to the vehicle.

"Without causing a scene? You can't. The place has always been invitation only unless you're an attractive female." Toronto Police had long since ceased attempting to stop whatever was going on inside the building. There were concerts, parties and a night club scene that all seemed to follow the cities ordinances but, Detective Marx knew the force was paid off well to look the other way. There were other stories, one of human trafficking and a seedy sex scene where women would go in and never come back out. "Look Commander, I'm just here to help you find her. You have, my job is done."

"Help me get in." Harm persisted. "Just help me get inside and then you can crawl into whatever bottle of alcohol you live in." He could smell the familiar scent and knew it was Marx's coping mechanism.

Marx reached into his pocket and took out a stick of gum which he popped into his mouth. It wasn't his breath that gave him away, the smell of alcohol permeated his skin like a cheap cologne. He had been a good man once and now he was nothing more than a crony for whoever paid the most. "This is against my better judgement but…" The detective opened his glove compartment and produced a small .380mm pistol which he pressed into Harm's hand. "Serial number has been scratched off. It's untraceable. I'll create a diversion."

"Thank you." Harm slipped the weapon into his coat pocket before stepping out of the vehicle and walking to the end of the line that had formed outside of the venue with patrons vying to get in.

Marx drove his car down the street and made a U-Turn angling it so that he had a clear shot to speed downwards. He said a silent prayer and put the car in gear speeding down the street and crashing into a pile of trash cans that sat several feet away from the Guvernment's entrance. It sent the guards scrambling and gave Harm enough time to slip past the line and into the warehouse.

He headed in and was instantly assaulted by the rough bass of the electronic music. Cautiously, he moved forward through the long corridor lit in hues of purple and blues until he reached the main dance-floor. It took him a few seconds to get his bearings, eyes adjusting to the low lighting and lasers that pierced through a thick fog created by machines. In an effort to blend in, he made his way to the bar, ordering a bourbon and then casually leaning against the counter as he scanned the club.

Harm took a sip of his drink while his other hand slipped into the pocket of his jacket, fingers tracking the metal of the pistol. "Hey there, Handsome." He turned to the left, finding one scantily dressed blonde standing next to him practically yelling into his ear over the loud music. "Are you here alone?"

He resisted the urge to roll his eyes and instead plastered his flyboy smile and seemed to attract the woman even more. "I am."

"Good, I'm Alicia." She placed her hand on his forearm and let her hand slide down brushing his hand on the way. "Want to dance?" Alicia motioned towards the dance-floor and then took Harm's hand and tugged him towards her clearly a little too eager to find her next client.

Harm remained still and loosened her grip. "No dancing." That didn't seem to deter Alicia who pressed herself fully against him. "Woah, you may want to take it easy."

"We have rooms, in the back. Just say the word." He ran her hands over him and Harm stopped her before they went lower and anywhere near the weapon still in his pocket. "You're so much hotter than the usual clients." Only Harm wasn't listening to her words as his eyes had managed to catch sight of a familiar figure. Alicia followed his gaze and her disappointment showed as she stepped away. "See something you like?"

"A friend. Excuse me." He placed the glass of bourbon on the bar and extracted himself from Alicia before heading across the dance floor and down a hallway that led to the bathrooms. It seemed like forever as he made his way through the throngs of patrons dancing, pulse quickening with the anticipation of seeing her again after nearly two years. He hurried down the hall stopping when she crashed into him.

Mac was leaving the ladies room when she slammed right into Harm, literally. His hands came up to her shoulders, trying to keep her body upright and not careen into the nearby wall. She glanced up and froze almost as if a ghost of her past were standing before her. In a way, that is exactly what he was to her, a ghost - not someone she had once cared for so deeply. There was something in his gaze, a concern that made her heart squeeze slightly as she stared into those once familiar eyes. "Mac." His voice was gentle and barely audible but, she knew he'd called her name and the vise squeezed a little tighter until the warnings went off.

'There will never be an us.'

The headaches that began whenever her training was slipping hammered at her temple the moment he touched her. It was a warning that she needed to strengthen her walls and keep her safeguards in place. Damnit, she didn't need this now when she was so close to completing her mission. He would bring her trouble, always did, the man was a magnet for it.

Chad had brought her to the club as a way to loosen her up and have a little fun. After agreeing to aid his cause, Mac had tried to extricate herself from him but, figured it would only cause the man to distrust her again. Instead, she went with and was promised a good time. She had plastered a shy smile and remained at his beck and call even allowing the man to caress her exposed thigh once she sat at a rounded booth towards the VIP section of the club. She had kissed him as well faking her enjoyment of the act when Chad tried to take it a bit too far. It was then that she excused herself hoping to put some space between them just enough to mount an exit strategy.

She didn't expect to find The Commander although now she understood the uneasy feeling that plagued her most of that day. Taking a step back, she felt his hands fall away from him and Mac resisted the urge to attack as her hands tightened into fists.

'There will never be an us.'

Mac let the anger wash over her the memories of the pain he had caused her in the past that made her cold and callused. Any good feelings or memories were pushed away and compartmentalized so deep within that she could barely access them anymore. The Commander was bad for her, trouble and something she needed to gut right out of her.

Harm couldn't help the surprised expression as he looked her up and down. Her hair was so blonde, almost platinum, a look he found he didn't like for her at all. Her eyes that were glaring at him weren't those beautiful brown eyes that he loved looking into so much. They were greenish, a product of contact lenses that she wore to fit whatever cover she'd been given. He hadn't intended to find her this way, the plan had been to stay in the shadows and monitor things, be her back up if needed. Eventually, he would go to her when the coast was clear.

'There will never be an us.'

By Mac's stunned expression and the deadly look she had given him, it was clear she wasn't happy to find him there. They had been standing in front of each other for merely a few seconds but, to her, it felt like a lifetime. Mac brushed past him uttering a steely "excuse me." His eyes followed her as she weaved past the throngs of people dancing and over to the VIP area where the impeccably dressed man sat.

Harm noticed as he tried to remain calm to the way he put an arm around her shoulder and then leaned in to press a kiss to her lips. It wasn't overly intimate and still, he felt his heart twist and an anger begin to rage inside. It was jealousy, pure and raw and bringing a murderous intent to his mind. He took a breath and then another before retreating to the men's room where he splashed water on his face in order to keep some semblance of control. That was when he heard the screams and the familiar sounds of shots being fired.