2am, Paris
After Yvette made her phone call, she didn't talk much. The tension in the house smarted. Everyone was wary of eachother. McGuire leaned against the window and noticed several vehicles stop in front of their location. "Top!"
The alarm in his voice caused everyone to look at him.
"Three vehicles pulling up. I see…six men getting out of the vehicle—one man is approaching the house." McG warned.
"It should be Victor, my boss." Yvette's voice was flat. She stepped out of the room to the entrance of the home. Dalton moved toward his medic and glanced through the window, "Watch them."
McG nodded while Dalton moved away.
"Preach. Upstairs, keep a look out." Dalton's voice was low as he watched Yvette wait for her boss. Preach headed to the room with the balcony.
The new man didn't knock but walked right into the house.
"Bonjour." Yvette greeted him but the man wasn't as polite. Their words were in French, quick and confusing to Dalton who didn't know the language. Jaz strained to hear the conversation without being obvious that she was listening.
"We should have arrested Sam when he arrived." The man crossed his arms.
"It was worth the chance to see if he led us to my sister and niece."
"No, it wasn't!" The man snapped, "We let a dangerous criminal lose in Paris and if anyone is hurt by him, it will be on our heads."
"I hear your concern and I understood the risk. I disagree that it wasn't worth the chance." Yvette held her own but was respectful.
"You intercepted the arrest orders." The man was livid.
"That's my prerogative as lead agent! It was my call to make."
"There was more than one occasion where he could have been successfully detained. And each time you stood down. Not 2 hours before this American team arrived, we lost him. You are lucky the surveillance team wasn't hurt or you would have been instantly demoted."
"We will locate him when Hampton arranges a meet. There is no way he won't be with Hampton or nearby as security." Yvette pointed out.
"You can't guarantee that."
"I can because I know them." She insisted but the boss wasn't having it.
"It's over." The man shouted in French.
"Sir, if I may…" Yvette tried to explain.
"No you may not." The man was firm, "Your investigation is over. Do you understand?"
"But sir…"
Amir could see past the poker face she had been wearing. She was tired and vulnerable. It wouldn't take much to push her over the edge but would she break into violence or tell everything?
"Stop!" The man held up his hands, "We want the American officers gone or you will have to answer for it. You will report to your supervisor while we decide what to do now." He glanced at the Americans who were loitering nearby and turned on his heal to leave.
Yvette watched her boss as he slammed the door on his way out of the house.
Dalton backed off, "Sitrep."
"Good back here, a couple cars passing through, but nothing official looking and I don't see anyone hanging around." Preach revealed.
"Come on down." Dalton ordered him, "Joseph?"
"Guy's getting back in the car. Everyone's going with him. No one outside."
"Good." Dalton had a few routes planned if things had gone south, whether they would have made it out or not was anyone's guess.
When Yvette entered the room, her undercover mask was back in place. Preach came downstairs, stopping behind the woman, blocking her exit. She noticed but didn't call him on it.
"You need to leave the country." Yvette looked at Dalton. He turned to their laptop and keyed in a call. Patricia answered in her office.
"What's happened?" the Deputy Director asked.
"There's nothing more to be done. You must get your team out." Yvette closed her eyes, "It's over."
"You know I don't believe that." Patricia objected.
"Director Campbell, Hampton did not get your team cleared with the Intelligence service or military. They had to clear customs with their real names at the airport and once Jaz was identified, alarm bells went off. Intelligence is not happy. I don't know if they will actually arrest her but they are threatening it. And they will hand her over to Iran if given the opportunity." She insisted.
"Arrest me?" Jaz was surprised.
"France has a civil relationship with Iran and they were very testy about losing a supposed French citizen who killed an Iranian. It's caused some issues."
"We said Jaz was American when we exposed her." Patricia reminded.
"And they partially believe that," Yvette told them, "But they also thought we helped with the escape, hence the pressure."
"What are you going to do?" Dalton asked their host.
"I've got to get back to my undercover assignment. Apparently, they think the ID's still usable."
"And what about your niece?" Preach asked.
"A specialized team will take over to find Amanda."
Dalton didn't believe she was backing down, "We can help."
"Hampton sent you here—the very man who organized this kidnapping. He always sends teams with backup plans…so what did he tell you Dalton?" Yvette faced their leader. "I know he called you after you got your orders from Patricia."
The Americans looked surprised and looked toward Dalton. He kept his face expressionless and did not answer.
Yvette crossed her arms, " 'Dalton, I don't know about Yvette's loyalty. We have to send your team to France but if things get bad, don't hesitate to kill her.' "
Dalton blinked at her word-perfect retelling of his call, "How did you…"
"He told you to kill her?" Amir was shocked, "And you didn't see that as a red flag?" Preached pulled Amir back from confronting Dalton.
"You are loyal to your country and you will follow orders—even if they go against everything you know and maybe even your morals. Hampton gave you those orders so no matter what, he would still win. I do not want you around so I won't worry that you will stab me in the back." Yvette's eyes moved over each American gauging their reactions.
"You will need help." Amir reached for her.
She easily avoided contact by stepping out of reach, "I don't trust any of you—no matter our history. Director, get your team out of France."
"Let me make some calls. Dalton protect your team." Patricia ended the connection.
"Yvette you are not thinking straight." Amir argued with her.
"I don't need your help."
Amir continued to argue with her but Dalton stepped to Preach, "Can you do a force pair of her phone?"
Preach reached into his bag while Dalton casually blocked the sight of Preach's actions with his body.
"Depends on her security settings but we can try. Is it on her?"
"Back pocket, left." Dalton had noticed. He turned to their sniper, "Jaz, we need a distraction…ask about your dad."
Jaz moved toward Yvette, "I'm not leaving without my dad."
"That is out of my hands." Yvette responded.
"You are the one who arrested him, you can get him un-arrested." She verbally pushed as she stepped toward her.
"That is not how it is done." Yvette sidestepped the woman which brought her closer to Preach.
Preach kept the technology hidden from Yvette but kept the conversation going, "Girls we don't need a cat fight."
"Maybe we do." McG egged them on.
"Excuse me?" Yvette turned to the medical officer.
"That would be fun to watch." He shrugged.
"I don't think so." Yvette glanced around the room. They are aggressive and pushy but not crossing the line. Why?
"Get my dad released." Jaz's voice was confident.
"Ephraim is a criminal and has killed multiple people, don't push it." Yvette glared at the woman.
"He is my dad."
"And he killed my mother!" She snapped. Jaz blinked, her arguments vanishing.
"My sister is dead and your father is a part of this and now you are making demands. I think I'd rather Victor arrest you all for espionage and forget about the political fall out!" Yvette stormed out of the room.
Dalton looked at his communications specialist.
"Got it." Preach now could monitor her communication.
"What's that?" McG wondered.
"Cloned phone: that way we can see and hear who she is calling." Preach answered softly.
"Time to go." Dalton picked up his bag. The team knew how to move fast and clear a location.
Yvette was on the front porch when they exited the home. She glanced at the team leaving.
"Good luck," was all Dalton said as he continued to their vehicle.
Preach paused by the Frenchwoman, "I wish we could have done something to save your sister."
Yvette thought he looked sincere, "You and me both."
She watched the van drive away. Yvette gave them a beat to double back but nothing happened. She sighed. There was a lot of work to do.
