****
It was 11pm that same night after their meeting and the night was eerily silent. She didn't want to be doing this now, but time was running raggedly short.
Something had gone wrong while she was in D.C., and now she was scrambling to catch up. It would have to end within 24 hours. From what sources she could dig up, Callahan was meeting with Montcalvez the next morning. This meant she had to pull a fast one on Montcalvez... and it meant giving Alex's cover up. Good thing in her favor was, since she had such pull as the buyer, Montcalvez had given her the justice of dealing with an undercover agent.
"Senor Montcalvez, I am afraid I have some disturbing news." Seska sat down across the desk from the imposing cocaine czar. "It seems that the Feds have invaded your operation. I have it on good information that the FBI Agent you are cozy with? Lewis Callahan? He's got an associate undercover within your ranks."
She watched his face, her own in a poker mask. Reymundo Montcalvez's eyes flickered.
"Senora Broussard... Callahan would not dare to..."
"Ahhh but Senor, think on it. First you bring Callahan in - an undoubtedly wise move. That gave you a foot into the door, a way to stay one step ahead." She leaned forward, elbows resting on the arms of her chair as she smiled a little feline smirk. "But times have changed and Callahan's gotten greedy. He wants more and more each time, doesn't he?" she could see the flicker of agreement in the man's eyes. Callahan had been pushing for a larger share of the profits lately. "Let me lay this out for you, Senor. Callahan is closely associated with the HNR - Hostage Negotiation and Recovery Units. Those units also operate undercover agents. He's in the perfect position here. All he would have to do is to tell his superiors that he stumbled across some information, make it seem credible and suggest that an undercover agent go in with him as the contact. That way, when the sting goes down, he's got a cover if everyone is arrested... and if it goes bad, the agent tries to take him with him or her, and is not believed - for who would betray Reymundo Montcalvez?"
She rose out of the chair and came around the side of the desk, kneeling down and placing a slim hand on his as he looked at her.
"Give me Callahan, let me deal with this undercover federal agent. I can do it and keep you safe, Reymundo... Senor. Then, we can proceed with our business. This way, nothing is traced back to you - you did not order it, you did not request it. I am merely a potential partner looking to make good with your favors. Let me handle this for you."
Montcalvez had given her his consent and with a sigh, she set off. They'd firmed up the plan - Montcalvez calls Callahan and sets up the meeting, but Seska shows up in addition and then deals with the problem of Lewis Callahan. Her plan to nail the bastard was coming together... but she didn't feel that great. As she drove out, she dialed up the team she had on stand-by and gave them the time and location...
When she showed up at Alex's place unexpected with two of her associates, words were futile. Together they knocked Alex unconscious and tied her up. After she was dumped in the back of Seska's cherry red Mercedes Benz convertible, Seska slid behind the wheel and sped out of town, trailed by the other car. They'd been driving for about 30 minutes and had arrived at an old abandoned farmhouse.
The two men hauled Alex out of the back of Seska's car and Seska slapped Alex's face until she woke up, gun in hand. She pulled out a gun and nudged Alex in the back.
"I truly wish things didn't have to turn out like this, Agent Cross.
Facing down a gun in the middle of nowhere wasn't endearing. "Like hell you do, Lillith."
"You shouldn't have called me Lillith. Please, try to understand..." The two men with Seska looked at her for a moment, then
"Does Donovan know what a bitch you turned out to be?"
"That wasn't fair, Alex. I still love him, there is a lot you don't know about... And I'm trying to protect you." pulled their own guns and took aim.
"If shooting me out in the middle of nowhere is protecting me, please, don't."
"I'm out of time. Turn around."
Alex stared at her. "No."
"DO IT!" and to push her point, she cocked the hammer back on the pistol, taking dead aim at Alex's forehead right between the eyes. So, with little choice, she turned around.
"In the back, Lillith? Oh come now. You of all people wouldn't do that. After all, weren't YOU shot in the back?"
While Alex was talking, Seska had silently cocked the gun.
"You're going to thank me for this in the morning." Seska pulledd the slide back with a slick metallic rasp. Alex was beginning to shake. 'God, she's really going to do it! Oh, Boss, you were wrong about her!'
"Lillith! Don't do this! I'm a Federal Agent, so are you! We can help you get Callahan!"
"Oh, no Alex. Callahan is all mine. And you, Alex Channing, are a dead woman."
The two men pulled the slides on their own weapons, cocked the hammer and then let fire in rapid succession. As they did, Seska squeezed the trigger, the gun report lost in the noise even as the shot pierced Alex at the joint of her neck and shoulder almost instantly. She watched as the woman fell to the ground.
"I truly am sorry for this. But, it is for the best."
With that, she walked back to the car, tossing the gun onto the seat next to her. "I just hope this doesn't come back to bite me in the ass later. Get going, I'll... "
But something made Lillith stop as she reached for the keys. She looked around and raised up slightly. They wasn't alone. Quickly she dropped back down into the seat and turned the engine over. Gunning the gas, she tore out of there, kicking dirt and gravel all over the place and the other car right behind her. The only thing that made her stop was the sudden blaze of high-beam headlights in front of her. She slammed on the brakes as hard as she could as the car spun around repeatedly until the passenger side ended up facing the others.
The next thing she felt was a pair of hands jerking her from behind the wheel and throwing her up against the hood of the still running car.
"Seska Broussard, you're under arrest for the murder of Alex Cross." She didn't recognize the voice. But when the man hauled her up, she elbowed him in the throat and tore out of his grip. This probably was the most foolish thing she'd done to date, but dammit, go big or go home. As she whipped around, she drew both of her .45 pistols and came face to face with Donovan's pistol levelled right between her eyes.
Both blinked repeatedly, trying to figure out the other.
Lillith half smiled and said in a soft voice "Where have you been?"
"Get back." Donovan ordered. "Get back and let me handle it."
As the men moved back, she swore she could see a trace of sadness in his eyes. To make it believable, she had to be arrested. And he had to believe she'd killed Alex.
"Why Mr. Richards... does this mean we can't be friends anymore?" she smiled. At the same time, she gently let the hammer down and lowered her pistols until they were resting on the hood of her car. She patted them and stood up with a smile. "There. Now we can be friends again."
Donovan looked at her like she was mad
"Have you changed so much that -" he was interrupted by a shout from where she'd peeled out. They'd found Alex's body. Jake took off running. She looked back to him and mouthed the words 'nothing is as it seems'. She then backed up a bit. Donovan followed her and slipped the handcuffs on her while one remaining gunman kept watch on her. To keep up appearances, she smiled and played it cocky.
"Mmmm, Mr. Richards, you know, those handcuffs could be put to much better use if - " she hissed out the rest between her teeth as Donovan gave her a sharp jerk.
"Watch it boyo." she growled out, "I rather like pain... and I might take it personal."
"I got her. Go help the others" was all that Donovan had to say to that.
At that moment, Donovan's earpiece began whispering in his ear. He looked down a moment, listening, then he looked up at Lillith. It was only him and Lillith right now, the other man and Jake had gone to see about Alex.
He looked at her again, then something caught his eye. He turned his head, looking right at the gun on the seat of her car. He didn't know Litha to use any other weapon but her own two pistols. So why did she use another gun to kill Alex?
He had to get her alone. That being the new direction, he hauled her to the waiting SUV and loaded her into the back seat as the others carried Alex into the other vehicle.
****
It was 11pm that same night after their meeting and the night was eerily silent. She didn't want to be doing this now, but time was running raggedly short.
Something had gone wrong while she was in D.C., and now she was scrambling to catch up. It would have to end within 24 hours. From what sources she could dig up, Callahan was meeting with Montcalvez the next morning. This meant she had to pull a fast one on Montcalvez... and it meant giving Alex's cover up. Good thing in her favor was, since she had such pull as the buyer, Montcalvez had given her the justice of dealing with an undercover agent.
"Senor Montcalvez, I am afraid I have some disturbing news." Seska sat down across the desk from the imposing cocaine czar. "It seems that the Feds have invaded your operation. I have it on good information that the FBI Agent you are cozy with? Lewis Callahan? He's got an associate undercover within your ranks."
She watched his face, her own in a poker mask. Reymundo Montcalvez's eyes flickered.
"Senora Broussard... Callahan would not dare to..."
"Ahhh but Senor, think on it. First you bring Callahan in - an undoubtedly wise move. That gave you a foot into the door, a way to stay one step ahead." She leaned forward, elbows resting on the arms of her chair as she smiled a little feline smirk. "But times have changed and Callahan's gotten greedy. He wants more and more each time, doesn't he?" she could see the flicker of agreement in the man's eyes. Callahan had been pushing for a larger share of the profits lately. "Let me lay this out for you, Senor. Callahan is closely associated with the HNR - Hostage Negotiation and Recovery Units. Those units also operate undercover agents. He's in the perfect position here. All he would have to do is to tell his superiors that he stumbled across some information, make it seem credible and suggest that an undercover agent go in with him as the contact. That way, when the sting goes down, he's got a cover if everyone is arrested... and if it goes bad, the agent tries to take him with him or her, and is not believed - for who would betray Reymundo Montcalvez?"
She rose out of the chair and came around the side of the desk, kneeling down and placing a slim hand on his as he looked at her.
"Give me Callahan, let me deal with this undercover federal agent. I can do it and keep you safe, Reymundo... Senor. Then, we can proceed with our business. This way, nothing is traced back to you - you did not order it, you did not request it. I am merely a potential partner looking to make good with your favors. Let me handle this for you."
Montcalvez had given her his consent and with a sigh, she set off. They'd firmed up the plan - Montcalvez calls Callahan and sets up the meeting, but Seska shows up in addition and then deals with the problem of Lewis Callahan. Her plan to nail the bastard was coming together... but she didn't feel that great. As she drove out, she dialed up the team she had on stand-by and gave them the time and location...
When she showed up at Alex's place unexpected with two of her associates, words were futile. Together they knocked Alex unconscious and tied her up. After she was dumped in the back of Seska's cherry red Mercedes Benz convertible, Seska slid behind the wheel and sped out of town, trailed by the other car. They'd been driving for about 30 minutes and had arrived at an old abandoned farmhouse.
The two men hauled Alex out of the back of Seska's car and Seska slapped Alex's face until she woke up, gun in hand. She pulled out a gun and nudged Alex in the back.
"I truly wish things didn't have to turn out like this, Agent Cross.
Facing down a gun in the middle of nowhere wasn't endearing. "Like hell you do, Lillith."
"You shouldn't have called me Lillith. Please, try to understand..." The two men with Seska looked at her for a moment, then
"Does Donovan know what a bitch you turned out to be?"
"That wasn't fair, Alex. I still love him, there is a lot you don't know about... And I'm trying to protect you." pulled their own guns and took aim.
"If shooting me out in the middle of nowhere is protecting me, please, don't."
"I'm out of time. Turn around."
Alex stared at her. "No."
"DO IT!" and to push her point, she cocked the hammer back on the pistol, taking dead aim at Alex's forehead right between the eyes. So, with little choice, she turned around.
"In the back, Lillith? Oh come now. You of all people wouldn't do that. After all, weren't YOU shot in the back?"
While Alex was talking, Seska had silently cocked the gun.
"You're going to thank me for this in the morning." Seska pulledd the slide back with a slick metallic rasp. Alex was beginning to shake. 'God, she's really going to do it! Oh, Boss, you were wrong about her!'
"Lillith! Don't do this! I'm a Federal Agent, so are you! We can help you get Callahan!"
"Oh, no Alex. Callahan is all mine. And you, Alex Channing, are a dead woman."
The two men pulled the slides on their own weapons, cocked the hammer and then let fire in rapid succession. As they did, Seska squeezed the trigger, the gun report lost in the noise even as the shot pierced Alex at the joint of her neck and shoulder almost instantly. She watched as the woman fell to the ground.
"I truly am sorry for this. But, it is for the best."
With that, she walked back to the car, tossing the gun onto the seat next to her. "I just hope this doesn't come back to bite me in the ass later. Get going, I'll... "
But something made Lillith stop as she reached for the keys. She looked around and raised up slightly. They wasn't alone. Quickly she dropped back down into the seat and turned the engine over. Gunning the gas, she tore out of there, kicking dirt and gravel all over the place and the other car right behind her. The only thing that made her stop was the sudden blaze of high-beam headlights in front of her. She slammed on the brakes as hard as she could as the car spun around repeatedly until the passenger side ended up facing the others.
The next thing she felt was a pair of hands jerking her from behind the wheel and throwing her up against the hood of the still running car.
"Seska Broussard, you're under arrest for the murder of Alex Cross." She didn't recognize the voice. But when the man hauled her up, she elbowed him in the throat and tore out of his grip. This probably was the most foolish thing she'd done to date, but dammit, go big or go home. As she whipped around, she drew both of her .45 pistols and came face to face with Donovan's pistol levelled right between her eyes.
Both blinked repeatedly, trying to figure out the other.
Lillith half smiled and said in a soft voice "Where have you been?"
"Get back." Donovan ordered. "Get back and let me handle it."
As the men moved back, she swore she could see a trace of sadness in his eyes. To make it believable, she had to be arrested. And he had to believe she'd killed Alex.
"Why Mr. Richards... does this mean we can't be friends anymore?" she smiled. At the same time, she gently let the hammer down and lowered her pistols until they were resting on the hood of her car. She patted them and stood up with a smile. "There. Now we can be friends again."
Donovan looked at her like she was mad
"Have you changed so much that -" he was interrupted by a shout from where she'd peeled out. They'd found Alex's body. Jake took off running. She looked back to him and mouthed the words 'nothing is as it seems'. She then backed up a bit. Donovan followed her and slipped the handcuffs on her while one remaining gunman kept watch on her. To keep up appearances, she smiled and played it cocky.
"Mmmm, Mr. Richards, you know, those handcuffs could be put to much better use if - " she hissed out the rest between her teeth as Donovan gave her a sharp jerk.
"Watch it boyo." she growled out, "I rather like pain... and I might take it personal."
"I got her. Go help the others" was all that Donovan had to say to that.
At that moment, Donovan's earpiece began whispering in his ear. He looked down a moment, listening, then he looked up at Lillith. It was only him and Lillith right now, the other man and Jake had gone to see about Alex.
He looked at her again, then something caught his eye. He turned his head, looking right at the gun on the seat of her car. He didn't know Litha to use any other weapon but her own two pistols. So why did she use another gun to kill Alex?
He had to get her alone. That being the new direction, he hauled her to the waiting SUV and loaded her into the back seat as the others carried Alex into the other vehicle.
****