Chapter 8

Disclaimer This story is fiction. I have nothing to do with The Agency

and receive no compensation

The afternoon for the drop was finally here. Stiles called in to make sure everything was a go. Terri picked up the phone. "Miss Lowell this is Agent Stiles, I was calling to make sure we we're all set this afternoon." She could tell he was teasing about the business only thing in France and laughed.

"Hi Stiles, why are you calling on my extension, you know you need to talk to Jackson."

"Yea but I like hearing your voice better."

"Jackson, Joshua and Reese are here, I'm going to put you on the speaker."

Jackson told Stiles "We are all set. Just make sure the tracking device gets in the package. We are very optimistic that we will stop them."

"Thanks Jackson. I will be out of contact until later this evening."

Carl said "Stiles be careful." The three men left the room so Terri and Stiles could talk for a minute.

Terri picked the phone up "We're off speaker phone. Stiles please be careful I have a bad feeling."

"Terri it will be ok. I told you we still have unfinished business. I love you, I have never said this to anyone before."

"I love you too. Be careful."

He hung up the phone and he and O'Brien headed out the door.

Back at Langley Gage rushed into OTS offices. "Stop Stiles and O'Brien, I just got word that Duffy escaped and is in Nice."

Terri picked up the phone and called the hotel immediately, the phone rang, and rang and rang. "Its to late they already left."

Quinn walked in "There is nothing we can do but wait. Duffy might not even be going to the meeting. He might not want to call any attention to it. The police are looking for him."

Terri was trying to keep cool, but she couldn't hold it in anymore. Gage and Joshua each took an arm and helped her to Gage's office. Gage said "Call me as soon as there is any news at all."

Stiles looked up and saw 2 Arab men walk in, following behind was Duffy. Stiles told O'Brien "I've got to get out of here, I messed up Duffy's plans once."

The three men walked up to the table, Duffy looked at Stiles and said "I told you not to get in my way. I'm not beyond murder."

Two days had gone by with no word from Stiles. Terri was frantic. She refused to leave the office until they knew something. Joshua called her into his office and gave her the letter and box. "Stiles asked me to give this to you, if I thought you needed it." Terri just looked at him. "Terri its time to be realistic. Stiles might not be coming back."

"Joshua don't you even say that. I don't want to hear it. I know in my heart he is fine. He promised me he would be ok."

Joshua put his hand on her shoulder and kissed her on the top of her head. "I'll give you some time." he walked out the door to give her privacy.

Terri opened the box, looked at the beautiful claddagh ring and put it on her left hand, with the heart towards her. She opened his letter. She could almost hear his voice as she read it.

My Dearest Terri.

If Joshua has given you this letter, things don't look too good right now.

I hope that I'm just not able to get in touch. If I'm not able to return to you, just know how much I love you. You have made these

past months, the best of my life.

I want you to where that ring. I want you to always remember its meaning. Love

I love you more than anything. Friendship, I am grateful to have you for my best friend. Loyalty and Fidelity, since that night in France there has been nobody

else, only you.

I want you to where that ring on your right hand with the heart out. I want you to

find someone to love you as much as I do. I want you to be happy.

I will always be with you in your heart.

All my love,

Stiles

Terri just started to cry. Gage knocked on the door. "Terri can I give you a ride home? I will call you the minute I hear anything. Terri take some time off. You need time to grieve."

"Mr. Gage, we don't know that he didn't get away. He could be hiding somewhere."

"We both know Stiles or O'Brien would get a message to somebody. Please you haven't slept in days. We have called Lex back in. We don't expect to find him, but we will keep looking. We will be putting a star up for Stiles on the wall next to Matt Callan's."

That evening Terri just sat there in the dark crying. The doorbell rang, for a moment she thought it was Stiles, but she knew it wasn't. She opened the door, Lex, Joshua, and Jackson stood there. "You should be trying to find Stiles, why are you here?"

Lex just put his arms around her "Terri, I'm so sorry, we all are."

Jackson said "Terri we are planning a memorial service for Stiles Saturday, I'm sure you will want to be there."

Joshua added "Terri I know how much you loved him, I know he loved you just as much."

"I can't go to a memorial service. He is not dead. I can feel it." she was yelling at them now. She lowered her voice and added, "Thanks for coming over, but I really want to be alone." She just turned and walked in the other room. They walked out not knowing how to help her. They only hoped in time her pain would lessen.

To be continued....