THE MOLE
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ZOYA'S OFFICE
"This can't be right," Webb said looking at the print out.
"Unless someone is playing a game, it has to be." Zoya stated.
"Her clearance isn't even high enough to pull off something like this." Webb said.
"Her clearance is what she decides it is," Zoya replied.
"Who is she?" Alex asked.
"Catherine Gale," Webb said. "She is general counsel for the CIA."
"She's also a general bitch," Zoya said. "I knew she was no good."
"Are you telling me that the mole might be a lawyer for the CIA?" Alex asked in shock.
"No, I am saying that the mole is a lawyer from the CIA." Zoya replied.
"There is no reason for her to be in Moscow on business," Webb said as he tapped the keys.
"I knew she was slime, but I never thought she could do something like this." Zoya said.
"That's what you get for assuming," Webb replied.
"Oh and you knew it was her all along?" Zoya shot back.
"I never said that," Webb stated.
"Catherine Gale screwed you too," Zoya said sarcastically. "But I am sure she was just as disappointed as I."
"Zoya!" Webb said in shock.
"Would anyone like some coffee?" Alex asked quickly, he sensed another argument about to begin.
"NO!" Webb and Zoya said in unison.
"Can you please take it down a peg or two?" Webb asked.
"Hit a nerve did I?" Zoya smiled.
"No, but I am tempted to hit you," Webb teased.
"Very cute," Zoya replied.
"What do we do now?" Alex asked. "Do you think you can find her?"
"The first question is why is she in Moscow?" Webb asked.
"Where are those flight manifests?" Zoya asked looking around her desk.
"Why do you have them anyway?" Webb asked.
"I thought I saw you the other night and was looking to see if you were here." Zoya replied.
"I didn't travel by commercial airlines," Webb replied. "You won't find me there."
"I won't find you, but I want to see who else is here," Zoya said.
"Who are you looking for?" Alex asked.
"These men," Zoya said and wrote down several names.
They spent the next few hours pouring over the papers looking for names. They were exhausted and no closer to finding anything than they were when they started.
"This is useless," Zoya groaned.
"Maybe they just haven't arrived yet." Alex said.
"We need to find out why she is here and then determine what she is planning and with who." Alex offered.
"Are you sure you aren't a spy?" Zoya asked.
"Positive," Alex laughed.
"Alex, did you ever meet her?" Webb asked.
"No, I have not." Alex replied. "Why?"
"That's a great idea," Zoya said with a huge smile.
"What is a great idea?" Alex asked.
"Do you think it could work?" Webb asked.
"Definitely," Zoya replied.
"Would some one like to tell me what you are talking about?" Alex asked.
"How would you like to meet a nice American lawyer?" Webb asked.
"That is a good idea," Alex smiled. "We need to find out where she is staying."
"Knowing her she is probably staying at the Baltschug Kempinski Hotel." Zoya said.
"Expensive tastes," Alex mused.
"No, more like trying to be something she's not. As Dorothy Parker once said, 'You can lead a horticulture but you can't make her think'." Zoya smiled.
"That was cruel," Webb laughed.
"But it was also accurate," Zoya replied.
"So what do we do?" Alex asked.
"You could meet her the same way we met," Zoya smiled.
"That wasn't exactly coincidence," Alex stated.
"Excuse me?" Zoya asked.
"Oh boy," Alex sighed.
"Alex, unless you want to die right here and right now, you better start talking," Zoya said.
"Clay, do you think you could help me?" Alex asked.
"I don't know what you did, but you're on your own," Webb laughed.
"Talk Alex," Zoya snapped.
"Mark Sokol was aware that you were in Moscow. He had heard that you were no longer with the company but wanted to be sure," Alex explained. "I had no idea that you were friends with Harm or Mac, and he never said anything."
"I oughta break your nose," Zoya threatened.
"Oh, the flashbacks. Where have I heard that before?" Webb asked rubbing his nose.
"I should have told you," Alex admitted.
"Well, no harm done. I guess." Zoya smiled. "Besides, it was nice to have a friend."
"Do you have a picture of this woman?" Alex asked.
"Hang on," Webb said as he printed out a picture.
"She's not bad," Alex said.
"If you like the too skinny pencil nosed bleached blonde type." Zoya smirked.
"What makes you think she will be receptive to meeting someone?" Alex asked.
"Look at her, I bet the last time a man spanked her bottom was at birth." Zoya said.
"Zoya," Webb said. "That was rude."
"Oh please, don't even tell me you think she is attractive," Zoya said.
"I didn't say that," Webb stated. "I just meant you are being a bit harsh."
"It's probably because I am hungry." Zoya said.
"What do you want?" Webb asked.
"Hmmm," Zoya replied with a wicked smile.
"Could we stay on point here?" Alex asked, obviously embarrassed.
"Sorry," Zoya smiled. "Here's the plan, Alex you need to get to the hotel and run into Catherine. Clay, you need to find a way to let Jeremy know what's going on…"
"When did you become the lead?" Webb asked.
"When you got me pregnant," Zoya replied. "I am going to talk to Anderson. There is no way any of this can be done without his cooperation."
"I am going to need a secure line," Webb said.
"Black phone in the side office," Zoya said pointing to what looked like a closet door.
"It's 1pm now," Alex said. "Let me go find her."
"Alex, be careful," Zoya said. "I don't want anything happening to you."
"Not to worry," Alex smiled and left the office.
Zoya motioned to Webb that she was going to talk to Anderson. When she arrived at his office and filled him in on the situation, he was not pleased that they had gone ahead without his input. Zoya matched him word for word and convinced him that they not only did the right thing but had the backing of both the CIA and the Department of Defense.
"Well, I think I will clear this with Wellington before I say another word." Anderson stated.
"Go head," Zoya replied. "If you'd like, you can go to my office. I believe Webb is on the phone with him now."
"I think I will do that." Anderson stated.
He went to Zoya's office and spoke with Wellington. When the conversation was over, Anderson had been told to stay out of it and let things progress as planned. When Anderson left her office, Zoya placed a call to Michael Peterson. He agreed with their assessment of the situation and advised them to continue. So it began, there were 5 people who knew that Catherine Gale was the mole. Hopefully, they could all be trusted.
BALTSCHUG KEMPINSKI HOTEL
Catherine Gale was sitting in the hotel lounge drinking a cup of tea. She looked pristine in her suit with her hair pulled back as she gingerly lifted the cup to her lips. Alex walked into the lounge and smiled casually at her. This is too easy. He thought as he ordered a cup of coffee.
"Did you drop this?" Alex asked picking up a tour book.
"Excuse me?" Catherine asked.
"Is this yours?" Alex smiled and showed her the book.
"No, that isn't mine," Catherine replied.
"You're American." Alex said. "The accent gives you away."
"You're not," Catherine replied. "The accent gives you away."
"Yes, I am Russian." Alex laughed. "I have been my entire life."
"That's nice," Catherine replied.
"May I join you?" Alex asked with a big smile.
"Have a seat," Catherine smiled.
"Thank you," Alex said as he joined her. "Are you here for holiday?"
"Yes, I've always wanted to see Moscow," Catherine stated.
"It is a beautiful city," Alex replied. "What have you seen thus far?"
"Not too much, I just arrived a few days ago." Catherine advised. "Hopefully, my friends will be here soon to take me on a tour."
"You have friends in Russia?" Alex asked.
"I have friends every where," Catherine smiled.
"What does a beautiful lady do that she has so many friends?" Alex asked.
"Nothing exciting," Catherine stated, "I am just a bookkeeper."
"I am sure it is more interesting than you make it sound." Alex said.
"What do you do?" Catherine asked, "Aside from picking up American women in hotel lounges?"
"I am a taxi driver," Alex said. "I just dropped off a customer and decided to have a cup of coffee."
"That sounds like an honest way to make a living." Catherine replied.
"It is," Alex said. "Since no one seems to have claimed this book, why don't you take it? It's a wonderful tour book."
"Thank you," Catherine replied.
"What is your name?" Alex asked with a smile.
"Sarah MacKenzie," Catherine replied.
"Well, Sarah MacKenzie, I am Alexei Illiavich, it is a pleasure to meet you." Alex said. "Perhaps we will meet again."
"Perhaps," Catherine replied and watched as Alex walked away.
ZOYA'S APARTMENT
While Alex was meeting with Catherine, Zoya convinced Webb that there was nothing left to be done until they heard back from Alex. Reluctantly, Webb returned to her apartment where Zoya attacked him the minute they entered.
"Calm down," Webb said.
"No, I want to make up for lost time." Zoya said.
"Zoy, at this rate, you have credit into the next millennium." Webb said.
"Clay, I went over a month without companionship." Zoya stated. "Didn't you?"
"What?" Webb asked, obviously confused.
"I asked how long it had been since the last time you had companionship." Zoya stated.
"The last woman I was with, was you." Webb stated.
"The last woman you were with was an hour ago." Zoya said.
"You know what I mean." Webb replied.
"No tell me," Zoya said. "When was the last time before now?"
"This morning," Webb said with a smirk.
"You creep," Zoya snapped and got out of bed. "You got me pregnant and then went to Haiti and met up with some bimbo."
"I what?" Webb asked.
"You heard me," Zoya said. "You found someone else."
"Please tell me that the hormones are talking." Webb said.
"I cannot believe you." Zoya said.
"Zoya there has been no one since you and there will be no one but you." Webb advised.
"I don't believe you." Zoya said.
"That's right, I'm Clayton Webb, CIA agent who recklessly beds women all over the globe. I knock them up and then move on to my next mark. It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it."
"That's not funny," Zoya said.
"Neither is this conversation." Webb replied. "Come back here, please."
Zoya got back into bed and settled against him. Webb instinctively put his arms around her and rested a hand on her belly.
"Do you love me?" Zoya asked.
"Yes," Webb sighed. "A thousand times, yes."
"Good because I love you." Zoya said and dozed off to sleep.
A FEW HOURS LATER
Webb got out of bed careful not to wake Zoya. He went to the living room where he began to review the file once again. His concentration was interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Alex, what happened?" Webb asked.
"We have bigger problems than you think." Alex stated. "She told me her name was Sarah MacKenzie."
"She did what?" Webb asked. "You aren't serious."
"I almost choked when she said it." Alex replied. "I think we need to let Mac know."
"I don't want to bring them into this if I don't have to." Webb said.
"I think we might have to," Alex stated. "If she is pretending to be Mac, it could have serious repercussions."
"There has to be a better way." Webb mused.
"What has to be a better way?" Zoya asked walking in. "Hi Alex."
"Catherine is traveling under an assumed name," Webb said. "She told Alex her name was Sarah MacKenzie."
"You've got to be kidding," Zoya said. "How stupid is this woman?"
"Did she have any idea who you were?" Webb asked.
"If she did, she hid it well." Alex replied. "But there is no way she could know me, we never met before."
"Did you give her your real name?" Zoya asked.
"No, I gave her the name of a taxi driver we know." Alex smiled and Webb laughed. "You're not the only sneaky one in the mix."
"So what now?" Webb asked to no one.
"I say we call Mac and Harm," Zoya said.
"I was afraid you were going to say that," Webb replied as he picked up the phone.
WASHINGTON DC
"Rabb," Harm said picking up the phone.
"Rabb, this is Webb. I need you to wake up and listen to me." Webb stated.
"Webb, where are you? What time is it?" Harm asked.
"Is that Webb?" Mac asked waking up.
"It's about 8pm in Russia." Webb replied.
"What are you doing in Russia?" Harm asked and then it hit him. "Did you find her?"
"Yes, she's right here but that's not why I am calling." Webb advised. "We have a leak at the company. She is in Russia and using the name Sarah MacKenzie."
"Well, it's not Mac." Harm said. "She's right here."
"Rabb, snap out of it," Webb said. "We know it's not Mac. We know who it is."
"Then why are you calling?" Harm asked in his sleepy state.
"Put it together, there is a woman using your wife's name who is involved with terrorists, I thought you would like to know." Webb said.
"Give me the phone," Mac said as she took the phone from Harm. "Clay, what's happening?"
"A terrorist sympathizer is using your name as a cover," Webb said giving her the abridged version.
"Where are you?" Mac asked.
"We're in Moscow," Webb replied.
"We'll see you tomorrow." Mac said and hung up the phone. She and Harm had a quick discussion and then Mac picked up the phone and called AJ. With a little paper work, that needed to be done when he got into work, AJ approved Mac and Harm going to Russia.
"Try not to end up in a gypsy caravan this time," AJ said before he hung up.
"Yes Sir," Mac replied.
Within minutes she was out of bed and packing. By this time, Harm was completely awake and also packing his bag. Two hours later they were on their way to Moscow.
Nobody was going to use the name of Sarah MacKenzie to betray the United States.
