by: iluvaqt@hotmail.com
iluvaqt's Notes: :( Sorry for the lapse. All work and no play. Please send me much craved feedback. Thank you. :)
Chapter 18: Dangerous Liaisons
Robert Berrisford sat in the backseat next to his personal bodyguard, Miguel. He stared at Special Agent Jerry Malone, who sat opposite him. He couldn't accept what the man was telling him. "I can't believe I'm consenting to this…"
"If we had another alternative, we'd use it. Special Agent Harris is trained for this. And you said yourself, the likeness we've achieved is almost perfect."
"Almost isn't good enough," Berrisford raged, pounding the leather armrest beside him. "What if they've met me before? What if they've been monitoring me? You don't know how long they could have been planning this!"
Agent Malone leaned forward, appealing to Berrisford with his eyes. "From what our intel tells us, these guys are ex-navy, maybe ex-military for hire. It's highly unlikely they've ever encountered you or Rachel personally. You've got a guaranteed, expertly trained team of FBI operatives ready and waiting. All you have to do is pick up the phone and tell your father in-law the Feds are handling things now. There's no other way. Even if they managed to get you on the fastest flight to Chicago, you'd still be an hour too late."
Berrisford clenched his fist, refusing to let reality persuade him into making the most difficult decision of his life. Of his daughter's life. There really was no other way. Worsely sounded like an honest and decent man. And by reputation, he integrity and abilities in the industry were unmatched. But trusting one man with the responsibility of rescuing his daughter was just to great a risk. One he wasn't willing to take. At least if he went ahead with Malone's plan, he had a whole team of federal agents at his aid.
"I'd make the call, sir," Miguel said.
Knowing it was his only option; Berrisford decisively reached into his jacket and pulled out his cell phone.
Jones' voice sounded in her ear and Tash had no trouble multi-tasking as she listened to her brother's report.
"I'm updating Berrisford now, he'll know to expect you. The Admiral has spoken with the Feds. Let them handle the drop. Our goal is to protect Rachel. Find her and get her out of there."
"Does Berrisford know about Alec?" Tash queried, pulling to the control stick to the right as she directed the helicopter to a small clearing behind an empty warehouse.
"I told him that head of my security had followed the men from the hotel and that you'd be flying in as back-up. Why?"
"It's gonna take too long to explain now. They have a history, let's leave it at that. I'm going radio silent. I'll patch in once I meet up with Alec." Tash touched down, and quickly shut down the engine and controls. Pocketing the ignition chip, she unbuckled her flight harness and hurried to the back of the chopper. She knew that Jones kept a change of clothes somewhere in the back. Reaching under the seat she pulled out a small duffle bag. Inside, she found a pair of khaki pants and a casual button-down shirt.
Reluctantly, she unzipped her dress and let it slide to the floor. "Better than nothing and there's no way I'm letting a Hardwick original loose one thread."
She hastily got redressed. Jones was a good five sizes bigger than her, but after rolling up the legs and arms. She thought it'd make do. Tearing off the waist, she zipped up the pants and rolled the material down. Under the wad, she made a tight sash with the waistband. "That should keep 'em up."
"If I'd known you'd come underdressed, I might have swiped some clothes off one of those bad-ass wannabes."
Tash had to keep the blush from dusting her cheeks. "You better pray you haven't been there long," she hissed.
Alec gave her a smirk and reached out his hand to help her down. "We've got to get moving. Berrisford will be here any minute."
Taking his hand, she jumped down out of the helicopter and onto the gravel. The small jiggered rocks pierced her soft skin. Damn, she cursed inwardly. See what living in luxury's done to you, it's made you weak. She could almost hear Lydecker echoing those words and it made her shiver.
He felt Tash shiver behind him and he noticed her bare feet. So very pale against the brown dirt and dark rough stones. "You can't go around…"
"I will," Tash silenced him before he could protest further. She had enough going on, trying to convince herself that she wasn't crazy for rushing into this, without trying to defend her actions to him.
Alec let go of her hand and clenched his fist. With a determined set to his jaw, he looked away. If she wanted to be stubborn, so be it. He knew it was hurting her. They weren't kids anymore. They weren't at Manticore. Nobody was forcing them to do anything. He shook his head, cursing the frustrating and confusing emotions threatening to cloud his thoughts. It wouldn't matter how much time went by, or how far he ran, he'd never escape the memories that haunted him. He'd accused Tash of not moving on. Not letting the past fade. He couldn't let go himself. How could he, when it'd never let go of him?
"Alec?" Tash pulled on his jacket. "Let's get moving."
Shaken out of his dark reverie, he nodded resolutely and led the way. They passed four warehouses and one anchored, container ship before they heard voices.
A radioed voice, "A car approaching, a black BMW. Chicago licence plates. YDG-346."
"YDG-346, search it."
"Margaret Mitchell, 411 Stately Blvd…"
A man spoke into his radio, "It's him. Let him through."
Alec signaled for Tash to follow, as he crouched low and started edging his way closer. Hidden by a truck, they couldn't see the kidnappers, only their boots. There were two of them. One was sitting down and from the noise he was making, it sounded like he was using a computer. The other guy was pacing.
"Boss, Rav's still a no show."
The man stopped pacing. "He knew the drill. Follow Berrisford."
"You got it."
Tash stopped and planted herself flat against the wall, as she heard Jones' voice in her head.
"The guy we got didn't talk at all…"
"I think his name's Rav. Spin a story. Tell him, his buddies left him high and dry. Maybe then he'll talk," Tash whispered.
"I'll pass it on. The Feds have got him now."
Alec signed, incoming. He was a few feet away and moments after he'd signaled to her, a car pulled up to their left.
"He's here."
Evan watched as Berrisford got out of the car. He was dressed in a dark suit and wore a heavy overcoat. A leather-gloved hand clutched the handle of a large case. Evan shifted his feet uneasily. There was something different about him. He couldn't figure out what, but it wasn't giving him a good feeling.
A mist had begun to drift in from the northeast and his breath came out as a cloud of steam. Gripping the case more tightly, he started to walk toward the kidnapper.
"Drop the case and back away," Evan said.
Alec had crept behind the car and was steadily moving through obstacles to find a better viewing point. He saw the kidnapper and craned for a better look. He recognized him from the hotel, he'd been in the ballroom. He remembered his voice too, as one of the guys in the fire escape. From the way he carried himself, he seemed like the man in charge. So far they could account of three of the kidnappers. The man addressing Berrisford, the guy stuck to his laptop computer beside the truck, and the bozo standing watch near the main gates. He'd counted just four in the ballroom, more on the roof, and that didn't include their techie. Where were the others?
Tash stayed hidden in the shadow of the warehouse. She could see Alec's position to her left. He had a better vantage point of the drop but she had a view of the surrounding area. Scanning to her right and beyond the truck, she looked up. On the deck of the boat they passed by earlier, she noticed the distinct fluorescent glare of a pair of green eyes. Turning around, she noticed another shadow not far from Alec's position. He was crouched low and well hidden from the view of Berrisford and the kidnapper. She heard Berrisford ask for Rachel.
"I'll give you the money, as soon as I have my daughter."
Lying flat and edging forward on her elbows, she shifted position and rolled between two large crates. From there she began to spot fast and stealthy movement in various areas. Reaching to her ear, she pressed against her comm. Tash cupped a hand to her cheek, and whispered, "Jones, what's going on? There are guys everywhere. Alec, low at 4 o'clock." "I see him. I don't recognize him," Alec answered in reply.
"You'll have her, as soon as we guarantee you've brought what we asked for," Evan said evenly.
Jones was breaking up in her ear, "Tash… wa…"
The comm. dropped out. Tash tried another frequency and tapped the piece in her ear. "Damn. Alec?" Alec didn't respond either. All she got was static. Crawling back to her previous position, Tash signaled to Alec. Sight 1 o'clock hostile. You watch subject.
Evan indicated to Beac and the tech retrieved the case from Berrisford and set it on the table beside the laptop. He started counting the bills.
"Where is she?" Berrisford demanded.
"Safe. You have my word, you'll see her soon." Evan tried to hide the smirk that tugged at the corners of his mouth.
Alec didn't miss it. And all of a sudden things started moving in blur speed for both Alec and Tash, as the kidnapper pulled out a gun.
Tash ran as fast as she could, under the cover of darkness for the ship. Grabbing one of the docking ropes, she climbed up and pulled herself onto the starboard deck.
A few hundred feet away, focused on the men below lay the sniper. His gun ready and his finger on the trigger, he didn't notice the graceful figure fast approaching.
"Did you really think this was just about the money?" Evan laughed. "No, sir. Sorry. Someone wants you dead."
In the split second the man pulled the trigger, Alec had already dove at Berrisford and pushed him out of the line of fire. They both hit the ground hard and Berrisford didn't move.
Just as the sniper was about to take a finishing shot, Tash appeared over him.
"Oh no, you don't," she said, ripping the rifle from his fingers and belting him across the back of the head. "Sleep tight."
Evan raised his gun again, only to have it shot from his hand. He screamed in pain, holding his fractured wrist, he searched for the shooter.
Alec glanced up to see Tash above them. He quickly picked up the kidnapper's gun and held it on him. "Where is she?" He felt a chill up his spine, but the sound of guns being cocked behind them didn't dent his resolve. "Don't make me ask again."
Evan snickered at him. "You can't shoot an unarmed man." He reached up slowly, folding his hands behind his head.
Beac had crawled under the truck. With all the commotion going on, he'd squirmed to the other side. He'd chosen that moment to try and make for the water. Running straight into Tash.
"Going somewhere?" Tash asked. The nose of her rifle planted in his chest. The man dejectedly raised his hands and Tash turned him around, and pushed him forward. "Start walking."
Frustrated, Alec edged closer. He felt them moving in behind him and he still wasn't sure how much more he could do. As much as he'd like to, he knew the man was right, he couldn't shoot him. That was until the guy whispered something.
"Get rid of her," Evan hissed.
Before the guy could blink, Alec was behind him. He pressed the gun between his shoulder blades. He walked him toward the agents their rifles all trained on the kidnapper's chest. "Tell me what I want to know and you might not have to share a cell with a sodomite."
"You've got nothing on me," Evan retorted.
"Think again. Surveillance cameras, your man's PC, oh, and not to mention baldy spilling his guts. We will find her." Alec said.
"Dead, maybe."
Evan was out before he hit the ground and Alec barely had his temper in check by the time Tash reached him. His finger on the trigger, his aim centered on the man's body, Alec toyed with the idea of torturing him within an inch of his life or ending it right now.
"Don't," Tash said calmly. "Techie says they're on a ship called The Eleftheria, if left about two hours ago for Frankfort."
Alec lowered the gun and addressed the men standing close by. "Who's in charge?" It was then that he noticed the guy sitting up against some crates. A woman dressed in combat gear was attending to him. In better light, Alec got a good look at the other man. He wasn't a bad look alike, but he needed to gain 20 pounds, a receding hairline and at least another fifteen years to be Berrisford.
Walking over to him, Alec offered his hand. "Alec Ross, I work for Mr. Worsely. Tell Mr. Berrisford… we will get Rachel back." As he was turned away, the man reached for his arm.
"Am I that obvious?" he asked, touching his face.
"I know the man very well," Alec replied.
Tash followed him to the edge of the dock. "We can catch up to them in about fifteen minutes."
Alec didn't respond. He just stared out at the water. The thick mist that drifted over the sea seemed to be taunting him. You won't find her. You can't see her. You'll never get to her in time. Something reached inside his chest and squeezed painfully. He swallowed the groan that had almost escaped his throat, and ignored the sting in his eyes.
Looking over, Tash noticed that Alec stood rigid and she reached for his hand. "Let's go."
Wordlessly, he returned her grip and quickly pulled her into an embrace. He's free hand strayed into her thick curls and he breathed her in. He could still smell her perfume. The familiar fragrance was overwhelming and he hugged her tighter, knowing, longing for the woman who wore the same scent. One that was so far away and he had no idea if she was alive or dead. After believing for too long that she was dead, it hurt too much to even consider that fate would deal them the same end.
Tears slipped down her cheeks and pulling back, Tash chuckled awkwardly. "Hey, look what you did to me."
She'd gotten a grin out of him, but she read his eyes and knew the fear was still there. He'd never get over this if they didn't get Rachel back. It'd taken him a long time to recover from his guilt over Max. She couldn't even being to imagine how dark he would become if Rachel didn't survive this. As they ran toward the helicopter, she said a prayer for Rachel. They had to get to her. Please let us reach her in time.