Translation Note: jefe=chief in Spanish
Chapter 2 of Part II
Jack woke up from the radio blaring on the alarm clock, his head pounding from the alcohol he drank last night. He wanted to push the "sleep" button, but he knew that if he did, he would continue to do so until it was time to go. He forced himself out of bed feeling dizzy as he got up. He stumbled to the shower turning it on so that the water would warm up as he undressed. He took a quick shower. The fog in his head clearing more and more as the water hit his body. When he got out, he took the thin towel the hotel provided and put it around his waste walking out to the other room soaking wet still. He rummaged through the duffle bag he had packed and found clothes for the day. He dressed quickly and left the room to go and grab some coffee at the bar, and if he was lucky, something to eat.
When he walked into the bar, he saw another woman bartender he had yet to see. He sat at the bar and the woman walked up to him and asked, "What can I get for you hon?"
"Coffee black, and do you have any food in this place?"
"Yeah. I'll find you a menu." She said walking away.
For a second Jack thought of the woman he had grabbed a few years ago when Gaines had his wife and daughter. The woman reminded him of her, and for a moment he was scared that it was her actually. That would be one hell of a problem he thought.
The woman returned with an old greasy menu and handed it to him. He looked at it and noticed nothing that seemed appetizing so he ordered scramble eggs and toast. He figured there was no way to really mess these two things up. The woman poured his coffee and yelled his order back at the kitchen staff that consisted of one man standing in the back watching a hockey game.
It took ten minutes for him to get his eggs, and another five before he devoured them. He finished off his first cup of coffee when Carlos and his thugs came walking in to the bar. "You're early today." Carlos stated the obvious again.
"I came in for coffee." Jack said looking up at the man.
"Hard time last night?"
"You could say that." Jack was interrupted by the bar owner/dealer guy.
"Hard night doesn't even cover. This man was drinking Southern with screwdrivers as chasers. This boy can handle his liquor." The man stated in the utmost respect.
"Damn." Carlos said amazed that Jack could even make it to the bar again. "Are you going to be okay to work?"
"I've been a sloppy drunk and taken on an entire fucking army with only five other guys, and came out on top. I think I can handle driving with a slight hangover."
"Good, because I really would hate to lose you at the last second." Carlos said slapping Jack on the back. "Entire army, huh?"
"Yeah."
"You really know your shit, then?"
"You could say that." Jack answered modestly.
"Ready to go?" Carlos asked.
"Yeah, let me pay the bill." Jack said reaching into his pocket for his wallet.
Before he could grab it, the bar owner/dealer said, "It's on the house."
"Thanks." Jack said standing up. Jack popped his neck and followed Carlos and his thugs outside. When they reached a black SUV Carlos introduced the two thugs, "Jack you know Salvador and Ximen." He said pointing at each man when he said his name. "Now that everyone knows everyone, let's get going."
Ximen handed Jack the keys to the SUV and got into the passenger seat. Jack walked around the SUV to the driver side. Once he got in, he asked, "Where to?"
"Drive towards the pier. When we get closer, I'll let you know for sure." Carlos said from the back. "And turn the damn radio up."
Jack reached over and turned the radio as he was told to do. He noticed the station as one of the of the stations Kim listened to. He would always argue with her to turn it off when they would drive in the car together. He quickly wiped the thought of Kim out of his mind, he had to be focused and ready for anything.
"Turn here." Carlos said pointing at a exit on the freeway.
Jack put his turn signal on and turned off the freeway via the exit. He was only somewhat familiar with this area. It was around the area that Gaines had held Kim and Teri at, in what seemed so many years ago. Jack did not allow any of the memories to come back. He blocked them out by focusing on what was on the radio. A song by Trapt, a group he knew all too well because of Kim. He had never heard this song before, and thought for a moment that it was weird that Carlos would be listening to a group that Kim liked. Most people would assume or stereotype that being a Mexican drug dealer, he or she would listen to Mexican music, but then, Jack remembered Carlos was only a few years older than Kim.
The pressure is building I want to break away
Motivation is lacking the point starts to fade
I look to the bottom still empty still the same
Jack drove down the road thinking to himself, maybe the character he always plays undercover is not too far off from the real deal. You cannot fight evil without becoming evil yourself. He enjoyed being undercover because he did not have to live in the world of Jack Bauer. He no longer had to deal with the ex-girlfriend, the dead wife, the hurt daughter, and the world expecting him to be at his best all of the time and stop the hundreds upon hundreds of terrorists and other people who wanted to see the end of the United States.
I'm waiting for something to show me the way
To the path that I should take, it's just to real to go ahead and fake
Every step that I make
Name your price I would give anything
I want to start over again
Name your price, 'cause I don't feel so right
Am I the only one
"Exit on that small dirt road there. Drive about three miles back and stop the car." Carlos said from the back.
What do I want I have nothing to say
Whatever it is I want it today
Do we choose our own ground?
Do we choose to stay?
Jack stopped the car when he reached three and half miles back into the wooden area. He put it in park and waited for whatever was to happen.
Carlos told Xiem and Salvador, "Walk up there and see if anyone is there yet."
It was hard to see what was ahead even though it was day, the treetops stood over the road blocking most of the sunlight. Jack could feel that the temperature had dropped a few degrees from the lack of sunlight.
A few minutes later a black SUV drove in behind them, parking next to the car. Jack looked up at the windows, but could not see anyone because of the tinted windows. He turned his head back and looked straight ahead.
Well I've seen to many throw it away
Do I see just one small chance to be myself to try to make it last
Every step that I take
"Shit. Wait here, and do not get out of the car unless the guy tells you to." Carlos said being pissed. He didn't want Ramon or Hector whoever it was that came to know he had brought a new guy to a deal. They would be pissed at him, they hated new faces on the other side. They did not trust him to be able to screen his people properly to keep out the cops and federal agents that tried hard to infiltrate the Salazars.
A Mexican man got out of the back of the SUV and said, "Hello, Carlos."
"Hello Hector."
"Where are your guys?"
"They are down the road a little bit. Looking to see if you where there. I was worried because you were not here." Carlos said nervous. The Salazars scared the crap out of him. They could kill him in a heart beat. Hector was less scary than Ramon who had been known for his temper.
"Who is that in the driver's seat?" Hector asked referring to Jack who sat looking straight ahead trying not to call attention to himself. When he heard Hector's voice, he almost shit his pants. He had not expected to see or even hear Hector or Ramon for at least a month, and here he was the first day undercover with Hector not less than ten feet away. Maybe they were dumber than he thought.
"A driver, that's all. Don't worry, he's clean." Carlos said even more nervous now because he was not suppose to bring new faces around unless they were checked out by one of Salazar's men, but he was in a crunch. His other driver had been killed the other week in a drive-by along with a few of his other men. That left only Salvador and Ximen, and he needed one more guy to help out.
Hector walked up to the car and knocked on the window. Jack rolled it down and looked at him in the eye, a sign of respect and said, "Yes, sir."
"Get out." Hector said in a thick Mexican accent.
Jack opened the door slowly and got out of the car. He maintained eye contact with Hector. He did not blink nor show he was afraid.
"What is your name?" Hector asked.
"Jack."
"Jack what?" Hector said almost losing his patience with this guy. Who looked at him and did not show anything, fear acknowledgement, nothing but two cold eyes starring back at him.
"Wood."
"Check it out Thomas." Hector said looking to the man leaning against the front of the SUV.
"Yes sir." The man Jack deduced as being Thomas said. Thomas grabbed his cell phone out of his jean pocket. He walked away from the group and made a call.
"It'll take a few minutes." Hector said looking at Jack. "While he's checking, Pedro here is going to keep you company. Carlos, you come with me."
Hector walked away from Jack. Jack could barely hear what he was saying, but he was clearly pissed at Carlos for bring Jack along. A few minutes later, Thomas came out from behind the SUV and waited for Hector to return.
Hector left Carlos standing back away from Jack and Pedro. Ximen and Salvador had returned and were with Carlos. Thomas whispered to Hector, "He seems clean. Ex-Delta. Got dishonorably discharged because he got caught smuggling some things. Spent a few years in Leavenworth for it and from my understanding, he was not alone. He was the only one who did time, but he was not alone. He could have gone free if he gave up the others, but he didn't."
"And this is a reliable source?" Hector asked.
"Yes. A guy is emailing his file now. Most of it is classified and he is trying to break into some of it for us. Since then, he's been clean. He's suspected for some things, but no evidence, just suspicion. That is also coming in a file via email."
"I still don't trust him, nor like him being here. You stay and watch him with Pedro." Hector said walking away from Thomas, "If anything happens, you know what to do."
Jack knew they were talking about him, and the last comment brought relief and panic at the same time. He was relived because his background checked out, but Hector's parting words to Thomas were not comforting. Jack could no longer see nor hear Hector or Carlos. He stood against the car looking straight ahead as if nothing was going on, and everything was normal. He could feel Thomas and Pedro's eyes glued on him and it made his skin crawl. He did not like being there with so much attention on him. This was never good for the first day of being undercover. To break the tension that was clearly felt he asked, "How are you guys today?"
Thomas continued to stare at him, wondering if he was asking the question because he was nervous or if he was just trying to start a conversation while they were waiting. He thought to himself, this guy is hard to read. His eyes are cold and did not give anything off. His body language is that of a person who doesn't care at the moment as if everything were normal. "Good and you?"
"Been better. Got a hell of a hangover. Should have known better Southern always get me, and of course I have to be the jackass to chase it with screwdrivers." Jack said trying to keep them talking so he could get a better understanding of the mood at the moment.
Pedro said in amazement, "Are you trying to kill your liver?"
"I love screwdrivers and Southern, and they are great together." Jack said smiling.
"So how long have you worked for Carlos?" Thomas asked trying to figure out more about Jack.
"About three hours now. He asked me to stay behind in L.A. and help him with something a few weeks ago. I agreed to stay behind for awhile."
"So you like to move around a lot?" Thomas inquired further.
Jack could tell the man really wasn't interested in the answers as much as trying to figure him out more. "Yeah. I guess. I get restless sometimes. Seeing the same people every day doing the same thing gets boring. I always need action. That was why I joined Delta and then got into the trouble."
"What trouble was that?"
"You already know, but you're trying to see if I'm lying. I helped smuggle drugs in and out of areas. I still did my missions and I didn't use. No one was getting hurt."
"Very insightful and to the point, I like that. So you did it for the money?"
"No. I got bored and needed something better to do. Money doesn't matter much. It's nice when you have it, but it doesn't make the world go round."
"I understand that." Thomas said shaking his head still unable to get an understanding of Jack.
Hector came back with Carlos in tow. He noticed that the man Jack and his men were talking, and he smiled. Maybe Thomas got something on the man so Hector could find a reason to dispose of him. He did not like the man, but there was just something about him, either cockiness or something else. Hector called to Thomas, "We are going to move to the bar. We have some business to take care of."
"Yes, jefe." Thomas said walking around to get in the driver seat.
"I want Jack to drive us there." Hector said not wanting to take his eyes off the new face.
"Yes, jefe." Thomas said turning to walk back to the passenger side.
"Pedro, you drive with Carlos and the others." Hector commanded.
Jack walked to the driver's side of the SUV and got in. Putting his seatbelt on, he waited for Hector to get into the SUV. When the back door closed, Jack turned the car on and drove forward enough to do a tight U- turn. He prepared himself for more questions, but none were given on the drive to the bar. It was refreshing not to have to listen to any music on the way there. Everyone sat in silence waiting for the other to slip up.
"Drive around the back." Hector ordered Jack.
Jack drove into the small ally watching carefully because the SUV barely made it through the alley without touch the walls of the building on either side. When he reached the bar area of the alley, it opened and he pulled up to the loading dock area of the bar. He put the car in park and turned it off. He followed Hector and Thomas out of the SUV and into the back room of the bar.
Inside the dealer sat at his desk talking on a cell phone. He jumped up when he saw Hector enter the room. "Sir, nice to see you. I was not expecting you so soon."
"I thought I'd drop by and say hi to an old friend. You are a friend, right?" Hector asked cryptically.
"Yes. Of course sir."
Carlos and the others came walking in. They all knew what was going to happen, only Jack and the dealer were out of the loop on the events.
"You see, that's funny because I heard that you were trying to sell some people up the river so you could save your own ass from the Feds who are hot on your tail." Hector said looking at the man.
Fear registered on the dealer/owners eyes. "I . .I . .I. . would nev . . .never do. . .some . . thing. . .like that." The man said fear in his voice. He was almost in tears.
"Are you calling me a liar?"
"No sir." The man said holding tears back.
"That's what it sounded like to me." Hector paused to look at Jack who looked on as the dealer was about ready to die. "Jack, come here." Hector finally said.
Jacks eye's conveyed nothing. He walked over to Hector. Hector told Pedro, "Give him your gun."
Pedro reached into his holster and pulled out his gun, which was a Glock 17, handing it to Jack. Jack took the gun and pulled the slide back to load a bullet into it and waited for Hectors instructions.
"Get rid of him, Jack." Hector said as a test. No federal agent would kill a man in cold blood.
Jack pointed the gun at the dealer and without hesitation he pulled the trigger shooting the man in the chest. Jack walked up on the man who was laying on the floor, chest heaving in and out. Jack got him in the upper left lung so the man was now suffocating to death and drowning in his own blood because of the hole in his lung. Jack looked back at Hector as he pulled the trigger two more times, hitting the man in the chest and neck.
Hector looked into the man's eyes and was surprised when he looked back at him as he shot the dealer again. His eyes conveyed nothing. He could have been watching a boring movie for all his eyes knew.
Jack walked back over to Pedro and handed him his gun back. Blood was splattered on Jack's pants and shirt. He walked back over to the spot he had occupied earlier.
"Pedro and Jack, get rid of the body. Drive it out to the desert and bury it."
Jack walked over to the body grabbing it by the shoulders. With the help of Pedro who grabbed the man by the feet, they carried the dead man out to the back of the car. Pedro opened the trunk that had already been outfitted with a plastic sheet and shovels. Alone, Jack picked the body up and put it into the trunk closing it, he strolled over to the passenger seat, as Pedro already occupied the driver seat. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------
Getting of the airplane, Kit wondered exactly what country he was in today. It seemed that ever since he had been undercover, he had seen more of the world than he had in the Army. He felt like a rock star on tour in a new place every day constantly moving and trying to please the people around him. The only difference was that if he did not convince the people around him he was in fact what he was supposed to be, he would be dead in a heartbeat. He smiled at the person who walked by him. He tried to remember exactly how long he had been undercover now and he could not remember. Everything was blending together as Jack had told him it would. He had asked Jack for advice before he went undercover. He knew what he was taught to expect, but as always, actually doing something and reading about it are two different things. This was one of the biggest operations of his life and he was scared shitless he would screw up. He would never tell anyone he was scared shitless, but he knew that when he asked Jack for advice on it, Jack knew. Jack told him that he would eventually just go with the flow and it would become natural for him to be this other person. That was easy to do because throughout our life, we consistently change from persona to persona to fool others that we are what they think we are or we are what we think we are. Both ways, there is no difference and a good undercover agent knows that. All of this was Jack's parting words to him and they had calmed his nerves enough to go off. This was not his first undercover experience, but it was his first with a major organization and that mattered.
"Yo Kit. Can you get the last bag out for me? I need to go meet with some of the bosses."
"Yeah, no problem, man." Kit said walking back up the steps of the plane to grab the last few bags that were left. He was at the moment a lower level worker who still was not sure who the hell he was working for. He did as he was told and he did it when he was told, and that was all that mattered. He got his job done and got it done well. He wanted to get to know people and then worry about raising in the ranks.
He walked back down the steps and almost dropped everything in his hand when he saw her. He had not seen her since the day. He went pure white in only seconds. He hurriedly walked down the steps and to the SUV before she noticed him. At that moment fear, hatred, and excitement ran through him. She might have been a traitor to everyone, but he still had a crush on her. He did not see it as a crush, but something else. She was the person he wanted to be with. She had this hard side she would show around Jack when they were together, but he had seen the other side before Nina created a personality she was trying to hide from everyone. Then the realization of what trouble he was in hit him. Here he was barely undercover, and already his cover could get blown. If she saw him, she would remember him. They were close towards the end, and she would know he was still with CTU and therefore undercover. Would she kill him or have someone else do it?
After he finished packing the back of the SUV Matt, the man who had been talking to Nina came back over to help. "You already got that packed, good. We can take off maybe get some down time to go out and see what Sydney is really like."
"I could use some party time. Get a couple of girls and make a night off it." Kit said smiling through his fear. She was gone just like that, hopefully not to return any time soon. She was not supposed to be a part of this group. She was supposed to be in Africa somewhere, not in apart of Veselenak's terrorist gang. He thought about pulling out, going out and partying with Matt until Matt passed out or went off on his own, jumping a plane back to L.A. and reporting what he had seen. At the same time, his skin tingled at the thought of seeing her again, and being able to finish what he had started. He was never one to quit even when he was clearly beaten.
Getting into the passenger's seat, Kit turned the radio up. They were listening to some station in Sydney that claimed to play today's modern rock. He did not care what they were listening to as long as Matt did not talk his head off like usual, and allowed him to contemplate his next moves.
When the car finally stopped outside a farm house, Kit looked around for any sign of her or anyone else who might surprise him, but they were only the usually people there. He got out of the car and started unpacking the equipment from the back and taking it into the old barn that served as a communications center for the group. That was one reason why this group was so hard to track because of its ability to move on quickly and the numerous places it could move to. The possibilities were limitless and they moved every week. Once they got comfortable, it was time to move. They had been moving recently because they were under suspicion for a possible attack on the U.S. in the next month, but Kit had still not heard anything about it, not even a rumor of a possibility.
After they finished unpacking he, Matt, Tristan, and Zander went to the hotel that had been reserved for them and change for a night out on the town. Kit did not mind Tristan or Zander they were higher level people than he and Matt were, but they were not that bad to hang out with. They could drink as well as the other person and did not use there higher positions to their advantage.
They started the night off in a little bar on the ocean. It was already packed when they got there around four in the afternoon. Tristan bought the first round of drinks. Kit stuck with a light beer. He did not want to get to wasted because he was not sure how he would react under the influence of alcohol. After about ten rounds, he excused himself to go to the bathroom. When he walked into the one stall bathroom he looked at himself in the mirror and tried to regain control of his inebriated mind. The door opened behind him. He did not look away from the mirror to see who it was. He turned the cold water on and splashed some on his face. When he turned around, he almost jumped out of shock.
Chapter 2 of Part II
Jack woke up from the radio blaring on the alarm clock, his head pounding from the alcohol he drank last night. He wanted to push the "sleep" button, but he knew that if he did, he would continue to do so until it was time to go. He forced himself out of bed feeling dizzy as he got up. He stumbled to the shower turning it on so that the water would warm up as he undressed. He took a quick shower. The fog in his head clearing more and more as the water hit his body. When he got out, he took the thin towel the hotel provided and put it around his waste walking out to the other room soaking wet still. He rummaged through the duffle bag he had packed and found clothes for the day. He dressed quickly and left the room to go and grab some coffee at the bar, and if he was lucky, something to eat.
When he walked into the bar, he saw another woman bartender he had yet to see. He sat at the bar and the woman walked up to him and asked, "What can I get for you hon?"
"Coffee black, and do you have any food in this place?"
"Yeah. I'll find you a menu." She said walking away.
For a second Jack thought of the woman he had grabbed a few years ago when Gaines had his wife and daughter. The woman reminded him of her, and for a moment he was scared that it was her actually. That would be one hell of a problem he thought.
The woman returned with an old greasy menu and handed it to him. He looked at it and noticed nothing that seemed appetizing so he ordered scramble eggs and toast. He figured there was no way to really mess these two things up. The woman poured his coffee and yelled his order back at the kitchen staff that consisted of one man standing in the back watching a hockey game.
It took ten minutes for him to get his eggs, and another five before he devoured them. He finished off his first cup of coffee when Carlos and his thugs came walking in to the bar. "You're early today." Carlos stated the obvious again.
"I came in for coffee." Jack said looking up at the man.
"Hard time last night?"
"You could say that." Jack was interrupted by the bar owner/dealer guy.
"Hard night doesn't even cover. This man was drinking Southern with screwdrivers as chasers. This boy can handle his liquor." The man stated in the utmost respect.
"Damn." Carlos said amazed that Jack could even make it to the bar again. "Are you going to be okay to work?"
"I've been a sloppy drunk and taken on an entire fucking army with only five other guys, and came out on top. I think I can handle driving with a slight hangover."
"Good, because I really would hate to lose you at the last second." Carlos said slapping Jack on the back. "Entire army, huh?"
"Yeah."
"You really know your shit, then?"
"You could say that." Jack answered modestly.
"Ready to go?" Carlos asked.
"Yeah, let me pay the bill." Jack said reaching into his pocket for his wallet.
Before he could grab it, the bar owner/dealer said, "It's on the house."
"Thanks." Jack said standing up. Jack popped his neck and followed Carlos and his thugs outside. When they reached a black SUV Carlos introduced the two thugs, "Jack you know Salvador and Ximen." He said pointing at each man when he said his name. "Now that everyone knows everyone, let's get going."
Ximen handed Jack the keys to the SUV and got into the passenger seat. Jack walked around the SUV to the driver side. Once he got in, he asked, "Where to?"
"Drive towards the pier. When we get closer, I'll let you know for sure." Carlos said from the back. "And turn the damn radio up."
Jack reached over and turned the radio as he was told to do. He noticed the station as one of the of the stations Kim listened to. He would always argue with her to turn it off when they would drive in the car together. He quickly wiped the thought of Kim out of his mind, he had to be focused and ready for anything.
"Turn here." Carlos said pointing at a exit on the freeway.
Jack put his turn signal on and turned off the freeway via the exit. He was only somewhat familiar with this area. It was around the area that Gaines had held Kim and Teri at, in what seemed so many years ago. Jack did not allow any of the memories to come back. He blocked them out by focusing on what was on the radio. A song by Trapt, a group he knew all too well because of Kim. He had never heard this song before, and thought for a moment that it was weird that Carlos would be listening to a group that Kim liked. Most people would assume or stereotype that being a Mexican drug dealer, he or she would listen to Mexican music, but then, Jack remembered Carlos was only a few years older than Kim.
The pressure is building I want to break away
Motivation is lacking the point starts to fade
I look to the bottom still empty still the same
Jack drove down the road thinking to himself, maybe the character he always plays undercover is not too far off from the real deal. You cannot fight evil without becoming evil yourself. He enjoyed being undercover because he did not have to live in the world of Jack Bauer. He no longer had to deal with the ex-girlfriend, the dead wife, the hurt daughter, and the world expecting him to be at his best all of the time and stop the hundreds upon hundreds of terrorists and other people who wanted to see the end of the United States.
I'm waiting for something to show me the way
To the path that I should take, it's just to real to go ahead and fake
Every step that I make
Name your price I would give anything
I want to start over again
Name your price, 'cause I don't feel so right
Am I the only one
"Exit on that small dirt road there. Drive about three miles back and stop the car." Carlos said from the back.
What do I want I have nothing to say
Whatever it is I want it today
Do we choose our own ground?
Do we choose to stay?
Jack stopped the car when he reached three and half miles back into the wooden area. He put it in park and waited for whatever was to happen.
Carlos told Xiem and Salvador, "Walk up there and see if anyone is there yet."
It was hard to see what was ahead even though it was day, the treetops stood over the road blocking most of the sunlight. Jack could feel that the temperature had dropped a few degrees from the lack of sunlight.
A few minutes later a black SUV drove in behind them, parking next to the car. Jack looked up at the windows, but could not see anyone because of the tinted windows. He turned his head back and looked straight ahead.
Well I've seen to many throw it away
Do I see just one small chance to be myself to try to make it last
Every step that I take
"Shit. Wait here, and do not get out of the car unless the guy tells you to." Carlos said being pissed. He didn't want Ramon or Hector whoever it was that came to know he had brought a new guy to a deal. They would be pissed at him, they hated new faces on the other side. They did not trust him to be able to screen his people properly to keep out the cops and federal agents that tried hard to infiltrate the Salazars.
A Mexican man got out of the back of the SUV and said, "Hello, Carlos."
"Hello Hector."
"Where are your guys?"
"They are down the road a little bit. Looking to see if you where there. I was worried because you were not here." Carlos said nervous. The Salazars scared the crap out of him. They could kill him in a heart beat. Hector was less scary than Ramon who had been known for his temper.
"Who is that in the driver's seat?" Hector asked referring to Jack who sat looking straight ahead trying not to call attention to himself. When he heard Hector's voice, he almost shit his pants. He had not expected to see or even hear Hector or Ramon for at least a month, and here he was the first day undercover with Hector not less than ten feet away. Maybe they were dumber than he thought.
"A driver, that's all. Don't worry, he's clean." Carlos said even more nervous now because he was not suppose to bring new faces around unless they were checked out by one of Salazar's men, but he was in a crunch. His other driver had been killed the other week in a drive-by along with a few of his other men. That left only Salvador and Ximen, and he needed one more guy to help out.
Hector walked up to the car and knocked on the window. Jack rolled it down and looked at him in the eye, a sign of respect and said, "Yes, sir."
"Get out." Hector said in a thick Mexican accent.
Jack opened the door slowly and got out of the car. He maintained eye contact with Hector. He did not blink nor show he was afraid.
"What is your name?" Hector asked.
"Jack."
"Jack what?" Hector said almost losing his patience with this guy. Who looked at him and did not show anything, fear acknowledgement, nothing but two cold eyes starring back at him.
"Wood."
"Check it out Thomas." Hector said looking to the man leaning against the front of the SUV.
"Yes sir." The man Jack deduced as being Thomas said. Thomas grabbed his cell phone out of his jean pocket. He walked away from the group and made a call.
"It'll take a few minutes." Hector said looking at Jack. "While he's checking, Pedro here is going to keep you company. Carlos, you come with me."
Hector walked away from Jack. Jack could barely hear what he was saying, but he was clearly pissed at Carlos for bring Jack along. A few minutes later, Thomas came out from behind the SUV and waited for Hector to return.
Hector left Carlos standing back away from Jack and Pedro. Ximen and Salvador had returned and were with Carlos. Thomas whispered to Hector, "He seems clean. Ex-Delta. Got dishonorably discharged because he got caught smuggling some things. Spent a few years in Leavenworth for it and from my understanding, he was not alone. He was the only one who did time, but he was not alone. He could have gone free if he gave up the others, but he didn't."
"And this is a reliable source?" Hector asked.
"Yes. A guy is emailing his file now. Most of it is classified and he is trying to break into some of it for us. Since then, he's been clean. He's suspected for some things, but no evidence, just suspicion. That is also coming in a file via email."
"I still don't trust him, nor like him being here. You stay and watch him with Pedro." Hector said walking away from Thomas, "If anything happens, you know what to do."
Jack knew they were talking about him, and the last comment brought relief and panic at the same time. He was relived because his background checked out, but Hector's parting words to Thomas were not comforting. Jack could no longer see nor hear Hector or Carlos. He stood against the car looking straight ahead as if nothing was going on, and everything was normal. He could feel Thomas and Pedro's eyes glued on him and it made his skin crawl. He did not like being there with so much attention on him. This was never good for the first day of being undercover. To break the tension that was clearly felt he asked, "How are you guys today?"
Thomas continued to stare at him, wondering if he was asking the question because he was nervous or if he was just trying to start a conversation while they were waiting. He thought to himself, this guy is hard to read. His eyes are cold and did not give anything off. His body language is that of a person who doesn't care at the moment as if everything were normal. "Good and you?"
"Been better. Got a hell of a hangover. Should have known better Southern always get me, and of course I have to be the jackass to chase it with screwdrivers." Jack said trying to keep them talking so he could get a better understanding of the mood at the moment.
Pedro said in amazement, "Are you trying to kill your liver?"
"I love screwdrivers and Southern, and they are great together." Jack said smiling.
"So how long have you worked for Carlos?" Thomas asked trying to figure out more about Jack.
"About three hours now. He asked me to stay behind in L.A. and help him with something a few weeks ago. I agreed to stay behind for awhile."
"So you like to move around a lot?" Thomas inquired further.
Jack could tell the man really wasn't interested in the answers as much as trying to figure him out more. "Yeah. I guess. I get restless sometimes. Seeing the same people every day doing the same thing gets boring. I always need action. That was why I joined Delta and then got into the trouble."
"What trouble was that?"
"You already know, but you're trying to see if I'm lying. I helped smuggle drugs in and out of areas. I still did my missions and I didn't use. No one was getting hurt."
"Very insightful and to the point, I like that. So you did it for the money?"
"No. I got bored and needed something better to do. Money doesn't matter much. It's nice when you have it, but it doesn't make the world go round."
"I understand that." Thomas said shaking his head still unable to get an understanding of Jack.
Hector came back with Carlos in tow. He noticed that the man Jack and his men were talking, and he smiled. Maybe Thomas got something on the man so Hector could find a reason to dispose of him. He did not like the man, but there was just something about him, either cockiness or something else. Hector called to Thomas, "We are going to move to the bar. We have some business to take care of."
"Yes, jefe." Thomas said walking around to get in the driver seat.
"I want Jack to drive us there." Hector said not wanting to take his eyes off the new face.
"Yes, jefe." Thomas said turning to walk back to the passenger side.
"Pedro, you drive with Carlos and the others." Hector commanded.
Jack walked to the driver's side of the SUV and got in. Putting his seatbelt on, he waited for Hector to get into the SUV. When the back door closed, Jack turned the car on and drove forward enough to do a tight U- turn. He prepared himself for more questions, but none were given on the drive to the bar. It was refreshing not to have to listen to any music on the way there. Everyone sat in silence waiting for the other to slip up.
"Drive around the back." Hector ordered Jack.
Jack drove into the small ally watching carefully because the SUV barely made it through the alley without touch the walls of the building on either side. When he reached the bar area of the alley, it opened and he pulled up to the loading dock area of the bar. He put the car in park and turned it off. He followed Hector and Thomas out of the SUV and into the back room of the bar.
Inside the dealer sat at his desk talking on a cell phone. He jumped up when he saw Hector enter the room. "Sir, nice to see you. I was not expecting you so soon."
"I thought I'd drop by and say hi to an old friend. You are a friend, right?" Hector asked cryptically.
"Yes. Of course sir."
Carlos and the others came walking in. They all knew what was going to happen, only Jack and the dealer were out of the loop on the events.
"You see, that's funny because I heard that you were trying to sell some people up the river so you could save your own ass from the Feds who are hot on your tail." Hector said looking at the man.
Fear registered on the dealer/owners eyes. "I . .I . .I. . would nev . . .never do. . .some . . thing. . .like that." The man said fear in his voice. He was almost in tears.
"Are you calling me a liar?"
"No sir." The man said holding tears back.
"That's what it sounded like to me." Hector paused to look at Jack who looked on as the dealer was about ready to die. "Jack, come here." Hector finally said.
Jacks eye's conveyed nothing. He walked over to Hector. Hector told Pedro, "Give him your gun."
Pedro reached into his holster and pulled out his gun, which was a Glock 17, handing it to Jack. Jack took the gun and pulled the slide back to load a bullet into it and waited for Hectors instructions.
"Get rid of him, Jack." Hector said as a test. No federal agent would kill a man in cold blood.
Jack pointed the gun at the dealer and without hesitation he pulled the trigger shooting the man in the chest. Jack walked up on the man who was laying on the floor, chest heaving in and out. Jack got him in the upper left lung so the man was now suffocating to death and drowning in his own blood because of the hole in his lung. Jack looked back at Hector as he pulled the trigger two more times, hitting the man in the chest and neck.
Hector looked into the man's eyes and was surprised when he looked back at him as he shot the dealer again. His eyes conveyed nothing. He could have been watching a boring movie for all his eyes knew.
Jack walked back over to Pedro and handed him his gun back. Blood was splattered on Jack's pants and shirt. He walked back over to the spot he had occupied earlier.
"Pedro and Jack, get rid of the body. Drive it out to the desert and bury it."
Jack walked over to the body grabbing it by the shoulders. With the help of Pedro who grabbed the man by the feet, they carried the dead man out to the back of the car. Pedro opened the trunk that had already been outfitted with a plastic sheet and shovels. Alone, Jack picked the body up and put it into the trunk closing it, he strolled over to the passenger seat, as Pedro already occupied the driver seat. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------
Getting of the airplane, Kit wondered exactly what country he was in today. It seemed that ever since he had been undercover, he had seen more of the world than he had in the Army. He felt like a rock star on tour in a new place every day constantly moving and trying to please the people around him. The only difference was that if he did not convince the people around him he was in fact what he was supposed to be, he would be dead in a heartbeat. He smiled at the person who walked by him. He tried to remember exactly how long he had been undercover now and he could not remember. Everything was blending together as Jack had told him it would. He had asked Jack for advice before he went undercover. He knew what he was taught to expect, but as always, actually doing something and reading about it are two different things. This was one of the biggest operations of his life and he was scared shitless he would screw up. He would never tell anyone he was scared shitless, but he knew that when he asked Jack for advice on it, Jack knew. Jack told him that he would eventually just go with the flow and it would become natural for him to be this other person. That was easy to do because throughout our life, we consistently change from persona to persona to fool others that we are what they think we are or we are what we think we are. Both ways, there is no difference and a good undercover agent knows that. All of this was Jack's parting words to him and they had calmed his nerves enough to go off. This was not his first undercover experience, but it was his first with a major organization and that mattered.
"Yo Kit. Can you get the last bag out for me? I need to go meet with some of the bosses."
"Yeah, no problem, man." Kit said walking back up the steps of the plane to grab the last few bags that were left. He was at the moment a lower level worker who still was not sure who the hell he was working for. He did as he was told and he did it when he was told, and that was all that mattered. He got his job done and got it done well. He wanted to get to know people and then worry about raising in the ranks.
He walked back down the steps and almost dropped everything in his hand when he saw her. He had not seen her since the day. He went pure white in only seconds. He hurriedly walked down the steps and to the SUV before she noticed him. At that moment fear, hatred, and excitement ran through him. She might have been a traitor to everyone, but he still had a crush on her. He did not see it as a crush, but something else. She was the person he wanted to be with. She had this hard side she would show around Jack when they were together, but he had seen the other side before Nina created a personality she was trying to hide from everyone. Then the realization of what trouble he was in hit him. Here he was barely undercover, and already his cover could get blown. If she saw him, she would remember him. They were close towards the end, and she would know he was still with CTU and therefore undercover. Would she kill him or have someone else do it?
After he finished packing the back of the SUV Matt, the man who had been talking to Nina came back over to help. "You already got that packed, good. We can take off maybe get some down time to go out and see what Sydney is really like."
"I could use some party time. Get a couple of girls and make a night off it." Kit said smiling through his fear. She was gone just like that, hopefully not to return any time soon. She was not supposed to be a part of this group. She was supposed to be in Africa somewhere, not in apart of Veselenak's terrorist gang. He thought about pulling out, going out and partying with Matt until Matt passed out or went off on his own, jumping a plane back to L.A. and reporting what he had seen. At the same time, his skin tingled at the thought of seeing her again, and being able to finish what he had started. He was never one to quit even when he was clearly beaten.
Getting into the passenger's seat, Kit turned the radio up. They were listening to some station in Sydney that claimed to play today's modern rock. He did not care what they were listening to as long as Matt did not talk his head off like usual, and allowed him to contemplate his next moves.
When the car finally stopped outside a farm house, Kit looked around for any sign of her or anyone else who might surprise him, but they were only the usually people there. He got out of the car and started unpacking the equipment from the back and taking it into the old barn that served as a communications center for the group. That was one reason why this group was so hard to track because of its ability to move on quickly and the numerous places it could move to. The possibilities were limitless and they moved every week. Once they got comfortable, it was time to move. They had been moving recently because they were under suspicion for a possible attack on the U.S. in the next month, but Kit had still not heard anything about it, not even a rumor of a possibility.
After they finished unpacking he, Matt, Tristan, and Zander went to the hotel that had been reserved for them and change for a night out on the town. Kit did not mind Tristan or Zander they were higher level people than he and Matt were, but they were not that bad to hang out with. They could drink as well as the other person and did not use there higher positions to their advantage.
They started the night off in a little bar on the ocean. It was already packed when they got there around four in the afternoon. Tristan bought the first round of drinks. Kit stuck with a light beer. He did not want to get to wasted because he was not sure how he would react under the influence of alcohol. After about ten rounds, he excused himself to go to the bathroom. When he walked into the one stall bathroom he looked at himself in the mirror and tried to regain control of his inebriated mind. The door opened behind him. He did not look away from the mirror to see who it was. He turned the cold water on and splashed some on his face. When he turned around, he almost jumped out of shock.