'Almeida' Tony's voice betrayed the agitation he had felt since he'd listened to the tape of Ramon's voice the previous afternoon. Every time he picked up the phone he thought it might be Jack. He wished it were Jack. He'd been standing by the phone wondering how bad he was going to feel if Jack was deceived by Ramon's plan...if Jack thought changing sides might save his life... He rubbed his right eye with the knuckle of his right hand. Shit. The longer he had to think about it, the more drawn he was to Chase's original logic.
'Yeah, Tony'. It wasn't Jack. It was Gael's voice. 'The camera in the barn picked up some action. Some guys preparing some stuff...'
'Would you like to be more specific Gael?' Tony interrupted, irritated by the delay.
'Yeah, of course, sorry', Gael continued, 'some guys – new faces – checking the ropes and cuffs and stuff in the barn. Looks like they might be getting ready for Jack.'
There was a brief silence and the phrase 'getting ready for Jack' hung in the air.
'In the barn? That's unlikely, surely,' Tony commented, 'it'd be obvious to Jack what was going on.
'Not necessarily Tony. I thought that at first. But if he were blindfolded when they brought him in... Jack's never seen the inside of the barn has he? I mean we told him what they did in there. But he's not seen it. It could be any barn anywhere in Mexico.'
'OK, thanks Gael'
Tony put down the phone and then picked it up again and rang Michelle's extension.
'Can you come up?' He asked simply and then replaced the receiver.
Michelle left her desk and climbed the stairs to Tony's office.
'What is it Tony?' She asked as she entered the room. Her concern was evident in her eyes. He loved that about her. She was always emotionally connected, yet when she made decisions she could be coolly detached. Tony wondered if she wasn't better at that than him.
'Gael rang. They seem to be preparing the barn – we think for Jack. If they blindfolded him...'
'..he wouldn't know where he was.' Michelle finished the sentence for him. Or knocked him out, Michelle thought but could see no point in saying it. 'So what are you thinking Tony?'
'We can set up Chase with a small team, just a few miles away. If we think they're gonna kill him – well, we might get there on time. Probably we wouldn't because we can't get close enough to run the risk of being spotted – but we'd be doing something, Michelle.' Tony paused to assess Michelle's reaction.
'But if they went in and failed to save Jack, the whole thing could be botched.'
It'd be over anyway' Tony answered
'Yes but if Ramon and Hector die, we lose their contacts; and if they escape, we'd never be able to get near them again. Not even in a year or two. Look how much trouble Jack's had getting them to trust him. And Jack's good Tony. He's very good. You know that. There'd be no next time. We'd have to take them alive and count on breaking them.'
'Jack thinks we'd break Hector easily enough', Tony commented. 'Look Michelle, if we send a team, there is a chance that we could save Jack's life, trace the cartel contacts and put Ramon and Hector away for life. If we don't send the team, Jack might die when we could have saved him – when I could have saved him.'
'Yes I see that' Michelle said. 'But I can also see how difficult it's going to be to watch this unfold' she nodded at the computer screen imagining what they might see, 'knowing Chase could intervene if you just give the word. Can you do that Tony?'
'I think so, yes,' Tony said. He felt surer now. Talking to Michelle had confirmed it in his mind. Yes, he could do that. Of course he could do that. He involuntarily clenched his hand into a fist and put it to his mouth. He knew this was the right thing to do. It's what Jack would do too, he thought.
'Jack would probably do the same, Tony', Michelle said as if she were reading his mind, 'but then Jack would never intervene if it jeopardised a mission.'
Tony looked up and gave Michelle an ironic smile. Jack's notorious uncompromising attitude was something they had discussed at home. Well now he would adopt the same approach. Tony moved closer to Michelle and briefly kissed her forehead very lightly.
'Thank you' he said. 'Can you call the other three up here. We want to get Chase set up out there as soon as possible'