NOIR
Chapter One
Fallacy
By Steve Edward
The characters of Mireille Bouquet and Kirika Yumura are neither owned by me nor my original creations. These two characters are based on the original anime series by Ryoe Tsukimura.
Other characters presented within are entirely my own and any resemblances to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
Any events described taking place is purely coincidental. Historical accounts within this storyline are accurate. Some as fact and others are fiction.
Any descriptions of buildings, specific locations are from the authors' perspective and any geographical errors are entirely the responsibility of the author.
The recent past…
September, Baldwin Farm, Hall County Georgia
The Aftermath of "Blind Trusts"
After the raids, came the finger pointing. Many countries blamed each other for the atrocities, but cooler and wiser heads prevailed. Within a month, with coordination from Interpol and the United Nations, Nations using a set protocol, began freely sharing reports on missing children. Identification and prosecution of those involved began. Numerous investigations began and are still ongoing.
All told, seven hundred fifty-five were rescued from the island compound by the Task Group 110 consisting of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Amphibious Battlegroup built around the USS Essex. The Lincoln Battlegroup, rescued one hundred and seventy five. The boarding of the M/V Clyde by the British and Swedish Royal Navies resulted in fifty more being rescued. From the large number of children rescued, sixty-six could not be reunited. With mutual agreement in the United Nations, these children are placed into the care of Vatican and the Catholic Church and all would eventually be adopted within two months, of that number twenty-five would start new lives with loving families in the United States. Twenty of these children, of various ages and sexes would arrive to new homes and loving families in Hall County, Georgia.
The ships master and the crew of the Clyde were detained for questioning by numerous investigating authorities. The hired surviving mercenaries captured at the island compound were transferred to the World Court, located in the Netherlands, tried and found guilty. They are serving life sentences in their respective home countries.
A brief visit to the Baldwin Farm by Admiral Alex Reese to celebrate an anniversary of sorts before his new assignment as Commander United States Six Fleet took place. During Noir's stay, Randy Baldwin invited the newly promoted Fleet Admiral for a private reminisce of events six years earlier when then Captain Alex Reese raced the USS Nimitz into very hostile waters to pull Randy Baldwin and the women he knows only as Baldwin's associates from the frying pan.
Before Noir's departure back to France, another anniversary is observed as well. The fateful meeting during a gun battle on the Chattahoochee River, which reunited Noir and Randy Baldwin two years earlier.
Ned Smith would be assigned back to the headquarters of the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley, Virginia to head a new position. He would begin overseeing intelligence matters regarding all forms of human smuggling. His insight will pay huge dividends as time progresses.
Randy and Gina Baldwin establish the Baldwin Foundation in November, a non-profit organization with its headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia and a field office in Paris, France. Working with various governments in official and unofficial capacities, the Baldwin Foundation becomes known as a trouble shooting organization to solve and develop solutions to numerous crises. Randy Baldwin maintains the secretive working relationship with Noir.
Noir would return to France, in mid-October to resume their activities…
Present Day…
Monday, June 7th 1600 hours, Baldwin Foundation Offices, Paris, France
French Police Inspector Thibaud Yannick studied the American closely for any signs of surprise, but saw none. Randy Baldwin eyed the photographs closely then laid them down on his desk, "Inspector? They are unfamiliar to me or my staff. Perhaps there has been a mistake?"
Inspector Yannick seeing an unchanging expression replied, "Monsieur? Are you sure? They were both in possession of business cards bearing the Baldwin Foundation logo," as the Inspector passed one of the business cards to Randy, he looked at the card. "Inspector with all due respect that is counterfeit," and Randy retrieved an actual business card and gave it to the inspector, "That Inspector is the real McCoy. As you can see, it has some special features. At the top overlaid over the logo is brail for the sight impaired and of course the color changing markings. When you move it back and forth it presents a 3-D color changing feature. When you turn it over, you will see the magnetic strip at the top that is encoded and will allow the bearer to utilize it to initiate telephonic communication with either Foundation Office, whether it is in Paris or in the United States."
Inspector Yannick pocketed the card, "Perhaps the business cards were made before you created the current ones?" Randy breaking into a smile, "No, I had those designed specifically for the Foundation. I had no other types printed or manufactured."
Randy mused that the Inspector was reaching for straws. He had worked with the Inspector, two years earlier during a fraud investigation. Inspector Yannick could be a pain in the ass at times, but the man missed little or overlooked anything.
Inspector Yannick paused a moment then spoke, "Monsieur, I realize that you are a busy man. However could you at least view the remains? I realize the photographs are not pleasant to view, but we must rule out any connection with your Foundation."
Randy returned to the photographs. If he had only meet both once, he would have likely agreed that the two women were indeed persons he had encountered, but there was something definitely wrong since he knew both rather well.
Randy Baldwin returned the photographs to the inspector, "Monsieur. I will do as you ask. Can I meet you at the morgue at say 1800 hours?" Inspector Yannick thanking Randy Baldwin replied that the time was agreeable and he then departed leaving Randy Baldwin alone.
Inspector Yannick passing the secretary for Randy Baldwin bid good day to her on his departure and passing the numerous offices, he paused briefly to look at a framed photograph of Randy Baldwin with a simple plate identifying the date and location of where it was taken, "September 8th, Cape Town, South Africa". Randy Baldwin's desire to remain anonymous after the United States Military raid on a child slavery compound had not stayed that way. An enterprising French reporter named Keanu Benoit had dug a bit too deeply and made the connection. Standing on the loading ramp of a United States Air Force C-17, Baldwin looked weary. The bandage on his right arm where he had been wounded during the raid showed. In the background were dozens of children being led onboard.
The Inspector continued on to the elevator pondering, just why had the American refused to be recognized initially? And was Monsieur Baldwin hiding something else?
Randy, watched as the Police Inspector boarded the elevator on the security monitor then pressing a concealed button waited briefly as a hidden door opened. Entering the office, Irena and Nina Baldwin his step-daughters which he addressed, "I want you two to go home and prepare dinner. Since Corey is at the soccer camp, he likely will get home before I do. I have some things to do before I get home so keep the dinner warm in the oven."
Nina watched as her step-father retrieved the shoulder holster from the desk, "Should not one of us go with you?" as Randy buckled the last strap turned to the window, "No, Nina that will not be necessary. Just do as I ask, Ok?"
Irena replied, "Yes father we will. Please don't be too late." The twins departed the way they came and Randy exited the office and headed for the elevators.
Monday, June 7th 1730 hours, Air France Flight 680
Mireille Bouquet glanced at her watch, then mused out loud "Kirika another two hours and we will be home."
Kirika nodded, "That will be nice," as Kirika fingered the ace bandage covering her lower right arm that covered an injury from a too close call with a knife. Noir returning from Perth, Australia which involved an assignment that was a follow up to the events in Africa.
The man they had tracked to Australia, had been involved in the distribution of pornographic films and DVD's of children. The showdown between Noir and his bodyguards had been outside of Perth, the razor sharp knife had been handled professionally but its bearer lay dead now along with the man who had hired him.
Randy Baldwin had no knowledge of their assignments by agreement if they had not been offered by the Foundation. This assignment had come from someone else and they had done the leg work. It had been left to Noir to carry out the assignment and to decide on the when and where. Mireille had reviewed the information received and had been able to discreetly confirm the man as a source and provider of such horrific films. Mireille and Kirika were now looking forward to some rest. Both needed it.
Monday, June 7th 1830 hours, Paris, France
Randy Baldwin looked at the two bodies lying next to each other on examination tables. The Paris morgue, modern as it was still contained the odor of death. It mattered little how well morgues tried to block the smell, it was still the same to Randy only the masking odor of the disinfectant was that of lemon. Nodding to the doctor's assistant who removed the sheets covering the faces and moving away, Randy viewed each.
Inspector Yannick watched intently for any reaction but saw none. Randy hid the shock rather well, tried to look disinterested as possible, "Inspector. I still can not make identification of each. They were neither in my employ nor have I hired anyone like these two women," as the Inspector turned and opened a bag on each table and slid the contents out of each for Randy to examine, "Perhaps then you might have an idea from the weapons that each were carrying."
Randy eyed each of the guns. The blond haired woman had been found with the Walther P-99 in her hand, but instead of blue steeled it was silver plated. The Asian like woman had been found lying next to a Beretta M1934, but it too was silver plated. Randy drew back from each weapon then looking at the bodies again he spoke, "Inspector? Where were these women found if you don't mind me asking?"
Inspector Yannick removed a small note book from his coat pocket and began reading, "Monsieur. The two women were found beneath the Eiffel Tower on or about 0400 hours this date after a report of some kind of gun battle. One individual, a male was found nearby in a deceased condition as well and he was carrying a Sig-Sauer P226. You should know Monsieur that the weapons did not have live ammunition but instead had blanks." Randy Baldwin looking one last time, then turning to leave "Inspector, what ever the hell happened under the Eiffel Tower is something that neither my Foundation nor I have knowledge of. I regret at this point I can not aid you at this point, however if I might get copies of the photographs I can make some inquiries of my own through other venues?"
Inspector Yannick bowed slightly and thanked Randy for his attendance to this matter, and apologized for taking up his valuable time then turned over the photographs. Randy Baldwin glanced at his watch and advising he need to attend to his children departed.
Exiting the morgue and retrieving the satellite phone from the Land Rover, Randy bypassing the cell phone network of Paris dialed the phone number of Mireille and Kirika's apartment.
Still no answer, just an answering machine as usual, as Randy closed the connection and got behind the wheel of the Land Rover he pondered the oddity of the situation. Both dead women at first appearance could pass for Noir easily. Unlike Mireille's and Kirika favored weapons, the dead women had been in possession of silver plated variants and not the blue steeled versions all too familiar to him, then to top it off all the weapons had been loaded with blank ammunition vice live rounds and of course the women and the man were of course very much dead from multiple gun shot wounds. Just what the hell was going on? Putting the Land Rover into gear, Randy headed for their apartment. He had some snooping to do.
Monday, June 7th 2000 hours, Paris, France, Apartment of Noir
Mireille Bouquet and Kirika Yumura climbed the steps to their apartment, the flight had been delayed because of heavy air traffic. It was Kirika who observed the discreetly hidden indicator showing that the security system was disarmed and pointed it out to Mireille, "Someone is inside."
Randy had parked well away from the apartment and had entered from the rear after crossing several alleyways and doubling back to ensure he was not being followed. He had the access code for the security system and had disarmed it upon entering. The slight snick of the lock on the door was the only alert he had that someone was entering, so he took cover in the kitchen alcove and removed the Colt Combat Commander as he turned off the only source of light, a small table lamp.
Mireille pushed the door fully open and glanced between the door and the door jam as she then scanned the interior. The green flashing light of the answering machine was blinking, the lamp that had been left on when they had left a week earlier was turned off.
Randy pondered the situation he was in. The only other exit was a window that led to a fire escape, which was in direct view of the person or persons in the hallway.
Kirika reached above her head on the wall and removed the light bulb plunging the hallway into darkness. Randy musing over that development, knew he was facing someone who likely knew he was inside. Mireille went first, diving headlong and sliding across the floor to the pool table where she scanned the darkened interior once again. Randy tracked the target briefly but lost it behind the pool table.
Kirika Yumura holding the light bulb in her hand tossed it by memory in the direction of the only place that could conceal an attacker, the still hot bulb thrown hard enough landed precisely on top of Randy Baldwin's head.
Randy felt the bulb just as it landed, and as it broke the hot shards landing in his hair. Randy tempted to trigger off a round instead spoke, "Ok who ever you are, identify yourselves now!"
Mireille Bouquet recognized the voice, "Randy Baldwin? What are you doing in our apartment?" Kirika reached around the corner and switched the overhead light on. Randy with a small trickle of blood running down his skull, blinked as the light came on and finally seeing Mireille who had the all to familiar blue-steeled Walther P-99 aimed squarely at him replied, "Checking to see if you were dead, which obviously neither of you is not, so how about we all call a truce; and discuss matters under a friendlier atmosphere. Besides I think that light bulb cut me when it broke."
Kirika gently removing the last piece of broken glass from Randy's head dabbed the small cut with an antibiotic ointment. Mireille Bouquet looked at the photograph of the doppelgangers. She saw herself and Kirika in the pictures. Randy wincing as Kirika applied the ointment spoke, "I do not know how the inspector zeroed in on Kirika, but it might have been from that incident we had over a year ago when I and Kirika bumped into each other. Inspector Yannick had vouched for me after the fight. I guess an eyewitness must have seen Kirika and given the police a statement describing her."
Mireille Bouquet tapping her doppelgangers photograph with her nail replied, "It matters not how he made the connection. But right now it matters as to why someone has managed to find someone so close to our own appearance and why? There are few photographs existing of us and they are extremely private. Then there is the matter of their deaths. Both found dead from a gun battle that took place underneath the Eiffel Tower along with a man carrying a Sig-Sauer P226."
Kirika spoke, "The Sig-Sauer P226 is a favored weapon of foot soldiers belonging to the Soldats. Perhaps the Soldats have some answers?" Randy seemed to nod, "I gave that some thought as well Kirika. I am going to call Lucio Magnus in the morning to have him start digging. Only reason I came here was to try to make contact with you and Mireille. I knew from examining the body of the Asian woman that it could not have been you, because she was missing some rather important features. Namely the peculiar shaped scars that were a result of your injuries nearly seven years ago in the Middle East. Remember I treated your wounds so I knew what scars that you had, the Asian doppelganger lacked any of those."
Randy paused briefly, "Then there was Mireille's doppelganger. Mireille's bullet wound scar from her injuries when she was shot after coming out of the wood line at the Chattahoochee River in Georgia. It is rather distinctive and the doppelganger was missing that along with several others."
The buzzing of Randy's cell phone interrupted the conversation. Flipping the Motorola cell phone open Randy noted the call was originating from the Atlanta office of the Baldwin Foundation, it had to be Gina and he was right.
Gina Baldwin sitting in the foundation offices in Atlanta that overlooked the busy Interstate 285 and Interstate 75 interchanges spoke, "Randy where the hell are you? The twins are worried as is Corey. I am about to call out the Calvary. Please tell me you are not in trouble?"
Randy set the cell phone to hands free speaker replied, "No Gina, I am not in trouble, just following up on something."
Mireille spoke, "Gina he is with us." Gina heard Mireille and sighed with relief and replied, "Well Randy explain to me why a Paris Police Inspector paid you a visit?"
Randy explained briefly what had transpired and even Gina became intrigued, "The two women looked like Mireille and Kirika?" Randy looking at the photographs on the pool table replied, "Very, very close. I nearly had a heart attack when Inspector Yannick first showed me the photographs. Then there were the weapons that each carried. Instead of blue-steeled they were silver plated then the forged business cards found on them."
Kirika interrupted, "Forged business cards?" as Randy removed one he had kept and gave it along with a real foundation business card to Kirika, which she began to study.
Gina turned briefly to look at Harmony and Olivia who were rocking in their chairs with Ashley watching over them, "Randy any idea why?"
Randy replied, "I have no idea. But someone tried to pass off the fakes as real. They don't incorporate the 3-D field like the real ones nor the magnetic strip. As to what purpose the women were in Paris for is still something that I can not even fathom yet."
Kirika turned over the fake card and then holding it up along side the real card asked, "Monsieur Baldwin? Do you have offices in Tokyo and Los Angles?"
Randy looked closely and replied "No we don't." Squinting at the minute printing, Randy with a puzzled look asked Mireille, "Do you happen to have a magnifying glass somewhere?"
Gina Baldwin copied down the telephone numbers then ensuring that her husband would immediately head for their home in Paris hung up. Pressing the intercom button, she called in Kelly Summers.
Monday, June 7th 1430 hours, Baldwin Foundation Offices, Atlanta, Georgia
When the Baldwin Foundation had been formed, Randy Baldwin knew that there was no way he could handle the number of investigations that would eventually be undertaken so he had headhunted.
One of the heads he sought had been Kelly Summers, the sister of the late Julia Summers who had perished while on an assignment with the Central Intelligence Agency in Columbia. Julia Summers had sacrificed her life so that Randy Baldwin could live and return vital intelligence recovered.
Kelly had been on a deep undercover assignment as an agent with the FBI when Randy Baldwin found out about her existence and the assignment she had been on which had involved drug lord who had been picked to help spread a deadly toxin within his wares. She had been pulled from the drug lords' mansion during a raid which involved Noir. In the end the drug lord was terminated by Mireille Bouquet after a wild shootout inside the mansion involving Randy Baldwin and several of his goons, which had been nearly five years earlier.
Kelly entered the spacious office and sat across from Gina Baldwin who began the briefing, "Kelly I know this may sound a bit odd, but Randy was contacted by the Paris Police earlier in Paris regarding individuals now deceased who were apparently posing as associates of the Foundation. The individuals both female, were found dead along with a third subject, a male under the Eiffel Tower after a gun battle that took place around 4 AM Paris time this date. Randy wants you to look at a Los Angles connection and find out what these two women had in common."
Kelly Summers smiled, "I will be happy to. Anything else out of place?" as Gina looked over her notes she replied, "Yes as a matter of fact there is. Both women were carrying side arms, but no live ammunition. Just blanks as was the deceased male. No identification on either woman or man except for the fake business cards that the women carried. Follow up on the telephone numbers. If necessary charter a jet to Los Angles and if you have to go to Japan as well you are cleared to do so, Randy wants this as high priority. Anything that you find, send reports directly to Paris and carbon copy everything to us here. Randy will send copies of the photographs of the deceased along with a copy of the fake business card by overnight courier."
Kelly Summers finishing with her notes replied, "Mrs. Baldwin? How far does the Foundation want to take this? Gina Baldwin leaning forward in her chair, "As far as it needs to go Ms. Summers, my husband is concerned that someone passing themselves off as our associates could do considerable harm to our reputations, need I say more?"
Tuesday, June 8th 0800 hours, Baldwin Foundation Offices, Paris France
Randy said his goodbye's to Alfred Stolzberg who was in negotiations in Zurich, Switzerland. The Baldwin Foundation offered a variety of services and being an intermediary and neutral party negotiation service was one of them. Alfred normally in Paris as the official representative of the Baldwin Foundation had been tasked with a sticky border dispute between two South American countries. A superb speaker and facilitator and with excellent managerial skills Randy had acquired Alfred from the U.S. State Department. Since Alfred was involved in the negotiations, Randy had flown to France to fill in for him. Randy brought the grown twins and of course Corey. Since France was a soccer crazy nation, Randy thought his trip would serve a duel purpose. He would fill in for Alfred and Corey could absorb tips from French soccer players.
The twins, Irena and Nina could work in the office and had been doing so for the past week. Since they were fluent in several languages, they had assisted Adeline Adora who was normally Alfred's secretary with office chores and other duties.
Randy had debated discussing the ongoing problem with the twins and Corey but on the drive to the Foundation's guest residence outside of Paris, Randy had decided that they should know what had transpired. It had been a lively discussion with all three to the Foundation offices, which soon became two when Randy dropped Corey off at the soccer training complex.
Irena being thoughtful had suggested that her father request the autopsy reports, "Perhaps it would be wise to read the autopsy reports. They may reveal something that you could not and did not have time to examine for?"
Randy had taken up the suggestion and had contacted Inspector Yannick who was sitting across from him, "Inspector. Based on the autopsy both women and the man died of multiple gun shot wounds. Has there been any attempt to match the bullets ballistically with any other outstanding cases?"
Inspector Yannick smiled, "Yes of course. But no matches so far, I can tell you they were all shot by 9MM rounds that came from the same hand gun. The empty cases that were recovered bear an impression possibly belonging to an American made Ruger. As for their own weapons, the serial numbers were traced to weapons shipped abroad legally and sold in the United States. We are awaiting word from the United States Alcohol and Tobacco and Firearms Agency to assist in tracking where the weapons were sold."
Randy mused over that news then picked up a sample of the fake business card given to him the day before, "Inspector, I took a closer look at the bogus business card and found some very small printing on the back. The printing contains telephone numbers that belong to addresses in Los Angeles, California and Tokyo, Japan. I have a Foundation Investigator that will be looking into those later in the morning. The phone number in Los Angeles refused to divulge who they were but kept asking for something called a "task code." We got no answer at the Tokyo number. The persons in Los Angles got rather obnoxious with my wife and hung up on her, so the Foundation is paying a personal visit."
The soft knock interrupted the conversation as Randy about to deny entry looked at the woman who was standing in the doorway with several folders in her arms and behind her another pushing a coffee cart. Mireille Bouquet and Kirika Yumura, both of which had altered their appearances, entered the office.
Mireille no longer a natural blond, but a brunette and wearing large glasses and Kirika sporting a brown hair wig approached Randy and Inspector Yannick. Mireille set the folders down on the desk, then taking a seat nearby then prepared her stenographers pad as Kirika offered coffee to the inspector and Randy. Both men accepted the coffee with Randy looking at Mireille who smiled, "You desired to have dictation taken for the letter to the U.S. Embassy?"
Inspector Yannick seemed to take the suggestion, "Monsieur. I realize you are busy so I will take my leave. If you learn anything from your sources please contact me. Your assistance is greatly appreciated." The Inspector departed immediately, with coffee in hand. Kirika quietly nodded to the Adeline sitting at her desk and closed the door.
Randy looked at Kirika then Mireille and addressed the latter, "Just what the hell you think you are doing coming in here like that? Inspector Yannick could have recognized your facial features."
Mireille giving a soft laugh replied, "I doubt he was paying that much attention." Randy eyeing the low cut skirt replied, "I suppose he was focused elsewhere." Then turning to Kirika, "How's the arm?" as Kirika placing the coffee carafe back onto the cart replied, "It is much better, though I prefer short sleeves."
Mireille laying aside the stenographers pad reached for the autopsy reports and began reading, "It seems my doppelganger was not blond, but originally a brunette. Someone went to a great deal of trouble to make my double look as me; however there are no indications of surgery to the facial areas of either doppelganger."
Randy musing replied, "There is an old saying there is somewhere in this world that someone looking identical to us is carrying on with their own lives and we have not yet met them. It is beginning to look more like your doubles came to Paris and met their ends here. Why they appeared so, well so damn alike is something I hope can be found out."
Mireille returned the autopsy reports to the desk, "Perhaps we should become involved?"
Randy decided on that issue already, "No way. I can not allow it. Besides it was bad enough to look at your doppelgangers. I don't need to make another trip to the morgue. Stay out of it for now until I say otherwise. Also minimize any travel for now, till I find out what in fact did happen."
Mireille looked at Randy Baldwin and seemed to frown, "I will do as you ask, but we can not stay confined forever. Remember that Mister Baldwin!"
Getting up and walking out the door followed by Kirika pushing the coffee cart, Randy looked at the folders containing the autopsy reports mused, "Mireille will not take kindly to being overly protected by anyone including me. She has dropped the glove so to speak daring me. If she senses I am doing just that, friendship or no friendship Mireille will not hold back under any circumstances and if it means going through me she will as will Kirika."
As the door closed, Randy turned briefly to look out upon the Paris skyline that seem so tranquil with the Eiffel Tower in the distance; Randy returned to the business at had and placed a call to Lucio Magnus. It was time to get the Soldats involved as well.