Chapter 5: Reunion Bomb

Alex was very tired after the day before. After whoever it was who tried to kill them, Agent Hall and Agent Connelly had no choice but to switch to a low-profile hotel a little south of San Francisco, and Alex didn't get sleep until two-thirty in the morning.

Alex looked over the crowd of people at the hotel restaurant and noticed Agent Connelly in the midst of the commotion.

"Late night?" Agent Connelly asked as he sat down at the table. It was the first time she directly spoke to Alex on something other than the mission.

"What?" Alex was a little confused at first, but quickly recuperated, "Oh, yeah, couldn't get sleep. Where's Agent Hall?"

"He is in the bathroom," Agent Connelly said, "Would you like something to eat?"

"Yeah, where's the waiter?" Alex asked.

"He is coming," Agent Connelly said, right on cue. Sure enough, a young man attended to their table. He had brown hair, a nameplate, and a polo shirt with the hotel's logo.

"Can I help you with anything else?" The waiter asked.

"Well, our nephew has joined us, and he would like to order," Agent Connelly replied. Referring to Alex as her nephew must have been the cover-up so Alex went along with it.

"Yes, I would like scrambled eggs, sausage, and orange juice, please," Alex requested.

"Okay," the waiter said after he finished scribbling on his note pad.

"Good morning, Lyle," Agent Hall greeted as said agent returned from the bathroom, "How did you sleep?"

"Okay," Alex replied, "How about you?"

"Not bad," Agent Hall replied.

Alex was relieved when his food came and attempted to shovel his food as politely as he could.

After breakfast, Agent Hall and Agent Connelly went into the parking lot and drove a black Honda to the lobby door and Alex got into the car.

When they got to The Bay Area Press, Agent Hall and Agent Connelly waked very quickly to the witness' work station as if the agents were being watched.

"Daniel Cole?" Agent Hall asked a tall, lanky man. He swiveled around in an ultimate state of surprise and nodded quickly in acknowledgement.

"Agents Hall and Connelly, CIA," Agent Hall stated.

"We are here to ask some questions about the suspicious man you saw a few days ago," Agent Connelly said.

"CIA?" Daniel Cole asked, dumbfounded. "I didn't know you dealt with drugs!"

"We do not believe that man was selling drugs, but .50 calibers," Agent Hall said as if he was informing Daniel Cole that one of his loved ones was dead. Alex knew that painful feeling.

"Does this match a description?" Agent Connelly asked unrolling a piece of paper which was a police sketch.

"That's as close as you can get," Daniel Cole replied.

"Thank you," Agent Hall said. "Did the man have anything with him?"

"No, just a stack of Jacksons in a rubber band," Daniel Cole replied. Alex knew that by saying Jacksons, he meant twenty dollar bills.

"Thank you, that's all we need," Agent Hall said. "Have a nice day."

As Alex was leaving with Agent Hall and Agent Connelly, a man stepped out of his work station.

"Alex?" The man said.

"Mr. Pleasure," Alex replied excitedly.

"How have you been, my boy?"

"Just fine," Alex replied, "How is Sabina?"

"She is fitting in nicely," Mr. Pleasure replied, "Who are you with?"

"Agents Connelly and Hall, CIA," Agent Connelly answered before Alex could open his mouth.

"Oh, see you still haven't stopped working for MI6," Mr. Pleasure sounded a little disappointed at this, "Do you have any plans?"

"No, not really," Alex replied, calming down.

"Well, how does lunch sound at my place?" Mr. Pleasure requested

Agent Hall and Agent Connelly were suspicious, but decided if they were to find anything else about this man it would be best to join him for lunch. Alex answered with a quick yes.

When Alex walked through the door of the Pleasures' new house, he was walking on air and got even happier when Sabina came down.

"Alex!" Sabina exclaimed and wrapped her arm around Alex's neck, nearly choking him.

"Sabina," Alex said. "I would like you to meet Agent Hall and Agent Connelly from the CIA."

Agent Connelly and Agent Hall shook Sabina's hand and smiled politely. Alex was enjoying his partners' compliance.

Lunch was very filling for Alex and he, Agent Connelly, and Agent Hall spent nearly four hours at the Pleasures' household. When they left, Alex's heart was very light and he was very cheerful, but all of this came to an end when he heard a loud explosion

Agent Hall was about to floor it when Alex said, "No! Turn around!"

The Pleasures' Household was swathed in flames.