Tony pursed his lips together, his eyes fixed on the dark hole in the cliff face. It appeared to be a cave from where he stood, but he would be no wiser without climbing up to take a better look. His painful ankle served as an incentive to remain in his overhang another night, though his brain told him he had a find a more permanent shelter. Taking a deep breath he negotiated a few large rocks, pulling himself up by his hands before he reached the ledge directly in front of the hole. Praying that it was indeed a cave, he crawled forwards, breathing a sigh of relief.
It was quite large inside once he crawled through the opening, almost high enough for him to stand. Dim light filtered in from the mouth, and he had an excellent view of the entire valley without revealing his presence. It would have to suffice as his new shelter in lieu of anything more suitable, he decided. His ankle would have to improve within the next few days and then he would have little difficulty entering and leaving his hideout.
Dark clouds rolled over the distant mountains and Tony sat on the floor, watching the approaching storm. It could rain all it wanted to now, he had shelter! He also had a little food with him. Heavy rain poured down, reducing visibility to a couple of feet. He stretched his ankle on the floor and rolled his shirt under it, elevating it. There was no chance of it being a simple sprain; it would have begun to heal. The rain increased, drowning out all other sound, though he doubted whether there were any at the moment. The birds and small rodents he had seen in the valley were most likely sheltering too, only the dozens of frogs likely to enjoy the deluge. His eyes shut momentarily and he smiled, remembering the excitement of pulling on a raincoat on his way to school.
"Tony, hurry up," his father called impatiently. "I'm taking you to school today; I know Mama won't! It's raining!"
Tony appeared, buttoning up his raincoat. "Mom doesn't like the babies getting wet," he explained, allowing his father to tie his hood.
"Telling me," his father muttered. "Your mom doesn't like getting herself wet either! Now let's hurry, and don't even think of jumping in any puddles!"
"I like the rain," he told his father cheerfully, grinning at his miserable expression. "Don't forget to buy the bread, remember?"
His father nodded, dashing into the bakery, fully expecting him to follow, and he would have, had he failed to notice the largest, most inviting puddle along the entire route…
Well, Almeida, there'll be plenty of puddles round here after this! After a while he curled up deeper inside the cave and closed his eyes, settling down for a nap. There was no chance of anyone creeping up on him unannounced in this weather. Come on Jack, it's been four days. I kinda expected you'd be here by now.
'He was seen on the train,' Hodgeson told Jack as they finished their drinks at the bar. 'That puts him in rather mountainous terrain, where it will require a major effort to locate him. Why do you imagine he would choose such a spot? I thought you told him to be traceable?'
Jack nodded, his hands clasping his now empty beer glass. 'Yes sir, I did. We need the mole to reveal himself, right? Well, hunting for Tony is going to require trackers and dogs and lots of money in the Sierra Madre, so we'll certainly be able to watch how it's progressing. He'll be one step ahead of them over there. Trust me sir, he'll go to ground if he fails to see anyone of importance. I advised him to try a lonely spot.'
Hodgeson failed to look satisfied. 'This whole plan could easily backfire, Jack! What if the mole does catch up with Almeida first and kills him? We got no security cameras over there, nothing we could pull.'
'Sir, Tony's more than capable of defending himself,' Jack argued. 'He knows what's at stake here. I need to get back to Mexico and find him, especially now that the mole knows where he was heading. It's imperative he have back-up.'
Hodgeson nodded reluctantly. 'Don't mess this up, Jack. Hammond's pissed off with you as it is. Just what makes you think you'll find Almeida in the wild?'
Jack's hands tightened round the glass and he gazed at the froth remaining on the bottom. 'I'll find him, sir. And if I don't, I can always shadow the mole's agents.'
'This has gone on long enough,' Hodgeson told him, getting up. 'Find Almeida and offer him back-up when the mole arrives to capture him. Assemble a team in complete secrecy, you'll need them. He already proved he has no compunction taking other agents' lives. This won't end well.'
The sun set behind the clouds, which were so thick they failed to turn red. Tony chewed the final plant he had carried up with him and feasted his eyes on the scenery, listening to the drops of water falling off sodden plants. He wore all his clothes on top of each other, noting the evening's chill through them. It would have been easier if he had a book to help pass the time, he thought, turning to crawl through the small opening.
Inside the cave it was now pitch dark. He lay on the hard ground with a small sigh, unable to help wondering how much longer he would be forced to spend there. Around this time of the evening he would have a long hot shower, pull on fresh clothes and flop onto the couch, switching on the TV. He watched something most nights, apart from the miserable time he had spent incarcerated. Tony rolled onto his side, forcibly removing all thoughts of prison. If only he had a blanket or a sleeping bag he would feel so much more comfortable, he thought regretfully.
The sun rose, evaporating all the rain and dew. Tony crawled out of his cave, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, knowing he would have to negotiate the steep climb downhill to get water and food. 'If the green plants he ate could be termed "food"' he thought, steeling himself for the descent. His ankle was so badly swollen he could barely make out the bone. He grimaced, deciding not to spend further time examining it until he reached the brook, where he would immerse it in icy water. It would remove a little of the swelling, but that would return the moment he withdrew his foot. He pulled the rifle closer to him, took a final look around and felt his way down, using the familiar footholds.
Tony removed his clothes and stepped into the water reluctantly, grimacing as his feet went numb. He wondered yet again where such cold water could originate from, concluding it was from the depths of the earth. Shivering, he sat down in the deepest spot which barely covered his knees and cupped his hands, pouring water over himself. First thing I'll do once I get home is fill the bath with steaming hot water and sit in it, just like Michelle does after a real stressful day. Pretend you're in the hot bath now, Almeida, you'll feel better. Tony was unable to do so however and soon hobbled out of the brook, rubbing the water off himself.
He settled on the grey rock, unable to stand on one leg long enough to allow the sun to dry him. The thought of a mole prepared to send undercover agents to their deaths searching for him prevented him from relaxing in the peaceful surroundings. Once he was dry he pulled his clothes on again, resolved to wash them the moment the weather improved. He had nothing to change into, after all! Shutting his eyes he allowed himself to daydream, picturing his family round him on a picnic.
"Tony, open that basket and hand out the food, would you?"
"Sure mom." He swallowed involuntarily, imagining a basket full of delicious sandwiches.
"Sweetheart, have a little more salad. It's good for you." 'Would you get beyond the food, Almeida!' he muttered sternly to himself, his stomach rumbling. 'Ok, picnic's over, the stuff has been replaced in the basket! Now it's time to go for a walk!' He pictured them wandering along the brook, his nephews and nieces too close to the edge. "Sweetie, be careful, you'll fall in like that, and the water's not real warm!" He shivered, pulling his sweater closer round himself.
'There he is.' Tony stirred, shocked into full alertness. That voice was cold and hard, devoid of warmth. His head turned rapidly and he searched the surrounding cliffs, checking the source of the sound, all the while pulling himself up. His sharp eyes spotted men camouflaged in green struggling down the cliff from the direction he had entered the valley. He turned rapidly, noticing more descending from the opposite direction. Tony made his way over to the cliff as fast as he could hobble and paused, hidden behind a bush, considering the latest developments. Jack had asked him to leave a trail, to move to an out of the way location, and to allow himself to be recaptured if the mole was with the group, promising to be there with his own team to take the mole out. That Tony's life was not guaranteed hadn't needed to be mentioned. Well, he would play his part and help end what he had started, as long as the mole was indeed there. Parting the branches he examined the area again, counting ten armed men in the valley.
They stood in a tight circle, obviously receiving orders. Tony strained his eyes, attempting to make out the face of their leader, unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was blocked from his view. Once the men moved he was able to study his pursuer. A medium sized men stood by the brook, thinning grey hair, high forehead. I was right; it was for the former naval guy. He's come to kill me. I hope you're real close, Jack! Coz it's not gonna take much skill finding me here in the valley and I can't get back to the cave. He cursed himself for his previous lapse of attention. Now he was exposed and was certain to be recaptured and so far there was no sign of Jack's presence.
It took half an hour before the first teams located him. Tony watched the search with a sinking heart, noting their steady approach and unable to conceal himself elsewhere. It was obvious the men were professionals. He slid the rifle deeper into the bush, aware it would be removed from him the moment he was discovered as he was unprepared to fire on innocent agents. This way if Jack failed to show he could attempt to flee and might find it useful. Tony offered up a silent prayer for help as he buried the rifle, hoping he would live long enough to find a use for it.
'Hands on your head! Come out real slow,' ordered the first man to come across him, his finger on the trigger, his rifle aimed at his head. Tony moved his hands slowly to avoid startling them and placed them on his head, moving forward as instructed. 'On your knees!' hissed the agent, his rifle never wavering from its target. Breathing deeply, Tony knelt down, a deep sense of dread filling his stomach. There was still no sight of Jack and the mole had noticed him, striding towards them. He moved a hand instinctively to rub his face, replacing it the instant the bolt was drawn back. The second agent moved behind him and placed cuffs on his wrists.
'We got him, Mr. Thomas. He's secured,' the second agent reported.
Assistant Regional Director Thomas approached Tony wearily, gun in hand. 'Tony Almeida, you're under arrest for treason. Try anything at all, I'll shoot you here myself.' He gazed at Tony, who was unable to read anything in the man's eyes. 'Lie down on the ground. Keep your hands on your head!'
Tony slid forwards, unable to use his hands to lower himself softly. He chewed his lip, wondering whether he would be shot on the spot for 'attempting to escape', but it appeared there were too many witnesses for Thomas to feel secure doing so. He turned his head sideways to enable him to breathe a little easier, watching their feet as they circled him.
'Face the ground,' Thomas snapped, poking his shoulder with his rifle and Tony turned his face into the dirt, resting his forehead on the cold rock. Come on Jack, now would be a good time!
Thomas pulled out his two way radio and spoke into it, ordering a chopper to land in the valley, giving the exact coordinates. Tony remained face down, struggling to stay calm, aware that the moment he would be bundled into the chopper his life would be over. Imperceptibly he moved his head, resting his chin on the ground, searching the cliffs directly opposite him without success. They remained empty of the sight of his friend.
Are you aware it's Thomas who came, Jack? He's gonna kill me now, so you better be. And what if you're not? You'll be back to square one with a traitor in the highest levels of security, one who's prepared to see ships blown up and undercover agents exposed. He'll kill again, and compromise us…Tony shut his eyes, struggling with the only decision he could take. I got to draw this out a little longer, give you more time to arrive. What the hell, Almeida, your life's over anyway.
He remained motionless while they surrounded him, cursing the location and the difficulties associated with the hunt. A boot impacted sharply with his ribs and he was unable to suppress a cough in response. 'Easy, Endly. He'll get what's coming to him at his trial,' Thomas said, rebuking the over enthusiastic agent. He circled Tony, examining him critically. 'Looks like he already busted his ankle. Hardly much of a marine.' Tony's cheeks flushed and he struggled to remain silent.
Come on Jack. I can't give you more than another minute. Where the hell are you?
A faint buzz reached his ears and his heart sank. His estimate of a remaining minute had proved overly optimistic. Once again he raked the cliffs with his eyes, seeing nothing. He would have to run for it, only his chances of success were low with his broken ankle and hands cuffed behind him. Hardly worth a shot really, but he had to take it.
He stirred restlessly, rolling onto his side. 'I need to go get my notes first,' he argued. 'They'll prove my innocence. I never sold any intel…'
Thomas's eyes bore into his. 'You have papers?' he demanded. 'What type of papers?' Tony detected a faint note of anxiety in his voice.
'Copies of what I discovered when I hacked in,' he lied, his face blank. 'I can prove I am guilty of nothing more than hacking, sir, but I'll need to get them.' Come on, you bastard, take the bait!
'We haven't got the time for that, Almeida!' Thomas answered, his voice dripping with hostility. 'Tell me where they are and I'll find them.'
So you're getting worried? Good. 'Sir, I hid them so well I couldn't explain if I tried. I'll have to go myself,' Tony insisted. 'You've got to let me fetch them. It's a piece of evidence I'll present at my trial, you guys got plenty of your own. It's my right.'
Thomas nodded his permission. 'Very well, Almeida, I'm a fair man! You have every right to present your side of things at your trial. Let's go find these papers. You'd better not be lying to me!'
'No sir,' Tony agreed, struggling to his knees. One of the agents pulled him up roughly by his shoulder. 'I'll need the use of my arms, sir, I need them for the stick,' Tony explained, pointing at the stick he had used as a support for his leg. 'I can't walk without it.'
Thomas nodded again and one of his wrists was freed, the cuff locked around Thomas's wrist. 'Alright Almeida, you may use your stick. Don't even think of getting away from me!' He beckoned an agent to accompany them. 'Lead the way.'
Tony led them further along the brook, towards the end of the valley, where the water deepened and the flood plain turned the area into a swamp. It was the only spot in the entire valley where he had a slight chance of refuge should he succeed in fleeing custody, though his chances appeared dim shackled to Thomas.
'Where the hell are they?' questioned the suspicious director, glaring at Tony. 'I'm beginning to doubt their existence, Almeida. Just what do you imagine you're playing at here?' He glared at Tony.
'They're over by that tree,' Tony answered without batting an eyelid, leading the way unhesitatingly into the icy water.
'Wait,' Thomas ordered, his eyes on the mud that covered Tony's knees. 'You aware you could sink here? It's a bog! I'm gonna release you and wait for you to collect those copies, but I'm warning you, Almeida, my finger's on the trigger. Any attempt to escape, you'll be mowed down.' He unlocked the cuff and cuffed Tony's wrists in front of him.
'Yes sir,' Tony agreed, unable to believe his unexpected luck. Why in the world had Thomas released him? The man was perfectly aware he would attempt to flee and pass his name over.
He waded over the swamp, sinking waist deep in a few spots, wondering whether Thomas's worries were sound. He might well find himself sucked under, and dismal as his situation was, the thought of it terrified him. Wiping the sweat from his face he climbed onto the small island that contained an old tree, whose branches overhung in every direction. Game's up, Almeida! Thomas is gonna shoot you in a coupla minutes. He rubbed his face, considering his options, seeing diving into the bog as his only chance.
A loud roaring distracted him and he turned, watching the helicopter land. Once it was on the ground the door opened and three men jumped out, hurrying over to Thomas who waved to them with a puzzled expression.
'Lachlan, what are you doing out here? I can handle Almeida myself!'
Tony stood under the tree, rooted to the spot as Assistant Director Lachlan approached the group and nodded cordially at them. 'Just received news of another agent captured. Seems Almeida compromised more than we thought. I'll need to question him right here. Why don't you head back to the plane, I'll be with you shortly?'
Thomas shrugged. 'As long as you're up with the latest news. I've spent the last two days questioning semi literate peasants and hiking through these rain sodden mountains. Make sure he doesn't get away, he's got a habit of it.'
'He won't get away from me,' Lachlan assured his colleague, his tone chilly. 'Almeida, we need to discuss something. I'll give you exactly a minute to get back here.'
'He's after some papers,' Thomas told him, heading back to the helicopter.
'Now we both know there aren't any papers, so quit the bullshit,' Lachlan snapped. 'You're surrounded. One false move, we'll mow you down.'
Tony stared at the disappearing Thomas, shocked to see him climb into the helicopter with his team. The blades whirled faster and it took off, leaving him alone with Lachlan and three armed men.
'Move it,' Lachlan ordered, firing a shot into the air.
Oh God, it's him! You narrowed the mole down to two guys and you chose the wrong one! "We both know there aren't any papers…" Tony swallowed, glancing in despair at the deserted cliffs, before a flash caught his eye. Shots rang out from two directions simultaneously, hitting him in the back and stomach. He crumpled forwards, eyes wide open with pain, sliding into the deepest hole in the wetland.