The noise was an endless mind-numbing chaos of shouting, weird wailing lyrics and far too much base. John sat at the bar and tried to zone out the painful mess that, as far as he was concerned, was a crime to call 'music'. Virgil would have blown several fuses over the blended tunes but Alan would have no doubt considered it 'out there', or whatever his latest catch phrase was, and John felt a sudden pang of homesickness.
He had wanted to call this evening. Something about the lull in proceedings and having time to think had made him miss them. But calling would only complicate a bad situation into even more confusion. And he still had no answers for all that they would no doubt ask him. Except where he was. But telling them that was out of the question. And then he wondered if perhaps they knew anyhow and if Penny was following, giving them updates. It was impossible to know.
"American?"
John was startled from his thoughts and turned to the man that had approached him. The dim ambience and flashing strobes from the club dance floor made reading the man's face hard and John paused in uncertainty.
"Sorry." The man continued, "I heard you guys talking a few minutes ago." He held out his hand. "Ted Myers, Tennessee."
John considered telling the guy where to shove it but did not want to cause a scene. He shook the man's hand and smiled thinly. "James Fraser, New York."
"Yeah?" The man enthused and edged closer to join John at the bar. "The 'Big A', huh?"
"Yeah."
"Cool." Ted climbed up onto the vacant stool beside John. "Man, it's good to meet a fellow compatriot! I mean, these guys are cool and all but it's nice to hear some English. Not least from Uncle Sam, huh?"
John nodded slightly.
"Holiday?"
John smiled, "Honeymoon."
"No kidding!" Ted laughed in delight and slapped John's shoulder, "Congrats, man!"
"Thanks."
"That's cool! How long you guys been married?"
"Two weeks. We're taking a tour of Eastern Europe." John elaborated, slipping into character and relaxing a little. "We arrived in Kiev a few days ago."
"Cool. It's a beautiful city. I've been here many times on business." Ted smiled, "You taken in any of the sights?"
"Not yet, no."
"No. Haven't seen you out and about that much."
John froze.
Ted's smile was unwavering as he regarded John in interest. "Who you with?"
"What?" John managed.
Ted's smile grew. "Come on, man …"
John shrugged, "I really don't know - "
"Bullshit." Ted's smile faltered a little and he moved closer, reaching out for John's drink and with his finger writing three letters in the condensation-covered glass.
"Yeah, right …" John sniggered, trying to stay calm, his stomach turning as he recalled the last person he had met who had claimed to be CIA. And thinking how well that had turned out.
"Seriously." Ted urged, "Fed? Interpol? Which one?"
John shook his head. "Listen, I'm just here on honeymoon. Okay? I don't know what you're talking about."
Ted nodded slowly. "See, I might believe you if I hadn't seen you scoping the room."
John's heart slammed against his chest.
"And as for this morning …"
John turned to him and held his gaze evenly, his dread growing.
"Watching your back and retracing your route … walking a mile out of your way to get coffee from a store only a few hundred yards from your hotel …"
John stared in stunned silence.
Ted leaned in closer to him. "I've been on your trail for over a week now."
And suddenly John was panicking, his heart racing as his eyes darted around them, trying to find Alex in the crowd.
"Well, I say on your trail – more like we're on the same path. I think we're after the same guy."
John was breathing fast, glad for the crowded bar and noise that must be masking his reaction. He now watched in intrigue as Ted again reached into his pocket and pulled out a small photograph.
Ted placed the photograph on the bar. "I've been after him for months and have now finally built up some solid leads."
John stared at the familiar face that glared up from the image and his heart was pounding in his ears faster than the repeating base of the loud music.
"I'd love to offer inter-agency cooperation and all that bullshit but after chasing Mirojnick half way across the world, I'm not letting you get in my way."
John frowned and turned back to Ted, shaking his head slowly.
Ted laughed slightly, "Listen, Jimmy, I'm so near to closing this. And I'm only gonna tell you this one time. Back off."
John snorted a small laugh of disbelief.
"I'm not joking." Ted's smile returned and he drew his gun.
John clenched his teeth and held his breath, feeling the barrel pressing into his side. He was sure he could take Ted on but there was still no sign of Alex and his head was spinning with the possibilities of what might have happened to her.
"I'm serious." Ted urged. "Back the hell off."
John nodded, lifting his hands ever so slightly to convey his surrender.
"Hey, hon!"
John spun and saw Alex approaching them. Relief at seeing her unharmed was quickly replaced with terror for what Ted might now do.
"Sorry, honey." Alex smiled merrily, hurrying closer through the people gathered round the bar. "There was a line for the bathroom like so big!" She placed a kiss on John's cheek and turned to Ted. "Hi."
"Hi." Ted nodded.
John felt the gun move away from him but was well aware that it had not yet been holstered. "Hon." He turned to Alex and forced a smile to his lips, "This is Ted Myers, from Tennessee."
"Pleased to meet ya." Alex enthused and shook Ted's hand.
"Likewise," Ted acknowledged, "And congratulations."
"Oh, thanks!" Alex laughed in delight and threw her arms around John, pressing her lips against his cheek.
Ted smiled and stood from his stool. "Well, it was good to meet you, James." He winked at Alex, "I'd best let you two lovebirds alone."
"Bye." Alex smiled and watched him wander off into the crowd. "Wo, he's a bit creepy." She turned back to John and saw his shoulders sinking as he closed his eyes. "Hey … you okay?"
John shook his head.
"What? Why? Who the hell was that guy?" She looked back into the crowd and then gasped as John grabbed her arm and pulled her close to him.
"Don't!" John warned, "Just sit here and drink."
Alex perched on the stool beside him and watched him warily.
"Sorry." John sighed and placed his hand on her thigh, his fingers squeezing gently. "We just need to act normal for a second, okay. Finish your drink and we'll go."
Alex nodded and tried to relax.
It was a few minutes later, drinks finished, when John grabbed her hand and led her from the club.
Outside in the cool night air and safely from the club, John broke into a run. He dragged Alex after him and ducked into an alley a few streets from the hotel.
"Shit!" John hissed breathlessly and fell back against the alley wall with a groan.
"What?" Alex urged, moving before him and placing her hands on his shoulders. "What's wrong? Who was that guy? What happened?"
John took a deep breath and was then suddenly laughing. He leaned his head back against the wall and gazed up at the night sky far above them. "Shit!" He sighed, "He says he's CIA, Al. A fucking spook!"
"What?" Alex frowned.
John nodded, "He was warning me to back off."
"Hey?"
"Yeah. And his gun kinda pressed the point."
"Gun! Are you hurt?" Alex gasped, opening his jacket hurriedly.
"No." John looked down at her and took her hands in his. "I'm okay. I just …" He leaned his head down and pressed his forehead against hers. "Shit …"
"I guess that's it then." Alex mused quietly.
"Are you kidding?" John argued, chuckling softly. "No way! We're close, Al. We're so damned close."
"But - "
"He's after the same guy, Al. He showed me a photo."
"Oh crap!" Alex leaned back from him and shook her head in fear. "Then we definitely have to leave!"
"No." John's smile grew, "Al … I know his name now …"
Alex paused in uncertainty.
"We've got him, Al."
Alex watched him smiling merrily and was suddenly so torn. It would either be closure or danger. Most likely the latter. Or maybe even both.
"We'll move out of the hotel," John stated excitedly, "Hell, even leave the city. Make that guy think we've gone. But there's no way I'm backing off this now."
Alex nodded slowly and swallowed back the lump in her throat. "Okay." She managed.
"Oh, Al." John put his arms around her and hugged her close to him. "We're so close."
Alex closed her eyes and clutched him to her, knowing full well that even this elusive guy could still be a giant red herring. But aware that John had to see it through to the end, no matter what that might be. And determined that there was no way that she was leaving him to face it alone.
"Oh. And Al …?" John leaned back from her and then placed a kiss on her nose. "We so have to work on your American accent."
Alex grinned, "It's no worse than your Russian."
John gasped.
"What? Just cos you can speak the lingo, doesn't mean you do a good impression."
"Hmm." John conceded reluctantly and stepped away from the wall to lead her back towards the hotel.
"And, while we're on the subject," Alex continued, slipping her arm around his and glad for the light reprieve, "I've been meaning to ask you, Mr Smart Pants, is there any language you don't know?"
John laughed, "Sure! Cilubà!" He grinned down at her, "In fact, most of the African dialects. But then my French, Dutch or Swahili get me by." He frowned in thought, "You only have to know the main world languages, anyhow, and then you find similarities in the regional dialects. It's all about syntax and - "
"Okay, okay!" Alex groaned and then laughed gently. "Note to self; don't ask a genius a question and expect a short answer."
John spun at her and slid his hands under her arms, tickling her sides.
"Hey!" Alex shrieked in delight and fought him off. She laughed with him and then reached up to kiss his lips.
And there they stayed, entwined in each other and kissing hungrily. Young newlyweds; happily in love and appearing totally oblivious to the world around them. Or so anyone watching would assume.
Anyone except perhaps the photographer in the silver car that still waited in the shadows opposite the hotel.
Tbc …
