The Shot in the Park Affair - Chapter 5 jkkitty

After telling the girl to stay hidden, Napoleon raced up the stairs from the tunnel with his gun out. As he reached the top one, he stopped to glare at the mess the explosion had made. The feeling of a gun in his side and another in his back stopped him in his tracks.

"Hand the weapon over and come quietly, or the pretty little girl will find herself with a hole in her head," The man behind him whispered in his ear.

Turning, he saw Antonia, tears running down her face and shaking in the arms of a muscle-built giant who was preventing her from moving. Slowly Napoleon lowed his gun, handing it over and reassuring the girl. "Don't worry, I'll see that you're safe."

"I'm not sure how you can make that promise when I'm in charge here. Now, if you would be so kind as to enter the van there," the man asked as if it were the most normal request in the world.

"Leave the girl go. She knows nothing," Solo ordered.

"If you haven't noticed Mr. Solo, I'm giving the orders here, not you. She's coming along to ensure you behave yourself. Now into the van!" he ordered, pushing the girl at him.

Offering his arm to her, Napoleon helped the girl who was holding onto him for dear life into the vehicle. Remembering she had said Brown had run into her before he died, he had noticed the coat she had on was one of those with a group of pockets. It included a small one on the inside that most people didn't even know was there. Bumping into her, he smiled as he felt knowing what was inside the pocket. "Sorry." Then entered the van himself sitting close to her.

Napoleon attempted to put his arm around her but felt the gun jammed into his side again. "Really, Solo, you know better than that. Arms behind your back now."

Following his demand, Napoleon smiled at the girl and winked. "Standard procedure, I'm afraid. He figures it will be enough to stop me from escaping if I tried."

"But you won't, will you Mr. Solo? We all know the easiest way to get you to behave is to have a beautiful young woman as collateral damage."

"Can I ask what this is about? Destroying a street just to kidnap this beautiful young lady and me?"

"Don't give me that. We both know what I want. Your partner tried that line and at this time is being persuaded to be a little more forthcoming."

"Good luck with that," Napoleon mumbled. "Look, would we be searching for the data if we had it. So obviously, we don't have it, and neither do you, which means it's lost."

"Shut it Solo," their guard said.

"Don't like the truth? I'm sure Thrush will be very disappointed in you," turning to the girl, "They don't like to lose."

As he said this, he felt a sharp pinprick. Antonia screamed as Napoleon fell forward onto the floor. "You're next if you don't shut up," the guard warned her.

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Illya sat chained by the neck to the wall with his arms bound behind him. His face and ribs felt on fire. Although Belz didn't slice and dice him as he threatened, the Thrush did work him over quite professionally. He was sure he had at least five broken ribs and was bruised all over his body.

As the door to the cell opened, Illya lifted his head and looked at his partner. Napoleon was shoved against the wall, chained by his neck, and left unconscious. The girl was pushed into the room in front of Belz. Seeing the blonde, she yelled, "I know you. Your that sax player from the tunnel. You got to help him. I think that they killed him."

Looking his partner over, Illya said, "He's not dead, just drugged."

Not lowering her voice, "But he's not answering and hasn't woken up since they did something to him.

"I'm not dead," Napoleon said as he roused.

Wrapping herself around his neck, she screamed. "You're alright. I was so worried."

"I assure you that I'm fine. However, if you keep screaming, my head will split in two. So could you please lower your voice?"

Napoleon's eyes cleared, and he saw the bruised face and swollen eye of this partner, "Not playing nice with our host again, I see."

"And you're up to your usual behaviors, bringing a girl with you. Why does it not surprise me that you brought company?" Illya criticized.

"Not my fault. Besides, according to her, she saw you first and even blew a kiss to you."

Before either man could continue the batter, Belz and two bruisers stood in the doorway. "Mr. Solo, I'd like to have a few words with you."

Antonia threw herself on Solo, "Leave him alone, you big bully."

Belz yanked her up, slapped her across the face, and threw her at Illya, which softened her fall, but caused the Russian to cry out in pain as she landed on his chest. "Shut up, or I'll have a few words with you."

Angrily, Antonia jumped up, fist clamped. Both UNCLE agents yelled, "Don't!"

She stopped and stared at them, "But they're going to hurt you."

"Just part of the job," Napoleon explained. "Why don't you check out Illya? Then when I return, you can give me some of that nice TLC I know you have."

Napoleon was unchained and dragged out of the room. Watching him go, she turned to Illya with tears in her eyes. "Why do you do this knowing that this could happen to you? Do you two want to die? What do they want anyway? Is it worth all this?"

"It is what we do to protect others. Neither Napoleon nor I wish to die, but if it comes to that to keep the world safe, we will gladly do it. As for what they want, it's a device that could cause the world a lot of pain."

Antonia hugged him, "Can't you just give it to them?"

"Even if I had it or knew where it's at, I couldn't give it to them."

The two sat in silence for a long time, waiting for Napoleon to be returned. Antonia's head was down, crying softly and quietly, saying, please give it to them. Illya wasn't used to consoling women, and besides, that was Napoleon's specialty. He broke the silence, "We'll protect you as much as we can."

Looking around, Antonia found a clean container of water and rag and began to clean up Illya's face. "Can't you just tell them and end this. They are torturing you and Napoleon. I mean, it can't be that bad if you do what they ask. You could always make a living playing the saxophone."

Unable to move his bound arms, Illya pulled back as her tending to his face became more brutal. He said, "I think I'm clean enough, thank you."

Antonia moved closer to Illya and began flirting, "But they're going to hurt me if you don't give them what they want."

"As I said before, I don't have it or know where it is, so I can't tell them, even if I wanted to."

Huffing, she stood up, "So you are going to let them do what they want instead of helping me. Really," she yelled, "Just tell them."

The door jerked open before Illya could answer, and Napoleon was pushed in. His left arm was hanging loosely at his side. The men reattached him to the neck chain and pulled his arms behind him to bound them ignoring the yelp of pain.

"You have an hour to decide to give us the data, or next will be the girl. And I have some interesting things I would love to try with her." Belz leered at her. "I'm sure the men and I will enjoy that conversation."

After he left, Antonia cried out, "You can't let them do it to me."

Napoleon sighed, "There is nothing we can do at this point. Illya do you have any of your little surprises on you?"

"They searched me thoroughly. How about you?"

"Nothing. Any ideas?" Napoleon asked.

"None," Illya admitted, but as he did, he nodded at Antonia as she was facing away from them and mouthed, "I don't trust her."

Napoleon looked at him questionably, but all Illya did was shrug his shoulders.

The hour seemed to fly by before Belz returned. "Gentlemen, the data."

Neither man spoke. "Tell them what they need, please," Antonia screamed at them.

The guards entered the room, grabbed the girl, and started to drag her out of the room. Belz informed the men, "You don't want to cooperate, and this time it will be more than a slap she receives. If you don't want her to suffer as you have, tell me where the data is."

"Listen, you blockhead, UNCLE, doesn't have it," Illya spit out.

"Take her," Belz ordered. Antonia struggled and begged the men to help her, but they could do nothing.

Once the cell door was closed, De Angelo shook off the men escorting her off, storming down the hall. Standing in the doorway with where the Snowman was, she demanded, "You fools. Are you happy? You really screwed this one up."