Chapter 3 –Pawns
Teresa was speechless as the door closed behind Devon Finch. Kostya was a Russian Diplomat and now that James and she had acquired proof, the CIA had refused to take him out. No matter what move she made, Teresa could not get out of under the nasty octopus with its long tentacles. The resolution of one hurdle brought another, more serious one to the front. She had felt the same way when dealing with Judge Lafayette last year, where every move she had made had resulted in her digging herself even deeper in the sand. Now they had to take out a foreign diplomat to serve the US government's desire to stay hidden and were being lured by the promises to become the largest cartel.
"We are not his pawns!" she said to James, who had poured himself a stiff whiskey from the bar and was not sipping it, but rather gulping it.
"The sad part is that we are…and we are truly on our own", he said looking at her with an expression she thought was too light for their circumstances. "Quite the ride, you and I had…from the Dallas airport to the Russian Embassy!", and he drained the glass.
She shook her head: "Is that helping you?"
"I don't know, but we know who he is and where he is, and I have had more complicated missions than this, so it may look like a long shot, but after I take a proper break, I will research the options…I will come up with a plan", his voice sounded determined.
"Why wouldn't Devon take him out himself? I don't get it!", her voice had a nervous pitch to it.
"Maybe he wants us to perish doing it, so that he kills two birds with one stone", James said slowly…"And he will be considering this alternative if he is not sure you will play ball later…I mean you told him in his face you didn't want him as a partner". After she kept looking at him askance, he continued: "Like I said before with Devon it's not personal…I actually think that he likes you and admires you… therefore he chose you when he met you side by side with Camila…the Agency groomed you as you showed promise…remember in the bar the other day Devon said his job was to select the players".
"Is this supposed to give me confidence?", she said with a little jab in her voice.
"If you take Kostya out, the Agency will keep their word, Devon has recommended you as you run a tight ship and he likes this…he is a professional... the CIA is a stable organization, there is no bullshit like the cartel with its family matters and wars that bring instability and danger…the fiascos of Epifanio and Camila figuring their marital problems with guns or Boaz killing his brother to take over, such things don't happen…not at least in this form in the Agency…Devon has put all cards on the table." James finished and waited.
"Are you saying I should consider working for the CIA?", she asked fast.
"Have you even for a second considered his offer?", James countered. "Castel has survived a lot of years in this game, and she isn't smarter than you', he added. Teresa said nothing, just exhaled and sat down again.
James went on: "I am not saying you should accept the offer, but you need to understand that running away before or after the Kostya mission is a bad decision…they will hunt you…will hunt us… and they have the resources and the time to find us…believe me!", he sounded sure.
"That's why you went?", she asked.
"It is unreasonable to expect you can run from the CIA… faulty promise to build a future on…If the answer is we run, we must convince them you are dead, or maybe we both are dead…no loose ends…until whoever the division chief in charge is, advises whatever committee sanctions the blacktops, that this mission is complete, the machine will be after us", he said with a finality in his voice that gave her chills.
"You have worked for Devon, and you managed, but I don't intend to. I want out. I want a normal life, not to be someone's pawn all the time… I don't believe him, or the Agency or the Government for that matter…I will be in constant danger if I ever deviate from his game. I was running from the cartel, now I will be running from Uncle Sam, what's changed?" she looked desperate but sounded determined not to give in.
"Do you really think we don't stand a chance … to escape?", she asked looking at him with pleading eyes as she need to hear something reassuring.
"I am certain that if we succeed in taking Kostya out and give a sign we want out, the Agency will treat us as a loose end…but I may be wrong, so let's take this one step at a time…keep in mind that Devon has a plan B – Boaz…although I am certain he cannot be that thrilled with him", he ran his hand across his face. "Kostya is in NYC and I am going to see about getting the location of his business compound. Must be one of his properties in Queens as when you had the meeting last month, Oskana was eager they get all of Queens. Once I see what property he uses, then I can come up with a plan depending on entry and exit points, location…maybe I can just shoot the guy from the adjacent building!", the idea somehow made him raise his voice as he got up from the couch to leave.
"I can say this is the most important mission in my life," he added looking at her intensely: "So, I can't screw it up".
Teresa took three quick steps and stood right in front of him and without a second thought, her hand cupped his cheek: "What would I do without you?", her voice was tender.
James didn't move for a second as if thinking whether to return the caress, then raised his hand and cupped hers in his: "You are a survivor and would find a solution, don't underestimate yourself". Then he removed her hand from his face, turned it upside down and kissed her palm. "I need to think and focus…and I cannot do that when you're distracting me… as much as I like the distraction", he said slowly and gently holding her eyes with his. Then he let go of her hand. "Please go to bed and will reconvene in the morning."
Teresa took a deep breath and nodded. She was still the boss but didn't feel like it at all and then it occurred to her that she was the boss after all, as she had told him to wait and work towards "another life", and that's exactly what he was doing. She turned and walked out of the room feeling his eyes on her and wondering if the pain and the longing she felt could somehow transcend to him so that he would lose his cool composure.
