Don't own Chuck

Chuck say across from Marta as she signed her statement. Casey didn't try to hide he wasn't happy but no one was asking him for his opinion. As Chuck took the pen back there was a tapping sound on the one-way mirror. Casey pointed at the door for him to come with him so Chuck picked up the clipboard then they both stepped out into the hall.

"I'm not happy with this," said John as Mary came out to meet them. "If you give me five minutes alone with her she'll be singing like a canary," he said as he cracked his knuckles.

"I don't like this either but we've got our backs to the wall on this. Whatever happens to her they'll do to our guy over there, so hands off. If you're content with what she's said we put her on a plane for Moscow."

"She's told us about the intel she was able to collect from the General. She passed on almost all the operations the General was involved in Central America to her people."

"That was how the rebels stayed ahead of us. I'm glad he cut me loose now. No telling how many of our men she got killed. It would be easy to reach across that table and snap her neck."

"John, we have to think of our guy sitting in that FSB prison with all those other Russian inmates. They have him in isolation now. But if they put him in gen pop he won't last five minutes."

"We should at least make her identity her handler while we have her. He's the guy who painted the target on French Fry."

"There's not a lot we can do to coerce her to cooperate any further. She knows about the deal so now that we've gotten her statement all she has to do is wait it out."

"I'm not buying it. That's that... we can't do anything else. Chuck, you got us in this mess so what are you going to do now to get us out."

"First of all, we're not in any mess. The deal is a good deal. Sure, we would've liked more but I'm sure Igor would've like to squeeze our guy for more intel too."

"With the difference that our guy doesn't know anything so your commie friends could've squeezed as much as they'd like but they wouldn't have gotten anything."

"But they don't know that which would've made his stay quite unpleasant. No, I stand by the deal but that doesn't mean we can't figure out who she called. We have her phone and she said she called her handler right after the General called her."

"So, if we check her phone records we should be able to find out who she call," said Mary as she took the phone out of the evidence bag. "Major, this phone is password protected. Take it up and have the tech people try to crack it."

"Mom, really you're going to send it to other nerds to unlock when I'm right here. I feel hurt. Do you want this unlocked?"

"If you think you can do it then knock yourself out but we only get three tries," she said as she handed him the phone.

"I'm not going to unlock it. I'm going to go up stairs and ask Nina what the password is. I bet she knows and if I wave a seat on the plane with her mother I bet she'll jump on it. If there's a problem with that I'll pay for the ticket myself."

"Okay, just get me the name of her handler," said Mary as she waved Chuck to go. He started for the elevator but Casey stopped him.

"If it's all right with you I'd like to say here for a little while longer. There are a couple more questions I'd like to ask."

"Remember, you can't touch her," said Chuck. "John, it's not that I don't trust you, it's just we both know how you can get."

"I promise I won't lay a hand on her. It's just I have questions that only she can answer and this might be my only opportunity to ask them."

"You go talk with the daughter," said Mary. "I'll stay here with the Colonel. Major, you can go with Chuck. Don't argue just go and get me what I need. Besides you might need a witness."

Chuck and the Major rode the elevator up to the ground floor. The Major was quiet as the buttons lite up as they passed the floor. The Major's silence was louder than words until Chuck couldn't take it anymore.

"You don't like this deal, do you Major? You can tell me it's just you and me in here. It's all right if you disagree. Casey was quite vocal that he doesn't like it."

"It's not my place to agree or disagree. I just follow orders," he said then he paused. "But if you're asking me what I think then no, I don't like it. That woman isn't going to see a day in prison where she belongs. Where's her punishment?"

"You mean where's the righteous retribution? Casey had the same argument but she had a job and she did it. The same way our people did the same thing in her country…"

"And how many good people did we lose there. There were no deals for them and then there's this person. We have only her word that she wasn't directly responsible for the General's murder."

"Punishment comes in all forms. Marta has spent most of her life here. She has friends, a house, and a daughter she's going to have to leave behind. There's no certainty that Nina will want to go with her. Marta is headed back to a country that's as foreign as this one was when she arrived. When she left there was communism and the organization she worked for controlled everything. Now she's going back to what? A pension she won't be able to live on and a desk job in some FSB office. She's a burnt spy… she will never be able to work again abroad," said Chuck as the doors opened.

"However, the person who's really screwed is the daughter," said Chuck as they walked towards the front lobby. "If she goes with Marta she loses everything here but if she stays everyone here will wonder how did she not know what her mother was up to," he said as they saw Nina pacing the floor in the waiting room.

"What do we do with her then? I mean other then getting the pin to unlock this phone."

"Truthfully, I haven't got the foggiest idea."

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Casey walked into the interrogation room where Marta was being held. She was sitting there handcuffed to a table waiting. She looked up at him and he looked back at her. He felt his blood boil inside but if he was going to get the answers he wanted he had to play this cool. He had to ask himself what would Chuck do.

"I've answered all the questions I can," she said. He didn't like her tone. "Now will you uncuff me and let me see my daughter?"

"You'd like that wouldn't you? But you aren't going anywhere yet sister. There are some questions you haven't answered yet but before I ask them you have to know I'm kind of a human lie detector so don't try to feed me any bull."

"Human lie detector," she said as she laughed. "You could've fooled me. If it hadn't been for your partner I'd still be in my house leading my life with my daughter. But all that's over now thanks to him."

"You can say that again," said Casey as he walked over and yanked loose the audio cable. He heard a bang on the one-way glass but he looked at it and just shrugged his shoulders. "Okay, we don't have much time. I want to know what Fry had to say about me and I want the truth. I want to know the real reason he cut me loose. Was he trying to get me recruited by Keller?"

"I assume you're talking about Colonel Keller... terminal Keller. You ever wondered why he never made flag. That was because the General had him black balled. He didn't like the way Keller got things done. Keller didn't play by the rules and got his men hurt was what Frank told me."

"And me? What about me? I guess he must've hated my guts for shipping out with Keller. But he didn't really leave me any choice," said John. His head was spinning with all kinds of thoughts as he replayed the night he got cut loose and when he met Keller outside his major's tent.

"He told me about Alex Coburn. He said he was sorry he had to cut you but the decision was out of his hands. The word came down and you had to go and that was that."

"So, Keller was watching me," said John. Things became clearer for him. "Keller was plotting to grab me as soon as I walked out of that tent. He knew I'd be vulnerable and he struck right when I was at my weakest with an offer I couldn't refuse."

"No, it wasn't Keller. He said if he had known Keller was lurking around his camp he would've personally drop kicked him. No, it wasn't Keller who got you fired. It was the CIA. You pissed off some spook and he wrote a report that got you and the other men in your squad sent home. They all got the boot that night."

"Everyone of us got the boot? Why am I just finding about this now?" asked John then he answered his own question. "Because Keller didn't want me to know. He saw an opportunity and took it. He faked my death so I wouldn't find out that the other guys were on their way home."

"It's classic modus operando when you're trying to turn an asset. You cut them off from the herd and make them feel isolated then you become their only life line. Once they trust you then they're yours and they stay that way. You make them do something horrific like betray their country then you have that to leverage over their head if ever they step out of line," said Marta as Mary and a couple of other men broke into the detention cell.

"I guess you wouldn't know why the door was locked and the audio went out," said Mary as she looked at the two of them. "What's been going on in here?"

"Nothing of any consequence we were just comparing interrogation techniques," said Marta. "Isn't that right Alex? I'm sorry John."

"Yes, that's right... just having a little chat. I kept my promise by keeping my hands to myself," said John as Mary walked over and reconnected the audio cable.

"Really, just chatting like old friends. I bet we have sound now," said Mary as she turned back and looked at the two of them.

"Don't get any strange ideas. You know I'd rather be dead then red and if I had my way I'd shoot every one of these commie bastards in the head."

"That's what you say but sometimes I wonder if the lady doth protest too much," said Mary. Casey turned beet red in his face.

"And what does that mean? You know who I am and you've seen my service jacket... the part you have clearance to see. Don't go reading anything into this I'm still the man I always was unlike some."

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that. I want a full report from you on what you two talked about and I want it on my desk today. Remember, I'm the Acting Director."

"Then act like one. You don't like this deal any more than I do so do something about it. Go yell at the Secretary of State, the Chief of Staff or the President."

"Hey, I told you everything you wanted to know about the work I've done here and I told you everything you wanted to know about Frank, so there's no need in going back on your promise now."

"It would be a lot easier for me to buy into this if you told us who your handler was."

"You know I can't do that. If I did I might as well stay here and go to prison because it would be better than what would await me in Moscow. No, you made the promise and now you have to see it through."

"You stay here with the spy," said Mary to the man with her. "Colonel follow me outside," she said. Then she took him out the door closing it behind her.

"That was a nice try," said John. "I think it almost worked."

"Almost is what it was. I hope Chuck has better luck and the next time you pull a stunt like that a little heads up beforehand would be nice."

"What are you complaining about? I only yanked the audio cable on the one mic not the one on the table. At least we rattle her cage a bit."

"At least that. I need for this to get over with so I can run home and see what Sarah's bought for Sam. I just know she screwed it up."

"I don't want to get in the middle of anything but I think you two should put aside this bickering and get down to brass tacks. You two keep going back and forth while school starts on Monday and nothing is ready."

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It was supposed to be the first night of paradise but it was quickly becoming the vacation from hell. Agent Marley, whose first name was George and no relation to Bob which ticked Roan off even more, had asked the General if she'd like to see the crime scene. To which she naturally said yes and that left him to unpack.

"Why unpack for one night?" he said to himself as he looked at the hot tub and sighed. "No, there's only one place to be and as the song goes if you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with." With that in mind Roan went down to the bar to see what was on the menu blonde or brunette.

He walked into the bar and sitting there nursing a drink was a beautiful dark-haired woman about his age. She had a backless red dress on that clung to her as if she were poured into it leaving little to the imagination. He pulled a flower from the floral arrangement around the entrance then walked up to her.

"A flower in a desert wasteland," he said in broken Spanish as he sat it down next to her hand. She looked over and smiled at him. "Muy encantado, me llamo Roan... Roan Montgomery."

"Nice to meet you to Señor Montgomery but I do believe this came from the flowers by the entrance over there."

"Good, you speak English so I don't have to butcher your language. True but I was going for effect so how am I doing so far?"

"On a scale from one to ten I'd say a five," she said as she casually took a sip from her glass then smiled at him over the top of it.

"Well, I guess that means I need to work harder, doesn't it? And besides five isn't that bad after all. It's not a one where I have the whole scale to work up and it's not a ten where the only place to go is down. No, I'd say I'm right where I want to be," said Roan smiling at her.

"Señor Montgomery, you're going to make me blush," she said as she coyly turned her head as the bartender came over.

"What can I get you sir?" he asked as he looked back and forth at them. He was obviously looking over the woman shooing away unwanted pests. But Roan wasn't shooing.

"I'll take whatever the lady is having and freshen up her drink. You can put it on my room," said Roan as he showed the bartender his room card.

"So, you're staying here. Are you some sort of tourist breezing through looking for a good time or something?"

"Good times always follow me around I don't have to go looking for them. Actually, I came here to do a little bit of sailing and yes, I'm a tourist but that doesn't mean having a good time is a bad thing or that it can't be mutually enjoyable."

"I never said it wasn't." As they were talking the bartender brought Roan over his drink and gave the dark-haired woman a new one. Roan smiled as he took a sip of his drink.

"This isn't half bad. You know I could learn to like it. What's in it? I'm guessing lime and rum," he said then he took another sip.

"We call it a Rum Lemonade. I'm glad you like it," she said as she caressed his face. "I'm sorry but I have to run now. Maybe I'll see you around."

"But you didn't give me your name or phone number. How am I supposed to get in touch with you if I want another Lemonade?"

"Oh, I think you'll find a way Señor Montgomery. You impress me as a man who's very resourceful and besides don't you want to work up that ladder. I'll see you around," she said as she left and disappeared out through the lobby.

"To heck with the ladder, I want to climb that mountain and plant my flag," said Roan. But turning around he say the angry face of the bartender looking at him. "I think I'll just take my drink and go sit over in a booth."

"Yes, why don't you do that I think the air is healthier there."

A little while later the General came walking in looking around for Roan. She found him sitting in a booth by himself. She couldn't help but feel sorry for him. He'd planned all this and then she went off ignoring him.

"I'm sorry for leaving you alone but I confirmed what Chuck suspected is right," she said as Roan refused to make eye contact. "I said I was sorry. Besides I thought by now you would've already made friends with someone."

"I'm not that kind of guy. So, does this mean you're done investigating and can we get on with our vacation? We only have two weeks and one day is almost blown."

"Yes, I saw what I needed to see. This was definitely a murder made to look like a robbery. Maybe Mary can find out from that woman what went on but I don't know. Marley said there were no Russian connected agents on the island so whoever took out the General had to be a third party."

"You're overlooking the obvious. The Russians, the Cubans, the Sandinista and the rebels where as thick as thieves down here. All it took was for that woman to tell her handler where French Fry was going to be. He filed a report sent it to Moscow and from there it was like dominoes falling until the mouse trap dropped."

"I see what you're saying. What are you drinking anyway," she said looking at his glass. It wasn't the usual dry Martini.

"It's a Lemonade and it's actually very good. Here, let me get you one. Barkeep, can I get two more Lemonades, one for me and the other for my friend." The bartender gave him a look then nodded.

"What's wrong with him? Someone who's working in a customer service job should at least have a better disposition."

"He had trouble with a customer just before you came in so he's a little off right now. I'm sure he'll perk up soon," said Roan as the man brought the drinks over.

"Here you go. Shall I put these on your room bill too along with the others," said the Bartender as he put the drinks on the table. "As well as the nice tip, you so graciously offered?"

"Yes, so gracious of me," said Roan as he signed the bill then handed it back to the Bartender who was smiling at him now.

"Well this is a first, I never thought I'd see the day that you'd turn to Lemonade. What's next a snowball fight in hell?" she said as she took a sip. "Good God almighty! How much rum is in this thing?"

"Yes, it's really not Lemonade but Rumonade... and there are no lemons in it but limes. But you have to admit, it goes well in this climate."

[Meanwhile outside]

The woman who had been in the bar went outside and got into a dark van that had been waiting. Inside was Luiz and some of the other men. The woman got in then closed the door behind her.

"I met this Señor Montgomery person. He's quite the sweet talker but nothing has changed in their plans. They will be boarding the Annabel Lee tomorrow," said Donna Rosenda as she noticed the look on Luiz's face. "What's wrong with you?"

"This was dangerous and reckless what would've happened if he had recognized you? You would've been arrested and everything we've done so far would've been for nothing."

"You worry like an old woman and I told you that before. There was no way he could've recognize me because they never knew who I was. Besides, I needed to see this man while he's still alive... before I cut out his tongue and feed him to the sharks."

"Are you sure about that? Your mouth says one thing but your face says another. He impressed you with his words. Please, don't tell me you have feelings for him?"

"That's ridiculous and I'm surprised you'd even say such a thing. I have only one hombre in my heart and that is and was your father, Pablito. How could I have feeling for this man? He's one of the people who took your father away from me... him and this Alex Coburn. They set him up and now I'm going to replay the favor."