Don't own Chuck
Diane was ready when her two guards came back in her cabin. She sat on the bed with her improvised slap jack tucked away under her pillow waiting for the right moment and that came when the one man brought not only a bottle of water but also a carafe of coffee. He sat it on the bureau in her cabin along with the water.
"There you are you got what you asked for," said the man as he turned to leave with his partner but Diane stopped them.
"Thanks," said Beckman as she got up holding the slap jack down by her side out of sight. "Would you boys like a cup with me? It's kind of lonely in here all alone."
"Thanks, but no thanks," said the one. "They don't like us being down here with you. As a matter of fact, we had to sneak this stuff in here and if they found out I don't think they'd be too happy."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I don't want you to get into any trouble on my account. So no one knows you're down here," said Diane as she felt the coffee carafe with her free hand still keeping the slap jack out of sight. "Wow, that is hot. Good, I need it to be hot."
"Yes, it was just made so it should stay warm for a long time. Just remember to keep the top screwed down when you're not drinking."
"Come on we need to go before someone figures out we're down here," said the other guy. Dine could see he was nervous. "If they find out we're here they'll be hell to pay."
"I'll remember to keep the lid tight," said Diane as Frick and Frack started to leave. She picked up the carafe with her one hand and wielded the slap jack with the other. She wanted to say she was sorry but she really wasn't.
There was a loud smashing sound as she cracked the carafe over the one guy's head then caught the other with the slap jack.
"Uuh," said the one as she made contact with his jaw. Teeth and blood went flying as he dropped to the floor. The other man tried to get up but she kicked him square in the face. He flew over landing on his back and was out cold.
"Why you," said the other man as he tried to draw his firearm but she disarmed him with her improvised weapon. He charged her but she sidestepped at the last minute and tripped him sending him head first into the bureau. It disintegrated into fire wood then fell to the deck not moving anymore.
"Well it looks like you still got it," said Diane as she looked at the two men lying on the deck admiring her handiwork. She quickly took their shoes off and used their shoelaces to tie them with. Once they were bound she removed their socks and stiffed them in their mouths as gags.
"Thanks boys, it's been real," she said as she took everything from their pockets along with their weapons, extra clips and radios.
"Now to get off the love boat," she said as she put the ear bud in and started listening in. She quickly identified where all the guards and look outs were as they checked in.
"Good so far," she told herself. None of the rest of the crew had realized that they had two men down. "Maybe they had been telling the truth. No one knew they'd come back to the cabin," she said to herself as she made her way up topside. This was where things were going to be tricky.
"You need a diversion or you're not going to get very far," she said to herself as she looked around. If she made a break for it and started running down the pier they'd gun her down before she took two steps. The same thing if she leaped into the sea. The sound would certainly attract attention and one percussion grenade over the side would be the end of her.
"If they were after Roan then you're just an appendage something extra that can be cut off and discarded. Well, whatever you're going to do you need to do it now," she told herself. She was hearing chatter over the radio about two men not showing up for their watch. They could only be the two men she'd left on the floor in her cabin.
"You've got to do something and do it quickly if you don't want to have to shoot it out with the whole crew," said Diane as her eyes fell on the mooring lines then a light came on in her head. She looked around and then when no one was looking she loosened the mooring line. After she finished she ran back then waited on the other side of the boat. Suddenly she felt the boat move caught in the wake of a boat pulling out. The yacht drifted out then came back in hard slamming up against the pier. The bumpers absorbed most of the impact but that didn't stop the boat from rolling side to side.
"Crap, what the heck was that," yelled one of the deck hands as they all came running. The boat drifted back out again caught in another wake.
"The mooring line's loose," yelled someone else as they all ran to bring in the boat back up next to the pier before it could damage itself.
"How'd this happen? Which one of you numbnuts tied off the boat when we pulled in," Diane heard as she slowly lowered herself off the opposite side of the boat into the water. She let herself down slowly so she wouldn't cause a loud splash when she let go.
"With them worrying about the loose line they won't have time to notice I'm gone," she told herself as entered the water. She went under then swam around the boat until she was under the pier. When she came up she was gasping for air but she didn't dare surface before or someone would've noticed her waves.
"Look around and see if you can tell where you are," she told herself as she got near to one of the pilings using it to hide behind.
"Looks like a small marina," said Diane as she looked around at other boats tied up near her. She thought about trying to commandeer one but that would leave her exposed and for all she knew everyone in the marina could be in cahoots with her captures.
"No, you need to stay where you're at until night fall," she said. Suddenly, there was all sorts of activity on the pier. He heard men running back and forth so she kept low in the water and as near to piling as possible.
"Search around here," she heard someone say above her. "I want you to send a couple of guys under the pier to have a look..."
"What do you want to do if we can't find her? She's got a jump on us and if I were her I would've gotten as far away from here as I could. I counted at least three boats that have just left in the past hour. She could've hitched a ride on any of them."
"Do the best you can do but don't waste more than an hour. I'm going to call Luiz and let him know what happened."
"What do you want to down with Emanuel and Filipe? They're still tied up in the cabin."
"As far as I'm concerned you can leave them there. Luiz isn't going to be happy with them when he finds out what went down. Now get the search parties looking and above all try to do it discreetly."
"Okay, you only have to wait an hour before they give up," she told herself. "But to be on the safe side it's probably better to wait until night fall."
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General Thomas' jet arrived on time and was brought off the apron then over to a hangar where the grounds crew was standing by. They put a ladder up to begin debarking as soon as the plane powered down. The General was out as soon as the hatch was open. He was ready to go to work and didn't want to waste any time.
"Crap," said Chuck as he looked up at the General. Tank didn't even try to hide his disappointment at seeing Chuck there.
"Didn't your mother get the message that I was coming? I expected to see her here not you, Agent Carmichael. I hope she has a good excuse for her absence."
"Absence? Are we back in school? Did she need a note from... well from whom?" said Chuck but the general wasn't smiling. "At this moment she's participating in a sting operation with Colonel Casey but she sends her regards. I hope you can bear with us."
"I'm not happy if that's what you're wondering nor do appreciate your levity. This feels like her attempt to duck out to avoid meeting me. She has no business participating in an operation as the Acting Director. That's why we have people who work for us…"
"I understand what you mean General, delegate and get it off your plate," said Chuck. But the General was not impressed.
"No, what do you think I am some sort of rhyming monkey. It's about trusting your people to get the job done without hovering over them. You should know I'm not the only one who has concerns about your mother being left in charge."
"Well soon you'll be able to address those concerns to her but for now you need to come with me," said Chuck as the grounds crew put the General's things in Chuck's Explorer. "Take the General's luggage to the Waldron and put them in his room. General, I'm assuming that's your break out bag with you. Can you survive with that for a couple of days?" said Chuck pointing at the gym bag the General was carrying with him.
"Yes, it is but I need to see your mother not be given the dog and pony show. This is not boondoggle I'm serious when I said people are talking and I need answers."
"Do you need to talk to the Acting Director or do you need to find out what we're doing down here? If it's the former you can share a bottle of pinot blanc and light conversation this evening over dinner. I can recommend the seafood plater in the hotel it is worth dying for. However, if it's the later then you should follow me and we can fly out to the Mohawk where you can participate in the operation… that is if you don't want to delegate it to someone else. The choice is yours General."
"Okay, show me the way," said Tank. Chuck knew he was treading on thin ice with the General but he really didn't care.
"Very well then just follow me. We need to get the other Agent Carmichael then we can be on our way," said Chuck as they walked through the airport back to the coffee shop where Chuck had left Sarah.
"What is this? Bring your kid to work day," said the General when he saw Sarah there with Bunny. Chuck just shook his head. However, before he could say anything another woman showed up with Sam and girl about Sam's age. Sam ran straight over to Chuck and he picked her up taking her back over to Sarah.
"Everything is ready here. This is Consuela, she is the cousin of Maria's mother, who just delivered. She'll be watching the girls and is highly recommended by Roxy."
"Well that's good enough for me," said Chuck as he shook the woman's hand. "Sam, I want you to behave while we're gone and listen to Consuela. We'll be back as soon as we can but we might be gone for a few days. Consuela, you can coordinate with my mother. She's staying in the room next door."
"Sure, no problem," said Consuela as she took Bunny from Sarah then they started to leave. But as they were leaving they heard Sam speaking.
"Do you like ice cream? I mean ¿te gusta el helado?" she said and the other little girl smiled and nodded back.
"¿te gusta el Rocky Road?" said Sam but the little girl looked puzzled and just shrugged her shoulders.
"Oh, I need to educate you," said Sam as she took the girls hand and they laughed as they walked away disappearing in the crowd.
Sarah started to go after them but Chuck stopped her. He knew the General was already in a foul mood and this wasn't helping which was soon confirmed.
"Well, if we're done with child care, can we get on with this? I've got phone calls to make and I need answers or the next person you'll meet at the airport will be your mother's replacement."
"I thought we already met him," said Sarah as she looked at Tank. This was followed by an awkward moment of silence.
"If everyone will come this way," said Chuck trying to fill in the void. "The bird is already on the deck and pilot anxious to get airborne. The Mohawk is currently operating off the northern end of Saint John," said Chuck as he brought the General up-to-date on the pirates and the missing ranger. He just left out the part about Beckman and Roan being on the Annabel Lee and who were now missing.
"This way to our ride," said Chuck as he opened a door taking the General out to a waiting Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk with props gyrating. "Watch your head and keep down."
"Okay, I understand what the Coast Guard is doing here and why but what I don't understand is why are you people involved? I know Beckman is on vacation and everyone has a right to go on vacation but what I don't understand is why no one can get in touch with her?"
"I'll try to explain all that to you as soon as we take off but right now we need to go while the pilot has the window. We can't hold up civilian air traffic here forever. You never know who could be flying in and you're holding them up."
"All right I see your point but I want answers and I'm going to get them one way or another," yelled Tank as they ran out to the chopper.
"Watch your head," said Chuck after Tank bumped his head climbing in the back of the chopper. "I guess I should've yelled too?"
"I'm sure that was an accident," whispered Sarah smiling as she got in after the General who was trying to play it off but the bump on his forehead said something else.
"Of course it was. Accidents happen all the time and some of them really are accidental," he whispered back then climbed in behind her kissing her once they sat down. "Okay, everyone strap in. General, let me check yours I'd hate for you to fall out before we get to the Mohawk. I did tell you we're going to have to lowered down?"
"No, you didn't," said the General as he checked his seat belt after Chuck had checked it.
"Sorry, I guess it slipped my mind," said Chuck then he radioed to the pilot. We're already back here,". The chopper lifted up and soon they were out over water heading for the Mohawk.
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Casey walked the hospital checking on Marley's security arrangements. He had men posted on the perp's floor with extra guards in the lobby to check on who was coming and going. For the most part everything seemed all right but there was something in the back of his head, a voice, that told him something was wrong.
"How's our man doing?" asked Casey to the man in black standing outside his door. "Has he come around yet?"
"No, they're prepping him to go down to run a CAT scan. I also heard something about an EEG. They want to see what's going on inside his head but it seems like a lot of effort for some perp."
"Yeah, it does but he's got intel in that egg we need. So we'll patch him up then crack him again and we'll do that again and again until he talks. They all talk in the end. How much longer are you supposed to be here on this door?"
"I'm not sure I was told to make sure I identify whoever comes and goes and that sooner or later they'll send someone but that's been a couple of hours ago."
"I think they forgot about you. Tell you what I've got no desire to go down and see my boss right away so why don't I relieve you. You probably could use a head break. Run down to the cafeteria too if you want and get yourself a cup of coffee but I'll warn you now it goes down like 10W-40."
"I appreciate the favor and maybe that's what I need to stay awake here. But are you sure about this? I can stand my watch…"
"Like I said I've got no desire to go down and talk with my boss right now so if you want to go I'd get if I were you. If you're really lucky we can get this guy certified that he's all right then we can ship him out of here and you'll be free."
"Sounds like he's got a black hood and a long flight waiting for him," said the man in black as he handed John his clipboard.
"Among other pleasantries that will be awaiting him," said Casey as he took the clipboard and looked over it. "Well, it looks pretty basic to me so if you're going to go get."
"I'm out of here but I'll be back as quickly as I can," said the man as Casey waved for him to go. He had no desire to go down below and talk with Mary.
As he was standing there he heard the elevator coming up and saw the light above the door indicating it was on its way up. He instinctively reached inside his jacket for his Sig, but when the doors opened Alex got off. She smiled at him then walked down the hallway to him.
"There you are. Mary… I mean the Acting Director sent me on a search and retrieval mission to find you. She wants you downstairs in the lobby to plan out how you're going to be used as bait."
"You're going to have to tell her I'll be down in a little while. I'm up here standing in for one of Marley's guards. The man needed to go so I'm filling in for him until he gets back."
"You know I could stay here and you could go down. She really wants to see you but something tells me you really don't want to see her."
"And whatever gave you that idea," said John as Alex gave him a look. "All right I'll tell you. You're right I really don't want to see her. I really didn't like the way she sidelined Chuck and Sarah. She's the Acting Director and she's so fond of throwing that up in our faces... too fond if you ask me. What I'm saying is she should've gone to the airport. That's what Beckman would've done."
"But she's not Beckman," said Alex. "However, I hear what you're saying. I can't help but wonder if there isn't something else. Is it because she's a woman? Beckman is a woman… or I think so."
"Now you're sounding like Grimes, and no that has nothing to do with it. I've worked with and for women before. I'll never tell Mary this but she's a good agent but she's not a team player. She likes to go off and do things on her own which is okay as long as other people aren't counting on you."
"Now you're talking about this tiger trap thing again, aren't you? I can tell and I don't mind saying it I don't like it."
"I have no problem doing this with Chuck and Sarah because I trust them to watch my back. I know if things go sideways Chuck will do everything in his power to get me out while Mary… well she doesn't give me the same warm fuzzy."
"So, what are you going to do? Do you want to back out and let her try something different which is what I'd vote for."
"Well, unfortunately, this isn't a democracy and there is no voting. I'll do what I always do and that's my duty. Now you can go back down below to Mary and tell her I'll be there as soon as the guard comes back on station," he said as he looked at his watch. "Which should be soon."
"You know she liable to get mad."
"It won't be the first time and it won't be the last."