Don't own Chuck
Sarah landed early morning at Bob Hope she flew out over the Pacific then banked and came in from the ocean side. The sun was just breaking over the Santa Ana Mountains as she made her approach. She caught herself thinking that the mountains her Chuck was in were much different. She lined up her nose with the runway and a few minutes later she was taxing over to the hanger. As she was shutting everything down Sam unbuckled herself and came running forward.
"Momma, momma," yelled Sam. She had woken up and hadn't found her next to her so she came looking for her mother.
"Sweetie I'm here," said Sarah as she turned and picked her up as Sam threw herself into her arms. "I'm not going anywhere."
"She got away while I was on the phone with Roan. He said Chuck's been reported in Tbilisi and they are waiting on more information," said Beckman as she looked away.
"What is it? You're holding something back" said Sarah she could tell from the way the General acted there was something else. "Please tell me what happened."
"Chuck or Juri had some sort of run in on the train with two men sent by this renegade leader. Their bodies were found by the train tracks from the looks of things they got thrown off."
"How did this renegade leader know Chuck was there and the Russians couldn't find him? Something isn't right."
"I agree we need to be careful here too. Come on the hatch is open and you've got a welcoming committee waiting. Let's get you home and I'll run into Castle then we'll organize our mission."
Sarah and Sam deplaned to be greeted by Morgan and Casey. They loaded them in a black van along with the General then whisked them out of the airport back to Echo Park. It felt like a lifetime since they left when it was in fact only a little over a week.
"How's my favorite niece," said Morgan as he pulled on Sam's rabbit. Sam made a menacing face at him pulling the rabbit back.
"Mine, Leave him alone Morgan's bad," said Sam. Sarah looked at her. Sam not only had called Morgan by his name but formed a complete sentence.
"Hey did you hear that? She called me Morgan. I bet Chuck's going to be mad when he finds out he missed that… Oh sorry," said Morgan as he saw tears in Sarah's eyes.
"Way to go there Mister Cool," said Casey. "General, I had Ellie and Devon's place cleaned up and it's ready for you."
"Sarah, Alex and I are going to move in with you," said Morgan. "We thought it best considering everything that you not be left by yourself now."
"We appreciate it but it's not necessary Sam and I can manage on our own. I don't need anyone babysitting me."
"I realize the bearded Troll can be something frightful to wake up to but you really shouldn't be alone. This idiot has a contract out on you and you don't want to take any unnecessary risks. The worst thing that could happen is they kill Grimes which would be no great lose."
"You realize I'm sitting right here next to you."
"And that's supposed to make a difference. I should've had your ride on the hood."
"At least you're consistent."
"No guys really we'll be fine and Morgan I'm sure Alex would mind if you got killed," said Sarah as Casey grunted.
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"Riccardo Jones was a former Special Forces member until he was caught smuggling some of Saddam Hussein's gold home. At his court martial he said that he converted the gold to help finance a home for runaways in Amsterdam. The problem was they exhibited their wares in the window and then there were his other enterprises such as organic gardening that was almost legal when smoked in the appropriate location near his home for wayward girls. But being a champion of capitalism he branched out into other locations where the use of controlled substances was illegal.
Riccardo was now making a living looking through the scope of a Barrett when his phone rang. He glanced over at the number recognizing it.
"Will you hold please," he heard a voice say after he answered it putting it on speaker.
"Sure I'm not going anywhere," he said as he lined up wind speed, humidity and trajectory. He was doing the calculating in his head we he heard a voice come on.
"Riccardo, I need your services," said the voice on the other end. "Your friend Paul didn't pan out too well and I've got people angry with me because of you."
"Paul was always a little high strung. I warned you about that when you asked me to recommend someone overseas. I really don't know anyone else in that part of the world. I might be able to find you someone in Serbia…" The voice cut him off.
"I don't need anyone from there now. My targets are here in the states. In California actually and I was wondering since I got you off those charges at your court martial you owed me a personal favor or two."
"So you want to call that one in, do you? I don't come cheap and I hear you've got some expensive overhead right now. I'm going to need half up front."
"I can't get a friends and family discount for old times' sake. You know I'm good for it and what is money between friends."
"Hold that… not a word," said Riccardo. There was a loud noise the sound of the Barrett being fired along with the metallic sound of a shell casing as it hit the ground.
"What was that? Did you just…"
"I prefer not to talk about my handicraft over the phone but you'll be able to see it on the evening news. Now back to what we were talking about. The price is the price there are no discounts and I don't take food stamps. If you can't afford me you should put out an ad in the local newspaper under services required – hired killer wanted. But the FBI will probably answer."
"Okay, okay I'll pay your going rate half you'll find in your account tomorrow. The other half on delivery but this is a personal hit I don't want it being traced back to me."
"No problem, send me the details then consider it done," said Riccardo as he broke his weapon down putting it away.
"I just did you should get it in your secure e-mail any moment how. Look it over then contact me with proof of death. I do have to warn you one of the targets is a small child."
"Is that supposed to make a difference for me?"
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It was now dark and windy as Chuck drove down the road heading north. The moon was hidden behind a veil of clouds and it was beginning to snow lightly. Looking in the back his guest was pretending to still be out but Chuck could tell. He stomped on the brakes and the car slipped on the ice turning sideways then he righted himself. The man righted himself looking at Chuck with wide eyes.
"What are you trying to do get us killed," yelled the man in Russian along with other insults. "Do you know how to drive?"
"So you are awake," said Chuck as they heard banging from the trunk. "I think your friend is awake too. I'm sorry but I couldn't bring your other friends with us. We had to leave them behind. Their coats are here next to me I hope it's not too cold."
"Where are you taking me? What do you want?" said the man in the back. "I'm not telling you anything so if you're going to kill us you might as well get it over with."
"I was told once everyone talks sooner or later. My question to you is are you willing to die for your Czar that's what you call him. But we all know he's not. His name is Nikolai but that's about as close as he gets to the Romanovs. Somehow I think you're more pragmatic than that. Let's start with something simple I need the name of one of the old guard that is still alive." The man remained silent. "You don't want to talk fine I need to get your attention but this is on you." Chuck pulled off to the side of the road next to the reservoir.
"Wait what are you doing?" Chuck didn't answer he just got out taking a coat with him then he went to the back opening the trunk. Stepping back he anticipated the man would try to charge him. Jumping out the man looked up in the barrel of Chuck's pistol.
"Now that we've gotten that out of our system get up and turn around or I can end you here," said Chuck in Chechen. The man obeyed growling. Chuck put the coat over the man then led him to the side of the Mercedes where the man in the back could see him then pulled him around back. Chuck turned him around then cold cocked him with his pistol. Quickly he stripped the coat off the man and took out the spare tired. After he wrapped the coat around the tire he threw it into the reservoir. It made a loud splash then the coat floated on the surface where the man in the back could see it in the dim light.
"You won't need this when you go for your swim," said Chuck as he reached in and threw one of the other coats out then drove off.
"What did you just do? You pushed Kheda in reservoir? You're insane the water is…."
"Cold," said Chuck cutting him off. "I know. Did you know there are four stages of hypothermia but I think he probably jumped straight to the fourth. So Hooza do you feel like talking yet or would you like to join your friend for a midnight swim? Maybe we ought to put the window down it's hot in here," said Chuck as he put the passenger side down. Snow blew in from outside. "Much better don't you think?"
"How do you know my name? You looked at my wallet didn't you that's how you know it. You're not fooling me."
"Good thing I've got this nice warm coat on I can only imagine what it must be like back there. Hooza Ramazan born in Urus-Martan 1959. Served with us during the first Chechen war as a translator before you retired."
"Retired… You mean deserted," said Hooza as his teeth chattered and he began shivered uncontrollably. The cold was starting to set in.
"You're entering the first stage of hypothermia your core temperature must be below 32–35 °C (90–95 °F). You look a little drowsy back there that would be a sign you're moving into the second stage. Your core temperature is somewhere around 28–32 °C (82–90 °F). I'll know you've started the next stage when you pass out then you hit the fourth and you die."
"Shutttt up I wooon't talk," said Hooza as he huddled into a ball trying to keep himself warm. By now frost was building up on the inside of the Mercedes.
"I don't need much information. I already know Nikolai is operating close to the Roki tunnel. It won't take me long to figure out where. All I have to do is tap into satellite feeds and look for activity. It would be a shame to die for details."
"Whattt kind of details?" asked Hooza that was when Chuck knew he had him. There was a crack in the wall now he needed to exploit it.
"I can't understand what you're trying to say?" said Chuck. "Just nod with your head if you're ready to talk." The man nodded. "Good but remember as I put the window up it can go back down if you don't tell me everything I want to know."
"You said you wanted details," said the man as his ears and nose stung thawing out after being exposed to the cold.
"First are there three foreigners with Nikolai an Iranian by the name Izad and two scientists Ryder and Shepherd?" The man nodded his head. "Tell me about the underground production facility. How many people does Nikolai have guarding it? What is his troop strength?"
Chuck quickly discovered the production plant was also the headquarters for the self-proclaimed Czar's kingdom. From what Hooza told him it was too heavily guarded for a one man incursion he'd never make it inside. He needed to draw Nikolai out and if he could reduce his numbers then he might have a chance.
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The annual spy tournament was over for General Thomas. He'd gotten what he thought he could get and left leaving Margo in charge to finish it up with Roan. Roan was at his best at the bar mingling and chatting up targets with small talk that lead to other conversations. Some even had to do with intelligence gathering.
Did our illustrious leader get off?" asked Roan as he smiled and wave at two Finnish spy twins. "Double the pleasure and double the intel. I just can't get them confused. What sacrifices I make for my country."
"I'm sure. Roan, I don't know how you do it. I've read your reports," said Margo. "Why do women tell you everything you want to know? It's like they're under some sort of spell. Do you hypnotize them or put some sort of drug in their drink?"
"No that would be just rude," said Roan as he made a face, "not to mention illegal and might I add vulgar too. A true gentleman would never stoop to something that crass. You took my course on the farm?"
"Yes, of course sexy situations setting the mood with an erotic atmosphere and the like."
"Sexy situations? Never say it like that it just makes the whole thing sound cheap. Well, your problem is your female so you start out with a handicap."
"Oh I get it only males make good agents. I see where this is going. The same old all boys' club well this is the twenty-first century," said Margo as she started to get up but Roan grabbed her by the arm.
"That's not what I meant and this is why my attempts to teach you failed. You hear what you want to hear without listening to your partner. You see we men have a problem. I blame it on evolution or social conditioning but we have a natural tendency not to listen to anyone but ourselves."
"What does that have to do with intelligence gathering and extracting intel? Okay so you listen as they blab on so."
"No that's not how it works… Did I pass you? Oh never mind. No the secret is to make the mark feel like they are the most important person in the room for you. You have to hang on their every word and what I mean about hanging I mean listening. Not trying to remember if you turned the burner off on the stove or did you leave enough food out for the cat. When the mark talks you have to be there receptive and hear what they say."
"That doesn't sound that difficult."
"You may think it's easy but I can assure you it's not and especially for men. I've only had one student who I can truly say has mastered the Montgomery and that's Chuck. He may not look it but that's part of his charm. He's disarming then when you speak to him he can tell you afterwards exactly what was said because…"
"He listens. Okay I get it. I'll have to try it out then I'll let you know if I'm convinced. I wonder if Juri is much of a conversationalist because from what I understand he has a tendency to let his Makarov do the talking for him."
"If you have to pull a gun half the war is lost and speak of losing the war my twins are gone. Oh well as they say c'est la guerre."
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Chuck turned left at the fork in the road at Zhinvali reservoir driving down the Georgian military highway headed north towards Larsi. Realizing sooner or later he'd be stopped by Georgian military forces since the area close to the border that was off limits to everyone except CIS citizens but Juri had all his documentation. Once Chuck got Hooza talking he was telling him everything he knew. It hadn't escaped Chuck the irony, the name Hooza in Chechen means bird and his Hooza was singing his whole life's story.
"I'll set you free just before we get into Larsi. There you can make your way to wherever you want to go. I wouldn't go back across the border just yet. If you want go to Tbilisi and turn yourself in at the Russian embassy. Tell them I sent you and you want to speak to Igor Trotski. Don't panic if the name causes a stir. When they say you can leave a message tell them no Kolonel Sheshenkov told you to speak to no one except Igor. You can tell him the land of the wolves has one more then tell him what you told me. I need one more thing I need a name of one of the old guard. You give me that and I'll pull over right now and let you walk."
"Well there was a story about one of the men escaping. He happened to be out of the room when the rest were killed. His name is Borz Maribek and the story goes he took his people into hiding in the mountains just across the border in Ossetia. Nikolai got tired of trying to root him out so he's basically ignored him like a toothless tiger."
"Really well we'll see about that," said Chuck as he pulled off to the side of the road near a guesthouse. Chuck cut his detainee loose handing him his coat and enough money to get back to the capital.
"Thanks," said Hooza. "One last thing I don't know if this does you any good but Nikolai is planning on shipping the first of those crazy American things tomorrow. I heard they're planning on using the Roki tunnel."
"But isn't it closed this time of year?" Chuck flashed on this colossal monument of modern engineering. Flashing before his eyes were blueprints and plans. He saw it being built in 1984 then facts like it runs at about 2,000 meters above sea level and is about 3,730 meters long. Near the pass the Roki tunnel rises to about 3,000 meters and normally can be only used in summer.
"Do you feel okay," said Hooza seeing Chuck flash. "You know I didn't want to say anything before but that head wound looks like it might be getting infected."
"Thanks and good luck," said Chuck as he shook the man's hand then climbed back in the Mercedes. He reached over grabbing the bottle of vodka and took a swallow. His head was pounding and he felt a little feverish. That was all he needed an infection and where he was wasn't exactly the cleanest of places. With that realization he had to face his next obstacle, he needed to cross the border.
"How much you want to bet these guys are in Nikolai's pocket," Chuck said to himself as he watched the traffic go up to the Georgian side get checked then sent across to the Ossetians where they were checked again. Chuck was almost ready to turnaround and try to drive around when he saw his way in. A beat up bus started to smoke as it was crossing and the guards waved it through not wanting it to break down and block the road. Both the Georgian and Ossetians waved everyone to move quickly along so the vehicle could get by without blocking the road. Chuck parked by the side of the road looking in the mirror it wasn't long before another bus came through smoking like a chimney. Chuck had to muscle his way in tapping the vehicle in front
"You idiot, didn't you see me I'm right in front of you," yelled the driver. He wanted to protest but the guards didn't want anyone to stop.
"Move, move, move," they yelled waving their guns so the traffic proceeded. Chuck looked the other way as the guards stood by the roadside but they were more concerned with putting something over their face not wanting to breathe the fumes than looking inside the vehicles. Chuck was now across the border and the first thing he did was make a phone call.
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Nikolai was walking around the trucks with Izad and the two American scientists. They were overseeing the packaging and crating of the first shipment of Hammer of Thor chips with their remote detonators. Holter took up overseeing the chips packing and Ryder inspected the detonators making sure the key provided matched the serial number on the unit. The last thing they wanted was nothing to happen when their clients used them. They weren't the type to ask for a refund. Nikolai was about to say goodbye and get back to his tedious duties as Czar when his phone rang.
"Oh this is good let me put this on speaker," said Nikolai. "This is the guy I sent to eliminate that Russian FSB Kolonel. This will teach them in Moscow. We should have one of your chips sent to the Kremlin with love," laughed Nikolai as he answered his phone. "Hooza, what have you to report? The Kolonel is no longer with us?"
"Nikolai you only send four people. Well there were those two on the train but still just six? It's almost insulting."
"Who am I speaking to? Where is Hooza and my men? Do you know who I am?"
"A low-life scumbag upstart blowhard who was obviously bullied when he was in school and who has some serious mommy issues. Now you want to take revenge on the world. Does that about sum it up? But I'm not a psychiatrist nor do I have any interest in your mental health. I'm willing to give you a one time and I mean this a one-time offer. You turn over the foreigners to me then shut down your chip production plant and I promise to walk away."
"And if I don't what then? You're going to come and do what, kill me? You Russians never learn do you Kolonel."
"He's not Russian," said Izad. "That's Chuck. He's CIA."
"Nikolai, I'll be at this number for the next hour. After that I'll treat you like the rest – terminate with extreme prejudice."
"Big talk for one man."
"Who says I'm just one man," said Chuck as the line dropped.
"I got him," yelled one of Nikolai's men. "I triangulated his position off his phone. He's heading North on the road to Vladikavkz. He just crossed the border at Larsi. I know how to activate his phone remotely and he'll never see us coming.
"Good then we'll split forces; I'll take half of my men to talk with this Kolonel. Prina, you'll take the other half through the tunnel. Okay everyone come on let's get a move on it."