Don't own Chuck
Sarah woke up the next day to find Chuck was already up. She heard him outside telling the workers what he wanted done around the camp. Since the snake incident they fell all over themselves to do whatever he asked. Some even brought their children in so he could lay hands on them and bless them the work of the white chiyang'a was stressful and tiring. She was finishing getting dressed when Chuck came in with a tray that had a soft boiled egg, two pieces of toast and a jar of vegemite along with two cups of coffee.
"Is the Doctor done making house calls," said Sarah making fun of the fact that the locals looked now at Chuck as some sort of white witch doctor.
"I know I'm just going with the flow right now. I don't want to prey on their superstitions but the more I tell them that I'm not this chiyang'a the more they insist."
"I wouldn't knock it too much it got me breakfast. Have you ever tried vegemite?" Chuck shook his head no. "It's something you either love or hate. They didn't have any Nutella, did they?" She said as she laughed because Chuck made such a face.
"Okay then no surprise for you Miss," said Chuck as he pretended to be offended. But she made a sad face and he caved it. He sat his coffee down on the tray then went outside and brought in an Orchid like flower.
"Oh Chuck, it's lovely," said Sarah as she took it, "thanks Sweetie." The whole room filled with its perfume but he thought she'd be happier. They both knew what was wrong but there was nothing they could do about it. Emma had sent them a message that they were leaving to head back to Montenegro and as they had agreed they were taking Sam with them.
"Listen they should be in flight so we can't call them but as soon as they're in Montenegro we can give them a ring. Maybe Margo can even set up a video call."
"I know but it's not the same. I'm being silly we've also got the team coming in soon and we need to get a move on it to get to the airport. Verbanski would have a field day if she saw me now. Where is she anyway?"
"Forget her. This morning she was down by the Ferry getting everything ready to bring over the cargo and since then I don't know. I think I've made her man mad over this chiyang'a thing. He hasn't said two words to me since."
"Well with his attitude that might be a good thing. I don't trust him and I don't know why Verbanski hired him in the first place. He's condescending and a sexist."
"Love is blind sometimes," said Chuck as he sipped his coffee. Sarah almost gagged on hers when he dropped that piece of information.
"What? Are you saying he and Verbanski are an item? I don't think so. No, there's no way she'd ever go for anyone like that," said Sarah but as she looked at Chuck she could see he was serious. "Wait what do you know? Okay buster hand over your intel."
"Well, being the witch doctor has its advantages sometimes. Like getting flowers for my girl or overhearing a conversation where two of the locals talk about the scandalous relationship between their bosses."
"Scandalous? That's what they said. Why would it be scandalous? I don't understand unless Verbanski was doing the chasing and she being a woman it might not be looked on so well here."
"Shush someone's coming we can speculate later," said Chuck as Gertrude came to the door with Adama by her side.
"Well if you guys want to hurry up the ferry is ready to take us over Mpulungu where I have my Range Rover. We'll run out to the airfield at Yubala and wait for our guests to arrive. That is if you feel like working today."
"Gertrude, don't piss off the chiyang'a," said Sarah as Chuck puffed up. "He could cast a spell on you." Chuck thought about love potion number nine and smiled.
"Yeah I'm sure, give me a break. The ferry leaves in fifteen either with or without you. Chuck on our ride over can you explain to me what you did to my perimeter alarms?"
"One thing I can tell you I did," said Chuck wanting to show who was in charge. "I had your sensors moved. You had them at regular one yard intervals."
"So? That's so they would each interphase together providing complete coverage. Now you've gone and changed that. I want to know why?"
"Yeah and your grid was too predictable. Once any intruder found the first one he or she could easily find the others. By varying the distances it makes them harder to find and if you miss one another will pick you up. I think you can see my way is better."
"I just wanted to know why that's all. The ferry leaves now in ten," said Gertrude as she and Adama left.
"A thank you wouldn't hurt. She'll never admit she was wrong, will she?" said Sarah as she downed her coffee. "Way to go Sweetie you put her in her place."
"I didn't do anything other than my job but I don't understand why she didn't see it before me. Or did she even know how they were setup? I'm starting to feel like you I don't trust Adama either. He might have a hidden agenda here."
"We need to keep our eyes open and watch each other's backs."
"That's a view I don't mind," said Chuck as he smiled then finished his coffee. He reached out and took her hand.
"Oh come on before Gertrude leaves us and who's to say I don't mind my view either," she said as she kissed him. "Now we really need to hurry."
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Morgan was left in Castle by himself. Casey and Alex left to run everyone to the airport. He didn't see what the rush was but Jack had gotten a call from Margo asking when he was coming back because the agency wanted to arrange a poker tournament. It was actually going to be the cover for a meeting of various covert agencies and an exchange of intel through poker chips impregnated with computer chips. Each player possessed a scanner that would up load data then the chips were pooled together afterwards in the vault. The following day the intel would be re-disseminated via a download from the chips using the same scanner. The only problem was Jack had to be there to oversee the game as manager. Morgan sat his coffee cup down next to a console as he began to complain.
"I could go to Montenegro," said Morgan as he started shuffling a deck of cards dropping them on the floor. "Stupid slippery cards," said Morgan as he picked them up. Instinct made him look around and make sure he was alone. He sat the deck back on the table then cut and began playing a game of twenty-one against an imaginary dealer he called Jack.
"I'll prove to everyone I should go to Montenegro. Watch this Jack a little game of Blackjack," said Morgan as he dealt out two cards to an empty chair and two cards to himself. He turned his over double aces.
"Two, okay Jack hit me," he said as he drew an eight. "Ten… Okay, give me a face card or another ace and this game is mine. That's right hit me." He slowly turned the card over another eight.
"See that double aces and double eights that's eighteen. I'll stand now let's see what you've got," said Morgan as he turned over the cards for the house.
"I don't like this game," he said after he saw the house had an ace and a queen. Blackjack the house won.
"What's this," said Morgan as he picked up the artist sketch of the man who got away. "Good thing you're not here or you'd have to deal with the Cobra."
"Numbnuts, get out of Castle before I kill you," yelled Casey over the monitor. "Yes I'm talking to you Troll."
"Casey how?" said Morgan as he started looking around Castle for John. He looked under the table even opened up drawers. "Were you eavesdropping on me again?"
"Idiot, you must've accidently push transmit on the console. Don't tell me you sat your coffee cup there after I told you not to. It's a good thing you weren't playing poker."
"Yikes, how many people heard me," said Morgan as he moved his cup. "Please tell me Becky didn't listen in."
"You're lucky the controls were set for a closed net so my ears were the only ones you abused with your mindless drivel. Are you part gypsy, because you're good at fortune telling?"
"I am? That almost sounds like a compliment thanks John. I appreciate it."
"Yeah, you drew the dead man's hand and that's what you're going to be when I get my hands on you Troll. Get back upstairs and get out of there. I'd better not find a coffee ring on my desk or on the console. If I do you'd better have your life insurance paid up with Alex as beneficiary."
Morgan gave everything a quick wipe down. Then he saw it, the wanted picture had a coffee ring in the middle.
"Crap, what do I do with you," he said to himself as he thought. "You're coming with me." He folded the paper in half then got in the elevator. When he got out in the break room he headed for his office. "You're lucky the Cobra isn't after you," said Morgan as he held up the picture. "You're the disease and I'm…"
"Son," said Big Mike interrupting him. "I said son did you hear me. What disease are you talking about? Did you catch something from Chuck? You know two shots of penicillin can usually take care of those kinds of problems."
"What are you talking about? No how could I…" Morgan stopped in midsentence staring with his mouth open at the man standing next to Big Mike.
"You should close that before birds build a nest and lay eggs. This gentleman is looking for John Casey. He says he's his cousin from back east, isn't that right."
"Yes, far back east. It's urgent I speak with him, you see there's been a death in the family and I need to get in touch with him right away."
"I'm sure you do… I mean I sorry but of course you do," said Morgan as he looked at the sketch one more time. There could be no doubt. 'Think Cobra, think Cobra,' Morgan said to himself. "Well John is out right now… that's right delivering merchandise…"
"Since when did we start home delivery?" said Big Mike. Morgan wanted to kill his step-father in that moment even if he was married to his mother.
"I'm doing one of the executives of Buy More corporate a favor. You know greasing the skids for upward mobility and the like," said Morgan. Thinking if Big Mike didn't keep his mouth shut they'd both have downward mobility stopping at about six feet under.
"Maybe I can wait somewhere for John to get back. You know I'm still a little shaken up, our aunt was too young."
"I thought you told me it was your uncle and he was eighty-five," said Big Mike. Morgan looked over at the man and back at Big Mike. The man started to put his hand inside his jacket like he was reaching for something. Think fast Morgan.
"I know what you mean - young at heart, she was young at heart. And well I know John doesn't like this spread around but his uncle was his aunt too if you know what I mean."
"Oh… Ooh," said Big Mike when he caught on to what Morgan was hinting at. "Son, why don't you take the man into your office and let him sit down until John gets in."
"In my office? I don't know if that's such a good idea," said Morgan as the man reached again under his jacket. "But on second thought here at the Buy More we think of this as a family store and each of our employees is like family which would make us related."
"That's right so that makes you like a distant cousin, a cousin we can sell our car to. You wouldn't happen to need a toaster. They're twenty percent off this week and for a small twenty percent extra you can get a one year guarantee."
"Thanks I'll have to pass for now but I might come back," said the man. He still had his hand under his jacket.
"Big Mike, why don't you see the gentleman into my office? I've got to…" Morgan was looking for an excuse to go back down to Castle but Big Mike cut him off.
"I'd like to but as you can see by the clock on the wall it's break time and I'm really into this Danielle Steel novel."
"That's what you said before. You haven't finished it yet?"
"Oh that was two novels ago. That woman just keeps popping them out right and left. I'm in the middle of torrid nights and sweaty bodies. Makes me think of your momma, muy…"
"caliente," said Morgan. "I know." Morgan thought about asking the man to shot him or Big Mike one of them had to go. But if he shot Big Mike there wouldn't be any muy caliente but room temperature.
"No I'd prefer you, Morgan is it? I'd like for you to tell me a little about my cousin. We haven't seen each other since we were kids. I'd like to know what kind of person he is."
"Well you came to the right man," said Big Mike. Morgan put his arm under the man's and pulled him away. He had to get him away from Big Mike before he mentioned that he was going to marry Casey's daughter but in his hurry he didn't realize he dropped the sketch. They went straight over to his office. Morgan opened the door and let him in then he gave one last look over the store before he went inside.
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Chuck and Sarah were at the airfield with Gertrude when the giant C-17 set down. They watched it circle the field and relayed instructions to the pilot lighting flares by the runway to illuminate the landing strip. The bird lined up and came screaming in reversing thrust as the wheels touched down. Everyone knew there wasn't much runway for this big a bird but the pilot demonstrated her skills by stopping with plenty of room left over. When the tailgate came down everyone went to work.
"Agents Carmichael, I hope you heard about our midair incident," said the Load Master looking over at the body bag.
"Yes we were just made aware of it. My General wants you guys to take the body with you when you leave here for Ramstein. Our people will meet you there and take possession so an autopsy can be performed and then next of kin can be notified as well as funeral arrangements can be made."
"Good but can you repeat all that to the pilot. My Lieutenant is up in the cockpit. She'll want to hear all this from you. I can send an airman with you both to show you the way."
"No need we know our way around inside and besides your people have got their hands full. I know this group is… well for lack of a better word 'special'." The Load Master laughed.
"I think that's an understatement and I've got a few choice words to describe them but none are fit for mixed company. Oh and I need to give you this," said the Master Sergeant as he handed Sarah the dart pistol. They all laughed as she passed it to Chuck. There was only one person who could've given him that and they all knew who it was.
Chuck and Sarah made their way inside and up in the belly of the beast as workers unloaded the pallets. After the pallets were taken off they were then broken down so the crates could be on loaded to the back of the trucks.
"Good day," said Chuck as they walked into the cockpit. The pilot was still going over checks along with the co-pilot and the navigator was checking weather and course for their departure.
"Agents," said the pilot as she turned around and introduced them to her flight crew. "I guess the Master Sergeant briefed you on our incident."
"Actually, we were called by our boss right before you landed. We'd like for you to take the body to Ramstein with you," said Chuck as he filled her in with the details.
"Sure no problem, it's cool back there so once we take off there shouldn't be any problem. I mention this only because I feel I'm obligated. I asked if my Master Sergeant had briefed you because he has a hypothesis that at first I thought was exaggerated but now I'm not sure."
"He thinks that the incident wasn't an accident that this was murder," said Sarah. It was what the Lieutenant was about to say but being said my Sarah suddenly seemed validate the theory.
"Then it was premediated. Oh my God," said the woman as she thought back thinking what a group of nerds these people had seemed. Yet at least one of them wasn't what he seemed.
"We ask that you not file that in your report as far as you're concerned it was an accident. Do we need to talk with your Master Sergeant?"
"No… No, I told him our line was it was an accident," said the Lieutenant as things began to sink in. "I only told you take because I felt you should know but if you knew… I'm sorry what's going on?"
"If I knew I couldn't tell you but I can honestly say I don't know. That group has a lot of secrets and among them is at least one traitor. Our job now is to find out who it is and stop them before it's too late. But we never had this conversation."
"Roger that," said the Pilot. "I don't envy you guys one bit. As soon as we get your cargo offloaded we're out of here."
With that Chuck and Sarah worked their way back out of the plane but Chuck stopped in the hold. Then he yelled for the Load Master to come over.
"We talked with your Lieutenant and everything is worked out but I'd like to look at the body. Then you can stow it away."
"Sure follow me," said the Load Master as they followed him back inside where they had A/C going to keep the body cool. "You might want to hold you noses because… well you'll understand."
"Oh boy, am I going to have nightmares tonight," said Chuck as he held his nose and tried to breathe through his mouth."
"Chuck, what am I looking for," asked Sarah as she looked over Ross' mangled body. Bruising had set in and most of the body was blackened."
"The eyes… open them up and look at them," said Chuck. "Do you see that? His eyes are bloodshot because the capillaries have burst. Master Sergeant when you first got him out from under the crates was he still alive?"
"Yes, I was arguing with that quack who's in charge, Dr. Ryder. I wanted to land so we could get him to a doctor but he wanted to keep on going. In his words that man was supposed to tough it out until we got here to be seen. But as I was about to enforce protocol he died so there wasn't any reason to stop. What does his eyes have to do with all this?"
"Oh nothing, he was dying anyway so there was nothing that could've been done. I doubt even if you had a doctor on board you could've saved him."
"We need to go," said Sarah as she led him off the plane then took him where no one could hear them speak. "That was a bunch of crap back there Chuck and you know it."
"I know but what was I supposed say Ross was alive and someone smothered him to death. Because that's what happened that red star burst hemorrhaging in both eyes is a sign of asphyxiation then that bruising around his nose and mouth could have been caused by the crates but I think more likely it was caused by someone holding their hands over his nose and mouth suffocating him to death."
"So we have a wolf in sheep's clothes."
"At least one but I suspect more," said Chuck but before Sarah could ask anything Gertrude walked over with Dr. Ryder interrupting them.
"If you two are done on board, and I hope you are," said Dr. Ryder looking for a response. "We're ready to pull out. The sooner we get our equipment up the quicker we can start collecting that data."
"And the quicker we can go home," said Sarah as she put her arm under Chucks then they started for the SUV.
"At least one of us is going home in a way he didn't expect." It was Chuck's turn to launch a zinger and check reactions. "We're sorry to hear about the accident. Ross seemed like a nice guy."
"Yes, he seemed that way but he did have his moments. Oh, I know you're supposed to talk nice about the dead but to tell you the truth the team is probably better off without him. He was nothing but a distraction and was perpetually late as well as bull headed. If he had just stayed seated he'd still be alive today but he had to get his book and that was the reason he loosened the straps."
"And you know this how," said Sarah. She caught a look from Verbanski.
"Oh, he told me right before he went off and got himself killed. But can we talk about something else like is everything ready at the mission site. I haven't had a chance to talk to Julie or Roberta."
"Yes, everything is ready," said Gertrude as she looked back and forth at Chuck and Sarah.