Chapter 18
The night dragged by slowly for Jack, the house was all of a sudden too quiet and too lonely. He wished that he had gone with Audrey but his gut was telling him that he had done the right thing.
A few weeks passed and still there was no sign from Zhao or his men and Jack was beginning to wonder whether he had misjudged the situation. Until one day, he was out on the porch finishing off his lunch when the Honda car pulled up outside the house. Jack's blood turned cold as he watched Zhao another man step out from the car. It took everything in him no to rip Zhao's head off.
"What do you want?" Jack spat, doing nothing to cover up his hate.
"Well Jack, it's good to see you're doing better. Where is Ms Raines?"
Jack smirked "Not here."
Anger flashed across Zhao's face. "Very well then you will do." he nodded and the man next to him began to walk up to Jack.
However, Jack, anticipating the move, hit the guy square in his chest and then punched him once more on his face.
"He's broken my nose." the Chinese man whimpered.
Jack stepped forward, his fist clenched tightly together. "Do you want to try anything." he sneered.
Zhao brought his eyes to Jack's "No" he stated simply.
Jack nodded, "I'll make you a deal."
Zhao eyebrows furrowed. "What kind of deal Jack?"
The two men sat down as Jack started to reveal his deal to Zhao. When he was done Zhao sat back in the chair, reflecting quickly.
"So you're saying you will do anything for me just to spare Ms Raines from our custody?"
"Take the deal or not."
Zhao smiled, "I have just the thing in mind for you. Take this cell phone; it's on a secure line so no one can trace the calls. I will phone you in a couple of days and tell you what I want you to do."
Jack merely nodded his head, "I'm not breaking Cheng out of prison for you."
Zhao laughed, "Jack you will do as I say." he paused, "But don't worry Cheng can rot in your American Prison for all I care. I've got something better planned for you Mr Bauer."
Audrey rose unenthusiastically from her bed. It had been nearly three weeks and they still had no word from Jack. She made her way to the small kitchen where her father was sitting down and reading the paper.
"Before you say it Audie, no Jack hasn't phoned and no I don't know where he is."
Audrey couldn't help but smile, "I guess you're kind of bored with that question now then?"
Heller placed his paper back onto the table. "No Audie, I'm not. I'm just as worried about Jack as you are. But I'm sure as soon as he is able to he'll ring us."
"I suppose you're right. I miss him dad that's all."
Heller smiled sweetly as his daughter, "I know honey, I know."
One week later…
Jack flipped the phone open on the second ring. "What."
"Right Jack I want you to come down to the mariner. There you'll find a boat named, 'The Voyager' I will be there waiting for you. And remember Jack come alone or this deal is off and we will go after Ms Raines. Is that understood?"
"Yes." Jack stated.
"Jack. I'm glad you could join me." Zhao smirked.
Jack glared at Zhao, his eyes burning with pure hate for the man. "Just tell me what you want me to do."
Zhao simply nodded his head and began to lay out his plan. "Jack, are you aware that the Chinese had an operation in Russia a few years ago?"
Jack nodded his head, "Yes, a number of Chinese Agents went to Moscow in order to retrieve Russian classified information, but the mission failed, the Chinese agents were captured and shot."
Zhao shook his head, "No that's what the Russian government wanted the Americans to believe. In fact what actually happened was the agents made it to Moscow and somehow the Russian government found out and captured them. However, they did not kill them; instead they sent them to MI5 in England, where they are being held as hostages."
"And what do you want me to do?" Jack replied coldly already knowing what the answer was going to be.
"I want you and a team of agents, who will be under your command to go to England and break them out of MI5, I to will be accompanying you to England."
Jack laughed, "Do you really expect me to do that? First of all, the agents are all traitors to the Chinese government and secondly MI5 is not just going to let me or anyone else walk through the front door."
Zhao shot Jack an icy look. "The Chinese government do not know about this operation and I have someone already willing to help us within MI5. Jack if you do as I instruct you to you will be fine."
Jack contemplated his options for a second. "Fine I'll do it."
"Good. Now tomorrow, you will board a flight to Mexico, where there will be a man waiting for you at the airport. There you will be taken to out covert military base to be briefed in more detail and you will undergo training."
Jack nodded his head "What about you?"
Zhao smirked, "Me? Jack, don't worry about that when the times comes I will contact you."
TBC