Chapter 18 - The Bait
Vicki, Maggie, Henry were summoned to Metropolitan Police Headquarters to Mike's office. Agent Foster escorted them in glaring at the rookie CIA officer guarding Mike. What was so god dammed funny he thought. Bruce had been getting so many of these looks from his associates that he deliberately dressed down in demure CIA basic black.
Vicki turned to Mike, she just had to ask the question. "Mike why are we here? Not that I really care right now god as I'd rather go head to head with the assassin than stay cooped up in the penthouse a moment longer" said Vicki sighing and slouching down in her favorite chair in Mikes office.
"Well be careful what you wish for" replied Mike sipping his coffee and looking at Maggie and Bruce.
"Maggie, do you want to fill Vicki and Henry in on the plan" asked Mike leaning back into his chair looking tired. He wasn't sure what Vicki's reaction would be to the suggestion of Henry as bait. She constantly put herself on the line but when it came to those she loved, well different story.
"Sure Mike" replied Maggie standing up. "It appears the assassin is aware of the trap and has gone to ground. Agent Foster, Maggie indicated to Bruce, has requested that Henry go with full back up to lure him out". Maggie paused watching her daughter straighten, getting into her fighting stance.
"Tomorrow if Henry agrees, we will wire him up with full surveillance, back up, satellite tracking and over 20 officers following him as he takes a trip to Harris Park. The park has been chosen as a suitable location as its remote enough to have very few people at this time of the year."
"But mom how are you going to explain Henry's leaving the penthouse and going to the park, won't the assassin see it as a set up?" asked Vicki looking for holes in the plan. Torn between wanting to catch is killer and protecting Henry. 'Protecting a vampire, ha thats funny' she thought to herself.
"This is were you come in, we want both of you outside the penthouse, stage a fight and Henry to walk off in the direction of the park. We will be with him all the way. Once at the park we have a plant, Agent Cassedy here". Maggie holds up a photo of a quite beautiful woman. Henry of course with his superior vision saw right away 'Agent Cassedy' was a tempting treat. He tried not to smile knowing Vicki would clout him over the ear.
"Agent Cassedy will make establish contact with Henry and fall for his charms." The Rookie officer glanced at Henry then towards Bruce smiling causing Bruce to fidget in his chair wondering why he was getting sooooo many looks lately whenever he was near Henry.
"I don't like this Maggie" replied Mike from behind his desk. "Too much can go wrong and if guys is as good as you say he is we could be putting Henry and Vicki in harms way".
Henry walked up to Mikes desk and leaned towards him. Bruce stared intently at the calendar on the wall, anywhere but at those two gorgeous men.
"I think Mike this is my call to make and frankly I agree with Vicki, as much as I've enjoyed getting to know both of you better" said Henry indicating Mike and Maggie, "I don't want to be staying there any longer than necessary."
"And I don't get any say in this do I Henry" said Vicki folding her arms across her chest.
"We don't want to live in fear do we Vicki, said Henry raising an eyebrow in her direction. I can do this, you know I can" he finished noticing that most of the CIA officers clearly thought the comic book artist was full of himself.
...The bait...
The next day Henry stood while several officers wiring him up within an inch of his life. The CIA officers all appeared to be a little awkward doing the job getting to up close and personal which left Henry wondering just what had the surveillance team gossiped about.
"Henry, please be careful" said Vicki the night before as they lay in bed together. As the room was visually monitored sex wasn't an option.
Henry gathered her in his arms and gently kissed her soothing back her hair. "You know me, I survive, I always survive".
Both Henry and Vicki walked outside without escort. "Do you notice anything" said Vicki raising an eyebrow.
"I'll tell you if I do" said Henry keeping a distance between them, making themselves look as awkward and tense as possible together.
Once across the street Vicki managed to drag up her rusty high school acting lessons and turned to Henry, launching into a verbal attack. Bringing up past hurts like finding him in bed with a passing parade of women, the night she came over after their date the night before and found the blond girl in his room waiting to have sex with him.
Once she began Vicki got into the spirit a little to much for Henry's comfort. Telling him things she had felt and experienced that past year. Finally she reached over to him and slapped his face turned on her heel and walked away.
It was a good performance and Henry was furious knowing that some of what had been said must have been brewing inside of Vicki.
...Monitoring room...
The boys in surveillance whistled under their breath. "God dam if she only knew what her boy was up to in the bathroom she'd probably take one of our guns and blow the dam thing off".
...Henry...
Henry glared to her direction, part acting and part pissed. That whole conversation was just a little to personal for his liking, now he felt like hunting something down.
...Assassin...
The assassin had been released from hospital the day before. He saw his chance, the lovers had fought and now one was leaving the security of the penthouse. This should be easy.
...Henry...
Officers flanked out within a 1/4 mile radius of Henry, not keeping in visual contact but relying on audio messages coming in from a team tracking Henry via satellite
God it felt good to be free of the building, to be free of Maggie. Now Henry began to realize why Vicki had moved half way across the country.
...Assassin...
The assassin watched his progress via his laptop computer across the road in an Internet cafe. He had access to the same satellite, so nice of the CIA to make his job that much easier, he still wasn't feeling 100.
...Henry...
Crossing to Harris Park Henry saw agent Cassedy bending down to tie a shoe. Sauntering up to her Henry knew this was a role that no one could play as well as he.
Agent Cassedy looked up, eyes widening at the sight of Henry up close and personal. The photo did not do him justice. She wasn't going to need any acting skills for this job.
"Do you need some help" said Henry bending down and finishing the job of tying her shoelaces.
Her breath caught in her throat, god she wanted to kiss him, she had only just met him and throwing him down onto the grass seemed the right thing to do.
"Thankkk you". Smooth real smooth.
"I'm walking over to the south gate would you care to join me" Henry leaned back hands in pockets giving her that devastating Henry Fitzroy smile.
"I'd love to" she replied blushing like a school girl. Henry smiled back at her again. This was good for the ego.
...Assassin...
Having the frequency of the audio feeds was helpful to the assassin as well. Whistling to himself he made his way over to the south gate dressed as one of Toronto's finest.
...Henry...
Henry found the general chit chat with sexual overtones an easy pattern to fall back into after all. Henry didn't need to make a sexual advance, he was one.
Stopping at the South gate Agent Cassedy wrote down her photo number for Henry, her real phone number! "Anytime you want to do this again just call me" she replied.
Henry smiled into her eyes before stopping suddenly and scenting the air. The hair on the back of his neck began to raise and he only just managed to stop the growl in his throat.
"What is it Henry asked agent Cassedy concerned and looking around the park.
"I think I sense something call it a hunch".
Time slowed down for Henry as many things began to happen at once. A flash of light, roaring wind throwing Henry and agent Cassedy 20 feet through the air, pieces of shrapnel embedding within his body, Cassedy turning through the air half her face turning to red. Darkness moved in and Henry lost consciousness.
The truck bomb blew out the entrance to the park, ripping across cars and people throwing them around like dolls.