Chapter 6

Virgil pulled into the slip well before sunrise. He secured the craft and went down below to get a few winks before he and Michael went to Carlito's, but his mind raced with the possibilities of what could happen. Larry had a reputation for being crazy which worried him, and he remembered that the last encounter Michael and his friends had with Larry was over the top. It appeared that the only good Larry was a dead Larry, and Virgil knew that Michael would settle for nothing less. But would that then make him no better? These thoughts swirled around in his head as he tried to get some rest.

Michael woke him when the sun was climbing in the eastern sky. Considering that Michael wanted to run into Larry, he and Virgil found transportation to get to Maddie's house and made a point of being visible. After a shower and a change into clean clothes, they were ready to sit at Carlito's and wait.

Virgil had no problem eating his breakfast. He was used to dealing with tension, being at the constant ready, and still taking care of basic needs. Michael, despite his rest, looked worn out. He needed to get out of the Agency before it sucked him dry.

"Mike, you can tell me if I'm out of line here, but... I think you need to hang it up. You deserve to have a normal life."

Michael looked at Virgil over his coffee cup. He took a sip and set it on the table. "Virg, I don't even know what that is. But I assure you, as soon as this issue with Larry is resolved, I'm quitting. If they want to take me and throw me into a cell for the rest of my life, as long as it doesn't include everyone else, I'd be okay with that."

"Really? Come on, don't con me! What you want is to settle down with that sweet, adorable little Fiona and have little Mikeys and Fionas. Kids like your nephew that your Momma can babysit and love."

Michael frowned. "How'd you know about Charlie?"

"I, uh, I've been keeping in touch with Madeline," Virgil admitted, wincing and expecting Michael to attack.

Instead, Michael only sighed and picked at his food. "I suppose if my Ma trusts you, you're not all that bad."

To Virgil's surprise, the younger man raised his head and his face bore a slight smile. Virgil returned it as his spirit soared. It was a guarded acceptance, but Virgil would take it. "Thanks, Michael. I promise I won't let you down."

"You better not, or..." His smile turned into a dark frown as Michael's eyes focused on something beyond Virgil's head.

Virgil turned and knew he was seeing a living, breathing evil coming their way. Larry Sizemore gave off an unseen vibe of overconfidence, well-earned because of the fear he instilled in others. It wasn't the first time Virgil had met men like that, but Larry was exceptional, and not in a good way.

"Well, well, Michael, you brought reinforcements," Larry crowed as he stopped at the table. "But I gotta say I'm pretty disappointed. I thought you had more friends." Without being invited, Larry sat in one of the empty chairs, raised his arm, and called out a coffee order to the server. She nodded, turned toward the kitchen, and left the three alone. At this early hour, there weren't many people on the patio.

"Let's just cut to the chase," Michael said. "I want my friends back safe and sound. I want my Mom returned unharmed."

"In good time. They're on an island near the Keys right now, and after a nice breakfast we'll just cruise on out there and have a little visit." Larry grinned and turned to Virgil. "You don't mind providing the transportation, do you, Virg? Of course not. Saves me from renting a yacht." He chuckled.

The way Larry insulted them with a grin on his face made Michael's anger surge inside. He wanted to kill Larry then and there, but then he would never know where Sam, Jesse, and his Mom were. By the time he found them, they could be dead. No, he wouldn't let that happen. He wiped his mouth on his napkin and stood. Larry was taken aback, but Michael smiled to reassure him. "I just need to use the bathroom. It's going to be a long ride, and let's face it, the head on Virg's boat isn't as nice as the restrooms here at Carlito's.

"Hey, it's not so bad," Virgil protested, his eyes locked on Michael's and full of questions.

"I'll be right back." Michael didn't wait for permission from Larry. He didn't need it. If the guy followed him to the restroom, however, he might have a problem on his hands.

Larry stayed at the table with Virgil. When he saw that the coast was clear, Michael ducked into the kitchen and met the server coming out.

"Woah, Michael, what's up?" He'd been such a regular customer, she knew his name and gave him a friendly smile.

"Can I borrow the house phone? Just for a couple minutes, local call. I promise."

She hesitated, looked around, and said, "Oh, why not. God knows you and your friends give us enough business." She picked up the cordless phone and handed it to him with a conspiratorial smile. "Go for it, and when you're done, can you put it back in there?"

"Sure. Thanks." He grinned, then asked, "Can you..."

"Keep your companions occupied? No problem." She winked and carried Larry's coffee out on a tray.

Michael let out a huge breath in relief and ducked into the men's room. He knew a lot of numbers by heart, but at the moment, this was the most important one.

"Hello."

He didn't expect Elsa to pick up the phone herself. He hesitated a beat and spoke. "Elsa? Hi, this is Michael. Michael Westen."

"Oh my god, Michael! Where are you?"

"At Carlito's."

"Carlito's? How can you be sitting there enjoying yourself when Sam and the rest of your friends are missing?"

"You know?"

"Yes, I know. I just got home. Sam asked me to go to New York and he said he would call me when it was safe to come back to Miami. But I didn't hear from him. That Larry creep called me and said he had everyone and that if I didn't return to Miami I wouldn't see Sam alive again." She was almost hyperventilating she was so upset and angry. "Michael, what is he planning?"

"Elsa, please, can you do me a favor? Take a breath and listen."

He heard Elsa exhale, and he imagined her in her perfect suit, expensive no doubt, with a hand on her hip and invisible steam rising from her head. Finally, she grumbled, "What do you want?"

"I need backup." He didn't hear anything on the other side. "Elsa, please. Sam's life is at stake here." He waited, knowing her feelings for Sam ran deep and she would be hard pressed not to do what she could to help him.

"I don't know what you want. I'm not a commando." From the tone of her voice, Michael suspected that she regretted that at the moment.

"I want you to stay somewhere with a lot of security and call someone who can provide you with firepower and men. You have a yacht yet, correct?"

"Yes."

"Good. The extraction team will need your yacht..."

She interrupted. "But how will they find you? Locating someone in the ocean without a clue as to where they're heading would be as easy as trying to find the contact I dropped on the bathroom floor this morning."

Michael smiled at the analogy before getting back to business. "I'll also give you the frequency for the tracker I planted on Virgil's boat. Elsa, listen, because I need you to tell my contact what we're doing. We'll get to the island where Larry is keeping them, the team will show up, and Larry will be taken in. Hopefully Sam and everyone will be fine."

"You make it sound so simple. Okay, what's that number?"

Michael gave Elsa the number and was confident that she would relay the message.

"Michael, promise me one thing," Elsa said before hanging up the phone.

"What is it?"

"If that snake has harmed one hair on Sammy's head, you make sure he doesn't walk off that island alive. Sam told me about him. Prison is too good for that worthless piece of skin."

"I couldn't agree more," Michael replied. "I'll see what I can do, but now, I gotta go. Larry's going to get suspicious. I've already taken too much time." Michael hung up the phone, returned it to its base in the kitchen, and slipped into his seat at the table. Larry gave him a steely eyed look, but Michael only smiled.

"Took long enough, Kid. I thought you snuck out the back," Larry said as he studied his old trainee who over the years had become just as crafty and dangerous as himself. He couldn't be more prouder. Larry grinned. "Well, now that we're all here and everybody's taken care of their potty issues, think we can hit the water?"

"Sure," Michael replied. "Virgil, you ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be, Mikey. Let's go."

The three went to Virgil's boat, and he piloted them out of the marina. All the way, Michael worried about his friends and his mother. All he could think about was finding them dead or in serious condition, and it would justify his snapping Larry's neck. He still had enough morals to keep from doing it in cold blood, which was more courtesy than he'd given some of his victims in the past year. His eyes wandered over the light waves on the horizon and pondered how he slid into such a mire and became a truly despicable man. He followed orders because if he didn't, Strong said everyone would go back to prison forever. He kept Michael in a contained environment, not contacting anyone in the agency but him because he was his superior. But now he was in a desperate place and Strong wasn't helping. It was if he wanted all the distractions of Michael's life to disappear so that he would have him all to himself.

It suddenly became crystal clear what was happening. Strong was using him like all the others had in the past, and he blackmailed him with freedom because he knew that nothing else would work. After Card, Michael lost the bond of father/son that he had with his mentor. And that's where Larry made his fatal mistake. He assumed that Michael still felt allegiance to him and if he played the father figure and tugged on those strings, Michael would do whatever he asked. But Larry was in for a rude awakening if his plan worked. He hoped that the last thing Larry saw and heard was Michael standing over him telling him to go to hell.


The trip to the island took a few hours, and under the hot sun it became apparent that they would burn and get dehydrated before they arrived. Michael went below for water. He didn't waste any time because he knew Larry was suspicious of him. He grinned and handed him a bottle. Larry opened it, satisfied that the seal hadn't been tampered with, and he took a quick sniff before downing a good portion of it. All the while his eyes never left Michael. He hadn't been under such scrutiny in years. While it would creep out most people, Michael enjoyed it. It would only make his revenge sweeter knowing that Larry had no idea what was coming.

"Kid, after this, when we get your friends back home safe, you and I, we'll work together again. We could conquer the world with our combined knowledge and skills, and enough C4." Larry chuckled.

"I don't understand what you want, Larry." Michael turned to him. "Take down the CIA?"

"Yes, yes, you get it, Kid!" His grin was brighter than the sunlight, and in his glee he grasped Michael's upper arms, a gesture a father might make toward a son. "You and I get revenge on the Agency that chewed us up and spit us out. How's that for justice?"

Michael played along and gave him a toothy smile. "The past few years have been kind of rough."

His dry statement made Larry crow with laughter and he squeezed Michael's arms. "Oh, this is gonna be great. Just wait. We'll get everybody back to the mainland and then we'll start planning. Hey, maybe that girlfriend of Sam's will be willing to shell out a little cash to help us when she realizes that lover boy is involved."

"My friends don't need to be part of this, Larry." It seemed as if a wall slammed down between them. Michael had dragged everyone through too much. He was not letting them get involved.

"Don't get your panties in a bunch, Michael. They're only leverage."

In the distance, Michael saw land. It wasn't much, just a slight mound with a few palm trees on it and a shack. "Is that it? Is that where my friends are, and my Mom?"

"Yep, that's the place. It's not much, but it serves my purposes. Get the lead out, Virgil. I'm eager to jump into the next step of my plan."

Virgil nodded but didn't speak. His eyes slipped away to Michael, who could see the anger and distrust in the older man's eyes. He nodded, silently assuring Virgil that everything would be okay. Virgil nodded slower, indicating he got the message but he wasn't comfortable with the situation. It was odd how he could communicate so well with the man when he never worked with him like Sam did. But then, Virgil and Sam were so similar in many ways, no doubt they'd developed their own silent language that mirrored the one Michael shared with his best friend. If he had time, he might have considered the idea of what kind of a team they might make. Instead, he watched as the island loomed ever closer.

Figures stood on the beach, and Michael instantly recognized Sam's shirt. Through years of hard work Michael learned to control his emotions. Otherwise, he would have grinned and maybe even let a tear or two form in his eyes upon seeing that Sam and Jesse appeared to be okay. Madeline looked anxious but well, and the sense of relief he felt was like a giant wave rolling over him. He had the feeling that if it weren't for the fact that Larry was with them, Sam would have come running into the water to help moor the boat and welcome him to their prison, but he wasn't taking a chance on Larry's volatility. The three waited without moving. Maddie's eyes were wide and surprised when she noticed that Virgil piloted the boat. Sam and Jesse looked ready for almost anything, or at least as prepared as they could be without firearms.

Michael couldn't shake the feeling that they were all in a really bad situation. Larry held all the power in his hands, and biding his time to take over wasn't easy. But that's the kind of waiting Michael was good at, because the payoff was always worth it.

Larry stepped to the bow and leaped off, his dress shoes hit the sand and the grit flowed over the tops and slithered inside, but Larry didn't care. With a grin toward Virgil and Michael, he ordered, "Come on, fellas. Let's have a little reunion."