Chapter 12
I can get you in. After that, you're on your own. Host nation weapons only.
Price knew what the stakes were going in. He knew that they were essentially alone in terms of support from Laswell but being in this job as long as he had, he knew that you had to make friends for situations like this. As he told Laswell, he had some old comrades for this "business trip." He just didn't expect to pick up someone that he never thought he would meet.
"Price, I'd like you to meet…"
"Call sign Ryan," the woman said stepping forward with a proffered hand. "But you probably know me as S64."
Price didn't expect that the woman that sounded like a seasoned operative like Laswell to look like someone that belonged at a university campus. He blinked as he stared at her, not sure of what to do or say. He did manage to take your hand and said the first thing that came out, "Ryan?"
"A bit of a joke that stuck. I usually give reports, but a mutual acquaintance of ours decided I should be in the field," she replied with a playful smirk. "Tom Clancy novels."
Nikolai chuckled at the scene. He wanted to be there when she made introductions when she came to him. Even he thought it a coincidence that he had the pleasure of being a contact to both Price and her. He was amused by her and respected her ability. She had her morals, but she also knew that sometimes you had to set the line somewhere else. It was also humorous that those that didn't take her seriously suffered for it. He doubted Price would, but it was funny.
Nicolette Walker had been a field agent since Jensen recruited her, but she had stood out at the Company as a desk jockey because of her ability to make friends with just about anyone. Her list of contacts was unknown except to her. Her ability to get intel when other methods failed baffled her superiors and basically told them it was better to not ask. She preferred to be referred to by her designation from Jensen or her call sign given to her by an asset on one of her first missions. She rarely gave her real name. Nikolai knew it, which was why she interrupted him to introduce herself.
Price stared at Nicolette after shaking her hand and asked, "What brings you out here, Ryan?" He stressed the call sign a bit.
Nicolette gave a slight smile before responding, "A favor was called in by David. The eastern bloc and the Middle East is my area." She pulled out her tablet and brought up surveillance that she had been monitoring, "You'll want the Butcher. He arrived a day ago here in St. Petersburg." She pulled up the video to show Price.
Price looked at the screen. "This is new. Where did you get this?"
"Better you don't ask," Nicolette said. She glanced at Price and added, "Short answer is I can see things that conventional means don't. The how… I'd rather not say."
Price studied her as she gave her response. "So, you're responsible for the intel to Laswell?"
"On occasion. I may not be in the room, but I do have a talent of looking at a larger picture and seeing things where most would brush it off." She shrugged her shoulders at that. "I tracked the Butcher to here and where AQ are suspected to meet."
Price took her tablet and scrolled through her surveillance. He had to admit he was impressed with her work. He glanced at her, "Any reason why you couldn't have sent this onto Laswell?"
"A favor, Captain." Nicolette nodded to add, "And I wanted to make sure this goes right. It is in my backyard so to speak. And I'm pretty good with logistics." She looked at Price with a sincere look.
Price studied her. He wasn't counting on additional support and yet here she was offering it to assist him in finding Hadir and the gas. He glanced at Nikolai and the man gave a nod. Looking back at her he nodded, "Alright. You're in. Got any ideas on how to proceed?"
Nicolette grinned, "Quite a few."
Price nodded and introduced her to Garrick. While she was busy getting what they needed, he took Nikolai aside to have a few questions answered, "Nik, how do you know her?"
Nikolai chuckled as he remembered how they met. It had been a serious situation but became funny in the aftermath. He replied, "An incident involving an oligarch, smuggling ring and a bottle of vodka…"
"Actually, it was two bottles," Nicolette interrupted.
"Da, two bottles," Nikolai replied with a chuckle. He looked at Price, knowing the man wanted to know who he was working with. "I no idea what she was doing there, but she saved my life and that of my men. What she did to the oligarch… Let's just say he sings differently."
Price took in the information. From what Nikolai was saying, she was a good one to have in your corner. While he didn't know her, he could trust Jensen. The problem was that he didn't have confirmation if she was legit even though she mentioned David. All he had was Nikolai's word. Making his decision, he nodded, "Alright then."
"You're making the right choice," Nikolai said.
"Hope you're right." Price turned to see what Nicolette was coming up with. "Got anything?"
"Just secured us some weapons. Host nation and good quality. Easily lost," she replied as she typed on her tablet. "Don't ask."
Price glanced at Nikolai who merely shrugged and chuckled. This was going to be interesting. At least the girl was open about what she was doing to help them out. He was even surprised when she supplied them on a possible location for the Butcher and identified where they could set up shop. It was impressive. It certainly impressed Garrick.
With all the preparation, they moved to their looking post. Price could certainly admit the girl was industrious as he watched her show Garrick how to improvise a silencer. "Potatoes are good for one shot, a plastic bottle good for maybe two, but for long term," she held up an oil filter.
Garrick looked at it, "Oil filter?"
Nicolette screwed it on the pistol she had brought out. "Yep. Now it might be an inconvenience to the owner of the car you take it from, but if it's a Russian oligarch that smuggles children and women in the sex trade, it's justified." She cocked the pistol and aimed it at the target she set up. She fired a few shots to demonstrate.
"Shite," Garrick said in response.
"It's not anything new. Just what I do, you learn to improvise. I know that David and his friends do it all the time when they do what they do," she said with a shrug as she undid the oil filter. She tossed it towards Garrick.
Garrick caught the filter and looked at it then at her. He wasn't sure about her since she looked too young to be in this job and too delicate. She had an almost fairy like appearance about her, but she hardly moved like it. She was a walking contradiction, but she didn't bullshit with them, and she had pretty good intel on what they needed. He tucked it in his pack. "I guess if I need quick and dirty then."
"Work with what you have though don't ask me to rig an explosive. Not my forte," Nicolette replied with a grin. She looked at Garrick and said, "Improvisation can mean all the difference when you're alone in hostile territory. That and don't trust anyone."
"So, you don't trust us?"
"I trust, Nik," she replied. "He said you're good." She shrugged her shoulders. Seeing Garrick's expression, she chuckled, "Don't worry about it. I had you figured out. That and I looked you both up before showing up." She got to her feet when she heard a beep and went to check on it.
Garrick looked at her. He had to ask, "Then why did you come here? You could have easily sent your intel to Laswell."
Nicolette looked at the sergeant. She had seen quite a few like him. He was still innocent in the world that they operated in, but he had some exposure. She didn't need to read a dossier to figure that out. She had observed him when she made introductions to him and Price. She could tell that he was a good man wanting to do the right thing. Price, she had no doubts. She replied, "Maybe I'm just a sucker for a good cause." She gave a smirk before adding, "I know what they did to LF is bullshit. Norris is a fucking fool, and the general is just in for the politics."
"Aren't you American?"
"I may be American. Doesn't mean I like the policies that fuck over the people they use to get what they want," she countered. "Its where my special skill set comes in handy." She smirked before turning to Price, "We should head out. Nik has the place where we scope out."
Price nodded, "Rog."
Several hours later found them in a building overlooking where they were staking out AQ. Price was looking out. St. Petersburg was a nice place. It had a hell of a nice view. It was hard to believe that there were things that threatened the world hiding on its streets. He glanced over at Nicolette. She appeared to be reading, but he learned the hard way that she was paying attention. He was starting to like her more and more. He was curious how she would react to what they would have to do to find out where the gas was.
"I've got two on the door," Garrick said.
"Check," Nicolette said from her position.
"How can you see from there?" Garrick looked at her.
Nicolette just grinned at him and adjusted her seat to watch. Nikolai twitched his lip. He knew she would make them earn her help. He confirmed, "More Al-Qatala inside. Seems like you were right about the location, Ryan."
"I'll be right when the target drops by," Nicolette replied. She put away what she was reading and prepared to move on Price's say.
"Vehicle inbound," Garrick called out. He wanted to believe that a lot of what Nicolette was doing was all for show. He wasn't going to say it out loud though since what happened was a result of what she said or did. He tracked the vehicle and gave a dry chuckle at Nikolai's joke.
The truck pulled to a stop and the occupants spilled out. Price spotted the Butcher, "That's the Butcher in the yellow shirt."
"Bastard from the embassy."
Nicolette had read the reports on what happened. She had been around enough Russian mobsters, extremists, and Middle Eastern terrorists to know the kinds of atrocities those kinds of people did. They were like rabid dogs in that they pursued their targets and they didn't care who stood in their way who got hurt. Yet, they always threw a fit when their own families came under fire for their own actions. It seemed that this would go in that direction. "Seems like what you're looking for is not here, but we still have an option."
"Easy shot," Garrick said.
"Tempting," Nikolai agreed.
That wasn't what Nicolette meant and Price voiced it, "Hold fast. He gets us to Hadir."
"Or the gas attack goes off," Garrick countered.
"Then we're all fucked if that happens," Nicolette said. She had her arms across her chest. "So, let's make the odds in our favor."
Price looked at her. He nodded, "Let's gear up. Moppet, you coming?"
"Wouldn't miss it," Nicolette said. "Nik has the gear."
"Best I could do on short notice with the help of our friend here," Nikolai replied as he showed them the gear that he rounded up for them. "I even got your preferred weapon, little one," he said as he handed a gun to Nicolette.
"And while I may look little, don't make me feel like I'm five," Nicolette said as she took the proffered handgun. She stripped it quickly to check it and assembled it, making sure it was locked and loaded before picking up a silencer and attaching it.
"No oil filter this time?" Garrick couldn't help but tease her.
"No. There are no Russian oligarchs I'd like to give a bad day to," she replied as she strapped the gun to her belt to hide it. "But I wouldn't mind a rabid dog."
"Alright, conceal your weapon for now," Price said.
"You three rally at the warehouse," Nikolai said.
Price glanced at the girl and Garrick before looking at Nikolai, "Rog. Bring the package."
Nicolette raised her brow at that and looked at Nikolai. The man caught her eye and gave a slight nod. She gave one in return as she turned to follow Price and Garrick down the stairs. While she normally supplied information, she occasionally had to get her hands dirty. To some… some of the things she had to do were enough to have one question themselves. It looked like it was going to be one of those times.
"Where are the chemicals?"
"Up your fucking Russian ass!"
The sound of flesh on flesh was the same as when you watched a boxing match. Garrick watched as one of Nikolai's men punched the Butcher. It was something he wanted to do himself and more. He still couldn't get it out of his mind what that asshole did to that mother and child at the embassy. It was just a compilation of everything that he had witnessed, including what happened at Piccadilly. Now they had the Butcher in their hands, and one step closer to finding Hadir.
Garrick glanced over at the girl that helped them out. He had to admit that she was good when you put a gun in her hand. They had to chase the Butcher through the city once they found him. That in of itself was an ordeal.
The Butcher ran and had no problems with shooting wildly at them. He didn't care that his men fired RPGs and innocent civilians had been injured. Just more things to be pissed about when it came to the man. At one point, he left a grenade that would have killed him and the family in the apartment he chased him through.
It was quick action and probably stupid, but Garrick threw the grenade out the window to save the family. The chase led them through the streets and alleyways until Nikolai hit the Butcher with the van with enough force to disorient. It should have been an easy exit, but throw in an engine that stalled on them and AQ reinforcements along with Russian authorities coming closer, it was enough to put anyone in a panic.
Luckily Nikolai got the van started and they were out of there to the location where now they were interrogating the Butcher. Garrick watched as the Butcher took the punches but that didn't seem to work. The man was willing to take hits. He glanced at the girl, callsign Ryan. She was standing there, looking at the Butcher with her arms over her chest. She was studying the situation and didn't seem bothered by any of it.
The Butcher laughed and said, "You can't hurt me, you weak piece of shit!"
That was when she said something, "No, but maybe I can," and she brandished a knife. She stepped forward as the other stepped back. She ran it down the Butcher's thigh, while watching the Butcher's reaction as she said, "Now, I could make this quick and hit an artery." She pressed on the man's thigh with the tip to inflict enough pain from the pressure. "However, I'm more inclined to slow and long term." She moved the knife to a less vital point on the leg and started applying pressure.
Garrick saw the strain on the man's face as she applied pressure. The force she was exhibiting was enough to leave an indentation. She was watching the Butcher's face like she was taking pleasure in making him squirm. It was impassive, cold; like she was someone completely different. She applied more pressure, just enough to break the skin and a little blood came out. She was watching the entire time and she let up, "No. This is not going to work. You're too weak."
The Butcher scoffed at her, "Maybe the Captain can do better? Or you Sergeant?"
The goading was too much. Garrick wanted to punch the bastard and ultimate give him what he deserved, which was death. He was itching for a fight, but he was held back by Price who warned him, "Get your head in the game, Sergeant."
Garrick was fuming. The anger was evident in his eyes as he replied, "We need to break this bastard, Captain."
"We're about to," Price countered. He then called on his comm to Nikolai to confirm if their package was there. Hearing the affirmative, he gave his order to Garrick, "Okay. You go to Nikolai, you get the package, you come back here. Alright?" He then added in a whisper, "Ryan will soften him up. She's playing with him."
Garrick didn't know how Price could see that. To him, Ryan was serious about using a knife to torture. Looking at the Butcher, he saw Ryan at it, teasing him. He knew Price was waiting for an answer and nodded before turning to meet Nikolai just pulling in with the van.
It was a bit of a shock to him that it was a mother and child huddled in the back of the van. It didn't take a genius to realize that they were the Butcher's family and it was confirmed that they were to be bargaining chips. It did hint at things that maybe would go too far, but Garrick knew that they had to break the Butcher if they were going to find Hadir and the gas. He pulled them out of the van and started walking them back towards where they were holding the Butcher.
They had barely made five steps when a loud scream followed by swearing came out. Garrick knew that Price said Ryan was going to soften him up. His imagination went wild at what she was doing as he walked them towards the door, trying to not listen to the pair talking. Another scream came out and the woman looked at him, "What you're doing is unforgiveable. We are innocent people."
She had a point, but Garrick had his orders. He brought them to the door just as Price came out and shut it behind him. It was only a moment for Price to tell the woman to be quiet before addressing him, "Kyle, you don't have to do this. You in or out?"
As much as using the Butcher's family left a bad taste, Garrick wasn't going to miss the opportunity to deal with the Butcher. "I'm in," he said as he started mentally preparing himself for what was going to happen in that room.
Price told him to hand them off to Yegor as he opened the door. There was a large knife danger close to the Butcher's manhood, buried in the seat of the chair. Another was in between his fingers. The precision was so accurate… He watched as Ryan walked by and grabbed the knife between the Butcher's fingers and yanked it out like it was nothing. There was cold expression on her face. Garrick couldn't tell if she was troubled or just didn't care. If it was an act, it was that good. She looked at the Butcher's family and nonchalantly brandished the knife as a silently warning to behave before moving to stand by Price.
"Ousa? Amon?"
Garrick watched the Butcher look in surprise that his family was there. It was really intimidating to see the large knife still embedded in the seat of the chair. He swallowed slightly kept his focus as he pushed the wife towards Yegor who sat them both in chairs next to the Butcher. It infuriated the man that was tied up and he struggled, only to have Ryan grab his shoulder and squeeze enough to hear a pop that made the Butcher grunt.
"You wanted the gloves off?"
Garrick looked at Price. He did tell the man when he met that they could tell them when and where, but not the how. Price was telling him the where and when. It was going to be up to him to decide on the how.
"What did you do? Your own sone is here! Your own child!"
"He's got no problem hurting children… Isn't that right, Sergeant?"
"None," Garrick agreed. The image of that boy running away and the Butcher pointing his gun and shooting him as the boy ran… It made his blood boil.
"Shut up," the Butcher retorted.
Ryan then spoke in Arabic, "Children have a right to be protected and a father is responsible for teaching his children about high moral qualities." She sneered at the Butcher, "You are a bad father for killing that child. Not high moral qualities… Amon should learn."
Garrick didn't understand Arabic, but what she said struck a chord with the Butcher and he growled back at her. Her reaction was to pistol whip him across the face and tell him in English to set a good example for his son.
"What have you done?" The Butcher's wife sobbed through the shroud she was wearing and holding her son, consoling him. "You promised you'd keep this away from us!"
At that point Yegor had enough and Price excused him. Ryan stayed. Garrick didn't have time to wonder about that since Price put the revolver on the crate acting as a table and ordered him to pick it up. He did it, ignoring the wife asking what was going to happen. It was enough to get a reaction from the Butcher, especially when Garrick pointed it at the wife.
Nikolai was right in that it made the man more open to a conversation. Garrick still wasn't satisfied and reminder the Butcher about the boy in the embassy. He was ready to pull the trigger right then and there, but they needed the man to talk. It was infuriating when at first, he refused to say something and goading him into pulling the trigger and he discovered the gun wasn't loaded.
"Rest assured I wouldn't let the Sergeant brandish a loaded weapon indoors… Unless he had to." Price then set the bullets on the crate. "Now, last chance. Where is the gas?"
Garrick loaded the gun. This time if he pulled the trigger, it would be for real. He watched as Price grabbed the boy. It was enough to get the man to admit the gas was at the Karetka Theater. Now it was his turn, "Where's Hadir?"
"Go save some Russians. General Barkov will already be dead."
A/N: And here we get introduced to the original character Nicolette Walker. Little different from before. Stay tuned for next time...