3.

20-12-2008: Oh, wow, I found this story again. It has been gathering dust ever since I posted my last chapter… It still isn't finished and most things need to be explained throughout the next chapters… I just hope I'll be able to do that…

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A/N: This chapter will explain how the whole mission started… so that is why most of this chapter is in italics… Sorry, if it doesn't read nicely, you will just need to get used to it, then…

Sarah wasn't home yet when this started. The story takes place halfway through the year… and this chapter begins at the start of the new-year. At least the Italic part,

Okay, I know that there is no way possible that in Turkey uranium can be found… although this is important for the story that it is found here…

Nough said: On with the story….

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He looked at the place where he had stepped out. It was the same street and it was the same place. It was strange to be here, so short after the happening, he didn't hate the land, he just disliked it, and he had some very bad memories here… that was all, really. He closed his eyes as she remembered the scene that went before his eyes as a movie.

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The market place was busy and everywhere men shouted to get the attention of the shopping audience. It was early in the year, but the sun was already warm and pricked in his neck, as he stepped out of the car and locked it.
'Matt, so nice that you wanted to see me on such short notice…' The man said in perfect English. He was old and had grey streaks in his coal black hair and beard. The wrinkles on his face told the wisdom and age of an older man.
'Anytime, Achmed, any time… Now what is wrong?'
Achmed looked at the western man before him and didn't know where to begin.
'Why don't we go and sit somewhere… drink a cup of coffee and we can talk about it then?' Matt proposed, feeling that the man was beginning to get uncomfortable.
Achmed seemed relieved that Matt asked that and nodded. They went inside a small coffee shop and sat down. As the waiter greeted them and gave them the menu, Achmed waited until the waiter left and shifted from one position to another, stealing quick glances at the other people before beginning his story. Matt crossed his arms and leaned backwards in his chair, he had never seen his friend like this, and it had to be really important if he would keep glancing at all those people. So he just waited for Achmed to get a bit more comfortable to begin his story.
'The mine is working again…' He whispered.
Matt's breath stopped and leaned forward 'What did you just say?' He asked unbelievable.
'You know what I said…' Achmed snapped, his hands were clammy and rubbed them dry against his trousers. '…I hate to repeat it…' He said with a glare.
'Sorry, Achmed… you just surprised me…' Matt answered and leaned back again.
'That is not all…' He said and cast his eyes down. He bit his lip, afraid of what to say next. 'They found uranium there Matt…'
'Uranium…?' Matt's mouth dropped open and shock was visible in his eyes. 'My god…'
'And the children are digging for it…' Achmed confirmed Matt's worst fear.
The waiter returned and Matt let the shock wash away from his face. The waiter put it down and cast a quick glance between the two and then left again. The shift between of the waiter, between the two men, wasn't left unnoticed by the two sitting at the table.
'And the children are digging for it…? What kind of sick man does that?'
'Cant you think of no one, Matt?' Achmed asked and looked at him. 'We have worked together for a long time now…'
'Mayhem…?' He asked as he looked at him in surprise.
Achmed nodded briefly and only once.
'You can't be serious… he would never do that, I know that he is my enemy, but I will not believe that… He is a father himself; he would never use children to get things done…' Matt whispered in shock. He was clearly beaten up about this new found information.
'Do you even hear yourself talking…? You're taking it up for your enemy, Matt…' Achmed said and looked at him, there was still fear in his eyes, but now Matt could see that there was some disbelief in there as well.
'He was my friend and colleague, Achmed…' Matt answered.
'And now he is your enemy…' Achmed said.
Matt sighed, rubbed his face, and then drank his coffee. That was true, Miles Mayhem was his enemy now, and sometimes he kept forgetting that.
'It is your enemy we are talking about and you must know that he will go low to get what he wants…' Achmed told him.
Matt nodded and looked at the older man in front of him. It was still hard to grasp that even Miles would stoop this low, he shook his head.
The two continued talking and Matt listened to it all, sometimes shaking his head in disbelief, and got to know that the same men; that were responsible for Sarah's disappearance at such a young age, were behind it as well… This was not going to be a nice encounter, he knew that now.
Matt nodded as Achmed finished his story. 'I will help you; wherever I can…I will look into it and will keep you updated…' Matt said and then asked the waiter, who was walking by, for two more cups of coffee. The waiter nodded and went to the counter.

Screams of fear and distress came to them, from outside. Matt and Achmed whirled around and saw a black car speeding through the streets… A window opened and a gun was pointed out of the window. The gun was targeted on Achmed who looked like a he had seen a ghost, as the gun was shot empty. Chaos ensued in the restaurant and people ran away from the window.
Matt called Achmed's name and pushed himself forward and pushed the older man from his chair. Glass broke as the bullets crashed through the window. The gun was shot empty and then the car disappeared.
Buried underneath the glass and pieces of wood that once was the table and chairs, Matt opened his eyes and threw the rubble off of him. He looked down at Achmed who was bleeding from several places, and he had a nasty head wound. Matt, checked his pulse and gave a relieved breath as he found one, but it was weak. Quickly he ordered someone to call an ambulance and the police.
They arrived soon and Achmed was placed on a stretcher and was lifted up. Just before he was hoisted into the ambulance, Achmed grabbed Matt's wrist and pulled him down to his face. He whispered something and Matt gasped at what he heard, he then nodded and straightened again. Achmed's hand slipped from his wrist and closed his eyes. He was breathing shallow. Blood left a trail on his faint arm and dripped on to the streets. Achmed was hit badly, Matt saw now. One of the bullets had penetrated his shoulder, while another, had penetrated a long… The paramedics pushed Matt away and started to put Achmed on machines. It couldn't do any good. One of the paramedics looked up and shook his head, Achmed was dead.

The information had a price, Achmed knew, but Matt had never known that the price would cost Achmed his life.

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Matt opened his eyes again and the scene dissolved. He sighed. He had lost yet another friend in a quest.

He shook his head, this was just impossible, he had never had guessed that Miles would sink so low; but as Achmed already said he was bad… but Miles had a son as well…

Matt also hated the part of leaving Sarah and Scott back at the house unsupervised. He didn't trust the face his daughter gave him when they had left; a face that read, she was up to no good. Oh yes, she was just like her mother, like two drops of water. When Rachel wanted to know something she would bite her teeth into it until she had figured it out, Sarah was the exact same thing. He knew trouble, when he looked at his daughter. Scott; who had been very obedient, was taking over things over from his sister that Matt didn't want to see in him. But it was happening and he just had to accept it, or so he thought.