Chapter 28 is finally complete.

My apologies for any misplelled words or grammer issues. English is not my second language; it's my third. Nevertheless, enjoy...

Disclaimer: Don't own SoN or TK

--

The Jaguar pulled in around the traffic and parked behind a black limo in the circular driveway of the Alto Vista Chapel

The Jaguar pulled in around the traffic and parked behind a black limo in the circular driveway of the Alto Vista Chapel. Spencer looked through the tinted-glass windows at the large group of people who'd gathered for the Sunday service. Most of the benches outside were full, and there were a few people sitting on the stone walls that went around the place. She spotted Lorenzo and one of his gorillas sitting on the last bench, close to the stone wall. They appeared to be saving a few seats between them.

Spencer searched the audience for her father. She thought she saw him sitting a few rows in front of Lorenzo, next to the two Colombians. They were seated toward the outside end of the bench. She bumped Ash with her shoulder. The brunette nodded. She'd seen Arthur too.

She hoped the brunette was right about everything. She wanted to believe that Arthur was doing the right thing. That he was on the right side of the law.

More than anything though, she hoped he would kick Lorenzo's ass and rescue her and Ash.

Tony had left the car running. The windows were closed, the air-conditioning blasting. The goon next to him in the passenger seat took out his gun and started screwing an extension to the end of the weapon.

"Silencer," Tony said, grinning at the blonde in the mirror. "Sometimes a job must be done quiet."

When they put them in the car to bring them here, Tony had cut the duct tape off of Ash's leg too. Thanks to Spencer's whining, they'd taped their hands in front of them. On the way to the chapel, she'd been able to reach inside her cast, pull out the shard of mirror, and slide it into Ash's hands. Since then, she'd seen the older girl position it under her tan leg and work on cutting through the tape binding her wrists whenever the two in front weren't looking. Spencer didn't look at her, but she knew Ash was working at it now.

"Are we getting out?" Ash asked irritably from next to her.

"Not right now, college girl," Tony told her.

"I have to go to the bathroom," Spencer whined.

"Jesucristo! You went back at the house."

"I have to go again," she said persistently.

"Well, you have to wait."

Ash's elbow moved and bumped her. Spencer's arguing was giving Ash a chance to work faster.

"How long?" she asked.

"Until I say you can get out of the car."

"Nice leather seats," she commented. "Sorry I'll be messing them up soon."

"You are truly the biggest pain in my ass, you know that?"

"How long do I have to wait?" she persisted.

"I don't know. Maybe an half an hour. Mass is starting right now."

"I cant wait till Mass is over."

"You don't have to wait that long, Blondie. If your papa cooperates, you'll be back in his arms long before Mass is over."

Spencer looked at Ash. That meant they had very little time.

--

"Mind if we sit here?" a woman's voice whispered.

Arthur looked at the two young tourists who were standing at the end of the row, waiting for him to move the newspaper.

"Yeah, I do." he said shortly. For a second, he thought the guy was going to argue. But then, he seemed to think it over and they moved off. Arthur glanced at his watch. It was 11:10. The service had started, but there was no sigh of him.

A shadow moved over the seat. He looked up. Another woman, this one wearing a broad-brimmed hat and large sunglasses. There was little of her face visible.

"The seat is taken."

"Yes, I know." She leaned down and picked up the newspaper. "Thank you for holding it for me."

Arthur looked at the woman. He didn't know her. He wasn't even sure if he was dealing with his contact until she opened a large bag on her lap and pulled out a small electronic deice. It was a hand-held computer. She passed it to him.

"Everything is here," she said in a low voice. Arthur wondered if she was the renegade agent, or the spouse or girlfriend of someone on the inside. One thing was certain, though, they wouldn't be getting a good picture of her face. He took a cell phone out of his pocket.

"How do I work it?" he whispered, juggling the cell phone in his other hand

She leaned toward him. "Let me show you." She picked it up and handed to him. He let it sit between them on the bench.

With her help, he opened the file and started screening through the names on the spreadsheet. She'd organized it alphabetically. Actual names and aliases of operatives, along with addresses, phone numbers, and latest assignments. Some of them he knew. It was a death sentence for every operative on the list. He went to the C's. His name was first on the list. All of the information was accurate, with the exception of this assignment. Only the director of the CIA and two high-ranking members of Homeland Security knew his real mission.

He turned to the "buyers" and nodded.

The one next to Arthur, leaned towards the seller, whispering, "How do we know the only copy your selling?"

"You have my word," she said in a low voice.

"Honor among thieves?" Arthur whispered.

"You and I are the same kind of people, Mr. Carlin." She lowered her glasses slightly to look in his face, Her eyes were blue. "Not thieves, just entrepreneurs. We make the most of our opportunities."

"Is this a one-time deal or can we look forward to doing business in the future?" the other "buyer" asked.

"I'm definitely building his business. By September, I'll be putting on an auction for a similar list"-her voice was barely audible now-"of the operatives in the Middle East. That That one will be a very high ticket item, but you're welcome to join the bidding."

"I am certainly interested," the same agent whispered.

"The transfer of money, gentlemen?"

Arthur picked up his phone and dialed. His contract answered.

"We couldn't pick up her fingerprints the first time she touched the phone," said the operative at the other end. "Have her handle it again."

Arthur made himself look very annoyed. "You had her account number. Here she is, she can tell you the number herself." He handed her the phone. "Sorry"

She stared at him for a moment, then took the phone. Opening a folded paper in her bag, she quickly read the numbers to the banking account. She handed the phone back to him.

Arthur spoke into the phone. "Everything all set?"

"Bingo. it's a she and not a he. We have her. Now let her swim away. We'll have a warrant for her arrest by the time she makes it back to America."

Arthur ended the call. "Its all set."

She took out her own cell phone and dialed her bank. Everything was as expected. She nodded.

"Nice doing business with you gentlemen." She got up and walked away.

Arthur felt himself tense up as Lorenzo slid onto the bench next to him. He said nothing to the middleman, but picked up the briefcase and handed it to him.

Lorenzo took it and stretched his hand out to Arthur "Now the list."

"What do you mean?"

"Keep your voice down," Lorenzo hissed. "And don't try to stall and give the rest of your spy friends time to arrive."

He motioned toward the back. Arthur looked and his blood froze in his veins.

Spencer was standing by the black Jag. One of Lorenzo's thugs was standing next to her, his right hand hidden behind her back. There was no question in Arthur's mind that the goon was holding a gun to her.

"I'm taking that list, and then I'll give you your daughter."

Lorenzo reached for the hand-held computer." A fair trade, don't you think?"

--

Well, don't you think so?