Chapter 5
"We are in a basement laboratory on the outskirts of Seattle to be precise. She has informed me that it is an old Thrush stronghold." Illya answered his injured partner's question nodding toward Angelique.
She hurried to help Napoleon stand up from the bunk. "There only seems to be five or so men out there. Well, Kuryakin did you find a way out?"
"It is your employer's prison, are you sure you do not have any useful ideas?"
"You're supposed to be the escape specialist from what I hear," she shot back.
"ENOUGH I SAID!" Napoleon barked. "I don't know what's worse; working with you two or the beating I took. And personally, at this point, I think it's you two. Can we work on getting out of here, catch Wung and then you both can go a few rounds without me around, if you don't mind?"
Napoleon's outburst took most of the strength he had left, "Now, please." He said wincing with pain.
The two stared at each other in dismay realizing that their bickering was a distraction. Napoleon was the strategist, and they needed his tactics to put an end to the chase now.
"Ideas?" Illya asked his partner.
"Angelique, how are you at screaming?"
"The best darling. What are you cooking up in that devious mind of your?"
Napoleon outlined his plan, and they put it into action.
"HELP! IS SOMEONE OUT THERE? HE'S DYING IN HERE," she shrieked.
"Shut up in there," the guard yelled.
"Look unless Wung wants a dead agent, who by the way, is the only one with knowledge of Mr. Tang's whereabouts, you better do something." Illya yelled.
The guard opened the door pointing his rifle at Illya who knelt beside his partner. "You, Kuryakin move to that corner."
He moved as directed while Angelique stayed beside Napoleon holding his head. His breathing was rugged and rapid, that brought the guard to make a quick examination.
As soon as he was near enough Napoleon reached out grabbing him and sweeping his legs from beneath him. Illya was on him in a second, knocking him out.
They exited the cell, Napoleon leaning on his partner as they moved through the corridors, meeting no one.
As they reached the exit, Angelique made them stop pointing to the door. Wires extended from the door to an explosive device. "Now I see why there were very few guards. They were making sure we didn't leave here alive if we managed to escape.
After helping Napoleon sit, Illya examined the bomb. "I suggest you move down the hall while I try to disarm it."
Napoleon forced himself up, "I'll help."
"I do not need you falling over as I work on it. Just go down the hall," Illya refused his offer.
"I saw the device. It's going to take two people to do it safely."
"You stay here. I'll help him," Angelique said. "Come on Kuryakin. We don't have all day if we plan on catching Wung before he continues with his plan." She said as she walked toward Illya and the bomb.
They gave each other a moment to collect their thoughts then began working together. Exchanging few words, they disarmed it.
"I can't believe you two actually worked together without arguing" Napoleon said.
"Napoleon!" they both said together. He smiled at them as they helped him out of the building.
The UNCLE Doctor, against his professional opinion, released Napoleon with orders to rest and take the medication he had given him. To ensure his instructions were followed, he gave him a dose of pain medications before discharging him.
Once they reached the hotel room, his partner helped Napoleon to the couch, while Angelique simply stayed out of the way.
The three of them talked over the situation and decided one thing was clear; someone had been letting Wung know where they were going to be, so that he could be ready for them.
"Sounds like something a Thrush agent would do," Illya said as he glanced toward Angelique.
"You know Kuryakin; you're the most frustrating man I ever met. I was in that warehouse and would have died with you if I hadn't found the explosive." She answered with indignation.
"But you were the one who found it," Illya countered.
She grabbed her coat and stormed out of the room slamming the door after her.
"That wasn't necessary. She has been helping us," Napoleon reminded his partner.
"I didn't say she was the informer. Would you like to eat before you go to bed?"
"Thanks. Just some salad and soup for me. This medication is beginning to knock me out. And you didn't have to accuse her, your statement was enough," pain breaking through the medication. "Give her a call and see if she wants to join us."
Illya picked up the phone with a frown, dialing her room to make his friend happy. When he received no reply, he looked at his partner.
"I wonder where she is now?"
"Probably getting away from you. You did promise me that you would try to work with her. I haven't seen much cooperation from either of you."
Illya ignored the statement, ordering their meal instead. After they had eaten, he helped his partner to bed then returned to sitting in the chair to think about what had been happening.
….
Angelique arrived at the bar seating herself at a table, allowing her to watch the door. She was furious that Kuryakin had insinuated that she had been the informer. If she was honest with herself, he may have suggested it, but because of her past history with him, she knew why he distrusted her so.
Finishing her first drink, another one was set in from of her as the same man that had met her in San Francisco took the chair across from her.
"Good evening, Miss LaChien. You look a little bruised."
"This assignment has been rather hazardous Dudek. What did you need to see me about?"
"My boss would like an update."
"Who's your boss? My superiors seem quite happy with my progress." She was in no mood for games tonight.
"Now Miss LaChien, you know better than to ask where orders are coming from. I pass on the orders, and you follow them."
Angelique held out a cigarette that he lite for her. She took a puff blowing the smoke in his face.
"Darling, I don't know who has been giving you information, but I work as an independent. I get my orders from Central then follow them as I choose. Now I asked you a question. Who's your boss as I've been informed that Central didn't send you?" She asked as she put out the cigarette on his hand.
"You bitch! How dare you?" he pulled his hand to his mouth.
"I dare because I am who I am. Don't play games with me. Who's giving you these orders?" she emphasized each word.
"Okay, it's Pehner. Solo and Kuryakin have interfered with too many of his projects out here on the West coast, and he wants them permanently out of the way."
"Well, you tell Pehner, if he wants them dead to talk to Central. I'm under orders that don't agree with his, and at this time, Central wants them alive and the three of us working together."
With that, Angelique left the table moving towards the door, "Oh, and pay the bill for me would you. I'm sure Pehner can afford it."
She walked out, leaving the messenger sitting at the table, ice from the drink on his hand.
As she entered the hotel, she found Kuryakin sitting in a lobby chair and strode up to him in no mood for another confrontation.
"What do you want?"
"Just making sure you returned safely for the evening. Hope your outing was satisfactory."
"Why don't you come right out and say it Kuryakin? You think I was setting you up again. What you keep forgetting is that I've been in every one of the situations also."
She turned to walk toward the elevator with him following her. As the elevator opened on their floor, she walked toward her room handing him the key.
"You might as well come in, so you can search it." She told him.
"It is not necessary for me to search now."
"Does your partner know you did it?" she demanded.
"No, I am sure he would not have approved, but I do not have the faith in you that he does."
"Fix us a drink," she told him as she headed into her bedroom. "That way you don't have to worry that I poisoned them."
He fixed himself vodka and her a Manhattan. She returned to the room, dressed in a sweater and pants; taking the drink from his hands sitting down across from him.
"Okay let's get this out in the open. You don't trust me, and I find you dour, but we both care for that man in the other room. So either we work together peacefully, or we'll drive Napoleon to distraction." She sipped her drink, saying, "This is very good for someone who only drinks potato juice."
"I have been trained to satisfy all the needs of my enemy." He answered her before downing his glass and refilling it. "You are right, we need to work together to end Wung's vendetta. Shall we call a truce until it is over?"
"Okay," she held out her hand to him. He surprised her by not shaking it but actually kissing it.
"Oh I found something at the site I wanted you to see," she said as she went to retrieve it from her coat. Reaching into her pocket her ring caught on something. Turning it over, she noticed the bug. She put her finger to her lips, she motioning him over to her.
He looked it over then said, "That is okay, show me in the morning. I want to check on Napoleon, he is due for more medication, and I know he will not take it unless I am there."
"I'll come with you. Between the two of us we should be able to get the pills down him."
Neither said a word until they returned to the men's room.
….
After Illya led Angelique into his room, she turned angry toward him, "That bastard Dudek, how dare he put a bug on me. I should've done more than put my cigarette out in his hand."
"What do you expect? Honor among thieves? Really I am not at all surprised at this turn of events."
"Don't start with me Kuryakin. I came into this assignment with my intentions laid on the table. I'll contact Central and get this nuisance and Pehner off our backs."
"Why?"
"Pehner wants you two dead; but Central wants to work with UNCLE on this. He was trying to get me to do his dirty work by claiming Central ordered it. I learned long ago never to do anything without checking it out first."
"Okay so now we know how they are aware of where we are going next. It is something that we can use to our advantage." Illya fixed them both another drink.
When Napoleon walked out of the bedroom, he saw the two of them with their heads together looking at something lying between them.
"Do I even want to know what you two are up to?" he said aloud making them both jump.
"You are supposed to stay in bed for the night. We found our leak, and are trying to determine how to send Pehner on a wild duck chase." Illya informed him.
"Goose," the two corrected him together.
"Goose, duck who cares. Just so we get Pehner off our back and finish this assignment. Take your medicine and go back to bed, Napoleon. Let us finish this up."
A communicator beeped. "Kuryakin here."
"Mr. Kuryakin, it's Bose sir. We found a flight plan filed by one of Wung's men for nine o'clock tomorrow morning for Chicago. We have an UNCLE jet that will be leaving at seven. It'll get you in about four hours before his estimated time of arrival."
"Have it ready, we will be there."
After he disconnected, he stood up," Shall we?"
….
Dudek was listening in when Angelique unlocked the door.
"Thank you for walking me back. I'd think it was to ensure my safety, but I'm sure you just wanted to make sure that I didn't meet any of my associates. I'll meet you tomorrow at nine, so we can get to the plane on time. At least it's Miami, I like the sun." She told him knowing that Dudek would be listening.
"I am sure you will still bring all your suitcases," he said rudely.
"I thought we're trying to get along for Napoleon's sake," she responded dropping her coat on the floor, "Look at what you made me do, that's a five hundred dollar coat."
"Let me get it for you," he stepped on the bug that he dropped on the floor.
"Shit," Dudek said as he realized that he had lost his contact with her, Pehner wouldn't be happy.