Chapter 19

Michael walked into the CIA offices wearing a new suit and tie. This was supposed to be his first day as an official member of the CIA again, a day he worked so hard for, and for so long. He pulled on the lapels nervously. What he was about to do was the last thing he wanted to do, but if he hoped to have any kind of life, he had to do it. He had to go back to taking care of the little guy and take down the big bad guys, starting now.

He made his way to Agent Pearce's office and knocked.

"Come in," she mumbled as she had her head buried in a report. She looked up at him and flashed him a grin. "Michael! So good to see you made it back safely from the deep woods. How's your family?"

"Everybody's great. Everything worked out well in the end. Although, it could have gone a lot worse."

"Yes. I heard there were some...problems...with Viven Chase."

"Actually, she kind of turned out to be a hero in this. It was her bullet that took out Anson." Michael stood with his hands in his pockets, staring down at her. "You know, we were going around and around trying to figure out who blew the lid on this operation of trying to get Anson and free Fiona, and when we interrogated a few of his people, they folded like a house of cards." He leaned over as he said, "One name kept popping up: Kim Pearce." He pressed his knuckles into the desk. "So tell me, Kim, how did your name wind up on so many lips?"
She scoffed. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Michael."

"Since before Anson started pursuing me, there were connections to information that he had that only you would have known. I told you about Sam going to DC to look for Fi, and what happens next? Plane crash! And how convenient that two people who were looking for the same person happened to be on the same flight." His eyes bored into hers. "Several people died needlessly on that plane. They were innocent, caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Does that even prick your conscience just a little bit?"

"I had nothing to do with that, Michael! And if you hadn't sent Vivien after Sam to help him, things would have been different."

He nodded. "Sam could very well be dead right now. As well as Fiona. I know. You've got a lot of blood on your hands, Pearce, and as far as I'm concerned, you're a traitor."

"Are you done," she asked, annoyance written on her face.

"No, I haven't even begun," Michael replied with an evil grin. "I quit."

"You quit?"

"Hey, it's what you wanted, isn't it? Get Anson to recruit me, hope I take the bait, and then you can not only fire me all over again, you can send out special forces or whatever to hunt me down because I'm working with the bad guy." He sniffed. "I know who paid you to take me out in this elaborate scheme. I'm just curious, how much was he paying you?"

"This is all speculation, and you know it."

"Do I?" He snapped his fingers, and in limped Vivien Chase. Under her arm she carried a file folder, which she tossed onto the pile on Pearce's desk.

"Thank you, Vivien."

"You're welcome, Michael." She beamed. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have other business to attend to."

"You know where to find him?"

"Oh yeah." She smiled brightly at Michael. "Thanks for believing in me."

"You're welcome. I just hope Sam gives you a second chance."

She nodded and disappeared down the hall. In her place, two armed men appeared. "Your escort, Kim."

"You're crazy if you think any of this is going to stick on me." She stood and the men came forward to take custody of her.

"We'll see. I think you're going to be really surprised with what Vivien found on you."