Chapter 4

Napoleon helped his partner sit up on the floor, back to the wall.

"Well?"

"He gave me till tomorrow night. We will need to get everything in place by then. Give me some water will you?

Handing him a paper cup of water, "How did Jo seem? I enjoyed her in that outfit. I wonder if she'd wear it the next time we're together."

"Napoleon, get your mind back on business. She did seem to have some control over Chet, but she is in the middle of this if something goes wrong, she will be in a very dangerous position."

"Now whose being a babushka. Your sister can take care of herself."

"I still find it hard to believe that Thrush would hire a motorcycle gang to get the papers. I know their people are not the smartest around but this really is low even for them."

"We know they did, probably because they can fit into that beer culture so well. If something goes wrong Thrush is in the clear and the gang pays."

Pushing himself painfully to his feet, he removed a roll of film and slip of paper handing them to Napoleon.

"Jo slipped this into my pocket when she was winding herself around me."

"It says 'members of gang. Will meet you in your apartment at 11pm.' Short and sweet that's my Jo." Napoleon said smiling at the note.

"Let us hope the information will lead us to the Thrush key players."

The men left, Napoleon heading toward UNCLE satellite office while Illya headed back to his hotel to soak his sore muscles and change.

….

Napoleon answered the knock at 10:30pm to find his partner in the hall. After leaving him in, he complained, "You were supposed to be here an hour ago. Where have you been?"

"I had to lose my tail without making seem as if I knew what I was doing. I lost him in a crowd coming out of a theater."

"Sorry, I wish we knew who is who and what exactly is going to happen next. I'll get you a drink while you look at pictures Jo took. They're on the table. According to headquarters, the top four including Greenwald are Thrush and Chet is the undercover cop."

Illya looked over the pictures, "I figured Greenwald was Thrush, their type of goon, big and dumb."

Another knock drew their attention towards the door. Guns drawn, Illya took the right while Napoleon slowly opened the door from the left. "You're early," he said allowing Jo and Chet to enter.

After making sure the door was secure, he looked over his lover. "I love that outfit. Can you wear it the next time we are alone?" He asked wiggling his eyebrows.

"Chet, this is Napoleon Solo UNCLE's resident Romeo and his partner, Illya Kuryakin."

"Josephina!" Napoleon bellowed and then saw the smirk on both Illya's and her face. "Very funny."

"Kuryakin, you two related?" Chet asked.

"He is my brother and Napoleon is my boss," she shot over her shoulder as she poured and downed a glass of vodka.

"Oh this is wonderful. All I have had is beer for the last month." Pouring herself another, "What will you have, Chet?"

He asked for a beer that she handed him before sitting down. "Well, did we find out who belongs to Thrush?"

Illya handed her pictures of the identified agents that she shared with Chet.

"Now that we know who is who, what do you want us to do?" Jo asked.

"Illya will have the false information that he'll pass on to Chet at the meeting, and then we'll follow the two of you to the contact point, and put an end to this there. The brewery has agreed to have UNCLE destroy the formula so that it can't be used against anyone after this assignment is done," Napoleon said.

"I will hand you the papers Jo which you will drop and then hand to Chet. That way if they figure out their false before we get there, Chet will be in the clear." Illya explained.

"Well hopefully, by this time tomorrow night we will have this assignment completed and I can have a long soak. Between the motorcycles, dirt and only a shower to clean up with, I feel the dirt is ground into my body," Jo complained.

"You could always use my tub now," Napoleon offered raising his eyebrows again.

"Chet, I think we better leave before he gets anymore ideas. See you two tomorrow." Jo said giving each of the men a peck on the cheek.

"And you can help wash the dirt off me after the assignment," she whispered into Napoleon ear before turning to follow Chet out the door.

…..

The following day Illya arrived at the bar to give the papers to Chet. Napoleon waited outside behind the railroad tracks that ended at the building. An ear microphone would keep him updated on the situation in the tavern.

Chet, Jo, and the motorcycle gang sat at the same table as the day before. As Illya headed toward it, Chet yelled out for a beer for the doc.

"Join us doc. I got a beer coming for you."

"I do not…"

"Now doc, let's not be unfriendly. We're all one big happy family," Greenwald said slapping him on the back almost knocking him to the ground.

"Leave him be," Chet growled. "He's here and I'm sure he has the papers we need. Right doc?"

"I have them but what if they find out I gave them to you. I could go to jail."

"Look doc," Jo said in a conspirator voice. "If you do not give those papers to us, you could wind up dead. You choose."

Jo stood up and held out her hand, "The papers,"

As Illya handed them to her, she dropped them then bent over to pick the pile up before handing them to Chet. "Sorry honey, I seemed to be butterfingers today."

Looking them over, he glared at Illya, "I don't know if this is what we wanted or not but if they aren't you'll pay for your treachery with your life. You understand that doc, don't you?"

Illya nodded before lowering his head.

"Good then you can go but be assured we'll be looking for you if you betrayed me."

As he stood to leave, Greenwald spoke up, "Hey, he can identify us. You're not going to let him just leave are you?"

"Doc and I had a deal. He upheld his part and I'm upholding mine. If you hadn't killed Dr. Barnard so quickly, we probably could've had this finished already. I'm the leader of this group and if you don't like it leave. Just because you know the people we're working for, doesn't mean you've taken over. Don't overstep your bounds again or you'll be joining Barnard."

No one said a word but the air thickened with tension. The two men glared at each other until Greenwald looked down.

"Hey man, you're the boss."

"Leave now doc and forget what you saw and heard," with that Chet went back to his beer while Illya left the building.

Walking toward his car, Napoleon quickly joined him.

"Let's get out of here before they come out."

Going only far enough to not be seen the agents waited for the next move.