Don't own Chuck
Mr. White was on the phone in their Istanbul hotel looking out the window at the ships below transiting the straits in and out of the Black Sea. Their hotel was on the European side which gave them the perfect vantage point and fair warning if anything or one were coming looking for them. However, the Turk was history and no one seemed to care so there was no need to vanish. Now just a few loose ends then they'd be on their way.
"I know what I'm asking you to do and it's for this very reason we pay you the big bucks. Now you're going to have to work for it. ... I heard you tell me who was there but that's your problem. You're a smart person and I'm sure you can come up with something. If I were you I'd simply get rid of the problem," said Mr. White as Mr. Black walked into the room. He could see White was getting flustered with their mole who was obviously dragging his feet.
"Tell the fish I'll be in Berlin tomorrow at Alexanderplatz at noon and I'd better be met with what we need or I'll come looking."
"I'm sending Mr. Black to meet you," said Mr. White as he repeated what Black had told him and more then hung up. "That should put the fear of God in our little mole."
"You need to go or you'll miss your flight. I'll stay here and change my reservations then try out the caviar. I'll have room service send up a sampling."
"I'm sorry I have to dump this on you but I have to get to L.A. not one of my favorite cities. All that smog and pollution not to mention valley talk."
"Oh, don't even try it. You'll fit right in with all those other divas. I bet the first place you're going to hit is Rodeo Drive. You just need to remember why we're there."
"The first place I'm going to head for is the Waldron then track down this Jenny Burton. Once you've got that ledger..."
"Our friend in Berlin becomes a liability, I figured that out. I'll tie up loose ends there then I'll be on the next flight to meet you. Hopefully, by then you'll have this Jenny Burton tracked down and we'll be able to grab her together. But what do we do if this Jack Burton doesn't play ball? If he's in Montenegro and she's in L.A. it doesn't sound like he's going to win father of the year anytime soon."
"We'll play that by ear then the other ear followed by a finger and so on and so forth until there are no more body parts to send. I willing to bet that sooner or later he'll get the message and cooperate."
"I wouldn't bet on it if I were you. The Turk took risky wagers and look what it got him. The Circle will want results and I don't know if they're going to wait around for us to FedEx body parts. Not with that list out there where anyone can find it."
"That's why you're going to Berlin. No, the problem with the Turk was he thought he was more important than he actually was and that's what got him spread all of over the Grand Bazaar. I know exactly where I fit in on the totem pole and I don't expect to live past tomorrow."
"Just think of one mission at a time, I get that and you need to go or you're going to miss your flight. I'll fly out early tomorrow morning so I can be in Berlin on time."
"We're almost there. When we're done we can cash this in and the Circle will be forever in our debt," said Mr. White as he got his jacket. "I'll see you on the flipside."
Mr. Black helped Mr. White with his suitcase and got him in a taxi. Then he stood there and watched it drive off heading for the Istanbul Atatürk International Airport. Mr. White was thinking about the rewards if they pulled this off but Mr. Black was thinking about the consequences if things went sideways.
"White's an optimist and I'm a pessimist. It's why we work well together... each has his expertise and I'll use some of that tomorrow on our friend in Berlin," he thought as he rode the elevator back up.
"There are over a hundred different ways this thing can go off the rails," he said to himself as he opened the door and walked inside. "If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die," he said as he picked up the hotel phone and call down for room service.
"I'd like a sampling of caviar and blinis sent up to my room. ... What was it I said before? Do you know Corinthians 15:32 and by the way Ephesus used to be near here, wasn't it? ... Why? I just wanted to know. Oh and send up a bottle of champagne to go with the caviar and I want the good kind, so don't try to sluff off any of that cheap crap on me. I'm paying top dollar so I want top shelf. ... Thank you and the size of your man's tip depends on how fast he can get all that to me," said Mr. Black then he hung up.
"Poor Mr. White is going to have to put up with airline food," thought Mr. Black as he shook his head. Then he had a sudden idea.
"If you do it you could get into trouble... I'll do it any way," he said as he laughed looking at his watch. He was dead serious about what he'd said about the tip.
[Meanwhile at the airport]
The taxi Mr. White was in drove him to the sidewalk check in stand where he handed the man his bags then walked inside. He made his way through security then customs. There was a little stir as he walked through in his white Panama suit, shirt and tie. Even his hat was white trimmed in white that matched his white shoes and socks.
"Is there something wrong with my passport," he said catching the officer staring at him. "And if you're wondering it's called Albinism. In humans it's a congenital disorder characterized by the complete or partial absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes and I don't know if my father had the same disorder. You see I was left on the steps of an orphanage."
"No, I wasn't... I mean I didn't," said the customs officer. He was embarrassed that Mr. White had called him out on it. "Here you go and have a good flight. Next in line please."
"Thank you, if I don't miss it," said Mr. White as he took his passport back then made his way to his departure gate. There he didn't have to wait long before his boarding announcement was called. He didn't have to wait long in the queue either before he was ushered onboard with the rest of the First-Class passenger.
"Here's your complimentary glass of champagne and the pilot just announce we'll be leaving soon as we get everyone on board and close the hatch so relax. I'll be with you shortly."
"Thank you," said Mr. White as his phone rang that he'd received a message. He looked at it. It was a message from Mr. Black who'd sent him a photo of the caviar spread and champagne. "And you tell me to keep my head in the game?"
"I'm sorry sir but you need to put that phone away. We're ready to depart."
"Yes, of course," he said as the flight attendant took his empty glass away. "You wouldn't have caviar on the First-Class menu?"
"I'm sorry sir but I'm not Jennifer Aniston and this isn't the Emirates Airlines."
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Mary saw the Ambassador and Jim Henson off. Jim didn't mention anything to Mary about Roan not because he forgot but out of spite. Mary thought about checking in with the General but she opted for waiting until she got back to her hotel where she could have a video call. It was better seeing the person you were talking to because it was easier to see if they were lying. And speaking of lying she thought of Jim but she had to put those thoughts out of her head when two black vans pulled up outside and men in white coveralls jumped out.
"Look what the cat dragged in," said Mary as she got out of her Ford escort then walked over to the lead van and banged loudly on the side. At first, she got no answer so she pulled out a knife and waved it in front of a hidden camera then pointed at the back tire.
"You slash our tire and I'll have your butt," said an angry man dressed in white coveralls who slide open the side door. "Now go away before I call the police and have you arrested."
"Go ahead and call the police then we can see if you have a warrant for the apartment you people are searching. Or if you don't have the number I can do you a favor and call them for you?"
"Will you get in here and stop making a fuss," yelled a familiar voice from inside. "It's okay. She's the reason we're here."
"Detrick, I hope your president knows what you're up to," said Mary as she got inside. "You don't have to answer that. I understand plausible deniability and everything but I can save you some time. There's nothing inside to find I've already been through it."
"And you'd tell me that even if there was. You Americans are so predictable. If you hadn't made a fuss at the accident scene we wouldn't have found the poison."
"You're welcome and you're right I would tell you that but I'm not this time. Your men should notice that Talebort didn't even sleep in his apartment last night. So you did find traces of poison in his system? I thought so."
"When I saw you in the photo the policeman took, I knew crap had hit the fan and we were behind the power curve so I expedited the labs."
"Very good Detrick and what did they find? There was poison in his coffee that I figured out but I'd like know is what kind was used. Our labs are a little backed up and..."
"And Jim Henson couldn't find his butt with both hands. Well, that I can help you out with. It was a new exotic nerve toxin that was recently developed in the East. It's rather nasty stuff causing muscle spasms before shutting the whole system down. In an autopsy it can be mistaken for a stroke."
"That's good to know. I guess I'll be seeing you around," said Mary as she turned around and start to open the van door.
"Hold on a moment. Does this have anything with Abe Weinstein who was found floating face dowon in the Danube? Or the assassination of the Turk this morning in Istanbul?"
"The Turk is dead?" Detrick nodded back. "I'm sorry but all I can tell you is I can neither confirm or deny. I'm only here for a few days then I'm gone and that's the truth."
"You Americans, you're all alike... how do you say streets that go only in one direction. I know Talebort was the man who turned Abe away at the Embassy."
"It's called a one-way street and if you already know that then you don't need me to tell you what you've already guessed. Do the math and I think you can come up with the right solution."
"You can tell your boss, the General, that we expect full cooperation and she can bring what every she finds to the poker tournament in Montenegro along with deep pockets."
"Tell your president to do the same and if I remember correctly he almost lost his shirt last year as well as the year before that."
"We Germans just need a little time to warm up."
"I'm sure you do," said Mary as she smiled then hopped out of the van. As she walked across the street to her car she noticed Detrick had recalled his men and they were coming back out of the apartment building.
[Back in the van]
"Okay, she's walking back across the street," said Detrick. "I want a tracker put on her car so we can follow her. Do it now before she gets away."
"Yes sir," said one of Detrick's men. He grabbed a modified pellet gun that worked on CO2 cartridges and loaded a dart. A man stood in the van door as the shooter took aim and fired but in that instance the car exploded in a ball of fire. "Scheiße," said the shooter. "What the heck just happened?"
"That's what I'd like to know. Idiot, please tell me you didn't hit the gas tank," said Detrick as the fiery wreckage fell from the sky around them.
"Do you want us to go over and check on the woman?" asked one of his men. Detrick could already heard the sound of sirens in the distance and he didn't have to guess where they were headed.
"And do what? We don't have enough crazy glue. No, don't just stand around get everyone onboard then let's get out of here. We can't afford to be caught here."
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Sarah showed John the note they'd found on the herder in the parking lot before he could complain about being the little fat kid who always got picked last. However, Chuck vowed to one day dig up a photo of John as a kid. He just knew the way John told it that there was much more to the story than just an idiomatic phrase.
"I swear I'm going to Google Alex Coburn and look for a photo when he was a kid. I want to see him as a chunky little boy."
"I heard that Bartowski and it will be kind of hard for you to type on a keyboard with all your fingers broken including your thumbs."
"There's always voice recognition and I don't have to type a word. Come on John, what was it? Your sweet tooth got the better of you? Your Mommy telling you to clean your plate? What was it chocolate covered moose?
"You mean chocolate mousse and I'd like to see you try voice recognition with a broken everything," said Casey as he continued to study the note turning it over in his hand.
"No, I meant moose... like in Bullwinkle. I'm guessing the way you grill you probably ate a whole one your own."
"Guys, can we concentrate on what's at hand here. Something is up with Jack... I know it, I can feel it and what he just said now was a lot of garbage. I should know I've had years of experience listening to his lies which makes me the intersect of Jack," said Sarah as she got angry. She didn't know who she was mad at the guys, herself but she was sure she was mad at Jack.
"You're right. This isn't professional of us and I'm sorry John so what are you thinking? I've examined the paper but it's just plan stationary. I thought about the ink but that was a nothing too just the usual 'Bic' pen. I guess I could do a handwriting analysis to see what we can find there but I wouldn't hold my breath."
"Or If you were me you'd call a buddy who works at Fort Meade and see what birds are flying overhead and see if they can pull up a sat photo from the school parking lot. If we're lucky we can get a visual on our perp."
"That could work too," said Chuck as Casey gave a grunt then pulled out his phone. "I'm going to have to make this call in private. I would say I'm sorry but I'm not. Now you'll understand what it's like being the..." Casey started to say but caught Chuck's look. "Little red headed step child."
"I'm still thinking Casey had a weight problem," said Chuck as he watched Casey hold his phone to his head and walked out. "Well whatever, Love, now's your chance if you want to call Margo. It's now or never but you need to make the decision."
"I know but I don't want to get Jack into trouble if there really isn't a good reason and I don't want to put Margo on the spot either. She's the station chief and if he has pulled one of his... well we know what. I don't want it to reflect back on her. Beckman will be on her saying that she should've been keeping an eye on what Jack was up to and that whatever he's up to is her fault. It's not Margo's fault if she doesn't know all the cons."
"And you do because you're Jack's daughter. I think we're putting the cart before the horse here," said Chuck as Sarah gave him a look. "Now just hear me out before you judge me. We both agree that something is going on with Jack but what I'm saying is it might not be his own doing."
"Jack Burton being conned? Come on Chuck. I appreciate the fact that you're trying to take up for Jack and trying to put a happy face on this, but I know exactly who my father is. Sweetie, if there's one thing he's not and that is a sucker."
"I didn't say that. There are a lot of different ways he could be tied up with whatever this is. I'm just saying until we know what's going on maybe for this one time we give him the benefit of the doubt. Come on, what do you say to that?"
"Chuck, I've tried that all my life and you want to know how many times that's worked out for me? I can tell you... none. Jack always looks out for Jack."
"That's not true. Didn't he come through with the money for our wedding after Daphne took all our savings..."
"Don't remind me that was a momentary lapse of reason on my part. But okay I hear what you're saying and maybe there is someone we can call to find out what's going on."
"And who's that? Please, don't tell me you're thinking about calling your mother? Emma and Jack are on shaky ground as it is and something like this... well could really push her over. I'm just saying we should be careful until we know the full story before involving her."
"I know that and no, I wasn't talking about Mom. I was talking about calling Molly. I can call her and ask her from one sister to another if she knows what's going on without coming right out and asking her what's going on."
"Yeah, playing it cool and since I'm the cool brother-in-law slash uncle maybe I should make that call. I could use a little diplomacy and tact and get what we need from her without her knowing she's giving Jack up. I can do this."
"Sweetie, I appreciate the offer... I really do," said Sarah as she caressed his face then kissed him. "But maybe it would better if you left this up to me."
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean," said Chuck realizing he'd been played as Sarah walked off pulling out her phone. "Hey, what does that mean?" He said as she followed after her.
"Shush, I'm on the phone," said Sarah. She gave him another quick kiss then turned back to the phone. "Molly, it's Sarah. How are you? I know we haven't talked a lot in a while and that's my fault. I've been really busy but I'm not now so I thought I'd do something about that... well to make a long story short do you have a few minutes?"
"I could've done that too," mumbled Chuck. Sarah smiled at him while she talked reaching over and caressed his face. "Okay, that makes me feel better."
[Later...]
When Casey came walking back in Sarah was still on her phone talking with Molly. He gave Chuck a look then over at Sarah then back to him.
"She's talking to Molly to see if she can figure out what's going on. So, were able to get anything from your buddy?"
"Interrogating relative that's nice and will make for some awkward Christmases and Thanksgivings if Molly figures out what Sarah's really up to."
"Sarah knows what she's doing," said Chuck. He didn't know if Casey was trying to string him on or not. "So was you Buddy able to come through or not?"
"Take a chill pill Chuck. He's sending me what they have now," said Casey as he sat down at the keyboard and started plunking away at the keys with two fingers.
"Can I type that for you? I'll let you have it after I'm done but watching you do that to the keyboard is killing me."
"Just shut up and stand back. I've got this," said John then he went back to his two-finger typing. Chuck looked down at his watch then at Casey.
"I'm not going to ask how many words you can type a minute because it you case it would be how many words you can type in a day."
"There I'm done smarty pants," said John as the computer started downloading an image. The file was huge so it started appear line after line of pixels.
"Gee, I need to teach your friend how to compress files." Casey grunted as the image finally download. "Is that who I think it is? It can't be can it?"
"Carmen Sandiego?"