Don't own Chuck
The General was a little apprehensive at Chuck's plan. He called her and explained it to her before calling the number on the telephone they'd taken off the wet teamer. It sounded like a long shot but as she stood in the Situation Room in Langley monitoring air traffic from Mexico City it seemed at first to be working.
"General, we're picking up chatter that a plane that has declared an onboard emergency. They're requesting immediate landing rights."
"Good, now get our people in place. I want to see who's on that flight and then see where they go. If Chuck is right they won't be hanging around long once they're on the ground."
"Yes Ma'am," said the Major then walked behind one of the op officers and relayed the message. The man radioed a team they had in place in the airport working undercover keeping the regular ground's crew under observation.
"Ma'am, our people on site say they found out that an aircraft is being prepped for immediate take off in hangar one."
"Tell them to get someone inside the hangar and find out what's going on inside. Maybe we can finally get a face on the person who's been causing us so much grief. Tell our people also to try to get a tracker on that plane."
"Ma'am that's going to be difficult," said the Major as he brought the building up on the monitor. "As you can see from our eye in the sky, there are armed guards on each side of the hangar."
"Tell them to be creative... create a diversion or wait when the target's plane lands then go in when they're worried about swapping out aircraft. They should know how to do their job."
"Yes ma'am, but I have to remind you that we can't afford for anyone from our team to be caught. The Mexican government will take a dim view of us operating in their territory after all the rhetoric out the White house."
"I know but this is maybe a once in a long-time opportunity and we have to go for it. I didn't think Chuck's bluff was going to work but it seems it has so we have to go for it. How long before our target is on the ground?"
"The plane's touching down as we speak," said the Major as he switched the view on the monitor and they watched a small Learjet touch down. "Tell the team the target has landed and they should be ready. It will be at them in the next few minutes." The operator nodded then relayed the Major's message.
"It's now in their hands," said the General as she walked near the monitor and watched the plane being directed over to the hangar.
"We're standing by," radioed the team leader. "The hangar doors are being opened as we speak," he said and from the team's go-cameras they could see the doors opening. "As soon as they bring the plane inside we're going to make our move. We see the plane on the tarmac heading this way."
"Roger that, we see it too. Remember the most important thing is to get eyes on our target then worry about planting the tracker."
"Roger that, the plane is almost here," radioed the team leader. Back in Langley they could hear the Lear's engines coming in through the team's mics.
"Wait a minute what's going on," said the Major. They suddenly heard chatter from the team as more than one member tried to radio in at the same time.
"Team Leader report, everyone else stay off the comms," radioed the man sitting at the consul. "We see the security detail dropping into the hangar. What do you see?"
"I don't like this... I don't like this at all. Tell our men to stay where they are and wait for further orders," said the Beckman. Her message was just relayed when they heard the sound of suppressed weapons fire.
"Ma'am, I don't know if you can hear what's going on but it's a bloodbath inside. The security detail is taking out all the grounds people. Ma'am, they're unarmed. Request we go in and give assistance."
"Negative, stay where you are. Remember we're not supposed to be there and if the Mexicans find you they might think you were the people taking out their men. I want you to fall back and regroup outside the airport."
"But what about eyeing the target and getting a tracker on his plane? We can still do this if you let us go in."
"That's a negative. We'll do that some other way. Right now, I want your team out of there asap and when I mean asap I mean no more questioning my orders but getting out. If you don't and the Mexicans don't throw you in one of their hotels then you'll be answering to me. I can assure you that would be much worse."
"But Ma'am," said the Major. "We've come this far and we've finally got them where we want them. I don't see the harm in staying a few more minutes to get the job done."
"Do we have them where we want them or do they have us where they want us? I can't take the risk and I'm not going to risk the lives of our men on something I can get accomplished later. There's a Mexican fire team standing by in the airport. How long do you think it will be before that hangar is swarmed over with Federalis?"
"I'm just saying think about it," said the Major. He knew he was pushing but he didn't understand why the General was being so overly cautious. "Chuck worked hard to get us this opportunity and it seems... well what it seems."
"That I'm letting it slip away. Major, if I didn't need you or if you were someone else they'd be packing their bags and looking for other employment."
"I'm sorry but you pay me also to play the devil's advocate. I'm just saying," said the Major but the General just put up her hand and cut him off.
"I've heard enough and the last I checked the name plate on my door I was the one in charge here," said Beckman.
"The swap is done and the second plane is pulling out," said the man sitting in front of the monitor. "The tower is trying to contact the plane to ask them why they're taxiing to the runway and ordering them to stop. They're also trying to contact their grounds personnel to find out what happened but no one is answering."
"That's because they're all bleeding out in the hangar," said the Major. The General was about to tell him to put a sock in it when the hanger with the Learjet inside erupted in a fireball.
"Now you know why I wanted our people out of there. They aren't going to leave any evidence behind... no DNA... no nothing. Have our people try to get the flight plan the other plane filed and make sure our team is out of there. The last thing we need is for another Berlin here."
"But how did you know they were going to do that?" asked the Major as the fire continued to rage on the monitor in what was left of the blazing hangar.
"Because it's what I would've done and I don't know why you're so surprised Major. These people are playing for keeps. Move our satellites around and let's track that plane and see where they lead us."
"Roger that ma'am," said the consul operator. "Ma'am our team reported in that they've all safely evacuated the site before the explosion. They did also send this," said the man as he brought up a blurry image of a man dressed in all white deplaning the Lear.
"Is he trying to look like Sydney Greenstreet?" said the Major as they looked at the blurred jpg. "The man seems to have some sort of problem."
"Yes, he messed with me... I want this sent to our people and see if they can clean it up. Maybe we can see who we're dealing with then after all and I want to talk to our team leader. I'll take the call in my office. When I give an order, I expect it to be carried out."
"But he got us the photo we needed," said the Major. The General gave him a look raising her one eyebrow. "I'm just saying I wouldn't go too hard on him. He went above and beyond to get this."
"And it could've easily gone the other direction. Plus, he put his men in harm's way. No, I need to have a sit down with him and explain to him the facts of life that is if he still wants to work for this agency. And if he does he's going to have to play by the rules."
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Carmen got ready then looked herself over in the full-length mirror behind the door in the bathroom. She smiled are she looked herself over making sure that she was dressed to kill. There was enough visible but not too much. She wanted to attract the right sort of attention and to turn heads as she walked into the casino but she didn't want to look like she should be standing by a streetlight.
"I'd say you're ready to go," she said as she turned and twisted to see how she looked from every possible angle. "Jack isn't going to know what hit him."
She walked out of her room switching off the light first then she broke off a toothpick in the doorjamb after she closed it. After that she walked down to the end of the corridor and took the elevator to the lobby. She noticed Margot standing by the reception desk as she got off the elevator. She smiled at her then turned and headed for the Casino.
"Target is in the Casino," radioed Margot as she watched Carmen disappear inside. "Get in and out as quickly as you can. I'll radio if she doubles back."
"Roger that," said Mike as he took a team up the service elevator then to Carmen's room. He used a master keycard to enter. "Okay let's look around for anything out of the ordinary. I'm going to grab her DNA from her toothbrush. Just remember as you're looking around whatever you move needs to go back exactly the way you found it. Use your phones and take photos to help. I'll collect the images afterwards."
"Roger that," said the one as they started searching. One took the closet while the other man looked in the chest of drawers. Mike came back out after gathering her DNA and taking a few hairs from her brush that had bulbs attached.
"Any luck out here," asked Mike but they just grunted 'no' back and shook their heads. He looked in the bedside tables then check her suitcase but there was nothing. Either she was clean as whistle or she took everything with her.
"I don't think she brought anything with her," radioed Margot. "If you'd seen her dress you'd know there were very few places she could've hid anything. Exit the room and be careful that you're not seen leaving."
"Roger that," said Mike. He ordered his two men out then switched off the light. He was about to leave when he noticed the broken toothpick lying on the floor.
"Where did you come from," he said as he picked it up. The two men with him looked at him like he was crazy. "Now why would someone do something like this unless they wanted to know if someone had been in their room while they were gone. This begs another question... does she have something to hide. We'll just put you back in," he said then he joined his two men near the elevator.
"Margot, we didn't find anything," radioed Mike. "But I think you're right to worry about her. I'll explain when I see you."
Margot walked over to the entrance to the casino and saw Carmen. She was standing at the craps table and already men were flocking around her. Margot stood there long enough to watch the man rolling crap out. Carmen laughed as she hung on him then kissed him on the cheek.
"Yes, I've got my eye on you," said Margot. What she didn't see was Marcus walking around the room casing it out. He walked back past a roped off section bumping into two men standing outside a door on the other side of a curtain.
"Hey, you can't be back here," said a man who looked like a junior mountain. "This area is off limits to guests."
"Sorry, I thought this was the way to the restrooms. You guys wouldn't know how to tell me the way, would you?"
"You have to go back the way you came then go over to the slot machines. You'll find them there. If you can't find them ask one of the people in casino uniforms. They'll be able to show you."
"Thanks," said Marcus as he noticed Casino Manager written on the door. "I don't suppose there's anything back here I can use. I've got a little prostrate problem."
"Sorry but you're out of luck back here buddy. When we've got to go we have to go to the one we told you about by the slots."
"I guess I should've scoped them out when I first came in or cut back on the drinks," said Marcus as he did an about face walking back inside. Carmine caught him walking back through as she hung on the arm of a man sitting at the roulette table. He placed his bet on red but the ball landed on black.
"It doesn't look like you're bringing much 'good' luck to your new friends," said Margot as she came up behind Carmen.
"Oh, but luck is such a fickle thing and the night is young. Who knows what can happen? I don't seem to see Mr. Burton anywhere. You wouldn't happen to know where he is?"
"I think he's in a family meeting right now. I wouldn't be looking for him to show his face for a while. If you want to send him a message I'd be happy to pass one on."
"Thank you but I'll just wait until I see him. He promised to show me around and I was so looking forward to it."
"I'm sure you were but he's a little occupied now with the poker tournament and with his family. His daughter dropped in to see him. A funny thing though you two are about the same age. I don't suppose that bothers you?"
"Not in the slightest, I find older men to be more experienced and they seem to know what they want. Young men can be a bore sometimes but I don't suppose you know anything about that."
"What's that supposed to mean," said Margot. She could feel the hair on her neck start to stand up and she had an urge to rip Carmen's throat out right there.
"Nothing... I'm sorry," said Carmen as she smiled at Margot. "Well, if you have to know you don't seem like a person who dates a lot. You look like someone who's married to their work."
"That's probably true and my work is to watch out for the wrong sort of people. You wouldn't be that wrong sort, would you?"
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The Major received a phone call from Twelve while he was looking out the window at the bay of Kotor below. His flight had been placed in a holding pattern due to the unusual high number of private aircraft that had requested to land. He was doing the only thing he could do and that was enjoy the sights below.
"I didn't expect you to call me," said the Major as he held his phone in one hand and a glass of very expensive bourbon in the other. "... no I haven't landed yet. Why what's wrong? And don't say nothing because I can hear it in your voice."
"I see," said the Major as he listened intently. "Well, that was to be expected I guess. The man is a snake in the grass but I just didn't think he'd turn so quickly. You can deal with him there or I will when I get back."
"You want to know how? I don't think you really do," said the Major. He wondered how Twelve had ever gotten into the circle and even then, how he'd managed to stay. "Let's just say accidents happen all the time and sometimes I'm sure they are accidental. Just leave him to me and thanks for the heads up. I won't forget this," he said then he hung up and put away his phone.
"So. Mr. Black, you know I'm coming. Good, I prefer it that way. But it's not going to do you any good," said the Major as he pressed the call button for the flight attendant. "The deer knows the bear is in the woods but that doesn't save him from being invited for dinner."
"Sir, the pilot asks that you be a little more patient," said the flight attendant. "He's talking with the control tower now trying to get us down. But it's like I told you before there are other aircraft that have precedence who are ahead of us."
"That's all right I want to change airports. Have the pilot amend our flight plan and let's land in the capital at Podgorica. That's not too far away and with the delay here I'm sure they'll understand on the ground."
"But if you'll just have a little more patience, I'm sure he can work out something with the control tower here in Kotor and you'll be where you want to be."
"You aren't listening to me. Things have changed and now I want to land in Podgorica and that's all you need to know. Now go and make it happen," said the Major. The tone in the Major's voice was enough for the man to make him turned around and left.
"I'll get a car when we land then drive back. It won't be difficult to find Mr. Black. We're both going after Jack Burton so if I find this Jack person, I'll find Mr. Black too. I just need to see Black before he sees me and with everything given I don't think that will be too difficult," he said to his reflection in the window.
"Once you're done with him and Burton's handed over the ledger then you can deal with Mr. White," said as he took a sip from his glass.
"Pappy Van Winkle reserve, now this is the smoothest bourbon I've tasted," he said as he held the glass up to the light. "A man could get accustomed to this. Yes, after Mr. White then One's secretary, the weasel will fall down the steps."
"No, you need to make it look like an accident. However, everyone needs to know it was you but no one can pin it on you. That would put the fear of God in those light weights sitting in the circle like Twelve. No one would dare lift a finger against me after that," said the Major as he smiled looking out the window. He noticed they'd changed course and were traveling south-east now.
"Sir," said the flight attendant. "I've talked with the pilot like you asked and he was able to amend our flight plan as you wanted. We should be at Podgorica in about twenty minutes and depending on the air traffic around the capital we should be on the ground shortly after that."
"Very good and can you refill my glass. I think I've got plenty of time now to drink another one," said the Major as he held out his glass.
"Yes Sir, I'll be right back with it," said the flight attendant as he took the Major's glass then went back up front where he filled it. The Major sat there and watched until the attendant came back. "Here you go sir."
"Thanks," said the Major as he smiled at the man. "I'll leave you with a little food for thought. Remember if you want to build a tiger trap you need a goat."
"Yes sir, I'll remember that," said the man as he gave a perplexed look. But he was smart enough to know it was better for him if he didn't ask. He just did his vanishing act disappearing as quickly as he could by going back up front past the curtain.
"It's you or me. I'm coming for you Mr. Black ready or not," said the Major as he turned back to looking out the window sipping on his Bourbon. "So let the games begin."