Pt.16
Burkhoff looked up at Operations with a frown. "Do we send in the backup team?" he asked quietly, his fingers poised over his keyboard.
Operations smiled coldly. "No. Let Miriam play this hand out. Have Michael's team stand ready at this park in case they are needed but they are not to interfere. At least, not until I give the order." He walked away, his shark's smile still on his face, leaving the younger man to wonder at his next move. As he gave the order to the team, Burkhoff noticed Walter walking across the staging area, headed for his arsenal. He motioned to him, then turned away, hoping neither anyone would wonder at their conversation.
"Yeah, what's up?" Walter asked, leaning against the terminal. The older man looked briefly down at his friend then kept his eyes on the area in front of him, watching for Operations or Madeline's approach.
"Something weird is going on with this mission Michael's on. He's supposed to bring a rogue agent in but so far, neither Operations nor George has given him much grief about how long it's taking him. And Operations just pulled his backup team back to a standby position. It doesn't make any sense."
"Who's the operative?" Walter asked, intrigued despite himself.
"Miriam Nightbird" Burhoff responded, keeping his eyes on his display.
"Oh Hell!" Walter slid off the console, his expression concerned. "Miriam was Jurgen's pet student. She's in tight with Oversight. If she went rogue, then there was a reason for it."
"You think she's on Mandatory Refusal?" Burkhoff asked, remembering the time Michael had cut himself off from the Section in order to complete a mission.
"I think she's probably after Michael's hide for what he did to Jurgen." Walter turned quickly and loped off towards his weapons area, leaving Burkhoff to wonder whether Michael knew exactly what he had been assigned to do.
Miriam stared out of the window as Kermit drove both she and Michael to the rendezvous point. Peter and his father were following in Peter's car. The city scenes flashed by like images from a silent movie, each open to multiple interpretations. "I really don't like the city." She sighed stretching out in the back seat.
"Too crowded?" Kermit asked, dryly.
"Too bright." She replied, making a face. "I like the darkness. It suits me."
"When we get to the rendezvous…"Michael began, his unemotional voice putting a damper on the conversation.
"We split up." Miriam continued, propping herself up with the elbows on the door.
"Not a great idea." Kermit commented, slowing as he made the turn into the park. "Splitting up our forces that way."
"Not a great idea." She agreed with a smile. "But better than his." She suddenly jerked open the car's back door and threw herself out, rolling onto the grass and disappearing into the shadows surrounding the park.
"Hell!" Kermit swore, screeching to a halt. "What happened?"
Michael ignored the man beside him as he slid out of the car; gracefully loping off in the direction the rogue agent had gone. He frowned as her trail disappeared quickly. "Burkhoff?" he whispered, scanning the area.
"Here." Burkhoff's voice whispered in his ear. "What's happening?"
"She's gone again." he replied, watching as Peter's car screeched to a halt beside Kermit's. "Where's the backup team?"
"Operations pulled them. You're on our own."
Michael walked slowly back to the car, hoping that whatever his former friend had planned would not make a bad situation worse. From behind him the mournful song of a night bird rose to the full moon. All the pieces were in place. Now the game could truly begin.