AN: Thanks for your lovely reviews :)

Chapter 38

"If you ever tell anyone back home that I wore an outfit entirely of white I will not hesitate to drop you off the top of the compound," Uriah threatened, half seriously, half playfully.

"I would prefer to wipe most of our outfits from this mission from my mind once we leave the continent," Tris said firmly. "However, while we're here, I shall tease you mercilessly."

"Well, apart from this girly, white outfit, playing tennis is the most fun I've had in the last three weeks," Uriah said, as they walked back to the hotel from the tennis courts.

"I definitely agree with you on that," Tris remarked. "I really had thought we would have heard from Evelyn by now. I mean, I thought we were pretty convincing last Friday, and she seemed sincere in promising to show us the egg."

"Maybe she was bluffing and couldn't get the egg?" Uriah suggested.

"No, I spoke with Richard Noble yesterday. A contact of his confirmed that she really has found it," Tris confirmed. "All we need is to actually catch her in person with it, and hopefully a few of her staff. Interpol and the FBI already have quite a lot of electronic evidence, they just need us to complete this last phase of the mission and then we can go home."

"Well, last time you wanted her to call and started talking about it she rang only an hour later," Uriah mused. "So, let's go change, have some lunch, call Mar and Four, and hopefully she'll call. If not, I'll leave it up to you to think of plan b."

"You're helpful like that," Tris said dryly.

"Hey, I'm just the muscle, I know my job," Uriah joked.

Tris and Uriah enjoyed a light lunch at The Bistro before returning to their suite to change.

"I'm going to give Marlene a wake up call now," Uriah said with a grin. "Of course, it's not going to be quite as satisfying as if I was actually there, but I'll do my best."

"Remember that TMI rule, Uriah?" Tris asked dryly.

"I remember it, I just choose to ignore it at times," Uriah said with a roguish grin. "Enjoy your call to Four."

Tris curled up in an armchair in her room, there was no doubt she would enjoy her call with Four. It didn't matter that there was an ocean between them, or so many important things left unsaid, just hearing his voice was enough to make her feel better, regardless of anything else.

"Good morning," Tris said brightly when Four answered.

"Sweetheart, it's barely after six," Four said sleepily. "Could you at least pretend to be half asleep so we're on the same page?"

"Sweetheart? I like that nickname," Tris said with a soft smile. "I've never had one before."

"Well, sweetheart it is," Four said, waking quickly at the continued sound of her voice. "Do I get a nickname?"

"No, you have a nickname already, Four. You get the reverse, you get a real name, Tobias," Tris answered.

"So for people who speak normal English, my term of endearment is my real name," Four concluded. "Now that I'm awake. How are things with you?"

"Things have been pretty slow, we're playing a pretty long waiting game," Tris answered. "I just want to be home, with you."

"I want that too," Four said fervently. "I want to hold you, and kiss you, and touch you. I want to stroke your tattoos and run my fingers through your hair. I want to go swimming in our spot, which I will now never look at without thinking of bubbles again, by the way."

Tris, who had been melting at Four's words, started to giggle at the mention of the pool.

"Four! Those were some of the most romantic things anyone had ever said to me and then you had to start talking about bubbles," Tris exclaimed, amused and a little annoyed.

"Well, bubbles can be romantic," Four said in a low tone. "I think you, me, some candles and a bubble bath sounds very romantic."

Tris just sat there with her cell to her ear, opening and closing her mouth, having trouble forming anything coherent.

"Tris?" Four said. "I can't see you, so I'm not sure what's going on."

"Oh, um, there was a dog in here," Tris said vaguely, fumbling for words.

"A dog?" Four asked.

"Don't worry, it was a nice dog," Tris mumbled. "So, we could keep talking about what we'll do when we see each other, and go crazy, or we could just talk about inconsequential things. I don't mind, I'd listen to your voice if you just wanted to read the classifieds to me."

"Well, I could tell you about how Marcus' trial is going," Four suggested. "It started on Monday."

Four filled her in on a few details before she said, "Let's not talk about something so unpleasant. What have you been doing to keep yourself entertained?"

"I spend my evenings shooting or reading," Four replied. "Sometimes Zeke shoots with me. I never was once for socialising before, and I don't really want to spend time with the others without you. It just reminds me that you're not there."

"How about I have a cardboard cut out made of me for the next time I'm away?" Tris suggested lightly.

"I think a blowup version of you would be more useful," Four said fiendishly.

"The only person I get to talk to these days is Uriah, so I hear more than enough talk like that. I'm immune," Tris declared. "You cannot make me blush."

"I think I can probably find a few ways to make you blush," Four said huskily.

"And we're back to the danger zone," Tris said nervously. "I'm not very good at this stuff in person, let alone over the phone."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," Four apologised.

"It's not your fault. I'd just rather talk about stuff like that in person, at least while we're still feeling our way with that stuff," Tris explained. "And 'feeling' was an unintended pun!"

"Sure," Four agreed. "But I look forward to having a 'discussion' right after you get back. A long 'discussion'."

Tris giggled and said, "I'm okay with that. Now, I have got to go, I've got an incoming call. Have a good day!"

Tris hung up and then answered her incoming call.

"Hi Evelyn, how are you?" Tris said cheerily. "Do you have Nécessaire?"

"We have Nécessaire," Evelyn confirmed pleasantly. "Would you like to come over for tea and to see it?"

"Oh, we'd simply love to!" Tris exclaimed. "Oh, I'm going to call Mother and brag right away. She'll be in bed asleep, but I don't care!"

"I'll be giving her a call later on too," Evelyn replied. "Enjoy your call and I shall see you and Uriah at around 2?"

"Perfect," Tris gushed. "See you then!"

Tris hung up and jumped up and ran into Uriah's room.

"Okay, it's game time. She's got the egg," Tris said quickly, hopping from foot to foot. "I need to call Harrison and Richard, and we need weapons, and outfits. We're due there at 2. Let's move, move, move."

"Was that a Monica Geller impersonation?" Uriah asked lazily from the chair he was lounging.

"Didn't you hear me? Evelyn called, we've got things to do, important things!" Tris exclaimed. "You're on weapons duty. Vite, vite!"

"Well, if you're going to tell me to hurry up in French, I guess I'll obey," Uriah teased. "But seriously, I heard you, and we're finally at the business end of the mission. Believe me, I'm ready for it, I'm just going to leave the 'over excited' routine to you."

"Okay, good point," Tris said, calming down. "I'm going to get dressed into something appropriate, and I'm sure my excitement will be completely gone after the first sweater I try on."

After much deliberation Tris pulled on a pair of black Saint Lauren jeans – a favourite pair that she new were comfortable and easy to move in, but fashionable. With them she put on a dusky, dark blue Donna Karen sweater and a pair of Rag & Bone boots in the same shade. She was dressed in rather dark colours, but she still looked stylish, and they were comfortable and suitable for concealing a couple of weapons and devices. They were also fairly easy to move in, should she need to fight or run that afternoon.

Tris grabbed her cell, a coat, a bright scarf and gloves and headed into Uriah's room.

"Okay, I've got this gun for you," Uriah said. "Tuck it into the waistband of your jeans, your sweater will conceal it very well. I'll have a few things concealed in my inner jacket pockets. I'm wired up, just to a device that will record everything, because we of course don't have anyone monitoring things for us."

"Wire me up too, that way we can at least talk to each other, if we get separated," Tris decided. "I called Harrison and Richard while I was choosing my clothes. They're aware of the stage we're at and we're all ready to go."

"So, I'll wire you up, and we'll go," Uriah declared. "I've got your back okay? Your safety is my priority, you know that right? I'll do whatever needs to be done to catch these people, and hopefully today, but we can't do that if you're dead."

"Okay," Tris agreed. "Hopefully it doesn't come to that. Oh, I'd better put some cuffs in my purse so we can secure the necessary people."

Before too long they were pulling up at the Geisert Estate. A man on the gate let them in and they drove up to the front of the house.

"Where should I pull in?" Uriah asked. "There's no valet?"

"Man, we're going to be spoiled for the rest of our lives after this. I don't think we've parked anywhere ourselves for weeks," Tris muttered. "I guess pull in over there near that car?"

Tris and Uriah walked inside, hand in hand, Tris with her best look of polished excitement on her face. Uriah's hand in hers felt oddly comforting. They were going into the lion's den, but they were going together.

The butler met them at the door, taking Tris's overcoat. Uriah had not bothered with one, and kept on the light jacket he was wearing, for it held a couple of his weapons.

"Tris, Uriah, how are you?" Evelyn said, when the butler took them through the foyer into the sitting room. "Shall we take our tea now?"

Tris and Uriah sat through an agonising forty five minutes of sipping tea, eating a light afternoon tea and pretending to care about whatever small talk was being made.

"So, I suppose you're both dying to see Nécessaire," Evelyn said eventually, saying the name reverently, almost in the same tone as Tolkien's Gollum used when speaking of The One Ring.

Tris wondered how she could have such little respect for Nécessaire when she apparently was so fond of it. If she really loved it, and art and history, she wouldn't use them for such nefarious, mercenary purposes.

"We'd love to!" Tris exclaimed. "I've just been waiting for you to say that."

"Well, follow me through to my office, the egg is in the safe room just off it," Evelyn said, standing.

Tris and Uriah followed the Evelyn, Tris pausing to study her again. Her tall, imperial figure, her somewhat harsh features, which were only occasionally softened by a smile. Somehow she didn't often appear frightening or unwelcoming, but there was a definite commanding presence about her.

They entered Evelyn's private office, where there was a private security officer on the door.

"Hugo," Evelyn said crisply as they walked through.

Inside were a man and a woman, both with dark, European features.

"This is Therese, and this is Antonio," Evelyn said. "They are my two most trusted associates, and were instrumental in obtaining Nécessaire."

"It's a pleasure," Tris said warmly, extending a hand to both of them, as did Uriah.

Tris noted another guard by what could only be the entrance to the safe room.

"Have a seat, I will have Leonard open up the safe room and bring Nécessaire out for you to see," Evelyn announced. "Therese, Antonio, you are welcome to stay."

"I can't wait to call Mother and tell her all about it," Tris said with an excited giggle to Uriah.

Evelyn appeared after a few minutes, carrying Nécessaire in a protective glass case.

Tris uttered a genuine, awed gasp. Nécessaire was beautiful, and a piece of lost history. An artefact that would mean much to many, and it was up to her to see that it ended up in the right hands.

"Nécessaire was given to Maria Feodorovna by Tsar Alexander III of Russia on Easter of 1889. As you can see it is decorated with many emeralds, rubies and sapphires. Its surprise is a 13 set diamond-encrusted manicure set. Perfectly exquisite," Evelyn said softly, looking lovingly at the egg.

Tris made appropriate oohing and ahing sounds and they spent several minutes discussing the history of Peter Carl Fabergé, the Romanov family and Imperial Russia.

"Well, I shall put Nécessaire back now, for safe keeping until I have it delivered to your mother," Evelyn said, standing and taking the egg back to the safe room.

As soon as her back was turned Tris began to speak almost inaudibly, knowing Uriah would hear her through his ear piece.

"Take Leonard first, then follow my lead," Tris said. "Now."

Uriah headed quietly for Leonard, and then suddenly grabbed him to disarm him. He was quiet, quick and efficient, but Leonard had cried out, sounding the alarm.

Evelyn had fled, Hugo going with her, and they had been gone from room for a few minutes by the time Antonio, Therese and Leonard were secured.

They had given Tris very little trouble, she had thrown a few punches, pulled her gun, and then cuffed them both, Uriah assisting her once Leonard was secure.

"We've got to find Evelyn and the other guard, now!" Tris barked at Uriah. "I'd bet they will have headed for the nearest exit. Let's move!"

They ran out of the office and headed straight for the front of the house, guns cocked and at the ready, both running flat out, their athleticism serving them well.

"Good thing I disabled the cars while when I went to the bathroom," Uriah called to Tris as they ran, looking for Evelyn and Hugo.

"Good," she said shortly, slowing as they ran out the front. "There, at that car! Careful, he'll be armed. She might be too."

A gun fired, the bullet zinging past Tris.

Hugo had seen them closing in and had started to open fire.

"Surrender!" Tris yelled, training her gun on Hugo.

Hugo shot again, Uriah dropping to the ground next to her.

Tris wasted no time in putting a bullet right in Hugo's forehead.

Evelyn was running, and Tris followed, yelling, "It's over Evelyn, stop and put your hands up."

Surprisingly, Evelyn stopped and turned. Tris began to approach her slowly, her gun trained on her.

"You had me completely fooled," Evelyn said, chuckling despairingly. "Your warmth was so inviting, so rejuvenating, you made me feel good, and that's something I hadn't felt in a long time. Of course I checked into you and your family thoroughly, but whoever you work for is very thorough, and you played your part to perfection. I let you in, and now I must pay the price."

"Evelyn, you've committed many crimes, you thought you would just get away with them?" Tris asked seriously.

"I just thought I was free, you know. I became intoxicated on freedom, on money, on power," Evelyn explained. "I got so wrapped up in it, and I enjoyed it. It helped to distract me from my past, something that I needed very much. I suppose you know that my organisation is referred to in certain circles as The Factionless?"

"Yes," Tris said shortly. She didn't know exactly where Evelyn was going with her monologue, but she was prepared to listen. She felt like she owed Four that much. Uriah weighed on her mind, but Evelyn was their priority.

"I named them that. I was from a place called Faction, and my life there was awful, so this new life is everything that it wasn't. I am free, I am Factionless," Evelyn explained sadly.

"You've still done the wrong thing, I've read your file, I know everything you've done," Tris said coldly. "I know you have a son, I know your husband was abusive, but your son was an innocent, and you left him to suffer! You trade in history that isn't yours, history that belongs to other people, to the world, and all for your own profit. You're going to pay for your crimes against humanity."

"We'll see about that," Evelyn said, her eyes hardening. "I know I must seem like a monster to you, for leaving my son. What woman could do that? I could never forget my son. He's happy now though, I think. I had someone look into him, and they found him. He's doing well, he's at a good school. I wish I could tell him that I'm sorry, and that I'm proud of him."

"You can write him from gaol," Tris said harshly. "Now, will you put your hands above your head? Or I will put a bullet in you."

Instead of doing that Evelyn quickly put her hand into a pocket and shoved something into her mouth.

"No!" Tris exclaimed, realising what she'd done. "It's not supposed to be this way!"

She lowered her gun and ran towards Evelyn, but it was no use, she had dropped to the ground, lifeless. Tris couldn't be sure but she assumed Evelyn had taken a cyanide pill.

"Shit!" Tris cursed, and turned to run for where she had last seen Uriah, lying motionless on the stained wooden floors of the Geisert mansion.

She was with him in minutes, and he was lying in an alarmingly large pool of his own blood.

"Uriah, you're not dying on me," she said earnestly. "Keep your eyes open, say something!"

"Tell Marlene I love her," he said weakly.

Tris ripped off her sweater and pressed it to his bleeding abdomen to compress the wound and stem the bleeding.

With one hand she grabbed her cell and dialled 144, barking out the address of her location, requested the police and medical assistance.

She then called Richard Noble, putting the phone on speaker, and giving him a quick rundown of the situation.

"Help's coming," Tris said tearfully to Uriah. "Just hold on."

AN: Thanks for reading.

Please review :) (I'm happy to post the next chapter once this one has 15 or so reviews, otherwise the next chapter will go up in a couple of days.)