Judas: Chapter 18
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DISCLAIMER: Most of these characters are not mine at all, but they are memorable. Thank you, Mr. Marlowe. The others? Yeah, they're mine
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8:11 p.m. West Coast Time on Thursday, April 26, 2012, at The Castles Complex in Sausalito, California
Elena Markov sits on the stone bench, her eyes closed, breathing the clear Northern California air, reveling in the aroma of the tall trees that surround her. She keeps her breathing controlled, as she has been trained to do.
For the past ten minutes, she has sat here alternately staring at the monument, and the stars above that break through in spots where the trees have made a clearing in the sky. She opens her eyes once more, staring at the monument, wondering who this woman was, and how different this place . . . this complex would be had that woman survived.
"One death changes everything," she speaks aloud. She has seen it before, how one death can change the trajectory of other lives . . . or in this case, of an entire project. She recalls how Richard Castle mentioned that their inability to save this one woman changed how they approached getting women here.
She closes her eyes again, focused on listening to her surroundings. After a few seconds, she smiles, finally hearing what she has been anticipating.
"Even expected, I barely hear you," she speaks aloud.
Lindy Matthews walks out from the forest into the clearing. In truth, the security warrior has been standing here for almost half a minute, just observing her adversary, and reminding herself of the surroundings in the clearing. She wants to have clear footing here in as the darkness engulfs the area known as the Z.
Elena brushes imaginary dust from her jeans and stands. She drops the backpack from around her shoulders, taking a long gaze at Matthews. Matthews wears jeans and a loose-fitting black sweatshirt. Matthews takes a few steps, confidently circling the Ukrainian woman.
"Your friend, Peggy, is being detained at the admin building," Lindy tells her, as the two women continue circling one another.
"We found a number of your listening devices around the complex," Matthews continues. "And the authorities are on the way here with their equivalent of a bomb squad, just in case you left any other surprises."
"I am not a monster, Miss Matthews," Elena tells her.
"That is good to know," Matthews replies, with a slight smile. "And the name is Lindy."
"Elena," Markov nods in understanding. It is a signal of mutual respect the two women grant one another.
"Why?" Lindy asks her. Elena Markov understands the question, and will not play games with a fellow warrior. That would show maximum disrespect.
"It was to be a favor to a . . . a friend of sorts," Elena tells her.
"You need new friends," Lindy tells her, eyes narrowing as she begins to look for an opening.
"That revelation has occurred to me as well," Elena replies with a nod, taking a quick step forward, and then back, to see how Matthews will react.
"Impressive," she thinks to herself, noticing that Lindy Matthews has not reacted to her feint at all.
The two women continue to circle, eyeing one another with growing admiration, recognizing certain movements.
"Muay Thai," Lindy remarks, nodding her head.
"South American Boxing," Elena replies, noticing Lindy's style. With the mutual recognition, both women shift stances.
"Sambo," Lindy comments, watching Elena switch.
"Hapkido," Elena replies once again, commenting on Lindy's new stance.
"You are as good as I expected," Lindy admits aloud. "It is a shame we meet under these circumstances."
Elena Markov merely nods her head, continuing to eye Lindy. Suddenly, without warning, the beautiful European drops to the grassy surface, sitting down, folding her legs under her hips.
"Not familiar with that particular move," Lindy comments with a chuckle. She stares at her adversary for a moment, noticing that Elena has once again closed her eyes. She gives the woman a three-count before mimicking her, joining her on the grass.
Neither woman speaks for a full minute, each comfortable with the uncomfortable silence. Another minute passes before Elena finally opens her eyes again, placing her gaze on the blonde across from her.
"Was Barry Adams truly involved in the kidnapping of forty-nine women?" she asks, surprising Matthews with the forthcoming manner.
"Involved?" Lindy laughs. It is a mirthless laugh. It pulls Elena's eyes into her own.
"He wasn't involved in anything," Lindy tells her. "He was the mastermind. He set the entire operation up."
Elena nods her head, and looks away, closing her eyes once more.
"Forty-nine women," Elena whispers.
"Yes," Lindy replies, her voice low. "Sex trafficked. Nasty business."
Elena gives no response, and Lindy can tell that this . . . confrontation . . . has moved in an entirely unexpected direction.
"You were expecting me," Lindy realizes aloud. "You could have hidden. You could have set an ambush. You didn't."
"I didn't," Elena agrees.
"Why not?" Lindy asks.
Elena closes her eyes once more, slowly pulling herself into a standing position again. She stretches her arms skyward, then walks over, sitting back down on the stone bench again.
Lindy Matthews remains seated, sensing there is no aggression coming from the European.
"I don't know why," Elena admits. "I have a debt that is owed. I am obligated to repay that debt."
Neither woman speaks for a few seconds, as Lindy considers what has just been said. She, too, pulls herself into a standing position and walks past Elena to the rock and stone monument. She allows herself to touch the smooth surface, then the jagged parts. It is fitting for the moment at hand.
"You don't strike me as a stupid woman," Lindy finally states. "Yet you find yourself in a position that only one who is either stupid, or one who ignores what might be in front of her finds themselves in. And you don't strike me as that type of person either."
Elena chuckles at the assessment, as Lindy continues.
"So, I have to ask myself, Elena," Lindy speaks with almost a whisper, "how does an assassin . . . a professional . . . find themselves indebted to a fucking monster? Because there is no other way to describe Barry Adams."
"It is a family debt," Elena tells her without hesitation.
"You can't be serious," Lindy remarks, now bristling and suddenly preparing herself once more for a violent conflict. If this is a family thing, then nothing is going to prevent the coming violence.
"You're his family?" Lindy asks, incredulously.
"No, dear God, no," Elena almost laughs. "But there is a debt owed to a family member, and Barry has collected on that debt."
Lindy considers this for a moment, and then nods her head in understanding.
"As you stated, I am an assassin. A professional," Elena remarks.
"As am I," Lindy replies, drawing an approving nod from the Ukrainian.
"I know," Elena answers. "But above even that, I am a woman. And forty-nine women all buy cry out for vengeance.
"Oh, that has already happened, believe me," Lindy tells her.
Elena nods, but continues her train of thought.
"I understand that those who were involved attacked this place, and did not survive," Elena states without emotion.
"That is true," Lindy replies. "And those who actually performed the kidnapping are . . . no longer with us either."
"Yet the one who – as you just stated – masterminded the entire sordid affair remains free. That makes no sense."
Lindy begins to speak, but Markov cuts her off before she can get the next thought out.
"I cannot allow such an affront to continue," Elena tells her. "Had I known his involvement, I would never have taken this job. Now that I know of his involvement, I cannot allow him to live."
Lindy considers these statements, and makes her decision. She walks from the monument to the stone bench, and sits beside the assassin. It is a move that draws both respect and admiration from the European, who realizes this woman has no fear of her.
"Let me tell you a story," Lindy begins. "My boss would love this, he is such a storyteller," she continues with a chuckle.
"The man who abducted those forty-nine women also inflicted Richard Castle – my boss – with a deadly drug."
Elena is aware of this, of course, but decides now is not the time for that piece of information to come out.
"This place," Lindy states, her hands moving outward back toward the complex grounds, "this place can take care of itself. That said, we have friends . . . powerful friends back in the city who are . . . let's say . . . on the other side of the judicial fence."
Elena laughs out loud at Lindy's definition of the criminal element, and before long, both women are laughing, sitting next to one another in the darkness.
"Those friends . . . one friend in particular," Lindy continues, "is the only reason that your councilman friend is still alive."
"He is keeping him alive?" Elena asks, the surprise evident in her voice.
"Not for the reason you might think," Lindy replies. "Sam is the most powerful man in San Francisco, and he has kept Adams alive for . . . for reasons of his own. I do not know, however, how long that will remain in effect."
"And you are telling me this because . . . "
"I am telling you," Lindy answers, "because I do not want a bloodbath in the city. If you fight them, it will not end well. And it will bring us into it, because we cannot stay on the sidelines. Not after what they have done for us."
"Richard Castle's daughter," Elena remarks.
"Yes, his daughter," Lindy acknowledges. "You and I have somehow – against all logic – seemed to put aside what would have been an interesting but deadly fight. You going to the city to take on Adams may very likely pull us back into such a fight, because for some reason, Sam wants Adams alive."
"That is twice you referred to him as Sam," Elena notes.
"That is his name," Lindy chuckles.
"And it is a name, it appears, that everyone here is very comfortable with."
"I understand you have met him earlier this afternoon," Lindy volleys back. She is growing fond of this woman. She is hoping she does not have to kill her . . . or certainly not be killed by her.
"I did," Elena smiles in response. "I look forward to . . . meeting him again. An intriguing man, for certain."
Elena stands up now, taking a long and deep breath, breathing in the scent of nature around her one last time.
"You can tell your friends to come out now," she tells Lindy. "My time here is over."
Markov picks up her backpack from the ground, slinging it around her shoulder and back, before turning toward Mike Monroe and Dawn Harrison, who step out from the cover of the trees.
"No sneaking up on either of you," Monroe offers with a smile. "So . . . everything is cool?" he asks Lindy.
"I believe so," Lindy replies, glancing over at Elena who is now walking past Monroe and Harrison, back toward the facilities.
"And you're going to just let her . . . go?" Dawn asks. True, she and Mike have heard the tail end of the exchange between the two warriors. But it still feels wrong to just let the woman walk away, free and clean.
"I am," Lindy offers with a nod to the retreating European. Elena, in return, offers a salute to Matthews.
"I will retrieve my friend and her daughters, and be out of your hair, shortly," Elena tells the group. "And I am . . . happy . . . that we leave . . . friendly, if not friends."
The foursome walk back toward the facilities until they reach the clearing. There, Mike Monroe and Dawn Harrison climb into the golf cart they left just minutes ago.
"You've got this?" Monroe asks, just to be certain.
"We are good, Mike," Lindy tells him, as she and Elena walk toward the administration building. They are quiet for a moment. Less than twenty yards from the door, Elena makes a simple declaration.
"He is your mate," she tells Lindy, who cannot suppress a chuckle.
"I would not put it quite like that, but yes," Lindy replies. "How did you –"
"Your guard came down ever so slightly when he appeared," the assassin tells her. "That is something you should work on. From what I can see, the man can take care of himself."
"Noted," Lindy nods, as they approach the door. It is an incredulous Richard Castle who opens the door for them, having been texted by Monroe that the foursome are returning back to the center.
"I . . . well . . ." Castle begins, but cannot find the words.
"Well, someone get a camera, the Boss has been rendered speechless," Lindy chuckles as she escorts Elena past Castle and Kate Beckett.
"Detective," Elena remarks, with a nod of the head.
"I don't go by that title anymore," Kate tells her, wondering why she would use the term.
"Yet you are still a detective, are you not?" Elena asks, then continues walking without a backward glance toward the conference room with Lindy, where Peggy Stanton and her daughters await.
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