Chapter 9

Trigger Warning: Strong language and physical violence

Addi Birol gathered his fighters and lieutenants at dawn. Today was the day the world would know and fear the name Karbala. His engineer had prepared a bomb fitted into a suitcase that would blend in at any airport. It would have a trigger giving 120 seconds until detonation, enough time to get clear but not so long the suitcase would be noticed. Addi would drop off Phyllis at Drop Off Area 3 where she would walk to Drop Off Area 4 which was located at the end of the terminals so they could make a quick escape. Phyllis would place the suitcase bomb near the entrance doors, click the detonation switch and continue walking, Mara would then signal Birol that it was done and move away. Birol would quickly rush around the corner, where Phyllis could jump in and they would leave. Mara would clear the area and meet them back at the safe-house. There had been word that news crews were there that day to cover another event so their bombing would be recorded and Karbala would get their due worldwide recognition.

The plan was in motion. Birol dropped off Phyllis who walked with the suitcase. She passed an airline pilot who she thought she recognized as Lee Stetson, Scarecrow. The Agency was here? No matter, they had no idea this was the bomb. In fact, this would be even better, if the bomb exploded while the Agency was there and did nothing, they would be further demonstration of Karbala's power. As she walked, she looked to her right. It was Amanda King! She was part of the cover, a member of Scarecrow's team. This would mean she would be any part of his cover for Part II of their plan. This was coming together brilliantly. Addi would be pleased and she would be rewarded.

Phyllis placed the suitcase bomb as planned, clicked the trigger and kept walking. She heard someone sneeze, did that come from Mara? Suddenly a voice yelled out,

"The woman in the black jeans!" They had identified her. How? What happened? A woman dressed as a flight attendant, clearly an agent, grabbed her while another man came and forced her into handcuffs. She tried to pull away but there were too strong. Mara ran into the terminal away from the bomb.

Suddenly, she saw Addi's truck come barreling around the corner. Scarecrow had picked up the suitcase and Addi was aiming for him. Another voice, female, yelled.

"Lee! Look out!" It was Amanda King. Scarecrow jumped back out of the way, knocking over the agents which allowed her to break free. Addi stopped long enough for her to leap into the back of the truck and lie down as he took off.

The bomb was neutralized. How did they know? Was the sneeze from Mara? Did she alert them? Was she Night Crawler?

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When Addi Birol returned with her to the safe-house He was livid. Phyllis was terrified he would blame her and she would be punished. No matter, she swore her life to him after he saved her from the hands of an abusive husband. He told her she was the victim and gave her the strength to not only leave that bastard, but put a bullet in his head. In return for his protection, she owed him her life. It was okay because Addi Birol was a visionary. He fought for those who had been enslaved by their oppressors. She would follow him anywhere and if he chose to punish her, it was only because she deserved it.

However, not all was not lost today. She knew that taking Amanda King would work. She knew this was how he could trap Night Crawler and take down Scarecrow. While the bomb did not detonate as planned, maybe they had something better. Finally, she needed to warn him about her suspicions about Mara. Was Mara indeed Night Crawler?

Addi pulled her out of the back of the truck without removing the handcuffs placed on her by the federal agents. He shoved her into the house.

"What did you do?" Addi screamed at her. "You failed me!"

"Addi, please listen" Phyllis pleaded trying to stand back up, "I know the bombing did not work, but Scarecrow was there. Right after I placed the bomb,I heard someone sneeze. It was Mara. I think she was alerting him. Addi, I know you don't believe me, but you must know, I think Mara is Night Crawler. "

"Oh, how convenient. You have always been jealous of Mara, so you blame her for your mistakes and make these accusations." Addi's eyes were wild, angry. "Maybe you tipped him off. I thought you were sworn to Karbala." She felt the sting as he slapped her hard. He then grabbed her by the arm and forcefully heaved her against the wall. She dropped to her knees in front of him.

"Addi, I swear my allegiance to you. You saved me and I would do anything for you. I whored myself so you could get information from the Agency. Please listen to me." Phyllis tried to explain. "It was not me. I swear it. I heard her sneeze and then Scarecrow yelled that I was the target. That was how they identified me."

"Lies! Perhaps you enjoyed fucking that agent." he yelled, slapping her again as she fell to the ground.

"Please Addi, listen, Amanda King was also there. She is part of the cover." Phyllis desperately tried to explain to him.

"So what are you saying?"

"I'm saying there is a better plan: the interview. If we do it, and Mara is Night Crawler, she will tell Scarecrow and the Agency will be there. Then you will not only know she is Night Crawler but also capture Amanda King. I can identify her. Then, we will have Scarecrow exactly where we want him. We can do this. Please believe me."

"Why should I trust you?" Birol asked, clearly he was now considering the interview.

"Because I know if I betray you again, I get a bullet." Phyllis could never tell what was going through his mind. However, his expression changed. He relaxed his stance.

"Gather the others, except Mara. We can move forward with the trap, but only tell Mara I want the interview." Birol said. "If this works, you will be rewarded. If this fails, and Mara is not Night Crawler or I don't capture Amanda King you will wish for a bullet."

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Two days after the Dulles incident the Agency was abuzz with news. A message via their news front was received indicating that Addi Birol was ready to make a statement. He would appear for a televised statement to make his ultimatum. They had him! Unbeknownst to Lee, Amanda and everyone at the Agency, a few miles away Addi Birol, Phyllis and his team were preparing for something a little different.

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Lee and Billy stayed late and had dinner while discussing the plan the night before the interview with Birol. During their discussion, Lee got the feeling from Billy that indeed, the relationship between he and Amanda may not be as secret as they had hoped. Billy informed him of a potential job offer from the State Department Bureau of Intelligence and Research that could allow Lee to take his career in a new direction. A direction that would allow him to raise a family. Lee was not ready to discuss it yet, so he rebuffed the offer, but then something strange happened. There was a tingling of excitement in his gut. At first Lee took it as nerves for the operation tomorrow, but as he thought more he realized that wasn't it. He let his mind drift to Billy's suggestion, he thought of living in a home with Amanda and her boys, then another thought shook him to his core, what if he and Amanda had more children. The tingling of excitement returned. An epiphany emerged: he missed out on the entire family experience after his parents died. However, maybe, just maybe, he could have the family experience now. As Billy put it, he had been a "lone wolf" too long.

He had always loved the excitement that the intelligence operative lifestyle provided. But it didn't feel the same anymore. Something had changed. He was tired of traveling place to place and always putting his life on hold. He was only in is mid thirties, so it was not too late to make a new life for himself. Maybe now was the time for a new adventure, one mundane to most but frankly foreign and intriguing to him. The adventure of raising a family of his own. A legacy to leave behind. Again, the tingling in his gut. The enormity of this realization took hold and the room started to spin a bit. He took a deep breath the calm himself. Billy noticed the change in his demeanor.

"Lee, you okay?" He asked.

"Yeah," Lee responded trying to brush it off. "Just a little pre-mission excitement. I'm fine."

Woah, Stetson he thought. He needed to slow down. There was a time and place for everything, and now was most definitely not the time nor the place. Let's keep your mind on this mission. After this was over, Lee decided he and Amanda could take that weekend away and discuss a potential new mission: The Stetson family?

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Phyllis would meet the news van on her motorcycle to take them to the warehouse for the interview. This would allow her to see everyone who followed and allow her to watch for Amanda King. She pulled up next to the van and lifted her visor. Amanda King was in the van! This would be easier than they thought. She motioned and the van followed her back to the warehouse where she hopped off her motorcycle and approached Amanda King.

"Two go in, I stay here. Ten minutes and we're out." Amanda told her, totally unaware of her soon to be fate.

"That's it. You sit in the van." Phyllis told her, never removing her helmet. She ran into the warehouse and stood near Addi. Lifting her visor:

"Amanda King is in the news van. She is alone." She whispered. Addi nodded. She would be rewarded.

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The whole interview was a bust, a fake, a ruse! Lee ran through the smoke and out into the street. What the hell was going on? He searched for the van? Where was it? Her turned to see it disappear around a corner. No! No! No! This could not be happening. The interview was a set up. A set up to kidnap Amanda! How could he have let this happen? How did he let his guard down? Lee had been trained not to panic, but he could not help it, his worst nightmare had come true. He could not lose his Amanda!