A DEATH IN KASHMIR

So here's the next edition of A Death In Kashmir and because I've been working hard, there will probably be an additional chapter by the end of the week. :cool:

CHAPTER ELEVEN
DEMANDS

Vaughn heard a noise. He turned over, opening his eyes. Irina was standing at the bars that separated their cells. He yawned, then got up. He wondered what she wanted. He glanced at his watch. It was six in the morning.

“You and I have to talk.” Irina motioned him closer. “It’s about Bill, your father.” She held his gaze. “We’re in a lot of trouble.”

“Yes, I gathered that,” he remarked dryly.

“This prison,” she paused, “is where I killed your father.” Vaughn suddenly felt sick to his stomach. Irina saw his reaction. “You didn’t believe me when I told you how and why it happened?” He didn’t speak. Her dark eyes never left his. “What’s more, you are in the cell he was in twenty-two years ago. And I,” she continued, “am in my cell.”

“Why, why are you telling me this?”

“I want you to really understand what happened here.” She braced herself with her hands on the bars, gripping them until the knuckles turned white. Irina looked through the bars at the floor of Vaughn’s cell. She remembered Bill “Gringo” Vaughn vividly. His strength and will had given her courage. He had taught her what courage was. She would never forget him, ever. She remained silent staring at the floor. Then from a distance she heard voices and footsteps. She looked at Vaughn. He looked as though he could kill her.

“Except for Jack, your father was the bravest man I knew. I want you to remember that, no matter what happens to us and, because I don’t know how much Mohammad Kabir knows about me—or you for that matter.”

Moments later, Kabir entered followed by Ali and another man, both of whom were carrying guns. “Did you have a good night’s rest?” He grinned and unlocked their cell doors.

“It would have been better if we had not been handcuffed.” Irina said flatly, moving to the bars at the door.

“Yeah,” croaked Vaughn, coming alive, “and more food and water would have been nice also.”

Kabir laughed. “I’m glad you are enjoying my hospitality. Come,” the two henchmen unlocked each cell, “we will spend a pleasant morning discussing the ransom.”

They were taken to a larger room. Irina remembered it well. But now, there was a digital video camera on a nearby table. It was the one wall she looked at…the one that had steel rings stapled into it. The rings were still there. She hoped this was not going to be painful.

“Put the woman in the chair.” He indicated one at the table. “Hang him up on the first ring.”

The handcuffs were unlocked from her left wrist. She was put in the chair he indicated and then both wrists were handcuffed again behind the chair back. Vaughn was put up on the steel ring. Fortunately he was tall enough to stand.

“So, Colonel, do I get my money?” Kabir picked up the video camera.

“Forty million dollars?” She snapped. “Don’t be a fool.”

Kabir smiled. He nodded to Ali as he turned the camera on and pointed it at Vaughn. Ali took a whip from a hook near the door. He snapped it open, then whipped it across Vaughn’s back. Fortunately they had not stripped him and his clothing kept the whip from cutting him.

“So he is to be your son-in-law?” He nodded at Ali, who lashed Vaughn again.
“Since you killed his father, I find his forgiveness interesting. If I were him, you and your daughter would be dead.”

“Who said I forgave her?” Vaughn said while pressing his head against the wall, trying not to think about the pain.

Irina said nothing. Kabir did know. She did not want to bait him. She glanced at Vaughn who was now standing still. He had taken two bad blows from the whip. Mohammad motioned to Ali with two fingers. Vaughn received two more lashes. This time he did make a sound. Still they had not cut through his clothing.

“Stop!” Irina said quietly.

“You will make the ransom video?”

She nodded. She didn’t want Vaughn to get hurt anymore. After this was over, he and Sydney were to be married. She realized there would be problems if she let them continue to beat him. After all, she had yet to meet Ginny Vaughn, his mother. It was going to be a tough enough dialogue without adding Vaughn’s beating to it. She didn’t think Sydney would like it either.

“What do you want me to say?”

“Nothing!” He smiled. He motioned to another man. “Abdullah, put her up next to the man.

She looked at him oddly. She had agreed to make the video. She looked over to Vaughn. He seemed to be breathing heavily, as though trying to shake off the experience of being whipped. “I don’t understand?” she said as the other man pulled her out of the chair. He put the handcuffs through the ring and handcuffed her again.

“I said I would pay!”

Kabir nodded to Ali, who took the whip back, then snaked it forward. It hit her with a terrible force. She grunted. The whip struck her again. She gasped. She hadn’t felt as much pain as she thought, but then she was wearing her jacket.

“Take them both down.” Kabir ordered.

Ali put Vaughn in a chair and Abdullah put her in another. Kabir smiled. “Now your family knows what will happen to you if I don’t get my money.” He looked at Irina. “You will tell your daughter to arrange to have that forty million dollars electronically deposited to this account at this bank.” He gave her a slip of paper. “Read this.”

“Sydney, our kidnappers want forty million dollars electronically deposited to account number 5590-993234 at the Bank of the New Switzerland in Lucerne. Have it there by noon tomorrow or Vaughn and I will be tortured again.” She tried to make her voice calm. She figured that gave Sydney about 15 hours to get things coordinated with Aleksey. If she didn’t—Irina’s eyes turned toward Vaughn who was watching her, his eyes angry. He knew what might lie ahead if Sydney couldn’t manage it.

Irina looked at Kabir. “I don’t keep that kind of cash around. It might take longer to gather, put in my bank and then transfer.”

“Noon tomorrow.” He grinned. “I’ll wager your children won’t let you down.”
He nodded to Ali and Abdullah. “Take them back to their cells. Leave the handcuffs off. Feed them.”

Moments later, Irina and Vaughn were put into their cells for the long wait. Ali came back with two cups of water, some dried meat of some kind and bread. He put the food outside the cell doors. They would have to get it. Evidently Mohammad had warned his men not to get too close to the pair while they were not handcuffed.

Irina took her food and ate slowly. Vaughn was doing the same. “We have to talk, Michael.” She finished the food, stood up and walked to the bars separating them. “You and I need to come to an understanding about your father.”

“You killed him.” He said flatly, and with coldness, she’d never heard in his voice before.

She didn’t flinch, but gazed at him calmly for a minute before speaking. “Your father was being tortured for information about his Russian contacts. The interrogators broke every bone in his legs, ankles and feet. Then they broke every bone in his arms, wrists and hands. They were unbelievably swollen. He was in agony, but still he did not talk. So,” she paused, remembering that awful day, “they brought me to his interrogation room. They offered to send me home the very next day so I could have my child born in a hospital if I would kill him.”

There were tears running down his face. He wanted to stop her, even kill her.
“I don’t believe you.”

“Your father begged me to shoot him he was in such pain. The KGB would never let him go either. He was dying. I could help him only one way.” She did not go further. She looked at him. “I told you what he told me to tell his family. What became of that? You rushed out before I hardly had the words out of my mouth.” She pressed.

“Nothing!” He muttered. “I thought it was about a clock my father had given to mother, but it was destroyed when an earthquake happened in 1983 and mother didn’t keep it around. She threw it out.”

“Then you are being obstinate and stupid.” She turned back to her bunk.

“And you are a lying, murdering b---h!” He snarled. “You are a constant thorn in Sydney’s life. I wish you were dead.”

“Good night, Agent Vaughn.” Irina snapped.

She sat down and drew up her long legs and crossed them. She didn’t look at him instead she put both hands out on either side and closed her eyes. She needed to mentally go away for a while. She knew Sydney and Aleksey wouldn’t be able to get that much cash together by noon. It was going to be a difficult day.

Outside the door to the cellblock, Kabir had been listening. Interesting! He wondered if he could use this growing anger in the man to his benefit. He would have to think about it some more.

Irina and Vaughn had been missing 45 hours.


*** Humm...things are not working out well with our kidnapped victims. :cool:
 
Yo, and before I could turn around, here's another chapter. If I keep pounding the computer I may have another before Sunday...
:cool:

CHAPTER TWELVE
RANSOM

The message came by way of the hotel clerk. A phone call had been received at three o’clock and the operator had not forwarded it immediately. Will called Marshall to get over to the room with his computer. He looked at his watch. It was ten o’clock.

Following the directions, Marshall brought up the message. “It’s also got a video attachment.” He punched in some numbers, waited.

Moments later he and Will watched the tape and heard Irina’s message to Sydney. Will picked up the cell phone and made the call. Jack answered instantly. “Yes!”

“Jack, we just got the ransom demand.”

“Well, what is it?”

Will grimaced. “Do you have your laptop with you? We can forward it. And,’ he added, “we’ll need to get in touch with Aleksey.”

“Yes.” Jack gave the instructions to forward to the laptop they had. “You can do it immediately. Sydney and I will call Aleksey. He’s expecting to hear from us.”

“Where are you?”

“Not far enough.” Jack answered. “Our main problem is landing at a close enough airfield.”

“Understood.” Will looked at Marshall, who nodded. “Sir, Marshall has forwarded the message. I’ll sign off. Call back if you need to give further instructions.”


Jack, Sydney and Dixon watched the video. “Forty million,” he whistled and looked at his daughter, who was biting her lip. “Has Irina got that amount?”

“Not on hand. Aleksey can give us a better picture of her current finances.”

Dixon glanced at his watch. “Noon tomorrow…not impossible for us to get there by then. We might need a large amount of luck.”

Sydney was at the computer, forwarding the message to Aleksey. Jack was on the phone to him at the same time to tell him to watch then call back. They waited anxiously.

Then Sydney’s videophone buzzed. She opened it so both she and Jack were visible to Aleksey. “What do you think?”

“We don’t have enough available assets to cash out to forty million. Why so large an amount?”

“Dad?” Sydney looked at him. “Do you know?”

He shook his head. “Honey, I don’t have a clue and there’s no way we can negotiate or find out why.” He looked anxious.

Dixon looked at the two, “We’d better try to get there by noon tomorrow.”

Jack had an idea. “What about your grandfather? Suppose he could help us with the ransom. I mean he is a ranking official of the Russian government?”

Sydney looked at the phone and at Aleksey. “We’re going to get in touch with grandfather. He’s at our hotel in Paris. The Sans Souci. Give me fifteen minutes, then call him.”

Back at the hotel, Will and the others had gathered in Sydney’s suite. He passed on the news about the ransom demand. Ginny Vaughn was crying and Weiss was holding her hand nervously, not knowing exactly how to help her. General Probukov was the last to arrive. He had been on the phone to his grandson, Aleksey, in Moscow. He filled them in on what had been discussed.

“The bottom line, Irina doesn’t have the cash available. The Russian government is not going to pay it either.” He was worried. “We have to hope Jack, Sydney and Dixon get there before it is too late.”

“Can SVR help? They are closer than CIA. They are going to need someplace close to that prison to land? They need transportation to the prison?”

General Probukov thought, “They could parachute close and hike into the area.”

Will and Marshall looked at each other. That might be the only solution. “Marshall contact Jack. He might as well start planning his next step.”


“Damn,” said Jack. “Are you two willing?”

“Dad, it’s Vaughn and Mom.”

Dixon smiled, “Count me in, sir.”

“Sydney, get a hold of Langley. We need their best maps, especially the most recent topographical ones. Check with pilot, Marcus, to be sure we have parachutes aboard. We’ve got the firepower. Can you think of anything else?”
“Do we have climbing rope? No telling how we’re going to get inside.” Sydney frowned. “I think I know the way thru the mine field. I committed it to memory as Mom led us through it.”

“It may come to that. When you talk to Langley we need infra pix on the guard situation. How many and where.”

“Marcus, be sure to ask when we have to refuel. We may need to get other supplies, especially rope.”

Jack got on his cell phone and called Will back at the hotel. “Will, we’re going to have to go in but I’m afraid we’re not going to be there by noon. Please tell the General and Mrs. Vaughn we’ll do our best. Irina and Vaughn may be in for a tough time. I have no idea what their kidnappers will do when the money is not there.” He didn’t explain what he was thinking.

“Yes sir, I understand.” Will put the phone down, looking at the others who were watching him. He didn’t smile, but said solemnly. “It looks like they won’t get there by noontime—the deadline.”

“Will, what will they do to them?” Ginny asked, tears in her eyes.

He shook his head. “I don’t know. Hopefully the kidnappers will set a new deadline and that will give Jack, Sydney and Dixon time.”
 
The joys of an awesome story!!!! YaY!!!

This totaly rocks...the tension, the drama!!! The suspense, I can't take it any more *faints*
 
K. Ackles Posted on Jul 24 2003, 12:46 AM
This totaly rocks...the tension, the drama!!! The suspense, I can't take it any more *faints*

OMG what's going to happen when I post the next chapter? Please don't faint anymore...:sly: Where this story is going is where no story has gone before... (laughs wickedly) :rotflmao:

:cool:
 
Post More, Post More Post More!!!!! I just printed off the previous 2 chapters and read them during English. My teacher confinscated the writting, but when he read it, he thought it was really good, so congrats on that.
 
K. Ackles Posted on Jul 26 2003, 05:00 AM
Post More, Post More Post More!!!!! I just printed off the previous 2 chapters and read them during English. My teacher confinscated the writting, but when he read it, he thought it was really good, so congrats on that

Thanks for the kind words via your teacher. More is coming very soon. :cool:
 
YaY!!!! I look forward to it!!!! I'm getting lotsa rest fainting after reading all these good fics!!! So just for fun *faints*
 
So now we find our hero / heroine (Your choice) in some really hot water. Read on and tell me what you think is going to happen. :cool:


CHAPTER 13
DUEL


Mohammad Kabir was furious. He had contacted the bank and found that no money had been transferred to the account he had set up. He got into his jeep and the driver drove him to the old prison, some two hours away. He had to have a serious talk with Irina Derevko and her son-in-law to be.

He arrived and motioned for the guards to come with him. They went down the stairs towards the cellblock. Drawing closer he heard voices, loud voices emanating from it. He took the key in his pocket and opened the door, hearing now Irina, seemingly in a rage, cursing Vaughn.

“You idiot,” she was shouting. “You never did believe what I told you.”

“Christ almighty, Derevko, you’re a pathological liar. We all know that. You never stopped lying from the moment you turned yourself into the CIA. You lied every time you talked to Sydney. You used her to get what you wanted. You made a deal with the devil.”

“You wouldn’t know –“ she stopped as Kabir walked up looking angry. She turned on him. “And you didn’t get your money, did you? I told you they needed time. I don’t have that kind of cash!”

“They need to hear a little more so they know I mean business.” He retorted.

She looked like a raging tigress. Her nostrils flared, her eyes pinned him where he stood “Of course they need to know you mean business.” Her voice snarled with dripping sarcasm. “You kidnap us and bring us half-way around the world to this God-forsaken place, just to have tea?” She exploded. “You are a worthless son of a pig! Both of you” She gestured at Vaughn, who looked as angry as she was. She saw too that Kabir’s face had turned purple in anger. Calling him a pig was a terrible insult to the Muslim.

“Stand back from the door,” Kabir yelled. “Get back to the bunk.” When she had done so, he ordered two men inside. “Hands on your head!” When she had done so, the two men put the manacles on her wrists.

Meanwhile the other two guards had opened Vaughn’s cell and put manacles on him also. He stood seething as Irina was yanked outside her cell. She fell forward. Vaughn laughed. She was up quickly, turning on him. She struck him in the chest hard, pushing him into Kabir and they both fell down. Irina lashed out with her boot, catching Vaughn on his left side. He grunted as Kabir shoved him to the floor, struggling to get up before he became victim to the woman’s rage.

“Put her up on the wall,” he roared, “and him also.”


The guards grabbed her arms, hustling her down the hallway to the interrogation room. She was kicking at them, but they were bigger and weighed another hundred pounds more than she did. She managed to kick first one than the other before they had her shackled to the wall facing the table and chair where Kabir was seating himself. One guard hit her on her left side causing her legs to momentarily buckle. Vaughn was less active with the guards having seen what they did to Irina. He too was placed on the wall facing Kabir.

A stream of Russian words came pouring from Irina’s mouth and anger was clearly visible on her face. It did not take much imagination to know she was cursing in her best Russian.

Vaughn laughed at her, “Silly [EDIT]. That’s not going to do you any good.”

“You little creep– wait until I tell Sydney about your being afraid to fight back.” She pulled at the manacles to see if they were loose.

Vaughn colored. “I wish I could show you how I can fight. I’d take you down so fast, your Russian butt wouldn’t know what hit it!”

Kabir was suddenly laughing at the pair of them, observing, “You two really don’t like one another, do you?”

“You’d never touch me.” She lashed out with her left foot, missing him by about six inches. “You’re a coward and a loud-mouthed stupid bastard who has played my daughter for the fool. Good thing I find this out now.”

“Yeah, well if I weren’t hooked up to this wall, I’d show you who’s a coward!” His voice and anger were escalating.

“Shut up,” shouted Mohammad. “You two are both stupid. You’re my prisoners and I’m in charge.” He had their attention. “Now then, suppose I arrange for the two of you to have a fight?”

“What do you mean,” asked Vaughn, seemingly intrigued.

“Just that.” Mohammad looked at Ali, his senior guard. “Ali –“ he whispered something in his ear. Ali nodded and left. “Very well. Ali is going to my castle for weapons. In the meantime, Abdullah and Barak, you will take the woman back to her cell. Hit her again if she gives you any trouble. Simeon, I don’t think you’ll have any trouble with Mr. Vaughn. You take him.”

It was nearly five o’clock when Kabir returned with the guards. Neither Vaughn nor Irina had said anything to each other. Irina had been meditating. Vaughn had laid on his bunk thinking, wondering where Sydney was and what she was doing. He hadn’t looked at Irina since they were brought back. He knew she was probably into a deep sleep. She certainly had her ways. He wondered what Kabir meant by weapons. He wouldn’t give either of them a gun. What else? Knives?

As if to answer his unspoken question, he heard the door to the cellblock open and voices coming near. Moments later, Kabir and his men appeared bearing something wrapped in cloth.

“Get them out.” He ordered.

Irina opened her eyes, eyeing the cloth bundle. She stepped down from her bunk and went to the door. Vaughn also was waiting to be let out. He stared at her without saying anything. She glared back, but kept her mouth shut. The doors were opened and the four guards took them each out to the hall. Kabir turned and led the way, down the hallway and up some stairs. They had passed the interrogation room. At the top of the stairs, he turned left. Kabir entered another doorway, which opened out into a much larger room. Irina and Vaughn could see it had been some sort of meeting room. It was empty now. There was a door to their left. A window beside it revealed some sort of terrace beyond.

“Now then,” Kabir unwrapped the cloth, revealing two rapiers without anything covering the sharp tips. “These will do nicely for your fight. They have been in my family since the early 17th century.”

Irina grinned. “Perfect!”

Vaughn looked at the weapon. It was a long, straight two-edged sword with a large cup hilt. He’d only seen these used for dueling in movies. What the hell was he supposed to do with it and how? Kabir let him choose first since Irina had offered the challenge. He took one not knowing whether it was any better than the other.

“The rules are simple. The first one to draw blood anywhere from head to foot is the winner.” He laughed. “And if the bloodletting should end in the death of one of you, so be it. On my count of three then, One…Two…Three.”

Vaughn lunged, swinging the rapier at Irina, who jumped back.

They had been missing for 81 hours.
 
Death in Kashmere said:
“Shut up,” shouted Mohammad. “You two are both stupid. You’re my prisoners and I’m in charge.” He had their attention. “Now then, suppose I arrange for the two of you to have a fight?”

Now I'm chorttling at your story!!! I love this, I can see Irina doing all of that!!! Wahoo...action scenes! And Vaughn is a stupid git, so I think that's a good portrayal as well. The subtlty with which you show us that he lacks culture, and Irina has been around is great!!! I'm enjoying this thoroughly!!!

Keep up the amazing work!
 
Half way to the end.
Love the feedback.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
MINE FIELD


They landed in Kandahar with the permission of the Army. Ever since the U. S. had driven out the Taliban, the airfield was under a joint rule. The CIA had operatives there assisting the Army in its search for Bin Laden. Langley had notified them Jack and his party was going to be landing and they were to be refueled and given any supplies he might need. It was close to two o’clock and they still had a few hundred miles to go before reaching the prison in Kashmir. Jack was on the computer with Langley and then with Marshall. He was going over the topographical maps he had been forwarded of the area. They did not have any updated maps, as the area had not been important. The CIA had respected Pakistan and India’s request for no fly-over of their territories. The U. S. wanted to keep relations stable with the two countries.

“Sydney,” Jack called, “this is what we’ve got.” Marcus Dixon was trying to scrounge supplies they needed.

She looked over his shoulder. “That’s about what we got for the mission last year.”

“According to the one fly-over the satellite performed, there are multiple guards outside by the main entrance.” He pointed. “No one is on this terrace because there is a sheer drop of,” he looked at the screen, “about a thousand feet. There doesn’t seem to be anyone at the rear either. I guess the kidnapper knows about the mine field.”

She stared at the screen. “Looks like I’ll have to lead us through.”

“You’re sure you remember?” He looked at her.

“Absolutely. But we should probably try to get there while there’s still some light left.”

He stood up, putting both hands on her shoulders. “Are you going to be all right? It’s liable to be dangerous.”

“I know, but Vaughn…” she sighed. “…and Mom, too!”

“They’ll be all right, honey. We need you to keep your wits about you for this mission. Dixon and I are counting on you.”

She gave him a hug. “I’ll be okay, Dad.”

A half hour later, the plane took off, heading east toward Pakistan. The CIA and State Department as well as the Russian government had persuaded the Pakistan and India governments to allow the plane over their airspace. The plane was on a rescue mission to rescue a highly regarded Russian official and a CIA agent who had been kidnapped.

Jack wondered if a new demand had been forthcoming. Marshall emailed him that there was nothing from the kidnappers. Those left in Paris were worried and especially Vaughn’s mother. It had been over three days since the pair had been abducted.

“Tell Will he’s got to keep everyone, including Ginny and the General from getting too emotional. We’ll keep you all posted.”

“Dad,’ Sydney said, “Why don’t we use the satellite COM links to keep everyone posted. We can go silent once we’re inside. It will give them some sense of how we’re progressing.”

“Okay, but once we enter the building, the COM links will turned off.” He looked at her. “Get your Kevlar vest on.” He handed her the black Special Forces vest that could stop bullets. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

She smiled. Things had certainly changed in her life the past two years. Her Dad had opened up, become less forbidding. She had a new love in her life and was going to be married. She was going to get out of the CIA and the spy business. Best of all she had her mother back who loved her. Now two of the three people she loved the most were in serious trouble. She and her father were working together, to free them both. She hoped this was the last mission she would ever have to do.

Dixon came into the cabin. “We’re ready to go, Jack.”

“We’re going to parachute over to this field on the other side of the mined area. Sydney is going to lead us thru and into the rear of the prison. It will take us at least thirty minutes once we’re down. Did you get everything we need?”

“Yes, including extra ammo. We’ll each have a thirty pound pack and a lightweight machine gun as well as a holstered automatics.” He gestured to packs he had left near the doorway.

“Good. Tell the pilot to get going.”

Sydney pulled the Kevlar vest over her chest and back Jack helped her on with a polartec jacket and gloves. They all would be wearing these when they jumped. They sat down to wait. The plane left the ground, heading east. It would take over two and a half hours for them to get to the jump point.
 
YaY!!!! Another totally awesome chapter!!! I still hope that Irina shoves her little duelly swordy thing right through Vaughns annoying guts!! But for some reason I can't see her hurting someone Syd loves as much as you have portrayed she does. *sigh*

Maybe she can kill him in one of my fics...hehehehe...

Ooops...off topic, sorry :D

Brilliant! Loved it at CIA, loved reading it here!
 
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