Chapter 5
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Irina got behind the wheel of Jack’s Mercedes Benz SLK350 Roadster and drove for hours, she didn’t have a destination, she just drove. Finally when the sun was starting to rise she decided to return to the only place she felt safe. She was calm and collect the whole time.
She walked into he private headquarters and held herself together, right past the agents sprawled out on their desks and on the floor, with vodka bottles in hand, she even thought that she spotted a bottle of red cordial but she wasn’t sure. She stepped out of the elevator into her private floor of the warehouse and fell to her knees. The tears came so easily and refused to stop. She cried for so many reasons, she cried because she had shot the man she loved. She cried because he had betrayed her and was working with a man that she thought was dead. She cried because now she might never see her daughters again. She cried for an hour and a half without signs of stopping. When it finally subsided she looked around her lavishly decorated apartment and wanted to break something. the Ming Dynasty vase she stole form the emperor of China, The crown jewels, the original Mona Lisa, she had stolen in the late 70’s, The and many other priceless works of art and antiques. She wanted to break something priceless, just to appease her pain.
The elevator bell dinged as someone reached her floor, she walked to her bed and climbed into it, knowing that only two other people had access to her apartment, her first in command, and her bodyguard.
“Irina, are you ok?” Her first in command asked her, “You seemed different somehow when you came in. And please excuse the mess downstairs, they’ve been working hard and needed a break.”
“I am fine, thank you. And I understand, I wish I could just blow off steam and down a bottle of absolut sometimes too. What brings you up here? Other than my acting differently of course.” Irina asked
“Sydney and Nadia have been abducted. They were ambushed by armed assailants, while running yesterday morning. No one is claiming responsibility yet, but they have made demands.” Crys stated
“Why wasn’t I notified of this earlier?” Irina asked angrily jumping from her bed.
“Because we couldn’t find you. We figured you were on one of your many soul searching trips.” The first in command answered saltily
“What do you mean you didn’t know where I went? We do have surveillance cameras still don’t we? Katya stabbed me and abducted me. I’ve been missing for a week. How could you not notice I was gone.”
“I’m sorry I don’t know how she could have evaded to security check points. But I do have some good news.” Crys interrupted
“She got in because there is a leak in our organization ребенок. I want them found, and you can interrogate them until the tell you everything. But let them live, I want to deal with them. Now the good news.” Irina commanded with her usually authority.
“We have coordinates of where they are being held. We intercepted the communicae between Dixon and the abductors. They are being held not far from North Park on Rue La Fayette in Paris. He don’t have the exact building yet, but the tech department should have that information in the time it would take to fly to Paris.”
Irina was tired, and needed a good two weeks to fully recuperate from all she had just been through but her daughters were more important to her.
“Ok, I want you to assemble the best four agents we have and brief them. I want them ready with in the hour. I need to shower and get ready myself.” Irina dismissed her first in command. Once the elevator doors were shut Irina took the discs form her pocket and put the one labeled SAB47 into the cd drive. As Irina read the information on her screen Irina realized that the deceptions she had become aware of were far worse than she could have imagined. But she would have worry about those things later right now she had daughters to save.
The faces of the agents that Irina’s first in command has chosen were familiar to her. She knew most of all of them by name except for one. That one face happened to be the only male in the group. Irina chuckled to herself as she got into the drivers seat of the black Escalade and put the vehicle into drive. “Just like Crys to assemble a mostly female team.” Irina thought to herself humorously, but she trusted Crys’ judgment. They reached the Jensen Airport, a small private airfield, that held Irina’s fleet. The six agents settled in on the plane and were silent. The young man, who Irina now recalled went by the call sign southpaw, was the first was the first to speak.
“Um… Could someone clarify something for me please? I am going to disable the security system. But I’m not a computer person. I’m better with intel and marksmenship.” He protested.
“We know that, which is why you are disabling the system. The area is heavily guarded and we need someone that is good with a gun on the first line. We will be helping you via sat. comm. We’ll be with you every step of the way.” the woman she knew as Erika explained.
“You won’t be alone, I’ll be right beside you the whole time,” Crys spoke calmly, “Mac will be on the roof of the adjacent building with a snipers rifle if anyone unexpected joins us that we don’t know about. Emma be the secondary team with Irina. And Erika, will of course wait for us in the van.”
“Oh ok, I guess I understand better now.” southpaw lied obviously still unsure of what he would be doing. Everybody was silent once again, until someone emerged from the cockpit. Those that face the cockpit didn’t recognize her, but Irina knew by the sound of her footsteps.
“Elena, why have you stowed away. Why are you here?” Irina asked
“Because I know you are not ready to do this yet. You have too much to think about right now, and you are not ready to see your daughters. I will take your place and please do not dispute me, you know I am correct.” Elena said flatly.
“You are right Elena, but know that if you have come here to betray me like Katya has you won’t be the only one to pay with your life,” Irina threatened as shock crossed Elena’s face. “Don’t look surprised that I know these things sister, I knew before you did.”
Irina remembered the day she found out that her sister pregnant. It was a year after she had faked her own death. And she was a bit jealous that Elena was allowed to stay in America, with her fake marriage. Irina had gone AWOL and come to America to check up on her sister. She waited till Elena was gone and snuck into her house, it was then that the doctor called and left a message on her answering machine.
“Hello, this is Dr. O’Reilly at the Richmond Medical Center. I have the results of Olivia’s pregnancy test. If you could please call me at your convience I’d appreciate it. Thank you.” Irina played the recording through twice. She knew that the doctor would only ask for here to call if she was pregnant. Irina found Dr. O’Reilly’s number and called him. She lied to him and told him that she was Olivia’s personal aid and was returning his call.
“Yes, well, I’m happy to say that Olivia is pregnant with a healthy baby girl,” the doctor stated.
“Ok thank you for the good news. And have a good day.” Irina interrupted.
“Miss, you didn’t let me finish, Olivia is pregnant with a healthy baby girl, and a healthy baby boy. She should be very happy, that both children are perfectly fine as of now.”
“Oh well this certainly is reason to celebrate doctor. Thank you.” Irina said hanging up as the doctor droned on.
Irina’s mind returned to the situation at hand as Elena spoke.
“I never planned on betraying you Irina, it was never my plan. And as for things I’ve done in the past, you know I didn’t know they were against your wishes. And you know I’m very sorry.” Elena apologized.
Irina was about to respond but the No Smoking/Seat Belt sign came on signifying that they were landing. They reached the North Park shortly after midnight and set to work right away. Irina watched the events from the same rooftop as the sniper.