by MacShayne
She moved slowly to the backdoor of the house and laid her ear against the door. That it was much colder in Fawnskin than in Los Angeles didn’t even bother her much. Then she heard something thrown on the ground. Then again and at the third time she was already inside. Eveline drew her gun and waited downstairs for a while. She could hear the footsteps above her moving towards the stairs. By the way that the person walked, she could recognize that it was Mitch.
Eventually the person used the stairs. She could see a shadow going downstairs thoughtfully placing each foot in front of the other. He also had a weapon in his hands. She was in a better position than Mitch, but, she risked getting shot if she attacked him now. Once, downstairs, Mitch moved towards the living room and stopped just in front of the living room window. Then he put away his gun. Eveline saw her chance and captured it.
‘Don’t move Mitch. Unless you have a death wish’, Eveline said.
‘Don’t we have all?’, Mitch responded in a sharp tone.
‘You know, we work together with your brother. He’s a real improvement compared to you.’
‘He has it from our mother.’
‘Turn around and keep your hands where I can see them.’
‘Does he even know what his position is in your little team? Do you even know what your play is?’, Mitch asked.
‘You look better with that haircut Mitch. Short fits you better. Short career, short life, short hair. It makes sense.’
‘You do know you just signed Robert’s deaths sentence. Don’t you.’
‘For f*ck sake Mitch. Can’t you just accept the fact that I captured you again.’
‘You don’t know, of course you don’t.’
‘Don’t play mind games Mitch. They don’t apply to me.’
‘I hate games’, Mitch almost whispered. ‘I bet they got to her as well’, Mitch thought.
‘What are you talking about?’
Mitch looked up again and tried to locate Eveline’s phone. ‘You lost it Turner. I’m disappointed in you.’
As Eveline was about to say something, a tiny explosion occurred at both her sides. Mitch jumped through the window as she was distracted. Then Eveline followed Mitch through the window, fell on the same car as Mitch and ended rolling of it on the street.
The next thing Eveline remembered was when she woke up and saw the stars high in the sky. She didn’t lay on the ground but, in her own car. Her head hurt at two places. The only thing that was gone, was her phone. She still had her gun and the car keys.
Autopiste Duarte, Pedro Brand (Dominican Republic), 28 January 2010
Sandra returned to Frederic and Mia two days ago and explained that they were in danger. It was the first time she spoke the truth to Frederic about her past, parts of it. She once had contact with number six on the FBI’s most wanted list and he helped him to start over again. This would be the reason they were being hunted. Frederic was disgusted by the fact that Sandra never told him about that until Mia came into the bedroom and told about a strange device in her bedroom.
They packed some of their stuff immediately. Not much of course. Think about what you would pack for a weekend away. They were in the car eight minutes after Mia found the bug. They stayed the next night in Mitch Crowne’s old apartment which he gave to Sandra when they arrived three years ago. Frederic made the mistake to find out everything he could about Mitch Crowne, so eventually he did find out that he assassinated the vice president of the United States to begin with. The next day, Sandra made arrangements to leave the country for the three of them not knowing that her world was already fallen apart.
Cell 0080 used satellite footage to track down Sandra and Karl send the female in his cell to shadow Sandra. Her name was Keita and she was 1.63 metres tall. She was an expert in four different martial arts and scored top 5 in marksmanship when it comes to a sniper rifle within the agency. This was how they were able to find out where Sandra and Mia were hiding.
The next day, Sandra, Mia and Frederic left the apartment in downtown Santa Domingo to head for the north side of the island. Their flight would leave late in the afternoon from Cibao International Airport. While they were en route on the highway called Autopiste Duarte at 28 January, they were followed by four different cars. This strategy made it impossible for Sandra to notice that they were being followed. It was Mia that eventually informed the other two that at least three cars were passing each other every three minutes. She was able to memorise their licence plates.
‘I think we are being followed mom’, she said.’
Frederic turned around to look at the cars behind them.
‘What makes you think so honey?’, Sandra asked sharp.
‘At least three cars are changing some kind of formation every three to four minutes. I know so because I memorised their licence plates.’
‘For how long have they been doing that?’
‘Since we left the city. First there were four.’
‘Shit...’
Four minutes passed when they also had a helicopter on their tale. One of the three cars passed Sandra and one came near side. She was forced to stop unless she wanted to risk all of their life’s.
‘This is madness’, Frederic said as agent Juan punched him in his stomach.
‘Why are you doing this? Tell me, what did we do wrong?’, Sandra asked furiously before Keita slapped her face.
‘Are you going to hurt us mister?’, Mia asked The Irish male kindly. But, he didn’t respond.
In at Fawnskin B&B, Fawnskin, California, 28 January 2010
After he had taken out Eveline by surprising her at a corner, she was too much filled with the need to catch him, he brought her to her car and put her inside. The only thing he took from her was her phone. He needed to make sure that Robert was not going to the meeting. The poor man didn’t know what he got himself into. The meeting was a trap set up by Section Y’s mother organization the Cabal. The task force that was about to become full operative, was going to be literally blown away before it even started. And all the people involved would never be missed for what they are.
Mitch Crowne ran towards the bed and breakfast in the little township. He had spoken with the owner and gave him a big tip so that his bike could be parked there without questions asked. Mitch was looking at the frozen big bear lake while it just became night. He searched through the numbers and he recognized Robert’s number immediately. However, no one picked up. Of course not, he must have gotten a new phone with a new number! Then Mitch looked at which number was saved as last and called it.
‘Agent Turner, I was just thinking about calling you. I think something about this mission really stinks.’
‘Robert, before you overload me with questions, where are you?’
‘Mitch...?’
‘Answer the goddamn question!’, Mitch said furiously.
‘Somewhere remote.’
‘Are you alone?’
‘Why asking me, want to meet? And yeah, I’m by myself.’
‘The meeting. You aren’t at a meeting?’
‘Which meeting?’, Robert lied.
‘I know everything, and the meeting is a trap!’
‘Where are you, what did you find out? Did you kill agent Turner?’
‘No I did not kill that woman. She is of no interest. You need to go, wherever you are and hide yourself Robert. Only contact Eveline. Ignore everyone else.’
‘That was what I thought. That part where I take off. I don’t trust this. Who is Sandra Crowne? Mitch.. Are you married...?’
‘How did you find out about her.’
‘They put me in an office that contained everything they had off you. You could say that I stumbled on it and found out about her existence. So I have a sister in law that is married to my assassin brother. That’s one for the papers.’
‘f*ck. If you found out. Then they know too.’
‘What are you going to do? Save them?’
‘I am not married Robert. And I don’t know if I can.
They probably already got to her.’
‘I know you aren’t Mitch. She lives together with a certain individual called Frederic Lauverré.’
Mitch memorised the name. They probably would use her against him as bargain. Would that work? Does he give about them, that much??? What happened to him. Normally, it didn’t do shit to him. Suddenly a moment he shared with Mia popped into his mind. Mia, he cared for the ten year old girl that looked strange enough at him as her dad. The person that would protect her any cause necessary. ‘You can trust Turner Robert. Keep a low profile.’
‘What are you going to do? Will we meet?’
Before Mitch could reply, he dropped the phone since he got shot at. Mitch was almost hit in his leg but, it was only a flesh wound. Eveline shot a second time but, missed. Before she was able to shoot again, Mitch shot five times at her direction while he ran to his bike. Eveline had to take cover and jumped to her left. Mitch stepped on his bike and shot another three times while he started his motor and drove away. Eveline shot two more times but, missed Mitch who already was too far away.
Eveline walks towards the spot where Mitch dropped her phone. She kneeled and picked it up.
Langley (Virginia), Mr. Home’s office, 29 January 2010
Home was sitting in his office. This time he had company. Roman Cherikov was sitting opposite him and the two smoked a cigar while a glass filled with whiskey was ready to be consumed.
‘You are about to enter a door, Roman, which does not offer a return.’
‘Spare me the bullshit, get to the point.’
‘You’ve been a solid and trustable member. That were the section Y days of course. Section Y was only a part of a bigger picture. You may already found out yourself. And as one of the remaining members of Section Y, we would like to include you in the real thing.’
‘You mean, the syndicate...’, Cherikov answered before he inhaled.
‘The syndicate is just another tail of what we call, what we are called the Cabal.’
‘You see, we have dealt with a large problem, the task force. So now we can focus on a much smaller threat. You know who I’m talking about.’
‘Mitch Crowne.’
‘He possibly knows everything about Section Y. And your involvement. You see, you’ve become a risk for us. You could lead him to us and we don’t want that to happen, do we?’, Home said in a natural voice.
‘Are you threatening me, Home?’
‘No, of course not. But, now that you know, I expect you to take measures. And absolute dedication. If he gets to you, what almost is impossible. You know what to do.’
‘A man on his own, how can he be a threat?’
‘We believe, there is a much bigger force waiting for his process. Does the name Raymond Reddington ring a bell?’
‘Is he involved?’
‘Not entirely. But, if he gets hold of the Fulcrum, well, he will have his own life insurance.’
‘What does you make so sure that he hasn’t already got it? The fulcrum.’
‘Why would he go through all this trouble? He and Mitch are not related in any way. But, it would much more easier for him to step in once the fulcrum gets into Mitch hands. You know that Mitch has no value to it. And Reddington would give him everything for it. Unless he kills Mitch and takes it with force.’
‘How could Mitch get hold of the fulcrum?’, Cherikov asked wisely.
‘The fulcrum, is already out there. He will not find it here. But, he could expose us. Create his own fulcrum and lure out the real person that has it.’
‘Seems like that Crowne man is intelligent.’
‘Very dangerous combination indeed. Intelligent and skilled to kill. America created almost the perfect weapon. Almost. But, we have something that may distract him long enough so we can take him out.’
‘I like your approach Home. So, what happens now?’
‘How long do you stay in America?’, Home asked while inhaling a last time.
In at Fawnskin B&B, Fawnskin, California, 28 January 2010
Eveline looked at the screen on her phone. She didn’t think about why Mitch didn’t kill her. But, what was so important that he needed her phone. And, did he expect her? Almost impossible. Eveline tried to reach Gustanso but, he didn’t pick up. What didn’t make sense, is that his phone seemed to be turned off. Maybe he didn’t have reach, wherever that meeting took place. Then she saw who Mitch had called. She dialled Robert’s number.
Chapter 9:
A Knife in the Ocean
Fort Washington, Inside, 28 January 2010
Gustanso arrived at the meeting as one of the first persons. Today would be the first moment where the whole team would come together to come to a solid plan. Since there were six agencies involved, at least 12 persons could be expected today. Minus Eveline, that would be eleven. The only group of people that knew about the existence of this task force, were the chosen agents per country and their director. And Robert McEachran of course.
Gustanso’s former superior and boss arrived as second. They shared a few thoughts about the whole Robert McEachran thing. They both didn’t agree in his participation. Next came team Dutch, led by Ronald Feenstra. He was a small but, thin man that was about 1.67 metres long. He was trained and looked like a former air force pilot. he had the stature for the job. He was forty nine years old and spoke fluently English. He went directly to Gustanso while the Dutch agent went to the toilets.
‘You must be the one I spoke earlier today. How do you do?’, Feenstra asked politely.
‘I’m fine Mr. Feenstra, what about you?’
‘Well, considering the circumstances we’re in, also pretty fine.’
‘Don’t take this personal, but, why is the Netherlands even involved?’
‘I guess you could say one of the stars in this plot has done quite some wreckage to my country. It was a very kind and honourable man, George Dreyfuss, that informed me about the person.’
‘So, what do you think how far this organization goes? I mean, how far goes the corruption?’
‘If you ask me, it wouldn’t surprise me that even people in this task force are involved.’
‘That’s a big assumption.’
‘And how far did you and Miss Turner come the last couple of weeks?’
‘We found a web of lies that is tangled around Mitch Crowne and a certain individual we think might be Raymond Reddington.’
‘So number four and six on FBI’s most wanted work side along side?’
‘If you ask me, Mitch can’t be bought. He’s a soloist, doesn’t work for someone.’
‘he can’t possibly pull everything off without a little help?’, Feenstra asked.
‘Mitch Crowne has his contacts. But, they are a few. Reddington has build his own syndicate since he went rogue. You could say that Reddington is political and Mitch is the opposite. Mitch operates by no law or protocol.’
‘He kills, that’s what he does’, Feenstra concluded.
The two of them talked about what happened in 2005 in London, what happened in the Netherlands one year ago and what could happen if the task force uncovered a dark truth. It seemed that Feenstra also had a family. he talked about his daughter, estranged wife and son that also joined the secret service in the Netherlands. Eventually, only the Russian and American team were still not present when Gustanso and Ronald Feenstra once were talking again about how Mitch assassinated the vice president. They both seemed to agree that what Mitch did was wrong but, necessary. Then the two were interrupted by a Chinese agent.
‘They say you guys have been here the longest’, he began. ‘Why do the Russians and the Americans not show up? This is not a joke anymore.’
‘Team America will be one person. Agent Turner is in pursuit of Mitch Crowne’, Feenstra said.
‘But, where are the Russians? Groyetski is never too late. he should have been here already!’
Gustanso looked at Ronald and frowned. ‘Groyetski is death’, Gustanso said.
‘This doesn’t make any sense!’, the Chinese agent said before his superior called him.
‘What do you think?’, Feenstra asked calmly. ‘Isn’t this a little suspicious?’
‘I don’t know. I think there’s a perfect explanation for this. I will check out the place’, Gustanso said.
Jimani (Dominican Republic), Gun shop, 30 January 2010
Mitch arrived today at International airport Port-au-Prince. The capital of Haiti. He purchased an old grey VW for not more than two thousand dollars. The car was involved in a car accident one month prior but, had a modified motor. He then drove to the border and entered the Dominican Republic under another false identity. This time his fake name was Melvin Groenhof. Without trouble he entered the country where he always thought he would eventually end if he survived the life he was living. Which meant that it would never happen.
He drove towards a city called Jimani. Mitch also had an apartment in this city. He changed into different clothes that would fit the circumstances more. He put on the clothes he always used to wear during a mission. Black workpants, a black long sleeved shirt and black safety boots. The pants were made of stronger materials than the stuff the agency offered him and they fit better. More comfortably. Now he had to purchase fire arms. Mitch spend almost eighty percent of his net worth in real estate and supplies to survive in any of his safe houses. But, he had not a sniper rifle in this safe house. Only his favourite weapon, a Magnum .44.
Jimani serves as one of the two main thoroughfares to Haiti. The city has a population total of almost 14000 which makes it the second largest city of the Independencia Provence of the Dominican republic. It has a tropical dry and wet climate. This causes Mitch to sweat in the clothes he picked out to wear when he arrived at the gun shop. A shop which was owned by one Armani Manufrere.
Armani Manufrere was a 29-year old father of three children, all of them were daughters. He was 1.82 metres long and had black hair and brown eyes. He wore a Hawaii shirt and shorts while he walked on slippers.