Jordan and Vanessa stayed low and moved as quickly as they could through the trees surrounding the house. There was a single door in the back of the house flanked by windows. There were also several windows on the second floor. There were no lights on inside
"Look there," Vanessa said pointing toward the foundation.
Jordan looked and saw a window just above ground level. From the warm glow spilling out on to the grass, Jordan could tell the lights were on.
"Cover me," he said slipping out from the cover of the trees. Jordan sprinted across the open expanse of lawn to the house. He crouched down and peered inside.
The basement was sparsely occupied. There was the usual basement junk lining the wall he could see, and the lolly columns necessary to hold up the rest of the house. The center of the room was dominated by a large wooden table. There was a wooden box, about a foot long sitting on one edge of the table, large enough to hold a ceremonial knife Jordan thought. The table was flanked by tall candleabras. Perfectly innocent looking, in a gothic way, but perfect for sacrifices.
The silence was broken by two distinct pops that echoed through the surrounding trees. Jordan crouched down on instinct and looked around. The shots had to have come from the front of the house. He motioned for Vanessa to wait and he jogged along the back of the house to the corner. He peered around and saw nothing.
Jordan turned back and waved Vanessa forward. He covered the back door as she crossed the open space to join him. There was a horrible noise as the car crashed throught the garage door, and the two agents caught sight of it as it tore down the driveway.
They ran along the side of the house to the driveway each firing as they ran.
"I missed," Jordan said.
"I did, too," Vanessa replied.
Jordan looked over to where Leo and Jim were with Zenya. Neither gave any indication that she was in any great danger.
"Come on," Jordan said pulling the keys from his pocket and heading to their car.
***
[At the airstrip]
> As it nearly touched the ground. The couple ran towards the helicopter, > with Ted behind Rebecca. Running towards freedom. Or what they thought was > freedom until the dying of the helicopter's noise revealed another sound.
> "Stop! FBI!"
> Ted and Rebecca turned to see three FBI agents behind, their guns aimed at them.
> "Run, Becca." Ted shouted to his wife, as he pushed her forward. Rebecca > pushed the image of the agents out of her sight and mind, and continued to run.
Ted turned back toward the agents and fired twice. Both shots were widely off the mark, but they scattered the agents and gave Ted time to run. Jordan fired once on instinct, and heard Jim and Vanessa fire as well.
Ted half turned and fired again. He looked back and saw Rebecca getting on the helicopter. He was almost there.
The three agents were giving chase and firing. Ted jumped forward and Rebecca pulled him on board. Jordan, Jim and Vanessa watched their suspects gain altitude and fly out of reach.
***
[Later - Santa Fe General Hospital]
"How you feeling?" Jordan asked.
"Like I should get a bonus for needing 16 stiches on our first mission," Zenya replied.
"I can't get you a bonus, but I can assure you that you have the undying gratitude of the FBI and the American people."
"That and 65 cents will get you a Coke," Leo quipped.
They five agents laughed, and the tensions of their mission melted away.
A few minutes later Jordan's phone rang and he answered, "Stern."
[Agent Stern, it's Jenny. UD Garrison was just down here wondering when you'd be returning to Washington.]
"Tell him we're at the hospital in Santa Fe and that Agent Gorky is receiving treatment."
[It's not serious, I hope.]
"No, but we'll be here at least until tomorrow morning. You can tell the UD we're off the case, though. The suspects got away."
[I'm sorry to hear that, and I'll let the UD know you'll be in the office in a couple of days.]
"Thanks Jenny. Bye."
"Is Jenny missing us already?" Jim asked.
"No, but UD Garrison is," Jordan replied.
***
[Following morning - Indianapolis]
Thaddeus Cross slid his ID card through the card reader and pressed his thumb against the sensing pad. The security unit beeped, and the door unlocked with an audible click. "Good morning and welcome to CrossTech, Mr. Cross," the computerized voice said cheerfully.
Thad Cross walked across the plushly carpeted entryway and was not sure it was a good morning. Becca had called him from a hospital in Mexico where Tom had taken Ted. He had been treated for a bullet wound to the shoulder, but the incident had prevented them from completing the next step in the ritual. They would have to wait at least 6 months before they could try again. It was very frustrating.
He took the elevator up to the 3rd floor of the low building and entered his office as his secretary scampered to get him his morning coffee. She entered with the steaming mug, and a sealed, unmarked envelope. "This arrived by special courier, Mr. Cross."
He took the envelope and opened it. He pulled out the sheaf of paper and was pleased to see the words, "Personnel File - Confidential" printed across the top of the first sheet.
"General Hansen will be here for the demonstration at 9am," his secretary said.
NRPG:
Thus ends the first mission of Team ZULU. I've enjoyed it, and I hope
you have, too.
If you have any loose ends to wrap up from this mission, feel free. If not, then it's back to Washington. I don't think we need to handle the details of travel, the Agents can just show up in the office.
I'll also find out if we've got a new team member joining us.
Respectfully submitted,
Alton Reich
SA-4 Jordan Stern, Team Leader ZULU
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