Jim and Zenya left the Hard Rock Cafe and headed for the Taurus. Leo and Tom were a good match in general build and so they had swapped clothes in the restroom. It wouldn't fool anyone on very close inspection, but it would fool any roadside observers. The route that Jim had been given was not complicated, just designed to take a long time. They were due to cross the Charles River and loop around the Millers, coming back over the Charles on I-93. They would head down to Boston Harbour and find somewhere derelict to look suspicious for a little while before heading back into town. If they had a tail, they were to try to shake them in Chinatown - just to add some credibility - before heading for Westover.
So, they got in to the Taurus with Jim driving. Zenya looked very good for someone who had recently leaped through a window. There was very little scaring and that would fade in time. The woman had been lucky. They were also being lucky now. Jim had noticed someone trailing them and he had used a radio to relay to another team.
"Did you spot him?" Jim asked.
"Yes, always three people back, dark blue raincoat. Not very subtle."
"Well, whoever he is, it looks like the bait has been taken," Jim said while starting the car. "I guess now we pull off and do our circuit."
At all times there was a rather anonymous looking sedan about 2 cars behind. Jim was a little worried, however, as the car appeared to have 3 occupants. Zenya had noticed it too.
"We must be very careful," she said. "They mean business."
They crossed the Charles and looped around Millers heading down for the docks as planned. Not knowing his way around, Jim pulled into a dockside road.
"Shit!" he fumed as he saw that there was no where to go.
"Shall I call the Chief?" Zenya asked.
"No, not yet. Let's see how we go."
The car which followed them made no secret of its presence. It pulled round the corner sitting behind them about 100 metres away. Realising they were going nowhere, the two agents sat resigned. Jim started to look around the docks for something - anything - which might give them a bit of leeway. The warehouses on the left had an access level for forklift trucks, accessed at each end by a steep ramp. The width of the access was not much wider than the wheelbase of the large car.
In the mirror, the occupants looked jumpy. They probably knew who they were tailing and weren't too keen.
"Zenya, I think we're going to have to make a getaway. We can't wait for the Chinatown maze."
"How do you want to do it?" she questioned.
"Don't worry, I have a plan," he smiled. "Just hold on and keep your head down."
She looked at him not with concern, but with a mischievous grin. "Whenever you're ready," she said.
Slipping the car into reverse, Jim started to slowly go back. As expected, the trailing vehicle moved forwards and across, blocking the path. As soon as they stopped, Jim stamped the accelerator picking up speed quickly. To the surprise of its occupants, the other car was rammed very hard. Jim was already pulling away, heading for the end of the docks and nothing but water. With a screaming right foot braking turn, the Taurus lurched around almost 180 degrees, pointing towards the narrow access ramp. The passengers of the other car were beginning to recover as Jim tore along the narrow access. The tell-tale pings were heard as the shots rang off the body of the car. Luckily, the access was high enough to partially protect the wheels from shots. As they leaped off the end of the ramp, they screeched around the corner and left the way they came, only in somewhat more of a hurry.
Jim and Zenya shared a relieved smile.
"Someone is going to be in a bit of trouble when they call in," Jim said.
"Yes," agreed Zenya, "US! Look at the damage we've done to this car!!"
As Jim remarked that, yes, the suspension did feel a little saggy, they continued along their approved route, diverting themselves through the twists and turns of Chinatown in case of an unseen follower. They reach the Westover base and despite some rather curious looks at their car, their IDs managed to get them through. Pulling up to Tom's house, they put the car round the back and let themselves in and awaited the arrival of the others.
NPRG:
We've definitely got some people very interested. The house doesn't really seem safe, but I guess it'll do for now. But heh, what about that Zenya Gorky?! Action woman or what??
Respectfully submitted,
FCO Lt.(jg) Olivier Patru, USS ORION NCC-1997, Starfleet.
Special Agent-2 Jim Reaper, X-Files Division, FBI.
Ar'Aman Bowright and Darar, Daere Warren, DragonLands.
Mc'Key and Vasleth, Geode Warren, DragonLands.
aka Peter Shillan.