The man cometh

by Peter Shillen

NRPG:

I had this post half written before 'Interview' hit my mail box, so I'm going to continue with it, cutting where appropriate. This means I'll skip over interviewing the boys and let someone else fill in.

RPG:

Jim had gone back into the office, a little miffed that they would have to pick up new rentals already. Usually it at least took them a few hours to get a car wrecked! C'est la vie. Back in the office, the view was even more startling. Leo and Zenya were very close and even hugging. Jim could spot Leo directing her gaze to various places around the street, but the hug was not professional misdirection. Leo and Zenya ...

Zenya walked past Jordan and into the Sheriff's office, and Leo saw him smile at her. As Leo crossed the threshold, Jordan fell into step beside him, "Something the matter out there?"

Leo shrugged, "Maybe. I'm not sure."

Jim pulled Leo to one side, Vanessa also coming along.

"I noticed the baseball players and a young couple," said Jim, "but I didn't think it was too serious. Perhaps curiosity."

"But they're still watching and they've been joined by people in the restaurant across the street. They didn't even look at the cattle stampede, just us."

"So, we're under the microscope yet again," Vanessa sighed. "Oh well, that's part of the job, I suppose."

"They're too sloppy for government or mercs," Jim added.

"Yeah, I think we're dealing with the Crosses on this one," agreed Leo.

"An assassination attempt?" Vanessa asked.

"Not yet," said Jim. "Just surveillance."

NRPG: [Insert 'Interview']

Jim and Vanessa got in a cab to reverse this morning's drive and bring back a couple of rentals. Taking the back way out, they managed to avoid any pursuit. After they were going along a while, Jim turned to see Vanessa looking out of the window with a dream-like look on her saddened, pretty face.

"How are you doing Vanessa?"

"Hmm?" She jumped slightly and then turned to Jim, smiling a little. "I'm OK. I can't stop thinking about him, Jim. He's always in my thoughts."

"And he always will be too," Jim stated. "When my parent went missing, I didn't know what to do. I had no focus. Dad was a Colonel in the Corp. so I joined up when I got older, after college. It was the first time I had been unable to think. Life was so dictated and controlled in the early days, you hardly had time to breath. Once I had passed basic training and was in command of Recon platoon, I suddenly realised that my Mom and Dad had been with me all the time, but it was different. The pain had turned to sadness, the anger tuned into a desire for the truth. That started me on the road to the FBI."

He looked at her and smiled gently.

"The point is that I never want to lose my parents and while they're in my thoughts, I won't - and you won't lose Chris."

They went back to the car rental office. They had to fill out forms and the staff did not want to give them any more cars, but the FBI credentials did the trick and Vanessa drove the lead car, with Jim picking up the rear. As they were coming out of the car rental office, Jim suddenly pulled Vanessa down behind a stack of crates.

"What the ...?"

"Look!!" Jim pointed over to the runway closest to the main terminal. A LearJet was descending and no onlookers would ever have known it had recently been in a firefight.

"The Cross's plane!" Vanessa exclaimed. "I wonder who is going to get out. I hope it's that bitch Rebecca."

Jim started slightly at the harshness of her voice, but it was understandable. If she had killed Barney, Jim would be out there now hunting her down like a dog.

They decided to get closer to the plane and check out the passengers. A quick flash of credentials ensured they could get through the security perimeter surrounding the runways. The LearJet taxied to a remote hanger where a black sedan was waiting, engine running. Hiding themselves nearby, the two Tactical Ops agents simply waited to see who came out. They were close enough to overhear the chauffeur's conversation with the large man who stepped out first, but it was mostly inane.

Jim could not have been more shocked by the sight which he beheld and felt like a cartoon character whose jaw had just hit the floor and shattered into pieces.

"Thaddeus Cross!" Vanessa stated, her voice expressing the shock Jim felt.

"Take me to the hotel," he barked at the chauffeur. Turning to the large man, he said, "I am going to oversee this operation *personally*. There will be no mistakes this time."

Both men climbed into the sedan and the car was soon gliding off. Jim and Vanessa made their way back to the terminal building, still shocked and very alarmed at this most unexpected development.

"I'd better 'phone the Chief," Jim stated and dialled the number.

"Reaper Chief. We're still at the airport. We just saw someone arrive and I don't think it's good news."

"No, but close. It's Thaddeus Cross himself!"

"Yeah, they just left. They said they were going to a hotel and *Daddy* said he was going to 'oversee the operation *personally*'. It's not looking too good."

"Well Vanessa, let's head back to that bright centre of the Universe - Castle Rock, Montana."

NRPG:

Well, ZULU have moved up on the 'Cross Annoyance Scale' it seems as we now merit attention from *Daddy*. What kind of man is he? He wants the team to be punished for what they did, but would he simply kill them all? I think he would have something much more /devious/ in mind!