SHADES OF GRAY
by sandyw
Chapter 4
- Michael approached Birkoff in the Com Center.
"Where is she?" "Nikita? She's on her way to the airport
with Wellman. This guy must be some stud, huh? She's willing to risk cancellation
to be with him." Michael chose to ignore Birkoff's comment. "Continue
to monitor her. Let me know when she arrives.You can reach me on my cell
phone." He walked away, buttoning his jacket with one hand. Birkoff
shook his head and mumbled to himself as he lightly tapped his keyboard.
"Can't live with her, can't live without her, eh Michael?"
- As Nikita arrived at the airport with Gray,
she began to marvel at the happy coincidence of meeting Gray in the park
that day, of having been reprimanded yes, but then given time off to rethink
her situation. In the middle of a mission? She heard Michael say somewhere
deep inside her memory that he didn't believe in coincidence. The well-trained
operative inside her began to take in her surroundings. Yes, she knew that
this last mission called for teams to be dispersed at local airports. She
hadn't forgotten, but this was ridiculous. There were operatives everywhere.
A civilian might not notice but she spotted so many that it made her nervous.
It was almost as if they suspected her...or Gray Wellman. She hadn't let
herself think about the coincidence. He could never, would never be involved
in any scheme so dark and sinister. The courier must be someone else. She
began to look around for a more likely suspect.
- Gray excused himself and headed for the men's
room. Nikita pulled the antennae of her cell phone out with her teeth.
"Birkoff. Nikita. I don't have my unit and I know this is an unsecured
line, but I'd like you to run a check on Gray Wellman." "Sorry,
babe. Been there, done that." "What do you mean? Ahh, Michael,
right?" "Sorry, can't say." "Well what did you find
out? Is he involved in this or not?" "Sorry, not authorized to
give you that information either. Ask Michael. I'll let him know where
you are." He hung up. Nikita scanned the airport. No Michael. No Gray
Wellman. No courier. She knew that if she was going to save Gray's life,
she would have to produce a courier and soon.
- "Birkoff, is everyone in place, everything
in order?" Operations was excited. He enjoyed coordinating and coming
in for the kill. When an operation came together, he felt like a master
chess player about to declare "checkmate". Birkoff checked his
equipment. "Like clockwork, but there's one small wildcard...Nikita.
We don't know what she's going to do." "Oh yes, we do. She's
going to deliver our courier." "She wants Michael. What do I
do?" "Wait a few minutes and give her what she wants."
- "Michael, Nikita is in the North Concourse."
Michael walked a few paces until he had her in view. "Birkoff, where's
Wellman?" "With Nikita, isn't he?" Michael stopped communication,
and began walking towards Nikita. As he crossed in front of an elderly
couple of civilians, Nikita noticed a kid sitting alone listening to a
walkman. Not unusual, but he had rollerblades slung across his shoulders.
"No, she thought, couldn't be." At the same time, Wellman exited
the men's room and Michael signaled for his team to intercept. The last
call for passengers boarding the flight to Paris was made. The kid made
his way up to the gate. Nikita had to choose. Make them release Gray or
stop the kid. She knew that if she didn't go to Gray, they would take him
to section, interrogate him and when they found that he knew nothing, they
would cancel him anyway. If she went to Gray, she would have a slight chance
to save him. If she could get Michael to break with protocol and follow
her hunch. She took the chance. By the time she reached Wellman, he was
unconscious and operatives were carrying him to the van. She grabbed Michael's
arm as he holstered his weapon. "Michael, you've got the wrong guy."
"Nikita, I ran a check. There were two months that we could not account
for in Wellman's profile. He is the most likely suspect. When the Section's
directory disappeared, he was there and now this." "Michael,
he was innocent then, he's innocent now. Just listen to me.The kid from
the park...the rollerblader. He just got on the plane. We've got to stop
him." "And if you're wrong, Nikita? If we take this kid back
to section and Operations lets Madeline interrogate him and we're wrong?"
"We're not wrong. I'm not wrong. I'll stake my life on it." "And
mine?" "And yours."
- Michael and Nikita boarded the plane.
- end Chapter 4
-
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- BACK
- TO: CHAPTER
5