Seven

"Okay", Sandy said. "After we drop Chuck and his sister off we head back to Langley. What alibis do you guys have? And tell me the rest of the plan in detail".

"Okay", Frank said. Sandy shook her head. "Frank, you're too technical. I want someone else".

Kate spoke. "After Gary did what he did. The bomb experts put a bomb on the 747 and we put a bomb on Pensway's jet. So both of them exploded. We're now in a safe small private jet owned by the business man Kari Ivan".

VASCO was started by a group of disillusioned billionaires and spies who wanted to bring down the agency. There was a shadow organisation behind the CIA and MI6 that controlled entire world governments. CIA, MI6, Mossad and KGB. The governments of these countries were also under their control. Money did make the world go round. There were certain billionaires who delved into the affairs of others simply because it was their business. And since these billionaires were the financial stronghold of these countries they were forced to submit. These people were essentially holding the entire world on ransom.

Until Kari Ivan, Matilda Gates and Ari Volkoff decided enough was enough. Sandy and the four analysts already had an idea of what the agency was really up to but had nowhere to turn. Until they were approached by these people.

Over the past decade, VASCO has been accumulating intelligence to thwart the finances of the people behind Arcane and the CIA. It was only by crippling them financially that their hold would weaken. They'd also made it their business of recruiting more agents and billionaires. Unfortunately they'd failed to recruit Desmond until they'd lost over thirty agents to him. The seven billionaires, not counting Desmond, were still safe,.

They had indeed leaked out the information of various spies. But those were spies who were engaged directly in missions that the Arcane were behind.

Sandy and the analysts had realized that the only way they could have passed as loyal agents whilst really being the opposite was by following the advice "when in Rome do as the Romans do". When they were on CIA grounds, they thought like CIA and acted like CIA. They didn't close their eyes to certain suspicious activities and even brought them before their superiors. Failing to do so would have attracted suspicion sooner or later.

It also prevented the constant transition from VASCO agent to CIA. Playing VASCO was easy since they already knew all the possible options the CIA would take. It was all a question of strategy and who had the upper hand. If the CIA would win, they would. If VASCO had the upper hand they would. They didn't try to bend circumstances in their favour.

It made them work harder in gaining advantage over the agency.

"Well, Hardyman has already been arrested and tried. He's on his way to prison", Gary said. "How sad and he was one of our own", Sheila said in a feigned sad tone.

Hardyman was a spy for the CIA and he had discovered that Desmond had turned. Desmond anticipated this. He'd already set up the scenario of his assassination and he told Sandy what to do. It was all just a matter of time.

When the Director gave her the task they realised he'd begun to suspect and was using this to test her loyalty. But then again he did that for all his agents. Director Allan was paranoid.

When she did what she was told his fear were laid to rest.

VASCO currently had twenty-five agents from the four agencies.

Their meeting was interrupted by the intercom. "We're close to the island. Passengers should please get into their seats and buckle up."

Twenty minutes later they were on Ivan's private island. Ivan was relaxing in the sun in a bathrobe, wine in colour. He turned round and ran to meet them. He hugged Amy and shook hands with Chuck. "Thank goodness you're safe. The analysts' plan was very risky and even now I'm not sure Director Allan will take the bait".

He looked at Sandy. "How many hours has it been since you slept?" he asked with a hint of concern.

"Between VASCO activity and CIA?" she chuckled.

"You haven't answered my question", he said.

"Almost five days", she said.

"So I'm guessing you're supposed to be asleep by now". He turned to Chuck and Amy. "The two of you will be staying here for awhile. Afterwards"-

-"We already told them the plan Ivan", Frank said.

"What happens to all our assets?" Chuck asked.

"We were able to siphon almost a billion before everything else was frozen", Ivan said.

"We want to fight too", Amy said. "For our father. His sacrifice can't be in vain".

"Why don't we talk about that"-"It's non-negotiable", Chuck said. Ivan looked at him. "But"- "it's dangerous. Yeah we know. " He walked up to Ivan "Please".

 

Director Allan was pacing up and down, he was furious. "Wait, so let me get this straight. The bomb squad got a call from someone pretending to be Spiels and they bomb the wrong jet and then someone else manages to sneak into our facility and bomb the other one. Am I doing well so far?" he said turning to the five of them.

"Excellently so, sir", Sheila said.

"This is not a joke, Sheila! It's an outrage!"

"We still can't figure out why VASCO would want Chuck and Amy dead, Sir", Frank said.

"How did they get in? There's only one way. We've got spies in our midst. It was all too easy. They must have had inside information. We thought it was Hardyman but after almost two hours of torturing it's clear that he doesn't know anything. That man can't handle pain. So would any of you mind telling me who else comes to mind?" he said looking right at them.

"Us?"

"Am I looking at anyone else?" he said.

"Sir, if I may. You're probably trying to rattle us but you're not sure if it's us. Otherwise we'd already be in the torturing cells. You're not the gloating type either. I think you know that we couldn't have been behind this", Kate said.

"Give me one reason why you shouldn't be there in the next twenty seconds", he said. Five guards came from behind him.

Sandy's heart began to beat faster. Was it possible? Had they been found out?

"If Sandy was VASCO, she wouldn't have killed Desmond or reported Chuck to you. She would have evacuated Chuck as soon as possible. Sure, she was close to Desmond but her loyalty to the agency is unquestionable. She would have killed Chuck and Amy if she had to. The only reason she didn't was because she was waiting for your orders", Frank said.

"What about you, Sandy? You've been awfully quiet".

"I...I think we're missing the obvious here", Sandy said. "If I was a double agent, I wouldn't have tried to handle Chuck because I would be the first to be interrogated if things go wrong. "

It's called a double bluff. Do what is so obvious that the enemy would think you wouldn't do it. Hiding in plain sight.

"We must move under the premise that Chuck is still alive. I don't believe VASCO would kill him. Maybe he's still somewhere in the country. There's no evidence that proves that he's left. If he has however, we might not be able to track him for awhile", Kate said.

"I'm aware of that!" the Director said. His instincts had grown rusty after taking a desk job for more than seven years. Otherwise he would have rooted out the spies by now. The Minister would be enraged if he found out. For now he would be told what he wanted to hear. Until they caught those responsible it would be better for him to believe all was well. Besides VASCO would not allow Chuck and Amy to come to the surface for awhile.

Director Allan wasn't fully convinced but for now he laid matters to rest. The CIA suffered from bureaucracy, especially on home soil. He could not hold these agents under strict interrogation and torture without any evidence. Even if he could and they did break, he couldn't be sure. People were known to say anything, just to make the torture end. Besides these were some of his best agents, it could take weeks.

Sandy had missed her flight and was clearly on the ground when the plane went up in flames. The four analysts had no direct contact with Sandy or Chuck over the past few days. Even Sandy didn't know where exactly Amy was being held. It would have been impossible for just the five of them. Even if one of them alone was a spy the others would have ratted him out. So it was either all or nothing.

Well played VASCO.

End of Book One

 

 

Reviews

[Nana]

Nicely done. Can't wait for how VASCO will take on the CIA

[Jared Grace]

Thanks for all your helpful reviews. I'm going to take a break from New beginnings and work on a new story instead.