A Reason for Living Part 10
Mixed Emotions
"What do you want?" Dorothy barely looked up from the paperwork on her desk.
Marquis Welige shut the office door with a firm push insuring a private conversation. "We have to talk." he demanded.
Dorothy didn't care much for the adamant man's tone. "Not now, I'm busy."
Ms. Catalonia's irritated attitude of dismissal only heightened Welige's stubborn resolve. He and the "lady" were going to talk. "Now!" he ordered.
Dorothy straightened sharply tiling her head upward. She fully intended to put the junior employee in his place, to inform him that his insolence would be neither accepted nor tolerated but something in Welige's demeanor caused her to reconsider. "All right, now." she conceded, "But make it quick."
Welige wasted no time getting to the point. "I want out."
"Out?" Dorothy grinned. Surely the statement had been made in jest but Welige's aspect, the acute glare in his narrowed eyes, told her that the declaration was no joke. "You're serious." The smile faded.
"In the beginning your proposal seemed simple." Welige stated as he began to pace, "Use Khushrenada's resources to develop a product, secretly sell it to an interested buyer, make a lot of money then the project would be over.
He paused but only briefly before his nervous energy once again put him in motion. "We agreed on the initial design and drew up the blueprints but somewhere along the way you changed the concept. The guidance disruptors...they are not what we started."
"Sometimes it becomes necessary to rethink a project, we've done that many times." Dorothy pointed out.
"Yes but never to make anything so dangerous." he countered Dorothy's attempt to lessen his concern. "Do you know how many people could be hurt or killed?"
"No one had been hurt and no one will be." she answered alarmed by the panicked rise in Welige's voice.
Welige stopped and slapped his hands on the desk. " Dammit Dorothy you can not be that native`. You knew what you were doing, you knew the moment that Hoffman became interested what could happen. The moment you brought in Septum..." Welige paused to catch his breath, "No... it's gone wrong...all of it."
Dorothy stood up and leaned over the desk. "You think you can just walk out? When we entered into this agreement it was for the project's duration." she stated with all the authority she could muster as she felt her control slipping away. "Do you seriously believe that I will let you go?"
"You don't have the final word." Welige retorted with some authority of his own.
"No but Septum might make the final call."
"I don't care. I can't be part of this operation any longer. If you're worried that I will blow your deal, don't be." Welige tried to soften the excited tone in his voice. "I can't implicate you without making my part known." He added logic to his persuasion, "I won't tell anyone, I just want out."
Dorothy stepped around the desk. "Marquis I understand, everyone is tense right now but this deal with Hoffman is worth a lot." She placed a hand on Welige's arm. "Once its finished, once we have the money..."
"Damn the money!" Welige threw up his hands to dislodge Dorothy's grasp, "I couldn't enjoy it, not with a clear conscience."
"So you have a conscience now?" Dorothy seemed amused.
"Have you been so blinded by the money that you can't or won't see the danger?" Welige turned toward the door. "Do what you like but I'm leaving."
Dorothy had to think fast. She knew she had to do something, say anything to make Welige listen to reason. Personally she didn't care about his intended departure, one less man meant a larger cut of the profits but it was Marquis' blind panic that was the call for concern.
She had taken too many risks, made too many promises and she would be damned if her plans would be ruined by Welige's sudden attack of conscience. She could not end up in the middle between Hoffman and Septum because that position would prove deadly indeed.
"Marquis wait." she pleaded stepping up beside the exiting man. "Have you thought this through? Thought about what you are giving up?"
"You're not going to change my mind. I have already prepared my resignation and Khushrenada will have it today."
"Maybe there is another way, please listen."
Welige stopped with his hand on the doorknob.
"Resigning is not the answer." Dorothy declared, "Suppose I arrange a business trip somewhere far away? You can stay until the deal is finalized. Afterwards if you still don't want your share so be it but I think my way will save us both a lot of trouble."
On the outside Dorothy managed to retain an optimistic outlook, her posture encouraging Welige to see things her way. Inside her heart raced as she fled from the fear that everything was falling apart.
The long minute that Marquis Welige took to consider her offer slowed to an almost unbearable pace. Finally Welige pivoted around. "All right," he agreed thoughtfully, "but I want to leave before Hoffman arrives for the meeting."
"That can easily be arranged." Dorothy promised with a relieved sigh.
As Welige stepped into the hall she put a hand on his shoulder. "Could I ask one favor?" she requested after seeing that the hall was empty. "The last authorization order for the trucks needs to be transmitted."
"And you want me to send it?" Welige finished her thought.
"You'll have to wait until after hours we can't take the chance it could be intercepted on the inner office network. One last time." she confirmed Welige's limited involvement. "Get this done tonight and I'll have your travel arrangements ready the first thing in the morning."
After Welige's departure Dorothy quickly closed the door. Grabbing the telephone she hurriedly punched in a number on an outside line. Wiping a sweaty palm on her skirt she paced as the call rang through. Finally someone picked up on the other end.
"This is Catalonia. I need to speak to Septum."
*********
Duo sat in his car a block away from Khushrenada Electronics nervously thumbing the envelope he was going to give to Welige. Since it was Saturday most employees were off for the weekend but Duo was sure that Welige would be working which would be to his assignment's advantage.
Also Welige would be less likely to call Dorothy to confirm the memo and by the time she might find out about the transmission hopefully it would have netted some useable information.
Wufei pulled his motorcycle up beside Duo's car. "You start out," he instructed, "I'll follow at an allowable distance. Remember limited contact, you don't need a lengthy conversation just keep the exchange short and simple. Understand?"
Duo nodded. "I won't take any chances. I want this to work as badly as you and Heero do."
When Duo stopped at the gatehouse 05 parked the bike and started off at a leisurely stroll as if he was enjoying the beautiful afternoon. But his relaxed gait and casual posture masked he readiness to spring into action at the slightly hint of trouble.
Pretending to take in the scenery he scanned the area for anyone or anything unusual. Satisfied with his negative surveillance he sat down on a sidewalk bench, leaned back and put his patience into practice as he waited for Duo's return.
*********
Answering a knock at the safe house door Heero let Duo in. The exchange time had been short which was a good sign. "How did it go?" he asked anxiously as he followed Duo across the room.
Duo turned slightly aside, aiming his eyes away from Heero's face. "Fine." He kept moving toward the bedroom. "Excuse me."
Heero thought that Duo's mood was odd. While he certainly didn't expect bubbling excitement, he had expected some show of emotion, at least some sense of relief. But Heero needed to remember that Duo was not a field operative but a civilian who was only acting as a go-between.
Duo had to be nervous, he knew the danger and the serious consequences had the exchange gone sour. Heero wished that he could have accompanied Duo, even gone inside but it was vital to the mission's success that Duo go alone. One misguided glance, a single suspicious word could have easily given Duo's secretive circumstances away.
He couldn't decide whether to leave Duo to himself for awhile or to offer understanding and perhaps some small measure of comfort. The ringing telephone put his decision on hold.
The tension in Wufei's voice put him on notice that something was wrong the moment 05 spoke. Heero's eyes narrowed, "See you in a few minutes." was his only reply.
*********
Paul Carter lit a joint. He sucked in the intoxicating smoke then held his breath until he felt a buzz in his brain. The fact that the marijuana was top grade was evident in both its expensive price and its immediate influence on his senses. "This is bitchin' weed." he mumbled as he drew in another lungful.
Carter was becoming irritated. Spending his Saturday waiting in the middle of nowhere was not his idea of a good time. Letting more grayish smoke drift lazily from his nose he braced his shoulder against a tree and glanced up the road in the direction he had just traveled. "Five minutes more and I'm leaving." he announced.
A distant glint of sunlight told Carter that his wait was over. A dark green Jaguar pulled up beside Carter's car. Zech Merquise's lean frame emerged from the driver's side.
Carter finished the joint, crushed the smoldering remains under his boot and met Zechs halfway. "Have you changed your mind about coming in with Dorothy and me?" he asked with a distinct slurring of his words.
Zechs met Carter's marginally focused gaze with a glare of contempt in his icy eyes. "No." The negative reply hissed through clenched teeth.
Clearly not pleased with the answer Carter tilted his head up at the taller man. "Then why in the hell are you wasting my time?"
"I am not going ignore your treachery anymore. I'm going to tell Treize."
A trace of amusement flickered across Carter's face but was quickly replace by an angry scowl. "You are either a fool or mad," he declared in an irate tone, "or has the booze finally killed what few functioning brain cells you had left?"
Zechs stood firm. "I'm sober and very serious. I will no longer allow you to betray Treize."
Carter's eyes flashed. "Your silence is the only thing keeping your lover alive."
"You can't touch him." Zechs declared with certainty, "He has a personal bodyguard and excellent security at the office and the chalet."
"Are you so sure that Khushrenada can be safeguarded? It would be awful if his brakes went out on the mountain or he had a boating accident. Unfortunately life can be hazardous and I don't believe you want to be responsible for making it more so."
Now Zechs was shaking, mostly from fear for his lover but also from craving a drink. He lowered his sight from the frightening determination in Carter's eyes. "I will keep silence but remember if something happens to Treize there will be nothing to stop me from killing you. Just as my silence protects Treize, his well being protects you."
Returning to his car Carter paused before opening the door and offered a thin-lipped smile. "Then I would say we have a stalemate. Let's keep it that way and no one will be hurt."
*********
With some difficulty Zechs quivering hand uncapped a bottle of cheap whiskey. A long gulp burned all the way to his stomach but the fiery liquor couldn't still his fear or heal his wounded pride. The next full swallow did put a dull edge on his guilt but he knew from many previous attempts that the deadening affects were only temporary.
Sliding down the Jaguar's side to sit in the dirt the Altron Corporation's CEO, a man who made million dollar deals without breaking a sweat, trembled like a leaf in a gale. Zechs Merquise was heartsick and angry and ashamed. Heartsick over his disloyalty to Treize, angry at his feelings of helplessness but most of all ashamed for not having the courage to stop Carter.
He turned up the bottle again then used his shirtsleeve to mop the fermented dribble off his chin. "You are a damned coward." he chided the man he had become. Using the same whiskey-soaked sleeve he wiped away his pooling tears before they spilled down his cheeks. "Carter is right, you are a fool."
*You don't have to be.* a faint voice in his head proclaimed.
Zechs gritted his teeth and stumbled to his feet. With a roar of pain and frustration he flung the bottle into the forest. Like the shattered glass could not be made whole again, Zechs was afraid that his heart was also broken beyond repair.
"I will stop Carter." he promised himself. "Treize will know the depths of my devotion even if it means my life."
*********
The bedroom door nearly jumped off its hinges then slammed behind Heero with a bang that sounded like a pistol shot. Heero covered the width of the room with a frightfully violent pace.
Duo sucked in a startled breath and hastily moved backward to put more distance between himself and the agent's raging fury. Three steps were all he took before the bed blocked his retreat.
Heero pulled up short, well aware of what he might do if he didn't hold his temper in check. "I just got off the phone with Wufei!" he hissed. It took all of his self-control to fight the urge to shout.
Puffing hard, constrictions in lungs aggravated by blinding anger tore at his chest. "Wufei said that the envelope was never delivered." His jaw tightened, "Where is it?"
"In the car but..." Duo began before the words caught in his throat.
"All you had to do was see Welige, give him the envelope and get the hell out." Heero stated tensely, "Was the assignment too difficult to carry out?" he asked as sarcasm choked off his voice.
Duo shifted his weight but the bed blockade wouldn't budge. "When I arrived Welige wasn't in his office. I went looking for him and overheard him talking to Dorothy in her office." He paused to study Heero's face hoping for some sign that the angry agent would hear him out.
"Go on."
"I was afraid what would happen if Dorothy saw me, if she wanted to know why I was there...afraid she would ask me about the envelope." Duo searched Heero's face again for some sign that he understood.
01's expression remained fixed in an incensed glare. His eyes never relinquished their icy stare.
Duo summoned up the courage to step forward. "I couldn't take the chance." he stated trying to convince himself as much as Heero.
The anger inside 01 boiled to the surface. "Whose side are you on?" he growled, the explosive outburst triggered by his perception of Duo's apparent betrayal. "How do I know that you haven't been lying from the start?"
Violet sparks flashed in Duo's eyes. His fist flew free. Grabbing Duo's wrist Heero intercepted the furious punch just inches from his face. Blue fire flickered in Heero's centers of sight as his hand vibrated against the raw power passing between him and Duo.
"You can question my courage." Duo snapped, bitter indignation resounding in his reply, "but don't you ever question my loyalty."
Both men stood motionless. Invisible sparks of raw emotional energy flowed through their quivering muscles. Duo locked his eyes with Heero's eyes to search for a trace of belief concerning the reasons for his failure or, at least, some acceptance of his decision.
Gradually the fire in Heero's eyes cooled, the muscles in his jaw relaxed. For his own sanity Heero had to give Duo the benefit of the doubt. The unyielding grip loosened and Duo pulled away.
Rubbing the reddish fingerprints encircling his wrist Duo stepped around the bed and turned to face the wall. As he struggled with his resentment of Heero's accusations his shoulders began to shake. Tears stung behind his eyes and threatened to spill over his long lashes.
"I'm sorry." Heero's more subdued voice spoke from behind, "We all have to make choices and you made the one you had to at that moment."
Closing his eyes Duo attempted to put his mixed emotions in their proper places. Tightly squeezing his eyelids forced a single tear to track down his cheek. He flinched and his eyes opened at the light touch of Heero's hand on his shoulder.
Responding to a persuasive tug Duo turned around. Face to face with Heero he saw that the raging flames had receded and had been replaced with a warm glow. Now Duo dared to hope that the change meant Heero understood his actions even if he could not condone or totally forgive his failure.
Heero used his thumb to wipe away the single salty droplet. "This entire mission has been hard on everyone." he admitted.
"I know." Duo whispered. His trembling fingers touched Heero's hand.
A sudden pang of guilt stabbed in the pit of Duo's stomach. He knew that Heero had not stopped, missing meals and sleep, since his arrival in Montreux and for the first time he saw how tried Heero was.
Heero's disappointment in Duo's failure to do one simple thing weighted heavily on his overtaxed body and weary mind. Duo slipped his hands over Heero's shoulders, taut muscle were hard against his fingertips. A drained sigh escaped Heero's lips as Duo's strong caress massaged his knotted neck.
"I'm sorry." Duo whispered. He rested his head on 01's chest. "I let you down. I know how important..." he couldn't finish. More tears streaked over his pale cheeks.
Placing his hand under Duo's chin Heero raised Duo's face to meet his. "It's all right."
"But I...."
"Shhhhh." Heero ordered gently. Then in a move that was as surprising to him as to Duo, Agent 01 brushed his lips over Duo's trembling lips.
Now there was an inviting glimmer in Heero's eyes. Duo's arms slid around Heero's neck. Heero's arms encircled about Duo's slender waist. Another brushing breath then a full kiss, hot with passion. Duo gave into the heady sensation, allowing his body to respond without question or pause.
When their lips parted Duo lowered his head under Heero's chin. At that tender moment all he wanted was to be held against a warm body, to be cradled in Heero's strong arms. The whole world was going insane and Duo was afraid if their embrace was severed that the madness would sweep over him like a riptide.
"What are...we...going to do now?" he sighed, the wondering words coming in choppy syllables.
"Don't fret, we will think of an alternate plan." Heero promised.
Another knock at the door. "That should be Wufei. You stay in here and get yourself together"
As the bedroom door closed Duo stared at the spot where Agent 01 had disappeared. With his lips still warm from their kiss he made a promise. He would not fail Heero again no matter what the cost.
*********
"Just what I thought." Wufei declared as he surveyed the room. "Maxwell didn't come back. I had my doubts that he couldn't be trusted."
"He's back." Heero replied pointing his thumb toward the bedroom door.
"I bet he had a good excuse." 05 snorted.
Heero glanced at the door and lowered his voice. "Welige wasn't alone. He was with Dorothy Catalonia and Duo was afraid she might find out he was there and start asking questions that he couldn't answer."
"You accept that explanation?"
Heero had to believe that Duo had been truthful and that his faith had not been misplaced. "Yes, he was really rattled."
Wufei nodded, "You are an excellent judge of character so if you say Maxwell is sincere then I won't argue the point."
"We know Welige and Dorothy are partners in crime, we just have to provide the evidence." Heero reckoned.
"I might be able to help with that evidence." Wufei stated with a sly grin that showed extreme satisfaction. "On my way here Ross called my cell phone. It seems that our phantom sender is active again. The transmission was to set up a meeting for eight o'clock this evening at the Montague Vue Inn on the outskirts of town.
The message made a hard point to remind someone named Carter to keep the activities quiet."
Heero flopped down on the sofa. "Carter." he repeated, "the list keeps getting longer." He reached for his cigarettes, "Do you think the meeting could be with Hoffman?"
"That's the only name we have so far. I would say that the odds are more than even that Hoffman is our man."
"Maybe we can better those odds."
Wufei could almost hear the wheels turning in Heero's head. 01 drew in on the cigarette; the burning end glowed as brightly as the gleam in his eyes. "Hey Duo," he called loud enough to be heard in the bedroom, "how would you like a spying holiday? You can come too." He informed Wufei as he blew out a thin column of smoke.
*********
Heero, Wufei and Duo huddled around the kitchen table. Heero had opted for coffee's caffeine instead of the cigarette's nicotine. Either way, he had decided, he needed a buzz to facilitate his focus. "Do you know a person named Carter?" he asked Duo.
"There is a Paul Carter who works in the Purchasing Department but I don't know anything about him. I did see him at the reception talking to Zechs Merquise. Is he to be added to your growing list of suspects?"
"Maybe."
Finally after lengthy debates and discussions concerning many minor details the finer points of a workable plan were coming together. Wufei sketched out a rough map of the area surrounding the Inn.
Heero figured angles and studied every conceivable way that something could go wrong. Even though Duo lacked his comrade's training he had cunning "street smarts" and a renewed determination that would not be compromised.
Wufei stretched his long legs and expressed his desire for a beer. As his head was shoved deeper into the refrigerator he mumbled. "Want one?"
"Thanks" Heero called over the telephone's ringing.
"You are a hard person to track down." Quatre's voiced declared.
"Quatre?" Heero questioned his hearing. "Where are you?"
Wufei raised an eyebrow at the unpredicted caller and handed Heero his beer.
"Trowa and I are in Montreux."
"I thought Une insisted you take time off after you were released."
"The Commander gave us three weeks but she didn't put any stipulations on where we could go so we figured that Switzerland was as good a location as anywhere else."
Trowa's voice sounded in the background. "We knew you and 05 missed us."
"As glad as we are to have you here," Heero told Agent 04, "shouldn't you be resting and recuperating, that is what R & R means or have you forgotten?"
Quatre's replied came in the form of a snort but Heero couldn't tell if the nasal puffing was from irritation or amusement. "I had enough rest during the weeks in hospital."
Trowa muttered something and Quatre actually giggled. "Trowa is begging you to rescue him from my fully recovered libido."
"Please?" Agent 03 implored with mock urgency.
"Anything to save a fellow agent." 01 came to the rescue. "Check in a HQ and ask for an Agent Ross. He can give you directions to the safe house."
"Don't have any fun without us." 04 teased.
"See you soon."
"That puts an interesting twist on the assignment." Wufei commented.
Heero nodded in agreement. "I would say that the bad guys are in for a rude awakening."
TBC...
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