A Reason for Living Part 11
"Bugging" the Enemy
Duo waited in the BMW parked across the street from the Montague Vue Inn. After counting at least fifteen stories he decided that the Inn more closely resembled a hotel. Leaning sideways his sight followed the vertical line of balconies reaching toward the waning afternoon sun.
The last story windows, reflecting the sunset's orange rays, stopped just short of ten multi-colored flags flapping along the rooftop. Beside its towering neighbor a lesser building was swallowed up the Inn's long, purple shadow.
Even though the winter-white slopes had given way to lush green hills the Inn was busy. Wealthy sun worshipers who didn't care for the cold milled around the lobby and mingled in the lounge.
A middle-aged woman in a dress tight enough to cut off her circulation fluttered her mascara-coated eyelashes in an "I'm available, are you?" look. Heero smiled at the flirtatious female but kept his straightway path to the front desk. Wufei caught up in time to watch his fellow agent sign the guest register. Soon 01 and 05 were taking the lift to the sixth floor.
"Do you think Maxwell will come through this time?" Wufei asked watching the bellboy unlock Suite 610.
Heero gave the boy a generous tip wanting him away before the conversation continued. Laying Howard's briefcase on the coffee table he stated confidently. "Duo will be all right."
Wufei wandered about the suite's sitting area wondering why more of his assignments didn't include expensive high-rises and posh rooms with spectacular views. But he had long ago resigned himself to boring stakeouts and mundane missions with an occasional fight or shootout thrown in to offset the boredom.
A bedroom and bath adjoined the sitting room. A king size bed, made up with a satin coverlet in pastel stripes of blue and green, dominated the spacious room. Lamps on the double vanity, the lounging chairs and carpet copied the same pattern. The color scheme was repeated in the bathroom that had a sunken bathtub large enough to accommodate two people.
"Cozy sleeping arrangements." Wufei winked. "Maybe you will get lucky with Maxwell."
Heero sat down on the sofa and opened the briefcase. "You are incorrigible."
*********
Outfitted in a three-piece gray suit, black silk shirt and silver tie, Duo approached the front desk. Displaying a very official attitude he addressed the clerk. "I am Mr. Paul Carter's Personal Assistant and I wish to confirm his room."
While the clerk checked the reservation list Duo looked at his watch a second time to indicate that he was in a hurry. His "pressed for time" posture lent an air of importance to the performance.
"Mr. Carter has Suite 706." the clerk stated, "You might like to inform him that Ms. Catalonia had already checked in."
*********
As Duo joined Heero and Wufei on the balcony he was also impressed with the suite's lavish appointments and the panoramic view. "Suite 706 but there's a problem, Dorothy has already gone up."
Wufei sighed, "I suppose that cancels the "let yourself in the front door" plan."
Heero shook his head then leaned backward over the balcony railing to study the next projecting platform's vertical upsweep from another angle. "I'll have to use the back door."
A perplexed frown pulled at Duo's facial features. "There is no back door." He was certain that Agent 01 had finally succumbed to the stress of his job.
Oddly Wufei had no trouble understanding the fractured dialogue. "Come inside."
05 retrieved a piece of paper from the briefcase and spread it out on the coffee table. Duo peered over his shoulder. "Floor plans...for this building. How did you get these?"
"Don't ask." Heero smiled sitting down beside his Chinese counterpart.
Suite 706 was located then each room on that floor was counted from side to side. A second calculation was done from the seventh level to the building's roof. All the while Wufei scratched numbers on a worn notepad. "It could be worse."
"Worse than what?" Duo asked even though he wasn't sure he wanted to know.
Wufei continued the computations. "How long? Fifteen minutes?"
"It shouldn't take any longer." Heero answered as he pulled off his jacket.
Duo was becoming increasingly confused at the Heero and Wufei's disjointed conversation. "Longer than what?" he wondered watching Heero toe off his shoes.
Between Heero's disrobing and Wufei's frustrating figuring Duo noticed that a dizzy sensation had begun to creep into his head. Finally he flopped down in a chair and gave up his informational quest before the mental complications produced by sorting out the agent's erratic behavior resulted in permanent brain damage.
*********
"Do you think Heero has deserted us?" Duo wondered checking at his watch. He had swapped the gray suit for a comfortable pair of cotton trousers and a button front skirt.
"What?" Wufei was still figuring.
"Heero has been in the bedroom so long that I thought maybe he's gone missing."
Wufei paused long enough to glance up at the talkative civilian. "It takes awhile to get suited up."
"Suited up? Never mind I don't want to know."
01 finally emerged from the bedroom attired in a black bodysuit and carrying a compact backpack that sagged from its weighty contents. Duo immediately decided the tight outfit that accented Heero's muscular physique was very sexy.
Inside the black bag coils of thin nylon rope, clasps, metal rings and a miniature remote control unit were neatly arranged. A pair of black gloves had been added to the climbing gear.
From Howard's briefcase Heero picked out four flat microphone disks, each one about the size of a quarter. He deposited the "bugs" in his pocket and checked the clip on his Beretta. "Right on schedule."
Heero touched Duo's arm to command his attention. "I need you to do something."
"Anything." Duo replied.
"After Wufei and I leave wait ten minutes then ring up Suite 706. Disguise your voice, tell Dorothy you are the front desk clerk and that Mr. Carter wants her to meet him in the lobby. If she asked any questions tell her that was all the instructions you received. Wufei will be positioned where he can watch 706, when she leaves he will let me know. Any question?"
"Just one, where will you be?"
"On the roof."
Heero put on a matching black jacket, shouldered the backpack and headed for the door with Wufei close behind. Pausing with his gloved hand on the doorknob he looked back at Duo. "I'll be back before you have time to miss me." he repeated Duo's favorite phrase. "Give us ten minutes then make the call."
Duo stood in the hall as 01 and 05 started down the corridor. "Hey," he called softly, "both of you be careful."
Heero gave the "thumbs up" sign then he and Wufei disappeared through the stairwell door. Once on the staircase the agents parted company. 05 headed downstairs, 01 upstairs.
*********
A spasmodic wind hit Heero's face when the rooftop access panel swung open. The flags spaced evenly along the three-foot high parapet-styled wall snapped keenly, cracking like whips as the surging air currents battered them.
From Wufei's vantage point on the opposite building's roof he picked out Heero's outline silhouetted in dusk's purple-gray backwash. Gazing pass his trespassing partner, Wufei had a breathtaking view of snow-capped mountains and lush green landscape.
Adjusting his night vision binoculars the Chinese agent brought the well-camouflaged figure into crisp focus. Twisting sideways Wufei redirected his line of sight upwards and to the left until the balcony of Suite 706 came into view.
Luckily Dorothy had not closed the curtains, however the low light from a single lamp greatly diminished the room's clarity. He reset the lens power enlarging the dim interior until the murky gloom lost most of its influence.
Anxiously Wufei checked his watch...7:20 pm. "You're cutting it short Maxwell." he stated under his breath watching the seconds slip away to the meeting time of eight o'clock.
None too soon Dorothy, wearing in a red dress, moved across the lens' circular panorama. She sat down at a table beside the balcony's French doors, crossed one slender leg over the other and dangled a scarlet shoe from the end of her foot.
Another time check. "Now, Maxwell." Wufei said out loud hoping that his verbally projected order would carry back to their suite.
As if on cue Dorothy reached for the telephone. After a brief exchange she gathered her purse and door key and switched off the light. A glow from the hall momentarily brightened the room then it was once again enveloped in darkness.
Wufei spoke into a wireless micro-transmitter. "All clear." Heero indicated he understood by tapping his earphone receiver twice. The tapping registered as sharp pops on Wufei's end.
Quick strides carried Heero the twenty or so yards to the short wall skirting the roofline.
"Five feet to the left." The pop sounded again. "Straight down from your position." Wufei confirmed.
Heero attached a guide ring around one flagpole's base, laced the rope through then jerked several times to test the sturdiness. The length of thin line arched over the wall shivering in the fitful gusts. The upper part went taut under Heero's weight. The remaining rope twitched, twisted and bumped against the building's rough stone side.
Heero only had to repel eight stories, usually a simple task, but the strong, erratic wind and the close proximity of the buildings added a greater measure of difficulty.
Wufei braced his elbows, leveled the binoculars and watched the shadowy figure slip silently over the wall's rim. Heero planted the toes of the boots in the mortar line, flexed his knees and push off. The rope slid through his gloved hands fluidly lowering his black-clad body along the side wall.
Heero used his knees to absorb the shock. His boots hit and he pushed again. Just before his boots made contact the third time the wind abruptly changed directions slamming his shoulder hard into the inflexible wall. The force jarred his entire body, his hands fought to keep their tenuous grip. The backpack also shifted lending an additional imbalance to his precarious position.
Suspended in the center of the twin structures' manmade canyon Heero swayed wildly in the buffering currents. Below his dangling feet people looked like insects and vehicles were the size of toy cars traveling along ribbons of avenues. All around lights and shapes were blurred by his dizzying spin.
Wufei tensed, "Hang on." he mentally pleaded as if by sheer willpower he could help his partner.
Muscles burning, Heero drew in a concentrative breath. Keeping his wits focused he swiveled his hips and gradually realigned his body. The parallel placement eased the strain on his arms and allowed his boots to make contact with the wall's solid surface. He paused to readjust the backpack and his scattered senses then started down again.
Three stories...two...one. The lower elevation cut off the currents, the wind gusts lost most of their intensity. The remainder of the trip went smoother. One last bounce put Heero directly above the desired balcony.
One outward swing then back. Lifting his feet over the wrought iron railing 01cleared the top and nimbly dropped to the floor. The rope's end was tied down in case he should need to return the way he'd come.
"For a moment I thought I had lost you." Wufei's relieved voice sounded through Heero's earphone. Heero nodded in reply and breathed his own sigh of relief.
The French doors' lock was easily bypassed. As a penlight's beam danced about the room Wufei had no difficulty following 01's stealthy movements. The "bugs' were efficiently placed in spots that experience had taught would be the most secure.
Returning to the balcony Heero aimed the remote control upwards. Pressing the proper button released the guide ring letting the rope slip free, the loosened line piled around his feet.
From the backpack Heero produced a pouch that unfolded into a duffle bag. The backpack, rope, remote control and gloves were tucked inside. Now all that might betray his visit was a single metal ring clanging against a flagpole and four electronic "ears" keeping an audio watch.
Heero brushed off, straightened his clothes and finger-combed his wind-blown hair. After carefully securing the French doors from the inside he listened at the hall door. A narrow line of light filtered from the hall as he slipped out.
In the space of less than twenty minutes 01's trip from rooftop to hall had been successfully completed but he wouldn't congratulate himself until he and Wufei were safely back in their suite.
On the opposite rooftop Wufei allowed a smile to tug at his lips. "Right on schedule." he whispered as he started down the fire escape.
*********
Suite 706 sat midway down an opulent hall. Gold framed oil paintings, antique tables adorned with fresh flowers and crystal prism wall sconces supplied the perfect finishing touches to the grand corridor.
Heero stood beside a man in a tuxedo and a woman in an emerald evening dress. While the handsome spy and the elegant couple waited for the lift he hoped that the hidden listening devices would yield some useful information. The mission had already gone longer than he'd anticipated and his willingness to trudge along was rapidly expiring.
The lift bell dinged, the doors parted, the couple proceeded. Out the corner of his eye Heero caught a flash of scarlet. Dorothy raised her head just in time to avoid a collision with the stylish twosome. Unfortunately Heero was not so lucky.
"Mr. Yuy!" Dorothy exclaimed clearly surprised to see the Japanese businessman. "Well it is certainly a small world." she finished after a moment's recovery.
"Yes it seems to be." Heero replied equally startled by Ms. Catalonia's unexpected appearance. He had counted that Dorothy's wait for Carter would have lasted at least twenty or thirty minutes before her patience worn thin but he had obviously made a bothersome miscalculation.
"Are you staying here?"
"Just for tonight, I'm leaving in the morning."
An attempt to enter the lift was foiled as Dorothy latched onto Heero's arm. "You weren't going to go without saying goodbye? I was looking forward to you and I engaging in some business." She tightened her grip.
"Whether or not we do business is not my decision." Heero stated trying to move again, "I will present Mr. Khushrenada's proposal to my supervisor, he has the final say in the matter."
Dorothy was not about to give up that easily. "Since you won't be here much longer perhaps we can have a drink." Her hand folded over Heero's arm reinforcing her insistence that he should stay. "My suite is just down the hall."
"Thank you but I must decline," Heero stated firmly then offered an appeasement to Dorothy's apparent anticipation of more than a drink. "I have a meeting scheduled tonight but the next time I'm in Montreux I promise we will have dinner."
"One drink won't take that long." With a suggestive tilt to her body Dorothy begged, "Just one, please."
Heero couldn't see his watch but he knew that the meeting time with Hoffman was not that far off. The rapidly approaching eighth hour left him with two choices. Firstly he could continue to stand in the hall taking the chance that Carter and "The Fox" would walk off the lift.
Heero and William Hoffman had met once before and he was certain that the ensuing firefight had left a lasting impression in the German's mind. Heero also had no doubts if he and Hoffman came face to face that Agent 01 would be immediately recognized.
His second option was to go with Dorothy, have a drink and find an excuse to make a hasty exit. "All right, one drink." he gave in reckoning to make himself less visible.
*********
"How much longer can he be?" Duo wondered out loud.
Wufei shrugged, "Not long. He should have been close behind me."
"Are you certain no one saw him?"
"I'm sure."
Duo shook his head hard enough to make his braid swing from side to side. "I don't like this. What if he ran into Carter or what if...."
"He's all right." Wufei interrupted. Now Duo's fidgeting was making 05 nervous.
"If he isn't back soon I'm going downstairs."
"Be patience," Wufei ordered, "he will be along."
*********
"All I have is white wine." Dorothy announced.
"Wine is all right." Heero answered sneaking a look at his watch. *This is going to be close.* his inner voice declared.
Dorothy handed Heero a glass. "What should we drink to...a profitable venture?"
Heero nodded in agreement and took a sip.
Dorothy sat her glass on the bar and stepped closer. "I have been wondering something."
"What's that?"
Dorothy's eyes locked with Heero's cobalt orbs in an unmistakably enticing gaze. "What it would be like to be with you."
Her hands slid over Heero's shoulders clasping behind his neck. A jingle sounded near Heero's ear. "Don't you even take off that bracelet?"
"No but I could be persuaded to take something else off." She purred.
Ms. Catalonia was a beautiful woman and under different circumstances her sensual offer might have been tempting but Heero had to keep his head clear and his emotions in check.
The thought of Carter and Hoffman bursting through the door also made the fighting easier. "I don't believe we have time for more than a drink."
"We have all the time we want." she whispered. "Maybe this will change your mind."
Heero couldn't deny that he enjoyed the kiss but even if he and the lustful lady had taken the amorous action into the bedroom he would have merely gone through the motions for the mission's sake.
He reached up and pried her hands free, "This is nice but I have to keep my appointment."
Dorothy's lower lip poked out pouting like a spoiled child. "Are you sure I can't change your mind?"
Heero stood his ground, "I promise on my next trip we will have dinner." Then to keep up the facade he sealed the "promise" with a convincing kiss.
Heero left Dorothy breathing hard partly from the kiss but mostly because she didn't get her way. She ran her tongue over her lips where Heero's aftertaste lingered. "Next time, Heero Yuy, you won't get away."
*********
Paul Carter met Hoffman in the parking lot next to the Inn. Two bodyguards with arms the size of tree trunks stuck close to "The Fox". Carter figured that the muscular protectors had been hired for their biceps and not their brains and he was also sure that they probably threw people around just for fun.
"Good evening Herr Hoffman." A brief nod from Hoffman was all the acknowledgement Carter received.
The quartet crossed the lot, the burly watchers dropped a few steps behind. "I hope Hoffman keeps his pets under control." Carter whispered under his breath as they entered the lobby.
*********
Duo faced the balcony doors with his arms folded across his chest. Since he had made no attempt to join Heero and Wufei in the sitting area, much less make eye contact, it didn't take a genius to figure that he was not happy.
"He can't be that upset because I was a little late." Heero reasoned.
Wufei cocked an eyebrow and glanced over at Duo's inflexible posture. "Your tardiness is not the issue." He silently directed Heero's sight to the recorder on the coffee table. "This is voice activated you know."
Heero knew still he couldn't understand Duo's cold reception.
Wufei pressed the play button and turned up the volume. Dorothy's voice cooed through the speaker. Heero's baritone also picked up quite nicely as well. Even the heavy breathing and the jingle from Dorothy's bracelet had been flawlessly recorded on the disk.
"Did a good job with the bugs." Wufei teased lowly; he didn't want Duo peeved at him too.
"I didn't do anything." Heero insisted in his own defense.
"Tell him, not me." Wufei waited for some creditable response from his partner but Heero eased back on the sofa, copied Duo's crossed-armed pose and offer nothing but a snort in reply.
Wufei stood up and aimed another fleeting look at the chestnut braid hanging down Duo's back. "I'm going back to HQ and fill in Quatre and Trowa. Do you think it will be safe to leave you two alone?"
Heero grinned and patted the left side of his chest where his Beretta bulged under his jacket. "I'm carrying."
"Call me the minute the meeting is over." Wufei paused at the door. "I hope their voices pick up as clearly as your voice did." He winked then retreated before Heero could react to the good-natured taunting.
At the sound of the door closing Duo looked over his shoulder. "I don't know why I bother."
"Bother?"
"When you didn't come back after a reasonable time I was worried but from what I heard there was no need. You were obviously in no hurry to part company with Ms. Catalonia."
Heero hung his jacket it over a chair's back then unhooked his shoulder holster laying it and the pistol on the table. "She waylaid me not the other way around."
"It didn't sound like you were fighting too hard to get away."
"It was business."
Duo twirled around causing his braid to slap against the door. His nerve's already shortened fuse had nearly reached its end. "I'd hate to see what you do for pleasure." he snapped.
Heero couldn't resist his own bit of taunting, after all, he loved to play with fire. "Come here and I'll show you what I do for pleasure."
Duo threw up his hands. "You can be so frustrating."
"Me...frustrating...what about..." Heero began then decided that he was tired of debating business verses pleasure. "I'm going to change. Let me know when Carter and Hoffman show up."
Duo plopped down in the chair holding Heero's jacket. Trying his best to keep from exploding he grabbed the infuriating agent's garment, his fingers curled around fistfuls of fabric. If he couldn't ring the exasperating man's neck then his jacket made a good substitute.
A hint of Heero's aftershave lingered on the collar. With a defeated sigh Duo thought better of the material mashing and carefully smoothed out the wrinkles "Dammit it Heero," he whispered, "you know I can't stay mad at you."
*********
The recorder started automatically. The sound of an unlatching door then footsteps and voices flowed through the speaker. Duo leaned nearer as the transmission gradually grew stronger and the voices became audible. "Heero, the bitch and her friends are getting ready to party." he called.
01 came out of the bedroom, his shirt flared aside as he walked. Duo caught a brief glimpse of the thick scar just before Heero buttoned up. "Anything interesting?"
Heero didn't hear the entire reply as his line of sight was drawn to where Duo was stretched out on the sofa. His elongated position caused his trousers to fit tautly over his hips and call further attention to his male attributes.
Heero had always appreciated natural beauty and in this case nature had surely worked overtime. "Not much yet." Duo's voice brought him back from his nature study.
Heero leaned over to make certain that the recorder was operating properly. Of course this necessary maneuver could not be accomplished without coming into close range of Duo's frontal region. He adjusted the volume then gave Duo a subtle grin.
Still peeved over Heero's "business" with Dorothy, Duo was not at all flattered with the agent's unsolicited attention and the fact that Heero did nothing to hide his interest provoked him further. With a nostril flaring puff of disapproval Duo slipped his legs off the sofa abruptly ending 01's flirtation.
Having recently been on the receiving end of the braided man's volatile temper Heero made the wise choice to keep any references to Duo's disposition to himself instead he forced his captivated senses to refocus on the meeting.
Dorothy and Carter's voices were easily recognized. The third, by process of elimination, was identified as Hoffman. "I understand you wish to do business." Hoffman stated in English hardened by a thick German accent.
"Yes," Carter replied, "our product is state-of-the-art. Top quality."
"That's remains to be seen Herr Carter. Do you have a sample?"
"We thought it was best to keep the product secure," Dorothy answered, "but we can show you the entire operation if you will come to the processing complex. It's not far from here."
"How close?"
"In the mountains."
"Everything is ready." Carter stated, "You can take shipment whenever you like." he added sweetening the deal with the promise of immediate available.
"Not so fast," Hoffman cautioned, "I make no purchase without a full inspection then there is the matter of payment." He deliberately showed the pace, "I will have a look then maybe we can negotiate a deal."
"We can take care of those details tonight." Carter pushed not wanting to give Hoffman time to change his mind.
"Not tonight."
"Tomorrow morning?" Dorothy asked quickly.
"No, Fraulein, I have appointments. Two nights then I will see what you have to offer." Hoffman's tone and the conviction of his words clearly signaled an end to the conversation. There was no mistake that "The Fox" was a man used to running the show on his own schedule and terms.
"Forty-eight hours." Dorothy agreed, her voice became fainter. The closing door's soft thud officially concluded the meeting.
"All right!" Heero exclaimed in excitement. "Catalonia, Carter and the disruptors all in one place and Hoffman thrown in for good measure. The lodge...it has to be the lodge."
"That is logical," Duo agreed. "but there is one disturbing question." He hated playing the devil's advocate but he had to ask. "How can a few people take the complex? I can't believe that Dorothy has anything less that a small army guarding the lodge."
Heero mentally reviewed several ideas for the "lodge storming". "The first thing we need to do is get a lay of the land. "he muttered to himself. "Can you find the way?"
"Sure but I will need the shipping routes that were on the computer."
"You get the routes. I'm going to HQ and brief Wufei, Quatre and Trowa so we can put preliminary plans in place."
"Tonight?" Duo questioned. The speedy sequence of events was making him feel as though he was being run down by time.
Heero didn't seem the least bit affected by the swift pace. "Yes tonight. Straight to the office and back." he repeated his now familiar instructions then gently touched Duo's arm. "Be careful."
"I'll be back before you have time to miss me."
*********
Carter raised celebratory a glass of wine. "We have him! Hoffman can't turn us down." he boasted with a self-satisfied smile.
Dorothy's eyes flashed, her hands-on-hips posture conveyed the exact opposite response that Carter had expected. Anger quickened her steps as she headed for the door. "We don't have him yet."
She paused in the hall and pivoted in place. "And another thing you cocky bastard, the next time you want me to meet you be on time." she scolded then slammed the door leaving Carter standing alone wondering what in the hell he had done wrong.
TBC...
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