A Reason for Living Part 7
Things that Go Bump in the Night
Wufei and Heero sat in the BMW that had been relocated closer to the chain link fence surrounding Khushrenada Electronics. Heero checked his watch, midnight. The complex buildings were dark except for an occasional illuminated window that was undoubtedly in a hall.
"A blind man must have designed the security system." Wufei commented on the ill-lit landscape and lack of proper wattage in the perimeter lights.
Heero grunted in agreement. He had long ago slipped off the uncooperative bowtie and unbuttoned his collar. A thin wisp of cigarette smoke curled in bluish spirals as he waited impatiently to do some spying.
The reception had finally broken up not more than an hour ago. It hadn't taken long for the crowd to thin out and for the last of the hired help to disappear into the night. Howard's briefcase had been retrieved from the boot. The pen and dart case now rested in Heero's jacket pocket opposite his automatic.
Both the Beretta and Wufei's Walther would only be used as a last resort. It was not that either spy was squeamish about shooting but a loud bang could be easily heard and a muzzle flash could plainly be seen in the dark.
Heero flicked the cigarette out the window. It hit smoldering end first sending out a shower of tiny embers. "Ready?" He had waited long enough.
Two backlit silhouettes made a straightway path for the fence. Crouching side by side Wufei pulled a voltage meter from his belt pack and touched the conducting rod to the fence. The indicator needle barely quivered telling 05 that there was no current running through the metal barrier. Heavy-gauge wire cutters severed the links, the trespassing pair squeezed through then realigned the fence to hide their covert insertion.
An entire back section of the grounds was hidden from view by several stacks of shipping crates embossed with the K.E. logo. Heero and Wufei decided that area would be the best point of entry. If the complex layout supplied by Ross was correct the building housing the main computer room was just across the way.
The stealthy intruders advanced cautiously a few steps at a time. They paused, listened and move again. The gradual gaining of real estate was time consuming but better the slow pace than being stopped dead in their tracks.
Footsteps striking the pavement halted the agents' progress. Two irregular shadows floated over the grass and bloomed up on the building's side. 01 and 05 froze in place.
Their preferred response to the approaching shadowy shapes would have been a quick shot but, in this case, a more carefully considered method was advisable. Heero used a silent hand signal to tell Wufei to wait while he advanced a few yards and positioned himself in a defensive posture to intercept the odd images.
The patrolling guard emerging from the darkness explained one of the questionable outlines but the second shape was completely unexpected. One of the largest German Shepherds Heero had ever seen tugged at his lead as he sniffed out a foreign scent. The muscular mongrel stopped, sucked in a good whiff then locked his angry eyes on the scent's source.
Before Heero could react to his sudden detection the sentry unleashed the beast. Moments before the burly dog lunged for the intruder into his territory Heero managed to scramble up one stack of crates. He pulled up his feet with only seconds to spare and swore that the canine's teeth scraped his heels as the dog jumped up after his quarry.
Frustrated by his unsuccessful grab, the dog paced at the stack's base. Hair bristled along his spine and a low guttural growl rose from deep inside the aggressive animal. And if the situation was not bad enough all the Shepherd had to do was bark and every guard on duty would be alerted. The dog continued to snarl curling back his lips in a mocking smile. Long teeth glistened in the limited light.
*********
Meanwhile the sentry decided to engage in some target practice. What better way to hone his marksmanship than to pick off his target at fifty yards? He shouldered his rifle, sighted through the night-scope and tightened the tension on the trigger. "Hold still you son of a bitch." He mumbled as his intended mark wavered in the scope's focus.
A blur of motion was all the guard saw before a snap front kick dislodged the rifle from his grasp. The surprised man spun around just in time for a fist to shatter his jaw and a knee to crack his ribs. With a grunt the man joined his rifle on the ground.
The faint scraping of cloth over the grass was barely heard as the guard's limp body was dragged behind a shrubbery hedge. Then as silently the Lone Dragon melted back into the shadows like ink soaking through rice paper.
*********
Another bound put the Shepherd halfway up the crate before his momentum ran out. This failure only served to further frustrate and anger the dog. It was only a matter of time before one of the leaps would succeed in sinking teeth into flesh and possibly hauling Heero down from his precarious perch.
Heero reached for the pen; carefully he loaded a yellow tipped dart. He moved with deliberate caution not wanting to do anything that would encourage the dog to make another attempt at crate climbing.
"This isn't permanent," he assured the cross canine, "but you're going to have a hell of a headache when you wake up."
The dart stuck midway along the dog's neck just above the shoulder. A sharp yelp preceded the Shepherd's eyes rolling back. A low whine carried on the night air as the now calm canine flopped over on his side panting in short puffs with his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth.
Heero climbed down and hid the semi-conscious dog behind the crates. He checked his watch...12:25 am.
Nothing else impeded the agents' route to the correct building. Once a suitable entrance was in sight 01 and 05 had a brief tactical discussion. Wufei would remain on watch while Heero hacked into the computer files for any clues concerning Khushrenada's association with the guidance disruptors. He and Wufei would stay linked through headsets.
"If anything happens we'll meet at the car." Heero instructed.
Wufei nodded. "I'll be here." he promised. "Heero," he called just before 01 made the final dash to the door, "don't take all night, I need my beauty sleep."
*********
Heero disabled the alarm system then used Howard's "magic key" to slip in a side door. "I'm in." he whispered into his headset's mouthpiece.
"All clear." Wufei reported.
A wide loading bay was filled to overflow with cartons, equipment and a least a dozen half-ton trucks. 01 stayed low using the assorted containers as cover. The bay was quiet and, after his unpleasant encounter with the sentry and his four-legged counterpart, Heero was happy to have the quiet. A speedy pace brought him to an exit on the bay's opposite side.
The door eased back until the crack was sufficient for Heero to peek through. Again he let his eyes and ears communicate the corridor's status concerning any patrolling watchers. The hall was vacant but there was no guarantee it would remain that way. Also he had to be aware that most halls were probably equipped with security cameras. Flattening against the wall Heero tried his best to be an inconspicuous as possible.
Recalling the building's layout Heero traveled down the corridor, turned left at an intersecting hall then counted the doors until he found the one labeled, "Shipping Department". Again the Universal Key effortlessly disengaged the lock. As the door closed behind him Heero made a mental note to thank Howard for his ingenuity.
The narrow beam from a penlight swept across six workstations. Heero took off the headset, put it in his pocket and settled down in front of the third computer consol. Most people would have chosen the computer closest to the door to facilitate a rapid exit but Heero required maneuvering room in case he was discovered. If his hacking was interrupted 01 needed the extra space to lure the guard further inside then he could utilize a more silence method of "watcher removal".
Just as the noise of a shot would have attracted attention outside, a keen pistol crack would be multiplied in the building's interior and then the idea of sneaking in would become a moot point.
Heero balanced the penlight to illuminate the keyboard and switched on the computer. A soft beep momentarily disrupted the eerie stillness then a low hum was all that was heard. The activated screen cast a blue tint across Heero's face.
Ross had provided a list of sequence numbers that were supposed to be the override codes to breach the computer's security system. Heero's fingers flew over the keys as he entered the first set of four-digit numbers. The computer efficiently scanned, digested and then rejected the series. A glaring ACCESS DENIED filled the screen.
Heero cursed under his breath then typed in the next five codes in rapid succession. Again the computer refused entry. He took a deep breath, let a relaxing exhalation flow over his lips and hoped that Lady Luck would not abandon him to failure.
Finally the seventh sequence clicked in and the computer cooperated. Spreads sheets filled with shipment dates and time schedules popped on the monitor. Heero advanced the list quickly reading several lines at once. Everything looked right, just routine records.
As the screen's blue light increased the intensity of Heero's blue eyes frustration began to set in. He knew that the German would have taken care to cover his tracks. He hadn't expected to find any entries on the Vagabond and her secret cargo, Khushrenada was too clever to make that mistake but Heero had hoped for a link, maybe some minor, overlooked detail to tell him that he was on the right path and not on a futile mission.
"Just how accurate was Quinze's report?" The question seeped into his mind. Had incomplete or faulty information sent him on the proverbial "wild goose chase"? At that point 01 was thinking up quite a few unsavory ways to go after Quinze if the question of flawed data proved to be true.
"You're not going to find out anything here." Heero mumbled as he sat back with a sigh. "Khushrenada's office, that's where you need to look." he continued the self-debate.
Heero straightened suddenly. The screen and the penlight went dark at the same time. Now the bluish tattletale "ghost aura" on the monitor was all that betrayed the computer's recent use. Footsteps in the corridor had put an abrupt end to Heero's unauthorized spying session. Holding the Beretta close to his chest, he pressed his body against the wall on the door's hinged side.
Someone worked the lock, slowly the doorknob turned. An outline silhouetted in a backwash of light moved further into the room. A hand reached for the light switch.
Heero held his breath.
The lights flared on.
The automatic became a natural extension of 01's hand as he sighted down his outstretched arm. His movement from the shadows caused the unidentified figure to spin around.
Without warning Heero found himself face to face with Duo Maxwell.
*********
The night watchman put down his copy of Playboy and stretched. With an air of apathy he stood up to start his next inspection round. His indifference was borne from night after night of uneventful boredom. Between the patrolling sentries and their ill-tempered dogs and the interior alarm system's continuous monitoring nothing exciting ever happened.
The reception earlier that evening had given him a welcomed respite from his monotonous duty but watching the men and women with their fancy cars and expensive clothing had been an unpleasant reminder of how "dead end" his job really was.
But his dull life wasn't going to change, at least not tonight. "Better get to it." he sighed. He finished the last of his coffee, got his flashlight and headed for the door.
*********
Duo drew in a startled breath. His eyes widened in shock at the sight of a gun pointed in his direction. Then his unusual violet orbs narrowed and a confused expression played out across his face as he looked past the pistol to Heero.
"Please don't move." Heero ordered. 01 rarely made polite requests and never begged anyone's compliance but in this case he sincerely hoped that Mr. Maxwell would heed his warning.
Duo's shook his head "yes" but continued to tilt his head at an inquiring angle. "Mr. Yuy?" His baffled tone lent concrete credence to his confusion.
Heero relaxed but didn't lower his guard or his gun. "What are you doing here?" he demanded with a tenseness in his voice that made it clear he was not in the mood for playing games. "Lose your way home?" he added sarcastically.
The puzzlement immediately left Duo's face. "Me?" he stated with recovered resolve. "I work here." With an equal amount of mockery Duo turned the tables, "You were the one who disappeared."
"Answer my question." Heero insisted.
The light of insight flashed in Duo's eyes. "I understand now. You couldn't get any information from me this afternoon," he announced certain that he had figured out Heero's intensions, "so you left the reception and broke in here to see what you could steal." he boldly declared taking a step forward.
"Don't move!"
"Or you'll do what, Mr. Yuy, shoot me? Who are you working for, Welige?"
Heero's eyebrows pulled together in a perplexed frown. *Welige.* he mentally repeated. *Another player in the game.*
Heero went fishing. "Why do you think Welige sent me?"
"To find out what I know." Duo declared.
A defiant look was set on Duo's face. His shift in attitude, the unexpected fearlessness in his temperament took Heero by surprise. If Duo Maxwell was afraid he hid it well.
Now 01's inner voice, his instincts, joined in the strange conversation. One fact was apparent...Duo's presence was not due to devotion to duty or his employer, no one just happens to come by well after midnight.
No, Duo had his own agenda. However what was not clear was his reasons for the after hours visit. He had access to all of Khushrenada's facilities whenever he wished so why was it necessary to sneak around in the middle of the night?
More questions flooded Heero's mind. Who was Welige? Why did the possibility that he might have hired Heero cause such a radical change in Duo's disposition and what knowledge did Duo have that Welige needed to find out about?
One would think when confronted by a man with a gun that a reasonable person would be frightened or at least a bit rattled. Duo's firm resolve in the face of such a threat hinted at an underlying motivation stronger than his fear of harm.
There were too many missing pieces to the puzzle. Heero pressed harder, he was going to get some answers if it took all night. "We both know that you're not here to burn the midnight oil." he stated flatly, "Maybe your accusations of my thievery are closer to your own illegal intensions. Perhaps you are as guilty as you think I am."
Duo's eyes narrowed again. This time, though, an unyielding glare replaced the confusion. "Who are you?" Duo's tone told Heero that the braided man wasn't going to be intimidated by a stranger with or without a gun. "You are certainly not a businessman, not in any legitimate business.
Duo locked his eyes directly with Heero's eyes. Suddenly something else transfixed Duo's stare as if a shocking realization had taken hold. For the first time fear showed in his enlarged pupils and Heero swore that a pale wave washed over his face.
"You had something to do with Robert's disappearance." he whispered lowly. The firm resolve faded from his voice, his shoulders sagged.
Another player? Soon Heero would need a program guide to keep up.
"Robert?" Heero's voice inflection asked for further clarification.
"Robert Baines." Duo's answer came back with a tense accent on each part of the name. "What's wrong, didn't you bother to get his name before you..." A trembling halt choked off his last words.
Robert Baines, the name screamed in Heero's head. At last a tangible lead.
Now Heero studied Duo in a different light. Could his connection with Baines be what had Welige so worried? Was Duo's stubborn refusal to be swayed, even with his assumption of Heero's murderous capabilities, proof of how far he would go to protect whatever secret he kept? Did this revelation implicate Duo placing him deeper into the middle of the mystery?
Heero's inner voice augured, *Something isn't as it should be.* A puzzle piece was still missing. Duo Maxwell's involvement with Khushrenada was definitely not what it seemed on the surface.
That pronouncement left Heero in a sticky situation. He had come up empty in Hamburg; the computer records had yielded no substantially useful information. Whether deliberately or involuntarily on his part Baines had vanished and Duo was convinced that Heero was responsible.
Even though 01 could not be positive of Duo's alliances he was quickly becoming Heero's only hope, the last stitch holding his threadbare investigation together. Would it be unrealistic to expect Duo's cooperation? Was he now too fearful and unsure to trust a stranger or believe the truth? Could Heero risk compromising his cover and reveal his identity and purpose?
Heero's instincts spoke once more confirming what he already knew. 01 took a calculated risk. "You are correct, I am not a businessman."
"Really?" Duo's tone was drenched in guarded skepticism.
Heero moved forward. Duo retreated never taking his eyes off the Beretta. "Trust your instincts," he reminded himself, "Duo has to believe you."
Heero lowered the automatic and deposited it in his front jacket pocket. "My name is Heero Yuy but I don't work for Aero-Tech. I am an agent with the International Preventer Bureau."
Duo relaxed a bit but continued to keep a comfortable safety margin between himself and the apparent imposter. Confusion and uncertainty overwhelmed his ability to think; after all he had no cause to believe this man who had already misrepresented himself. Was Heero again being deceitful?
Yet something rang true in Heero's voice, sincerity showed in his eyes. Now it was Duo's turn to listen to his own council and he knew that his life could very well depend on his clear understanding of its advice. "So you're working for Preventer." he stated in a distrustful manner, "Am I supposed to be impressed?"
"I know you have no reason to believe me." Heero conceded realizing how Duo perceived his presence and that he had every right to questioned his purpose.
Duo shifted his weight mentally measuring the space needed to squeeze between the computer stations in order to escape. But he was not foolish enough to discount Heero's quickness and strength and he could not ignore the gun that, despite being stowed away in the jacket's pocket, was still within easy reach.
"Give me one reason why I should believe you."
Again Heero listened to his inner voice and made a decision that was as surprising to him as to Duo. "One reason." Raising his hands in a posture of surrender he slowly backed away creating an unobstructed path to the door. "You're free to leave. If I had been sent by Welige, if I had anything to do with Baines' disappearance, would I be so ready to let you go?
Heero gestured toward the door. "I only have one request. I hope that you will give me a decent head start before calling out the guards."
Duo stood firmly in place. "Right, I try to leave and you shoot me in the back. Was that how you took care of Robert?" he hissed with acidic sharpness.
An unreadable expression settled over Heero's face. His hand moved to the jacket pocket. Duo's heart raced, "This is it. I've pushed him too far."
As the Beretta cleared the pocket's hemmed edge 01 pivoted the gun in his hand until the barrel twisted downward. The butt end rested lightly on his fingers. "Here." he thrust it towards Duo offering up his last line of defense.
Duo still didn't move. "There has to be another motive." His mind declared. Perhaps the act of submission was a calculated lure, a ploy to tempt Duo into closing the distance between him and the self-proclaimed agent. Giving up his weapon changed nothing. Duo knew that the Japanese man was still stronger, faster and certainly able to overpower him.
"Why?" the insistence question demanded. A hundred possibilities bombarded Duo's thoughts inundating every part of his mind with doubts.
"No." The single word was all he could force through the disconcerting tide of conflicting emotions.
As Duo's unequivocal rebuttal stretched Heero's already thinning patience, his fingers tightened on the Beretta. "Look!" he exclaimed struggling to keep his voice even, "This isn't the time or place to spar with one another. Either trust me or get the hell out."
TBC...
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