A Reason for Living Part 9
The Nature of Conflict
"Duo Maxwell." Heero made the short introductions. "Chang Wufei."
Wufei nodded. "Maxwell."
Duo couldn't tell whether the Chinese man was being rude or if he was always that abrupt but he was sure that he didn't care for the agent's attitude.
Redirecting his attention to his partner Wufei frowned. "You certainly took your time." he commented as the trio hurried to the fence.
"We had computer troubles and had to deal with a nosy watchman." Heero began his debriefing, "We also saw Dorothy and Septum and they are definitely whoring together."
Wufei raised an eyebrow, "We? So are "we" a threesome now?"
*********
One by one the gatecrashers squeezed through the fence's severed links. Wufei took a compact laser torch from his belt pack and touched the thin bright line to each cut. The metal merged into a molten mass then cooled quickly. The patch job wasn't strong but it was good enough to fool anyone who happened by.
Wufei slipped into the driver's side, Heero took the "shotgun" position on the passenger side. Duo sat quietly in the back seat wondering how in the hell he had fallen into the middle of the mess.
"Duo is going to stay with us until we have a clearer view of his status." Heero announced to his Chinese counterpart.
Wufei used the rear view mirror to look back at the braided man who had apparently been drafted into duty. Duo didn't notice as he stared out the side window at the night-shrouded trees blurred by the BMW's motion.
"It might be a good idea if you both laid low." Wufei offered up additional wisdom.
Heero leaned his head on the seat's back and closed his eyes. "Why?"
Wufei knew that despite 01's relaxed posture he was listening "Let's review your activities. You met with Khushrenada this morning. You went through the switchboard to call Maxwell. You met at a cafe near the complex so the encounter was probably common knowledge five minutes after you sat down. Finally you and Maxwell were seen talking at the reception."
Heero made a low "hum" in his throat to let 05 know that he hadn't fallen asleep.
Wufei cast a sideways glance and continued. "You and I had an unpleasant run-in with that sentry who may or may not make a report depending on how well he remembers the incident. And let's not forget that your nosy watchman knows Maxwell was keeping late hours."
The Japanese agent wondered if his "by-the-numbers" partner was done with his thorough review. "Your point is?"
"If the wrong people put the information together they may decide you and Maxwell know too much about their illegal behavior."
Wufei's frequent use of "Maxwell" was beginning to wear thin. Duo leaned against his seat belt and raised his voice for emphasis. "I have a first name." he declared, "Do you think your anal retentive brain can remember three letters?"
"Play nice children." Heero cracked one eye open to see Wufei's reaction to Duo well-aimed barb.
Wufei ignored the double goading then wasted no time stating what he considered to be an obvious need for concern. "It is no secret that we are staying at the Palace Hotel. If someone wants to start trouble you will be easy to find. I suggest that you and Max....ah....Duo stay in a safe house until we can fit more of this puzzle together."
Heero opened the other eye and sat up. "You're serious about this, aren't you?"
"Unfortunately both of you may be deemed guilty by association. I believe the stakes are too high not to take a reasonable amount of care."
Heero turned around and regarded the back seat passenger. "Wufei is right; we are a bit too high profile right now."
Duo nodded in agreement.
"Stop at the Palace. I'll get my bags then you can deposit us in the safe house." Heero acknowledge his partner's astute grasp of the situation.
3:30 am. Wufei parked beside the Palace's delivery entrance and waited as Heero took the back stairs so he wouldn't be seen going through the lobby. Soon the BMW was traveling on a winding road leading out of the city.
The modest house sitting on a hilltop provided an unobstructed view in all directions. A Range Rover, Heero's favorite "running full throttle" vehicle, was parked by the front door.
Wufei handed over the Rover's keys and the house keys. "I'll get in touch with Ross and bring him up to date. The phone line is supposed to be secure but for safety's sake we should keep our conversations general. If you need to pass on specific details use the encoded program on the your laptop."
*********
Heero raised a hand of goodbye as Wufei drove away leaving clouds of dust in his wake. He unlocked the door and switched on the lights. The house had a combination front sitting area and compact kitchen. The only bedroom was furnished with twin beds and a full bathroom.
Duo wandered over the limited space feeling out of place. It occurred to him that he knew nothing substantial about this IPB agent or his tight-assed partner and even less about their mission to save the world. But he was "guilty by association" and Heero, it seemed, was the only person he could trust.
"You want something to eat or drink?" Heero asked as he examined the contents of the well-stocked refrigerator.
"No, thank you," Duo replied from the bedroom door. "just sleep."
Heero stepped up beside his hesitant ally. "Which bed do you want?"
Duo shrugged, "I don't care. I won't know where I am as soon as my head hits the pillow."
"Choose one." Heero insisted.
"The right will be fine."
Duo was pleasantly surprised to find that the bathroom had also been stocked with all the essentials...toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors and combs. Shampoo and conditioner in a fresh Green Tea scent sat on the tub-shower unit.
Duo used the toilet, washed his face and brushed his teeth then Heero took his turn at the bedtime preparations. Duo had already stripped down to his boxers and slipped under the quilted cotton coverlet when Heero switched off the bathroom light and made his way in the darkness that was made navigable by streams of moonlight filtering through the mini-blinds.
A rustling told Duo that Heero had also divested himself of most of his clothing. A muffled swish, a creaking bed frame and 01 settled down for hopefully a restful sleep. The digital clock on the table between the beds changed to 4:15 am but neither Agent 01 nor the braided civilian was aware of the advancement of time.
*********
Duo sighed and shifted from his back to his side. His sleep-addled senses were vaguely aware of the thrashing sounds coming from the opposite bed. He blinked, listened and blinked again.
A purplish pre-dawn aura bathed the bedroom but even in the limited light he could see that the coverlet had slid to the floor exposing Heero's flailing arms, quivering legs and shivering body. Low groans accentuated the agent's clear distress and his face was twisted in agony.
There was no doubt that Heero was in the throes of a nightmare and Duo was immediately afraid that the agitated agent might hurt himself in his struggle with whatever demons plagued his dreams.
Two long strides carried Duo to the other bed. His hand hovering over Heero but he wasn't certain how to rouse this relative stranger from his troubled sleep. Laying his hand on Heero's shoulder, Duo squeezed gently and called Heero's name. When no response was forthcoming he increased the pressure, added a shaking motion and called louder.
Without warning the Japanese agent's eyes popped open and he sat straight up in bed. Just as suddenly Duo found himself staring at eye level into the Beretta's hollow end.
A startled gasp caught in Duo's chest moments before his legs attempted a hasty retreat but in his panic to get out of range his feet tangled and his rear end landed hard on the carpet.
From his lower observation point Duo looked past the Beretta into Heero's face that was flushed and drenched in cold sweat. A second shock came in the form of a thick, ragged scar running diagonally across Heero's chest from right collarbone to just short of his navel. The roughly-heal disfigurement was both frightening in its severity and fascinating in its primitive markings.
Stringy bangs barely concealed Heero's piercing eyes that cast a wild visage and mirrored the emotionless mask fixed on his features. As the pistol maintained its aim there was no recognition in Heero's stare, no sign that he was aware of his frozen posture or of the gun held in a double-handed grip.
Duo swallowed to force down the lump in his throat and fought through his fright until a single word whispered from his lips. "Heero." he called, his voice shuddering as hard as his body.
No reaction, not even a twitch. Duo crawled to the bed being careful to stay below the Beretta's barrel. Raising up on his knees he leaned closer to Heero. "Heero it's Duo." His hand dared to lie lightly on Heero's thigh. "I'm here." he reassured with all the sincerity he could muster.
Whether it was Duo's voice or touch or a combination of both that broke through 01's reactive training, a hiss of breath flowed over his parted lips and his eyes blinked back from their vacant gaze.
"Heero can you hear me?" Duo's voice was stronger, his resolve surer.
Like a spring had uncoiled in Heero's muscles his arms loosened up and his hands, still holding the Beretta, dropped into his lap. Duo inched his hand to the pistol, tugged the weapon from Heero's limp fingers and laid it on the bed.
Duo sat beside the clearly confused agent and mopped damp, tangle bangs from Heero's misty eyes. "Duo?" The name was muttered in a slurred manner as if Heero had just woke up from a sound sleep.
"It's all right." Duo scooped up the coverlet and wrapped it around 01's clammy body.
Heero flinched slightly as the downy material was tucked about him then he turned to his head to find Duo's concerned eyes looking back. "What..." he began as his eyes fought to focus.
Duo rubbed Heero's hands between his hands to warm up their icy flesh. "You had a nightmare. Can you remember anything?"
Heero drew in a shaky breath hoping that the exhaled air would calm his rattled nerves. "No...I..." Another breath to rein in his scattered thoughts and separate reality from the lingering traces of his dark dreaming.
"Don't worry about it now." Duo insisted. "I'll get a glass of water."
Heero nodded but Duo wasn't certain how well he was following the conversation. Duo started to get up but a hand on his arm stopped him. "Stay. Please." The two words spoke volumes telling him that perhaps the years of suspicion and violence had not completely decayed Heero's ability to trust.
Duo reached around to put the pillow back in its proper place, "I need to untangle the sheet then we'll concentrate on getting back to sleep."
Heero caught the pillow's movement out the corner of his eye and panic flared on in his brain. He began to tremble; he covered his face with his hands. "Gun...did I...." The quivering increased until it threatened to send him into convulsions.
Duo wrapped Heero in a tight embrace to prevent the strong contractions from straining his muscles. He ran one sentence into the next as he tried to comfort and reassure the confused agent. "You didn't know what you were doing. Heero are you listening?"
Duo wasn't sure how long he held Heero before the quaking ran its course leaving him too exhausted to resist being tucked into bed. Duo squeezed into the limited space on the single bed then rested his hand on Heero's scarred chest to gauge his breathing and to let him know that he was not alone.
*********
A distant bell tolled. Gradually the chiming took on a shrill, hollow clang. The irritating noise wormed its way from somewhere outside Heero's head to center inside his subconscious.
The insistent telephone prodded Heero from his mercifully dreamless sleep. It took two misdirected swipes in the air before his hand closed around the receiver. "Hello."
Excitement rang in Wufei's voice. "I think we may have a lead."
As 05's enthusiastic declaration was processed through the dull headache that clung doggedly to his brain the drowsy agent winced. In his muddled mind Heero vaguely recalled a dream, at least he thought it was a dream, about his gun and Duo and warmth wrapping around him but when his searching hand found the Beretta under his pillow 01 promptly dismissed the hazy remembrances.
Heero pushed up to sit against the headboard then noticed that the opposite bed was rumpled but empty. However, the sound of the shower confirmed that Duo had shared the room. But his dream? He squinted his watch, 9:15 am.
"Heero?" Wufei asked for confirmation that his counterpart was listening.
Heero stretched the kinks out of his back, "Tell me." he mumbled hoarsely.
"Ross has had a trace on Khushrenada's phone line for some time," 05 began, "but recently the Bureau's hacking wizards were able to access the German's private computer.
There had been no unusual activities until a few weeks ago then the hackers began intercept bits and pieces of messages sent from the complex to an unidentified source. The data was always encoded and there was never enough time to unscramble before the link was broken.
Yesterday they got a break, several exchanges were sent in the clear. Since they didn't have a point of reference most of the information was difficult to piece together but there was one name that came up more than once. I think you will be very interesting to know who it is." Wufei announced.
Heero was in no mood for guessing games, "Who?" he asked with a lack of enthusiasm that disappointed Wufei.
"William Hoffman"
Suddenly Heero was in the mood for more than games. Hoffman was the region's main dealer in illegal contraband. He'd buy, sell or trade anything for the right price and he didn't care where, what or why.
"The Fox" had managed to stay one step ahead of the local authorities through a complicated organization of middlemen and protection from countries dependent on his services had kept him out of Interpol's grasp.
Now Hoffman's name connected with Khushrenada meant that Heero and Wufei's mission was definitely on the right track but where that track would end up was anyone's guess.
"What exactly do you know?" This time there was impatience in Heero's voice.
"Nothing concrete but I have an idea. If we could get our anonymous sender to respond to a supplied message we could get an accurate lock on his or hers location but the trick is finding out who is the sender."
Hissing on the opened line accompanied a long pause. "Heero?"
"Just a minute." Heero was studying the events of the previous night. The abandoned lodge, what Duo knew and didn't know about the mysterious box, the overheard conversation between Dorothy and Septum.
"I might have a suggestion." he finally responded, "Last night Duo told me about several puzzling encounters he had with a man named Welige. It seems that Welige and Ms. Catalonia may be keeping secrets and we may have a possible location for your mystery messenger."
There was a hint of amusement in Wufei reply. "You are using a lot of "we"," he commented, "do I dare ask what methods of persuasion you used to get Maxwell to talk?"
"It's a long story." Heero stated rubbing the nape of his neck where the muscles were unusually taut. "I'll meet you at HQ this afternoon and we'll come up with a plan."
*********
As his freshly shampooed hair flowed over his shoulders and draped on the sink Duo stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. Dark circles under his eyes were testimony to stressful days and sleepless nights.
Keeping up the facade of a loyal employee while searching for clues concerning Baine's disappearance had taken its toll physically, mentally and emotionally. Heero's nightmare also served as a recent reminder of Duo's own dreadful dreams that had begun to occur with alarming regularity.
Duo figured that, just like his mind was reluctant to remember his dreams, that Heero would be as averse to recalling the Sandman's sinister visions. "If he seems all right this morning don't say anything." Duo decided for both his and Heero's sake.
*********
The IPB agent sat at the kitchen table. The Beretta had been disassembled into various pieces and the contents of a gun cleaning kit were strewn over the tabletop.
Duo, wearing a cotton robe and a well-practiced smile, peered around the kitchen door. "May I ask a favor?"
"Of course."
"I don't mind putting on last night's clothes but I would feel fresher with clean underwear. Could I borrow a pair?"
"You're about my size. Why not change into something of mine?"
"Are you sure?"
"Pick out anything you like."
A few minutes later Duo entered the kitchen dressed in gray trousers and a black and white stripped sweater. He paused long enough to secure an elastic tie on his braid. " I really appreciate this." he referred to the borrowed outfit.
Heero took a moment for a fashion review. "I was right, a perfect fit."
Duo poured a cup of coffee and joined 01 at the table. "I didn't know you smoked." he declared as he stirred in a hefty spoonful of sugar.
Heero glanced up from his cleaning chore. A momentary puzzlement flickered across his face before he realized that Duo was referring to the cigarette dangling loosely from his lips. "I don't." He crushed the burning end on a saucer that served as a makeshift ashtray. "I'm trying to quit."
Duo leaned forward displaying a thin-lipped grin. "Everyone has a monkey on their back." Slathering a thick coat of butter on a piece of toast he added, "I'm supposed to be watching my cholesterol."
The Beretta was cleaned, oiled and reassembled. With the safety engaged a full clip was snapped into the butt. Finally Heero polished off his fingerprints until the weapon's silver plating shone like a new nickel then the loaded pistol was tucked neatly in its holster.
Throughout the rather complicated process Duo munched on his buttery bread and sipped his coffee in silence. There was a sense that something other than the cleaning commanded his attention.
Heero took notice of his new ally's wandering thoughts. "Are you all right?"
Duo finished his cup with a sigh, "Yes, it's just that everything has happened so quickly. I don't feel like I have had time to breathe much less think."
Heero nodded in complete understanding. "Wufei called while you were in the shower. New developments may allow us to warp up this mess sooner than we anticipated. I'm meeting Wufei at the Bureau's headquarters this afternoon and I want you to come along so you can fill him in on what you know."
"Anything for some sort of closure."
Heero leaned across the table, "Are you prepared for what you might find?"
Duo nodded, "I have to know the truth, whatever it is."
*********
Wufei listened intently as Heero and Duo related how the order of events had progressed. Slowly pieces of the puzzle fell into place. The abandoned lodge would be the perfect location for a secret operation. Khushrenada Electronics certainly had the resources to convert the building into a working complex.
Dorothy and Welige were moved to the head of the suspect list. Wufei stated that his instincts told him Welige was the mysterious sender and that Welige's procession of the silver box reinforced his gut feelings.
05 further affirmed that the surest way to find out was to set up a false message but they needed someone to put the prearranged information in Welige's hands. "The logical choice is Duo." he finished then cut his eyes at Heero to gauge his reaction.
Heero had his misgivings. He questioned how much they actually knew about Welige's involvement; after all there were quite a few other dubious employees that could share top billing.
Khushrenada had the money, power and influence. Dorothy had access to every inch of the complex. Even Zechs Merquise could not be counted out as a coconspirator. And what was Robert Baines role? His disappearance had not been confirmed as foul play.
"With all the unknown factors I am extremely hesitant to put Duo that deeply undercover." Heero declared, "He is not an agent." he stated to add weight to his reluctance.
"Who else do we have?" was Wufei next logical question.
Duo was not about to be left out especially where Heero's doubts about Baines was concerned. "I am the best choice and you know it."
Heero was disturbed by Duo's willingness to act so quickly, worried that his heart guided his eagerness and not his head and that he hadn't considered all the angles or the dangerous consequences should his cover be compromised.
"I think...." Heero began but Duo would favor no argument.
"Heero I have to do this for Robert's sake and my own sanity." Duo narrowed his eyes until they became violet slits, "May I remind you that you are not my damn keeper."
Heero glanced at Wufei who wisely kept his opinion to himself. At that point, with time rapidly running out, Duo was their only option. Finally with his reservations still firmly in place Heero gave in but only after Duo promised his adherence to certain rules.
Since Heero might be easily recognized he would return to the safe house. Wufei would follow at a discreet distance and keep watch. Duo agreed to maintain minimum contact.
"Go straight to Welige's office and deliver this." Heero ordered handing over a plain envelope. "Tell Welige that Dorothy asked you to give him the memo and that the information needs to be transmitted right away. Hopefully Welige will not question the source or call Dorothy for conformation."
Heero leaned back with a heavy sigh. "Maybe this will turn the trick."
"When do I leave?" Duo needed to act before his courage deserted him.
"Now." Wufei replied.
As Duo, 01 and 05 stepped into the hall Heero put a hand on Duo's arm to command his full attention. "Do not stay any longer than necessary."
"I'll be in and out before you have time to miss me." Despite Duo's attempt to put up a confident front the raw edges of nerves frayed his words.
"Minimum contact." Heero repeated in a no nonsense tone.
TBC...
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