Subject:  Re: Deception |
Author:
Cathy R. Myers
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Date Posted: 14:28:42 03/22/01 Thu
In reply to:
Cathy R. Myers
's message, "Deception" on 14:24:29 03/22/01 Thu
Deception
Nikita brushed her long, blonde hair and twisted it into a knot. Selecting the azure-colored tieback from her overnight case, she wondered how long she had to herself before Remy returned to join her in the bath. She still could not believe that she was here.
Nikita looked around the opulent resort suite. At a price of fifteen hundred dollars a night, the rooms had every luxury and convenience that one could imagine. Decorated in subtle shades of cream and accented with earth tones, the quiet room was the perfect foil for the lush, tropical foliage of the Caribbean Island. Long, pale sheers fluttered in the gentle breeze and gave the room a dream-like quality.
When Operations had first given her the assignment, she had thought that becoming the mistress of a high-placed, international terrorist would be risky, but manageable. Nikita had planned her seduction carefully, intending to keep Remy Rains Jacquard enchanted, but at arm’s length. She had been the using strategic tactics of entice and withdraw for over three weeks, and was now, at an impasse. She had hoped to have the mission completed by this time, but she was no closer than when she started. Nikita released a long sigh. She had known from the beginning that an extended mission with Remy could have but one conclusion.
Nikita could not prevent her thoughts from turning to Michael. She thought back to that fateful afternoon when she had gotten the last call.
"Josephine," his husky voice had whispered, sounding less than businesslike and causing a quickening in her heart that she was powerless to avoid.
Nikita arrived fifteen minutes later at Section One. She went directly to Michael’s office and was puzzled to find it empty and the door locked. She, quickly, sought out Walter, hoping that he would have some answers. Nikita smiled warmly at her old friend.
"Hi, Walter," she greeted him.
"Hey, Sugar, what’s up?" he asked, reluctantly putting aside his latest gadget.
"Have you seen Michael?" she asked, the consternation evident in her voice.
Walter looked surprised. "Yeah, you just missed him."
"Do you know where he was going?"
"Of course." Walter paused, turning to look fully at Nikita, a puzzled look on his expressive face. "I thought you knew," he continued. "He’s going to South America for a month’s leave."
Nikita looked across at the empty office. Her face was hard.
"When did this come about?"
Walter shrugged. "I don’t know. I heard about it sometime last week. I can’t believe you didn’t know." Walter turned back to his workbench trying to act nonchalant. "He didn’t say anything to you about taking some time off?"
"Not a word," she responded, anger making her voice sound low and staccato.
Walter tried to offer some words of comfort. "Now, don’t go getting yourself all upset. I’m sure that he was going to tell you. That’s probably the reason that he called you in. He must have wanted to explain to you what was going on."
At that moment, Birkoff, who had overheard most of the conversation, joined Walter and Nikita. "Oh, that’s so lame, Walter. He’s had plenty of time to tell her, and you know it. Tell her the truth."
Walter sighed, gave Birkoff a "go to" look and then, turned back to Nikita. "Michael has taken Elena and Adam on holiday. It probably has something to do with his mission and Elena’s father. Most likely, he put off telling you until the last minute because he didn’t want to worry you."
Nikita laughed without amusement, "You think that Michael was worried about my feelings? If he was worried about anything concerning me, it was that the news might affect my performance levels. When it comes right down to it, Walter, I’m just material to him. Where’s Operations?"
"I saw him go into Madeline’s office when Michael was leaving," Birkoff volunteered.
"Thanks, I’ll talk to you, later. Right, now, I’m going to find out what’s going on." Nikita hurried toward Madeline’s office, her heels clicking angrily against the concrete floor.
When she reached the office door, she opened it without knocking. "Where is Michael, and why did he call me in?" Nikita demanded.
Madeline and Operations exchanged a meaningful look before Madeline answered her question.
"Michael has taken Elena and Adam to South America for a short vacation. He had some down time coming, and we felt that the vacation would do him good."
Nikita’s mind reeled. So, what she had said to Walter had been correct. The relationship between Michael and herself was nothing more than one giant sham perpetrated to keep her "in line". His concern for her was nothing more than that of an operative and his material.
Nikita struggled to keep her intense pain from revealing itself to Madeline and Operations. She determinedly forced herself to smile as she asked,
"So, why did he call me in?"
Operations, smiling smugly, invited her to sit down.
"Your timing is perfect, Nikita. Madeline and I were just talking about you." Nikita took the seat with reluctance as Operations continued.
"A situation has been brought to our attention that must be handled with the utmost sensitivity. Our latest intel suggests that ever-elusive Remy Jacquard is involved in the systematic overthrow of several Mid-Eastern regimes and is planning the overthrow of leaders in several more small countries around the globe."
Operations walked to the back of Madeline’s desk and pushed a button. A hologram appeared showing a global map with several locations highlighted in red. Using the map to point out several key reference points, Operations continued his narration.
"Remy is very well guarded and seldom appears in public. We need someone who can get close enough to him to access his points of contact and provide key intel on his supply lines. This person has to be someone that Remy trusts completely."
Operations resumed his seat and smiled at Nikita, "That’s where you come in."
Nikita spent the next few hours briefing for the mission. Two days later she met Remy for the first time. Mutually attracted to each other, Remy had pressed his suit from the beginning, and Nikita had not been completely immune.
Normally, she would have held a tight reign on her feelings and not allowed herself to become emotionally involved. Her revelation about Michael, however, had changed all of that. She was now resolved to throw caution to the winds.
Nikita forced her thoughts back to the present. Grabbing her robe she made her way to the large sunken tub filled with steaming mineral water. The cream colored bathroom resembled an ancient Greek spa complete with miniature statues set along the walls on column-like pedestals. Nikita eased herself into the warm water, taking sensuous delight in the feel of the silky liquid against her skin. She heard the door of the suite open and close, and knew that Remy had returned.
Remy Jacquard was a strikingly handsome man. Since his early years he had found that a look and a smile were more than enough collateral to get him what he wanted from women, as well as from men. His dark good looks, coupled with a body that was hard and lean, had proven to be a commodity that was hard to resist.
Remy smiled to himself as he carried his packages to the kitchen and retrieved two wine glasses from the cabinet. As he opened the chilled wine and filled the glasses, he marveled at his good luck in finding Nikita. The moment he saw her, he knew that she was special. No, she was more than special. Remy knew that Nikita was a goddess, and his anticipation of the pleasant evening ahead of him made him forget the one thing that he made it a rule never to forget, his business.
Remy entered the bathroom carrying a tray holding a wine bottle, two filled glasses and two lit candles. When he turned off the light, the two candles cast eerie shadows around the room and gave the white silk robe he was wearing a luminous glow.
"How romantic." Nikita smiled. She sat up slightly so that the water just covered the tops of her breasts. "Did your mother raise you right, or did you learn the way to a woman’s heart by experience?"
Remy placed the candles on each side of the tub and the wine within easy reach. Smiling wickedly at Nikita, he abandoned his robe and eased himself into the steaming water.
"My mother, of course." He laughed and handed one of the wine glasses to Nikita.
"And did your mother tell you what to do after the wine bottle was empty?"
"No," he said looking directly into her eyes. "My father did."
* * * *
The next few days passed quickly for Nikita. Swimming, sunning, sailing, candlelight dinners and moonlight walks on the beach filled their days and their nights. It was on one such moonlight night, that Remy first talked about his past.
"My grandfather was a member of the French resistance," he said. During an especially blood skirmish, many of the people from our village were taken away to provide labor and entertainment for the Germany army camped several miles away.
My mother and grandmother were among those taken. Being only fourteen at the time, my mother’s memories were particularly vivid." Remy paused for a minute, looking out across the ocean, as if watching the scene play out before him. After a moment, he continued.
"When the war was over, my mother tried to put it all behind her. She met my father, had me, and endeavored to live a normal life. However, the past was always with her. I can still remember the sad look she would sometimes get on her face when she thought that we weren’t looking. I will always be haunted by it."
Having this unique insight into the man that Section had labeled a monster gave Nikita further cause to doubt the wisdom of Operations and the legitimacy of his orders. But for now, Nikita determined to put this out of her mind and to enjoy the care-free time left her to spend with Remy.
For the first time in many years, she allowed herself to exist outside of time and space and give herself completely to the "now". Remy seemed to feel the same way. At no time did he give any indication that anything existed in his world other than Nikita.
Still, nothing lasts forever. Early one morning, they were awakened by a phone call that caused reality to come crashing in.
"Yes?" Remy said questioningly into the receiver, "Yes, O.K. Patch him through."
Remy walked to the other side of the bedroom. "What do you need? . . . .It will take me a couple of week, but I can get it. . . .No, that won’t be necessary. . .Yes, the usual. . .O.K. We’ll seen you then."
Remy tried not to show how much the call disturbed him, but Nikita was not fooled. He dressed quickly, saying that he had some business that needed his attention. Nikita watched him as he left the building and headed for the car surrounded by an armed entourage.
Nikita reluctantly reached for her purse and retrieved her PDA from the hidden pocket. Being in deep cover, Section would not risk exposing her by attempting a contact. Nikita, quickly, established a link.
"Birkoff, are you there? It’s Nikita."
Nikita heard Birkoff tell someone to get Operations.
"Yes, I’m here, Nikita. Go ahead."
"We’re on an island somewhere in the Caribbean. He’s had no contact with anyone on the outside, except for a phone call this morning. After the call he left abruptly. I really haven’t learned anything, yet, but I’m sure that he trusts me."
Operations got on the line and replied,
"Nikita, time is running out. You must find the information soon or many lives will be lost. Remy’s charm and good looks aren’t getting to you, are they, Nikita? Try to focus on the mission. Call again when you know something."
Replacing the PDA, Nikita ordered some breakfast. How did they expect her to obtain information where there was none? So far, Remy had kept his other life completely separate from her, if he even had another life, that is. It wouldn’t be the first time that she had been lied to by Operations. Was this just another ploy on his part to keep her and Michael apart? Nikita shook her head. No, she couldn’t believe that even Operations would go to all of this trouble.
The knock at the door took her completely by surprise. When Nikita turned the knob, she was greeted by a bellboy carrying a steaming carafe of coffee.
"I thought that Madam might perhaps enjoy some coffee while waiting for her breakfast." Nikita thanked him, and he smiled at her knowingly, causing her to wonder if he delivered coffee regularly to Remy’s women.
Was Operations right? Was Remy getting to her? When the time came, could she bear to betray him and to then, watch him die? Nikita walked to the window and looked out on the beautiful scene below. With Remy, she might have a chance at a life, a real life. He would keep her safe and protected. He would give the unconditional love that Michael had denied her.
When Remy returned several hours later, Nikita had made up her mind. She waited until after supper to broach the topic uppermost in her mind.
"Remy, I need to talk to you," she said without preamble.
Remy leaned back on the sofa, a questioning look on his face.
"Sure, what is it Nikita?"
Nikita walked to the bar and poured each of them a drink. "This is very difficult for me to tell you, but I feel that you should know." She paused to take a deep breath. "Since meeting you and getting to know you, I have felt for the first time, in a long time, that I might have a real chance at happiness."
Remy rose and took Nikita in his arms. After a few moments, Nikita pushed him gently away and tried to begin again.
"Remy, please sit down and hear me out." She ran her fingers idly through her hair and drew a chair from the table in order to sit directly in front of him.
"Remy, I’m not who you think that I am." Nikita waited a moment, giving him time to react.
Remy reached forward to clasp her hands. "Nikita, I don’t care about your past. It’s over. ‘Now’, is what I care about."
Nikita slowly withdrew her hands and tried again. "I wish it were that simple. The truth is that we didn’t meet by accident. I was sent to meet you and to gain your trust."
Remy was suddenly very still. "Who sent you?"
"I belong to an organization call Section One. They said that you are involved in the overthrow of governments. Is that true?"
"If I say "yes", are you going to try to kill me?"
"No, I could have already done that. You didn’t answer my question, Remy. Are you a terrorist?"
"No, but there are several movements that I do support. When I see people oppressed and suffering at the hands of a ruthless dictator, I do what I can to help them. Do you think that’s wrong?"
"Do you kill a lot of innocent people?"
"Nikita, this is war. I save a lot of innocent people." Remy went to the bar and poured another drink. He turned and looked at her steadily, "Were you ordered to sleep with me?"
Nikita laughed. "No, that was my idea." She walked to Remy and put her arms around his neck.
Putting his arms around her waist, he pulled her close. "Why are you telling me this?"
Nikita pulled back to look him in the eye. "I couldn’t bear to continue deceiving you. The question is ‘Where do we go from here?’ ."
Remy kissed her long and hard. "Can we sleep on it?"
The next morning they left the island. Remy flew Nikita to his private base to acquaint her with his operation. Remy wasn’t sure how far he could trust Nikita, but he knew that time would take care of that. In revealing her mission, he knew that she had not only betrayed the Section, but had placed her life in his hands. He must give her the benefit of the doubt.
Remy’s base was located inside an abandoned warehouse in Frankfort, Germany. Nikita noted that armed guards as well as a satellite security system protected the building. Remy explained that the building had five underground escape tunnels to use in case of an attack.
The base was mainly used for information gathering as well as a bunker for the guards. The layout was simple and efficient. Everything was designed for maximum security, leaving very little room for an enemy to infiltrate. Guards were posted at every entrance. If they were surprised to see their leader returning with a woman, they didn’t show it.
Remy’s private quarters backed up to the fifth escape tunnel should the need arise for a hasty departure. They were sparse but elegant in their simplicity. The rooms consisted of a den area with a desk and computer in the corner, a small kitchen area, and a bedroom. As soon as he and Nikita had unpacked their things, Remy went to his computer. Though tempted to look over his shoulder, she opted for a cool shower and a brief nap instead. There would be plenty of time to learn of the operation.
Remy was still hard at work when Nikita rested and refreshed returned to the den. "Are you going to work all night?" she asked with a twinkle in her eye.
Remy turned from the computer to give her a serious appraisal. Nikita was wearing a long tee-shirt embroidered with tiny yellow daisies around the neck. Her hair was still damp from her shower, and she was barefooted.
"What did you have in mind?"
"I thought we might have time for a upper level strategy meeting before supper."
Remy looked at his watch, "I guess I could spare a few minutes to instruct you in strategy."
"Instruct me!" Nikita exclaimed in mock outrage. "I was going to instruct you."
* * * *
The next day Remy took Nikita with him to a training station where willing civilians were molded into soldiers. As she watched men and women enthusiastically working out and practicing with firearms, she couldn’t help but think back to her own involuntary induction into Section.
"Do you get many volunteers?" Nikita asked.
Remy looked at her and smiled, "You’d be surprised. When people live in constant fear and oppression and freedom is denied, risking one’s life seems to be a small price to pay."
That evening Remy was called to a meeting with several of the rebel leaders. The location of the meeting was secret and would be given out only thirty minutes before the meeting was to begin. The site would prove to be so remote that he would only be able to reach it by plane.
"I’ll probably be out until early tomorrow morning. These meetings start late and, usually, last all night." He leaned over and kissed Nikita, brushing her lips gently with his. "If you need anything just push the buzzer, and a guard will come running. I’ll be back as soon as I can."
Nikita walked Remy to the door, then, headed to the kitchen for a glass of wine and plate of cheese and crackers. She planned to spend the evening vegging on the couch with a good movie. Two hours later she was sound asleep.
An undetermined amount of time elapsed when Nikita suddenly realized that someone was shaking her. She fought her way to consciousness and opened her eyes, only to find herself starring down the barrel of a gun.
"Get dressed."
The voice was cold and hard without any hint of human feeling, but Nikita knew the second she looked up that the eyes were Michael’s.
"Michael, what are you doing here?" she uttered in disbelief.
"Get dressed," he repeated. "Now, or I’ll take you like you are."
Michael was still holding the gun pointed at her head. His eyes slowly raked her body before returning to meet hers. The tee-shirt she was wearing provided little protection from his intense gaze. Suddenly, she felt self-conscious and embarrassed. Nikita stood to her feet, not taking her eyes from Michael’s.
"I’ll get dressed", she agreed, backing slowly away, "but I’m not going with you."
Michael very deliberately pulled back the hammer and cocked the gun, keeping it leveled and steady.
"I’m not going to argue with you, Nikita. You will go with me. ‘How’ is up to you?" He took a menacing step toward her, keeping the gun between them.
"We’ll do one of three things." He lowered his voice to almost a whisper. "You’ll come with me willingly; I’ll shoot you in the leg and carry you, like I promised to do once before, or we’ll wait until your friend returns, and I’ll carry you out over his dead body."
Nikita’s eyes flashed. "You’d just love that, wouldn’t you?"
She headed for the bedroom to change, knowing that Michael would do exactly as he had threatened. When he followed her into the bedroom, she turned to him angrily,
"I don’t need your help, Michael. I am quite capable of dressing myself."
"I’ll wait here." Michael’s tone was final, and Nikita knew that to try to persuade him to do otherwise was a waste of her breath.
It took only a matter of minutes for Nikita to exchange her nightshirt for a pair of black pants and a black, turtle-neck pullover. She could feel Michael’s eyes burning into her as she dressed. Trying to ignore him, she packed a small bag which included her PDA. Grabbing her leather jacket, she came to stand directly in front of Michael.
"I’m ready," was all that she said.
With his gun still out, he motioned toward the entrance of the tunnel. Dark and smelling of mold, the cave-like tunnel extended over one half of a mile past the apartment entrance. They had to step over the bodies of several guards on their way out. Nikita could only guess how Michael had managed to elude the security system.
They had hiked over a mile to the top of a small hill when Michael turned and looked back at the warehouse. He took a small black box out of the pocket of his jacket and pushed a button. Nikita watched the warehouse, suddenly, explode into flame.
"Was that necessary?" she questioned.
"Yes." Michael answered and turned to finish their climb.
They hiked for the next two miles in silence before they were picked up in one of Section’s planes. During the ride back, Nikita sat by the window and looked out into the darkness, her thoughts focused on the past few weeks. Finally, she knew that she had to have some answers. She turned to Michael, who was sitting directly across from her, their knees almost touching.
"How did you know where to find me?"
"We’ve been tracking you since you left Section."
" ‘We’ve’?", Nikita questioned. "I was told that you were in South America with Elena and Adam."
Michael looked away. "Madeline thought you would be more likely to gain Remy’s trust and confidence if you really fell for him. We planted the story of South America, knowing that your anger at me would provide even more of an incentive."
For a moment Nikita was stunned. Once again, he had betrayed her. She said nothing, letting the news of his treachery soak in. When she did react, she acted with quickness and purpose, allowing her anger and hurt to lead her without restraint.
Nikita slapped Michael hard across the face. When she reached back to slap him again, he grabbed her wrist.
"Your life was in great danger, Nikita. Your safety depended upon Remy and how much faith he had in you. It had to be as real as possible." Michael let go of her wrist.
Nikita turned once again to look out of the window. "What about my getting his points of contact and supply lines?"
"All that we really needed was the location of his base of operations, and we got that from your tracer signal. The location of the training camp was an added bonus."
Nikita turned to look directly at Michael. Starring deeply into his eyes, she said,
"Good, Michael. Same old story isn’t it—lies, treachery, and manipulation. Why did I think that you would ever change?"
Michael looked away and then, looked back to give Nikita an answer.
"We all do what we have to do. Do you really think that I have any more choices than you do?"
Nikita didn’t bother to reply. She’d heard it all before. This whole episode wasn’t even noteworthy of a footnote in the larger scheme of things—just another typical day in the life of Section One.
The End
Cathy Myers
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