Code Red: The First Mission ~ Chapter 7

Mika's Note: Have a few spare minutes and thought I'd post an extra chapter since I know Robin has nothing else to do on her vacation but read my blather. LOL  Getting close to being done.  About 2 or 3 more chapters and an epi.  Oh, and that middle scene?  It's quite the joke amongst the group now... Poor Zooka.  :)

Allyson looked up from her laptop and smiled at the suit standing before her. “Can I help you, sir?”

“Yes, I think you may. I was supposed to meet a young lady here named Jayne Allmann from Messina Security. The description I was given makes me think that would be you?” He looked her over, noting the long, blonde hair and green eyes.

“James Humbolt?” she asked, smoothing her dyed hair.

“Yes, ma’am. Pleased to meet you.” She took his offered hand in a firm grip and motioned to the unoccupied chair opposite her.

“Please, have a seat, Mr. Humbolt.” She waited for him to get situated and then began the same spiel she’d been giving for the last ten days. “There have been a number of incidents occurring around the country at various artists’ shows this year. To date, no one has been seriously injured, but we suspect that it’s only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured, or worse.

“My company has been hired by the Southern Music Association to provide extra security at this year’s awards show this coming October.” She handed him a thick folder from her briefcase and continued, “This is some information on our company and some ways for both the record companies, and the artists themselves, to keep everyone as safe as possible. We are currently deciding on the best course of action for the night of the event and will be in touch with everyone as soon as we know what that course of action will be. Until then, can we count on you and the artists your label represents to do all they can to not attract any undue attention to themselves?”

“We will do our best, Ms. Allmann, but you know how celebrities can be, I’m sure.”

“Of course,” she agreed, placating him. “Thank you for your time.”

~*~

“Report, Bryan. How’s the assignment going so far?”

“Very well, Caleb. No signs of insurgency or other trouble. Been pretty quiet to tell the truth.”

“Good, good. When do you anticipate your arrival in Las Vegas? Recent intelligence has led us to believe that the Brotherhood’s big strike will be on the night of the award show, as we had anticipated.”

“We will arrive the day before, as planned. Ms. Morgan will return to her home just outside Nashville and I will accompany her. From there, we will proceed to Las Vegas, NV, as planned.”

Caleb nodded to himself. “Good plan. Keep me informed.”

“Absolutely. Bryan out.”

Caleb put the phone down and shook his head. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think Lt. Hart was right about him. This time.”

~*~

“Albert. Dave. What’s going on you two?”

“Not much, Caleb,” Albie reported. “Had a bit of trouble that turned out to be nothing.” Looking at his partner, he continued, “We took care of it and are on our way to the next stop as reported earlier.”

“What kind of trouble?”

“Nothing to worry about,” Bazooka blurted.

“Oh?”

Sighing, “There was a misunderstanding. ‘Zook has been inspecting everything within reach for bugs and bombs and there was, um, an… accident.”

“Accident?”

“Yeah.”

“More info please, Rogan. What kind of accident?”

“Bazooka kinda blew up Mr. Matson’s guitar case.”

“And how did THAT happen?”

“I thought it was rigged.”

Caleb slapped his forehead. “And what lead you to that belief?”

“It was ticking.”

“That’s because I left my watch in it, you idiot!” came a muffled shout from the background.

“Was that Mr. Matson?” Caleb asked, not really wanting an answer.

“Uh… yes,” they replied in reluctant unison.

“Why does he sound like that? All distant and… odd?”

“Ummm…” Bazooka began.

“Well, ya see, Caleb, we had to um, restrain him. For the better good.”

“Who’s better good?”

“His,” Bazooka replied.

“’Zook’s,” Albie countered simultaneously.

“God help me,” Caleb muttered. “Untie him, now, and be more careful! Lockhart out!”

Rubbing his temples and reaching for some aspirin, Caleb sighed heavily. Turning to the presence behind him in the command room, he groaned. “And all this time, I was worried about Allyson getting cozy with him.”

“At least, if she’d tied him up,” Shana began, “it would’ve been with his eager consent.” She ducked and ran as Caleb threw the aspirin bottle her direction.

~*~

Ali adjusted her hair and blinked at the annoying contacts. Sipping her iced mocha, she flipped her laptop back open and accessed the web. Smiling at the beauty of free wi-fi connections, she accessed her e-mail, working on her daily report.

“So this is the nature of my life for the next several weeks. Playing patsy to a bunch of self-important bigwigs,” she grumbled unhappily. “Ferreting out spies and traitors is important to the safety of the nation,” she thought then of Blake, “and to the fate of country music as we know it.” Laughing at the sarcastic tone of her thoughts, she poured herself back into the report Caleb was so eagerly awaiting. But she couldn’t help sparing another thought for Blake.

Pulling out her cell phone, she sent him a simple text message:

What’s up, Cowboy? Having fun without me?

~*~

“Fun?” he asked himself. “Not likely.” He snapped his cell phone shut and called out, “Al? Bazooka? I’m gonna go sit on the balcony. I hate being stuck inside all the time.”

“All right. Just stay out of sniper range.” Albie called back.

“Lemme have my bow and you won’t have to worry about it.”

The boys looked at each other, surprised. “Nice,” ‘Zook said appraisingly.

Opening the sliding door, Blake muttered, “Geez, I need to go hunting.” Or just shoot something.

Once on the balcony, he flipped his cell phone back open and dialed a number that was quickly becoming familiar. “Hey honey, how’d ya like to spend a week in the woods with me?”

Ali smiled into her phone. “Just you, me and your gun?” she teased.

“Naw, I prefer a bow to hunt with. Although there’s nothing wrong with a good shotgun or rifle…” his voice trailed off. “That’s not quite what ya meant, is it?”

Laughing, “A bit slow, are we?”

“Yeah. I need you back before these two blow anything else up.”

“Oh no… what did Bubble Head do this time?”

“How’d you know it was him and not the other one?”

“Explosives expert, remember?”

“Ahhh… that does explain things.”

“Yes, like the lack of common sense. What’d he exterminate this time?”

“My guitar case.”

“Oh gods… your guitar wasn’t still in it, was it?”

“Thankfully no…” Blake walked away from the sliding door and leaned one arm against the balcony railing and looked out over the city. Grey clouds had moved in and a cool breeze was blowing his hair back slightly. “And I do have others, but this was my favorite.” The smell of rain was in the air and a shadow of a full moon hung over him. He looked up at it wistfully.

“Well, at least your guitar was safe. That’s a plus.”

“I guess. But my new watch was still in the case where I’d left it. Ticking loudly, apparently.”

Ali slapped a hand over her mouth, knowing all too well what had caused Bazooka to blow the thing up.

Blake blew out a sigh. “It’s not that funny, Ali.”

“Oh, yeah it is,” she giggled.

“And to think, I was standing here, watching the moon and clouds, missing you.”