New Girl part 4 - PicFic

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Okay, here's the thing.  I am behind, and I didn't have a place for ch ipped beef today so I'm basically making up for the two prompts prior to chipped beef.  Grace abounds...
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THRUSH was embedded somewhere on the island as they manipulated this plot to poison the waters of the Mediterranean.  Fortunately the dead fish at Roccapina were the only ones reported thus far, something that led Napoleon to the conclusion that a threat was the first step of several yet to be taken.

A small hotel near the beach was waiting for the group; modest and devoid of air conditioning, it provided minimal creature comforts.  April had the privilege of her own room while the men shared two rooms between them.  There appeared to be only two other rooms in the little establishment, both of which were occupied.  Napoleon and Illya took a room at the end of the hall, leaving Mark and Trevor with the room next to April's.

After checking in and thoroughly checking out the rooms, the five met downstairs and quickly determined that their planning session should be away from the hotel.  Nothing suspicious had led to this decision, but wisdom dictated that no place was ever entirely free of listening ears.  April had spotted a cafe not far from the hotel with a covered patio for outdoor dining.  At her suggestion the team headed in that direction.

'I'm not eating fish, but what else do they have in a seaside town?"  Mark was ready for a good meal but his expectations at this point were low.  Illya was having similar thoughts on the subject but more importantly he was aware that they were being followed.  Slowing his pace slightly, Napoleon was alerted by the instincts honed over time and experience that his partner was onto something.  Rather than draw attention to it he let the Russian lag behind while he joined in more closely to the other three.

A young man in white linen followed along at a slow speed on one of the island's more popular modes of a transportation, a small motor scooter.  Illya had noticed him as they came out of the hotel but the man's continued presence just a few yards behind the UNCLE agents sent up a flag; THRUSH seemed to be aware of their presence.

As the other four continued on their way Illya ducked into a doorway to what turned out to be a small gift shop.  He immediately went to the window and watched as the scooter continued following Napoleon and the others, allowing Illya to take up the rear and observe the man.  There didn't seem to be any way for him to conceal a weapon, and looking at him now it occurred to Illya that he might just be a local who was curious about tourists.  That idea was abandoned when he followed the agents into the cafe.

Illya did double time getting to the cafe, watched as the young man took a table for himself and continued to watch the group of UNCLE agents.  Not willing to let this go on much longer he decided to join their shadow and find out the man's mission.

"Hello."  The man was startled at first, but then he seemed to want to speak to Illya.  He stuttered slightly, trying to find the right English words to explain himself.

"You are here to help us I think."  Illya was a little taken aback, he hadn't expected to be identified so quickly and not by someone he now took to be a civilian, just a local resident.

"And what makes you think we are here…" The boy jumped in, he didn't have time to waste.

"You are here to help, I know it.  Those others, they are trying to destroy us, to starve us and … Please, help us."

The plea was sincere, Illya had no doubt.  But how?

"All right, what if we are her to help with your problem.  Do you know who is responsible for killing the fish?"  Perhaps this boy was going to be helpful after all.  He was bright, that was obvious.

"I know where they are, I can take you there."  By this time Napoleon and the others had relocated to the table and were intently listening to the conversation.  The boy looked around at each of them, his eyes imploring them to do something, to believe him.

Napoleon saw both fear and bravery on his face.  Fear for the consequences of this fish killing poison and the courage to do something about it.  He was impressed.

"What is your name? Mine is Napoleon, and this is Illya.  The others are Mark, April and Trevor." Each one acknowledged the introduction with a nod of the head.

"My name is Antonio Capelli."

"We are to help you son, but we won't put you in danger.  You can tell us how to get to this place, right?"

"I can, but it will be difficult.  It is better if I take you there.  I won't get in your way, I promise.  Just please stop them before anyone else…"  At that he broke down and wept.  Surely something bad had happened of which they were not yet aware.

Illya put his hand on the boy's arm, a measure of consolation that seemed to comfort him.

"My papa, he was hired to show those men around the island, but…' Antonio took a deep breath in an effort to keep from crying.

"They killed my father.  He helped them, and then they killed him.  I saw it…' Another pause as he collected his composure.

"I was hiding because papa had told me to stay home.  I disobeyed him and followed.  I wish I hadn't, but I'm glad I know who did it.  Will you help us?  Will you please catch those men who killed my father?"

April was holding back tears, she hadn't been prepared to witness a young boy give an account of his father's murder.  But they were here to help, and she knew this was what she had signed on for.

Napoleon asked Antonio to sit at another table while the agents discussed their plans.  It might be dangerous to let the boy lead th em to the THRUSH location, but according to him it was the only way for them to find it.  One of them would need to stay behind with Antonio to make certain he was safe.  April held her breath, fully expecting that it would be her.  To her surprise Napoleon decided Trevor was the one; he had been injured and in spite of being here, it was logical to let him take care of the boy.

April looked out of the window at the peaceful scene on the street, the Mediterranean beyond and the awful event they were hoping to stop.  A memory flashed before her, a travel poster she had saved when she was just a teenager.  It was the beginning of her desire to see the world and live a life that had more to it than marriage and keeping house.  Look at where she was now, and who she was with.

Napoleon and Illya sat down once more with Antonio and gave him a ru rundown on their plans.  They would need to go under cover of darkness, the path to the THRUSH compound easily watched during the daylight hours.  In the meantime it was determined that he would remain in their care.  He was an orphan now, since his father's death.  Antonio's mother had died several years earlier in childbirth, leaving the youngster and his father to fend for themselves.  Antonio's aunt Celia was his closest family and the one with whom he and his little sister lived since THRUSH killed his father.

Napoleon insisted on meeting Antonio's aunt, it wouldn't do to expose the boy to danger and he wasn't going to do anything without a caregiver's permission.  Personally he couldn't imagine that Aunt Celia would allow it, which meant trying to find THRUSH without his help.

Napoleon and Illya escorted Antonio to the home he shared with his aunt and sister, a small cottage with a view of the water.  Celia was out front tending to a small garden, a patch of red tomatoes towering over row of what appeared to be scallions.

When she saw Antonio with the two well dressed men she immediately felt concern; the boy might have gotten into trouble.

He ran to her and hugged her, letting her return the gesture.  She looked over his head at the two men as they approached.

"Ciao Signorina.  My name is Napoleon Solo, and this is my partner Illya Kuryakin.  We are with … well, we are with a law enforcement agency and have come here to look into the epidemic in your waters."

She looked from one to the other, sizing them up as she took in the details of their appearance.

"You mean the dead fish?"

"Yes, that is exactly what we mean."  Napoleon smiled his warmest expression, hopeful that she wouldn't be too suspicious of them.

"And you want Antonio to help you, yes." Not a question.

Illya held back a smile.  This woman was sharp, and very pretty.

"We have gained a great deal of information from Antonio, he is a very intelligent and brave young man."  That did little to soften her expression.  She had lost her sister and her brother-in-law, she wouldn't lose her nephew as well.

"You must leave him out of this.  These men murdered his father and they will kill you, and Antonio, if you get too close."  Napoleon reached out his hand, pulling it back slowly as he spoke.

"We know these people, our organization is dedicated to stopping them.  And we won't put Antonio at risk, we simply need him to lead us there.  One of my agents will bring him back home, he will never get close enough to get hurt.  We won't take him without your permission, but we intend to stop these people.  It will be easier with Antonio's help."

Celia looked from Napoleon to Illya, then into Antonio's eyes.  He wanted to avenge his father's death, but he wouldn't be reckless.  These men were sent to help them, he was willing to stay out of their way.

"All right signores, but you must promise me that he will be safe.  Those men are evil, they must be stopped.  Just do not let them hurt Antonio."

Illya saw something in her eyes, the same bravery that Antonio possessed.  He had been like that once, had burned with a need to see people suffer for what he had suffered in losing his family.                                                                                                        A                     A different enemy taunted them now.  They had to stop this one before it killed again.

Comments

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Nice catching up and I say better late than never. So does that mean creamed chipped beef on toast is on next week's Picfic menu for you...I hope, that and the beautiful sunset will completely catch you up. "D

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

I suppose it will have to be chipped beef at sunset next week ;)

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Oh how romantic. LOL!

[lindafishes8.livejournal.com]

I could feel the wariness of the aunt and sincerness of Antonio. Celia in her patch of garden was a nice touch also. April's dreams came true perhaps, though I wonder how much time she finds to truly enjoy all the countries to which she travels on the job.

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I rather like those two myself. Characters like that make me wonder how I'd manage with an entirely original cast of characters. One of these days maybe...

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

Worth waiting for. Thank you for an excellent chapter, like good canon. Good bit, about Illya recognising something of himself in the family. (I suppose Antonio is about twenty?)

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I'll try to work faster from now on.

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

Please work at the speed you want to. We're very grateful you share your great fic at all.