The New Kid on the Block~chapter 16

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

link to chapter 15:  http://section7mfu.livejournal.com/190499.html
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They exited the elevator to an unmarked floor, leaving Illya surmising the building had nine floors instead of eight. The two agents followed Oyastracher as he walked across a lobby to a pair of doors that he unlocked.

He gestured for them to enter, but Illya being cautious told Oyastracher go first.

"Posle togo_after you,' he said in Ukrainian.

Oystracher nodded, understanding the Vor's cautiousness, he stepped in first, nodding to a large woman sitting behind a desk.

"Go ahead gentlemen, take your pick...as many as you want. Ivanna, the matron, will help you if you need anything." The man had no idea that Howard Jay had taken April and brought her up to the stable for his personal use, not caring that his boss had his eye on the redhead.

"Da, now go away." Kuryakin ordered the man, sensing things were safe.

Illya eyed the woman called Ivanna as she ducked her head back behind the newspaper she held in two hands, pretending to read it. He cleared his throat and she looked up, and eyeing his tattoos, she immediately averted her eyes.

"Go ahead, boss say take your pick," she spoke nervously, in a heavy accented English.

He looked over at the half-dozen or so women lounging in chairs and on a sofa, wearing things that left very little to the imagination, but April was not among them.

"You got redhead?" He turned to Ivanna.

Her eyes gave her away, darting to the door behind him, knowing Mr. Jay had put that redhead in there for his own amusement for later. Illya spun around, kicking the door open with his foot, and saw April in her underthings tied to the bed,

He grabbed a robe laying on a nearby chair, handing it to her as soon as he cut her free of the ropes with his switch blade.

She pulled the gag from her mouth, gasping for breath as she rose from the bed, but lost her footing as fear had sapped her energy.

The Russian grabbed her in his arms, holding her steady."Are you all right?"

"I am now," she smiled as she leaned into him, kissing him on the lips.

She was surprised as she felt his tense muscles relax when he responded to her kiss. That's not what she intended as Illya wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.

When he released her, he apologized. "I am sorry, I should not have let that happen, but...but I was worried about you."

"Wow if that's how you Russians show you're worried, I can just imagine what you do when you make love to a woman."

Illya blushed, but then found his voice. "I would like to show you some day," he whispered, nuzzling his nose to her ear.

The two of them joined once more in a passionate embrace, but stopped themselves as Ronnie poked his nose in the room. "Hey, now's not the time you two," he called out, having just finished tying up Ivanna after a bit of a struggle in which he had to keep her from sitting on him.

"Agreed, " Illya cleared his throat. "We must find Napoleon and settle this affair with THRUSH once and for all. Come." Illya took April by the hand, leading her out into the hall where the American waited impatiently.

"Ronnie, this is my fellow agent April Dancer. April this is Ronnie Petrov of the U.S Treasury Department.

"Nice to meet you but, now that pleasantries are out-of-the-way, can we get out of here, I'm feeling a little chilly." Illya offered her  his leather jacket, and she slipped into it, feeling the warmth from his body in it.

He called out to the other women at the end of the hall. "If you want to get out of this place, now is the time. If you have any robes or such, I suggest you grab them and run."  He repeated his words in Russian and Ukrainian.

The girls hurried behind the three agents, not caring about their state of undress as they dashed to their freedom.

As the elevator door opened to the lobby, they ran, heading for the main exit of the club. One of the girls called out her thanks in Ukrainian to Illya before disappearing into the neon lit night on Freemont Street.

"Spasybi vam , Mister!"

.

Howard Jay walked up behind Napoleon, tapping him on the shoulder as he searched for April in the casino.

"Excuse me, but Mr. Ravel wants to see you immediately."

"Oh he does, he practically kicks me out of the club and now he expects me to drop what I'm doing and go to him just like some lackey... Howie. I'm busy looking for my girlfriend, do you know where she is by chance?"

"I believe she went to see a sick friend in Reno, now get moving." Napoleon felt a gun being pressed into his ribcage. " No funny moves Dio, you wouldn't want this to go off and hurt you, or maybe somebody else in the casino now would you?"

Napoleon looked around at the crowded tables, not willing to take the chance, and slowly raised his hands as Howard relieved him of his special.

"You can put your hands down, just don't make any sudden moves, now let's go." Howard gave him a nudge with his gun, pushing him towards a private elevator.

It opened directly to the door to Ravel's private office, and Napoleon was escorted inside.

The Thrushman looked up as he sat at his desk, keeping his right hand with his weapon hidden.

"Sit down won't you...Mr. Solo," Ravel cocked his head with a sly smile. He tossed two pairs of handcuffs to Jay . Catching them, he put them around the agents wrists, attaching them to the wooden arms of a chair in front of the desk.

"Who?" Napoleon bluffed.

"Come come. I just received this from Central confirming your identity as Napoleon Solo, chief enforcement agent for U.N.C.L.E. Don't play games with me." He held up the photo for the American to see.

"Fine, so you know who I am. I was leaving your club as you asked, what's the problem?"

"The problem is Mr. Solo that I suspect you and your organization have been snooping around and know too much. This is information I prefer not to get back to T.H.R.U.S.H. Central."

"I won't tell if you won't," Napoleon quipped.

Ravel backhanded him for his smart remark. "I said no games. Now tell me exactly what you know."

Napoleon saw no problem in that, seeing as how he was already in trouble, and no doubt April was as well. Thrush liked to brag and maybe if engaged Ravel in some sort of conversation about the operation, he'd tell the truth. And it would give Napoleon some precious minutes to figure a way out of his predicament. "Illya where are you when I need you?" He thought to himself.

"Well, maybe I'll tell you what I know if you tell me where my companion is and once she's out of harms way...then we can talk."

Ravel threw his head back laughing out loud. "That's it Mr. Solo, that's the best that you've got.

"Hey it was worth a shot, " he shrugged, yet his face became quite serious. "Where is April?"

"Ah that's her name. Central could find no record of a female agent in your Section II...so U.N.C.L.E. is finally keeping up with the times. Central has had women agents for years, we at least, see the usefulness of their feminine ways."

Ravel turned his attention to Jay. "Where is the woman?"

"Umm, she's up in the stable. Do you want me to get her?"

"Yes, she just might be of use to us in getting Mr. Solo to talk..."

"You wouldn't want to see your pretty friends face scarred for life would you Mr. Solo?"

Napoleon jerked at his handcuffs, trying to will himself free." You lay one finger on her and you're a dead man, I promise you that."

"You are hardly in a position to make threats. Now tell me what I want to know or I will have Mr. Jay carve her up with a knife."

At that moment Napoleon's communicator went off. Ravel pulled it from his jacket pocket, tossed it on the floor and crushed it beneath his heel. "We'll not have you talking to your friends now will we, or tracing where you are?"

.

Illya and Ronnie took April across the street to an awaiting F.B.I van, there they found her a pair of black overalls and boots, they were a little too big, but better than the flimsy robe she was wearing. Illya gave her his backup pistol, squeezing her hand just a little, and looking into her eyes. "You be careful April, and I expect to get this back."

"I'll deliver it personally," she smiled at him, "You be careful too."

The Federal agents readied themselves, setting up positions near the club entrance as Illya was convinced Joseph Oystracher would be appearing shortly.

His instincts were correct as they saw the man emerge, carrying a black briefcase and a larger metallic silver one in the other. It was the case that Napoleon had locked in the hotel safe.

Oystracher hailed a cab, but before it appeared he heard a voice behind him.

"Zalyshayuchy tak skoro ? My mayemo spravu do kintsya_leaving so soon? We have business to finish." Illya spoke to him in Ukrainian.

Oystracher's face went pale. He dropped both cases, preparing to make a run for it and as he turned, a gun was pointing straight at his nose. "Hold it right there pardner, F.B.I." Mickey growled. "Now put your hands on top of your head and don't try anything funny,as I have an itchy trigger finger."

They opened both cases finding the counterfeiting plates in the briefcase and the bait money in the other.

"Will you lookie here," Mickey smiled, "We got us a haul."

"I have done nothing wrong. I did not know those things were in the cases...I was merely delivering them for someone... a Mr. Dio."

"Yeah right pardner. Now as I see it, you have two choices. One, plan on telling the truth to us, of two, we tell the other casino owners what you've been up to, and we let them have you. So what's it going to be?" Mickey smiled.

"I surrender," Oystracher said meekly.

Illya pulled his communicator. "Channel F-Solo." There was static, followed by a high-pitched squeal, and finally silence. He knew immediately his partner was in trouble. Kuryakin switched on the tracker in his cigarette case. The homing disc he had planted in Napoleon's tie bar was still active, and he only hoped his partner was still alive.

"Come April, Napoleon needs us."

"Wait for me," Ronnie called.

"Nyet, this is U.N.C.L.E. business, I cannot risk you being hurt. Your involvement in the assignment is over as the counterfeiting operation has been stopped."

"Like hell I'll step aside, you two need someone to watch your backs."

April gave Illya a wink and nodded at him.

"Fine, we go then to rescue my partner." His voice was filled with a seriousness she'd not heard before.

Comments

[svetlanacat4.livejournal.com]

Really love Mickey... " "Hey, now's not the time you two," He he...
And of course, Napoleon muttering... "Illya where are you when I need you?"
Just coming, boy, just coming...

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Hee hee! So glad you're really enjoying this! I just love your observations and comments.
Sadly only one chapter left. This is one of those stories that you just want to keep going, so I have a sequel in the works. Yay!

[jkkitty.livejournal.com]

And doesn't he tell Illya not to upset Thrush all the time, maybe he should take his own advice. enjoying this.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

A case of the pot calling the kettle black. Thanks for commenting.