The New Kid on the Block~chapter 17- Final Chapter

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

link to chapter 16: http://section7mfu.livejournal.com/191966.html
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Howard Jay arrived at the stable, finding the door unlocked and Ivanna laying just inside on the floor, trussed up like a fatted calf. None of the girls were there and the redhead was gone as well, the door to the room where he left her was kicked in.

"What happened you worthless fat bitch?" He kicked Ivanna in the side.

"Russians came in, members of mob. Oystracher said it was okay for them to have their pick of the girls... the blond one, he asked for a redhead and found the one you brought up. He let her loose, along with the other girls while his friend did this to me. Now untie me!"

Howard spun on his heels, leaving Ivanna there screaming at the top of her lungs to be set free. He hurried down to Mr. Ravel's office, feeling nervous about telling him what had happened and hoped there would be no consequences.

Things were getting a bit hairy here, the counterfeiting, UNCLE spies, Russian mafia...maybe it was time to chalk up his losses and split, he thought. It wasn't like he was getting a piece of the action or anything extra for that matter. Maybe he'd help himself to the case of money in the safe that this guy Solo had brought with him and just leave town.

He entered Ravel's office in a rush, telling the man everything as if he were out of breath, trying to sound dramatic as he eye-balled Napoleon still handcuffed to the chair.

Aristede Ravel turned beet red with anger, storming out of the room and heading to the elevator, with the intention of heading to the Security office. He'd find that redhead somewhere in the club, no doubt.

"What about Solo Mr. Ravel?" Howie called, following the man mindlessly like a sheep going to slaughter.

"Leave him, he's not going anywhere...on second thought," Ravel said as he stepped into the private elevator, " Stand guard outside the door will you Mr. Jay." The doors closed, leaving Howard standing alone in the lobby.

As soon as they left the room, Napoleon maneuvered himself around in the chair, bringing his legs up to a crouching position on top of the seat. He used the power of his legs to launch himself, standing up, and cracked the wooden arms of the chair and freed himself, though his wrists with the cuffs still dangling from them hurt like hell as he hopped down to the floor.

Howard heard the crash, and opening the office door, he saw Napoleon standing free. He pulled his gun, taking a bead on the agents. "I'm gonna enjoy this," he snarled.

"Oh no you don't, Howie, " a woman's voice called from behind him. Before Jay could turn to fire his weapon, April nailed him with a bullet to the head.

"Nice shooting Miss Dancer." Napoleon smiled. "And thank you."

"My pleasure Mr. Solo." She grinned.

"Are you all right Napoleon?" Illya asked.

"I'm fine. And look at you with all your tattoos, nice job on short notice."

The Russian's white shirt was hanging open, unbuttoned to his waist. "Do you think so? I thought I could have done better if I had a little more time," Illya said, pulling his shirt open to give his partner a better look.

"Not bad if I say so myself. They're not permanent are they?"

"Of course not, they should disappear with some alcohol and a few good scrubbings." Illya began buttoning up.

"I bet that's going to hurt chum." Napoleon chuckled.

"Excuse me you two, visiting hours are now over." Ronnie called as he stepped into the office."Are they always like this?" He asked April.

"I hope not?" She snickered.

Solo rifled through the desk drawer until he found the keys to the handcuffs and removed the unwanted jewelry. He then removed his tie bar, finally noticing the thin homing disc on the back of it.

"So that's how you found me so fast, you sly Russian you."

"I told you I would always have your back." Illya nodded. "Napoleon this is Ronnie Petrov of the Treasury department."

"Pleased to meet you," Solo offered his hand to his fellow American. "And as you said visiting hours are over, so back to business, let's get this done." Napoleon's tone of voice changed completely as he took command. "We need to find Aristede Ravel and take care of this place. Ronnie, if you could be so kind as to pull a fire alarm in about ten minutes, while Illya, April and I go find our feathered friend.

Napoleon adjusted his tie bar, setting it on the desk as he set a timer on his wrist watch. "This room is going to go up in smoke in fifteen minutes, so let's get going. I heard Ravel say he was going to the Security office.

"That's on the second floor," April said, " I remember seeing a sign when someone boarded the elevator when I was escorted down to the casino."

They took off, using the stairwell instead of the elevator, arriving a little out of breath at the Security office. Napoleon took a quick peek in the window, verifying Ravel was there. The man was standing in front of multiple television monitors, obviously searching for April.

Solo looked down at her wrist, still seeing the charm bracelet there. "Got a smoke bomb on that thing?"

"Yep, it's the charm that looks like a pineapple."

"If you would be so kind to toss it in on the count of three," Illya asked.

"Why of course, darling."

"One-two-three." Illya quickly opened the door.

She pulled the piece from the bracelet and threw it in and the room was instantly filled with red smoke.

Napoleon stepped in, covering his nose and mouth with the crook of his left arm, and fired three shots, Illya and April followed suit. There were thuds as bodies hit the floor and the sounds of electronics sparking and shorting out.

As the smoke cleared, they found only one body; Ravel had disappeared, no doubt through a secret door. There was no time left to look for him as the fire alarm rang out, sending a shrill sound throughout the club and hotel. They watched for a minute on the remaining security monitors as the guests spilled down the stairwells and ran through the casino out to the sidewalk.

As they left the office April tossed another charm to the floor, this exploded in seconds.

"Very nice." Illya smiled.

They ran downstairs to the casino making their way to the cash office, and there they broke in finding stacks of the counterfeit bills. This time Napoleon took one of his cufflinks, and giving it a twist, he tossed it at the piles of money. It exploded, setting the bills on fire.

From there they made a hasty retreat, meeting up outside with Ronnie, and watched as the Las Vegas Fire Department arrived. The building, was apparently not up to code, and went up in flames like a tinderbox.

"I'd say that was a job well done, if I say so myself." Napoleon murmured, dusting off the sleeves of his suit jacket, and finding one of them torn. "Damn."

"Chyort, another one my friend?" Illya smiled."Mr. Waverly might not approve another.

"Hey what did I say about cussing," April chided both of them.

"Sorry. It's just that the Old Man is going to have a fit if I try to claim another damaged suit," Napoleon agreed with his partner.

"You're going to be sorry, how about me? I just realized the mink coat went up in flames along with all those beautiful clothes. Now that's what I call a waste." April sighed.

.

They returned to New York, filed their reports to Alexander Waverly, though he acknowledged nothing about the damaged and lost clothing, but he did feel burning down the casino and hotel was a bit extreme.

"There is also the matter of this other scheme that THRUSH has in the works, that's what concerns me," Waverly huffed. "It's a pity you didn't manage to take Ravel, still your initial mission was accomplished. Next time though, Mr. Kuryakin, a little less enthusiasm with the explosives might me in order?"

"But..." Illya started to say, yet he stopped himself. He was used to taking the blame when it came to incendiaries, so what was the point of explaining it was not his doing, as in the past it usually was.

"In the meantime our intelligence Section will endeavor to come up with some answers to see what else THRUSH is up to. There is a worldwide alert to find Aristede Ravel. Until some information surfaces, we are dead in the water at the moment." Waverly seemed to drift off, pondering on that thought. He was not a patient man when it came to T.H.R.U.S.H. getting the better of U.N.C.L.E.

Nor was he happy about the fact that Joseph Oystracher was not cooperating with the F.B.I. as he first promised, and since he was not in .C.E. custody, there was little they could do about him at this point. Though it had been a joint operation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation was usually not forthcoming when it came to information sharing, nor the sharing of prisoners.

He looked at the report file, obviously not entirely content with results of the mission. He'd said all he had to about it, and dismissed his agents in a huff.

"Except you Mr. Solo, if you would be so kind as to remain a moment." Illya and April made a hasty but dignified retreat through the conference room doorway.

Napoleon stood in front of his superior, thinking he was in trouble for something and expected some sort of tongue-lashing at least, since the casino and Oystracher were his assignment, and not Illya's. The question that followed relieved his concerns...

"Your opinion of Miss Dancers performance in this affair Mr. Solo?"

"Oh, OH. Yes, Miss Dancer was very professional and clever and she thought quick on her feet. She managed to obtain vital information regarding the diamond dealing when I wasn't able to. Still, though, there are some disadvantages to being the fairer sex working in a dangerous man's world."

"So you don't like a woman being in the field?" Waverly struck a match, lighting his pipe.

"No it's not that sir, it just something that will take a little getting used to. April...I mean Miss Dancer proved that she could handle herself admirably, and got into no more difficulty than any other agent might have. I think she'll do fine."

"And her being paired with Mr. Slate, what do you think of that?"

"It's not my call sir."

"Dash it Mr. Solo, you're my CEA and your opinion is warranted, they're not only my operatives, but yours now as well."

Napoleon perked up at that statement. "I think she and Mark will make an excellent pairing. They're both very focused and innovative people and I think they'll work well together."

"I agree, thank you for your comments. Now dismissed young man. Get a little rest before your next assignment."

"Yes sir, "Napoleon smiled before exiting the conference room.

.

The following Saturday night Napoleon Solo arrived at April's apartment to surprise her and celebrate the success of her first mission with a gift of flowers and a bottle of champagne. The latter, of course, he hoped would lead to other things.

He rapped on the door several times, knowing she was there as he'd seen her shadow in the window outside from the sidewalk. She lived on the second floor in a better area, not far from headquarters.

"Who is it?" He heard her voice finally call.

"April, it's Napoleon. I come bearing gifts."

She looked through the peephole, verifying it was him before opening the door, and dressed in a silk robe with her beautiful red hair looking a bit disheveled.

She looked at the flowers and the bottle as well as the look in his eyes. "Oh Napoleon, darling. I'm sorry, but I have company."

He was taken off guard, and peeked over her shoulder, spotting a black turtleneck and a pair of black trousers tossed on the sofa, knowing exactly who they belonged to.

"My apologies," he smiled, not missing a beat. "Perhaps another time, he handed her the flowers and champagne anyway, trying to hide his disappointment.

"Perhaps, goodnight Napoleon and thanks for the thoughtfulness and the gifts. That was really sweet of you," she smiled, closing the door in his face.

"All's fair in love and war," he said to himself. "Damn!"

"I heard that Napoleon Solo, no cussing! " April called from behind the door.

He then heard his partner calli out, "Da, eto khorosho," and April giggling. He suspected it wasn't directed at him, and was most likely something Illya was doing to her, or perhaps she was doing to him.

Sigh...

.

To be continued...sequel coming.

* note: no innocents were harmed in the destruction of Diamond Jim's...Ivanna got out.

Comments

[jkkitty.livejournal.com]

Thanks for another great story. Two guys and a girl, this should prove interesting. Can't wait for follow up

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thanks for following the story and commenting. The sequel is not what you think it is...

[svetlanacat4.livejournal.com]

Oh, this was a great one! But... again, I had to re read several time because, well, you know, the "The Russian's white shirt was hanging open, unbuttoned to his waist. "Do you think so? I thought I could have done better if I had a little more time," Illya said, pulling his shirt open to give his partner a better look."...
Waiting for the sequel!