"Inquisitio Veritatis- to seek the truth. Chapter 7

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6

Illya was brought up from recovery to the Intensive Care Unit at St. Agnes and there he remained, unconscious just like his partner in New York.

The medical staff were concerned after they saw the weapons Kuryakin had on his person, those included his Special, his pearl handled switchblade, a throwing knife and a small caliber pistol strapped to his ankle.

They didn’t know to look in the heels of his shoes where plastic explosives and fuses were hidden. Luckily he was wearing his turtleneck and not a shirt with explosive buttons, or his exploding tie bar for that matter. His explosive money clip had been left in his desk drawer back in New York.

If he’d had it with him and someone dropped it, especially with any oxygen tanks around, it could have taken out an entire hospital floor.

There was a communal sigh of relief upon finding Illya’s gold Identification card in his wallet. Someone with Hospital Security knew of the U.N.C.L.E. and that there was a field office in Washington D.C. A call was put in to it and they in turn notified Alexander Waverly of the situation.

The Old Man wasn’t happy, and after contacting St. Agnes Hospital himself, he requested to be called as soon as his agent regained consciousness.

Delphine Le Claire spoke to headquarters as well after the fact, once she had gotten her wits about her. The shock of seeing Kuryakin wounded and all that blood threw her off. What little she could say was regarding the actual attack itself.

“I hope Monsieur Kuryakin recovers. He was very kind to me while we sat together on the plane, and was quite helpful,as I am still...how you say, green?”

Waverly had pity on the poor girl as she’d suffered quite a shock. He refrained from chastising her about the delay in contacting him since she at least had the presence of mind to come to Kuryakin’s rescue.

She was ordered to continue with her courier drop, and after acquiring a pair of surgical scrubs to replace her bloody dress, she was finally able to leave the hospital. 

Hours later Waverly was in his conference room when the call came in; Delphine never made it to the drop.

He paced back and forth, as Kuryakin was still unconscious, Napoleon Solo was slowly slipping away; despite the doctor’s efforts they were confounded as to why the man was not improving, and now on top of all this, Le Claire was missing.

“Damnation!” Waverly blurted out just as Lisa Rogers came in carrying a tray with her boss’s afternoon tea.

“May I ask what’s wrong sir?”

Alexander inhaled deeply through his nostrils before slowly releasing a sigh..

“My dear, what kind of tea have you brought?”

“Darjeeling sir.”

“I think I’ll be needing something stronger Miss Rogers, perhaps coffee, black if you please?”

She knew this was serious; it was her understanding that tea contained caffeine, but generally about one-half the amount than in a cup of coffee. For her boss to want this much stimulant meant he needed to be even more focused.

“Right away sir.”

“Thank you, and would you please summon Miss Dancer and Mister Slate to the conference room, I understand they’ve just returned from Turkey?”

“Yes sir, will do.”

“Better make that a carafe of coffee and three cups and saucers please. The Japanese pattern would be nice.”

Lisa nodded just before she stepped through the pneumatic doors as they opened with a gentle whoosh.

Alexander Waverly had a number of china tea services that he used in his office, several of which were chosen by his wife Estelle as a reminder that she waited at home for him after his long nights at headquarters.

*****

Mark and April barely had time to drop off their bags in their office and change their clothes before being called to Waverly’s conference room.

“Something important must be up luv,” he said as they stopped in front of Lisa’s desk. Mark straightened his tie and removed that crazy corduroy hat he liked to wear, folding it up and stuffing it out of sight in his jacket pocket.

April checked her lipstick using her compact mirror.

“You look fine,” Lisa said.

“What’s going on?”

“He didn’t say but it must be serious as he ordered coffee for all of you.”

“Really?” Mark said. When a man like Alexander Waverly, born and bred in Britain asked for coffee instead of tea, something was definitely up.

The doors opened and the partners quickly entered.

“Ah yes, welcome back.”

“We haven’t had much time to prepare our reports sir.”

“Reports? Oh yes, the Turkey situation. That’s not of importance at the moment. Please be seated; I need to brief you both in regards to what’s happened. Help yourself to some coffee, as I’m sure you’re a bit jet lagged and I will need your full attention on this situation.”

They quickly seated themselves, Mark pouring coffee for both of them, though the Old Man already had his cupful.

“I’m sorry to say that Messrs Solo and Kuryakin have both been attacked. Mister Solo was shot when he stopped somewhere along the Belt Parkway several days ago, and Mister Kuryakin was stabbed this afternoon upon his arrival in Baltimore.  He was continuing the investigation that Mister Solo had initiated the same day he was shot.”

April’s reaction was understandable as she gasped. Mark uttered two words, “Good Lord.”

“Neither of them are regaining consciousness, though they should have. Mister Solo, I’m afraid, is slipping away instead of recovering. I suspect Mister Kuryakin will begin to fail as well. Call it an instinct.”

The intercom buzzed. “Mister Waverly, you have a visitor asking to see you.”

“Who?”

“Ummm, It’s Angelique La Chien sir,” Lisa said.” She’s waiting in Del Floria’s.”

“Now things just got more complicated,” Mark finally spoke up.

“Indeed Mister Slate. Miss Rogers have Security check her for any hidden weapons, no purse and so forth. Have her escorted to my conference room when she’s cleared.

Fifteen minutes later Angelique was brought into Waverly’s inner sanctum.

“Waverly darling, you really must do something with your interior decor, it so...dull and drab.”

“You’re not here to discuss color swatches and curtains my dear woman. What exactly brings you to UNCLE? Are you planning to defect?”

“Good heavens, defect? Not in my wildest dreams would I think of doing that! You don’t pay enough for me to even consider it.”

“Then why are you here?”April asked; there was an obvious tone of disdain in her voice.

“Oh, you. I didn’t even notice you were here.”

April raised her gun, pointing it directly at her.

“Now is that any way to treat a guest?”

The Old Man waved his hand, indicating she lower the weapon. “Miss Dancer if you please? Now Miss La Chien what brings you here, as I’m sure it’s not a social call.”

“No it’s not. I’m sure your insufferable Russian informed you that I visited Napoleon in the hospital and we discussed the fact that my organization did not order a hit on him. I suggested to Kuryakin that the culprit might be a jilted lover, though truthfully that’s not Napoleon’s style. He leaves his paramours on good terms.”

“Ahem,” April cleared her throat rather loudly.

“If I may continue? I began doing a bit of nosing around, having my sources do some investigating. They revealed a rumor, just whispers mind you, that Napoleon was not only shot but given a slow acting poison that would prevent his recovery and bring about his eventual death. I suspect someone has gone rogue and decided to kill your agent.”

That revelation was received with silence, but finally the Old Man spoke up. She seemed to know nothing about Kuryakin being attacked as well, though that could merely be a ruse along with everything else she was saying.”

“And why should I believe you young lady?”

“Oh fine then, just let Napoleon die. It will be on your conscience, not mine. I’m trying to help you here. I know you’re aware of the umm, relationship he and I have. Believe it or not I actually do care about the man.”

“Do you know who ordered the assassination of my agent?”

“No I do not, though even if I did, that much I wouldn’t tell you. THRUSH takes care of their own. If there is someone who’d had gone rogue, the Council would deal with it, of that you can be assured.”

“How honorable of you,” April sneered. In truth Dancer knew how THRUSH took care of anyone who displeased them, and that was a bullet to the head.

“Tsk,” Angelique clicked her tongue.”Darling, you can be such a boor at times. I don’t know what Napoleon sees in you.”

April glared at the woman. She tried to keep her trysts with Solo low keyed, though she suspected Mister Waverly knew; the Old Man knew everything. Having it brought out publicly by the likes of Angelique was infuriating.

“This coming from ‘the dog’ who sleeps with just about anyone, or should I say anything?” *

“Ladies, ladies,” Mark stepped up to the plate.”Please?”

“Yes, enough cat fighting. Retract the claws,” Waverly ordered.

“Now if you’ve finished Miss La Chien my Security team will escort you out of the building and see to a taxi for you, if you don’t have your own transportation.”

“Yes, that would be a good idea. Can’t have me giving the place a bad name. A bientot.” Angelique blew a little kiss as she was whisked from the room.

“Well that was eye opening,” Mark said.

“Indeed Mister Slate,” Waverly reached over to his intercom, and flicked the toggle switch.

“Miss Rogers please have Doctor Greene and the head of Research and Development come to the conference room immediately.”

“Sir,”April asked,”do you think Illya... I mean Mister Kuryakin might have fallen victim to the same poison, that’s if Angelique is telling the truth. It seems just too good to be true.”

“Yes it is rather fortuitous, but one thing Mister Kuryakin said to me while discussing his assignment was that there is no such thing as a coincidence.

.

A/N - La Chien is French for ‘the dog’

Comments

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this well written chapter. Good work with Angelique, and I do like that bit about different chinas, and Waverly's wife picking some. The Napoleon/April is well done, too.

I'm sorry about poor Delphine.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! This was a big 'aha!' chapter.

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

Oooooh, Angelique in the conference room, with she hand April circling like lionesses. This was a brilliant scene.
I'm still suspicious about Delphine, but I'm probably way off base.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

(Big Grin) Thank you!!! This is my favorite chapter so far, and I love how you described Angelique and April. Way cool cuz!

[pfrye.livejournal.com]

This is a great story. Am enjoying it. Looking forward to the next chapters.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thank you ao much! Good to hear from you, and hope all is well. Lots more story to come!