PicFic Challenge for 10/14/14 - Terminus, Pt. 5

[avirra.livejournal.com]

Terminus,  Pt  1 -- Terminus,  Pt  2 -- Terminus,  Pt  3 -- Terminus, Pt 4

Napoleon drove around the area, seemingly at random, but it was only to give him a chance to speak with Illya and April without fear of being overheard. Once he'd filled them in on the swamp eccentric he'd been told about, he turned around and headed back toward the questionable water tower.

Stopping his car about a quarter of a mile away from the tower, Napoleon got out and made use of a set of field glasses to get a better look over the surrounding area. In a clump of trees not far from the tower, a small glint caught his eye. Lowering the glasses, he headed toward the trees to take a closer look.

It took getting within a few yards of the trees to notice there was something in their midst - a small building that had been painted to camouflage it. For a moment, he wondered why anyone would have taken so much care to hide the building but then leave something shiny uncovered - then he heard a cawing sound and looked up. A crow had unwittingly undone their hard work by building its nest on a branch that extended over the top of the building - and this particular crow apparently had an attraction for the foil wrappers from chewing gum. It had decorated the outer part of its nest with the shiny stuff and that was what had reflected the light.

Knowing he was in for teasing by his partner later for yet another example of the Solo luck in action, Napoleon smiled as he checked out the door to the small building. Locked, as he expected, but the lock was a simple one and he had it picked in no time. Easing open the door, wary for any alarms, Napoleon glanced inside.

Resisting a whistle, he went in for a closer look at equipment both Mark and Illya would have loved to get their hands on. He wished one of them was with him as he looked at the green numbers and letters that were scrolling on the small monitor. He didn't dare touch the keyboard, but the only thing he could really make out about the information showing on the screen was that it had something to do with the water tower.

Pulling out his communicator, Napoleon was about to contact Illya and read off some of the gibberish to him when he heard a noise behind him and turned to find a gun pointed directly at him.

"I am impressed, Mister Solo. Perhaps all of the talk about you is more than mere hyperbole after all. My employer is quite anxious to meet you."

Carefully not making any quick moves, Napoleon took note of the man's appearance, but was certain he'd never seen him before.

"And who is this employer of yours?"

"Señor Bedoya. Your partner, Mister Kuryakin is already on his way to meet him as well. Come - Señor Bedoya does not care to be kept waiting."

The man backed up and two other men came through the door. With only one door that was being covered by the man with the gun, the odds were not in his favor, so Napoleon didn't fight them. In short order, Napoleon was stripped from the waist up, his communicator and gun both confiscated before his hands were bound behind his back with a lightweight, flexible rope.

Watching the scene through her own field glasses, April frowned as she watched Napoleon coming out of the small wooded area surrounded by the three men. Opening her communicator, she called Illya.

"Open Channel D - Dancer to Kuryakin. Illya - they have Napoleon."

"And I believe I have found where it is that he will be taken."

"You've located the Spanish swamp royalty?"

"There cannot be another place like this near the swamp and I believe the number of armed men I can see confirms it is the correct place. Make your way to our rendezvous point and I will pick you up."

"Right. Dancer out."

Tucking away his own communicator, Illya's blue eyes were icy as he took one last look over the odd estate. He hadn't mentioned the one detail that had removed all doubt from his mind. He had gotten a good look at the weapon one of the guards was carrying. A crossbow - the same weapon that their coroner theorized had caused the deaths of both Kemp and Derivaux.

tbc . . .

Comments

[avirra.livejournal.com]

Thank you - taking this one pic at a time *g*.