Chapter 29

<Gavin Forrester>

I'm back in the completely white room, seated uncomfortably on the metal chair with my hands and feet restrained as if they actually expect me to go somewhere. Agent Thomas and Agent Bennet are off behind the two-way glass examining my polygraph results and determining their best strategy. I hear the shuffling of feet outside and then the two agents come back into the room with my file and results.

"Well, well, Gavin, those years in Talon's business paid off; you passed with flying colors." Agent Thomas eyes me skeptically before sitting down.

"I wasn't lying before but I'm glad you needed a test to prove that." I retort easily, my chains clanging together as I shift my weight around.

"The test doesn't prove a damn thing, Gavin." Agent Thomas snaps.

"Then why did I have to take it?" I respond in a collected tone, my head tilted slightly.

"It's protocol." Agent Bennet replies as she opens up my file once again.

"Well, then why am I back in here? Aren't we done with questioning?" I ask, my eyes narrowing.

"No, we have a few follow-up questions about..." Ms. Bennet never gets to finish her sentence because at that very moment, a redheaded woman with a livid expression on her face walks in, flanked by two menacing guards.

I recognize her the minute she takes off her sunglasses, revealing the entirety of her furious expression. But it can't be...

"James Thomas, what the hell are you doing interviewing one of my operatives?" The redheaded woman shouts causing both Agent Thomas and Agent Bennet to jump a little.

"Madame Director, I, I..." He stammers, practically tripping as he stands up.

"Shut those cameras off, burn your notes, delete all of your interviews with Mr. Forrester; you have just compromised a matter of national security." Madame Armstrong, the CIA director, places her hand on her hip and immediately commands all of the attention in the room.

"Ma'am, we can't do that. He's a convicted criminal who escaped from prison." Agent Thomas says in a flustered manner, trying his best to be respectful.

"Gavin Forrester, happens to work for me and his mission happens to be to take down Talon Tenebris who has been jeopardizing national security for over twenty years." Madame Armstrong narrows her eyes at Agent Thomas who looks like he's about to melt under her glare. "If you shut off those cameras and all recording devices than I will give you a full explanation."

Agent Thomas obliges and soon enough, Madame Armstrong is seated next to me with the two agents on the other side. She gives them another harsh look before beginning her story. She's always hated haughty FBI agents...

"Gavin Forrester has been working undercover for a little over seven years. He began training at the CIA the day he turned eighteen and he quickly became one of my most promising trainees; I mean he could sharp-shoot point blank from over three hundred yards which was quite impressive." She gives me a fond look before continuing. "I sent him on a small caliber mission in Iraq which was a success and then when he got back, I gave him a mission I'd been holding onto specifically for someone like him."

"Which was..." Agent Thomas doesn't meet Madame Armstrong's intense glare.

"I think you know that." She replies in a clear, no nonsense voice.

Agent Bennet fumbles with her pencil, her mouth trying to formulate a sentence but to no avail. Madame Armstrong takes pity on them and begins to explain my mission.

"I had received intelligence from a previous operative about a breach in my agency. My team did some investigating and discovered that someone was leaking U.S. secrets to a remote server in New York City. It turns out that Talon was paying my agents and some high-level government employees to give him secrets known only to the CIA and the president. After a further investigation, I found that those secrets had been sold again to an organized crime ring in Russia. I needed someone like Gavin to infiltrate Talon's company and figure out how to destroy his business from the inside out; those secrets Talon sold threatened the entirety of the U.S. and I needed him gone before anything else got out." Madame Armstrong places her hands gracefully in her lap and stares at Agent Thomas, closing the conversation.

"But that doesn't excuse all of those murders he committed or the fact that he escaped from Attica..." Agent Thomas points out but rather timidly.

"He was playing an assassin; what did you expect him to do? In this business you have to act first and think later." Madame Armstrong scoffs and rolls her eyes slightly.

"I understand that but..." Agent Thomas begins but is soon interrupted by the CIA director.

"Gavin, screwed up on an international level but in the grand scheme of things, it was what had to be done. He was and still is the only one who has the ability to take Talon down. Gavin knows his business inside and out and if Gavin doesn't take him down than it'll be more than a few peoples' lives on the line; it'll put this whole country in jeopardy." Madame Armstrong leans forwards, her hands lacing together slowly.

"Well, this country doesn't feel safe with him out on the streets." Agent Thomas says with a sudden burst of confidence.

"Ah yes, I'm sure it's keeping them up at night that the man who almost killed Talon Tenebris, notorious murder boss, is out on the streets. Please get a grip; there are more pressing issues like the fact that Talon is still out there." Madame Armstrong glares at the agents, her narrowed eyes penetrating their faux-confident facades.

"Well, we can't just let him go if that's what you expect us to do." Agent Thomas retorts, obviously annoyed that I may get away from him once again.

"Well, Agent Thomas, that's not really for you to decide. Gavin was acting on my orders and I have every authorization for him to do what he did."

"There's no authorization that says he can escape from prison. Please enlighten me; why didn't you come to his rescue when he was about to go to Attica?" Agent Thomas crosses his arms and stares at the CIA director respectfully.

"I couldn't blow his cover; not when he was so close to getting rid of Talon. I knew that wherever he went, Talon would follow and I couldn't risk that vital entity being jeopardized. I needed Gavin to destroy Talon and it didn't matter how he did it, just that it got done." Madame Armstrong inhales deeply, her eyes never losing contact with Agent Thomas'.

"Are you saying you condone him escaping from federal prison?" Agent Thomas looks at her with disbelief.

"No but I am saying that anyone else would've done the same thing. Maybe instead of questioning him about why he did it, you should be figuring out how so no actual criminals get out." Madame Armstrong seems to be reaching the end of her patience with the agents.

"He is an actual criminal. He's a murderer, whether you like it or not." Agent Thomas mutters bitterly.

"He was playing a part just like the rest of us. He knew his job and he knew what he had to do to get it done. While I do not in any way condone all of the murdering he did while he was playing along with Talon's business, I'm not going to say it was all for naught." Madame Armstrong gives Agent Thomas a stern glare as if challenging him to speak to her.

"Gavin," Agent Thomas begins, but Madame Armstrong interrupts him with a grunt.

"You will direct your questions to me; Gavin has been bullied enough by you lot." Madame Armstrong crosses her arms and narrows her beady eyes at him.

"We refuse to let him go; Mr. Forrester is a high-profile criminal and he should be put behind bars." Agent Thomas reasons, but it's evident even he knows he's lost the battle.

"I will offer you a deal and this is the only deal I will offer," Madame Armstrong begins, her tone clear and calm.

"Please continue, Madame." Agent Thomas sighs and dares to look directly into her eyes.

"Allow me to send Gavin and reinforcements to obliterate Talon Tenebris; I will make sure he's kept under close supervision and after Talon is dead, Gavin will be put into a sort of protection program. His look will be completely changed, he will be given a new name and he will be relocated somewhere far, far away from here." Madame Armstrong purses her lips and maintains eye contact with the agents across the table.

"What the hell kind of deal is that? There is nothing in it for us." Agent Thomas fumes, a fatal mistake in the presence of the CIA director.

"That is my only deal; take it or leave it." Madame Armstrong states in a collected voice, her confidence not wavering one little bit.

"How 'bout, you can send him to take down Talon and then you hand him back over to us so, he can be incarcerated like he rightfully deserves." Agent Thomas crosses his arms, a stubborn look in his blue eyes.

"He doesn't, though. Talon Tenebris is the one who deserves to be behind bars, not the one who's meant to take him down. I'm already offering for Gavin to leave the only life he's known; what more could you want? It's a fair trade considering he's saving your ass and countless others." Madame Armstrong grits her teeth, her neck turning red, which is a sign of the fury that is about to come.

"He is a criminal." Agent Thomas reiterates slowly as if that will somehow make Madame Armstrong agree with him.

"Good lord, you're slow; we've already been through this countless times and I'm growing tired of repeating myself. Is losing a case really worth risking the security of the entire country? The more you sit here and argue inane things, the more imminent the danger of Talon becomes." Madame Armstrong rolls her eyes at him and stands up. "I believe we're done here; release my agent at once."

Agent Thomas stands up with a huff and makes a motion towards the two-way glass, obviously alerting his guards to come in. Sure enough a few guards come in and unlock my restraints.

"My boss is going to have my head for this." He mumbles and leads the way out of the room.

Madame Armstrong gives me a wink as she follows the agents out of the room. Drawing in a deep breath, I catch up with the group, no chains clanging as I saunter down the hallway. We take a short elevator ride down to the main floor and people ogle as I, a convicted criminal, walk out of the front doors without a care in the world. There is a sleek black, armored car waiting out front for the director. She opens up the door for me and then closes it, her whispered conversations with the agents carry through the slightly opened windows.

"So, the great Gavin Forrester could talk his way out of imprisonment by the FBI." Blaze chuckles from the seat across from me.

"I have no plans of going behind bars until Talon is burning in hell once again." I smirk and give Blaze a firm handshake.

"There's the jackass I know and love." Blaze shakes his head and returns my handshake.

"How did you get yourself out?" I tilt my head and wait for his response.

"Madame Director was a little late in coming to save you with good reason." Blaze grins and leans back in the seat.

"She's always been very good about knowing when we're in trouble." I agree and let out a deep breath I'd been holding in since my interrogation began.

"Well, somebody has to keep you idiots in line." Madame Armstrong rolls her eyes as she slips into the front seat. "Back entrance of the headquarters, please."

"Madame, the NYPD..." I try to finish my sentence, but the director holds up her hand.

"I'm well aware that the police chief's daughter has been taken captive. He is already at the headquarters waiting for us." She says in her commanding voice. "We're going to meet him and outfit you for the mission at hand."

Great, now I have to face him and all his wrath.

We pull into the back parking garage of the headquarters and the driver lets us out by an elevator so, we can enter the building. Madame Director takes out her I.D. card and scans it, which allows us access to the other floors of the building. I watch her type in a complicated code and then press the button for one of the underground levels. Her foot taps impatiently before the doors open, revealing a brightly lit space where other agents and executives are rushing around. Some people give me looks of respectful recognition as I pass by, but most people are looking at me in awe as if they never thought they'd see me again.

"Come along, agents. Our group is waiting for us in my office." Madame Armstrong prods me and walks briskly towards a wooden door where her name is engraved.

She opens the door and all the people on the other side rise out of courtesy, sitting down only once she reaches her leather desk chair and instructs them to take their seats once again. Chief Grayson turns around and his eyes meet mine, a livid expression clouding their usual indifference. His knuckles are turning white as he clutches onto the arms of his chair.

"I can't believe I ever trusted you to take care of my little girl." He spits as he springs out of his chair.

His strong hands clutch my neck as he shoves me up against the wall. His nails claw at my skin, his hot breath fanning my face as he snarls at me.

"I knew this would happen; I knew something would happen to her and I knew it would be because of you." Chief Grayson whispers, tears forming in his eyes. "I'm going to lose her and it's all because of you."

"Sir, please release my agent. We are going to get your daughter back if it's the last thing we do." Madame Armstrong states calmly, hoping he will just be rational.

"I can't lose her; she's all I have left." Chief Grayson breaks down and removes his hand my neck. "She's all I have."

"Your daughter is the only reason I'm still here. This is the last thing I meant to happen. I turned myself in because Talon said it was the only way to save your daughter; I did not just abandon her." I respond as I draw in a breath.

"Never mutter that damned name within my earshot." Chief Grayson shakes his head and takes a seat in his chair once again.

"Chief Grayson, I have brought these two agents in to assist with a mission to save your daughter and kill Talon Tenebris." Madame Armstrong begins, her fingers laced together on the desk in front of her. "Agents 005 and 002, both have a license to kill and will stop at nothing to obliterate Talon and anyone connected to him."

"And they will save my Victoria?" He asks, his voice cracking as he says her name.

"Of course." I interject before Madame Director can retort. "She's the first priority on my list."

"I'm going down with your agents; I'm going to be waiting there for Victoria. I want her to see her real father the minute she comes out of that hellhole." Chief Grayson mutters with vigor.

"Sir, I don't know if that's the best idea." Madame Armstrong reasons, but to no avail.

"I'm not going to sit here and wait around. I'm coming with you whether you like it or not." Chief Grayson states, his tone finalizing the conversation.

"I have no authorization to stop you..." Madame Armstrong's voice trails off, but the look she gives me implies that she wouldn't stop him even if she could.

~~~~~

"Once you arrive at his house, allow the reinforcements to infiltrate it and then you follow in once they've secured the perimeter." Madame Armstrong directs her gaze at me as I tighten up my bulletproof vest.

I nod and hold out my hands for the gun she's saved for me for the last seven years. She gives me a smile and sets the cold metal in my hand. I lock a bullet into place, my hand molding perfectly into the trigger. It's familiar, it reminds me of what I'm meant to do; take out the bad guys, even if I've strayed very far from that lately.

"Gavin, you are the leader of this unit. You prepare them as you see fit." Madame Armstrong continues, her eyes connecting with mine. "I have faith in you."

"You'd be the only one." I whisper, my voice breaking.

I don't want this to be my last mission. I don't want Talon to be a part of my crowning achievement.

"I believe this is not the last we will be seeing of each other, Agent 005." Madame Armstrong places her hand lightly on my arm. "I will not let Talon be the way you end things."

"It's only right that I end them the way I started them." I mutter, fighting to keep the faltering emotion out of my voice.

"Gavin, we'll talk about the deal when you get back."

"Please don't go back on your word, Madame, especially not for me." I say softly as I sling the gun strap across my back.

"We'll discuss this later; I will meet you in Barbados and Talon's head better be on a plate."" Madame Armstrong claps her hands, the tension immediately dissipating.

She shoves me towards the awaiting airplane that will carry my unit to Talon's house. I allow the rest of my squad to get on and I'm about to follow them in when Madame Armstrong grabs me once again.

"Madame, I will make you proud. I will end things the right way." I look her straight in the eye, my confidence unwavering.

"I have no doubt about that, Agent 005. Put a couple of bullets through Talon for me; I gave you a license to kill for a reason." Madame Armstrong gives me an approving look before allowing me to get on the plane.

Yes, ma'am, I'll bring him hell from all of us.

The plane begins to lift off the ground and I feel mystomach lurch uncomfortably, more from nerves than anything else. I look atBlaze, who's seated next to me, and smile because this is the way things aresupposed to be; Talon is not going to win, not this time.