This is a work of fiction, using characters from the film, “Proof of Life”.  No insult or invasion of privacy or infringement of copyright is intended. The story is for readers over the age of 18 only, and contains adult language. The writer is not responsible for any "discomfort" caused to the reader by this language and these situations.

The Lady and the Cipher

©02/2009  by: Ree

Chapter Three

It could have been worse. His cell could have started ringing sixty seconds before. As it was, Terry and Lily both groaned when his cell phone buzzed and rang simultaneously.

"Aren't you off duty or something?"

"No such thing, luv. Just a tic."

"I love how you say that," she giggled and rolled over. "I'll just freshen up a bit."

"Hey, hey, wait for . . . Yeah?"  Terry realized the call had connected and he could be heard.

"I'm waiting for you to pick the phone up, asshole."

"Dino." He exhaled heavily. "This better be important, mate."

"Hey, pal, I got the call an hour ago, gave you some time already." Terry's back stiffened; Dino's tone was all business. "We're on a jet to Houston at 22 hundred."

"Houston? That scenario played out?" Terry immediately understood; they had visited EnTech only a few weeks before.

"Yep, we need to repatriate those employees in Iraq, pronto."

"Why don't we go straight there, then?  The team can be mobilized in what, twenty-four hours?"

"There are some new details, so they want us there first. Everyone's on alert, though."

"Good, good."  Terry's mind raced. What other details? EnTechCo was a small but rapidly growing energy company. They were small fish in a big pond, but their small size made them flexible and innovative. As part of the Iraqi reconstruction effort, they had been contracted to consult with Iraqi companies to develop hybrid energy technologies. They'd been on the ground for three years and now were facing pressure to turn everything over to local firms. From everything they'd been told, the repatriation effort should be routine. New details? Didn't sound good. "I'm not at my flat now, so I need to . . ."

"Jennifer's there, packing for you. So if you're not too old to get it up again, you've got another three minutes to give it a go."

"Ha-ha, funny."

"What's funny? Going to Houston?"  Terry looked up at Lily, who was standing in the bathroom doorway, wrapped in a towel, her hair flowing around her bare shoulders.  She was breathtaking.  He cursed the loss of the weekend they'd planned.

"We've got an engagement, Lil. I'm sorry, I need to go. Tonight."

"But I just got back!"  Her shoulders slumped and she dragged herself next to him on the bed and put her face near the phone. "I just got back, whoever you are!"

"It's Dino," Terry rolled his eyes at the change in his friend's voice. "Sorry honey.  But you have another three min. . ."

Terry jerked the phone away. "That's enough of that. Okie dokie mate, I assume you've got a car waiting?"

"Downstairs. Don't be long."

Terry flipped down the phone and pulled Lily onto his lap. "Glad we had some time, anyway."

"Better than the phone, that's for sure," Lily picked up Terry's phone and chuckled. They'd had some steamy conversations over the past weeks. "This one's different from the one you had before. Still encrypted?"

"Brand new, the latest and greatest." He took the phone back. He didn't think it worth mentioning, the extra security that Jane had added.  Nor would he mention why. Dino had gotten a good laugh when Jane had demonstrated how poor the encryption worked.  "But, you know, it's still a company phone, luv."

Lily arched an expertly groomed brow at him. "I see. Well, that's discouraging." She nestled onto his shoulder, kissing him lightly. "Terry? Why do you have to go to Houston? Can't your partner go?"

"It's better if we both go."

Lily's brows knit slightly. "Why do you have to do everything? What's the point of having people?"

Terry sighed. "It might not be the smartest way to do things, but it works for us, that's all I can say, Lil."

She crawled off his lap and stood, holding out her hands to him.  "Our three minutes are almost up." He stood and pulled her close. "When can we see each other again?"

"Could be weeks, luv. Sorry."  He chuckled wryly. "Sorry. I say that a lot."

"Don't say it then, baby. Do what you have to. Come back soon and safe.”

~*~

The flight to Houston was uneventful and Terry had a chance to consider Lily's words. All the travel, leading engagements. He thought having his own shop meant running it, not running all around the world. But here they were.

"Night time plane to Houston," he said aloud.

"Sounds like a blues song," Dino said with a snort.

"Yeah. Not the way I like to spend Saturday night. I thought we went to work for ourselves so we leave this bullshit behind."

"C'mon, Ter', it's not in your nature to leave it to others. You're too much of a control freak."

"Me? Now there's the pot calling the kettle."

"I know," Dino laughed. "Face it, we're doomed, pal."

"Looks like."

"Did the missus give you a hard time?"

"Missus?"

"The lovely and throaty-voiced Lily."

"Not the missus, mate." Terry's expression was unreadable. Dino decided to press it.  He needed to understand his partner's state of mind.

"But you want her to be?"

Terry shrugged. "It's just been a couple of months, and we've been in different cities half the time."

"And still, you manage to get some, you hound."  Dino laughed. "Took some balls for our prim Lady Jane to use you to show our security lapse."

Terry wasn't anxious to invite more teasing about that particular subject. He unbuckled himself from his seat and walked to the galley to fetch a couple of beers. "She probably thought it would have a bigger impact than playing back phone conversations with your proctologist."

"You think we should put her on this EnTech gig? Or the Duchess?"

"Duchess has more experience in the region. Jane's just worked support for Duke so far."

"She found a major security breach, Ter', when Duke didn't.  Wonder if she got off on it. Hmmmmm."

"And that's another reason. She works for us, mate. Don't be 'wondering' things." 

"I'm just talking here, I'm nothing if not professional."

"The last two words sound 'bout right," Terry replied with a laugh.

The pilot broke into their conversation to announce their imminent arrival. Terry and Dino took their seats again and settled into quiet contemplation about what the next few hours would bring. Would the next jet they took bring them to Iraq or back to New York?

They settled into their thoughts, both of them running through the likely scenarios that had come into play. EnTech's operations were close to a hot zone, perhaps things had taken a turn for the worse.  They arrived at dawn and went straight to the hotel for a quick cleanup and a gallon or two of coffee.  A driver from EnTech picked them up at 7:30 a.m. for their 8 a.m. meeting with EnTech's CEO.

Dino paced in the lobby while Terry sat. "Sit down, mate, you're like a caged cat."

"I smell a rat, Ter'.  A big motherfucker."

"We don't know anything."

"I know, but something isn't right here. We had these fuckers hanging on our every word last time we were here.  Either the situation's changed, or someone's been fucking with them."

"I know, mate, I know."  He let Dino blow off steam, knowing he'd be calm when it mattered. 

"Well if it isn't the famous Thorne and McTeirney. What brings you to Houston on Sunday morning?"

"I was right, Ter'. My nose never lies."

"Your nose, McTeirney?  What's that? The scent of failure?"

"What are you doing here, Tyler?"

"Same thing you are." Wayne Tyler grinned. Terry instinctively stood up to put his hand on Dino's shoulder. Wouldn't do to lose control in front of a client.

"This is our client, mate." 

"For now. But you guys have been hit hard with cuts, don't think you can handle an assignment this big all by yourself, can you?"

"Is that the bullshit you've been shoveling?"

"If you can't hold on to a fella like Duke, you really must be feeling it, buddy."

"Duke retired. His choice, not ours."

"Yeah? Not what I heard."

"And what have you heard?"

Before Wayne Tyler could respond, a young woman opened a conference room door. "Gentlemen, Mr. Forester will see you now." 

Dino glared at Tyler and waved him ahead. "Age before beauty, pal." 

"You always were the witty one."

Hank Forester didn't turn to greet them right away. He wasn't comfortable with the decision the board had made to include Wayne Tyler's group in the repatriation, but with the economy tanking, he couldn't afford to piss off the board any more.  He bowed his head and watched the body language from the corner of his eye.  Tyler walked in slowly, seeming confident, there was more urgency in the gait of McTeirney. Thorne, as usual, was more of an enigma.  

"Thank you for coming on short notice, gentlemen. Coffee?"  He waved to his assistant, who efficiently provided them service. "I don't want to waste time here. I realize that Mr. Tyler's appearance here is a surprise."

Terry shot Dino a look, warning him to bite his tongue. "Surprises are the nature of this business, Mr. Forester.  Please, go on."

"That they are. Now, as you all know, we're being pressed to turn EnTech's operations over to Iraqi control. The timetable is not optimum for us, and there is concern for the safety of our employees. Also, we are trying to bring some nationals over here as well."

"Yes, that part's been difficult, but we believe we've secured visas for most of the family members."  Dino brought out their list of employees and the family members who were now stationed there. His eyes stopped at one entry, but he didn't say a word.

"Good, good. We've just gotten word we need to be out of there in a week."

"A week? Jesus."

"Yes, lock stock and barrel.  Both sites.  We had some concerns about your level of manpower, gentlemen, which is why Mr. Tyler was called in."

"We could handle it."

"You have all the background, and as you've said, you've done most of the legwork. But this effort on the ground needs everything, and we're not convinced that's your strong suit at the moment. It's too important to us to trust in promises."

Terry thought he heard a low growl from Dino's throat, which he covered up with a cough and a sip of coffee.  "We understand, Mr. Forester; we'd gladly accept Mr. Tyler's assistance." Terry hoped his emphasis would make clear that he and Dino intended to run the operation.  

His inflection was not lost on Forester.  "Certainly, you've done the background on this. Mr. Tyler, you understand the conditions here. Your resources are to be at Mr. Thorne and Mr. McTierney's disposal. "

"Now wait a minute, there are two sites. They can't run them both."

"The hell we can't," Dino muttered under his breath. 

"Mr. Tyler understands the importance of having a single point of command, he simply wants us to benefit from his experience. And we will consult with him closely all along the way. Now," Terry stood, hoping to extricate them from the awkward situation as quickly as possible, "we have to prepare, there's not much time."

"I agree with Mr. Thorne here."  Forester was happy to see Terry taking control of the situation. This is what they'd hired him for. "And I believe you need to spend some time coordinating. I'll leave you now."  After a round of handshakes, Forester left the room, leaving the three in uncomfortable silence. 

"All right, none of us wanted this, but here we are. Let's make the best of it. Wayne? How soon can you have your team ready?"

"24."

"Right. Now we're to do this our way, got it? Our evacuation route, our timetable. We've mapped this out for months."

"What if I know a quicker way?"

Terry looked down at a scowling Dino.  "There isn't any, pal. We've reviewed it a hundred times. All other routes lead through mine fields or local troublemakers."

"Ah, they're not local troublemakers to us. We've got a man on the ground making sure of that. One of the best. "

"Yeah? Who do you consider 'the best', Tyler? You've got the 'B' team as far as I know."

"Some guy by the name of Trainor. Heard of him?"

"Duke? No fucking way he's in the field now.  He retired."

"He retired from being a desk jockey. Guess you missed that, huh?"  He smiled and tipped his coffee cup to take a final sip. "We'll be in touch, fellas, to coordinate our efforts."  Standing, he offered his hand, but neither Terry or Dino took it. "Aww, your feelings hurt? Better get over it, we've got an assignment to do."

"Jesus, I'd like to bash that smug look off his fucking face," Dino growled as soon as Tyler was out of earshot.

"Down boy, you don't know who might be listening in here."

"Right, right." Dino stood gathered his things. "Well, it'll be interesting teaming up with our good old friend, won't it?" 

"Yes, perhaps we should adjourn somewhere else to review our plans."

"Excellent idea, as always. And I know just the place."

"I knew you would, mate."  Terry laughed, knowing Dino was nothing if not resourceful. "But we really don't have much time."

"A round or two wouldn't hurt."

"'Round? Mate, it's ten o'clock Sunday morning."

Dino grinned as he flipped open his phone. "Don't you trust me Terry, after all this time?"

~*~

"Pity I didn't have a picture of Tyler with me. This would be much more satisfying."  Dino popped a cartridge into his weapon. "Or Duke. Can you believe that? Working for that fucker. Why didn't he ask to be put back into the field, Ter'? We would have listened."

"Would we? He didn't pass the fitness test, mate.  Tyler took him on just to piss us off."

"Yeah, but when did he recruit him, Terry? After he left, or before?" 

"You tell me, mate, he was working under your nose."

"We chose him for this detail, not me, we trusted him."  

Terry nodded. "Of course. Maybe the Duchess or Jane can tell us something." 

"Maybe. Speaking of, who's it to be for this gig?"

"I told you, the Duchess had more experience."

"But Jane wants it more. She's got more tricks up her sleeve."

"We don't want tricks, we want reliable. What about her brother?"

"Michael? He's okay, I checked him out. Sure, he's a quirky kid, but a brainy one. He's a cryptologist. At NationsBank, actually."

"Yeah? Wonder if Lily knows him."

"He doesn't know her, I asked."

"Still, 25 year old man living with his sister."

"Their parents left them a condo. Where would you rather live, in a huge place in Soho, sharing with a sister you hardly ever see, or a basement flat with three roommates and cockroaches?"

"Point," Terry laughed. "How d'ya know what size their place is."

"Know the building," Dino said with a wink. "C'mon, who's it gonna be?"

"Tell you what mate. We do a round. You win, it's Jane. I win? Duchess."

"You're on."  

They donned their headphones and began.  Dino went first, emptying his ammo with the efficiency of an experienced shot. The score was nearly perfect. Terry smiled, pleased at the extra incentive of beating his old friend. He lifted his weapon and began to fire. With one more shot left he paused to take off his headphones and looked at Dino. "Looks close, mate."

"Yeah, you might have me beat. If you don't choke, that is."

Terry grinned. He had him to rights. He aimed his weapon again, headphone still off, it was just one more shot. 

"We're talking Lady Jane, man. And her bag of tricks. We could be listening to her honey voice every day."

"Mate, we can't be thinking of a honey voice on an assignment."  He focused hard on the target, but suddenly all he could see was Jane's face, her eyes flashing with a familiar fire. She was hungrier. But the Duchess was steadier, a known quantity for a critical operation. They couldn't afford to take chances. He squeezed the trigger, then without looking at the results, calmly put his weapon away as Dino brought the target in. 

"Well, there it is. A bet's a bet."

"Yeah. Make the call, we need to get going."

Dino pulled his phone out and made the call. "Better be ready, honey, 'cause we're on our way to Iraq."

~*~

Jane put down the phone, disbelieving. If she hadn't instituted the new security protocols herself, she would have sworn it wasn't Dino who just called her. She raced to her bedroom to throw on clothes, then dashed down the hall to her brother's half of the apartment. No surprise he was on the computer, playing his game again.

"Michael, pause it, will you? It's important."

"Yeah, just a second." Like a ten-year-old, he kept playing. 

"I don't have a second, Michael. I'm running point on an engagement!"

"Great," Michael said, absently.

"An overseas engagement."

"Sure, great."

"Michael, I'm going to use it."

He hit a few keystrokes to pause his game then looked up at her. “Can I come with you?"

"No, of course not. I'll tell you how it goes though, if I can. Listen, don't wait up. Will you be okay? Can you get to work by yourself tomorrow if you have to?"

"Janey, of course."

"It's not 'of course'.  You could play that game all night and have no idea what time it was."

"Not any more, Venus lets me know when it's time for bed."

"Venus?  Her?"  Jane pointed to an avatar of a very sexy warrior holding a futuristic crossbow. "Are you even sure she's a girl and not a 12-year-old boy?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

Janey glared at Michael. She had the biggest assignment of her life and her brother was finally trying to tell her something about his life other than what he had for lunch. Figured. "Save that thought, but I gotta run." After ruffling his hair, she hurried out the door, down to the street and hailed a cab, her face was flushed with excitement. This was the opportunity she was hoping for, running point on an assignment!

She only hoped the first time wasn't the last.

Chapter Four