Disclaimer: I do not own either of the Mission: Impossible series or any of the characters therein. I receive no compensation or any other tangible benefit from this story. I am just a fan who enjoys taking the team out for an adventure every now and then. 🙂
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Nemesis Chapter 33
Early the next morning, Nicholas and Max were startled by a telephone call from Jim.
"What is it, Jim?" Nicholas asked, fearing that something was wrong, holding the receiver out so that Max could listen in.
"Relax, Nicholas, everything's fine," Jim reassured him. "Grant and I were just thinking that we would need our equipment from headquarters, but it's almost certain that Christie's men will be watching to make sure I don't show up there again."
"We'll take care of it, Jim," Max promised.
"You have to be extremely careful," Jim cautioned. "You both know that Christie wants you dead. It'd be better if you can get in and out without being seen."
"We'll be like chameleons," Max quipped.
Jim started to say something about the flippancy of Max's tone, but thought better of it. He knew that was just Max's way.
"See you in a little while," Nicholas advised, and then the connection was broken.
*******
Nicholas and Max hailed a cab and then rode off in the direction of the team's old headquarters. A few miles into their journey, Max caught sight of a panel truck up ahead. He nudged his friend and pointed discreetly.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking, pal?"
Nicholas grinned, and then told the cabbie to let them off. He paid the fare and then he and Max hatched a plan.
They waited until the driver got back into his truck. Then Nicholas rushed up to the driver's door and caught his attention, pretending to be lost and asking for directions, while Max circled around the back of the truck.
Stealthily, Max opened the passenger door. Nicholas continued to feign confusion until finally the driver opened the door in exasperation and got out of the truck in order to point out a landmark.
Quickly, Max started the truck and put it in gear. Nicholas jumped onto the running board and caught hold of the mirror as Max floored it and sped away, leaving the panel truck driver shaking his fist and spurting Italian curse words at the pair.
Once they were a safe distance away, Max stopped the truck and Nicholas climbed inside. He blew all his breath out in a whoosh and looked at his friend.
Max's grin grew wider and more mischievous at the look on his teammate's face.
"Great job, buddy," he teased. "Wasn't that fun?"
"Tell you what, pal," Nicholas responded, feigning annoyance but unable to stifle a grin, "once those ribs heal up, you can have all of the daredevil jobs back."
"Aw, come on, Nicholas," he protested, "you've gotta live a little."
"I live just fine, thank you," Nicholas retorted, then sobered as they approached the building that had been their headquarters. He and Max both spotted the black four-door sedan parked a few hundred yards away from the front entrance.
Nicholas ducked down in the passenger seat as Max drove the panel truck right up in front of the warehouse, effectively blocking the black car's view of the front door. As quickly as he could, he cut the motor, climbed out of the driver's seat, and raised the hood. Then he rushed around to the other side of the cab and opened the door, pretending to get something out of it.
"You'll have to move fast, before our guests get nosy," Max urged.
"Yeah, will do," replied Nicholas curtly, as Max rushed back around to the front of the truck and began tinkering under the hood.
Nicholas scrambled out of the truck, unlocked the door hurriedly and rushed inside. He grabbed the laptop, the communicators, and the mask making kit, and had them and himself inside the truck in seconds.
Once his partner was safely inside, and just as one of Garcia's men was getting out of the car to investigate further, Max slammed the hood, climbed back into the truck, started the engine, and sped away.
Max drove in silence for several moments, checking his mirrors frequently. Finally, Nicholas asked, "Are we being followed?"
"Nope," Max grinned triumphantly. Then he grew serious again. "But I'm sure the truck driver will be calling the cops soon, so we'd better find a new ride."
"I wonder if Jim's car is still sitting at the club," Nicholas mused.
Max looked at his friend in admiration. "Good idea," he praised.
He pointed the truck in the direction of the bar, and the agents were pleased to find that Jim's sedan was still parked there. Max parked the truck in the space beside it, and Nicholas used Jim's key to unlock the door. He and Max quickly transferred everything to the sedan and headed toward the hospital, leaving the panel truck parked in the bar's parking lot.
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(c) 2016
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