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 40
"Jim, it's us," Nicholas said softly into his communicator as Max drove behind the smoldering mess that was once their headquarters. A few seconds later, Jim emerged from the woods and got into the car.
"Any problems?" Nicholas asked.
"None," Jim replied, stifling a shudder as he looked over the pile of ashes. "Thank you again."
Nicholas smiled fondly at him, then the three men rode in silence back to the hospital, brought Grant up to date on the events of the day, and obtained the technology he'd prepared for them to use.
Grant explained to Max how to hook the wiretap to Christie 's telephone line, and then handed Nicholas a square device.
"Once the wiretap is hooked to the phone line, this receiver should beep every time Christie makes or takes a call, and the other person's number should appear on the LCD display here."
"So we can find out who's calling," Max inferred.
"Not only that," Grant replied, "but I can plug any phone number into my database and find out the address where it's registered."
"Like the drug supplier," Nicholas suggested.
"Exactly."
"Well, Max and I will go at nightfall and plant the wiretap," Nicholas stated. "By tomorrow we should know a lot more about Christie 's operation."
*******
After they visited a while with Grant, the three men went upstairs to check on their other teammate.
Shannon was again sitting up in bed. Her vital signs were back to near-normal levels, and even her cheeks were starting to pick up the hint of rosiness that had been missing for the past few days. Anyone who didn't know what she had been through would have never guessed how close to death she had been.
Shannon was overjoyed to see Max and Jim - the first time she had seen them since regaining consciousness - and they both greeted her with soft hugs and kisses on the cheek. She missed Grant and nervously asked about him, but Max quickly assured her that he was going to be fine and she'd see him tomorrow.
"The doctor says I'm doing very well," Shannon advised them, "much too well to be in critical care. But I have to step down to a private room before they will let me go home."
"So that comes tomorrow?" Nicholas asked.
Shannon smiled and nodded. "And, if all goes well, I'll be discharged on Sunday.
"Well, if all goes according to plan," Jim responded with a knowing grin, "we'll be ready to go home by then."
Shannon's face fell. "I really wish I could help you guys with this one."
"Relax, Shannon," Jim soothed, taking her hand in his. "Right now, this is probably the safest place for you to be."
"But I can take care of myself," Shannon protested.
"We know you can," Nicholas agreed, smiling at her, "but we all feel better knowing you're here where he can't get to you. Otherwise, you'd almost certainly be in danger as well."
"What happened to you guys, anyway?" Shannon asked suddenly, her voice anxious.
Nicholas cast a quick glance at Jim, and then he laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You just rest," he answered evasively. "Tomorrow, when we're all together, we'll catch you up."
Then the trio said their goodbyes and left the hospital for the day.
*******
They returned to the hotel where Max and Nicholas had stayed the previous night, and Jim was able to secure the room next door. After seeing that he was settled in, the two young agents changed into black coveralls and set off for Christie 's compound.
They parked the car a quarter mile from the compound and approached the rest of the way on foot. They moved stealthily through the tall grass, with Max in the lead, and Nicholas behind and slightly to his right.
Suddenly, Max stopped and extended his right arm protectively toward Nicholas' chest.
"Guard," he whispered curtly.
Nicholas looked ahead and could see the gunman standing sentry outside the compound. He appeared to be alone.
"Just one?" Nicholas countered, half-teasingly, a slight smile on his face.
"Yeah, that's all I see," Max grinned, as he took the gun out of his pocket and, with practiced precision, fired a single knockout dart. His aim was true, and the guard went down in a heap.
"Let's go," he whispered, and he and Nicholas scurried to the outdoor telephone hookup that Max had seen earlier. With his partner's assistance, Max set the device in place and activated it, and they encountered no further problems as they hurried back to the car and returned to the hotel.
After letting Jim know they were back safely, Nicholas and Max set about getting a good night's sleep. They all anticipated a very busy Saturday ahead.
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(c) 2016
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