soon, but at least he was alive.
Rick was next to join the fray and dived towards Borodin who, as Sean turned to deal with Katherine, had saved Sean and sent Alexey, the impostor President off to Nazi hell with his ceremonial sword. Borodin moved like a man half his size. He side stepped Rick and with a Zoroesque flick of the wrist, ensured that Rick the impostor would never be mistaken for the Governor. The deep curved slash across his cheek would scar him for life.
Yolana was caught like a rabbit in the headlights. Her sister screamed in agony to her right as her hand had taken the full brunt of the exploding pistol, while her one true love, Alexey, died at the end of Borodin’s sword, to her left.
The Governor staggered away from Katherine and slumped into a chair as he remained dazed from the explosion so close to his head.
“Nobody fucking move!” screamed Sean, as he swung the gun around the room. Nobody did.
Where is the real President?” Borodin asked Yolana, looking at the dead impostor at his feet.
A shake of her head was enough to confirm his fate. They had already killed him and removed any evidence of his existence. Borodin took all his strength and re-sheathed his sword. He didn’t trust himself not to kill the bitch there and then.
The Governor looked around the room and shook his head in disbelief. “Jesus! Nazis, really?!” he asked rubbing at his ear.
“Really!’ confirmed Sean.
“So what now?” asked Borodin. He had a dead Russian President to explain.
Sean looked at the Governor for guidance but he sat catatonically rubbing at his ear. He was still in shock and in no position to help.
Sean looked across at the dead impostor President. “You can’t prove he’s not your president. His DNA, fingerprints, they’re all identical. Trust me, I know only too well!” explained Sean.
“We have him to prove it,” Borodin pointed at the Governor’s twin.
“And tell the world they nearly succeeded?! Jesus it’ll cause havoc!”
Sean paused and thought for a moment. He had an idea but he really didn’t like it. He shared it with Borodin.
“Do you have anyone you can trust with this secret?” whispered Sean.
“Yes,” replied Borodin confidently. He had Vasiliy.
“Excellent, get Vasiliy here with a car or even better, a van. We need to get these three out of here and to Siberia or wherever you can ensure they remain out of sight and contact. You’ll need some footage of the grieving widow but just enough to prove she survived the attack.”
“You don’t really want to send us to Siberia,” said Yolana, giving Sean her best come to bed eyes.
“Shut up bitch, it’s taking all my will power not to shoot you, don’t make it any harder!”
Borodin entered with Vasiliy and without question, Vasiliy began to tie up the prisoners. Pillowcases became hoods for the three and before long, Vasiliy and three of Borodin’s most trusted men were transporting the three to, Sean imagined, a cold and desolate place.
“I am going to take the Governor and board our plane. If you could delay raising the alarm for a half hour that would be great!’ said Sean.
“Thank you,” Borodin said, shaking Sean’s hand.
“No, thank you and good luck!”
Sean took the Governor by the arm and helped him to his feet. His balance was still affected but they walked slowly from the building to their waiting car.
As the car pulled away, Sean was still struggling to come to terms with what had just happened and what so nearly could have been.
“Did that really just happen?” asked the Governor as he began to regain his composure and his mind began to work rationally again.
“I think so!” replied Sean bluntly.
“Nobody can ever know!” instructed the Governor, as the full ramifications of what could have been hit home.
“I wouldn’t worry, nobody would ever believe us anyway!” replied Sean.
For the duration of the flight back to the US, Sean and the Governor discussed what they would say about the evening’s events. In effect, it came down to zero. As far as they were concerned, the night never happened. As they landed in Washington at Andrews Air Force base, the press clamored for a statement. Not about the Governor’s announcement but the assassination of the Russian President in close proximity to himself. Sean listened as the press detailed the story he and Borodin had concocted. A Chechen rebel had fled after being disturbed in his assassination of the President. The President’s beautiful wife had been saved by the brave General. The assassin had fled but some CCTV images had been released. Fuck, thought Sean, he could have doctored them better than that. He knew how facial recognition scanners worked and Sean was going to trigger them with the photos Borodin had released. Sean’s travelling days were over. You’d never recognize him from the photo looking at it but the facial dimensions would identify Sean perfectly.
Sean bid the Governor farewell and walked onto the tarmac at Andrews. Before he reached the terminal building, the FBI arrested him.
Chapter 81
“Gentlemen,” began Vincent.
After his meeting with his boss, the Director of the CIA, another meeting had been called with the Heads of Homeland Security, the FBI and the US Marshalls.
“As we are all aware, we have a disconnect. Terrorist cells are slipping through our fingers. We know where they are, we know who they are, but it doesn’t necessarily mean we can do anything. Even when we do, our procedures and processes, never mind the law, can work in their favor.”
A number of vigorous nods agreed vehemently with everything Vincent had said.
“Let me tell you a story,” said Vincent and proceeded to tell the group about Sean’s encounter with Los Zetas.
A heated discussion ensued. They all knew who Sean was and knew the details Vincent had left out. Namely, how he had been responsible for hooking the Los Zetas up with the major drug dealers on the US East coast.
“Gentlemen!” shouted the CIA Director. We’re not here to debate the innocence or guilt of Sean Fox. We’re here to work out how best to protect this country!”
“Putting Sean Fox in prison, is a bloody good start!” offered the FBI Director.
“And we would be putting one of the US government's most talented operatives out of commission!” offered Vincent.
“He tells everyone who’ll listen that he’s retired!” retorted the Head of Homeland Security.
“Look Vincent, we all know you’re close to Sean but seriously, he’s going down and there’s nothing you can do about it!” The director of the FBI stood up. He didn’t have time for this.
“Sit down Bob, we’ve spoken with the President!” said the director of the CIA. “Sean is going to spend the rest of his life paying for what he did but on our terms and for the good of the country!”
“He’s coming back to the CIA?” asked the Homeland boss.
“Not a chance,” replied Vincent. “He would never trust us again after the debacle two years ago.”
“He’s not working for me!” confirmed the FBI Director adamantly.
“Jesus, there’s not a chance in hell he’d work for anyone in this room and I include myself in that,” said Vincent sincerely.
“So, if he’s not working for you and he won’t work for us, exactly how is he going to spend the rest of his life working for the good of the country?” asked the Homeland boss.
“What if we had an operative planted so deep he didn’t even know it himself?” asked Vincent cryptically.
“Sorry?!” replied the FBI Director.
