McDonald Array - Divide and Conquer

As far as Mike Ritter was concerned, it was their only hope to stop something before it started. Quite frankly, it was the first time in fifty years they even knew where to find him.

The inclusion of Sean in the Governor’s party was a Godsend and his lightning fast VISA approval, yet another sign that pointed back to Dr Boris Surkov’s original plan.

As Mike was about to continue, Jane raised her hand to interrupt.

“There’s one little problem with that plan,” she offered cautiously.

“What?” asked Mike looking at the diagrams and names he had detailed on the board. He had spent every waking hour over the last day working through his conclusions.

“The Governor’s wife!”

“Yes?” he asked impatiently.

“She died this morning. I’m not sure he’ll be going anywhere!”

Mike looked at his ramblings on the whiteboard. “How did she die?” he asked.

“A freak accident I believe, slipped in the shower, or something like that, I just caught it on the late news. I can’t believe we missed it!”

“Neither can I!” said Mike. His level of agitation had just increased as he grabbed his laptop and typed away furiously.

“What?” asked Vincent.

Mike waved his hand to stop anyone speaking. He was working through a theory. As Jane, Sean and Vincent waited, Mike tapped wildly and scribbled notes like a man possessed, none of them dare speak.

Finally, after twenty minutes, he dropped his pen and looked at them in horror.

“Oh my God, its brilliant!” he exclaimed.

“What’s brilliant?” asked Sean.

“Surkov, I mean his plan. Oh my God, why didn’t I see it before!”

“See what before?” asked Sean frustrated at Mike’s rambling.

“It’s because I came at it from the wrong agenda!” he chastised himself.

“Jesus, Mike, will you try and explain what you’re thinking,” said Vincent, breathlessly.

Mike did and watched the color drain from each and every one of their faces.

Sean woke up as the CIA jet touched down in Austin. It had been a long night planning exactly what they needed to do. Unfortunately, 'they’ had very quickly become Sean. He was the only one who would have access to the banquet and as such, the ability to stop Surkov. Of course, all of that was on the basis that he managed to convince the Governor to still attend despite his wife’s death and without divulging what they believed. While in Russia, if he did pull off the miracle of getting the governor to go, he was not to allow the governor out of sight while ensuring that he dealt with Surkov. How he was going to succeed with that part of the mission was beyond him, unless of course he just pulled out a gun and in front of the Governor and shot Surkov. But then the Governor was to be kept blissfully unaware of Sean’s real mission at all times. So even that didn’t work.

This was, of course, all for a country who had four law enforcement agencies who wanted him to spend at least the next few decades of his life in prison. Vincent had promised, as a reward for saving the world from Surkov and his plan for world domination, he’d make sure the other agencies backed off. However, the lack of conviction and belief in what he was promising had Sean more worried than anything else they had discussed that night.

Sean checked his watch and adjusted the time zone again, it was nearing lunchtime and he wondered how Katie and James had fared last night. He had Katie’s number but it wasn’t for social calls. Katie and James needed to move on with their lives. Sean was a reminder of a huge void in their lives that would cause them nothing but upset. He retrieved his new CIA smartphone from his pocket and called the number the US Marshall had given him the night before.

“Hi Tom,” said Sean as the Marshall answered. “Just wondered how the guys were doing?” he asked as casually as he could, just in case Katie was to overhear.

“Hi Sean, actually I’ve just left them.”

“They’re on their own?” queried Sean instantly concerned.

“All set up in a new apartment, she didn’t waste any time, 7 am this morning she was pounding the phone.”

“Fantastic, nice place?”

“Not bad, nothing like the place she left, mind you.” Tom had picked up a few of Katie and Sean’s personal items before leaving Laredo. Sean had made it clear she was not to go anywhere near the old house, too many dead bodies and memories for her and James.

“I’m sure they’ll be just fine,” concluded Sean, surprised at how quickly they had moved on. Austin had been chosen as Katie had lived there before Laredo and knew the hospital where she had worked previously were always hiring.

“You’re not kidding, she’s some lady, even got herself a job by 10 o’clock!”

“Thanks for helping them out Tom, much appreciated,” said Sean as he ended the call.

As he waited for a cab to take him to the Governor’s mansion, he couldn’t help smile at the thought that he had given James back to Katie. Fuck the consequences he thought. What will be, will be.

Katherine had been up and about for hours, she had a busy day ahead and some minor miracles to achieve. Top of the list was convincing the governor of the national, no, international importance, of his Moscow trip. Statesmen had to put country before personal. She had been trying lines all night and nothing worked. It all sounded cliched. She had the rest of the day to think of something. The flight was scheduled to leave early the next morning.

As she made her way into her office, the secretary caught her attention. “I have a call for you Katherine,”

“Who is it?” she asked.

“Sean Fox,” was the reply that inwardly floored her. Katherine’s face remained unchanged, a wonderful ability her mother had taught her. Katherine rarely showed emotion and even then never spontaneously.

“Thank you, just put him through, please,” she asked politely.

She closed the door to her office and took the seat at her desk. She composed herself as the light flashed highlighting Sean was holding.

“Mr Fox, how can I help you?” asked Katherine as she took the call.

“Sorry I thought I was holding for Governor Brown?” replied Sean.

“As you can imagine the Governor is taking some time to mourn,” she replied sincerely.

“I’m scheduled to be joining the Governor on his trip to Moscow, he hasn’t cancelled, has he?” asked Sean a little too desperately, showing his hand a little more than he would have wished to.

Katherine liked the sound of what Sean wanted. It was exactly what she wanted, the Governor on the plane to Moscow.

“I’ll see if I can get…”

“Actually, it’s OK, I’m just pulling up outside as we speak, I’d rather see him face-to-face, thanks,” interrupted Sean, handing twenty bucks to the cab driver.

“Of course, that’s fine,” she replied calmly, while her mind raced.

She walked through to the entrance hallway and watched as Sean grabbed a bag from the trunk of the cab and walked into the mansion. Katherine watched Sean carefully as he first opened the door and walked into the hallway. Her mother had shown her every little detail to be aware of. To date, she had never been wrong. Katherine could identify exactly how to work a man from his physical actions and facial expressions within the first few seconds of meeting him.

Katherine walked over and offered Sean her hand. “Katherine, I’m the governor’s Chief of Staff,” she offered.

“Sean,” replied Sean, looking around the mansion’s stunning hallway in an attempt not to stare at what had to be one of the most beautiful women he had ever met. “Lovely,” he said. “A stunning room,” clarifying he meant the room and not Katherine.