Cliff Ryder - The Finish Line

Anthony brushed past Carl and headed to the back of the SUV, opening the back door and removing a small square of carpet on the floor of the empty cargo compartment, revealing a recessed keypad. Entering a seven-digit code, a panel rose slightly with a hydraulic hiss, allowing him to pull it up with his fingers. Anthony didn't need to look up to know that Liam, Carl and Gregor had established a perimeter, keeping an eye out for anyone who might be watching.

He distributed pistols, silencers and magazines first. "Carl, you and I know what our target looks like. She should still be in the station, possibly meeting someone here, or else continuing on by herself. In case you need to clear a path quickly or create a distraction, use these, but only if necessary." He handed a pair of small fragmentation minigrenades to each team member, pocketing two himself. "Remember, use them only if necessary. We should be able to acquire the target and remove her without attracting undue attention."

Carl hefted the golf ball-sized grenades for a moment before slipping them into his cargo pants pockets. "What if we see any of those fuckers from that other team?"

"If you spot them, and they've already acquired her, then follow to a position where you can engage without attracting attention. If you can take them out, do so — especially the black man or his dark-haired partner." Anthony slapped a magazine into his Walther P-99, chambered a round and slipped it into the pancake holster at the small of his back. "Carl, Gregor, you're Team Two, Liam and I are Team One. Keep your earpieces on and active at all times. Let's move."

Anthony led the way to the street outside, setting a ground-eating pace to the train station's main building. Liam caught up with him at the edge of the street. "Hey, boss?"

"Mmm?" Anthony didn't look at him, as he was too busy checking traffic for a time to cross the street.

"If we've been pulled off the case, then doesn't that mean someone else has her already?"

Antony spared him a quick glance before heading across the wide street. "Control said she had been picked up by Aleix, but I'll bet she's already gotten away from that fuckin' poofter."

"Okay, fair enough — but what if she didn't?"

"If she didn't, then you just let me handle him, all right?"

"Fine by me."

The interior of Gare du Nord was very similar to the London train station — shops, announcements over the loudspeaker system, and people going every which way. Anthony scanned the electronic boards for the London arrival, catching the platform number. "Gate cinq, number five. Team Two, head down to the far end and work your way up. We'll start from here."

The tall Russian and lean American disappeared into the crowd, heading along the main wall of the building. Anthony and Liam watched them go for a moment, then turned and began checking faces in the crowd, looking for their target before she spotted them.

"Louis, I know…"

"There is a certain way we do things here in Paris, and having a Midnight Team gallivanting through the city is not one of them!"

"Louis, calm down. Look, I understand that you're annoyed by the short notice. Obviously we'd prefer to handle this with local operatives…"

"That's another thing. I wasn't even informed until your team was practically on-site, despite having agents already scrambled to intercept this woman at the station. We had to pull every string I could to get those covers set up in time."

"And I'm sure you did your usual spotless job on them, correct?" Kate asked.

"Of course."

Kate took a deep breath now that she had appealed to the French director's vanity. Louis Planchard, formerly of the French intelligence agency Direction Generale de la Securite Exterieure, or the DGSE, was a staunch believer in the goals of Room 59. However, his was a classic Gallic personality, and like most directors, he tended to be territorial, as well. He rightly believed that his operatives were the best resources to handle certain situations — like recovery of an asset on the run in Paris before another hostile team got to her. And while Kate could understand where he was coming from, at this particular moment, she didn't have time to argue the point. Of course, the fact that she had heard through the Room 59 grapevine that he had wanted her position when it had come open, and had been very disappointed when he hadn't gotten it, might have also had something to do with the conversation they were having.

"Look, if there had been time, we certainly would have run a joint op with you overseeing it. But events are happening very quickly, and this team is the best equipped to handle it at the moment, so they are in charge. Any of your people who are on-site are to defer to the Midnight Team leader, is that clear?" Kate said.

"All right, Kate, you haven't steered me wrong yet, so I trust that you know what you're doing."

"Good, I'm glad you're on board. You said there were operatives free who could get to the train station?"

"I alerted two as soon as I got the message. They should be there by now. You've sent me the photos of our team members, so they know who to expect, as well as a photo of our mystery woman who has escaped us twice before, n 'est-ce pas? "

Kate sighed. "Yes, she's proven surprisingly adept. However, now that she's on your turf, I trust that she won't be a problem to pick up. We've also sent over two Facemaker pictures of the two members of the Mercury Security team that may also be trying to apprehend her, so make sure your operatives are briefed."

"Of course. Assuming this Midnight Team doesn't do anything overreactive, I shouldn't think it would be a problem. My people will be in position to observe and assist if necessary."

"Thank you, Louis. I'll be in touch with you as things proceed. Good luck."

"And to your people, as well."

Kate waited until he had broken the connection before shaking her head. Of all the directors, he had been the most resistant to the idea of the Midnight Teams in general, saying that their use was overwhelming blunt force when the delicate touch of a scalpel was needed. Kate had created the concept of the Midnight Teams with Room 59's North American director Denny Talbot. They knew there were some situations where the application of controlled, deadly force was the only solution. And rather than leave it to the special forces units of the country where the mission occurred, she wanted Room 59 to have its own black-ops force. They'd be ready to go anywhere and do whatever was necessary to accomplish their mission. So far, it had worked well — until this last op.

Kate's phone rang again. "Yes."

"Samantha here. I've set up the meeting."

"Do you think he was suspicious at all?"

"Hardly, I just mentioned that you — as Donna — had said his company was looking for more work with government agencies, and that we at MI-6 were interested in seeing what they might be able to provide. He fairly leaped at the opportunity. I could almost hear him panting over the phone. It'll be in a public place, you understand. I suggested the Grill at the Dorchester Hotel — if I cannot enjoy the company, I will at least enjoy my dinner."

"Stop, you're making my mouth water already. When will you be meeting him?" Kate asked.

"Tonight, at seven-thirty. It seems that Mercury has a standing reservation there — again, I thought their financial numbers didn't look good?"

"What we saw indicated that they've been running their operation pretty close to the bone recently. They've been working smaller contracts — training in Third World countries, some executive-protection work, that sort of thing."

"Appearances must be maintained, hmm?" Samantha said.

"I suppose, but it's an expensive proposition. Still, enjoy yourself."