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BJ and Thomas had followed Radford for two days, observing his behavior. They would make their move tonight. They set up a false road block and shot his bodyguards with tranquilizer darts. After knocking out Radford, they handcuffed him, and left the car and bodyguards in the middle of the road. They packed up the cones and barricades and made their way back to the jet. BJ called Ryan to let him know that they had been successful and were on their way back.
Ryan and Jako smiled to each other. Reports of the kidnapping would be all over the news by morning. Ryan almost wished that he would be there to watch it all unfold in person. Jake was talking to Janie back in the hospital ward. Kat was away having some x-rays taken. Ryan came in and informed them that BJ and Thomas were on their way back with Radford and that the chopper should be landing by midnight.
“We will bring him down to see Kat in the morning. I want him to sweat a little more tonight,” Ryan told them. “BJ says he hasn’t stopped blubbering since he woke up. I told him to just knock him back out.” They laughed.
A few minutes after midnight, Ryan got the call that Radford had been safely secured in the dungeon—their affectionate name the makeshift jail below the compound. When Ryan made his way down, He found Carl sitting in a cell, still handcuffed with a hood over his face. Ryan decided that he should stay that way until he came face to face with Kat. So, Carl sat trembling in fear the remainder of the night.
Jake went down to relieve Sarah in the hospital around four that morning. Both Janie and Kat were resting peacefully. So, Jake settled into the recliner and allowed himself to fall back to sleep. The sun coming through the window woke Jake a few hours later. He was surprised to see that Kat was already awake and smiling at him.
“Hey. Why didn’t you wake me?” he asked with sleep still in his voice.
“You look so sweet when you’re sleeping,” she answered playfully. Just then, Ryan came in and let Jake know that it was time. Then, he turned to Kat.
“There is a man here to see you from the CIA. Jake, your doctor, and I will be in the room with you the entire time, okay?”
“Are you feeling up to this?” Jake asked.
“Yes,” she answered confidently. The doctor came in and Jake pulled his chair closer to Kat’s bed. BJ and Thomas brought Radford in and removed his blindfold. Kat immediately gasped and put a hand over her mouth. Carl’s eyes focused darkly on her for a moment, and he instantly knew that she remembered everything. However, the look passed quickly, and he opted for the role of concerned colleague and mentor. But, the whole room had already seen the truth written all over his face. He began to move towards Kat, but Jake and Ryan formed a barrier between them.
“What is the meaning of this?” Carl began, “She’s my agent! And I’m taking her home.” Thomas and BJ came up behind Carl and each grabbed an arm to restrain him. They took him out of the room as Jake and Ryan sat down with Kat.
“You can’t do this to me! I am a federal agent. I will have all of your heads for this!” Carl yelled as he was drug down the hall.
“Did you recognize him?” Ryan asked.
“Yes. He’s working with Absame. He basically sold me to that bastard Mendoza. I don’t know what exactly was negotiated in the trade, but he blew my cover to protect his own ass and fill his pockets. I almost died because of him! I can’t believe I trusted him!” Her eyes welled up with angry tears.
“You’re safe now, and we are going to do everything we can to make sure he is punished for the rest of his life,” Jake promised.
“What’s going to happen to him?” Kat asked.
“We’re planning to send him to Cuba with the others, unless Vice President Woods has other plans for him,” Ryan answered. Kat’s blood pressure had skyrocketed because of the encounter. The doctor ordered that she be left alone to rest for the next couple hours.
Ryan and Jake went down to Carl’s cell. The man was stilling ranting about making sure none of them had jobs by the time he was finished with them. Without a word, Ryan walked into the cell and slammed his fist into Carl’s jaw.
“After what you did to Kat, you’re lucky I don’t let my friend Jake here have you all to himself for the next hour,” Ryan growled. “What was it that made you turn Carl? The CIA doesn’t pay as well as you hoped?”
“I don’t know what she told you, but she’s lying. It’s all lies!”
“The woman can barely remember what she had for breakfast and you’re accusing her of lying? Yeah, that should go over well in front of a jury. Try convincing your firing squad of that one,” Ryan laughed as he watched the color draining from Carl’s face.
“I still have rights! I want out of here now!” Carl demanded.
“That’s not going to happen. You, my friend, are on your way to a secured location, and thanks to my agents, the world thinks you disappeared without a trace. By the time we’re done with you, you’ll never be in a position to betray your country ever again. I can promise you that.”
“Release me now damnit!” Carl screamed repeatedly as the cell door slammed behind Ryan. Both Ryan and Jake chuckled a bit as they listened to his screams all the way back up the stairs.