Kill on Sight #5
“Ok. We have one hell of a dilemma going on here.
We have a dead US Congressman of Irish origin.
A dead and naked Irish Republican Army leader with him.
And now a dead Irish-American mob leader.
From the outside, it looks all neat and tidy.
A corrupt congressman with former ties to the IRA with their new leader here in our country.
And throw in a dead Irish mobster boss? From the press's point of view, it looks cut and dry… a deal gone bad. But what kind of deal? That is what is going to get everyone in trouble if they start digging deep enough. I must say…” Booker glanced at Jessie, “a very well-executed and laid-out operation. But there are media out there that are bloodthirsty to find anything to discredit the CIA and FBI.”
“Thanks,” Jessie sighed.
“I want to know why we are in Victor O’Sullivan’s apartment and why he and an unidentified female are hiding in the bedroom.”
“I sent them there,” Simo replied.
“I see.” Booker looked at Jessie. “Cover story, then?”
Jessie relayed the same story she told Simo and Chen: that Victor helped Tatiana and found his boss.
“Believable… but who is this Tatiana?”
Everyone turned to look at Jessie. “I call her my sister. She and I are the only girls left… that were on that Turkish freighter that Simo saved me from.”
“Oh… now that makes sense,” Booker replied.
Simo shook his head. He looked up at Jessie with a look. “Jessie… Takis, Nikos, and I got twenty-nine girls out with the help of him.” He pointed at Booker.
Jessie’s eyes widened. “Why didn’t you fucking tell me?” She glared at Booker.
He held out his hands. “Honestly, I thought you knew.”
“What about the nine other girls taken off with Tatiana?”
Mike rubbed his chin. “I did try and find out for Simo… but that’s, well, there was quite a bit of… resistance to my queries is all I can legally say.”
Jessie eyed him, then turned to Simo. “Thank you. I uncovered much more about that fucker Queen. Drugs, beatings, dogs… yes. One girl was thrown into a pit of starving dogs. Another girl was used in a snuff film. Tatiana was going to be killed tonight by that cunt Peter Queen as a gift to Sean. Sick fucks.”
“I see. Well, I guess that relieves us of the idea that you were programmed.” Booker chuckled.
“I was programmed,” Jessie sighed.
“What?” Booker sat up in surprise.
“I said I was programmed. I knew it… I knew all along, well after Athens. But it all became clearer after the ‘white box’ in Camp Peary. Ivanov and his stooge used drugs and torture to convince me to kill Peter Queen and Danny Spillane. Apparently, they both refused to pay back Ivanov for helping Queen in his re-election bid and a weapons deal, then threatened to expose him. Why, what, and how, I don’t know.
But listen carefully, Mike. I would have killed them anyway.
You haven’t seen what they have done back in Sevastopol. I have.”
“Any other convincing we should be aware of?” Booker asked quietly.
“Nope. Ivanov’s voice is gone. I killed Ivanov by ruining his ultimate plan… ok, Simo actually killed Ivanov, but he never got his ultimate payback. Ivanov’s voice wanted me to kill all of Queen’s family and make it look like Queen did it, then suicide as the ultimate payback.”
“Wait.” Chen spoke up. “How did you work around the suggestions? Did they not compel you to do as you were programmed?”
“I did. I killed his Irish ‘family’ and made it look like he did it. More or less.”
“And the aftermath?” Booker asked.
“Aftermath?” Simo asked.
Chen spoke up. “Jessie should have killed herself… had the programming fully controlled her.”
Simo looked at Jessie and understood. “You ok?”
“For only a little while longer,” Jessie winced.
“Booker. Make this quick. I can reach you before any bullets end me.”
“I have no doubt. Fine. Why don’t you propose something again? It better be good.”
“ME?” Simo replied.
“You fucked up. She is still alive. You make it good.” Mike Booker grinned like a man with a mad plan, as if he were enjoying fucking with Simo.
Simo saw Booker’s look and shook his head, knowing what his plan was. “No…”
“Oh, yes.” Booker smiled, nodding his head.
“What? What the hell are you two talking about?” Jessie asked.
Chen began laughing. “Jessie? Welcome to the club.”
“What fucking club?”
“You called him boss once already this evening. Now he really is going to be your boss!” Chen laughed.
“Really?” Jessie smiled.
Simo remained silent, only to look down at his boots.
“The only way she doesn't end up in a federal hole or on a global KoS ending with a bullet in her pretty head, is if we completely bury the Langley trail.
She is officially dead to the roster, Simo.
The Director is detailing her to a proprietary unit under your absolute command.
She operates under Non-Official Cover: a NOC, if you will.
You and Ari are her proxy liaisons, and her status doesn't get re-vetted until we all say she's ready. You fuck up? It’s your head, Mr. Hollywood Hitman. Straight from the Director.”
“Fuck me… you planned this the whole fucking time,” Simo sighed, still looking down as he held his head in his hands once more.