Fic Update: DWP - AU Intuitive, Chapter 20
DWP -AU
Pairing: Andy/Miranda
Rating: NC-17/M
*The information and general ideas are based off of one of my favorite international intrigue authors: Eric B. Lustbader. Derived from his Asian-American-Soviet-era, Nicholas Linnear novels such as The Jian or Second Skin, I began to imagine Miranda and Andy in such a startling and complex world where loyalties are few and the shadows are often dangerous.
This story has some disturbing images of violence and sexual violence, but is necessary to the storyline. Please pass if this is makes you uncomfortable.
Please allow for some serious artistic license and any historical and cultural inaccuracies, I’m only a ‘fan’ of history, not an expert. But I read lots and watch lots of documentaries, so hopefully that’s gotta count for something… right? lol
Finally, my interpretation or illustration of various cultures is not a suggestion that they are correct; I’m just a humble fanfic writer, sharing the love.
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Chapter 20
Joan barely restrained herself from running. Currently she was heading towards the carefully maintained crime-scene of Michael Kurran’s body. She’d already attended a high-level security clearance meeting that contained some of the most important players in NSA, CIA, and other federal security officials. Michael Kurran had been an institution; to know that they’d been infiltrated enough that he’d been killed on his own turf was raising serious alarms. Alarms that included… Andy Sachs.
But Joan instinctively knew something didn’t add up. Being the only woman in the room meant she was often dismissed while all the men argued, yelled, even resorted to an occasional name-calling while she reviewed the evidence, and quietly began to plan. At the moment, whoever used the computer console within the room, using Kurran’s biometric identification, cleverly implanted enough information that would lead to Andy Sachs.
However, it all appeared too… perfect. Intelligence work was messy and convoluted; nothing about the “proof” on Sachs reflected that. When she finally reached the room, the various crime scene analysts paused as she entered.
“Clear the room for few moments,” she barked. She watched the technicians scrambled to leave.
Joan may be a woman in a very male-dominated environment, but she’d been Kurran’s right-hand. Now she was the Director for intents and purposes until they named a permanent replacement. It was Joan’s hope that if she cleared up this mess, she’ll find a formal, more permanent offer sitting on her desk. Carefully scanning the room, looking for any discrepancies, Joan slowly moved about the room; opening drawers here, carefully running her fingers along the underside of a cabinet there, until she came to the computer console. She planned on having Fairbanks rifle through the system since that was his expertise. So far, he was her only ally: Operation Rabbit Proof to save and clear Andy’s name - and by extension, clear their entire team of any sloppiness or even treason.
When she turned from the console her eyes lighted on something. Something stuck out - in a purely white room, peering closely, Joan bent down to get closer. It was near the chair where Kurran’s body was found. A hair - blonde hair. Kurran had dark hair.
“Greeley! Get in here and bring a small evidence bag,” she ordered.
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Miranda nodded to herself in satisfaction. She’d read many files about Andréa’s Elder Uncle Three Oaths Chung and she had to admit: he certainly surpassed her expectations. As for Three Oath’s opinion of Miranda, the fact that she was beautiful only enhanced his own opinion of her. But like a beautiful viper lying in wait, it wouldn’t do to underestimate her. Particularly after her… earlier introduction to four of his security men. Knowing that he was well-guarded and time was of essence, Priestnicov had snuck onto his boat, moved through walkways like a silent predator, taking out any men in her way. The splash of someone being tossed overboard alerted Chung to an unwanted presence. By the time he grabbed his gun and opened his door, she stood lightly panting, holding a knife at the neck of one of his men. She held out a rolled up piece of parchment as a cautious act of surrender - a message from his Younger Niece, Andy.
Sipping the fragrant tea served in the delicate, fine-boned, ceramic tea cup, Miranda appeared relaxed, if a tad bit exhausted, if the heavy weariness echoing in her eyes were any indication. She steadily watched, lounging from across the older Chinese male. However, his age didn’t prevent him from already propositioning her earlier, sarcastically thought Miranda. They’d already spent some time engaging in small talk and game of Go while they traveled on Three Oath’s private jet to Malaysia. At the moment, they were waiting for successful confirmation from Andréa regarding her mission at in the Chairman suite; an expensive, luxurious suite at the Westin, one of Malaysia’s exclusive hotel-casinos.
Before she had been pacing in a pair of brand new Pradas; barely restraining herself from wringing her hands in anxiety, as she waited for Andréa to complete her mission. When one of Chung’s men walked into the room to hand an envelope to him, Miranda could feel her heart race as she carefully watched his reaction towards the contents.
Without looking up from the sheaf of paper in his hand, Chung stoically released the breath he’d been secretly holding. “You may relax General. As predicted, things are now beginning to fall into place.” He handed over the paper.
Greedily reading the words on the page, it was all Miranda could do to not show any weakness by tearing up in front of Chung. Now she could complete the final stages of her plan. By now Felix will have been alerted that not only was she alive, but that he could begin the final phase. Now it was her turn to do something foolishly dangerous, but necessary. Go back to Moscow. By now, certain… people knew she was onto them and were more than likely either trying to do damage-control -which meant hers’ and Felix’s certain deaths. Or they were trying to escape the country, no doubt to join their ‘brethren’ somewhere in South America.
One significant chink in their plans was the missing money. The shark-smile that slowly grew on her face, made Three Oaths slightly uncomfortable. In his line of business, when a female gave off a smile like that it usually spelled trouble for whomever had the misfortunate to be nearby.
“The gods are smiling on us, General Priestnicov. “ He thought about the new bank account with enough zeros to buy a small country.
Miranda wrote some numbers on the paper and stood up. “Those are the accounts to disperse the money.” She narrowed her gaze on him, her icy-blue eyes pinning him place. “I trust that you will be satisfied with your compensation.”
Nodding, Three Oaths stood up, holding out his hand. “It has been a pleasure General. May the gods continue to find you in favor.” When their hands clasped, he leaned in slightly. “I also trust that you will be very careful with my Younger Niece’s heart?” This time it was Chung that let out a shark smile.
Raising one perfectly-manicured dark eyebrow near the ever-present dangling forelock of silvery-blonde hair, Miranda simply grinned. “Perhaps you’ll consider a visit to New York in the future?”
His grin became softer, his message had been received. “Perhaps.”