UC Donovan - The Hunt

Langley, Virginia

Marisca had returned from two weeks stationed on the northern border of Afghanistan where she and another CIA-Soviet counter spy were doing under ground- work with the Northern Alliance. Ivan Kominko was her partner years ago when they posed as a married couple traveling in Afghanistan at the time the Soviet’s were in danger of losing their position. Marisca knew Ivan in Russia and before they were sent she recruited him in to doing counter espionage for the CIA. They were also part of the special op group of tunnel rats that were trained in searching the network of tunnels and caves throughout the Middle East. So after the first part of their mission ended she returned to CIA Headquarters at Langley to confer with other operatives and the mass of analysts they had working round the clock.

“I need to talk to you”, said John her immediate superior as he came in her office and shut the door. He had a large manila envelope in his hand that he put down in front of her. “I want you to look at those and tell me what you see.”

John went over to the window and stood while Marisca did as he said and took a half dozen 8x10 photographs out and looked at them in silence. They were all of her and Frank Donovan in New York, Salem and Chicago in various poses from holding hands to kissing. She got mad but kept her cool as always and put them back in the envelope then in her desk.

“What do I see? I see you’re invading my private life” she stated then took a sip of her black coffee. “What point are you making, John? Don’t tell me you think this little fling of mine is compromising me?”

“I’ve known you for along time. You’ve never gotten involved with someone other than in the line of duty. This is different and you know it” John exclaimed as he still stood at the window looking out. “He’s a Federal Agent and a high profile one. If I have picture like these other people do too! You know that! You are going to get yourself killed. Is he worth it?”

“Are you ordering me to break off contact with Donovan?” Marisca cut to the chase. “That’s the only way I’ll do it!”

“Yes. If that’s what it takes for you to continue being a successful operative”, he replied. “You know what to do now. And you have to do it before you leave again for Afghanistan. Your personal life is non-existent when you work for us, just remember that.”

“Maybe I should just retire”, she stated as he walked towards the door.

“There’s no quitting this job, Marisca” he replied. “Remember that too!”

Frank was jogging on the Saturday after Thanksgiving just after dawn down the sidewalk that ran parallel to Lake Michigan on Lake Shore Drive. It was cold enough to see his breath as he finished his first mile almost half way to Shed Aquarium that was at the end. It had been a long week with the somewhat successful end of a very violent case in a Federal prison they had infiltrated and a resulting riot. Frank was angry still at the duplicity of the Deputy Warden and he was bringing charges against him, which the Governor was not condoning. There had been unnecessary lives taken by both the prisoners and the guards and he once again had felt his hands being tied by those he was trying to help. He was also frustrated not knowing where Marisca was. He was convinced she was going to spend Thanksgiving with him so the week after their weekend in Salem when he did not hear from her he thought nothing of it. He had left a message once the Saturday after Halloween and then again on Wednesday. By the following week her cellular number was disconnected and he got concerned. Frank phoned a contact he had in New York to check on her and the next day he was told her condominium had been cleared out. He personally phoned her Uncle and Aunt in Connecticut then her cousin but that was also a dead end. As was her private jet that was nowhere to be found and the one off shore account he knew of had been closed out. Marisca had just disappeared again and Frank was positive she had not just gone further undercover. The only problem he was having with that he finally admitted when he reached the end of Lake Shore Drive was he had fallen in love with her.

Donovan got to the front of the Aquarium and stopped to stretch his legs before starting the three-miles back. There were just a few other glutens for punishment out at that time so he paid little attention to them. He had decided he was going to phone his contact at the CIA he had worked with a while ago. Frank had sworn he would never get involved with the Agency again because of what had happened but he was desperate. He started his final lap and from the back he could hear another jogger come up from behind and the man passed him then slowed enough for Frank to catch up. They jogged for a short time side- by- side chit chatting about the weather and the sail- boats they were passing in the harbor.

“You’re her lover, aren’t you?” he asked in an accent Frank could not place and at that Donovan stopped dead in his tracks.

“What are you talking about?” asked Frank as he tried to catch his breath. “Who the hell are you?”

“My name is Ivan Kominko. An associate of Marisca Vanius” Ivan said. “I’m looking for her and I need your help Frank Donovan.”

“Who do you work for?” Frank questioned as they stood and he laughed slightly. “Don’t give me a line of bull! Because frankly, I’m in no mood!”

“I was going to tell you my friend” Ivan laughed at the man her partner had so aptly described. “I work for CIA and the Soviets. So does Marisca. But you know that don’t you?”

“I’m afraid you’re going to have to give me some proof before I answer that” Frank stated as he looked at the man who was no more than forty.

“The last time I was with her she said you called her your bitch” Ivan said and Frank nodded. “She also said she loves you and if anything happened to her I should contact you. Tell you that and about her. So are you going to help me?”

“Yeah, I am” Frank replied as rubbed his cold hands together. “We need to talk someplace else. Meet me at my office. It’s secure there. I assume you know where it is?”

“Da” (Yes) he replied in Russian. “I will be there in two hours. I can see what she means about you” he stated as he jogged over to the drive and caught one of the many taxis that patrolled that area.

There were a lot of scenarios going through his mind as he returned to his apartment. All of them bad of course and now Ivan had confirmed she was an operative not only for CIA but the Soviets still. It was a complicated situation that only her associate could put some light on so he had to patiently wait until they met again. But she loved him and he knew that would not have been easy for her to admit. It was not easy for him to admit either having eluded that particular emotion for so many years. When he got to his apartment he phoned Cody then showered and changed. Frank also decided to hold off on any contact he was going to make with the Agency until after he heard Ivan out.

“Why are we here?” asked Jake as the four of them got to headquarters quickly.

“All I know is that’s it’s personal”, stated Cody who had called the other three.

“Obviously it’s about Marisca Vanius. He’s been out of sorts about her for weeks” Monica remarked. “I mentioned her a couple times and he went from his dead pan look to something that actually looked emotional” she laughed slightly.

“Well, I’m glad to find out he’s human! We’ve all been hit by the love bug”, responded Cody.

“Yeah, I’m glad too. I don’t feel so stupid now”, said Alex referring to her involvement with Carlos Cortez. “We don’t chose who we fall in love with.”

At that remark Frank walked in and looked directly at Alex with his steel eyes.

“You’re right, we don’t”, he said glibly as he took his pea coat off.

They all looked at him amazed at that remark and they sat in silence waiting for him to continue.

“I know you all had nice weekends planned but something’s come up and I need your help” Donovan exclaimed as he sat down across from them. “Marisca Vanius is missing. One of her associates contacted my earlier for help. I can’t order you to help me on this.”

“Who’s this associate of hers?” asked Jake who was not so anxious to assist. He hated the woman and he thought she was bad news.

“He’s a counter operative with the CIA and the Soviets. He confirmed to me that Marisca is also” Frank replied. “I suspected she was CIA. I didn’t suspect her still with the Russians.”

“So whose side is either of them on?” asked Alex who was becoming more compassionate towards her new boss.

“I’m positive Marisca is working for the CIA and using her Russian position to help them. I don’t know anything about this friend of hers. His name is Ivan Kominko” Donovan stated as the buzzer of their front door went off. “That’s him now.”

“Do you want me to run his name?” asked Cody and Frank shook his head.

“You won’t find anything other than his cover. I’m sure now what we found out about Marisca was a cover, too. Including her name” Donovan stated as he got up to personally answer the door.

“I don’t think I want to get messed up with this!” exclaimed Jake to the other three. “If we help him it means going out of jurisdiction. In a major way!”

“What are you chicken?” asked Cody then made a clucking noise and at that Jake threw his jacket at the “nerd” as he called him.

“I just don’t think she’s worth getting thrown off the force or even worse, put behind bars” Jake replied

Donovan came back in to the main room with a man who was average looking and medium build, no more than five foot ten with brown hair and eyes. He wore dark beat up jeans and a sweatshirt with the hood up at first, when he entered he put it down. It was a simple but effective way to remain inconspicuous. Ivan looked at the group then at Donovan.

“Who are they? This is confidential”, stated Ivan speaking in his Russian accent.

“This is my team. I’ve asked them to help if they choose. It’s up to them but I want them to hear from you what’s going on before they do”, responded Donovan. “You can trust them.”

“Do you have any vodka?” Ivan inquired as he sat in an empty chair and Cody smirked very loudly. “Is that funny?” Ivan shot back to the curly haired young man.

“I have whiskey. Will that do?” replied Jake and the Russian nodded as Jake reached in to his desk for a small bottle he had.

Donovan made a mental note to talk to him about that as he watched Jake pour a large glass he also took from the drawer.

“Marisca and I finished an assignment in Afghanistan on the thirteenth of November. When we were through she flew back to Langley with some other operatives to report what we had found. She was suppose to meet me again in Saudi four days ago but she never showed up” Ivan said as he took a quick belt of whiskey. “This is a boy’s drink.”

“Did you report this to the Agency? Or the Soviets?” questioned Frank.

“I waited one day than I knew she wasn’t coming. I then contacted her superior to tell him and they ordered me back to headquarters for questioning” the Russian stated. “I knew they were up to something when I was being denied access to certain departments. Departments that would have helped me track her down.”

“What were you trying to do?” inquired Cody. “Did you have a lead on her location?”

“Neyt” (No) he replied. “But when I have gone on missions with her we have always placed homing devices on each other incase we get separated. It was the same when we were in Afghanistan. I was trying to gain access to satellite tracking.”

“Does anyone know you two do this?” questioned Alex.

“They would not know from our mouths. If they were aware of this it still would not help them to find her. We each have a code. I am the only one that knows hers. She knows mine” Ivan spoke. “Because we have worked both sides we needed some kind of protection in case either Agencies went after us. It was a pack she and I made many years ago.”

“So you think that the CIA might be involved with this?” asked Jake. “And that’s why they were restricting you?”

“I have played many possibilities in my mind. The Chinese who has been her main target the past two years could have her. She could also be in Afghanistan. I don’t know” the man said getting frustrated. “Or the Soviets.”

“The new Soviet President is on an all out war to get CIA out of Russia. In our first dealings with her we received an official report saying she was suspected as a double agent”, stated Frank. “They were making it attractive to us to go after her. Why would they do that if she still works for them?”

“That I don’t know. Marisca recruited me to work with CIA while working for KGB as she was doing. I do not know everything she has done for the Soviets” Ivan replied.

“I think she’s playing them against each other” remarked Jake under his breath.

“Why do you say that, Jake?” asked Monica.

“Just the way she is. She’s an opportunist” Jake replied.

“Yes, she is” said Frank. “But I’ve gotten to know her and I believe she’s not pro-Soviet. I think we have to include the Soviets as possibly being responsible.”

“Maybe she just took off and quit!” laughed Cody slightly. “I’ve heard the CIA isn’t too thrilled when an agent wants out!”

“She would have contacted me”, said Donovan. “We spent the last weekend of October together and became very close. Close enough to plan Thanksgiving together in Chicago.”

His team looked at one another finally seeing a more human side to their boss who was being more open.

“Da. (Yes) Marisca said she was going to telephone you when we were out of harms way. Obviously she didn’t. So will you help me?” the Russian asked.

“Why don’t you give us a few minutes, Ivan? My office is up there” Frank motioned with his head and the man did as he said leaving the room. “So? This is going to take us out of our jurisdiction. I can’t ask you to jeopardize your positions with the Department. I can’t order you and I don’t want to. But I need your help. I need you to help me in this personal matter.”

“We all know you probably have or had some connection with the Agency”, said Jake. “And you’re not afraid of the risk factor. But we are, Donovan!”

“Shut up, Jake!” said Monica. “Why are you really doing this?”

“I thought it was obvious!” replied Frank. “Because I love her!”

“Well, that’s good enough for me!” remarked Cody who went over to his station. “I need her code and satellite clearance. I’ll start tracking in Afghanistan.”

“Yeah, you got me on the love part” smiled Alex. “I’m going to make a few calls to New York. Is she still at Trump Towers?”

“No, I checked it out last week and her place was cleared out. I also phoned her supposed relatives in Connecticut. That was a dead end and one of her off shore accounts has been closed” he replied.

“Well, count me in, too!” stated Monica as Jake got up, grabbed his jacket and left. “He’ll be back, Donovan. You know how he is. He’s always got to rehash things!”

“Thank you. I’ll get Ivan and we’ll get to work”, said Frank then he went up to his office
“I need her code and I want you to write down exactly what she said the last time you saw her. It might give Monica my profiler some indication what happened. Maybe we’ll get lucky and get her signal. But I think it’s not going to be as easy as that.”

They joined the others and Ivan gave Cody the code, which was simply her first name “Marisca” then Donovan got on their secure line and dialed his satellite contact at the Agency.

“This is Frank Donovan, code Alpha Omega Alpha Alpha. I need you to reposition to 120 degrees latitude and 340 degrees longitude and scan on the next overpass. Send the data to Justice Department portal 1C” Frank ordered then hung up. “It’ll be half an hour, Cody.”

“Don’t you think they’re going to report you phoned?” Cody asked.

“No. They won’t inform anyone else” he replied as Cody got in to a special program he had developed to trace homing devices. “If we don’t find anything in the middle-east we’ll do Russia next.”

Frank went over to Alex who was speaking Spanish to what Frank picked up was a maintenance man probably at Trump Towers. She was pretending to be Marisca and apparently getting an earful as she sat back and listened for at least ten minutes.

“Interesting. Who did you ask to check out the place?” Alex inquired as Frank stood over her.

“A contact at the police department. I didn’t give him her name just the address” he replied.

“I was speaking to the head of Maintenance pretending to be Marisca. He went along with it. Anyway, I made up some excuse to get him to talk” Alex stated. “He says one of his men went to her place a few days ago because there was a leek reported. The place was empty then I told him I moved. When they guy went in the bathtub was still on and flooding. He says it must have been like that for quite a while. When did you call that contact of yours?”

“It was over a week ago. The water wouldn’t have gone more than a day unnoticed”, he stated. “What do you think?”

“I think if we don’t find her with the satellite I should go to New York and dig around” she replied. “You know Frank. I know you disapproved of me getting involved with Carlos. And I certainly can’t say I agree with you choice of women. But the fact is we’re a team and you saved my life in that prison last week. And you let Carlos save me too in his own way. I owe you big time.”

“Alex, you owe me nothing”, Frank, said intimately. “And I’ve always understood what you went through with Cortez. You were right before when you said we don’t choose who we love.”

“Donovan! The satellite transmission’s coming in!” shouted Cody and both Frank and Alex went over to look.

Frank, Ivan and Cody sat for over two hours going grid by grid through satellite photographs of Afghanistan finding nothing. Frank then called his contact to arrange for transmission of Russia, which they would have to wait for another twelve hours before the satellite did its pass over again. It was only noon when the buzzer to the door sounded.

“It’s just the pizza guy”, said Monica. “I thought we could use something by now.”

“I’ll get it”, replied Frank as he got up and walked through the large room to answer the front door. He paid for the two pizzas then returned and put them down. “Alex, I’d like you to catch a plane for New York now. This is going to take some time. Find out what you can.”

“OK” she said grabbing a piece and taking a quick bite while she got her coat then left.

“Monica. Anything in those notes” he asked as she had been reading Ivan’s transcript.

“Nothing that’s popping up at me other than it being a kind of confession” she replied and he gave her a quizzical look. “Maybe you should talk to Ivan.”

“Let’s go up stairs”, stated Frank to the Russian as he took one of the pizza boxes and walked in that direction.

“What’s that about?” asked Cody ever the curious one.

“Marisca was telling Ivan about herself so he could tell Donovan in case something happened to her. Jesus! I thought we led complicated lives!” Monica laughed. “I just feel sorry for him now. He’s got hooked and I don’t see any future in that relationship.”

“She’s probably dead”, said Cody and Monica shook her head.

“I wouldn’t say that in front of him, Cody” she retorted.

Frank sat behind his desk with Ivan in front and they both reached for pizza and ate in silence for a while. Frank knew nothing of the man that sat across from him but he was going to find out what was most on his mind.

“Did you sleep with her?” he asked and Ivan smiled and laughed.

“Of all the questions you could ask! You sound like a true lover” Ivan exclaimed. “I’m sorry to say this but yes, only when we were posing as husband and wife. You’re going to ask me now if I love her” and Frank gave him a confirming look. “Yes, but years ago and for a short time.”

“What’s her real name?” Frank questioned now. “Is she even from Lithuania?”

“Marisca O’Donnell from Connecticut. She was an orphan in a place called Hartford but no one adopted her. Perfect for recruitment, which the CIA did during the last part of her senior year at Yale. She not only was or is a brilliant statistician but a very talented linguist”, Ivan said.

“So the family she’s suppose to have there is a cover” Donovan stated not asked.

“Da. (Yes) Her cover when she was sent underground to the Soviet Union. The Russian’s welcomed her with open arms because they thought she was Lithuanian born but raised in the States. The Agency put her in just when they had a shortage of agents and with her knowledge of languages she was highly desirable. And also her, what you American’s would say, sex appeal” the Russian continued. “We worked on many mission together but when we went to Afghanistan the first time she started to recruit me for the CIA.”

“Why did she take that chance? You could have blown her cover” Donovan remarked as he ate.

“That was when I was in love with her. I would have done anything and when I found out she was really American. Well, let’s just say I found that even more appealing than her sexuality. I also found the added danger in being a double agent irresistible” he laughed. “I’m sure you know what that’s like.”

“What do you mean?” Frank asked.

“Just that you live a dangerous life yourself” Ivan retorted. “You were obviously with the Agency once for you to have contacts there and maybe the Israeli’s? I hear a bit of an accent.”

“We’re not here to talk about me. What about these jobs she was doing around the world, Singapore, De Beers and the others? Were those Agency instigated or just part of her cover?” Frank questioned not liking his over inquisitiveness.

“The only one she spoke about was the job she did in Singapore and that was for the CIA. They wanted the Chinese Triad money”, Ivan explained. “In the process she was given a percentage of the take. She was putting herself more in the limelight so Marisca was demanding some additional compensation for it. They went along and gave her what she wanted.”

“So why did she tell you all this? And why did she tell you she loves me?” Donovan inquired.

“On our last night in Afghanistan Marisca just started talking. I don’t think she knew anything was going to happen to her. She spoke about you, which shocked me because she never has spoken about any men in her life. I don’t think she’s ever been in love before” he stated.

“What did she say about me?” Frank asked wanting more details and really wanting to believe him.

“She said you were the first man that ever challenged her. That she liked that at first then she said she just couldn’t help herself. Also, what you looked like in great detail, that you were good in bed, calling her bitch and a few other things I promised I wouldn’t say. I think she was getting tired of you not knowing about her. Anyway, I hope all this isn’t too late for the two of you” Ivan said sympathetically.

“Yeah, me too” said Frank as he replied looking down at his hands and remembering the last time they touched Marisca. “I need to get some air. Why don’t you talk to Monica more about Marisca.”

Alex had gone to Midway Airport, which was a short distance away from the office. She caught a flight on South West Airlines to Laguardia Airport then a taxi in to Manhattan and Trump Towers. With the time change she arrived at the apartment close to six in the evening and proceeded to pick the lock to gain entrance. With the crowds that were in the building it was surprisingly easy to get in to the residential sections. Alex walked in the very empty condominium and went first to the master bathroom where the tub had over flown. She methodically examined the area and did some finger print dusting there and in the bedroom. The carpets were visibly damaged even as far as the bar in the living room. It was obvious the water had run for perhaps a day before it was detected. Alex took her cellular out and speed dialed Donovan and he picked up after only one ring.

“Donovan” he answered as he sat again in his office but alone now.

“It’s Alex. I’m in the apartment. The carpets are severely water damaged all the way through the living room”, she reported. “The water must have run for a day at least. I also took some fingerprints. I got two good ones and they’re both men’s.”

“All right. I want you to take them to the 54th Precinct and contact Detective Sal Abramson. He’s a friend. Have him process them and sent to Monica” Frank said. “It’s likely she was taken from her apartment before she took a bath.”

“But why would they just let the water run while they cleared out the place?” Alex asked.

“Marisca might have been able to shut the door when they grabbed her. She might have been trying to leave a clue”, he stated. “Anyway, let me know when you’re sending the fingerprints over. If she were taken from there it would have been at night. Go back later and see if you can find anyone that might have seen something unusual. I’d also like you to check and see if the apartment is still in her name. Do you have enough money for a hotel, Alex? If you don’t ask Sal to help you out.”

“I’m fine. I’ll call you later” said Alex then hung up.

Frank got on the line with his childhood friend Sal from Jerusalem where they had both been born and raised. Ivan had been very right in the fact he had worked in Israeli intelligence at one time. His Father was Irish American but his Mother was from Israel and Frank had lived there until he went to Dartmouth. Frank tried to cover his accent as much as he could and he was successful enough that no one ever said anything. He held dual citizenship so there was no problem when he started working for American agencies. But the fact remained he did not like talking about himself and he was not about to talk to Ivan about connections with the CIA or being Israeli.

Jake had gone to play some basketball with the kids he couched from his old orphanage. He played for a while trying to decide if he was going to join his team in finding the woman. He had just decided that his job was important to him and that quitting was something he could not consciously do. Now his boss was asking him to risk everything. Jake spoke to the Priest who had cared for him when he was young and still did when he had problems and needed some guidance. By the time they finished the dinner they shared that night he had decided to go back and help. He was not in love with Marisca but Donovan was and Jake understood what a man went through when his woman was in trouble. The old priest also reminded him the Frank Donovan had put his own life on the line to save the young man.

“I have to leave for a while”, exclaimed Ivan when Frank walked down stairs and Jake came in.

“I need you here at midnight to look at the satellite photos” Donovan ordered not asked and Ivan nodded then left.

“Are you with us in this, Jake?” asked Frank.

“Yeah, I am” answered Jake.

“Thank you. I want you to follow this Russian. I don’t completely trust him”, stated Frank.

“I don’t either”, remarked Monica as Jake left quickly. “I’m having a hard time believing she’d be that open with him. But then again I don’t know what their real relationship is. He talks a good game but isn’t that what we’re all trained to do?”

“Do you suggest we get him out of the loop on this?” Frank asked.

“Yeah. I think after we look at the Russian grids you should dump him”, answered Cody. “If she’s in Russia we’ll need him.”

“All right. I’ll think of someway to get him out of the picture. Why don’t we order Chinese? I’m starving” Frank stated then walked towards the stairs to his office.

“That’s my cue!” laughed Monica as she got the menus out she had in her desk.

“I think you need to talk to him about the love part, Monica” said Cody as he turned around in his swivel chair.

“What are you talking about?” she asked as she punched in the numbers of the restaurant.

“Tell him you believed what that Ivan said about Marisca being in love with him”, stated Cody. “I don’t think she ever actually said it to him before. Give him a pep talk.”

“Pep talk? God! The man just told us about his feeling because he needed our help. Otherwise we’d never know about this thing he’s been having with her” Monica remarked.

“I’ve been hard on him but he’s a decent guy. I don’t talk about my love life”, replied Cody and Monica laughed.

“That’s because you have none! But I see what you mean. He’s private man but in my opinion a little too obsessed about it” she remarked then finished her call and ordered the food. “I’ll go tell him she loves him.”

Monica did just that and Frank had to admit he had his doubts about that certain disclosure also. After his profiler’s words of encouragement he did feel better. They sat back waiting as they often did for information so they could plan their next strategic move. It was not until after they had their Chinese dinner that Frank’s cell went off.

“Donovan” he answered as always putting down his chopsticks.

“It’s Jake. I’m at O’Hare. Ivan just bought a ticket to London” Jake reported. “Do you want me to stop him?”

“No. But watch and see he gets on the plane. Stay until it takes off” Frank ordered. “Did he check out of a hotel room?”

“He went to a house in Berwyn and stayed there for about half hour. Do you want me to go and see what I can find there?” Jake inquired.

“Yes. There’s a large Lithuanian community in Berwyn. There might be some connection”, Donovan ordered. “Check it out then get back here.”

“The guy flew the coup?” joked Cody when Frank put away his cellular.

“So to speak. He might have just come to me to enlist my help and had every intention of leaving. Or Ivan might have thought his position was being compromised” Frank replied.

“He could have been playing you like a fiddle” said Monica as her cell went off and she answered it. “It’s Alex. Your cell was busy so she phoned mine. The fingerprints are being sent now. Do you need to talk to her?” she asked and Frank shook his head.

Monica and Frank watched the computer monitor bring up the first set and attempt to match it with a name. It did and it was Frank’s. Then the second came in with no immediate results then they ran it through Interpol ending in a dead end there. There were a number of possibilities Frank and Monica went over as they waited another hour for the satellite transmissions.

Marisca’s boss picked up his phone as it rang at his house in Virginia. He had just gotten in bed and ready for a good night’s sleep and a peaceful one since his wife and children had gone to visit her Mother.

“Henning” he answered as he sat up in bed.

“It’s Barry, sir. The man in question just took a flight to London. He did nothing today except go for a jog then visit a Lithuanian friend he has in a Chicago suburb. He made no other contacts”, the operative said.

“You’re sure on this?” John questioned having been positive Ivan was going to contact Frank Donovan. Now he was not so sure of his trusted agent that he had sent to follow.

“Yes, sir. What are your orders now?” Barry asked.

“I want you to keep an eye on Frank Donovan” John ordered then hung up.

Barry had followed Jake in to Berwyn and watched as he interviewed a man he knew to be a former Soviet agent. He had followed Ivan to Chicago and saw him make contact with Donovan in the morning then he lost his trail until he went back to the house in Berwyn before going to O’Hare. Barry was a senior with the Agency and he knew Marisca before her boss came in to the picture and he liked her. He liked her enough to do some of his own checking knowing John was up to something when he found out she was missing. John was not going through proper procedure trying to find her in fact to Barry he was not trying at all. And there was some reason Barry did not know that John was more interested about Frank Donovan and his possible involvement. All Barry knew was he was not going to report what he saw in Chicago and if need be he would make himself known to the Federal Agent and help himself.

By one in the morning Frank and Cody were just starting to go over the first of the photos of Russia starting in the southern region near Afghanistan. They painstakingly went threw hundred of grids of areas as they were being transmitted and stored in Cody’s database. At two am Frank decided it continue looking but only at the larger cities then if nothing was found the countryside. Cody brought up the grids of Moscow first and they began the process once again. Near the last dozen they looked at one then looked at each other.

“That’s it. Zoom in on that area”, ordered Donovan and Cody did as best he could while Monica came over.

“I guess we should have kept Ivan around”, stated Cody as he brought in a sharper image. “Has anyone been to Moscow? And anyone want to go?” he laughed.

“It looks like the signal is coming from a residential area” Donovan remarked.

“Do you think she just went back to Russia and this Ivan was really up to something else?” Monica inquired.

“That’s a possibility but my gut instinct tell me it’s something else. I need to get to Moscow and check this out myself” Frank stated getting his cell phone out to make arrangements.

“Count me in”, said Jake as he walked in. “If she’s in trouble you’ll need backup.”

“All right. I’ll call Alex, too” he replied.

“I suppose we should all go”, said Cody. “Just in case.”

“Yeah, this seems too easy”, remarked Monica.

Marisca was someplace in a jungle she had determined to be somewhere in South East Asia and she had lost track of time. She had gone to her apartment in Trump Towers to move everything out to placate her boss to make him think she was breaking contact with Donovan. It was an obvious and procedural move for an agent who was going further underground. She had fully intended to phone him about Thanksgiving and to meet somewhere else and Marisca was going to do exactly that after she took a nice hot bath. It was her final night at Trump Towers with the movers coming the next day. She was in the bathroom putting the water on, then she went back in to her bedroom and for some reason she closed the bathroom door. All of a sudden she was rushed and grabbed by two masked men. There was a brief struggle then she was hit unconscious on the back of the head. When she did come to, she knew she had been drugged as the world around her was spinning and she could not move. She heard muffled voices and the sound of humming then she felt her body jerk and start to fall. Marisca felt her body hit hard against something then she passed out again. It could have been hours, days or even a week when she finally came to and now felt the pain of her broken leg. She looked around and saw she was in the middle of nowhere with nothing other than the clothes on her back that luckily she had not changed out of.

Marisca had to set her leg which she did as she bit in to a piece of wood she found. Then she wrapped it with the pants she had worn that she painfully took off. By the time she finished she passed out again and woke up after nightfall. Marisca had heard the monkey’s calling during the day but now they echoed, as she lay quietly knowing it would be unsafe to move until dawn. It was when she spotted an Orangutan that she knew she was in the South East Asian jungle and that is was the Chinese Triad that had gotten her. Why they just did not shoot her or put her in prison was not as yet clear to her. When dawn came she tried to stand but could not so she crawled for what seemed hours until she came upon the wreckage of a plane that had gone down recently. She fashioned a crutch from a piece of metal off the aircraft then searched its contents for food and water. Then checked the radio, which of course was not working and the bodies of the two men that were still in the cockpit. In the heat and humidity of the jungle the bodies would have decomposed quickly but they were still somewhat fresh, perhaps a week old no more she discerned.

It was getting close to nightfall so Marisca decided to stay put and get some sleep after she ate part of the of the uncooked rice that was in the galley for some reason and a bottle of Chinese beer she broke the top off. It was not the first time she had been in a situation like this but she swore to herself it would definitely be the last time. And as she got groggy from the booze she started to think about Frank and she hoped that Ivan did as she had asked and contacted him. Just before she fell asleep she reached up behind her ear finally where her homing device should have been underneath her skin. It was gone as she felt the small wound that was now covered with dried blood. Now the situation was different and she knew there would be no way he would find her and she would have to get out of this alone.

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The Hunt - Part 2