Freedom Found (4)
The Office of Roger Moore, MI6 HQ, SIS Building, Vauxhall, London
There was a knock on the door of Roger Moore’s office but he was in no position to answer it because he had a very irate Foreign Secretary on the line.
“So, someone is over there interfering with Swedish Justice Roger and that someone is from your team!” The FS was almost shouting into the phone.
“Yes Sir, but I haven’t sanctioned any assignment, none whatsoever. I can’t say that I agreed with the way in which Agent Anderson was extradited, but as a professional I have to accept it and move on. And Sir, for me that was the end of the matter …”
As he said these words Moore knew exactly what was going on. Major Jason Underwood, his Senior E-Squad Officer, had taken three weeks leave of absence. “Private matters, Sir …” he had said as he filled in his forms, eyes downcast at the table.
But how the fuck did the FS know?
“So, what do we do, Mister Foreign Secretary?”
“You fucking well find out who it is, Roger, pull them out and then dismiss their sorry arse as quickly as you can. In fact, have them arrested! In the meantime, I will try and placate the Swedes and the South Africans … you know that King Charles is keeping a watching brief on this whole affair, Roger, he seems to value our relationship with Sweden very highly indeed.”
The call ended. There had been no more knocks on the door. Roger Moore knew the calls he had to make, and it wasn’t to anyone in Sweden.
Westquay Shopping Centre, Southampton, England
“You should go in there, get something that dad will like, for when he gets back.” Grace turned to look at where Issy was directing her comment, only to see that it was the Ann Summers store.
“Issy Underwood, you are so bad … that’s your father you’re speaking about!” Both girl’s collapsed laughing.
“He really does seem happy Grace,” Issy was being genuine, and the ‘holiday with friends’ premise for her visit seemed completely forgotten, at least for now.
“I hope so Issy.” Grace replied in a tone that was far more melancholy than she intended. Issy linked her arm through Grace’s and said, “Oh he is, I’m sure of it.” Then added, “… Come on let’s go find somewhere to have coffee and cake.”
The Office of Clark O’Shaughnessy, Head Agent, CIA HQ, Langley VA
“Hey Roger, how are you? It’s been a while … too long buddy, and we did really good last time out. How can I help you?”
“I know, it’s good to hear your voice Clark, but I must get straight down to business I’m afraid.”
“Shoot Roger, what’s the issue?”
“Is your Agent Barbara Moore on leave of absence?”
“Why yes she is, how do you …”
“Fuck Clark, we have a mole at Whitehall, not one of my team, but it gives us a real issue. Agent Moore is with my Officer, Major Underwood, in Sweden rescuing an extradited MI6 Agent, Agent Lacey Anderson.”
Moore was putting two and two together and very much coming up with the right answer.
“What the f …?”
“I know, I know, but listen please. I had my suspicions they were, and, to be honest I hope they succeed. My Agent has been made a scape goat for circumstances-past and, in my opinion, illegally extradited.”
“Shit. Okay Roger … how can I help?”
Roger Moore took a deep breath. “So … I cannot be seen to support their rogue operation, but you …”
“I get you Rog, of course. Tell me what to do.”
“Make sure they get out of Sweden alive; Moore, Underwood and Anderson. Anderson will be in poor health I suspect, if she’s even still alive, and so have her taken directly back to Washington on a med-plane, nursed and given a new ID etc. Anderson needs to become an American citizen and ‘get lost’ in the system.”
“Okay, I can do that Roger. Is that it?”
“No, no there’s one more thing. Major Underwood cannot come back here either. Make sure he returns to Washington and then, once he is with you, you and I will complete the paperwork to have him transferred to the CIA …
“So we get a free Agent?” O’Shaughnessy chuckled.
“I guess, “Roger said just before the call ended.
As he looked out of his office window over the Thames Roger Moore’s first thought was ‘Poor, poor Grace …’
The Basement Cells, X-Wing, at Hinseburg Prison, Frövi, Sweden
Barb and Jase were Ill-prepared for the scene they encountered when led to the cell where Agent Lacey Anderson was held.
Up to that point their arrival at Hinesburg had gone remarkably well. Neither of the on-duty personnel, whom they found in the canteen where the officer at the gate said they’d be, had shown even the slightest interest in confirming Barb’s or Jase’s identity as SÄPO agents. Rather, they had simply introduced themselves as Karl and Ragnar, explaining that they worked the night shift. Like the gatekeeper and his wife, they were a pair of locals. Eager to share Greta’s Kanelbullar with the new arrivals, engage in light-hearted camaraderie, and remark repeatedly how pleasant it was to receive important visitors from SÄPO headquarters in Stockholm.
And Barb and Jase had been in good spirits as their newfound hosts led them through the dimly-lit, cell-lined basement corridors of X-Wing, eventually arriving at one of the more remote areas at that level. As they were deposited outside Lacey’s cell, Ragnar obligingly suggested … pointing to an intercom box on the wall … that they let him and his colleague know when they had finished their visitation with the prisoner confined in that cell.
Things were indeed going so well that Barb had even cheerily declared … after Karl had unlocked the cell door and headed off with Ragnar in the direction from where they had come … presumably to finish off the rest of Greta’s Kanelbullar … “We’re in!”
So the sight of poor Lacey, as Jase eased aside the cell’s heavy door had taken their breath away. For, in the dim light of a single flickering candle, her naked figure could be seen hanging, arms stretched high, against a tall wooden pillar.
The candlelight captured the sheen of sweat that covered her body as well as the dribbles and drool splatter on her chest. She was generously covered everywhere with a myriad array of bloody marks and bruising inflicted by what must have been an incredibly cruel and sadistic torturer. Her eyes were closed, her breathing shallow. She appeared to be unconscious.
The cell was otherwise empty. There was no one else around.
But what caught their eye, even beyond the aforementioned signs of maltreatment, as they stepped further into the narrow confines of the cell, was the double-looped rope tied tightly around her waist and extended downward to both split and exert pressure on her pussy … pressure brought to bear through the sheer weight of a heavy ball attached to the other end of the rope, threaded up and through a ceiling ring.
“Oh my God!” cried Barb, eyes wide open and open hand half covering her mouth.
Jase was speechless.
“I’m calling those fucking bastards back here, right now!” snarled Barb.
Retreating back out into the corridor, she screamed at the two retreating figures who by then had nearly reached the far end of the corridor, “Karl! Ragnar! Get the fuck back here! Now!”
They returned as beckoned, looking rather mystified by the strident tone of the summons.
“What’s the problem?” said Karl.
“Take a look!”
Both men peered into the cell and blanched visibly at the horrendous sight.
“Th … th … this is not our doing,” stammered Karl, when invited to look into Lacey’s cell. “We had no idea. No idea at all. That’s … that’s got to be the … the … the handiwork of Chief Warder Nordin’s people … and of that South African guy who has been hanging around here the last few days.”
“Yes, we honestly had no idea!” affirmed Ragnar, his ruddy face turned white as a sheet. “You have to believe us!”
“This needs to be addressed immediately!” shouted Barb, her tone commanding. “When SÄPO and the government learn of this, heads here at Hinesburg are surely going to roll.”
“We had no idea,” repeated Karl once again. “We knew she … the British girl, I mean … was being held down here. Sjöberg had informed us that she was a special case that he and Nordin were working on. Ragnar and I figured it was some kind of ‘cloak and dagger’ spy stuff, hence the involvement of SÄPO. But no one deserves what they’ve obviously done to her … poor thing! As we’ve both said, we had no idea.”
“I believe you. But now we need your assistance. We need you to go get us some blankets, some towels, and some antiseptic too. In the meantime, my partner and I will get her down off that post, then you can help us get her into our vehicle parked outside. She’s obviously in terrible shape and before anything else happens she needs to be rushed to the nearest hospital!”
“Right,” agreed Karl, grabbing Ragnar by the sleeve and ushering him out into the corridor. She and Jase could hear them conversing excitedly as they scurried off to do Barb’s bidding.
Working feverishly Jase and Barb freed the unconscious special agent and eased her limp form down from the post to the floor, taking care to cushion her head on Jase’s rolled up jacket.
“Lacey! Can you hear me? It’s Jase! We’re here and we’re going to get you out!”
“She can’t hear you Jase!”
“I know, Barb. Look at what they’ve done to her! Poor girl! Those animals!”
“Yeah, but let’s focus. This isn’t over yet. We still need to get her out of here. The monsters who did this to her are sure to be back.”
“Right.”
“Wonder what’s keeping Karl and Ragnar?”
“I think they’re on their way. I hear footsteps out in the corridor.”
“Thank goodness!”
“Oh Shit!” gasped Barb as the half-closed cell door swung suddenly open to reveal not Karl and Ragnar but four grim-faced prison guards with guns drawn. And standing directly behind them … Chief Warder Anders Nordin, Governor Pontus Sjöberg, Jan Bakker …. and Niko Haapala!
Acting on professional instinct, Jase drew Niko’s gun from its shoulder holster and set himself into a ‘shooter’s crouch’ while Barb threw her body protectively over Lacey’s.
It was a classic standoff. The scene seemed frozen in place. No one made a further move.
Seconds ticked by in awkward silence until Pontus Sjöberg finally said, “I suggest you drop the weapon; you’re hopelessly outgunned here.”
To Be Continued …