Kingston's sharp black eyes returned to Maura. "You've caused us quite a bit of trouble." She looked at the guard behind her. "Where did you find her?"
"Holbrook told us to scout everything open with internet access within a six-block radius of her exit point from the river."
Even knowing that it was his job, hearing Nicholas was responsible for her capture hurt more than Maura expected. James finally spoke. "Where's the audio from the bug, MacLaren?"
She raised her eyebrows. "I don't know what you mean, Mr. Pine." Maura could barely look at him, feeling the familiar heat of shame spread through her.
He rolled his eyes. "Search her," he told the guard, who roughly pawed at her before finding the thumb drive in her pocket. "Holbrook, take this and make sure what we’re looking for is there." Maura's gaze turned chilly as Nicholas took the small device, his eyes avoiding hers.
"Now then," cut in Kingston. "What to do with the three of you..."
"I've told you everything!" Interrupted Kennedy, blood trickling from her broken mouth. "The body mics she placed on Mr. Fassell are the only evidence of the transactions-"
"Shut the fuck up, Kennedy!" Yagura shouted, only to get two brutal punches to the gut for his trouble.
"-there's nothing else. MacLaren was responsible for the echo file, no one outside of this room has any information on the transactions-"
"God-damnit,Kennedy! Really, shut the fuck up!" Maura hissed, enraged at the agent, so stupid that she’d just bargained their lives away. "Just shut-" Taking a backhand to her face, she knocked back against the wall from the blow, awkwardly wiping the blood dripping down her chin on her shoulder.
"I don’t blame you two for being a tad aggrieved." First in Command smiled congenially. "Your senior agent gave you up in a heartbeat. She attempted to negotiate a twenty-million-dollar payoff to lead us to our security problem. I must admit, you two were a surprise... at any rate, the issue is taken care of." She nodded to one of the guards, who stepped to Kennedy and raised his gun to the screaming agent's head.
The scream cut off abruptly as the gun fired.
"One down," chuckled Fassell, the words a little garbled from his damaged throat.
Maura looked despairingly at Yagura, trying to smile. He eyed her, then shrugged at the three seated at the table. "MacLaren doesn't know shit, she never did. No need to kill her. She's still useful to you alive."
Kingston chuckled mirthlessly. "You know Yagura, I actually like you. So this will be quick."
"Wait! Wait-" Maura pushed forward, "I'll work for you! Just let him live. There's nothing he can prove without the files, and everything's gone. Please, just let him-" She was cut off by another backhand, as four men forced a valiantly struggling Yagura to his knees.
Fassell was already hobbling over, eyes alight and eager. Reaching up, he twirled a knife expertly on his bloody fingers. "I think there's a poetic justice here. I'm going to finish you with her knife," he gloated, nodding his head at Maura. She shrieked and launched herself at him, only to be taken down to the floor by two of the guards. Before she could draw breath to beg for his survival, Yagura's body thudded down beside her, spraying her with his life's blood on impact. Maura began to cry, looking into his fading eyes as he gurgled through his ruined throat.
"I'm so sorry, Yagura," she sobbed. Unable to comfort him with her hands still bound behind her, she struggled forward and put her forehead against his, listening to his final struggles and repeating, "It’s all right. It's all right now... it's all right, Yagura."
Chapter 13: A Pleasure to Meet You, Morrighan
In which James is a hurt and vengeful asshole, and Maura is not what she seems.
Maura lay beside Yagura's body, still whispering soothing nonsense until two of the guards pulled her upright and the others removed him. Kingston was staring at her with a look of distaste, while Fassell was still grinning openly. "You murderous fuck!" she hissed, shaking with rage.
He threw back his head, a rusty chuckle coming from his damaged windpipe. "I hope you don't gag her, Pine. I'm really looking forward to the screaming. What's first?"
The blazing ice blue of Pine's eyes hadn't lessened in intensity. "Kingston, may I have the room, please?"
"Of course, dear." First in Command's black eyes were still dancing with amusement, but she rose and gestured to Fassell. "Come along, Simon. Let's get your wrist in a cast."
Comprehension and rage swept over Fassell's face at the same time. "What? Oh, no, I'm here to watch this cunt get what's coming to her. And I want it to last as long and painfully as possible. Pine certainly has the skills for it. And I'm going to watch!" Veins bulged from his neck as he looked from Maura to his partners.
Kingston's eyes rolled. "Don't be a child. You should be more concerned with the fact that a girl who is about half your size just beat you within an inch of your life."
"I want to see some punishment!" Fassell howled, pounding his undamaged fist on the table.
Kingston drew herself up, "Walk out that door right now as a man, or I'll send you out wrapped in plastic like the rest." Fassell’s unhinged eyes stared at Maura all the way to the door, where he gave her a bloody grin.
"You want I should stay, sir?" One of the guards who'd found her spoke up.
James made a dismissive gesture with one elegant hand, and the room emptied, shutting the door to deathly quiet. Exhausted, Maura leaned against the wall, trying to keep the weight off her knife wound. All the hits Fassell got in earlier in the evening at the houseboat were making themselves known.
