Free Noble Intentions: Season Two (Episodes 6-10) by L.T. Ryan Page A

He gritted his teeth and fought the feelings back.
    “No way I’m staying here when they have her.”
    “Bear, you got no choice.”
    Bear searched the room for his clothes. Didn’t find them. He turned to Larsen and pointed at him.
    “You listen to me. You have no idea who I am or what I am capable of. If you want to help me, fine. But if not, stay out of my way.”
    Larsen said nothing. He stood in the doorway with his hands in front of him. He shook his head slowly.
    “You got kids?” Bear asked.
    Larsen nodded.
    “Then you know what I’m going through.”
    Larsen continued to nod.
    “Tell me everything that you know,” Bear demanded.
    Larsen pulled the sleeve of his sport coat back and checked his watch. He cleared his throat and took three steps toward Bear, stopping just a few feet away. He lowered his voice and said, “I’m off shift in an hour. I’ll get you checked out of here and we’ll go someplace to talk.”
    “Why? Why not now?”
    Larsen motioned for Bear to keep it down. “Because the man behind this has half the department in his back pocket, if you know what I mean.”
    Bear nodded. “OK. One hour. Bring me some clothes.”
    “What size?”
    “Extra frickin large.”
     

14
    Five minutes outside the city, Jasmine turned onto a dirt road and continued until they were out of sight from the highway. She threw the car in park, got out and opened the trunk. Jack looked through the back window after the trunk slammed shut. Jasmine ordered Igor to go sit against a tree, then she motioned for Jack to get out.
    “Don’t move.” Jack pulled his pistol from its holster and aimed it at the man in the backseat. He backed out of the car and looked up at Jasmine. “What now?”
    “Get him out and bring him back here.”
    Jack leaned forward and nodded at the Russian.
    “You heard the lady.”
    The man slid across the bench seat and exited through the open door. Jack grabbed him by the elbow and led him behind the car.
    “Go stand against that tree.” Jasmine motioned toward a dogwood in bloom.
    Jack followed the Russian to the tree and then held him there at gunpoint. He glanced over his shoulder to check on Jasmine and Igor.
    She placed nylon restraints around Igor’s wrists and a black cloth bag over his head.
    “Sit,” she said.
    Igor sat and leaned back against the base of a pine tree.
    “We’ll be back for you in a minute.” Jasmine walked toward Jack and stopped about fifteen feet away. “Jack, come here.”
    Jack approached her. Kept his gun out to the side and aimed at the Russian. Kept his eyes on Igor.
    “We need to get some info on the big picture here, Jack. I don’t care what we do with this guy, but I know Frank will want him detained. Fine with me. But we need to get as much info out of him as we can before we call this in.”
    Jack nodded and didn’t say anything.
    “I don’t know if he’ll take me seriously. Most guys don’t think a woman is a threat. At least, not until I kick their ass.”
    Jack smiled.
    “How are you with interrogation techniques?” she asked.
    “I’m so-so.” An understatement. Jack had honed his technique since his days as a Marine on-loan to the CIA, and then as a member of the SIS. He even had an apartment in New York specifically for the purpose of interrogation.
    “OK,” Jasmine said. “So you can back me up then?”
    “Sure.”
    “You want to start?”
    “Yeah, why not.” He pointed at Igor. “You sure he’s OK there?”
    Jasmine nodded. “Hands and legs are bound. He’s hooded. Not going anywhere.”
    Jack walked up to the Russian. The man pressed himself into the tree as if trying to hide inside of it. Jack hit him in the stomach. The Russian leaned forward. Jack grabbed him by the back of his hair and lifted his head. Backhanded him across his face.
    “Who do you report to?”
    The man said nothing. He couldn’t say anything because he couldn’t breathe. His face turned red and deepened into a shade of purple.
    Jack