These Are Very Dangerous and Difficult Times [dated to 10/31]

[chesspolitik]

By the day of Halloween, Anatoly was completely convinced that danger was lurking around every corner and that no corner of the island was safe. There was simply no telling where Molokov or de Courcey could be and he was afraid that if he stepped outside, even for a moment, that they would find a way to snatch him. He could only begin to imagine what sort of things they would have in store for him and he did not want to find out how the reality matched with his fears.

But as inconvenient as it was, he did need to do things like shower and eat and for that, he had to leave his hut. If Lex had not been there to act as his faithful bodyguard, he would have been content to remain a hungry and rather ripe grandmaster. Their trip to the compound passed without incident and after being reassured several times that Lex would be waiting in the rec room for him, Anatoly went to take a shower.

When he emerged and headed to the rec room, clean (if not exactly clean shaven), he found not Lex but a note in his handwriting. Opened, it simply said that Lex had spotted Molokov lurking about and advised him to leave the compound as soon as possible. He would be waiting outside and then the two of them could go to the IPD.

Without thinking or even stopping to pack up his chess set, Anatoly fled the rec room, heedless of the startled looks around him. He burst outside of the Compound and turned the corner, expecting to see Lex waiting for him. Instead, he found Molokov with de Courcey besides him with a nasty smirk. There was a burst of pain as Molokov's fist connected with his face and then he knew only blackness.

When his consciousness finally returned, he found himself tied to a palm tree on a deserted stretch of the beach. Lex was tied to a tree beside him, looking rather worse for the wear. Molokov and de Courcey weren't in sight but he had no doubt they were near, concocting some devious plan.

"Molokov, you Chekist bastard!" he shouted in Russian as he struggled futilely against his bonds. "What do you hope to accomplish by this?"

Comments

[loveofmasters]

Florence was staying home. Not only had Jack insisted, but she really had no inclination to go wandering about when people's worst nightmares were supposed to be wandering around. She just knew she wouldn't be of any help and if anything, she'd be in the way. So today, she wasn't doing anything that took her more than a few steps away from her own front door.

Like building up the fire pit outside so she could make something for lunch and dinner. She was getting pretty good at cooking in the rough so to speak, but she was thinking that an actual stove was going to be needed eventually. Maybe she could get Jack to find her one as a wedding present. But for now, she lit the fire and started building it up before she placed the grill top over it, pausing as she thought she heard something in the distance.

[decourceyonrocks]

"Hello Ms. Vassey."

The southern drawl came from just behind Florence, the sound made on purpose as Walter purposefully kicked something in the stand to her get attention. It was no fun sneaking up on someone if they didn't know you were there.

His arms came around her, his hands covering hers, helping her place the grill on the fire. But once it was on, he purposefully didn't let go. "What a cozy little home you have made for yourself."

[loveofmasters]

Letting out a little squeak at the sudden voice behind her, Florence started and almost dropped the grill before she managed to get control of herself again. This was bad. This was very bad. Jack was nearby, but Walter... she didn't know if he was armed, or if he'd really shoot someone who wasn't a part in this. Well, she certainly had her suspicions about the latter but in the moment, the only thing she could think to do was stall.

"I'm fond of it. Care to come inside for a drink, Walter, I imagine we have a lot of catching up to do." She didn't know what he wanted. Why her? Why now? It wasn't as if she were part of Anatoly's life anymore.

[decourceyonrocks]

Having still not let go of her hands, Walter changed his grip so he could turn her around so they were facing. His usual slipper smile was on his face as he tsked softly. "Look at you. The little homemaker. An' for someone not Anatoly. Imagined how shocked I am." It was clear he didn't mean a word.

"Oh, we do have some catching up to do." He added, "Just not here."

[loveofmasters]

Florence had to bite back a retort about his inevitable surprise at Anatoly's living arrangements as her eyes darted around, looking for Jack, looking for anyone. "I like my life here, it's quiet and I'm not a pawn in your games anymore." She pulled her hands from his grip, attempting to take a step back. This wasn't good. Whatever Walter wanted, she wanted no part in it.

"I'm not leaving. If you want to talk we can talk, but we're doing it here."

[decourceyonrocks]

Walter tsked softly. "You always were hard to handle, Ms.Vassey. But you did prove useful in the end. It really was a shame about your father."

Then he smiled the slick smile that was useful as both a TV producer and a spy as he pulled a gun out of his pocket. "I'm afraid I will have to insist. And if you think you can outrun me...I'll just have to use this on your Russian boyfriend." He considered the gun for a moment. "Do you think it would hurt him more if I shot him or his new boy toy?"

[loveofmasters]

"You can't get away with this here, this isn't home, there's nowhere you can go." She tried to keep from sounding frightened, but the truth was, she was starting to be terrified. She'd never had a gun pointed at her, she'd never been threatened like this. Everything that had happened to her had been the results of behind-the-scenes manipulations, never anything this... brash.

But she wasn't stupid, so she started moving. Hopefully they'd run into someone. Hopefully someone would interrupt them. In the meantime, she just had to keep talking. "You don't have any right to bring up my father. Ever."

[decourceyonrocks]

"Oh, but I think I can. It's amazing what you can get away with when you can spin a good story." Walter was still smiling as he moved closer to her and grabbed her arm. Behind the scenes had it's moments, and so did being brash. This was just a moment for the latter.

"Shame. He made such nice leverage. Sergievsky ate it hook, line and sinker."

[loveofmasters]

"You can't talk your way past this. There's no CIA, no KGB, and too many of our friends know about you." Or so she hoped. She hadn't really said too much to Jack, she just didn't like to think about those days, if she had to break with the past she had wanted it clean.

She gasped when he grabbed her and she began to struggle. "Let me go! You can't do this!"

[decourceyonrocks]

"Like who? Sergievksy's little pet? He was the first we grabbed. Trumper?" Walter laughed as he pulled her down the beach. "Please, we both know that won't happen. Your little catch?" He trailed off, smiling cryptically.

[loveofmasters]

"He's a cop, he'll know I'm gone." She just wasn't certain what would happen then. Would he even try to rouse the IPD? On a day like today? Or would he run off after her?

She didn't like the sound of the rest of it. Lex already taken, Anatoly probably as well since she didn't imagine the two being apart. Freddie, God, she hoped he was with friends that could keep him safe.

"Let me go, Walter! Why are you doing this?! Everything's already done, you can't change anything here!"

[decourceyonrocks]

"And what exactly can a cop do here? You might play at order and society but come now, Florence, how effective can they really be against those who know how to play a much more complicated system?" Walter said, not bother to hiding his cockiness.

"That is for you to find out. Now, let's not keep our comrade waiting, shall we?"

[loveofmasters]

She dug in her heels. If he wanted to take her, she was going to fight because now she was thinking that if she went, she might not be coming back. She was a pawn, after all, that made her rather expendable. It wasn't a thought that sat well with her and it made her want to fight him all the more.