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

[molokovcocktail]

With Lex captured and de Courcey off to apprehend the irritating Miss Vassey, there was only one person left to take before Molokov could begin his game in earnest. How Sergievsky managed to draw beautiful women into his spell he did not know but by all accounts, this Joan was certainly his type.

Certainly he would have expected him to drop the little rent boy he was living with and fling himself into her arms but that had always been the problem with Sergievsky. He was completely predictable until something caught his fancy and then he would stick with this person long beyond reason would have said to let her go. Molokov had never quite figured out Sergievsky's critera for his moments of stubborn stupidity but that wasn't a matter of concern any longer. Tonight, he and de Courcey were going to have their revenge.

[lysistrategic]

There's no point, Joan and Arthur decide, to her attempting to conceal a weapon, whether Arthur's ATF stunner or a knife. For one thing, she's never carried one, and for another, it will only tip her hand to de Courcey and Molokov when they apprehend her. Arrogant, overly manipulative, over-confident, yes, but neither stupid nor sloppy.

She also declines to play the damsel in distress when she approaches Lex and Anatoly's hut for the second time today. Joan moves gracefully, with the confidence of power and purpose, striding up to the door to rap sharply on it. "Toly, are you home?"

Normally, she wouldn't call out with the knock, but now, it's important to focus Anatoly's tormenters on her connection to him. "Toly?" she says again, letting tension seep into her voice and raising it in pitch. "It's not like you to miss a chess date."

[carriesabigstick]

Arthur is shadowing nearby, keeping out of sight of anyone that might be watching. His instincts kick in easily despite the length of time since he'd been in the field. It's almost second nature how to handle it. A small smile curves as he listens to Joan's tension in her voice. She was one of the best before she was moved to a Department Head and her skills are still sharp.

There is a tension in Arthur's own muscles but that had more to do with a husband watching his wife going into an unknown dangerous situation than it did with a boss watching one of his own go in.

[molokovcocktail]

"I am afraid that Anatoly has been called away," Molokov said, smoothly stepping behind Joan. "He was very desolated to be missing his game with you, I assure you."

He gave her what he considered his most charming smile. She had no idea of what was going on, he was certain. This would be almost disappointingly easy. "But I can take you to him."

[lysistrategic]

"If he's busy, I can come back later," Joan demurs, looking a trifle uncertain, as though she wants to be persuaded otherwise. As though she's been very much looking forward to their 'game'.

No point in making it too easy for Molokov. It would make her suspicious in his place. And it allows her a moment to pass her hand through her hair to neaten it, imply that the chess game had been something more intimate. The more important she seems to be, the more incautious Molokov is likely to be in reeling her in.

[molokovcocktail]

"No, he would very much like to see you," Molokov said as sweetly as he could manage. If he had to drag her to the beach, he would, but he preferred her to come with him of her own free will. It would make her sense of shock and betrayal all that much sweeter. "Please, allow me to take you to him."

[lysistrategic]

"If you're absolutely sure it will be all right?" she asks, still looking slightly nettled and uncertain. "I wouldn't want to interrupt anything..." Joan presses her lips together, and debates making a stronger implication that they've been sleeping together. No. Too much and he might become suspicious. "But I was rather looking forward to seeing him."

She nods, signalling she's decided for herself that it will be fine, and smiles her prettiest (and least threatening) smile. "I'd appreciate it, you taking me to him."

[molokovcocktail]

"It will, I promise you," Molokov reassured her, a small flicker of amusement in his eyes the only outside symbol of the glee he was feeling in seeing his plan come together. She was so much more malleable than Ms. Vassey - it was a pity she had not been present in Bangkok. Things would have gone so much better if she had. "If I may show you the way?"

[lysistrategic]

"Thank you, again." It's ever-so-polite, almost warm. Anyone who knows Joan would tell you that's a danger zone, not quite as close to you getting a new orifice as frosty polite, but definitely a warning sign.

Molokov doesn't know her, however, and she's perfectly happy to walk along with him and let him think she's a helpless if intelligent playmate of Anatoly's a little while longer. "I don't think I've seen you before. Are you new to the island?"

[molokovcocktail]

"I am, yes," Molokov answered, secure in his belief that Joan was not a threat at all. This was so delightfully simple that he could almost sing. "Anatoly has so very kindly taken me in and explained about this place."

[lysistrategic]

"He's very kind. He was one of my first friends on the island," Joan tells Molokov, lulling him into a false sense of security with personal sounding tidbits that are meaningless. "Did you know him before or was it just coincidence that brought you and Anatoly together?"

Her gaze scans the path ahead of them, noticing every detail, in case she has to find her way back here or back from here. She just needs him to take her to Anatoly so she can see how he's being held, and then she'll formulate a plan.

[molokovcocktail]

"I did know him before," Molokov answered easily as he kept an eye out for any unwelcome witnesses. "I was honored to be chosen as his second at his chess matches."

It was supposed to have been a cushy job, a stepping stone on his path to power. Instead, it had been the job from hell and had nearly led to his downfall. Oh, Sergievsky would pay.

[lysistrategic]

Now she has to be careful, choose a path, and stick to it, and if she's wrong, it will all fall down. Knowing too little could challenge the illusion as much as knowing too much.

Deciding, she lets a small shadow creep into her eyes and her smile turns wistful. "Then you know how hard it's been for him. Everything he went through," she says quietly, but without any implication of recognizing him as part of 'the troubles'. "I'm glad I'll get a chance to know you." That's brighter, eyes warming, and "We'll have to play, if you don't mind winning all the time," is filled with playful self-deprecation again.

[molokovcocktail]

"Oh yes, his very difficult time," Molokov said, managing to hide his sense of outrage. Sergievsky had brought all of his troubles onto himself and he really should not be surprised that he would tell an revisionist version of what happened to others.

"I should be happy to play," he lied effortlessly as he steered Joan over to a more deserted section of the beach. A few more feet and then they would be out of view. "Whenever you would like."

[lysistrategic]

"Another teacher, then," Joan decides with a grateful nod of her head. "Maybe by spring I'll manage to do something Anatoly doesn't anticipate ten moves ahead."

Problematically, even though he knows she's CIA, he's not going to anticipate this move. How could he? He has no idea what she's capable of.

She glances around the beach, expression tightening somewhat, the first hints of suspicion creeping into her face. "Where did you say we were going again?"

[molokovcocktail]

"I don't believe I did," Molokov answered smoothly, gripping Joan's arm as a precaution. "All will be explained shortly but you will need to come with me."