![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kanders07Title: A Matter of Revenge Affair
Author: kanders07
Type: general
A thin stream of light shone from a tiny window near the ceiling of the room where two young women lay unconscious. The rest of the room was dark. The woman closed the door with a grim smile and returned to the main part of the old house.
A thin stream of light shone from a tiny window near the ceiling of the room where two young women lay unconscious. The rest of the room was dark. The woman closed the door with a grim smile and returned to the main part of the old house.
She went into the kitchen, fixed a cup of tea and settled into a chair. She looked up as the back door opened and a tall, dark man entered.
“Message delivered, ma’am,” he said, his voice deep and gravelly. She looked up at him for a moment.
“Good, good. Now we wait.”
**************************
Alexander Waverly’s office was the most comfortably appointed in the New York Headquarters of U.N.C.L.E. At this moment Waverly sat at the round conference table with his two top agents.
Napoleon Solo, tall, handsome and urbane was the Chief Enforcement Agent for U.N.C.L.E. New York and would likely step into Waverly’s place when the older man finally retired. He was truly a ladies’ man, with his dark hair and eyes, a ready smile and wit, Napoleon never lacked for company.
Illya Nickolaievich Kuryakin, Number two of Section two, was the opposite of his partner Where Solo was dark, he was light. Solo was gregarious, Kuryakin was not. It wasn’t that he was unfriendly, rather that he tended to be preoccupied. Only a couple of years younger than Solo, Kuryakin looked considerably younger and weaker; a mistake many of their enemies had made to their own detriment.
Waverly looked solemnly at the two men seated before him. “Gentlemen,” he began, “we received this packet a short time ago.” He spun the table top and the package stopped in front of Solo. “A group of young ladies from the Partridge Academy were at the lake on a field trip; science, or some such. When they got ready to return to the school, the teacher discovered that two of the girls were missing.” Waverly looked at Kuryakin before continuing. “That packet contains a letter and photographs. I’m very sorry, Mr. Kuryakin, but one of the girls taken was your sister.”
Illya Kuryakin took the package from Solo and began looking through it. Sure enough, one of the pictures was of his sister, Anya. He had become her guardian when their father died. Napoleon had helped him get her out of the Soviet Union.
***************************************
As Anya woke up she immediately noticed two things. First, she had a pounding headache, and second she didn’t seem to be in her dorm room. Then she remembered. They had been on a field trip for biology class. She and Jennifer had wondered away from the group in search of more interesting specimens. Neither girl noticed when the two men came out from behind the trees; by the time they noticed, the men had slapped cloths with chloroform to their faces.
Anya heard the other girl groan softly. She got up slowly and went over to her.
“Jennie?” she asked softly, assuming the other girl also had a headache. “Are you alright?”
“Oh…I don’t feel well, what happened?” asked the other girl weakly. Anya helped her sit up.
“I think we’ve been kidnapped.”
“What? Why?” Jennifer looked around the room. “Where are we?”
“I don’t know,” replied Anya also looking around the darkened room. Spotting the door, she got up and went to try and open it. It was, of course, locked. She sighed and went back to where Jennifer was sitting. “I don’t know any more than you do. I suppose we just have to wait and see who comes in.”
**************************************
Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin drove in silence toward the Long Island school from which the two girls had been abducted. Napoleon glanced over at his partner. Illya looked tense and worried and Napoleon didn’t blame him at all.
“Tovarisch, don’t worry, we’ll find them,” he said quietly. Illya glanced at him.
“Before or after Thrush kills them?” he said bitterly. “I sent her to that school because it was supposed to be safe. How do they allow two girls to be kidnapped? Where were the UNCLE guards?” He shook his head in disgust.
“Thrush had to have been watching the school for a long time to find a way around our people. We’ll talk to Miss Burgoyne and the UNCLE guards to see if there are any clues besides the note.” Napoleon continued to drive and the men fell into a companionable silence.
Traffic had been unusually heavy and when they finally arrived at the Partridge Academy it was beginning to get dark. The lights in the administrative building were still on so they parked in front and went inside.
Verity Burgoyne had completely redecorated the headmistress’ office. Gone were the Victorian era furnishings, replaced by more modern pieces. Solo and Kuryakin walked into the office. Miss Burgoyne sat behind a large desk. She had expected them, and rose to greet them.
“Mr. Solo, Mr. Kuryakin,” she said shaking hands with both men. “I’m very sorry, Mr. Kuryakin. We have no idea where the girls have been taken. We received this packet this afternoon, just before the class came back from the lake.” She handed the package to Illya and sat back down.
Illya went through the package which was almost identical to the one sent to UNCLE Headquarters. The only difference was in the letter. In this letter, the school was admonished not to call police. He finally tossed the package back on the desk disgustedly shaking his head.
“Who is the other girl?” asked Napoleon.
“Her name is Jennifer Mitchell; her father is the ambassador from Great Britain,” replied Verity. “The other girls in the class said that Anya and Jennie had moved away from the group but were still in sight. That is until they got ready to come back, then the teacher and the girls realized they were missing. They searched the area for about an hour but there was no sign of either girl.” As she finished speaking the door burst open and a large man stormed in.
“I want to know what’s being done about this. Where are the police? Why is everyone just sitting around?” he demanded. Napoleon stood to face him.
“Sir, I am Napoleon Solo, from the UNCLE…”
“I don’t care who you are! I want my daughter found!”
“Mr. Ambassador,” Napoleon tried again. “I assure you UNCLE wants to find the girls as much as you do.” Before the ambassador could interrupt again Napoleon went on. “The police have not been contacted because the letter threatens the girls’ lives if they are. Apparently, the kidnappers want UNCLE involved alone.” Napoleon pulled a chair over so the distraught man could sit down.
“Thank you,” he said quietly as he took the chair. “What do they want? Why did they take her?”
“We don’t know yet,” replied Napoleon, “but your daughter was not the only girl taken.”
“I’m sorry to hear that Mr. Solo, but my concern is my daughter. I’m sure the other girl has family who will be here soon as well but I see no reason to wait on them before trying to find out who is behind this.”
Illya who had sat quietly through the entire exchange now turned to the ambassador. Holding his own emotions in check he said,
“Her family is here, sir. The other girl is my sister, and we intend to bring both of them back alive and well.” He turned to Verity. “I would like to speak to the students who were on the field trip this morning.”
“Of course, Mr. Kuryakin,” she replied. “They’re waiting in the library; you can speak to them there.”
***************************************
The two girls sat side by side on the floor, leaning against the concrete wall. Neither of them had spoken for awhile; each lost in her own thoughts. The basement room gradually grew dark as the sun set and there was no more light from the little window. No one had been down to the basement for hours although the girls could hear people moving around above them. Jennifer suddenly got up and went to the door and began to pound on it with her fists.
“Hey,” she shouted, “you can’t keep us here. Let us out of here.” She stopped and listened for a moment, then began pounding and kicking at the door again. “You’d better let us out of here.”
Anya watched her friend quietly for a few minutes understanding the need to do something, anything. She had done the same thing a few hours ago with no results. Likewise they had searched the small basement room for anything that they might climb on to get to the window. The room was empty except for them and no one upstairs seemed inclined to come down and see what the ruckus was about. Finally, Jennifer came back and sat down.
“This is crazy. Who are they?” she asked bewildered.
“I don’t know,” replied Anya sighing. “But we had better save our strength. They don’t seem concerned with our comfort.”
**************************************
Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin drove in silence toward the Long Island school from which the two girls had been abducted. Napoleon glanced over at his partner. Illya looked tense and worried and Napoleon didn’t blame him at all.
“Tovarisch, don’t worry, we’ll find them,” he said quietly. Illya glanced at him.
“Before or after Thrush kills them?” he said bitterly. “I sent her to that school because it was supposed to be safe. How do they allow two girls to be kidnapped? Where were the UNCLE guards?” He shook his head in disgust.
“Thrush had to have been watching the school for a long time to find a way around our people. We’ll talk to Miss Burgoyne and the UNCLE guards to see if there are any clues besides the note.” Napoleon continued to drive and the men fell into a companionable silence.
Traffic had been unusually heavy and when they finally arrived at the Partridge Academy it was beginning to get dark. The lights in the administrative building were still on so they parked in front and went inside.
Verity Burgoyne had completely redecorated the headmistress’ office. Gone were the Victorian era furnishings, replaced by more modern pieces. Solo and Kuryakin walked into the office. Miss Burgoyne sat behind a large desk. She had expected them, and rose to greet them.
“Mr. Solo, Mr. Kuryakin,” she said shaking hands with both men. “I’m very sorry, Mr. Kuryakin. We have no idea where the girls have been taken. We received this packet this afternoon, just before the class came back from the lake.” She handed the package to Illya and sat back down.
Illya went through the package which was almost identical to the one sent to UNCLE Headquarters. The only difference was in the letter. In this letter, the school was admonished not to call police. He finally tossed the package back on the desk disgustedly shaking his head.
“Who is the other girl?” asked Napoleon.
“Her name is Jennifer Mitchell; her father is the ambassador from Great Britain,” replied Verity. “The other girls in the class said that Anya and Jennie had moved away from the group but were still in sight. That is until they got ready to come back, then the teacher and the girls realized they were missing. They searched the area for about an hour but there was no sign of either girl.” As she finished speaking the door burst open and a large man stormed in.
“I want to know what’s being done about this. Where are the police? Why is everyone just sitting around?” he demanded. Napoleon stood to face him.
“Sir, I am Napoleon Solo, from the UNCLE…”
“I don’t care who you are! I want my daughter found!”
“Mr. Ambassador,” Napoleon tried again. “I assure you UNCLE wants to find the girls as much as you do.” Before the ambassador could interrupt again Napoleon went on. “The police have not been contacted because the letter threatens the girls’ lives if they are. Apparently, the kidnappers want UNCLE involved alone.” Napoleon pulled a chair over so the distraught man could sit down.
“Thank you,” he said quietly as he took the chair. “What do they want? Why did they take her?”
“We don’t know yet,” replied Napoleon, “but your daughter was not the only girl taken.”
“I’m sorry to hear that Mr. Solo, but my concern is my daughter. I’m sure the other girl has family who will be here soon as well but I see no reason to wait on them before trying to find out who is behind this.”
Illya who had sat quietly through the entire exchange now turned to the ambassador. Holding his own emotions in check he said,
“Her family is here, sir. The other girl is my sister, and we intend to bring both of them back alive and well.” He turned to Verity. “I would like to speak to the students who were on the field trip this morning.”
“Of course, Mr. Kuryakin,” she replied. “They’re waiting in the library; you can speak to them there.”
***************************************
The two girls sat side by side on the floor, leaning against the concrete wall. Neither of them had spoken for awhile; each lost in her own thoughts. The basement room gradually grew dark as the sun set and there was no more light from the little window. No one had been down to the basement for hours although the girls could hear people moving around above them. Jennifer suddenly got up and went to the door and began to pound on it with her fists.
“Hey,” she shouted, “you can’t keep us here. Let us out of here.” She stopped and listened for a moment, then began pounding and kicking at the door again. “You’d better let us out of here.”
Anya watched her friend quietly for a few minutes understanding the need to do something, anything. She had done the same thing a few hours ago with no results. Likewise they had searched the small basement room for anything that they might climb on to get to the window. The room was empty except for them and no one upstairs seemed inclined to come down and see what the ruckus was about. Finally, Jennifer came back and sat down.
“This is crazy. Who are they?” she asked bewildered.
“I don’t know,” replied Anya sighing. “But we had better save our strength. They don’t seem concerned with our comfort.”
“I noticed. How is anyone going to find us?” She looked at where Anya was sitting, although it was getting hard to see. “I’m getting hungry. Do you think they’ll bring us some food?” Anya shook her head.
“I hope so, I am getting hungry too,” she said. The girls fell quiet again. Both girls jumped when they heard a noise at the door. Jennifer grabbed Anya’s hand as they watched the door slowly open. The man standing in the doorway was huge and Anya found herself hanging onto Jennifer’s hand just as tightly.
The man said nothing as he came into the room with a tray. He set the tray down on the floor just inside the door and then backed out shutting the door behind him. The room was plunged back into darkness again as the girls heard the lock snap back into place.
“Well,” said Anya, “apparently they don’t intend to starve us to death. Shall we see what’s for dinner?”
*******************************************
The interviews with the other girls who had been on the field trip that morning had taken hours and hadn’t yielded much in the way of useful information. Illya rested his elbows on the table in front of him, rubbing his eyes in tiredness and frustration. Napoleon came into the room right after the last student left.
“Anything?” he asked as he sat down across from his partner. Illya opened his eyes and looked at Napoleon. He shook his head slowly.
“Nothing useful. They all saw Jennifer and Anya move away from the group, but no one saw anything after that. No one even noticed they were gone until the teacher called them back together to return to the school. The only thing that was found was Anya’s jacket.”
“We’ll find her,” replied Napoleon. “I’ve sent the two agents back to Headquarters. Waverly wanted to deal with them. I guess he’ll assign someone else.”
“I don’t understand,” said Illya. “How can someone kidnap two girls and leave no trace? Has there been any more contact?”
“No, not yet. The ambassador is wearing Miss Burgoyne’s carpet out with his pacing. And he’s still demanding that the police be called.” He stood up. “Let’s get back to her office. Maybe we can convince him to get a room and sleep.” Illya looked at him with a stare that told him that neither of them would be likely to sleep tonight.
The agents entered Miss Burgoyne’s office and sure enough, the ambassador was still pacing and ranting. He caught sight of them as they entered and stopped pacing.
“Well, what have you found out?” he demanded loudly.
“No more than we knew before,” replied Illya. “None of the other girls saw anything after Anya and Jennifer left the group.” He continued to stand facing the ambassador.
“Why aren’t you out looking for them? Why haven’t the police been called?” Napoleon stepped into the conversation.
“Mr. Ambassador,” he said quietly, hoping to calm the man. “There are agents searching all of the roads leading out of the area, as well as knocking on the doors of nearby houses. Everything is being done that can be. Why don’t you go and get some rest. We’ll notify you as soon as we hear anything.” The ambassador stared at Solo as though he had lost his mind. Finally, he shook his head and turned to Verity.
“Miss Burgoyne, I believe you have guest quarters here on the campus?” he asked.
“Yes, of course, Mr. Ambassador,” she replied. “I’ll have someone show you to a room.”
Nothing else was said as they waited for someone to come and escort the ambassador to the quest quarters. Verity Burgoyne and the three men seemed lost to their own thoughts.
****************************************
The girls were awakened the next morning by the door being slammed open. The huge man, who had brought them dinner the night before, filled the doorway. Both girls sat up and looked at him. He pointed to Anya and said in his gravelly voice,
“You, come with me!” When she didn’t respond immediately he came over to her, grabbed her arm and lifted her to her feet. Anya began to twist and fight against his handling.
“Let me go! What do you want with us?” she demanded as she struggled. The man began to drag her from the room.
“You’ll find out soon enough, now come on!” He kept hold of her arm as he closed and locked the door, leaving Jennifer alone in the room.
Anya was pushed into a room that seemed to be a study. There were numerous bookcases, a desk and chair as well as a small sitting area by the windows. As soon as she heard the door lock behind her she went to the windows. Locked, of course and there were steel bars on the outside. Anya sighed, and sat in one of the armchairs to wait.
After a short time the door opened again and a tall woman came into the room. She was handsome rather than pretty. Her dark hair was piled on top of her head and she was wearing a pant suit that was more masculine than those normally worn by women. The woman walked over to where the girl was sitting and smiled down at her.
“So, you would be Anya Nickolaievna Kuryakin,” she said softly, “Illya Kuryakin’s baby sister.” Anya looked at her for a moment before answering.
“And you are?” she asked sarcastically. The woman deserved no respect, as she was, to Anya, a common criminal.
“Watch your tone, young woman,” the woman snapped. “I am Linda Jessup.” She glared at Anya as though daring her. Anya crossed her arms in front of her and glared at the woman standing in front of her.
“So, you know who I am; why are we here? What purpose could two school girls possibly serve?” Anya said without changing her tone. Jessup slapped Anya across the face without warning. She stared at the woman in shock.
“I told you to watch your tone. You are here to share information with us. The other girl was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, in order for both of you to survive our little visit, you will do exactly what you are told.”
“What information could I have that you would want? Unless, perhaps you are interested in the plant and animal life around the lake…” Anya stopped as Jessup slapped her again. At that moment the huge guard, whom Anya had begun to call ‘Jumbo’ in her mind, returned. Miss Jessup turned to him,
“Take her back downstairs. Put her in the other room, I don’t want the two of them together. I’ll go down and interrogate her in a little while.”
‘Jumbo’ came over and lifted Anya from the chair. This time she was able to get her arm out of his grasp.
“I am capable of walking by myself,” she snapped and walked ahead of him when he gave her a small shove.
The room she found herself in now was smaller than the one she had shared with Jennifer. It was just as empty, but this one was dark. The light switch was on the outside of the door and ‘Jumbo’ had shut off the light when he locked her in. The other thing she noticed about this room before it went completely dark was that the walls seemed to be sound proofed. Anya sat in a corner resting her head on her knees and waited.
***********************************
Jennifer sat in the basement room waiting for her friend to return. She had no way to tell time but as the room began to darken with the onset of evening she heard someone outside the door. She got up and went to stand by the door waiting. The door was opened suddenly by the large guard who had taken Anya that morning. Before Jennie had a chance to react, Anya was shoved into the room roughly and fell to the floor. The guard closed and locked the door again. Jennie went over to her.
“Anya?” There was no reply from the girl lying on the floor. “Anya, wake up ! Are you okay?” Jennie said frantically. Anya moaned softly and began to sit up. “Can you hear me, are you okay?” asked Jennie again.
“Yes, I can hear you, Jennie,” replied Anya weakly. “Please, help me over to the mats.” Jennie helped Anya over to the mats they had been sleeping on and both girls sat down on one of them.
“What happened?” demanded Jennie. “What do they want?” Anya leaned against the wall and sighed quietly.
“They seem to think I know something about a formula my brother is working on,” she finally answered. “You weren’t supposed to be taken.”
“Well, bad luck, that. I’m here. What did they do to you?”
“The woman in charge seems to enjoy hitting her guests, and Jumbo, the guard, can’t open a door and allow a person to walk into the room; he likes to shove.”
“I noticed. He wasn’t exactly gentle bringing you back, was he?” Jennie moved over to the tray that had been brought in earlier. “Here, you need to eat something. I think you’re going to need your strength more than I am.” Anya shook her head and then realized that Jennie couldn’t see her in the dark.
“Just some water, please. I just want to rest.” Jennie gave her the cup with water. When Anya was done with it she lay down on the mat and fell asleep.
To Be Continued
