BlackMail
: : Summary : : Even the best laid plans go awry. Rick's past catches up with him and he is forced to makea decision which could ruin everything.
Rick stopped at the gates of Fort Brydon and turned to face his compulsory companions. The two younger men dutiflly
stepped back and saluted. The cruel irony wasn't wasted on O'Connell. He was once again their superior officer, no matter
how reluctant.
Tell Verdi I'll see him, ready and rearing, tomorrow morning." His stare was icy cold and his tone, unmistakably malicious.
He turned on his heels and started towards the civilian quarters, but was impeded by the apologetic voice of one of the
Legionnaires.
"Forgive me, Captain!" The younger man spoke with a broad, common English accent and was fully aware his interruption
was unwelcomed. His Captain turned to him with a look of utter contempt. "Sir! We have orders from the Lieutenant-Colonel
to remind you that you are expected back at camp by 19:00 hours tonight." The soldier paused briefly, summoning the courage
to continue. "We leave Cairo by first light tomorrow, Sir." He finished with the standard salute. O'Connell stood quietly. The
anger within, once again boiling through his blood, but Rick managed to refrain from offering any response other than a grunted
recognition to his curfew. Now,as he again made his way inside the Fort, he glanced over his shoulder and was satisfied to see
his young guards returning to their daily routine.
****
Jonathan had deserted his sister, along with her unreasonable mood, for the peace and quiet of a mid-morning stroll back to his
lodgings. Usually he wouldn't be back at the Fort until late evening, but in this instance he had forgotten his wallet and
returned to retrieve it. On any other day he would have coerced Evelyn into a loan to see him over, but he wasn't willing to risk
her ill humour in the process. Still, the day was pleasant and he whistled as he climbed the stairs, making his way down the hall.
Passing O'Connell's door, he noticed it wide open and saw the man himself angrily throwing an array of belongings into a
rucksack and his weapon roll laid open of the bed. His immediate thought was that perhaps poor Evie had been right! O'Connell
was running off, and in a hurry it appeared!
Jonathan tapped lightly on the opened door, immediately gaining the American's attention. The two men stood silent for a
moment before Jonathan stepped forward, curiosity having got the better of him.
"I say, you, ah...seem to be...going somewhere?"
Rick threw a shirt onto the bed and heaved a sigh. Jonathan surveyed the messy process and added, "In a hurry, too!"
"I don't have much of a choice!" The venom in Rick's manner was still evident. He looked over at Jonathan and made the
effort to calm down. He needed Jonathan to understand what he was doing, and why. "Where's Evelyn?"
"I left her after breakfast. I'd say she's at the Museum by now."
"By herself!"
"Yes!" It was difficult for Jonathan not to respond childishly. Rick was behaving strangely...and it was a stupid question.
"Well don't leave her that way for long!"
"What on earth is going on? Just where are you going?" The Englishman was completely dumfounded by the event he was
witnessing, "Evie's been frantic all morning for fear that you'd gone...and now it appears she's, at least, half right!" He peered
into Rick's empty closet, "Have you two had a fight, or something?"
"No?"
"Well Evie seems to think so..."
"She what?" Rick shook his head. Jonathan's babbling was more than he could tolerate right now. Time was scarce and he
needed to fill Jonathan in on what was happening. "Shut up!" He stepped past his now silent companion and pushed the door
closed. "Sit down, Jonathan."
O'Connell proceeded to enlighten Jonathan on the not so pleasant details of his life before the Carnahan's and Imhotep. The
Legion and the looting. The rogue regiment he helped lead to Hamunaptra in the first place and hs subsequent desertion. All of
which, in oneway or another, led to their meeting in the squalid grounds of the Cairo Prison. Jonathan sat glued to his seat,
lending more than a passing interest into the treasures which must have been collected along the way, in turn, always being
silenced by Rick. Then came the explaination for the hurried packing which Jonathan walked in on. Evelyn's brother sat hushed,
as the full consequences of O'Connell's actions came to bare.
Rick stood and walked to the window. Looking down onto the road, he noticed his guards from earlier this morning were still
vigilant outside the Fort walls. He heard Jonathan stand and pace a few feet behind him. Disbelief tinged his voice. "Are you
quite sure he means what he says? I mean, he could just....."
Rick spun about to face him. "He means it, Jonathan! Don't doubt it for a second!"
"But, I mean...Evie? Surely they wouldn't...just because you..."
Rick walked over to Jonathan and met his gaze within inches. Staring directly into his eyes, he whispered intently, "They will!"
To Jonathan's horror, the memory of yesterday's meeting with the Legionnair flashed through his mind and he shamefully
realized that he must have somehow played a part in current events. However innocent it appeared at the time, it was clear he
had helped place his little sister in a most dangerous situation. Still holding his gaze with O'Connell, he reached the decision
that the American didn't need to know what had transpired yesterday. After all, if they were that intent on finding him, they
would have done so, with or without his help.
Rick stepped back and ran his hand through his hair. "Don't mention any of this to Evelyn. You got that!" He pointed at
Jonathan to stress his point. "I'll tell her I have to go, or otherwise I face Court Martial." He put both hands on his head and
contorted his face with frustration, searching for a plausible excuse. "I don't know....maybe something about a public flogging...
or something!" Carnahan, who was still somewhat in shock over the whole thing, continually nodded his head in agreement.
However, his attention was grabbed when O'Connell snapped at him, "You don't let her out of your sight! I don't trust Verdi as
far as I could kick him."
"Yes. Absolutely! How long have you got?"
"Until seven tonight."
Jonathan exhaled loudly, "You'd better get cracking then! Do you want me to follow you?"
"No. I'll bring her back to the Fort and then leave from here."
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