Gemini Rising VI:

 Conflict of Duty

 by Red Skye
 =========================
 
 This story is a sequel to Gemini Rising V: Resurrection.
 Note: Where you see =Text bracketed in this way= it indicates a characters
 thoughts.
 NSA = National Security Agency.
 
  *=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=*
 
  Welsh flung open the door of the interrogation chamber, and roared
 "Enough" startling both Ray and the stubborn 'Suits' who were badgering the
 desperately tired man.
  "Vecchio, you're free to go."
  "Butt out Lieutenant, or I'll have you busted back to.."
  "I've had enough of your crap. You picked the wrong officer to crucify -
 he's got friends in all the right places to get *you* busted back to Cadet,
 Mister. Friends in high place's he and the Mountie made by solving crimes,
 saving lives and busting the bad guys - and unless you have an agenda which
 includes rendering months worth of data he's gathered while he was
 undercover worthless - You will not only back off but drop this whole
 farcical investigation. He's already told you more times than I can count,
 he doesn't know anything about the J'Fa."
  "He's lying."
  "You can't expect us to swallow the line he's been feeding us about
 knowing nothing, when he's in so tight with the J'Fa's leaders that the
 Mafia called off a hit on the Mountie when Gemini's Major Domo bared his
 fang's."
  "We're you listening when I told you the reason he's in so tight with that
 pair is..."
  The exhausted Ray dropped his head in his hands, and wished his head would
 stop throbbing as Welsh and the Feds snarled and growled at each other.
  -There is no justice in this world- He thought. Then it hit him like a
 sledge hammer and he bolted upright, eyes wide.
  =That's what J'Fa means... =
  He surreptitiously looked at the suits who had focussed all their
 attention on Welsh. He almost laughed. May have if he hadn't been so
 exhausted.
  He crossed his arms on the table and let his head fall to rest on them.
 The *discussion* between Welsh and the suits ended and they looked around
 as Ray's snores filled the air.
 
  *=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=*
 
  Fraser watched Ray moving through the shadowed path's of the park and
 knelt down by Deifenbaker to pet him and instruct him to scout the area.
 With a woof, the wolf was off and Fraser stood to step back into the
 shadows as Ray neared.
  "That you Benni?"
  "Yes, Armando."
  "I've already scouted around, Benni, this pace is deserted except for a
 pair of fool hardy teens up to some heavy petting by the statue."
  "It never hurts to be cautious."
  "Truer words were never spoken."
  There was an awkward silence that dragged on till Fraser broke it.
  "I was under the impression, you were going to be charged.."
  "They tried every dirty trick in the book to get me to recant my story,
 but nothing worked, and thanks to you, sticking to yours. They had no
 choice but to back off."
  "What happens now?"
  "Now.. I go back to being Armando again.. If my cover wasn't blown."
  "And as far as I know - they did nothing to blow it."
  "Good.. Good.. Did you get the message I sent you through the mail?"
  "Yes.. And the key. I collected the disks as you instructed me to."
  "What did you do with them?"
  "I thought it was prudent to wait and see what happened before I handed
 them over to anyone."
  "Good. I hope you found a safe place to stash them in the mean time."
  "If that's all you wanted to know.."
  "No... No.. I had to see you before.. went back.. Benny, they know what we
 did in that Hotel suite, they know about.. our conversation, about what we
 did.."
  "I am aware of that Ray."
  "They've got the whole damn thing on tape."
  "I've seen.. an edited version of it."
  "I saw the unedited version," Ray said with a little shudder.
  "It made me sick.."
  With startling suddenness Fraser pulled Ray into his arms and kissed him,
 thoroughly. Ray struggled at first, but once it was clear Fraser meant
 business, he relaxed and let himself enjoy it.
  When it was over, Fraser released him and caressed his face.
  "Good bye, Ray."
  Ray didn't like the way Fraser said that, but before he could express his
 misgiving's Fraser had spun on his heel and strode away. Gathering his
 scattered wits about him Ray ran after him, but Fraser broke into a run
 easily outdistancing him and just as Ray broke his own personal best sprint
 record and began to think he'd catch up with the Mountie, A figure emerged
 from the shadows behind him, striking quickly, and efficiently to drag him
 into a stand of brush and pulled him down to the ground. Terror flooded
 Ray's system as he felt the hot breath of his captor on his throat, then,
 pure relief followed as he heard Doug's Voice.
  "It's me.. Listen up, you were set up - they wired your friend.."
  Ray struggled to roll over as his cry of "What?!!" was muffled by the
 strong hand over his mouth.
  "You think they gave up. They haven't even started yet," Doug declared.
  The hand over his mouth, and the weight on his back was removed and he
 rolled over to look up at Doug in the dim light.
  "They wired Fraser?!" Ray hissed, disbelieving.
  "They've got the means to destroy his career in their hot little hands.
 And used it to get him to agree to it, but, well.. I don't have to tell you
 what he decided meant more to him when it came to the crunch."
  "How did he get a message to you without them..."
  "He got into my computer when I left the room.. And after I caught him..
 He typed up a message telling me they'd wired him, and threatened to jail
 him if he didn't cooperate."
  "I have to stop underestimating that man."
  "You're not the only one who underestimate him.. So did they. My bet is
 that you won't get far before they descend on you to take you back into
 custody.. So I'll make this quick. I know what they're going to be
 interrogating you about, what they want to know, answer their questions,
 honestly, to the best of your ability, and demand that they use a lie
 detector."
  "Doug.. You don't know what they.."
  "They want to know who Gemini is.. They think you know. Tell them what you
 know. And when they start pestering you about me, make sure you bring up
 the fact, I'm the one Mac framed who was knifed to death in the prison I
 shouldn't have been sent to in the first place.."
  "Yeah, right," Ray sneered.
  Even in the dim light it was easy to see the look of surprise that
 appeared on Doug's face.
  "I know all about the dirty tricks you and your brother used to pull.. I
 shoulda guessed what was going on.. There was a time I used to think you
 were schizoid."
  "Who.."
  "You're not as smart as you think you are. Someone found enough proof to
 guess what happened and witnesses to confirm their guesses."
  "I can explain."
  "I bet it was a real big laugh, playing the old switcheroo trick on me all
 the time, Dougie, or should I call you Damon, seeing as how it is your
 name."
  "Actually it's both, I *am* Douglas, but I became Damon.. After he took my
 place in prison, and died there. He wasn't supposed to be there long.. They
 told me about the investigation into Mac's activities.. Said, he'd be out
 in no time.. That they'd ensure he got citizenship.. If I did what they
 wanted.."
  That put an end to Ray's rant.
  "He got it.. Too late to do anything with it.. And they thought it was
 better if I took his place.. Became Damon, let everyone think I had died in
 prison.
  "Who's *They*?"
  "I can't tell you that."
  "You really are a deep cover agent for someone?"
  Doug nodded.
  "And you can't tell me who?"
  "No."
  "And all the things they said about you.. The murders and.."
  "Fake records, lies, half truths and exaggerations."
  "And Gemini???"
  "Don't ask questions you're smart enough to know I can't answer."
  Ray nodded slowly.
  "Now if I'm right, and the pounce and drag you back for interrogation,
 when they're interrogating you and insinuating you've gone bad, ask them a
 question - What makes you think we'd trust a cop. Especially one we're well
 aware is working under cover to gather evidence on organised crime
 syndicates."
  "I've already said that so many times I lost count."
  "Say it again and if they can't their heads, and decide to take you down
 regardless, we'll teach them what JFA stands for."
  "Justice for all."
  Doug gave a soft laugh and began an aborted move to touch Ray's face.
  "No one can say you were born yesterday."
  "If you're right.. They're not going to give up easily, I don't think you
 want me to answer some of the questions they've asked dishonestly. They
 want to know all about your escape routes, Sheba, they were even grilling
 me about Solomon Bellettini-Knight. Going on about the Callegnini Vault
 being loaded with stolen property, about your place going up in flames..."
 
  ======*======
 
  Douglas was proved right 15 minutes after he parted company with Ray, Ray
 was pounced on by the suits and dragged off to be interrogated again. 12
 hours and countless lie detector tests later, it was still on going. When
 he answered questions, he answered them honestly. But it was his refusal to
 answer certain questions that got him into deeper trouble and it was those
 questions he was grilled about, over and over.
  Where was he on this night? Who was he with on that night? What do you
 know about the Bellettini-Knight murder? What do you know about the
 Callegnini Vault? Bellettini-Knight was a known IRA sympathiser, did Knight
 share his father's sympathies. On and on it went.
 
  ======*======
 
  Welsh was trying to find a way to get the FBI men off Ray's back in his
 office when the sound of silence registered. He couldn't remember the last
 time he'd heard so little coming from the area his office bordered. He was
 about to rise to find out why when his door opened and the Kowlaski
 entered, with two muscle bound men in black on his heels.
  Welsh rose to his feet as Kowlaski closed the door.
  "Sorry for the interruption, Sir, but these men are here about Vecchio."
  Two leather I.D cases landed on his desk, tossed there by the other two
 MIB's. He picked them up and looked at them his eyes widening as he saw
 their official I.D cards and Badges.
  =Oh great just what I need, *another* bureau coming down on my head over
 Vecchio=
  "NSA... What does the NSA want with Vecchio?"
  "It came to our attention that he was investigating the back ground of one
 Douglas Bellettini-Montray and his twin, Damon."
  Welsh glanced at Kowlaski.
  "We'd like to see the information collected by Detective Kowlaski, in
 Vecchio's name."
  =Good god, it's not just the FBI who want him, it's the NSA too.. How the
 hell am I going to get Vecchio out of this mess?=
 
  ======*======
 
  Three hours later all the records Kowlaski collected were shredded and
 incinerated. All the computer records were erased, and they were sworn to
 secrecy, in the interests of national security.
  Fifteen minutes after that, Welsh had the pleasure of following the NSA
 agents to the local branch of the FBI where they were taken to an
 interrogation room. It was with great pleasure Welsh watched the FBI men
 blanch when the NSA men flashed their badges and threatened them with
 expulsion if they didn't drop their harassment of officer Vecchio.
  The FBI agents blustered about him being a cop gone bad. The NSA men asked
 them to supply evidence of the fact that would be *admissable* in court to
 supply proof. The FBI men opened a file and scattered pornographic pictures
 over the table top. One of the NSA men pulled out a lighter and picked up a
 photo setting it alight before tossing it back on the table to set the rest
 alight much to the FBI men's shock. It also roused Ray who jumped to his
 feet.
  "I said show us something that would be admissible in court, that means
 evidence that wasn't supplied by Alessandro Conti."
  "Who?"
  "He's an assassin who was on the Don's payroll," Ray supplied.
  The FBI men looked at him.
  "He's got a grudge against, Damon, the Don and I. He wants to hurt all of
 us. He hurts Damon, by setting up Fraser, he hurts me by setting me up to
 take a fall, and god only knows what he's got in store for the Don. He
 already tried once, put me in the hospital with explosives, destroyed the
 Don's home, the same way.. and faked his death to make us lower our guard."
  "How do you know he supplied it?"
  "Because some of your fellow agents cut a deal with him, to try and take
 down Damon Knight, and in the process let a psycho who makes Knight look
 like a proverbial angel in comparison back on the streets."
  =Stick the knife in and twist it= Ray thought gleefully.
  "But never mind, we've got men out hunting him down even as we speak. He
 won't stay free much longer."
  "Wether or not he collected the evidence, it's still damning."
  "Well of course it is.. He made sure of that, and even manufactured some
 of it."
  "Such as?"
  "The photo's of Knight killing the Drug pusher."
  "How do you.."
  "If you study the two pictures it's rather obvious the man in the later
 pictures is not the same as the man in the first two. The clothing is
 different, are you suggesting he ever so kindly asked the man he *intended*
 to kill to wait while he changed into different attire."
  The FBI men looked as foolish as they should have.
  "Knight - Damon & Sheba both are *trained* Ninja Assassins, who on a scale
 of one to ten, rate a ten for lethality, Alessandro rates a 3, deprive him
 of his weapons, and he's still dangerous, deprive Damon or his wife of
 their weapons, and they're still lethal. And as for Alessandro, he's small
 potatoes.. Damon & Sheba between them have contacts within the Mafia,
 Yakuza and IRA, and we have an opportunity to gather information about
 their methods from *the inside* that you in your eagerness to persecute an
 innocent man have come this close to depriving us of," the more senior of
 the NSA agents said making a tiny gesture.
  "He's guilty of colluding with.." one of the suits blustered.
  "He's guilty of doing what he had to do, to survive. Damon Knight *knew*
 who he was. We've interrogated the Mountie.. We know what he's told
 Vecchio.. What a pack of lies he's told, what a web of deceit he's
 practiced to place Vecchio in exactly the position he's in. He wouldn't be
 the first cop Knight's done it too.. But he would be the first we were able
 to identify before it was far too late."
  =Oh great, just great, out of the frying pan into the fire=
  "What do you say, Detective, how would you like a chance to serve your
 country, by helping us gather enough evidence to put Knight and his wife
 away for the rest of their miserable lives?"
 
  ======*======
 
  Five minutes later, Ray was bundled into biker's leathers and a helmet and
 marched out of the station, to climb onto the bike he'd been informed was
 out there for him to use.
  20 minutes later he sat on the back of the bike in an abandoned warehouse,
 watching Doug clap the MIB's on the back, before they climbed into their
 car and departed. He watched Doug approach with a grin.
  "You Bastard," Ray growled without heat.
  "Surprise."
  "I'll say. Why didn't you just tell me you were with the NSA."
  "I couldn't do that. Not without the permission of my superiors and I had
 to convince them to act to get you out of the grave that Alessandro dug for
 you. It took time to do that."
  "Who else knows?"
  "There is no one else outside the NSA who knows."
  "Not even Sheba?"
  "She thinks I'm Damon."
  "She couldn't tell the difference?"
  "Could you?"
  "Like I said there were times I thought you were schizoid. You and your
 brother might have been identical but there were noticeable personality
 differences."
  "Oh."
  "For one thing.. He's the reason I never did anything about my attraction
 to you in the past."
  "Really."
  "I acted on it - once - and he rejected my advances."
  "Was that before or after the academy?"
  "Before.. I was going to say the last time I saw you before I ran into you
 at the academy."
  "That's why you never came back, you made a pass at him, that he
 rejected.. forcibly, and it put you right off."
  "Basically. It used to drive me nuts.. Getting crossed signals off you all
 the time. I decided to just ignore it, until.. you finally made the first
 move."
  Then it occoured to him to question who made it.
  "Or was it you???"
  "Oh, it was me."
  "So why did he leave?"
  "We had a fight, about you and the threat you posed to him."
  "So why did he agree to take your place in prison? Or did you already
 answer that?"
  "The NSA knew about him.. They never told me how they found out, just that
 they knew about him.. They approached him, with the offer of helping him
 become an American citizen if he helped them.. But he told them to go to
 hell."
  "What made him change his mind?"
  "They brought him to the hospital, where I was recovering from the knife
 attack, and gave him a choice, take my place and pretend to be me long
 enough for me to fully recover and carry out the mission they wanted him to
 carry out or be deported back to Italy in a blaze of publicity."
  "Damned if he did, damned if he didn't."
  "Basically. They swore he wouldn't be there long, told me about the
 investigation into Mac's activities, how it was only a matter of time
 before my conviction was over turned and he'd be out, free and clear to
 start a new life."
  "What did they want you to do?"
  "You don't want to know."
  =As if I couldn't guess=
  "Did you get Fraser off the hook too?"
  "They have nothing they can use against him. My spies tell me he told them
 to shove it, to go ahead and arrest him and walked out. Wether or not they
 make another move against him is something only time will tell.
 
    *=-=-=-=-=-=*======*======*=-=-=-=-=-=*
 
  The End - For Now.
  Standard disclaimers apply.
  Copyright February 24, 1998 Red Skye.
 
 

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