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Chapter 166 - Art of Diplomacy
An hour later Mason drove his car to Santa Ynez, having quiet Cruz on the passenger seat. Passages from the recent hot discussion were going and going around in Mason's head.
"Mason, that's crazy! A suicide!"
"I'm lawyer, I'm able to reason anyone".
"Reason? Dear Lord. They're assassins. Are you going to make Mary a widow, and leave your children orphans?"
"Of course, I'm not. That's not going to happen".
Of course, Mason was confident not as much as he had been tried to show. But his gut told him that he can handle it. However, when they called to help Cruz who unexpectedly offered to come along Mason, the latter did not object. It would not hurt to have a backup. Mason already started to build in his mind the forthcoming conversation with a killer who is recently hunting for Mr. Wayne.
It was very, very late when they reached the desired plain house. Mason stopped the car just before it but in such way he could see if they were watching by anyone.
"I wish you did not reject to put on the recording device," Cruz said when Mason reached out for the handle of the door. "And you should not take the overall risk for all of that".
"We are dealing with government agents so you should know what these things do not work with guys like them".
"He can shoot you like a rat and that'd be it. Come on, let's me come with you".
"No, I'm just going to talk. The negotiator with a flag of truce. Forgive me, Cruz, but you are a cop to your core".
"I know how to negotiate, Mason. And you aware it as well".
"And I know how to talk to people. And you aware it as well too".
"Okay. I got you covered but if he decides to kill you I hardly have time to stop him".
"He's not going to hurt me".
"I hope. Be careful, Mason".
"Of course".
Mason opened the door of the car and climb out. He's walked to the house but bypassing the door, walked straight to the window and gently lifted the sash. Of course, he could take the key from Mr. Wayne but he did not this deliberately. He did not want to be mistaken for the owner of the house.
It took him a few minutes but the sash eventually gave up and Mason came in the dark space of the house. However as soon he took a few steps and straighten as the overhead light turned on.
"Well-well, we have the overnight guest", the pleasant baritone drawled. The pleasant and familiar one, dammit!
"Harry?" Mason asked in astonishment turning around to the voice. "Harry Lakshir?"
"Capwell? What are you doing here? I did not suppose Capwells fell into the poverty too deep so they must housebreak respectable citizens for earning for a living".
"Do you really think that I'm doing this?"
"No". The former classmate came from inside the house to the lighten spot. "But the police will think that way. I'm sorry but I'm on the side of the law".
"Hunting for the person who harmed no one is to be on the side of the law?" Mason wondered gently.
Harry's face hardened, ceased to express any emotion, but it clearly speaks for itself.
"I have to follow orders," he said after a pause.
"So you're performing dirty works for Uncle Sam? And do not even think what are you doing? I thought you had more brains. You were one of the best students".
"Shut up!" Harry snapped. "You have no an idea about my brains. Why are you sticking your nose here if you already knew everything? Having a death wish?"
"Not at all. So if you just follow orders, then your fate would be the fate of cannon fodder who got quietly liquidated later. I am sure you never would fall to that".
The pause.
"Even if you're right, what's it to you? What do you want after all? No, you're better just going away, Capwell. I'm ready to let you go in honor our unforgettable meeting. Just go away, do not look back and never come back".
"No". Mason dropped it like a stone into a deep well. "I came to talk and my intentions have not changed," he breathed through his nose. "I hope there's some drink stuff around here somewhere".
"You actually think that you can get me drunk? You cannot be that naive!"
"I did offer nothing to you," Mason said, pulling almost full bottle of tequila out of the cupboard. He found the glass and poured himself a generous portion.
The agent watched silently as Mason sips tequila.
"You're quite comfortable like you're home" he commented after a pause.
"I'm actually home," Mason shrugged and rolled his eyes. "The man who you are waiting for is my grandfather".
Harry's eyes widened for a moment, and then narrowed.
"Nonsense".
"No. Although he is not quite related to me but nevertheless he's a part of Capwell's family".
"Do not fantasize, Mason. Wayne is just your client, not a relative".
"You're wrong. Bernard Wayne is the father of my stepmother, my father's second wife".
Harry Lakshir paused for quite a long time this time. Mason sipping tequila and watched his nemesis. At Harvard Mason and Harry were high league opponents as the most equally popular, smart, brilliant students. However their rivalry was... quite noble and pure. None of them ever fell to mean or dirt tricks. It was not a personal feud. Both of them tried to be the best but they were ready to respect the victory of each others. Mason remembered how they were neck and neck almost to the graduation. Back then he even had sad thoughts that the victory will be likely belong to his nemesis but at the beginning of last year Harry suddenly ran out the track, he just disappeared taking a leave of absence. There were rumors about a nervous breakdown or some disaster in the family but no one had accurate information. Mason became the winner, and though he had no doubts that he fully deserved his victory sometimes he thought how it would be if Harry graduated from the University along him.
"Why?" Harry's voice cut in his thoughts.
Mason's eyebrows went up.
"Why is that? Why am I trying to protect my family?" Harry did not answer so Mason asked another question: "Do you know that you are hunting for not a criminal, but a man who just owned the top priority information therefore he was forced to hiding for the rest of his life?"
"Mason, you are talking about things you don't understand. Do you think our secret service is villains and fools?"
"Oh, no, I think I really understand that. Harry, I know all information Bernard Wayne has in his head," his former classmate's head jerked slightly, and Mason added: "Yes, I do. I know all of them. And not just me. My whole family knows them thoroughly now".
"You're lying".
"No. I'm not just a fool you think I am. When you saw me here you decided that I'm spying for the sake of my client and do not aware the full extent of what I got in. But I knew exactly what I'm dealing with".
"Then you aware that I have to kill you," the agent's voice sounded without any emotions but with a faint hoarse.
"I guess your order is to kill anyone who has this information in the head. But I hope that you have enough brains to understand the thing is you just can not kill the entire family of Capwells. All the more to do this without the information did appear on TV or in the press".
"Offer to disobey?" Harry's voice sounded mocking.
"I offer to consider what you're doing. You are hunting the man who lived on the witness protection program for 15 years. He was hiding for most of his life, he was forced to be alone for not endanger lives of his loved. And all because of the information that he never tried to disclose. He is an old man, Harry. And he does not threaten to national security. I do not know why it is important for someone to kill him. But I'll do anything for keeping him alive. We will do. All of us. All of Capwells".
"Mason, you're sure what you're saying?"
"Absolutely. Leave him alone, Harry. Just pretend that you do not know where he is and with who. Let your task be unachieved".
There was a heavy silence. Mason waited having disgusted feeling in his stomach. Yes, dammit, he was asking for his former enemy's favor. For his mercy.
"It will not work," finally sounded in the echoing silence, and Mason's heart sank. He involuntarily clenched his teeth, but said nothing but his former classmate suddenly continued: "If I leave my task as unachieved they just give it to another agent. Less scrupulous one".
"Any other ideas?" Mason afraid to show his relief. He was still feared to.
"I guess I can to try something".
Mason looked at him. Harry nodded wearily.
"I have someone waiting in my car," Mason said. "My brother-in-law and friend. I think we should continue that conversation as three. Oh, and he was once the agent too. Perhaps you two may have quite a bit in common".
Forty minutes later Cruz and Mason were on the way home. Mason gave the wheel to Cruz, and now he was sitting on the passenger seat, staring into the black darkness outside and recalled. But it was not resentment and fear of relatives now but clear, modest words of Harry, the words of the brilliant commander. Mason smiled wearily. Finally it will be over soon. Yes, they worked out the plan would require some efforts but they are feasible, and Harry was on their side now. Mason remembered how they're saying goodbye.
"Why did you leave the last course?"
"My sister was dead. She was killed because of some political games".
"And you decided to become an agent".
"Yes. A life has strange ideas sometimes, has it?"
"I agree".
They shook hands, and Mason walked to his car, but then he's looked back and impulsively asked: "Harry?"
"What?" He turned to Mason.
"I'm sorry that we're not finished Uni together".
"Yes, me too," Harry's smile flashed in the dark. "See you later, Mason".
"See you later".
The strangest thing was he really regretted that they had not finished together the last year of Uni. May be when he's finishing Harvard it was too important for him to prove to his father that he is the best student but now when he thought about this, he would have preferred to loose it to Harry if he was really stronger than become the only winner due the lack of the opponent.
When they drove in Santa Barbara, Cruz stopped the car and caught a taxi on the busy street. He's going to go at Capwell's and tell the news, and Mason drove home. Earlier he and Mary agreed that she would not wait for him in CC's house and come back to the children.
The house was dark and quiet, but Mason once noticed Mary on the sofa in the living room. She was sleeping in front of the TV on. Mason came up and pressed the power button. Mary immediately jerked and sat up straight.
"Mason?"
"Yes, it's me". Mason sat down beside Mary and put his arm around her.
"How..." Mary rubbed her eyes. "How did it go?"
"Remarkable," Mason kissed her temple. "Everything's fine and it will be even better. But I'll tell you later. Now we both go to sleep. Are the children all right?"
"Yes, just fine. Let's go upstairs". Mary breathed out loudly and hugged his shoulders. "I'm so glad you're back safe and sound".
"As I said as there was no extra danger for me. I love you". He hugged her back and then pulled her away, helping to stand up on her feet.
"This was my line," Mary smiled, biting her bottom lip. Her eyes dimmed with tears of relief. "I love you, Mason. Let's go to bed. We both terribly exhausted today".
Mason nodded. He was very tired but he felt a strange lightness also. As if a great weight fell off his shoulders. He cannot understand why. Yes, the situation was serious but it was not hopeless. And he did not even know Mr. Wayne. He saw him only the second time in his life. Why he was so important to him?
Mason's reasonable thoughts suddenly scattered like leaves in the wind. Mary kissed him on the lips and ran her fingers down his cheek.
"You're thinking too much," she whispered.
"My fault. But I'll do better", Mason whispered and kissed her back.
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