Safehouse, West Berlin
February 24 1981

After spending the all day talking about
Fracture Jaw and after I analyzed the intel that Sims and I collected at Da Nang, we found out that I actually know everything that happened.
I still wonder how did I remember every single details in a sudden moment.
I guess my memories are coming back to my brain. But still no memories about Adler.
Something really important should have happened, and this explains my strange feelings around him.
Well, I remember that he was jealous of Sims for taking care of me and the other soldiers.
And the way he looked at me on the chopper in the middle of the dawn, the way he protected me with his body...
No, Bell, you're overthinking as usual. He wanted to protect you because you're his teammate and a woman.
But only if I could remember more-.
"We've finished analyzing the names Bell acquired at Da Nang." - Park interrupts my thoughts.
I raise my head and realize that we haven't finished our work yet.
Park is showing some clues on the massive board; she's wearing a pair of high boots, the jeans from yesterday and a blue jacket.
Sims, Adler, Lazar, are listening her.
Why the hell she's always have to explain everything? I can do that by my own. And what she's explaining is my work.
I'm so tired after spending hours and hours analyzing Russian names one by one.
I don't know why but my head hurts more than usual, like thousand of needle are stuck in my brain.
She doesn't deserve all this attention.
"One in particular."- she continues.
Adler is smoking his cigarette as usual and I can't take my eyes off him.
I should stop to make him smoke.
This is so unhealthy for a CIA's agent.
But I kinda enjoy seeing the smoke going out of his mouth.
"Anton Volkov." - Park reaches the center of the board. "He's a Russian arms dealer working out of East Berlin. Admittedly, his connection to Perseus comes as a surprise."
"We've got kill or capture orders on Volkov. So if we can't get to Perseus, we'll get to his men. Close off his resources..." - Adler gets up and reach the board and talks to everybody.
God, why do I feel this anger in my veins when he goes near to Park?
Adler interrupts his speech and looks at me for a moment. Does he... know?
"Force him out of hiding. Mason and Woods are still wrapping up business in Kiev, wich means Volkov is ours. Gear up and we'll move out." - he says going from side to side of the board.
The reunion is finished and everyone go back to their work.
I notice that only Park didn't think about her business.
She's talking to Adler at his desk.
Why does she only talks with him? Goddamit.
This makes me feel sick.
I carefully try to listen their conversation.
"MI6 has been tracking Volkov for several years; it is my strong preference that we attempt to capture than kill him. He holds answers to a great many questions." - Park says.
Adler takes a while to reflect and smoke his cigarette. Then he turns it off on the ashtray.
"Your preferences has been noted, Agent Park." - Adler coldly replies and goes to work on his desk.
Park seems deluded and goes straight to her desk.
I look at Adler; he's wearing a mustard sweater with his black jacket and a pair of jeans.
He looks so good wearing these clothes...
"Nice work producing that name, Bell." - he says.
I gasp. He knew I was watching him!

"The Soviet intel I found at Da Nang was
in the archives?" - I ask.
What a stupid question, Bell.
"We archive everything. The CIA's like my ex-wife: won't throw a damn thing away."
Adler was... married?
I didn't even though about it.
What if he's married now?
And why do I care?
"The trick is knowing what's buried in that pile and getting the thing you need, when you need it." - Adler concludes.
"Yeah. Yeah, he's here. Doc. I think you want this one." - Sims interrupts our conversation.
Adler stands up and reach the Sims' desk.

"You bunching checks again?" - Sims asks to him.
"Collections? I'll take it back here." - Adler goes in a room with two windows and close the door so no one can hear him.
At least I can watch him.
He talks with somebody using the big with phone for the emergencies.
I can't hear much. He's talking about our missions.
"Here to entertain me?" - Sims asks with a cigarette in his right hand.

I didn't know that Sims smokes too.
I reach his desk and notice that he's wearing a black sweater and a mustard jacket.
"Did you steal Adler's clothes?" - I joke.
"What? No. And how you know what Adler usually wears?" - he laughs.
"Well, I just... look at him." - I quickly reply.
"You just look at him? Mh."
"It seems like Vietnam defeated you."- I say remembering his fear of the chopper.
"You being funny? Did we not just go trough this? Look, I could say so many things right now.... Nope, forget about it. It's good."
"Do you still operate in the field?"
"Only when they tell me not to. This assignment I'm mostly gonna run the shop. Whatever you guys need, I make sure you have it. You see, I've got a list of connections longer than the Great Wall. Adler needs it, I can procure it- no exceptions." - Sims explains.
"What if I asked for a flamethrower?"
"Sure, I could get that. No problem." - he says with a happy voice.
Sims is more calm on the ground and less in the sky, I get that.
"What about a recoilles rifle?"
"Easy. I can have that in house by next week."
"How about a custom-built twin-engine attack helicopter?"
"Heh,clever. But I wasn't joking earlier." - he seriously replies. " That's a hell of a request, but give me enough time and I can have one parked outside."
"I'll take it all."
"Okay. Now how are you gonna pay for that? Last I heard, Adler cuts checks around here. Unless you've got a suitcase full of cash, I'm gonna consider your request null and void."
"What do you know about Volkov?"
Before we start the mission I want to know
who he is.
Sims laughs:-" I tried to track that motherfucker years ago when he went to Italy for a douchebag conference."
Sims takes a while to think.
"He's slick. If you see him, tell him Lawrence Sims says 'hello' ".
So Sims already tried to track him. Interesting.
"I have the last question for you." - I say thinking about Park. "Why did you guys request me for this team?"
"I guess we needed more of that old school CIA blood with us." - Sims replies quickly. "I mean, Park over there... she's cool, but she's not Company- if you know what I mean."- he whispers.
"I get it. Thanks."
"Come again."
I look through the room's windows but Adler isn't their anymore.
"We've talk on the drive, Bell." - Lazar passes near to me.
"Yeah, sure."
He finish a carton of milk then throws it on the floor, puts some weapons in a bag and goes outside. He blocks the door with a red brick.
I give a look at the weather; it's raining.
I love the sound of the rain, it makes me relax.
I decide to finish my conversation with Adler before leave for the mission.
He's at his desk as usual.
"Kid." - he says when he saw me.
"Did you ever see Perseus?"
"Did I ever see his face? That photo on the board is all we have, and it's more than twenty years ago. Handsome man. I hope the years weren't kind to him."
I haven't nothing to ask but I'm too curious about the call.
"What was that call about?"
"Just Langley. Nothing to worry about. They want to make sure Park hasn't killed Lazar yet."
I laugh and he seems appreciate that.
"That's all."
"We'll leave within the hour."
I should start wearing my uniform and load my bag.
"Do you have a minute, Bell?" - Park calls me.
"That intel you found at Da Nang was a reassure trove."- she says turning around on her chair.

I'm still nervous around her and can't be relaxed. Every time she looks at me it seems that she's analyzing something.
And I bet she knows more than she says.
"Find anything else in the intel other than the name?"
"Well you tell me. After we dug it up you spent two hours full hours decrypting everything inside. You seemed to think 'Volkov' was the name to pay attention to."
"I decrypted all of the intel myself?"
I... I don't remember this part. Maybe the memory it's still broken.
"Are you feeling all right, Bell? That's the one of the reason we wanted you on this team. Not even the CIA's best cryptographers had been able to crack that dossier." - she looks at her fingers. " You're special, Bell. But it also sounds like you need a nap."
Her compliments makes me feel more comfortable. After all I don't need to be jealous of her. She's just trying to do her best like me.
"Have you worked with Adler before?"
This question went out from my mouth before I could think about it.
"We have, for a short while. We share a common interest. Though to be frank, he's not the most pleasant person I've worked with." - she replies seriously.

I want to ask the reason but I guess it's too much.
A sudden happiness hit my thoughts; so she isn't in love with Adler! At least, I think.
Why am I so happy for this news?
"And from one women to another, give him a wide berth." - Park adds.
So Adler had many relationship but they didn't end well. Interesting.
"What else should I know about Adler?"
My curiosity is too much.
"No more than you need to, I'll tell you that. Avoid personal questions. And whatever you do, never ask him about his scar."- she wishpers.
I'm finding out many informations about him.
They will help me to understand him more.
"How did Adler get that scar?"
"Do you think that if I knew I would tell you?" - she asks with clever eyes.
"I think you would tell me about Adler's scar."
"You're cute."
Nothing new this time.
I guess I will found out by myself.
"Anything else about Anton Volkov?"
"Born on the coast of Leningrad. Never travels when the sun's out. He has impeccable taste in Scotch and medieval torture devices." - Park lists. "I think he'd love the UK. I plan on giving him a personal tour."
"Good talking to you."
"My pleasure." - Park smiles.
I go downstairs to my dorm.
Like Park said, maybe I really need a nap.