Church Mice

New England FBI Regional Headquarters - Chelsea, Massachusetts - Situation Room A

A small team monitored the exfiltration of the New England Region's C.I. (Confidential Informant) Thomas Allston from Spain to Germany.  It was now a CIA mission, but the FBI kept an eye on how it was going. Allston is their man.

They knew that Allston was on a train that started in Barcelona and that the Russians would try to kill or capture him if they found him. The video feeds were from El Prat Airport in Barcelona, The Paris Gare Du Nord train station, and Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof - the train's final destination.

Two armed embassy employees (C.I.A.) escorted the C.I. to Stuttgart Airport, where the goal was to get the C.I. ​on a plane to Boston. 

Other feeds on the screens of the big wall in Situation A included the Russian Embassy in Barcelona and the Hotel Lobby where the CI had stayed.

The FBI could not offer much without boots on the ground. Allston was utterly reliant on the CIA to do its job.

The assembled team could feel Wally's nervousness and were perplexed why they were working overtime when there was nothing they could do, even if trouble started.

Wally hoped the Russians bit at the decoy flight booking at El Prat.

There were questions: Do the Russians want to kill Thomas Allston? Most likely, yes. Do they have a target profile of Thomas Allston courtesy of China's Ministry Of State Security? Most likely, yes.

And that question was the little worm in the back of Wally's brain. Would the Russians tangle with Allston when he got on U.S. Soil and headed home? Rather than chase Manolo all over Europe, they could hit him in a kill zone where he was most comfortable.

Wally said, "Tanaka, you and your fiance are friends with Thomas Allston and his girlfriend; do you know where they live?"

In a half-hour, Tanaka and Wally were on their way to somewhere North Of Boston. Both were armed and body-armored.

Wally put in an order for a "Cover My Ass" small assault team to be 2 minutes away from Allston's home and ready to jump at his command.

Say what you will about Wally, his rubber band balls, and his deadpan sexist deliveries; the guy had style.

He asked Tanaka not to call Eve until they could see Allston's home.

Stuttgart, Germany

The train was pulling into Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof—Allston and his favorite C.I.A. men got into a waiting car and headed to the airport. When they got to the airport, they went to a terminal the public could not access.

The CIA was extending every courtesy to the FBI to get Allston home. 

Allston flew with his handlers on a private jet to Boston, courtesy of the U.S. Airforce. A man could get used to this kind of service.

The three men received perfunctory pat-downs and metal detection from the host country's version of the TSA, the Federal Ministry Of The Interior. They presented their papers to explain why they were armed while traveling in Germany.

On the jet, drinks, and food were provided to Allston and the team courtesy of two U.S. Airmen who kept glasses full of whatever.

Allston was given a new iPhone with his regular number intact as the Sprite and Cookies began to flow. The jet had WiFi!

Allston was grateful to the Church Mice for their company, good humor, and above-average security. 

During the train ride, Allston noted how diligent and professional they were. They were observant and ready to kill during the whole ride. They never stood down. With them around, Allston was able to grab a little shut-eye. A Marine can sleep anywhere.

I owe Fiester a thank you note. When I get home, Thomas thought.  "I'll make sure the envelope is scented like Marlboro's and a spilled Natty.

Somewhere North Of Boston On The Shore.

Tanaka called Eve when she and Wally were close to Allston's home.

Tanaka: "Hey, Eve, do you have room for two tonight? I'll explain when we get there?"

Eve Assumed Ben and Tanaka were coming to stay. "Sure, I can squeeze you guys in."

Tanaka said, "Eve, listen, please "Say 6 Cranberry Muffins if you are in danger in your house."

Eve said, no danger; I'll see you when you get here.

"We will knock five times when we arrive."

Wally parked his agency S.U.V. on the shore, and the two walked over to Allston and Eve's home. As they went up the driveway, they looked everywhere.

Three vehicles were in the driveway, one with a state of Maine plate that said NL GINA.

They knocked five times, and Eve answered the door.

Eve could not tell who acted more like a starstruck schoolgirl when they realized Natalie Freaking Leuze was standing in front of them.