𝙴𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚁𝚎𝚍𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 - Bucky Barnes

7. HIDDEN MESSAGE

PRESENT DAY - VILNIUS  - LOCATION: LITHUANIA.

The streets of Vilnius stretch out before them, a maze of winding roads and bustling city life. Steve Rogers grips the steering wheel with a sense of determination, his eyes scanning the streets for any sign of their elusive target. Beside him, Bucky Barnes sits in the passenger seat, his gaze fixed on the radio scanner nestled in his lap.

"We've been at this for hours, Steve," Bucky remarks, his voice tinged with frustration as he adjusts the frequency on the radio. "I'm starting to think she's one step ahead of us."

Steve spares his friend a sympathetic glance before returning his focus to the road. "We're not giving up, Buck," he replies firmly. "I promised you we'd find her, and we will."

Bucky sends a grateful glance Steve's way before refocusing on the radio dials. "So, how long has it been since the surveillance caught her in Vilnius?" he asks, his tone tinged with urgency.

"Almost forty hours, but if she's keeping a low profile here, she wouldn't have made much progress," Rogers replies, his gaze steady ahead as he smoothly guides the vehicle into a right turn.

Bucky nods, acknowledging Steve's point. "Yeah, you're right," he concedes, his fingers tapping impatiently on the scanner. "But I can't shake this feeling that we're missing something."

Steve shoots him with a sympathetic look. "I know, It's frustrating, but we just have to keep searching," he says, his tone resolute.

Just then, the crackle of the radio cuts through the tense silence in the car, drawing both men's attention. Bucky's ears perk up as he catches a few words in Lithuanian, his grasp of the language rusty but still functional.

"What was that?" Steve asks, glancing over at Bucky.

Bucky leans closer to the radio, his brow furrowed in concentration. "It's a police report," he explains, his tone becoming more urgent. "Something about suspicious activity in a nearby apartment."

Steve's eyes widen with interest. "Could be worth checking out," he says, his grip on the steering wheel tightening as he steers the car in the direction of the reported incident as Bucky repeats the address.

Bucky nods in agreement, his senses on high alert as they close in on their potential lead. "Let's hope this is it," he mutters under his breath, his heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and dread.

As they navigate through the bustling streets of Vilnius, Steve keeps a watchful eye on their surroundings, ready to react at a moment's notice. The tension in the car is clear as they draw nearer to the location mentioned in the police report.

The cityscape gradually transforms as they approach the designated area, the buildings becoming more compact and the streets narrower. Steve slows the car to a crawl, maneuvering through the congested traffic with practiced ease.

Bucky's attention remains fixated on the radio scanner, his focus unwavering as he listens intently for any updates. Suddenly, a voice crackles through the static, uttering a series of words that catch Bucky's attention.

"That's it," he exclaims, excitement evident in his voice as he translates the message for Steve. "They're requesting backup at the apartment. Something's definitely going on there."

Steve nods, his expression becoming more determined as he steers the car toward the address provided in the police report. "Hang tight, Buck," he says, his tone firm with resolve. "We're getting close."

As they approach the apartment building, Steve slows the car to a stop, scanning the area for any signs of suspicious activity. The street appears relatively quiet, but Steve knows better than to let his guard down.