Russian Roulette

Chapter 44 : After the meeting

California (Present Day)

Signing off from the call with President Reagan I headed downstairs and entered the kitchen. I greeted the three unexpected British guests I received during the meeting with the president : MI6 chief Roland Churchill and agents James Collins and Helen Wentworth. I was surprised that the agents are already in America the entire time when the attack on the White House unfolded. "Should I really be surprised that you people showed up?" I asked. 

"Maybe, and maybe not." James said. "Congratulations upon giving birth."

"I'll keep that in mind James." I say. "And what brings you three, of all places, here?"

"We're on the same path no?" James asked me. 

"No doubt." I say, lifting my chin. "But that doesn't explain that why you're all here."

"You have been digging deep into that letter he wrote." the chief said. "What does it say?"

"Okay, I got it." I say. "If you're here for Sergei Volodin you might be too late. He died a few hours ago."

"We heard it over the radio. This is a major dent."

"There's nothing we can do." I said, almost in a whisper. "Sean Adamson did try to kill me." 

"I apologize, we didn't get to you in time." he said.

"Whoever this Mikhail is, he's out to eliminate me."

"I don't see why." Helen said.

"Of course you don't, I understand." I said. "This man intended to propel the US and Russia into war."

"What? That's his plan all along?" James asked. "And if he really takes you out President Reagan's grief will drive him to go to war."

"Yeah, basically that." I say. "Which I deduced through Volodin's letter."

"And the second dot is for us to keep you alive at all costs." James chipped in. "Done." 

"That's a cheeky way of telling someone why you are here." I said. "Still I don't believe that our game with them is over."

"We saw Sean in America performing the job."

"You should get him on the spot." I said. "Don't insult your intelligence agency by not finishing the job."

"We got distracted." Helen said. 

"Bad as when you skipped Madam Montgomery's class on purpose just to get tea cakes." I said. "And she busted you after class."

"Did you rat me out?" she looked at me.

"The cream on your pink dress did Helen. Not me." I said with a smile. "You can just follow my mom, she did the same thing to me after class." Helen's cheeks flushed red in shame but I gave her a pat on the shoulder despite my injured arm. 

"Hold up one second, you two shared the same governess?"

"Tutor." we said. 

"Alice Montgomery is a really good tutor." Uncle Roland chipped in. "But you two balance the roles in being proper ladies and professional fighters."

"We'll take it as a compliment." I said. "And how did the three of you get in here?" I suddenly asked. Of course, they know the question wasn't directed towards them and shifted their glances towards the staircase. "Care to explain? Richard? Timothy? Jason?" James chuckled and folded his arms while Helen eyed them with caution. 

"You're bloody good with that Isabella." James said. "Now, anyone of you would be so kind to give yourselves an explanation on why are you three doing here in the first place?" the tension lasted for a while until Bruce appeared on top of the staircase. 

"Apparently you three are more inclined in disobeying my orders." his voice cuts through the room. 

"Okay, no arguments here." Uncle Roland declared, showing himself in sight of the men. 

"I expected you to be here." Bruce said. 

"Feeling's mutual." he replied. "Now, we're not going to bloody stand here right?" he asked. 

"We're not." I said, stepping out into the living room. "Take a seat." James and Helen walked casually towards the living room. Bruce and I occupied a section of the twin couch facing the fireplace while the boys occupied the couch that was facing the single couch Uncle Roland occupied. Helen shooed James aside before he could make his pick and sat beside me. I turned on the TV and handed Helen the remote. "You're going to watch Doctor Who, I knew it." 

"Seriously Isa? We have done this before, let her catch the TV all over again."

"Next time try not to drag me into your whole zombie flicks again, even though I loved watching Shaun of the Dead."

"I got the remote, so Doctor Who I go." James groaned while Bruce eyed me in intrigue when I turned to face him. 

"I spent four years living in London, you know that." I said. 

"I know that, I just don't know what you did there." he said. "They don't know." he gestured at the three of them. 

"I should probably introduce myself first." Uncle Roland said. "My name is Roland Churchill, I work for her Majesty's Government. You might know me as the direct descendant of Winston Churchill, but not all people know that I am Isabella's uncle through her grandfather's siblings."

"Yeah, we met before. During the whole black ops thing months ago."

"Richard I presume? You're Bruce's eldest adopted son." said Uncle Roland. "And I believe that the two of you are the second and third. And the natural-born son isn't here."

"You're not wrong." Bruce said. "So, you're here for the Russian case?"

"I have no other reason to be here. The PM agrees to lend my assistance to the American government to aid in the search of Sean Adamson." he explained with a smile. 

"So... you work for England Mr. Churchill?" Tim boldly spoke up. "Which part of the government do you work for?"

"Since you're here Mr. Churchill... I might need the help of MI6 in my case." Richard spoke up.

"You spoiled the surprise already Mr. Grayson." Uncle Roland smiled. "I hope that you're not betting with your brothers on the first meeting already." 

"MI6?"

"Military Intelligence, Section Six." I said. "I'm sure you guys clearly know what MI6 stands for."

"You're kidding right?" Jason gave me a look of disbelief.

"No, I'm not." I said. "My uncle is the Chief of the MI6 as appointed by the foreign minister." Bruce has a smile on his face when I looked Jason in the eye and told him.