He was just there to watch the show, so how could he have a role in it?
Seeing the two men's gazes directed at him, Jack saw no hint of joking or hidden meaning in them, save for confusion. He felt relieved, believing it was just a coincidence.
Any unnecessary explanation at this point would arouse the suspicion of the two old foxes before him. Without batting an eyelid, Jack took the glass in front of him and emptied it, then smiled at Ivan. "Two to one, you win."
"Yeah, but I have a lovely granddaughter," Frank retorted, unconvinced.
Watching the two old men finish another glass, Jack breathed a sigh of relief and resolved to stay as far away from this old man named Ivan as possible. It had
n't been long since the gold finger granted by his time travel had truly taken effect. He had been with the LAPD for less than a year when, by chance, he was about to join the FBI.
Even after two lifetimes, Jack, already a middle-aged man, couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. This marked his first, and so far only, coast-to-coast journey (Chapter 125).
At the beginning of this journey, shortly after leaving California and entering Arizona, he met a pair of beautiful Russian sisters at the rock climbing mecca of Joshua Tree National Park, where some unspeakable stories unfolded.
Although the two girls dancing ballet in the photo Ivan showed looked no more than twelve or thirteen, their dancing postures and demeanor were identical to the relief on the silver flagon the sisters had left him.
Just as Jack was lost in a rosy memory, Ivan, unaware of the situation, picked up the bottle again and filled three glasses.
"Who's next?" Frank asked, his face flushed slightly.
Ivan's aging face trembled, a hint of pride, his smile a bit mysterious. "Veronica."
Now it was Frank's turn to be shocked. "I can't believe it."
"Really? She was my woman. Absolutely true," Ivan patted his chest, his smile a bit lewd.
Frank clinked his glass with his, downed it in one gulp, and sighed, "She really deserved it then."
The two old men huddled together, laughing heartily. Jack, standing beside them, was no longer embarrassed, nor interested in gossip. Instead, he felt a sense of unease.
Although the basement temperature was low and the ventilation system was humming, the two old men still drank profusely.
Ivan quickly stripped off his somewhat cumbersome suit, unbuttoned his shirt to reveal his sailor shirt underneath, and sighed softly, clutching his chest. "I really miss those old days."
Seeing Frank nod sympathetically, Ivan's expression turned rather wistful. "Can you believe it? I haven't killed anyone in years."
"Yeah, it's tragic," Frank agreed, sympathetically.
Jack, somewhat impatient, coughed softly, signaling that the two had enough of the reminiscence and it was time to get down to business.
It wasn't that as a "righteous" law enforcer, he couldn't bear to hear this, but rather that he was worried the two old men might get drunk and start chatting about things they shouldn't, potentially leading to a visit from the FSB.
Frank finally revealed his intention, leaning closer to Ivan with a serious expression. "I need to infiltrate Langley, and I need your help in providing the latest security details, access codes, and identification information."
The Russian's smile froze instantly. He scratched his ears, confirming he'd heard correctly, then forced another smile.
"That sounds interesting, but it's beyond my capabilities."
"Consider it a favor I owe you." Frank's words changed to Russian.
"Make Frank Moses owe me a favor? Oh wow." Ivan smiled broadly.
--
"So you asked me to come into the embassy so the Russians could get us two passes so I could accompany you to Langley to steal the files from that Guatemala operation?"
Didn't Frank's new girlfriend always help him with that? What was the point of an FBI agent following him into CIA headquarters?
"Do you know what would happen if I went in with you and got caught?" Jack, speechless, checked his ID as he drove.
Sitting in the back seat of the Lincoln, Frank, dressed in a general's uniform, curled his lips slightly. "Secret execution or life imprisonment? Like that Brit Mason you let go?"
"Is there something about me you don't know?"
This was why Jack had been so confident in using his real identity, even using the FBI's private jet to take him to Florida.
Frank simply felt tired and no longer wanted to work for the CIA; he wasn't actually kicked out due to age. The difference between the two is significant.
As the original series shows, he had many better solutions to his current problem, but he chose the most troublesome and dangerous one.
Even at his age, he still resorted to appearing impressive in front of his new girlfriend, even risking everything. He truly exemplifies the "King B."
A man like Frank can't live a peaceful life. If Alexis hadn't been kidnapped and taken to Paris, he might have grown accustomed to a quiet retirement.
Perhaps next Christmas, he'd put a snowman outside his house, hang some neon lights, or plant a potted plant, just like his neighbors.
As he ages and his physical functions decline, his heart will eventually settle into a state of quiet, and like Joe Mason, he'll begin to enjoy retirement.
Unfortunately, the battle in Paris brought back Frank's memories, reopening not only his safe houses and wine cellars, but also his restless heart.
Perhaps it was Jack who saw his own heroic past, or perhaps it unleashed his competitive spirit against aging.
After his Paris trip, Frank, aside from occasionally checking in on his son and calling the attractive, single customer service representative at the pension service center, spent most of his free time focused on Jack.
This also led to a departure from the original series, where, after his house was demolished, Frank didn't immediately seek out Joe Mason. Instead, he headed directly to New York and called Jack.
After all, a certain octogenarian CIA agent is now happily enjoying his grandchildren in Los Angeles, driving Isabel to and from school every day, and even occasionally flashing his sidearm to intimidate some hormone-fueled teenagers.
As for Joe Mason's death in the original series, Jack didn't think it was because the "R.E.D." gang failed to act cool, but rather that the old agent, who was in the late stages of liver cancer, was desperate to die.
An old agent who had come through the bloody Cold War, experienced major battles such as Vietnam and Afghanistan, ended up waiting to die in a nursing home.
This was obviously not what he wanted. However, Joe Mason's fate was changed by Jack a long time ago, long before the plot of "Red" began (Chapter 381).
Liver cancer was not a thing at all. Together with old Hunter and Dee Dee, the three old men were busy and happy taking care of a precocious teenage girl, Isabel. Naturally, Frank would not choose to disturb him.
(End of this chapter)