The Things We Do - Chapter 2
Content
Chapter Two "There is no such thing as perfect people. Only perfect intentions."
Irina's Cabin Long Si Mountains "Thank you." Irina pressed the end call button and looked none too opti istically to her sister. "!ell"" "The CI# has the wor $ they cut the feed$" she reported$ "but the wor 's been ta pered with." "They ha%en't found the ole""
Irina shook her head$ "The data is being reconstructed now$ if all goes well$ the CI# will get to &iadro first$ if not'" "(e's not e)uipped to handle an interrogation'" The two wo en digested the situation thoughtfully. "*egardless$ in a atter of hours e%eryone will know that the passenger is no biological weapon." Ilena conte plated what that would ean for all$ "There's no ti e'" she whispered. Irina conte plated helplessly. There was no ti e to get to &iadro. They had agreed upon a co . silence for any years so that no ties could be ade and +adia's location co pro ised. The only way was to go through #le,i$ but he was in transit$ there was no way of getting to hi $ not without blowing their co%er with -ack. If the co%enant were to get to +adia first$ she would lose one daughter'and e%entually the other. .%en if the CI# got to her first$ there was no telling what would happen. The prophecy was fast co ing to past$ and it see ed like they were shooting bullets at the darkness$ /ust hoping to hit so ething that would ake a difference. Irina's distress was clear for her to see. Ilena felt sorry for her$ but she knew there was work to be done$ "I'd best 0atya of the situation."
infor
The other nodded and she walked a few paces away to gi%e her so e space while she put in the call. Irina turned and looked out the window once ore at the winds that were blowing against the trees$ causing the lea%es to fall hapha1ardly$ littering the sky. She felt helpless to sa%e her daughters.
Car to the airport (ighway 23 "4id you tell hi to co e to e"" &aughn broke the silence.
"!h5'" Sydney was incredulous for half a second then reali1ed she knew what he was talking about. #nd she sighed$ "#re you talking about y da'"
"4id you tell hi to co e to e"" &aughn raised his %oice. #s he did he swer%ed to a%oid a passing car$ Sydney grabbed hold of the top handle /ust in ti e$ and she glared at hi . "Shi'" &aughn blinked$ "I' sorry."
Syd would ha%e ticked hi off$ but he was sorry enough she thought$ so she let it go. (e seldo got angry'he would keep it all inside and once it a while$ in his own words$ he would go insane. "I didn't'" he tried to e,plain$ "when your dad ca e to e$ it /ust'argh. I /ust'"
"&aughn$" she reached out and touched his right ar that was on the steering wheel. That was enough to throw the both off into awkward silence. She withdrew. "&aughn'" (e glanced back at her. "I didn't ask hi to'but I knew he was going to'" she watched hi press his lips together$ and continued$ "'and its not that I' upset about what happened5 I ean I a $ but that's not why I'" She looked at hi for a response$ hoping he could understand what she didn't know how to articulate. (e understood$ but he didn't know what to say. "I need you to trust e'this not about e being /ealous."
I never meant to hurt you. &aughn pondered her words. Sydney folded her ar s and looked away disappointedly. Maybe too uch had changed in two years. She watched as the rain fell against the glass$ and so ehow$ it brought back e ories of not long ago. "What happened between us, the way it is, it isn't anybody's fault, Sydney. And even though everything's changed, some things don't." "6ut so e things do." Syd whispered inaudibly to herself$ as a tear fell7 she swiped it away )uickly. "I do'" &aughn's e%entually spoke$ "I do trust you." I never meant to hurt you. She could only look at hi sadly as he watched the road$ unable to look her in the eye. They rode a way ore in silence$ till he spoke again. "Sydney'do you know what this is doing to e""
The car turned off the ain road into a gas station$ he switched of the ignition. She waited for hi to continue. (e hea%ed a sigh$ and pushed back his hair frustrated. 8inally he continued. ".%erything your dad said5" he began$ "I feel like I' going insane with paranoia. I got !iess to tap her phone today for Chr'" he stopped hi self fro swearing$ closing his eyes and leaning his forehead on a balled fist.
"&aughn$" she bade hi "9ou know what scares
to continue$ "'&augh5" e"" he interrupted her$ looking into her eyes.
She looked at hi $ "!hat"" "I half hope its true."
The 4ocks Los #ngeles -ack let his eyes roa the sea line$ pondering his con%ersation with Sloane. (e hated the an$ at the sa e ti e he wondered how a friendship so strong had so easily turned to hate'then again as he editated on how long he had li%ed this life he reali1ed that it had nothing to do with an o%ernight change. (e had gone fro disbelief$ to hurt$ to anger$ to hate. Much like Irina$ he used. 9et at the sa e ti e$ there was a s all spark of self5doubt at the back of his ind which he was )uick to snuff out. (is glo%ed hands were in his trench coat pockets7 he closed his eyes as the sea bree1e whipped through his hair$ taking in the saltiness of the harbor air$ though it was tinted with the s ell of oil. The sound of a blow horn rang through his ears$ and he opened his eyes to see the approaching %essel. (e took his hand out$ pushing his slee%es back he obser%ed the ti e. Late. (e stood at his place as the boat pulled up and its crew hopped down to tie down their ride. #l ost i ediately after$ a young an in casual fittings i erged fro below deck7 /eans and yellow5brown boots$ a grey5ish /acket7 his wa%y dark hair was hidden under a beanie. -ack noticed that he looked older than he last saw hi $ and he'd definitely put on a bit ore uscle. The lad /u ped off without any help$ and -ack tried not to s ile as he approached. "9ou're late$" -ack re arked with ock5disdain.
The young an dropped his sack down$ his hand still on its sling7 it hit the floor with a dull thu p. (e leaned on one leg and let out a breath of cold ist$ taking a o ent to sur%ey his surroundings before looking back at his for er entor$ "!ell now. (ello to you too$ -ack." (e had a slight Irish accent going on. -ack rolled his eyes disappro%ingly at the others scruffy pretence$ and walked back to the car. The young an picked up his sack and ran a few paces to catch up$ "I see you ha%en't lost your welco e'" he /ibed at the other$ causing -ack to roll his eyes a second ti e to hide his fondness of the young lad$ "it's okay$" he continued$ throwing his ar o%er the other$ "I know you'%e issed e." -ack glared at hi sideways. (e was doing this on purpose'.and en/oying it. They walked on together$ his boots aking splashes in the puddles of concrete$ wetting the botto of their pants. "#nd /ust for the record$ I wasn't late$ you were pre ature'" "I' ne%er pre ature."
Co%enant 6ase :nknown Location
"(ow is her progress"" Sark had been leaning o%er the techie as the latter did his best to tweak the syste further$ not that it did uch good at this point$ but no one wanted to be in 6ona i's path and caught doing nothing. (e lifted hi self to face the other$ "She should ha%e the rele%ant info within the hour." ";ood$ then you know what you ust do$" 6ona i eyed hi sternly. y
"Of course$" Sark replied cal ly$ "*est assured$ if I was willing to sacrifice father for the pursuits of the Co%enant$ I a ost willing to sacrifice her." 6ona i did not s ile back. (e glanced down at the teachie back at the other$ "8or your sake$ I certainly hope so."
o entarily then
about."
Sark ga%e one of his usual s irks$ "9ou ha%e absolutely nothing to be worried
The other left the roo . The o ent he did Sark reached for the drawer and pulled out the re%ol%er inside. In one swift o%e ent$ he cocked it and ai ed it at the techie's te ple. The techie fro1e in his seat. "+ow listen %ery carefully'heed y instructions$ and you will li%e$ and if I' a good disposition at the end of this you ight e%en get a nice little reward. If not$ I suggest you say your last rites. 4o you you understand"" The latter nodded profusely. Sark retracted the gun$ ";ood." of
CI# Safehouse Los #ngeles -ack turned the key to apart ent 3#$ letting hi self in and taking a )uick look. The agency had cleaned it up pretty good$ "There's food$ toiletries$ and whate%er else you ight need you can get a block away." (e looked #le, up and down as he entered the apart ent$ then re arked$ "There's also a cupboard stocked with a few suits in your si1e$ which you ob%iously need." #le, walked into the li%ing roo and looked around$ checking to and fro$ scouting out the roo s and balcony to check for areas of weakness$ a gi%en procedure for hi . -ack tossed the key on the round table and settled hi self on one of the seat$ crossing his legs. "-ack'" the young an en)uired.
(is eyes looked toward the bedroo $ "8alse wall behind the wardrobe." (e heard the wardrobe doors creak open and the wooden boards being re o%ed and replaced$ and then the other ca e walking back into the li%ing roo $ pulling his /acket off. (e folded it neatly and drapped it o%er the ar rest of the nearby sofa. -ack's lips cur%ed upwards. The boy a used hi . So scruffy to those who didn't know hi $ so precise at heart. (e got up to ake a o%e. "!ait$" #le, stopped hi $ and began ru aging through his bag$ pulling out a bottle of <=>< Merlot with a wide grin$ "9ou didn't think I was going to let you blow e off with /ust a lousy welco e did you""
-ack s iled$ "9ou do know this goes against CI# protocol." The younger grinned with open ar s$ "I pro ise to keep our relationship strictly professional."
8light ?23 .n5route to Milan Syd fingered through the docu ents that 4i,on had gi%en the $ scanning the infor ation again and again. Ten alias$ sa e wo an. She pulled the photograph out fro under the paper clip and studied it$ her eyebrows knitting together as she did. There was so ething fa iliar about her$ although she couldn't )uite put her finger on it. She looked twenty5three or twenty four$ beautiful'what was so i portant about this girl" &aughn shifted in his seat causing Sydney to glance to the side$ he did too$ and their eyes et for a o ent. " ou !now what scares me" #I half hope its true." Syd was the first to look$ and &aughn returned to his reading. They had been on the flight for three whole hours now$ the whole row to the sel%es. Syd took the window seat$ &aughn the seat nearest to the isle'a seat separating the both. They hadn't spoken a word since the stop at the gas station7 they had /ust left it dangling where it was$ both unsure where to go with it. .%entually$ she /ust said they should go$ and he nodded$ starting the ignition. "$ut I'm also hopeful#and that's what scares me." +either of the wanted to talk about their feelings of guilt7 whether it was towards Lauren$ or towards each other. "Is our contact eeting us at the airport"" Syd tried. They usually didn't bother with details like that$ each took care of their end$ but she had to do so ething to break the silence. &aughn placed the book on his lap$ "+o$ 4i,on doesn't want us co pro ising his co%er. There'll be a car in the parking lot with all the gear." She nodded$ trying to figure out what to say. (e helped$ "(a%e you re%iewed the file"" "Only si, ti es$" she fiddled with her ar rest$ thinking how ridiculous the situation was$ "I still can't figure it out$ and that dri%es e cra1y." &aughn sighed$ "!ell$ we'll find out soon enough."
CI# Safehouse Los #ngeles -ack pulled off his already loosened tie and threw it across the table. (e had rolled up his white slee%es and was onto his second glass of wine. (e looked rela,ed$ or
rather as rela,ed as a an of his circu stance could be. #le, studies hi conte plati%ely$ and noted the tiredness in his eyes. (e wondered if he would grow that way as the years went by. -ack s irked and replied the unsaid )uestion$ "+o$ you ight not end up like e$ a /aded old'5der an$ but yes$ likely if you are running the path you're running you will end up e,actly like e in twenty or so years." "#nd how would you know what path I a running"" #le, challenged. It had been > years since they last saw one another$ sa%e that coincidental$ but brief run in at the Italian consulate @ years ago. #le, had wondered why he hadn't reported hi to S45A$ but e%entually he found out that the an was really working for the CI#. "6ecause$" -ack leaned forward$ "I see it in your eyes. So young$ so patriotic$ so sad." "I' not sad." #le, defended.
-ack snickered in response$ "!e all are." The other sipped his wine and re ained )uiet. -ack continued$ "6ecause I see the sa e thing hidden behind those eyes$" he said referring to #le,$ "the sa e thing I see in y daughter's eyes e%eryday. Maybe less$ and aybe you're better at hiding it$ but it's still there. The sa e thing." "!hy do you tell e the things you do"" #le, wondered$ though he probably knew the answer to that )uestion. "!hat akes you think I' telling you anything"" -ack took another sip of wine.
-ack had few friends$ it was hard to keep the in this line'or hard to trust the . To be in this line of work one had to accept that no atter how close the friend$ secrets would always be a proble between the . So they a%oided the topic all together'but #le,$ well$ #le, ca e to hi at a ti e when he had wanted to ake so ething good of his pain. Or aybe it was #le, who attached hi self to hi like a leech that ade hi tutor the young protBgB. In all honesty$ he ight ha%e hated hi for disappearing when he did$ especially when later he had been linked with Irina'had it not been for the note that he had left... T*:T( T#0.S TIM. :ntil now -ack didn't understand it$ but he understood hi . 9et if ti e were to pro%e that his trust had been isappropriated$ the older figured he was ore than prepared for such an outco e. "9ou sa%ed y life." It ca e out ore like a )uestion than a state ent.
A %uestion of trust" "9ou sa%ed ine." The younger replied.
&r a %uestion of debt" The older wondered' "9ou can trust e$" #le, reassured hi .
I never meant to hurt you. -ack s irked again$ "Lesson nu ber oneC 9ou can't trust anybody."
#le, shook his head. So e things ne%er change. "(ow's Sydney"" he finally brought up. -ack was about to answer when #le,'s cell phone rang$ "(ello"" #le, put down his glass and stood up to take the call$ walking a few paces away$ ra bling on in *ussian$ -ack caught as uch asC !hat ti e" (ow long"$ nothing that could gi%e away his ga e. The other looked agitated$ so he figured it was so ething i portant. "!hat's the'" #le, switched to .nglish$ "shit."
Saferoo $ &iadro's &illa Milan Lauren held the bloody knife to his throat as she watched the sur%eillance feed co ing through. The only thing that was going through her head was that she was running out of ti e$ and she could not afford failure. (er life depended on it. "+O!D" &iadro was shaking terribly in his restraints$ "I said I would tell you'" She yanked hi harder.
"Sh5she's under an alias'a deep co%er assign ent$ e%en I don't know how to get to her'" "LiarD" "I' not lyingD I swearD"
"If that true then I ha%e no use for youD" "!a5waitD There is another way'" 4ownstairs' Syd fired off a few ore rounds to di%ert the gaurds then ade a run for the staircase pillar$ knocking out a guard that ca e after her with a knife as she dashed across the tiled floor. &aughn was already on the last few steps. She coughed$ choking on the cloud of plaster powder that dislodged itself when se%eral bullets hit the pillar. (er hair was a ess$ her heart thu ping hard as she crouched$ taking co%er. 8ro the side of her eye she noticed the guard i erging$ so before he had ti e to fire off a round$ she beat hi to it. Then before they had a chance to reco%er$ she dashed out with kicks and punches flying. She spin kicked one of the at a bad angle$ which caused a bit of a sharp pain to shoot through her knee cap$ but she hardly winced$ and carried on. &aughn had reached the second storey and roughly yanked the security panel out of it place to hot wire it. (e )uickly followed the %arious colored wires$ briefly glancing up at the security ca eras that were still online. The lines sparked. 6ingoD #nd the door slid open. The roo was e pty e,cept for the bloodied 4octor tied to the chair$ and the panel that had been re o%ed fro the ceiling lying on the floor.
'amn it. &aughn rushed to untie the 4octor. "The passengerD I ha%e betrayed herD" he started ra bling al ost deliriously. "6etrayed who"" &aughn continued with his restraints. (e didn't ake any
sense.
"9ears spent protecting her'" he looked at &aughn with gla1ed eyes$ "now she's alone'" "!ho's she" !ho are you protecting""" &aughn ripped off the last of the wires. ;rabbing &iadro by the shoulder to stand hi up$ he tried to get ore infor ation. Sydney ca e rushing breathlessly /ust then. "Those guards were order of *a baldi." &iadro's eyes grew wide and his face looked like the blood had drained out of hi as he pointed to her in fear$ shaking like a leaf$ "9ou're the oneD 'the one fro the prophecyD" Then une,pectedly$ he rushed out of &aughn's grasp and lunged for Sydney's gun. "!aitD" Syd sta ered$ not understanding$ "!hat are you.."
"4rop itD" &aughn shouted. 6ut &iadro could not hear anything else but his panic$ "9ou will not hurt her5" 6a D &aughn pulled the trigger. &iadro's face went fro fear to a lifeless serene in front to Sydney. She wasn't sure what hit the ground first$ her gun or his body. She swayed slightly as sir went in and out of her lungs$ her eyes finding their way to &aughn$ arrested in shock. &aughn swallowed sadly$ walking o%er to ascertain what he already knew what a fatal shot.
CI# Safehouse #le, had ended his phone call with 0atya$ only to turn around and find that -ack had already gotten his things and left7 to lea%e hi to handle his business. It was an understanding. I ediately after$ #le, had set up his laptop to patch into the &illa's security syste . (e had watched the entire proceedings. The feed was /u py$ but it was enough. (e killed the feed then closed his eyes sadly. #nother friend lost. #t ti es like these$ e%en breathing see ed terribly tireso e. (e dialed the nu ber on his cell phone. It rang once. "I was too late." (e ignored the brief condolences fro his guilt. "+o. The passenger has not been co pro ised yet$ but it will not be long'I ha%e unco%ered the identity of the CI# ole'no$ she'yes$ she was not the one'her the other line7 it did nothing to console
husband. Michael &aughn. (e did it to protect Sydney'9es$ I know that atters." (e headed to the li%ing roo he listened.
ay co plicate
to retrie%e his glass of wine and gulped it down as
"'9ou know we should stick to her plan. 'There's no ti e for that. +o$ I belie%e the ole will be eli inated in ti e'9es$ that is y assess ent of the situation5 ' nothing is fool5proofD5 I' sorry. +o$ I' /ust'I' fine. I know. I will. ;oodbye." (e clicked the end call button$ and took another slug of wine. (e knew there was nothing he could ha%e done$ no way to anticipate how things turned out'but at the sa e ti e. I was too late. (is apart ent suddenly see ed so ore alone. uch bigger than it really was$ and so uch
Co%enant 6ase :nknown Location Sark sauntered down the etals steps towards the body$ nonchalantly looking at a stunned Lauren trying to catch her breath$ "I went to Los #ngeles to warn you$ not to kill you. Eerhaps in the future$ you should try trusting e a little ore." She looked at hi with a clearly bruised ego.
(e stood with co plete disregard o%er 6ona i's lifeless corpse$ then bent down with the gun still in his hand$ with the other hand he picked up the disk and threw it in front of the techie$ "+ow get to work." Lauren watched hi as he placed the gun back on the table behind her$ then defiantly$ but ore out of wariness$ she asked$ "!hy"" Sark s iled$ then drew closer till he was only inches fro her face$ "4on't you e%er grow tired of not being able to trust anyone"" his %oice grew to a whisper$ "I do." (e kissed her al ost chastely. "4espite our noblest intentions to be cold and ruthless killers$ ercenaries who would kill e%en their own fathers to achie%e our ends'you and I re ain irre%ocably hu an." 8or a o ent it see ed as though he was about to hiss her$ but he slyly walked away$ eliciting a slight hint of disappoint ent fro her$ "#re you saying$ -ulian$ that you ha%e feelings for e"" (e snickered at her )uestion$ "I a saying$ y lo%e$ " he walked back toward her$ "If you ha%e to go to hell$ why not ha%e so e co pany." She s iled at his sadistic sense of hu or.
CI# Operations Los #ngeles
Marshall would ha%e crossed paths with hi $ but decided to take a detour. +e%er get in the way of a an on a warpath. .,actly what that war was$ or who it was with$ did not atter. -ack i erged fro the entrance to the prison )uarters with an intense look of bitterness in his eyes. The first thing that was going to happen when he got his hands on those papers was they would be burnt$ he swore silently to hi self. !hile his conscience ay still ha%e e,isted$ at this o ent it was pushed to the %ery back of his ind7 all rational and oral reasoning see ed to dissipate in light of recent re%elations. Eerhaps the feeling of Irina's betrayal was part reason for his anger$ but he wouldn't ad it it$ what dro%e hi was the possibility that he was not'he couldn't e%en concei%e of it. "4adD" Syd ade her way to hi $ and he did his best to co pose hi self.
"Sydney. I heard about what happened with the 4octor." (e switched to a topic that she was ost certainly preoccupied with at present$ the ost classic way to throw her off his. (e didn't want her unduly shaken by the prospects that were affecting hi . (e was /ust glad nothing had happened to her in Milan. It was what was best for her'and the di%ersion worked. "!e were wrong about the passenger$" she e,plained e otionally$ "It's not a weapon. It's a person. The doctor sacrificed his life trying to protect her. !hen he saw e it was al ost like he recogni1ed e$ like I was his worst fear co e to lifeD" -ack considered carefully. She went on$ "4ad$" she s oothed her hair back agitatedly$ "when he tried to e$ he was trying to protect the Eassenger fro e."
kill
Syd closed her eyes o entarily /ust processing and trying to accept all that had occurred. 6ut it brought back e%erything accu ulated o%er the years with the *a baldi prophecy. The wo an the doctor feared so uch$ the wo an all these high powered organi1ations were after$ she /ust didn't understand it. She had been bitter and depressed after all that she had been through$ but she could ne%er i agine beco ing that wo an7 that wo an who would render the world unto utter desolation. She could not i agine that anything could e%en push her to such a point. She had ne%er belie%ed it$ ocked it e%en$ but when she saw the nu ber of people who had paid the price$ whether for good oti%ations or not$ because they belie%ed'so e part of her did begin to wonder. (er father reached out and touched her ar $ partly for her$ partly for hi $ "Sloane$" that na e was like gall on his lips$ "told e that after Il 4ire said "peace"$ he searched for e%ery possible eaning in that essage. (e traced the ety ology of the word to its ;reek for $ Irine$ also the deri%ation of the na e Irina." She looked at hi )ui11ically. !hat was he getting at" ay be your other."
"Sydney$ I think the passenger
Irina's Cabin Long Si Mountains Ilena clipped the phone closed$ as Irina turned. "The news is bad$" Irina concluded seeing the other's face$ and her sister re ained silent$ she was sure$ "I know what you're thinking. !e cannot run ahead of schedule." "6ut if we act now'" the other argued.
"0ill off the cell leaders now and we risk losing what we'%e been working for'" Irina raised her %oice slightly$ then regained co posure$ "we cannot afford to do that. 9ou know." Ilena did not reply$ but stood where she was. (er sister walked o%er with folded ar s$ "Tell 0atya to stick to the plan'" "#nd if it doesn't work"" "Then we deal with it as it co es. !e can't fight what we can't see'e%en best laid intentions don't work out'has 0atya recei%ed the intel that -ack ac)uired fro '" "9es$" Ilena confir ed$ "It should be picked up'" she looked at her watch$ "within the hour." ";ood." The other o%ed to the window once ore.
Ilena watched her sister e pathetically. She was always the e otional one of all the sisters. Irina was always the strong one$ always had been. "I feel like we'%e tried helplessly to fight against the tide and co e out with nothing." she hugged Irina fro behind$ "There was no way to anticipate e%ery loop hole'you knew this. !e can only wait now'has Sloane been e,ecuted"" "+o. +ot yet. Soon I think." Irina turned to face her. "#t least that will gi%e us one less thing to deal with'Irina. -ack will know." Irina pondered her words with a sullen s ile$ "That's the least of y worries." she sighed$ and then picked up the pre%ious con%ersation$ "4on't be i pulsi%e'there are any whose fate rides on the decisions we ake. They ha%e ade sacrifices to get where we are5 we ha%e ade sacrifices to get here'keep her in line$ Ilena." Ilena nodded$ "(ow can you be so cal "" Irina ga%e a sad s ile in return$ "I don't ha%e a choice." Too decisions to be any scenarios$ too any possibilities. Too any players and too any ade in between. Too uch need for trust. Maybe that was the proble .
Train Station Moscow S)uare (e flipped the newspaper page$ scanning it briefly before turning to the ne,t$ at the sa e ti e$ carefully watching the passers by. (e had no doubt he would be unrecogni1able in his get up$ but one could ne%er be too sure. 8ro the corner of his eye he saw the courier approach. She sat down on the bench behind hi . (e continued flipping. "4id you bring the pay ent"" he asked without breaking his process. She crossed her legs as per nor al$ "It's been deli%ered to the stipulated collection point. (as the aterials been deli%ered"" (e ignored the last )uestion seeing as it was redundant. She knew he always deli%ered. (is work was done here. (e folded the paper and chucked it on the bench.
"Tell 0atya she owes She waited fi%e
e big ti e for this."
inutes after he had gone before heading back.
&aughn and Lauren's bedroo Los #ngeles "I' looking forward to a nice weekend alone$" Lauren s iled fro bed. the other side of the
&aughn s iled back halfheartedly$ "Me too'So what did you do while I was gone"" She hesitated for a o ent$ a brief o ent$ that in ost circu stances he wouldn't ha%e taken note$ and then she walked o%er to hi and ga%e hi a kiss$ "I issed you." (e tried to hide the sudden fear that surged through hi . "I' going to run a bath$" she said. #nd without answering his )uestion$ she proceeded into the bathroo . "#occasionally she'd stop what she was doing, wal! over, and offer me a !iss. A spontaneous gesture." "All I'm as!ing is that you be responsive to the signs if and when they present themselves." &aughn waited until he heard the water running and then he ade a frantic search of her things. One couldn't be sure if it was to find proof of e,oneration'or i plication. (e ru aged through the dresser contents$ the through their drawers. +othing. (e stood up o entarily scanning the roo . 6ed$ la p$ wardrobe$ towel cabinet'wardrobe. (e walked purposefully o%er to the wardrobe$ al ost scared of what he ight find. (e flipped on the light$ then yanked her suitcase fro under his own$ running his hands o%er the bag in the standard search pattern7 round the sides$ top and botto $ open flap$ co%er$ sides' botto . (e pressed his hand along the edge. It ga%e way'his face changing fro reali1ation. (e swallowed. fear to pale
No.
Irina's Cabin Long Si Mountains "Thank you." Irina pressed the end call button and looked none too opti istically to her sister. "!ell"" "The CI# has the wor $ they cut the feed$" she reported$ "but the wor 's been ta pered with." "They ha%en't found the ole""
Irina shook her head$ "The data is being reconstructed now$ if all goes well$ the CI# will get to &iadro first$ if not'" "(e's not e)uipped to handle an interrogation'" The two wo en digested the situation thoughtfully. "*egardless$ in a atter of hours e%eryone will know that the passenger is no biological weapon." Ilena conte plated what that would ean for all$ "There's no ti e'" she whispered. Irina conte plated helplessly. There was no ti e to get to &iadro. They had agreed upon a co . silence for any years so that no ties could be ade and +adia's location co pro ised. The only way was to go through #le,i$ but he was in transit$ there was no way of getting to hi $ not without blowing their co%er with -ack. If the co%enant were to get to +adia first$ she would lose one daughter'and e%entually the other. .%en if the CI# got to her first$ there was no telling what would happen. The prophecy was fast co ing to past$ and it see ed like they were shooting bullets at the darkness$ /ust hoping to hit so ething that would ake a difference. Irina's distress was clear for her to see. Ilena felt sorry for her$ but she knew there was work to be done$ "I'd best 0atya of the situation."
infor
The other nodded and she walked a few paces away to gi%e her so e space while she put in the call. Irina turned and looked out the window once ore at the winds that were blowing against the trees$ causing the lea%es to fall hapha1ardly$ littering the sky. She felt helpless to sa%e her daughters.
Car to the airport (ighway 23 "4id you tell hi to co e to e"" &aughn broke the silence.
"!h5'" Sydney was incredulous for half a second then reali1ed she knew what he was talking about. #nd she sighed$ "#re you talking about y da'"
"4id you tell hi to co e to e"" &aughn raised his %oice. #s he did he swer%ed to a%oid a passing car$ Sydney grabbed hold of the top handle /ust in ti e$ and she glared at hi . "Shi'" &aughn blinked$ "I' sorry."
Syd would ha%e ticked hi off$ but he was sorry enough she thought$ so she let it go. (e seldo got angry'he would keep it all inside and once it a while$ in his own words$ he would go insane. "I didn't'" he tried to e,plain$ "when your dad ca e to e$ it /ust'argh. I /ust'"
"&aughn$" she reached out and touched his right ar that was on the steering wheel. That was enough to throw the both off into awkward silence. She withdrew. "&aughn'" (e glanced back at her. "I didn't ask hi to'but I knew he was going to'" she watched hi press his lips together$ and continued$ "'and its not that I' upset about what happened5 I ean I a $ but that's not why I'" She looked at hi for a response$ hoping he could understand what she didn't know how to articulate. (e understood$ but he didn't know what to say. "I need you to trust e'this not about e being /ealous."
I never meant to hurt you. &aughn pondered her words. Sydney folded her ar s and looked away disappointedly. Maybe too uch had changed in two years. She watched as the rain fell against the glass$ and so ehow$ it brought back e ories of not long ago. "What happened between us, the way it is, it isn't anybody's fault, Sydney. And even though everything's changed, some things don't." "6ut so e things do." Syd whispered inaudibly to herself$ as a tear fell7 she swiped it away )uickly. "I do'" &aughn's e%entually spoke$ "I do trust you." I never meant to hurt you. She could only look at hi sadly as he watched the road$ unable to look her in the eye. They rode a way ore in silence$ till he spoke again. "Sydney'do you know what this is doing to e""
The car turned off the ain road into a gas station$ he switched of the ignition. She waited for hi to continue. (e hea%ed a sigh$ and pushed back his hair frustrated. 8inally he continued. ".%erything your dad said5" he began$ "I feel like I' going insane with paranoia. I got !iess to tap her phone today for Chr'" he stopped hi self fro swearing$ closing his eyes and leaning his forehead on a balled fist.
"&aughn$" she bade hi "9ou know what scares
to continue$ "'&augh5" e"" he interrupted her$ looking into her eyes.
She looked at hi $ "!hat"" "I half hope its true."
The 4ocks Los #ngeles -ack let his eyes roa the sea line$ pondering his con%ersation with Sloane. (e hated the an$ at the sa e ti e he wondered how a friendship so strong had so easily turned to hate'then again as he editated on how long he had li%ed this life he reali1ed that it had nothing to do with an o%ernight change. (e had gone fro disbelief$ to hurt$ to anger$ to hate. Much like Irina$ he used. 9et at the sa e ti e$ there was a s all spark of self5doubt at the back of his ind which he was )uick to snuff out. (is glo%ed hands were in his trench coat pockets7 he closed his eyes as the sea bree1e whipped through his hair$ taking in the saltiness of the harbor air$ though it was tinted with the s ell of oil. The sound of a blow horn rang through his ears$ and he opened his eyes to see the approaching %essel. (e took his hand out$ pushing his slee%es back he obser%ed the ti e. Late. (e stood at his place as the boat pulled up and its crew hopped down to tie down their ride. #l ost i ediately after$ a young an in casual fittings i erged fro below deck7 /eans and yellow5brown boots$ a grey5ish /acket7 his wa%y dark hair was hidden under a beanie. -ack noticed that he looked older than he last saw hi $ and he'd definitely put on a bit ore uscle. The lad /u ped off without any help$ and -ack tried not to s ile as he approached. "9ou're late$" -ack re arked with ock5disdain.
The young an dropped his sack down$ his hand still on its sling7 it hit the floor with a dull thu p. (e leaned on one leg and let out a breath of cold ist$ taking a o ent to sur%ey his surroundings before looking back at his for er entor$ "!ell now. (ello to you too$ -ack." (e had a slight Irish accent going on. -ack rolled his eyes disappro%ingly at the others scruffy pretence$ and walked back to the car. The young an picked up his sack and ran a few paces to catch up$ "I see you ha%en't lost your welco e'" he /ibed at the other$ causing -ack to roll his eyes a second ti e to hide his fondness of the young lad$ "it's okay$" he continued$ throwing his ar o%er the other$ "I know you'%e issed e." -ack glared at hi sideways. (e was doing this on purpose'.and en/oying it. They walked on together$ his boots aking splashes in the puddles of concrete$ wetting the botto of their pants. "#nd /ust for the record$ I wasn't late$ you were pre ature'" "I' ne%er pre ature."
Co%enant 6ase :nknown Location
"(ow is her progress"" Sark had been leaning o%er the techie as the latter did his best to tweak the syste further$ not that it did uch good at this point$ but no one wanted to be in 6ona i's path and caught doing nothing. (e lifted hi self to face the other$ "She should ha%e the rele%ant info within the hour." ";ood$ then you know what you ust do$" 6ona i eyed hi sternly. y
"Of course$" Sark replied cal ly$ "*est assured$ if I was willing to sacrifice father for the pursuits of the Co%enant$ I a ost willing to sacrifice her." 6ona i did not s ile back. (e glanced down at the teachie back at the other$ "8or your sake$ I certainly hope so."
o entarily then
about."
Sark ga%e one of his usual s irks$ "9ou ha%e absolutely nothing to be worried
The other left the roo . The o ent he did Sark reached for the drawer and pulled out the re%ol%er inside. In one swift o%e ent$ he cocked it and ai ed it at the techie's te ple. The techie fro1e in his seat. "+ow listen %ery carefully'heed y instructions$ and you will li%e$ and if I' a good disposition at the end of this you ight e%en get a nice little reward. If not$ I suggest you say your last rites. 4o you you understand"" The latter nodded profusely. Sark retracted the gun$ ";ood." of
CI# Safehouse Los #ngeles -ack turned the key to apart ent 3#$ letting hi self in and taking a )uick look. The agency had cleaned it up pretty good$ "There's food$ toiletries$ and whate%er else you ight need you can get a block away." (e looked #le, up and down as he entered the apart ent$ then re arked$ "There's also a cupboard stocked with a few suits in your si1e$ which you ob%iously need." #le, walked into the li%ing roo and looked around$ checking to and fro$ scouting out the roo s and balcony to check for areas of weakness$ a gi%en procedure for hi . -ack tossed the key on the round table and settled hi self on one of the seat$ crossing his legs. "-ack'" the young an en)uired.
(is eyes looked toward the bedroo $ "8alse wall behind the wardrobe." (e heard the wardrobe doors creak open and the wooden boards being re o%ed and replaced$ and then the other ca e walking back into the li%ing roo $ pulling his /acket off. (e folded it neatly and drapped it o%er the ar rest of the nearby sofa. -ack's lips cur%ed upwards. The boy a used hi . So scruffy to those who didn't know hi $ so precise at heart. (e got up to ake a o%e. "!ait$" #le, stopped hi $ and began ru aging through his bag$ pulling out a bottle of <=>< Merlot with a wide grin$ "9ou didn't think I was going to let you blow e off with /ust a lousy welco e did you""
-ack s iled$ "9ou do know this goes against CI# protocol." The younger grinned with open ar s$ "I pro ise to keep our relationship strictly professional."
8light ?23 .n5route to Milan Syd fingered through the docu ents that 4i,on had gi%en the $ scanning the infor ation again and again. Ten alias$ sa e wo an. She pulled the photograph out fro under the paper clip and studied it$ her eyebrows knitting together as she did. There was so ething fa iliar about her$ although she couldn't )uite put her finger on it. She looked twenty5three or twenty four$ beautiful'what was so i portant about this girl" &aughn shifted in his seat causing Sydney to glance to the side$ he did too$ and their eyes et for a o ent. " ou !now what scares me" #I half hope its true." Syd was the first to look$ and &aughn returned to his reading. They had been on the flight for three whole hours now$ the whole row to the sel%es. Syd took the window seat$ &aughn the seat nearest to the isle'a seat separating the both. They hadn't spoken a word since the stop at the gas station7 they had /ust left it dangling where it was$ both unsure where to go with it. .%entually$ she /ust said they should go$ and he nodded$ starting the ignition. "$ut I'm also hopeful#and that's what scares me." +either of the wanted to talk about their feelings of guilt7 whether it was towards Lauren$ or towards each other. "Is our contact eeting us at the airport"" Syd tried. They usually didn't bother with details like that$ each took care of their end$ but she had to do so ething to break the silence. &aughn placed the book on his lap$ "+o$ 4i,on doesn't want us co pro ising his co%er. There'll be a car in the parking lot with all the gear." She nodded$ trying to figure out what to say. (e helped$ "(a%e you re%iewed the file"" "Only si, ti es$" she fiddled with her ar rest$ thinking how ridiculous the situation was$ "I still can't figure it out$ and that dri%es e cra1y." &aughn sighed$ "!ell$ we'll find out soon enough."
CI# Safehouse Los #ngeles -ack pulled off his already loosened tie and threw it across the table. (e had rolled up his white slee%es and was onto his second glass of wine. (e looked rela,ed$ or
rather as rela,ed as a an of his circu stance could be. #le, studies hi conte plati%ely$ and noted the tiredness in his eyes. (e wondered if he would grow that way as the years went by. -ack s irked and replied the unsaid )uestion$ "+o$ you ight not end up like e$ a /aded old'5der an$ but yes$ likely if you are running the path you're running you will end up e,actly like e in twenty or so years." "#nd how would you know what path I a running"" #le, challenged. It had been > years since they last saw one another$ sa%e that coincidental$ but brief run in at the Italian consulate @ years ago. #le, had wondered why he hadn't reported hi to S45A$ but e%entually he found out that the an was really working for the CI#. "6ecause$" -ack leaned forward$ "I see it in your eyes. So young$ so patriotic$ so sad." "I' not sad." #le, defended.
-ack snickered in response$ "!e all are." The other sipped his wine and re ained )uiet. -ack continued$ "6ecause I see the sa e thing hidden behind those eyes$" he said referring to #le,$ "the sa e thing I see in y daughter's eyes e%eryday. Maybe less$ and aybe you're better at hiding it$ but it's still there. The sa e thing." "!hy do you tell e the things you do"" #le, wondered$ though he probably knew the answer to that )uestion. "!hat akes you think I' telling you anything"" -ack took another sip of wine.
-ack had few friends$ it was hard to keep the in this line'or hard to trust the . To be in this line of work one had to accept that no atter how close the friend$ secrets would always be a proble between the . So they a%oided the topic all together'but #le,$ well$ #le, ca e to hi at a ti e when he had wanted to ake so ething good of his pain. Or aybe it was #le, who attached hi self to hi like a leech that ade hi tutor the young protBgB. In all honesty$ he ight ha%e hated hi for disappearing when he did$ especially when later he had been linked with Irina'had it not been for the note that he had left... T*:T( T#0.S TIM. :ntil now -ack didn't understand it$ but he understood hi . 9et if ti e were to pro%e that his trust had been isappropriated$ the older figured he was ore than prepared for such an outco e. "9ou sa%ed y life." It ca e out ore like a )uestion than a state ent.
A %uestion of trust" "9ou sa%ed ine." The younger replied.
&r a %uestion of debt" The older wondered' "9ou can trust e$" #le, reassured hi .
I never meant to hurt you. -ack s irked again$ "Lesson nu ber oneC 9ou can't trust anybody."
#le, shook his head. So e things ne%er change. "(ow's Sydney"" he finally brought up. -ack was about to answer when #le,'s cell phone rang$ "(ello"" #le, put down his glass and stood up to take the call$ walking a few paces away$ ra bling on in *ussian$ -ack caught as uch asC !hat ti e" (ow long"$ nothing that could gi%e away his ga e. The other looked agitated$ so he figured it was so ething i portant. "!hat's the'" #le, switched to .nglish$ "shit."
Saferoo $ &iadro's &illa Milan Lauren held the bloody knife to his throat as she watched the sur%eillance feed co ing through. The only thing that was going through her head was that she was running out of ti e$ and she could not afford failure. (er life depended on it. "+O!D" &iadro was shaking terribly in his restraints$ "I said I would tell you'" She yanked hi harder.
"Sh5she's under an alias'a deep co%er assign ent$ e%en I don't know how to get to her'" "LiarD" "I' not lyingD I swearD"
"If that true then I ha%e no use for youD" "!a5waitD There is another way'" 4ownstairs' Syd fired off a few ore rounds to di%ert the gaurds then ade a run for the staircase pillar$ knocking out a guard that ca e after her with a knife as she dashed across the tiled floor. &aughn was already on the last few steps. She coughed$ choking on the cloud of plaster powder that dislodged itself when se%eral bullets hit the pillar. (er hair was a ess$ her heart thu ping hard as she crouched$ taking co%er. 8ro the side of her eye she noticed the guard i erging$ so before he had ti e to fire off a round$ she beat hi to it. Then before they had a chance to reco%er$ she dashed out with kicks and punches flying. She spin kicked one of the at a bad angle$ which caused a bit of a sharp pain to shoot through her knee cap$ but she hardly winced$ and carried on. &aughn had reached the second storey and roughly yanked the security panel out of it place to hot wire it. (e )uickly followed the %arious colored wires$ briefly glancing up at the security ca eras that were still online. The lines sparked. 6ingoD #nd the door slid open. The roo was e pty e,cept for the bloodied 4octor tied to the chair$ and the panel that had been re o%ed fro the ceiling lying on the floor.
'amn it. &aughn rushed to untie the 4octor. "The passengerD I ha%e betrayed herD" he started ra bling al ost deliriously. "6etrayed who"" &aughn continued with his restraints. (e didn't ake any
sense.
"9ears spent protecting her'" he looked at &aughn with gla1ed eyes$ "now she's alone'" "!ho's she" !ho are you protecting""" &aughn ripped off the last of the wires. ;rabbing &iadro by the shoulder to stand hi up$ he tried to get ore infor ation. Sydney ca e rushing breathlessly /ust then. "Those guards were order of *a baldi." &iadro's eyes grew wide and his face looked like the blood had drained out of hi as he pointed to her in fear$ shaking like a leaf$ "9ou're the oneD 'the one fro the prophecyD" Then une,pectedly$ he rushed out of &aughn's grasp and lunged for Sydney's gun. "!aitD" Syd sta ered$ not understanding$ "!hat are you.."
"4rop itD" &aughn shouted. 6ut &iadro could not hear anything else but his panic$ "9ou will not hurt her5" 6a D &aughn pulled the trigger. &iadro's face went fro fear to a lifeless serene in front to Sydney. She wasn't sure what hit the ground first$ her gun or his body. She swayed slightly as sir went in and out of her lungs$ her eyes finding their way to &aughn$ arrested in shock. &aughn swallowed sadly$ walking o%er to ascertain what he already knew what a fatal shot.
CI# Safehouse #le, had ended his phone call with 0atya$ only to turn around and find that -ack had already gotten his things and left7 to lea%e hi to handle his business. It was an understanding. I ediately after$ #le, had set up his laptop to patch into the &illa's security syste . (e had watched the entire proceedings. The feed was /u py$ but it was enough. (e killed the feed then closed his eyes sadly. #nother friend lost. #t ti es like these$ e%en breathing see ed terribly tireso e. (e dialed the nu ber on his cell phone. It rang once. "I was too late." (e ignored the brief condolences fro his guilt. "+o. The passenger has not been co pro ised yet$ but it will not be long'I ha%e unco%ered the identity of the CI# ole'no$ she'yes$ she was not the one'her the other line7 it did nothing to console
husband. Michael &aughn. (e did it to protect Sydney'9es$ I know that atters." (e headed to the li%ing roo he listened.
ay co plicate
to retrie%e his glass of wine and gulped it down as
"'9ou know we should stick to her plan. 'There's no ti e for that. +o$ I belie%e the ole will be eli inated in ti e'9es$ that is y assess ent of the situation5 ' nothing is fool5proofD5 I' sorry. +o$ I' /ust'I' fine. I know. I will. ;oodbye." (e clicked the end call button$ and took another slug of wine. (e knew there was nothing he could ha%e done$ no way to anticipate how things turned out'but at the sa e ti e. I was too late. (is apart ent suddenly see ed so ore alone. uch bigger than it really was$ and so uch
Co%enant 6ase :nknown Location Sark sauntered down the etals steps towards the body$ nonchalantly looking at a stunned Lauren trying to catch her breath$ "I went to Los #ngeles to warn you$ not to kill you. Eerhaps in the future$ you should try trusting e a little ore." She looked at hi with a clearly bruised ego.
(e stood with co plete disregard o%er 6ona i's lifeless corpse$ then bent down with the gun still in his hand$ with the other hand he picked up the disk and threw it in front of the techie$ "+ow get to work." Lauren watched hi as he placed the gun back on the table behind her$ then defiantly$ but ore out of wariness$ she asked$ "!hy"" Sark s iled$ then drew closer till he was only inches fro her face$ "4on't you e%er grow tired of not being able to trust anyone"" his %oice grew to a whisper$ "I do." (e kissed her al ost chastely. "4espite our noblest intentions to be cold and ruthless killers$ ercenaries who would kill e%en their own fathers to achie%e our ends'you and I re ain irre%ocably hu an." 8or a o ent it see ed as though he was about to hiss her$ but he slyly walked away$ eliciting a slight hint of disappoint ent fro her$ "#re you saying$ -ulian$ that you ha%e feelings for e"" (e snickered at her )uestion$ "I a saying$ y lo%e$ " he walked back toward her$ "If you ha%e to go to hell$ why not ha%e so e co pany." She s iled at his sadistic sense of hu or.
CI# Operations Los #ngeles
Marshall would ha%e crossed paths with hi $ but decided to take a detour. +e%er get in the way of a an on a warpath. .,actly what that war was$ or who it was with$ did not atter. -ack i erged fro the entrance to the prison )uarters with an intense look of bitterness in his eyes. The first thing that was going to happen when he got his hands on those papers was they would be burnt$ he swore silently to hi self. !hile his conscience ay still ha%e e,isted$ at this o ent it was pushed to the %ery back of his ind7 all rational and oral reasoning see ed to dissipate in light of recent re%elations. Eerhaps the feeling of Irina's betrayal was part reason for his anger$ but he wouldn't ad it it$ what dro%e hi was the possibility that he was not'he couldn't e%en concei%e of it. "4adD" Syd ade her way to hi $ and he did his best to co pose hi self.
"Sydney. I heard about what happened with the 4octor." (e switched to a topic that she was ost certainly preoccupied with at present$ the ost classic way to throw her off his. (e didn't want her unduly shaken by the prospects that were affecting hi . (e was /ust glad nothing had happened to her in Milan. It was what was best for her'and the di%ersion worked. "!e were wrong about the passenger$" she e,plained e otionally$ "It's not a weapon. It's a person. The doctor sacrificed his life trying to protect her. !hen he saw e it was al ost like he recogni1ed e$ like I was his worst fear co e to lifeD" -ack considered carefully. She went on$ "4ad$" she s oothed her hair back agitatedly$ "when he tried to e$ he was trying to protect the Eassenger fro e."
kill
Syd closed her eyes o entarily /ust processing and trying to accept all that had occurred. 6ut it brought back e%erything accu ulated o%er the years with the *a baldi prophecy. The wo an the doctor feared so uch$ the wo an all these high powered organi1ations were after$ she /ust didn't understand it. She had been bitter and depressed after all that she had been through$ but she could ne%er i agine beco ing that wo an7 that wo an who would render the world unto utter desolation. She could not i agine that anything could e%en push her to such a point. She had ne%er belie%ed it$ ocked it e%en$ but when she saw the nu ber of people who had paid the price$ whether for good oti%ations or not$ because they belie%ed'so e part of her did begin to wonder. (er father reached out and touched her ar $ partly for her$ partly for hi $ "Sloane$" that na e was like gall on his lips$ "told e that after Il 4ire said "peace"$ he searched for e%ery possible eaning in that essage. (e traced the ety ology of the word to its ;reek for $ Irine$ also the deri%ation of the na e Irina." She looked at hi )ui11ically. !hat was he getting at" ay be your other."
"Sydney$ I think the passenger
Irina's Cabin Long Si Mountains Ilena clipped the phone closed$ as Irina turned. "The news is bad$" Irina concluded seeing the other's face$ and her sister re ained silent$ she was sure$ "I know what you're thinking. !e cannot run ahead of schedule." "6ut if we act now'" the other argued.
"0ill off the cell leaders now and we risk losing what we'%e been working for'" Irina raised her %oice slightly$ then regained co posure$ "we cannot afford to do that. 9ou know." Ilena did not reply$ but stood where she was. (er sister walked o%er with folded ar s$ "Tell 0atya to stick to the plan'" "#nd if it doesn't work"" "Then we deal with it as it co es. !e can't fight what we can't see'e%en best laid intentions don't work out'has 0atya recei%ed the intel that -ack ac)uired fro '" "9es$" Ilena confir ed$ "It should be picked up'" she looked at her watch$ "within the hour." ";ood." The other o%ed to the window once ore.
Ilena watched her sister e pathetically. She was always the e otional one of all the sisters. Irina was always the strong one$ always had been. "I feel like we'%e tried helplessly to fight against the tide and co e out with nothing." she hugged Irina fro behind$ "There was no way to anticipate e%ery loop hole'you knew this. !e can only wait now'has Sloane been e,ecuted"" "+o. +ot yet. Soon I think." Irina turned to face her. "#t least that will gi%e us one less thing to deal with'Irina. -ack will know." Irina pondered her words with a sullen s ile$ "That's the least of y worries." she sighed$ and then picked up the pre%ious con%ersation$ "4on't be i pulsi%e'there are any whose fate rides on the decisions we ake. They ha%e ade sacrifices to get where we are5 we ha%e ade sacrifices to get here'keep her in line$ Ilena." Ilena nodded$ "(ow can you be so cal "" Irina ga%e a sad s ile in return$ "I don't ha%e a choice." Too decisions to be any scenarios$ too any possibilities. Too any players and too any ade in between. Too uch need for trust. Maybe that was the proble .
Train Station Moscow S)uare (e flipped the newspaper page$ scanning it briefly before turning to the ne,t$ at the sa e ti e$ carefully watching the passers by. (e had no doubt he would be unrecogni1able in his get up$ but one could ne%er be too sure. 8ro the corner of his eye he saw the courier approach. She sat down on the bench behind hi . (e continued flipping. "4id you bring the pay ent"" he asked without breaking his process. She crossed her legs as per nor al$ "It's been deli%ered to the stipulated collection point. (as the aterials been deli%ered"" (e ignored the last )uestion seeing as it was redundant. She knew he always deli%ered. (is work was done here. (e folded the paper and chucked it on the bench.
"Tell 0atya she owes She waited fi%e
e big ti e for this."
inutes after he had gone before heading back.
&aughn and Lauren's bedroo Los #ngeles "I' looking forward to a nice weekend alone$" Lauren s iled fro bed. the other side of the
&aughn s iled back halfheartedly$ "Me too'So what did you do while I was gone"" She hesitated for a o ent$ a brief o ent$ that in ost circu stances he wouldn't ha%e taken note$ and then she walked o%er to hi and ga%e hi a kiss$ "I issed you." (e tried to hide the sudden fear that surged through hi . "I' going to run a bath$" she said. #nd without answering his )uestion$ she proceeded into the bathroo . "#occasionally she'd stop what she was doing, wal! over, and offer me a !iss. A spontaneous gesture." "All I'm as!ing is that you be responsive to the signs if and when they present themselves." &aughn waited until he heard the water running and then he ade a frantic search of her things. One couldn't be sure if it was to find proof of e,oneration'or i plication. (e ru aged through the dresser contents$ the through their drawers. +othing. (e stood up o entarily scanning the roo . 6ed$ la p$ wardrobe$ towel cabinet'wardrobe. (e walked purposefully o%er to the wardrobe$ al ost scared of what he ight find. (e flipped on the light$ then yanked her suitcase fro under his own$ running his hands o%er the bag in the standard search pattern7 round the sides$ top and botto $ open flap$ co%er$ sides' botto . (e pressed his hand along the edge. It ga%e way'his face changing fro reali1ation. (e swallowed. fear to pale
No.
