This takes place right after episode 10: The Aubduction
Distant
Chapter 1
~~~~~~~
THrough all the loud, banging music, through all the laughter and talking, she herd her cell phone ring. She reluctantly stopped dancing and made her way to her purse, weaving through the people. She grabbed her viberating phone and headed to her room. She closed the door, making the music and laughter muffled. She looked at the call ID, Vaughn. "Hello?" She asked, answering her phone.
"Syd, I'm sorry to call you this late." Vaughn appoligized. But he had that tome in his voice, that something was really wron and he didn't want to tell her.
"It's okay." Sydney assured him. "So what's up?"
Vaughn sighed. "We didn't get Marshall at the intercept point."
Sydney was silent, with no words to say. Thoughts were zipping through her head, mixing up her orginized thoughts, questions, and emotions. "What do you mean? What happened?" COncern filled her voice.
"We don't know who, but someone else intercepted Marshall on his way home before we did." Vaughn replied with his calm but worried voice. "Thought you should know."
Sydney took a deep breath. "Did you use the tracking device on his luggage?"
"Yes, but it didn't help. They didn't take any luggage, only Marshall." Vaughn explained.
"Did anyone talk to my mother yet?" Sydney asked. She had a feeling that her mom might have some idea about who did this.
"Yes, your father is right now. I'll let you know as soon as he's back and I'll tell you whatever he got." vaughn said. "Your father said that Sloane doesn't know about this yet."
"He will, he'll find out by tomorrow morning." Sydney said, worried. This was a problem. As if enough things weren't already. Her mom turning herself into the CIA, Sark joining SD-6 and now this. It must all connect somehow. "Let me know as soon as you get anything."
"I will." Vaughn replied.
"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow." Sydney said and hung up. SHe sat on her bed a minute, digesting the news that she had just herd. She didn't want to know who kidnapped Marshall, afraid that she might know what they'll do to him. But she wanted to know so that she could find them and kick their asses.
Sydney sighed as she got up to return to the party.
*****
Irina herd the faint sound of shoes slapping against the concreit floor. The sound of the gates slowly opening and closing echoed in the hall. She waited for the visitor, wondering what they wanted from her this time. Wondering who it was this time. Sydney? Jack? Kendall? Or perhaps Agent Vaughn? He amused her.
The footsteps had stopped, the gates were closed. There was silence. She felt eyes baring down on her, waiting for her to turn around. She did, slowly, to find Jack standing there, glaring at her.
She stood up and walked over to meet him. Wanting an answer to her curiousity. She slightly smiled at him, and he just started at her with his never changing stone face.
"One of our SD-6 assests, has been kidnapped on his way home from the airport after getting back from a mission with Sydney." Jack explained, breaking the silence. Irina already knew what he wanted, but she let him continue. "His name is Marshall Flankman. He's the technician for SD-6. Do you have any idea as to who could have kidnapped him and why?"
Irina was silent for a while, having a debate in her head. Jack watched her as the battle continused in her mind. She finally looked back up at him. "No, I don't. I was trying to remember anything, any clue or hint that could've led to this. But I don't know."
They stared at eachother through the glass, once again in silence. Irina watched and waited, wondering what thoughts were streaming through Jack's head. "Is there anyone that you suggest we go after? Anyone who you think we should watch?" Jack's question took Irina by surprise.
"You would trust my opinion?" Irina asked, surprise showing in her voice.
"No. But we would take them into consideration." Jack replied coldly. "Why else would I be here?"
Irina was silent agian, having another debate in her mind. "I suggest you keep an eye on Sark. I don't know what his plan is, but he's the only one I can think of that could've done it."
Jack starred at her for a while longer. Thinking about her response. Then he turned and walked back down the hallway. Irina watched him leave, with a small smile on her face.
*****
"Your father just got back from seeing your mother." Vaughn reported to Sydney, who was leaning against a fence.
"And?" Sydney asked, waiting to hear what information her mother provided.
"Your mother doesn't know who kidnapped Marshall. But she did suggest taht we keep an eye on Sark." Vaughn explained.
"We're doing that in the first place!" Sydney told him. Vaughn nodded. "As much as I suspect him having a plan, I don't think he'd take the risk of doing that."
"Maybe he's usuing the excuse of his partnership with Sloane to hide behind. So that Sloane wouldn't suspect him." Vaughn suggested.
Sydney shook her head. "No, I don't think so. Sark go in a lot of trouble for not recieving the last Rambaldi artifact for Sloane. Sloane is still suspicious of him, he doesn't fully trust Sark. And Sark wouldn't be dumb enough to pull something like this."
"Despite that, your mother knows Sark better than any of us. " Vaughn said, putting his hands in his pockets. "If she says to watch him, I think we should."
Sydney thought a minute, then sighed. "Your probably right." She pushed herself from the fence. "I have to head over to SD-6. I"m sure Sloane's noticed Marshall being gone. So I'm going to have to put up wtih that."
Vaughn nodded as he watched Sydney pick up her jacket that was on a crate. "By the way, "Sydney started. "how did Will do on his test?"
"He did really well." Vaughn smiled and so did Sydney. "I think it gave Devlin a bit of shock."
"I'm sure he'll be glad to hear that." Sydney replied. "This has meant a lot to him. Thanks for doing this."
Vaughn gave her his little smile. "You're welcome." Sydney just gave him a little smile and turned to leave. Which was odd because she usually said something like, I'll see you tomorrow or I'll wait to hear from you. But she didn't, and it worried him. "Syd?" Sydney stopped and turned aroung, a look of curiousity on her face. Vaughn walked closer to her with concern written on his face. "Are you okay? I mean, is something bothering you, or on yourmind?"
Sydney had a look like she had been caught. But it quickly disapeared and it was replaced by a confused expression. She shook her head. "No, why?"
"Well, you've been really distant lately. So I was just wondering is everything was alright." Vaughn explained. He still looked worried, like he didn't believe her.
Sydney flashed him a smile. "I"m fine. Thanks for asking." Vaughn nodded and watched her walk away."
*****
She hated lying to him. But she couldn't tell him why she had been so distant. If she did it would make things awkward, uncomfortable, it would ruin what relationship they had. Or would it? WOuld it make things better? She didn't know, but she couldn't tell him her reason, not yet.
The whole drive to Credit Dauphine she was thinking about him. Which she hated becaues she couldn't have him. Well, she couldn't before anyway, but now her chances were completely gone.
She didn't let him explain because she knew that she would've broken down. And it made the pain that she couldn't have him anyway because of protocol hurt more. But what he had said about his fathers watch, it completely confused her. How could he say something like that to her when he had Alice? Maybe if she had let him explain it would make sense. And part of her was pist off at Kendall for paging them at that moment. But the other part was glad. Why, she didn't know. Maybe she didn't know what to say. She remembered that Vaughn's words had made tears sting her eyes.
Sydney parked her car in the Credit Dauphine parking garage and walked to the elevator. Vaughn was still on her mind. She waited for the elevator to reach SD-6 HeadQuarters, which took a few minutes. So that gave her time to reorginize her thoughts.
The elevator doors opened and she stepped out into the middle of the white room. It buzzed as it flashed red, making it look like the walls had been stained with blood.
The bright light didn't usually hurt her eyes, she had gotten use to it. But occasionally, it stung her eyes like poision was flooding them. Only when something was really bothering her. And today was one of those days. She closed her eys and squeezed the pain out as she shook her head. She thanked that light on days like these. Because it woke her up mantally and she would be alert and normal.
She stepped out of the room and into the dark and gloomy HeadQuarters of SD-6. People wizzed by, thinking of tasks at hand. Voices filled the halls and phones ringing in differen't tones and speed gathered peoples attention. THis was what it was like daily at SD-6.
Sydney relected back to her first time walking through here. Amazed that so called CIA agents looked like ordinary people, amazed at how busy everyone was. And when she ran into Dixon in the hallway. She smiled at the memory.
A familiar voice jogged her thoughts. She turned aroung to see Dixon. She offered him a smile. "Hi, what's up?"
"Sloane wants to see you in his office." Dixon replied. She had a pretty good idea why.
"Okay, thanks Dixon." Sydney said. She turned and headed for Sloane's office. Once again her thoughts wondered to the past. When she first met Sloane.
She knocked on the glass door as she glanced in. Sloane had a worried look on his face, which was usual. He looked up and unlocked the door for her. Sydney opened it and sat down in a chair to face him. "Sydney, good morning." Sloane greeted.
Sydney put on her everyday, worn-out fake smile. She hardly ever really smiled anymore. "Good morning."
"Sloane sat up in his chair. "I'm sure you're wondering why I called you here." Sydney nodded. "Last night, when you got back, did you see anyone, suspicious?"
Sydney thought a moment. She didn't pretend this time. She accually thought because she did want to find Marshall. Sydney shook her head. "No, I didn't. Why?"
Sloane let out a long breath, as if he was holding it in. Sydney was sure that not having Marshall, was a big problem to SD-6. "Marshall hasn't turned up. He didn't come in this morning. And when we tried to contact him, we got no reply."
Sydney gave him a shocked and confused look. "What do you think happened?"
Sloane shook his head. "I don't know. But it worries me. Marshall is critical to SD-6. If he was kidnapped, the kidnapper could get whatever information they needed about SD-6."
Sydney was shocked. For real. Marhsall would have been a great advantage to the CIA, to help bring down SD-6. "How much exactly, does Marshall know?" Sydney asked, fishing for information.
"A lot." Sloane answered. "The codes to the SD-6 mainframe, the blueprints, vault codes. All the information anyone would need to sneak in a completely shut-down SD-6."
Damn. She wished now more than ever that the CIA had gotten Marshall. He was a huge key. Sydney also realized that SD-6 was in critical danger. She didn't know if she should be happy or not.
Last time SD-6 was held hostage, Sydney ended up saving it. Which she never thought she'd do. And it didn't exactly turn out happy in the end. With Rambaldi's Prophecy and finding out that her mother must have still been alive.
Sydney gave Sloane another fake smile. "I'm sure he'll be alright." Sloane looked doubtful.
JUst then another knock came on the door. Sloane unlocked it and she herd the doors open. Sydney turned in her chair to see a tall, blonde older women. Sydney had never seen her before.
"Sydney," Sloane said. Sydney turned back around, expection and introduction. "That'll be all, thank you."
Confused and curious, Sydney got up and left. As she walked away from Sloane's office she looked back. That women was suspicious. Maybe her father would know. She should ask him.
*****
"That women was Ariana Kane. She was sent to help Sloane in an investigation." Jack explained to Sydney.
Sydney's eyebrow's showed she was confused. "An investigation? What investigation?" She was curious. Could it be to find Marshall?
"Emily's death was not a change of health. Sloane was ordered to Kill her. If he did, he would be let into the Alliance." Jack replied. She knew Sloane killed Emily. "Recently, Sloane saw Emily."
"He saw here?" Sydney asked shocked.
"Yes. He tried to kill her using Sodium Morphate, a type of poision. A recent discovery has proved that she had taken an antidote without Sloane's knowledge." Jack said, explaining the situation. "Just the other day Sloane got a call from someone regarding his wife. They requested a certain amount of meny for her."
"That was about money?" Sydney asked surprised.
"Aparently." Jack responded. "Sloane took the situation to the Alliance. Sloane suggested taht they make the trade and put a tracking device on the money."
"Why?" Asked Sydney, taking in this news.
"He felt that this person would be a secruity risk. The Alliance agreed." Jack said to Sydney, who was still having trouble taking this all in.
"So what did he do?" Sydney asked, curious for more.
"Sloane had Marshall out an invisible, liquid tracking device on the money. The trade was made but not in person. Sloane left the case of money on a bench. In return, he was given intructions to a newspaper with a hidden envelope containing pictures of Emily with a bullet to her head." Sydney winced at the thought.
"And the tracking device?" This was all confusing. So many things had happened in the past two months. It all must connect somehow.
"The signal was lost. They never found who it was." Her father answered.
Sydney thought a moment. "So, the Alliance sent Ariana Kane to investigate this?"
"Yes."
Another thing hit Sydney. "Why didn't you tell me about this before?"
"Because it's a dangerous secret I wasn't supose to know, and since I do, I am Ariana's top suspect. If anyone learns about you knowing, she'll suspect you as well." Jack warned. "I suggest you don't tell anyone. Not even Agent Vaughn."
Sydney looked up at him with surprise. "You're telling me, that the CIA doesn't know about this?"
"They don't need to know, at least not yet." Jack said.
Sydney didn't like thi. "Dad, if you're a top suspect, I think you should let them know!"
"I can handle it Sydney. I'll tell them when I think it's time." Sydney didn't respond. No use fighting with her dad. He never listened. She decided she wouldn't tell the CIA and leave it up to him. He had more experience with this.
"Do you think that Ariana Kane suspects you for any other reason?" Sydney asked worried.
"She seems to believe that my relationship with Sloane is the perfect excuse to eliminate my chances as a supect." Jack paused. "That's the biggest reason she suspects me."
"And what does Sloane think?" This was serious, and it was making Sydney worried.
"Sloane doesn't like her way of thinking" Jack answered.
"Well if Sloane's not convinced, you should be okay. For a while." SYdney said relieved.
"For now anyway. Sloane isnt' one that changes his mind easily. But I think that Ariana is pushing him. " Jack's words made Sydney think. THis was not good. "Even if Sloane doesn't agree, he doesn't have control over Ariana. She'll do what she will."
"Dad, this is serious." Sydney argued. "This could lead to reviel your cover as a doubleagent for the CIA!"
"Sydney," Jack said firmly, giving her his glaring face. "I can handle it." He turned away from her and got in his car.
Sydney was completely, and uterly confused and frusterated. This all had to connect, somehow. Her mother turning herself into the CIA, Sark joining SD-6, Marshall's disapearence and now this. It all had to connect somehow. And she was determind to find out how.
~~~~~~
Distant
Chapter 1
~~~~~~~
THrough all the loud, banging music, through all the laughter and talking, she herd her cell phone ring. She reluctantly stopped dancing and made her way to her purse, weaving through the people. She grabbed her viberating phone and headed to her room. She closed the door, making the music and laughter muffled. She looked at the call ID, Vaughn. "Hello?" She asked, answering her phone.
"Syd, I'm sorry to call you this late." Vaughn appoligized. But he had that tome in his voice, that something was really wron and he didn't want to tell her.
"It's okay." Sydney assured him. "So what's up?"
Vaughn sighed. "We didn't get Marshall at the intercept point."
Sydney was silent, with no words to say. Thoughts were zipping through her head, mixing up her orginized thoughts, questions, and emotions. "What do you mean? What happened?" COncern filled her voice.
"We don't know who, but someone else intercepted Marshall on his way home before we did." Vaughn replied with his calm but worried voice. "Thought you should know."
Sydney took a deep breath. "Did you use the tracking device on his luggage?"
"Yes, but it didn't help. They didn't take any luggage, only Marshall." Vaughn explained.
"Did anyone talk to my mother yet?" Sydney asked. She had a feeling that her mom might have some idea about who did this.
"Yes, your father is right now. I'll let you know as soon as he's back and I'll tell you whatever he got." vaughn said. "Your father said that Sloane doesn't know about this yet."
"He will, he'll find out by tomorrow morning." Sydney said, worried. This was a problem. As if enough things weren't already. Her mom turning herself into the CIA, Sark joining SD-6 and now this. It must all connect somehow. "Let me know as soon as you get anything."
"I will." Vaughn replied.
"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow." Sydney said and hung up. SHe sat on her bed a minute, digesting the news that she had just herd. She didn't want to know who kidnapped Marshall, afraid that she might know what they'll do to him. But she wanted to know so that she could find them and kick their asses.
Sydney sighed as she got up to return to the party.
*****
Irina herd the faint sound of shoes slapping against the concreit floor. The sound of the gates slowly opening and closing echoed in the hall. She waited for the visitor, wondering what they wanted from her this time. Wondering who it was this time. Sydney? Jack? Kendall? Or perhaps Agent Vaughn? He amused her.
The footsteps had stopped, the gates were closed. There was silence. She felt eyes baring down on her, waiting for her to turn around. She did, slowly, to find Jack standing there, glaring at her.
She stood up and walked over to meet him. Wanting an answer to her curiousity. She slightly smiled at him, and he just started at her with his never changing stone face.
"One of our SD-6 assests, has been kidnapped on his way home from the airport after getting back from a mission with Sydney." Jack explained, breaking the silence. Irina already knew what he wanted, but she let him continue. "His name is Marshall Flankman. He's the technician for SD-6. Do you have any idea as to who could have kidnapped him and why?"
Irina was silent for a while, having a debate in her head. Jack watched her as the battle continused in her mind. She finally looked back up at him. "No, I don't. I was trying to remember anything, any clue or hint that could've led to this. But I don't know."
They stared at eachother through the glass, once again in silence. Irina watched and waited, wondering what thoughts were streaming through Jack's head. "Is there anyone that you suggest we go after? Anyone who you think we should watch?" Jack's question took Irina by surprise.
"You would trust my opinion?" Irina asked, surprise showing in her voice.
"No. But we would take them into consideration." Jack replied coldly. "Why else would I be here?"
Irina was silent agian, having another debate in her mind. "I suggest you keep an eye on Sark. I don't know what his plan is, but he's the only one I can think of that could've done it."
Jack starred at her for a while longer. Thinking about her response. Then he turned and walked back down the hallway. Irina watched him leave, with a small smile on her face.
*****
"Your father just got back from seeing your mother." Vaughn reported to Sydney, who was leaning against a fence.
"And?" Sydney asked, waiting to hear what information her mother provided.
"Your mother doesn't know who kidnapped Marshall. But she did suggest taht we keep an eye on Sark." Vaughn explained.
"We're doing that in the first place!" Sydney told him. Vaughn nodded. "As much as I suspect him having a plan, I don't think he'd take the risk of doing that."
"Maybe he's usuing the excuse of his partnership with Sloane to hide behind. So that Sloane wouldn't suspect him." Vaughn suggested.
Sydney shook her head. "No, I don't think so. Sark go in a lot of trouble for not recieving the last Rambaldi artifact for Sloane. Sloane is still suspicious of him, he doesn't fully trust Sark. And Sark wouldn't be dumb enough to pull something like this."
"Despite that, your mother knows Sark better than any of us. " Vaughn said, putting his hands in his pockets. "If she says to watch him, I think we should."
Sydney thought a minute, then sighed. "Your probably right." She pushed herself from the fence. "I have to head over to SD-6. I"m sure Sloane's noticed Marshall being gone. So I'm going to have to put up wtih that."
Vaughn nodded as he watched Sydney pick up her jacket that was on a crate. "By the way, "Sydney started. "how did Will do on his test?"
"He did really well." Vaughn smiled and so did Sydney. "I think it gave Devlin a bit of shock."
"I'm sure he'll be glad to hear that." Sydney replied. "This has meant a lot to him. Thanks for doing this."
Vaughn gave her his little smile. "You're welcome." Sydney just gave him a little smile and turned to leave. Which was odd because she usually said something like, I'll see you tomorrow or I'll wait to hear from you. But she didn't, and it worried him. "Syd?" Sydney stopped and turned aroung, a look of curiousity on her face. Vaughn walked closer to her with concern written on his face. "Are you okay? I mean, is something bothering you, or on yourmind?"
Sydney had a look like she had been caught. But it quickly disapeared and it was replaced by a confused expression. She shook her head. "No, why?"
"Well, you've been really distant lately. So I was just wondering is everything was alright." Vaughn explained. He still looked worried, like he didn't believe her.
Sydney flashed him a smile. "I"m fine. Thanks for asking." Vaughn nodded and watched her walk away."
*****
She hated lying to him. But she couldn't tell him why she had been so distant. If she did it would make things awkward, uncomfortable, it would ruin what relationship they had. Or would it? WOuld it make things better? She didn't know, but she couldn't tell him her reason, not yet.
The whole drive to Credit Dauphine she was thinking about him. Which she hated becaues she couldn't have him. Well, she couldn't before anyway, but now her chances were completely gone.
She didn't let him explain because she knew that she would've broken down. And it made the pain that she couldn't have him anyway because of protocol hurt more. But what he had said about his fathers watch, it completely confused her. How could he say something like that to her when he had Alice? Maybe if she had let him explain it would make sense. And part of her was pist off at Kendall for paging them at that moment. But the other part was glad. Why, she didn't know. Maybe she didn't know what to say. She remembered that Vaughn's words had made tears sting her eyes.
Sydney parked her car in the Credit Dauphine parking garage and walked to the elevator. Vaughn was still on her mind. She waited for the elevator to reach SD-6 HeadQuarters, which took a few minutes. So that gave her time to reorginize her thoughts.
The elevator doors opened and she stepped out into the middle of the white room. It buzzed as it flashed red, making it look like the walls had been stained with blood.
The bright light didn't usually hurt her eyes, she had gotten use to it. But occasionally, it stung her eyes like poision was flooding them. Only when something was really bothering her. And today was one of those days. She closed her eys and squeezed the pain out as she shook her head. She thanked that light on days like these. Because it woke her up mantally and she would be alert and normal.
She stepped out of the room and into the dark and gloomy HeadQuarters of SD-6. People wizzed by, thinking of tasks at hand. Voices filled the halls and phones ringing in differen't tones and speed gathered peoples attention. THis was what it was like daily at SD-6.
Sydney relected back to her first time walking through here. Amazed that so called CIA agents looked like ordinary people, amazed at how busy everyone was. And when she ran into Dixon in the hallway. She smiled at the memory.
A familiar voice jogged her thoughts. She turned aroung to see Dixon. She offered him a smile. "Hi, what's up?"
"Sloane wants to see you in his office." Dixon replied. She had a pretty good idea why.
"Okay, thanks Dixon." Sydney said. She turned and headed for Sloane's office. Once again her thoughts wondered to the past. When she first met Sloane.
She knocked on the glass door as she glanced in. Sloane had a worried look on his face, which was usual. He looked up and unlocked the door for her. Sydney opened it and sat down in a chair to face him. "Sydney, good morning." Sloane greeted.
Sydney put on her everyday, worn-out fake smile. She hardly ever really smiled anymore. "Good morning."
"Sloane sat up in his chair. "I'm sure you're wondering why I called you here." Sydney nodded. "Last night, when you got back, did you see anyone, suspicious?"
Sydney thought a moment. She didn't pretend this time. She accually thought because she did want to find Marshall. Sydney shook her head. "No, I didn't. Why?"
Sloane let out a long breath, as if he was holding it in. Sydney was sure that not having Marshall, was a big problem to SD-6. "Marshall hasn't turned up. He didn't come in this morning. And when we tried to contact him, we got no reply."
Sydney gave him a shocked and confused look. "What do you think happened?"
Sloane shook his head. "I don't know. But it worries me. Marshall is critical to SD-6. If he was kidnapped, the kidnapper could get whatever information they needed about SD-6."
Sydney was shocked. For real. Marhsall would have been a great advantage to the CIA, to help bring down SD-6. "How much exactly, does Marshall know?" Sydney asked, fishing for information.
"A lot." Sloane answered. "The codes to the SD-6 mainframe, the blueprints, vault codes. All the information anyone would need to sneak in a completely shut-down SD-6."
Damn. She wished now more than ever that the CIA had gotten Marshall. He was a huge key. Sydney also realized that SD-6 was in critical danger. She didn't know if she should be happy or not.
Last time SD-6 was held hostage, Sydney ended up saving it. Which she never thought she'd do. And it didn't exactly turn out happy in the end. With Rambaldi's Prophecy and finding out that her mother must have still been alive.
Sydney gave Sloane another fake smile. "I'm sure he'll be alright." Sloane looked doubtful.
JUst then another knock came on the door. Sloane unlocked it and she herd the doors open. Sydney turned in her chair to see a tall, blonde older women. Sydney had never seen her before.
"Sydney," Sloane said. Sydney turned back around, expection and introduction. "That'll be all, thank you."
Confused and curious, Sydney got up and left. As she walked away from Sloane's office she looked back. That women was suspicious. Maybe her father would know. She should ask him.
*****
"That women was Ariana Kane. She was sent to help Sloane in an investigation." Jack explained to Sydney.
Sydney's eyebrow's showed she was confused. "An investigation? What investigation?" She was curious. Could it be to find Marshall?
"Emily's death was not a change of health. Sloane was ordered to Kill her. If he did, he would be let into the Alliance." Jack replied. She knew Sloane killed Emily. "Recently, Sloane saw Emily."
"He saw here?" Sydney asked shocked.
"Yes. He tried to kill her using Sodium Morphate, a type of poision. A recent discovery has proved that she had taken an antidote without Sloane's knowledge." Jack said, explaining the situation. "Just the other day Sloane got a call from someone regarding his wife. They requested a certain amount of meny for her."
"That was about money?" Sydney asked surprised.
"Aparently." Jack responded. "Sloane took the situation to the Alliance. Sloane suggested taht they make the trade and put a tracking device on the money."
"Why?" Asked Sydney, taking in this news.
"He felt that this person would be a secruity risk. The Alliance agreed." Jack said to Sydney, who was still having trouble taking this all in.
"So what did he do?" Sydney asked, curious for more.
"Sloane had Marshall out an invisible, liquid tracking device on the money. The trade was made but not in person. Sloane left the case of money on a bench. In return, he was given intructions to a newspaper with a hidden envelope containing pictures of Emily with a bullet to her head." Sydney winced at the thought.
"And the tracking device?" This was all confusing. So many things had happened in the past two months. It all must connect somehow.
"The signal was lost. They never found who it was." Her father answered.
Sydney thought a moment. "So, the Alliance sent Ariana Kane to investigate this?"
"Yes."
Another thing hit Sydney. "Why didn't you tell me about this before?"
"Because it's a dangerous secret I wasn't supose to know, and since I do, I am Ariana's top suspect. If anyone learns about you knowing, she'll suspect you as well." Jack warned. "I suggest you don't tell anyone. Not even Agent Vaughn."
Sydney looked up at him with surprise. "You're telling me, that the CIA doesn't know about this?"
"They don't need to know, at least not yet." Jack said.
Sydney didn't like thi. "Dad, if you're a top suspect, I think you should let them know!"
"I can handle it Sydney. I'll tell them when I think it's time." Sydney didn't respond. No use fighting with her dad. He never listened. She decided she wouldn't tell the CIA and leave it up to him. He had more experience with this.
"Do you think that Ariana Kane suspects you for any other reason?" Sydney asked worried.
"She seems to believe that my relationship with Sloane is the perfect excuse to eliminate my chances as a supect." Jack paused. "That's the biggest reason she suspects me."
"And what does Sloane think?" This was serious, and it was making Sydney worried.
"Sloane doesn't like her way of thinking" Jack answered.
"Well if Sloane's not convinced, you should be okay. For a while." SYdney said relieved.
"For now anyway. Sloane isnt' one that changes his mind easily. But I think that Ariana is pushing him. " Jack's words made Sydney think. THis was not good. "Even if Sloane doesn't agree, he doesn't have control over Ariana. She'll do what she will."
"Dad, this is serious." Sydney argued. "This could lead to reviel your cover as a doubleagent for the CIA!"
"Sydney," Jack said firmly, giving her his glaring face. "I can handle it." He turned away from her and got in his car.
Sydney was completely, and uterly confused and frusterated. This all had to connect, somehow. Her mother turning herself into the CIA, Sark joining SD-6, Marshall's disapearence and now this. It all had to connect somehow. And she was determind to find out how.
~~~~~~