Breaking the rule. Chapter 10.
"Have you talked to your father?" It was Wyler who was asking. He had walked into the bullpen quickly and headed toward Martin's direction. As he took off the coat and removed the rest of the snow, he threw an inquisitive look at the agent, ignoring everything and everybody around.
"It won't be necessary," Martin replied. He didn't know the kind of agreement Jack Malone, Lukas Wyler and his father had made, but as soon as he started talking about Danny and Riley, he had cut him off with a simple "forget it, that matter has already been resolved. Taylor won't need to be worried about anything."
"Well. Hey, you!" he called Joe Riley, who frowned. "I want you out, now."
"What?" The agent exclaimed surprised.
"You work in Missouri, don't you? You don't have anything to do here anymore. Take your things." Wyler ordered with such a tone of authority that Joe Riley didn't doubt a second to believe him.
"I haven't been informed," he said, as collecting his stuff, thinking about heading to Jack Malone immediately.
Lukas Wyler handed him a letter. "Here you have it."
"Who are you?" Riley asked.
"Go back home, Son. Your work here has finished."
The fatherly tone bothered and confused Riley, while he read the letter signed by Deputy Director Victor Fitzgerald. Joe Riley didn't like Missouri, but the letter was clear. He would return to his former job.
Danny had opened his office door and observed the scene, surprised. What was happening there? What was Wyler doing there? And, why had Martin told him that it would be an important day?
…
Two weeks earlier…
Jack had finished reading the last part of the Alvarez's family file. Picking up the phone he started dialing a number, but raising his head and looking at the bullpen, he changed his mind. Hanging up, he stood up and walked into the bullpen.
"How is Danny?" Sam asked, worried. "Martin told us what happened. I can't believe it."
"Danny's fine, that's what the doctor said, isn't it, Martin?" Jack replied.
"Yes, he had an ugly cut in his wrist and was bleeding profusely, but he's okay. He's under observation because his vital signs were unstable and he's getting some sleep after the sedative they injected him with. So he should be sleeping like an angel right now," he said with a smile.
"Like an angel? Surely not," Vivian laughed. It was something they needed, things had to be okay.
"He'll be back tomorrow morning. And guys, be careful with your comments, please. Danny…I don't think he can handle the pressure he's getting. It's not fair that he's been treating so harshly, when he only is doing his job." The warning went to all the team, but Jack was only looking at Riley.
"Yes Sir," he said.
"Well, Martin, I want you in my office, as soon as you can." Jack continued. "Viv, take the lead, there's an important matter I have to solve and it'll take some time."
"Of course," she agreed.
Martin followed Jack, exchanging an intriguing look with his colleagues.
"Sit down," Jack ordered.
As he did, Martin observed the old folder on his boss' desk. He tried to read the title but he couldn't discern the letters. He wondered if that folder was the reason Jack wanted to talk to him.
"Where do you know William Gordon from?" Jack asked, even though he already knew the answer.
The question caught him off guard. It couldn't be a coincidence that he had seen him a while ago and now Jack was asking about him.
"Lifelong, we grew up together. Why?"
"Do you get along with him usually?" Jack asked then.
"Jack, what's the matter? I guess you already know the answer to that. It's been fifteen years since I saw him for the last time, until I saw him a while ago here and now you're asking me about Will?"
"He was here, last year. He asked me to do something for him." Jack put his hand on the folder and got the answer he expected.
"Oh my God… Jack. Listen, Will has always been obsessed with that. His entire life. He cut all the threads with his family, went away and lost all his friends for it. And he doesn't look to be happy, despite of me knowing that he has a family and a successful job."
"And you know that after the short meeting you had earlier?" Jack asked.
"No, I know because his sister told me, Sarah Parker. Will didn't tell me anything. He just said that he was going to meet his sister. But now, I think that he came to see you."
"Is Sarah his sister?" Jack asked. He didn't expect that, not someone so close to them. He remembered the photographs of the two year old little girl he had seen in the boxes he kept at his home. Sonia Alvarez. Not even their names had been respected.
"Yes, why? Jack, what's going on?"
"I need your help, Martin. What this folder contains is what your friend has been looking for all his life. But Martin, it's…it's complicated, for him and the rest of his family; at least the family he left. I need your help because you have become the connection between them, and I'm realizing that connection is closer than I had imagined."
Martin swallowed hard. "Jack, Will…I don't think he trusts me. When he saw me he almost panicked, he greeted me so coldly. He's not the friend I remembered anymore…"
"He probably has his reasons and probably made a mistake in the conclusions, but I need you talk to him."
"I can try through Sarah," Martin thought aloud. "She…she also has to know…I guess. I don't know…I don't know how she's going to react. She always tried to convince Will to stop and move on, but he reproached her to support their parents. Despite of it, they kept the contact, somewhat. Although, I know that Sarah hasn't seen him for a long time."
"Martin, Will and Sarah were taken as a warranty by the Gordons'," Jack explained to him, slowly.
"What?" Martin paled.
"I can tell you or you can read it. But this is what they are going to confront. And not only them. Have you ever heard of Operation Kangaroo?"
Martin shook his head. And then Jack told him the story Lukas Wyler had explained to him in that café at the Federal Square, a story that he knew in all its extension and could tell from the beginning to the end, although it wasn't what he was telling Martin. He only pretended to make him accomplice of the difficult situation he was in.
"What…what happened to his biological family?" Martin asked, still disturbed by the news.
"Will and Sarah were definitely adopted in 1984, a few months later their parents died. Their oldest brother was already eighteen and the matter about the little one…Gordons reasoned he wouldn't be a good influence over the family they had created, so he ended going in and out from foster homes, home centers…you can imagine."
"That's cruel," Martin murmured. "But, where are they? How are you going to find them?"
"I don't need to. Two years ago, the oldest brother told the little one something about this story. He was sick and the doctors were trying to find if the illness was a genetic matter. The little brother didn't know about the story but the oldest asked him to look for any sibling.
"And they contacted you," Martin guessed, surprised.
"Not exactly. The oldest died at the end of 2004 without his brother being able to find any sibling. He dropped the search but later, I don't know why, he restarted, contacting with a person specialized in that matter, someone who knew the matter well in first person, Lukas Wyler."
"I know him," Martin frowned. "Lukas Wyler was here. He was helping Danny to prepare for the BAR exam…" Martin froze. "What did you mean by me being the connection between them?" he nearly yelled.
Jack nodded. "That connection. Do you understand why I need your help?"
"But then, Rafi…"
"He died. Danny didn't tell us, it happened while he was suspended, as he was trying to find those documents. The documents you're seeing on my desk."
"Does Danny know the content?"
"Something, Lukas Wyler gave him a partial folder, some information about what he was looking for omitting some aspects of it. Still, he found a report from Social Services that affected him deeply. That's why he gave the folder back to Wyler and didn't want to know anything else."
"And now you have to tell him. Danny. Will. And Sarah. I can't believe it. What…What should I know? What should I tell them?"
"You have to talk to your father. Tell him that Lukas Wyler and I want to talk to him. We'll go to Washington if it's necessary. You can tell him it's about Gordon. He'll understand."
"He fired Danny," Martin reasoned. He was furious and ashamed.
Jack didn't confirm it. "It won't happen again."
"If what you told me about Gordon is true, this could end the Foundation they sponsor," Martin said. "If Will knew, or Danny, if someone would say…"
"Indeed," Jack confirmed. "That's why it's so important to Gordon to keep the secret. But it's nonsense and you'll agree with me that there are two people that have suffered too much the consequences of saving George Gordon's ass."
"How did you get so much information?" Martin asked.
"I also talked to Lukas Wyler. I found his card in Danny's home. I remembered that I had seen it and looked for it while Danny was in the hospital. Did you know that Will also asked Wyler for help?"
Martin shook his head.
"He was seventeen, Wyler told me. Your father and his were coworkers while Will's father and yours…that was a war."
"Surely it was when Wyler got angry with everybody and left, he even left the FBI. I never knew what happened and Will never told me. He wouldn't trust me, damn it."
…
Martin didn't know which of the tasks Jack had asked him to do was the most difficult, if dealing with his father, trying to find Will, ignoring the situation being with Danny or talking to Sarah. His heart broke just thinking about it.
Driving back to his home, Martin was trying different versions of questions and possible answers from his father. That would be the first thing to do. He had to call him, not to tell him what he had been talking to Danny about at the hospital, but something completely new.
"Victor Fitzgerald, please. I'm his son," he announced to his father's secretary.
"Hi Martin, how are you doing?" She asked.
"Fine, fine," he replied.
She felt the urgency in the voice of the agent and didn't prolong the conversation. "He's on the line right now."
He hadn't finished thanking the secretary when he heard his father's voice. "What's going on, Martin. I've been told about some fights at your office. I hope you're not involved, son, I've told you that…"
"Dad, I'm not involved in anything. Listen, this is important. I need confirmation for a meeting."
"Martin, you know how busy I am…"
"I've told you it's important. Jack Malone and Lukas Wyler want to meet you to talk about something important. Please, tell me when and where."
"Why don't they call? Wyler? Malone?" he asked.
"They're working on something else. Dad, it's a bad situation, please, trust me once in your life. I think you're supporting the wrong person."
"What are you talking about?" Martin noticed the hesitation in his father's voice, something he wasn't used to.
"It's about George Gordon."
A long silence followed when Martin said the name. Martin guessed his father would be thinking about an answer. "Dad?"
"I think it was inevitable to happen someday. Sure, I'll talk to them. I have to go to New York in two days, tell Malone I'll pass by his office."
Martin sighed in relieved. "Sure. Thanks, dad." He didn't know why but he was grateful to him, he only prayed for him acting on trust, without knowing what Jack had revealed to him.
Sarah and Will…Maybe Sarah, it would be easier talking to Will, he would be ready if he finally put an end to his fight. He thought about all the years when nobody believed him and he felt sad for him. Will…and Danny.
Looking at the time, he realized Sarah would arrive sooner than later. Nervously, he paced around the apartment, not knowing what to do. Opening the fridge he prepared a sandwich with almost everything he found, even though his stomach wouldn't appreciate any food. He left the sandwich and sat on the couch, took the remote and looked for some channel, not finding any remotely good for him at the moment. Finally, he stopped in a sports channel, but he didn't even pay attention to it.
The sound of the keys opening the door made him react. Suddenly, he thought he could have created a more comfortable situation, but the rest of the sandwich, the untidy cushions, the basketball game on TV…it wasn't the best of welcome.
She looked at him in surprise. "What are you doing home so early? What's going on?"
He didn't know what to say. "I've learned something about Danny, what a shame."
"He's okay, isn't he?" She continued.
Martin nodded. "Yeah, it was a lot of blood for a small cut that's healing well. Sarah…we have to talk," he added inviting her to sit down beside him.
"What's going on, Martin?" She asked. Martin didn't bear the worried expression of Sarah. She wouldn't imagine what he was going to tell her and the way her life would change in a second.
"Today, I saw Will. At the office. He told me…he told me he was going to meet you but I think he was lying. I noticed him uncomfortable about seeing me."
"I'll call Matt. Surely it's about mom…" she began.
"No, it's not that, your mom is okay. Sarah," Martin took her hands in his, "you know why Will left, the fights with his father and the way you asked him to ignore it…do you remember?"
"Of course, yes…it's not that I didn't understand him, it's just that he got sick every time he tried searching for answers. He wasn't able to move on and take the reins of his life. You know that I only intended to protect him. "What was he doing at the FBI? Don't tell me that…oh, no, God…Matt told me he was fine, even though he was nervous the day he visited mom and then he left so quick…" the tears reached her eyes at the memories. Thinking about the unnecessary suffering of her older brother hurt as much as the impossibility of helping him.
"I know your intentions were good. But Sarah…Sarah, listen to me." Martin pressed her arms to make her pay attention to what he was trying to say. "Will was right, he was right about his demands, his memories, his brothers, your brothers."
Sarah had stopped crying and looked at him terrified.
"Sarah, I need you understand this new reality, please, take it easy. You'll understand it won't be horrible, you'll get Will back and you'll recognize someone else, someone you'll identify as your brother but, please, you have to understand."
"And Will…What am I going to tell Will? No, it can't be…I don't get it. Why would they hide that from us?"
Martin feared that question. He didn't know what to say.
"Martin?"
"Take it easy, Sarah, just try to understand. I don't have much information to give you and this is not the best place either."
"What do you know?"
"I only know they are studying the best way to explain what happened. Sarah, I know you trust any of this was true, but this is the reality and I need you understand, alright?"
Sarah didn't reply; she just dropped her head on his chest trying to calm down with the sound of Martin's beating heart. She didn't say a word. Her eyes filled with tears as the memories of her childhood came back to her mind. Will always demanding answers, always demanding the return back to home.
…..
"You didn't come back to take me out of the hospital. That's not a friend, you lied to me." Danny smiled as he swished his coffee cup.
"I'm sorry, Jack asked me to do some stuff…" Martin excused himself. He couldn't help but look at his colleague a different way. The story Jack had told him, the conversation with Sarah the day before and the one he still had to have with Will…having Danny in front of him and couldn't tell him a word, was difficult. But Jack had told him that Danny was his business.
"He gave me his orange sweater," Danny protested.
Martin burst into laughter. He remembered that sweater Jack had in his closet at the office and nobody knew why.
"Wow, I'm so sorry," he said sitting down beside him. "How are you doing?"
"Fine, it was…you know…" Danny tried to smile but somehow he failed.
"Are you okay?" Martin asked. He needed Danny to be okay in order to assimilate what would happen in the next several days.
"I don't know Martin. I don't know what to do, I think things are out of place but, I don't know what the next step is that I should take."
Martin doubted. Maybe Jack had told him something. Maybe he was talking about the job. "Have you been to the doctor? What did they say about your leg?" he tried.
Danny shrugged his shoulders. "They want to try something new that could make my leg recover almost one hundred percent. So they say. But it's a testing experiment, so there are no guaranties at all."
"And, what are you going to do? If you recover you could come back with us, for real."
"You told me the problem wasn't my leg but Riley. And you were going to talk to your father."
"I talked to him." Martin suspected that the conversations with Jack and Malone would include Riley any moment, and Jack wouldn't let his chance fly away.
"Danny, I'm going to ask you a favor. It's not big deal; I only want you to keep cool. I have a feeling that in the next several days, things are going to change a lot."
"Wow, your father gave you confidential information?" Danny smiled. "Spit it out."
Martin smiled. "You just stay cool, alright?"
Danny stared at him. "I think…I think that Sarah is changing you. I can't find a way of teasing you like before. I'm glad for you; I don't think I've told you. She seems like a great person."
"Yeah, she is." Martin wasn't able to add anything else. With the information he had and biting his tongue, it was complicated to talk with Danny. "Listen, I'm going back to work."
"Yeah, me too, do you know what's going on with Jack? Vivian told me that she's taking the lead for a while."
"Yes…eh…he said that he had some business to resolve and that he'd be busy." Martin didn't lie, just told a half truth.
…..
He hadn't talked to Will, and he was determined to do it that morning.
Sarah had explained to him that her brother was living in Tribeca, so the search for his home was easy. However, the case Vivian brought to the bullpen, kept him busy throughout the day and it wasn't until late at seven in the evening, when he could finally go to his friend's home.
"What's going on?" Sam asked him. "You've been distracted all day and looking at the time."
"Nothing, I had an appointment today and…"
"An appointment? With who? Jack maybe?"
"What?"
"He's acting like you since yesterday, in a 'hiding something' mode and I don't know why. And now, you."
"No, it's not with Jack, it's an old friend, from Washington. We agreed to meet today, but I don't know if I can. That's all."
At 6:30 PM they had to begin revising five boxes of letters. Sam noticed Martin's worried face and suddenly she got an idea. Seeing that Danny was still in his office, she walked toward it and she opened the door after knocking softly on the door. "Danny, do you have a moment?"
"Sure, Sam. Come in," Danny replied surprised. If he remembered correctly, she had never been there. "What can I do for you?"
Sam went into his office and felt strange. Since he had been back, Danny had stayed working in that office and that was a new moment for her. She realized then the distance they had taken from their colleague, although she actually didn't feel like that. "Eh…listen, Martin has to leave, it's a personal business, something about a friend, he told me. I don't know, I see him worried and we have to revise a lot of documents. Do you think that you could do it for him so he can take that time for his friend? If you're not busy, of course."
"No, I'm not," he said standing up. "I'll give you a hand."
"Out," he ordered as soon as he stood beside Martin.
"What?" he asked.
"I'm taking care of this," Danny replied. "Sam says that you have to leave, so take the time you need, I can do this."
Martin looked at Sam and then back to Danny. "What about Vivian?"
"She won't care, as long as the work is done." Danny replied.
"And Riley?"
"Martin, go!" Danny and Sam exclaimed. And they laughed.
Martin remained looking at them for a second. If they only knew…"Thanks, guys," he said and picking up his coat, he left quickly.
Sam and Danny exchanged a funny look while Martin left. "Well," Danny said collecting a bunch of letters from a box, "What are we looking for?"
"These are letters from fans," Sam replied as she handed him a sheet. "The calligrapher gave us this list of typos. This is what we have to search."
"Letters?" he exclaimed surprised. "I thought we only had to look for the crazy one," he added with a smirk.
"We'll find a coincidence for sure," Sam smiled. "Listen Danny, I…before…well, it's just that…"
Danny looked at her and smiled. "You had never entered my cave."
"No, eh…I've realized how distant we've been all this time," she said, looking for an excuse. "But…we…actually it's not true, isn't it?"
"Of course not, Sam. I haven't been very friendly either. This job is…" he looked at his office, noticing the difference of perspective, "it's like it's destroying the positive side of anyone, you feel alone and so far from everything and everyone…" Danny replied thoughtful.
"Have you thought about leaving?" she asked.
"Yeah, sometimes," he admitted.
She looked at him trying to keep her sadness for her. "I understand you, Danny; I don't think I'd be able to assume a challenge like Jack put on the table for you."
"I didn't think too much about it, then, I didn't have options. It was that or I was out. Plus, his enthusiasm didn't give the any other chance. He had ordered to make the office even before talking to me. I couldn't say no.
"And, what are you going to do now? After what happened with Channing, how are you doing?"
"I don't know, I haven't thought about it. But Martin told me this morning to keep cool for a while…ring a bell?"
Sam raised an eyebrow. "No, but Jack has been acting strange since yesterday, and I don't know why."
"Martin thinks that Riley is the reason I can't work with you, and not my leg. I don't know what he's trying to do; he told me he was going to talk to his father…I don't know. I don't like it. I like to make my own decisions and not expect any favors."
"It's not a favor, Danny. You weren't here when Riley joined us. You didn't see how he invaded your space, almost without contempt. I won't forget it, ever, and I haven't forgiven him," Sam wanted to be clear at that point.
"I see," Danny said feeling embarrassed. "Well, we better start working or Vivian is going to get truly angry," he added, while he began to compare the first letter with the typos.
"Yeah," Sam sighed, doing the same.