Where is he?
Juliet looked from one to the other.
-Where is James?-She said as calmly as possible, though she was scared.
-Ummm - Horace hesitated, not knowing what to say.
-Horace - She looked at him, paying no attention to Phil's frowning features.-Where is he? - She asked him quietly, but her calm behavior frightened Horace, it was like the calm before the storm.
-Look, Juliet. We... In general… The problem is we have no idea where he is. - He looked down guiltily.
-What does that mean? Where have you sent him?-Her voice was like steel.
-I haven't sent him anywhere, Juliet. I just found out about his absence from Phil. - Juliet immediately turned to the second man, who hemmed and hawed behind Horace in no hurry to speak.
-Tell her. - Horace prodded.
Phil frowned even more, but eventually obeyed.
-Jerry was on a routine check. At 11a.m. he informed us that there was a problem in Sector 13. Part of the fence was damaged, perhaps, deliberately. According to protocol, I told Lafleur and he went there with Greg. - Phil paused, as if everything had been said.
Juliet made her best effort not to strangle him with her bare hands. James was missing, most likely every second counted, and this bastard acted like an injured innocence.
-What happened after that? - She hissed, trying to control herself.
-Nothing- Phil growled. - They haven't returned yet or even gotten in touch. -
-It was one of Jim's new rules. In case of possible incursion, the staff should get in touch each hour. I think it was quite reasonable considering the situation. – Horace interrupted Phil. – When neither Jim nor Jerry answered Phil told me... -
-Why can't you just look through the records? There should be at least one camera. - Juliet asked, feeling that she might not like the answer.
-We certainly have a camera there… - Horace sighed. - It broke yesterday. We were going to repair it this week. After all, the rest of them were working, so we would have still noticed any intrusion. -
The broken camera, the sudden problems dangerous enough for the Head of Security to be involved. These couldn't be mere coincidences. It was obviously a designed operation, which meant that the Others took the opportunity to put the truce in jeopardy.
Juliet looked at Horace. She was sure he realized what all of these meant, too. The Island was like home for Others, they were able to overcome any defense Dharma could put up and they just neutralized the Head of Security. The situation was very, very dangerous.
-Guess you haven't found anyone in Sector 13?-
-Right. - Horace nodded sadly. -We have already looked through all the video tapes of the area. Nothing, as if they vanished into thin air. We of course continue looking for them. – Horace added immediately.
They could be on Hostile territory, but maybe there was some good reason for that and maybe they didn't want to break the truce and soon the hostages would be released. Although for Juliet it was difficult to believe. The truce protected Dharma much more than it protected the Others.
-Who was in the monitor-room now? –
-Howard, one of the newest members. He isn't ready for checks but he is good enough with an office job. -
-Good-Juliet nodded.-And where are Miles and Jin? -
There could be no chance for them not to know about James.
-They were near the fence where Jim's van was last seen.-
Horace was so knocked off by what had happened that he hadn't even questioned Juliet's right to ask questions. The same couldn't be said about Phil. The guy has always been committed to a strict protocol.
-This is a matter of security; we will deal with the situation ourselves. -
Juliet looked at him coldly, and Horace wearily waved his hand. He had no strength to argue.
-Phil. -
-Yes. - He said, holding the walkie-talkie to his mouth. He stepped back, apparently not wanting Juliet to hear anything. Horace raised his hand to stop him.
-What happened? -
-It's Howard. I think I found the van. -
-We on our way to you. - Horace replied loudly, breaking from the spot.
Juliet was next to him.
-Well, where is it? – Horace asked excitedly.
-Here. – A red-haired, freckled young man pointed to one of the monitors.
Juliet saw a piece of the jungle and that was all. Nothing more than just trees, trees and ... There was something that didn't look like a tree. Peering closely Juliet realized that it was a van, specially placed so that it could hardly be seen from the cameras, and it was impossible to see where it came from.
-Good job. –Horace tapped Howard on the shoulder, as he finally was pointed at the van, which he hadn't noticed before. -Phil. Take a jeep and go there. We'll catch Miles and Jim on the way. -
-I'm going with you-Juliet said sternly.
-The protocol ... -
-I am going you. - She repeated.
-The situation is unusual. Guess we can step aside from the protocol. - Horace said. He obviously felt sorry for her because of Jim and tried to fix it by letting her go with them.