Chapter 9: SHE HAS TO KNOW
Joan's POV
I pull into the CIA parking lot after dropping Autumn off at school. I hope she's okay. I mean I know she's different, there's no denying that and it's one of the things I love about her. But I need her to fit in as much as possible. American high school may be more brutal than what Autumn is used to.
Although, she does seem to be in safe hands with Hunter. Despite this I don't particularly feel comfortable leaving her with a boy. But that's probably just my maternal instincts kicking in.
I quickly make my way through security and up to the DPD. But what I walked into was not what I was expecting.
The DPD was in absolute chaos. People were running around with files in their arms and red lights were flashing everywhere. I only left the place in Auggie's command for just over an hour and a half. What could have happened in that period of time? I mean this didn't happen the last time I let him run the DPD.
I quickly make my way up to Auggie's office and find him hastily typing on his keyboard.
"Auggie, what is going on?" I ask.
"Ianto Seyal initiated contact thirty minutes ago," Auggie says, taking his headphones off.
"Wait, what!?" I exclaim. "Why didn't you call me?"
"Because I knew you'd be here soon. Arthur is already looped in," Auggie says.
"Good. Now how did he initiate contact?"
"He sent a video," Auggie says, tapping a few keys. "Bringing it up now..."
With that the large screen behind Auggie came to life. On the screen appeared a man in his late thirties. Black hair. Dangerous blue eyes. That's Seyal.
Anger courses through me at just the sight of him. He doesn't even have to start speaking. He killed them. Or at least ordered the hit. He killed Elizabeth and Logan.
"Hello, dear friends of the CIA," He says with a smile. If I could punch him I would. I would rip him to pieces. "It's Ianto here but you would hardly forgot that. Now consider this your warning. Stop looking for me. You've already seen what I can do. Two of your people are dead and I'll make it three if I have to. I know someone survived London. Her name is Autumn Woods and she already knows too much. Don't make me act. Because I will and you know I will her despite her age. For now Autumn is safe but if you keep looking, she won't be. This is your final warning. Do not make me regret my kindness."
The screen goes black and my anger turns quickly to fear. I feel sick and my knees feel weak. He can't go after Autumn. We have to protect her. Then his words come at me with such force I nearly fall over.
She already knows too much.
Does Autumn know what really happened to Elizabeth and Logan? Or what they actually did?
That can't be right. Can it? But it makes sense. Autumn is a child genius with an eidetic memory. She probably saw something by accident without even realising it. Or did she find out that they weren't killed in a car accident? The social services did say she disappeared numerous times without them knowing her whereabouts. Autumn could have been trying to figure out what actually happened.
I need to speak to Arthur. We have to tell her. Even if she already knows.
I walk straight into Arthur's office without even bothering to knock, his assistant following closely behind. Thankfully he was alone.
"Sorry sir, I tried to stop her," He says.
"It's quite alright, Micheal," Arthur replies.
And with that Michael leaves.
"I take it you've been read in on the situation," Arthur says.
"Yes and we need to talk about Autumn," I say. "She needs to know. If she doesn't already."
"And tell her what exactly? How is she going to take it when we tell her that the people who raised her are spies and have been trying to take down the Extreme Ultra Soldiers from since she was five? That we are actually her par…"
"We haven't been that at any point in her life Arthur. We stopped being that when we gave her up. When we got Liz and Logan to look after her. To protect her," I say cutting him off.
"There's another reason we can't tell her. Imagine what that would do to her. She's been with us for two weeks and we haven't even broached the subject. We have lied to her," He counters.
"And the longer we do, the harder its going to be to tell her the truth."
"She can never know the truth Joan. Autumn is too much like you for us to do that. She will want to try and stop the EUS and that will only result in more casualties. That girl has already lost too much," Arthur says.
"What if she already knows Arthur? What if she already knows that Liz and Logan didn't really die in a car accident? That they were gunned down? Uh? Autumn is not stupid Arthur. She probably picked up on things over the years. The strange disappearances. The injuries. The secrecy. Not to mention the fact the social workers didn't even know where she was at certain points. Autumn knows something. And she has the right to know the entire story. Not just the parts she found out herself," I say angrily.
"Maybe so. Maybe she does have the right to know. But do you think it's fair to tell that to a fifteen year old? And not just any fifteen year old, a fifteen year old in her senior year of high school. One that has so much ahead of her."
"Fair!? Is that what you're pulling? You think it's fair to keep her in the dark about her own life?" I spit. "We both know how unfair that is Arthur. We are both spies. We can't keep this from her. She may only be fifteen but she is just as mature as some of my agents."
"It may not be fair in that sense and yes she is mature for her age but now is not the time to tell her."
"When is the right time then?"
"I don't know but it isn't now. I have Annie on the operation. We aren't backing down. We are not letting Seyal win," He says.
I sigh and walk to the door but before I leave and turn and say, "This isn't over, Arthur. She will find out eventually."
"I know."
And with that I leave with a deep sense of dread. Autumn knew more than she was letting on. And because of that she wasn't safe. None of us were.