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Chapter Fourteen:
"My Papa's friends really miss him," Haley said as she picked at her salad. "After all these years they still miss him as if he was gone yesterday."
Jack took another bite of his sub before answering. "He was a memorable guy."
"I can tell they're holding things back from me you know," she said sadly. "Things they don't want me to know about him."
"I hated to hear it when I was your age but I swear it is true: There some things you are too young to know. I didn't know how my mother died until I was a couple years older than you."
"How did she die?" she asked instantly.
"I knew she was shot but I didn't know the rest of the details until I understood what was being described and that's all I'll say."
"It makes me miss him ten times more," she said shoving her salad aside roughly.
"You're done I take it?" Jacks said finishing his sub.
"How can you eat when my papa isn't coming back?" she snapped.
Jack took a calming breath. "Haley eating helps me relax. It is good to get some calories in when stressed despite how you feel."
"You almost sound like my papa," she said.
"It is just common knowledge."
She eyed him irritably.
Jack got up and threw their garbage away.
"What if I told you there was a way to get your father back?"
"How?" she said excitedly.
"We need your help to do so."
"I'll do anything for my papa! Anything!"
Jack chose his words carefully. "Have you seen many spy thrillers Haley?"
"Some," she said. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"You need to convince your father to spy on the Syndicate by giving him some of the tech we-Morgan provides."
"And if I can't?" she asked uncertainly.
"Then they have no way of getting your parents and brother out of the Syndicate's hands. The idea is that once your father is retrieved from the Consortium your father will receive a covert message for how you and your father will return to the Syndicate. The US government will retrieve you and your family when it is safe."
Haley didn't speak for a moment. "How do they know this will work? What if the Syndicate sees that Papa was released only to work as a spy on them? What if Papa doesn't want to spy on them for fear of being caught?"
"I don't have the answer to all those questions," Jack said. "I think it is what the adults are trying to figure out. All I know is that my father wants you to recruit your father to spy on the Syndicate."
Haley shook her head. "This sounds crazy even for a spy movie."
"The Consortium members have already worn out their usefulness so the President is willing to release them."
"So why not just do a straight trade like they wanted?" she asked.
Jack bit his lip. "Because I think that means you won't see your mother or your brother any time soon. Your dad has to go back to the Syndicate Haley."
She sighed. "I miss my mama," she said. "I miss Anton. This is ridiculous!"
They didn't talk for a minute. Jack couldn't blame Haley for being frustrated. He doubted whether he could have made a similar decision so easily either.
"I need an answer for my father and the team now," he said. "I wish there was more time but there isn't."
Haley took a deep breath. "I'll do it. I believe I can do. If I am anything like the person the friends of my father described, I should be able to do it."
Jacked patted her hand gently. "I am sure you can too Haley. You are one strong girl."
…
They still have a few hours of time. Morgan went over how to use the ear piece with Haley. "Just give one to your father and tell him to brush it into his ear naturally. It doesn't matter which direction. It just needs to be plugged in as quickly and secretly as possible."
Haley didn't looked convinced. "What if they scan my father for tech when he returns to the Syndicate?"
"They shouldn't be able to read this frequency," Morgan said confidently.
"But they develop surveillance technology for other countries," she shouted. "What happens if he gets caught?"
Morgan got on her level. "Haley I know you're scare and you should be because this is a dangerous situation. But you have got to trust me. We're going to get him back you're going to see the rest of your family again."
Haley turned to look at Jack. Tears were starting to fall. Jack rushed to her.
"It's okay Haley. You can do this. We can do this. This is going to work you have to trust them."
Haley let go of him and turned Prentiss. "Can he come along please? Even if he is just in a van I'll feel safer knowing Jack is there."
Prentiss looked uncertain. "You're a high security risk Jack."
"But the Syndicate likes me," Jack said. "I kept Haley safe. And I'd be crawling up the walls if I couldn't see what happens next."
"I'll talk to your father."
Haley clung on to him.
"There is no discussion. He comes with us or I don't do it at all."
"Stubborn like her father," J.J. murmured.
Jack patted Haley's shoulder. He was beginning to wonder what it would be like to not have her around to make him feel like a big brother.