After reaching the facility Ethan walked along the corridors flanked by four guards and Roberts. This place really was a big maze. It took most of his concentration to keep track of where he was. He was glad for it though, because it helped him ignore Roberts' chatter. From what he did hear it was all just gloating, about how they had captured him and how he had no chance to escape. The latter part was true for the moment. He had considered his options and saw no way out.

Finally they got to a prison gate of solid metal bars. Next to it there was a room with large windows, which Ethan assumed were bulletproof. One of the guards went into the room using his RFID and opened the gate. Another one joined him and they seemed to be making themselves comfortable as the other three men led Ethan down the corridor. This place was quite a contrast from the rest of the facility with its rough stone walls and rusty pipes. They walked past two cells with traditional metal bars until they reached one fronted with glass. Ethan felt like he was in The Silence of the Lambs. Roberts keyed a number into a keypad next to the cell. One of glass panels slid over and the guard shoved Ethan inside. After the panel was closed they opened a small trap door at waist level and told Ethan to put his hands through so they could remove the ties. Roberts made some more snide comments about enjoying their hospitality and then they were gone.

After they left Ethan looked around. The room was about three by four meters. On one side there was a cot with a pillow and blanket. The back wall had a toilet and sink. A table and chair completed the furnishings. Ethan examined the walls and floor, and especially the trap door, but found no weakness in the fortress. He lay down on the cot. There was nothing for him to do now but wait. And he was tired, he hadn't slept in two days. He would do better with whatever was coming if he got some rest. He was grateful for his ability to put things that weren't immediately important out of his mind.

After a dreamless sleep Ethan woke up. As usual he remained still as he assessed his state. He sensed a presence. He didn't know how he knew, maybe it was an almost inaudible sound, maybe it was the heat emanating from a warm body.

"Good morning, Ethan," said a woman's voice.

He almost jerked upright. How did she know he was awake - he hadn't moved. He opened his eyes slowly and turned them in the direction of the voice. A woman was standing over him. She was around fifty, straight brown hair and shining dark eyes. He thought she looked familiar, but couldn't figure out why.

"I thought we could have breakfast," she said sweeping her hand in the direction of the table.

Ethan followed it and saw that there were now two chairs and the table was covered in dishes. He sat up slowly, curling his shoulders back to stretch the sleep from his body. His visitor sat down in one of the chairs. Ethan studied her. What was she doing here, so confident, seemingly unaware or unconcerned with what he was capable of. He could incapacitate a man twice her size in seconds, yet there she sat, with a smile on her face. He looked her over wondering where the hidden weapon was.

As if reading his mind, she said, "If you try anything this room is going to fill with an anesthetic gas. Of course you would still have time to hurt or even kill me before we pass out," her lips curled into a sly smile, "but that won't get you anywhere."

So, she's not stupid, Ethan thought, but she is still crazy. How can she be so sure that he wouldn't try anyway? Why would she take the chance.

"Please, sit down," she said gesturing towards the other chair.

Looking at the food Ethan suddenly felt ravenously hungry. He got up slowly and sat down opposite the visitor. The plate in front of him contained an omelet, sausages and toast. There was also a bowl of fruit salad, a cup of coffee and a glass of orange juice. The other side of the table was set exactly the same way. Looking at the food Ethan wanted nothing more than to grab handfuls of it and stuff it in his mouth, but he hesitated.

"Would you feel better if we switched plates?" the visitor asked, noting his hesitation. He met her eyes and studied her face. Was she expecting this? Maybe she put the drugs in her own food knowing that he would be suspicious. No, he thought, if they were going to drug him it wouldn't be this way.

His eyes dropped to his plate. He picked up a forkful of omelet and put it in his mouth. He chewed it experimentally and almost moaned at how good it was. Serena was right about how good the chef was here.

"It's good, right?" the visitor said smugly as she started on her own food. Ethan nodded.

They ate in silence for a while, Ethan being too focused on satisfying his hunger to think about anything else, the visitor watching him with obvious satisfaction. Finally, when Ethan had satisfied his body, his mind turned back to the situation at hand.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"How rude of me," she said with fake sincerity, "I'm Kristen."

Ethan remembered Serena talking about Kristen. He should have made the connection since she fit Serena's description perfectly.

"This is my place," Kristen added.

Ethan looked at her, confused. "What about Roberts?" he blurted out.

"He's my... field agent," she said matter-of-factly.

Ethan was completely shocked. They had never gotten even an inkling that Roberts wasn't running the show. He looked at Kristen with amazement as his mind tried to sort out the implications.

"Colin is very good at what he does," she explained, "That's why I keep him around. It frees me up to focus on other things. But enough about me. We're here to talk about you." She gave him a look that he didn't like at all. It made him feel objectified and he felt something of a deja vu.

Kristen got up and started pacing around the room, as much as the confined space would allow. "You're one of IMF's top agents. And yet you got captured by a slip of a girl." Her face turned into a wry smile. "And I've met her. She couldn't convince a baby to drink its own mother's milk." She leaned on the table next to him and ran her hand along his cheek. He raised his eyes to meet hers. "You must have a real soft spot for her," she said gently, searching his face for a moment. He remained expressionless. She got up and continued her pacing. "I can't blame you. She's real sweet. With those innocent puppy eyes. I hope that this whole ordeal hasn't ruined her. Especially after your little show on the plane." She gave him a look that said she was onto him. "I do still need her expertise. But even if she becomes useless, this is worth it."

She stopped behind Ethan and put her hands on his shoulders. She leaned forward, running her hands down his chest to his thighs. Her face was next to his and he could feel her breath on his cheek.

"Tell me, Ethan, how did you convince Irene to give you the prototype."

He stiffened. How would she know about that.

"It would seem Irene has a soft spot for you." She ran her hand up the inside of his thigh, brushing past his groin. The tension in his body increased. "I can't blame her," Kristen purred in his ear. Her hand made its way under his shirt, exploring the contours of his body.

Ethan was fighting hard to keep his body from getting aroused. Especially with the memories of his night with Irene flooding back to him. The mixed emotions from that night conflicted inside of him, and the pleasurable memories were winning.

Suddenly, Kristen pulled away and walked towards the glass wall. After a moment of uncertainty Ethan relaxed visibly. She was leaning against the glass looking at him with half a smile on her face.

"Why do you think Irene gave me the prototype?" he asked, when she didn't speak.

"Because she's the only one Martin would have trusted with something like that." Ethan thought he detected a hint of sadness in her voice.

"Didn't you send the people who killed Lasseter?"

A dark shadow passed over her face at this question. "Those amateurs have been dealt with," she said, with such venom in her voice that made Ethan really glad that he wasn't one of those amateurs.

"Were you and Lasseter friends?" He ventured, encouraged by her apparent willingness to talk.

She looked at him for a second, deciding on what to tell him. "Irene and I were business partners. A long time ago. Martin was also on our team. Irene and I had a difference of opinion on how to run the company. Martin decided to go with her. I never held it against him and it didn't work out so badly. The two of them came up with some very profitable technologies. "

"That you could steal and sell to the highest bidder." Ethan added in.

Kristen shot him a hurt look. "I didn't just steal it. I turned it into something that my clients would want. Irene and Martin were always so concerned about their technology being used responsibly. There's no money in that." She waved her hand in a frustrated manner. "The real money is in things that people can use to kill other people. Or at least make them very scared." She looked at Ethan pointedly. "But I never sold to those who were likely to use it here, in the US. There are enough civil wars going on in the world." She smiled, unapologetic for what she was doing.

Ethan listened attentively, a lot of pieces falling into place. He wondered if Irene knew that her old business partner was behind everything that Roberts did.

"Ethan, it has been a pleasure." She smiled, then walked over and kissed him on the cheek, her hand lingering on his face. Then she went to the glass door and knocked on it. The door slid open and she stepped through. "Colin will be along later to ask you some questions," she said, the smile on her face belying what he knew he could expect from her 'field agent'.