Chapter 13 – The Questioning
Earth, six months later…
"Hello, may I help you?" the woman greeted the stranger at the door.
"I hope so. My name is Agent Harlton, FBI. Here's my badge. Are you Mrs Tabitha Evans?"
"I… yes, I am. What's this about?"
"I wish to speak with Daniel Jackson. Is he available?"
"Daniel? He didn't do anything!" Tabitha protested. Surely the foster child was innocent.
"About a year ago, he made a statement to the police identifying a grand theft suspect. I simply wish to ask him some questions. You will be allowed to remain present," Agent Harlton explained genially.
"I suppose that's alright. Come on in, and I'll call him for you."
A few minutes later, Daniel found himself sitting on the couch beside his latest foster-mother, with an FBI agent sitting facing him. "You are Daniel Jackson, correct?"
"Yes," Daniel answered simply.
"I believe you know this man?" Harlton produced a copy of the image from the wanted poster.
"Yes, that's Jacek Mal Doran."
"Where did you first meet him?"
"At an archaeological dig site in Egypt."
The agent nodded. "That's what the police statement says. We've had people show this picture in the nearest city to the site you described, and a few people recognised him. A couple even remembered his name. However, we can find no record of his entry into the United States of America."
Daniel said nothing, as he hadn't been asked a question.
"I would like to know if he – or his daughter – said anything regarding how or where they entered the country, or where they may have gone."
Daniel shook his head. "They were careful not to say anything. And Vala didn't seem to know anything about the USA," he remembered. "She seemed confused when I mentioned it. But she did say that I wouldn't want to live where she lives. And in Egypt she said it was a long way away. She also said that her mother died when their village was attacked and her house was destroyed."
"There isn't any record of them entering or leaving Egypt either," the agent added.
"I can't explain that."
"Perhaps you could explain how they found you at your foster home, considering that your last contact with them was in Egypt when your parents were alive."
"I… I don't really know. Vala said it was magic."
"Hmm. Are you certain you had no contact or communication between the first time you met them and the time of the thefts?"
"Yes. We talked over a few days in Egypt, and they visited over two days a year ago, and that's all."
"You haven't seen or heard from Jacek or Vala since?"
"No."
"Very well. Here's my card. Call me immediately if you see or meet either Jacek or Vala, or if they call or write you."
Daniel nodded hesitantly.
"That will be all. Thank you for you time, Daniel, and Mrs Evans."
Daniel watched warily as the agent left.
"Are you alright?" Tabitha asked.
"Yeah, I'm okay. It's just that… no, never mind."
"Daniel? What's wrong?"
"It's about Vala. She's my friend, and I was hoping she would visit me again. But now I'm worried that she'll be in trouble if she does, so I'm also hoping she doesn't visit. But I do want to see her again."
Tabitha shook her head. "Vala didn't do anything wrong. Her father is wanted, but she isn't."
"Oh. I hadn't thought of that. But if Jacek knows he's wanted by the police, he won't risk letting Vala visit me."
"I don't know. Perhaps. Worrying about it won't help. What happens, happens."
Daniel sighed. "You're right. I wonder where she is. I hope she's safe." But he couldn't shake the fear that his friend was in danger.