The meeting ends with a shake of hands between Siobhan and Delphine, both with a smile on their lips but suspicion in their eyes. Neither is entirely pleased, but a understanding was reached, and that's more than what we had before this arrangement, which at times, I thought impossible.
Delphine leaves before we do, Siobhan claiming that she needs to settle the bill, and knowing it's better to not further antagonize Siobhan, I stay behind, giving a curt nod in Delphine's direction when she looks back as she puts on her coat. I'm eager to follow her, perhaps exchange a few words before we both return to the Webster's estate where every move we make can potentially be viewed by the surveillance cameras installed throughout the property.
The late evening is cold and the freezing gusts of wind make me shiver and pull the coat tighter to my chest, hugging myself while we walk to the car.
"Did you really disclose all the missions details to Delphine?" I ask once we're in the vehicle.
Siobhan looks at me sideways, pulling the seat belt over her chest and turning the keys in the ignition. "I have given her all she needs," is the answer I get, confirming my theory. "I left out anything that could help her trace our movements in the future," she adds.
I don't comment on it, maintaining a contemplative silence. I know why Siobhan does it. Her main concern is ensuring our safety, and keeping our methods from Delphine is obviously the best course of action. Besides, she's right; in no way will that prevent Delphine from discovering what we asked. To unconditionally trust Delphine is a risk we simply can not afford.
"I'm going to need you to keep your eyes open, Cosima," Siobhan says, maneuvering us into traffic.
"I know that," I respond, looking out the window.
"Yes, you know what you should be doing, but that doesn't mean you'll do it," she continues to press, briefly taking her eyes off the road to look at me. "I know better than to tell you to keep your hands off her, but I don't want you to lose sight of what really matters here," she continues in a tone that's not judgmental, but the warning is there. "Keep in mind who she works for, and what her priorities really are."
"S, you don't need to be telling me this," I say in a steady voice, giving her my full attention when we're stopped at a red light. "No one knows better what Delphine is capable of than me. I know her better than any…"
"That's your first mistake, right there!" Siobhan interrupts me abruptly, her voice raising. "You think you know her, think you can predict how she acts and reacts, you think you're prepared for it…" she stops and shakes her head. "The moment you start to believe in that is the moment she's at an advantage. I can guarantee you that she doesn't make the same mistake. By what I saw in there, Delphine is not the kind of person who leaves anything to chance."
"You sound as if you're impressed by her," I comment with a raised eyebrow.
"I am," Siobhan admits with a short nod. "But that's not necessarily a good thing. Delphine's much more cunning, much smarter than I thought at first, and that makes me nervous."
I don't hide my surprise at Siobhan's assessment of Delphine's character, even after only a brief meeting. I wonder if she's aware of the similarities between the two of them, and if that's the reason she's apprehensive about having to deal with Delphine. Or if that's why, in the end, she's willing to work with Delphine despite the obvious mistrust still between them.
"She won't do anything to compromise our position, as long as we work together," I say, feeling slightly uneasy. "She's got a lot to lose as well. We're in the same boat, so if we go down, she'll go down with us."
"That might be true… for now," Siobhan says. "But what about after, when we're no longer on the same side? When she has no further use for us?"
I fall silent, not having a valid answer to the question. It's true that Delphine won't make a move against us as long as she needs us. I also firmly believe that she means to keep her word and defend us if it proves necessary if our plans to take down the Websters' organization are successful. But what about after? We have no contingency. Delphine's promises are only valid for this particular operation - and maybe, maybe the past ones. She has made no promises for future ventures. Even if she only has a small glimpse into how we operate, that may be enough to put us in danger in the future. Delphine could have her eyes on the long game, the same way Siobhan apparently has.
I remain in New York for two more days, alone this time. Siobhan left the morning after the meeting. Shortly after our boss has left me, Sarah informs me of Delphine's reappearance at the Webster's estate. I don't have anything to do here, staying only to not raise suspicion by showing up the same day of Delphine. And still I feel tired when I get return to the Webster's residence, a weight crushing my shoulders the moment I enter the gates to the large property in the afternoon. Almost immediately I'm summoned by Daniel to join him in the library. As I walk to the main building, my eyes momentarily scan the area where the cars are usually parked, but there's no sign of Delphine's red SUV.
I knock on the heavy mahogany door, then enter after a muffled reply from inside. Unsurprisingly, Daniel looks worried, the bags under his eyes proof of the concern that he carries with him. He's shirt sleeves are rolled up, his tie is loose around his neck, and his coat is wrinkling where it hangs crookedly on the back of his chair.
"I assume you're clear," he says, his voice raw.
"Yes, staying in New York was merely precautionary," I respond, standing in front of his desk while my hands clasp the back of one of the chairs pushed under it.
"What do you think went wrong, Cosima?" Daniel asks, his fingers brushing his unshaved jaw.
There's something in his eyes that unnerves me. His voice is calm, low and even, but his stare is wild, reminding me of an cornered animal with no escape. Daniel is aware that he's losing control, but I doubt he knows how to deal with it, making him unstable and dangerous.
"There was a leak…that much is obvious," I say, and he looks displeased with my vague answer. "It was on their end," I state with certainty in my voice. "On our side, all the information was contained, only you and I were fully aware of what was happening."
"And Sarah," he adds, matter-of-factly, "let's not forget about her."
"Sarah didn't know who we were meeting," I remind him with an edge in my voice. "If she hadn't acted so quickly, it's possible neither of us would be here speaking calmly, trying to figure out what went wrong."
"You really think it was the Russians who screwed up?" He asks, and I can see that he wants to believe it, that this assumption is much more agreeable to him than the other option.
"I don't see any other way," I shrug. "Maybe not intentionally, though. They arrived by plane, maybe the feds detected the unusual air traffic and followed them…I don't know for sure, and maybe never will. What I am sure of is that it wasn't us!" I say with clarity. "What are they saying?"
"They blame us, of course," he raises his shoulders, combs his fingers roughly through his hair, the accumulated tension is palpable. "Say that we were careless at best, or set them up at worst. They're also not happy about having some of their men in FBI custody while all of our people cleared out."
"We cleared out because we didn't engage. If their men were caught, it's because they thought it was a good idea to shoot at federal agents instead of getting the hell out of there," I point out, my voice raising intentionally. I want him to believe my outrage over the implication of the Russians' accusation. "If they'd been smarter and covered their asses, they'd be back in the motherland drinking vodka with their boss."
"They're all still in the States," Daniel informs me with a scowl. "Mr. Volkov didn't think it was safe for them to return to the airfield and fly out."
He pauses and I say nothing, waiting for him to continue. I'm going to let him talk as much as possible, take advantage of his anxious state of mind. Inadvertently, he's already slipped up and named the small Russian man and seems to be completely oblivious. I file the name in my mind, worrying only about who I'm going to tell first, Siobhan or Delphine. But Daniel's quiet for a long time, his hand mindlessly, gestures for me to finally take the seat in front of him, which I do.
"They want a second meeting," he eventually says in a voice so low that I struggle to understand. "On their own terms this time."
The idea pleases me. It's another opportunity to figure out what's happening and gather information regarding what is it that the two sides have in common, what they're working on, and what sort of deal they're trying to broker. However, the conditions are far from ideal. To have the Russians make all the arrangements for the meeting will leave us exposed, we won't be able to reconnoiter the conditions of the location, how safe it is, or secure an exit strategy.
"I don't think that's a good idea. It could be a trap," I say, feeling torn between assuring our safety and moving forward regardless of danger.
"I know," he answers with a short nod. "But I'm not exactly in the position to refuse them. We have pending deals that need to be addressed," Daniel sighs deeply and leans back in his leather chair. "When we were so rudely interrupted, we'd only just started."
"Can't you cancel everything…or maybe just delay it?" I suggest, even if that's not exactly what I want. "I'm sure that given the circumstances…"
Daniel is shaking his head. "No, that's impossible," he interrupts me. "Promises have been made, and we're on a schedule. Besides, with these people, you just don't call it quits. The rules are a bit different when you do business with them. Moreover, I'm not about to throw away a very profitable business venture just because of a small setback," he adds, bringing his hands together and resting them on top of the desk.
"I wouldn't call it a small setback," I answer, momentarily forgetting my place, astonished by Daniel's attitude, considering the extraordinary circumstances.
"Be that as it may, we need to keep pushing forward," he replies unrelenting. "This meeting has to happen!"
"Fine! But if this meeting turns to shit, I expect you to have the good sense not to turn against your people," I warn in a stern voice, thinking that it could be worse. The way it's happening it's not ideal, but at least it's his own idea, I didn't need to put any thoughts into his head.
Daniel smiles for the first time since the conversation began, and I show him a confused look. "I've got to say, this is quite refreshing," he says with a glint of humor in his eyes. "I appreciate the honesty. It's not often that people treat me to it, either because they're afraid of my reaction, or because they think I don't want to hear it, when in fact, I enjoy it very much. I don't want blind loyalty…but I want loyalty nonetheless," Daniel paused and his stare is steady on me, as if accessing whether or not he has mine.
"If you want to go ahead with another meeting, you can count on me," I say, refraining my tone a little bit. "But I still think we should at least try to negotiate the terms."
"Good! That's all I wanted to hear," Daniel says, clasping his hands together. "And I agree that we should be careful about it."
"We need to be more than careful," I press, wanting him to understand just how much of a gamble this is, but knowing that all my efforts are probably useless. "If this is going to happen, we need you to trust us. Give us as much information about the arrangements as possible."
"I assure you, you'll know all that you need to," he says.
That's not exactly what I asked, but it'll do for now. I should be subtle in my approach, pushing too hard too fast is dangerous; small, sure steps will get me where I need to be. Even though Daniel sounds determined to carry on his deals with the Russians, I can sense his hesitation. He's not only uncomfortable, he's scared. Perhaps it has finally dawned on him the seriousness of the situation, what sort of people he's playing with and what's at stake. I want him like that; nervous, more dependable to the suggestions I make. Unfortunately, that also makes him more unpredictable, more likely to make dumb mistakes, but that's a risk I have to take.
"When do they say they want to meet? And where?" I ask.
"Within the next week," he answers, and I can see he doesn't like it, thinking it too soon - which is not entirely wrong. The memory of him surrounded by federal agents still too fresh. "As for the place, they mentioned nothing. I haven't agreed to it yet, I wanted to discuss it with you first."
As I listen, I'm reminded of Delphine's words regarding Daniel's trust in me and how I should make myself indispensable. I'd say I'm on the right path for that.
"Confirm it," I answer in a strong voice. "The sooner we know the terms, the sooner we can counter them. Or, if they are not open to suggestions, then we'll have more time to prepare for it."
"Alright, I'll take care of it," Daniel says, and settles himself in the chair, adopting a more relaxed position. "Meanwhile, you should resume your other responsibilities. The company's logs are behind, and there's still the issue of my brothers communications," he continues much more casually, almost as an afterthought, but I notice the subtle raise of his gaze to me, the narrowing of his eyes. "Which reminds me…how's that going?"
"Still in very early stages," I answer evasively. "There's some unusual activity, but I haven't had the time to properly comb through it."
Daniel nods, but there's no sign that this is new to him, he's expecting it. I wonder what Daniel expects me to find about his little brother. Surely he doesn't suspect William is involved in the leak that caused the failed meeting with the Russians - his name hasn't even came up until now. But he definitely suspects of something, otherwise he wouldn't have instructed me to look into his communications. Could be that it's nothing but a symptom of Daniel's distrustful nature, but I believe there's something else, something that William has done to cause his brother have me sniffing around him.
"Very well. When something comes up, let me know," he says without any particular emotion to his voice.
Daniel is not surprised, not that I expect him to be, but more important is his choice of words: when not if. It would be good practice to give him something, anything to mislead him, but that's not for me to decide. I need to inform Delphine, pass the news to her and let her decide what's the best course of action. William is her asset, she should be the one to determine what to do in regard to him. I refuse to take part in whatever they do with the younger Webster. Throw him under the bus or protect him, it's not my call.
"I will," it's the answer I give with a nod of my head.
"Okay then…" Daniel raises from the chair, his visage not as heavy as it was when I found him, like a load has been lifted off his shoulders. "I'll contact Mr. Volkov to schedule another meeting and inform you when all is settled."
I get up as well and walk after him to the door. "If you need any help with that…" I begin, truly wanting to be a involved in determining what's to come.
"No, no…" Daniel interrupts me with a smile that gives me absolutely no assurance. "I think I can manage this on my own," he says, twisting the handle of the door that he holds open for me to pass.
But he can't handle it, and that's what I dislike the most about this. They'll walk all over him and make their demands, knowing that Daniel is negotiating from a weakened position, taking advantage of his eagerness to please. I wouldn't particularly worry about it if I weren't going to find myself right in the middle of it. His position is weak and that weakens all of us in the process. Without realizing it, Daniel is walking right into their hands and dragging all of us with him. Disaster may be just around the corner.
The shy, winter sun is almost completely set when I leave the main building. From the corner of my eye I notice the high beams of Delphine's SUV headlights as she slowly rolls the car into the parking area. I slow my steps, my head turned in that direction, but if she notices my presence, there's no sign of it. She stands by the open door of the vehicle, putting on her long coat and reaching inside for her purse.
She's smartly dressed, and the memory of her in tactical fatigues seems to be something pulled out of an alternative reality. The high heels make her slightly unstable on the uneven gravel as she turns after shutting the door and heads to the main building. Only then does Delphine acknowledge me with a short head nod that can mean a wide range of things, from an innocuous "hi there", to a "let's take these fuckers down". I return the ambiguous gesture and resume my walk to the cottage where the lights coming from the living room's window tell me that I'll have the company of my partners.