Chapter 10:
It had been two days since Jack and come to see Vaughn in his classroom. Vaughn knew that Jack would stop at nothing to find out what had happened to Sydney during those two years. He knew that Jack could be as ruthless of a killer as any enemy and it wouldn't be wise to cross him. Vaughn had wanted to help Sydney, but he was furious that Jack had wanted him to spy on Lauren. Why would he suspect the NSA? How could even think that Lauren could be involved? Those thoughts kept hunting Vaughn.
Vaughn had been feeling restless. He was so afraid that Lauren would pick up on his uneasiness and question him about it that he had done his best to avoid her. Vaughn had slipped out of the house that morning to go for a run and try to clear his head. He had decided not to take his usual route through the neighborhood streets and instead headed off to the park. Vaughn never ran the park because it was where he and Sydney used to run and he hadn't been able to bring himself to go there since her disappearance. Today was different. It was like unseen force had pulled him there. Without even noticing that he was headed that way, Vaughn found himself in the park.
He had been running for an hour before he realized that it wasn't helping to take his mind off of Jack and Sydney. He had just turned to head home when a young woman ran into him and fell to ground clutching her right ankle. He bent down to help her up.
"I'm so sorry are you O.K.?" Vaughn asked concerned.
The woman was fit and attractive. She wore a black jogging suit and she had hidden her red hair under a baseball cap. She looked up at him and winced.
"I'm the one who is sorry. I can be such a ditz sometimes. I wasn't even watching where I was going. I didn't hurt you, did I?" She asked as she rubbed her ankle.
"No. I'm fine. Here, let me help you up." Vaughn assured her as he grabbed her under her left arm and hoisted her up onto her one good foot. She rolled her hurt ankle around a couple of times and stepped down on it carefully.
"I think I'm going to O.K. if I can manage to look where I'm going from now on. Thank you. I'm really sorry that I ran into you." She smiled at Vaughn.
"It's fine. Are you sure you are going to be O.K.? I could get a cab for you if you don't think you can make it on that ankle." Vaughn said still holding onto her. He wasn't going to let go until he knew she could stand on her own.
"That won't be necessary. I'm fine. See." She took a few steps forward and turned back to Vaughn.
"Well, if you're sure." Vaughn said uncertain that she was really O.K.
"Yes, thanks again." She said and she walked away.
Vaughn watched her limp away. The chilly breeze swept across his face and neck causing him to shiver. He pulled the hood of his sweatshirt over his head and placed his hands in the front pocket. He frowned as he felt something in his pocket. He pulled out his right hand and looked down at a folded up piece of paper. He opened it up and read it:
BE AT CORNER OF WADE AND 42ND AT 5P.M.
Vaughn spun around to chase after the young woman but she was nowhere to be seen. He frantically began searching the park for any sign of her but it was if she a simply vanished. He looked down at the note again and read it at least a dozen more times. Vaughn crumpled up the piece of paper and threw it away in the nearest trash bin. He scanned the park for the woman one last time before heading home to shower and get ready for work. If he was lucky, Lauren would have already left for work.
Vaughn couldn't remember a day going by as slow as this had. He found himself checking the clock on his wall every few minutes. He excused his last class of the day and hurried to clean up and head out. The meeting place was a good forty five minute drive from his school and he was sure it would take close to 1 ½ to get there in rush hour traffic.
Vaughn drove past the corner of Wade and 42nd and pulled into a parking lot a few blocks down. He got out of his car and began to walk to the meeting place all the while taking in his surroundings. Vaughn was careful to take note of everybody that pasted him as he approached the corner. When he finally arrived he stood there, looking from left to right, hoping to spot the person or persons that were to contact him.
Vaughn had only glanced at the phone booth that sat on the corner, but never really gave it much thought until it started to ring. Thinking nothing of it, Vaughn continued to scope out the scene. The phone rang and rang and rang. Looking around to see if anybody was going to answer it, he slowly began to walk toward the phone. Vaughn reached the phone booth and placed his hand on the receiver. He took a deep breath, picked up the receiver, put it to his ear, paused for a few seconds, and spoke into it.
"Hello?" Vaughn barley could get the word to form.
"Did you have a nice run?" Jack asked. Vaughn let out a sigh. He could picture the smug smile on Jack's face. He was obviously enjoying that fact that he had Vaughn by the short ones. This pissed Vaughn off and he grew impatient.
"Enough of this Cloak and Dagger Shit!" Vaughn said threw gritted teeth.
"Sorry, but it is necessary." Jack said without an ounce of sincerity.
"Can we just get to the point?" Vaughn asked impatiently.
"Certainly. I need you to meet me at the safe house, tonight, at 23:00." Jack ordered. Vaughn ran his fingers through his hair and shook his head.
"I can't tonight." Vaughn said knowing that Jack would not take no for an answer.
"Maybe I didn't make it clear to you that you really don't have a choice." Jack answered. It was Jack who now grew impatient.
"I'm not trying to be difficult. I told you that you have my full cooperation, but tonight is my anniversary and I don't see how you expect me to get by Lauren tonight of all nights." Vaughn said bowing his head down. He knew the mention of his marriage would only increase Jack's instance that he be there tonight. There was silence on the other end. Vaughn didn't need to wait for a reply. He let out a defeated breath.
"Alright. I'll be there." and with that, Vaughn hung up the phone. He took a deep breath and turned away from the phone booth. He slowly walked back to his car. Vaughn got into his car, put the key in the ignition but didn't turn it. He just sat there for a few minutes watching a young couple holding hands as they walked by. He envied them.
End of chapter 10