Tomorrow's Promise

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Chapter Nineteen – Showdown Prelude

Vaughn was sitting at his desk trying to concentrate on the latest report from Schulte on the Rambaldi necklace.  But his thoughts kept wandering to Sydney and Jack.

Devlin suddenly appeared in Vaughn's office doorway.  "I don't suppose you've heard from either of the Bristows?" he asked.

Vaughn tapped a pencil nervously on his desk.  "No sir, I haven't," Vaughn lied.  "Why?  Is something wrong?"

"I doubt it," Devlin replied.  "Just that Jack missed a meeting this morning."

"Huh," Vaughn said.  "Well, I'll let you know if I hear from either one of them."

"Thanks," Devlin said and left.

Vaughn got up and started pacing.  He knew it was only a matter of time before Devlin and Jack's handler started a full search.

His cell phone rang.  "Vaughn."

"Vaughn, it's Sydney."

"Sydney, Thank God!" Vaughn said.  "Devlin was just here.  He's looking for you're father.  What's the status?"

"Khasinea has him.  And, my mom is obviously working for Khasinea."

"What?" Vaughn exclaimed.

"Khasinea knows about my necklace.  That's what he wants.  They'll kill dad if I don't unless I give it to them.  The only way Khasinea could know about the necklace…"

"Was from your mom," Vaughn completed the sentence for her.  Vaughn was silent for a moment and then said, "What are you going to do?"  Vaughn figured that she was calling to see if he could get the necklace.

"I'm going to give them the necklace," Sydney said matter-of-factly.  "Only, it's going to be a copy that Marshall's making for me." 

Vaughn breathed a sigh of relief.  He couldn't afford to take any chances.  He was still on Devlin's watch list from the Taipei op.

"But, Vaughn, I can't remember the exact colors and order of the stones.  She'll know if they're wrong.  I need to see the necklace again."

Vaughn frowned.  "Syd, there's no way I can get the necklace out of here.  They've got it under the highest security," Vaughn said.

"Then get me a picture of it, Vaughn," Sydney said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.  "But you can't let them know what you need it for.  I can't trust the Agency with this."

Vaughn was already looking through his desk trying to locate a micro camera.  "When do you need it, Syd?"

"Ten minutes ago."

"Terrific," Vaughn said sarcastically.  "Give me fifteen minutes."

*****

Sydney walked back into Marshall's office with two café mochas.  Marshall eyed the Java Doctor cups.  "When you said you were getting us some coffee, I figured you were going to the cafeteria."

Sydney gave him a weak smile.  "I can't stand the cafeteria coffee.  How's the necklace coming?"

"Nearly there," Marshall replied.  "We'll need to pick the stones and set them soon.  Have you figured out what they were?"

"I think so," Sydney said as her cell phone rang.  "But, it will be easier when I'm able to see them in context."  Marshall nodded his understanding.

Sydney answered her cell phone, "Hello?"

"Syd, it's me."  It was Vaughn.

"Hi Francie!" Sydney faked girlish enthusiasm and turned her back on Marshall.

"I've got the jpeg file that you wanted."  Vaughn was purposely vague.

"Really?  How did you manage that?" Sydney asked.

"Let's just say that it had something to do with Weiss and a very hot cup of coffee."

"That's fantastic!" Sydney faked her reply.

"Well, Weiss didn't think so.  I swear he was a theatre major in college."

"That's funny," Sydney said, actually laughing.  "Look, I'm really busy right now, sweetie, but if you email me that jpg, I'll look at it."

"Sweetie?" Vaughn repeated as he sent the encrypted file to Sydney's private email address on the CIA's secure server.  "Okay, you've got mail," Vaughn said.  There was a moment's silence then Vaughn said, "Syd, I want to back you up at the exchange."

"That's just not possible," Sydney said.

"I know that they probably told you to come alone, but you can't go in there without some kind of backup, Syd!" Vaughn was pleading now.

"I've got to go now Francie.  I'll see you tonight."

"Syd, don't…!"

Sydney ended the call, folded up her phone and put it back in her purse.  She smiled faintly at Marshall.  "My friend… she's buying a house… wants me to look at one she's thinking about making a bid on."

Marshall nodded politely.  He was singularly focused for a change.  No nervous chatter.  No bits of trivia.  Sloane had told him to help Sydney out as a personal favor to him.  Sloane stressed that he should not ask any questions, and should not tell anybody about Sydney and the necklace.  Ever.