Sloane's operations base moved frequently, but Jack was still able to visit Hong Kong once or twice a month to check on Sydney. He was occasionally accompanied by Sloane, who continued to take a disconcertingly personal interest in Sydney's recovery. Today's visit to Sydney's bedside had been hopeful, he reflected to himself as he placed his order at lunch.
Sydney lay in her bed in the brightly lit room, looking almost peaceful as her medical team hovered over her. The head physician had looked up as Jack entered and smiled. "I have good news for you, Mr. Bristow. We've been trying some experimental approaches with your daughter and we're starting to see progress."
"When will she wake up?" Jack asked eagerly.
"Patience, Mr. Bristow. We've started seeing some brain activity in an area that had previously been dormant. It's not conclusive, but it is certainly encouraging."
The fact that he had seen this all before was no longer alarming. Jack was getting used to a high batting average.
As always, Jack and Sloane had stopped off for a meal at Jack's favorite restaurant afterwards. Up until this point Jack had solely ordered Peking duck. Today he was branching out to Moo-shu pork. He looked forward to it with pleasure.
"Pass the plum sauce, Arvin."
**
Irina sat at the table of the chic Parisian café, sipping her coffee. She perused Jack's latest order – Moo-shu pork– couriered to her from Hong Kong. She smiled. Sydney was still unconscious, but improving. She had been getting very tired of seeing Peking duck. She suspected Jack had been getting tired of eating it, too.
She casually glanced at her watch. Kendall would have received her proposal 20 minutes ago. Should be any minute-
Rring.
Gracefully Irina withdrew her cell phone from her pocket. "Yes?" she answered casually.
"Where the hell are you? And what kind of nerve do you have to pull this type of stunt?" she heard Kendall shout. She put the phone down for a few minutes and took a few more sips of coffee, admiring the view. When she was ready, she picked it up again.
"Are you done?" she inquired. Sensing that Kendall was drawing another breath, she interjected sweetly, "What are your alternatives?" Encouraged by his silence, she continued. "You have nothing, Kendall. No data, no leads. Sloane and Bristow aren't just one step ahead of you; they're running circles around you. Give me my own team and I'll slow them down enough to give you a chance."
"Give you a team!" he bellowed. "Like hell I will."
Irina sighed and hung up. She beckoned the waiter for her check.
Rring.
"Yes?"
"How do I know I can trust you?" she heard Kendall spit out. She closed her eyes. She imagined his face was purple by now.
"You can't," she said simply. "But Sloane killed my daughter. Jack's helping him. This has now become intensely personal for me. I am willing to devote all my resources to stopping them. Our interests are – for the time being – aligned."
"Don't pull that enemy-of-my-enemy-is-my-friend crap."
"Then I guess I'll just wish you good luck." Irina hung up again and smiled apologetically at the waiter, who had been hovering nearby. Leisurely she paid and stood up, catching the eye of her bodyguards.
Rring.
"Last chance, Kendall."
"Fine. But the team coordinates every move with the Ops Center."
"No."
"No?" came Kendall's outraged voice.
Really, thought Irina, he was going to have a stroke. "Surely you can see what's happening," she explained patiently, as if to a child. "Jack is predicting every move you'll make. Flawlessly, I might add." A small pucker formed between Irina's brows. Jack was good, but she was a little surprised by how good he had been recently. "You need a team to operate independently, spontaneously. Outside of typical CIA protocols and procedures. It's our only shot." Irina waited patiently as Kendall digested the obvious truth. And Irina's use of the pronoun "our".
"Fine."
"Fine what?"
"Fine, you can have the team and the immunity agreement," Kendall growled grudgingly. "Immunity becomes permanent when you deliver Sloane and Bristow to me."
Irina smiled. Finder's keeper's, she thought to herself.