Chapter 12
He had let her go a few hours later, and now just hoped she'd come through. Before she turned to leave, Sark almost kissed her.
Almost. She just looked so strong, and so wildly beautiful that Sark caught himself leaning toward her.
And then he pulled back, and mentally slapped himself. Sydney might have noticed; he just didn't know, nor didn't want to speculate for his own sanity's sake.
It'd been six days since he let her go. Tomorrow was the meeting.
Irina wasn't all together pleased with his plan. Between the lines, she had let Sark know that. But Sark couldn't force her to work with him, or for Irina. He'd told Irina as much, which made her get off his back for the time being.
But if this failed, he knew Irina was going to be royally miffed.
Hogle Zoo was hardly impressive, but it was enough of a public place to be safe and enough of a private place to hold a sensitive conversation away from eavesdroppers.
Sark was at the penguin pool an hour early. His palms were moist, which was a first for him. For some reason, he felt like some kid on a first date.
That's because you're falling for her. Sark rolled his eyes at himself.
He had spent a lot of time thinking about Sydney. He listened to the surveillance from her apartment, mainly, he told himself, to see if she had already returned to SD-6. There was no Sydney in the apartment, and from what the roommate, Francie, and the friend Will said she was on an extended business trip.
Assets were reporting a lot of activity in trying to find a missing agent from SD-6. That comforted Sark to a degree.
She's at least been investigating, and without SD-6 knowing.
Sark checked his watch. There was still plenty of time. Sydney would probably be early, but Sark didn't want to seem like he had been waiting forever.
Like that kid on a first date. With that he got up, and walked around the surrounding animal cages. As he surveyed the monkeys, the camels, the polar bear, and the random peacocks running loose in front of the others, he kept looking back at the penguin pool.
Nothing was out of place. A school group hoarded the penguins. A young couple took pictures of each other with the penguin background. They looked quite happy. Sark noticed both wore wedding rings.
There was so much normalcy in watching the couple. Both looked happy, without many cares burdening them. Sark felt a tug in his stomach. He almost wished for that, and that made him think of Sydney.
Could he ever settle down? Doubtful. But if it was with someone like Sydney, already in the business, and on his side . . .
You're assuming she'll accept, among other things.
He was assuming Sydney would ever think of him that way. And you're assuming you could ever be normal, after everything you have done and are.
What am I?
His thoughts were broken as a young child suddenly bumped into him. Sark looked down to discover the kid's ice cream had connected with his pants.
"I'm so sorry!" came a hurried reply from the mother. She offered Sark some napkins. Sark took them with a tight smile and nodded. The child giggled as Sark wiped the mess from his dark jeans.
The casual attire was somewhat foreign to him. They were used more often for disguise than comfort. Comfort to Sark came in the form of a nice, perfectly fitted suit. But these jeans weren't too bad. Except for the ice cream.
The rest of his disguise was a light blue polo shirt, sunglasses, and his leather jacket, which was essential for hiding a weapon.
Another time check revealed that the meet was fifteen minutes away. Sark made another round near the penguins, looking for any signs of trouble. More kids, another couple, a man with a video camera, yet another couple . . .
Sark stopped in front of the pool. The penguins were splashing around. A few darted under the water, back and forth with never-ending energy. A couple were getting out of the pool, obviously ready to lay out in the sun and cool air. And then he saw her.
As she walked to him, Sark couldn't help but look her up and down. She was casually dressed: khakis, a t-shirt, and a jean-jacket. The simplicity of it emphasized her natural beauty. She had a neutral expression on her face, which Sark immediately tried to change.
"Miss Bristow, you have a terrible habit of always looking stunning," he started. His playful flirt was rewarded with a self-conscious glance at her feet.
"I came," she said. Straight to business.
"What did you find?"
She looked down at her feet again, and nervously tucked her long hair behind an ear.
"You were right. SD-6 is part of the Alliance." She paused, opened her mouth and then closed it again. She was hurt by what she found, and the way she leaked her emotions charmed Sark.
"I'm sorry," Sark said, trying to be of some comfort. "After we met in Jerusalem, I found out what I could about you. And working for SD-6 . . . well, the odds were that you did not know the true nature of your employer." He paused, watching her absorb what he said. "I was impressed by you, in Jerusalem, and thought you deserved better."
She looked him directly in the eye after he said that. For a brief moment, she gave a small, sad smile. It made Sark's heart melt.
Then something sent shivers up his back. He looked around discreetly, still paying attention to Sydney, but looking for why his instincts were telling him to run.
"You mentioned the true nature of my employer. Who is yours, and how do I know he's any better?" Sark looked over her shoulder as he listened.
Video camera. The man with the camera had it pointed at the penguins before in the west end of the pool. But the penguins had moved to the east end now. The man didn't notice, and the camera hadn't moved.
"My employer wishes to remain unknown until you've accepted," he said calmly. "Shall we take a stroll?" Sark turned and held out one arm to Sydney. She smiled with a touch of nervousness, and linked her arm in his.
"I hear they have a lovely bird show right about now," Sark said. The bird show had about 150 people per show, and Sark would need that cover to get out. "So, you're doubting me, Sydney?" He placed a special emphasis on her name, and she noticed it.
He felt her tense beside him, and that was his cue.
"I should be the one doubting you, Sydney. In Uruguay, you gave me your word you wouldn't set me up." He paused, his eyes boring into her. "I trusted you, until now." The betrayal he felt threatened to show, but he quickly masked it with an icy stare.
They slowed their pace, right outside the bird show that was in progress. Sark reached for his gun, but kept it concealed to prying eyes. Sydney saw it was pointed at her from within his jacket.
"Sark—"
"Last chance, Sydney. Come and work with me, or stay with whomever you're setting me up for." Inside he knew her decision, and it made his heart go hard again.
Sydney didn't say anything, but out of the corner of his eye, Sark saw the man with the camera, and others, approaching.
"See you in the field." With that, Sark removed the gun and fired.