Chapter 7 - Sydney

Sydney also received a wrong number phone call Saturday morning, as she was getting ready to go shopping with Francie. She listened to the phone message and sighed, then turned apologetically to her roommate.

"Don't tell me, let me guess," said Francie resignedly. "The bank. They need you to work the weekend."

Sydney nodded ruefully. She had hoped to be able to relax for a few days, but she was needed at the Ops Center. She threw on her coat and headed out the door. "I'll call you," she said optimistically. "Maybe we can go this afternoon."

Making her way through the various security steps to enter the Ops Center, she wondered why Vaughn had summoned her. Perhaps she was needed to debrief Irina Derevko. Her mother, she reminded herself. While still fragile, she was beginning to establish a bond with her mother that she could not have predicted several months ago. Her mother's reason for turning herself into the CIA remained a mystery, but Sydney was glad she had had a chance to see her again.

Vaughn walked up to her as she entered the Ops Center ready room, but not before Sydney noticed how conversations abruptly halted as she swept past. When she saw the look on Vaughn's face, her stomach knotted. "Vaughn, what's wrong?" she demanded. Vaughn grabbed her arm and steered her into a conference room, escalating Sydney's concern.

He closed the door and paused, not sure where to start. "Michael?" prodded Sydney.

"Sydney, your father is fine. But there has been a problem. Eight months ago he shot and killed a CIA mole who was reporting directly to Irina, Steven Hadlaki. Your father believed that Hadlaki was about to expose you as a double agent and took the steps he thought were necessary to protect you. He didn't report it at the time."

Vaughn took a deep breath. "Eight days ago, Kane told Jack that she had DNA evidence that he had murdered Hadlaki. Your father admitted to shooting him. The conversation was taped during our surveillance of your father's meeting."

Sydney looked up, startled. "Weren't you on that mission?" Vaughn flushed. "And you didn't tell me," she said in a low, angry voice. "Again." She turned on her heel. "I need to see my father."

"Sydney, that's the problem. The preliminary review concluded that they needed to press formal charges. Sydney," he reached out and grabbed her arm, trying to get her to look at him, "they are charging him with murder. He could go to prison for 10-20 years." Sydney's face paled. "Your father was taken into custody. He's-" Vaughn paused, "he's locked up downstairs next to your mother, until they can transfer him somewhere else," he finished quietly.