Chapter 9

Irina sat calmly meditating on the floor of her cell. The quiet of the cell was interrupted by rapid footsteps, as Sydney appeared at her window, tears streaming down her cheeks. Irina rose, cat-like, and moved quickly to the window. She had never seen her daughter so distraught.

"Sydney? What is it?"

"I-It's Dad. He's been arrested for murder. They're saying he'll go to prison," Sydney blurted out.

"Sydney, slow down. You need to tell me more than that."

Sydney took a deep breath. "Eight months ago he shot and killed Steven Haladki, a CIA mole. Your mole," she said pointedly. "Dad believed Haladki was about to blow my double agent cover at SD-6."

"I wondered what had happened to Haladki. Those weren't his orders. He was a weasel."

"Dad didn't tell the CIA what he'd done. Last week Kane accidentally discovered the gun he used had Haladki's DNA on it and accused him of killing Haladki. Dad admitted it. The CIA taped the conversation."

Jack wasn't normally sloppy, Irina thought. The Kane situation must have distracted him more than he had let on.

"There was a preliminary administrative hearing this morning. They've decided to press formal charges. They took him into custody. He's-," she paused, "he's in the cell next door."

"Fools," spat Irina. "Have you seen your father since? What does he say?"

Tears started streaming down Sydney's face again. "He's not saying anything. He's pretending it's not a big deal. But Mom - I can see it in his eyes." Sydney swallowed. "Mom, it will kill him. He was so different when he came back from prison last time - quiet, and w-wounded. I don't know what to do."

Irina looked pensive. "Sydney, could you come back in a couple of hours? I need to think. And then we'll talk."