(Sloane's Villa in Tuscany)

"Ah, Irina, I see you've found my guest. I'd introduce you, but I believe you've already met."  Sloane watched her carefully, gauging her reaction to his 'surprise'.  Irina schooled her features, her gaze impassive as she took in the sight of her sister-in-law bound securely to a metal chair.

"Arvin, Sark has uncovered some new information on that database you need.  I'll stay with the prisoner." Irina told him blandly.  Sloane's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.  "He said it was important."  Sloane hesitated, then nodded. 

"I have a few more questions for the prisoner." He rose to leave, then turned at the door and said with menacing softness. "I'll be back."

"Well, well, well.  If it isn't my brother's [i]beloved[/i] wife." Jane said mockingly.

"Shut up, Jane."  Irina reached into her pocket for the pen Jack had given her in Panama, surreptitiously turning it to the on position. "Why didn't you listen to me?  If you had left everything alone, Sloane wouldn't have had to take you."

"Is that what you think?" Jane sneered. "Of course he had to take me. I'm a reporter and a damn good one at that. It was too risky to leave me on my own. He had no choice. Are they taping this?"   

"They think they are. This pen will mask our conversation and the camera's images for approximately ten minutes, but Sloane may be back sooner once he realizes I may be responsible for the distorted reception."

"You said my brother knows you're alive. I can't believe he didn't tell me."

"He couldn't. I was in CIA custody."

"He's forgiven you, hasn't he?" Jane shook her head.  "I'll never forgive you. I still have nightmares of Jack's imprisonment. Do you know it took them almost three months to convince him that you were a KGB spy? They worked him over emotionally, filling him with guilt and self-loathing. It took them three months to break him and years for me to help put him back together."    

"I know you won't believe me, but I did love him. I still love him. I believe he still loves me. The night of the accident ... I'd decided to defect.  I was going to tell Jack everything.  Somehow my handler knew.  He threatened me. I ran to my car.  He followed.  You know the rest. The KGB left Jack and Sydney alone after my 'death' because they knew I could be controlled through them."

"Why should I believe you? You destroyed my brother. You destroyed my mother and my father. I guess now I'm the only Bristow left you haven't destroyed and here I am, locked in cell, at the mercy of your lover."

Without thinking, Irina slapped her sister-in-law across the cheek. "He is [i]not[/i] my lover," she hissed, eyes blazing.  "Don't you ever say such a thing again. I teamed up with Sloane because I thought it was the best way to protect Sydney [i]and[/i] Jack."

"So, [i]now[/i] you want to protect him? Where were you when he needed you twenty-one years ago, Laura? Oh yeah, I forgot. You were dead."

"I was in a KGB prison in India, wishing I was with him. They don't like people who try to defect." Irina responded harshly, turning away from Jane to hide the threatening tears. 

"How do I know you're telling me the truth?"

"You can't. I could show you the scars, but that proves nothing. Who knows when I acquired them? They could even be self-inflicted, for all you know, just in case I ever needed a good cover story."

"I didn't tell him, you know." Irina turned back to Jane, startled at the abrupt change in subject. "About Mom," she added.  "The note you found. I never gave it to the police. I know I was destroying evidence, but ..."

"I didn't understand what she meant, Jane. On the note. I didn't know about your father. Your mother never even hinted that there was a problem.  I didn't understand until much later. After I left. I found myself with a certain amount of time for just thinking."

"How could you not know?  The way he acted around you..."

"I thought it was because I was Jack's wife. His son's wife.  Stupid, I know, but I swear I never knew." She smiled in self-derision. "I was more concerned that Jack would find out who I really was.      Living under the sword of Damocles lends itself to focusing only on those who pose an immediate threat to your existence."

"Why did you give me the note? Why not Jack?"

"I didn't want Jack to know. I knew you would destroy it and he would never have know.  He loved her so much, it would have devastated him to learn your mother deliberately..."

"I loved her, too." Jane interrupted her angrily. "I've had to live with that knowledge all these years. I couldn't tell Jack. I was tempted to tell the CIA. I'm glad I didn't. They would have convinced Jack he had killed them. But you're the one who found them. Did Mom figure it out and threaten to expose you? How do I know you didn't kill them yourself?"

"That's why I gave you the note. You know your mother's writing better than anyone. If it ever came out, you would know the truth. I may be guilty of many things, but killing your parents is not one of them."

Irina watched as the reporter in Jane processed this information.  "Sloane will be back any moment and I need you to know I've been in touch with Jack. I couldn't give him the exact location, but he has enough to work with for now.  A rescue team has probably already been set up.  If I don't see you again, Jane, good luck."

"Wait, Laura. I have one more thing I need to know.  That word.  What does it mean?"

Irina froze.  "What word?"

"Aril. The FBI questioned me about it."

"A-R-I-L-Y.  It's not a word." Irina frowned.  "The FBI asked you about it? How did they know ..."

"You know, Agent Hamilton said the word wasn't complete.  So what does it mean and why would Jack scratch it out on his cell wall? Was it a code word?"

Tears pooled in the corner of Irina's eyes.  "Always remember I love you," she whispered.

"What?" Jane looked at Irina, confused.

"That's what it means."

They both looked up at the sound of footsteps in the hallway.  Arvin Sloane entered his eyes focused narrowly on Irina.  "We seem to be having a little trouble with our camera equipment.  Any ideas on why, Irina?"

"I hear there is supposed to be some heavy solar flare activity this week.  You know how that affects sensitive equipment." 

"Amazing coincidence that it didn't start until you entered the room." He stood behind Jane, his hand lightly tracing her neckline.

"Amazing." she responded blandly. 

Sloane's cell phone rang.  As he reached to answer it, Irina slipped her hand into her pocket and clicked the pen into the off position. "Sloane.  Yeah.  When?" He watched as Irina moved to a chair opposite Jane. "The equipment seems to be working now."

"I told you. Solar flare. Of course, you could just have defective equipment."  She smiled up at him.  "I went ahead and questioned Jane while you were gone.  She sent an e-mail to Jack.  He'll be searching for her in Milan.  I think we should lay low for awhile."

"You bitch." Jane picked up on her cue quickly.  "You promised you wouldn't tell him," she said accusingly. "I trusted you."

"Enough."  Sloane's hand came down sharply on Jane's cheek before reaching for his cell phone.  "I want you to transfer the prisoner to the other room now." He turned to face Jane.  "You can rest for now.  We'll be back for more questions later." He touched her cheek where an angry welt had formed.  "Cooperate and I won't hurt you. Otherwise, Jack will be short another close family member." His gaze moved to Irina.  "I need you to verify Sark's information.  Be ready to leave in ten minutes."