Little Child Lost
Chapter Five
Information
Sark scanned the area. The mansion was exquisite, not that he was surprised. Irina had never been the type to live unstylishly. She wasn't big on hiding out, either. Sydney seemed surprised and Sark attributed it to her not knowing Irina very well. He enjoyed Buenos Aires. It was a fairly light and airy city, busy but not overly so. He knew it was Irina's favorite city as well. He'd poked around and discovered her whereabouts and here they were. She wasn't expecting them. He wasn't sure how she'd take them appearing unannounced on her doorstep. He hoped that since he'd brought Sydney along with him, she wouldn't be nearly as angry or wrathful. He double-checked the perimeter for guards, but found none visible. He guided Sydney up to the porch and rang the bell. They waited and listened, but no movement came from the inside. He could pick the lock, but he imagined there were several guns trained on the door and at the moment, he wasn't inclined to be shot. Sydney was uncomfortable next to him, he could almost sense the tension emitting from her body. She looked like she was ready to bolt down the pathway.
"I guess she isn't here. We should probably go."
Sydney turned on the porch, but Sark grabbed her arm before she could descend the stairs.
"No. Irina is here. Just wait."
Sydney slumped in defeat and returned to her original position. Sark bit back a small smile and rapped on the door. Irina finally opened the door halfway.
"Mr. Sark. How lovely of you to show up unexpectedly."
Her distaste towards his manners was obvious.
"Don't bite, Irina. I brought you a gift."
Sark pushed the door open wider so Sydney was no longer obstructed from view.
"Sydney!" Irina stared at her daughter, a mixture of emotions at seeing her lost daughter running through her.
"Your father told me you'd returned and that you had gone on the run with Sark. I didn't really believe that you would, but apparently I underestimated his charms."
Sydney folded her arms protectively in front of her, wishing she were anywhere but on the verandah in front of her mother's mansion.
"I do hope you'll invite us in, Irina."
Irina stepped back with a mocking look, allowing their entrance.
Irina had sent them to a parlor inside the estate. Tea was served immediately and Sark couldn't help but want to chuckle at the three of them having afternoon tea together. Sydney stood out in the situation, clearly uncomfortable and he almost felt sympathetic towards her. Almost. Irina sat in a wing back chair regally. She seemed like she was observing a scene of mere mortals in front of her, a knowing smirk on her face. She wrapped her delicate hands around the porcelain teacup, waiting for her to ask. Sydney didn't know what she was supposed to ask and Sark knew he would have to request everything for her. Sydney was surprisingly dependent on him. Sure, some of her spunk had returned, but she still didn't know how to cope with all the changes that had occurred.
"We've been looking into Sydney's disappearance. I've discovered some information on Julia Thorne."
"What about her?"
Sark exchanged a look with Sydney, who appeared as unsure and distrustful as he felt. If Irina didn't know that Sydney was Julia Thorne, he didn't know if he should share the information with her.
"She worked for The Covenant the same time Sydney was gone."
"I've heard of her. She killed Andrian, you know."
Sark had rarely been shocked in his life. He prided himself for being prepared for just about anything. He never expected to hear that Sydney had murdered his father. His eyes involuntarily rushed to Sydney's frame and the guilt was evident on her face. He wanted to kill her and tell her it was all right at once. He'd have to talk to her about this another time. He was not going to let Irina know how much she'd disturbed him.
"I wasn't aware of that. I was looking for more information on her and The Covenant."
"I heard that they were responsible for your release."
"They wanted my inheritance, I assume. I escaped when the NSC swooped in and messed up the entire plan the CIA had devised. I escaped along with Sydney. I thought you said Jack told you about it."
Irina's mouth upturned in a condescending smile.
"He only told me you'd disappeared with Sydney. Jack never gives me more information than he has to."
"Well, you can't really blame him, Irina."
Sydney hadn't spoken since they'd been seated. She finally broke into the everlasting word game the other two continually played.
"We need more intel about The Covenant. What do you know, Mom?"
Sydney's tongue stumbled over the last word and she knew it was no secret that she used it as a play to touch Irina's heart.
"Sydney, I do not know much. For the most part, the Covenant has managed to stay under radar. It was founded shortly after you disappeared. The organization is quite extensive with reaches all over the world. The headquarters are in Kosovo. No one is sure who the head is, thought Burmani is suspected of being him. My bet is he is only a red herring much like Alexander Khasinau was for my organization. They are known for their brain washing techniques and from what I've gathered; they have several of Rambaldi's inventions that could possibly be how their brain washing is so advanced."
Irina stopped, nearly out of breath after that speech. Sark waited to see if she had anything else to add. She seemed to be finished.
"Excellent. Now, we are short of weapons at the moment since we haven't had a chance to contact an arms dealer. Could we possibly purchase some from you?"
Irina shook her head. "You may have your pick of my weapons. I have a wide-ranging selection upstairs. I will not let you buy them. Sark, you were my right hand man, and Sydney is my daughter. I will give them to you."
Irina motioned for a guard to take them upstairs to the weaponry room. Irina stood with the other two and moved towards Sydney. She looked like she was about to hug her daughter, but stopped herself at the last minute. She smiled at Sydney. "I am so glad you're back, Sydney."
Sydney nodded in acceptance and followed Sark up the stairs.
After the pair left, Irina scrambled to her cell phone. She dialed the number she knew by heart and waited for the connection to be completed.
"Bristow."
"Jack, it's me. Sydney just came here to my house. She was with Sark."
"Are they still there?"
"No. They just left. They're on their way to Kosovo. They're trying to find out about The Covenant and a Julia Thorne."
"I'll follow them there."
"Jack, Sark won't appreciate being tracked."
"Neither will Sydney. Thank you for the information."
"I knew I had to tell you. She looked well. Do you think she is okay?"
"I don't know. But we have to stop them from infiltrating The Covenant. It could be too dangerous for her."
"Because of Sark or because of the organization?"
"Both."
Irina paused. "I miss you, Jack."
He didn't reply at first. She could hear the tense silence ringing through the air.
"I miss you, too."
Jack disconnected before she could reply. Irina snapped her phone shut and sighed. She'd have to go on to Kosovo as well.