Part 4
"How did you get this number?" Agent Jack Bristow asked monotonically.
"Sark gave it to me, but listen – "
Jack's voice suddenly gained some animation. "From Sark!"
"No! Mr. Bristow, you've got to listen to me!"
Will was walking alongside the nearly abandoned farm road where Sark and his rather intimidating female associate had left him. The sun was all but down now and there was a chill in the air that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He didn't have a coat or a car so he was walking back toward town.
"So you didn't get the number from Sark?" It seemed Jack had regained control over his typical candor, but Will knew it was only thinly veiled anger.
"Listen!" Will yelled, no longer able to remain polite. "I was just run off the road and nearly had my head blown off! Now you're going to listen to me or Sydney stands a very good chance of dying in forty-eight hours!"
There was a pregnant pause and then Jack replied, "I'm listening."
Jack put the cell phone back into the pocket of his suit jacket and walked toward Director Dixon's office as if nothing significant had happened. But if someone had possessed the audacity and guts to look him directly in the eyes they would have seen fear. Any other outward appearances would betray nothing of his alarm—but inside his heart was pounding; it threatened to break; it threatened to stop all at the same time.
"Dixon, I need to talk to you."
Marcus Dixon looked up from his desk; his expression showed only mild surprise at Jack's interruption. He knew that was how the man operated and had long ago accepted it. "What can I do for you Jack?"
"Has Sydney reported in the last six hours?"
"No, Jack. She isn't due to report again until she is about to board the plane back from Spain. Why, are you worried? You know it was only an in-and-out reconnaissance mission?"
Jack took a cursory glance around Dixon's office, also taking in the hall outside. Once he was sure there was no one within earshot he continued.
"I wasn't worried either until ten minutes ago," he said. "I just received a call from Will Tippin and it would seem that he has once again been called out of the Witness Protection Program to help Sydney. Only it wasn't Sydney who contacted him."
Marcus wiped his hand over his face to cover a sigh of disbelief. "Who contacted him and why?"
"Sark. He wants the Rambaldi Antidote."
Dixon slammed his hand down onto the desk. "Have Will brought back here to the Rotunda."
"I've already made the order."
