Footsteps echoed as he walked into the empty warehouse. His eyes had adjusted to the darkness as well as they could but his sight was still blurry. It never dawned on him that the alcohol was affecting his vision, but then again he was in denial. What he could see didn't give him any clue as to why he was here. There didn't seem to be any evidence that there was anyone there to meet him but he would be patient if it meant finding out where Sydney was.
He was tired. He wished that he could go home soon and sleep the rest of this nightmare off. Until Sydney was found he knew he would never go home. He had been to Athens, Amsterdam, Brussels, Romania and now…Belovo? His mind was too numb to process anything at the moment, so when he heard the cock of a gun behind him, there was no time to react.
I don't think I'm shot. Vaughn was slowly waking up trying to get his bearings but he was having trouble figuring out what was going on. When he tried to lift his head he felt sharp stabs of pain running up and down his body. Slowly he started remembering the beating, getting kicked in the stomach, the punches to his kidneys and finally the butt of the gun to his head. He just couldn't remember who had done the damage.
"Stop looking for Sydney."
Vaughn tried to place the voice but he couldn't. Not yet, his head was still swimming and he was concentrating more on not throwing up. When he felt better he looked up and was able to get out a weak response.
"No."
"I'm afraid it isn't up for debate. If you do not stop looking for Sydney you will be eliminated."
It didn't make sense. He knew that people were looking for Sydney. In fact, Dixon was leading the team but they had no luck so far. And then there was –
"Jack?"
The footsteps were slow as he could hear the person walk around and finally into his line of vision. Jack Bristow.
"Why don't you want me looking for Sydney?" Vaughn asked the man. If anyone wanted Sydney found it was Jack. He was confused, didn't understand why.
"Listen to me very carefully Mr. Vaughn. You will not find Sydney. Do you understand that?"
Vaughn just looked at Jack. He looked older, more worn but from the look in his eyes, more dangerous than ever. He couldn't be sure, and moments later he couldn't believe he would even think that, but for a moment Vaughn thought he saw guilt.
"I understand."
"Do you? Then understand that the next question you ask about Sydney will result in your death."
With that, Jack knocked Vaughn unconscious. Without missing a beat, Jack then pulled out his cell phone and made a call.
"I need you to give Mr. Vaughn one last piece of information."
XXX
Once Vaughn had woken, again, it seemed to him that things moved quickly. He found himself untied and was able to get out of the warehouse without a problem. When he was halfway back to St. Petersburg his phone rang, notifying him of a text message.
Well, that's that. Alex had just shut her phone after sending the text message. Her work was done.
Sark had retrieved his message and smiled. He knew that this would be fun but he never expected this.
There was no way to get into the house but there was a light on upstairs. Vaughn had checked the place out after arriving at the address sent to his phone. He would figure out a way to the balcony and hopefully find out once and for all what was going on.
He had been warned by Jack not to continue with the search but he was beyond anything that had to do with Sydney. Where she was concerned, nothing could stop him from finding her.
A few minutes later he was climbing over on to the balcony. He still didn't know where he was or whose house this was but he hoped that the ordeal was almost over.
When he looked in the window he couldn't believe his eyes. It was Sydney! His happiness was short lived though when he realized she was in a hospital bed. Looking closer Vaughn saw that she was secured to the bed with restraints and an IV was to her left side. Getting as close to the window as he could, Vaughn could see her pale face, the dark brown circles around her eyes, her thin form under the sheet.
A door opened and Vaughn jumped into the shadows. He could see a doctor and Jack enter the room. A confused look crossed his face, not understanding why Jack was doing this.
"Is there any change doctor?"
"Mr. Bristow, I'm so sorry but the tests that came back don't show any hope. If we had been able to start treatment a few months ago, maybe but she's too far gone.
"We cannot take the restraints off because she is a danger to everyone, including herself. She will need constant care and medicated. I wish I had better news for you."
"Had I known, I would have brought her in right away but her boyfriend decided he knew what was best for her and helped her hide. Trust me doctor, there is nothing I want more than my daughter…" but Jack couldn't finish. One more word and he would break down.
Sark had watched Vaughn from the moment he arrived. Tonight was something that he was going to enjoy. Maybe he would take some time off after this was done, go on a little vacation. I wonder if Alex would be interested? It didn't matter at the moment, right now he had a job to do.
Vaughn made it up the side of the building with little problem and Sark could see him walk up to the window and look inside. He could see through the scope that Vaughn was finally finding out what was going on, or maybe Vaughn was clueless to what was going to happen because he was in shock to have found her.
It didn't matter to him.
He had a job to do and the sooner he finished it the sooner he could think about that vacation.
I kept her from getting better? It didn't make sense to him but then again, it didn't matter. He had found her and he was going to get her out of there. He could find a nurse for her and they could be together finally.
He didn't hear the shot because of the silencer. He had felt the first glimmer of hope before the bullet entered, killing him instantly.
At least he had died somewhat happy.
