Summary: Knowing the truth about your friends could prove deadly. Sydney's new friend has a deadly secret that may affect her and those she loves.

"A Killer Plan"

PG-13

Drama

Words in are translations for the foreign languages used.

Chapter 2: First Plans

LOS ANGELES

"...so, he replaced the transmitter I placed on her with a passive transmitter. It was actually quite brilliant."

"Yes, well, Jack is a brilliant man. Marshall, what can you tell me about Sydney and Vaughn?"

"Oh-well-um-well, Vaughn was Sydney's handler when she worked for the CIA as a double agent to take down SD-6. Then they dated for like a year or so. Then when Sydney disappeared, Vaughn married Lauren. He killed her after he found out she was a double agent. Now they're together again. You know-well maybe you don't, but-well anyway-they're very close now."

"I could tell." Maggie went back to work while Marshall started babbling again. She heard the familiar ring of her cell phone and excused herself to answer it. "Hello."

A male voice came form the other end, "Is everything in order?"

" SarĂ  fatto, non preoccupa," Maggie answered him and hung up the phone. It will be done, don't worry.

"You speak Italian?"

Maggie turned to see Jack standing behind her. "Do you always listen in on other people's phone calls?"

"Not always, answer my question."

"Yes, I speak Italian. My grandmother is not very good with English. She prefers Italian." She answered him quickly and returned to the lab. Marshall began talking to her again and she just smiled and nodded. She concentrated on her project, but was worried about the phone call she received. It meant that she was being checked up on, something she hoped wouldn't happen.

"Marshall, Margaret, meeting in fifteen minutes." They both nodded at Sloane and began getting things together.

The group sat around the table in the boardroom. Sloane sat at the head of the table with Maggie on his left and Jack on his right. Marshall sat next to Maggie with Weiss on the other side of him. Nadia sat next to Weiss with Vaughn, Sydney, and Dixon filling out the rest of the table.

After everyone was formally introduced, Sloane began briefing the group on their newest mission. "His name is Brian Fratzenburg. He is not a native Italian, but he has lived in Venice for the past twelve years and knows the culture well. He has in his possession something that could change life as we know it."

"What is it?" Sydney asked.

"The box of Romanofski." Sloane stated calmly. Maggie looked up from the table at him in shock.

"I'm sorry Arvin, but why are we looking for the box of Romanofski? It's said to be a fairy tale."

"Well, Margaret, everyone, the box is real, and it contains the instructions for creating a bio-terrorism weapon that could destroy the entire western hemisphere. Sydney, you and Vaughn will be going in as Julia and Robert Spencer. Marshall?"

"Ah-yes-hello. First we have here this lovely emerald necklace," he began by showing off the piece of jewelry. "Of course-well-uh-the emeralds aren't real. It has video feed so that we can see what all happened. Well-since-well-it isn't live video feed-we didn't have enough time. So-um-anyway-we also have here a very nice cell phone that you would-" Marshall lifted the phone to his ear like he was using it to call someone. "'Hello, where are-' Anyway-it is a lock descrambler."

Maggie broke in so that the explanation would be a little briefer. "The box is said to be in locked safe behind an original DaVinci painting in the library. The safe's lock includes a combination lock as well as fingerprint analysis. You have to get Fratzenburg to take you into the library. We also have cufflinks for you Vaughn. They contain a substance that will render Fratzenburg unconscious, but only for about five minutes. That means, at most, you have ten minutes. The lock descrambler takes almost two minutes, so, you may need to use both."

"Thank you both. The plane leaves in two hours," Sloane said first addressing Maggie and Marshall and then Sydney and Vaughn.

"Sloane-" Jack interrupted, "I think that Agent Kessler should be involved in this mission. She is fluent in Italian and could be a great asset. She also seems to know the story behind the box."

"Well," Sloane started calmly, "I don't believe that Margaret is quite ready to work in the field."

"Jack, I appreciate the fact that you think I am capable to work in the field, but I think that I'm going to need a little more time before I go out. I'm sure both Sydney and Vaughn can handle it without me. They are both fluent in Italian." Maggie addressed Jack as the group watched on.

Jack's reaction was quite calm, a slow nod followed by him simply leaving the room. Sloane dismissed the others, but asked Maggie to stick around. "Is everything alright dear?"

"Everything is fine, Arvin."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Arvin. You really don't have to worry about me. Nothing can go wrong now. I'm beginning to fit in and no one seems to suspect anything."

"Let's keep it that way." Sloane left the room and Maggie soon followed him carrying a pile of papers.

I had to switch this story from DanceDiva to here so all of my two reviews got erased. Thanks to both of you who reviewed anyho.