Chapter 15 Touch

I did eventually find out how my mother managed to escape from our custody.

If it wasn't for Marshall's off topic comments I probably wouldn't of figured it out.

What actually did happen in Panama.

The thing is I don't think my father even knows that I actually know the truth.

You see, he forgot one detail about me.

The ability I have to read the subtext in a conversation.

Something which I am absolutely certain came from the project Christmas training I received.

But at that moment in time.

That ability was a curse.

Because they are some details about my parents I don't want to know.

"As many of you know, our attempt to capture Arvin Sloane failed. We believe that Irina Derevko, while in our custody, somehow made contact with Sloane, informed him of our intention to apprehend him, and used it as an opportunity to escape. Due to Jack Bristow's intimate knowledge of the fugitive in question and his longstanding written record of accurate predictions regarding Derevko, Langley has given him operational control of this task force."

Kendall sits down. A look of displeasure on his face. Not at all happy that he had been demoted because of one incident.

"In all likelihood, Sloane and Derevko have formed a strategic partnership. As of this morning, our single aim will be their apprehension. Derevko has been tagged with a passive tracking device—" Jack said standing up, trying to keep him face passive, not in anyway revealing what happened.

" Um, excuse me, sir, sorry to interrupt. Um, by the way, congratulations on the heading the operation task force... thing. The device that we implanted into Derevko isn't passive." Marshall said in his usually stumbling manner.

"Yes, it is. I removed the original device in case Derevko was swept for bugs. Without her knowledge, I injected her with a passive transmitter." Jack said.

"Wow. Actually that's really smart because, well, basically if they do a bug sweep they won't pick up anything until it transmits. Hey, how'd you plant it without her knowing?" Marshall said unaware of what his question actually meant.

They're was a silence in the room. Nobody saying a word at all. But Sydney wanted to say something, to ask her father if what she was thinking was true.

"The transmitter is programmed to send a signal twelve hours from now. That allows her enough time to reach Sloane before going active. A tactical team's on standby out of Edwards air force base. Once we acquire the signal, we'll move in and take them into custody."

I'm sure my father thinks he was non descript in his answers.

That his normal facade with my mother would draw everyone away from the truth of how he placed the passive tracker on her.

But I still came up with only one conclusion to how he did.

A conclusion which was confirmed when I found out where it was placed.

But this is not a topic I will ever discuss with them.

This is the type of thing that nobody wants to know about their own parents.

This includes me as well

But I'm not going to be naïve about it.

I'm not going to bury my head in the sand either.

I know my parents have had sex before.

That's obvious enough considering I am here.

I can cope with that,

I know what happened in Panama between them.

That's something I can't.

Because that was nothing to do with love.

It was just a way of using each for their own plans.

My mother using my father to help her escape by getting him to remove the original tracker.

My father to place the passive transmitter. Him being as ever trusting as usually.

But they forgot the one person stuck in the middle.

Me.

And how this would end up affecting me.

Well that's parents for you.