Chapter 8

It was 8.30am and it had been a tense night fro Laura and Sydney. Sleep for them never seemed to have come. They both sat at the kitchen table, cups of coffee in front of them, just waiting for Mitchell to arrive.

"Mom, what are we going to do if the evidence is true?" Laura asked

"I don't know. Cope somehow again. I know I can manage it. I've had to before. It'll be an adjustment but I'll do it. But my father."

"What about Grandpa Jack?"

"I'm not sure if he could manage. He's so dependent on Mom. Especially since his heart attack. This could finish him."

Sydney picked up her coffee and started to bring it up to her lips when the doorbell ran. Laura went to stand up but Sydney stopped her on the way up.

"Wait. I'll get it," Sydney said pushing away from her chair.

She walked out of the kitchen to the front door on the way their she shook her head to clear it. She came to front door and pulled it open.

"Dad?"

"Sydney. Is your mother here? I came home last night and she wasn't there. And she hasn't come home all night. Where is she?"

Sydney walked into the living room and sat down on the nearest chair. Jack followed he in and sat opposite her.

"Dad, I need you to stay calm. You don't need to stress about this, But the reason she didn't come back last night was that she was taken back into C.I.A custody."

"Why? She's been out of the business for the last 23 years"

"You know that and I know that." But the agency seem not to understand that at the moment. They believe some terrorist currently that is saying that she is working with him"

"Who is this person?"

"It does not matter . But the reason she was brought in because there is evidence pointing to her involvement."

"What evidence?"

"I haven't seen it. It's beyond my classification as well as Nadia's as well."

"Then we have to extract her. Get her out of the country" Jack said starting to get himself worked up.

"Dad, slow down. Laura's found a way for us to get it. It's not exactly legit but at least we will know what we are up against."

"How Sydney?" Jack said a parental tone in his voice.

"Mitchell Flinkman. He offered to Laura to do it. I wasn't so sure about it last night. But Dad It's probably the only way we will find out anything. Mitchell has it and his on his way now."

"Sweetheart, I need to be involved in this."

"DAD. I'm not sure, I promised Mom I'd keep and eye on you."

"When did you see her?"

"Last Night. Dixon pulled some strings for me. So I could talk to her and ask her outright about what was going. She denies it and I believe her."

"Do you think that they will let me in?"

"I don't know. I managed because of Dixon and still having my clearance in the agency. But I'll speak to Nadia for you. She might be able pull something for you."

"Did she ask about me?"

Just at that moment the doorbell rang again. Laura called out from the kitchen.

"I'll get it."

"Yes Dad. She did. And she told me something to say to you. She says that she loves you."

"Mom?"

Sydney turned around to face the doorway.

"Mitchell is here."

"Bring him in. Your grandpa knows now what is happening"

Laura jerked her head slightly and Mitchell came into the room.

"Miss Bristow, Mr Bristow. I'm not sure what type of news this is. But I have the evidence for you." Mitch said

"There is two main pieces that have been acquired. One is a phone call placed on April the 9th regarding a package that would be coming in special delivery."

"There's nothing suspicious about that phone call. It was regarding Sydney's Birthday present. Why was this phone call flagged?" Jack commented

"The location were the call was received was the reason."

"As far as I know it was to a company in Virginia. What's suspicious about that?."

"Actually it was received in Moscow."

"What was the other piece?" Sydney asked a bit shocked

" A photo of her taken with Mr Baran. I have checked the photo thoroughly and the date and the photo is genuine." Mitchell said pulling out his PDA, bringing up the picture in question and then passing it to Sydney.

"What?" Sydney said passing it to Jack.

After Jack viewed he shared the same look of disbelief as Sydney did.

"Mom, what's wrong?" Laura asked stepping across to where Jack was and looked at the picture. "There's nothing strange about this picture. It looks like a normal surveillance picture to me."

Sydney looked across to her father and asked him a question.

"It is him isn't it Dad. I'm not just imagining it am I?"

"It is."

"Who is?" Laura demanded

"The man in the picture is not called Mr Baran. His actually name is McKenas Cole.