Chapter 2: First Meet

(Sydney)

I didn't consult my father. I knew what he would have said: Sark's loyalties have proven to be flexible in the past. He could be sincere, but more likely he is trying to use you to his own ends.

"Agent Bristow. What a pleasant surprise."

I could practically see his smirk over the phone line. I braced a hand against the plexiglass phonebooth to calm myself.

"You have a proposal for me."

"How would you like to destroy the Covenant?"

"What exactly did you have in mind?"

"Now that I would like to discuss with you in person. Ten o'clock Thursday evening, el Cantábrico, a charming beachfront restaurant in Cadiz."

The line went dead. I slammed my fist against the plexiglass, but dutifully wrote down the name of the restaurant.

Only with the meeting set up and the tickets purchased did I talk to Dad. His response was predictable.

"I can't believe you're even thinking about this! Sark may be discontented with the Covenant, but he is still the enemy. He has tried to kill you on numerous occasions. He is not to be trusted."

"What if he can help us destroy them? What if he is telling the truth? He is the only lead we have right now. If there is even the slightest chance he is sincere, don't we have to explore it?"

"You aren't asking for my opinion at all. You've already decided," he sounded more disappointed than angry. I crossed my arms and nodded.

"The CIA won't approve the meeting. You'll need more to bring them on board."

"That's why I came to you first, Dad."

"When do we leave?"

(Sark)

Summer in Cadiz is hot and dry, with desert winds blowing in from north Africa and the town swollen by sun-thirsty tourists, who stroll the beach and the bars well into the night. Winter is more wet than cold. Cadiz shrinks, and sleeps. The lobby of the Hotel Playa Victoria was empty when I checked in. The restaurant was similarly quiet as I waited for Agent Bristow to arrive.

She walked in as I was finishing my meal, wearing a conservation black sheath dress and pearls. She paused at the entrance to scan the large room. Long strides took her to my private corner both. I readied the darts.

"You ate without me?" she asked as she slid into the seat across from me.

"I never promised dinner. Now if you'll be so kind as to hand over your weapon and any listening devices on your person."

"I came alone. No one is listening," she bravely lied.

"I see two ways to do this, Agent Bristow. You can hand them over voluntarily, or," I pushed the muzzle of the gun against her thigh, "I can sedate you and find them myself."

She scowled, but reached behind her neck to unfasten the strand of pearls and placed them on the table, then removed the tiny earpiece, which I crushed with the base of my water glass. Her gun came next, from a holster strapped to her thigh. But that wasn't all she had. I could see it in her eyes.

"Everything, Agent Bristow, or I will shoot you."

After a moment's hesitation she retrieved a small knife from the sole of her shoe.

"Satisfied?"

I was not about to be baited by her.

"Let's talk somewhere more private."

"I'm not going anywhere with you."

"And I'm not sitting here for you partner to come and shoot me."

Her eyes narrowed, calculating. Risks, benefits, expected value.

"Where did you have in mind?"

"How about a stroll along the beach?"

"Why, Sark, I didn't know you were such a romantic."

(Sydney)

It was cool out, and I hadn't brought a jacket. Of course, Sark didn't offer me his, nor would I have accepted it. I listened attentively as he outlined his plan. He would provide names of key players, and any intelligence he could. We would work together to plan and execute hits. Simple. Too simple, really. But with Sark, it just might work. He knew the key players, he was high enough within the Covenant to have access to the necessary information.

"How do I know I can trust you?"

"They stole from me. Eight hundred million dollars."

"You could still be playing me. I need something more."

He handed me a business size white envelope, blank, thin.

"The Covenant has a double agent within the CIA."

I opened the envelope, and found a small photo of Lauren staring back at me. I couldn't stop a shocked gasp.

"All the proof you need is in there."

"If this is true—"

"It's true."

"I'll need time to verify."

"Of course."

"If this is true, I will work with you."

"I look forward to hearing from you. Use the same number as last time."

Sark headed back to the Cantábrico. I made for the hostel in the older part of town where we were staying. My heart was racing. If true, the implications were astounding. She must have been the leak in Korea.

And Vaughn. Vaughn was married to a double agent who had practically had the two of us killed.