HOMECOMING

"There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in." -Graham Greene

Vecchiano, Italy (Elysium, modern day)

January has always been a good month for Milo Rambaldi.

Sure, the winters are slightly on the brisk side this time of year, but nothing that can't be handled with his heavier wool robes.

No, the reason Rambaldi likes this time of year so much is defiance. Because, unlike most other places in the world, Rambaldi can still tend to his garden in the winter in his section of Italy.

His villa, once teeming with followers and volunteers, now is a lonelier place in Elysium. Sure, he does have some helpers around, but the cult following of the late 1400s is long gone. Grounds that were once used for training the basics of combat are now fields of wheat and corn and a garden of a variety of fruits and vegetables.

And they're all plants that grow just fine in January in Italy. And that makes Rambaldi happy.

Even though his works have been considered "great" by many, there is a very simple side to Rambaldi. He doesn't like to think of himself as all that complicated, though it's hard to debate that when you look at both the complexity of his inventions as well as how ahead-of-their-time they were. But despite that, to quote the Bob Segar song, Rambaldi believes he's just a simple kind of man.

For instance, he always has enjoyed watching things grow around him. In the years that have passed, his villa was torn down by the Holy Roman Church and the entire area turned into a park. In Elysium, the land around his villa is still a park, but his villa remains untouched. Still, Rambaldi never really cared too much for his neighbors, and he enjoyed the park growing around him.

But it's not just plants he likes to watch grow. He always was a people watcher. That's because he also likes watching people grow.

At first, his prophecy was based on the theory that greed is the biggest driving influence in people. You dangle a golden carrot like immortality in front of a man, and there's no telling what lengths he'll go to to get that carrot.

And even though his beliefs changed later on, he still was able to watch Arvin Sloane grow from a little ambitious man into a criminal mastermind who destroyed everything around him for what ended up being a few hours of immortality. And then, after she took the immortality carrot for herself, Rambaldi watched Irina Derevko almost kill the last person who loved her: Sydney Bristow.

But at the same time, he also watched Sydney, Nadia Santos Falk, and Tom Falk, the three main "characters" in his prophecy, grow as humans as well. He watched with great entertainment and joy at the spectacular feats that Sydney was doing in SD-6 and, later on, the CIA. He watched how fate was able to get Tom and Nadia to cross paths in a random inter-agency mission in Argentina; the last time a L'Andre and Derevko crossed paths was Laurent and Alec over 500 years prior to their fateful encounter. The fact that Tom and Nadia found each other is amazing to Rambaldi and one of his proudest moments in his prophecy.

And speaking of Nadia, she's standing right behind him as he's on his hands and knees, trimming a green tomato from a plant. It appears he doesn't realize this.

"Hello, Milo."

Rambaldi doesn't jump. In fact, he doesn't even stop doing what he's doing, as if Nadia's presence is less notable than a fly buzzing nearby. He carefully snips off a tomato that fits into the palm of his hand, then turns and addresses Nadia for the first time. "Good morning...or should I say good evening?" It is morning in Italy, not an hour past sunrise. This means it's nighttime in San Felipe, which is a few time zones behind.

Nadia looks very unsure about something. The conversation she just had about Sydney has added a new wrinkle to her doubts about her mother, Irina Derevko, and her mother's intentions. Sydney actually backed up the theory that Irina is willing to be a mother, a wife, a normal human being. Nadia still is so uncertain. Regardless, Nadia's not in the mood for small talk.

Rambaldi picks up on it. "You look troubled. Have you hit a snag with the adoption program?"

Nadia shakes her worried head. "No. In fact, we're ready to go. My dad's been helping me, and we've setting up the first round of adoption days."

Rambaldi smiles his usual calm, closed smile. "I'm glad to hear it. I figured Mr. Bristow would be helping you. He's a good fit for your organization."

"I guess you knew about him being an orphan once."

"It showed up in his arrival log, yes. But that's not important right now. I truly feel this adoption program will be a benefit to everyone involved."

"I agree." And Nadia just leaves it at that.

Rambaldi, not giving up his smile at all, asks "The adoption program is not why you came here, is it?"

An apprehensive Nadia asks "Milo, I came here because I need to ask you about something. I'm afraid this will be futile, though..."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because you're so vague about everything, because you speak in riddles and questions when I ask you something about your prophecy!"

Rambaldi stands up slowly, his smile disappearing from his face, but not feeling too irritated. "Nadia, if you have a question that you feel you cannot answer on your own, then please, present it. I am here to help."

Nadia's scowl doesn't leave her face. "Alright. I have a question about The Horizon."

Rambaldi looks at the tomato at his hand and smiles. "Immortality...in the palm of your hand. It's quite something to think about, isn't it? That the most valuable thing in the world can fit..."

"Milo!"

Rambaldi looks up at Nadia startled. "I'm sorry. I got carried away. Please, continue."

"Anyway...my mother was defiant when Sydney approached her in Brussels. She even attacked Sydney and pointed a gun at her face! But when I talked to Sydney just now, she said that there was conflict in my mother's eyes, like she was fighting whatever had a hold on her. Milo, did The Horizon have that kind of effect on a person, that would completely affect how a person views the world?"

Rambaldi thinks for a bit, then asks "Why don't you ask your husband?"

Nadia throws up her arms. "See, Milo? Always answering with a question! Why can't I can't get a straight answer out of you?"

A normal man might have gotten defensive. But Rambaldi just folds his hands at his waist and has a neutral look on his face...Nadia's outburst not breaking his eerie cool. "I talked to Tom after he arrived and quizzed him on the side effects of The Tonic. Do you remember this?"

An already-dismayed Nadia replies "Yeah..."

"He claimed he felt like God. Invincible, euphoric, limitless. Surely, you haven't forgotten the beating he gave Arvin Sloane."

Nadia turns away even more dismayed. Tom's violent tendencies bother her badly. She remembers the whole ordeal after Irina took The Horizon away from Sloane, when Tom started whaling away on Sloane like there was nothing else left in this world he wanted to do. Actually, that was true. "I do remember...Tom's anger has limits, but when he started attacking Sloane...there was no limit to the anger in his heart, and I was the only thing that could stop him."

"Indeed you were. I think you're the only person he consistently listens to without argument..."

"Oh, we argue. Maybe The Connection is wearing off."

"No, you two tested positive for it when you arrived, and it's not something that has degenerated over time in your followup exams. But remember, The Connection is just an aid, not the tie that binds. It is human nature to clash every now and then."

"Right...but what about my mother?"

"Let me finish first. Now, as you know, The Horizon was perfected from The Tonic. It's power transferable in the electrons that it possessed and the human electrons it came in contact with. It was a much better system than digestion, which the human body cannot handle. Tom was not the only one that felt what he felt after drinking The Tonic. My test subjects felt similar 'God-like feelings."

"But Tom didn't forget who he loved! My mother did!"

Rambaldi lowers his head. "I made a few modifications to The Tonic when it became The Horizon. I was not able to do the research on its side effects because of the power it held when it came in contact with another human. Once The Horizon came into contact with a human, it's power would be infallible. I only tested it on one man. When Alec Derevko was the last friend I had left, he was willing to test an agent I created that could nullify its power and change his genetic makeup for future generations, including Irina. He was bed-ridden for a couple of days after I injected him because it knocked down his immune system considerably, but when he got better, he came into contact with The Horizon. And later on in his life, he died. But not after certain personality traits emerged that were unbecoming of him. He turned bitter...angry, like his life was going on unfulfilled. He also had a false sense of entitlement. Before he died, he disgraced himself as a human."

"What did he do?"

A sullen Rambaldi looks back up at Nadia with sad eyes. "I swore I would protect his secret. It's an oath I cannot break. But I can say this. After he arrived, he told me what he did was so uncharacteristic for him, and he's been ashamed of it ever since. I agreed with him on that, forgave him, and wondered just what my creation could do to a person after that. It was hard to tell with Sloane, since he's a naturally smug individual to begin with. However, you tell me that Irina became blinded to reason and Sydney felt that Irina was displaying uncharacteristic arrogance. I believe Sydney could be right in that regard. Irina may not have been herself."

Nadia stares a hole in Rambaldi's eyes. "You know more, don't you?"

"Why would you ask that?"

"Because you know what's going to happen to me, to Tom, to my mother...you see the future through dreams, and you admitted to me after you bartered my life to Mammon that you know what's going to go on in the future! You know EXACTLY what happened to my mother!"

"I do not know everything, Nadia. I can only foresee what I'm allowed to foresee. And it is hard to conclude what side effect The Horizon would have since no answers appeared to me. However, it is safe to say that a theory does exists here, perhaps a valid one."

Nadia shakes her head and starts pacing. "And even if you did know about my mother's true intentions, which you apparently do after selling me and Tom out to Mammon, you wouldn't tell me. I don't understand why you have to be so secretive."

Rambaldi observes her for a bit, then looks down at the tomato he's still holding in his hand. "Nadia, I'd like for you to look at this tomato." Nadia stops and grudgingly looks at the tomato. Rambaldi holds it out in front of him. "I created this tomato. I planted the seed, and it grew. Now it is a robust, delicious food for me to enjoy. I earned this tomato through care and natural process. And yet, I did not cheat by adding any chemicals or Miracle-Gro to it. Sure, my tomato could have grown faster and possibly more plump and juicy. But what would truly be earned by not allowing nature to take it's due course? By not allowing it to grow on its own? Nadia, I feel humans are no different from a tomato in this regard. Humans have more to gain by learning things on their own instead of being shown all the answers."

Nadia looks at Rambaldi with a scolding look. "You don't help us because you want us to find things out on our own. Because you think we'll be better for it."

Rambaldi nods. "Indeed. It's one thing to take a life by the hand and guide it along and show it everything it needs to do to be better. That that enables entitlement, and entitlement is dangerous to human growth. I think it takes greater power to sit back and let people learn for themselves, to watch them grow, and only offering a nudge here and there in the right direction. In a lot of ways, I see myself as a teacher. A teacher knows all the answers to the test you take, but he or she leaves it up to you to solve the problems. And by doing that, you end up a better person for it."

"Amazing...that you can think of this after you created a prophecy that destroyed lives, including my own! I had no chance to learn what I was doing in life was wrong!"

"But why was it so wrong? Are you unhappy with your life since arriving in Elysium?"

"No, but..."

"Is Tom unhappy with his life? Don't answer that, I know he is. His body was going to start rejecting the Project Alloy surgery in due time. By now, had he survived everything that happened, he'd be down to one arm, and his legs would have been in peril. He'd be alone. He would not have lasted long given his psychological temperament."

"But the point is we didn't have a choice! And now, once again, I feel that you're leading me and Tom down a path that will only result in pain again. Why are you doing this to us? Why did you put us through your prophecy in the first place?"

Rambaldi looks down at the tomato...and crushes it in his hand.

Nadia forms a confused look on her face as she watches Rambaldi observe the juice from the tomato run down his hand and wrist. Rambaldi slowly looks back up at Nadia and says "I have the power to create, and I have the power to destroy what I created. Any person can understand that humans wield the talent to both create and destroy. But few truly understand just how much power comes with those talents. With my prophecy, I thought I had created a beautiful, plump, ripe, delicious tomato. Instead, my creation was a rotten, disease-ridden tomato. Someone could have bitten into what I created and had their lives ruined. Pandemics start this way, and the pandemic that was spreading with my prophecy could have culminated with a greedy, evil man having immortality and could have ended the world as we know it. And thanks to your help, I destroyed that tomato. And everyone you loved has lived happily ever after ever since. You cannot deny this."

Nadia closes her eyes, not at all sold by Rambaldi's strange speech and not willing to hear any more. But before she teleports away, she mutters helplessly "You are truly bizarre." And then, she disappears before Rambaldi can say anything else.

Rambaldi turns back to the tomato plant, which still has a couple other green tomatoes on it ready to be picked. He kneels down and grabs another tomato to take off the vine. But before he cuts it off, he looks at the tomato and says "I let you grow on your own, and I feel better for it. You'd probably feel better about it, too if you were capable of feeling anything at all." Rambaldi then cracks his usual calm, closed wide smile at the tomato. "She'll see, in the end, that it's better to let her grow on her own."

San Felipe, Mexico (Elysium)

Tom Falk lies with his back on the headboard of his and Nadia's king sized bed. He's sitting on top of the covers, reading the contents of the manilla folder he's holding with great interest.

It's the folder on 6 year old Emilio Ortega, the boy they've been fostering since he was abducted and nearly killed.

The past few days with Emilio have actually gone by rather well. Emilio causes next to no trouble, except for when he wet his bed the other night. According to Julieta Romero, his orphan mother, that's something he still does from a time to time, but he's getting better about getting up and going to the bathroom. Tom and Nadia are also learning not to give him so much to drink before he goes to bed.

The first page of the folder makes Tom wonder at first if he's looking at a CIA profile. Emilio's picture on the top right of a computer printout, followed by the basics:

Name: Emilio Olivero Ortega

DOB: 6/11/2005

From: Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico

The Tijuana part doesn't surprise Tom much, actually, although it might to another person since Emilio is in San Felipe now. Tijuana is a long ways away from San Felipe, but Nadia would be the first to tell you that the overcrowding at Tijuana orphanages is at epidemic levels. So it's actually common for Tijuana-born orphans to be sent to another orphanage. It just so happens the San Marcos Orphanage in San Felipe got the luck of the draw with Emilio.

But Tom's intrigued about why he got there. So he skips ahead.

Personality Description: Stocky build. Likes to eat. Aware of death and new life in Elysium. Is shy at first and for some, he never opens up. If he trusts you, he will open up given enough time. Enjoys playing in the playground like a normal child, usually by himself or with another child he trusts. His activity level keeps his weight down since has a surprisingly high amount of energy for a "bigger" child. Likes to kick a soccer ball against the wall or shoot a basketball by himself or with a friend. Seems to enjoy sports. Would fare better in a less-crowded orphanage or a smaller town, where he won't feel overwhelmed by his surroundings.

Activity: 9/22/11- Transferred to San Marcos Orphanage, San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico due to effect of crowding at San Gabriel Orphanage in Tijuana on child.

So that explains that. Not too long after the date he arrived at San Marcos, Tom started to hear that Maria started to take a shine to Emilio. Maria has a big heart, and it didn't surprise Tom or Nadia at all when they heard Maria was trying to help out someone who she felt needed it.

Tom flips a page and sees that it goes into just how Emilio "arrived" in Elysium.

Arrival: Was thrown against a wall at the age of 18 months. Suffered major head trauma and was pronounced dead a week after going into coma. Father, Felix Santiago Ortega, later was convicted of murder and first degree child abuse and was sentenced to life in prison.

"Felix...Santiago...Ortega...why is that name familiar?" Tom looks up at the ceiling and starts to think about it. It seems like he's run across him at some point in his Anti-Cartel days.

Suddenly, Tom remembers he skipped over some information on the front page and goes back there quickly.

Family: Father- Felix Santiago Ortega of Tijuana. DOB 1/22/74. Other information- Member of La Raza Cartel of Tijuana. Killed on 2/21/11 while in prison. Not in Elysium.

Tom grins immediately. Emilio got justice without even knowing it. And he does remember Felix after reading the cartel he was involved with. Felix served as the right-hand man to the leader of La Raza: Brayan "Oportunidad de Grasa" Hernandez. Fat Chance Hernandez...the memory of that big, cranky latino boss makes Tom chuckle. Despite no one else to speak to, he mutters "Fat Chance Hernandez...the only man that I was able to get to kill himself."

That's only partially true. In a foot chase, Hernandez suffered a cardiac arrest. By the time Tom, Chris Cooper, and Mike Walcott got to him, Hernandez was dead. So technically, Tom's correct. As for Felix, Tom remembers Felix as a big goon type, but he did have half a brain. After Fat Chance died, Felix tried to take over the cartel, but once he realized he was in over his head, he merged with a bigger cartel and took a similar role to the one he had. Tom doesn't remember Felix causing much of a stir after that.

Suddenly, Tom's smile disappears when he reads something that catches him by surprise.

Uncle- Javier Gabriel Ortega of Campeche. DOB 9/1/71. Other information- Member of the Lobos Rabiosos Cartel of Campeche. Killed on 5/12/96 by a CIA agent. Not in Elysium.

Killed on 5/12/96 by a CIA agent. That CIA agent was Tom. His name was not identified...for if it had, he may not be holding this file right now. He was not the only one that he killed that month, either.

Thanks in part to Javier, Tom is known among Mexican cartels as many things: Halcon Diablo, the Falcon Devil, The Devil in Human Form, Cruelty in the Flesh. Many called him these things because they believed only the devil himself could be so cruel after what he did to the Lobos. Despite being killers and thugs, most latino cartel members are actually religious, so being called the embodiment of Satan himself is quite a label to be bestowed upon a man in Mexico.

The memories of what he did to Javier Ortega start to flood back in Tom's mind.

When the Lobos Rabiosos captured Matt Aguero, they performed just about every bit of torture on him before he died. Fingernails ripped out, left arm and both legs cut off, acid thrown on his face, blunt force trauma to the head, multiple non-fatal stab wounds, broken spine, and, in perhaps the worst thing you could do to a man, castration.

Javier actually avoided all of that when Tom and Mike got a hold of him. Mike knew it was a bad idea to torture Javier given that he was big and strong, built like a football offensive lineman. Tom thought he'd be an easy mark since he had the reputation for being a dimwit.

But what Javier lacked in brains, he made up for in brawn.

So when Javier broke free from the restraints as Tom was threatening to cut off an arm, Tom called an audible and killed him before Javier could get his big, meaty hands on him and Mike.

The evidence of Tom's killing of Javier was seen by Irina Derevko when she first paid a visit to the Lobos Rabiosos compound in Campeche during the abduction. (Note: see "The Best Laid Plans"). A big red scar went down the middle of his forehead to his nose.

In the end, Tom and Mike dumped Javier's headless carcass at the front gate of the compound. A day later, Francisco Alvarado received Javier's head in a box via courier. (Tom would use this same tactic about 10 years later after he killed Kelly Peyton during his Project Nadia rampage.) The message was sent. Tom means business. And for Tom, the killing and torture business would be good until they got Jorge Campos, the #2 man in Lobos Rabiosos, to flip on their leader, Francisco Alvarado. Tom would literally destroy Francisco later on.

There's a part of Tom that looks at these memories of his and actually feels satisfied. What he did to the Lobos Rabiosos was the very definition of cruel brutality. But like he said to Julieta when he got Emilio's file, you mess with a friend or family member of Tom's, and you just declared war. And when it comes to war, Tom's just about the dirtiest player in the game. He even feels dirtier than Sloane, perhaps partly because, in the end, he got the best of Sloane. Sloane's deception lost to Tom's sheer brutality, determination, rage, as well the fact that Tom had one powerful ally on his side: Milo Rambaldi.

But at the same time, while those memories appeal to his aggressive nature, there's also a side of Tom that is not proud of what he's done, that has always wanted his past to remain buried, and to just be a normal father and family man. For the past five years, he was just that. But since Nadia was assaulted by Cesar and especially since Maria was kidnapped by Mitch, he's been finding of late that he's having to press down hard on the lid that keeps the Falk rage of bubbling over.

"Tom?"

Tom looks out the bedroom door, where Nadia's voice was just heard. "In here!" Tom quickly shoves Emilio's file under the pillow he's partially sitting on. Time for him to stop being Halcon Diablo and go back to Tom Falk, the man of peace and a family man.

Nadia warily walks down the hallway. It's nighttime and all the lights in the house are off. It is past Emilio's and Maria's bedtime, so they should be in bed already. But still, the house has an eery calm to it.

She stops and opens the door to Maria's bedroom and finds it dark and empty. She concernedly looks into the bedroom. "Tom, where are the kids?"

"Oh, they're at the orphanage. They're having a sleepover."

Nadia's eyes bug out her head as she stops at the doorway of the bedroom. "TOM! You know Emilio can't go back there!"

Tom, trying to be comforting, says "It's alright. He's a kid of few words anyway, he'll stay quiet."

"Tom, he's a kid! Kids talk!"

"No. I threatened him with the finger. If that doesn't keep a lid on him, Maria will. They both wanted to hang out with the orphans again."

Nadia just throws her hands up in the air and walks over to the closet to start getting changed for bed. As she pulls her shirt off, she says "Well, I hope Emilio's not thinking he's going back there. The transfer order for him to go to Nogales is done. He goes in two days."

Tom looks down at his pillow, where Emilio's file is buried underneath. He has something else on his mind before he crosses that shaky bridge. "You're late."

Nadia slides off her jeans. "You knew I was going to Rambaldi's after I left Sydney's. I called you, remember?"

"Well yeah, it's just you were away for longer than I thought you'd be."

Nadia takes off her bra, her back still turned to Tom. "I needed to clear my head."

"I see...you didn't get good news from Rambaldi, then."

"He can really be strange, you know? I can never, ever get a straight answer from him. There's more than he led on."

"Sounds like his M.O. Did he shed any light on anything?"

Nadia slips on a nice pink satin nightgown and turns around. "He says that Alec handled the Horizon and did things that were uncharacteristic of him. He also mentioned how you felt when you drank The Tonic."

"Yeah, I felt like nothing could stand in my way. For 20 minutes, I felt like the Almighty himself."

Nadia starts slowly walking over to her side of the bed. "Right, he said that. But it does possibly explain what my mother was going through."

"Nadia, she never was a saint."

Nadia flips over the covers on her side of the bed. "True, but hearing Sydney, Rambaldi, and just thinking about things...I'm ready to talk to her."

Tom nods, and then gets up himself to start turning down the covers. "You had better make sure it's a neutral location. The ball's in your court, you pick the place."

Nadia picks up a pillow so she can fluff it up. "Tom, I know..." Nadia then spots something next to where the pillow is.

Emilio's folder, with Emilio's name on the tab for her to see.

Before Tom can react, Nadia quickly flings the pillow off and snatches the folder. She looks at it, then looks back up at Tom with an exasperated look. "Tom, how did you get this?"

Feeling like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar, Tom replies "When I dropped the kids off with Julieta, I asked her for the folder."

Nadia shakes her head and looks back at the folder. "But she can't give this folder out unless..."

"...you want to adopt the child."

Nadia drops the folder on the bed and gives Tom the most disbelieving glare she can possibly give. "Are you serious?"

Tom gives her a funny look. "You were the one that was serious about it these past few years!"

"That was when we weren't under attack! And you've been so sure about it! We can't adopt now!"

"Nadia, we HAVE to adopt now. When you told me earlier today that you made arrangements to send Emilio to Nogales two days from now, I thought about this long and hard. Maria and Emilio are the best of friends, and you take Emilio away from her..." Tom stops, suddenly feeling emotional.

Nadia stops distressing for a bit, seeing where Tom's coming from now. "Tom, this kind of thing happens all the time...it's what makes my job so difficult."

"Then maybe we shouldn't have Maria hang out with orphans."

"Tom, she needs kids her age to play with! There's not a lot of kids her age in Elysium..."

"Nadia, this isn't an impulse. I've really thought about this lately, and I really would like a son. Before what happened to Julieta, I let her know that we may be coming to her about a child soon. You've been wanting to give me a son."

"But Tom..."

"Nadia, let me finish. Now, you know as well as anyone the awkwardness that comes with introducing a child to a home he's unfamiliar with." As Nadia starts to protest, Tom cuts her off, intent on conveying his message. "Yes, I know we get to spend time with potential orphans before their adopted. But there's still an adjustment period. And even then, sometimes orphans are returned because over time, it's determined they're just not a fit. Am I right?"

Nadia nods somewhat reluctantly. "Yes, you are."

"And with Emilio, the adjustment period is done. He loves Maria like she was his sister, and Maria loves him as well. He likes being here, he's caused us no problems...well, besides the whole wetting the bed thing, but hell, you talk to my grandma Violet and she'll tell you I still did that every once in a while at his age."

Nadia doesn't say anything in response, but instead looks down at the folder with interest. She wants a son. But her desire for one hasn't exactly been on the top of her mind of late. However, she does realize that Emilio does make a lot of sense for their family.

Tom gives Nadia a kind smile. "I was just reading that before you got here. I think it's very telling on why Emilio's so quiet. His father was an abusive prick and he wasn't even two when his little skull got bashed on a wall. I think that's why he was so shy around me at first. And come to think of it, I think that's why he's been afraid of Eddie. He flipped out when Julieta died and scared Emilio half to death. But he'll come around. He's already come a long way. And you said it yourself! With your new adoption program starting, what better way to sing its praises than being the first to adopt with the new program? That's a convincing testimonial if I ever heard one!"

Nadia laughs a bit at that. He does have a point, it would look good for the North America Orphanage Director to adopt through the new program. She then looks up at Tom a little less agitated than before, but still a little upset. "Ok. I'll read over the file. I just wish we could have talked about this before you went and did this."

Tom meekly nods. "I know, and I'm sorry I went behind your back to do this. When I heard you say Emilio's going to Nogales earlier today, and with you talking to Sydney and Rambaldi, I had to do something. I've grown to like Emilio, and I think he trusts me and I can tell he likes you, too. And we don't have to worry about convincing Maria if you decide we should go ahead with this. Maria picked out Emilio for us. I can't see a better fit for our family than Emilio. Look, I'll leave you alone with his file for a while."

Tom starts to walk out, but stops when Nadia asks "Where are you going?"

Tom turns back to Nadia. "I'm just going to get some air and see if Laurent needs anything. If you need me, I'll be outside."

"Ok."

Tom then gives Nadia a calm smile. "Thanks for agreeing to consider it. I love you, beautiful."

Nadia smiles calmly back. "I love you too, handsome." She then sits down and starts to read the file.

Tom steps out of the front door of his house into the cool, dry San Felipe night. Standing directly in front of him is Laurent L'Andre. He knows it's him, even though Laurent has his hood up. Laurent always checks in when the shift changes.

Tom looks left and right and sees an Il Credo Divino assassin on either corner of the house. He cannot tell who they are because they also have their hoods up.

It's getting a little frustrating for Tom to have these people outside his house all the time. He wants things to go back the way they were, when mysterious and stoic assassins weren't constantly keeping guard. However, there is still a danger with Arvin Sloane, Elena Derevko, Kelly Peyton, and the cartel army still on the loose.

Tom walks up to stand next to Laurent. Laurent turns to his right and spots Tom next to him. "Good evening." Laurent then goes back to gazing out in the horizon.

Tom, starting out to the distance himself, says "Hey. Anything going on?"

"No. No signs of suspicious activity."

Tom turns to Laurent. "Look, at this point, maybe you don't need six people at a time…"

"Rambaldi says we do. I operate at his behest, so we remain here."

Tom turns back out into the horizon. "I thought I was patient, but it must take some hardcore training to be patient like this."

After a pause, Laurent replies "It is not easy to learn the patience we have. But in our line of work, patience is our best friend more often than not."

Tom folds his arms. "Maybe someday, you can teach me the skills you've learned..."

Laurent immediately shakes his head. "We are not accepting new members, and Rambaldi would forbid you to be a part…"

Tom cuts him off. "I'm not talking about being a full-blown member. Just some tricks of the trade is all."

"It would be unnecessary for the head of the North American New Arrival Counseling Program to learn such skills."

"Laurent, I've come to realize that there is probably much more that goes on in this realm than I thought. People aren't perfect. And quite frankly, I'm thinking of leaving my position for good. Maybe I can help you…"

"No."

Tom sighs and decides to not press the issue. He knows Laurent can throw up a brick wall that can't be knocked down at times. This is one of them.

Laurent asks "I heard shouting inside. Is everything alright?"

Tom thinks for a bit. Were they really that loud? He looks up at Laurent. "What did you hear?"

"I only heard Nadia shouting your name. She sounded upset."

"She was upset about me not telling her the kids were staying at the orphanage tonight."

Laurent looks down at Tom a little surprised. "For what purpose?"

"I wanted them away when I talked to Nadia about adopting Emilio."

Laurent looks back out at the horizon, but can't help being a bit curious. "And what did she say to that?"

"It surprised her that I would bring this up. She's been hounding me to adopt for years and I've been leery about it. But now, we've had a kid literally dropped on our lap. Given Emilio's issues with being comfortable around people as well as our own desires, it makes perfect sense to adopt him."

Laurent lightly nods. "Understandable."

Some awkward silence takes place after that. Tom knows Laurent isn't the best at small talk. But Tom didn't come out here to just get some air and check on Laurent. He's got something on his mind. "Laurent, I need your advice, and possibly your help."

Continuing his usual stoicism, Laurent replies "I am here to serve. What is on your mind?"

"The cartel army is still on the loose, and I'm feeling more and more that I'm tempting fate by letting them continue to enjoy freedom. I know you're guarding us, and we appreciate that, but what's going to happen when the whole wave of angry Latino gangbangers starts bumrushing this place?"

"We have measures in place to summon the rest of Il Credo Divino at a moment's notice."

"But what if you fail?"

"We do not fail."

"You're human. We fail. It happens. I don't want to leave the lives of my family to chance."

After a pause, Laurent asks "What do you suggest we do about this problem?"

"I think it's time we go on offense. Nadia's agreed to meet with Irina…" The assassin to the left audibly grumbles and fidgets a bit. Tom doesn't really notice. Laurent does, but doesn't express it in his face as Tom continues. "…and hopefully Irina gives us the location of this army. Once their location is found, I need a strategy for taking them out. And I may need Il Credo Divino's help."

Laurent thinks for a bit, then shakes his head. "We do not participate in offensive assaults."

An offended Tom snaps back "Then what do you call it when you kill a target you're hunting down?"

"That is different. We do not participate in group offensives. It is against our creed."

Tom shakes his head in disbelief. "Then, what am I supposed to do about these people? If I start attacking them one by one like I did before, I might provoke them to retaliate against my family! THAT CAN'T HAPPEN!"

Laurent keeps his gaze fixed on the horizon. He doesn't respond to Tom's complaint.

Finally, Tom throws up his arms and angrily says "Oh forget it. Have a good…"

"The solution lies within one of your friends."

Tom stops in his tracks and looks back at Laurent. "What are you talking about?"

"I think you should have a conversation with Charlie O'Doyle. He may be able to help you with manpower."

"What? He's just one guy, and Storm Crew has already been wounded in this, I'm not putting their lives in danger again!"

"I'm not talking about Storm Crew." Laurent then turns to face Tom. "Ask Charlie about the 'True Irish'."

Tom tilts his head in confusion. "True Irish? What in the hell is that?"

"Ask him and you shall find out."

"Why won't you just tell me? You're starting to act like Rambaldi…"

"Because I have not been authorized by Rambaldi to say any more. Only Charlie can help you and only when he is asked. That is the protocol."

Tom looks away and tries to hide his surprise, but doesn't do a very good job of it. Charlie is one of his best friends and it would seem that he's been hiding a big secret all this time. True Irish…who or what is that?

Suddenly, Laurent reaches inside his robe and pulls out a book. "Here, I've been ordered to give you this."

Tom turns and takes the book. He looks at the cover. It's an illustrated story of The Pied Piper, the tale of the man that leads the rats out of the city. "What is this?"

"It is a book."

"I can see that! Why am I getting this? Is there something hidden inside?"

"Just the story itself. Rambaldi suspected you may be looking to make Emilio a part of your family. If you do go forward with the adoption, he wanted to give Emilio a housewarming gift of sorts."

Tom looks back down at the book. "Uh, thanks?"

"I will convey your message to him."

Tom starts walking back inside. "Well…alright. Have a good night."

"You as well. Give Nadia my regards."

Tom walks into the house, dumbfounded by the True Irish and the Pied Piper book.

The assassin to the left starts storming over to Laurent. As he approaches, we see that this assassin is Alec Derevko, and he's not very happy about something.

Laurent sees him approach and immediately starts to dread the conversation that's about to take place. "Alec, get back..."

"I cannot believe that Irina has tunneled her poison into Nadia's mind! Of all the people to buy into her…"

"Whether or not a daughter talks to her mother is not up for you to decide. Listen, Nadia approached Rambaldi earlier today, and talked to her sister Sydney back on Earth before that. It would seem to me like Sydney and Rambaldi have told her things that would make it worthwhile for her to talk to Irina."

"My bloodline continues to disappoint me…"

"You forget that Irina still holds the answers to a lot of the problems we're facing. Nadia knows the value of information. She will be vigilant."

Alec lets out a defeated sigh. "She is weak when it comes to family. Perhaps I should be nearby…"

"Rambaldi ordered you not to. This is the way he wants it."

"Just like he wants him to find out about the True Irish?"

"Yes. Tom needs to discover that on his own. Our arrangement with them comes with a gag order. It's a technicality, but you know how Rambaldi is about technicalities."

Alec lets out a chuckle. "And the book…that is not just a housewarming present for Emilio, is it?"

"It is not."

"Then what is it?"

"Strategy from Rambaldi."

Alec then turns to Laurent and gives him a very intent look. "Does he know that he can't be..."

"No, Rambaldi hasn't confirmed that yet."

"How will he ever find out?"

Laurent turns to Alec slowly. "If he doesn't survive when he goes up against the cartel army."

San Felipe, Mexico (Elysium), the next day

Emilio and Maria are in the middle of arts and crafts with the rest of the orphans. They're all off to the side of the orphanage, past the beds, where there's tables set up. The orphanage isn't all that big, which means that area also serves as the cafeteria/kitchen.

Right now, the kids are painting their favorite things using paint brushes. Each child has a set of watercolors along with a brush. The tables would be a colorful mess with the kids' erratic painting, but Julieta knows by now to lay big sheets of white paper on the tables so cleanup is as simple as crumpling and throwing those sheets away.

Emilio is painting a picture of him playing basketball. It's not the most artistic thing in the world, but Emilio tries. And Emilio does love himself some basketball.

Maria, meanwhile, is doing her absolute best to recreate the Isle of Skye cavern. She's painting the underground lake, with a very crude fish jumping out of the water. She even got Julieta to give her some glitter to resemble the gem-encrusted walls and pillars in the cavern. It's not bad for a 5 year old, which means it's not very good either. But like Emilio, she tries. And thankfully, she hasn't thought about the cavern strongly enough to actually teleport there like the last time. She still has no idea how she did that.

It's late morning, and Maria's been asking Julieta when her mommy and daddy are picking her up. Julieta didn't have an answer for that because she honestly didn't know.

Speaking of Julieta, she's left the kids alone while she tended to something outside. She's been gone for 30 minutes.

As the kids continue to paint, they forget Julieta is actually gone. But, without guidance, some kids have stopped painting and are just chatting and messing around in other ways.

Suddenly, the front door of the orphanage opens and Julieta walks back inside with a smile on her face. "Everyone! Can I have your attention?"

All of the kids eventually settle down and focus on Julieta.

Julieta, still smiling, looks at Emilio. "I am pleased to announce that Emilio Ortega has been adopted!"

Emilio's first reaction is surprise, followed by a look of dread as he looks over at Maria, who's returning his fearful look with a smile. "Good for you, Emilio!"

Emilio turns away and hangs his head. This causes Maria to be concerned for her friend.

Julieta asks "What's wrong, Emilio?"

Emilio starts to slowly cry. "I don't want to go!"

"Why not? You'll be going to a loving home!"

Emilio suddenly reaches over and hugs Maria. "I don't want to leave Maria!" And with that, he starts bawling his eyes out. Maria also starts getting a little weepy herself as she hugs Emilio back.

A touched Julieta walks over and squats down next to Emilio. In a calm, loving voice, she tells Emilio "Hey, look at me." After a few seconds, Emilio lifts his head off of Maria's shoulders. Julieta gently rubs his back and says "You won't have to leave Maria."

Emilio's sorrow turns into confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Let me show you."

Julieta then stands up and walks over to the front door. She opens the door and then turns back to Emilio. "Emilio, meet your new parents!"

Emilio looks at the door in anticipation as he starts wiping his eyes off, trying not to look like a mess to whoever bothered to adopt him.

And then, his wildest dreams came true when Tom and Nadia walk through the front door.

All of Emilio's facial muscles stretch to reveal the most excited, happy, joyful face he's ever expressed in his young life. The rest of the kids stir and look both surprised and happy for Emilio as he has just landed in just about the best situation for him imaginable.

Before Maria can even come out of her shock, Emilio bounds out of his seat and runs over to Tom, who's already on one knee and happily ready to hug his new son. Emilio crashes into Tom's arms, almost knocking over Tom, who laughs at that as he gets his bearings back.

Then, while still hugging Tom, Emilio does something that surprises just about everyone in this room. He leans back and gives Tom a kiss on the cheek, like a son would to his father at that age. He then says a very grateful "Thank you!"

Suddenly, with that kiss on the cheek, Tom realizes that he's the father that Emilio has wanted all his life. And for Tom, Emilio is the son he always wanted.

Tom gives Emilio a little squeeze and kindly says "You're welcome, kid." Tom, grinning big, can't be happier over all of this. While he hasn't been as vocal about it as Nadia, he has wanted a son for a long time. It was a dream of his to be able to raise a son. And now, at this very moment, that dream is coming true. He now has a son.

Emilio then lets go and hugs Nadia, who gladly returns the hug herself and gives him a kiss on the top of his head. She kindly tells Emilio "Welcome to the family!" Nadia also is very happy over the adoption.

Tom and Nadia settled the issue about Emilio after Tom got back inside. By the time Tom got back, Nadia was convinced that Emilio was just about the best situation they could have asked for. And after reading his profile a little more, Nadia also believed that this was the best situation that Emilio could ask for. She also acknowledged that, since they started fostering him after the abduction, that Emilio's been very low-maintenance. It's been a little bit of an adjustment, mainly since Nadia has to cook a little more, but Nadia's also happy things turned out like this. She was dreading sending Emilio to Nogales tomorrow.

While Nadia and Emilio hug it out, Maria runs up to her father and excitedly asks "Is it true? Is it true? Emilio's going to be in our family?"

Tom can't help but chuckle. "Yeah, Emilio's going to be your big brother now!"

By now, Emilio has let go of Nadia and is looking at Maria with a big grin. Maria hugs Emilio and starts excitedly jumping up and down. She happily exclaims"Emilio! You're coming home!" Emilio hugs Maria back and they start hopping up and down together, laughing all the way.

Julieta, who's been almost giddy watching all of this, looks over at Nadia with a big grin. "Nadia, I never have been so happy to see an orphan go home! This is such a perfect fit!"

Nadia returns Julieta's smile with one of her own. "I agree. He's such a good kid. And now…" Nadia looks up at Tom with a smile and holds one of his hands. "…we have a son."

Tom nods and smiles himself. "Yeah, we have a son. Thank you so much, babe."

Nadia winks at Tom, then puts an arm around Tom's waist and leans into him. She feels good that she finally has a son herself. She's felt guilty about it almost the moment she learned she can't bear children in Elysium.

Tom then looks back down at Emilio. There's still a bit of unfinished business. In a more serious tone, he says "Emilio, I need to tell you something. There's just one rule I have if you're going to live with us."

Emilio curiously asks "What's that?"

"Do you remember what I told you when you returned with Maria? About what it takes to be a big brother?"

Emilio nods quickly. "Yup!"

"What did I say?"

"That I'll have a little sister one day and she'll look up to me to protect her."

Tom pats Emilio on the shoulder and leaves his hand there. "That's right. Well now, Maria's your little sister. She's going to be looking up to you to be her big brother. So I'll make you a deal: you watch Maria's back, and me and Nadia will watch yours. We'll make sure you're taken care of, but you need to be there for Maria and be her big brother. Can you do that?"

With a big, toothy grin, Emilio replies "Yeah!" Tom then reaches out his fist and Emilio happily fist-bumps his fist with Tom's.

Then, Maria throws an arm around Emilio and gives him a kiss on the cheek. As the rest of the kids giggle and let out a couple oohs, Emilio looks at her and blushes. Maria just grins and, in a playfully swooning voice, says "My hero!" The rest of the class as well as the adults get a good laugh over that.

Julieta then tells Emilio "Come on, let's gather the rest of your things. Tom and Nadia have a surprise for you at home!"

Emilio looks up at Tom curiously. "What is it?"

With a smirk, Tom replies "It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you! But the sooner you help Julieta with your things, the faster you'll see your surprise!"

"Ok!" And with that, Emilio runs over to his locker and chest at his old bed and starts rummaging. He looks over at Julieta, who hasn't quite made it over yet, and impatiently says "Come on!"

Tom and Nadia laugh a bit over that. Then, they're both surprised when Maria suddenly wraps an arm around one of their legs and hugs them both. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I've always wanted a brother!"

Tom and Nadia then look at each other with satisfied looks. Tom's happy. Nadia's happy. Emilio's ecstatic. Julieta's happy. And the girl that helped make this situation happen is happy.

Tom and Nadia adopting Emilio was the best thing that could happen to everyone involved.

Tom, Nadia, Maria, and Emilio all appear in the living room, where everyone is ready to yell "SURPRISE!" at Emilio.

Emilio's look of shock wears off after a couple of seconds as he realizes who all is welcoming him home: His new grandparents Thomas and Mary Falk, his new great-grandparents Edward and Violet Falk, and his new uncle Eddie Falk.

Eddie's the first one to walk up with an open palm ready to slap. However, Emilio is still scared around him and immediately hides his head behind Tom's leg.

A somewhat somber Eddie squats down to be eye-level to Emilio. "Hey kid, I understand you're still afraid of me."

Emilio just nods and grabs Tom's leg even harder.

"Listen, I know what happened to you. I know your father was a mean man. But I'm not."

Emilio, still hiding, says "You were screaming at me when Julieta died!"

"But I wasn't angry at you! You did nothing wrong! I just love Julieta very much and I was sad when I heard she died!"

After a couple seconds, Emilio's head emerges from behind Tom. "You mean it? You're not angry with me?"

"No! In fact, Maria thinks you're pretty cool, and if she thinks you're cool, then I think you're cool." Emilio cracks a small smile as Eddie continues. "I don't think Maria could ask for a better big brother, especially after you tried to protect her!"

Emilio looks over at Maria for reassurance. She's not entirely sure what to do except smile an uneasy smile.

Eddie, with a smirk, senses that Maria needs a nudge. "Hey, tell your new brother about the Super Cannonballs!"

Maria instantly laughs. "They're so fun!"

Emilio asks "What's a Super Cannonball?"

Nadia answers for Maria while giving Eddie a bit of a playful disapproving look. "Something very dangerous!"

Eddie defensively says "It's not!" Eddie then looks down at Emilio. "When we're on the edge of the pool, I pick you up, you scrunch up your legs like you're doing a cannonball and hold on tight when I do a cannonball too! Then, we jump in for a Super Cannonball! When me and Maria do it, we make the biggest splashes, don't we?"

Maria nods her head quickly and then turns to Emilio. "My uncle is fun! You'll see!"

Emilio seems to relax a little as he lets go of Tom, but doesn't say anything.

Eddie then extends his hand out, palm facing upward. "Now, don't leave me hanging, bro! Put it there!"

Emilio studies the hand for a bit, then, with a smile, slaps it. He then asks Eddie to return the favor by holding his palm out upwards. Eddie, with a laugh, slaps Emilio's hand in return. He then tussles Emilio's buzzed haircut a bit. "Welcome to the family, nephew!"

Thomas walks up behind Eddie and sarcastically warns "Alright, now. You're holding up the show. We need to show Emilio's surprise."

Eddie jokingly holds up his hands and backs off. But when he turns away, he turns and gives his mother Mary a bit of a look, as if to say he's still not completely trusting of Thomas yet. Mary recognizes it and sighs a bit. She mouths "He's trying" to Eddie, which appears to calm him a bit on the surface.

Emilio asks Thomas "You mean...you guys aren't the surprise?"

Thomas replies "Nah. We just come with the Tom and Nadia package. Come on, we've been working on it all morning."

It's Thomas that leads his new grandson down the hallway, with the rest of the family in tow.

Thomas stops right before the room that leads into Tom's office. He then turns into the room, flips on a light, and tells Emilio "Here's your new bedroom!"

Emilio looks in and immediately exclaims "AWESOME!" when he looks in and sees what is no longer Tom's office, but instead a bedroom with a brand new bed with a headboard, a new dresser, endtable, and an open closet with 6-year-old-sized clothes hanging in it. Even the 20 inch flatscreen TV that Tom had hanging on the wall is still there, along with the Wii that he got Maria. The wallpaper remains the basic blue that it was before, only with Tom's pictures and things removed from it. In Emilio's profile, it was mentioned his favorite color is blue, so Tom, Nadia, and the rest of the family agreed to just leave it alone. The job of painting and wallpaper would probably keep Emilio out of his bedroom for at least a couple of days, and they really wanted to make him feel at home off the bat.

Emilio runs in and hops on his bed. He turns around and locks eyes with Nadia. "Is it mine? Is it really mine?"

Nadia laughs and says "Yes! This is your home now, and if this is your home, you need a bedroom!"

Maria appears relieved. "Good! You snore, Emilio!"

Emilio immediately snaps back "Do not!"

Maria defiantly replies "Do to!"

"Do not!"

"Do to!"

"Do NOT!"

"DO TO!"

Nadia breaks up the bickering right away. "Hey! Emilio's not been here 5 minutes and you're already acting like brother and sister!"

Maria looks up to Nadia and innocently says "That what we're supposed to do, right Mommy?"

"No, it isn't!"

Edward interjects. "Hey, brothers and sisters have been fighting with each other since the dawn of time! My granddaughter is just practicing!"

Nadia rolls her eyes at Edward and looks over at Tom and Eddie. "No wonder you two fought all the time! Your grandpa practically encouraged it!"

Tom and Eddie exchange defiant stares. Eddie then says "No encouragement necessary with this one."

Tom snaps back "Look who's talking!"

Nadia looks over at Mary, then back at Tom with something of a scolding look. "Before you start fighting your brother, make sure Emilio finds everything alright. I need to talk to your mother."

Tom, immediately realizing why she wants to talk to Mary, gives an understanding nod. "Alright. I'll look over the little guy." Tom then gives Nadia a peck on the lips. "Thanks again for agreeing to do this."

Nadia gives him a peck on the cheek back. "It was our decision. I'm glad he's home." Nadia then looks over at Mary, who looks like she may know why Nadia wants to talk to her. "Come on, let's go to my office."

Mary follows Nadia into her office next door to Emilio's bedroom. As Mary walks in, Nadia closes the door behind her gently.

Mary is the first to talk. "Emilio looks so happy! I'm so glad you two decided to adopt him, it's a perfect match!"

Nadia gives Mary a faint smile. "I'm pretty happy too. But I need to talk to you about something else."

Mary stirs a bit, sensing what's coming.

Nadia nods, realizing Mary knows what's going on. "I need you to get a hold of my mother. I'm ready to talk to her. Tonight."

Mary cautiously nods. "I understand. I guess Sydney and Rambaldi had some revealing things to say about her."

Nadia shakes her head. "Rambaldi and his damn riddles...more like Sydney, actually. She seems to think Irina was possessed by whatever power The Horizon was emitting. What do you think?"

Mary holds up her hands. "Nadia, it's really not my place..."

"It's ok. You were there. Do you think Sydney is right?"

Mary sighs and looks down at the ground, thinking back to that day herself. She then looks up and says "Not entirely."

The words appear to disappoint Nadia some. "Great..."

"There is truth to what Sydney said, but it's not the complete story. Nadia, your mother wasn't just changed when she came into contact with The Horizon. Towards the end of when I knew her, she had made a conscious decision to emotionally detach herself from you and Sydney. She was trying hard to accept her future and let go of the past."

"Sydney says it looked like my mother was conflicted."

Mary nods. "She was. She truly was. I saw right through it even up until the end. I saw it in her face when she met with Tom in Brussels. It was when you were in the room and she said 'I love you' to you before leaving. She never let you go."

Nadia feels her eyes start to water. She quickly wipes off her eyes and says "Listen, me and Julieta are going to go to Ladies Night at the Beachcomber in San Felipe tonight. Tell my mother that I'll meet her on the beach north of the bar underneath the first lifeguard shack at 9 PM sharp. Can you cover at the orphanage tonight?"

Mary nods. "Of course."

Nadia impatiently waits for Mary to grab her cell phone. "Could you call her now, please?"

Mary looks back at the door, then back at Nadia. "Go be with Emilio. I'd rather talk to her alone."

Nadia nods and walks out of the room.

As soon as Nadia closes the door behind her, Mary reaches into her pants pocket and grabs her cell phone. She flips it open and goes down to the 'Kestrel' entry, which is Irina's codename. Instead of texting her, she calls her.

She puts the phone to her ear. After three dial tones, she hears someone pick up. "Globaltech Industries, Laura speaking." Mary recognize's Irina's voice easily. This is Irina's code in case someone calls her by accident. The 'Laura' part is interesting to Mary, since that was her alias when married to Jack. Why would she pick that name?

Mary stops wondering and says "It's Mary."

"Hello, Mary. How are things?"

"Fine." She wants to tell her about Emilio being adopted, but holds back. Even though she feels she knows Irina, she's not going to be overly trusting of her, either. Besides, she'd think it'd be best for Nadia to reveal that information. So Mary continues. "I haven't heard from you lately. It's worrying us."

"I've been busy. Has Nadia agreed to talk to me yet?"

Mary makes a mental note of Irina being busy. "Yes, she wants to meet you tonight in San Felipe."

"Where?"

"Under the first lifeguard shack north of the Beachcomber nightclub at 9 PM. I know which one she's referring to, there's plenty of room and it's pretty secluded at night. She's going with Julieta to Ladies Night as her cover."

After a pause, Irina says "I can do that."

"So what's been going on? We had an agreement."

"We have a problem. Well, two actually."

Mary immediately gets worried. "What's going on?"

"We've lost Kelly Peyton."

"Lost? How?"

"Not sure. The cartel army says she just vanished a day ago. She hasn't been seen since."

"Irina, that's not good."

"I know, but that's not all."

Mary rolls her eyes. "Irina..."

"I haven't been in touch with you because I've spent the last few days trying to track down the other issue I'm dealing with."

"Irina, tell me what's going on!"

"Sloane's missing."

END OF CHAPTER