Chapter 9
The room that Shannon stepped into was an expansive private office where security personnel could operate. Directly facing the doorway was an oak table and a black leather chair. On top of the table was a computer with two monitors.
Standing beside the table was Alex, his arms crossed.
Steven stepped forward into the room.
"Shannon, this is Alex Miller from the CIA," introduced Steven.
Alex looked her up and down with a smirk.
"So, now I can see why he fell for you," drawled Alex.
"What's going on here? Why am I brought into this place?" Shannon asked, suddenly suspicious.
"We thought you could give us some answers," replied an older man in a suit who quietly approached her from the corner of the room.
Shannon turned to her right and looked at the older man.
"Sir Gordon!" reacted Shannon in surprise.
Harold Gordon was the deputy director of the CIA. Shannon only met him twice in her time with the IMF. A few years younger than Jim, Gordon exudes authority and respect. His receding white hair and wrinkled face showed years of hard experience in the clandestine services.
Shannon looked at the men facing her. Steven had a sympathetic look on his face.
"Sir, I was told that I'd be discussing several points from our recent mission in Bogota this afternoon," she remarked looking at Harold.
"Yes, of course. That's the reason why you're here – to corroborate what he told us about you," Harold turned towards the far end of the room.
Shannon followed his gaze. She stiffened when she saw Luis sitting on a chair, his hands clasped in front of him, quietly observing them.
Luis was just as surprised as she was that she was there. He thought the meeting with the CIA deputy director was just a formality brought about by his cooperation in their investigation.
Shannon turned to look at Steven and Harold.
"This isn't about Jim's report, is it?"
"You're right, it isn't," Alex quipped.
"I thought I already did my part in his interrogation?'' Shannon asked Harold, referring to Luis.
Harold went over to Luis and summoned Shannon to follow him. Shannon and Alex followed him while Steven lingered near the oak table.
She looked around the room. She recalled Jim mentioning to the team before leaving town that Luis had fully cooperated in the investigation. Jim also informed them that Luis was now under the Witness Protection Program.
This must be his temporary safehouse. She mused.
The room's walls were lined with wooden panels, and small paintings mounted on each side. On Shannon's right was a small shelf filled with books and a few binders. A maroon swivel chair was placed diagonally near the shelf. Luis was sitting on a wooden chair against the wall beside a large window on her left.
"Mr. Magdalena, apologies for this unexpected circumstance, but we―" started Harold.
"But it's not really unexpected, is it?" interrupted Luis coldly, his eyes narrowing.
Luis could see the whole situation was intentionally set up by the CIA.
"What is she doing here?!" he asked.
Ignoring Luis' question, Harold motioned for Shannon to sit on the swivel chair.
"Ms. Reed, please. Sit."
Shannon hesitated. She didn't really want to be part of a meeting with Luis.
"Sir, I think I should inform Jim about this before―"
"Jim knows already," interrupted Alex.
She looked at Harold who nodded in agreement.
With reluctance, she walked over to the swivel chair and did what she was told. Harold and Alex remained standing. From her chair, she could see Luis behind Harold looking at her. She avoided his eyes.
"The Secretary is concerned about a few details from your team's Bogota mission," explained Harold, his hands in his pocket. "I have concerns as well."
"We've read Jim's report. We're here to clear things up," added Alex.
"What things?" asked Shannon, looking up from her chair at the two men standing over her.
"Excuse me, what does that got to do with me?!" demanded Luis, looking at Harold.
"Be quiet, Mr. Magdalena. We'll tell you when you need to talk," snapped Alex.
Luis narrowed his eyes at him in despise. He hated him during his first interrogation.
Harold faced Shannon squarely.
"Ms. Reed, during your time at Esteban Magdalena's villa, did you befriend any of the staff there?"
"Uh… I was friendly with some of them but I can't really say I'm friends with any of them," answered Shannon.
Harold paced around the room.
"What about at the Blue Orchid night club? Did you make any friends there?" he continued.
"I'm friends with the band. And there was also this one waitress – Carmen. We became friends. We chatted a few times," she answered.
"Did you ever confide with any members of the band or this waitress?"
She frowned. "Sir, with all due respect, I don't think this is the right place to―"
"Just answer the question, Ms. Reed," Alex interrupted.
Shannon threw Alex an annoyed glance. Harold was looking at her expectantly.
"Go on."
"Uhm, there wasn't really anything to confide. Apart from band practice, I didn't get to spend much time with them or with Carmen since…" she stopped suddenly.
"Since what?" asked Harold.
Shannon hesitated and cleared her throat.
"Since… since I was with Mr. Magdalena most of the time," she finally answered.
"Ah yes, you were friendly with him, weren't you?'' Harold threw a glance at Luis who was now looking at them with interest.
Alex turned to face her.
"Mr. Magdalena here told us that you saw each other every day since the plane crash, and that he personally looked after you while you were at the villa. Is that correct?" asked Alex.
Shannon felt uneasy. "That's correct," she replied.
"And in all those times you were with him, did you ever confide in him about things you remembered about your time with the IMF?" probed Alex.
Shannon was astonished. "What?"
"He also informed us that you had small flashbacks about your past. Is that true?" asked Harold.
Shannon looked at Luis briefly then turned to look at Harold.
"Y-yes."
"And might those flashbacks involve top secret locations, previous IMF missions or names of any of our agents?"
"No, of course not!" Shannon denied hotly.
"Are you sure you didn't give anything away while you were with him? Perhaps by accident?"
"Yes, I'm sure of it," she answered.
Alex turned to Luis.
"Tell me, Mr. Magdalena, is it true that Ms. Reed had nightmares after the plane crash? And that she came to you for comfort?"
Luis stared at him.
"What are you getting at?" Luis responded curtly.
"Answer the question, Mr. Magdalena. Or do I need to remind you that we can still revoke your security here?" Harold ordered.
As much as Luis disliked his participation in this discussion, he complied.
"I came to her when she was having nightmares, yes. I already told you that," he replied, looking at Alex with annoyance.
Shannon stared at the two men questioning her. She felt insulted. It was clear to her that Luis was cross-examined about her.
"If I may ask, sir, am I being investigated? Is this an interrogation?"
She turned to look at Steven near the doorway. "Sorry," he shrugged apologetically.
"As public servants, it is our duty to protect the country from possible threats," Alex answered her.
"You think I'm a threat?!" responded Shannon indignantly.
"No, but you were compromised during your team's mission in Bogota," said Harold.
"You weren't yourself after the plane crash. You had trauma. God knows you might have accidentally leaked details of your mission to Mr. Magdalena when you had these nightmares – or worse, revealed state secrets from your flashbacks," he added.
"That's a ridiculous accusation!" she replied hotly.
"Sir, I can assure you, my nightmares did not involve any details of the mission nor the IMF!"
"Alright, let's say that you didn't accidentally reveal details of your mission to Mr. Magdalena in these nightmares of yours, how could you be so certain that your flashbacks did not involve top secret information about the IMF? You had temporary amnesia, so you wouldn't be able to tell if anything you said to Mr. Magdalena was top secret or not," Alex probed.
Luis suddenly sat upright after hearing Alex's words. He listened to their conversation intently.
"Because they're not! Even now, I can distinctly remember the flashbacks I had while at the villa. They're all about my personal life – my brother, my friends at college, my apartment, the dress I was wearing when attended a Christmas party last year… those were the flashbacks I told Mr. Magdalena," said Shannon indignantly.
Luis winced inwardly. He wasn't used to Shannon calling him with such formality. It sounded so cold. So distant.
Harold seemed satisfied with her answers but Alex still looked unconvinced. He crossed his arms and scrutinized her face.
"You didn't follow through with your team's initial plan. Instead, you spent an incredible amount of time with Mr. Magdalena. You got involved with him."
Shannon was taken by surprise by Alex's words. Jim didn't put that detail in his report. He merely implied that she was tasked to seduce Luis to get to Esteban and that led to the wedding that didn't happen.
How could he know? she asked silently.
"Oh come on, Ms. Reed. I saw the tape recording of your meeting with Mr. Magdalena at the hotel. You think I didn't notice the sexual tension between the two of you? It's obvious you're attracted to him," Alex jeered, enjoying her reaction.
Caught off guard, Shannon quickly masked her reaction.
"I already made myself clear that I didn't reveal any state secrets. So if you'll excuse me, I think we're done here," she started to get up from her chair.
"Sit down, Ms. Reed. We're not finished yet," Alex said calmly but firmly.
Shannon looked at Harold. She could see he's interested to hear what Alex had to say. She sat back on the chair again.
"Your involvement with Mr. Magdalena has cast a doubt on your credibility as an agent. It might have clouded your judgement. So much so that you might have felt sympathetic to what he does for his uncle and might have passed sensitive information to him," Alex said pointedly.
Shannon just had about enough with the cross-examination. She sprung up from her chair and faced Alex.
"How dare you accuse me of betraying my team!" her voice rising in anger.
"Now, Ms. Reed, there's no need to raise your voice," appeased Harold.
Shannon took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry, sir, but these accusations are baseless and absurd! I might have failed the mission initially, but I still did what I was asked to do after I regained my memory! We got Esteban Magdalena! We finished the mission!"
She turned to Alex.
"Is that what you call betrayal?!" She fumed at him.
Meanwhile, behind Harold, Luis felt like he was hit by a truck from what he just heard. It finally dawned on him that Shannon's memory loss was real. And that the plane crash interfered with her team's mission. Which meant that the woman he fell in love with was the real Shannon, not the made-up Sarah.
