Commitment (55 page)

“I was making it for Alex and Mom, but you can have it,” Dylan said.

“Really?”

“Sure, it’s my family. I see them all the time. You take it. Then, you won’t feel so lonely,” Dylan observed.

Jamie accepted the picture and gave Dylan a hug. “You’re the best friend I ever had,” Jamie told him.

“Excuse me?” Alex said. “I missed something.”

“No, you didn’t miss anything,” Jane assured her. “I ordered the cartons of cocaine and I ordered the rest of the evidence planted in O’Brien’s apartment. Things did not go exactly as I had planned. Maybe better.”

“I don’t believe this,” Alex said. “How could you…”

“Alex, it’s time for you to wake up,” Jane said.

“Did you have Cheryl killed too?” Alex asked furiously.

“No. I’m not in the business of having people murdered. I didn’t plan on Agent Fallon confronting Michael Taylor in the townhouse. It was Brian or Michael. Which would you have preferred?” Jane shot back.

“All right,” Krause broke in. “Let’s calm down. We know O’Brien needed to fall, Alex. Taylor got in the way. It happens,” he defended Jane.

Alex shook her head in disgust. She looked at Jane and sighed. Jane’s expression was harder than normal. “Fine. Who is Sphinx?” Alex asked directly.

“No one knows that,” Callier spoke up. “If anyone does know, they are not talking. Alex, Sphinx changes periodically. Usually upon death, but occasionally for other reasons. It’s a safeguard. The only people who know the protocol to pass Sphinx on are the people who were Sphinx. There is a protocol to call Sphinx in; in the event that The Collaborative’s hierarchy is threatened. I issued it. There has been no response.”

“What does that mean?” Eleana asked her father.

Callier smiled at his daughter and then turned his attention back to Jonathan Krause and Alex. “It means one of several things. Sphinx is no longer an ally; Sphinx has some reason not to comply that we…”

“How about Sphinx doesn’t exist?” Krause suggested. Callier remained stoic. “Is that a possibility?” Krause asked pointedly.

“Yes,” Callier answered immediately, noting the sighs that escaped each member at the table. “But, not as you are suggesting, Jonathan. Sphinx is very real. However, if Sphinx were to die and fail to pass on…”

“You think my father was Sphinx,” Alex surmised. “And he never passed that role on to anyone before he died.”

“It’s a distinct possibility, Alexis. It also makes sense,” Callier said.

“How does it make sense?” Krause asked.

Jane took a deep breath. “He cut off funding to ASA; he closed accounts; Alex…your father started a shut-down of the pipeline he spent years building just before he died,” Jane offered.

“You think he wanted to make The Collaborative unstable?” Alex asked. “Why?”

“Why else?” Callier sighed.

“To protect us,” Krause interjected.

“If not me, who else would it be but your father? It is personal in nature, Jonathan. Surely, you have recognized that,” Callier said.

“If you’re right, that means he was shutting off more than ASA. That does not explain everything happening; the shift in loyalties. What if you are wrong?” Krause asked. “What if Sphinx is out there and is an adversary…Ivanov or Brackett?”

“Doubtful. Also a possibility, but unlikely,” Callier said.

“Who has access to the database?” Eleana asked.

“Myself, Viktor, William, whatever Nicolaus left for Alex; that’s it now; other than Sphinx,” Callier said.

“What does that mean? Now?” Alex asked.

“It means that there were six of us. That has not been the case for many years,” Callier said sadly.

“I see,” Alex said.

“Not to break up this mumbo jumbo you have all cooked up,” Fallon chimed, “but exactly what are we supposed to do now? Strickland might be involved; the Russians are making threats and accusations; Claire Brackett is MIA…”

“Claire’s not missing,” Eleana offered. “Although I’m not certain where she will travel next. It will either be back to her father or to Dimitri.”

Krause and Alex both offered Eleana an understanding smile. “So, what do you suggest?” Alex asked. “Let me tell you where I stand. I just found out that I have a brother. Apparently, my father, my grandparents, all had a hand in creating this debacle you people call The Collaborative; this entity that has served to kill my best friend. It put my wife in danger, and it has put my son through hell. To what end? I still have not a clue. So, Edmond… you are no longer in charge of this little fiasco…Jonathan and I will take the lead. And, we will take the fall, if necessary. I will not have my children sitting at this table in twenty years. Not if I can help it. So, plans…what are they?” Alex asked.

Jane looked at Alex and addressed her directly. “Alex, if you are suggesting that what you want is to shut off The Collaborative, and you are positive that is your goal; I will support you. But, if you think that can happen without stepping in the mud…”

“Don’t lecture me, Jane. I love you, but I’m very clear on this point,” Alex said.

“So?” Krause said. “Alex and I have some ideas. You’ve obviously given this some thought, Jane. Let’s hear it.”

“Alex stays at Carecom. She shuts down the pipeline little by little, not all at once; make the company shiny and new…and into new acquisitions. Carecom expands, buys out some of the smaller entities. Alex assumes the media role; the hero, starting with attending O’Brien’s funeral. God knows the press love her and Cassidy. We need a façade. Eleana comes out of the shadows. She tells her story; how she survived the attack. That
is was Russ who saved her. How Russ had been working with John all along to root out Ivanov and Markov’s plans. Eleana implicates Daniels subtly. Get people questioning Strickland even more.”

“Are you crazy?” Callier barked.

“
Laisser la finir, Père
(Let her finish, Father),” Eleana called across the table.

“Eleana is safer in the open, Edmond,” Krause supported Jane’s stance. “Continue.”

“Jonathan, you go on board at Carecom; work with Eleana on the database. Determine who knows they are Collaborative and who is in the dark. Help Alex and Edmond begin to strengthen our corporate side and weaken Ivanov’s and the admiral’s. We take control of as much of the resource pool as possible, slowly so as not to draw too much attention from any one corner. Joshua will be promoted out of the FBI. I’ve called in a dormant asset in Strickland’s administration that will be able to help,” Jane explained.

“You’re suggesting we pit the Russians and Strickland against each other?” Fallon asked. “Isn’t that playing with fire?”

“We are already walking through fire, Fallon,” Alex said. “What Jane is suggesting is that we flush the drain and see what washes out. We use finesse. We use the media to our advantage to gain leverage. They’ll put pressure on Strickland’s administration to clean house. At the same time, we eat up all the little fishies The Collaborative left prey in the pond. Am I right?” Alex asked. “We use the assets that have been left dormant and shift the power to us, slowly.”

“What do you mean assets?” Fallon asked.

“She means you,” Tate finally spoke. “She means the people who have no idea The Collaborative exists. They work for the government, Carecom, a host of other organizations and companies, and have no idea that those entities have any nefarious or secret agenda. That’s what she means,” Tate clarified.

“Doesn’t that just create a new conspiracy?” Fallon asked, feeling a bit bewildered.

“You don’t understand, Agent Fallon,” Jane said. “The Collaborative has penetrated every industry and government. It’s how they stay in control. The only advantage we have is that it is so vast, they have left more holes than they ever intended. This is not a network of ten or twenty or even fifty-thousand people,” Jane told Fallon.

“There’s no other way, Brian,” Alex conceded. “They are Goliath. It’s going to take more than a slingshot and a rock to shut it down, or at least change its course. Sometimes you have to become the thing you despise in order to destroy it.”

“You realize what you are saying?” Fallon asked.

Krause saw the tension in Alex’s temples. “She knows, Agent Fallon….What about Sphinx? If he does exist…”

“Then we hope to flush him out as well,” Callier said. “And hope he sees it our way.”

“It’s a different tactic,” Krause said. “A more subtle approach.”

“Yeah, but safer,” Fallon surmised.

“No,” Alex chuckled. “Far more dangerous. It might seem safer for a while; only for a while. There will be a response. There always is. And, then….then it will be more dangerous for all of us than it has ever been. This is far from over.”

“Alex, you and Brian have families,” Tate said. “No one would blame you if you stepped away.”

Jane looked to her friend. “He’s right, you know.”

“I would blame me,” Alex said. “What do I leave them? Who will do this if it isn’t us? Do you want Stephanie and Alexandra dealing with this one day? I may not have created this, but I will not walk away from it. What do I tell Cassidy and Dylan… Mackenzie…if I walk away?”

“That you love them,” Krause said softly.

Alex smiled at her brother. “I can’t walk away.”

“I know,” Krause said.

“So, if anyone wants to bail…and I mean if you are not fully committed, now is the time. It might seem comfortable for six months, a year…but when it comes home to roost it will be a shit storm like you have never seen. Ivanov and the admiral will look for a way to exploit us. When that happens, we will have to react; expose them and cut off the head of the monster. We all know that will mean choices none of us wants to make,” Alex said.

Silence lingered. “Whatever you need,” Callier said first.

“I’m in,” Eleana said.

“Are we going to be all right?” Jane asked Alex.

“We’re good,” Alex said.

“All right; I’m in,” Jane said.

“No question,” Tate nodded.

“Me too,” Fallon promised.

“All right,” Krause said. “It does not leave these walls. It remains between the six of us and Edmond. None else knows the details; only what they need to know. Agreed?” The agreement was a foregone conclusion.

Jane approached Alex before leaving and smiled. “I’m sorry, Alex. I did what I had to do.”

Alex nodded. “No secrets, Jane.”

“There are always secrets, Alex,” Jane replied. Alex just nodded. “I’ll see you at the funeral,” Jane said. Alex offered her friend a half-hearted smile.

“You two okay?” Krause asked.

“She’s not telling us something,” Alex said.

“I know,” Krause said as he watched Jane leave the room. “But, whatever it is…she has her reasons. She would never endanger Dylan or the girls,” Krause said.

“Not intentionally,” Alex agreed. “Why don’t you go save Eleana from Edmond?” Alex suggested.

“You okay?” Krause asked.

“I’ve made my choice. I just want to go home,” Alex said.

“Sorry,” Brian Fallon interrupted. “How are Cassidy and Dylan?” he asked Alex.

“They’re okay, Fallon,” Alex said. “Are you sure about this?”

“Yeah. I am. I don’t know how much help I will be…”

“I trust you,” Alex said. “So does Pip. I’ll be in touch,” she said. “Go spend some time with Kate and the kids.” Alex turned her attention to Joshua Tate. “Any ideas on who might replace Taylor?” she raised her eyebrow knowingly.

“No,” Tate laughed.

“I don’t know that you’ll love that promotion,” Alex said. “For all the chatter, NSA is kinda quiet. Not like the FBI at all.” Fallon looked at Alex and Tate and shook his head. “Meet your new boss, Fallon, or should I say your old boss in a new place,” Alex told her friend.

“Let’s just hope it’s the right move,” Tate said. Alex shook Tate’s hand. She watched as he explained the entire interaction to Brian Fallon on their way out the door and chuckled.

“Alex, Eleana and I are going to go grab something. Want to come?” Krause asked.

“Thanks, no. I want to talk to Edmond for a few. Try to get home for dinner,” Alex said.

“Understood,” Krause said with a smile.

Alex made her way to the last occupant of the room and stood confidently before him. “Tell me, Edmond….Why now?” Alex asked.

“Why have I decided to help you; you mean?” he surmised. Alex tipped her head in acknowledgement. “What makes you so sure I haven’t been helping you all along?” Callier asked.

“What? By lying to all of us? Keeping us from the truth? Explain to me how you and my father have helped, Edmond?” Alex asked him.

“Alexis,” Callier sighed. “You are so much like your father.”

“That’s debatable,” Alex said.

The Frenchman laughed. “Ah, and like your mother too. Why are
you
doing this now?” Callier turned the question
around on her. “Dylan? This new baby? Cassidy? Jonathan? Am I wrong? But, the truth is you couldn’t walk away even if it were just you to consider. It’s not how you are built, Alexis. You just have different commitments now. That’s your answer,” Callier told her.

“Not much of an answer,” she said.

“You understand more than you pretend not to know, Alexis. I don’t expect your forgiveness. Neither would your father. I hope you never have to ask it of your children,” Callier said.