Alex And Cassidy: Betrayal Part 9

"I don't like it."

"I know. Listen, Agent Brackett...Guess who she was cuddling up to last week?" Taylor smirked a bit. "Our favorite congressman," he deadpanned.

"Brackett and O'Brien?" Taylor nodded. "Are you serious?"

"Never been more serious. Someone is scared, Alex."

"Why do you say that?"

Taylor motioned ahead for them to continue walking. "O'Brien booked a ticket to Paris for Monday." Alex stopped again. "Yeah, interesting. I agree. Particularly when you consider Brady's information that Krause was in Paris just a week ago."

"So they want us to follow O'Brien." Alex shook her head and sighed. "What don't they want us to follow?"

"That is the question," Taylor agreed. "We follow O'Brien," he said. "We let Fallon follow Agent Brackett." Alex sighed heavily. "You know it's the right way."

"Maybe. I still don't like it."

"Fallon's smart, Alex. He'll do well." He watched Alex as she continually pressed her thumb to her temple and decided a change in topic was called for. "Heading back tomorrow?" She nodded. "Where's Ca.s.sidy?" Taylor took a seat on one of the long narrow steps near the top of the Lincoln Memorial.

"Took Dylan to O'Brien," she said somewhat harshly as she sat beside her friend.

"I can see you are happy about that," he joked.

"I don't trust him."

"Me neither, but he is the boy's father, Alex."

'If only you knew,' she thought silently. "Yeah, well..."

Taylor chuckled. "You know, Alex...Fallon's not the only one with something more to consider."

Alex Toles looked out over the scene before her. From her cold, cement seat she could see across the city. The towering obelisk in the center of her view stood as a reminder of the man who first headed a new nation. Just beyond, barely visible in the afternoon haze, she spotted the spire of the capitol. It was the place where men like Christopher O'Brien were sent to do the work of the people. Its halls were erected to provide for and to protect a trusting nation. It was the place Alex Toles had come to view as the ultimate paradox. It was a contrast and contradiction of all she believed in and all that she abhorred. She let out a heavy breath. She had sworn to protect all of this; sworn her life to it so many years ago. It had given her purpose, direction and focus. It had been her compa.s.s. Somewhere along the way everything changed. It all paled now in comparison to a school teacher and a little boy.

This investigation was no longer about honor or even obligation. She had been prepared to give her life for those causes since the day she walked into West Point. It was the purpose that she believed eclipsed one woman's existence. Perhaps it still did. Now, her life mattered to someone else. The safety of her family, their happiness was her objective. She closed her eyes and smiled before turning back to her friend. "Taylor, as long as...o...b..ien is in this mix Ca.s.sidy and Dylan are at risk."

"Yes, they are," he swallowed hard.

"Whatever I have to do, I will do," she said firmly.

"What about where it leads?" he asked.

Alex nodded, an element of apprehension on her face. The implication was clear. The trail that they were following likely led to people they trusted. The greatest risk might not be life nor limb; but the truth. She offered Taylor a sad smile. "Wherever it leads, it leads."

Taylor nodded his understanding. Two friends now sat in silence looking out over the majesty of the nation's capital. For most, it was a view that left them breathless by its beauty and artistry. For Captain Michael Taylor and Agent Alexis Toles; it was a stark reminder that everything has a faade. The most beautiful surfaces often hide an unfathomable ugliness underneath. It was their task to remove those masks so that others could build something new and hopefully more authentic. It was a task neither was looking forward to.

"Mom?" Dylan called from his seat in the car.

"Hum?" Ca.s.sidy inquired as she navigated a left turn.

"Do I have to go?"

An audible sigh came from the woman in the driver's seat and she forced a smile to her lips. "Dylan, your dad wants to spend time with you." There was no response and Ca.s.sidy could sense her son's tension. "It's only for the afternoon." She glanced in the mirror to see the boy tracing circles on the window. "You can tell him all about the new house." Dylan shrugged. "Oh, Dylan."

"Okay," he said.

Ca.s.sidy shook her head as a million thoughts ran through her mind. Over the last six months Dylan had become more and more apprehensive about his visits with his father. She knew that to a large degree it was because the congressman's attention was always on other things. She sensed there was something a bit more; not abuse, but perhaps something that her ex-husband talked about or engaged in that unsettled the boy. She stole another look in the mirror and resigned herself that she would find a way to coax it from him gradually. She pulled in front of the congressman's building and released her seat belt so she could turn to face her son. "Dylan," she began as she saw her ex-husband slowly heading to the car. "Daddy is bringing you back before dinner, okay? Try and have fun."

He nodded as his father opened the door. "Ca.s.sie," the congressman greeted his ex-wife.

"Chris."

"You ready, bud?" Dylan offered the man a nod and hopped from his seat. "Come on," the congressman called with a hint of urgency.

Dylan started out and stopped abruptly. He moved back to the center of the car and leaned into his mother, hugging her neck tightly. "I'll see you in a while, sweetie," Ca.s.sidy said as she reveled in his embrace.

He started back toward his father. "Tell Alex, I am going to win tonight," he said proudly; thinking about a rematch on the pool table.

Ca.s.sidy laughed. "I will tell her that."

"Bye," he smiled, now thinking about the night to come rather than the day ahead.

"Go on ahead," the congressman said to his son. "Ca.s.sie," he leaned back in.

"What?"

"What are you doing?" Ca.s.sidy shook her head and laughed. "I'm serious. What could you possibly be planning with this woman?" Ca.s.sidy smiled and looked past the man to see her son attempting to take the stairs two at a time. She chuckled and turned her attention back to the congressman. His gaze was severe, as if he were convicting her of some crime with his eyes.

She considered him silently for a moment and then her smile grew. "A family," she said simply. He stood stunned at the brief and pointed response. "Have a good afternoon, Chris," she said. "I am glad to see you up and around." The congressman stood frozen, staring blankly at the woman in the car. "The door, Christopher?" she reminded him. He started to speak and Ca.s.sidy turned away. "I'll see you around six," she said as she fastened her seatbelt and turned the key in the ignition.

Christopher O'Brien shut the car door and stepped back onto the curb watching the woman he still regularly referred to as his wife pull away. "That's my family, Agent," he muttered. "My family."

"Nicky called," a tall, slender older woman said as she hung up the phone.

"Oh?" a man in a large arm chair answered.

"They are all coming Sat.u.r.day, Nicolaus," she told him.

"Who would that be?" he asked.

Helen Toles took the paper from her husband's hand and placed it on the table beside his chair. She looked at him sternly. At seventy, Helen Toles' hair had begun to turn from its once deep black to a faint gray. She stood 5'10 without the aid of any heels; the addition of which generally placed her nearly eye to eye with her husband. She remained a strikingly attractive woman with cobalt eyes and high cheek bones. There was no denying that Alexis Toles resembled her mother; if not in her manner and lifestyle, certainly in her physical presence and appearance. "Nick," she said in a deep voice. "Alexis is bringing her new friend."

"So, Nicky is bringing the family, then?"

"Nicolaus," Helen repeated. "Please think about Alexis."

"Alexis has made her choices, Helen. I can't change that. Do you really think she should be carrying on with this woman; a woman who has a child?"

"Nicky says she is lovely," Helen raised an eyebrow.

"Don't worry," he said. "I won't berate our daughter if that's what you are afraid of."

Helen Toles sighed. Her husband was as obstinate as he was handsome. She sometimes wondered where the idealistic young man she once knew had disappeared to. She still remembered the first time she had seen him at a friend's wedding more than fifty years ago. He was twenty-six and had just finished his law degree at Harvard. Immediately, he caught her eye just as she had captivated him in the distance. It was Friday, November 22, 1963. While a nation sat glued to images on television screens of a fallen president; two young people began the journey of what would become a lifetime. Helen shook her head and put her hand on his shoulder as he retrieved the paper from beside him. "I'll make you some lunch."

He grasped her hand and held it for a long moment. "That sounds fine," he said continuing to focus on the paper before him.

Helen Toles momentarily turned back to glimpse her husband placing the paper in his lap and rubbing his temples. She sighed and shook her head wondering when he would accept their daughter for who she had become. "So different," she whispered to herself as she made her way into the kitchen, "and so much alike."

Monday, April 14th lex sat drumming on the steering wheel endlessly. Ca.s.sidy smiled and raised her eyebrow at the tall agent. "It's only school, Alex," she let out a slight chuckle. "He'll be home in a few hours." The agent huffed, remaining fixed on the large brick building across the street. Alex shook her head and mumbled something as she turned the key in the ignition. "You know, I'm going to start to think the only reason you keep me around is so you can get me to make tacos while you watch Batman and play pool with Dylan," Ca.s.sidy joked.

"I can't help it," Alex confessed. "I'll just...."

Ca.s.sidy reached over and grasped Alex's arm lightly. "I know you'll miss him." It had been a difficult few weeks with so many upheavals and the death of President John Merrow had taken a great toll on Alex. Having Dylan home kept the agent occupied and Ca.s.sidy understood that in some way this felt to the agent like another loss. She smiled as Alex finally turned to her. "Come on, you said you wanted boring."

"What are you planning?" Alex narrowed her gaze playfully.

"Me?" Ca.s.sidy feigned innocence. "Nothing," she laughed. "But, there are still a boat load of boxes to unpack in the garage. That ought to keep us both busy."

Alex rolled her eyes. "FANTASTIC!" she exclaimed sarcastically.

"Mr. Callier, it's a pleasure to meet you," Congressman O'Brien greeted the older man.

Edmond Callier studied the congressman. He searched the eyes before him intently and watched as Christopher O'Brien offered him a sly smile. 'Smug,' he thought. "Yes, Congressman, please...sit," he gestured to an arm chair seated at the table.

"So, Mr. Callier, I understand that you have concerns over some of the current legislation in our House...I am here to a.s.sure you..."

Callier interrupted, "a.s.surances do not exist, Mr. O'Brien. I think we both know that. I am, however, interested in your plans."

"I don't know if I understand....Senator Levy made it clear that you would be looking for..."

The older man rose from his seated position and walked across the room keeping his back to the congressman. "Senator Levy is not my concern. The legislation will take care of itself. Sympathy for your fallen leader is the only a.s.surance of that needed." O'Brien watched as the man calmly poured himself a drink and continued. "However, I am interested in your plans on this initiative for, what was it called? Oh yes, more oversight on intelligence. And on the campaign funding bill I have heard so much about. How do you plan to rectify that?"

"Neither is even in debate. That bill has not even been completely crafted."

"Ah...but it would restrict the bundling of campaign donations; would it not? Further than it already does?" Callier kept his back turned and lifted the small gla.s.s to his lips taking a healthy sip and grimacing slightly as he felt the burn glide down his throat. "And, it would make distinctions between foreign corporations; even those with American subsidiaries; no? And, if I understand correctly is would place more legislative power over your investigative agencies."

"Well, yes..."

"These cannot come to pa.s.s. We already have challenges with the reluctance of our Israeli partners to act as intermediaries. The fluidity of funds cannot be compromised," Callier continued as he lifted the gla.s.s again.

"Mr. Callier, I can a.s.sure you that the negotiations...."

Callier shook his head and turned, "N`a.s.surez pas ce que vous ne pouvez pas. C'est la preuve d'un imbecile. Vous negociez ce que vous pouvez et vous achetez ce que vous devez. Ce qui reste apres que n'a qu'une seule autre solution (Do not make a.s.surances you cannot. That is the mark of a fool. You negotiate what you can and you purchase what you must. What is left after that has only one other solution)."

Congressman Christopher O'Brien's posture stiffened and he looked at the table to gather his thoughts. "I am sorry, Mr. Callier, I do not speak..."

"I am sorry, I a.s.sumed...that charming ex-wife of yours spoke fluently."

O'Brien looked up in shock. "How do you know Ca.s.sidy?"

The older man smiled and spoke softly. "Seul un fou pourrait laisser filer une telle femme (only a fool would let such a woman go)." He lifted his eyebrow as the congressman shifted in his chair. "I have met Ca.s.sidy, Mr. O'Brien, many years ago. A man does not easily forget a charming, beautiful woman who possesses intellect." He took a long pause before finishing his thought, "at least not an astute man."

"Well, Ca.s.sidy is many things...."

The older man set his gla.s.s down. "I think that we are finished here, Congressman."

The stern look on the older man's face prompted the congressman to reach his feet swiftly. "What is it," O'Brien asked, "that you would like me to convey to President Strickland?"

With a nod Callier answered. "If he cannot deliver; a.s.surances will be provided." The man opened the door to the conference room. He paused and looked at the congressman sympathetically. "I am sorry for your loss, Mr. O'Brien."

"Thank you. The nation will recover."

"Yes, I am sure. I was not referring to the loss of your president." O'Brien looked at him and Callier smirked. "Have you heard of Jean de La Fontaine?" The congressman shook his head. "I see. Not the lover of poetry then. Another difference from your former wife." Callier turned around, retrieved a piece of paper and wrote something on it. He handed it to the younger man who looked at it curiously. "He once said, 'Toute personne chargee de puissance va en abuser sinon egalement animee par l'amour de la verite et de la vertu, peu importe que ce soit un prince, ou l'un du people (Anyone entrusted with power will abuse it if not also animated with the love of truth and virtue, no matter whether he be a prince, or one of the people)," Callier recited the pa.s.sage in French. "Look it up."

Ca.s.sidy opened a large box and pulled out a blue photo alb.u.m. "What you got there?" Alex asked. Just as Ca.s.sidy was about to answer Alex's cell phone rang. "Tate," she said quietly. Ca.s.sidy blew out a breath and nodded her understanding as Alex walked out of the living room. "a.s.sistant Director," she answered.

"Agent," he responded professionally. "Your reinstatement is set for Monday."

"Thank you Sir. I a.s.sume it is formally approved?"

"It is."

Alex pursed her lips and took a deep breath. "Then, I am afraid I need to tender my resignation." The agent slowly wandered back into the living room and stood in the doorway, glancing over to see Ca.s.sidy flipping through the pages of the alb.u.m.

"Agent Toles..."

"Sir, I have decided to accept a position with another agency. I will send you my formal letter this afternoon," she said somewhat coolly. Joshua Tate nodded his understanding on the other side of the line. "Sir?"

"I understand, Agent," he answered.

An awkward silence ensued and Ca.s.sidy looked up to Alex as the agent ran her tongue over her lips. "Thank you for your support," Alex said as genuinely as she could manage.

"Of course, Agent." Alex was ready to hang up when the a.s.sistant director's voice continued. "Alex," he said in what was almost a whisper. "Just," he swallowed hard. "Well, I wish you the best."

The agent was certain there was something else that Joshua Tate wanted to say which piqued her curiosity. "Thank you," she said as she hung up the call, sitting down on the sofa and putting her face in her hands.

Slowly, Ca.s.sidy made her way over and placed her hand on the small of Alex's back. "What is it?"

"My reinstatement was approved."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Ca.s.sidy's own apprehension about Alex moving back to the NSA was something she had tried desperately to suppress in front of her lover. Working as an FBI agent posed many risks. The NSA conjured images and ideas of secret agents, spying on civilians and worst of all, imminent danger. The thought of losing Alex was terrifying to Ca.s.sidy but she was determined to be supportive. "Alex?"

"It is a good thing," the agent said with a rea.s.suring smile. "I need to call Taylor."

Ca.s.sidy nodded her understanding as Alex stood and made her way out of the room. She put her face in her hands and took a deep breath. "G.o.d," she sighed. A sudden rattling sound from the side table startled her and she watched her cell phone gently glide across it. "Now what?" she muttered.

"Why the change?" Krause asked rubbing his forehead.

"Strickland is an idiot," Admiral Brackett answered.