by Ana Stone
"You have been associated with Senator Ned Tyler, have you not?" Wright, from the Justice Department asked.
"Yes, I have," Adrian answered and held up his hand as Wright started to speak again. "If you will indulge me for a few minutes, I think I can clear this unfortunate misunderstanding up to everyone's satisfaction."
Wright looked at Braswell and Braswell nodded. "Very well, Mr. Zayne. Proceed."
Adrian stood up. "As all of you here are aware, over the past few years the military budget has been consistently cut, year after year. There are those in this country who believe this to be a profound and possibly dangerous mistake. "
He moved to one side of the room to stand between a television that had been set up and a large display easel. "Some time ago, at a charity function I had the opportunity to speak with Congressman Blackburn about this matter. He made a remark that he expected the military budget to be slashed again this year and thought it a mistake to weaken our military even more. A few weeks later, Congressman Blackburn came to my house with General Samuel Worth. We spoke again on the matter of the military budget and later that week I was invited to the White House to meet with the President. The statement was made that if the military had the support of the people, the house and senate might not be so eager to cut the budget. That gave me an idea."
He gestured to the television and the man beside it turned it on and started a video tape. Everyone watched as a series of advertisements played out, stressing the importance of a strong military, playing on the emotional impact by referring to past wars and the like. When the tape ended, Adrian pulled back the cover sheet on the large easel.
"As you can see, my advertising department has done quite a remarkable job in coming up with what I consider a brilliant advertising campaign." He flipped through the drawings, showing a variety of ads that would run in major publications, both newspaper and magazine. There were even audio ads for radio. Adrian waited until all of the advertising material had been shown then took his seat.
"It is no secret that lobbying takes place for one thing or another," he said as he looked around. "You might say that I have been acting in the role of a lobbyist in this particular matter. I contacted Senator Tyler concerning the military budget and he met with me, Congressman Blackburn and General Worth on several occasions to discuss the matter."
"And I suppose Congressman Blackburn and General Worth will back you up on this?" Deputy Wright asked.
Adrian smiled and gestured to the door. "Why don't you ask them yourself. They are just outside."
Wright looked at director Braswell in surprise. "Edwards!" Braswell barked. "See the gentlemen in."
Blake got up and opened the door. Just as Adrian had said Congressman Blackburn and General Worth were waiting outside. He asked them to come in. They entered and took seats after greeting Adrian and being introduced to everyone else. Deputy Wright asked them several questions, then director Braswell added a few of his own. Blake listened with an increasing sense of defeat. Within minutes the battle was over. He knew he had been outmaneuvered.
Braswell looked at Sydney. "Mrs. Zayne, I understand that you made audio recordings of sessions you had with Senator Tyler in which he claimed that Mr. Zayne and his associates were in fact, responsible for the bombing, and that he specifically told you that Mr. Zayne was responsible. Is that correct?"
"No, it is not." She looked directly at him.
"No you did not make any such recordings, or no Senator Tyler did not make those accusations?"
"I did make recordings."
"Will you voluntarily turn those over to me?"
"No, I can't do that."
"You can't or you won't?"
"I can't. I don't have them."
"Then where are they?"
"I destroyed them."
"And you have no written records or transcripts?"
"No sir."
"All right, let's move away from that for a moment. Did Senator Ned Tyler tell you, at any time that your husband was responsible for the bombing?"
"He told me he didn't think I should be involved with Adrian."
"Why is that?"
Sydney leaned forward and laced her hands together on the table in front of her. "Sir, Senator Tyler was, at the time, a very disturbed individual. Why he thought or said what he did during that time is hardly relevant. He was and is mentally ill. I'm sure you know that the Senator has tendered his resignation and is at the present institutionalized due to a complete nervous breakdown."
"Let's talk about this breakdown." The director referred to the report in front of him. "Is it not true that you falsified his records and that in fact, he did not suffer from any psychological problems?"
"No, it is not."
"And the institution where the Senator is confined?"
"That is privileged information."
"I could order you to provide me with the information."
"I suppose you could," she replied calmly. "However, the point is moot. The physicians caring for the Senator would give you the same diagnosis as I. He is suffering from a nervous breakdown and is not competent. Besides that, Senator Tyler never told me that Adrian was the one who bombed the federal building."
"What did the Senator say, specifically about Mr. Zayne?"
"That I shouldn't be involved with him."
"And you had no idea what his reasons were for saying that?"
"To be honest, I didn't put much stock in what the Senator thought I should do with my personal life. After all, sir, he's the one who was troubled. Not me. And if I may, I'd like to say that I resent all these accusations and innuendoes. My husband, as you can clearly see, has done nothing wrong. He merely supported a position he believes in. And as far as I know, there's no law against that."
"It was my understanding that it was initially your accusations against your husband that prompted agent Edwards to start this investigation, Mrs. Zayne."
Sydney looked straight at the director as he continued. "Is it not true that up until quite recently you had a relationship with agent Edwards?"
"Yes, that's true."
"And what was the nature of your relationship?"
"We dated."
"Dated. Nothing more?"
"Do you mean did I have sex with him?" she looked at him pointedly. "That's a little personal, but if it'll satisfy your curiosity then yes, I had sex with him."
"So you and agent Edwards were lovers?"
"I suppose so."
"Until when Mrs. Zayne?"
"Last Friday."
"The day you were abducted."
"That's correct."
"And when you miraculously returned from your ordeal, you suddenly ended the relationship. Is that correct?"
"Yes."
"Might I inquire as to why?"
"I realized that I loved Adrian and wanted to marry him.
"I see. Just like that, you decided you did not love one man and did love another."
"Yes."
"A bit sudden wasn't it, Mrs. Zayne?"
Sydney smiled at him. "Director Braswell, have you ever fallen hopelessly in love?" When he didn’t reply she shook her head. "Then I suppose you wouldn't understand, would you?"
Braswell stared at her for a moment then looked at Blake. Sydney turned and saw Adrian watching her. As their eyes met he smiled at her. She dropped her eyes as the room resounded with silence.
After a moment, Braswell stood. "Mr. Zayne, I am sorry to have inconvenienced you. Please accept my sincere apologies. You are free to go."
Adrian stood as well. "There is one other thing I would like to discuss with you, if I may. In private."
Braswell frowned for a moment then nodded. "Please excuse us. Mr. Zayne?"
Adrian took a briefcase from one of his men as he followed the director from the room. Everyone else sat in tense silence for the next twenty minutes. The door opened and the director walked back in, carrying a folder in his hand. Adrian followed him with a smug smile on his
face.
"Mrs. Zayne, if you would please remain. Agents Edwards and We'zel, you as well. The rest of you are free to leave. Thank you for your time and cooperation."
Everyone who had not been directed to stay left the room. Braswell opened the folder and took a black and white photo from it. "Do you know this man, agent Edwards?"
Blake took the photo that was slid across the table to him. It was a shot of him and the man who had identified himself as a general the day he was taken out in the boat on the Potomac. "I believe I covered this in my report, sir."
Braswell nodded. "And these men?"
Blake looked at the series of pictures. The men shown in them were the ones who had taken him to the river to meet with the man who called himself the general and several of the men who were on the boat. "As I said, this was all explained in my report, in the incident that took place in front of Doctor Forrest's office and later at the river."
"And you have no idea who these men are?"
"No sir."
Braswell picked up the phone on the table and dialed three digits. "Do you have the information? Please bring it in."
A few seconds later the door opened and a clerk walked in, handing the director a stack of papers. Braswell looked through them then looked up. "Thomas Harridan, age fifty-eight," he said as he held up a grainy black and white photo of the man that had identified himself as a general to Blake that day at the river. "Do you know who this man is, agent Edwards?"
"No sir."
Braswell read from one of the printouts. Blake felt a sinking sensation take hold of his stomach. The man was one of the leaders of a very active and often violent extremist group. "You have never seen this man before that day, agent Edwards?"
"No, sir."
Braswell picked up another photo. This one was of Sydney and a dark-haired man. The man was opening the door of a limousine for her. "This picture was taken on the day Mrs. Zayne was allegedly abducted. Do you recognize the man in the picture, agent Edwards?"
"No sir."
Braswell held another picture beside it. It was one of the shots of the bogus general and Blake on the boat. Behind Blake stood the dark-haired man from the picture with Sydney. Blake's eyes widened. It was the same man in both pictures.
Braswell put the pictures down and picked up a printout. "Agent Edwards, do you have a foreign bank account?"
"No sir."
"You have no banking interests in any institutions outside the continental United States?"
"No sir."
"Then how do you explain an account in your name with your social security number in the Grand Cayman's with a little over two million dollars in it?"
"Sir?" Blake could not believe what he was hearing.
"Do you deny knowledge of such an account, agent Edwards?"
"Yes, sir. I do."
Braswell looked at him then at Adrian. "Mr. Zayne, I want to personally speak with the detective agency that took these pictures. Beyond that, there is nothing further I need from you. You are free to leave and you may take your wife with you. Agent Edwards, you and agent We'zel will remain."
Adrian stood up and waited for Sydney to stand. She walked over to him and he held out his hand to her. She put her hand in his and he smiled down at her. Without looking back they left the room. Two agents escorted them down to the lobby. Adrian's driver was waiting outside with the car.
As soon as they were inside the car Adrian pulled her into his arms. "You have no idea how much it meant to me to hear you defend me the way you did, my darling."
She put her arms around him and held tightly to him. "What else could I do? You're my husband−my life."
Adrian smiled and crushed her against him. "Forever, my darling. You are mine until the end of time."
Sydney didn’t reply but merely closed her eyes and reclined in his arms, listening to the inner voices in her own mind.
Weasel stared at some point across the room while Blake looked stone-faced at director Braswell. "You do realize the implications of this, don't you, agent Edwards?" Braswell asked as he stacked up the printouts and photos and returned them to the file folder.
"Yes, sir, I do. However, the information is false."
"There is no validity to the charges being made against you? Am I to understand that you are denying the allegations made against you?"
"Yes, sir. I most certainly do. That information is totally false. Obviously, Mr. Zayne has gone to some lengths to make it appear genuine but the fact remains that it is not."
"Then you will have no objections to an investigation being instituted in accordance with these allegations," Braswell said as he stood. "Until such time as this matter has been cleared up to my satisfaction, you are on leave of absence. I'll have to ask for your weapon and your identification."
Blake pulled his gun from the shoulder holster and put it on the table, along with his identification and security pass card. "I need not remind you that leaving the city, much less the country at this point in time would be viewed as a possible flight from justice, do I agent Edwards?"
"No sir."
Braswell nodded and started to walk away then stopped and looked once more at Blake. "Agent Edwards, you have an excellent record and I would personally hate to see it tarnished. I sincerely hope that the allegations made against you prove to be false."
"They will sir."
Braswell nodded and walked to the door. "Please escort Mr. Edwards to the exit. Agent We'zel, please report to your supervisor. I'm sure your talents can be put to good use."
Blake stood and looked at Weasel who finally stopped staring across the room and looked up at him. "I'll find the proof we need to clear you," Weasel said quietly. "You've got my word on that."
Blake forced himself to smile. "Thanks, buddy. I'll catch up with you later." He followed the agent stationed outside the door down the long corridor, trying not to notice the mixture of curious and suspicious looks he got from those he passed.
It was a little after three in the afternoon when they arrived at Adrian's Maryland estate. The first thing Sydney did was plead fatigue and tell Adrian that she was going to go upstairs and lie down. He did not detain her but escorted her to the bedroom. She undressed, put on a short robe and took a bottle of pills from her purse.
"What's that?" Adrian asked as she shook one pill from the container.
"Just a mild sedative," she replied, putting the pill in her mouth and tucking it under her tongue as she poured a glass of water from the decanter on the dressing table and took a sip.
Adrian did not comment on the matter any further but kissed her and said that he would be downstairs in his study if she needed him. She smiled and told him she would be fine after a couple of hours sleep. As soon as he left the room she ran to the bathroom and spit the partially dissolved sedative into the toilet, watching it disappear as she flushed.
Now what? She asked herself as she walked back into the bedroom and sat down on the bed. After what she had heard in the meeting with the FBI she was more confused than ever. That confusion stemmed from the fact that her feelings were undergoing a metamorphosis. She no longer felt terrified of Blake. In fact, it seemed that the more time passed, the more she regained feelings that she thought had disappeared.
She attributed it to the fact that like most victims of brainwashing, after a period of time away from the control, the original feelings and beliefs began to resurface. She only wished that it had begun earlier, before she agreed to marry Adrian.
But maybe it's better this way, she considered. When she had spoken up in Adrian's defense at the meeting with the FBI he had been both surprised and delighted. She was sure that he now thought she was completely devoted to him and she wanted it to stay that way. At least until she discovered the truth. Now all she had to do was figure out how to find the truth.
Her stomach growled and she stood, remembering that she had barely eaten the last few days. She the bedroom she headed downstairs to see what
she could find in the kitchen to snack on. To keep from being noticed she took the back stairs to the ground level. As she passed Adrian's study on her way she heard voices. One voice in particular made her stop and stare wide-eyed at the door.
"If there is ever a way in which I can be of service to you in the future, please contact me, Mr. Zayne." The emotionless voice of the man she had dubbed Monotone Man said.
Adrian chuckled. "I must say that for someone so unemotional, you certainly have a passion for your work. However, I do not think that I will be requiring your particular talents in the foreseeable future. I would suggest that you and your lovely companion take advantage of the opportunity to do a bit of traveling. The West Indies are delightful at this time of year. Perhaps a trip out of the country would be advisable."
A woman's giggle made Sydney inch closer to the partially opened door. As she peeked in the crack between the door and the frame she heard another familiar voice. "We put on a pretty good show, huh, honey? She thought for sure I was a goner with all that screaming and panting I was doing. You should have seen it, Mr. Zayne. I should have won an Oscar for that performance."
Adrian stood and gestured to the door. "Yes, I'm sure. Now if you will excuse me, I have other matters to attend to."
"It's been a pleasure, Mr. Zayne," Monotone Man said as he put his hand on the woman's back.
Adrian nodded and the couple started for the door. Sydney ducked back and scurried down the hall, dashing into the restroom as the couple left the room. She waited for several seconds, listening to the sound of their footsteps recede down the marble hallway then crept from her hiding place and cautiously approached the door to the study.
Adrian was opening a wall safe and taking something from it. As she watched she saw him take a DVD from a black case and put it in the machine. A moment later a picture came on the screen. Sydney had to put her hand over her mouth to keep from making a sound as she saw what he was watching. The footage was of her being tortured!
A cold sweat broke out over her entire body as she stood transfixed to the sight. Oh, god! She backed away from the door. He knew all along what was happening to me! He paid to have it done!
With startling clarity the truth hit her. She turned and ran up the stairs to the bedroom and looked around wildly. Somehow she had to figure out a way to get the evidence and get away from Adrian. But how?
