Wednesday, November 03, 2004

"I want what Nick's been working on in addition to his personal files. It could be some contact or circumstance in an assignment that has triggered this. Go back a year prior to his last assignment," Tamsin told Cash.

"Tamsin, I'd like a minute."

"Sure, Dad." Cash left the room, shutting the door behind him.

"Tom's right. Any justification for Crossfield's actions are irrelevant. Whatever he's doing, it's without authorization. I know you have some feeling for him. Don't let it sway you," John paused as if he was finding it difficult to reach out to his daughter. "Tamsin, Crossfield's one and only people friendly assignment was that program you participated in. It went well, but after it was over, he returned to the field. High risk, deep cover assignments. He's been ordered to do some savage, violent things in his career. You need to be prepared for the worst."

Tamsin studied her father closely. Their relationship was pretty decent, but he seldom went out of his way to influence her assignments. This little heart to heart was out of character for him and it set off some faint internal alarm in her head. "I know Dad. But I can't just turn off the effect he had on me. You're sending me there because it will knock him off his guard. Well, it will do the same to me. That can't be helped. We'll just have to take it as it comes."

A few seconds passed while John considered Tamsin's words. "Just be careful."

"When am I not?" Tamsin asked with a knowing smile.