She blinked in surprise. "The SIU? What the hell do they want to see me for?" Gabriel had promised no more tests. Surely he wouldn't go back on his word.
But then, Gabriel didn't run the SIU. Byrne did. Stephan had arranged a smooth takeover for Hanrahan's successor, and the transition had gone as planned. As Byrne, Stephan still ran the SIU, still ran the Federation. Or so she figured, given that Gabriel's reaction to the man was a little too similar to his reaction to Hanrahan. He certainly didn't treat Byrne as a superior.
"Maybe they want to give you a commendation for your help in rescuing the PM."
The captain's dry tone told her it was highly unlikely. "Come on, Cap, you must have heard something."
He smiled, brown eyes amused. "As I said, I'm just a middle man. Go. The SIU do not like to be kept waiting."
"Yeah, so you said the last time." She rose, knowing she would get nothing more from him. "See you around, Cap."
"I doubt it," he said, and went back to his paperwork.
Dismissed yet again. She walked out of his office and past the office she and Jack had shared, not even bothering to stop. There was nothing left for her in there. Nothing more than memories she no longer trusted.
She pressed the elevator button and impatiently tapped her foot. After several seconds the door opened. She swiped her pass through it and pressed the button for the SIU. The doors closed, and the elevators whisked her downwards.
Gabriel was waiting in the foyer. He'd come to visit her in the hospital, but she hadn't seen him since she'd gotten out, just over a week ago.
"What the hell is going on?" she said.
"Your guess is as good as mine."
He made little effort to conceal his annoyance, and she raised her eyebrows in surprise. "I thought assistant directors were told what was going on."
"Not this one — not on this occasion, anyway."
He led her down a long corridor and past several well-secured entrances. The furniture became plush and rich in color, contrasting oddly against the harsh white walls. They were in the director's suite, she realized.
Gabriel approached a desk and stopped. The blonde behind it looked up and smiled. "Assistant Director Stern, the Director is expecting you. Please, go on in."
He glanced at Sam. There was wariness in his gaze, tension in the set of his shoulders. He obviously knew his twin was up to something, but he wasn't sure what.
"Ladies first," he said, ushering her through the open doorway.
"Gee thanks," she muttered, feeling like a lamb about to enter the hungry lion's den.
Jonathan Byrne looked up as they entered. The impact of his gaze stopped her so suddenly Gabriel had to do a quick step around her. In the intense depths of Byrne's blue eyes, well beneath the sharp amusement, there was a calculating iciness that boded them no good. But she sensed Gabriel, more than she, wasn't going to like whatever it was his twin had to say.
The door slammed shut behind them, and a faint buzzing ran across the silence. Voice scramblers, she thought, surprised.
"What the hell are you up to?" Gabriel stalked to the desk and stared at his brother. His voice held no respect. No wonder Byrne had the scramblers up.
"I told you a while ago that I wanted you to have a partner, that these missions of ours, both here and with the Federation, were far too dangerous to continue with alone." Byrne's gaze went from Gabriel to her then back again, and a smile touched his thin lips. "And now, I believe I have found you the perfect partner."
"I work alone. Always have, always will." Gabriel hesitated and glanced around at her. "No offense."
"None taken." She stepped up beside him. "I have absolutely no desire to join the ranks of the Spook Squad, so you can transfer me right back upstairs."
"Gabriel, you have no choice. And you didn't volunteer, my dear, you were drafted. We will begin your training straight away."
"No you won't, because I'll quit if you don't transfer me back."
"We both know that'll never happen, because you have no life beyond your job, so let's not pretend."
Damned if he wasn't right. She was stuck, and they both knew it. And in some ways, being here was better than being up in State. She might have been cleared of Jack's murder, but people hadn't forgiven her. Whether or not she was in the right, she'd still shot the man she'd thought was her partner. She'd stepped over that line, and there was no going back now.
Byrne leaned forward, crossing his arms on the desk. "You worked too well together. I saw it, Gabriel — at the house, and at the shuttle port. There's an instant understanding between you, something rare and precious. Sam obviously has talents that are still developing, and she will need monitoring, while you, my brother, have talents you refuse to explore. Together, I think you will make quite a lethal combination."