The Territory of Lies

by Ana Stone

  He just looked at her with an arrogant expression on his face. "Please?" she asked as sweetly as she could manage.

  "Very well," he said pretentiously and extended his hand to her. She put her hand in his and he pulled her to her feet. "Now, why don't we try to put this behind us and begin again?"

  "I'd like that."

  "Excellent." He reached for the wine glasses. "Then let us toast to a new beginning."

  Sydney took the glass he offered and touched the rim to his. Adrian smiled as the glasses clinked. "Bottom's up, darling."

  

  Blake found Weasel waiting outside the door of his apartment when he arrived. "How'd you manage to get away from work? I thought you were filling in for Mac."

  "Ulcers." Weasel put his hand to his stomach. "How 'bout you?"

  "I'm off duty until noon," he said as he unlocked the door. "So, did you come up with anything?"

  "Actually, yes." Weasel pulled a couple of memory cards from his pocket. "You want to see?"

  Blake checked his watch. "I don't have that much time. I told Syd I'd pick up something for dinner. How about you just fill me in and we'll look at the data this evening?"

  "Sure." Weasel returned the cards to his pocket. "To begin with, Zayne is a very big contributor - to a wide array of organizations. He gives big bucks to everything from MS to the Humane Society to the Presidential campaign.”

  "How noble," Blake groused as he opened the refrigerator and pulled out a couple of sodas.

  "He's also a member of the NRA," Weasel said.

  Blake turned around and looked at him sharply. "A lot of people are so that's not saying much."

  "Unless you realize what faction he's backing in the organization."

  "Oh?" Blake opened a kitchen drawer and got out a pack of cigarettes. "Well, now you're got my attention."

  "There's some unrest in the NRA right now. And from what I found out Zayne was quite supportive of the, let's say, more extremist faction. But his support was very quiet, if you get my drift. Lots of money and behind the scenes string pulling but nothing public. Seems our boy wants to keep his name out of things."

  "Then how did you find out?"

  Weasel raised his hands in front of him and wiggled his fingers. "Just call me Mr. Magic."

  Blake laughed. "Okay, Mr. Magic. Did you find anything else?"

  Weasel's smile faded. "Yeah."

  "So, share."

  "I don't have anything concrete yet." Weasel turned away and took a seat at the kitchen table. "You remember the big poop about that big investment group who peddled some forty billion in securities backed by something like two hundred thousand risky home loans?”

  "Yeah," Blake said. as he thumped his ashes in the sink. “Why?

  "Well, it seems like our boy was involved."

  Blake's eyes widened. "You sure about that?"

  "You cut me to the quick," Weasel put his hand over his heart. "Zayne's had his fingers in pies ranging from that piece of nastiness to the election of several very high ranking politicians."

  "And you have evidence of that?"

  "Yes, Mr. By the Book." Weasel paused and took a sip of his drink. "Only you can't use it as evidence."

  "Why not?"

  "Because of the source." Weasel smiled sheepishly.

  "And that is?"

  "The horse's mouth." Weasel's smiled widened. "Or should I say horse's computer system."

  "Then what good is it if we can't use it?"

  "Did I say we couldn't use it? No, I said we couldn't use it as evidence. There's a difference."

  "And that difference is, oh wise one?"

  Weasel shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Okay, consider this. Suppose we need an ace in the whole, say a contact to get Zayne to take someone into his confidence. What would be better than a little doctored info to make it look like that someone was playing in the same ballpark all along?"

  Blake polished off his soft drink and tossed the can in the trash. "What makes you think we'll need something like that?"

  "Boy Scout motto. Always be prepared. Speaking of which, have you talked to Syd? I called her office on the way over and her secretary said she'd left with two men."

  "Two men?" Blake frowned. "Did her secretary know who the men were?"

  "Nope."

  Blake picked up the phone and dialed Sydney's private office number. After a dozen rings he hung up and called the main office number.

  "Doctor Forrest's office. May I help you?"

  "Julie, hi, is she in? This is Blake Edwards."

  "Mr. Edwards, hi. I haven't talked with you for a while. I'm sorry she's out right now. You want to leave a message?"

  "Did she say when she'd be back?"

  "No, actually she didn't. And to be honest, it was a little weird. She had a full schedule today and . . . well, to tell you the truth, those guys were kind of like thugs and she didn't look too happy when she left but she told to reschedule her afternoon appointments and . . . excuse me, but can you hold on a sec and let me catch the other line?"

  Blake waited for a few seconds until the secretary came on the line. "Hi, sorry to make you wait but it's lucky I did. That was Doctor Forrest. She said to tell me that she wouldn't be back in today and for me to reschedule all her appointments."

  "Didn't you say she told you that when she left?"

  "Yeah, strange, huh?"

  "Maybe she just forgot she had mentioned it. Did she say why she wanted you to reschedule?"

  "No, just that she had a pressing personal matter."

  "Oh, okay. Thanks."

  Blake hung up the phone and looked at Weasel. "I've got a feeling that Zayne didn't take getting stood up this morning too well. According to her secretary two men came and 'escorted' her out of her office. Two guys that looked like thugs, she said. Syd told her to reschedule all her appointments then she just called again and told her the same thing."

  A distant look took hold of Weasel's face that Blake recognized as the expression he wore when he was going over all the angles of a problem in his mind. After a few moments his eyes focused sharply on Blake. "Is her office still bugged?"

  Blake's eyes widened momentarily. "Yes! Steve told me he'd taken an office on the same floor and set up the equipment."

  "Then maybe we should get our butts over there and get the files," Weasel said. But Blake was already headed for the door.

  Maryland

  Sydney was sitting on the terrace, picking at a fruit salad when the first wave of nausea hit. The fork slipped from her fingers and clattered onto the plate. She ignored it and dabbed at the sudden burst of perspiration that broke out on her face.

  "Is there something wrong with the salad?" Adrian asked from across the table.

  "Would you excuse me for a moment?" She stood unsteadily feeling as if she was going to be sick. She didn’t bother to wait on a response but went inside to the restroom.

  She turned on the water in the sink and splashed cold water on her face. Her skin was flushed and hot like she had a fever and she felt slightly disoriented. Fortunately, the nausea was dissipating but leaving her with a vaguely unsettled feeling in her stomach.

  Must be nerves, she thought as she dried her face and ran her fingers through her hair. Maybe Blake was right. I'm just not cut out for this spy business.

  Sydney stared at her reflection for a moment as she pressed the cool towel to her skin. If what she felt now was an example of what some of her patients went through then she would be much more sympathetic in the future when they talked about their stress-induced symptoms.

  Adrian was still sitting on the terrace when she returned. He stood as she walked out and held out his hand to her. "Darling, are you all right? You're positively flushed."

  "I'm fine." She took his hand. "It was probably just the effects of the wine on an empty stomach."

  Even as the words came out of her mouth a suspicion rose in her mind. She remembered feeling ill before when she was with Adrian and that time sh
e had been drinking wine. She also remembered how sexually aroused she had become. Just as she started to wonder if he could possibly have drugged her, he pulled her to him and claimed her lips in a passionate kiss.

  Her own response alarmed her more than his advance. She knew not only intellectually, but mentally and emotionally as well that she did not desire Adrian. The problem was that her body didn’t seem to realize it. Shivers of desire ran over her as his hands moved down her body.

  God, I've got to get out of her! She tried to suppress the lust that was asserting control over her. "Adrian, I really don't feel very well. Maybe I should go home. There’s some kind of flu bug going around and I might be coming down with it."

  "Why don't you let me take you upstairs?" He took her hand and raised it to kiss her palm.

  Sydney felt herself weaken and it scared her. He had to have drugged her. There was no way she would be so turned on otherwise. She was one hundred percent sure of that.

  She did not have to pretend to decline with regret. The whole time her mind was screaming for her to run, her body was screaming for her to accept his offer. "That sounds almost irresistible but, no, I can't. I really don't feel well. I really want to go home, please."

  "Very well," he agreed after a momentary pause. "I will have the car brought around."

  She walked into the house as he picked up the extension on the terrace and ordered the driver to bring the car to the front door. Her heart was beating entirely too fast and her skin felt like it was on fire.. Only a sex-starved nymphomaniac would understand how she felt and that frightened her. She’d read the literature on the so-called sexual arousal stimulants as well as the case studies of people who had undergone the experimental treatment. Many people experienced severe reactions, ranging from gastrointestinal distress to cardiac arrest and even one documented case of cerebral stroke.

  Adrian walked in behind her and wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling her neck. "I’m going to miss you."

  Sydney's breath quickened despite her intentions to not let herself be affected. "Same here." Her voice was husky when she spoke.

  "Are you sure I can't talk you into staying?"

  "You probably can," she said and turned to face him. "But please don't. Just let me get over whatever this is so I can enjoy myself without distractions."

  He smiled and took her hand. "Very well, let me walk you out."

  The car was waiting when they walked outside. Adrian kissed her passionately as the driver opened the car door for her. She found herself returning the kiss more enthusiastically than she wanted. "I'll see you soon."

  "I will be waiting," he whispered and kissed her hand. "Hurry back to me."

  "I will," she whispered then turned and got in the car.

  The driver closed her door then got in behind the wheel. "Where to, Doctor Forrest?"

  "My office." she leaned back and closed her eyes, wondering if it might not be a better idea to go to the nearest hospital. But how would she explain having a drug in her system if she really had been drugged? No. She’d have to come up with another way to find out if her suspicions were correct.

  

  Adrian hung up the phone and rose to pour himself a drink. The butler knocked on the door. "Sir? There is someone at the gate."

  "Thank you." Adrian walked over to the phone and pressed the extension to the gatehouse to inquire who was waiting admittance. When he received the information from the guard on duty he gave permission for the car to enter then took a seat and sipped at his drink.

  A few minutes later the butler showed the two men into the study. Adrian did not bother to rise as they entered the room.

  "I have the information you requested," the younger man said as he set down his briefcase and took a file folder from it.

  Adrian accepted the folder and opened it to look at the stack of black and white surveillance photos inside. "Excellent."

  "Do you want me to move on this?"

  "Not just yet." Adrian closed the folder with a satisfied smile. "Let's give our little friend just a little more rope so that when the noose tightens he will have farther to fall."

  The older man cleared his throat. "I must admit to some feelings of misgiving about this, Adrian. If this backfires it could draw unnecessary attention to us. Attention we can’t afford."

  "That is not your concern. Just do as you’re told and there will be no problems."

  "But −"

  "But what?" Adrian stood.

  "Nothing." The older man backed down. "Nothing at all."

  "Good." Adrian smiled. "Now, I believe you gentlemen have things to attend to. I’ll let you know when I need you."

  With that, he strolled past them and out of the room, leaving them to see themselves out.

  

  Sydney arrived at her office to find it dark and empty. That wasn’t a surprise. She normally closed at five and it was now after six. She didn’t bother to turn on the lights in the reception area but continued through to her office.

  She went directly to her reference books and gathered up an armload to take to her desk. After taking off her jacket and hanging it on a chair, she started going through the books. It was not long before she reached for the phone.

  "Is Doctor Howard in?" she asked when the phone was answered. "This is Doctor Forrest."

  She was put on hold for a few moments then a female voice came on the line. "Sydney? This is a surprise. How are you?"

  "At the moment not too good. Jackie, I need to see you."

  "Now?"

  "Yes. I know it's late but it's important. I'm still in the office so I can be there in a second if you can wait."

  "Okay, fine. I was planning on catching up on some paperwork anyway. Come on down."

  Sydney hung up the phone and grabbed her keys. She locked the office door behind her and took the the stairs to the next floor above . Her destination was a door J.M. Howard. It was unlocked so she walked in. A middle-aged woman with slightly graying dark-brown hair and warm brown eyes was waiting.

  "So, what's up?"

  Sydney raked her hand across her face then wiped it on her blouse, leaving a dark spot. "I think I've been drugged and I need to know for sure. Can you do the blood work?"

  "What kind of drug?" Jackie motioned for Sydney to follow her into the lab.

  "I'm not sure. That's why I'm here."

  "Okay, let's find out," Jackie motioned to a chair then turned away to get the necessary implements.

  "You're burning up." She commented as she withdrew a small vial of blood from Sydney's arm. "What are your symptoms?"

  "Aside from an elevated body temperature−accelerated pulse, nausea and . . . " Sydney paused as Jackie withdrew the needle from her arm. " . . . what you might call a case of the hots."

  Jackie whirled around and gave her a curious look. "Are you telling me you're on one of those damned designer drugs? Sydney, you know they're illegal. No ethical physician would ever give−"

  "I wasn't drugged by a physician."

  With a nod Jackie set to work.

  

  In an office a couple of doors down from Sydney's, Blake and Weasel were fast forwarding through the audio. They reached the spot on the tape when the two men came Sydney's office and listened to what was said. Blake's expression grew angrier by the moment as he listened.

  "Those sorry sons-of −" he started as he turned off the tape.

  "Hey man, let's see what else is on it." Weasel interrupted and reached over to start the playback.

  Blake stood and paced pacing back and forth but stopped abruptly as he heard Sydney's voice on the tape telling someone named Jackie she needed to see him.

  Weasel looked up at him as he stopped the tape. "That was about twenty minutes before we got here. Want to check her office?"

  Blake nodded silently and they left to walk down the hall to Sydney's office. The door was locked but Blake had no trouble getting in. His years with SOG had provided him with skills that came in very hand
y in such situations.

  The lights were not on when they entered but Blake saw light underneath Sydney's office door. He crossed through the reception area and opened the inner door. There did not appear to be anyone inside but her computer was on and her desk was piled with books.

  Just as he was walking over to the desk Sydney walked in. "Blake!"

  He barely had time to turn around before she had run across the room and thrown herself into his arms. He could feel how hot she was. She felt like she was running a high fever and her skin was damp.

  "Syd, are you okay?" He pushed her back to arm's length and looked down at her.

  Her eyes were dilated as she looked up at him and the expression on her face transformed from one of fright to one of desire. He did not understand why she would be looking at him with lust filled, hungry eyes and she did not give him time to ask.

  "Blake." His name came out of her mouth like a husky growl just before she pulled his face down to hers and kissed him hungrily.

  "Syd!" He pushed her away gently. "What's wrong with you?"

  "Blake, I −" She suddenly noticed Weasel sitting in the chair in front of her desk. “I'm sorry."

  "Where were you?" he asked. "And who's this guy Jackie?"

  "A doctor." She walked over to the small galley in the alcove in one corner to get a handful of ice cubes from the ice-maker. "And she's not a he."

  "Not a−why did you need to see a doctor? And why are you smearing ice all over your face? Are you sick?"

  "Drugged." She lifted her hair in the back to put the ice against her neck.

  "Drugged?" He bounded over to her and pulled her to her desk to push her down in the chair. "With what, by who?"

  "Adrian." She answered then pointed to a listing in one of the books on her desk. "With this."

  Blake glanced up as Weasel stood and leaned over to pick up the book and start reading.

  "Zayne drugged you?" Blake knelt down beside her. "Should you be in a hospital?"

  "No." She shook her head and dropped the ice to reach out and grab his shirt and pull him closer.