by Bill Brewer
“It is a pleasure to meet you,” said Vince as he shook hands with both of them. Smiles were also exchanged but soon faded when the obvious became unavoidable. Vince said, “Carolyn was involved in an accident and is in the hospital.”
Her parents gasped. Laurie clutched Marty, who struggled to support her.
“She’s all right,” said Vince. “She’s stable and being watched and I will take you to her now. Please sit here.”
Vince directed them to a large upholstered bench against the wall.
With all three of them seated, it appeared to Vince that Laurie was especially hard hit by the news. She asked, “Is she all right? What happened to her? What kind of an accident?” Marty’s look pleaded for answers to his wife’s questions.
“I can’t answer all your questions, but I can tell you, she was in an automobile accident on the motorway. Her injuries have been stabilized and she’s no longer in the ICU. We’ll get more information as soon as we get to the hospital.”
“Injuries! What type of injuries? How badly is she hurt?” insisted Laurie. “I’ve been trying to reach her since before we got on our flight. It’s unusual for her not to respond. She knew we were coming. How long has she been hospitalized?”
“The accident happened earlier today. With the time change, it would explain her lack of communication.”
Laurie was growing distraught and getting angry. Marty tried to calm her, but Vince knew they had to get going.
“I’m very sorry that you’ve landed here and received this bad news, but I suggest we collect your luggage and get on the tube as we have a bit of a journey to the hospital.”
It was difficult for them to concentrate on practical matters, but Vince’s words made sense. He reassured them. “I will escort you all the way to the hospital.”
They collected their luggage and wheeled the bags over to the tube station to board the train to London. Vince explained that the surface roads were the slowest of all choices while the train was not only faster but also cheaper. He told them he had met Carolyn in a pub on beginner’s darts night. They had a lovely conversation about American politics and she told him she was working as a publicist for an American computer-consulting firm called Datathink.
Vince could see Laurie and Marty smiling wanly as they realized their daughter lied to people about her job with the CIA.
“Does she have a nice apartment?” asked Laurie.
“I… I don’t know,” said Vince. “I’ve never been there. It’s a good address. It’s in a nice neighborhood, but I’ve never visited.”
Laurie looked at him admiringly. He was so handsome, but she was also suspicious. She strained to make sense of things. It was difficult to piece together her daughter’s life from the information this young man was providing. Marty had grown sullen, enduring the train ride in silence, obviously anxious to get to his daughter.
Vince sought to ease their concerns. “It won’t be too much longer. We have to make one exchange and then we’ll take a bus that stops at her hospital.”
They both nodded, no longer interested in conversation.
Avery returned to the LPU underground. Tiberius went to medical--his wounded shoulder needed immediate attention. In spite of the blood loss, Avery was relieved that Diegert spared the actual shoulder joint and drove his blade above the collarbone rather than below it, where it would have severed major arteries. It was the GPS in the Porsche Vince had been driving that allowed Avery to locate him. Checking the signal now identified the car in a garage at Heathrow airport. Recovered from Vince’s chokehold, Fiera hacked into the CCTV of Heathrow and searched the backlog of video.
Avery was deep in thought, contemplating where Diegert would want to go. To where would he be flying? Fiera scanned video of gates for departing flights. Without a clue as to a possible destination, it was slow going. Men Diegert’s size and build were plentiful Realizing he would have had enough time to change his face, Avery recognized they might never find him.
Growing bored with the fruitless search, Fiera asked, “What if it’s just a ruse and he parked his car there to throw us off?”
“He could have taken a cab or a train back to the city,” thought Avery aloud.
“I’m on it. I’ll review videos of the tube entrances and the cab stations.”
Vince told the Fullers they’d be exchanging at the next stop. He stood holding the handle of the largest rolling bag. When the train came to a stop and the doors opened, he and Dr. and Mrs. Fuller exited. They crossed the platform. Vince reviewed the map posted on a kiosk, confirming that the M train would get them to the West Middlesex University Hospital.
“The M train will be here in four minutes. It will take us to the Boston Manor station, which is close to the hospital. It’s just a short bus ride from there,” explained Vince.
Laurie looked up at him, nodded her understanding before asking, “Are you Carolyn’s boyfriend?”
Chuckling, Vince awkwardly replied, “No… not exactly. Not in the traditional romantic sense. We’re friends and I’m quite fond of her, but boyfriend/girlfriend would not accurately describe our status.”
“Young people these days make everything so complicated,” she said looking from Vince to her husband.
Dr. Fuller was intently listening to the conversation before adding, “Well we greatly appreciate you meeting us and helping us navigate the tube.”
Laurie looked on, but the suspicious nature of her gaze only grew more intense.
When the M train arrived, they boarded with their luggage and found seats.
“I think I got something,” said Fiera.
Avery peered over her shoulder at the video image. Fiera zoomed in and they both recognized the face of Vince Kronig.
“That’s him,” acknowledged Avery. “But wait. Is he toting a rolling bag?”
Fiera played the video in which Vince was pulling a large rolling luggage bag. He stopped at the train’s door to usher in an older couple before entering behind them. Was he just being polite or did he meet this couple at the airport?
Avery and Fiera looked at each other. The mystic mentor spoke. “He met those people at the airport.”
Giving voice to her thoughts Fiera said, “Who are they and where would they be going?”
“Where does the train go?”
Fiera rolled her eyes. “The train from Heathrow goes to Piccadilly, but it can connect with other trains along the way and goes everywhere.”
“Review Diegert’s GPS from the car, look for locations where the signal was stable. Perhaps he is returning someplace,” ordered Avery.
Arriving in Boston Manor station, Vince and the Fullers exited the train and ascended to the street. They hopped on a London Bus for the short remaining portion of the trip “West Middlesex University Hospital is just a few blocks away,” said Vince. Marty and Laurie looked around as the bus moved through traffic. It was fifteen years ago that they were last in London. They had never visited this part of the city. It was not a tourist area. At the moment tourism was not on their minds. Seeing their daughter and being assured she was okay was their only concern.
The bus dropped them right in front of the hospital. Entering the lobby, the trio approached the front desk. Vince did not need to represent them. Laurie stepped right up to the counter. “We’re here to see our daughter who was admitted through the emergency department. She was involved in an auto accident.”
“Certainly, ma’am, I can help you. What is her name?” asked the pleasant, polite and plump receptionist with her Indian influenced British accent.
“Carolyn Fuller.”
Tapping on her keyboard, the receptionist focused on her screen. “Okay,” she said, “Carolyn is on the third floor, room 3157 in the obstetrics department. Please show me some identification.”
Laurie and Marty each produced their passports. While the young lady examined the booklets, Laurie sought clarification. “Did you say the obstetrics department?”
“Yes,”
said the dark-eyed young lady, smiling as she returned the passports. “Take the elevators just down the hall. Her room is on the west side of the building.”
Laurie stepped back, looked at Marty and then glared at Vince. She turned back to the lady at the desk. “Thank you,” she said.
Vince swallowed hard as he grabbed the luggage handle and made his way to the elevator. Inside the cabin, on the way to the third floor, Laurie said to Marty, “Do you think it’s because of overcrowding that they would put a trauma patient in obstetrics?” Marty just frowned and shrugged.
At the door to room 3157, Vince gathered the luggage and stood to the side. He was going to remain in the hallway, allowing the Fullers an unencumbered family reunion.
After reviewing recent history of Diegert’s GPS, Fiera told Avery, “There are two stable locations before the restaurant. The first is the service area off the M4 where the van was found, the second is West Middlesex University Hospital.”
“What train will take you to the hospital?”
Switching her screen to a map of the tube system, Fiera deduced that from Heathrow, the M train to Boston Manor station was just a short bus ride from the hospital.
“The M train would get you there.” She immediately began searching the CCTV from the Boston Manor station. Avery followed her actions on the screens. “There they are,” she exclaimed. “This was only about fifteen minutes ago.”
Avery’s face looked even more contemplative than it usually did. “Excellent work, Fiera. I’ve got to put together some tactical gear, gather some additional personnel and we are then going to the hospital.”
Laurie and Marty Fuller entered room 3157 to see their daughter Carolyn standing by the window of the room. Carolyn looked out over a courtyard that was within the hospital’s grounds. Picnic tables, benches and manicured shrubbery made it a comfortable and quiet place to enjoy the outdoors.
“Honey,” said Laurie Fuller.
Carolyn, hearing her mother’s voice, turned from the window creating a profile, which displayed an extremely protruding abdomen. Her eyes grew as big as CD’s and they all saw the shock in one another.
Laurie gasped, drawing her hand to her mouth as she fell back into Marty’s unstable frame. The parental couple quavered as Carolyn stood by the window, motionless and temporarily speechless.
After several convulsive breaths and silence well beyond awkward, Carolyn broke. “I can see you are surprised, but so am I that you are here.”
Laurie squeaked, “You knew we were coming.”
“Yes, Mom, I knew you were coming, but I just didn’t expect to see you here.”
Marty blurted, “You never told us you were pregnant.”
“I know… I know, it’s awkward and complicated--” Her words cut short by a contraction clutching her uterus. Carolyn stepped to the bed and sat on the edge as the pressure on her womb increased. The pain halted the conversation and Laurie moved to Carolyn’s side, her maternal instincts overpowering her shock and dismay. Laurie lifted Carolyn’s legs and set the pillows so she was now lying on the bed. The contraction lasted about forty-five seconds. Carolyn said, “They’re getting longer and more frequent.”
Her mother tried her best, but the tears fell from her eyes as she laid her head on her daughter’s forearm and wept. Marty moved behind his wife placing a hand on her shoulder. He looked at his little girl, now lying in labor, about to give birth to a child he had no idea was even on its way. What had happened to so egregiously break down basic family communication?
The strain and bewilderment on her father’s usually kind, warm face made Carolyn feel ashamed. She was embarrassed and forlorn. She was confused and so greatly disappointed in herself. She and her parents were going to have to work through this and hopefully come out as a proud parent and happy grandparents, but right now that seemed a long way off.
Laurie gathered herself, stood up and wiped her face with a tissue as she straightened her spine. “Young lady, you’ve got a lot of explaining to do and I have a lot of questions, but right now I have to get something off my chest.” Gesturing to Marty she went on, “For your father and me, I must say we are shocked and disappointed that you did not tell us you were pregnant. We would have been much better prepared had we known.” Laurie paused to let that sink in. Carolyn looked right at her just as she had been taught when being admonished as a naughty child. Laurie let Carolyn dangle on the line as she towered above her. “The other thing that I must ask is, who is the father?”
Now Carolyn really hated Diegert and the position in which he placed her. How could she tell her parents that the father was an assassin who killed the president and then died while carrying out one of the worst acts on terrorism in the modern age, only to come back to life with a different face? No, she could not tell them that. Her back up plan would have to work. Richard Ramsey was dead. He was a jerk and a lout, the perfect kind of guy to have an illegitimate child.
Laurie walked to the door and dragged in Vince. Pointing at him, she asked, “Is this the father?”
Carolyn’s eyes went to CD size again. She immediately knew how it was that her parents were there. A sense of gratitude for him meeting them at the airport quickly vanished as she realized the potential impact of answering her mother’s question.
Looking at Vince, then to her mother and turning her gaze upon her father, Carolyn realized she could not delay her reply. She said, “No. No, he is not the father. Vince is a friend I met when I first came to London. He’s a great guy and I’m very glad he helped me out by picking you up at the airport. Our friendship is not the kind that leads to pregnancy.” Realizing how awkwardly she had concluded her statement, Carolyn closed her eyes and shook her head, but she was not going to bother restating anything.
Carolyn then said, “Vince, if you’ve got to go, I understand. Thanks so much for all your help.”
Vince, realizing he was being dismissed, also recognized that he was being shut out of his child’s life. Carolyn’s statement forced him to be an outsider. A friend, but not a member of the family. He would one day have to overcome this lie if he was to fulfill the role of father to his child. Right now though, he was being dispatched with gratitude, but undoubtedly excluded from the arrival of his first-born child.
“Oh yeah, right, I gotta go. It was a pleasure to meet both of you,” said Vince as he shook hands with Marty and Laurie. The suspicion in Carolyn’s mother’s eyes never left. She held his gaze as she clutched his hand longer than was customary.
At Carolyn’s bedside he said, “I wish you all the best and I hope the delivery goes well.”
She looked up at him with a tepid smile, which turned into a painful frown as, yet another contraction seized her abdomen. Stepping back to allow Laurie to be by her daughter’s side, Vince headed for the door. At the threshold, he looked back. “Send me a text with the good news. I can’t wait to hear if it’s a boy or a girl.”
CHAPTER 35
Avery, Fiera and three beefy members of an Omnisphere security team drove to West Middlesex University Hospital. Fiera parked the vehicle across the street. Watching people exiting the building, Avery realized if Diegert had changed his face, he could walk right by them. All eyes were eager to spot their quarry.
After ten minutes, Fiera exclaimed, “There he is,” as she observed Vince exiting the hospital. He crossed the street in front of them, heading toward the bus station.
“Do we go get him boss?” asked the guy with the blond crew cut.
“No,” said Avery holding up his hand. “Our mission lies within the hospital.”
Vince skipped the bus, walking briskly to the Boston Manor station. On the tube, he called Julie. “Hey, how ya doing?”
The lady with the overstuffed shopping bag sitting across from him could only hear Vince’s side of the brief conversation.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Are you at your apartment?”
“Great, I’ll be there in about twenty minutes.”
“Yeah, see you
then.”
As the train took him to Julie, Diegert thought about the dual roles he was playing. Not only spy and assassin, he was now torn between his new found feelings for Julie and the respect, admiration and affection he felt for Carolyn, the mother of his child. It hurt when she denied him to her parents. He understood the difficult position she was in, being an agent of the CIA, but that child needed a father, and he was going to be that man. He kind of wished the train ride could last forever and he wouldn’t have to get off and choose. There was no way he wanted to relinquish either role and be just one person, with an exclusive life. He shook his head to clear his mind of crazy thoughts. The train came to a stop in Kensington station. Vince knew that Julie waited for him, in her home on the third floor of the Kellerman building.
The Omnisphere guard with the beard, Fiera and Avery all changed into royal blue medical scrubs. Fiera’s hack of the hospital database informed them of Carolyn’s location. Before exiting the van, Avery placed a call to the LPU ambulance directing them to arrive at the patient discharge area of the West Middlesex University Hospital. “We’ll meet you there in ten minutes,” he told the driver.
Looking like medical professionals, the three Crepusculous operators entered the hospital and took the elevator to the third floor. The bearded man went in search of a gurney. Avery and Fiera went to room 3157. From the pockets of their scrubs, they both produced small plastic pistols, loaded with hypodermic darts filled with a tranquilizing agent. The pistols used spring action to fire the darts. As they entered the room, Laurie Fuller turned to Avery to say, “Doctor, my daughter needs--” her words cut short by the drugs injected from the dart Fiera fired into her. Marty Fuller, shocked to see his wife fall, had been shot by Avery and it was only seconds before he joined her on the floor. Fiera moved to Carolyn’s bedside, stifling her scream with a strong hand over her mouth. Avery injected a sedative in her IV line and, after a brief struggle, Fiera released Carolyn. The unconscious pregnant woman breathed rhythmically. The man with the beard arrived with a gurney. While he and Avery transferred Carolyn, Fiera went down the hall seeking the right room. She was looking for a woman whose labor was progressing and who was ready to deliver. In room 3132, she found a young Asian woman with a panicked expression. Her mother sat in a chair with traditional herbs and prayer flags. Fiera surveyed the scene, smiled politely, and pulled the code call button on the wall. Every nurse on the floor moved directly to room 3132. Avery, with Carolyn under a pale blue blanket, directed the gurney to the elevator. Fiera joined them as they waited. When the doors slid open, several doctors stepped out and hurried down the hall. Carolyn was rolled in and, during the descent, Avery received confirmation that the LPU ambulance was in place. On the ground floor, they rolled the patient to the discharge area. The door guard, anticipating the discharge paperwork, looked up from his desk with his hand outstretched. Avery smiled as he took the man’s hand and held it tight. He pulled out his pistol and fired the dart down the man’s short sleeve, impaling it in his armpit. The man’s quizzical look faded as he slumped forward with the dart conveniently concealed in his axilla.