by Frank Perry
it.
They talked for a few more minutes then Hunter lay on the bed and closed his eyes. He didn’t know how long he slept before muffled voices began registering. He felt sluggish, and dreaded getting up. Moments later, he walked into Claire’s living room where she and Sue Ann were talking about unrelated family matters.
Claire spoke first, “Did you get some sleep?”
Hunter ran his hand though his hair, “Yeah. I feel pretty good.” He avoided making eye contact with Sue Ann, which alerted Claire.
Sue Ann was silent while Hunter sat with them, finally looking at her. “Well, fancy seeing you again.”
Sue Ann looked down as Claire spoke. “What’s going on here?”
Hunter looked at Sue Ann, “You want to tell her, or should I?”
Sue Ann sat up straighter and glanced at him before addressing Claire. “He’s right to be mad at me, Claire. I’ve been a bad girl.”
Claire looked at her, but didn’t speak as Sue Ann continued. Hunter sat back and looked at his feet. “The short of it is that I’ve been dating Luciano Peña for almost a year.”
Claire gasp, putting her hand to her mouth.
Sue Ann went on. “I didn’t know who he was. I should have done more homework, but, I don’t know, maybe he just swept me off my feet. Headline--Poor school teacher romanced by millionaire playboy and his friends. I didn’t look deeply.” She started to cry, but continued. “At...at first, he just gave me everything and we went everywhere. There was the jet, the gifts, the travel. It was all just unreal. I feel so ashamed and mad because he could buy me. He used my affections because he could buy me! She was sobbing. “I didn’t ever want to be a bad person. I just wanted to be special, but he was just using me.”
Claire’s disbelief turned more sympathetic. “What about the kidnapping, Sue Ann. What about that?”
Sue Ann looked at Hunter then Claire with red swollen eyes. “I thought he was just doing some friends a favor. I swear Claire, I was horribly conflicted. Luca never asked me to do anything before except be his lover. I thought I was living a fairytale. But then he said he needed something in return from me. It made me sick, but I did it. I did it! I scared my family for him. I swear it changed our relationship, but I didn’t stop seeing him. He hasn’t asked for anything since then.”
Claire was looking past Sue Ann. “You’re still seeing him?”
Sue Ann nodded. “I shouldn’t be, I guess.” She wiped her eyes on a napkin. “I should have broken it off, but like I said, I still wanted to play the princess.”
Hunter had been watching the exchange. He said, more gently than hours earlier, “Sue Ann, there’s something we didn’t tell you that you need to know. It’s very confidential and could blow the lid off the investigation into Peña and Jose’s murder.”
She stared at him. “What? What do you mean?”
Claire interrupted. “Suzy. Luciano Peña is the biggest drug smuggler on the west coast. He’s a murderer. He killed José.” Tears formed in Claire’s eyes. “He locked José in the trunk of his car and dumped him in the ocean like garbage to drown. That’s your lover.”
Sue Ann gasp and cried uncontrollably. Hunter went to the kitchen for a glass of water, unsure if it was wise to confide in her.
He returned and handed her the water. She was shocked in disbelief. “Look, Sue Ann, we’ve known about him for a long time. We recently made the connection with José. The state police, the FBI, they’re building a case against him to put him down for good.”
She composed herself, somewhat. “I want to help. This man’s an animal. He didn’t care for me. Hell, he doesn’t even care for his wife. I want to cut off his balls!”
Hunter remained serious and Claire was standing, looking out into the backyard. He said, “Look, Sue Ann, you need to be extremely careful. If he even gets a hint that you know about any of this, he’ll kill you.” He took her hand and made her look at him. “He’ll kill you. He’ll kill Claire, and he’ll come after me. Do you understand?”
“What should I do, Hunt? I can’t just stop with him. He’ll know, he’ll know!”
“Sue Ann, this is the hard part. You need to play along until it’s over.”
“How can I do that, Hunt? This man is a murderer. He killed José. I could never look at him again.”
“Look, cousin, I don’t care what it takes. If you have to blame yourself for all of it to remain focused then do it. You do whatever is needed to keep on task. If you blow it, you’ll be the first to die, and then there’ll be the rest of us.”
She sat looking at him, breathing deeply, then looked at Claire. “There really isn’t another choice, is there, Hunter?”
He paused then said, “No, Sue Ann. There really isn’t a choice.”
They all talked superficially for a few minutes, but the strain prevented any longer stay, so Sue Ann left to drive back to San Jose.
Claire spoke to Hunter after she left. “Hunt, I don’t believe this. She’s been sleeping with the devil and maybe even putting us all in bigger danger.”
“She’s been played by a master, Claire. In a way, you can’t blame a girl for wanting to live a dream. Hell, we could all get fooled if someone came on like this bastard.”
Claire’s expression didn’t change. “She’s in real danger now, Hunt.”
“Sis, she’s been in danger since she first met this maniac. Now, she just needs to stay focused until this is over.”
“How long will this take, Hunter? How long?”
“I don’t know, sis. The law works slowly. I don’t know if we can wait that long.”
“Hunter. I don’t like the look on your face. I’ve already lost a husband. I don’t want to lose you.”
He shook his head. “I know, sis. I know. I need some more rest. Wake me in a couple hours.” He didn’t wait for her response and went back into the guest room, closing the door.
Setback
He slept past noon, then packed for his return to Washington. Most of his equipment would stay locked in his largest suitcase in Claire’s closet. He called Laura, telling her that he was flying the “red-eye” back and would arrive at Reagan National at seven-thirty Monday morning. If things went on schedule, which they tend to do on overnight flights, he would be in his apartment by eight-thirty and get a couple more hours sleep before trying to work. They planned to have dinner together. Fortunately, Hunter was conditioned to sleeping on airplanes, and the commercial liners were more comfortable than the military planes where most of his night flights occurred.
He didn’t talk to Sue Ann again before departing and advised Claire to keep tabs on her. He was worried that Peña had survived to be the drug king of California because he wasn’t easily deceived. He also had no qualms about ending conflicts violently. In his world he didn’t need evidence, search warrants and juries to find someone guilty and punish them. Punishment meant death in the underworld. There were no prisons or fines.
He boarded the US Airways flight at ten-thirty. Claire took him to the airport and gave him a big hug. She didn’t even know what he had done, except to uncover Sue Ann’s treachery, but she did know that he had been away late for two nights and used some of his private military equipment. She knew he would never tell her everything. She just hoped he wasn’t fighting Peña on his own. She’s heard the discussion with John Richards and knew Hunter’s frustration. As a lawyer, she respected the law. As a potential victim in Peña’s campaign, she respected Hunter’s abilities even more. She just wished he wasn’t alone. The Government was not going to help until they had an ironclad case against Peña, and they might all be dead by then. Another part of her wanted to see Peña suffer the way they were suffering under his threats -- the way José had suffered.
He took a window seat, planning to stay in one place for the entire flight. His body was conditioned to relax to the drone of the engines when they started. He could sleep for
the entire flight if the attendants left him alone, and the PA system was silent. Once the cabin lights were dimmed, he started dreaming of Laurie. He imagined walking down the aisle with her. His dream lasted longer than an actual ceremony and he awoke as the captain announced that the flight attendants should “prepare the cabin for landing.”
National is a busy airport on Monday mornings with people coming and going in the heart of the Capitol. The plane wasn’t particularly full, so he was off quickly, walking down the concourse toward the exit. Without his bags, he would by-pass baggage and head straight for the Metro. He didn’t even notice the man following him. Number Two from the enforcement company had managed to purchase a ticket on the flight without reservation after following Hunter from Claire’s house. His partner, Number Three, was standing by curbside with a car, unless Hunter took the Metro.
As Hunter came to the escalator up to the Metro, she was waiting for him.
Laura smiled at his shocked expression. They embraced. “What are you doing here? This is a surprise. Wow, it’s really early!”
She smiled and put her arm around him, walking toward the garage. “I figured you’d be surprised. You flew all night and I thought I’d save you a little time and energy. My car is over in the garage. It’s not far.”
Number Two was close enough behind to hear part of it. He didn’t follow them. He met Three at the outward island of the