Kestrel

by A. M. Hargrove

  The noise is horrific. Glass shattering, metal crunching, tires squealing, and screaming. The screaming. It reverberates in my ears.

  Then I hear the distinct sound of gunfire. I know that sound. It’s imprinted in my brain like nothing else. Bing, bing, bing, bing. Over and over it goes.

  Then an eerie silence descends. I’m trapped under part of the door and can’t move. Carter? Where is Carter? I want to speak but I can’t. Why can’t I speak? I blink my eyes, trying to focus, but everything is blurred. Then it grays out.

  ***

  “Mr. Hart? Mr. Hart?”

  I open my eyes and see Heath.

  “Don’t move. EMS is coming. Stay still.”

  “Carter?” I ask

  “She’s next to you.”

  “Carter, can you hear me?” my voice is weak. I get no response.

  Heath says, “I can’t reach her because the car is against the wall. Just don’t move.”

  I hear sirens in the distance.

  “Did you see them?” I ask.

  “I shot them,” he says.

  “Mr. Hart, hang in there.” It’s Turk talking now.

  “Did you see them, Turk?”

  “I got here right as Heath was shooting.”

  “Dane?”

  “Everything’s gonna be cool,” Turk says.

  I close my eyes, but Turk says, “Hey, Mr. Hart, stay with me, man.”

  “I’m here.”

  I hear the sirens getting closer.

  “I can’t feel anything.”

  “Don’t try to move. Let the experts get you out, man.”

  “How many were there?”

  “Two.”

  I stare at the crunched up ceiling of the Tahoe. How the hell did this happen? And what did they want from Carter? Why her? She’s the sweetest thing in the world. Who would want to harm that beautiful human being? Tears fall freely down my face because I can’t for the life of me see the reason in this. Me, yes. I’m an SOB. I’ve done a shit ton of things when I worked for my father that I should pay for. But Carter? Never.

  The firemen arrive and go to work. I insist they get her out before me. I grab the first one’s collar and say, “Listen to me. You have to save her. You have to save her. Do you hear me? Forget about me. Get her.”

  He nods.

  “No. I mean it. Me, I’m nothing. She—she’s going to cure cancer one day. She’s an angel and I don’t care if you have to sacrifice my life in order to save hers. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”

  My hand grips his so hard he finally looks at me and says, “I understand.”

  “One other thing, she’s pregnant.”

  “Okay.”

  He backs out and starts yelling out orders. They hook up equipment to the SUV and move it out so they can access the other side. Then they go to work on both of us. He talks to me the whole time and by some huge miracle, I never lose consciousness. Hydraulic tools and giant airbags are deployed to pull apart the vehicle and extract me. Immobilizers are placed on my neck, spine, and legs. They don’t give me any information on Carter, which has me so anxious that they inject me with something to calm me down. I’m transported by ambulance, but a helicopter arrives and I’m not sure if it’s for Dane or Carter. They won’t tell me. All I know is I’m taken to the University Medical Center of Charleston Trauma unit.

  When I wake up hours later, I’m told I don’t have any spinal injuries, only a fractured femur and ankle. I couldn’t care less. I want to know about Carter.

  Kolson is there with me. “She’s going to be fine, Kestrel. It was a little dicey at first. She has a head injury, but everything is pointing to a full recovery.”

  “Wait. What? What do you mean pointing?”

  “She took the brunt of the crash. She was pinned from both sides, really. Initially, they thought she had a really bad head injury, but as it turns out, it’s only a slight skull fracture of the temporal bone and she will have a full recovery with no long term effects. The other body trauma will be worse. She had some internal injuries.”

  “The baby?”

  Kolson closes his eyes and shakes his head. “I’m sorry, bro.”

  “Aw, fuck.” I rub my face and want to cry. “Does she know?”

  “No. She’s still out of it from the surgery. They stabilized her, then had to take her in right away. She was bleeding pretty badly from a ruptured spleen.”

  “You have to have surgery too. Your leg needs a rod and pins apparently.”

  “Yeah. I don’t care about that. I wanna see Carter.”

  “Let me see what I can do. I’m not sure I can get you out of this bed.”

  “I don’t care if you have to part the fucking Red Sea. Do it.”

  “Hey, I’m not fucking Moses, dude.”

  “Kolson. What about Dane?”

  He grimaces and slowly shakes his head.

  “Oh, God.” That was my final straw and I break down. Kolson is right there and holds on to me.

  “Hey, I’ve got you. You’re not going to shoulder this alone. Listen, Kestrel. We got two of them. Heath shot them, killed one. Left the other one alive to talk. We know who did this. This whole thing is going down and Drex is already here.”

  “Jesus. Carter almost dies. Gabby almost dies. Mom dies. Dane dies. For what Kol?”

  “Her research. They wanted her research.”

  “What?”

  “It was Simon’s father. He orchestrated the whole thing to get her research. He wanted to sell it to the highest bidder. He’s the dirty one. Had his son, Simon, feeding him information and the dumbass didn’t even know he was doing it. Oh, you’ll love all this when you hear it.”

  “Have they arrested him yet?”

  “Oh, have they. And he went down with all kinds of pomp and circumstance. It was a fucking circus.”

  The whole thing sickens me. Carter works her ass off to do the right thing her whole life and then some son of a bitch tries to kill her.

  All of a sudden I feel sick. “Kolson, give me that thing. I’m gonna be sick.”

  He hands me a basin and I throw up. I think about Carter and what would’ve happened to her had she been alone. That fucker waited until she was inches away from a cure, then pounced.

  “You okay?”

  “I guess. That miserable fuck. He waited until Carter had what he wanted. Kol, what if she’d been alone? What if we hadn’t been there? That puny fucker would’ve taken her out and no one would’ve been around to ask any questions. The police would’ve covered it up and end of story.”

  Kolson takes my hand and squeezes it. “Lucky for Carter she has you, man.”

  “Get me to her. Now. I have to see her. I have to hold her, even if it’s only her hand. And I have to be the one to tell her she lost our baby.”

  “Yeah. Okay.”

  After arguing and fighting with the nurses, I get my way. Kolson loads me onto a fancy wheelchair and takes me to Carter’s room in the ICU. I sit next to her, holding her hand. The nurses give me dirty looks, but I don’t care. They know I’ll be there until she awakens. Her doctors come in and see me.

  “I’m here and staying. I don’t care what you say.” I guess they figure there’s no arguing with me.

  Carter finally wakes up. She’s a bit disoriented but when she sees me, she squeezes my hand.

  “Welcome back, angel.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Carter

  Kestrel is ensconced in a huge wheel chair with his leg extended. In some ways, he looks like a king in his throne. It almost makes me want to laugh. Almost. Then he tells me his leg is broken and he needs to have a rod put in it. His leg is strapped an immobilizer. It’s a funky looking black thing with a bunch of Velcro and hinges. Next he tells me I had surgery. My spleen was ruptured. I also fractured my skull—the temporal bone to be exact. But I’ll be fine. Then he kisses my hand and leans in as close as his chair will allow.

  “Oh, angel, what I would do not to have to say these t
errible words to you, but there’s nothing I can do but tell you the honest truth.”

  When I see his face is wet, I know what’s coming next. “I lost the baby, didn’t I?”

  His voice cracks when he answers. “Yeah. I’m so damn sorry. I told the paramedics when they came so they would know, but you took the brunt of the crash from both sides. I should’ve been sitting where you were.” Then he breaks down and cries and so do I.

  “I knew it was too good to be true.”

  “Nothing is too good to be true. I’m so thankful you are alive. After everything came to a stop and you didn’t answer me, I thought the worst. And they wouldn’t tell me anything. I kept asking and no one would say anything.”

  “Oh, God, that must’ve been awful.”

  “But you’re going to be perfect again. My perfect angel.”

  “No, never perfect.”

  “It was Simon’s father.”

  “What?” What is he saying?

  “He wanted your research. He had someone hack into your computer system in the lab and steal your methodology. Everything. All your processes, procedures, he got it all. But the police got to him before he had a chance to do anything with it. They caught him red-handed.”

  “Kestrel, that’s crazy.”

  “I know. He wanted it enough to kill you to get it or to get you out of the way. I’m so sorry I pushed you away, thinking it was me they were after. I put you in more danger.” He kisses my hands again and again.

  “Stop. It’s over.”

  “Heath shot and killed one of them and then got the other so they figured it all out.”

  “What about Dane?”

  I lower my head.

  “Oh, no.”

  “That Forrester man needs to pay dearly for the lives he stole.”

  “Did Simon know?”

  “Kolson says he didn’t.”

  “Thank God.”

  I raise my brows.

  “I hate the thought of being friends with him all those years if he was involved in this.”

  “I think he was just a stupid pawn in his father’s evil game. You know, I guess he and I have something in common after all.”

  “Hmm.” My eyes are growing heavy.

  “You need to sleep.”

  “So do you. It can’t be comfortable in that chair.”

  “If I’m not here when you wake up, I’ll be in my room. And angel, I love you more than coffee.”

  She offers me a weak smile. “Ahh, that means a lot.”

  “Angel, we’ll have another.”

  “Another what?”

  “Baby.”

  My lids open. “Somehow, I thought this baby was prophetic because of the due date. I don’t know, I thought Ells was speaking to us, you know.”

  “She is. She kept us safe. We’re alive, aren’t we? Maybe she wanted some company and decided she wanted a sibling up there with her.”

  I suck in my breath. Oh shit. I hadn’t thought of that. My hands cover my mouth.

  “Don’t cry again, angel, because there’s only one thing I want right now and that’s to hold you, but this damn leg won’t let me.”

  Shaking my head, I say, “I’ll try, but it’s hard.” I grip his hand as hard as I can and thank God and Ells that we’re both alive. We’ll get through this loss. And we really weren’t ready for a baby. Not yet. Someday, yes, but not yet.

  ***

  When we go home, we decide that the carriage house will be the best place to live until Kestrel’s cast comes off, due to the fact that there are no steps to navigate. My things have been moved back from the other house already and that place will be put up for rent. Kestrel works from home and we’ve hired someone to come in and help with cooking and chores in the big house. I’m still tired so I can’t do much on that end. The lab is being rebuilt and until it’s completed, my work is at a stand still.

  The investigation into the accident and the Christmas shooting is finally over. The police, along with Drex, uncovered the whole mess. Senator Forrester will face two murder charges, along with the bombing of the research facilities, cyber theft, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, as well as a host of other crimes. Detective Brunson is also facing charges for his involvement in the cover up.

  After we’ve been home for a few weeks, Simon stops by to see us. I invite him in and he looks around the house.

  “We’re staying in the carriage house. Kestrel’s leg, you see. He can’t navigate any stairs due to his cast. He had surgery.”

  He nods, then drops his head. He suddenly blurts out, “I’m sorry. I owe you both a huge apology. Can I see him before I lose my nerve?”

  He’s rattled me. I don’t answer right away.

  “Please, Carter. This is important to me.”

  “Yeah. Okay.”

  I lead the way to the carriage house. When I walk in, Kestrel smiles but when he sees Simon, it morphs to a frown.

  “He wanted to see you,” I say.

  Simon looks awkward, but he doesn’t back down when he says, “Yes. I did. I owe you an apology.”

  “I would say so. But not to me. To Carter.”

  “No. To you both. For my father.”

  I watch the two of them. Kestrel is wary of him, as am I.

  “My father was always a demanding, control freak and I fell into that. I always knew he did … things … but I never imagined he would go to those extremes.”

  “I don’t imagine you did,” Kestrel says sourly.

  “Mr. Hart, had I known, I would’ve done anything I could have to stop him. You can’t think I approved of that. You can think of me however you choose, but I am not a killer.”

  “Then why are you here apologizing?”

  “Because I feel that the sins of the father are somehow reaped upon the son. I am responsible in some fashion, even though I didn’t do it. I only wish I could’ve stopped him. Thank God, neither of you were hurt worse than you were.”

  “Well, too bad for my dead mother.”

  Simon’s face turns scarlet. “As I said, I am profusely sorry. I can’t bring her back but I’m glad he’s been apprehended. And thank God, he was unsuccessful in his attempts on Carter.”

  “But unfortunately for our unborn child, he succeeded there. Carter lost our baby because of him.”

  I cringe. Why did he have to say that? Simon whips around to look at me.

  “Oh, Carter, I didn’t know. I am sorry for that.”

  I can only grimace. Funny thing is, I believe he’s sincere.

  “Well then, I guess I’ll be going. I wish you a speedy recovery, Mr. Hart.”

  I follow him out and when we get outside, he takes my hand and says, “Carter, I’m sorry for all the shitty things I’ve said to you over the years. You never deserved them. It was never your fault Ells died. And I’m so sorry you lost your baby.” He releases me and walks away.

  When I walk back inside, Kestrel says, “Isn’t he the repentant one?”

  “I suppose he is. His father never was a nice man. He’s coming to terms with everything.”

  “Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure?”

  “Did Simon or his family ever have anything to do with Ells?”

  “God no! Senator Forrester acted like she didn’t exist. And Simon only acted like he cared after she died. That family didn’t want her to tarnish their good name. I think Simon regretted it though when she was gone.”

  “Can you come here, please?”

  I walk over to where he sits in a large chair with his leg resting on an ottoman.

  “I really don’t deserve you.” He takes my hand and runs his thumb across my knuckles. “Are you always this forgiving?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe.”

  “Hmm. My perfect angel.”

  “Hardly.”

  “Oh, but you are. All those awful things Simon did and said to you. And one time he shows up and apologizes and you forgive him. You always see the good in people. I wish I was more li
ke you.”

  “Maybe I’m just a fool and a slow learner. It seems to me I’m the one that gets burned by friends.”

  “You’re neither. You’re trusting and open. And I love you. I don’t want you any other way.”

  I’m very careful as I climb on him and straddle his lap. Then I take his face between my palms and kiss his lips. “I don’t want you any other way either. You have this idea that I’m a perfect being. I happen to think you are, too. Imagine this for a moment. Kestrel never came to Charleston. Carter is sitting in the front den, alone on Christmas Day, watching TV, and a spray of gunfire catches her unaware. End of story. You’ve saved me in more than one way. I can’t begin to name them all. And I happen to agree with you on something.”

  “Oh? What’s that?”

  “Ells protected us that day in the car. She was the angel, Kestrel. Not me.”

  His hand reaches around my neck and pulls me close so he can kiss me.

  “Well, one thing makes total sense to me. An angel gave birth to an angel.”

  He makes me smile.

  “Hey, how about you slipping those panties off and making this devil happy?”

  I punch his arm.

  “What?” he asks. “Don’t tell me you’re not interested.” His hand slips into my panties and he says, “Oh, angel, you can’t hide ready from me. You are almost dripping.” Then he gives me one of his devilish grins.

  “Mmm.” I lift up and tug down the elastic waist of his shorts. His erection springs out and my hand clamps around him. “Oh, bubs, you can’t hide hard, either.”

  “Wasn’t trying to. Now go get a condom, unless you want to try for a baby-angel.”

  Our eyes meet and we’re both serious-faced. “Do you?”

  “Of course I do. I have to admit, being a father scares the shit out of me. I never thought I’d get to this point, and I had the worst possible role model one can have. So the idea of walking down that road makes me question whether I’m even capable of doing an adequate job of it.”

  I take his face between my palms. “Listen to me. You have the biggest heart of anyone I know. You are going to be the best father in the world.”

  “The world?” He laughs.

  “Don’t laugh. Look what you’ve done for me. I can’t even fathom what you’d do for our child. What’s in here,” I rest my hand over his beating heart, “has so much love that when we have kids, you will be amazed at how it pours out of you. And I think you will be especially good because you know what it’s like not to have love. Just wait. The first time you hold your child, you’ll melt. You don’t know love until that moment hits you.”