by Ladew, Lisa
He took a quick shower too and they sat, waiting for the doctor to come and release her. When he finally arrived and performed his final exam, then signed the release paperwork, Katerina looked around at the small hospital room and hoped she would never stay in this hospital again. She’d had enough of it for a lifetime.
They packed all of their bags and put Nina back inside the kennel where she curled up contentedly. West called Jordan to come up and get her. Blaise was also being released today and Jordan had said she would take care of the cat until they were done at the FBI office. Jordan kissed Katerina lightly on the cheek. “Knock ‘em dead, Kat.”
“It’s not show business, Jordan,” Katerina said with a smile.
“Well then, kick their asses,” Jordan said and waggled her fingers from the doorway, then slipped outside and disappeared.
“West, are the reporters still outside waiting for me?”
“They were last night.”
“How are we going to get out of here without dealing with them?”
“Don’t worry, I have a plan.”
West led Katerina to the service elevator and took her down to the basement where the laundry loading bay was. Katerina was pleasantly surprised to see that there were no reporters in this area. They must all be clustered around the front door. Pretty stupid of them actually, she thought. West led her to his truck, which was parked only a few feet away. He hurried her into the passenger seat and rushed around, climbing in and driving away quickly before anyone could see them. It was already 9:30 and West drove them directly to the FBI headquarters building downtown.
West helped her out of the vehicle and Katerina looked up at the tall, modern building, looming intimidatingly above. The first flutter of nerves started in her belly. She hoped this would work. Whoever had been responsible for killing that man needed to be discovered, found out. Justice needed to be served. Katerina winced as the musing went through her mind. She had killed someone. She pulled her thoughts away from it, chiding herself instantly that it had been self-defense and was completely different.
She and West walked inside, hand in hand, then took the elevator to the fourteenth floor where the doors opened on an official-looking desk with an official-looking secretary behind it. Craig stood there waiting for them.
He ushered them down a long hallway quickly, saying everybody else was there already.
“Everybody else?” Katerina asked. “How many of them are there?”
Craig dropped his voice and stepped close to them as they walked. “Four. The national security director, Douglas Armstrong. Dora Hawker, the woman whose house everything happened at. William McLaughlin, an aide from the California Congress who insists that the national security director is responsible for everything. He says Ronan was blackmailing Armstrong, but he really seems to hate Armstrong so I’m not sure how much is made up and how much is real. And there’s an FBI agent who we asked to step in just to round out the numbers. Everybody is in on it except for Director Armstrong. Well, they don’t know exactly what’s going to happen, but they know they are here to help us with our investigation and they should just say yes to anything we ask.”
Katerina nodded as they drew towards the door at the very end of the hallway. The door and the walls were glass and she could see four people sitting at a long table inside.
Craig drew them in the room and sat Katerina at the very end of the table, several seats away from everybody else. West sat in the chair closest to her on the far side of the table. Craig paced up and down the table, speaking to everyone but looking at no one.
“I believe you all know why you are here. Look around the table. One of you is guilty of conspiring to murder Vincent Ronan. I have my own belief as to who that person is and I think we will discover if I am right today beyond the shadow of any doubt. What we uncover today may not be able to be used directly in a court of law, but I assure you, that when the truth is out, and it will come out, I will stop at nothing to get a conviction based on what we discover. There are some cases where the law in the real world works exactly like you see it on TV, and one thing they get right is that we do afford lighter sentences for people who cooperate.” He stopped pacing and looked Director Armstrong in the eye for effect. Katerina shivered at the authority in his voice.
“Lie until your conviction and I promise you that I will put you in the deepest, darkest hole I can find, for the very rest of your life. But if you, the guilty one, decide to come forward today and cooperate fully with us, I’m sure you can expect twenty years, maybe as little as fifteen with the state of the prisons in our country today.” He stopped and looked at each person in turn. “Cooperate, and I promise you a white collar prison.”
Katerina shuddered from the head of the table. She was glad Craig wasn’t trying to prosecute her. She felt eyes upon her and looked at the four ‘suspects.’ Two of them were watching her. Director Armstrong, and the woman who owned the house on millionaire row. Katerina looked down quickly, not wanting to meet their eyes.
Craig went on. “I’m sure you have all heard of the psychic paramedic.” He looked at each of the people in turn again, and his eyes stayed particularly long on the national security director. “In fact, one of you gave permission for her to be killed. Which was stupid, because she didn’t know anything. From the very beginning, she has been confused as to why this mess has been following her around. Director Ronan never woke up. And he did not seem to know who was behind the order to kill him. If he knew something that could have led to that discovery, she didn’t pick it up. She’s been in the dark since the beginning. But now, because of her harrowing experience a few days ago, she’s willing to help us. You know what her abilities are, yes? She can touch you, and know in an instant your deepest, darkest secret. Anything that you don’t want to share, or anything you are scared will get out, she can touch you and know what it is. She has agreed today to touch each of you in turn, and report to me who was responsible for Ronan’s death. Yes, I know I can’t use this in a court of law, but that won’t matter. She’ll be able to tell me what the evidence is that can be used in a court of law. And then I’ll take over. And you will go to jail.”
Katerina felt the table shake slightly and she looked up. Somebody was trembling but she couldn’t tell who. The woman, Dora Hawker, was starting to look around, as if she had somewhere else to be.
Craig addressed the man closest to him, and Katerina assumed he was the FBI agent. He looked the part. “Do you agree that the psychic paramedic can touch you?” The man nodded quickly and glanced at Katerina.
Craig went on to the next man, who Katerina assumed was the aide. He also agreed. Katerina started to get nervous. Logically, Craig should stop at the national security adviser next, but would he skip him and ask Dora Hawker first?
He didn’t. “Director Armstrong, are you willing to have the psychic paramedic touch you?” Katerina winced at how many times he had said “psychic paramedic,” but she shook it off. With any luck, she’d never have to hear that phrase again after today.
Director Armstrong lifted his chin defiantly and stared Craig in the eyes. He didn’t look remotely guilty. Now she knew why Craig had been having problems with him. “This is ridiculous, but if this will get you off my back, then yes, I am willing to go along with whatever silly scheme you have cooked up here.”
Craig didn’t even miss a beat. Katerina sucked in a breath, hoping he wasn’t going to try to get her to actually touch these people and pretend to get something off of them. His eyes moved to Dora Hawker, but before he could say a word, she was up and moving. She walked away from him, towards West, appearing to want to circle the table and reach the door. Her eyes were on Katerina and they were terrified. She hugged the wall and spoke into her clasped hands. “I simply forgot, I have a pressing appointment, I –”
West reached out and touched her hand gently as she passed him. “It’s OK, you’re not in trouble here,” he said so softly that Katerina could barely hear him. She didn�
��t think the men several seats down could hear him at all. But that was West, always looking to take care of people. Especially women.
She stopped, stock still at his touch. He continued to speak softly to her. “This is almost over, just sit down and answer the question, you don’t have anything to be afraid of.”
Katerina watched the woman closely, intrigued by her behavior. A question formed in her mind. Was Craig wrong? Was this woman the one …? But even as she thought it, the woman relaxed and her gaze went unfocused. She turned around and dropped heavily into the seat she had vacated. Craig looked at her strangely and then asked her the question. “Mrs. Hawker, are you willing to have the psychic paramedic touch you?”
“No,” the woman said and her voice sounded faraway, robotic. Craig looked at her strangely, and he finally appeared slightly shaken, like he didn’t know what to do now. His brow furrowed in heavy thought. Katerina looked down the long table and all of the men were now staring at this woman, looks of confusion on their face. She certainly was acting strangely.
Dora Hawker shook her head and seemed to realize where she was. She raised her right hand to her hair and patted it tremulously. Her gaze flitted around the room and finally landed on Katerina. Craig watched her closely, but chose not to say anything. He could tell something big was coming. Had he been wrong all along?
The woman lifted her hand from her hair and pointed a long finger at Katerina. “God damned bitch,” she finally spit at Katerina, her voice full of venom. Katerina recoiled. West stood up and held up his hands, standing between the woman and Katerina, blocking their view of each other. Craig waved him back and placed a finger to his lips. West sat back down in his chair and watched the hateful woman closely.
Dora Hawker swung around to face Craig. “You got me, I did it. I hired Kurt Kane. I was the one who wanted Victor Ronan dead. He was blackmailing Douglas,” she cried, her narrowed eyes swinging to Director Armstrong, then moving back to Craig. “Ronan was going to ruin Douglas’ life. Ronan was a rat, and the bible says rats shall not be suffered to live.”
Craig exchanged looks with the other FBI agent in the room. Then he turned back to Mrs. Hawker. “So you were in on this with Director Armstrong?”
The woman sneered. “No, what do you think I am, stupid? It was only me.”
Katerina shook her head. She glanced at Director Armstrong and saw he had his head in his hands. “Dora,” he said, anguish in his voice, but she waved him off.
Craig took a step towards her. “And why do you care if Ronan was blackmailing Director Armstrong?”
She sneered at Craig again. “Because I love him, you imbecile. We are having an affair. Shouldn’t you have figured that out by now?” Craig winced, but smiled also. He looked at Katerina and West and waved them away. “You two are free to go at any time. Thank you so much for your help.”
Chapter 22
West and Katerina hurried down the hallway, clutching each other, trying to contain snorts of laughter. Katerina couldn’t believe they were finding humor in the situation, but it sure did feel good to laugh.
“Did you see the look on Craig’s face?” West asked her.
“Yeah, she really lit into him.”
“I bet he doesn’t care though, because he got his confession.”
Katerina felt the laughter overtake her again as they entered the elevator and made it down to the first floor. She walked outside, hand in hand with the love of her life, with nowhere to be, and nothing to do. She felt strangely light and heavy at the same time. They climbed inside West’s truck and he started it, then drove away.
“Katerina, I hate to bring this up already, but you have to know. There are reporters outside both of our houses.”
Katerina didn’t say anything. Of course there were. Life just couldn’t be simple.
“So that’s why I want to take you to the airport,” West continued.
“The airport?” Katerina said confused.
“When was the last time you took an honest-to-goodness vacation?”
“Never,” Katerina replied softly.
“Never?” West repeated, looking at her curiously.
“When mom was alive, she never felt like she could take vacations. There was always one more vicious killer who needed to be caught. And when she died, I couldn’t afford to take vacations.”
A grin spread across Wests’s face. “That settles it then, we’re going on vacation right now. I have your bags packed already. They are in the back. In fact, our plane takes off in three and a half hours and we need to get to the airport.”
Katerina’s chest filled with warmth. Vacation? “Where are we going?” she asked.
“Well if you’ve never been on vacation, then I’m guessing it’s somewhere you’ve never been. Hopefully it’s somewhere you’ve always wanted to go. But I’d like to keep it a secret for a little while longer.”
Katerina nodded her agreement. Vacation. A reprieve. The start of their new life together. Incredible gladness filled her heart and she knew a lightness that she hadn’t felt since her mom had been alive. She thought of her mom then, and knew she would’ve loved West. She reached over and grasped West’s hand on the gearshift.
As they walked into the airport, West finally came clean. Without putting a blindfold on her and sticking earplugs in her ears, he knew he wouldn’t be able to keep their destination from her any longer. As they walked into the large building, pulling their suitcases behind them, he whispered in her ear, “Hawaii.”
Katerina squealed, feeling the stress and horror of the last few months fall away from her. She was with her man, she was blissfully normal, and she was on her way to a vacation in Hawaii.
***
West settled into his first-class seat and watched Katerina happily. She was fiddling with all the buttons and kept looking up and down the aisle. She’d never even been on a plane. West was surprised, considering the importance of the job her mother had done, but Katerina said her mother only worked in the state, and always drove when she had to leave Westwood Harbor. The job really had been her whole life. The job, and Katerina.
The plane left the runway smoothly and he could hear Katerina’s intake of breath even over the roar of the engines. He held her hand and assured her that the sensations were normal. They would pass and when they got in the air, everything would be smoother. At cruising altitude, Katerina relaxed fully and watched the ocean from her window. She talked to the passengers around her, touching everyone. She shook the flight attendant’s hand and touched the passenger in front of her on the arm. West watched her with a small smile on his face. He knew what she was doing. She was making sure the power was still gone. Or maybe she was just being friendly, making up for not being able to touch anyone for the last month. Regardless, her happiness was obvious. She kept exclaiming how amazing everything was. West was glad to be the one to give her this experience for the first time. He hoped to give her many experiences for the first time. He patted his jacket pocket nervously, suddenly glad that she couldn’t catch his thoughts anymore.
After the seatbelt sign was turned off, West stood up to go to the bathroom. “I’ll be right back,” he whispered to Katerina.
As he approached the lavatory, he heard a man’s voice, raised and tense. He looked forward curiously. It was not the kind of voice you like to hear on an airplane. As he reached the bathroom and stood in line, he realized where the almost-yelling was coming from. A man stood in front of one of the flight attendants, a bit heavyset, with the big belly and red face of a heavy drinker. The flight attendant had her hands up, trying to calm the man. “I’m sorry sir, but I cannot serve you any alcohol until the drink cart comes around. I can give you a bottle of water now, but you’ll need to return to your seat and wait, just for another twenty minutes or so.”
The man leaned forward, his hands clenched and raising, and West stiffened. If he tried to hit or grab the flight attendant, West would have to step in. But the man didn’t. He shook his clenched fists
in front of him, at chest level and told the flight attendant she didn’t understand.
West looked around, wondering if this flight had an air marshal on it. If the air marshal had to arrest this guy would they return to California to unload him before they continued on to Hawaii? That was the last thing he wanted. He stepped closer to the man, thinking maybe he could reason with him.
The flight attendant was trying again to explain to the man that there was nothing she could do, but the man’s face was growing redder and more angry by the second.
Just calm down, West thought, as he looked at the man’s face. It’s not that big of a deal. He touched the man gently on the shoulder, meaning to gain his attention and try to speak to him. The flight attendant threw him a cautious glance. The man’s face immediately smoothed out, and his hands dropped to his sides. His face took on a faraway look that West had seen only a few hours before, on the face of Ms. Hawker.
West pulled his hand back in confusion. What had happened? As soon as he stopped touching the man, the red face screwed up in anger and the man raised his fists to chest level again, poking out the index finger of each hand and pointing it at the flight attendant.
West forgot his momentary confusion and touched the man on the shoulder. The man looked at him and West smiled broadly, his best let’s-be-friends smile, and stuck out his hand to shake. The man held up his hand automatically, just like any good American did, and West grasped it firmly.
He started speaking, but as he did he noticed the man’s face went blank again. West’s hands suddenly felt hot and itchy and he hoped the guy didn’t have any diseases. “Hi, I’m West, I see you are having an issue. Hey, I know how hard it is to get a drink on these flights, and how stressful it can be, but the lady really can’t help you right now. That’s the way it works. That’s how the government makes sure it happens,” West said, pegging the guy as a conspiracy theorist, and thinking maybe he could get him talking that way.