Under the Sheets (Capitol Chronicles Book 1)

by Shirley Hailstock

  "You’re not going, Brooke," Marianne repeated Ja­cob’s words.

  "What do you want?" Robyn asked the old man.

  "What I want you can’t give me."

  "No one can bring Alex back."

  "Then I want you, Robyn Richards. I want you in place of Kari."

  "No, Will." The two women heard Grant’s voice. It sounded open and free as if he was standing in full view of the park. "You took her away from me once. I won’t let you do it again."

  "I never took anything from you." Indecision crept into his voice.

  "You took Brooke away from me when you set up Alex and forced her to do her civic duty. Isn’t that what you taught Alex and me? Always do your duty. Obey orders. Aren’t those your words?"

  "Alex did what he was told. And she killed him." Will pointed to the ground.

  "I won’t give her to you," Grant said. "She’s mine."

  "All right," Will agreed. "I have the child. I don’t need the mother."

  "Yes, you do," Robyn took a step closer to the light that cut geometric patterns on the ground. "It was me who testified against Alex. Kari wasn’t born then. She’s entirely innocent in this, and if you want an ex­change, it’s me you’ll get." At that point, she pushed past Marianne’s restraining hands and stepped into the light. Marianne followed her. "I’m here, Will." She took a step forward, Marianne at her side. "Let Kari go."

  "Go back, Brooke," Grant called. He looked up at the scaffolding. "Will, I’m coming up."

  "Don’t do that. I’ll let the car go," he warned. "I’m coming up." Grant grasped the painted metal structure and swung his body into one of the X-shaped supports. A shot rang out. Robyn screamed, and Mari­anne pulled her out of the line of fire. The bullet hit the ground next to Grant, chipping the asphalt and ricocheting blacktop about his body. "I’m not kidding, Grant. I don’t want to hurt you, but I will."

  "Kari’s my daughter, too. I want to spend time get­ting to know her. I want to hold her in my arms and praise her when she tries things. I want to love her like you loved Alex." Grant swung another foot into the structure.

  “Like you didn’t have Alex?”

  For a moment no one said anything.

  “Is that why you took Kari? Because you love her in a way you never loved Alex?”

  “I loved my son.”

  “No, Will. You bushed him away, criticized him, corrected him, but love?” Grant paused. “You gave your love to me and the other neighborhood kids -- not your own son.

  “Stop it! That’s not true. I loved him. He knew that.”

  “It’s not true. And he didn’t know it, Will. Alex tried. He did what you said, trying, always trying to be what you wanted, to be you, get your approval. But you denied him. Denied it at every turn. No matter what he did, in your eyes it wasn’t good enough.”

  Robyn watched as Grant climbed the scaffolding. Jacob approached from the opposite side.

  "Don’t do it, Grant," Will warned. "I’ll let this car go."

  Several seconds passed as Grant continued his climb. Robyn went closer to the huge ma­chine. She didn’t know where he came from, but Hammil was on one side of her and Marianne on the other. Two other men walked in front and behind her, forming a human shield.

  The sound of the metal wheels of the car against the track was like the scream Robyn let out when she recognized the source. The car started toward the packed vehicles on the ground level. Robyn’s eyes riv­eted to the plunging car. She squeezed Marianne’s hands until she cried out in pain, and Marianne pried her fingers loose. Unable to turn away, she watched her child plunge toward death. But the impact she ex­pected didn’t come. Turning her head, she saw the grouping at the bottom, rigged to have the top car crash into them, move along the rails as if the park were open and crowds of people were waiting for their chance to go to the top of the loop. Three of Jacob’s men appeared. Two pulled the brake stick back while, hidden between the floorboards of the giant death ma­chine, a third did something she couldn’t see. The car stopped safely on a cushion of air.

  Robyn tried to get through the crowd around her. She wanted to run to the car and get her child.

  "She’s not in it," Marianne’s voice penetrated her thoughts. Robyn’s eyes went back to Will. Kari’s legs dangled dangerously over the side of the edifice.

  "Oh, dear God," she prayed. They all watched Grant as if he were a human fly scaling the wall. Without knowing it, the group inched closer to a small fence which in summer separated park visitors from the spaghetti of cables needed to run the monster machine. Robyn found herself pressed like a sandwich between Hammil and Marianne. They forced her behind an­other barrier.

  More men stole into the park. Like thieves they came under the structure, spreading foam along the ground. Robyn blinked and clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle the sobs she felt coming to the surface.

  She knew it wouldn’t help. Kari was light as a feather. The foam would feel like solid rock to her small body. The impact would kill her.

  ***

  "Graffie, I’m scared." Grant heard Kari’s voice. "I want my mommy." Tears soaked her face making tiny streams of the dirt that covered it.

  "I know, sweetheart. Graffie knows. Your mommy is down there." He pointed to the small group.

  "Can I go to her?" she hiccupped.

  "Soon, Kari. Soon."

  "Why did you try to hurt Uncle Grant?"

  Will looked at Grant. "Take one more step, Grant, and I’ll drop her." Will’s voice was menacing.

  Grant stopped, glancing down. He saw Robyn push her way to the front of the congregation.

  "Will, don’t hurt her,” she screamed. “She’s a child. She hasn’t had time to do anything to anyone. It’s me you want. I’m here. Take me. Let Kari go."

  Grant took another step. Will’s eyes returned to him. Grant was very near the top. With another step, his head would be level with Will’s feet. He could see Jacob climbing on Will’s blind side.

  "I warned you," he said savagely and held the child by her arms out over the ground. "One more step, and she’s history."

  Kari squirmed in his grasp. “Graffie, Graffie,” she shouted, her voice terrified. Robyn’s heart hurt.

  "Kari, don’t," Grant yelled, then lowering his voice he spoke softly to the child. "Be very still, Kari. Graffie won’t hurt you."

  Kari responded to his voice, and Grant returned his attention to the man he’d looked on as a hero. "Will, she’s your granddaughter."

  "Not anymore. She’s hers."

  "Graffie, I’m scared." Kari wiggled her legs, trying to get back to Will’s arms. "Graffie, don’t drop me." Kari turned wide eyes at her grandfather. Only the innocence of children could look like that, Will mused. She’d been with him for two days, and she still trusted him not to hurt her. He wanted to press her close to him and hug her small body. But there was the woman below. He forced himself to think of Robyn. She had destroyed his world and taken his son. He would take her daughter.

  “When did you start to love him, will?” Grant asked. “Was it after Alex died? Was it when you realized you’d lost him?”

  Will McAdams looked at the child and quickly closed his eyes. Kari continued wiggling.

  "Graffie, don’t hurt me. Mommy needs me. What would she do if I’m not there? When I was sick, she was so sad. She cried all the time."

  Will hesitated. He looked at the struggling child, but he saw Alex. Alex as a baby reaching for him.

  "Graffie, I want my mommy," she cried.

  Kari’s legs began to swing. She attempted to reach safety.

  "Kari, don’t do that," Will shouted. His arms were beginning to tire. Kari stopped at hearing the tone of his voice. She started to cry.

  "Graffie. I’m scared."

  Will looked at her. Indecision gripped him. He’d planned this for over a year. He’d waited, methodically following every step, careful to say nothing, betray nothing until he was positive. And now he was.

  Grant vaulted over t
he top. "Listen to her, Will. Don’t make another mistake. Don’t hurt Kari for something you couldn’t give to Alex."

  "Graffie, please," Kari cried. "I want my mommy."

  She was Alex again. He couldn’t keep them sepa­rate. He was holding Kari, then Alex would be there. His tiny arms reaching for him, wanting him to pick him up and carry him. But he wouldn’t. He didn’t want his son to be dependent on anyone. He pushed the child away until Alex no longer came to him. He wanted his mommy.

  "I want my mommy," Kari’s frightened voice reached him. Tears clouded his eyes, and he started to pull her back.

  Grant took a step closer. He was close to reaching Will.

  "No!" a voice screamed as if in agony. A shot followed it. Grant heard the collective cry from the ground as he watched Will stumble to his knees. Blood spread over his shoulder and down his right arm. Kari went over the edge. He heard her scream.

  Robyn clamped her fist in her mouth. Behind her there was a scuffle, but her feet found forward motion. She rushed to the scaffolding, jumping the fence to catch her child.

  Will struggled to pull Kari up. Grant hurled from toehold to toehold, trying to reach her before Will’s strength gave out. Jacob climbed as fast as he could. Each person was trying to reach the child before she fell.

  Marianne got to Robyn and pushed her out of the way. She was prepared to take Kari’s weight plus the G-force she’d create by her free fall. A second shot rang out. Marianne screamed, spinning around.

  Will’s last ounce of strength was tapped as death took him. Kari’s fingers slipped free.

  Grant lunged forward. He grabbed for the child. His hands closed over air.

  Kari fell. The fire de­partment rushed the crash net past the fence, one offi­cer throwing Marianne out of the way. She felt her collarbone snap as momentum propelled her against the support brace. Kari hit the crash net held by six strong men.

  Robyn raced to it, pushing aside the big men and reaching for her daughter. "Kari! Kari!" she cried. "Are you all right?"

  Tears smeared her face as she reached for her mother. "Mommy," she called. "Mommy, I’m scared." Robyn hugged her, running her hands over her back, arms, and legs, making sure she had not been hurt. Kari cried, huge tears racking her small body. Robyn rocked back and forth as relief flooded through her.

  “Ma’am, please, ma’am,” one of the firemen said.

  Police cars and rescue squad trucks drew up.

  ‘Ma’am,” he said again. “We need to make sure the child it all right. You need to let her go.”

  Robyn shook her head, clamping Kari to her chest.

  “Brooke, they need to check her.” Marianne’s voice sounded breathless.

  Robyn loosened her grip, but wouldn’t release Kari. She carried her toward the waiting medical truck.

  "Is everything all right?" Jacob asked from the top.

  "How’s Kari?" Grant shouted.

  "We’ve got a man down," one of the fire fighters shouted back. "She’s been shot!"

  "She!" Jacob’s voice was a shrill cry.

  Robyn whipped around to find Marianne on the ground, her face contorted in pain as blood coated her left arm. Still holding Kari, she rushed toward her.

  "Marianne," she called.

  "Is Kari all right?" she asked, her hand on her shoulder.

  The child continued to cling to her. "She’s fine." Robyn turned to the firemen. "Get that ambu­lance in here," she demanded. The rescue workers took control. Robyn was pushed out of the way as an EMT led her and Kari to the ambulance.

  “Does she need blood, Mommy?” Kari asked wiping her eyes with small fists. “Uncle Grant and I have some.”

  “They will tell us,” Robyn assured her. She released Kari to the EMT who started a routine of tests.

  Jacob’s feet reached the ground, and he sprinted across to the small crowd that surrounded Marianne. He knelt beside her. "The shot," she whispered, one hand holding her broken bone, her face twisted in pain. "It came from Hammil."

  "Be quiet," he told her. "I saw Hammil. Where’s that damn ambulance?" Two ambulances with red flashing lights screeched to a halt just outside the ring of people surrounding Marianne. Several police cars followed it. Men in white coats got out of each of them and came forward. Two went to Marianne, and two came to Kari. She was welded to Robyn and fought when they tried to separate her. Robyn looked over her shoulder as the paramedics led her away from Marianne and the men working on her. Grant joined them. Together, they took Kari to one of the ambu­lances.

  Marianne’s smile was painful. Paramedics hovered over her, checking for other injuries. They had her on a collapsible gurney by the time Jacob managed to reach her again. Robyn looked over her shoulder at the scene of her friend and those with her. "Are you all right?" Jacob asked her. "I’m fine," she said.

  Robyn knew she was lying. She was in a great deal of pain. Robyn smiled, still clutching Kari to her, as the ambulance sped away with her and Grant.

  "Jacob’s in love with Marianne," she told him, look­ing back through the park entrance.

  "I know." He put his arm around Robyn and Kari and held them to his side. "I’m glad. For a while, I thought he was in love with you."

  Robyn’s head fell on his shoulder. She kissed the top of Kari’s head. The child had fallen asleep. The past two days and her fear that Will would drop her had taken its toll. She was tired, but even in sleep her arms remained clamped to Robyn.

  Grant held them. His family. Everything was going to be all right. He was certain things would work out. He’d make it work out. He wasn’t going to be sepa­rated from his wife and child again. Neither Jacob nor the government would keep them apart, but he didn’t think that would be a problem.

  "I love you," he said, hugging Robyn and Kari closer to him. He kissed her and pushed her head back on his shoulder. Holding them for the moment was all he needed. They were safe, and that was enough.

  ***

  Jacob’s face was drawn and tired after two days of nonstop activity. He’d sat in the hospital waiting room until Marianne was out of surgery. The nurse came to tell him she would be all right and wouldn’t wake for hours, but he insisted on staying. Finally, they took pity on him and let him wait beside her bed. She slept peacefully as he watched her, holding her soft hand until he, too, fell asleep with his head on the starched sheet.

  Marianne woke in the early hours of the morning.

  The room was dark except for a soft light above her head. She recognized Jacob immediately. He held her hand loosely. She pulled it free and slipped her fingers into his soft curls. The movement woke him, and he sat up.

  "What are you doing here?" she asked, her mouth parched.

  "How do you feel?" He ignored her ques­tion.

  "I’m thirsty."

  He stood up and got her water from the pitcher beside the bed. Then, sitting on the white sheets that covered her, he held her head while she drank through the plastic straw.

  "What time is it?" she asked, when he leaned her back against the pillows. Checking his watch, he said, "Five o’clock."

  "You should be asleep," she said. "You look tired." Her hand reached for his face. He took it in his hand and kissed it.

  Marianne bit her lip at the emotions his touch caused.

  "How’s your shoulder?"

  She had a burning pain that threatened to sever it from her body. "I don’t feel it much," she lied.

  "Should I call a nurse?" His eyes were dark with concern.

  "No," she shook her head, biting the misery back. She didn’t want him to go. "How’s Kari and Brooke?"

  "They’re fine. They’re in pediatrics. Kari was treated for shock and some cuts. They kept her overnight. Brooke and Grant stayed until you were out of surgery. Then they went back to Kari. I promise to call them when you woke up."

  "You stayed." Her eyes were wide when they found his. "Why?" She had to be direct with Jacob. He wouldn’t come out and tell her what he felt, and she had to know.

&
nbsp; "I couldn’t leave."

  "Why not? You needed to rest. Kari was safe. My life was not in danger. You could have gone. Why didn’t you?" She knew she shouldn’t push. She could blame her questions on the medication if need be, but she was past caring. If Jacob was still in love with Robyn, she’d go on with her life and forget him.

  "Don’t you know?" he almost smiled. "You’re so good at reading my feelings."

  "I don’t want to read them," she looked away. "I want to hear them."

  "I love you, Marianne." His voice was so quiet, even in the silent room, she was afraid she hadn’t heard him. Slowly, her face turned back to him. He looked scared as if he expected her to reject him.

  "What did you say?" She needed confirmation.

  "I said I couldn’t leave because I’m in love with you." He sat on the bed and reached around her. He leaned forward and kissed her surprised mouth. "I don’t know how it happened. I never thought of being in love with you, but for months I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind."

  Marianne tried to reach for him, but pain shot through her shoulder and the heavy bandages restricted her movement. She squeezed her eyes closed and waited it out.

  "You are in pain." He hugged her until she relaxed. When he released her, there were tears in the corners of her eyes. "I’m going to call the doctor."

  "No!" she stopped him. "Not yet. They’ll give me something to make me sleep. I don’t want to sleep yet."

  He wiped the tears away with the pads of his thumbs. "I don’t want you in pain. I was so scared when I saw you on the ground. I thought Hammil had. . ." he looked away, refusing to complete the thought.

  “Hammil? di he shoot me?”

  Jacob nodded. "Don’t think about it now. We’ll tale about it later."

  She caressed his cheek. "It’s over, and everything is going to be fine."

  Jacob looked at her. "You need to go back to sleep."

  "I don’t feel like sleeping," she told him. He’d con­fessed that he loved her. She wanted to talk to him, tell him everything about herself, her family and find out everything about his. She hugged him with her good arm, con­tent to be in his arms. Then, she remembered the night he’d come to her house. "Jacob?" she began, knowing she had to ask the question.