Dead Promise

by Linda Wells

  George ended the call.

  “All right, Colonel. Let’s talk. How about downstairs in your office?” she said.

  “No. Tell me here, now, damn it!” he answered. “She’s alive, right?”

  “Yes,” she answered, in a controlled voice.

  His face reddened, and he turned his back to her, attempting not to lose it. Then he turned fast and got in her face.

  “You let me go through this shit, knowing she was alive?” he shouted. “You heartless bitch!”

  Georgiana had to maintain her cool and try to get him on her side. And in control.

  Mark stepped between them.

  “It’s OK, Mark,” said George, pulling him out of the way. She started talking to Max in a low voice.

  “Hold on, sir. We had to keep everyone in the dark, and we still do. You know the danger she’s in. The killer will try again, not just you, but especially Suzy. She’s way past usefulness, and they want her to disappear permanently. You’re part of this, too. So keep your head, sir, with all due respect. She’s alive, and we want to keep her that way.”

  Mark was ready to grab Max if necessary. He hoped he wouldn’t have to take this guy down.

  Ignoring Reed, Colonel Graham asked again, “How is she? I want to see her, damn it!”

  “She’s in and out of consciousness. She took a head shot, the bullet lodging against her skull, not penetrating. The doctors are optimistic,” she stated. “And yes, you can see her, as soon as we can arrange it, to keep it totally under the radar. Do you understand what I’m telling you?” George touched his arm, gently, with empathy, a plea for him to understand.

  “Yes.”

  Tears were welling in his eyes, but his facial expression was blank. George could tell he was operating on autopilot, completely stunned.

  “I want to see her now!” he said.

  “We’re going to make it happen, sir.” She paused. “Will you help us?”

  He didn’t answer. She wasn’t even sure if he’d heard her.

  She asked him again. “Colonel Graham, will you help us?”

  “Fuck, yes.” He turned away and walked into the bathroom, slamming the door behind him.

  He would need some time alone, and George and Mark knew this was a game changer. If nothing else, they had given Max hope; for what, they weren’t sure. They would brief him, but how would he handle seeing her again? It wouldn’t be long before they knew.

  33

  “May I have some water, please?” asked Suzy.

  Captain Elliott Washington was checking her digital chart when he heard her voice. He stepped closer to the bed.

  “Yes, what is it?” he asked. “I’m Elliott, your nurse.”

  She brought her hand to her throat, making another effort to speak. “Please, water,” she pleaded. Her eyelids closed.

  “Are you in pain?” he asked, as he poured water from the pitcher into a fresh Styrofoam cup.

  He placed a straw in the cup and held it to her lips. She sipped slowly but steadily.

  “Not too fast on an empty stomach,” he said.

  She seemed out of breath.

  He asked again, “Are you hurting?”

  “Yes. My head,” she answered.

  “You took a hard hit, but you’re going to be fine. How about some breakfast? That might help you feel better.”

  The breakfast tray was near her bed.

  Colonel Ann Heath, Chen’s other nurse, left the room to get her pain medication and to notify the neurosurgeon that Chen was awake again and having breakfast. Washington pulled the tray over to Suzy, uncovering the still-warm broth, the juice, and the hot tea. He raised her bed to a sitting position.

  “How does that feel?” he asked.

  “Better, thank you,” she responded.

  She drank the orange juice; her hunger was a good sign.

  “Colonel Heath will be back soon with medication to help with your headache,” he said.

  Suzy reached for the tea bag but leaned back, exhaustion overtaking her.

  “I’ll help you,” Elliott said, opening the teabag and placing it in the cup; then he added hot water from the small silver pitcher. “Let’s try the broth first.”

  He lifted the cup of broth and held it to her lips. Suzy took a few sips.

  She looked up and said, “Thank you.”

  She rested between sips but eagerly finished the broth. Then he helped her with the tea. She was able to manage the cup with both hands, and by then Nurse Heath had returned.

  “You did a great job with breakfast,” said Ann.

  Chen looked at her and smiled.

  “Do you know where you are?” she asked.

  “Yes, I’m in a hospital, and I’ve had an injury to my head,” Chen stated.

  “Do you remember what happened?” asked Elliott.

  “I’m not sure. I remember a doctor talking with me. He said I had surgery, some stitches.” She stared into space, seeming puzzled. “I’m not sure why.”

  Colonel Heath and Captain Washington looked at each other.

  “Your doctor will be here soon to check on you. We’ll let him talk to you,” answered Ann.

  Both looked at each other, fully understanding. Chen didn’t have a clue about what had happened to her. Only time would tell if she regained the memory of being shot point-blank in the head. Or any other memories.

  34

  Rose Lin’s heart was filled with joy. How many years had it been since she’d seen her baby girl? The pain of losing her had never subsided. The moment her daughter was taken from her was like a knife wound, etched forever into her heart.

  Rose Lin Thompson sat next to her husband, Robert, in the Hong Kong International Airport, waiting for the plane from Shanghai. She was unaware of the strangers surrounding her in the waiting area. She was remembering the day she had lost her daughter, Lee.

  Rose Lin and her husband were expecting their baby, waiting for the birth. Then the nightmare started. The military police arrested Rose Lin’s husband for espionage because he had been trying to arrange transport of his wife and unborn child out of Beijing. To freedom. He’d contacted an agent working underground, who was trying to help him get a visa for his family. But the agent and Rose Lin’s husband were arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment in a harsh labor camp. Rose Lin was heartbroken and alone, but she managed to make a living for herself and her unborn baby by teaching piano, a talent that she had been allowed to develop because of her innate gift for music.

  Then, Rose Lin gave birth, not to one baby, but to Suzy and Lee, beautiful identical twin girls. Her happiness lasted only a short time. The news of her husband’s death was difficult enough. Then the government enforcement took place. Only one child was allowed per household. She had kept her secret as long as she could. She had to give up one of her beautiful daughters, and not of her choice. Her beautiful baby girl Lee was taken, wrenched from her arms, as tears streamed down Rose Lin’s face. The heartbreak was almost too much to bear when she heard her baby girl crying as she was carried into the orphanage by a government worker in a white uniform. Rose Lin was forced to leave. She knew she had to remain strong in order to take care of her other daughter, Suzy. But it was nearly impossible. Every time she looked at Suzy’s perfect face, she saw Lee. Then tears would come.

  She knew she had to somehow leave the hostile country and seek freedom. She’d lost her husband and her baby, and she didn’t want to lose the only other love in her life. The only reason she lived. When the Chinese government eased travel restrictions, Rose Lin managed to get a visa, using money she’d saved from her meager earnings. She and Suzy fled to Hong Kong, and that’s where Rose Lin and Suzy began their new life.

  Robert Thompson, an American college professor, became Rose Lin’s husband and refuge. She met him in Hong Kong and fell in love with this handsome, loving man, who became the father that Suzy never had. He arranged for Rose Lin and Suzy to return to America with him, and that’s when they married. It was the
start of Rose Lin’s true life. But the one life she had lost never left her thoughts. Her daughter, Lee. Suzy had helped Rose Lin cope with her loss, but never could she have believed that Suzy would help bring Lee back to her. She wasn’t sure how. Those questions would be answered later. As she sat there with Robert, all she could think of was her daughter, Lee, and the elation of once again having both of her beautiful daughters in her arms and together again.

  Rose Lin looked at her husband. She could tell by Robert’s face that he was exhausted. So was she. The flight from Baltimore to Hong Kong had been long, and neither had fully understood what was going on. Suzy had handed her mother the tickets, telling her that she was to meet Lee at the Hong Kong Airport. Rose Lin had a thousand questions, but Suzy said there wasn’t time. Rose Lin and Robert had gotten to the airport with little time to spare. But they’d made it to Hong Kong. Now the wait. Somehow they’d fit Lee into their world, with Suzy’s help. They needed to know more, but now all that mattered was seeing Lee again and taking her home.

  Rose Lin and Robert were staring at the arrivals and departures on the monitor. The flight from Shanghai was expected to arrive in approximately fifteen minutes. She wished she could have reached Suzy. Rose Lin had tried to call her, but no answer. She wanted to understand how all of this had happened. The twenty-four-hour flight from BWI had been wearing on them both, and Robert looked pale and tired. But he loved her and Suzy. She knew he wanted to be with her when Lee arrived. He wanted to see Lee as much as Rose Lin did. Lee was as much a mystery to him as she was to Rose Lin. Rose Lin loved him and the life they’d had with Suzy. She knew he’d love Lee just as much. She stared at him, squeezing his hand. Rose Lin didn’t notice the two men in dark suits standing in a corner of the waiting area, talking with three HKG security personnel. They were waiting, too.

  35

  Dr. Ahmed stood next to Patient X’s hospital bed. He’d read the medical reports, studied the EEG and MRI. He saw nothing unusual, only some slight brain swelling from the trauma, but nothing of concern. Concussion was still all that he could deduce from the studies. Her wound would take time to heal, but she had been fortunate. It was a rare occurrence that she could survive. But it had happened. She was alive. A one-in-a-million chance. He continued to marvel at the luck of this patient.

  “It’s Dr. Ahmed,” he whispered.

  She opened her eyes slowly, hearing a voice.

  “You’re doing well, my dear,” he said, holding her hand gently. Her touch was cool, but his warm hands surrounded hers.

  “May I ask you a few questions?” he asked.

  He studied her face. She was expressionless.

  But she answered, “Yes.”

  “Do you know what day it is?” he asked. He was going to stay in the safe zone.

  She answered with a question. “No. Maybe Monday?”

  He smiled and said, “You’re close. It’s Tuesday.”

  She didn’t respond.

  “What month is it?” he asked.

  “I’m not sure.” She looked puzzled.

  “I’ll help you. It’s Tuesday, June fifth.” After a brief moment of hesitation, he asked, “Does the date mean anything to you, or bring back any memory of what happened?”

  Suzy slowly moved her head from side to side, indicating a negative response. He knew the movement was uncomfortable for her. He didn’t want to press her. But he needed to know if she was experiencing amnesia or if she was pretending not to remember. That would be an expedient way of handling a difficult situation. It wouldn’t be the first time. And considering the security presence on the floor, he knew she might have a good reason to be evasive. Walter Reed was known for treating important patients, mostly high-level government officials, and servicemen and women. Patient X must be a very important person. He had gotten the call from an FBI agent asking about her status. He would do everything he could to keep this valuable patient alive and well. If she had amnesia, it would take her time, maybe days, months, possibly even years, to fully recover. If she didn’t have amnesia, the truth would reveal itself. Eventually. His experience had taught him a great deal about amnesia. It was difficult to fake. If she was faking, she was good. Damned good. He was rarely fooled, but it could happen.

  “Colonel Heath, Captain Washington, may I speak with you?” asked Dr. Ahmed, stepping toward the hospital room’s doorway. They followed him into the hall, past the guards. Their murmured conversation was brief. The nurses waited as Dr. Ahmed went back inside Patient X’s room and stood next to her bed. Suzy was still awake but drowsy.

  “May I ask you one more question, now that we’re alone?” he asked in a soft voice.

  “Yes,” she said.

  Dr. Ahmed spoke, leaning down close to her, carefully watching her face. “Who is Max?”

  If she reacted, the change was so slight, her face appeared nearly frozen. Except for one thing. He saw her blink. One blink. That might be the indicator.

  Dr. Ahmed said, “I’ll check back later when you’re more rested.”

  He entered something on her electronic chart, then stepped out of the room. Heath and Washington were waiting.

  “Watch her,” he said. “I want to know anything she says or does.”

  Ahmed still wasn’t sure, but he would find out. It wouldn’t take long.

  36

  “We’re wasting time,” said Wally.

  George had picked up the call and stepped into the hallway outside Colonel Graham’s bedroom.

  “What’s up?” she said quietly.

  He sounded pissed, and she knew he didn’t like long investigations. She didn’t, either. The longer it took, the less likely they’d get the perp.

  “Graham found evidence in Chen’s desk, a typed note he gave to Hammond. It had a date and a number on it. Signed by the Organization.”

  “Yes,” said George.

  “One of those numbers looks like a Swiss bank account number to me,” said Wally. “I want to know who deposited the money in the account; Chen was involved, maybe Adams, all possible accomplices, but we want the money person.”

  She waited. He had more.

  “Ray’s our best. We’ll never get past the Swiss bankers. And we don’t want to tip anyone off. So Ray can hack in, find out where the money came from.”

  “Do it. Is Ray still there?” George asked.

  “Yeah, all the techs are here. I’ll go to Quantico with him and start to work.”

  “I’d better tell Fran,” said George.

  “No.” It was a statement.

  “This could go bad for us, Wally, going under the radar with this.” George didn’t like breaking ranks. It was something you didn’t do. Especially if you wanted to be career FBI. And telling Fran was the right thing to do. Georgiana had been taught to go by the book.

  “Forget that I called,” he said.

  “Someone’s probably listening now,” she said.

  “It’s my ass, not yours,” he said.

  Wally recognized his clout inside the FBI hierarchy. Often the higher-ups looked the other way when it came to method, especially his. And especially if he got results. Which he usually did.

  “I love you, Wally.” She smiled.

  “You, too, babe.” He hung up.

  She liked him, his style. And she knew he would do what he wanted to anyway. No matter what she said. But she liked finding all the pieces, watching them fit together. And this was the big piece. Once they got the Director, everything would fall into place.

  She hoped.

  “What is it, George?” asked Mark.

  “Nothing,” she answered.

  If she went down, she wasn’t taking him with her.

  37

  Max went to the closet, threw the sliding doors open, and grabbed his army service uniform, hanging with a clean, pressed white shirt and jacket. He threw the clothes on the bed and turned to Georgiana.

  “You want to stay while I dress? It’s up to you,” he said, as he started unzipping his c
argo shorts.

  She hesitated, then turned around, her back to him. Mark was standing by the door, watching.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” she asked Max.

  “I figure you’ve got her someplace secure. Walter Reed,” he said. He threw his shorts on the floor and grabbed the pants, pulled them on, and then grabbed the shirt.

  “We’ll tell you when you’re going,” Georgiana said.

  “I’m not charged with anything, right?” he asked.

  “No, Colonel, you’re not,” she answered.

  “Then I’m going to Walter Reed,” he said, continuing to dress, tucking his shirt into his navy-blue pants.

  He looked toward his dresser, then the night table.

  “Where’s my Kimber?” he asked.

  He walked to the night table and began riffling through the drawer.

  “We have it, Colonel, and we’re keeping it for the time being,” Georgiana stated.

  “You tell me that my life is in danger, and you take my gun?” he asked. “Someone’s trying to kill me, and you take my gun away? Are you fucking insane?”

  “We have agents in place for your protection until we’ve caught the person or persons responsible,” said Georgiana.

  “Bullshit! You know my status and rank, right?”

  He’d go to the top if he had to.

  “I’m calling my superior right now, so stay the fuck out of my way!” he said, striding across the room.

  He realized they had his cell phone. Shit! He picked up the landline handset and punched in numbers. He had to get to Suzy. This agent was a glorified cop who’d never faced a firefight in the fucking desert—or probably any gunfire, for that matter. She’d better stay out of his fucking way. He didn’t give a shit about her or her little friend. They’d both better stay out of his fucking way! Max took some deep breaths, knowing he had to gain control of his emotions. He could take these two, but downstairs was another matter. If they didn’t take him to Suzy, he was going to pull so much rank that they wouldn’t know what hit them.