Dead Promise

by Linda Wells

  George was hot and tired, not to mention hungry. She had to get through the day and get some kind of positive outcome from this unplanned meeting between Suzy and Max. George had been too busy to think of the repercussions of everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours. It was hard to believe it was only yesterday morning at nine that she had gotten the called-in anonymous threat about an impending attack. She and Mark had been assigned the case. After that, it had been all business. Well, mostly. She’d had no time to slow down, and her thoughts were racing.

  She was startled out of her drifting thoughts when she felt Mark’s warm hand cover hers, only briefly. Then he pulled away. He must have sensed her worry. She turned toward him, and he looked back at her and smiled. She gave him a look she knew he would understand. They’d get to the other side of this somehow.

  Maybe they could get something to eat at Bethesda before they took Graham to see Suzy. They needed a break and a discussion of the ground rules for this meeting. Max could still protect Suzy if she said something incriminating. “Stop it, George!” she said to herself. Getting them together could clarify everything. Or they’d be in the same place they currently were.

  Mark grabbed his cell phone.

  “Yes, on my tail. Black Land Rover. He dropped back when he realized I’d made him.”

  He paused, listening.

  “I didn’t see where he turned. He was too far back.” He hesitated. “No on the plate,” said Mark. “Right.”

  He hung up.

  “What?” said George.

  “Not sure. But I think we were being followed,” he said. “They’ll call me back.”

  Mark pulled the Glock 22 from his shoulder holster, keeping a tight grip, steering with his left hand. He pushed the Mustang to ninety.

  Max sat up and looked out the back window.

  “I think you should stay down, Colonel,” said Mark.

  But Mark knew they’d lost the tail.

  44

  Mark pulled up to the gate, secured by four armed guards, and showed his FBI ID. Georgiana passed hers to the guard. He leaned down, handed the ID back to George, and then saw the colonel in the back seat. He saluted with a respectful nod and motioned them through. Mark maneuvered the Mustang through the massive complex of buildings that made up the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He found the private access garage behind Building Three, one of the trauma centers for military VIPs. And for patients classified “Government Top Secret,” including presidents and their families. The center was world class, with lots of security presence.

  “The bitch doesn’t deserve this,” thought George, but she knew that no one would look for Dr. Chen here. She was getting specialized care in the trauma unit, and they needed whatever information they could get from her. Plus it was a safe distance from Edgewood.

  Georgiana glanced at the back seat. Max was sitting as comfortably as possible in the cramped space. He looked rigid and expressionless. He’d had to process a lot in a brief span of time. Max and Chen had been lovers. And more than that. George had seen the silver box, an engagement ring. This guy had wanted the whole package, and he would have to face head-on whatever had gone down involving Dr. Chen. George had been the one who had told Colonel Graham that Chen was dead. He was now going to see her and face all the realities. George knew how it felt, looking into someone’s eyes and not knowing who that person was, someone who had promised everything. Max would be looking into Suzy’s eyes. She wondered if he’d see the truth.

  Mark slid the Mustang into a space on the fourth level. He locked the car, and he, George, and Max followed the signs to the elevators. George pushed the down button in the modern, brightly lit waiting area. She noticed the sweat dripping down Max’s neck, dampening the collar of his starched, crisp uniform shirt. He was handsome, a poster boy for the army, someone who stood out, a respected leader, a man who had been on the battlefield. No wonder he held such a high rank, a Joint Chief’s assistant, probably on his way to getting a “star.” She knew he had been shattered by his friend’s death, but he might be facing a greater loss. Whatever happened next, she knew he would deal with it. The elevator doors opened.

  “How about some food, sir?” George asked, pushing the button marked Ground Floor Food Court.

  “Yes, ma’am,” he answered, his jaw tightening.

  Those were the only words Max had spoken since they’d gotten into the car. He was gearing up to see Suzy. She knew he had handled worse situations on his tours of duty, but she sensed his anxiety, the questions he would need answered. He didn’t want to lose Chen, but had he already lost her? He would soon find out.

  45

  Max sat in the booth in the coffee shop, Georgiana Reed and Mark Strickland across from him. He had coffee and something else that Agent Reed had ordered for him. It was tasteless, but he went through the motions. He couldn’t remember when he’d eaten last. He had eaten at every opportunity when he was in Iraq. He had known he might not get another chance. It was a procedure he had followed for optimum physical well-being and performance. No one skipped chow. He had followed protocol because his life and those in his command had depended on it.

  His thoughts drifted to Suzy, the wonderful moments they’d spent together, eating and sleeping, the normal life they’d shared. They ate from the same plate, neither wanting anything except each other, not needing anything or anyone else. The moments they spent apart were minutes on the clock, empty space between the moments when he felt alive again. He felt he was breathing only when he was with her. Empty hours while he waited, wanting to see her, needing to see her again. He’d counted those hours, wishing them away so he could see her again and hold her. She was the force that had given him a belief in the true meaning of love. He hadn’t forgotten their promises or her promise to him. Max knew there was more, there had to be more, for Suzy to have been part of this plot or under the control of this Organization. They’d watched her, and they knew about him. That had to be it. They’d threatened her, warned her of what would happen if she’d told him. At times, there had been a darkness in her eyes, and she’d looked away. He had been able to read her distress.

  Max reached into his pocket when the waitress brought the check, but Mark waved him away. Max nodded. “Thanks.”

  He’d listened to what they’d said about the questions he should ask Suzy. He couldn’t remember it all. He didn’t care. He planned on handling the situation his way. He wanted to be with her again and talk to her, the way they’d always talked. She could hide nothing more from him. He would find out the truth. He prayed to God that she was well, and that she would heal and be his Suzy again. He hadn’t forgotten about her sister, perhaps already reunited with Suzy’s mother. Nothing would ever be the same, except the Suzy he loved. She was the same, and he loved her in a way that could never be altered.

  They went through security and rode the elevator to the tenth-floor trauma unit. Max stared straight ahead as the elevator car carried them upward. The metal doors slid open, and they followed directions to the nurses’ station. George stopped to talk to one of the bureau agents standing next to the desk.

  After he and George spoke for a few moments, he motioned. “Follow me.”

  George and the agent led the way to the end of the corridor, Mark and Max behind them. The agent left them in front of Room 10D, which was secured by two armed military guards. George dug her ID out again, showed the guards, and entered the room. A few minutes later, she came out and spoke to Max.

  “Dr. Chen is sleeping now, but hopefully she’ll wake up soon and be able to talk with you,” she said.

  “I hope so,” he said.

  “Wait, sir. Your pistol.”

  Max handed his Kimber to George. She trusted him but couldn’t take chances. She had to protect him, in case. Of what, she wasn’t sure. One of the guards opened the door, and Max disappeared into Suzy’s room.

  46

  Her eyes followed his movement. He came through the door, stopping to
talk with a man in blue scrubs. They spoke for a few minutes or maybe longer. She couldn’t hear their words, just whispers of a conversation, but she saw the handsome man in the uniform nodding his head in agreement. As she studied the familiar movements, her heart began to pound in her chest. He turned toward her hospital bed and stared in her direction, as though hesitant to approach her. His face was so handsome, with penetrating blue eyes that were searching hers. The uniform, his strong shoulders, the memories of a first meeting were part of the dreams she’d been having. He’d held her hand, leading her to the bedroom, pulling her close to him. She had let him hold her. He had taken her in his arms and kissed her.

  She studied his face as he moved closer to her, until he was standing next to the bed. She stared at his mouth, remembering how it had felt when he kissed her and touched her that first night. When his mouth was on hers, he had undressed her, with an ownership, her body belonging only to him, as though they had always been lovers, with no one before him, never another after him. Their intimacy was total, a soulful connection that had never needed words. Their bond was sealed from the moment they’d met. She knew he’d felt it, too. He was not a casual lover. He had made love to her that night in a hotel room. They slept wrapped together, waking up only to make love again, wanting and needing the touch only each could give to the other. She had given herself only to him forever. A promise she would keep.

  He was so near to her, but neither spoke. She could think only of her love for him, wanting and needing him. She had so many feelings, fearful for him. She wanted to protect him, afraid for his life. Now he was here with her. How did this happen? She was afraid to reach for him, afraid he would disappear again. Instead, he bent down until she felt his breath on her neck, his voice tender, his warm strong hand on hers, as he spoke so only she could hear, only one word.

  “Suzy,” he whispered.

  His lips brushed against her forehead, moving down to her mouth, his mouth covering hers, and a teardrop fell down her cheek. She tasted the salty wetness, not certain if she was tasting her tears or his. He said nothing else. He entwined his fingers with hers as he placed his head on her chest. She brought her other hand up and touched his hair, holding his head close to her, never wanting this dream to end. He was hers again, and she would never leave him. She would keep her promises to him, the only man she had ever loved.

  47

  Max stepped inside the room, and the nurse stopped him.

  “May I talk to her?” he asked.

  Elliott asked to see Max’s ID. He looked at it and said, “Yes, sir.”

  “How is she?” Max asked, looking at the small figure in the hospital bed across the room.

  “She’s in and out of consciousness. I don’t know what she’s able to understand,” Elliott said. “The doctors expect a full recovery, but she has a severe concussion and is still coming out of the anesthesia.”

  Max had tuned him out. He stared across the room, his heart nearly stopping, seeing Suzy for the first time in what seemed like forever. Her head was partially wrapped in white bandages, and her long black hair was lying against her shoulder. He couldn’t stop staring, and he saw her looking at him. She was expressionless. He wondered if she had recognized him. Thoughts of any life without her had been impossible. But how could he understand how all of this had happened? His world had turned upside down, and he hadn’t stopped reeling.

  Memories of the last time they had talked were cascading in his mind. She had called him from her office at Edgewood, and she’d sounded desperate, needing to see him. They planned to meet at her condo. He knew a lot by then. He’d found the message in her desk, the one from the Organization, and he wanted to learn the details from her, not from the NCS. He wanted her to say the words to him, what her involvement was, if she’d been threatened. But he’d arrived too late.

  Max walked toward her bed. He wanted to hold her, pull her to him, but he had to take it slow and steady, not push. By the time he was standing beside the bed, her eyes were closed. Her small, delicate hand was on top of the bedcovers, and he placed his hand on hers. She looked up at him, and her eyes welled with tears. Max bent down, so close, kissed her forehead, brushed her lips with his, and he whispered her name so only she could hear.

  “Suzy.”

  He rested his head on her chest, hearing her heartbeat. He’d felt her heart beating against his chest so many times. He felt her other hand against the back of his head, holding him close to her. He wrapped his fingers in hers, and she squeezed his hand, clinging to him.

  God, he loved her. The love of his life. And what had happened? How had they gotten to this place? He only knew this moment, right now. She had given herself to him fully. She was alive, yet he was still grieving, mourning the loss of Greg, mourning the disastrous events of the last few days, trying to comprehend how all of this had happened. If only he’d gotten to her condo sooner, he could have stopped the assassin and saved her, and possibly Greg. Max knew he was a target, also, and he knew the assassin was still there out there. And wouldn’t give up. Too much was at stake.

  But she was alive, and he would find out all he could from her. Right now, he could only absorb the truth—that he was with Suzy again. But what was next for them? It was a question he couldn’t answer right now. But maybe he didn’t want the answer. The answer could place him at odds with everything that formed who he was, the purpose of his life, the sworn oath that defined him. Duty, honor, country. An oath he could never walk away from because it was who he was and what he stood for. Not just words. He couldn’t stop loving Suzy. She was part of him. He would seek the truth and never rest until he knew all of it and found those responsible for destroying his life, his world, and threatening the very existence of his country. He wouldn’t rest until he knew all the truths. Even if it destroyed him and the only woman he had ever loved or could ever love.

  Max raised his head, pulled her hand up to his lips, and kissed her palm. She looked at him, her eyes drawn to his.

  “Talk to me, Suzy,” he whispered.

  “Max,” she said, so quietly only he could hear, seeing him as if for the first time.

  48

  Jake had returned to the second-floor residence after addressing the nation. Katherine had been waiting for him in the family room, watching television, trying to make sense of the news about the terrorist attack. She was wearing her floor-length pink robe. The air conditioner always made the room feel cold, even in the hottest months of summer. She and Jake liked the room. It was private, and they curled up on the comfortable love seat as often as they could. It was their secluded world, where they could escape constant scrutiny and the pressures of the presidency.

  Tonight she saw the worry in his eyes.

  “Jake, what is it?” she asked. “It’s bad, isn’t it?”

  He sat down next to her, still in his suit and tie.

  “Yes, it’s bad, but we have good people in the cabinet and the smartest people in the world working on stopping the virus. We’re going to get on top of this thing,” he reassured her.

  He wrapped his arms around her. He always made her feel safe.

  “How are Jay and Katie?” he asked.

  “They’re fine. A little snarky.” She laughed. “They’ve been e-mailing and texting their friends. I asked them not to say too much, even though they don’t know anything, really. Just what the public knows. But they’ve spread the word that they’re grounded. Jay is really upset about his trip being canceled, but he’s handling it. It isn’t like he has any choice. The other kids can’t go, either.”

  “Good. They have good instincts. And they know this crisis will pass,” he said.

  “I hope so, Jake.”

  He didn’t answer her.

  “Katherine, I have to make some calls,” he said, pulling away from her. She knew this meant he’d be going back to the Oval Office.

  “Can I get something for you to eat first?” she asked.

  “No, I’ll get something later.
Maybe there’s some pizza left.”

  “Sure,” said Katherine. “I’ll wait up.”

  “I’ll try not to be too long.” Jake gave her a light kiss on the mouth.

  She held him close against her.

  “Hurry back, sweetheart,” she whispered.

  She couldn’t stop the feeling of foreboding as she watched him walk down the elegantly decorated hallway toward the elevator that would take him down to the Oval Office. She went back into the family room to watch the television coverage of the terrorist attack and the continuing news about the spread of the virus. The updates were becoming more alarming as the number of people who had contracted the deadly H5N1 virus increased. Many of them weren’t even on the subway platform when the virus was released. No individual or terrorist group had claimed responsibility. She wondered if the FBI knew and hadn’t released the information. Or if Jake knew but couldn’t tell her. Katherine couldn’t watch much more. She changed the channel, trying to find something distracting. But she couldn’t concentrate. She knew what Jake wasn’t saying, and that things were going to get bad. But she had learned to handle many intense situations, and she knew that they would get through this one. She just didn’t know how yet.

  49

  Jake’s assistant was still at her desk.

  “Get Ambrose at the CDC,” he said.

  He entered the Oval Office and sat down at his desk, waiting for the call. It didn’t take long.

  “Yes, Dr. Ambrose,” he said. “I know we have a problem; I need to know how big.”