Dead Promise

by Linda Wells

  The country had been damaged, with many lives lost due to the terrorist attack. The economy had suffered a major downturn but was beginning to rebound, especially after the positive news of the halt of the spread. The United States was back on a steady course, recovering from the deadly attack. But the nation remained under high alert.

  The phone rang, and Dr. Ambrose picked it up. “Yes, Mr. President?”

  “Things are looking good, Dr. Ambrose,” said Jake Howland. “Your efforts were tireless, and I speak for the country in saying thank you.”

  “It was a joint effort, sir,” he said.

  “I hope you can fly to Washington soon,” answered Jake. “I think it’s time we met in person.”

  “Yes, sir, it would be an honor.”

  “No, it would be my honor,” said President Howland.

  90

  JUNE 10

  Max was gone. Suzy had asked for him, but the nurse said he’d left the hospital. She couldn’t believe he’d go without saying goodbye. But he had said goodbye. She just didn’t want to believe it. She’d seen the pain in his eyes, the pain she was feeling. She’d watched him walk out of the room, and he hadn’t stopped, even when she called his name, begging him to stay. She’d tried so hard to make him understand, but in her heart, she knew he never could. It wasn’t that he wouldn’t. He couldn’t. His mind couldn’t conceive of what she’d done. He would never allow anything to get in the way of doing what was right, even if it meant sacrificing someone he loved. For her to have committed such a heinous act was beyond his concept of reality. She knew he loved her. But he had to leave her. It was plain and simple. It was his makeup. Part of who he was.

  Suzy had known this long before he’d told her, long before she had tried to explain about her sister. At least Suzy had the peace of knowing that Lee and their mother were together. No one would ever understand, except maybe her mother. Her mother had lived under Chinese oppression and experienced the pain of having to give up her daughter. Now it was time for Suzy to make the sacrifice to save her family. To save them from any more pain. To save Max from any more pain. He would know and understand how much she loved him. But he did know. He had felt it when they were together. They’d never had to speak the words. It was a feeling, natural as breathing. Suzy had wanted to live her life with him. She’d never wanted him to be part of the plan. She should have asked for his help, but she had realized it too late. She hadn’t known how to stop it. The Director had controlled her for so long. She’d been so frightened. Max wouldn’t have understood. So now she was loving Max the only way she knew how: by saving him from any more pain. And he’d know how much she loved him now. And that she’d never leave him. Ever. She wasn’t leaving him. She was saving him. She knew he’d understand.

  Now she’d do the right thing for everyone. It had been easy to save the pills, pretending to swallow them. She was certain she had enough. She was never left alone, but she’d managed to hide them inside her pillowcase, moving them when she had to, keeping them wrapped in her hand or inside the tissue box by the bed. Never keeping them in one place.

  Suzy poured water from the pitcher into her glass. She took the pills, several at a time, swallowing them between gulps of water until they were all gone. She finished drinking, gasping and choking. The nurse rushed to her side, switching on the light next to her bed.

  “Are you all right?” asked Captain Washington, sounding very concerned.

  “Yes, I just swallowed too fast. I’m fine now,” she said, catching her breath. “But very tired.”

  “Why don’t you rest now, Dr. Chen,” he said. He helped her lie back and turned off the light.

  “Yes, I think I should rest now,” she said, closing her eyes. Before falling asleep, she touched the small piece of paper, still safely hidden inside the pillowcase.

  91

  He was in his office at the Pentagon when he got the call.

  “Colonel Graham speaking,” he answered.

  “Max, it’s George.”

  He knew why she’d called. “What’s happened?” he asked.

  “Their plane will be landing in about an hour,” she said.

  Silence.

  “Are you there?” asked George.

  “Yes, I’m here,” he said.

  “Do you want me or Mark to go with you?” she asked.

  “No, thanks,” said Max.

  “Call me, OK?”

  “Right, thanks,” he said, and hung up.

  He put on his uniform jacket, left the office, pulled his Mercedes out of the parking garage, and started the drive to Newark. About two hours later, Max was parked about half a block from the house. He loosened his tie, opened the car window, and waited.

  From his wallet he pulled a creased piece of paper, written in the familiar handwriting—the paper with deep folds from being pressed in his wallet. The words still hurt. He should have gone back to see her. They had told him she was asking for him. He should have told her he loved her. The words were tough to read, but he had to.

  I love you, Max. My heart belongs to you and beats in your chest. I can only tell you I’m sorry and pray that one day you can forgive me. I only left to stop any further pain for you. You’re the last person I’d ever want to hurt.

  Please look after my mother and my sister. And when you look at Lee, think of me, and when you see her, know you’re seeing part of me.

  I love you, my darling.

  Your Suzy forever

  He folded the creased, damp paper, put it back into his wallet, and remembered another note, the one he’d written to Suzy. He’d asked the waiter to take it to her. They were at a luxury hotel in Baltimore, a dinner hosted by the secretary of the army. Max had seen her from a distance and wanted to meet this beautiful woman. He knew she was an assistant director at Edgewood Laboratories, but that’s all he knew. Except he had to meet her, talk to her, get close to her. She responded to his note with one word: yes. That was the beginning of time for him. She met him in a room he’d reserved for the evening. They had a drink, Grand Marnier, on the balcony overlooking the Inner Harbor. Then he kissed her, the instant attraction startling them both. He took her hand, no words spoken, and led her to the bedroom. They’d known their destiny was to be together. He remembered what she’d been wearing, a beautiful red dress, slit up the side. He remembered the sensations, of unzipping her dress as she unbuttoned his shirt. They’d kissed and touched each other, aware of nothing but each other. That’s how it had been with them—no inhibitions, belonging only to each other, from that moment on, until his world had ended. He didn’t feel the tears as they streamed down his face.

  About an hour later, a taxi approached the house, moving slowly. He watched as it pulled into the driveway of the lovely home, the once-colorful flower garden deadened by the frost. He remembered Suzy telling him about the house, and he’d looked forward to meeting her parents.

  The driver got out, opened the trunk, and started removing luggage as an older, graying man in khakis and dress shirt got out and opened the back door of the cab. An attractive middle-aged woman stepped out, a trench coat over her arm. He knew it was Suzy’s mother. She talked to someone in the back seat and extended her hand. Then he saw her. She was slender, with long black hair, graceful movements, wearing jeans, boots, and a short dark jacket. He couldn’t see her face clearly, but he saw her stop and look at the house. Her mother hugged her and held her arm, leading her toward the front door. Her stepfather paid the cab driver as she and her mother walked up the sidewalk.

  Max started the car and drove slowly past the house, stopping long enough to see the young woman with the long black hair turn to look at the passing car. Her face was a mirror image of Suzy’s. Lee was beautiful. His heart was overcome; he’d felt dead inside for so long. Now he’d seen Lee, part of Suzy, part of him, the love of his life, and he knew he’d never lose her. Never again.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Aformer flight attendant for a major airline, Linda Wells
grew up in the southern United States and attended the University of South Florida.

  Her new novel, Dead Promise, picks up shortly after the events of Dead Love, continuing the adventures of Colonel Maxwell Graham and FBI agents Georgiana Reed and Mark Strickland.

  Wells, who lives in the Midwest, is currently working on her third novel.