Risky Alliance

by N. C. Anderson

  The expression on Kathleen's delicately wrinkled face looked skeptical. “I can't help but think you're taking what I've done remarkably well.” Kathleen turned to leave. “I believe I'll reserve any conclusions until this day is over,” she mumbled. “Or, at least until nine this evening.”

  Kathleen glanced over her shoulder as she stepped from the curb. “That's when Jacob's plane is due to land."

  * * * *

  Patience wasn't one of his attributes, and 600 miles per hour wasn't fast enough. Any feelings of helplessness made his temper edgy. And, damn it, he didn't like it.

  Jacob crammed the lumpy little pillow behind his neck. It didn't help that the talkative steward for the first-class passengers on the 737 chafed Jacob's nerves like a dull razor on sensitive skin. But, he had known when he called for his tickets that riding coach and sardined between other passengers in his keyed-up condition would never work, and a seat in first-class would at least give him some elbowroom.

  It was just unfortunate there wasn't another passenger to keep the steward off his back. It was also unfortunate that after a two-hour delay in Los Angeles there would be an even longer delay in Dallas.

  He stretched out the tightness in his arms, laced his fingers and cracked his knuckles, then rested his foot on his briefcase under the seat in front of him. He had intended to go over the information stuffed inside the steel-gray case, knowing that doing so would make time appear to go faster. His mind, however, focused totally on Sue and the kids. It wasn't going to budge until—

  Sue—beaten, the kids gone. He checked his watch as beads of sweat built on his temples. It would be at least six more hours before he could see her, touch her, and find his kids. Anger wanted to take over his mind; protecting him from the vision of Sue he had conjured up when Kathleen breathlessly told him just enough information to give him the shakes. She didn't know where the kids were—dammit anyway.

  He stared out the window at the deep-blue sky and the endless clouds below the plane, the sun giving them the appearance of thick waves on a stormy sea. No one could get him rattled like Sue could. He hadn't handled it well when she gave birth to their children, passing out cold at her first moan and missing both blessed events. Blood, pain, didn't bother him, unless it was happening to his Babe, his Sue. When the kids got scraped or stitched, he could handle it like a father should with strong support—that was, if no one made him watch too closely. Yet, with Sue, he got immediately nauseated, dizzy—and the weakness disgusted him.

  Maybe she affected him that way because she had the gentlest hands, the softest voice, the most patience of anyone he'd ever met. Not that she didn't have spunk. She practically blazed with energy, especially when keeping up with the kids. After they'd been married only six months', he'd decided there just wasn't anything on the earth that could ignite Sue's temper. She just didn't have one.

  “Are you comfortable, Mr. Campbell?” the steward's carefully modulated voice asked. “Would you care for a drink?"

  Jacob glanced at the thin, perfectly groomed young man in his dark-blue suit. He yanked the pillow from behind his head and tossed it onto the empty seat beside him. “Yes,” Jacob answered, keeping his jaws loose, keeping his teeth from clenching. His frustration wasn't the steward's fault. “You can bring me a cup of strong coffee and the phone."

  By the time Jacob pulled himself up straight in his seat the steward was back, flipping a linen napkin across the seat's built-in tray and setting a cup of steaming coffee before him. Jacob held his hand out for the cordless phone the steward pulled from the large, square pocket on his suit jacket.

  “Thanks."

  Doing his best to ignore the hovering young man, Jacob punched the numbers to his mother-in-law's phone. The “Sorry, we're not in right now” recording of Kathleen's voice wasn't what he wanted to hear, and he fought the urge to hurl the phone at the carpeted bulkhead in front of him. Could they have found the kids? Were Sue's injuries so critical that not even the housekeeper was around to answer the phone? He swallowed hard and thrust the phone toward the steward.

  “Is there anything else I can get for you, Mr. Campbell?"

  “No,” Jacob mumbled, closing his eyes and leaning back on the dark, rough fabric that covered the spacious seat. He opened one eye. “You could tell the pilot to step on the gas."

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter 3

  At Mercy hospital, Sue had Sister Anne paged before entering the emergency room area. Sister Anne would take her straight to Karen without the hassle she would most likely get by looking for her herself. Not being Karen's relative, she knew she needed the aid of her mother's childhood friend. It also helped that Sister was second-in-command of Mercy hospital, had been like a second mother since her birth, and Sue's mentor the past year and a half. Sister was the one person who understood what had driven her away from her life with Jacob—she was also the person who was helping Sue find the path back. But she wasn't ready yet ... she just wasn't ready.

  In only a few moments the tiny nun made her way across the vast, marble lobby, and Sue waved at her. Sister Anne's short stature and slenderness tended to make her appear as frail as a bird. She might be in her sixties, but Sue knew that the last thing Sister was, was frail. Tough, ageless, sinew was what held that little body together.

  “Why, Suzie Q, I haven't seen you in three months.” Sister Anne always greeted her by using the name her parents had dubbed her long ago. She smiled widely and hugged Sue.

  Sue hugged back. “I'm sorry, Sister. My only excuse is being bogged down in work. And I know that's pretty lame.” Sometimes it felt as if a day blurred past her each time she blinked her eyes.

  Sister Anne chuckled. “Let's say it's a perfect excuse, because I have to use the same one.” She released Sue from her bear hug. “Now, what brings you to my hospital?"

  After Sue related what little she actually knew about what had happened to Karen, Sister Anne ushered them toward the long hall leading to the emergency area. “Why, I know our Karen,” Sister said, her eyes rounded in surprise. “That girl couldn't have an enemy in the world. It must have been a prowler."

  “I hope that's what it was,” Sue murmured as they stopped at the emergency desk. “Otherwise, I'll have to find a new place to live.” Managing the apartments had its down side. Forcing a tenant to move out always begot the risk of creating an enemy. Sometimes an angry relative, whom Sue had never even seen before, would show up pounding on her door. In the past, some of those relatives had looked violent and behaved the part. None, neither tenant nor tenant's ally, had actually attacked her, but the possibility was always there. Perhaps, she thought, it was time to give up being a landlord. The thought that the kids could have been in the apartment this morning gave her chills to the bone.

  “Seems a suggestion I've made to you on occasion.” Sister had voiced her concerns about Sue being a manager many times before and looked as if she wanted to comment further on the idea of Sue moving then changed her mind. “Stay right here, Sue, and I'll see what's happening to Karen."

  The cavernous waiting room had rows of padded seating, and in half of those seats were mothers holding cranky children and people with bandages on heads, arms, and feet. A nurse with a clipboard moved among the throng. Sue jerked slightly when Sister touched her arm, yanking her attention away from the noise and unhappy faces.

  “Karen is in room six,” she said, a frown marring her forehead and revealing her grave concern. “The police are with her. You can wait outside the room and go in when they come out.” Sister adjusted her thin, wire-rimmed glasses. “I realize they have a job to do, but sometimes they can be over-aggressive and, in my humble estimation, completely thoughtless. I let them know the doctors and I won't tolerate them overdoing it. The poor girl."

  Sue moved with Sister Anne in the direction she pointed. “I won't stay long, Sister. I want to reassure her that I'm here for her. She may want to tell me who she wants notified.” Karen could be stubborn when
it came to giving information to strangers.

  A page for Sister Anne echoed through the room. “I must go, Sue.” Sister patted Sue's shoulder. “Don't worry too much. I'll keep an eye on Karen, and call your mother later.” She paused. “And we'll talk soon?"

  “Thanks, Sister.” With a nod, Sue smiled as she turned toward room six. “Don't forget us in your prayers.” The way things are going, I have a feeling we're going to need them, Sue added to herself. First for Karen, then for her when Jacob discovered what had really happened that day. She would need a little heavenly assistance in calming him, and herself for that matter. Since her Adrenaline was already making her feel as if she could clean the apartment building from roof to cellar, she wasn't looking forward to having an over-hyper Jacob adding to it.

  Sister Anne waved her hand down in her you're-so-silly gesture as she walked away. “You're family's always in my prayers. We have to talk, though,” she added, her voice fading in the distance. “Doug says you're becoming a real markswoman, and I want to hear all about it."

  Doug, Sister's nephew and a hunting enthusiast, might be saying that, Sue thought. She had grown up with Doug, and he was a fun teacher, but it didn't prove a damn thing. It didn't prove that she could act differently if someone pointed a weapon at any of her loved ones. She could clean her .38, load, aim and fire, could even hit a bull's-eye—all of which would surprise Jacob—but would she ever be reliable in a crisis? She wasn't ready for any such test. She didn't ever want to face such a test again. Living with Jacob nearly guaranteed that she would. Living without Jacob was a hell all its own.

  A few moments later she was leaning against the outer wall beside the door to room six. Sue listened to the sound of voices coming from inside.

  “You're certain you never saw the man's face?"

  “Never,” Karen answered, sounding so weak Sue had to force herself not to go in and yell at them to stop the questions. “All I can remember is his threat."

  “And the man said, ‘This is what happens to people who marry snoops.’ Right?"

  “Something like that,” Karen said. “Please, can we stop?” She sobbed faintly. “My head hurts."

  “If you have more questions, come back tomorrow,” a woman's voice intervened. “Mrs. Orr needs to rest, and she still has to go through more tests."

  “All right, nurse. We'll check with her tomorrow."

  Three men filed out of the room, one in uniform, the other two in street clothing. They were so intense with their murmured discussion that they didn't seem to notice Sue.

  She peeked into the room, and the nurse waved for her to come in. Karen was lying on a wide exam table; the IV tube still in her arm, an oxygen mask beside her bandaged and bruised cheek, and she now had a cast on her right wrist.

  “You are Sue Campbell?” When Sue nodded the nurse continued, “Sister Anne said you could stay for ten minutes. We have to take Mrs. Orr to the X ray unit and then get her settled in an observation room."

  “I'll try not to stay even that long,” Sue assured her. “I don't want to cause Karen any more pain than she already has."

  “Good,” the nurse said firmly as she left the room.

  After shifting closer to Karen, Sue reached out and lifted her friend's left hand, holding it gently. “Oh, Karen, I'm so sorry this happened.”

  With her left eye completely covered with gauze, Karen looked out from under the wide bandage that stretched across her forehead with a very frightened expression in her right one. “You've got to be careful, Sue,” she rasped through swollen and split lips. “I'm sure that man was looking for you."

  “I heard a little of what you told the police. If he thought you were married to a snoop, then you weren't the person he wanted.” She paused, lowering her voice. “We both know who's married to a snoop.” She wondered what Jacob's reaction would be when he learned about all this. She had a feeling it wasn't going to be a pretty sight.

  “That wasn't all he said.” Karen's fingers gripped Sue's hand tightly. “Every time he hit me, he said he was leaving a message for the snoop to back off. I was to tell the snoop that his kids would be as easy to find.” Karen coughed and moaned, tears slipping from her eye. “Please, Sue, stay away from the apartment. And, for God's sakes, call J.T. I was half conscious, but I think the guy said he'd do something permanent to J.T. if he didn't listen."

  A slow heat began first in Sue's chest, and then she felt it everywhere. Since it had never happened before, it took her a moment to know what caused it. Anger. She was suddenly intensely wishing she could feel the man's neck between her fingers. A profound anger that someone had injured her friend, threatened her children, her Jacob, stoked her blood's temperature up considerably and had her clenching her teeth, then taking three, slow deep breaths. She had never before wished harm on another human being and it startled her, big time.

  Trying to soothe away Karen's anxiety and gain control over her newly found hostility, Sue gently rubbed Karen's fingers. She could feel the anger seep away, and the pounding of her heart slowed down as she concentrated on her friend. “J.T. is on the way here, Karen. If this has something to do with him, he'll be here to take care of it. The kids are with Mom and Dad and the best security system in the city.” Ever since the day her dad tumbled down the stairs, never to walk again, they had kept their security system up to par with an ever-changing technology. She felt especially glad about that today. Her children were in safe hands.

  Karen's hand relaxed only a little. “My things...."

  “Don't worry about them. I'll take your clothes to Mom's. You won't have to go back to the apartment."

  “Thanks,” Karen whispered.

  “Who do you want me to call? Your mom? Dennis?"

  “The nurse called Mom. I know Mom won't call Dennis, but I want him to know I'm here.” Karen closed her eye for a moment; a tiny smile formed on her swollen lips. “I need him."

  “I'll call him before I leave the hospital,” Sue promised. “He'll come, Karen. You know how much he loves you.” They'd divorced a year ago, but not, it seemed, for the lack of loving each other. Always, when one had problems, the other would show up with support. Karen never wanted to talk about it, so Sue didn't know the real reason for their separation.

  After writing down the names of the relatives Karen wanted notified besides her mother, Sue watched Karen's eye close, and she appeared to have fallen asleep. Sue turned to leave when the nurse reappeared.

  “Is she going to be all right?” Sue whispered.

  “The doctor is worried most about her head injury,” the nurse said, softly. “We'll know more after he runs some tests."

  Handing the nurse a card with her name and phone number, Sue said, “Please call me if she needs anything. Maybe you could put this with her chart and a note?"

  “I'll do that, Mrs. Campbell. Trauma victims usually need all the support they can get, and we always do our best to help."

  Sue called Dennis from a pay phone in the lobby, then walked slowly to her car. She wanted to go home ... wanted to go home and crash in peace and quiet for a little while before facing J.T., the kids, her parents.

  All the heinous events of the day, plus the intense sadness she felt for her friend Dottie and the kids in California made her feel completely drained.

  * * * *

  Ten-year-old Michael bumped into his sister as he lugged his photography equipment up the steps to his grandparent's home. “Why'd you stop so suddenly?” he grumbled, steadying his favorite camera bag. “I break one of these, and you get to pay for it.” If anything happened to his stuff he'd never talk his mom into the new camera he wanted. And he wanted a video camera with lights and everything. Today he was supposed to find out which one was the best. Bud was the best teacher in the world, and he was gonna show them about video cameras and using them for surveillance. He didn't want to miss his class. According to Grandma, though, it looked like he might. He turned toward the front door, deciding to go find her and make sure.
>
  “Stop worrying about those silly cameras. Did you hear Grandma? Dad's on his way here.” Andee gestured for him to wait. “We have to talk."

  He'd definitely liked her better before she turned twelve. Now she kept mothering him. He hated it. “I want'a put my stuff away and find Grandma."

  “Later,” she said, pointing at the swing near the end of the enormous porch and walking to it. “Mom's got trouble, and Dad's coming. We have to take advantage of the time we've got him here.” She paced in front of the swing. “Think about it. Things aren't getting better. They aren't getting back together, and we need to take a stand."

  He shrugged, ignoring the ache in his heart the way he'd been practicing. “We can't do nothin'. I don't want to talk about it.” He stacked his camera bags on the floor. If he couldn't have his class, maybe he'd go hangout at the Red Burger. It'd be a long walk, but what the heck. Some of the cool lookin’ dudes with wired hair would be there. Maybe he'd learn something.

  Andee stared at him, her brown eyes looking hurt. She pushed a hand through her long hair, catching her fingers in a curl. “Mike, please don't do this. I need you. We have to be a team."

  Mike blinked away the tears he refused to acknowledge. “Once more,” he said. “This is it, Andee. You got that?” He sat on the swing and gave it a push with his heel to the wooden floor. “You promise right now. If they stay apart this time, you leave me alone."

  She plopped down beside him. “Deal,” she said as they slapped palms in agreement.

  He looked up as his grandmother came through the front door. “Come on, you two,” she said, approaching them. “I decided we couldn't do much here but worry, so I'm taking you to camera class, Mike.” He nearly sprang from the swing, and she patted Mike on the shoulder as he grabbed his camera bags from the floor. “While you're learning about video cameras, Andee and I will go shopping."