The brochure was for a conference on trauma and it was taking place the next day in the city. Judith, well, someone named Dr. Makenzie Holder, would be speaking there. Katherine shoved the brochure in her purse and ran out of the office. When she passed by Jenny, she knew she had to make an excuse. “Evan fell at home. He said he’s fine, but I need to check on him. Tell Dr. Gold I’ll come back later,” she called over her shoulder as she rushed out, not waiting on a response from Jenny.
***
Makenzie adjusted the wig one more time and fought the strange feeling. She knew she needed to do the best she could to cover her identity. She applied heavier makeup than she usually wore, fake eye lashes and glasses, and also added a scarf to her outfit. When she looked in the mirror, her reflection reminded her exactly of someone trying to hide her identity.
It was show time and her nerves had the best of her. She grabbed a cab for the couple of blocks to the conference hotel. “I don’t want to walk in heels,” she mumbled to the driver. In the car, she stuck her hand in her purse and touched the gun. Just the thought of it made her nauseous.
When she arrived at the conference, she grabbed her bag and kept a watchful eye as she made deliberate moves on her way to the registration desk.
“Hello, Dr. Holder, we’ve been expecting you. I’m Phyllis and I’ll be your assistant today. Please let me know if there’s anything that you need while you’re here.” Her smile was warm, she didn’t act like she noticed anything. Her response made Makenzie relax a bit.
“I have a staffing emergency at my hospital and will not be able to stay for the cocktail reception. If you could let the other faculty know that I will be leaving just as soon as my lecture is completed to catch a flight back, I would appreciate it.”
“Yes ma’am, someone has already called from your hospital to let us know you needed to come back, just in case you hadn’t received the message. I believe there is a note about it in your conference materials. I’ll take care of your request. This room is for all of our speakers and you can wait in here or have a seat in the lecture hall.” Phyllis excused herself as Makenzie settled in for the longest four hours of a lifetime. She immediately knew that Agent Bernard had made the phone call, pretending to be the hospital. Once again, he’d thought of everything.
With her lecture delivered, she felt like she had dodged a huge bullet without even as much as a question or glance out of place. She retrieved her luggage and made her way to the mezzanine level ladies’ lounge to change clothes and put her disguise back on. She was in the middle of changing when she heard the door open and someone entering very quietly. She immediately reached in her bag and retrieved her gun.
“Judith?” She heard the sweetest name come from precious lips.
“Mom?” she whispered as she slowly opened the stall door.
Her mom stood there paralyzed in fear when she got a look at the gun Makenzie was holding.
“Are you alone, Mom?” She shook in terror. “It’s too dangerous for both of us, you can’t be here.”
Katherine couldn’t speak, she could only shake her head “yes” she was alone. They embraced, then Makenzie quickly went to see if she could lock the door to the restroom, but it didn’t have a lock.
“Mom, we have to talk while I get dressed. I have to leave quickly. How did you know I was here?” She looked at her mom with such need in her eyes. “I’ve missed you so much, Mom. I love you. How’s Daddy and Cessa?” She rattled off questions as fast as her mother processed seeing her for the first time in two years.
“They’re great. They don’t know I’m here. No one does. I made sure I wasn’t followed.” She tried to pacify Makenzie. “I saw the brochure in Dr. Gold’s office yesterday when I went to pick up the Relay donations.”
“Mom, you know that’s ridiculous. They have eyes everywhere.”
Katherine missed her daughter so much. She needed to know she was okay. “Are you doing okay, Judith? Are you safe and happy?” Her face was tear-stained.
“I’ve met a wonderful man, Ryler. He’s very patient. He’s a detective and he makes me happy and feel safe. I love you. I have to go. You need to wait a few minutes and let me leave first. I need to get out of here, it’s too risky, but my work didn’t give me a choice. Refusing would’ve raised too many flags. The FBI Agent has been helping me.”
“So that’s what this disguise is all about?” Katherine looked weary.
“Yes. Please tell Daddy I love him and give hugs to Cessa when you see her next. I love you so much.” She cried as she walked away from her mom. She could hear her mom weeping as she walked out of the restroom. It broke her heart, but it was the only way to keep them all alive.
Drew Donati and his family would never let them live if he knew she was alive. She had watched him torture people and the thought of him torturing her family terrified her. She cried all the way to the airport and sobbed hysterically in the gate lounge. Leaving her mom was the most difficult thing she had ever done and now, she had done it twice.
***
Back in Dallas, Ryler heard a knock at the front door. He wasn’t expecting anyone and knew that Makenzie wouldn’t be back until the next day. When he peaked out of the side window, it was Brody.
“What’s up, man?” he asked as he let him in.
“I just left the hospital and thought I would stop by and see if you and Makenzie were around. I should’ve called, you might’ve been busy.” Brody gave a typical guy smirk.
“Dude, I don’t know what you think is going on, but she’s in New York for a conference.” Ryler gave a quick chuckle.
The guys grabbed a few beers and headed out to the back to float in the pool.
“How’s Rachel doing?” Ryler asked.
“She’s doing really well considering her injuries. I was concerned that mentally she would retreat, but she hasn’t so far. The hospital has a counselor visiting with her which is helping, but she wanted to see Makenzie. I guess she didn’t know that Makenzie was out of town. You said she’s back tomorrow?”
“Yep, in the afternoon. I can’t wait to get her home.” He grinned at Brody.
“Home? Do I detect that she’s living here now?” He looked at Ryler curiously.
“Not as of today, but I hope so soon.”
“That’s great man, that’s just great. I’m happy for you. Chris told me that she ripped in to you the first night you met her. He said she was a tough cookie and had your number.” He laughed thunderously.
“Trust me, man, you have no idea. She’s a true Italian and she can hold her own.”
Just then, he heard his side gate shut and latch. The two guys looked at each other. “Were more of the guys coming over and I didn’t get the message of a party?” Ryler asked Brody. Brody shook his head.
Two men appeared sporting guns pointed at Ryler and Brody. “In the house now!” one of them shouted.
Brody and Ryler got out of the pool and walked into the house with the gunmen behind them. When they got in the house, there was another armed man on the inside of the house.
The gunmen forced them into the bedroom and left one of the gunmen to guard them. Ryler’s senses were on hyper-alert. All three wore gloves, so this wasn’t a normal robbery. Their faces weren’t covered, so they didn’t intend on leaving witnesses behind.
“What do you want with us?” Ryler asked the gunman.
“The boss will ask the questions.” The guard answered in a heavy east coast accent. Ryler immediately knew what this was about. But the three men didn’t look like the photos he’d seen of Drew Donati.
One of the other men yelled out for the guard to tie them up. When the guard went to rip the cord from the bedside lamp to use as a tie, Ryler tried to overtake him. He got a shot off, but he missed both Ryler and Brody. The other gunmen came running and assisted in tying up both guys.
They went through everything, practically destroying the interior of the house. They weren’t finding what they were looking for. “If you tell
me what you’re looking for, I’ll tell you where it is.” Ryler mouthed off.
“Where’s Judith?” Tony asked.
“I don’t know Judith. There’s no Judith here. Never has been. You’ve got the wrong house.”
“I’ve got two bullets and an IP address that tells me you know something about Judith Donati.” He mouthed back as he shoved a gun in Ryler’s face.
“Dude, he’s telling you the truth. His wife’s name was Cyndi. She’s been gone for a long time.”
“You got a picture of her?” he puffed out, as he rooted through items out of the dresser drawer.
“Bottom drawer of the night stand over there.” Ryler nodded his head as he spoke.
Tony went to retrieve the photo. Cyndi was blonde and petite. She looked nothing like Judith Donati. “Someone from this address searched for Judith Donati and I want some answers or you’re both going to die.”
“Man, I’m telling you, we don’t know Judith.” Ryler yelled at the men.
Tony motioned for the guys to join him. They left the room. Ryler needed to fill Brody in. He whispered to Brody, “Makenzie is in witness protection. She’s Judith Donati from New York. You know what needs to be done. My piece is on top of the fridge. I’ve got a backup in the middle drawer over there. My phone is in the kitchen. Where’s yours?”
“My gun is in my bag by the bar. My phone’s in that bag.”
The guys worked to get their hands untied from behind their backs.
In the kitchen, Tony made a call to Drew. “Man, there’s nothing here that shows anything of her, but I’ve just got that feeling. We’ve got two guys tied up, no one’s talking yet. A little hand-to-face magic always works. You headed this way?”
“Yes, will be there in a couple of hours. What’s the address?” Drew asked.
Tony gave him the address and hung up. He went back to work searching through drawers and cabinets. He was looking for clues about Judith. He needed that computer.
Ryler’s laptop was in his briefcase in the trunk of his car.
Tony and his crew dove deep into tearing up the place. They emptied every closet and drawer. While they were busy, Brody was able to untie his hands. He untied Ryler’s hands as well. Quietly, he untied their feet and they made a plan of attack. Ryler regretted having removed the phone from his bedside table years ago when he worked nights. He hated the ringing while he was trying to sleep during the day. What he would give for a phone in his room now.
“Go through my closet, where it comes out in the laundry room. You should be able to get to your bag without them seeing you,” Ryler whispered.
Brody disappeared just as the men made their way back to the kitchen. Ryler heard his front door open and close. Thank god he hadn’t gotten around to oiling the squeak. He listened for the squeaks and pops of the hardwood floors to judge how close they were to him as he hid in the alcove just before his bedroom.
As one of the men approached, the floor creaked. Ryler knocked his hand holding the gun and the gun went sliding under the bed. Ryler took the man to the floor, but not before he heard a shot go off. He looked around and there was no one shooting at him, they must’ve shot at Brody. It was all he could do to keep the man pinned on the floor. After a scuffle and a few punches, Ryler was able to knock the thug out and tie him up.
He grabbed the gun and carefully made his way around the corner into the hall beside the kitchen. He saw a bare foot and leg on the floor on the other side of his bar. He knew Brody was down. What he didn’t know was the location of the other two gunmen. Just as he moved to slide around the corner into the kitchen he heard the gun cock behind him. He froze.
“Hand it over.”
Ryler raised his hands and the gun. The man took the gun from him and shoved a gun in his bare back and said, “Walk.”
Ryler was escorted to the living room and pushed down to the sofa while the man went through his computer. He was pecking away at the keyboard. Ryler knew it wouldn’t take him long to find what he was looking for. He had saved the photos that he found of Makenzie/Judith on the internet, to his desktop files. He looked over at Brody, who wasn’t moving, but he couldn’t see any blood pooling on the floor, which was a good sign.
“Do you want to tell me about this?” Tony asked as he turned the laptop around to show a picture of Makenzie from the hospital’s website.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“I thought she was pretty. I save photos of pretty girls, what can I say?” Ryler answered in a cocky tone.
“That’s Judith. How do you know her?” Tony barked. The other two men came in to sit down in the living room with Ryler and their boss.
“I don’t know a Judith. Who is she and why are you looking for her, man?” Ryler stalled. He hoped Brody would come too soon.
“Judith was married to our boss,” one of the gunman answered.
“Shut the fuck up, Bruce!” Tony yelled.
“You say was. So they’re divorced?” Ryler probed him.
“She’s supposed to be dead. But somebody from this address and this computer has been searching her. That must be you, so I want to know why and how you got this picture.” Tony kicked Ryler’s knee. He moaned in pain, just as Tony grabbed his wrist and yanked his arm back behind him in a twist. A wrestling match ensued. The other men just stood back and watched as they scuffled on the floor. Ryler saw Brody fire off another round but miss the other man, who returned fire and missed Brody. Several more shots rang out before Brody was able to take the goon down. That just left Tony, who was pinned to the floor.
The front door opened and Drew Donati stepped around from the entry, holding a gun pointed at Ryler. “Let him up, Buchanan.”
Ryler recognized Drew Donati from the pictures.
Drew and Tony secured Ryler and Brody with ties and had them sitting on the sofa.
“Tell me where my wife is, Buchanan.”
“I’ve been telling your guy here that I don’t know your wife. You’re mistaken.”
“You’ve searched for her and for me on this computer. You’ve got photos of us saved in your files. I suggest you start talking.”
Brody tried to concoct a plan. He just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, but he did have his phone in his back pocket if he could get to it without much movement. The problem was he’d never mastered pocket texting like high school kids could do. Thank goodness it was a Blackberry with a keyboard, if he could get to it fast enough. He dialed 911, or so he hoped.
“You’ve got this all wrong. I don’t know who Judith is,” Ryler said, stalling.
Donati grew impatient. He was ready to waste the two guys and move on, but he couldn’t because they knew something about Judith and he needed to get to the bottom of it without any loose ends. “Tony, get me a power drill from the garage.”
Tony went searching for the power drill.
***
Makenzie boarded the plane in New York, put her head in her hands, and cried the entire flight. Just a glimpse of her mother was enough to set her back two years.
Two long years ago the initial plan was put into motion to save her life. She had filed divorce papers and charges for the brutal beating she received from her husband. Drew didn’t take too kindly to her decision and knew what a divorce and charges would mean to his career, his family. It also opened him up to investigation for a huge crime ring, involving tax fraud, cover-ups, and murder.
Donati made the decision to have his wife, Judith Donati, killed in a water heater explosion at their home and hired the men to do it. One of the men was a government witness and was picked up on other charges. He gave the FBI enough information that they were able to thwart the plan and save Judith’s life.
Judith removed a female arm from the cadaver lab that resembled hers in size, the hand just slightly bigger, but after a fire that wouldn’t be noticeable. She gave the arm and her wedding rings to FBI Agent Terry Bernard and said goodbye to her family for the last time. It was the only way she could keep
them safe and be able to live. She was left with no other choice than to fake her death.
The plan was carried out, the arm with Judith’s rings on the left hand was placed at the house after the explosion by the FBI agents, and Judith was placed into witness protection.
Donati identified the remains and behaved like the grieving widower, a performance that would’ve garnered an Academy Award. He had a strong alibi and he was never indicted for the murder of his wife. He was free to live his life.
Makenzie relocated to Dallas and made herself well-trained in how to protect herself. She lived with her ghosts from her past, but each passing day brought strength, happiness, and freedom from abuse.
“Ma’am, can I get you something? Maybe a drink to help you relax?” the flight attendant asked Makenzie.
“No, thank you, I just hated saying goodbye to someone I’ll never see again.” She cried some more.
“Oh honey, don’t say never. Things could change.” She smiled at Makenzie before walking away.
“Not for me they don’t,” Makenzie muttered under her breath.
She couldn’t wait to get back to Ryler and surprise him by being home a day early. All she had to do was check in with Agent Bernard just as soon as she safely got in her car.
The plane landed at DFW Airport and she gathered her bag. She went to the ladies room and removed the fake piercings, washed her face and changed her clothes. She put the gun in her purse and quickly ran to the car. Once in her car and driving towards Ryler’s house, she called Agent Bernard from a disposable phone.
“It’s over. I’m on my way home. I had a surprise at the hotel, my mom showed up, but no one saw us. It’s all okay.” She smiled with relief.
“Makenzie, there’s a problem. Donati and his men are on the move. He filed a flight plan to Dallas. He’s there looking for you, we’re sure of it.”
Makenzie dropped the phone. “Shit!” she screamed.
Chasing Air Page 11