by M. C. Cerny
“It doesn’t matter. I’m just glad I’m not identifying your body in a morgue. It was bad enough that Mom was determined to fly out, until I reminded her of Dad’s heart condition. Luckily, weekend flights cost a ridiculous amount of money so I appealed to her frugal side to wait things out.”
“Oy, this is so not good.” Katie gripped the counter for balance. She worked on focusing her vision as the dizziness subsided.
“I know. I think they’ll give you a few weeks to let your head settle, but then you better fly out and visit them to reassure them you’re okay.”
“You promise not to call movers and have my things packed up for Kansas City?”
“You’re an adult, Katie. I respect that, even if Mom and Dad think you’re four and not twenty-six. Lay down and I’ll put the kitchen back to rights, and order us some take out.”
“Sam, did I mention you’re the best brother ever?”
Sam wanted to hug Katie. He was scared to death that he almost lost his little sister. He glanced at the family photos she had hung on the wall of them as kids and felt the burn of tears behind his eyes. The urge to grab her in a hug and never let go was there, but he was afraid of how emotionally fragile she might be. Instead, he cleared his throat and tried to be the gruff older brother that she was more comfortable with. “Pizza or Chinese?” Sam asked.
“Pizza. You can’t get the good stuff in Baltimore and you know it.”
Sam chuckled at Katie’s pert reply. “I love you, too, sis.”
Sam guided Katie to her bedroom and put her duffle bag on her bed before walking out and shutting the door. He gave her a few minutes to get herself settled. When he checked in on her, he found that she had fallen asleep. Her bed was one of those old wrought iron types that girls loved to put pillows of all kinds on. His sister was no exception and he loved her for it. Surrounded by the pillows, she looked dwarfed on the queen-sized bed. Fear clenched his gut at the thought of almost losing her. Their parents were devastated, but Sam made them promise to let Katie decided what she wanted to do with her life. His sister was tiny but determined, and telling her “no” would just reinforce her resolve to do the exact opposite. She had always been that way.
Sam pulled out his phone and called his boss to let him know that Katie was alright and that he would be back to work sometime mid-week. He had plenty of vacation time coming to him from all the overtime he worked anyway, and being with Katie would be good right now. He had missed his sister, but this was not the way he wanted to spend quality time with her. He contemplated transferring to a New York office, but he saw this more as Katie’s city. She would probably catch on that he was trying to be overprotective.
Sam ordered the pizza and waited for the delivery. As soon as he opened the door, the scent of a fresh brick oven pizza filled the apartment. Katie peeked out from her room and inhaled the smell of basil, garlic, red sauce, mozzarella, and crispy crust. She gave a Sam a smile and they sat down at her small table, eating from the box. “You know, I think Mom would wonder how she raised us right about now.” Katie folded her slice in half and took a bite, savoring the taste. Steam rose up from the gooey cheese and she swore that she was banning hospital flavored Jell-O from her diet forever. She’d just work out more if she had to. No hospital jiggly red Jell-O here. “Mmm, this is heaven.”
“I agree, but we can just tell her we’re keeping the planet green by not using plates or anything.” Both laughed and continued to enjoy their dinner.
They were watching the news in her living room when her house phone rang. Sam looked at her and answered it. “Hey, Trevor. We just had some pizza. What’s up?...Uh-huh…Okay, I’ll let Katie know and we’ll see you tomorrow.” Sam put the phone down and waited for Katie to respond.
She held one of her ridiculous beaded throw pillows in front of her like armor. “It was about the funeral, wasn’t it?” she whispered.
“Trevor was telling me that it will be on Tuesday, but he’s going to come by tomorrow to see how you’re doing. Tully’s wife has to get his affairs in order, and they can’t have an open casket for the wake, so it will just be the funeral and a reception at her house. Are you going to be okay, Kit-Kat?”
“Um, yeah. I just want lay down right now.” Sam watched Katie get up from the couch and go to her room. She closed the door and he realized that she would probably want some privacy for a while. He got up and cleaned the kitchen, putting away the leftover pizza. He turned the TV down low and waited to see if Katie would come back out, but he fell asleep on the couch before she emerged from her room.
THE FOLLOWING MORNING, SAM MADE coffee and left the apartment to get the paper. Katie stayed in her room and refused to come out, not wanting food or coffee. Trevor stopped by after lunch and brought more takeout, this time from a Chinese restaurant in the neighborhood. He peeked in on Katie, who seemed to be asleep, and Trevor let Sam know the funeral details. She never emerged from her bedroom so Trevor promised to come by early and help get Katie up and ready to go.
Katie hugged her pillow and went through the events minute by minute that she could remember of Friday night …talking with Tully; having drinks with Tully; hot heat inside a building, which seemed strange because they had been in a car accident not a building fire. That night, Katie dreamed of fire and water and men in dark clothing. The dream seemed unending and cycled repeatedly. She felt a little crazy and alone because there was no one to ask about what really happened; the one other person was dead. Sometimes she would be in a bar, but it didn’t seem at all familiar or right. Her arm ached because she’d fallen asleep on it and one of the stitches tore, leaving a small rusty spot of blood on her linens. She woke up several more times drenched in sweat, but was too weak to get into the shower. She looked at the prescriptions that Sam had picked up for her and tried one of the pills to help with anxiety. She felt loopy and dissatisfied with its effects. Food left an acid taste in her mouth, and guilt washed over her like a pounding spring storm. Nothing she did made her feel better. She looked at the clock and closed her eyes again. Sam continued to check on her through the night, worried that she had refused to eat the whole day. He knew that Trevor would get her up and moving, but he still felt helpless at seeing his sister so torn and upset over the loss of her friend. Knowing Katie, Sam wondered if there was more his sweet sister wasn’t telling him about that night.
Trevor came to Katie’s apartment early the next morning. He brought coffee and fruit for breakfast. Sam let him in and told him that Katie continued to lay, unmoving, in her mass of pillows and blankets on top of her bed.
“Darling, come. You must get up and eat something.” Katie squeezed her eyes shut as she felt Trevor lean in close. He brushed hair back from her face and she winced at the human contact.
“No.” Katie seemed to burrow deeper into her blankets.
Trevor got up and went to her windows. “Life’s going to keep moving, my love, and so must you.” Trevor gently opened the drapes in her room, three large windows bathing her in bright light. Katie winced and tried to dig deeper, ignoring him. “Katie, Sam has been wonderful, but he’s let you linger long enough. You kind of stink lying here all sluggish.” Trevor went into Katie’s bathroom and started the shower. He gently pulled her blankets away from her grasp, and helped her to sit up and get to the bathroom. “Come on, that’s a good girl. Watch your stitches when you wash your hair.” When she got to the toilet, Trevor shut the door behind her.
“Poor dear.” Trevor clucked to himself and opened Katie’s closet. He pushed aside several dresses and work outfits, and saw the dark navy blue dress suit he remembered helping her purchase for her Flower Show segment. It was conservative and easy. He found her navy pumps and a matching navy hat that had a large fuchsia flower pinned to the back of it. Shaking his head, Trevor laid out the clothes on Katie’s chair and took the hat into the kitchen.
“Hmm, you seem really familiar with Katie’s personal space, and yet she’s never mentioned the two of you dating.” S
am was in full big brother mode.
“We’re not dating, Sam.” Trevor continued to pull gently at the pink flower.
“I guess you come by often then?” Sam sipped his coffee and watched Trevor working on his sister’s hat. He was sure there was something odd about this relationship. Sam wondered if all New Yorkers got weird after a while.
“I’ve been at the station since before Katie was an intern. I think we were kismet souls from the day we met. She’s good at her job and one tough cookie. I like for my friends to be successful at what they love doing.” Trevor deliberately ignored Sam’s implied question.
“Never dated, huh?” Sam sipped his coffee watching Trevor, the big brother stink eye covering his face.
“Nope. Like I said, I don’t want to see my friend, my best friend, throw away her career on one bad situation. Tully was someone who made bad decisions before Katie started working with us. Your sister has a very kind heart.” Sighing, Trevor replied, “Was there something you wanted to ask me directly, Sam?”
“You’re right. I can’t help protecting her because she’s my sister. Does she know?” Sam hadn’t wanted to ask, but felt compelled. The man just waltzed into the apartment, literally, and was now practically dressing his sister, even though he swore that they never had an intimate relationship. A brother would know these things, wouldn’t he?
“Know what? That I’m gay? Of course she knows. I pick out her clothes more than she does; however, that’s not what makes me gay. I happen to like men, which about sums it up. I was a fashion major at FIT before I switched to media communications. She knows I have good taste. Besides, everyone needs a gay BFF to keep them straight, fashion-wise.” Trevor theatrically waved back at Sam, despised at having to feel he had to answer to people about his sexuality.
Sam looked taken aback and apologetic. “I didn’t mean it as an insult. She’s my baby sister and it’s a little weird having another guy step in. It’s supposed to be my job.” Sam looked down into his coffee cup and hoped Trevor wasn’t pissed. Katie would hardly forgive him for hurting her best friend.
“No harm, no foul. I’m used to that reaction and, if it’s any consolation, I think of her as a little sister …just one I’ve seen in her underwear.” Trevor continued to fiddle with the hat.
Sam gripped his coffee mug tighter, ignoring the comment. “Right, okay. I’m going to leave you to it then. Our mother is kind of traditional and keeps thinking that the two of you are together. She wants me to check you out, make sure you’re not going to break her heart or anything.”
“Mrs. Wilson is a sweet woman. I know she was probably confused when I answered the phone for Katie a few times and at odd hours. I don’t think Katie wants to disappoint them. We both do each other that favor. You know, my family is convinced that if we sleep together, I’ll just go back to liking women. I think we both know that’s not likely. Besides, we simply aren’t attracted to each other that way, even if we tried.” Trevor took a small pair of scissors and clipped the now offending fuchsia flowers from the hat. He fixed the netting so that it would hang partially over Katie’s brow.
Both men waited for Katie to emerge from the shower, which she eventually did. She’d even blown her hair dry and pinned it up out of her face, small tendrils of dark hair slipping from the simple knot. “Thank-you, both of you. I couldn’t get through today without you.”
Katie let Trevor put the hat on her head at a jaunty angle. He was careful to avoid the still visible bruise on her cheek and temple. She took a sip of the coffee that her brother offered her. Trevor offered Katie a tube of cover-up concealer for the bruises, but she gently declined. Silently, they made their way out to Trevor’s waiting car.
The funeral was a mostly private affair. Being that Tully’s family was Irish, there was a Catholic service, followed by the procession to the cemetery. Katie was quiet and held either Sam’s or Trevor’s hand during the day. She gave her support to Tully’s estranged ex-wife and their son. It was a sad day for her. She kept hearing the priest say how important making confession was to wash away one’s sins. Katie felt incredibly guilty and helpless. She saw their station manager, Jeff, who let her know that he would see her at work tomorrow. They would meet to discuss her future at News 10. Trevor said nothing, squeezing her hand in reassurance. He was right that life would have to go on at some point but, right now, she felt frozen and lifeless inside.
After the other vehicles had made their procession into the sacred grounds, Jacob pulled up to the cemetery gates. Nick sat next to him in the front seat, silently following his gaze past the tinted windows. To blend in, both were dressed in suits, but looked more like hitmen. Jacob didn’t plan on getting out of the car, though, and hung back behind a few other funeral attendees.
“What are we doing here, Jacob? Eli and Julian asked us to not pursue this, and especially not pursue Miss Wilson after the fact.” Hauk sat in the back and whined in response to Nick’s question.
“Who said I was pursuing anything? I’m merely following security detail protocol. Making sure all of our ends have been neatly tied off. I read that shit in a manual somewhere.”
Miss Wilson could identify us. You, in particular, and might then be triggered to recall what happened at that warehouse Friday night.” Nick observed Jacob’s quiet demeanor and knew his friend was struggling with the decisions made to handle the situation. “Jacob, we’re in a cemetery with at least a dozen news reporters. You’re the face of Reed Software & Securities. We can’t…more importantly, you can’t…just go curiously jaunting through public places like this without rising suspicion!”
“I know, Nick, but you didn’t see her face. When her eyes opened and she looked up at me, she looked so helpless. You didn’t see her when she lost consciousness again, either. I’m convinced she saw something that night that could help us acquire the needed Intel on Cosovo. How can I ignore that and do nothing? Isn’t that all apart of Eli’s agenda?”
“We can have Mason or Ty look after her for a while.” Nick tried his best not to call on a higher power right then and there, although his ordained past was balking.
“No. I have to protect her in case they find out she was there.” Jacob clenched his hands on the steering wheel.
“Who finds out? What did she see? Protect her from what exactly? Did she say something to you?” Nick looked back out at the funeral procession. Nick could see that Miss Wilson was pale, stiff. Even from their distance, he recognized the grieving process. Next to her stood two other men, taking turns supporting her. They must have been close family or friends. “You didn’t say anything to Eli and Julian did you, Jacob?” Nick hoped they weren’t jumping into the fire.
“How could I? They were determined to wash their hands of her one way or another. Something just doesn’t feel right about what happened at the warehouse. We were set up. Instead of them taking us out, two civilians got hurt. Cosovo isn’t that stupid and he doesn’t create loose ends like this. He must have some sort of plan. He had an opportunity to neutralize us going in there, but he wasn’t even there and his thugs fled like cowards instead. Why? What was it that bastard wanted us to find? He likes the fucking chase.”
“Yeah, and then he blew up the building. Some chase he has going on. So, then, what are we doing here?” Nick pulled out a pair of binoculars to get a closer look. One of the men with Ms. Wilson had to be her brother because the resemblance was uncanny. He also thought the man looked familiar and that left Nick feeling even more unsettled. However, unwilling to antagonize Jacob further, he kept those thoughts to himself for the moment. Nick had his own government contacts he could discretely reach out to if needed.
“We’re looking for an anomaly. Something we missed that night; something that wasn’t on Michael Tully’s camcorder, but maybe the reason that they were there. He mentioned a woman named Petra to me, maybe pregnant. I don’t know.”
“Jackass…” Nick used the nickname sparingly. “They blew up the building, there was nothing l
eft of it or the supposed shipment. We didn’t even get one of their lackeys to interrogate.”
Jacob ignored him and continued looking forward. “True, but I’m betting that’s not why we were there. He wanted us to know that he knew about us, or maybe Rick Chambers was hoping to screw us over. God, I don’t know.”
“By getting close to Katie Wilson, you’re making yourself a liability and putting her in danger.”
“I know what I’m risking, Nick, but I think she’s worth it. I’m changing a lot of things about my life after this.” Nick rolled his eyes at Jacob’s statement. Far be it for the logic-driven Jacob Reed to have a screw unhinge over a woman. Nick saw enough of that nonsense between Lulu and Julian. It was probably why he found the practice of celibacy making so much more sense these days.
“Look, I’m not going to tell you how to run your life, Jacob.” Nick said a Hail Mary to himself as he blew out a breath of pent up air.
“Then don’t, Nick.”
“I’m sure Eli has been keeping tabs on you. You didn’t stay with us after we dropped Miss Wilson off. Where have you been since Saturday morning?” Nick queried.
“I was in my apartment. Am I on watch now?” Jacob looked back to see Hauk lift his head and woof affirmatively.
“I saw the video and there wasn’t much on it for us to investigate. The connection between Michael Tully and some woman named Petra hasn’t resolved itself, either.”
“Mr. Tully indicated she was a woman he was seeing, I presume. Possibly pregnant with his baby. I’m not totally sure, though.”
“Jacob…” Nick didn’t believe him for a second.
“Am I going to have to prove it because the only other witness is a large German Shepard?” Hauk woofed again as if to say “Damn right, daddy”.