Swordfish

by Andrea Bramhall

  “Got it.” He kissed her cheek. “Thanks for the warning. Gotta go.”

  She hugged him tight. “Come back safe.”

  “You got it. We’ll give you two a minute.” He dragged the cart behind him as he and Charlie headed for the elevator.

  “You never did tell me, Finn,” Oz said, “What was that extra ingredient that Charlie got for you to add to the compound?”

  “A radioactive isotope.”

  “Huh. Why?”

  “So that we can track the dispersal and make sure we get coverage where we need it.”

  “I don’t understand how making this stuff radioactive will help that.”

  “We’ll be able to see the isotopes on a satellite image and as they’re all mixed together, where one goes—”

  “So does the other.” She smiled at Finn and kissed her deeply. Finn could feel in her kiss every bit of love that Oz felt for her. She didn’t understand why Oz felt the need to go on this mission, and she wished with all her heart that she wouldn’t, but they didn’t have time to find alternatives right now and everything was already in motion to make Oz and AJ’s cover work. She threaded her fingers through Oz’s hair and pulled her closer. She wished they were alone, she wished they weren’t saying good-bye, she wished she could feel Oz inside her. She wanted to hold on to her and never let go.

  “Don’t get any more holes in you, Olivia Zuckerman. I love you just the way you are.”

  “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again,” Oz said, grinning at her. “You’re a genius. Later, babe.”

  Finn watched her go, the door closing softly behind her and frowning as she shook her head. “If I was, I wouldn’t be letting you go and I’d have never trusted my father and gotten us into this mess in the first place.”

  “Finn, I think it’s time we had a little chat about why I left your father when I did.” Cassie wrapped her hand around Finn’s arm and tugged her into the small office.

  Finn felt exhausted, and all she really wanted was to crawl into bed with Oz and sleep until it was all over. But Oz wasn’t here. She wasn’t going to be waiting for her at the apartment, or at home, and all of a sudden, she realized why her mother had chosen now to start the conversation. “You’re trying to distract me.”

  “Trust me. It’ll work.” She sat on the small sofa and pulled Finn down beside her. “For a little while, at least. What did he tell you? About why I left.”

  “He said you left to be with Karen.”

  “Prick.”

  Finn stared at her.

  “Well, he was. Yes, I was seeing Karen, and he was seeing his string of women, but that wasn’t why I left. I planned to leave when you were a little older, and taking you with me would have been a little easier. As William’s character became increasingly apparent, I knew that leaving him wouldn’t be as simple as filing for divorce. And trying to explain what we’d have to go through to a child as young as you would have been impossible.”

  “So what changed?”

  “He decided that he wanted the version of Balor that I could have created twenty-five years ago.”

  “What?”

  “He wanted me to create a biological weapon to sell to the highest bidder.”

  The final pieces began to fall into place. “You refused.”

  She shook her head. “No, I told him I would, but that it would take some time. When I left the lab that day, I did the only thing I could think of. Karen and I had always thought that driving the car off the cliffs would be the most explainable way to ‘die’ without leaving a body. I called her and, well, you know the rest.”

  “Why didn’t you come and get me then?”

  “He knew I wouldn’t have cooperated with his plan without leverage.”

  Finn heard the words but still she couldn’t comprehend what her mother was saying. “He was holding me hostage to make you agree to his plan?”

  Cassie nodded. “I never wanted to be without you, but I couldn’t find you. I couldn’t stay and build what he wanted, but refusing would have meant him harming you.” She swiped at the tears on her cheeks. “I couldn’t risk that either.” She reached out for Finn’s hand. “I did the only thing I could, sweetheart. Can you forgive me?”

  Finn looked down at their joined hands. Hands the same size and shape as her own, long, slim fingers, narrow palms, and soft, smooth skin. “There’s nothing to forgive. You did the best you could with impossible choices.” She kissed her cheek. “Thank you for loving me enough to sacrifice everything for me.”

  Her mother’s tears were flowing freely as she pulled Finn into her arms. “I love you so much, sweetheart.” She kissed her cheek over and over. “I am so proud of you.”

  Finn tried to pull away.

  “No, Finn, I am. I’m proud of everything you’ve accomplished. Your protocol is a breakthrough that I didn’t expect to see in my lifetime. Your dedication to creating a vaccine for Balor was incredible, and the work you’ve just done with me here in creating a treatment was amazing. You’ve taken dangerous men off the streets, not the least of which was your own father after he had you kidnapped and almost killed. You are so strong, sweetheart, so strong. I wish I could have been with you every day of your life and helped you to become the woman you are today, but instead you managed it all on your own. That’s even more amazing. And I will never, ever let you believe anything else. You have to believe me, Finn. I’m your mother.” She smiled crookedly. “I do believe it’s the law.”

  Finn sniggered under her tears. Intellectually, she knew her mother was right. That they’d all been right in everything they’d been telling her for weeks. That she wasn’t to blame for the whole mess, and that she had done everything in her power to eradicate the threat. As she stared into her mother’s eyes, she finally allowed herself to let go of the guilt she’d clung to. She closed her eyes, and for the first time in months, she saw the faces of the people she had saved, rather than those condemned. For the first time since Whittaker had knocked on their door, she could picture Oz smiling at her, her eyes bright with love, and laughter, and hope, instead of dull with pain and approaching death. She allowed herself to see the future, and a world full of people living their lives, and carrying on, oblivious to everything that had threatened them in the past weeks.

  She knew she still had a ways to go. That it would still bother her for many, many years to come. But she also knew that she could get past this. Because they’d stopped it. Or at least, they’d given everyone the best possible chance to recover. She and her mother.

  “I’m proud of you too. I’m sorry for everything he did to you.”

  “And I’m sorry for everything he did to you. But we have each other now, and we can move forward. If you want to?”

  “More than anything.” Finn buried herself in her mother’s embrace. “I’m so scared, Mum.”

  “She’ll come back to you, sweetheart. She loves you too much to do anything less.”

  Chapter Fifty-one

  “Finn.”

  Finn could feel her whole body being shaken as her mother tried to wake her.

  Finn turned over, determined to ignore the annoying voice. “G’way.”

  “Finn, honey. Why don’t you and your mom go on up to the apartment and get settled? I’m gonna sort the stuff we have in the trunk and follow you up.” Billy shook her shoulder gently. “Go on. I’ll be up in just a few minutes.”

  “Can’t I just sleep here?”

  “No. You’ll just complain all day about the crick in your neck if you do that.”

  Finn wanted to argue the point, but she knew her mum was right. She sighed deeply and pushed herself out of the car. “Right, we’ll see you up there in a few minutes, Billy.”

  “Shall we?” She held her hand out for her mother.

  “We shall.” The elevator was quiet. “I know that there’s still a lot more for us to talk about, sweetheart, but do you think we could do it in the morning?”

  Finn leaned against the wall, arms
propped against the rail to prevent her from falling down in exhaustion. “Only if it’s over coffee,” Finn said, her breath fogging up the mirrored wall.

  “A bucket or two should just about do it.”

  “Sounds like a plan, Professor.”

  “No. Please don’t call me that.”

  “Why not?”

  “I understand if you aren’t comfortable with calling me Mum, but Sandra Burns, the professor, she took me further and further away from you. I don’t need to be reminded of that.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Call me Cassie.” She’d tried to deny it. Tried to tell herself she wasn’t strong enough to handle the real world because all it did was tear her to pieces. But she was wrong. She’d survived it all and she was coming back stronger than ever. She had her daughter back, and she’d claim back her life too. She thought of Bailey. Could she claim back enough to be the woman Bailey deserved?

  “I’d rather call you Mum. As long as you don’t mind.”

  “Mind? Oh, Finn, you don’t know how long I’ve wanted that.”

  The elevator door opened. “Come on. Let’s get you set up in the guest room.”

  “Where are we, anyway?”

  “New York.”

  “Smartass.”

  Finn pointed to her left. “Central Park’s just out there. This is the Dakota Building.”

  “It’s a beautiful place, Finn.”

  “Yeah, but it’s not like I’m going to use it much down in Florida anyway.” She put her key in the door and motioned for Cassie to go in first. “Well, don’t just stand there. Go on inside.”

  *

  It was Jazz’s soft whine that woke her from the pleasant slumber she’d drifted into. It took her a second to gain her bearings when she opened her eyes in the dark apartment. She looked at her watch, grateful for the glow in the dark hands that told her it was almost four in the morning. Bailey pressed Jazz further behind her chair and told her to keep quiet.

  A key scratched against the metal of the lock and a rough, hoarse voice echoed through the dark apartment. “Well, don’t just stand there. Go on inside.”

  Bailey’s heart pounded so loudly against her ribs she couldn’t really hear how many people were coming in. She hoped they weren’t armed, but common sense told her hired thugs were always armed. Especially ex-military. She just hoped she had enough time to surprise them.

  She heard the soft scraping sound of a hand on the wall looking for the light switch and she squinted, knowing the hours she’d spent in the dark would make her blind for a second. The soft light lit only a small fragment of the apartment, but the gasp and her name drew her attention to Cassie immediately.

  She stood quickly and pointed the gun at Finn. “Cassie, get behind me.” She waved her hand in Cassie’s direction. “You stay there and get your hands up.” She waved the gun in Finn’s direction. Finn’s eyes were wide as she complied. Ha. You weren’t expecting anyone to help her, were you? Bitch.

  “Bailey, what are you doing?” Cassie took a step toward her.

  “Cassie, it’s okay. Don’t block my line of sight. Just get behind me.” She glanced quickly at Cassie, offered her a quick reassuring smile, and then stared hard at the girl again. “Don’t you move. I’m warning you.”

  “Bailey, this is ridiculous—”

  “Cassie, it’s fine. We’re just going to walk out and this little bitch isn’t going to follow us. I’ll take you back to Boston.”

  “I’m not going back to Boston with you, Bailey.”

  Bailey tried to breathe through the surprisingly sharp pain that seared through her chest. It was her choice, after all, and it wasn’t like she’d offered Bailey any false hope. Bailey had chased her here without any plea for help. It didn’t matter she’d seen them forcing Cassie into the car, that she wasn’t there of her own volition. It didn’t matter how much it hurt, as long as she was safe in the end. She would be fine—as long as Cassie was safe.

  “I know you told me you didn’t want to see me again. And that’s okay. But I have to make sure you’re safe, Cassie. As soon as you’re safe you’ll never have to see me again.” She stepped forward and put her body between Cassie and Finn, her gun pointed at Finn’s face. “We’re going to leave now, and you’re not going to stop us.” Finn nodded, her eyes wide and her face pale. “Not such a tough girl now, are you?”

  “Bailey, you’ve got this wrong.”

  “I don’t think so, Cassie. I know you wanted her to be your little girl, but she isn’t. A chip off Daddy’s block, aren’t you? I’m going to take her somewhere she’s safe from you and you’re going to leave her alone.” She stepped closer. “Or I’ll make you sorry. Do you understand?” She waved the gun again to make her threat clear. “She deserves better than you.”

  Finn shook her head and fat tears rolled down her cheeks.

  “Enough, Bailey. I don’t know where you got this stupid idea that I’m in danger, but I’m not.” Cassie wrapped her fingers around her forearm and tugged.

  “You don’t have to protect her. I’ll protect you,” Bailey said. She heard Jazz growling from behind her.

  “I don’t need protecting from my daughter.” Cassie yanked harder on Bailey’s arm, trying to move it away from Finn’s head. “Right now the only one I need protecting from is you.” Jazz barked and Bailey glanced at her quickly to make sure she was still behind her. Cassie used the moment to push herself into Bailey’s body and knock her away from Finn.

  Bailey twisted her body and tried to break Cassie’s grip on her arm. “What are you doing? Stop fighting me.” She twisted her hand and shoulder again, desperate to break Cassie’s hold, and her eyes darted to Finn’s face. She was glad the girl hadn’t moved while Cassie was arguing with her. A loud pop made the girl jump. Silly girl, you’ll really jump when I—oh. “Shit, that hurts.”

  Chapter Fifty-two

  What the fuck? Billy thought as the elevator opened to the sound of a gunshot.

  He ran down the long hall. The door to the apartment was wide open and Cassie was kneeling beside a woman who looked unconscious. Blood pooled at her knees and soaked the white rug. “Jesus.” He looked around the room and couldn’t see anything else out of place. “Finn?”

  “I’m here.” She came out of the bathroom holding an armful of towels. She knelt opposite Cassie and pressed the clean linen into her mother’s arms.

  “Is there anyone else here?” He asked, not waiting for a response before he walked to one of the bedroom doors, pushing it open and scanning inside.

  “No,” Cassie said. “Only Jazz.”

  Billy checked a second bedroom, his weapon an extension of his arm as he moved fluidly around the space. “Who’s Jazz?”

  Cassie pressed towels against the woman’s abdomen. “The dog.” Jazz lay with her head on her paws, whimpering softly as she stared at her owner.

  “Billy, can you call an ambulance, please?” Finn looked up as she continued to help her mother.

  “Sure. Then one of you can tell me what the hell happened here.” He quickly called while he checked the rest of the apartment.

  “Bailey?” Cassie pushed hair off Bailey’s face and bent over her when her eyes fluttered open.

  “That didn’t work out the way I planned.” Bailey grimaced and tried to reach for Cassie’s hand.

  “Don’t move. The paramedics are on the way. What were you trying to do?”

  Bailey smirked. “Save you. Couldn’t you tell?”

  “Well, I did hear you mention it, yes. Save me from what?”

  “I saw them push you into the car, Cassie.”

  “What car?”

  “Outside MIT. On Thursday morning. What day is it?”

  “Saturday, honey. It’s Saturday night.”

  “Oh. I thought it was still Friday.”

  “That doesn’t matter. Why did you think I needed saving?”

  “After the car, you were in a helicopter. I thought they’d taken you. I spoke to my c
ontact. He thought she’d gone bad.” She glanced at Finn. “I thought you were in danger.”

  “So you followed me here and waited?”

  “Couldn’t think of anything else to do, couldn’t let you go.” Bailey closed her eyes and her breathing evened out as she passed out. Cassie leaned close to make sure she was breathing and her heartbeat was still strong.

  “Oh, you sweet fool.” She looked over her shoulder at the doorway. “Where are these paramedics coming from? China?”

  “They’re coming,” Billy said, holding his hand out to the dog, and it crawled over to him on its belly.

  “Mum, is this your girlfriend?”

  I wish. “No, this is Bailey. The private detective I hired to help me find you.”

  “And she thought I had you kidnapped?”

  “Seems that way.”

  “And she followed you all the way here to rescue you?”

  “Apparently.”

  “And she’s not your girlfriend? ’Cause I’ve got to tell you, that’s the kind of stunt Oz would pull.”

  “I must have missed something.” Billy petted the dog’s head, to help keep her calm and away from where Finn and Cassie hovered over the body on the floor. “You hired her to find Finn, and then she follows you here thinking you’re in danger.”

  “Right,” Cassie said.

  “So how does she end up shot and bleeding all over the rug?” Billy asked.

  Cassie was more relieved than she could have imagined possible to feel the strong beat beneath her fingertips when she checked Bailey’s pulse again. “She was pointing it at Finn, trying to get me to safety. I grabbed her arm to stop her, to get her attention away from Finn, but she kept pulling it away, and it just went off.” Cassie felt her tears rolling down her cheeks, but she didn’t care. Bailey had come to help her even after she sent her away. Even when she thought Cassie didn’t want anything more to do with her. Still, Bailey had ridden in on her charger, determined to save her.