“Who?”
“Sean.”
“Oh, Sean! Where are you, are you alright?”
“First, I need to ask you a favor. Could you come and pick me up?”
Sean told him where he was and hung up. It took ten minutes for Dr. Randall to arrive; however, he wasn’t driving the white vehicle.
“Where is your white SUV, Dr. Randall?”
“It’s in the shop, why?”
“My crosser Eli-”
“Eliwese, you mean.”
“Ah, yeah. She firmly believes we need to be driving a white vehicle. I told her you had one, but I guess if it’s in the shop then we’ll have to think of something else.”
“It’s only in for an alignment, and I think we could get it out within the hour. Money talks, you know.” He smiled and looked at his watch. “Of course, at this time of the night it might take a bit more money than usual.”
Sean nodded.
Dr. Randall made a phone call to the mechanic. Sean looked around at nothing in particular, but his thoughts were on Eliwese. He hoped Ryan was doing his job and helping her.
“Alright,” Dr. Randall said as he hung his phone up, “Scotty will get my car out of the bay and call me when it’s ready. It will be at least twenty minutes though.”
“Good. I need your advice on something; Eliwese was shot when we fled and she’s not doing well.”
“Shot?”
Sean relayed the events, the treatments and her reactions to Dr. Randall.
“It’s possible she has some major internal health problems going on. I would not be able to tell you what without seeing her with my own eyes; but just know that this could be life threatening.”
Sean was afraid of that.
“I assume you heard about your father?”
“Yes, Ryan told me.” The dark cloud of mourning passed over Sean.
“I have never met anyone like Paul, not anyone in my whole life. Good man.”
Sean didn’t say anything.
“I don’t know if you have enough time for this or not, but, would you like to see him?”
The question took the bottom out of Sean’s stomach. He felt all the blood leave his face. He never imagined he would have the opportunity to see his father’s body and say goodbye. He looked at the doctor.
“Yes, yes I would.”
They drove toward the mortician’s residence. On the way, Dr. Randall called and requested to see Paul. Sean knew they would be driving past his home, or at least what was left of it. Dr. Randal must have sensed his anxiousness and slowed the car.
As they drove by, Sean saw that much of the home was gutted out by the fire and it brought tears to his eyes.
“It’s not a total loss, Sean. It can be rebuilt. Lives are much more important than things, you know that.”
Dr. Randall told Sean to wait in the car when they arrived at the mortuary. After a few minutes, he came back out and got Sean.
“I told Jack I would lock the door on my way out and he went back to bed. We’re alone and no one knows you’re here.”
The two of them walked in the house quietly and down the stairs to the basement. They approached a closed door and Dr. Randall turned to him and said, “You need to understand your father took a bullet to the head and when that happens, it’s not pretty.”
Sean nodded and imagined the worst. He had never seen a dead person, let alone someone who was close to him.
“I think a nice toupee or wig would be good for him.”
“For the funeral?” Sean asked.
“What?”
“What?”
“Sean, your father is not dead.”
With that, Dr. Randall opened the door to the room and Sean saw his father sitting in a chair on the other side of the room. Sean ran over to him and carefully hugged him.
“I don’t understand. Ryan said he watched you die.” Sean wiped his eyes.
“Ryan saw me take a bullet to the head. So did your mother. Neither knows I’m alive. Dr. Randall’s ambulance picked me up and he saved me.”
Dr. Randall jumped in with, “No, the metal plate in your head saved you.”
Sean looked back at his father with question in his eyes. “I didn’t know you have a plate in your head.” Paul’s head was bandaged up turban style.
“When I was younger, I had an accident and, anyway, I ended up with a plate. It’s a long story.” Paul said. “Tell me about you. What have you been going through?”
Sean told his father about the shooting and Eliwese’s injuries and how Ryan made it later to the cabin. He told him how Sara and Lyndee were taken hostage and how Eliwese is to be traded in exchange for them.
Sean watched his father’s face. Grief and pain etched his weathered eyes. Sean knew the pain had to be unbearable.
“It should have never escalated this far,” Paul said with downtrodden spirits.
“You can’t blame yourself, Dad.”
“I knew she was Victor Rawlings’ daughter when we took her on. My source informed me of it. I only agreed to do it if she would be disguised as a boy. At first I agreed with Eliwese that you shouldn’t know about her. I changed my mind later, but she insisted you be kept in the dark. I’m sorry, Sean, for not including you in the details sooner.”
“It’s ok, Dad.”
“No, I keep going through it in my head; things I could have and should have done differently. I should have told you, especially when the news reported her missing. We should have moved everyone, I should have told your mother…”
“Dad, it’s in the past now.” He put his arm on his father’s shoulder. “Besides, what has Mom always told us about ‘should’-ing all over ourselves?”
Paul chuckled and Sean thought it a wonderful sound, “Your right. Sean, what made you run?”
“Lyndee came to me and informed me that Beth was Riley Stone’s mother and he told Beth that Eliwese was at our house. I grabbed Eliwese and ran, not taking any bit of time to tell you or Mom.”
“Sean, if you had, we’d all be dead now. Who is Riley Stone anyway?”
“Victor Rawlings’ head of security,” Sean said.
“So, the question is how did Mr. Stone know where Eliwese was?” Paul asked no one in particular.
Dr. Randall wondered aloud, “He’s working against Victor?”
“Mr. Stone and my source are connected somehow.”
“Dad, what is the name of Eliwese’s and Beth’s source?”
“Riley… Riley!” Paul looked at Sean with disbelief in his eyes. “It’s him! They are the same guy! I’ve dealt with Riley for years now; though, I don’t understand.”
Dr. Randall spoke up. “It was a setup, maybe.”
“Maybe,” Paul paused, “maybe not. I don’t know what to think. He was the one who shot Beth. I recognized his voice when he called me by name. I realized my own source turned us in and yet my source for all these years has been Rawlings’ Head of Security…and he shot his own mother.”
“A set up, Paul,” Dr. Randall repeated. “She crosses with a sob story of abuse and uses her position to locate Sara.”
“What about Beth?”
“Maybe he planned on killing her all along. I’ll bet she had a hefty life insurance policy with his name on it.”
“So, Eliwese locates Sara for Victor, and Riley is able to cash in on the whole deal.”
Sean cut in, “Are you two implying Eliwese is a spy?”
“Sean, its possible Eliwese was used to locate your mother,” Paul said.
Sean’s immediate thoughts were ‘No way’, but then he remembered the red flags she raised when she asked about other crossers. No. He dismissed the accusation; he trusted Eliwese. She was no spy.
“Yes, that would explain why Riley would be involved in both the crossing and the retrieval.” Dr. Randall added, “And why they took Sara and Lyndee instead of killing them.”
“What? No.” Sean was losing his patience. “Eliwese is not a spy.”
“Your
mother was a crosser, I mean, that’s how we met. You know the story.”
“Yes, I’ve heard it a hundred times at least.”
“Well, not like this you haven’t. Your mother crossed at a young age and hid in our home. The reason she crossed was because she was the intended bride for the dictator’s son, Victor. Her father was an advisor to Reginald Rawlings and Victor had his eye on Sara. Reginald arranged with Sara’s father for her hand, only Sara didn’t want any part of it. Her father died soon after and she was taken to the palace. Dr. Randall was the palace doctor at that time and would help with her infirmities, and after awhile he helped her cross the border.
“She hid here for a little while, with heavy heat constantly buzzing. Then one day, they raided our home and she and I fled to the cabin. We were ratted out, because I didn’t know how to keep my mouth shut, and captured by Reginald’s men. We were both taken across the border to the palace, only they placed me in the dungeon, and she was scheduled to marry Victor. Once again Dr. Randall made the arrangements for her and me to escape and stage our deaths. The staged deaths were so convincing that no search was ever initiated.”
“Mom and Victor Rawlings? Dr. Randall, you worked in the palace? That’s incredible! You’ve spent time in the palace dungeon, Dad? How come you never told us that story? That’s amazing!”
“We couldn’t have it slipping out that Sara was the intended bride who supposedly died all those years ago. Besides, the basics of the story were all you needed to know ‘till now. Victor’s Head of Security located Sara and has returned her to him.”
“Well, then how do you explain Victor willing to exchange Eliwese for Mom and Lyndee?”
Dr. Randall and Paul looked at each other with the same perplexed look.
“Eliwese told me Riley runs the underground independent of Victor. She didn’t know until she entered into hiding. He wants to oust Victor from position by fathering the heir. He let Eliwese cross but with the threat of her mother and sister’s deaths if she tried to flee. Riley is working alone.”
“So, Rawlings and Mr. Stone may not even realize who his hostages are?” Dr. Randall asked.
“Eliwese crossed with information about her father she intends on using to bring him down. She plans on blackmailing him with it for the release of Mom and Lyndee.
“Be careful son.” Paul warned. “She may be playing all of us. Her life has been one of deceit, lies, and manipulations. Her father is a very vile man. He will stop at nothing to get what he wants. And somehow, Riley fits into all of this. We need to find out what that’s all about.”
“Riley wants to be dictator, but he can only achieve it through Eliwese. She is not a spy.” Sean said.
“I hope you’re right. But remember, a person can’t live around that kind of example all her life and not become part of it.”
“And some people live surrounded by evil and yet rise above it. She’s like us, Dad; doing everything possible to defy her father.”
“I hope you’re right, Sean.”
“What will happen to you?” Sean asked his father.
“I will stay in hiding. But don’t worry about me, it’s your mother and Lyndee you should be concerned about. What is your plan for the next few days?”
“Eliwese has it all mapped out in her head. Ryan and I are just doing what she tells us to do.” Sean admitted.
“Ryan’s taking orders and actually following them?” Paul asked with a smile.
“Reluctantly so.”
The doctor piped up, “Sean, you need her to tell you what the plan is. In her condition, she could slip into a coma and then where would you be?”
“It’s true son; press her for details.”
“I will.”
“Sean, take Dr. Randall with you to the cabin; he can help Eliwese. Her recovery is imperative.”
“Wouldn’t that be too risky? I mean I know we can trust him, but two cars going to the cabin this late at night is a little obvious, don’t you think?”
Dr. Randall said, “Sean, we can go in my white SUV. Then, after you leave in the morning, I’ll hike out to the main road and get a ride into town. We could stop by my office and gather supplies on the way there.”
Sean looked at his father, and then at Dr. Randall. Both were in favor of the idea, but deep down, Sean worried what Eliwese would think about it. He didn’t want her to be upset with him. However, if she died, then nothing would get resolved. Sean agreed to take Dr. Randall to the cabin. He bent down to hug his father goodbye.
“Sean, one more thing,” Paul said, “don’t tell Ryan I’m alive.”
“Why?”
“Think about how you felt when you found out I’d been killed. Now, think about how you feel right now. You have no reason to avenge my death because you know I’m all right. Ryan saw his father murdered and it’s something that instills deep anger and hatred in the soul; deep enough to do things we wouldn’t normally do. Brave things, heroic things; don’t be in a rush to take that anger away from him. Hold off as long as you can. Let him use it.”
**********
Sara sat up quickly as the dead bolt clunked and her door opened. She couldn’t tell who stood in the doorway because of the darkness.
“How do you feel?” A low resonating male voice asked.
“How should I feel?” She answered bitterly.
“Are you hungry?”
She refused to carry out small talk with a stranger. She folded her arms and looked away.
“Are you cold? I’m trying to help you, do you even remember me?” the mystery man asked.
“Should I?” Her sarcasm dripped heavy with irritation.
“Yes.” He stepped closer to her. “You should have recognized me the moment I entered your home, but you didn’t. You should have remembered me when I got into the Hummer with you, but you didn’t.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She scooted away as he advanced.
“No, you don’t because we never became ‘we’. And yet, I mourned your death all those years ago. But, look at you, you’re alive.” He walked a little closer to her and the dim light stretched across his face.
“Riley?” She asked breathlessly as her back connected with the wall.
“Yes, there it is. There’s the face I remember.”
The realization hit her like too much wasabi in an ulcerated stomach. He had stormed their home and stood by as men beat her. He, himself, killed Paul at point blank after killing their crosser, Beth. Now he stood before her like some long lost lover who searched for years and finally found her. Only it wasn’t so.
“Riley, I don’t know exactly what you thought went on between us all those years ago, but I can assure you-”
“Don’t… even finish! You know damn well what I’m talking about!”
She inched further against the wall. Maybe it was the glint of madness in his eye, or the fact she knew he would kill her in an instant, like Paul, that made her want to get as far away from him as possible.
“We would have been so happy together, you and I, but other factors came into play, didn’t they?”
“That, and the fact I didn’t want to be with you. Riley, why do you still work for the ‘other factors’?” she asked boldly.
“It pays the rent.”
“How did you know where to find Eliwese?”
“The bigger question is how did I know to place her with you? You see, there is more going on here than you realize.”
“Does Victor realize what’s going on? Have you told him?”
Riley countered with, “Why didn’t you ever tell your children about your life in Rendier? Or that you were married to Victor? I’ve done the math, Sierra; I know whose she is.”
“He doesn’t care. She’s not a son.”
“No, but she will produce one. Once I prove you’re alive, the former wife of Rawlings, and you have the eldest daughter—”
She cut him off. “You’re still trying to get even with him, aren’t you? How
pathetic!”
Riley rushed to her and pinned her shoulders against the wall.
“He was my friend, you were my life, and he took you away because he could! Did you know, Sierra, my life ended the day you died? There wasn’t any reason to live other than to avenge your death.”
“And how’s that working out for you, Riley?”
He breathed rapidly and Sara felt his humid breath on her cheek. Her head was pressed against the firm stone wall as far as it would go, yet she still tried to press further.
“Even now, I won’t have you. He has set you back up on a pedestal, a pedestal only I should possess.”
“You see, Riley, that attitude is what turned me off back then, and still does now. You think I’m some ‘thing’ to own, but I’m not. I made my mind up all those years ago that I didn’t want anything to do with Victor or you. Nothing you could do would change my mind.”
“I saved your daughter’s life, Sierra.”
“But you killed my husband!” she yelled, knowing her breath was wet on his face, but it was his fault for having his face so close to hers. “You betrayed me all those years ago and you haven’t changed one bit. You’re an even bigger waste of skin than Victor,” she added cruelly.
“Do you know how I found you?”
Sara didn’t reply.
“Chandra worked for me, Sierra.” His face still so close to hers, he gently traced her hairline with his fingertips. “She started dating your worthless son so she could get her hands on some photographs for me. I’ve known about you for awhile, and it has eaten at my soul finding out you’ve been alive all this time.”
“I don’t give a damn about your soul. You’ve become everything evil I thought you would.”
The coldness of her words cut the pieces of his heart in half. He grabbed her cheeks with both hands and forced his lips to hers. He kissed her with bruising force and she pushed at his chest in contempt.
He pulled away from her and stood, his narrowed eyes never left hers as he straightened his jacket and tie. He walked toward the door and once reaching it, he turned to face her.
“You taste like Lyndee.”
**********
It was twelve forty-five am when Sean and Dr. Randall reached the cabin. Ryan came out to meet them in the garage with an obvious look of surprise upon seeing the doctor. Sean wanted to immediately jump out and tell him their father was alive and OK, but he held back.
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