Too Little, Too Late

by Marta Tandori

  Otis’ idea had set the wheels in motion in Eve’s mind. “I think Otis may be on to something.”

  “About the service entrance?” asked Liz.

  Eve nodded. “Right beside the service entrance is that huge walnut tree,” Eve told Paul. “Do you know the one I’m talking about?”

  “I think so.”

  “If we were to scale the wall in front of it, it should give us enough cover, don’t you think?” she asked, warming to her idea.

  “And what would we do once we scaled the wall?” he asked skeptically.

  “The gardener’s work shed is right beside it,” she told them excitedly.

  “So?”

  “Inside the shed is the golf cart your gardeners use along with the remote control for the cart.”

  “You mean use the cart to create a diversion.” Paul finally caught on. “That might just work.”

  “I was also thinking about the alarm,” Eve continued. “The task force wouldn’t have to deal with neutralizing the alarm if we were to shut it off from the inside.”

  Paul’s brow shot upward. “And how do you propose we do that?”

  “By getting in through the doggie door in the north kitchen,” she replied.

  He shook his head immediately. “No way. That opening is much too small for anyone to fit through.”

  She turned to Liz. “Liz could probably fit through it.”

  Paul shook his head slowly. “I want your mother back as much as you do but that’s simply too risky.”

  Her earlier fatigue forgotten, Eve became animated as she warmed to her plan. “It’s not that risky. You give Liz the security code. She slips in and deactivates the alarm before opening the kitchen door and we’re in.” She smiled at them triumphantly. “It’s that simple.”

  “It’s never that simple,” Paul argued. “We don’t know what we’re up against. For all we know, this nutcase could have each entrance in the house booby-trapped.” His blue eyes locked into her stormy ones. “We’d be taking too big a risk. Besides you haven’t even asked Liz if she’d do it.”

  Three pairs of eyes turned to Liz.

  “I’m willing to give it a shot.”

  Eve searched the young woman’s features. “Are you sure, Liz? Paul’s right. It’s a huge risk.”

  Liz nodded.

  Eve turned to Paul triumphantly. “Can you think of a better plan?”

  His silence gave her the answer she needed.

  ***

  Leo had been gone for a long time, or so Kate thought. The baby’s incessant crying earlier had kept her alert but he’d been quiet for quite some time now. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been drifting in and out of consciousness, especially since the throbbing inside her head had become much worse.

  “Baby, cry or do something,” she cooed. “Let me know you’re okay.”

  There was only silence from the small bundle.

  What if Leo had hurt the baby? Kate couldn’t tell from her vantage point whether the baby was even breathing but she knew she couldn’t let him die. If only every bone in Kate’s body didn’t ache. It would’ve been so much easier to just close her eyes and float away. Her head flopped to one side, her eyes coming in contact with Rina’s limp body. The blood had stopped flowing from the wound in her stomach and small rivulets had coagulated into her pubic hair and down the front of her thighs. Her remains were like a macabre three-dimensional painting wrought by the madman that had imprisoned her. Somehow, Rina’s mutilated body gave Kate the strength to attack the bindings at her wrists with renewed vigor.

  Her wrists were chafed and sore from the tightness of the rope but after years of playing the piano, her hands and fingers were still fairly nimble. Kate twisted and turned them, slowly loosening the bindings. She gave a small cry of triumph as she slipped her thumb and index finger free. A minute later, her left hand was out, followed quickly by her right hand.

  Managing to get herself up onto her knees, they immediately threatened to buckle under her. She grabbed on to the post for support, unprepared for the nausea that assailed her. It eventually subsided, allowing her stand up slowly. She listened for the sound of Leo’s footsteps but didn’t hear anything. Overcome by the shakes, Kate painstakingly made her way over to the baby. It looked as though the baby was dead! Putting her ear to the baby’s mouth, she heard his shallow breathing and knew she had to get him to a hospital quickly.

  Scooping him up with shaking hands, Kate fervently prayed he wouldn’t pick that moment to start crying but he barely whimpered. Propped up against one of the shelves, she spied what looked like an old paddle, except that the paddle part was made from metal. Holding the baby in one arm, she tucked the paddle under her armpit, using it as a crutch. Awkwardly making her way over to the door, Kate stuck her head out, scanning both ends of the hallway. It was empty. She closed her eyes, praying for the strength to get them through this.

  ***

  Paul was the first one over the fence, followed by Eve. Liz came a minute later. Directly in front of them was the ancient walnut tree.

  “So far so good,” muttered Eve.

  “What now?” asked Liz.

  “The garden shed is about a hundred yards away, give or take,” he told them. “We’ll have to make a run for it, one at a time, to the side of the shed closest to the fence. The security cameras don’t get that angle.” He looked at the two women grimly. “I’ll go first, followed by you, Liz, and then Eve. Is everyone ready?”

  They nodded.

  Paul sprinted across the lawn and quickly made it to the shed. Somewhat out of breath, he motioned for Liz, who scurried gracefully across the lawn, followed a minute later by Eve. Eve tried the door. Thankfully, it was unlocked and the three of them slipped inside. In a matter of minutes, they located the remote for the golf cart.

  Eve picked up the remote, looking at it dubiously.

  “Do you know how to work that thing?” he asked.

  “It’s all in the wrist,” she joked, feigning a confidence she was far from feeling.

  The grooves around his mouth had deepened and he wiped at the sweat that had collected on his brow. “The way I see it, we’ve got about 500 yards from here to the north kitchen. Once Eve gets the golf cart going towards the south end, we make a dash for the kitchen door.”

  Liz nodded. “Got it.”

  Eve impulsively hugged Liz. “Thank you.” Without waiting for her reply, Eve nodded to Paul. He pressed the door opener for the shed so Eve could maneuver the cart out. After a few failed attempts, she managed to figure out how the tiny gears worked and the cart was soon heading towards the south end of the property.

  “Let’s go!” He and Liz sprinted across the lawn. When they reached the kitchen door, Paul looked at the doggie door doubtfully. “It’s going to be a tight squeeze.”

  “Just how tight, we’ll have to see,” Liz remarked as she got on her knees in front of the small hatch door.

  “Wait!” Paul snuck his way over to the large kitchen window and peeked inside. There was no sign of life. “Okay, now!”

  Liz lifted the hatch to the doggie door and slid in, feet first. When she was hip level, she became stuck.

  Paul frowned, quickly assessing the problem. “Rotate your hips and slide in diagonally.”

  Liz nodded, managing to slip inside. Once inside the kitchen, she glanced around nervously. There was no sign of life. Seeing the keypad exactly where Paul said it would be, she punched in the code with shaking fingers. The screen display went from “alarmed” to “alarm de-activated”. Breathing a sigh of relief, she quickly opened the kitchen door to let Paul in and pressed the button to open the main gate. Hopefully, Otis would have already alerted the task force.

  Paul gave her a nod of approval. “Nice job.”

  “Now what?” she asked.

  “Now you find Eve and the two of you get the hell out of here,” he told her.

  “I’m not leaving,” Liz told him, crossing her arms over her chest.

&nbs
p; Grabbing hold of her elbow in exasperation, he pulled her through the kitchen. “Come on, then. We’ve got little time to waste.”

  ***

  As Leo was about to leave the room, one of the screens monitoring the south quadrant caught his attention. Going in for a closer look, he shoved the dead security guard off the chair and sat down. Staring closely at the screen, he didn’t see anything. He tried to ignore the throbbing in his brain. His mind was probably playing tricks on him. About to turn, Leo saw it again. It was a golf cart, careening around the lawn, without a driver. He clutched his head in his hands.

  “I know what you’re up to, Father, but it won’t work!”

  You are my son.

  Tears coursed down his cheeks. “Not for much longer!” he yelled at the screen. “There will soon be salvation for this sinner.”

  He stood up, his body swaying as he stared at the careening golf cart. His father was trying to exert his power over him but this time, he wouldn’t allow it. The time for his salvation had arrived.

  ***

  Paul tried to shield Liz’s eyes from the gruesome sight of the dead security guard when they went inside the monitoring room but he wasn’t fast enough. Her scream was muffled by his chest.

  “Is he dead?” she whispered.

  Going over to the guard, he put a finger on the guard’s neck, in search of a pulse. As he had suspected, there was none. The huge knife sticking out of his back had made sure of it. He shook his head.

  Liz pointed to one of the monitors. The golf cart was careening wildly as it wove its way across the south lawn. A few seconds later, another monitor claimed their attention. It showed the main gate, now open. The task force was heading towards the front door.

  “Let’s go,” he told Liz grimly. “There’s nothing more we can do for him.

  ***

  The staircase at the end of the hallway drew her like a magnet and although Kate was tempted, she looked for an alternate escape route. Instead, she turned towards the wide doorway to her right, pushing open the pocket doors to reveal the screening room, complete with an old-fashioned popcorn maker in the corner. Frantically, she sought for places to hide but there weren’t any. She tried the projection room door but it was locked. That meant the only way out was up the stairs.

  Looking down at the baby, Kate noticed he looked a little blue around the lips and his breathing had become labored. His face was unnaturally cool to the touch, which worried her. She wrapped the old dish towel more tightly around his tiny body, determined to get him to safety. Making her way to the staircase, Kate glanced at the winding stairs. Leo was nowhere in sight. Grasping the banister, she pulled herself up, one stair at a time, keeping the baby as well as the paddle close to her body. She held her breath, hoping the stairs wouldn’t creak, giving her away. At the top of the landing, she saw the painting and recognition immediately dawned on Kate. She was inside the Swanson Estate.

  ***

  He saw Kate reflected in the beveled glass of the French door. She had the baby with her. His baby. She had no right to take that baby away from him.

  There will be no salvation for you, son.

  “Shut up, Father!” he whispered, shaking his head to rid himself of his father’s voice. “My soul will be pure.”

  Never!

  “Once I’ve been anointed with the newborn’s blood, I shall have won, Father.”

  The thought of his imminent salvation propelled him forward. With lightning speed, he tore through the living room, the kitchen knife clutched in his hand. His one arm came around Kate’s neck, while the other pointed the tip of the blade against the other side of her exposed neck.

  “You stupid bitch!” he hissed. “You can’t get away from me!”

  ***

  The force of his body almost caused Kate to drop the baby but at least the baby had whimpered. It meant he was still alive.

  “Please, Leo,” she begged. “The baby’s sick. He’s got to get to a hospital.”

  “Don’t worry, Sister Kate,” he reassured her. “The baby will soon be with God.”

  He was crazy. Kate was convinced of it. The soulless eyes that stared at her were insane. And to make matters worse, the baby was quiet again. Her foot felt around for the paddle that had been knocked from underneath her. Out of the corner of her eye, Kate saw that it had skidded across the hardwood floor. Blackness threatened to overtake her vision and the pressure of the knife tip against her throat increased. Kate closed her eyes, hoping she would lose consciousness before he plunged the knife into her throat.

  ***

  Paul grabbed Leo from behind, trying to loosen Leo’s grip on the knife against Kate’s throat. The knife clattered to the floor and Kate slid down after it, still hanging on to the baby.

  “Grab the knife!” Paul yelled to Liz, as he and Leo struggled. Although Paul was taller than his adversary, Leo had the speed and agility of a younger man.

  Liz was trying to pull Kate and the baby out of harm’s way. “I don’t see it!” Frantically searching the floor, she saw that the knife had slid underneath an armoire. It was just out of reach. Spying Kate’s paddle, she grabbed it and used it to get at the knife.

  “Liz, watch out!”

  Paul’s warning came too late. Liz felt her body being lifted and twisted like a rag doll until she was lying on her back with Leo on top of her. Very briefly, their eyes met and fused. Recognition in his. Shock in hers.

  “You were never mine!” he screamed.

  “No!” As his hand reared back to strike her, Liz plunged the knife deep into his chest.

  By the time the task force made their way inside with a frantic Eve on their heels, it was all over. Leo Bauer’s salvation had been immediate.

  CHAPTER 45

  Irving Johnson’s car was spotted by a motorist on the San Diego Freeway. The motorist contacted a local news station who in turn contacted the authorities. Soon, there were several choppers in the air, faithfully videotaping Irving’s attempted exodus from the United States. The story of his brother’s death and Irving’s flight from L.A. were documented by news stations around the world and CNN’s coverage of the story was ongoing. By the time Irving Johnson was finally arrested trying to enter Tijuana, every working television in most department stores and retail stores across America were tuned in to the developing story. This was the hottest thing to hit L.A. since O.J.’s famous ride in the white Bronco back in the nineties.

  While L.A. prepared for the trial of the century, Irving continued to profess his innocence, although the prosecutor’s office wasn’t buying into it. It wasn’t long before someone from the prosecutor’s office leaked to the media that their star witness was going to be none other than Irving’s soon to be ex-wife, who coincidentally happened to have been previously married to his dead brother. Olivia Johnson’s very powerful and very high-priced defense attorney had arranged for her to testify for the state in exchange for immunity, while her divorce attorney, James Pontano, Esquire of the Law Offices of Pontano, Rosenberg, Felder & Copps P.C. had assured her she’d come out of her divorce a very rich woman. Revenge was certainly bittersweet.

  ***

  Sigourney Krantz Johnson was spared from learning the fate of her two sons. When Detectives Warner and Cassidy arrived at the Foundation to arrest her, they found her already dead. Her oxygen had been shut off and the tube that carried the oxygen to her nose had been placed carefully on top of it. Dickie’s body was lying alongside hers, clutching her hand. The empty pill bottle beside her bed bore testament to his suicide. The note under the pill bottle put the whole tragic event into perspective. It was written in her husband’s shaky scrawl and got straight to the point. “Peace at last.” Neither detective could argue with that.

  ***

  Karen was still trying to get her head around everything that had happened recently. Her mother was okay, her dad and Brooke now had a baby boy, her grandmother was on the mend and it looked like she and this Paul guy had a permanent case of the hots for
each other. Even more amazing was the fact that the crazy woman whose death she’d witnessed had actually been her aunt, which made Liz her cousin. Now that took some getting used to!

  She pulled up in front of Liz’s apartment building. Liz was already waiting for her in the lobby.

  “Hey,” she managed by way of greeting.

  “Hey yourself,” Liz responded nervously. “How’s your shoulder?”

  “A couple more rounds of physio and I should be as good as new,” Karen replied. She looked at Liz with approval. “Your hair looks good.”

  “Thanks,” she replied. “I get tired of wearing it down all the time.”

  “Have you ever thought of wearing it in a French braid?”

  Liz shook her head. “I don’t know how to do a French braid.”

  “I do,” Karen announced. “Turn around.”

  “We can’t do it here, in the lobby!” Liz looked mortified.

  “Okay,” Karen compromised, “then we’ll do it in the parking lot.” Without further ado, she grabbed Liz by the hand and led her out the parking lot. Pushing Liz onto the curb, Karen unraveled her hair.

  “I feel ridiculous,” Liz muttered, glancing around furtively to make sure none of the other tenants saw them.

  In what seemed like a matter of minutes, Karen was done. “You look amazing!” She rooted around in her purse for a mirror.

  Between both of their mirrors, Liz was able to see the effect. “It actually does look good. Can you teach me to do that?”

  “Sure.” She tried to act casual. “Do you think your boyfriend’s ever going to like me?”

  “Otis isn’t my boyfriend,” Liz denied quickly.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Karen asked, staring at her as if she was an idiot. “It’s obvious he’s nuts about you.”

  “You think?” asked Liz, slipping on a pair of sunglasses.

  “Oh my God, are you two blind or what?” Karen muttered under her breath.

  “By the way, he thought you were a spoiled rich bitch.”

  “What gave him that idea?”

  Liz grimaced. “Anyway, I think he’s warming up to you, though.”

  “Yeah?”