by Dirk Patton
From the far side of the room, the lock beeped and she leapt for a gun on the bedside table. Snatching it up, she leveled it at the door as Liam pushed through, a large coffee in each hand. He froze when he saw her with the weapon, then she exhaled in relief and tossed it onto the bed. She rushed across the room and he held the cups away from their bodies as she threw herself into his arms.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice revealing how much she was worrying him.
“Bad dream,” she mumbled into his chest. “Then I woke up and you weren’t here.”
“I went for coffee. I left you a note.”
“Sorry. I didn’t see it,” she said, not releasing her hold on him.
Liam didn’t know what to say, so he settled for holding his arms straight out with a hot coffee in each hand until she got past her fright from what have must been an intense dream. Finally, she let go and stepped back.
“I went somewhere.”
“What?”
“I was in the abyss and one of them was trying to kill me. I picked up a piece of rebar and it was just like the pipe in the alley. It was burning and I killed the demon with it.”
“You were in... what? When?”
“Just now!”
Liam stared at her for a long moment.
“How do you know it wasn’t a dream?”
She slowly raised her hands and showed him the rust and dirt ground into her palms. Frowning, he set the coffees down and took one of her hands in his. Gently, he rubbed the grime with a finger before meeting her eyes.
“Has this happened before?”
“A few times, since this all started. Zophiel told me I’d keep remembering.”
“Memories don’t leave dirt on your hands.”
Katarina shuddered slightly and shook her head. He watched her closely as she returned to the bed and sat on the edge. He picked up their coffees and came to sit beside her.
“When this started, I thought I was losing my mind. But now, I think it’s all real. I think I’m being shown what I need to see so I can remember.”
“By Zophiel?”
“Who else? Unless we’ve both gone around the bend and are bat shit crazy, it’s all that makes sense.”
“Do you know how to do it, now? The burning sword thing?”
She thought about that for a minute before shaking her head.
“I don’t know. I was terrified at first, then I was angry. Really pissed off. Maybe that’s it. I have to get really mad.”
“Kind of like the Incredible Hulk?”
She looked at him in surprise then laughed despite the situation.
“Don’t be an ass. And why are we drinking coffee in the middle of the night?”
“Katarina, it’s seven thirty in the morning.”
She grabbed his wrist and checked his watch. Shaking her head, she sipped her coffee and stared at the wall.
“We need to call your attorney,” Liam said after a brief silence. “I checked my voicemail while I was out and he and Harry both left a bunch of messages. They’ve been trying to reach us since yesterday evening.”
“Did they say what they wanted?”
“Just said to call immediately.”
She nodded.
“Let me get dressed. I could use some fresh air while we talk to them.”
She stood, gave him a quick kiss and disappeared into the bathroom. Liam stared at the closed door for a few moments, quietly sipping his coffee. His reflection looked back at him from a mirror mounted on the door and he was surprised to see how concerned he looked.
Forty-Six
It was a gray, misty Seattle morning when they stepped outside the hotel. Everything was beaded with a thin layer of moisture, but an umbrella would have been useless. The rain, and it could only be called that in the most technical of senses, was little more than a fog that hung in the air, clinging to every surface.
Pulling out a disposable phone he’d purchased at a small store, Liam handed it to Katarina and lit a cigarette as she dialed Vance’s office. A brief conversation with the receptionist and she was connected to Vance. After only a few seconds, she told him to wait while she activated the speaker so Liam could join them.
“Start over, Mister Vance,” she said as Liam leaned close to hear.
“You need to surrender yourself immediately, Agent Daniels. If you tell me where you are, I’ll send Harry to get you and we’ll accompany you to the Federal Courthouse.”
“What? Why? I’m out on bond!”
“You were,” Vance said patiently. “The US Attorney has filed additional charges and convinced the judge to revoke your bond. I’ll do my best to get you back out after you’re arraigned.”
Katarina and Liam shared a frightened look as they processed the news.
“What are the new charges?” Katarina asked.
“An additional count of murder.”
“What? Who the hell am I supposed to have killed, now?”
“FBI Agent Collins from the Office of Professional Responsibility,” Vance answered. “I’ve yet to see the evidence.”
“But that was ruled an accident!” Katarina protested. “And I didn’t do it!”
“I’m already working to get in to see the judge and the US Attorney. It’s highly improper for additional charges to have been brought and a bond revoked without any discovery material being provided to the defense or even an opportunity to present my argument. But, until I can sort this out, there is an active warrant for your arrest and the longer you wait to surrender, the worse it’s going to look.”
“Mister Vance, I didn’t kill her. I didn’t kill anyone! Why is this happening?”
Katarina’s face was drawn and pale from the news and Liam put his arm around her in an effort to provide some comfort.
“The why is unimportant at the moment, Agent Daniels. What is, is to be seen cooperating and working to clear your name. The longer you delay in turning yourself in, the worse the chances of obtaining an additional bond. Do you understand?”
“What are her chances? For a new bond, I mean,” Liam said.
There was silence for several moments before Vance spoke again.
“Candidly, I do not believe they are good. The judge has allowed the new charges to go forward. Truthfully, I do not expect her to be swayed by my argument once I get in to see her. Judges tend to side with the prosecution at this stage, especially with charges as serious as these. In the event of an unsustainable charge, the courts generally prefer to deal with them in pre-trial motions. At this time, that’s likely at least a year away.”
Katarina was stunned, staring at Liam with an expression of incredulity on her face.
“I need to think about this,” she finally said into the phone.
“Do not think too long, Agent Daniels. Remember my caution about how your actions will be interpreted by the judge.”
“Understood,” Katarina said softly. “Thank you, Mister Vance.”
She flipped the phone shut. Liam took it from her hand, removed the SIM card and broke it in half before snapping the phone with his hands. He left the pieces of the card in a puddle of water and walked to a trash can and deposited the remnants of the phone.
“Agent Collins?” he asked, lighting a fresh cigarette.
“She’s the OPR agent who was present when I was suspended and surrendered my weapon. The only other person in Pettigrew’s office when it happened. She drowned and it had been ruled accidental. How do I get out of this, Liam?”
He pulled her into his arms and held her in the swirling mist.
“You turn yourself in, you’re not getting out. You realize that, right?”
“But I didn’t---”
“And I believe you,” he said, cutting off her protest. “But what’s a jury going to believe? Your marriage is going down the tubes. You start an affair with me, then your husband is killed, and they’ve got a phone conversation where you’re talking to the hitman who’s on video going into your home at the time
of the murder. Then, there’s a half million-dollar life insurance policy that will resolve your financial problems. I’m not a lawyer, but from where I’m standing that sure feels like a conviction.”
Katarina looked at him and tears began to flow down her face.
“Unless we can produce evidence that exonerates you,” he said. “Which means, we have to go forward with our plan and get Pettigrew to set the record straight.”
“And if we can’t?” Katarina asked as the tears continued to fall.
Liam took a deep breath and blew it out as he thought. He glanced around at the sound of tires on wet pavement, tensing when he saw a marked police cruiser. As nonchalantly as possible, he turned Katarina so that her face was hidden and nodded at the uniformed officer behind the wheel. The man waved back and kept going, exiting the hotel parking lot and gently accelerating away.
“I can’t live in fear like this, Liam. My heart’s about to beat out of my chest and they aren’t even looking for me, yet.”
“We keep you out of sight until we have what we need from Pettigrew,” he said.
“And what if that doesn’t work? What if we can’t get the demon out, or what if Pettigrew is killed, or... or... Goddamn it! What then?”
Liam reached out and wiped the tears from her face.
“You’ve got two and half million dollars. Jimmy can make you vanish from every database in the world and give you a new name. You start over. Somewhere far away where no one will ever look for you. With Jimmy’s help, they won’t even know to look for you.”
Katarina was quiet for a long time, absorbing his words. She felt as if the world was collapsing in on her. The idea of a fresh start was like a lifeline being thrown to pull her out of a bottomless pit of despair.
“Fuck Pettigrew!” she suddenly snarled. “And fuck the charges and the demons and everything else. Let’s go. You and me! Right now. We get the bag of money and go see Jimmy and just disappear so no one can ever find us! Maybe somewhere with lots of sunshine and beaches. Will you come with me?”
Liam looked at her. Hesitating. He would have liked nothing more than to run away with her, but he didn’t want to spend the rest of his life looking over his shoulder.
“You know we’re not there, yet. Right?” he asked gently. “We have to try.”
Katarina stared at him then turned away, but not before he saw the pain and disappointment on her face.
“You don’t want to go with me. I get it, and I don’t blame you.”
“Did I say that?”
“You might as well have,” she said without looking at him.
“Damn it, Katarina! I’d follow you anywhere. Okay? But if we can get this monkey off your back, we won’t have to spend the rest of our lives being terrified every time the phone rings or there’s a knock on the door. But, if this doesn’t work,” he paused until she met his eyes, “I’ll go with you. Anywhere you want. Mountains, beaches, deserts... hell, I don’t care. As long as it’s with you.”
Katarina smiled through her tears, then circled her arms around his waist and held him as tightly as she could.
Forty-Seven
“Guys said the house is empty. Looks like it’s been abandoned for a while. Family of opossums in a kitchen cabinet,” Baldwin said.
He’d just come in and was seated across from Liam. After the conversation with Vance, Liam had brought Katarina back to the room then made a run to the bank to get the cash for the Marines. On his way back, he’d had an idea and stopped at a beauty supply shop. Katarina had given him a horrified look when he’d explained what he was thinking, then disappeared into the bathroom with a heartfelt sigh or resignation.
“Neighbors?”
“Nothin’ close,” Baldwin said, shaking his head. “Couple of miles, at least. The forest is dense as hell, so sound won’t travel far. Frankly, couldn’t have come up with a better place if we’d spent a month looking.”
“Good,” Liam said, then handed over a thick envelope. “For your guys.”
Baldwin glanced at the thick sheaf of hundreds inside, then tucked it away.
“You sure ‘bout this?”
Liam shrugged.
“Know you don’t like me,” he said, “but I’m as sure as I’ve ever been about anything.”
They held each other’s eyes for a second then Baldwin shrugged.
“Okay,” he said. “I’ve got two men on Pettigrew. He arrived at the FBI office at oh six eighteen. Hasn’t even poked his nose outside the building since.”
“You have enough vehicles to keep rotating?”
“Got it covered. And,” he paused and glanced at the closed bathroom door, “my brother will give us a heads-up whenever Pettigrew’s on the move. Discreetly.”
Liam arched his brows in surprise.
“You know she’ll kick your ass if she finds out you got him involved.”
“There’s no choice. We’re watching the target’s vehicle, but there’re several exits from the building. Too many, and there’s no way to watch a couple of them without sticking out like a sore thumb. So, some eyes inside were needed.”
“You didn’t tell him---”
“About the things she said she sees?” Baldwin interrupted. “Are you kidding? I’m not sure what I believe. I sure as hell wasn’t going to try and convince Brody. What a shit show that would’ve turned into.”
Liam nodded understanding.
“Okay. So, back to the house.”
“Right. Need some tables and chairs. Food and water, too. Me and the guys have got our own sleeping bags, but you’ll need something for you and Kat. Warm clothes. This is up in the mountains and it’ll get chilly at night, especially if it’s raining. And a couple of chemical toilets would be good, too.”
Liam was making notes as Baldwin spoke.
“Guessing there’s no power,” he said without looking up from the paper.
“Nope. Need a generator. Lots of batteries and some lanterns, maybe.”
“Got it,” Liam said, finally putting the pencil down. “So, got some more shit piled on this morning.”
“What now?”
Liam filled him in on the conversation with the attorney and didn’t hold anything back, including the discussion about him and Katarina taking off if things didn’t work. Baldwin took it all in without comment and the two men fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts.
It wasn’t long after when the bathroom door opened and they both stared in amazement at the transformation in Katarina. She had cut her long, blonde hair into a short bob, then colored it a fiery copper. Makeup changed the shape of her eyes, nose and mouth. Liam wasn’t sure he’d have recognized her if he’d met her on the street.
“Well?” she asked, looking at them expectantly.
“Holy shit, blondie!” Baldwin said in surprise.
“Wow! That did the trick,” Liam said.
She turned and examined her appearance in the mirror, fluffing her hair lightly.
“I don’t like it,” she said without taking her attention off the reflection. “I look like a... a... fuck. I don’t know. I look stupid.”
Liam and Baldwin shared a look.
“You’re beautiful as a red head, too,” Liam said. “Not better or worse, just different.”
“Worse. Definitely worse,” she said, turning back to face them. “Is the change enough once they start looking for me?”
“There’s no way they pick you out on the street,” Baldwin said. “Maybe someone that knows you, but... even then... wow. Nah. You’re good to go out in public.”
Katarina turned back to the mirror and frowned at her reflection.
“What about ID?” she asked. “Any interaction with law enforcement, they’re going to want to see it and not having any is a big red flag. That’s a great way to get detained.”
“Got it covered,” Liam said, standing and snapping a photo after positioning Katarina against a blank wall. “Jimmy’s stopping by, then we’re going shopping.”
&nbs
p; “You going up there?” Baldwin asked.
“Yeah. Want to get a feel for the place and get it set up. Should be back by dark for a briefing on Pettigrew’s movements.”
“Want to meet here?”
Liam nodded.
“And you should leave her up there.”
“What?” Katarina said when Baldwin’s words sunk in. “What the hell for?”
“Because no matter how different you look, the more time you spend out in public, the greater the chances of something happening that’ll involve the cops,” Baldwin said.
“He’s right,” Liam chimed in. “You’d be safer to hunker down in the mountains until... well, until this is over. One way or another.”
“I am not sitting in an empty house in the middle of nowhere, just waiting for something to happen. I can help.”
“You can help by not getting caught,” Liam said firmly, drawing a look of daggers from Katarina.
“What he said.”
Baldwin nodded his head in agreement with Liam. Katarina looked back and forth between them with her hands on her hips.
“When the hell did you two bond?”
“We didn’t,” Liam and Baldwin both said at the same time.
They shared a look and shrugged their shoulders.
“Then why are you ganging up on me?”
“Because we’re both right,” Baldwin said. “I can’t argue with the man when he’s just lookin’ out for your best interests. And he’s right.”
Katarina glared at them for nearly a minute. Long enough to make Liam squirm and Baldwin find something else to look at other than her angry eyes.
“I’m only going to say this once,” she said in a tightly controlled voice. “So, you two mouth breathers had better pay attention. I am not going to sit on the sidelines. This is my ass on the line, and I’m going to be part of the effort to put this in the past. So, suck it up, buttercups. I’m in, whether you like it or not.”
They stared back at her, the silence in the room stretching out.
“Think she means it?” Liam finally asked, looking at Baldwin.
“Seems serious,” he responded. “Been mean as hell for as long as I’ve known her.”
