Cut and Run

by Fern Michaels

  “We’ll help you,” Nikki said happily. “We’ll head to the airport, helicopter in, and get the pearls; then we’ll help you with your English fairy godmother. And then we’ll all head home.”

  “No. No, we’re not going home. We’re going to—” Annie said.

  “Vegas!” the gang shouted as one.

  With that declaration, Fergus scooped up Annie and headed for the van.

  Annie sighed with happiness despite the throbbing pain in her leg.

  “I missed you, Fergus. I thought I might never see you again. I didn’t like the feeling. Fergus . . . I . . . want to . . . to change my name.”

  Fergus stopped in his tracks. He looked down at Annie. “Do you just want to change your name because you can do that legally, or do you want to change your name to Duffy?” He held his breath as he waited for Annie’s reply.

  Annie merely smiled.

  Epilogue

  Three months later

  It was a blustery day in mid-March, with light snow falling, when the Sisters gathered in Myra’s kitchen at Pinewood. A monster fire burned in the old fieldstone fireplace, adding to the warmth of the old farmhouse. The girls loved a good, cozy fire, especially Myra.

  Tantalizing aromas wafted through the entire house, cinnamon, possibly baked apples, Charles would neither confirm nor deny, and the heavenly scent of some kind of soup that would, they all knew, be robust and served with hot, crusty bread lathered with melted butter.

  Maggie and Kathryn were salivating as Charles shooed them away from his stove.

  “I don’t get it. Since when does Avery Snowden get to call a meeting?” Nikki asked as she stretched her neck, hoping to get a glimpse of what was in the oven. Baked apples or apple pie?

  Charles held both hands up in the air. “He asked politely. He’s just back from England on a project for MI6. He made a side trip to Spain to attend a wedding and said he had information he wanted to share with us. How could I refuse?”

  “We see your point, dear. I guess our question is, since he called this meeting, where is he? You called the meeting for noon, and it’s now three o’clock. The dinner hour is approaching.”

  “I have no idea, Myra. It is snowing out.”

  Kathryn said something everyone pretended not to hear. Lady reared up at the same moment and trotted over to the door, her pups on her heels.

  “I think he’s finally here,” Nikki said.

  Avery blew into the kitchen like a gust of wind. Everyone started talking at once, then waited as Snowden tussled with Lady and handed out treats to her and her pups.

  “Smells delicious in here,” he said, grinning from ear to ear.

  “You’re welcome to stay for supper,” Charles said magnanimously.

  “I’d be a fool to turn down one of your gourmet suppers, Sir Charles. So, shall we get to it?”

  “That’s why we’re all here.” He turned around and motioned for the others to follow him down to the war room, where Lady Justice presided to conduct business. The group saluted her as one before they took their seats at the table. Charles called the meeting to order. “You have the floor, Avery. Before you take it, though, what’s that buzzing sound coming from your vest?”

  Snowden laughed out loud. The women looked at one another as they tried to figure out if they’d ever heard the old spy laugh. They waited as he opened his vest to allow a small head to peek out at the group. “This is Happy. I found her when we were in Spain. She’s my roommate. I tried to find her owner, but no one had a missing pet, so I couldn’t leave her behind. He continued to smile as the Sisters ooohed and aaaahed over the little animal, who purred contentedly as she enjoyed all the attention.

  “Can we get on with it, Avery?”

  “Absolutely, Sir Charles. I really wanted to get out here sooner, but I had other commitments, but I’m here now. After I finished up my business with MI6, I traveled to Spain to attend a double wedding. Yes, Enrico’s brothers both got married and relocated to the Village of Tears, where they will put down roots. The villagers welcomed them with open arms once Father Mendoza explained the situation to them. In fact, the priest gave each of them a plot of land, and plans are under way for the villagers to help build their houses.

  “I . . . ah . . . convinced Enrico to sign over all his bank accounts and property to his brothers. He . . . um . . . balked at first, but finally he came around to my way of thinking. The brothers will use the money wisely for themselves and the villagers. We managed to sell Enrico’s Ferrari, and they bought two minivans and a truck. Oh, and, Annie, the three trucks that you ordered for the village were finally delivered, and produce is being shipped on schedule. When I said goodbye, the whole village turned out to wish me well.

  “Myra, Sophia wanted me to tell you that the young lady from whom you obtained much-needed help at the airport appeared some time after the Christmas holiday. She works as a secretary at an exclusive children’s academy in London. She wanted to personally thank the person who returned her hat and other belongings, along with the extremely generous check that she said would take care of her for the rest of her life.”

  Myra smiled, then frowned. “But, Avery, how did she know where to go to try and find me?”

  “The packaging store you used is across the street from the Internet café that Dr. Miguel used. The store’s address was the return address on the package, so she went there first. Sophia was hazy as to why and how the young lady went to the café, but somehow she homed in on Dr. Miguel, who, I assume, told her what she needed to know. You made one young lady very happy, Myra.”

  Myra nodded as she fingered the pearls at her neck. “You found your pearls!” Avery said.

  “We found forty-seven out of sixty. Charles had them strung for me. I have to say I feel whole again,” Myra said happily.

  Snowden smacked his hands together, a silly grin on his face. He handed over a flash drive to Charles. “This is from Sophia and Dr. Miguel, and it’s for Annie.”

  “What is it, what is it?” the girls demanded, excitement ringing in their voices.

  “Watch!” was all Snowden said by way of explanation.

  Lady Justice faded to reveal Dr. Andres Miguel dressed in his white doctor’s coat, a stethoscope hanging around his neck, standing next to Sophia, who wore a similar coat. Both were smiling, the sun behind them. The doctor spoke.

  “Countess, I don’t have the words to thank you for all of this,” the doctor said, waving his hands behind him. “In my wildest dreams, I never ever thought we here in this little province would have such a high-tech medical facility. An MRI machine! I have doctors and nurses begging me to let them come here to work. But most important, our patients are the recipients of your kindness. Lives will be saved, thanks to you. I wish there was something more Sophia and I could say besides thank you. For now it is the best we can do.

  “We even have two ambulances. Sophia sold her little cottage, I sold my house, and we purchased an apartment here within walking distance of the clinic. So, thank you again.

  “And now we want you to see the sign over the clinic. The man behind the camera zoomed in on the monster letters over the entrance to the clinic. “The name lights up at night, so people can see it and know where to come for help.”

  Annie bit down on her lower lip, tears pooling in her eyes.

  THE ELENA DE SILVA MEDICAL CENTER

  Myra hugged Annie as the girls leaped up to do the same thing. The tears continued to roll down Annie’s cheeks.

  “Is this where you quote Picasso again,” Nikki whispered.

  “ ‘The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away,’ ” Annie whispered in return. The smile that accompanied her words rivaled the sun.

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  Washington, D. C.

  The traffic was horrendous on Massachusetts Avenue, but then it was always horrendous at this time of day. Rush hour. God, how she hated those words. Especially today. She slapped the palm of her hand on the horn and muttered under her breath, “C’mon you jerk, move!”

  “Take it easy, Nik,” Barbara Rutledge said, her eyes on the slow moving traffic. “One more block and we’re there. Mom won’t mind if we’re a few minutes late. She hates it that she turned sixty today so the longer she has to wait for the celebration, the better she’ll feel. I don’t think she looks sixty, do you Nik?”

  “Are you kidding! She looks better than we do and we’re only thirty-six.” She leaned on the horn again even though it was an exercise in futility. “Just tell me one thing, why did your mother pick the Jockey Club for dinner?”

  “The first crab cakes of the season, that’s why. President Reagan made this restaurant famous and all her political friends come here. If you want my opinion, thirty bucks for two crab cakes is obscene. I can eat lunch all week on thirty bucks if I’m careful. Mom pitched a fit last week when I took her to Taco Bell for lunch. We both ate for five bucks. She was a good sport about it but she can’t understand why I don’t tap into the trust fund. I keep telling her I want to make it on my own. Some days she understands, some days she doesn’t. I know she’s proud of me, you, too, Nik. She tells everyone about her two crime fighting girls who are lawyers.”

  “I love her as much as you do, Barb. I can’t imagine growing up without a mother. I would have if she hadn’t stepped in and taken over when my parents died. Okay, we’re here and we’re only thirty minutes late. This isn’t the best parking spot in the world but it will have to do and we’re under a streetlight. In this city it doesn’t get any better than that.”

  “We really should hit the powder room before we head for the table. Mom does like spit and polish, not to mention perfume and lipstick,” Barbara said, trying to smooth the wrinkles out of her suit. Nik did the same thing.

  “I spent the day in court and so did you. We’re supposed to look wrinkled, messy and harried. Myra will understand. Oops, almost forgot my present,” Nik said, reaching into the backseat for a small silver-wrapped package. She handed Barbara a long cylinder tied with a bright red ribbon. “Your brain must be as tired as mine. You almost forgot yours, too. What about this pile of books, Barb?”

  “They’re for Mom. I picked them up today at lunchtime. You know how she loves reading about murder and mayhem. I’ll give them to her when we leave.”

  Myra Rutledge was waiting, a beautiful woman whose smile and open arms welcomed them. “My girls are here. We’re ready to be seated now, Franklin,” Myra said.

  “Certainly, madam. Your usual table, or would you prefer the smoking section with a window view?”

  “The window, Franklin,” Barbara said. “I think tonight in honor of my mother’s birthday you two can have a cigarette. Just one cigarette after dinner for both of you. I will of course abstain. Yes, yes, yes, I know we all quit but this is Mom’s birthday and I say why not.”

  Myra smiled as she reached for her daughter’s hand. “Why not indeed.”

  “This is so wonderful,” Myra said, sitting down and leaning across the table. “My two favorite girls. I couldn’t ask for a better finale to my birthday.”

  “Finale, Mom! Does that mean when you go home, you and Charles won’t celebrate?”

  “Well . . . I . . . perhaps a glass of sherry. I did ask Charles to come but he said this was a mother daughter dinner and he would feel out of place. No comments, girls.”

  “Mom, when are you going to marry the guy? You’ve been together for twenty years. Nik and I know all about the birds and the bees so stop blushing,” Barbara teased.

  “Yes and it was Charles who told you two about the birds and the bees,” Myra smiled.

  Charles Emery was Myra’s companion slash houseman. When his cover was blown as an MI6 agent his government had relocated him to the United States where he’d signed on as head of security for Myra’s Fortune 500 candy business. His sole goal in life was to take care of Myra, a job he took seriously and did well. Both girls were grateful for his attention to Myra, lessening her loneliness when they went off on their own.

  Myra’s eyes sparkled. “Now, tell me everything. Your latest cases, who you’re dating at the moment, how our softball team is doing. Don’t leave anything out. Will I be planning a wedding any time soon?”

  It was what Nikki loved about Myra the most, her genuine interest in their lives. She’d never invaded their privacy, always content to stand on the sidelines, offer motherly support and aid when needed but she never interfered, or gave advice unless asked. Nikki knew Myra enjoyed the times the three of them spent together, loved the twice-monthly dinners in town and the occasional lunches with her daughter or perhaps a short stroll along the Tidal Basin.

  Yes, Myra had a life, a busy life, a life of her own beyond her girls. She sat on various charitable boards, worked tirelessly for both political parties, did numerous good deeds every day, was active in the Historical Society and still managed to have time for Charles, Barbara and herself.

  “You staying in town tonight, Mom?”

  A rosy hue marched across Myra’s face. “No, Barbara, I’m going home. No, I didn’t drive myself. I took a car service so don’t fret about the trip to McLean. Charles is waiting for me. I told you, we’ll have a glass of sherry together.”

  “No birthday cake!” Nik said.

  The rosy hue crept down Myra’s neck. “We had the cake at lunchtime. Charles needed a blowtorch to light all the candles. All sixty of them. It was very . . . festive.”

  “How does it feel to be sixty, Mom?” Barbara asked reaching for her mother’s hand across the table. “You told me you were dreading the day.”

  “It’s just a number, just a day. I don’t feel any different than I did yesterday. People always talk about ‘the moments’ in their lives. The special times they never forget. I guess this day is one of those moments. The day I married your father was a special moment. The day you were born was an extra special moment, the day Nikki came to us was another special moment and then of course when the candy company went 500. Don’t laugh at me now when I tell you the other special moment was when Charles said he would take care of me for the rest of my life. All wonderful moments. I hope I have years and years of special moments. If you would get married and give me a grandchild I would run up the flag, Barbara. I don’t want to be so old I dodder when you give birth.”

  Nikki poked Barbara’s arm, a huge smile on her face. “Go on, tell her. Make your mother happy on her sixtieth birthday.”

  “I’m pregnant, Mom. You can start planning the wedding, but you better make it quick or I’ll be showing before you know it.”

  Myra looked first at Nikki to see if they were teasing her or not. Nikki’s head bobbed up and down. “I’m going to be the maid of honor and the godmother! She’s not teasing, Myra.”

  “Oh, honey. Are you happy? Of course you are. All I have to do is look at you. Oh, there is so much to do. You want the reception at home in the garden, right?”

  “Absolutely, Mom. I want to be married in the
living room. I want to slide down the bannister in my wedding gown. I’m going to do that, Mom. Nik will be right behind me. If I can’t do that, the wedding is off.”

  “Anything you want, honey. Anything. You have made me the happiest woman in the whole world. Promise that you will allow Charles and me to babysit.”

  “She promised me first,” Nikki grinned.

  “This is definitely ‘a moment.’ Do either of you have a camera?”

  “Mom, a camera is not something I carry around in my purse. However, all is not lost. Nik has one in her car. I’ll scoot over there and get it.”

  Nikki fished in her pocket and tossed her the keys.

  “I’m going to be a mother. Me! Do you believe it? You’ll be Auntie Nik,” Barbara said, bending over to tweak Nikki’s cheek. I’ll ask Franklin to take our picture when I get back. See ya,” she said flashing them both an ear-to-ear grin.

  “I hope you had a good day, today, Myra. Birthdays are always special,” Nikki said, her gaze on the window opposite her chair. “Knowing you’re going to be a grandmother has to be the most wonderful thing in the world. I’m pretty excited myself.” She could see Barbara running across the street, her jacket flapping in the spring breeze. “Do you remember the time Barbara and I made you a birthday cake out of cornflakes, crackers and pancake syrup?”

  “I’ll never forget it. I don’t think the cook ever forgot it either. I did eat it, though.”

  Nikki laughed. “Yes, you did.” She was glad now she had parked under the streetlight. She could see several couples walking down the street, saw Barbara open the back door of the car, saw her reach for the camera, saw her sling it over her shoulder, saw her lock the door. She turned her attention to Myra, who was also staring out the window. Nikki’s gaze swiveled back to the window to see Barbara look both ways for oncoming traffic, ready to sprint across the street at the first break. The three couples were almost upon her when she stepped off the curb.