“He’s from China?” Craig broke in. “Do you mean from Taiwan, or the mainland?”
“He lives in Beijing,” Ellen answered. “He’s studying to be a doctor. The political science class was an elective.”
“Wow,” Sotello said. “Never a dull moment around here. I’m glad you told us about him. What’s his last name, and when can I meet him?”
“His last names Yu, spelled without an o,” Ellen replied. “His full name is really Xiao Lan Yu, but he took Jason as a first name to make things easier over here. He speaks English perfectly, and we speak French together. He’s teaching me some Chinese.”
“This sounds much more exciting than you’ve let on,” Sotello remarked. “If he doesn’t mind, I would love to meet him. We never even have to mention politics.”
Ellen nodded. “I’m relieved. I put off telling you about him so long, I was beginning to wonder how I would break it to you.”
“See if he wants to have dinner with us before all hell breaks loose on election night,” Sotello said thoughtfully. “With the final debate canceled, we could all have one last peaceful dinner here before that. How about it Craig?”
“Sure,” Craig agreed. “If Ellen can convince him we don’t eat liberals here, I want to meet him.”
“I’ll ask him then,” Ellen promised. She looked at Kathy with a smile. “I guess your remembering our talk worked out after all.”
“I’m still sorry I mentioned something you told me in confidence though Ellen.”
“I do like him,” Ellen added. “He’s so intense, I was attracted to him right away. He looks a lot like that Chinese actor Jet Li, but he’s only a couple of inches shorter than Craig.”
“Intense, good looking, and working on a career as a Doctor,” Sotello mused. “My cup runneth over. Getting serious with a man, who will probably relocate you to China, may be a very difficult relationship.”
“Which was another reason I was so hesitant about introducing you to him,” Ellen admitted. “It seemed such a long shot as far as relationships go, I kept putting it off. Anyhow, you two go on, Dad, and we three will watch the rest of this El Grosso movie Craig picked out.”
“Thanks El,” Craig pouted. “Now I don’t even want to watch the end of it.”
Just then, the witch on the doorstep started her cackle, and Craig clapped his hands.
“Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy,” Craig said in perfect Donald Duck voice, as the rest laughed. “C’mon Zombie Girl, let’s you, me and the Chinese connection give out some candy.”
Chapter 47
Interweaving Threads
Sotello led Kathy out to the kitchen, as the three others took care of the Halloween duties.
“I love being here Jim,” Kathy said, taking the seat Sotello offered. He went over to get them some coffee. As they were sipping the beverage, sitting in a comfortable silence, they heard the horror movie start again.
“Ever see Jeepers Creepers, Kath?” Sotello asked.
“The one, where the guy skins everybody? Yes, I’ve seen it. Yuck!”
“You should see Craig imitate him,” Sotello told her. “He’d raise the hair on the back of your neck. I had to make him promise not to do anything scary with the kids at the door tonight.”
Kathy laughed. “Craig imitated you for me once when you weren’t in the room. I thought I would faint laughing. He told me not to tell you, but since I’m spilling my guts at Ellen’s expense, I might as well add Craig to my betrayals.”
“Don’t worry, I know about his repertoire now,” Sotello replied. “Be careful. He can do women too. His imitation of me, the night the suicide bomber tried to take me out at the Mark Hopkins Hotel, saved all of our lives.” Sotello explained the circumstances.
“Good Lord,” Kathy exclaimed. “How in the world did he ever think to do something like that?”
Sotello shook his head. “I have no clue. He thinks fast, and reacts in an instant. The way Ellen and Craig have handled all this amazes me every time I think about it. So, Ellen really seemed to like this Jason, even back before you left, huh?”
“His being here from China on a student visa had something to do with it,” Kathy explained. “She told me the same thing she told you tonight: she was taken with him, but she didn’t see how the relationship could go anywhere.”
“And yet she liked him well enough to mention him to you, and then swear you to secrecy,” Sotello commented reflectively. “I look forward to meeting any man who impresses Ellen that much.”
Kathy reached over and put her hand on Sotello’s forearm, where it rested on the table. “What about us?”
Sotello looked as if he were a little unsure how best to answer her question. So much so, Kathy sat up, removing her hand.
“That tough, huh? I thought the way you kissed me tonight, we might have a chance of getting back together. The way you’re taking on that caged animal look, I’m not so sure anymore.”
Sotello laughed. “I needed to consider carefully what to say Kath. Your appearance here tonight stunned me into realizing I’m in love with you. I hope that doesn’t sound too unsure to you.”
In answer, Kathy left her chair and moved onto Sotello’s lap, where she kissed him with passion. She pulled away finally, with tears forming at the corners of her eyes. “I love you too, Jim. I don’t know how I made it through these months without you. Where do we go from here?”
“Well,” Sotello said, stroking her face softly, “I’ve put myself under the media microscope. I would not be surprised to find a picture of us on the porch, or even a movie byte on the morning news tomorrow. They only went away for a while, because I’ve been so boring to follow, when I’m not being shot at, or bombed. The whole thing will be over soon though, but until then, we will have to keep our relationship somewhat downbeat.”
“How downbeat?” Kathy asked, as she moved over to her chair.
“We can be a regular couple, who sees each other on a regular basis,” Sotello replied, taking up her hand in both of his. “You can get a taste of what it means to be in the spotlight. You may not like it, and it may cause you to have problems with your job.”
“How could it?”
“Your company does business in California, and has its home office in Houston, Texas,” Sotello explained. “Anything you do will be looked at as a plot between your company and the Governor’s Office.”
“Then I hope you get beat,” Kathy said solemnly.
“Oh thanks,” Sotello sighed. “I’ve put too many people through a meat grinder to let them down now. I’m going to win this race, Kathy. If I do, it will be very difficult for you.”
“But not impossible.”
“No,” Sotello allowed. “We can make it work, but everything between your company and the State of California will have to be out in the public as common knowledge. Your company may not like that aspect of our relationship. You may be fired.”
“I’ll chance it,” Kathy said. “Can I stay the night?”
“Why you little hussy,” Sotello remarked, with a grin.
“I’ll sneak back after your kids leave.”
“In case I hadn’t mentioned it, my security detail lives here for now,” Sotello laughed. “Jan and Craig are a very strange couple, but they like each other. They do enough sneaking around as it is.”
“They make a lovely couple, but we are adults,” Kathy reminded him. “I can take the heat.”
“You say that now,” Sotello replied seriously. “When one of those barracudas shoves a mike in your face, and asks you how it feels to have sex with a racist, you’ll reconsider that remark.”
Kathy paused for a moment, searching Sotello’s face for some sign he was kidding her. He remained deadly serious. “They do that?” She asked softly.
“Every chance they get, and they hate my guts. Some of them are straight shooters, and do their job in an evenhanded manner. The others go for my jugular like piranha in a wading pool. Whatever you think of the concept of common decency,
you can forget about,” Sotello whispered, leaning close to Kathy.
“Are you trying to scare me away?”
“Nope, I just want you to know what you’ll be in for,” Sotello answered, kissing her lightly. “I also wanted you to know why we have to be discreet.”
“You’re not married,” Kathy reasoned. “Why would they care about who you date?”
“They don’t care. Anything I do, which they can put in a bad light, they will do. Conservatives who run for public office will never get the Clinton treatment by the press. It really doesn’t bother me, but I think it will affect you more than you think.”
“Okay, so an overnighter’s out of the question, but we can still go out together, right?”
“Of course,” Sotello replied. “The election will be over, and we can figure out where we’re headed from there.” He cupped her face in his hands softly.
“Believe me when I tell you I wish you could just move in right now. It’s dangerous for anyone to be too near me at this juncture. After the election, I will be more in a position to deal with the danger part of it.”
“Then you think I could become a target if someone sees me with you too much?” Kathy asked incredulously.
“It’s not as far out as you think Kath,” Sotello told her. “In any case, would you like to go to my campaign headquarters with me on election night? We’ll all be there, along with some super nice people from all over the Bay Area, who have run the grass roots part of the operation to perfection.”
“I’d love to come,” Kathy replied. “I guess I had better get going. Will you call me tomorrow? Here’s my card. My cell phone number’s on it.”
Sotello took the card from her, and then went over to his kitchen junk drawer. He took out one of his business cards, which listed his private cell phone number, and handed it to Kathy. She stood up and embraced Sotello, burying her head in his chest for a moment, and then kissing him.
“I bet you have a lot to do tomorrow,” Kathy offered.
“Not as much as I did, since the Governor backed out of the final debate,” Sotello answered. “I’m hoping to do some work with the kids over at the agency. If you want to stop by there, I’ll be in the office from seven in the morning on. Ellen and Craig will be there by noon time. Agent Sykes will be with me, so I’ll have a chaperone.”
Kathy laughed. “I’ll come over around eleven then, and you can buy me dinner later, okay?”
“Sounds great,” Sotello replied, walking her out to the living room, where the three young people were watching the last scene of a character’s skin hanging out.
“Gee, I hate to interrupt this classic,” Kathy said, “but I’m going now, and I just wanted to say how great it was to see you all.”
“You’re not staying the night?” Craig asked, and immediately regretted it, as the two women flanking him, launched dual rib shots, which Craig only managed to partially block.
“Your Dad wouldn’t let me,” Kathy laughed. “He said it would be bad for his image.”
“Why you…” Sotello went to grab her, but Kathy ducked around him, and fled for the door. She waved at him daintily as she went out the front entryway. Sotello stood, letting the laughter die down, with his arms crossed over his chest, and a long-suffering look on his face.
“Well Bullseye,” Sykes offered, “romance not your strong suit either, huh?”
“Very funny,” Sotello replied. “I try to lead by example. By the way El…”
“Shut up,” Sykes broke in immediately. “I know right where you’re going. You gave us your word you would never mention that night again.”
“Why Agent Sykes,” Sotello said in mock indignation, as Ellen watched her brother and Sykes with amusement. “Whatever do you mean? I meant simply to ask Ellen what time she planned to come over to the office tomorrow morning, because Kathy was going to come by around eleven.”
“I get the picture,” Ellen interjected. “I can see you two have something going, so what’s the big deal. Don’t let him blackmail you with this. Tell me about this night you bunch keep hinting at.”
“No way,” Craig said, as Sotello had begun laughing just thinking about it. “I’ll tell you in my own good time, just like you did with Jason.”
“Okay,” Ellen agreed, “just so I get to hear it sometime. It looks like it would be better if you release Dad to tell it.”
“Yeah, I’m sure he would like to tell it,” Sykes said, sighing in resignation to the inevitable.
“Crap, I forgot I put Tinker in the bedroom while we answered the door for Trick or Treaters,” Sotello said, heading for the stairs. “I didn’t even get to show her off for Kathy.”
“What made him remember Tinker just now?” Ellen asked shrewdly.
“Because, of course, the Hound from Hell was in on the incident from the beginning,” Craig replied.
“Oh, I have got to hear this story soon,” Ellen said.
“You will, but after we get to meet Jason,” Craig promised her. “It’s hard to believe Kathy showed up like she did, out of nowhere.”
“I guess it may be difficult for you to accept your Father in his role as a stud muffin,” Sykes said smiling.
“Let me just say this about that,” Ellen replied laughing, “eeooooohhhhhh!”
__
Sotello sat in the kitchen at his office, paging through reports on cases Ellen had set out for him to review. He paused every few minutes to take another sip of his coffee, and think back about the night before, and Kathy’s arrival. After talking with her, Sotello could not concentrate on his campaign agenda, or even his caseload. Although the cases were already finished, and billed, Sotello found it hard to read Ellen’s outline describing them. Any case, Ellen and Craig collaborated on without his help in the past, had always excited him. Now, all he could think of was Kathy’s arrival in a few hours. Sighing, Sotello put down his coffee, determined to finish the paperwork. His cell phone rang, and he answered it, hoping it was not Kathy canceling their plans.
“Jim, Hank here,” Janowitz said, with some excitement. “We found an address in the personal belongings of the sniper. It, and some maps with specifics concerning the area around the Capital Building in Sacramento, were inside a panel of one of the bags we found in the place he stayed at in Redding.”
“Hey, congratulations pal,” Sotello said, looking at the clock, and wondering if Kathy would call first.
“We’re getting ready to hit it this morning, and I wondered if you wanted to come.”
“Me?” Sotello asked. “You looking for publicity on this or something?”
“You know better, at least before we have something good,” Janowitz retorted. “You were the one who thought there might be a Chinese connection. This won’t be the gunfight at the OK Coral or anything. I just thought having you along would be good for us both if the raid turns up anything.”
“Man, that’s considerate of you, Hank,” Sotello said, thinking about Kathy’s blonde hair, and the way she felt, sitting on his lap. He slumped in his chair, wondering if he could get out of taking Hank up on his offer without offending him. “What makes you believe the Chinese angle now Hank?”
“We found one name with the address: Xiao. I…”
Sotello sat up so fast, he bumped the table, spilling his coffee all over Ellen’s case outline. “Spelled X-i-a-o Hank?”
“Yeah Jim, how would you… hey, do you know something I don’t?”
“My daughter Ellen just told us about a student she has been dating. She said his name was Jason Yu, but that was only the name he took since coming here on a student visa from Mainland China. His real name is Xiao Lan Yu. How are you with incredible coincidences?”
“Shit!”
“Exactly,” Sotello confirmed. “Although Ellen had joined him for lunch a couple of times a while back, he really came back into her life just after my campaign got started. You haven’t hit his place yet have you?”
“No,” Janowitz answered quickly. “Take
this address down, and call Ellen. Confirm whether it matches the one she has for her friend, and call me back.” Janowitz dictated the address to Sotello for a place in Berkeley.
Sotello hung up, and called Ellen’s voice mail pager number. He punched in his cell phone number with a 911 tag to the end of it, and then hung up. Ten minutes later, as Sotello paced around the kitchen, his cell phone rang. Relief flooded through him when he heard his daughter’s voice.
“Hey Dad, what’s up. I was right in the middle of…”
“El,” Sotello interrupted. “Listen closely, is this Jason’s address?” He read off the address in Berkeley, Hank had given him.
“Yes,” Ellen answered. “I… I’m…”
“He’s with you right now?” Sotello cut in again.
“Yes.”
“Are you somewhere public, around people? Answer without any inflection or nervousness in your voice El. I’ll ask the questions. You just stick to the one word answers.”
“Yes,” Ellen said calmly, and then added. “The Student Center.”
“Good, do you have your stun gun?”
“No.”
“Do you have your pepper spray?”
“Yes.”
“When you hang up the phone, get your hand on it. I don’t suppose your security guy is with you, is he?” Sotello asked.
“He was going to catch up with me later, after I had lunch. I can page him if you want,” She offered nonchalantly.
“Hank will have his number. We’ll get hold of him, and get him back over to you. Stay where you are. If Jason asks why, just tell him your security guy has to hook up with you, and that I needed you back at the office. I’ll explain later. Can you do this for me El without questions?” Sotello asked urgently.
“No problem.” Ellen smiled into the phone, and hung up. She looked up at Jason, still smiling brightly. “My Dad needs me at the office. The guy who escorts me around since the trouble on my Dad’s campaign will be picking me up in here.”
Sotello: Detective, ex-FBI, ex-Secret Service (DeLeo's Action Thriller Singles Book 1) Page 54
