“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Cheryl replied, meeting his eyes. She knew she had to make this convincing. “For the last five months, people have nagged me to death about a list, and I’m going to tell you the same thing I’ve told everyone else. I don’t know about any list.” She drew a deep breath and held it, hoping that her trembling wouldn’t be so noticeable.
“You aren’t a very convincing liar,” Burks said, brushing bits of lint off his otherwise immaculate black suit coat. His jaw appeared to tighten, and his eyes narrowed in a menacing way. “You don’t seem to understand how this game is played.” He leaned down until his face was only inches from her own. “I don’t care what happens to you. Dead or alive, I will have my information.”
Cheryl thought of the lockbox securely hidden in her bathroom. It gave her a sense of control to know that it wouldn’t be easily discovered. Surely if she maintained her calm, collected appearance and held her ground, Grant’s father would have to let her go.
Severon eyed her suspiciously for several moments. “I knew that Grant had lost his mind when he deemed it necessary to involve himself with you. I warned him about the complications, and now he’s dead. You’re to blame for that. You and that Curtiss O’Sullivan character. Do you suppose I would stop at anything to get back what is mine?”
Cheryl felt a shudder tear through her and tried to cover it by coughing and twisting in the chair. “I don’t have anything that belongs to you. I don’t know what list you’re talking about and…,” she paused, trying to muster her courage, “I’m not to blame for Grant’s stupidity.”
Severon seemed taken aback by this, so Cheryl pushed her point home. “You let my father’s reputation be ruined and all because of some father-and-son drug business. Why do you suppose I would help you even if I could? I made the mistake of falling in love with your son. It doesn’t mean I’m inclined to make further mistakes by aiding the enemy.”
Severon snapped his fingers, and one of the men who’d taken her hostage appeared with a small suitcase. The man held the case flat while Burks undid the clasps and opened the lid. He thrust the man forward until the case was clearly level with Cheryl’s eyes.
“This is why I know you are lying.”
Cheryl looked at the rows of neatly wrapped one hundred dollar bills. “I don’t understand,” she said flatly and forced herself to look at Burks.
He motioned the man away. “My men retrieved this money from the warehouse you so easily led us to yesterday morning. The warehouse was only one of a great many exchange locations on your list and had you not gotten spooked, no doubt you would have led us to other locations.”
True panic gripped Cheryl. She had to think fast. She had to offer up some logical reason for going to the warehouse. “I still don’t know what you’re talking about. The warehouse was property owned by my father. I thought perhaps he used it for storage, and since I’m in the process of trying to settle his affairs, I went there to see what might be housed inside.”
Burks shook his head. “No, you didn’t.”
Cheryl could see that he didn’t believe her. His rigidly fixed features frightened her to the core of her being, but there was absolutely nothing she could do. To tell him about the list would mean her certain death, and suddenly Cheryl didn’t feel so inclined to give up her life. She tried to muster up anger in order to counter her terror. There had to be some way to fight this. Please, God, she prayed, give me some way out.
“I’m growing impatient with you, Ms. Fairchild. We both know that the list exists, and we both know that you have the list, as well as the keys that go to each of the locations on that list. I expect for you to turn both over to me, and I’m going to tell you exactly how it’s going to be handled.”
Cheryl tried hard to face her adversary without emotion. “By all means, please tell me how I’m to perform this magic feat for you.”
Burks gave her a leering grin, and it was so like the ones Grant used to offer that Cheryl felt her blood run cold. What had seemed attractive on Grant now struck her as hateful and evil.
“You are going to make a telephone call,” he said simply. “You are going to call my son’s killer and tell him where he can find the list and the keys and have him bring them here to me.”
“You…want me…to call Curt?” she asked hesitantly.
He crossed his arms and nodded very slowly. “Oh, yes, indeed. I intend not only to reclaim what is mine, but also to avenge the death of my child. You see, it really doesn’t matter to me that the operation has been compromised. There are other operations and other ways to bring cocaine into the U.S. It was great using O&F Aviation while it worked, but nothing is foolproof, and in this case, the fool is one Curt O’Sullivan.”
“He’ll never come here just because I call,” Cheryl said, trying to think her way out of the situation. “He hates me now. I blamed him for Grant’s death and for the death of our unborn child.” She paused to see what kind of effect her statement might have on Burks. His expression never changed. “He won’t come to my rescue if that’s what you’d hoped for.”
“He’ll come.”
“I’m telling you—”
“He’ll come,” Burks said angrily. “He’ll come because of his need to clear his father’s name. After all, isn’t that what has driven you? “She couldn’t hide her surprise, and this made Burks laugh. “You aren’t dealing with a simpleton, Ms. Fairchild. I’ve been in business for the past twenty years, and frankly, I’ve gotten quite good at it. Now, you’ll make the call, and you’ll be very convincing. You’ll instruct Mr. O’Sullivan as to where he can retrieve the goods, and then we’ll relay the directions to this hangar.”
Cheryl knew time was running out, yet still she protested.
“I can’t help you.”
Without warning, Burks yanked her head back and put a gun to her throat. “You will either make the call, or I’ll kill you and make the call myself. It really doesn’t matter. I’d prefer to watch O’Sullivan suffer as he watches you die, but either way, I’ll have my list. You see, that list represents millions of dollars of hidden drugs and laundered money. You aren’t going to convince me with your sugary sweet innocence, and you aren’t going to rob me of the pleasure of seeing you and your murderous friend die.”
He pressed the barrel of the gun harder against her throat. “I’m going to give you a countdown. If you don’t agree to make the call by the time I get to ‘one,’ then I’ll blow your head off and resolve the matter without you.”
Cheryl swallowed hard and felt the gun press even tighter against her windpipe.
“Five…four…”
What could she do? What should she do? She didn’t want to die, but neither did she want to be responsible for Curt’s death.
“Three…”
But she was afraid, and her fear won out.
“Two…”
“All right. I’ll make the call,” she whispered, barely able to force the words from her mouth.
Severon smiled and pocketed the gun. He released her hair and ran his fingers lightly down the side of her face. “I knew you’d come to see things my way.”
Erik followed Curt into his house, determined to convince him to let him somehow help find Cheryl.
“You don’t understand,” Erik protested as his sister joined them.
Christy’s face betrayed her confusion, and Curt instantly sought her help. “You have to convince your brother that I know what I’m doing and that he doesn’t. He needs to stay out of my business.” Christy looked first to Curt and then to Erik for some further explanation. “You aren’t making any sense,” she said. “Convince him of what?”
Erik shook his head before Curt could explain. “Don’t bother to tell me that it isn’t my business. I’m in love with her.”
Christy’s eyes widened at this, and Curt threw up his arms dramatically. “If you love her, then let the professionals take care of the situation.”
“What is going on?”
Christy suddenly demanded.
“Cheryl Fairchild has been taken hostage. At least, we think she has. If not, then she’s on the run from someone,” Curt finally offered.
“And he,“Erik said, waving an arm at Curt, “doesn’t understand why I want to help find her.”
“I didn’t say that I didn’t understand it. I simply said that you aren’t qualified to throw yourself into the middle of a DEA sting operation.”
Christy paled. “Erik, he’s right. You have to stay out of whatever Curt is doing. I know from experience that it can only lead to innocent people being killed or hurt.”
“That’s why I want to help. Cheryl’s life is in danger, and whether you think she deserves saving or not, I love her and intend to help her.”
Christy exchanged a glance with Curt. “You love Cheryl?”
Erik’s shoulders sagged, and he let out a heavy sigh. “Yes. I’ve fallen in love with Cheryl Fairchild. So before you go into some kind of lecture about her history and the fact that she’s not good enough for me or whatever else you might conjure up, keep in mind that we all make mistakes. Even you.”
Christy nodded. “I wasn’t going to lecture you. I’m just surprised.”
“Why, because you don’t think she deserves love?”
“Stop taking the defensive with me, Erik. I don’t like the part she played in Candy’s misery, but I’m willing to let the past go,” Christy said, sounding rather angry. “Furthermore, I remember my own mistakes very well, and I’d be the last one to say that Cheryl can’t be forgiven for the past. I would question, however, whether she wants to be forgiven of the past.”
“I think she does. I think she’s only just come to realize how much harm she’s done herself in believing in people who didn’t deserve her devotion. She let herself be used and manipulated. You know how that feels, Chris,” Erik said, remembering a time when Christy had fallen prey to a deceptive college professor. The man had tried unsuccessfully to press Christy into an intimate relationship, and he might have succeeded had Christy not found out that he was married.
Christy’s expression softened, and Curt put his arm around her rather protectively. “I remember very well how it feels,” Christy said. “Feelings aren’t what matters here, however.” She looked at her husband and gave him the briefest of smiles. “You can’t jeopardize Cheryl or yourself by sticking your nose into a situation that’s way out of your league. Would you want Curt coming into the lab and telling you how to run things there?”
Erik felt totally defeated. “Of course not. But you don’t understand.” His heart ached with the thought of what Cheryl might be going through. “She’s out there somewhere, and she’s alone.”
“She’s not alone, Erik,” Curt said, his voice taking on the first real hint of compassion. “God’s watching over her, and we have to pray and trust Him to take care of her in this. She can’t be held accountable for the sins of her father, but those sins have obviously revisited themselves upon her. We can’t wish her out of this, and you can’t go running wild in hopes of locating her. You can, however, stay here and pray. And not only for her, but also for me and my team.”
Christy reached out to touch Erik’s arm. “He’s right. You know he is.”
“I suppose so.”
Just then the telephone rang, and all eyes turned in unison as if anticipating what the call would reveal. Curt left Christy’s side and went to answer it.
“Hello.”
There was a long pause. Erik watched Curt’s face for some sign of the news, but the only thing he noted for sure was the way his brother-in-law’s face had grown pale.
“I understand. Are you okay?”
Now Erik was certain the caller had to be Cheryl. He moved toward the phone, but Curt held out his hand to ward him off.
“Do what you’re told. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Curt hung up the telephone and turned to face Christy and Erik.
“It was Cheryl, wasn’t it?” Erik asked, almost fearful of the answer.
“Yes.”
“Is she…was she…”
“She’s being held just outside of town. She told me where the list is, and I’m to bring it to her captors.”
“I’m going with you.”
“You can’t, Erik,” Curt said quite seriously. “And if you fight me on this, I’ll have you arrested.”
“But I love her.”
“Yes, and they’ll kill her if they see anyone but me.”
Christy moved away from the men and sat down hard on a nearby chair. Erik noted her frightened expression. It seemed to match his own fear.
“Do you have to take it to them?” she asked weakly.
“I was specifically named,” Curt replied.
He didn’t say anything more. He didn’t have to. Erik knew beyond all doubt that such a declaration meant only one thing. Someone had a grudge against Curt and intended to resolve the matter by having him deliver the goods.
“I could stay out of sight. You know, hide in the back of the car or even the trunk,” Erik offered.
“No.”
“But, Curt, you can’t just walk into a trap.”
“I know what I’m doing, Erik.” He looked at his wife and then at Erik and added, “I need you to watch out for Christy. She’s going to need you more than I will.”
Erik could see that he was right, but he didn’t want to give in. Cheryl needed him, too, and he longed to be the knight in shining armor that she could depend on.
As if sensing Erik’s inner battle, Curt spoke once again. “You can come to Cheryl’s house with me and help me retrieve the list. But after that, I want you to come back here and stay with Christy. Will you do that for me?”
Erik drew a deep breath and nodded. There was no other choice.
They found the Fairchild estate swarming with DEA agents when they arrived. Curt immediately led the way upstairs to Cheryl’s bathroom and began throwing shampoo and conditioner off the ledge that lined the bathtub.
Debbie called to them from the doorway. “Frank passed along your cellular-call message. I’ve got everything set up here.”
“Good. Thanks, Deb,” Curt said, prying the toothpaste caulking away from the tile. “Cheryl is one smart girl. I can’t believe she dreamed this up on her own. It’s brilliant. Who would ever have thought to look here?”
“Obviously no one did,” Erik said, leaning back against the vanity, while Curt stood in the tub.
The tile snapped off, and Curt quickly cast it to one side. He pulled a penlight from his pocket and flashed it into the dark hole. “Bingo!” He reached his hand inside. “Well, it’s a tight fit…but I think…” He fell silent and pulled the lockbox from the hole. “I’ve got it!”
Debbie leaned her head around the door. “Is that it?”
“Yes,” Curt said with a certainty that Erik envied. “She said everything we needed was inside.” He scrambled out of the bathtub and put the box on the vanity. “Let’s see what we have.” He tried to release the clasp, but it stuck. Taking out a ballpoint pen, he maneuvered it be-tween the lid and the box and finally managed to pry the thing loose.
“Wow!” Erik exclaimed at the sight of the thousand-dollar bills. “That’s some piggy bank.”
“Tag it,” Curt said, handing it to Debbie. “These, too.” He put the diskettes into her hands. “Well, here’s the cause of all our troubles.” He held up the keys in one hand and the papers in the other.
Erik considered the objects for a moment, then grimaced. The cold, hard reality of what was actually happening had finally begun to sink in. “They’re going to kill her, aren’t they?”
Curt met his stare and shook his head. “Not if I can help it.”
“But maybe you can’t. Maybe she’s already dead.”
“Thinking like that won’t help anything,” Curt said sympathetically. “You have to trust God on this one, Erik. Illegal activities and concealing evidence is what stirred this into a real hornets’ nest, and it won’t be
easily resolved. But with God, well, I believe we’re on the side of right and truth.
God will honor that, and I trust Him to watch over us in the process.”
“But Cheryl is alienated from God,” Erik said sadly. “I wasn’t able to convince her of His love for her.”
“Don’t be so sure,” Curt said quite seriously.
“Why do you say that?” Erik looked to his brother-in-law for a hope that might carry him through this nightmare.
“Because she told me she was sorry,” Curt answered softly. “She told me she was wrong.”
“I hope that’s enough.”
“I feel confident that it is. Now, listen to me, Erik. The DEA isn’t going to take this thing lightly. We have the full cooperation of the Denver police, and together, they’ll have all the possibilities figured out before I even go in there. You have to help Christy stay calm. She needs to be there for Sarah, and you need to be there for her. You know how she worries, and you know how stubborn she can be. Please go back to the house and wait for me there. When it’s all over, I’ll come there first.”
“And Cheryl?”
Curt grinned in his cocky, self-assured way. “I’ll bring her with me.”
Erik wanted to believe him. “Would you do me one favor?”
Curt sobered. “If I can.”
“Tell her that I love her. You know, just in case—”
Curt’s smile was back in place. “You don’t have much faith in me, do you?” He turned to leave. Calling over his shoulder, he said, “You tell her yourself when we get back.”
Erik wanted to run after him and demand to be allowed to go with him, but he knew it was no good. Going after Curt would only put Curt in danger. Sneaking around behind his back might even get Curt and Cheryl both killed. Fighting the urge to handle things on his own, Erik sat down hard on the edge of the tub. For the first time since Candy’s death, he felt like breaking into tears.
“It isn’t manly to cry,” he could remember his father saying without the slightest regard for his son’s pain.
It might not be manly, Erik said to himself, but it certainly is human. He sat there for several minutes before deciding there was nothing more to be done.
Wings Of The Dawn Page 13
