Sisters By Choice
Page 7
Patti reached up and touched his cheek. “Not true. You thought he’d left with Sabrina. You had to follow him. ”
“I should have—”
“Stop it, Carter. You did the right thing. You aren’t in control of everything.” Marcus Hanks stood beside them. “Got it?”
“Yeah, I got it.” He stood, holding Sabrina, who now clasped his neck.
“We need to get to the hospital to check on Anna,” Patti said.
“Not without an escort.” Marcus told her. “Let’s go. I’ll drive.”
Holding Sabrina in one arm, Carter put his other arm around Patti as they walked out.
She moved in closer to him.
13
Patti sat in the hospital waiting room holding Sabrina.
The knife missed all of Anna’s vital organs and the surgeon expected a full recovery.
As Patti rocked Sabrina and hummed softly in her ear, Marcus and Carter sat in a corner of the room whispering.
Sabrina clung to Patti, her eyes haunted. ”I want Mommy.” She whispered once before the events of the day overtook her. She relaxed against Patti’s body in an exhausted sleep.
Patti lay Sabrina on a small couch before she went over to the men. “What’s happening?”
“That’s what we’re discussing. We’re going to put a guard with Anna, and we’re going to place you and Sabrina in a safe house.” Marcus told her.
“A safe house?”
“It’s a place—“
“I know what it is. I watch TV.”
“Jamie worked hard to keep her private life and her work life totally separate from each other. But it seems her two worlds have collided in a big way.” His eyes met Patti’s. “She understood it wouldn’t be safe for others so she made the decision to stay away from friends and…and family.”
The meaning of those words sank in.
Patti wiped away the tears. Her next words were barely audible. “Is that why she stayed away from me?”
Marcus nodded slowly. “She couldn’t bear to part with Sabrina, but knew it was safer if she stayed away from you for the time being. Her plan was to finish her current project and then leave the job permanently.”
“Was her plan?” Patti asked.
“I’m sure it still is her plan. I didn’t mean…” Marcus wouldn’t meet Patti’s gaze. His voice became all business. “Anyway, we need to make plans for the three of you.”
No one spoke.
Patti broke the silence. “I want to know what’s going on. What was she doing that was…is so important?”
Marcus didn’t answer.
Patti’s heart was breaking but she forced herself to say the words. She matched stares with Marcus. “You think she’s dead, don’t you?”
Marcus looked up at the ceiling. Long moments passed before he turned back to Patti. “I’m not going to lie to you. It’s a possibility, but at this point it’s hard to say. I haven’t given up hope and neither should you.”
Carter laid a hand on her back, and his touch calmed her.
“If she worked so hard at keeping her identity secret, why is she using her own name this time?” Carter asked.
“That’s a good question,” Patti looked back at Marcus. “And if she was so worried about me, why wasn’t she as worried about Sabrina?”
“She was, but Sabrina was her daughter. She couldn’t abandon her. We took every precaution we could to keep Sabrina and Anna safe. The house has an elaborate security system. She lived in a gated community. Her work was…was in another state. When she traveled, she traveled under other names and always took several flights using different names, before getting to her final destination.”
“But it wasn’t enough to keep her safe.”
“No, it wasn’t.”
“You didn’t answer the other part of the question.” Carter pointed out. “Why was she working under her own name this time?”
Marcus looked at Carter, then at Patti. “I can’t give you the details, but Jamie knew the man socially before he came under investigation so he already knew her real name. She happened to run into him, and she overheard something which made her suspicious.”
“What’s the story on him?” Carter asked.
“I didn’t want Jamie to get involved with him again,” Marcus murmured more to himself than to Carter and Patti. “I had a bad feeling. I told her to go home and forget about him, but she refused to listen to me.” He focused back on Patti. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m not making excuses. I take full responsibility for…for the investigation.”
Her sister—an FBI informant—living a double life. The thought boggled her mind.
Carter interrupted her thoughts. “Marcus, you didn’t answer my question. Who’s this man, and why are you investigating him?”
“Can’t tell you.” Marcus’s tone was adamant.
“You have to tell us. How are we going to find Jamie, if you don’t?” Patti said through clenched teeth.
“The whole FBI is looking for her,” Marcus pointed out. “I’ll handle the investigation. In the meantime, I’ll arrange for you, Sabrina, and Anna, as soon as she is released, to go to a safe house.”
“You should do what Marcus says,” Carter agreed. “We can keep all of you safe. No more nasty surprises.”
“You need to arrange a place for Sabrina and Anna.” Patti shook her head. “But I’m not going into hiding. I’m helping with the investigation.”
“Absolutely not,” Marcus and Carter said in unison.
They all looked towards Sabrina but she was still asleep.
“Yes, I am,” she whispered. “My sister is missing, and I’m not leaving until we find her.”
“Not a good idea, Patti,” Carter said.
“Why not?” she demanded, furious the two men were forming a united front.
“It’s not safe,” Marcus told her.
“I won’t stay at the house. I’ll go find a hotel somewhere, but I’m not leaving.” She folded her arms across her chest to emphasize the point.
“Patti, Jamie is your identical twin,” Carter told her in a soft voice. “You can’t be running around here. It could cause problems for you.”
Patti’s eyes filled with tears. “But Jamie needs me.”
“You’re right, Jamie does need you.” Carter touched her arm. “She needs you to take care of Sabrina and Anna right now, and she wouldn’t want you to put yourself in danger. After all, she worked very hard to keep you out of this mess. You owe it to her to take care of Sabrina.”
She met Carter’s gaze. “Fine, I’ll go with them.”
Fifteen minutes later, the nurse came to tell them Anna was in her room and they could visit.
When Patti walked in, Anna looked tired and pale. “Sabrina?” But she didn’t need to answer because Patti showed her Sabrina, now sleeping on her shoulder.
Anna gave a weak grin. “She is safe.”
“Carter stopped the man from taking Sabrina.”
“What did the man want? Why…”
“I can’t tell you, Anna.” Holding her hand, Marcus flashed his badge.
“FBI.” Anna’s gaze turned panicked. “I thought you were a businessman.”
“I know. I’m sorry we deceived you, but Jamie didn’t want you to know how dangerous her job was. She didn’t want you worried and upset every time she left, because Sabrina might pick up on it. Her goal was to let Sabrina have as normal a life as possible.”
Anna bit her lip
“Are you in pain, Anna? Should I call the nurse?” Patti asked.
“No, just tired.”
“Well, you get your rest. Sabrina and Patti are staying with you. There’s an armed guard outside. No one’s going to hurt any of you again,” Carter assured her.
Anna’s eyes fluttered and a moment later, her breathing relaxed.
Carter turned toward Marcus. “Can you take me back to my car?”
“Sure thing. I’ll go get the car and pick you up by the emergency room.”
She refused to cry. “I can’t tell you how grateful I am for you helping us. I can’t imagine what might have happened if you hadn’t been there.”
He moved closer and put his arms on her shoulders. “Don’t think all the things that could have happened. Stay focused on the fact you’re all safe. I’m glad I’ve been there for all of you.”
All of us, except Jamie.
His arms moved around her. She leaned against him, gaining strength.
After a moment, he broke the connection. “You’re safe here. There are two guards outside the door. If you need anything, one will get it while the other stays with you. I hate to leave you, but…”
“It’s OK, Carter. We’re safe and we’re together.”
“Is there anything I can get you before I come back?”
“Maybe some of Sabrina’s toys, if you want.”
He grinned and her heart melted.
He might be one of the bravest men she’d ever known.
14
Sabrina sat with arms folded across her chest. “Me don’t want to go. I want Mommy.”
Patti smiled. This little girl knew a thing or two about getting her own way.
“Now, pumpkin face, you know Mommy has to go on trips for work,” Marcus said patiently.
“She didn’t say goodbye.” Her lower lip poked out in a pout.
Patti had become very familiar with that pout over the past few days.
Sabrina knew how to manipulate others. But it was so adorable, it was hard to resist.
“That’s because she told me to tell you goodbye,” Marcus told her.
Sabrina buried her face in Marcus’s neck and sobbed.
Patti’s heart broke for the little girl. She really wanted her sister back home with her and Sabrina.
Anna was being discharged that day, and it was time to move to a safe house.
Thanks to the posted guards, there’d been no incidents at the hospital.
Sabrina lifted her head and looked at Marcus. “Where’s Mister Tarter? Me want Mister Tarter. He saved me from the mean man.” Over the past two days, Sabrina had developed a case of hero worship.
Patti couldn’t really blame her niece.
During their confinement in the hospital, he’d brought them food, toys, books, and magazines.
Patti couldn’t have survived without his visits or his smile.
“Yes, he did, pumpkin face, and he’ll be here any minute. He wanted to say goodbye before you go on your trip.”
A few minutes later, the door opened.
When Carter walked in Sabrina launched herself at him. He caught her and twirled her around.
“If it isn’t Sabrina Ballerina. You look mighty beautiful today.”
She giggled. “You wook mi…mi..mighty beautiful today.”
“Me, beautiful. You must have me mistaken for someone else.”
Another twirl and she giggled more.
Even Anna laughed, holding her stomach as she did.
“I need to talk with Patti. We’ll be out in a minute.”
Marcus nodded.
Anna and Sabrina left with Marcus, leaving Patti and Carter alone.
They stood facing each other.
“I know this isn’t what you expected.“
“Jamie’s my sister.” Patti cut him off. “And stop apologizing. If it hadn’t been for you…” Her mind flashed to the man holding a knife to Sabrina. “If it hadn’t been for you, Sabrina could have been hurt. You kept her safe.”
“But not Anna.”
“Anna’s alive. That’s all that matters.”
He nodded. “Keep praying. Don’t forget God’s in control.”
“I just…so much has happened. This whole thing is so…unbelievable.”
Carter wrapped his arms around her.
After a moment, Patti took a few steps away from him. She smiled, but inside all she felt was sadness. How she wished she’d met him under different circumstances.
“I promise I’m going to do everything I can to find Jamie.” He paused. “But I can’t promise…”
She understood the unspoken words.
“We won’t be able to talk while you’re in the safe house. You’ll have to rely on the FBI agents to call me if you need something from me.”
He was still trying to take care of them.
“I sure had you pegged wrong the first day I met you.”
“How exactly did you peg me, if I might ask?”
Her mouth opened but she closed it as she searched for something to say without admitting what she’d thought. “Never mind.”
“Mmm. Very interesting. I won’t pursue this line of questioning at the moment, ma’am, but we are not done with this conversation.”
Giving a hint of a smile, she realized she might find herself admitting more to him than she cared to.
They walked out to the car in a sweet silence.
Carter sat in the front seat while Marcus drove.
Not wanting to alarm Sabrina, Patti sang songs with her in the back seat.
Anna sat beside Patti staring out the window.
Behind them the other agents followed in a second car.
Marcus’s cell phone shattered the silence, making both Patti and Anna jump. The phone call lasted all of ten seconds.
Marcus flipped the phone shut and looked over at Carter. “We’ve got company.”
“What’s going on?” Patti asked.
“Someone’s following us.”
Anna muttered something in Spanish and crossed herself.
“What are we going to do?” Patti’s heart raced and she wiped sweaty palms on her jeans. She fought the urge to turn around.
“Let’s go to police headquarters.”
“What are you guys talking about?”
Carter patted her hand resting on the back of the seat. His calmness lessened her jitters.
“We’re going to drive to headquarters and go into the underground parking. It’s impossible for them to follow us in there. We’re going to switch cars and as we leave several other cars are going to come out with us.”
“I don’t get it.”
“They can’t follow all of us. You’re going to hide so they have to pick one car to follow. If we’re lucky, they won’t pick the right one. Once they choose the wrong car, it’s free sailing for us and we’ll have another car stop them. And if we’re lucky, put an end to this nightmare.”
“What if they pick the car we are in?”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Marcus told her.
Once they were in the underground parking lot, Carter ran upstairs.
In five minutes, three more officers appeared with keys in their hands.
They spent another ten minutes debating on which cars to make the decoy cars, which car would be the real getaway vehicle.
In the end, they decided Marcus, Patti, and her group would be in one of the officers’ vehicles, an SUV, so Anna could be somewhat comfortable while laying down.
Marcus, Patti, and Sabrina scrunched down in the backseat so they wouldn’t be seen.
Carter took a squad car.
Sabrina slept through the vehicle switch.
Thirty minutes later, Patti’s leg cramped from being scrunched on the floor. She tapped Marcus on the shoulder and whispered. “I’ve got to move my leg.”
“It’s OK. You can get up. They aren’t anywhere around. They followed Caldwell.” The driver of the truck announced.
Marcus lifted himself off the floor while the women situated themselves.
The ruse worked, but the car had evaded the police and escaped.
They were no closer to figuring out who was after them.
****
Marcus hurried them out of the truck and towards the entrance.
Patti stared at the old apartment building. This was it? A knot in her stomach for
med. The placed didn’t look all that safe.
Once inside, Marcus herded them to a waiting elevator and hit the fifth floor button.
Anna’s gaze met Patti’s as if they had the same thought.
How could a simple apartment building like this keep Sabrina safe when Jamie’s elaborate security system, with an on-site security force, hadn’t?
The elevator bumped to a stop and the door slid open.
Two agents stood in front of the elevator. Each faced the opposite direction as if they were bookends.
Seeing their guns drawn made Patti queasy. She pressed Sabrina’s head against her chest, hoping to keep her from noticing the weapons.
They stopped in front of a door with 507 in big black letters on it.
The lead agent opened the door and herded the group in.
Patti set Sabrina down and her stomach unknotted somewhat.
There was a square living room with a simple sofa and matching chair. A coffee table, end tables and a TV against the opposite wall rounded out the ordinary furnishings.
A small dinette sat behind the sofa in front of the sole window. To the right was a kitchen. A hallway led to what Patti guessed were the bedrooms and bathroom.
The whole apartment could fit into Jamie’s front room.
“It’s not much but…” Marcus walked in behind them. “At least you’ll be safe.”
“How do you know?” Patti wasn’t convinced. “It seems like it would be easy—”
“It’s not. Trust me. You’ll be fine.”
“I felt safer at the hospital than here.”
Anna looked at the two of them and grabbed Sabrina’s hand, leading her towards the back of the apartment. “Let’s go look at the rest of the apartment, poquita.”
“Patti, you’re safe.” Marcus’ voice was patient.
“The way Jamie was safe at Dolphin Cove?” She stomped off to look out the one window in the apartment. She’d feel safer if Carter was here.
A moment later, Marcus put a hand on her shoulder.
She turned. “Are you going to stay with us?”
“I can’t. I’m going to lead the search for Jamie.”
“Maybe I’d feel safer if Carter stayed with us? After all, he’s proven himself more than once.”
“I’ll see what I can do, but in the meantime you’re out of harm’s way. We’ve got two guards posted outside the apartment at all times.” He pointed at the window. “As you can see no one is going to come in from that direction. I’ve got to get going but I want to say goodbye to Sabrina.” Marcus left, then walked back carrying Sabrina.