1. Weekend Warriors

by Fern Michaels

  Yoko clapped her hands against her cheeks. “What about their families? What if they have wives? Maybe the wives don’t know their husbands…do…things like that. It will be like you are punishing them also for something they did not do.”

  Nikki responded in Kathryn’s defense. “Obviously they weren’t thinking of their wives when they attacked Kathryn. We have to stay focused and remember that our issue is with the criminals, not their families.”

  “Alexis, what’s your opinion?” Myra asked.

  “You play, you pay. Kathryn is right. They didn’t think about their families or their wives. They were out for a good time and the hell with everything else. They goddamn well violated her and they should be made to pay for what they did. I agree with Kathryn. Let’s slice their balls off and pickle them. We can send them their balls anonymously. Yeah, yeah, I like that,” Alexis said vehemently.

  Charles straightened his tie as his gaze swept across the ceiling. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth and did not go unnoticed by Kathryn.

  “Julia, what do you think?” Myra asked.

  Kathryn jerked upright at the doctor’s cold, deadly voice. “I’ll do the operation. I’ll use my dullest surgical knife. I will place all testicles in formaldehyde and will label each. However, I think we should use Ziploc bags. They’ll be easier to mail. I will even volunteer to mail them. Does that answer your question?”

  “Yes,” Myra said. “Yoko?”

  Yoko looked first at one woman and then another as she struggled to find the words she wanted. She stared at the shoebox in the middle of the table.

  Kathryn leaned over and pinched Murphy’s ear. The huge dog reared back and stood up. “What’s your damn problem, Yoko?” Kathryn said as her foot pressed against the dog’s foot to make him turn around until he was facing Yoko. “You should be champing at the bit to go after these guys. Wasn’t your father just like them? Your history says he was.”

  “Well…I…” Yoko’s eyes filled with tears.

  Kathryn jabbed her finger in Yoko’s direction. “You’d better not turn out to be a weak link, sister. I’m not putting my ass on the line and I don’t think these other women will either if you have to sit and ponder everything and then weasel out when the going gets tough. I think you’re too wishy-washy for my taste. I’m going to keep my eye on you. This dog of mine is going to do the same thing. Now, what the hell is your answer?”

  “I apologize if I don’t think fast enough for you, Kathryn. I feel you are justified in wanting revenge. What you propose is drastic. You said yourself you are alive and well. Perhaps not mentally well, but well just the same. I am most sorry about your husband’s death. Your grief is palpable. I understand this. I will vote no this time because I do not know these men.”

  “You know Kathryn. By coming here tonight you pledged to be her sister. It’s not important for you to know the men,” Julia hissed between her teeth. “You had better not turn into a weak link because if you do, I’ll go after you myself.”

  Myra nodded. “Your decision is recorded, Yoko. Nikki?”

  Nikki thought about all the rape cases she’d taken to court and lost. Cases where the victim was raped twice, once by a man and then again by the courts. “I agree,” she said, her voice ringing out loud and clear.

  “I vote yes also,” Myra said.

  “Your revenge is approved by the majority of the sisters, Kathryn.”

  “Now we need to set up an airtight, working plan. I think this is the time when we need Charles’s input. Charles worked for the Queen of England at MI 6 and he was an excellent operative until his cover was blown. The Queen herself made sure he was led to safety here in the United States. We can trust him and we can rely on him.”

  Charles stood up, every inch the stiff-upperlipped Brit. “What we have here,” he said waving his arm about, is a multimillion-dollar command center. There is absolutely nothing we can’t find out about anybody. I know many people who will help us just for the joy of helping to right old wrongs. There are no codes that can’t be broken. I was taught to do this early on in my career and I’ve stayed up on the latest developments. I’m only telling you this in case we come up against some coded messages or the like. I believe I know just about everything there is to know about encryption. These sophisticated computers and their memory banks rival those at the CIA. I personally built them. Any questions so far?”

  The women all shook their heads.

  “Good. Then I’ll continue. This is how I see it. Obviously the men who attacked Kathryn live somewhere in the state of California. I feel confident in saying somewhere within a five hundred mile radius of where Kathryn was attacked. I see this as a four-man — excuse me, woman — job.” Charles’s gaze raked the room as he tried to decide which three women would work best with Kathryn in the lead.

  Isabelle tugged at her braid, her hands shaking. “I have a question. Maybe it’s more of a statement. If this means going to California, I’m afraid I can’t go. If I don’t work, I won’t be able to pay my rent. I can’t afford to take off any time. If there’s something I can do from this end, I’ll be more than happy to comply.”

  “Isabelle, your bank account is quite robust these days. Your next statement will reflect a transfer of money. You have nothing to worry about, dear. We also paid up your rent and your health insurance a year in advance. Your time is now your sisters’ time. This was just a little down payment in advance until we can right your cause,” Myra said.

  Isabelle nodded gratefully.

  “Is anyone else worried about time away?” Charles asked.

  “I do not think I can leave the nursery and my husband. He would not understand,” Yoko said.

  Kathryn stood up, her arms flying upward. Murphy reared up, his ears going flat against his head. “That’s it! That’s it! Just tell me what the hell you’re doing here? Did you think this was going to be some kind of tea party? Don’t give me any of that Asian different culture crap either. For starters, I don’t want you on my case. All I have to do is look at you to know you’re about as dependable as shit.”

  The picture of serenity, Yoko replied, “You are a hothead, Kathryn.”

  Taken aback, Kathryn responded bluntly, the way she did everything. “That’s true, I am. I’m also kind, considerate, thoughtful and I’m damn loyal to those near and dear to me. When I give my word, I keep it. What’s your shtick?”

  “I am all those things myself, Kathryn. I did not know what to expect when I came here this evening. Now that I know what is expected, I will make arrangements so that I can fulfill my duties to this organization. I wish only to be helpful to all of you. If you have difficulty with my ways, you must tell me. I have no wish to be like you. I want only to be able to understand and act within my own boundaries. You need have no fear of me being, what you called, the weak link. I am very strong, mentally and physically. I had to be, to survive. I just want to help so that when it is my turn you will want to help me.”

  Kathryn grimaced. “Okay, okay, but I’m still going to keep my eye on you.”

  “And mine will be on you, also, Kathryn.”

  “What’s next?” Nikki asked, looking at Myra.

  The room grew still. Even Charles looked up from the computer he was working on.

  “I think we should go into the house and have some food while Charles works on the computers. It is late and we have all day tomorrow to finalize our plans. Is that agreeable to everyone?”

  “I must go home,” Yoko said.

  “No. You will stay,” Myra said cooly. “Nikki explained all this to you in advance. Please don’t bring this to a test, Yoko. If you do, you will not like the outcome. My arms are long and they stretch quite far.”

  Yoko bowed. “I will stay, then. I wish to see in writing the next time what the rules are for me.”

  “The same rules apply to each of us. You aren’t special so don’t pretend to be something you aren’t. You speak fluent English and you graduated college. You we
re born in this country so don’t give us that Asian stuff. I read your dossier,” Kathryn snapped irritably.

  “We’ll see you in the morning, Charles. Would you like some coffee or a sandwich?”

  “There can’t be food or drink in here, Myra. I’ll get something later. We’ll meet in the dining room at eight if that’s all right with everyone. Good night, ladies.”

  Everyone except Nikki passed on the offer of food and headed for the staircase that would take them to the second floor. Kathryn walked to the door and let Murphy out. She waited until he returned and then slammed and locked the heavy door.

  The storm continued to rage as Nikki followed Myra into the kitchen. “I’m starved. Did Charles make anything good for us?”

  “There’s a ham and a breast of turkey. Would you like me to make some coffee?”

  “Myra, what I would really like is a good triple shot of your best scotch. I think I’ll have a ham and turkey sandwich. That’s a no on the coffee.”

  Myra measured coffee into the stainless steel basket. At Nikki’s questioning look, she said, “It’s for me. Charles will be in later and I know he’ll want coffee. How do you think it went, Nikki?”

  “I’m not sure, Myra. It got a little tense there for a minute. For the first shot out of the gate, I guess it went okay. This was our first meeting. No one really knew what to expect. I think things will fall into place in the morning when Charles shows us what he retrieved from all those computers. Once we set up a plan, things will level off. The women have to get to know one another. It’s the unknown that is throwing everyone into a flap. As much as I hate to admit it, I think it’s all going to work out.” She leaned her elbows on the table and stared at the sugar bowl.

  Myra nodded. She knew this beautiful girl sitting across from her as well as she knew herself. There’s something bothering you, Nikki. Do you want to talk about it or is it something personal between you and Jack?”

  “I do need to talk, Myra. One of my paralegals told me she saw Jack having dinner with a beautiful redhead the other night. It bothers me. I’m feeling kind of betrayed right now. Marie Lewellen’s case goes to court next month. I’ve used up my last postponement. I can’t win it, Myra. Jack knows I’m just going through the motions. He’s taking the whole thing personally. I hate it when he does that. You should have heard him the day you posted Marie’s bail. He was like a rooster in a duck pond. Did you…ah…decide when you’re going to spirit her and her family away?”

  “It’s better if you don’t know, Nikki. Just go about your daily business the same way you always do.”

  “Myra, that’s goddamn near impossible. I don’t have a normal life anymore. I’m up to my eyeballs in illegalities. I could lose my license to practice law. I’ve lost my boyfriend who was supposed to put a ring on my finger this year. I damn near cheered when those women voted to castrate those creeps that attacked Kathryn. What does that make me, Myra? Tell me. I need to know what I’m turning into here.”

  “Jack will come back, dear. I’m sure the dinner with the redhead was a witness or a friend. Jack loves you. If you lose your license, we’ll have Charles get you a new identity. You know, Nikki, it really isn’t all that hard to do if you have the right contacts. You aren’t turning into anything. You are still the bright, intelligent girl I love and admire. You haven’t changed. Circumstances changed.”

  Nikki bit into her sandwich. She chewed thoughtfully. “I can’t be on Kathryn’s team this time around. I have to be here for Marie. After that, I’m all yours. I will take some of that coffee, Myra. By the way, that was a nice thing you did for Isabelle. She’s been having a terrible time.”

  “We’ll get her life back for her. If she’s the kind of person I think she is, she’ll pay me back as soon as possible. I like Kathryn. I wanted to cry for her. I like all the women. It’s all so unjust, so unfair. But then that’s why we formed the Sisterhood, isn’t it?

  “Nikki, how will you handle it when Marie Lewellen…disappears?”

  “Very carefully, Myra. Have you been in touch with her lately?”

  “Goodness, no. I’ve stayed away just the way you said I should. She sent me a note thanking me for posting her bail. I haven’t called either. Have you seen her?”

  Nikki pushed her plate to the center of the table. “No. I do talk to her on the phone. She told me her husband took his vacation. She said he had something like forty-five days coming to him and was going to do some things to the house. Their pictures are going to be all over the news and in the newspapers. Where are you going to relocate them?”

  “It’s better if you don’t know, Nikki. Julia Webster is going to do some plastic surgery on both Marie and her husband once they’re settled in their new home. Children change on a day-to-day basis. We’ll have them home-schooled for a year or so until we feel they’ve changed enough not to warrant scrutiny. We have it under control, dear.”

  “Okay, I’m off to bed.” She looked around. “I always loved this kitchen. I mean, I really loved it.”

  Myra nodded. “I’ll clean up here and make some sandwiches for Charles for later. I know, Nikki, that you still have mixed feelings about what we’re doing. I’m hoping in time you will grow as comfortable with it as I have. If not, you’ll just have to suck it up,” Myra said cheerfully.

  In spite of herself, Nikki burst out laughing. She hugged Myra good night before she headed up the kitchen staircase that would take her to her old room at the end of the long hall that ran the length of the house.

  “Screw you, Jack,” she muttered as she pulled off her sweatpants. As she tugged at the bottom of the pant legs she saw the dark red X on the hem. Barbara always made a red X on her jeans and sweats so they wouldn’t mix them up in the laundry. Tears burned her eyes and trickled down her cheeks as her index finger traced the X. “We’re doing it for you, Barb. Wherever you are, I hope you understand. I miss you, Barb. I’d give anything if I could talk to you about Jack. Watch over us, okay.” She didn’t feel the least bit silly or self-conscious talking to someone who wasn’t there. Barbara’s spirit would always live in this room. The faint scent of her perfume still lingered in the air after all this time. She knew in her heart it would stay in the room forever, just like the furniture would stay as well as her clothes and her skis. She looked over at the rocker that was moving slowly back and forth.

  Nikki walked over to the old rocker and placed her hand on the armrest to stop the chair from moving. It continued to rock.

  “What’s your problem. Nik?”

  Nikki yelped and ran back to the bed. “Barb?”

  “Yes.”

  “Is it really you?”

  “In spirit. Do you want to give me a quiz?”

  Nikki shook her head. Was she dreaming? “I’m glad you’re here. At least I think I’m glad you’re here. I need to talk to you about Jack. I need to talk to you about a lot of things. You know what’s going on, don’t you?”

  “Every single thing. I have one kick-ass mother, don’t I? If you’re asking me if I approve, I do. Get them all, Nik. Make them pay for what they did to those women. I hope you can continue to do it forever. It’s about time someone took matters into their own hands. I wish I was there to help you. Just promise me you won’t get caught.”

  Nikki laughed. I’ll do my best not to get caught. Can you just picture me in the slammer?”

  “No, I can’t picture that at all. Promise me you’ll be careful. I wish I was there to help you and Mom and all those women.”

  “God, I wish that so much, Barb. I miss you. It’s always worse here in this room. It’s like you’re still here. I can smell your perfume. I can see your skis leaning up in the corner and your mom gave me your sweatpants tonight. I started to cry when I saw the red X on the bottom of the pants leg. Jack had dinner with some good-looking redhead. My paralegal saw them.”

  “They look good on you. Let’s get back to Jack. He’s just trying to tick you off, Nik. Guys do that, as you and I both found out alon
g the way. He knew your paralegal would tell you she saw him with some good-looking chick. You aren’t going to fall for that, are you, Nik?”

  “It doesn’t matter. It still hurts. So, how…how is it on the…other side?”

  “Peaceful. Quiet. Beautiful. We were talking about Jack…”

  “He’s so competitive. I can’t win the case with Marie Lewellen. We all knew that going in. You know the drill, open mouth, insert foot. He took me on. My name is going to be mud when Marie disappears. I’m not calling him, so don’t even suggest it.”

  “I wasn’t going to suggest any such thing. Why don’t you call up Mike Deverone and ask him out to dinner. He always had the hots for you. And he has a brain, plus he’s an excellent lawyer as you well know.”

  “That’s a thought.”

  “How come I always have to do your thinking for you. Where’s Willie? Toss him over here, okay. I miss the little guy.

  Nikki walked over to the twin bed Barbara had always slept in. She pulled down the spread and raised the pillow. She hugged the little bear before she tossed it in the direction of the rocking chair. She almost fainted when she saw the little bear swirl in mid-air and then stop as though someone had reached for it. She plopped down on the edge of her own bed, her emotions running wild as she stared across the room at the rocking chair.

  “Listen, are you going to…you know, hang around or do you have to…go…back. I’m dead on my…sorry, I’m out on my feet and I have to get up early.”

  “I thought I would sit here and rock with Willie for a while. You don’t mind, do you? I’ll watch over you while you sleep, Nik.”

  “No, I don’t mind. Barb, do you come here…often? If I need you, what should I do?”

  “Just call my name. Hey, isn’t there a song by that name?”

  “Probably. There’s a song for everything, just like there’s a book for everything in the world. There’s even a song for pantyhose. You should hear that one. Someone with red hair named Corinda Carford sings it. You’d get a kick out of it, Barb, because you always hated pantyhose. I have the CD in my apartment if you ever want to hear it.”