Eye Of The Storm - DK3

by Melissa Good

  There was a pause. “Ms. Stuart, I had no reason to think you were the cornerstone of the situation. My information on you was that you were just another one of Roger’s kids.” Herkins hesitated. “It’s not like you came forward and said otherwise.”

  Well, that was true. Kerry had to admit.

  “And I don’t think you want to go through another day like today.

  Am I wrong?”

  Also true. “All right. But it can’t be today. I have something I have to take care of,” Kerry told him. “Besides, I’ve pretty much said all I have to say.”

  “Except why.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Why, Ms. Stuart. You solved a big problem for me today by saying how—there was always a question as to how that information got released. The question that’s coming to everyone’s mind right now is why. Why would one of Roger Stuart’s kids—seemingly a nice, intelligent, successful young woman—deliberately release information so damaging?”

  Kerry was silent for a moment. “I was just asking myself that same question. I guess I just felt it was the right thing to do at the time.”

  “Still think that?” Herkins asked shrewdly.

  Kerry let a breath out. “Morally? Yes. He did things that were not right and not legal.”

  “Well,” the prosecutor’s voice sounded satisfied, “I’d agree with you there, Ms. Stuart, and you sent a very powerful message today, whether you realized it or not. How about you and I meet for breakfast and we can talk? Maybe I can work things out so you can finish up here and go home.”

  Home. “I’d like that,” she admitted. “Honestly, I really don’t have anything else to add to the case one way or the other. I didn’t know—or even suspect—until I was looking at it in black and white on my screen.”

  “I believe you, Ms. Stuart,” he replied. “He fooled a lot of people.”

  He paused. “Tomorrow morning then? I’ll pick you up in the back. We’ll Eye of the Storm 355

  go over to a little place near the hearing chambers. Okay?”

  “All right,” Kerry agreed. “Are the hearings over for today?”

  A soft snort. “They requested a delay. Apparently you rocked their apple cart pretty thoroughly.”

  “Okay.”

  “Ms. Stuart, don’t be surprised if they contact you. It’s up to you if you want to talk to them, but I think you realize they’re not your friends.”

  “I understand,” Kerry answered. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Eight all right?”

  “Perfect. Have a good night, Ms. Stuart.”

  Kerry hung up the phone and stared at it. “He’s supposed to be the good guy.” She looked up at Dar. “So why do I feel like such a traitor?”

  “Because you have a conscience,” Dar responded promptly. “And a good heart.”

  Kerry sighed. “I want this to be over, Dar.” She rubbed her neck tiredly. “I want to be back in my office, listening to José complain and having something stupid and disastrous to work on waiting for me.” Her shoulders slumped. “I want to have a cup of café con leche and one of those cheese pastelitos, and know when the sun sets that there’s a climbing wall waiting for me.”

  Dar rested her head on her arm. “Are you telling me you’re happy with your life?” The question slipped out without her realizing it and was more serious than she’d intended.

  “Yes.” Kerry’s eyes were unfocused, as she stared across the nondescript hotel room. “Maybe I didn’t realize until this moment just how happy I am.” She blinked. “True hearts are such a rare gift, Dar.”

  Dar wasn’t sure where this was coming from. “Yes, they are,” she answered cautiously.

  Kerry turned and put a hand on Dar’s chest, right over hers. “How in the hell did I rate one?”

  Dar had no idea of what to answer to that and was saved from having to improvise by a light knock on the connecting door. “Yeah?” She kept her eyes locked with Kerry’s, searching the shadowed green depths as the door opened inward and her father’s head emerged.

  “Thought I heard voices.” Andrew cocked his head at the two of them. “You two all right?”

  Kerry exhaled, then turned her head. “We’re fine, Dad. But my sister’s in the hospital having trouble with the baby. I need to go see her.”

  “All right, kumquat. We’ll put on the hip waders and slog through all the pony paddies wherever you want to.” Andrew pulled his head back inside to relay the request.

  “Dar?” Kerry turned back to regard her lover seriously. “You need to have children.”

  “Wh—?” Dar’s eyes went round and huge.

  “You just do.” Kerry got up and went to the sink, rinsing her face with the cold, metallic water.

  Chapter

  Thirty-eight

  “ALASTAIR, IT’S GONE past where we can control this.” Evans was upset and his voice showed it. “We have the company’s reputation at stake here.”

  Alastair fiddled with a pencil, tossing it back and forth between his fingers. “I really don’t see a problem, John—”

  “Oh, c’mon,” Berensen augered in with a disgusted sigh. “For Christ’s sake, Alastair. We’re in the middle of a political nightmare here.

  She admitted to releasing that information. What more do you want?”

  “Well, it’s not against company policy to tell the truth,” the CEO

  reminded them mildly. “Despite what you might have heard.” He looked up as Bea stuck her head in and they exchanged rueful looks. “Besides, we got some great press yesterday, didn’t we?”

  “Yeah, until they all figure out the connection and realize those two,” a vicious pause, “ladies are shacking up together. Then what, Alastair? You want to put your puss on television and explain why we’ve got a couple of—”

  “John,” McLean warned in a low voice, “our company policy is one of non-discrimination on paper, and we all know that, so—”

  “Alastair, no one’s gonna give royal crap what our policy is. This’ll be front page news. You better do something about it right now.”

  Alastair got up, walked around his chair, and paced in a small circle.

  “Like what?”

  “Fire Stuart!”

  “For?” the CEO shot back. “Honesty? Integrity? Good job performance? What would you like me to fire her for, John?”

  The air crackled with tension. Alastair leaned forward towards the teleconferencing session, where the two board members were displayed, having stayed after his general session that had completed not much earlier. It hadn’t been either smooth or cordial, and the CEO had a feeling he might be on the losing end of at least one of these battles. “Well?” he asked again.

  “For using company resources to get that information on her father and use it for personal reasons,” Evans stated in triumph.

  “We don’t know she did that,” Alastair told him. “We don’t know she used company resources, and given what the poor kid just had to go Eye of the Storm 357

  through, it’s hard to see where she got any personal gain from it.”

  “Oh, c’mon, Alastair!”

  “I’m just protecting company assets, John,” the CEO reminded him placidly. “That is what you pay me for.”

  Berenson slapped his hand on his desk, audible through the connection. “McLean, enough of this stupidity. Look, I know you’ve got a thing for Roberts, but for Christ’s sake, is it worth your job?”

  Alastair stared at the screen for a long moment. “Well you know, let me get back to you on that one.” With a quick motion, he slapped the disconnect key and cut off further discussion. With a disgusted sigh, he sat down at his desk and propped his chin up on his fist as Bea entered again and brought him a mug. “Don’t think I need any more coffee, thanks.”

  “It’s bourbon,” Bea answered with a wry smile. “I just put it in a coffee cup to cut down on the gossip.” She set the cup down and perched on a corner of his desk. “Tough situation, huh? I saw the footage.”

&nbs
p; Alastair rolled his eyes.

  “You knew this might happen if you promoted Paladar.”

  “Yeah, I knew,” the CEO agreed, with a rueful smile. “But you know, Bea, I still think it was the right choice. Look at all Dar’s accomplished since then.” He exhaled wearily. “I just hope the little bugger hasn’t achieved more trouble than I can handle this time.” He glanced at the media feed, which had Kerry’s image displayed prominently, running on the corner of his computer desktop. “Gonna be a close one.”

  HAVING A FATHER who spent the balance of his life in clandestine operations was, Dar discovered, a damn useful thing when in the public spotlight. Andrew guided them out of the hotel and around the corner into a small alley, then out onto the street where they captured a taxi with little trouble.

  They were surprised to find a crowd outside the hospital, but it wasn’t anything having to do with the hearings. The hospital was home to a family planning facility that performed abortions and the group was protesting outside, picketing the entrance and chanting.

  Dar was ambivalent about the subject. The slightly frantic, almost overdone aggressiveness of the protesters set her on edge, but on the other hand she firmly believed a person had to take responsibility for their actions, and that included having sex and the potential result of it.

  You play, Dar reasoned, you pay, and once the child was started, you owed it the right to come into the world.

  They sat in a small waiting room outside the hospital’s obstetrics wing, while Kerry approached the nurses’ station in search of her sister.

  Dar paced quietly in one corner, reading the meaningless notices on the cork board while her mother claimed a chair, and her father poked around the few vending machines nearby.

  “Dar?” Ceci cocked her head, after she watched her daughter for a few minutes. “Is that list of pregnancy symptoms so fascinating?”

  358 Melissa Good Dar nearly jumped out of her skin. She turned and gave her mother a dire look. “No.” She paused. “Why?”

  Ceci’s brow knit. “Just asking. You’ve been reading it for a couple of minutes and I know you read faster than that.”

  Dar paced over and sat down. “I wasn’t reading it.” She tucked her hands under her arms.

  “Okay,” Ceci murmured. “I…um…don’t think it’s anything you have to worry about. Unless you two are um…” She found herself the recipient of an outraged, blue eyed gaze. “Guess not. Hmm?”

  “Oh yeah, I’d make a wonderful parent,” Dar muttered. “No, Chino’s family enough for us.”

  Ceci cleared her throat and pulled a small sketch pad from her shoulder bag, set it on her knee and removed a pencil. “Well, her college costs should be minimal.” She flipped the pad open to an empty sheet and paused, then started to work.

  “MY SISTER IS here. I think she’s in labor?” Kerry asked the nurse, who was busy writing something behind the desk.

  “Well, if she’s here, she sure ain’t got a broken leg,” the woman answered. “Hang on a minute.” The nurse struggled with a terminal keyboard. “Stupid thing. Jesus, I hate these stupid computers.”

  Kerry scratched her jaw. “Make a deal with you.”

  The nurse looked up. “Excuse me?”

  “Tell me where my sister is and I’ll fix your computer.”

  Long, dark lashes flickered. “You’re one of those nerdy people?”

  Kerry nodded.

  “Sure. Have at it. What’s your sister’s name?” The nurse moved out of the way and let Kerry get at the terminal.

  “Angela.” Kerry unplugged the terminal and gave it a whack, then turned the keyboard over and rapped it smartly on the desk. Crumbs the size of a postage stamp were dislodged and she brushed them away as she flipped the keyboard back over and restarted the machine. “She’s been in labor a while, she said.”

  “She’s in that third bay down there.” The nurse watched Kerry in fascination. “She’s having a bit of a rough time. Hey, that worked.” She took the keyboard back and typed in something. “Wow. That was really cool. Is that what you do? Are you one of those field services people?”

  “Mmm. I don’t usually do hands on, but yeah, something like that.”

  Kerry leaned on the counter. “Is it okay for me to go see Angie?”

  “Sure, sure. Um, we’re kinda outside visiting hours, so if anyone says anything…”

  “Don’t worry.” Kerry smiled. “I just want to see her for a minute.”

  The nurse paused, then looked at Kerry for the first time. “Stay a while. It really helps the mothers sometimes and she hasn’t had anyone in with her at all. I felt kind of bad for her.” She held a hand out. “Call me if she needs anything. My name is Stacy.”

  Eye of the Storm 359

  “Kerry.” She took the hand and grasped it. “Thanks. No one else has been here to visit?”

  “No.” Stacy shook her head. “The doctor said he’s going to give her a little while longer, then he might have to look at other options after that.”

  Kerry nodded. “Okay, thanks.” She left the desk and walked quietly down the hall, passing two darkened bays before she reached the third.

  The room was partially lit, lamps making a friendlier atmosphere than harsh fluorescent would. “Angie?”

  Her sister turned her head, sweat dampened hair plastered across her forehead. “Oh…hey.” A tremulous smile crossed her face. “Nice to see someone I know.” She held a hand out and Kerry walked over and took it. “God, it’s so good to have you here, Kerry.”

  “Hey.” Kerry put her arms around her and pulled her into an awkward hug. “Wish you’d called me sooner. It’s not right for you to be here by yourself, Angie.”

  Angie curled half onto her side and kept hold of Kerry’s hands. “You were busy.”

  “I’d have rather been here,” Kerry admitted.

  “I bet.” Angela blinked wearily and put her head down on the pillow. “You looked great on TV, though. The cameras kept showing you in the gallery before they called you up there.” She inhaled and winced, her face tensing in pain for several very long seconds. Then she relaxed.

  “Who was that guy you were with? He’s scary looking.”

  Kerry leaned on the bed rails. “That’s Andy. Andrew Roberts, Dar’s father.” She adjusted the sheets. “He’s the sweetest, most wonderful man I know.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah.” Kerry smiled quietly to herself.

  “He knows about you guys, I guess.”

  “Absolutely,” Kerry told her. “He’s so cool about it, and you wouldn’t think he would be, because he’s from the military and all—but it’s like…Dar’s his daughter and it wouldn’t matter what she was or what she did. He just loves her.”

  Angie shifted uncomfortably and sighed. “That’s different.”

  “Mmm.”

  “Um, I saw Dar on TV today too,” Angie commented. “She looks great. I didn’t understand one word in six of what she was talking about, but boy, she impressed that reporter.”

  Kerry smiled. “I haven’t seen the interview yet. It was happening the same time as I was in that hellhole.” She exhaled. “But after last night, I guess they wanted to talk to her.” She caught Angie’s puzzled look. “The ATM thing yesterday?”

  “Ew. That was you guys?”

  “Sort of. It was the guys we used for the network, but Dar fixed it.”

  Kerry rubbed her eyes. “We were up all night though. I’m so wiped.”

  “You look as tired as I feel,” Angie admitted, grimacing as a contraction took hold again. “Augh. God, I’m getting tired of this.”

  360 Melissa Good Kerry took hold of her hand. “Anything I can get you? Water or something?”

  Angela shook her head. “It’s just nice to have someone to talk to.”

  Her lips curled into a smile. “Are you here alone?”

  “No. You up to a few more visitors? I’d like you to meet Dar’s mother and father. I don’t know when I’ll have the chance
to introduce you again. “

  Angela shifted and pulled herself up a little, pushing her hair back.

  “I must look like a mess. Was that who was with you yesterday? Her mom?”

  Kerry nodded. “Don’t worry. They’re not really formal people.” She ducked out.

  “Yeah, sure,” Angie whispered to herself, listening to the footsteps come back down the hall. A moment later her room door was filled, and a slight, silver blonde woman entered followed by the tall, scarred man she’d seen on television. Then Kerry came back in with Dar right behind her, the dark haired woman glancing nervously around the room like something was going to bite. “Um…hi.”

  Kerry slipped in front. “Okay. Angie, this is Andy and Cecilia Roberts. Dar’s mom and dad, and of course, you already know Dar.”

  Ceci came over and smiled at her. “Nice to meet you, Angela.” She laid her hands on the railing. “Having a rough time of it?”

  “Ungh.” Angie glanced shyly at her. “The doctor thinks it’s a nice, big baby, and that’s what’s causing the problems.”

  “Ah, yes.” Ceci nodded seriously. “Been there, done that.” She smiled at Angie’s puzzled look, then turned and glanced first at Dar, then back at the woman in the bed. “Eight pounds, thirteen ounces.” Then she indicated her slight form and raised an eyebrow.

  “Ooo.” Angie made a face. “I think you just made my toe hairs curl up.”

  “Hey!” Dar affected an insulted look. “I wasn’t that big.”

  Angela and Ceci looked at her, then snorted. Andy chuckled and patted his offspring on the back.

  “You were a bouncing baby girl, all right, squirt,” he told her.

  “Emphasis on the bouncing,” Ceci remarked dryly. They all chuckled and the tension relaxed.

  “So. Do you have any tricks I should know?” Angie asked. “My first wasn’t this bad but she was a preemie.” She held her hands apart a little.

  “All of five pounds. This one’s gone full term and more.”

  “Well, there’s a famous Eastern technique that involves transcenden-tal meditation and the out of body thing, but I found drugs to be the best trick,” Ceci replied. “Have they tried to dilate you?”