Her hand went to her neck and Bailey's tears started as she began to collapse. "I'm sorry," she said regretfully as she swept her into her arms and placed her in the helicopter.
"No!" Piper screamed as she began to lose consciousness.
Bailey leaned in close and whispered in her ear. "I love you," she said and looked into her eyes until she faded out. She kissed her gently on the mouth and with a tearful nod at Martin, she closed the door to the helicopter and backed away.
Martin buckled the seatbelt around Piper's waist and threw an arm around her as they began to rise. He looked out the window and watched as Bailey stood unmoving in the center of the roof until the building faded from his view.
VIII
When the dark night seems endless,
Please remember me.
- L. McKennitt
"Andrew, get their bags," Jeremy yelled when the helicopter landed and he rushed forward to open the door. His eyes widened in alarm as he took in the sight of Piper's bloodied clothing.
"Is she injured?" Watts yelled to Martin over the noise of the engine.
"No," Martin yelled. "She's been sedated."
Jeremy nodded as he quickly undid Piper's seat belt and carried her to the limousine, setting her gently in the backseat as Andrew threw their bags into the trunk. As soon as they were all seated, Jeremy knocked sharply on the window and the car quickly sprung into motion.
"She called an hour ago and said you were airborne," Jeremy said. "Whose blood is all over her?" he added, gesturing to Piper.
"Bailey's," Martin said sadly and Jeremy cringed.
"Well, she was alive an hour ago," he said hopefully. "What happened?"
"I'll explain later," Martin said handing him the bag Bailey had given him. "She instructed me to give you this immediately."
"I see," Jeremy said as he opened it to find a single clipboard.
He removed the clipboard and found two paragraphs of text which he read quickly.
"Shit," he said angrily turning his gaze out the window.
----------
Doreen bolted out of her chair when Watts carried Piper into her room without knocking. "My God, what's happened?" she asked, running over to the bloody form as Jeremy laid her on a sofa.
"I'm not quite sure," Jeremy said. "Bailey called and said they were on the way. Piper's been sedated, she's uninjured. Will you look after her and call for me when she regains consciousness, please?"
"Of course," Doreen said. "You heard from my daughter?"
"Yes," Jeremy said. "Please call me as soon as she's up," he said, walking out the door without elaborating.
Doreen watched him go and turned to Piper, noticing with dismay the dried tear tracks running down her face. Her heart clenching painfully as she went to the bathroom to retrieve a warm wash cloth, returning to sit on the sofa next to her and gently wash her face, looking closely at the little woman that was her daughter's lover.
"Oh child," she said tearfully.
----------
Doreen walked into the hall about an hour later and signaled one of the staff. "Would you ask Mr. Watts to join me, please?" she asked politely, stepping back into the room when she received a nod in response.
She crossed the room and sat back down next to a stirring Piper, who she had had stripped and dressed in one of her bathrobes. She watched closely and took her hands as her eyes slowly opened and began to focus. The tears started almost immediately and Piper enveloped her in a crushing embrace, crying into her chest.
"It's okay, child," Doreen comforted, rocking her gently back and forth until a knock came at the door.
"Come in," Doreen said and Jeremy stepped into the room and seated himself in one of the chairs across from the sofa.
"Piper," Jeremy said softly. "Martin informed me of what little he knew, will you tell us the rest?"
Piper pulled herself from Doreen's embrace and wiped at her eyes, looking at the Major hopefully. "Have you heard from her?" she asked hoarsely.
"About an hour before you landed," Jeremy admitted. "Nothing since."
Piper nodded. "I went home today for lunch to grab some things for our trip up here on Thursday," she started. "But three men broke in and took me at gunpoint to the place they were all staying. They let me talk to Bailey around half an hour after I got there and she told me she was coming to get me."
"Yes, Martin said this was where all of the agency men were stationed," Jeremy said. "How many men were there?"
"Around seventy from what I was told," Piper said softly.
"What happened?" Jeremy prodded gently.
"She killed them all," Piper said wiping at her eyes again. "She was very angry."
"Good God," Doreen said in awe.
"She was wearing a vest but she took it off and made me wear it. She was getting in the car when she got shot," Piper said with a sniffle. "I didn't think it was bad because she got right up and drove us back to the company where the police were waiting for her. She ignored them and we collected Martin and my stuff on the way to the roof to catch the helicopter," she said starting to cry in earnest.
"I argued with her because she wouldn't get on the helicopter with us and I grabbed her and came away with blood all over me. It was soaking through her clothes so she had obviously been hit pretty bad," Piper said covering her mouth with her hand. "I started to grab her again but she gave me a shot and put me in the helicopter," she finished, choking back sobs and collapsing again into Doreen's arms.
"Jesus," Doreen sobbed and started rocking Piper gently, ignoring the tears falling from her own eyes.
"It's all my fault," Piper said tearfully into Doreen's shoulder.
"No it isn't," Doreen comforted.
"Yes it is," Piper sobbed. "I forced her into coming and getting me, I shouldn't have gone home. She warned me the other day they might try to hurt me to hurt her and I didn't listen. Now she's out there all alone, hurt and with no one to care for her," she cried helplessly.
"What do we do, Mr. Watts?" Doreen asked.
"She said I would be contacted in no more than fourteen days," Jeremy said. "Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do but wait." he added regretfully.
"Can you contact her?" Doreen asked.
"I've tried the number she gave me almost a dozen times, there's no answer," Jeremy said quietly.
Piper disentangled herself from Doreen and ran quickly into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. Doreen and Jeremy watched her go with almost identical expressions.
"If my daughter doesn't make it, that girl is going to be inconsolable," Doreen said sadly.
"I wouldn't write Bailey off very easily," Jeremy said.
----------
James Hoake woke up in his suburban Virginia home with the very distinct impression that his wife wasn't the only one sharing the room with him. He lay quietly with his eyes closed, ears cocked for anything out of the ordinary. It was a short wait.
"Get up, I don't have much time left," a feminine Irish voice cut through the air of his bedroom, startling him.
He sat up bolt upright in bed, instantly turning to check on his wife.
"She's unharmed, but has been sedated," the woman said. "Your security staff is in the same condition, with the exception of the two men posted outside."
"Who are you?" he demanded, trying to make out her features in the dark.
"I'm The Wraith, Mr. Hoake," she said indifferently and his eyes widened in the dark. "We've a lot to talk about, I suggest we do so in a room that has a VCR."
"What do you hope to accomplish?" he said, rising from bed and putting a robe on over his pajamas.
"The question should be whether or not you'd like to survive," she stated as he turned on the light.
He stared at her standing calmly in the corner of the room, swallowing nervously as his eyes tracked to the katana in her right hand. "My office is downstairs."
"Lead the way, make no mistakes. I can make your pain last a lifetime," Bailey said emotionl
essly.
"I know," he admitted easily as he turned and walked out of the bedroom.
Bailey followed him out and down a staircase where he entered the first room on his left and turned on a light. He circled his desk and sat patiently with his hands folded on the surface in front of him as he waited for her to sit down.
"Killing me won't save your life," he said calmly as she seated herself in one of the chairs in front of his desk.
"Did you know, Mr. Hoake," she started, "that as of this moment, I estimate that the Secondary has less than a dozen operatives left?"
"What?" he asked in surprise.
"I eliminated the majority of them this afternoon, when Mr. McKraken thought it a wise idea to take my girlfriend away from me, since my family is no longer at your mercy," she said calmly.
"I don't believe you.".
"You will shortly," Bailey said, leaning over with a wince and retrieving a large binder from her bag which she tossed on his desk. "Do you recognize that?"
He reached out and casually examined the first few pages. "It appears to be a copy of your personnel file," he stated indifferently.
"That it is," Bailey said. "The original was stolen by McKraken's assistant, Martin Satterfield."
"Really?"
"Mr. Satterfield and the original are in my possession. Did McKraken not inform you of this?"
"No," he admitted.
"I see," Bailey said and produced a videotape from the bag at her feet, sliding it across the desk toward him. "You won't need to watch the whole thing, but you can highlight it if you wish."
He picked it up curiously, turned on the television behind his desk and slipped the tape into the VCR. He watched with a frown as Bailey appeared on the screen and introduced herself. She stated exactly who she was and began listing names and places. Ten minutes into the tape he shut it off with a sigh.
"Three years ago, you agreed to let me go inactive," Bailey said quietly. "I would've remained that way indefinitely, posing no threat to the Organization now or in the future. It was my intention to negotiate the release of my family at a later date. However, Mr. McKraken decided, out of the clear blue sky, that I should return to the Organization and he again used my family as leverage to get me to accede to his wishes. Were you aware of his actions in taking me off inactive status?"
"No."
"I thought as much," Bailey said. "Because of McKraken's machinations, your Organization is all but destroyed and those that have survived, I now have at my mercy. How long do you think big brother will let you live if I expose what's left of you?"
"You know the answer to that."
"Yes, I do," Bailey said. "The videotape you just watched is but one of hundreds. My personnel file is in the hands of British Intelligence, as is Mr. Satterfield. After fourteen days with no contact from me, that information will go public."
"That would be harmful to you as well."
"Perhaps, but without medical treatment I won't live through the night."
James narrowed his eyes. "What do you propose?"
"I propose we come to an immediate arrangement," Bailey said. "I've no wish to expose you, I just want to live the rest of my life free of you. I want my family to have their names back and to be free of your influence as well."
"I'm listening," he said, leaning forward in his chair.
"Write this down," Bailey said and he produced a legal pad from his desk to write on. "Martin Eugene Satterfield is to be cleared of all charges and granted amnesty from any means of prosecution. Joshua Mark Redding is to have his fingerprints removed from all databases and his criminal record destroyed. Doreen and Ryan Cameron and Ryan's fiance Fiona, are to be granted American citizenship and to remain free of any governmental influence or presence for the rest of their lives. Piper Esmeralda Tate is also to remain free of those same influences."
"Is that it?"
"Not quite," Bailey said. "If any of those people or myself fall prey to anything that may even remotely be considered suspicious, I'll make sure the Organization is buried, whether I'm still among the living or not. Do as I ask and you've my word that you'll never hear from any of us again."
"And you?"
"I've several demands on my own behalf," she said. "First, I'm no doubt implicated in the deaths of several of your operatives in Atlanta. I want that to go away and my name cleared of any wrongdoing. Secondly, I'll need medical attention very quickly. If I die and don't make a phone call in fourteen days…" She paused with a shrug. "… You're aware of the consequences."
"How badly are you injured?"
"I've a gunshot wound to my abdomen that is fatal if not treated soon, in fact, it may already be too late," Bailey said. "I've also a gunshot wound to my left shoulder and right leg.”
"Let me make a call?" he asked and she nodded.
She sat quietly as he spoke into the phone quickly and hung up. "I've arranged for an EMT transport to Bethesda Navy. What are your other demands?"
"I'll tell you if I survive," Bailey said. "You'll view at least one as a favor."
"Fair enough," he said with a nod. "I agree to your terms."
"You've made the right decision," Bailey said. "There are instructions in my bag. How long on the EMT?"
He looked at his watch. "Any minute."
She nodded and he noticed for the first time how pale she was and the light film of sweat that covered her face. His gut clenched at the repercussions so many people would face if she didn't survive and he rejoiced as he heard the sirens approach. He rose from his chair, acutely aware of the black eyes that tracked his movements as he traveled out of the office on his way to the front door to let them in. By the time the paramedics carried the stretcher into his office, she was slumped over in her chair, her sword lying on the ground at her feet.
"Oh God," he said in alarm. "Is she alive?"
"Barely," one of the paramedics said, taking her vitals. "Let's move her, hurry."
----------
James smoked three and half packs of cigarettes from the observation deck of the operating room while he had waited and watched the doctors work on her throughout the night and well into the morning. His balls had jumped into his throat when, on two frightening occasions, she had flat-lined on the table and he had waited with a rolling stomach as the doctors worked to revive her.
Finally, as it neared ten in the morning a doctor entered the room to speak with him.
"Is she going to live?" James asked anxiously
"We think so," the man said. "Doctor Goldman, by the way," he said extending his hand, which James shook.
"You think so?" he asked with a frown.
"That woman should've been dead before she got here. I don't know how in the hell she was walking around," Goldman said. "She's stable at the moment and we think we've stopped all of the internal bleeding that the bullet in her abdomen caused."
"I see," James said. "And her other wounds?"
"A clean entry and exit in the shoulder, if she survives it'll probably cause her minor discomfort for a few weeks, but as strong as she is, I suspect she'll fully recover. The leg wound will require a little more time. I doubt she'll be able to walk without a crutch or a cane for a few months. But I would predict a full recovery on that one as well."
"Good," James said. "How long until we know for certain?"
"If survives the next forty eight hours, she'll make it," Goldman said with certainty.
"That long?"
"Like I said, I think it's nothing short of miracle she survived as long as she did, we lost her twice on the table," Goldman said shaking his head. "She's one hell of a fighter."
"No doubt about that," James agreed.
"You can help yourself to the couch in my office if you'd like," Goldman said. "I'll come in and get you if…." he trailed off abruptly as the beeps emanating from the equipment below starting screaming alarms. "Fuck, she's crashing," he said bolting from the room.
James ran to the window and placed both his palms o
n the glass in front of him as the doctors and nurses scrambled frantically back into the room and went to work on her.
"We're losing her!" one of the other doctors yelled and James closed his eyes and sank to the floor.
"Clear!"
He leaned his back against the wall and listened as they tried to revive her. He put his head in his hands and tried to drown out the voices coming from below.
"Clear!"
"She's not responding."
"Hit her again."
"Doctor."
"I said hit her again."
"Doctor, she's gone."
"HIT HER AGAIN!"
Part Eight
Or I may simply be a single drop of rain, But I will remain
- W. Nelson
I
Martin knocked on the door and waited in the hall until a woman he assumed was Bailey's mother answered the door.
"Can I help you?"
"Yes, Mrs. Cameron. I'm Martin Satterfield," he said. "Mr. Watts informed me that Piper is staying with you, may I speak to her, please?"
"Come in," Doreen said and Martin entered the room. "She's awake, but won't get out of bed. Let me go tell her you're here."
"Alright," Martin said and waited patiently until she returned and waved him in.
He entered to see Piper sitting up in bed with huge dark circles under puffy eyes. He hoped that whatever Bailey had left her would cheer her up, although he suspected that it would have an effect that was completely opposite.
"Hi, Piper," he said . "I have something for you."
Piper turned wary eyes in his direction. "What?" she asked, her gaze dropping to the bag he held in his left hand.
"Bailey asked me to give you this when you got settled in here," Martin said, trying on a smile that didn't quite work.
Piper extended a hand and Martin gave her the bag. "Please, leave me," she said clutching the bag tightly to her chest.
"Alright," he said as Bailey's mother gently pulled him out of the room.
"What did you give her?" Doreen asked as soon as the door closed.
"I don't know," Martin said. "Bailey made it quite clear that I was to give it to her though."
Stories by Kiera Dellacroix Page 50
