Caged Eagles (22 page)

“Eighth floor,” the robot elevator voice announced.

She stepped off onto solid, polished tile and looked around. The room opened up to the right, presenting a reception area and wide hallway; to her left were bathrooms and a stairwell. The receptionist was on the phone so she went toward the windows to look down. The people below were small ants. She stepped around a large plant to get a better look at the activity beneath her. A man's voice distracted her thoughts. He was telling the receptionist he was leaving. She addressed him as Mr. Hall. The spy dressed in common jeans and a T-shirt. He turned to get on the elevator. Leslie leaned up against the wall out of view, heart pounding. The final puzzle piece had fallen into place.

Leslie placed her hand over her heart. She couldn't move, not even bring herself to look up to see if the receptionist had addressed her. Gradually, her hand fell to her side, her mind urged her legs to move, first the left, then right, to a nearby chair.

Trevor and Brandi were together. They had fooled her. Trevor had used her … used her. He didn't love her, he loved Brandi. They were both working for Blaine Martin. Tobian Morrison, one of his supporters in the campaign to start another rebellion, had broken him out. Her heart momentarily seized, but then relaxed. She took a deep breath. Forrest Evans wouldn't let a rebellion happen. Why? Forrest Evans was Sodi Hall.

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He was giddy with excitement and bounded down the stairwell. Donovan's body pulsed with adrenaline. He had suspected Evan's since the first time he met him. His suspicions had been confirmed. Donovan could always sniff out a traitor. It had taken him months to uncover Evan's identity, he had covered his tracks well, but not well enough. Ever since Donovan had been told about the spy, he had started to research the man. Today, he had taken pictures of the spy and recorded his voice for evidence. No one would have believed him otherwise.

Donovan couldn't drive fast enough. He was so excited his palms smeared sweat over the steering wheel. He hoped Evans would be there, hoped to see that blank, calm face become distorted in the agonizing realization that he had been caught. He knew Blaine would order him to take care of Evans afterward. Donovan laughed and turned the music up louder. No one fooled Donovan Gomez. Damn, Evans wasn't at the hideout, but Blaine was, and that was all that mattered. He thrust the E.V. into park, yanked the keys from the ignition, and jumped from the car. He slammed the seat belt in the door. It didn't matter.

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Brandi had had a bad day. Forrest had to taxi her around all morning to different appointments. She complained about her back, feet, and legs cramping up. Forrest had to bribe her out of bed that morning and almost missed the first doctor's appointment. Forrest could see it took all her energy to get out of the cab and upstairs. He knew she had stayed up all night and would sleep the afternoon away. She didn't even utter a word to Trevor when she entered, but went straight to her room.

“Wow, she's in a great mood today.”

“Yeah,” Forrest came in, took his coat off, and followed Trevor to the kitchen. “She was a
real treat
this morning.”

Trevor laughed and pulled a couple of beers from the fridge. He looked at the clock on the wall and said, “It's one minute past noon, not too early for a drink.” He pushed a can toward his best friend.

“They gave me a new picture today.” He took the sonogram out of his pocket and handed it over to Trevor. He could see the body of the baby, unlike the other black and white pictures Forrest had brought home.

“I can see her.” Trevor looked down at the miniature child curled into a ball.

“Would you have ever thought when we met a year ago I'd be a dad?”

“No, not ever.” Trevor set the picture on the table. “Then I wouldn't have guessed most of the things that have happened this year.”

“True.”

“I have news myself.”

“What?”

Trevor lowered his voice and said, “I asked Sarah to marry me.”

“When?”

“Last Friday, I didn't plan it but it just happened.”

“That's great, Wells,” Forrest held his can in the air for a toast. After the men drank he said. “Did you give her Ava's ring? And when is the big day?”

“First yes, second, we aren't sure. Someday.”

“Someday?” Obviously this was not Forrest's idea of romantic.

“After everything is over.”

“Oh, makes sense.”

“Anyway, I said I didn't need a ceremony to become her husband. I've been hers since the day I met her.”

“Yeah I know, nothing could part the two of you–not even death in my opinion.” Forrest couldn't help but smile himself, obviously truly happy for his friends. A knock on the door interrupted the conversation. Trevor hurried to answer it before Brandi woke up.

“Sarah!?” Trevor pulled her into the room. It had started raining and her hair was wet and stringy. She was out of breath and Trevor was sure it wasn't from walking down the hallway.

“What's happened?”

“Donovan came home with news about an hour and a half ago. He found out who Sodi Hall was!” She exclaimed in one big breath.

Forrest came out of the kitchen just as she said this. Both of them froze, suspended in the middle of their actions. Forrest held his beer halfway to his lips and Sarah had one arm out of her coat.

She broke the silence. “Did you hear me?”

“Yes.”

“Is it true?” she asked. He lowered the beer can.

“What is going on?” Alarms were going off in Trevor's head. Again they eyed each other, leery the other would pounce at any moment.

“Brandi is asleep and should remain that way, don't you agree, Sarah?” Forrest said.

“Yes.”

“Let's go into the kitchen to talk.”

“Okay.” She walked reluctantly forward. Trevor turned his head, envisioning invisible ropes seizing her waist and pulling her back out the door.

“I'm guessing by the way you two are acting,” Trevor made sure the kitchen door was securely shut and turned to see Forrest and Sarah at opposite ends of the room, “that Forrest must know something about Sodi Hall.”

He didn't want to say it but it was the only possible reason for Sarah's reaction.

“Yes, Donovan said ….”

“Sarah, please.” Forrest's voice strained with urgency. “I need to explain, it's not what you think. Don't lose your wits because Gomez is a hothead. Please, let me explain.”

Trevor saw Sarah glimpsed at him. He knew Brandi was down the hall. If any of them lost their temper they would have Brandi as a problem too.

“Evans,
what
do you know and you haven't told us?” Trevor's dislike for the situation grew the longer he stood there.

“Please, please sit down and let me explain.”

“I think we should, Trevor.” Sarah's shaking hand grabbed his arm and led him to the chairs opposite Forrest.

“Sodi Hall was hired to follow you but that wasn't his first job. A year ago he was hired to enter a rehab center and watch a man named Gary. It was believed he had someone kill Susan Schwan. That meant he had outside sources, which could break him out. It was also believed he was planning some sort of mass murder because of the decline of his mental state. His counselor had found a hit list of names. Susan's was on the top, she was his cousin, a lawyer, and the one that put him in rehab. He seemed to be lashing out at all the people who, in his opinion, had caused him to be where he was. It was a simple job, but one that went wrong. Another agent had to be placed inside the walls. After Sodi Hall's release he was hired by the rehab center again to follow you and make sure you adjusted to society. The rehab does this to a few patients a year. Dr. Taylor had chosen you. He fed her information that was useless. He told her where you had gone, but not why. Soon he realized he was in the middle of ….”

Trevor stopped him in mid-sentence to growl. “Were you the first or second spy in prison?”

“I was the first. I had been stabbed. I was then saved by a very kind man from a woman who was a nightmare and dangerous to be around. Leslie was the rehab staff member I was to report to. Leslie was worried you had gone to find Sarah. I told her I saw Sarah there, but I had no proof you were together. She believed me. I told her Brandi was pregnant to get her off the hunt for Sarah. I walked right into the situation with Martin. I got the seal so I didn't look suspicious. Then a lot of things happened I didn't count on. Laney came into my life, and Brandi ended up pregnant. I began thinking, did I want the love of my life and my daughter resigned to live in this world. I didn't. I decided I wouldn't reveal anything about Martin's plan to my superiors.

“I thought my job with Leslie would be over but instead she referred Mike Morrison to me. I was hired by your parents to look for you, Sarah. I've told them nothing, and they trust me. Still, Leslie continued to hound me about you. She caught on and asked about Martin being released. She's suspicious and thinks he escaped, instead of being transported to another rehab. I think she might be a step away from figuring everything out.”

“How do we know we can trust you? You have been lying to us the entire time. Who the hell are you?”

“I'm truly the man you have come to know, except not so methodical. My job is to survey the surroundings; in my personal life I'm more social and trusting, something I've done with all of you.”

“So you have been protecting Trevor from Leslie?” Sarah asked.

“Yes, I have and you from your parents. That's why there aren't posters of you all over the country. Anyway, I've led Leslie Taylor as much astray as I could, without giving myself away. I don't think it worked–she is on to us.”

“I don't know.” Sarah stood up and went to the sink. Trevor followed her, put his hands on her shoulders, and slid them down to her waist.

“It all makes sense. That is how Leslie has known what she has. He hasn't turned us in, if he had they would have been knocking down our door a long time ago.” He turned back to Forrest.

“Why Sodi Hall, why choose that name?”

“Cover, I have many names and lives to go along with them. Sodi is Jewish; I told you a long time ago I was raised Jewish.”

“You have taken a lot of risks; you're in great danger.”

“Yes.”

“If you had turned us in, when would it have been?”

“First of all, my job was not to follow Martin around, I wasn't instructed to find nor report any information about this rebellion. I should, but it's not what I'm hired for. I was hired to follow you. I have, my job is complete. I have never contacted Leslie unless she called me. I would have turned you all in right after Blaine's escape, but I believe what you are all saying. This country does need to change.” He looked down at the floor. “Susan was my girlfriend. I told you I was in rehab because of her, and I was. I loved Susan and because some gritty little man doesn't get what he deserves, death, she died. You asked me in Alaska if I had ever loved someone so much it hurt. I hadn't until Laney, but I did love Susan and it hurt deeply when she was killed. I went into rehab to get the sicko that killed her.”

“Why did you let Leslie hire you?”

“It was simple–I could watch you, feed her whatever information I wanted. It was better I was hired instead of someone else.”

They all remained silent. Forrest took a big gulp of beer; all the muscles in his face had fallen into a frown. Trevor stepped away from Sarah and rubbed his face with both hands. He felt like he didn't know the man before him, but Forrest Evans had sacrificed his own skin to help him, protect him. No one had ever done that before. Forrest was his best friend and he wasn't going to let him get caught.

“You have to hide.”

“I know, I need to leave.” He rose. “I had to tell you both the truth before you assumed what Donovan said was correct.”

“What about Laney?” Sarah wanted to know.

“Tell her the truth.” Forrest moved to the other room and grabbed his jacket.

“Where are you going?”

“I'll be back, later tonight, there is somewhere I have to go.” With that he was gone.

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Trevor and Sarah knew they had to explain everything to Laney and Blaine. When they arrived, Laney was sobbing in the bathroom and Blaine was stoic. Neither Martin expressed how they felt after the confession. Sarah led Laney to the bedroom after kissing Trevor goodbye. Blaine remained at the table, thinking. He informed Trevor that his plans would still be followed through. Trevor was worried that he would send Donovan, who was absent, after Forrest. He'd have to warn his friend later on. He had not told Blaine that Forrest would be at his apartment again that night.

Trevor hurried home for two reasons. First, he wasn't sure if Forrest would come back early. Second, Brandi was home alone with no explanation why he had gone out. Blaine had allowed him to take the E.V. Donovan usually drove.

It had started to rain hard by the time he reached the doors to the apartment. He was grateful to get inside. Hopefully, Brandi was still asleep, and he'd have time to think things over. The moment he entered the apartment he knew something wasn't right. It was too peaceful and this unnerved him. He checked each room and discovered Brandi missing. Trevor felt an ice cube of terror run to the pit of his stomach. Where could she be in this weather? He couldn't find her cell phone. Downstairs, Mr. Busby had seen her leave. He stopped grooming the tiny poodle sitting on his lap to tell Trevor the details.

“She was trying not to cry, had her coat halfway over one shoulder, and stumbled out into the rain.” He pointed toward the door with the dog brush. Trevor slammed his fists down on the counter, making the little man jump.

“Why didn't you call me!?”

The little man was shocked. “I didn't see a need to.”

“Ah, so a crying pregnant woman leaving in a rainstorm isn't concerning to you?”

“I … I …” The little man's feelings had been hurt, “I got a phone call, said she was down at that old place, Lucky Number 8.”

Trevor ran out of the room without apologizing or thanking him. There was time for that later. He couldn't let Brandi drink with the baby. It was probably too late but he had to get there as soon as possible. Luck was on his side–Forrest was right outside the door.

“Come on, we have to go find Brandi.” Trevor ran down the street with Forrest on his heels. Rain blurred his vision but he didn't stop searching for a cab. He continued to run down grey streets with no end.

They arrived at Lucky Number 8 as the clock struck four o'clock. The bar was empty except for the usual drunk old men. The bartender stopped stacking glasses in the rack.

“Have you seen a pregnant woman?” Forrest was breathing hard. Trevor couldn't say a word he was so out of breath from running.

“Yeah, she was here all afternoon. I wouldn't serve her. She was a mess.”

“Do you know where she went and when?” Trevor blurted out between breaths.

The bartender shrugged. “She blubbered about life, how it's not fair. Said something about regret. I have no idea where she went.”

“Do you have a phone book?”

“No, but we have Internet over there.” He pointed to the corner. “She was on it for a while.”

Forrest ran to the computer and immediately went to the history. It didn't take him long to find what he wanted. Both men dashed from the bar. Trevor knew what was happening to Forrest's daughter at that moment and a flood of drowning panic and hot anger flushed through him. He hoped they weren't too late.