The Mistaken (44 page)

I swallowed hard at the threat and turned my
thoughts in another direction. I wasn’t the only one at risk here.
Nick may have inadvertently brought Dmitri and Alexi to my door,
but I had tossed Hannah into the mix in my quest for vengeance. I
wiped the tears away and leveled my gaze at Agent Sidorov.

“What about Hannah?” I asked. “Will she be offered
any kind of protection?”

“Well, Ms. Maguire might be useful if we were
looking at secondary kidnapping charges from when she was taken
from the hotel, and I certainly haven’t dismissed that notion, but
as it stands now, she has very limited knowledge about Chernov
himself. The man who allegedly assaulted her was among the dead at
the warehouse, so obviously there’s no need to prosecute on those
charges.”

I pounded my fist on the table. “That’s bullshit!
Chernov had to have known. One of his men took her. And she was
assaulted on his property, while he was there. Surely you can find
some way to implicate him!”

“Mr. Karras, Ms. Maguire has been highly
traumatized, and any testimony she provides will be open for a
difficult cross examination, so if I can avoid it, I’d rather not
subject her to that, especially if it isn’t a charge we would
likely get a conviction on.”

I couldn’t fault him for that. I’d rather Hannah not
have to relive anything either. I nodded in resignation. “Will she
at least be safe, from Dmitri, I mean? He won’t go after her, will
he?”

Sidorov shook his head. “I doubt it. She can’t tie
what happened to her back to Dmitri. His attorney would know that.
And, therefore, so would Chernov. He’d only be further jeopardizing
himself if he went after her.”

I sighed in relief. “Well then, what will happen to
me if I do accept your deal?”

“You will be taken into federal protective custody
and arrangements will be made for your living accommodations during
the testimonial process. When the process is complete, probably
within a year or so, you will be permanently reassigned a new
identity and relocated to a secure location of
our
choosing.
Of course, all this hinges on the amount and value of the
information you provide.”

I contemplated his response for a moment, unsure of
what to do. “Do you feel you have a good case against him? Will
Chernov be convicted?”

Sidorov looked at me earnestly. “We have a number of
witnesses to various aspects of the investigation, and there are
many charges being leveled against Mr. Chernov. We feel confident
that we can convict on at least a few, if not all charges. But of
course, there is no guarantee. You need to consider that when
making your decision.”

I deliberated over everything Agent Sidorov had told
me. It wasn’t going to get any better for me than this, and though
I did deserve to spend time in prison for all I had done to Hannah,
I didn’t think I deserved it for killing Alexi or Dmitri’s other
men, especially considering all they had done to Nick. After
everything he’d given up for me, Nick deserved some kind of
retribution on his behalf. And only I could provide that for
him.

I had only one real concern and that was Hannah. I
didn’t want to be whisked away without having the opportunity to
speak with her one last time. I needed to explain everything myself
and tell her why I would likely never see her again. Given all
she’d confessed to me regarding her feelings, my leaving might
prove difficult for her. I needed to be the one to break the news,
to beg her to understand the impossible quagmire I now found myself
in.

“Agent Sidorov, I would accept your terms with one
small condition.”

He raised his brow at me and removed his glasses.
“What might that be?”

“I’d like the opportunity to speak with Hannah, in
person, one last time before I’m taken into your custody.”

He shook his head. “Ms. Maguire will be remaining in
the hospital for several more days and, I’m sorry, but she cannot
be moved to accommodate your request.”

“But surely you can move me to her location.”

“That would hardly be prudent.”

“Still, I insist on this one condition,” I asserted,
sitting back in my seat. “I can’t just vanish forever without
expressing my...” I paused with my head bowed, reflecting on all
the things I would like to tell to her. “…without expressing my
regret. I have much to say of a personal nature. Please, Agent
Sidorov, I beg you to consider this one request. And then I’ll give
you my full focus and attention.”

He sat there contemplating me for a long moment.
“I’ll have to clear this with my command, but…I’m fairly confident
something can be arranged.”

I smiled weakly. “Thank you. Then I accept your
deal.”

We both stood and shook hands.

“Good. A contract will be drawn up within a couple
of hours. After you sign it, I will see to the arrangements of your
request. Good day, Mr. Karras.”

He packed his briefcase and left the tiny room.

Chapter Forty
-
Seven

Tyler

A few hours later, I signed the agreement with the
FBI. Detective Stevens informed me that the San Francisco Police
Department had dropped all charges, and I was free to leave into
federal custody. Afterwards, I was escorted through the booking
area and into a waiting SUV, the windows tinted black as pitch.

Agent Sidorov and his partner drove me back to St.
Mary’s Medical Center where we arrived at the rear of the main
building. Sidorov got out and spoke to a hospital administrator who
gave him specific instructions on how to proceed. Both agents were
tense and on edge. They searched the area thoroughly with their
guns drawn while I waited in the car. Sidorov pulled me from the
SUV and placed me between him and his partner, escorting me into
the hospital through a service entrance.

They pushed me to the rear of a freight elevator and
stood ready at the doors, blocking my view. I was accompanied up to
radiology and a dressing room where I was given full scrubs and a
surgical mask to change into. From there, they hustled me into an
MRI room where they conducted another diligent search. When they
were satisfied we were alone, they directed me back to the
equipment terminal which stood quiet in the dim light.

“Wait here, Mr. Karras,” Sidorov said. “We’ll be in
the next room if you need us.”

I thanked them both and sat down to wait. My heart
pounded in anticipation, both at being able to see Hannah again, as
well as dreading what I was going to have to tell her. I waited
fifteen minutes until an orderly pushed a wheelchair through the
door, calling out Hannah’s name before departing. I looked across
the darkened room toward Hannah who craned her head over her
shoulder at the fleeing orderly.

“That guy’s weird,” she commented to herself. Then
she turned her attention my way. She watched me, but, in the
darkness, did not recognize me with the mask covering my nose and
mouth. “Hey, I don’t think I need another scan already,” she said
impatiently. “I just had one last night, for Pete’s sake. Could you
recheck my doctor’s orders before you begin? I don’t want to be
charged for an unnecessary test.”

I walked out of the darkness, removed the mask, and
bent down in front of her wheelchair. The whites of Hannah’s eyes
grew wide, and a slow smile spread across her bruised face.

“Tyler,” she burst out, grimacing in discomfort as
she tried to stand.

“No, Hannah. What are you doing? Sit back down
before you hurt yourself.”

I turned around, grabbed a plastic chair, and slid
it up close in front of her wheelchair. I sat down and took her
hands in mine, kissing them both several times.

She stared at me with a bright smile, though
bewilderment lingered in her eyes. “Why are you here?” she asked.
“How did you get here? What happened to you?”

“Whoa, slow down,” I said as I smiled back warmly,
hoping she would appreciate it. I couldn’t help but lean in and
kiss her on her mouth, just once. As I pulled back, I looked at her
and she still had her eyes closed, as if she expected something
more. When she opened them, she looked at me so sweetly. And my
heart shattered.

“How are you, Ty?” she asked with genuine
concern.

“I’m okay, all things considered. And you, Hannah,
how do you feel? Are you on the mend?” I touched my hand to her
cheek, stroking her bruised flesh with my thumb.

She laughed softly as she covered my hand with hers.
“Yeah, I’m on the mend. Guess I have a lacerated liver or
something. They want to keep me here for a few more days. But I’ll
live.” She shook her head, her eyes caressing my face as worry
wrinkled her brow. “My God, look at you. You have two black eyes.
Is your nose broken?”

I mugged my chin up for her and gave her my very
best smile, knowing fully how much she would appreciate it. “Yes,
but doesn’t it make me more ruggedly handsome?”

We both laughed at my poor attempt at humor.

“Yes,” she replied. “Yes, it does, if that’s even
possible.” She reached out and slowly ran her fingers along my jaw.
“I’ve never seen you clean-shaven. That’s a good look for you.” She
turned serious then and the grin disappeared. “What happened, Ty?
I’ve been so worried.”

I looked down at the floor uneasily before returning
to hold her gaze. “Well, for starters, I was arrested by the
police. But then the feds showed up, and they were very interested
in my case, so…” I shrugged.

Hannah’s eyes grew wide again. “The feds? Like the
FBI? But why?”

“Well, it seems one of their agents was at the
fight, working undercover. He was the reason all the cops showed up
as we were leaving.” I bowed my head. “He asked me a lot of
questions…about Nick, about Dmitri and Alexi.” I swung my eyes up
to meet hers again. “And about you, Hannah.”

She gasped. “About me?”

“Yep. I was backed into a corner, so I gave them the
story you suggested. I’m not entirely sure they bought it, but they
were very interested in my…participation in their
investigation.”

Hannah’s eyes narrowed. “Investigation? What does
that mean exactly?”

I expelled a ragged sighed as sadness overwhelmed
me. “Hannah, they’ve offered me a deal.”

“What kind of deal? What could they possibly want
from you?”

“Well, I either help them by testifying against
Dmitri, or...they charge me with multiple federal murders,
conspiracy, interfering in a federal investigation. Even
kidnapping.”

“Kidnapping?”

“Yes, Hannah. Kidnapping you.”

“What? No! They can’t do that. Not without my—”

I jumped up from my seat. “Hannah, this is the U.S.
federal government we’re talking about. They can do whatever the
hell they want, and I have very little choice in the matter.” I
stopped and sighed, frustrated that I continued to allow my
emotions to rule me. “I’m sorry.” I sat at back down and took her
hands in mine once again.

“Look, I didn’t want this...any of it. I’ve made
some very poor choices. I’ve tried to make up for it as best I can.
I didn’t count on becoming so... I mean, I didn’t go looking to
become...involved. But, for whatever reason...” I struggled to find
the right words, but my throat was tight with emotion I couldn’t
control, no matter how hard I tried. “For whatever reason, Hannah,
you and I...we seemed to...need each other. It was incredibly
intense, but...it was...artificial. It wasn’t…real. No relationship
formed under those circumstances can survive the day to day of
normal life. We are too different. We would never work. It could
never last.”

Hannah stared back at me, her eyes glassy. She sat
up straight and ripped her hands from my grasp. She tried to wheel
herself away, but I caught the arms of her wheelchair and held her
in place.

“Wait, Hannah, please. Let me explain—”

“What are you doing here, Ty?” she whispered,
searching my eyes for the answer.

I stared back, willing her to understand. “I had
little choice. I took their deal.”

She pulled on the wheels, trying her best to break
free.

“No, Hannah, wait. Please, listen to me.”

She stopped struggling and looked me hard in the
eye.

“I will testify for them. And in return, they’ll
protect me by giving me a new identity and relocating me. I’ll get
training, a new job, whatever I need to start a new life.”

“And your old life, Ty? What about that?”

I sighed, my attention back on the floor by my feet.
“It’s over. I have to cut all ties and move on. I don’t have any
family left. It shouldn’t be too difficult to start over.”

I looked back up at her and the tears I tried so
hard to hold back spilled over.

“God, Hannah, I don’t want to do this. You must
believe that. I don’t want to hurt you again. I’ve done that too
many times already. Every time I hurt you, it rips away a piece of
me. There’s so little left of the man I once was. I don’t even
recognize myself anymore. I can’t afford to misplace one more part
of who I really am. Can’t you see that? You told me how you
understood so much of what I’ve been through. Please, tell me you
can understand this.”

She nodded while tears rolled down her cheeks,
swallowing hard before she spoke. “Yes, of course I can
understand.”

“Hannah, I’m so sorry. I hope someday you can
forgive me for this, as well.” I held her face between my hands. I
kissed her forehead, then each side of her tear-stained face. And
then, lastly, her mouth, once, tenderly. I pulled away and looked
into her sad eyes for a long moment then kissed her again, long,
slow, and desperate. When we parted, Hannah wouldn’t even look at
me. She kept her head bowed. I kissed her crown and stood up.

“Goodbye, Hannah. Please take care of yourself,
okay?” She only nodded, refusing to speak or even glance up at me.
“Okay,” I said once more and walked out of the room.