“That’s why you’re going somewhere where those things won’t be an issue.”
“I’m not following you.”
“I’m putting you on a plane to the other side of the world.”
“Come again?”
“You’re going to New Zealand.”
Kate shook her head. “True, I’ve always wanted to visit there, but how do you figure that’s going to save me?”
“The Kiwis are a very laid-back bunch; they don’t care about celebrity, and they don’t follow American politics.”
“So my face won’t give me away.”
“Right. Not only that, but they don’t take kindly to pushy, uptight foreigners. Those agents will stick out like a sore thumb over there.
They’re not likely to get much help from the natives.”
“Okay, that makes sense. But I still have to get there.”
“I’ve got that covered.” Peter reached under his T-shirt and unzipped the pouch. “A passport, three credit cards, a driver’s license—all in the name Lisa Jensen—and ten thousand dollars American cash. That ought to hold you for a while. The credit cards each have a twenty thousand-dollar limit. Feel free to max them out—you’ll never get a bill.”
Kate picked her jaw up off the ground. She knew she shouldn’t be surprised that Peter had thought of and could arrange such things, but still…“Is there anything you haven’t covered?”
“I’m sure, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. We’d better keep going.”
“Right.” She turned and started walking again.
“I wish I could come with you, Kate. I don’t like the idea of sending you out there on your own again.”
Lynn Ames
“Any more than I like the idea of being out there on my own.”
“If I don’t show up to your funeral, it’ll raise too many questions.”
“My funer—”
“You’re going to be buried the day after tomorrow—a state funeral.”
“Nice touch.” Her head swam. “How are they getting around the fact that there’s no body?”
“You wanted to be cremated.”
“Gee, I don’t remember saying that.”
“Oh, yes, it was in your suicide note.”
“Huh. Who knew? And who said they got to arrange my funeral?”
“They did…since you have no family…”
“Cute. And very convenient.”
“Isn’t it, though? So I have to be there or it’ll look suspicious.”
“That reminds me, don’t ask me why…thanks for taking such great care of Fred.”
He reached forward and squeezed her shoulder. “My pleasure. I promise you I won’t let him gain too much weight before you get home.”
“Am I ever going to get home?” There was a hitch in her voice.
“You bet.” He schooled his voice to sound upbeat.
“You know, there’ve been moments in the past twenty-four hours when I’ve wondered if it mattered.”
“What are you saying?” His heart constricted. “Of course it does.”
“I know,” she said. “I’m just tired, I guess.”
“I’ll forgive you this time, but I don’t want to hear any more of that garbage, got me?”
“I got you.”
They arrived at the end of the trail.
“My car’s over there.” Peter pointed across the street.
“Okay, so I’m going to New Zealand. How the hell are we going to evade the three stooges?”
“I’m still figuring that out. When last I left Moe, Curly, and Larry, they were checking for you at all the car rental counters.”
“You’ve got a half hour until we get to the airport to come up with the perfect plan.”
“I know. Believe me, I know.”
“This is awfully nice of you; you didn’t have to give me a ride all the way to the airport,” Jay said.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Terri answered.
“I promise I’ll repay you for the plane ticket and the spending money.”
“Jay,” without taking her eyes from the road, Terri reached out to touch her on the hand. “It’s the very least I can do, considering.”
The Value of Valor
“We’re not going through it again,” Jay said resolutely. “You did everything in the name of love and caring. I won’t have you carrying this burden anymore. I’ve forgiven you, Terri. You need to forgive yourself.”
“Perhaps someday I will,” Terri said. “Are you okay?” She was worried. Jay had been silent for most of the long ride, seemingly drawn into herself.
“Sure.” The word didn’t sound very convincing, even to Jay’s ears.
“It would be perfectly natural for you to feel apprehensive about going back.”
Jay nodded and twisted the ring on her finger. “I can’t believe Kate is gone.” She willed herself not to cry again. “I’m not sure I can really go home. Everything in the house in Albany reminds me of Kate—she designed the place. And although we’ve been living in Washington, D.C., since the beginning of the year, that’s not really home. I still have my apartment in New York City, but living there full time wouldn’t be fair to Fred.”
“Who’s Fred?”
“Our dog. Well, he was Kate’s dog before I came into the picture, but I’m in love with the big guy.” She smiled wistfully.
“I’m sure he’ll be very glad to see you.”
“Mmm. I’m sure Peter’s taking great care of him.”
There were several moments of silence.
“Terri?” Jay chewed on her lip.
“Hmm?”
“Do you think the death of a lover can totally change someone?”
Terri spared Jay a glance. “Why do you ask?”
“Because the Kate I know would never, under any circumstances, have committed suicide. I know they said she was distraught over my
‘death’ and what happened to the president, but unless she completely became a different person…”
“It would be out of character for her.”
“Yes, very.”
“I think that when you love someone with all your heart and they suddenly disappear out of your life, it can have a profound effect, yes.
But I don’t know your Kate, and I can’t really answer that question as it pertains specifically to her.”
“It’s just—I don’t know. I can’t envision Kate taking her own life. I just can’t.” Jay fought not to lose her composure.
“Accepting the death of a loved one, especially under these circumstances, is very difficult. You want to understand and yet you know it may not be possible.”
“Yes.”
Lynn Ames
“Over time, when your grief is not as fresh, you’ll learn to come to terms with it—you must or it will swallow you, too.”
Jay didn’t answer, she merely stared out the window as they turned into the airport.
“Will we see you again?” Terri finally asked the question she’d been afraid to ask all day.
Jay turned to face her, noting the slight tremor in the hands that gripped the steering wheel. “You’re family—of course we’ll see each other again.”
Terri swallowed hard, tears welling in her dark eyes. “I’ll look forward to that day then.” She stopped the car in front of the USAir terminal.
Jay opened her door, grabbed the small bag Terri had filled with clothes and snacks for her, and walked around to the driver’s side. She opened the door and pulled Terri out and into an emotional hug. “I will never, ever forget you or Trystan,” she said fiercely. “You gave me my life back. I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’ll call and let me know you’re all right.”
“Of course. I promise I’ll keep in touch, Terri.”
“I hope so, Acheehen.” Terri got back in the car, blinked back her tears, and gave a small wave. “Be careful.”
“I will. You drive safely.”
“I will.” Terri closed her door and was about to pull out into traffic when a tall, broad-shouldered woman crossed in front of the car. Terri let her pass, waved once more at Jay, and pulled away from the curb.
Lorraine had questioned every cabbie and security officer she could find. No one remembered seeing the Kyle woman. On a whim, she decided to run over to the parking garage and ask the attendant if he had seen her.
He stared at the picture for a minute, nodding. “Yep. Don’t see a gorgeous face like that every day. She was in the passenger seat of a beat-up Camaro. Some young, pimple-faced kid driving.”
“Did you get a license plate number?”
“Heck, no. Beautiful woman like that, who bothers to look at the plate? I only remember the boy ’cause it surprised me that someone as hot as her would be with a chump like that.”
“What time was it when they left?”
“I don’t know, lady. I get tons of folks in and out of here every day.
Couple of hours ago, at least.”
“What direction?”
“West, I think.”
She jogged away.
The Value of Valor
“You’re welcome,” he called after her.
“She’s local,” Lorraine called as she came to a halt in front of Steven and Paul. “Took a ride from some teenager about two hours ago heading west.”
“Good work. According to the intel from the command center, she’s familiar with this area—has stayed here before.”
Lorraine didn’t bother asking how the agents in the command center knew that—with the Commission’s contacts, they probably had access to every credit card transaction Kyle had ever made.
“It’s a big place. How’re we supposed to find her? She could be anywhere.” Paul moaned.
“Our profilers seem to think she’d most likely avoid involving others if at all possible—wouldn’t want to risk harm to them.” Steven’s smile was malevolent. “So I think it’s fair to assume she didn’t know that kid and was planning to ditch him as soon as she could for his own sake. I say she’s probably in a public place.”
“She wouldn’t risk being seen. She’s too recognizable and too smart for that, and we know she wasn’t wearing a disguise when she got in the car,” Lorraine said.
“Chances are she’s not stupid enough to use her credit cards, either,”
Paul chimed in.
“So we narrow the search to public places that don’t cost money and are off the beaten path,” Steven ground out in frustration. He had a lot riding on finding this woman.
If I bring her in or eliminate her, maybe I
get a seat at the table.
“She knows we’re coming for her,” Lorraine said.
“Right. So I say she’ll stay on the run. Maybe that kid drove her out of town,” Paul offered.
“I just finished telling you,” Steven gritted his teeth and clenched his fists at his sides, “she’ll get rid of the kid as soon as she can.”
“Which means she’s either still in this area somewhere or is looking to find another way out,” Lorraine said.
“Or maybe she’s waiting for somebody,” Paul offered.
“The command center is checking the whereabouts of her known associates and friends. So far, we know that Barbara Jones took a flight to D.C. from Albany late last night.”
“That’s interesting. Was that before or after Kyle’s ‘death’ was announced?” Lorraine asked.
“We’re checking on the timing. Also, we’re not sure where she went once she got to D.C. There’s no record of her at any hotel, and we know she’s not at Kyle’s place.”
“When can we expect more intel?”
“I’m supposed to check back in half an hour.”
Lynn Ames
“What the heck are we supposed to do in the meantime?” Paul asked.
“I suggest we get some topography maps and take a careful look at the area. Maybe something will pop out at us.”
“This is like looking for a needle in a haystack.”
“If we don’t find the needle, it’ll be all of our necks.”
The Value of Valor
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
ate fidgeted in the passenger seat of Peter’s rental car as her K stomach did somersaults.
“Want to talk about it?” Peter asked.
“Is it that obvious?”
“Yep.”
“You know I’m no wimp, but I have to tell you—I’m scared out of my mind.”
“I’d have to have your head examined if you weren’t.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely. Kate, what we’re up against here is one of the most powerful, most resourceful, best organized outfits in the world.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better, champ?”
Peter laughed. “Not the best start to a pep talk, eh?”
“Don’t quit your day job.”
“What I’m saying is that I’m scared, too.”
“Great. This just keeps getting better and better.”
“The bottom line is, we have a job to do here. I don’t know about you, but I’m not much for being manipulated by a bunch of self-interested, power-hungry morons who only care about their own bank accounts and how to make them fatter.”
“You won’t get any argument here.”
“They killed a great president and replaced him with the village idiot.
They killed Keith practically right before your eyes. They’re engineering a coup in China and changing the balance of power in the world. You and I can do something about it. Do you want to sit this one out?”
“No,” Kate answered. “I say we nail their arrogant asses to the wall.”
“I’m right there with you.”
“Now if only I knew how we were going to do that.”
“As far as we know, you’re the only person who spoke to the president about the plot and our only live eyewitness. The first and biggest step for the moment then is to keep you safe.”
“Okay. That’s high on my list, too. What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to poke around, find the chink in their armor, and exploit the hell out of it.”
Lynn Ames
“How do you propose to do that?”
“I haven’t gotten that far yet.”
“This is supposed to give me confidence?”
“Have I ever failed you yet, Katherine?”
“Never.”
“I don’t intend to start now.”
“Oh, that reminds me.” Kate reached into her bag, rummaged around, and came out with a piece of paper. “I don’t know whether you memorized everything I told you before, but…” She paused for a minute and waited until she was sure her voice wouldn’t shake. “I wrote it down for you before you showed up. Just in case.”
Peter reached across the seat and squeezed Kate’s hand. “Did you doubt that I was coming?”
“Not for a second. I just wasn’t sure who was going to win the race, you or them, and I didn’t know how long I could afford to wait.”
Peter took the paper and slid it into his pants pocket. “Oh, ye of little faith.”
Kate laughed. “It wasn’t the faith that was the problem. It was the clock.”
“You needn’t have worried.”