Chasing Air (13 page)

“What are you waitin’ on? Find out what the hell is going on!”

“You should’ve listened to me. I told you that wasn’t her in those photos. It was a set up. She’s alive, man, and if I’m right, you may be the next one burning.”

At that moment, Drew Donati scored a right hook that broke Tony’s nose, blood splattering everywhere.

“Don’t ever go there again. Next time you won’t live to take another breath. Your team was responsible for making sure that bitch was dead.”

Drew returned to his car, taking a clean shirt from the trunk before heading back to his office. Tony cleaned himself up and started making calls to assemble his team for the trip to Dallas.

***

Makenzie arrived in New York and retrieved her luggage at the baggage claim. She went to the restroom and put the pistol in her purse just as Bernard had instructed. Washing her hands, she saw her reflection in the mirror and almost didn’t recognize herself with the fa
ke piercings and heavy, goth makeup. She was grateful that Agent Bernard was excellent at his craft and took such care of her. He had thought of everything.

The lady at the hotel gave Makenzie a wary look. Makenzie was nervous and it must’ve been obvious. Two days, that was it, do the job and get the hell out of town. Get the lecture over with, and she could take the red-eye back to Ryler.

She checked and double checked her room before calling Agent Bernard from a disposable phone. She wasn’t staying at the conference hotel, that way she didn’t have to worry about so much interaction with other conference attendees. Bernard sent over catering for her so that she didn’t have to risk going out. She removed her fake piercings and prepared her clothes and lecture for the next day.

***

“Hi, Mrs. Bellonte, it’s been a while. Have you and Mr. Bellonte been doing okay?” Jenny, Dr. Gold’s receptionist, was always so sweet. “Dr. Gold said you would be coming by to pick up the donations for the Relay-For-Life walk, but I didn’t think it was today.” Jenny looked confused.

“I was supposed to come by next week, but Evan and I will be out of town. I hope it’s not a problem that I’m here early?” Katherine Bellonte had been involved in the Relay-For-Life walk ever since her daughter Judith had become partners with Dr. Gold. After Judith’s death, Katherine had taken her spot on the Board of Directors for their local chapter. It helped her feel a little closer to her daughter and remember the good times.

“It’s no problem, he’s seeing the last patient now. If you like, you can wait in his back office, it shouldn’t be long now.” She escorted Mrs. Bellonte to the back. “Can I get you something while you wait?”

“No dear, I’m fine. Thank you.”

Jenny went back to the front office and Katherine made herself at home with a magazine that was on the table. When she picked up the magazine, something fell out onto her lap. It was a brochure, which she laid back down on the table but something caught her eye. She picked the brochure back up. The photo on the front took her by surprise. It was her daughter, Judith, she was certain.

The brochure was for a conference on trauma and it was taking place the next day in the city. Judith, well, someone named Dr. Makenzie Holder, would be speaking there. Katherine shoved the brochure in her purse and ran out of the office. When she passed by Jenny, she knew she had to make an excuse. “Evan fell at home. He said he’s fine, but I need to check on him. Tell Dr. Gold I’ll come back later,” she called over her shoulder as she rushed out, not waiting on a response from Jenny.

***

Makenzie adjusted the wig one more time and fought the strange feeling. She knew she needed to do the best she could to cover her identity. She applied heavier makeup than she usually wore, fake eye lashes and glasses, and also added a scarf to her outfit. When she looked in the mirror, her reflection reminded her exactly of someone trying to hide her identity.

It was show time and her nerves had the best of her. She grabbed a cab for the couple of blocks to the conference hotel. “I don’t want to walk in heels,” she mumbled to the driver. In the car, she stuck her hand in her purse and touched the gun. Just the thought of it made her nauseous.

When she arrived at the conference, she grabbed her bag and kept a watchful eye as she made deliberate moves on her way to the registration desk.

“Hello, Dr. Holder, we’ve been expecting you. I’m Phyllis and I’ll be your assistant today. Please let me know if there’s anything that you need while you’re here.” Her smile was warm, she didn’t act like she noticed anything. Her response made Makenzie relax a bit.

“I have a staffing emergency at my hospital and will not be able to stay for the cocktail reception. If you could let the other faculty know that I will be leaving just as soon as my lecture is completed to catch a flight back, I would appreciate it.”

“Yes ma’am, someone has already called from your hospital to let us know you needed to come back, just in case you hadn’t received the message. I believe there is a note about it in your conference materials. I’ll take care of your request. This room is for all of our speakers and you can wait in here or have a seat in the lecture hall.” Phyllis excused herself as Makenzie settled in for the longest four hours of a lifetime. She immediately knew that Agent Bernard had made the phone call, pretending to be the hospital. Once again, he’d thought of everything.

With her lecture delivered, she felt like she had dodged a huge bullet without even as much as a question or glance out of place. She retrieved her luggage and made her way to the mezzanine level ladies’ lounge to change clothes and put her disguise back on. She was in the middle of changing when she heard the door open and someone entering very quietly. She immediately reached in her bag and retrieved her gun.

“Judith?” She heard the sweetest name come from precious lips.

“Mom?” she whispered as she slowly opened the stall door.

Her mom stood there paralyzed in fear when she got a look at the gun Makenzie was holding.

“Are you alone, Mom?” She shook in terror. “It’s too dangerous for both of us, you can’t be here.”

Katherine couldn’t speak, she could only shake her head “yes” she was alone. They embraced, then Makenzie quickly went to see if she could lock the door to the restroom, but it didn’t have a lock.

“Mom, we have to talk while I get dressed. I have to leave quickly. How did you know I was here?” She looked at her mom with such need in her eyes. “I’ve missed you so much, Mom. I love you. How’s Daddy and Cessa?” She rattled off questions as fast as her mother processed seeing her for the first time in two years.

“They’re great. They don’t know I’m here. No one does. I made sure I wasn’t followed.” She tried to pacify Makenzie. “I saw the brochure in Dr. Gold’s office yesterday when I went to pick up the Relay donations.”

“Mom, you know that’s ridiculous. They have eyes everywhere.”

Katherine missed her daughter so much. She needed to know she was okay. “Are you doing okay, Judith? Are you safe and happy?” Her face was tear-stained.

“I’ve met a wonderful man, Ryler. He’s very patient. He’s a detective and he makes me happy and feel safe. I love you. I have to go. You need to wait a few minutes and let me leave first. I need to get out of here, it’s too risky, but my work didn’t give me a choice. Refusing would’ve raised too many flags. The FBI Agent has been helping me.”

“So that’s what this disguise is all about?” Katherine looked weary.

“Yes. Please tell Daddy I love him and give hugs to Cessa when you see her next. I love you so much.” She cried as she walked away from her mom. She could hear her mom weeping as she walked out of the restroom. It broke her heart, but it was the only way to keep them all alive.

Drew Donati and his family would never let them live if he knew she was alive. She had watched him torture people and the thought of him torturing her family terrified her. She cried all the way to the airport and sobbed hysterically in the gate lounge. Leaving her mom was the most difficult thing she had ever done and now, she had done it twice.

***

Back in Dallas, Ryler heard a knock at the front door. He wasn’t expecting anyone and knew that Makenzie wouldn’t be back until the next day. When he peaked out of the side window, it was Brody.

“What’s up, man?” he asked as he let him in.

“I just left the hospital and thought I would stop by and see if you and Makenzie were around. I should’ve called, you might’ve been busy.” Brody gave a typical guy smirk.

“Dude, I don’t know what you think is going on, but she’s in New York for a conference.” Ryler gave a quick chuckle.

The guys grabbed a few beers and headed out to the back to float in the pool.

“How’s Rachel doing?” Ryler asked.

“She’s doing really well considering her injuries. I was concerned that mentally she would retreat, but she hasn’t so far. The hospital has a counselor visiting with her which is helping, but she wanted to see Makenzie. I guess she didn’t know that Makenzie was out of town. You said she’s back tomorrow?”

“Yep, in the afternoon. I can’t wait to get her home.” He grinned at Brody.

“Home? Do I detect that she’s living here now?” He looked at Ryler curiously.

“Not as of today, but I hope so soon.”

“That’s great man, that’s just great. I’m happy for you. Chris told me that she ripped in to you the first night you met her. He said she was a tough cookie and had your number.” He laughed thunderously.

“Trust me, man, you have no idea. She’s a true Italian and she can hold her own.”

Just then, he heard his side gate shut and latch. The two guys looked at each other. “Were more of the guys coming over and I didn’t get the message of a party?” Ryler asked Brody. Brody shook his head.

Two men appeared sporting guns pointed at Ryler and Brody. “In the house now!” one of them shouted.

Brody and Ryler got out of the pool and walked into the house with the gunmen behind them. When they got in the house, there was another armed man on the inside of the house.

The gunmen forced them into the bedroom and left one of the gunmen to guard them. Ryler’s senses were on hyper-alert. All three wore gloves, so this wasn’t a normal robbery. Their faces weren’t covered, so they didn’t intend on leaving witnesses behind.

“What do you want with us?” Ryler asked the gunman.

“The boss will ask the questions.” The guard answered in a heavy east coast accent. Ryler immediately knew what this was about. But the three men didn’t look like the photos he’d seen of Drew Donati.

One of the other men yelled out for the guard to tie them up. When the guard went to rip the cord from the bedside lamp to use as a tie, Ryler tried to overtake him. He got a shot off, but he missed both Ryler and Brody. The other gunmen came running and assisted in tying up both guys.

They went through everything, practically destroying the interior of the house. They weren’t finding what they were looking for. “If you tell me what you’re looking for, I’ll tell you where it is.” Ryler mouthed off.

“Where’s Judith?” Tony asked.

“I don’t know Judith. There’s no Judith here. Never has been. You’ve got the wrong house.”

“I’ve got two bullets and an IP address that tells me you know something about Judith Donati.” He mouthed back as he shoved a gun in Ryler’s face.

“Dude, he’s telling you the truth. His wife’s name was Cyndi. She’s been gone for a long time.”

“You got a picture of her?” he puffed out, as he rooted through items out of the dresser drawer.

“Bottom drawer of the night stand over there.” Ryler nodded his head as he spoke.

Tony went to retrieve the photo. Cyndi was blonde and petite. She looked nothing like Judith Donati. “Someone from this address searched for Judith Donati and I want some answers or you’re both going to die.”

“Man, I’m telling you, we don’t know Judith.” Ryler yelled at the men.

Tony motioned for the guys to join him. They left the room. Ryler needed to fill Brody in. He whispered to Brody, “Makenzie is in witness protection. She’s Judith Donati from New York. You know what needs to be done. My piece is on top of the fridge. I’ve got a backup in the middle drawer over there. My phone is in the kitchen. Where’s yours?”

“My gun is in my bag by the bar. My phone’s in that bag.”

The guys worked to get their hands untied from behind their backs.

In the kitchen, Tony made a call to Drew. “Man, there’s nothing here that shows anything of her, but I’ve just got that feeling. We’ve got two guys tied up, no one’s talking yet. A little hand-to-face magic always works. You headed this way?”

“Yes, will be there in a couple of hours. What’s the address?” Drew asked.

Tony gave him the address and hung up. He went back to work searching through drawers and cabinets. He was looking for clues about Judith. He needed that computer.

Ryler’s laptop was in his briefcase in the trunk of his car.

Tony and his crew dove deep into tearing up the place. They emptied every closet and drawer. While they were busy, Brody was able to untie his hands. He untied Ryler’s hands as well. Quietly, he untied their feet and they made a plan of attack. Ryler regretted having removed the phone from his bedside table years ago when he worked nights. He hated the ringing while he was trying to sleep during the day. What he would give for a phone in his room now.