Commitment (29 page)

“Cassie…honestly…”

“Nice try. Sometimes you remind me so much of Alex,” she said pulling him from the bathroom. “How you two ended up as spies is beyond me. You can’t lie to save your lives. Now let’s go get this place ready. And do me a favor?” she asked. He nodded. “Keep me free and clear of the kitchen when Helen puts out that lasagna. Thrilling as this has been, I’d like to avoid a repeat performance.”

Brian Fallon approached the flurry of activity in the park with a deep sense of foreboding. The sight of yellow tape erected in straight lines spanning from one tree to another made him shiver. He had seen the handiwork of mafia hit men, drug dealers, and serial killers, but he could never get accustomed to the smell and the feel of death. He’d heard investigators talk about crime scenes over the years as if they were playing a part in a movie; for Brian Fallon the stench was all too real. He flipped open his identification and slid under the tape.

“Can I help you?” a large man in a plastic suit asked.

Fallon released a sigh and flipped open his identification again. “Agent Brian Fallon, FBI,” he identified himself.

“Well, Agent Fallon. I don’t recall calling any Feds in on this. What peaks the interest of the FBI on a casual Jane Doe?”

“And you are?” Fallon asked the officer.

“Detective James Beers. So?” the detective asked again.

“The description sent up a red flag on a case we just opened,” Fallon explained. He looked at the body a few feet away. He could see that the victim was on her side and that the body still had not been moved from its original position. “May I?” he pointed to the body.

“Be my guest,” the detective answered.

“So, what do you have so far?” Fallon asked as he approached the victim slowly.

“Not much. Looks like she was walking through the park. Can’t say for sure if there was any rape. Have to wait for them to process her. Strangled. Son of a bitch had quite the choke hold on her based on the marks around her throat. Looks like she took a hell of a beating. No I.D. She’s so bruised up about all I can tell you is what you see for yourself; gender, height, and hair color.”

Fallon crouched down over the body and moved closer to the woman lying in the leaves. He pulled out his flashlight and pointed it toward the swollen face. “Shit,” he groaned.

“Friend of yours?” the detective asked.

Fallon let out a heavy sigh and closed his eyes. “Not exactly,” he said. Standing back to his full height, he looked the detective in the eye. “I think this is officially in my court now, detective.”

“Oh yeah? Feel like telling me how some poor woman walking through the park warrants the bureau?”

“No, I don’t, actually,” Fallon said pointedly. “Excuse me, for a minute. I need to make a few calls.”

Fallon distanced himself from the scene, still remaining close enough to monitor the movement of those around him. He picked up his cell and waited. “Bad news,” he said. “It’s her. I’m certain…..No…..No, I think she’ll want to hear in person…..I know I can’t. Just get me some bodies down here. I’ll make certain she finds out.” Fallon placed his palms over his eyes and rubbed vigorously. “Shit.”

“Edmond,” the voice greeted. “I am surprised to see you here in Washington and on a holiday no less.”

“I have business here, Bill,” Callier replied.

“You know our daughters were together last week, for several days I am told,” Admiral Brackett gauged the knowledge of his friend.

“I’m aware,” Callier responded bluntly.

“I see. You don’t seem overly concerned,” the admiral observed.

“About Claire seeking Eleana? I should think we have more important things to worry about now. Eleana is not in our business. You know that,” Callier offered.

Admiral Brackett poured two glasses of scotch and released a groan of frustration. “Perhaps not, but her affiliation with Matthews does give her access to certain information.”

“She’s a freelance translator, Bill and an expert on Russian culture. She’s not a spy, not a broker, not in this game. I am grateful for that,” Callier said as he sipped his scotch.

“Did she contact you?” the admiral asked.

“Claire was interested in when the diplomatic envoy to Moscow would be arriving,” Callier said.

“Did she give Claire the information?” Brackett asked.

“She gave her confirmation of the date,” Callier responded.

“Good. That should buy us some time,” the admiral said with a hint of relief.

Callier chuckled. “Time is up, Bill. Jonathan knows. It’s only a matter of time before Alexis discovers the truth as well. We both know where that will lead them.”

“You told him?” the admiral asked in disbelief.

“It was time. You and I both know that Ivanov is pulling the strings in Moscow. Neither Kabinov nor Markov will make a move without him. Nicolaus cut off funding to ASA in April. Alexis wants to know why. We both know that Ivanov needs to generate capital quickly. There is no other way except to create a new enemy. Dates don’t matter. The Russians will act, with or
without our intervention. It is inevitable. Jonathan and Alexis are the best chance to reset this course,” Callier said.

“You’re waging a game just as dangerous,” Brackett warned.

“No, Bill. I am following the only course that is reasonable or justifiable,” Callier answered.

“Edmond, you put them at greater risk by doing this than I ever have,” Admiral Brackett sighed. “My God, what good do you expect to come from revealing that truth? It is a slippery slope. We agreed, all of us…”

“
Combien de générations vont souffrir de nos offenses, comme nous avons souffert de celles de nos pères
? (How many generations will suffer our sins, as we have our father’s)?” Callier said regretfully. “I have already lost my son. I will not lose any more children to this. If I am to lose them it will be to the truth and not to this madness we have created.”

“The truth is not always the safest course. You and I both know that. We have done what we needed to do to protect…”

Callier swiftly reached his feet and grabbed the admiral by the collar. “Stop fooling yourself! We protected nothing but our vanity,” he bellowed. Edmond released his grip on his friend and paced the small room. “You know, my friend; my Elliot and your Claire; they are not so different. They are both intelligent and capable, both ambitious with an insatiable appetite for everything pleasurable, and both naïve enough to think they’re invincible. Where do you think they learned that?” Callier asked. “Ironic that it was Claire who took my son’s life, don’t you think? An oath we swore to each other, the five of us in this very room, all those years ago. We would pay with our lives to keep our children safe. It was our duty to each other; to them. Stronger even than the commitment to our mission. We failed. We failed them.”

“We did what had to do,” the admiral maintained, his voice betraying the confidence of his words.

“We can no longer shield them. They are far more astute than we ever were. We can only steer them so far,” Callier said with a sad smile. “It’s time.”

“If you are suggesting what I think…it is much too soon….”

“No, it is much too late. It is time to bring in Sphinx,” Callier said.

“Even Sphinx does not have the power to stop what is already in motion,” Brackett reminded his friend.

“I know.”

“Then why?” Brackett asked.

“Because.
Nous ne pouvons pas changer l’avenir si nous ne faisons pas face a notre passé, mon ami
. (We cannot change the future if we do not face our past, my friend).”

Admiral Brackett closed his eyes in silent resignation. He set his scotch on the oak table beside him and shook his head. “Are you certain?” he finally spoke. Seeing the solemn grin Callier forced, Brackett nodded. “They will never forgive us.”

“I do not expect that kindness,” Callier said.

The Toles house was filled with the sound of laughter and music. By anyone’s account, the party had been successful. Alex was enjoying herself but keeping a close eye on her wife. It had not escaped her notice that Cassidy had steered clear of the kitchen all evening. “How are you doing?” Alex whispered in her wife’s ear.

“I’m good,” Cassidy answered with a smile, pressing the weight of her body against Alex.

“You haven’t eaten,” Alex observed.

“No.”

“Cass, how awful are you feeling?” Alex softened her gaze in concern.

The look in Alex’s eyes melted Cassidy’s heart instantly. She reached up and cupped Alex’s cheeks. “You worry too much, love.”

“No. I don’t. I worry when I need to worry,” Alex whispered.

“Garlic,” Cassidy said.

“I’m sorry?” Alex responded in confusion.

“The smell of garlic, it makes me nauseous,” Cassidy explained.

“That’s why you are avoiding the kitchen?” Alex asked. Cassidy nodded. “Why didn’t you say something?” Cassidy just shrugged. “If I go get you something garlic free, will you eat it?” Alex asked hopefully. Cassidy nodded. “Cass, you have to let me help.”

“I know. You won’t always be here, honey,” Cassidy reminded her. “And besides, you don’t need to wait on me. I was alone the whole time I was sick when I was pregnant with Dylan.” Alex bristled slightly and reached for the bridge of her nose. “Alex?” Cassidy called to her.

“I know I won’t always be here, but you won’t always be alone. I need to…”

Cassidy halted Alex’s words by pressing two fingers to her wife’s lips. “I’m sorry,” she said. She felt Alex start to speak and cautioned her with a glance. “Let me finish,” she said. “I know you need to be a part of things. I do know. I just…you’ve been away so much…”

“I’m sorry about the last few months, Cass. There will be times I will have to be away, but I promise it will never be for long.”

“Aunt Jane!” Dylan yelled from the top of the stairs.

“Uh oh,” Alex said. “I think CNN might be on the story again.”

Cassidy laughed. She and Alex had been waiting for Stephanie Merrow’s arrival to deliver their news. The eldest of the Merrow children was living in New Haven and was expected to arrive a bit later in the evening. Barely twenty minutes had passed since Stephanie had made her appearance. Cassidy was sure that Alex had hit the nail on the head. “Let him have his moment,” Cassidy smiled.

Alex wrapped her arms around Cassidy and Cassidy collapsed back into her, holding Alex’s hands gently in place on her stomach. “This should be interesting,” Alex whispered.

“What is it Dylan?” Jane Merrow called back.

“Cat, you go down and make sure they are all there,” Dylan’s voice not too softly dictated orders to his cousin. Cat made his way down the stairs and surveyed the room. He looked back up to Dylan and gave the thumbs up.

Dylan made his way dramatically down the stairs. He had on his Batman mask, and he held his black Batman cape round him. “Santa came to the Batcave,” he announced. “Dun Dah… Dun Dah!” He moved to the center of the room as the adults surrounding him watched his display with amused and affectionate eyes.

“What is he doing?” Krause sidled up to Alex and whispered.

“Oh, just watch,” Alex told him.

Dylan stood in the middle of the room, ensuring that everyone could see him. “I already have Alfred. But, every superhero needs a sidekick,” he said in the lowest voice he could muster. Alex could feel Cassidy lightly shaking with laughter. Dylan spun around and then opened his cape. “Dun Dah! Big Brother, BATMAN! I get my own sidekick!” he said with excitement.