No Woman Left Behind (12 page)

Chapter Twenty-Three

Garden Springs Resort was situated in a beautiful and exclusive location, surrounded by trees, impeccable landscaping and several elaborate fountains. There was one large building and several smaller buildings surrounding it. The FBI guys drove me and, after some heated discussion, agreed to wait in the car while I went in by myself.

Marilyn Para was in her office when I arrived. She was a middle-aged woman with a short gray bob, red cheeks and a friendly smile. I introduced myself and she shook my hand enthusiastically. She led me down a hallway and we turned left onto a covered walkway to an adjoining building.

“So, Mrs. Zimmerman’s husband doesn’t live here with her?” I asked.

“I’ve never heard of a husband,” Marilyn answered. “You’d have to ask her or the boys about that.”

“Okay, thanks.”

When we got to the entrance of the building, she waved a badge in front of an access panel and the door opened. Different smells assaulted my nose. A sweet sickly smell of scented candles mixed with the antiseptic smell of medicine and heavy-duty cleaners. Marilyn kept up a steady stream of chatter as we walked down a hallway, but I could hardly bring myself to respond. My mind was racing ahead to meeting Elvis’s mom and what I would say to her about her sons.

“Here we are,” Marilyn said, stopping in front of room twenty-six. Before I could prepare myself, she knocked twice on the door. It opened, and a female version of the twins stood looking at me.

Ottilie Zimmerman didn’t look sixty-nine. Her long brown hair had almost no gray, and there were only a few small lines around her eyes. She was dressed in a white nightgown and when she saw us, her fingers reached up to twirl the corner of a white gauzy scarf around her pinky finger.

“Hello?” she said softly. “Who are you people?”

Marilyn smiled. “Why, Ottilie, you know who I am. You just had lunch with me today. Remember? We ate the Mexican casserole. This is Lexi Carmichael. She’s friends with the boys.”

I held out my hand, but she didn’t take it. She studied me for a long moment and then her face broke out into a smile. “Yes. I’ve seen you before. Elvis. Yes, Elvis showed me a photograph of you.”

I blinked. “He did?”

“Can we come in, Ottilie?” Marilyn asked. “It would be much more comfortable talking inside than standing in the hall.”

“Of course.”

She stepped aside and we entered the room. It was the size of a small studio apartment minus the kitchen. She had a small couch facing a television and an adjoining room that likely led to a bedroom and bathroom. A small table and four chairs sat in one corner. It looked clean and comfortable. Marilyn headed straight for the table and sat down. I followed and took the chair next to her, but Ottilie remained on her feet.

“Where are my boys?” she asked, frowning.

Before I could answer, Marilyn spoke up. “The boys are in Greece, remember? That’s why Lexi’s here. She’s checking up on you for them.”

She turned those Zimmerman-blue eyes on me and her expression crumbled. “They always bring me flowers and a book.”

I lifted my empty hands. “I’m sorry I forgot. I’ll bring them next time.”

“Well, of course you will. Would you like some gelatin? I have lime. It’s my favorite.”

“No, thank you, but it’s kind of you to offer.”

She smiled. “Did you know Elvis and Xavier like to read to me when they visit? I sit on the couch and they sit there, too, and read to me in their beautiful voices. All kinds of different novels and poetry. They read until they’re hoarse. They are my angels, you know.”

A lump formed in my throat. I couldn’t speak.

She walked across the room and took my hand. Her hand was cool. “You wish to tell me something, don’t you, my dear?”

I found my voice. “Why do you say that?”

“I could always tell when my boys were hiding something from me. They had this look in their eyes. Just like you do now. So, tell me. It’s okay.”

I wasn’t able to say it. The truth was locked inside me.

She sighed, releasing my hand. “Did they fall down again? They are always skinning their knees. They don’t seem to have much in the way of balance, I’m afraid. They get that from me.”

“Mrs. Zimmerman, where’s your husband?” I blurted out.

She looked at me blankly. “My husband? I have a husband? Oh, dear, I think I forgot. My memory isn’t what it used to be. Would you like some gelatin? I have lime. It’s my favorite.”

I stood, my heart breaking. “No, thank you. I’m sorry. I can’t stay. I just wanted you to know your boys are thinking of you. I appreciate you permitting me to visit.”

“Oh, dear. Oh, dear. We didn’t have time to read. It’s late I suppose.” She began twirling the gauzy scarf around her finger again. “When are the boys coming? Sometimes I don’t even remember that I have two boys. Where are they? Why didn’t they come with you?” Her voice rose in agitation.

Marilyn stood and patted Ottilie’s hand. “They’ll come see you when they come back from Greece. Don’t worry about it.”

She nodded. “Yes, of course. They will bring me flowers and a book.”

Marilyn opened the door but before we stepped out in the hall, Ottilie called out to me. “You’ll bring me my Elvis the next time, won’t you?”

I turned around as her eyes—Elvis’s eyes—pleaded with me.

I swallowed hard. “I’m sure going to try.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Next stop was my parents’ house. I called first to make sure they would be home and then I had my security detail take me. A police officer sat out front in my dad’s rocker. My mom hugged me when she saw me. My dad looked older and scared. I gave him a hug, too, and we headed into the kitchen where my mom got busy fixing us hot chocolate.

“Where’s Sasha?” I asked.

“It’s his night off,” Mom said. “You look tired. Are you okay?”

I felt anything except okay, but I didn’t see the point in worrying her. “I’m good. Did Beau and Rock leave?”

“Hours ago,” my dad said. “They went to work.”

I swallowed my disappointment. I’d hoped to see my brothers one more time, but it wasn’t to be. I couldn’t tell them where I was going or what I was going to do anyway. It’s just, I hadn’t really had a chance to say goodbye.

Now it was just my parents and me. It might be the last time I saw them. What did you say in situations like this?

My heart squeezed in my chest. I couldn’t fathom how military families did this all the time. How did they survive the stress?

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath. I wouldn’t worry them. I would just be as truthful as possible.

“Mom, Dad... I want to thank you for everything you’ve done for me. I guess I’m not very good at saying or showing that. In fact, other than in a few notes when I was little, I’m not sure I’ve ever said it quite so frankly. I just want you to know how much I love you. I know it hasn’t been easy with someone like me.”

“Someone like you? Lexi, why are you saying this?” My dad looked suspicious. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing. I’m just... I just wanted to say it. Lately it seems like my life is perpetually in danger. So, it just seemed the right time to let you know you’ve been great parents.”

“Can’t you just stay here with us?” my mom asked.

At that moment, I wanted nothing more. Life really did come full circle.

I patted her hand and felt a swell of love. “Thanks, Mom, but I have to go to work. I can stay the night and I definitely have time for a cup of hot chocolate if you’d get the kettle. It’s whistling, by the way.”

She glanced over in surprise at the stove and then kissed the top of my head. “Great, sweetheart. We’d love to have you, even if it’s only for the night.”

* * *

I was scheduled to report to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland at 0600, so my security detail drove me there. I hadn’t been able to sleep. Instead, for the past several hours, I’d checked my phone constantly for a message from Slash.

Nothing.

So I focused on the mission instead, asking Woodward what I was supposed to bring. He told me everything except underclothes would be issued to me. I was to leave my identification, cell phone and everything else at home.

Therefore, I reported for duty with nothing more than the clothes on my back and a small backpack containing some extra underwear and a couple of bras. I was taken to a building for what they referred to as ‘in-processing’ and ushered to a waiting area. I was surprised to see Gray there, sitting on a bench, dressed in her usual three-piece suit with her hair pulled back into a bun and looking as professional and impeccable as ever.

“Hey, Gray. Come to say goodbye?”

“I wish. I’m here for in processing, too. I’m going on the mission with you.”

“What? You are?”

She squeezed her hands together in her lap. “Well, it makes sense, I guess. I’ve lived and breathed Johannes Broodryk for four years. I’ve gathered the most collective information about him, most of which is burned into my brain. I’ve been told I need to be on hand in case Broodryk’s choices or movements require an immediate and intuitive prediction based on my insightful knowledge of him.”

“Wow. You can’t do that remotely?”

“Apparently not as effectively.”

“Oh.” I stared at her. I didn’t want to say I was glad she was coming. I wasn’t. The odds were, neither she nor I would come home alive, so how could I be glad about that? We’d both been sucked into Johannes Broodryk’s sick world and there wasn’t a lot we could do about it.

I sat down next to her and said nothing. That probably wasn’t socially acceptable, but we are who we are.

While we were sitting there in silence, a guy dressed in camouflage and boots with a backpack slung over one shoulder approached. He was tall, at least six feet three, with light brown hair cut so close, his scalp was visible. He dropped his backpack at our feet, put one booted foot on the bench and studied us.

“Well, hello, ladies,” he said in a southern drawl. “Reporting for duty?”

I nodded. “We sure are. Are you one of the Navy SEALs?”

“Yes, ma’am, I am.”

We looked over as a guy in a blue uniform stepped out of the office. He glanced at a clipboard. “Lexi Carmichael?”

I stood. “Right here.”

“Come with me, please.”

With a last look over my shoulder at Gray and the soldier, I followed him into a room. Once in, I was introduced to a female soldier, also in a blue uniform, who took me aside and gave me camouflage to wear, a couple of olive-colored T-shirts, boots, a jacket, wool socks, gloves, a toilet kit and a bunch of other items.

She started stuffing everything into a backpack similar to the one the soldier had been carrying. “We were provided with your measurements and weight, so you should be good to go. You don’t have to change for the flight, unless you want to. I’d just ask that you try the boots on to make sure they’re a good fit.”

“Okay. Sure.”

I tried the boots and found them surprisingly comfortable. I walked around a bit. “They’re good.”

“Excellent.” She patted my shoulder. “You’ll be provided a brief on all of your equipment during the flight. Good luck. We’re all pulling for you.”

“Appreciate it.”

I picked up my backpack and she led me to a room behind the office where Woodward, Spearman, Mark and a couple of other men dressed in uniform were waiting.

Mark approached, then handed me a laptop bag. “You’ll have everything you need here. It’s secure.”

He handed me a business card. On the back were a series of numbers and symbols.

“Passwords,” he explained. “Carry them separately from the laptop, but it’s better if you memorize.”

“Already did.” I tapped my temple. “Photographic memory.”

“Excellent. You know we’ve got your back, right? I’m on this 24/7 until you come home.”

“Thanks, Mark. That makes me feel better.”

He gave me an awkward hug—which was strangely comforting—then whispered in my ear, “Follow me.”

He pulled away and left the room.

I glanced over at Woodward. “I’ll be right back. Bathroom.”

Woodward nodded and I exited the room. Mark was waiting in the hallway looking really nervous.

“What’s this all about?” I asked.

He led me down the hallway to a room about three doors down.

“Go in.” He motioned toward the handle and then disappeared down the hall.

I opened the door.

A man stood by the window, dressed in a black leather jacket and jeans. He turned when he saw me.

My heart skipped a beat. “Slash.”

I started to go to him and then stopped, unsure if things had changed after our big fight.

I shouldn’t have worried. In three steps he’d closed the ground between us and wrapped me in a hug so tight I could hardly breathe. I wound my arms around his waist and held on, pressing my face against his chest.

“You came,” I mumbled, holding him tighter. “I didn’t think you would.”

“How could I stay away? I don’t like what’s happening, but I’m with you. I’m always with you,
cara
.”

He pulled back and studied my face, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear and touching one of the diamond stud earrings he’d given me for Christmas. “I understand why you have to do this, even if I don’t agree with it.”

I looked at him. He hadn’t shaved and looked like he’d spent the last several hours like I had, wide awake and troubled.

I touched his stubbly cheeks with my fingertips. “I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you came. I thought you were never going to speak to me again.”

“You’ve made your stand, so I’m making mine next to you. Do what you need to do to get Broodryk and I’ll work my end. We’ll meet in the middle, okay?”

I knew how much it cost him to say that. “I’m sorry, Slash. I never wanted to force you into this position.”

“You didn’t force me. I’m here of my own volition.”

“Are you sure?”

He caressed my check. “Never surer of anything in my life.”

“I’m glad. I’m really scared. It helps immeasurably to know you’re still in this with me and you understand. Everyone else is depending on me.”

“You were right.” He rested his chin on the top of my head. “You can do this, and so can I.”

I managed a small smile. “That’s the spirit.”

He pressed his lips to my hair. “Do you want to know what I really want? I want to stop time and keep you safe in my arms. Freeze time right at this moment. I never want to lose you. But you were right. This
is
bigger than us. I didn’t want to acknowledge it because of the risk to you, but Broodryk won’t ever stop. I might be able to protect you for a while, but I couldn’t be everywhere all the time. I don’t like any part of this, but I understand why you made the call you did.”

My throat tightened. I had to go soon or I might change my mind after all, something I knew I’d regret for the rest of my life.

“Thank you for coming,” I whispered. “Thank you for staying with me.”

“For as long as you want me.”

We stood for another minute in silence. “I have to go. They’re waiting for me.”

“I know.” His arms tightened around me. “Go bring Elvis home. Be smart, be careful, but more than anything, don’t let anyone manipulate you. You may have to play the game, but you don’t have to let Broodryk or anyone else push you around. You’re smarter and a lot more in charge of this operation than you know. Follow your head and your heart. They are your greatest strengths. Broodryk won’t stand a chance against that combination. More importantly, remember I love you. No matter what happens.”

He kissed me with both tenderness and fire and then let his lips linger a moment more. Without another word, he released me and strode out of the room.

As the door clicked behind him, my heart hurt so much I staggered sideways and braced a hand against the wall.

“I love you, too,” I whispered.