Intersection Page 34

  Over the years, Brady seldom heard Alex Toles talk about family or relationships. Alex was an extremely attractive woman and there were many men and women lined up to try and capture the agent. She was poised, had the body of an athlete and the face of a movie star. Yet, Alex Toles was not in the least bit conceited. She was confident and in command of her actions. She was intelligent and witty, but she was also quiet and humble. She was unique. Occasionally, she spoke of her brother and his family but that seemed to be where her personal attachments ended. That is until she showed up in New York. Brady looked through the scope and finally caught sight of Cassidy. Even with the tape on her mouth and the stress of the situation, the small blonde’s eyes seemed to dance like flames. It was no wonder Alex had fallen for the woman. Brady admired Alex. He’d watched how she constantly put everyone else first and now he thought she deserved a chance; a chance to have something more than cases to solve and a never ending supply of Diet Coke in her refrigerator. Cassidy was that chance. Steven Brady was determined this time Alex would get a happy ending.

  He watched as Fisher reached in the bag. The man paced back toward Cassidy. His hand was raised slightly and Brady strained to see what he was holding. One of Fisher’s hands started reaching forward. Brady saw it now from his angle. He was ripping Cassidy’s shirt and in his hand…Brady lined his shot up. “Not today you son of a bitch,” he said as he felt the metal squeeze between his fingers.

  “Now…It’s my turn… Cassidy O’Brien… my turn,” his breath became uneven as his excitement mounted. Cassidy bit the inside of her lip and tried to maintain her composure. She couldn’t scream against the tape. Even if she could, no one would hear her. She felt his breath on her neck again and then felt him step back slightly to regard her as his prey. Fisher ran the knife along Cassidy’s leg and moaned. “I have waited… you don’t know…a long time… I watched you…with that agent….did you know?” He smiled. “I saw you…ummm…but now Cassidy…it’s my turn,” he pressed the knife a bit harder against her leg and Cassidy could feel the blade through her jeans. “She’s not coming…no one is coming…you know why?” Cassidy looked at him as stoically as she could manage. “I’ll tell you… No one can…no one knows…It’s MY turn.” He leaned over and breathed heavily on her and she felt the sting on the blade as it grazed her skin through her pants.

  Cassidy saw his hand begin to rise slightly and his eyes become fixed on her chest. She closed her eyes but she could sense what was coming. She would fight him, but she knew he would overpower her. The bindings were still tight. She wouldn’t be able to run. ‘Alex,’ she said in her private thoughts, ‘I want to be with you. I am sorry. I don’t know how to fight him….I love you so much….God. Please….it’s crazy, I know it is….but please take care of Dylan….He loves you as much as I do….you know that…I’d give anything for you to tease me about my cereal....make me laugh…hold me. Tu es monmonde, mon amour (You are my world, my love). Je t’adore, Alex.’

  Cassidy felt the material tear way from her. Her eyes were closed. Suddenly the feel of the knife on her leg stopped. She felt a weight replace it briefly. It was heavy. What was he doing? She couldn’t open her eyes. There was a crash. She tried to force her eyes to open. They would not obey her commands. “Alex,” she tried to speak as her tears began to choke her behind the tape. “Alex….”

  lowly Cassidy opened her eyes and lowered them. There was a small splatter of blood on her shirt, but it was not her own. Carl Fisher was in a heap on the floor. She looked about and heard the sound of the front door opening with force. “Down…Left,” is all she heard. She could see out into the back yard. Something or someone was moving behind the oak tree. She nudged Fisher with her foot. He did not move and she felt hot tears stream down her cheeks. She tried to swallow against the dryness in her throat. ‘Alex,’ she thought as she closed her eyes again, ‘not even here and protecting me.’ There was no doubt in the teacher’s mind that the agent had somehow figured out a way to save her. “Mrs. O’Brien…..Mrs. O’Brien,” Detective Pete Ferro tried to coax the woman tied in the chair to open her eyes again. “This might sting,” the voice said as the detective swiftly removed the duct tape from the teacher’s mouth. She flinched slightly and felt her eyes continue to water. Reluctantly, Cassidy steadily allowed her eyes to flutter open. She saw strong but compassionate blue eyes looking at her. “It’s all right, Mrs. O’Brien. Agent Toles is on her way.” At the sound of Alex’s name Cassidy released the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “Cut this off!” He demanded and she felt the ropes loosen on her hands. She brought them around to her lap and rubbed her wrists. They were a deep red and just the slightest touch made them throb even more.

  “We need to get you checked out,” Pete Ferro said. “Can you stand?” Cassidy nodded and Ferro wrapped a blanket around her to cover her. She was surprised at how unsteady she was as she attempted to maintain her balance. He escorted her to the couch just as the paramedics were walking in. She couldn’t speak, not yet. “Did he hurt you?” Ferro asked. Cassidy shook her head ‘no’. He saw the blood on her jeans and sighed as he moved aside for the young paramedic.

  The young man looked at Cassidy and smiled timidly. “Hello, Mrs. O’Brien,” he said softly. Cassidy forced a smile. “I just want to take a look, okay? Then we’ll get you to the ER… just to be…”

  “No,” Cassidy said.

  “Mrs. O’Brien,” the young man urged.

  “Not until Alex gets here.”

  Detective Ferro nodded at the young man and stepped back in for a moment. “I can have Agent Toles meet you there.” Cassidy shook her head. She had no intention of moving until Alex arrived. The detective sighed. “All right,” he nodded to the paramedic.

  The young man looked at her wrists and grimaced at the sight. Cassidy again forced a smile noticing his concern. “I need to look at your leg,” he explained, ready to cut her jeans. The teacher nodded her understanding and looked forward. It felt to Cassidy as though she were in a tunnel, all these sounds swirling around her. She could hear voices in the kitchen, the clicking of cameras and footsteps thundering up and down the hallway.

  She couldn’t make out any of the words. They seemed foreign somehow. She closed her eyes and put her face in her hands. “Mrs. O’Brien,” the detective called her softly. Cassidy swallowed her tears and opened her eyes. She slowly took the phone from his hands.

  “It’s done.”

  “Are you certain?” Merrow asked.

  Krause looked into the kitchen and saw Cassidy’s foot kick Fisher. “He’s dead.”

  “Get out of there.” Krause was frozen. He watched her and shook his head. “Krause!”

  “Yeah, I need to wait… NSA is on the move.”

  “Did he shoot?” The president asked.

  “I think so.”

  “Jon, that means…”

  Jon Krause sighed his understanding. “I know, two shots… P.D. is entering. Toles must’ve had that in place. Shit, she’s good.”

  Merrow chuckled. “You didn’t believe me?”

  “No, I know she’s good. You need to control the investigation,” Krause said.

  “We’re talking about Toles here. She is one loyal woman. Don’t count on control, Krause. We need cover stories. She’s going to want to know every detail even with Cassidy safe.”

  Krause disassembled his rifle and put it in the bag. “Well, I did my part. You’re the politician, that’s up to you.”

  The president paused. “Are you certain that Cassidy was not hurt?”

  “She’ll be all right,” Krause looked on as Ferro reached the woman. “She’s pretty tough.”

  “Is that admiration I hear?”

  “I have my job. I never said Cassidy wasn’t a friend, John.”

  The president nodded to himself. Merrow had to admit it was easy to be won over by the teacher. Krause, Toles, they were hard sells. He was relieved and not just because of the risks the situation posed. This was the wor
st part of John Merrow’s reality. People got hurt. Sometimes people he cared about. That didn’t change what he had to do. “I’ll start on my end. I need you to deal with something else, though.”

  “What’s that?” Krause asked.

  “Claire Brackett.”

  Krause put his bag on his shoulder, “fine,” he answered. “I will see her when I get back to D.C., but that won’t be for a few days.”

  “What?”

  “I have meeting in Paris.” The president sighed as Krause continued. “I hope you persuaded the congressman.”

  “So do I,” Merrow answered.

  “You’re sure?” Alex asked nervously.

  “Yeah,” Brady answered.

  Alex nodded to Fallon who promptly picked up the phone on the large desk just as a young Airman walked into their compartment. “Final descent. Captain Abel wanted you to know. You should strap in. We’ll be on the ground in 10 minutes.” Both agents nodded their understanding.

  Alex crossed to the seats on the right hand side of the room and took a seat. “Brady?”

  “Yeah?” Steven Brady answered stowing his rifle.

  “I just….”

  “Forget it Toles,” he said. “Listen we’ll figure it out, who’s behind him.”

  Alex closed her eyes. She didn’t even want to think about what still needed to happen. Fisher had to have had help faking his own death. This was deep. Right now all the agent could think about was Cassidy. “They’re moving now,” Fallon said.

  “Cass?” Cassidy could not speak. The sound of Alex’s voice washed over her and she felt her body tremble. She struggled to keep hold of the phone in her hand. Alex could hear her lover’s labored breathing. “I’m almost there. On the ground. Twenty minutes, okay?”

  “How?” Was all the teacher could manage to ask.

  “Never mind. Go with the paramedics. I’ll meet you….”

  “No. Alex, I’m all right…just come home. Please,” the need in Cassidy’s voice rattled Alex.

  The agent closed her eyes. “Ferro says you have some…”

  “Alex…” the agent listened as Cassidy’s plea became more insistent.

  “Okay, let me talk to the detective. I love you, Cassidy.” Cassidy wanted to answer but she did not want to break down. She handed the phone to the detective with a sad smile.

  “Ferro?” Pete Ferro stepped away; glancing first at the cut on the woman’s leg and shaking his head. “Ferro? Is she?”

  “She’s just shaken, Agent. None of the injuries are severe. Nothing that needs real attention…just the…”

  Alex let out a shaky sigh, “just the trauma.”

  “Yeah,” he said sadly.

  “I’ll be there in twenty,” Alex said as she exited the aircraft.

  “How are you going to make it here in…”

  “I have friends. I’ll be there.” Alex hung up and looked at her partner. Fallon immediately noted the worry on his partner’s face. “God, this is all my fault, Fallon.”

  “She was quiet,” Fallon guessed. Alex nodded. “It’s not you, Alex. You know that. Let’s just get there, and it’s not your fault.” Alex rubbed her temples. She stepped into the waiting State police car with a respectful tip of her head and picked up the phone again.

  “Nicky?”

  “Alex… where are you?” Her brother asked.

  “I’m ummm…. On my way to Cassidy’s….. Where are you?”

  “Almost home,” he answered.

  “Can I talk to Dylan?” Alex asked.

  “Of course, is…”

  “She’s okay.” Alex waited as the phone passed to the small boy. As Dylan’s voice began to break through she heard Nick faintly say “it’s okay,” to Rose.

  “Alex?”

  “Hey, Speed Racer.”

  “Are you coming to Uncle Nick’s?”

  The agent fought her emotions. “I am. I have to go get your mom first. Okay? So it will be a while.”

  “When?” Dylan asked.

  “I’m not sure, you might be in bed.”

  “But you are coming?” He asked again, still feeling insecure.

  “I promised, didn’t I?”

  Dylan finally smiled. “Alex?”

  “Yeah, Speed?”

  “Why are you sad?” The small boy immediately noted the cracking of the agent’s voice.

  Alex let out a slight chuckle. The boy was his mother’s son. “I’m not sad.”

  Dylan could still hear the sadness in his hero’s voice and there was only one thing his six your old mind knew to do. “I’ll have the Batcave ready, Alfred,” he said assuredly.

  Alex laughed. “Okay, Batman.” His words brought her a genuine sense of happiness and possibility. “I’ll see you at the Batcave.” Fallon looked at his partner curiously. “It’s a thing,” was all she said.

  Detective Ferro paced the kitchen slowly and looked at the body. He pushed away a photographer and looked closely at the area. He glanced at the edge of the counter near the sliding glass door and then looked out into the backyard. Ferro slid open the door and started walking off the deck and then down in a straight line into the yard. “What the hell is he doing?” A younger detective asked.

  Detective Jeff Scott laughed. “He’s looking for something. Where the shot came from, I would guess.”

  Ferro looked left and looked right and repeated the movement several more times. He slowly pivoted on his heels. Gradually he made his way back toward the house, occasionally looking to his left or right as though he were following something with his eyes. “Oh shit,” he mumbled. “Toles is not gonna’ like this.”

  “Congressman, I hope you are feeling well enough for this chat,” Congressman James Stiller greeted. Stiller was a senior congressman from Illinois. For the last four years he had served as the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and was widely considered a favorite for the Governorship of the state if he should choose to run. He was a vibrant, intelligent man who had captured the imagination of many of his constituents and was on a short list of names often tossed about as a viable future White House contender. He was also a huge proponent of HR1929; a Trade Bill that would impact the taxable amounts of steel, certain chemicals and other materials that were exported to the European Union, and would limit the amount that the United States would agree to import. It would also tighten security in shipping ports owned or controlled by U.S. interests. Stiller had co-authored the legislation. He would be a tough sell. Convincing the chairman that the proposal set too many dangerous restrictions; restrictions that might harm important alliances strategically would not be easy. O’Brien’s best asset was that he had the president’s ear and that he sat on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. O’Brien had been a key player in several pieces of legislation on the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats.

  “I am feeling much better, Jim, thank you. I do apologize about earlier. It’s been a hell of a couple of weeks.”

  “I understand. We are hoping to vote next week,” the chairman said.

  “I know….but I have to give some caution. These restrictions…”

  “Congressman, you and I both know we are importing far more than we are exporting….and you of all people know that what ports are utilized and how much we export must be carefully controlled. The threat of…”

  Congressman O’Brien did understand. This resolution would put a stronger emphasis on exports. That was good. The port restrictions and the restrictions on the exports of certain chemicals such as organophosphorus compounds and steel, in favor of increased exports of such substances as liquefied natural gas, however, was a major concern. Combined with measures being taken in France and Great Britain that called for tightening on port security, this resolution severely threatened long standing initiatives to equip underdeveloped governments with certain resources; resources that had already been committed by the Merrow Administration. “Jim, you know I agree, but these measures, combined with the initiative of some of our
European partners…Well, the president is concerned. It could seriously compromise our strategic initiatives. And, some of our very important technological relationships.”

  Chairman Stiller remained quiet for a moment. “Are you saying you will not support the resolution?”

  “As it stands? I would recommend revisions, Jim, so no…I cannot.”

  “Hmmm. I thought you were committed to tightening controls?” Stiller questioned.

  O’Brien tapped a pencil on his desk. “I am, but not at the expense of long held alliances. I am not suggesting a defeat… just a revamp.”

  “Specifically?”

  “Why don’t I have Carol send you a draft? Senator Donaldson and I have discussed it. Congressman Treat has already begun a proposal. I can have Carol forward that along.”

  “I’m sorry, Chris…could you hold on one moment?” Christopher O’Brien waited. “Chris,” the chairman’s voice had softened. “Have you been contacted yet by the FBI?”

  “No, why?”

  “Ummm… I just had my chief of staff turn on the news, there’s been some kind of situation at your home, at Cassidy’s….”

  Now O’Brien had to think. The congressman did know and if the chairman had any inkling of that fact; he would surely wonder why O’Brien had agreed to this call. “Uhh… I need to go,” O’Brien said. His nervousness was genuine. Suddenly he wondered what had happened.

  “Of course. I’ll have Dennis contact Carol. If you need anything, Chris…”

  “Thank you,” the congressman said hanging up the call.