Intersection Read online

  Alex spoke softly and placed her hand on the woman’s shoulder. “I know you don’t want to leave but you need to get some rest, Cassidy.”

  “How can I leave him…even here?”

  “You can’t stand here all night.”

  “I can’t leave him.” Cassidy’s tears began to fall again as she stroked his head. Alex sighed and looked upward. She moved past the woman in front of her and lifted the boy into her arms. “What are you doing?” Cassidy asked.

  “I’m putting him in your room so you can sleep…or at least rest.” The agent walked out of the room and down the hallway.

  Cassidy stood still, watching the woman leave the room. She cupped her face in her hands and tried to process everything she was feeling. “Deep breath,” she said to herself and headed down the hallway. Alex was covering Dylan with a blanket when Cassidy reached the doorway. She stopped for a moment and forgot everything that had just happened. Alex had a concerned smile on her face as she slowly pulled the blanket over the boy. She was looking at him with such compassion and, ‘love’, Cassidy thought. Alex took a deep breath and moved to face Cassidy, both finding it difficult to move. Finally Cassidy smiled and walked to the far side of the bed.

  The agent bit her bottom lip gently and forced a smile. “Get some rest,” she said beginning to head for the door. Before she could make her exit, she felt a hand on her arm.

  “Alex…” Cassidy’s voice was barely a whisper. The agent closed her eyes and struggled to compose herself before facing the woman. Slowly she turned and took in the sight before her; green eyes pleading for some type of comfort. “I,” Cassidy fumbled her words. “Can you just stay here….for a while?”

  The agent thought that her heart had stopped beating momentarily. Cassidy looked at the floor and Alex inhaled as much air as she could handle. Emotions filled her so deeply that she felt as if there was not enough room inside of her body for even air to breathe. Cassidy kept her gaze down until the agent tenderly prompted her chin to rise with her finger. “Come on.” The agent slowly led the woman to the bed and turned down the covers. Cassidy just looked at her. She knew that this was no time to be having the thoughts that seemed to be filling her head. They were thoughts she had never had before. She looked at the agent, afraid that her heart and mind were written across her face. Alex gently coaxed the woman’s jacket off her shoulders. She patted the pillow, “go on,” she instructed quietly. Cassidy climbed in, still in her clothes and too emotional and exhausted to care. Alex pulled the covers up over the woman. “I’ll be right here,” she assured. She grabbed the large chair from the other side of the room, pulled it next to the bed and draped the jacket over it. Cassidy watched as the agent sprawled in the chair and gave her a smile. “Sleep now,” Alex said sweetly.

  Alex watched as Cassidy drifted off slowly. She could not sleep, only watch. Cassidy had captured her heart and Alex was sure now it had been from the moment she saw her. The teacher’s jacket hung behind the agent’s head, and as she shifted in the chair the scent of Cassidy’s perfume was unmistakable. Alex closed her eyes as her heart raced. If she had worried that her heart had stopped beating earlier, there was no doubt now that she was very much alive. She wondered as she began to fight her own exhaustion how she would handle this. She had a job to do; maybe she should recuse herself. No. She didn’t want to leave and she didn’t trust anyone else to keep Cassidy safe. Somehow she would fight the urge to confess her feelings, somehow.

  Cassidy struggled to open her eyes. She rubbed them and sighed in relief when she felt Dylan pressed up against her. She gently maneuvered away from the sleeping boy and looked over to see the agent in the chair, asleep. Alex had Cassidy’s jacket under her head like a pillow. Cassidy rolled to face the agent’s position and studied her. In spite of her discombobulated position in the chair, her hair falling slightly in her eyes, Alexis Toles was stunning, even as she slept. Cassidy felt an incredible sense of happiness penetrate her as she finally rose to her feet. Alex was in a ball in the corner of the chair. Cassidy stood in front of her for a long moment. She grabbed a blanket off the bottom of the bed and carefully put it over Alex, making every effort not to disturb the sleeping woman. As she bent over the agent and the blanket reached her chest, she contemplated the face before her. Unconsciously, her hand moved to brush the hair aside from Alex’s eyes. Lost in her emotions, she forced herself to step back and gather her thoughts.

  In the few days they had been together, the agent was always up before the sun. Cassidy would hear Alex as she left out of the front door for her morning run, just as Cassidy was about to rise. She was pleased that Alex was asleep now. The agent had done so much for her in just a couple of days. Cassidy thought the least that she could do now was head downstairs and make certain everyone had a nice breakfast. There was nothing she could do about the picture or the letters and she trusted Alex implicitly. As she reached for the bag of coffee in the cabinet she pictured Alex handing her a mug just a couple of days ago. She was beginning to realize that, whatever she felt for this woman, it was powerful and as much as it surprised her; she had no desire to escape it.

  Alex stirred in the chair. The room was still fairly dark with the blinds closed and she squinted to bring everything into focus. Dylan was sprawled across the bed, but Cassidy was gone. Her heart stopped. She was so panicked that she failed to notice Cassidy had covered her up. She sprang to her feet and headed swiftly into the hallway. When she reached the stairs the familiar smell of coffee brewing was apparent. She slowed her pace slightly and made her way into the kitchen. Cassidy was at the counter. The teacher was in jogging pants and a tee shirt and her hair was wet from the shower. Alex instinctively closed her eyes in relief and put her hands over them. When Cassidy turned, Alex still had her face in her hands. Immediately, the teacher realized that Alex had been alarmed by her absence in the room. “Alex,” she said very gently. Alex opened her eyes and Cassidy was amazed at what she saw there. The strong and assertive agent had tears in her eyes. The teacher set down the knife in her hand and walked directly to the agent. “I’m okay.”

  Alex looked at the woman before her. She had no control of her feelings. There was no logic to be had. Cassidy looked up at the woman as Alex stuttered, taking Cassidy’s face in her hands, “I thought…”

  Cassidy stood contemplating the blue eyes before her. They seemed endless and her heart seemed to be telling her what her mind was not yet ready to process. Alex loved her, and perhaps that was exactly what she was feeling for the agent. “I’m sorry,” she said, never breaking their gaze. Her breath left her as Alex began to lean toward her and she anticipated her kiss.

  “Mom!” A small voice called from the bottom of the stairs snapping both the women back to their senses.

  “In here, Dylan,” she called back still looking at the agent who was trying to conjure a smile. Cassidy slowly broke the exchanged glance and returned to her task as Dylan entered. Alex took a deep breath and headed to the cabinet for a mug; desperate to do anything that seemed ‘normal’ to help her regain control.

  “Can I watch cartoons?” The boy asked standing behind his mother.

  “Yes, you can go watch some cartoons, Dylan.”

  “Alex!” He said excitedly, “wanna’ watch Kung Fu Panda?”

  Alex looked over at Cassidy who shrugged. “Go on,” Cassidy smiled now. She squinted slightly at the agent. “Kung Fu Panda and banana pancakes, what do you think?”

  Suddenly all of Alex’s fear vanished. She didn’t know why, but something in Cassidy’s eyes was telling her that everything would be all right. She didn’t know how and she didn’t know when, but in that simple moment she understood. She was not recusing herself from the case, not running away. Dylan pulled on the agent’s hand. “Be right there, Speed Racer,” she said. She walked back across the kitchen and stood in front of the woman who had unexpectedly captured her heart. Cassidy looked up at her and Alex smiled. There was nothing to say now. Alex kissed Cassidy’s for
ehead and Cassidy closed her eyes reveling in the loving gesture. As Alex pulled back, slowly her gaze narrowed a bit. “No matter what,” she began searching the smaller woman’s eyes, “I will make sure you are safe.” She brushed some flour from Cassidy’s forehead.

  The smaller woman’s lips crinkled into a knowing smile. “Where did you come from, Alex Toles?”

  “ALEX!” A small voice beckoned. “It’s starting!”

  Alex raised her eyebrow playfully and shrugged. The agent grabbed her coffee off the counter and headed for the next room. She jokingly answered Cassidy’s question to herself, “I would have thought Rose would have given you THAT lesson.”

  “I heard that,” Cassidy called back playfully.

  “I know,” Alex quipped, making her way into the living room.

  “That too!” Cassidy called as Alex smiled taking a seat on the couch with the boy.

  “She hears everything,” he offered, never turning his attention from the television.

  “I’ll remember that.”

  assidy had stepped out onto the deck to take a phone call and Alex was absorbed in observing the woman’s mannerisms. “She’s mad,” Dylan offered in his typical matter of fact way. Alex smiled at the boy as he continued to shovel the pancakes into his mouth. Looking back at the display unfolding just beyond the sliding doors, the agent knew the boy was right. There was no mistaking Cassidy’s disapproval of whatever conversation was transpiring. She was pacing back and forth shaking her head. The grimace on her face occasionally changed to a sarcastic smile as she would close her eyes and grab her bottom lip with her teeth. The agent wondered what was transpiring, though she could guess it was the congressman by Cassidy’s demeanor.

  “No!” Cassidy pressed her tongue against her cheek with force in an attempt to quell her anger. “This is crazy, Chris… of course I understand that…..I can’t do that…what about Dylan?”

  Alex’s phone rang. She pulled it from her pocket, still focused on the woman outside, “Toles,” she answered. “What’s up Fallon?.....What?” The agent took a deep breath and let out a slight groan as she watched Cassidy’s reactions move from what seemed to be frustration to unmistakable anger. She took another deep breath and stood. Dylan questioned her with his small eyes and she gave him a sideways smile. “Finish those pancakes,” she said.

  “What the hell?” The voice on the other end of the phone asked. “Are you listening to me?”

  “Yeah….I heard you, Fallon,” Alex answered as she made her way into the living room where she had the perfect vantage point to keep an eye on Cassidy.

  “Tate wants you here tonight…all of you.” Alex now completely understood the conversation that was transpiring outside. “Toles?!” Fallon called over the phone loudly causing the agent to wince.

  “I heard you,” the agent answered taking a deep breath. “So, what then? Why D.C.?”

  “It isn’t him, Toles. It’s the congressman. You know…he has the president’s ear…and when the president calls… well…”

  “She’s not going to agree to that,” Alex said with a slight chuckle.

  “It’s only for a couple of days, Toles. Tate says they want to…”

  “Yeah… listen, Fallon…I gotta’ make a call….”

  “Toles….” Brian Fallon took a long time to say his partner’s name, cautioning her interference.

  “Fallon, it’s a bad idea and we both know it.” Alex looked out to the deck where Cassidy was still in the midst of an argument.

  “Doesn’t matter what we think…if the pres…”

  “Yeah… look…I’ll call you back.” Alex hung up the phone and rubbed her forehead. She knew exactly what was happening. The congressman wanted his family nearby and the excuse to make that happen would come in the form of a need to fit the house with some type of surveillance. The cover would be a simple maintenance issue, perhaps a burst pipe, and the family needed to vacate. A team would come in and fit the outside with hidden cameras. The problem was there was no reason for Cassidy to leave New York. For the sake of the case, and even of her safety, this was a mistake and Alex knew it. She had never called in her relationship with John Merrow, but now it was time. The agent dialed the number and waited, exhaling slowly. “Mr. President…”

  “Alex…How are you?”

  “I’m fine….I need to talk to you.”

  President John Merrow smiled at the sound of the agent’s voice. He had always loved Alex. He was engaged by her strength and intelligence, and of course her beauty. Over the years the two had remained friends, quietly. He admired her and she respected him. “I assume this is about Mrs. O’Brien then?”

  “Listen, Mr. …”

  “Alex,” he said softly, “drop the formality, will you?”

  The agent pinched the bridge of her nose. She hated doing this. “John…moving the family to D.C. right now…it doesn’t make sense….and it isn’t best for the case….at all.”

  John Merrow sat down on the love seat in the corner of his private office. “Alex… the congressman is worried about his family….you can understand….”

  “Of course I do but there is no reason why Cass…Mrs. O’Brien would leave her job, pull Dylan out of school so abruptly….We are already exposed to some degree…”

  “I heard,” he interrupted.

  “You know this makes no tactical sense. If the house needs to be addressed, let’s move them to a hotel or a rental of some kind for a few days.”

  The president was silent for a long moment. “I know…. look….I’ll tell you what…the congressman and I have a joint appearance with my family Wednesday…. How about we agree that he flies home tomorrow and takes Dylan for the week?”

  Alex shook her head. This wasn’t even about worry; it was about politics. “She’s not going to like that.”

  “I suspect not, knowing Cassidy,” the president chuckled with a hint of affection for the woman. “Listen, Alex… I promised him. You’re really worried about this guy, aren’t you?”

  The agent licked her lips, “I am.”

  “All right…look …. I will talk to the congressman.” Alex remained silent. “I will talk to Tate… but Dylan needs to come here…and maybe that’s best, Alex…just for the week. It’s less distraction for you.” Alex laughed inside at the president’s assertion. Dylan was a distraction, but he certainly wasn’t the source of any interference with her job. “But, Alex,” he continued, “she needs to stay safe…if that means she…”

  The agent new exactly what her former commander was saying. “I know,” she answered plainly. Cassidy might have to leave work for some time if things continued to escalate or they didn’t locate the source quickly. The teacher might have to agree to constant protection, even in the classroom, and Alex already knew that was a battle she did not want to fight. The truth was that a personal family appearance did give a good cover story for Dylan going to Washington with his father, and with Dylan away she would not need to relocate Cassidy. She looked toward the deck as Dylan was just making his way back to the living room.

  “Alex? You there?” The president asked.

  “Yeah…sorry….look, John…I can call Tate…I know that…”

  John Merrow laughed. “No…no Alex…I will tell him that I called you…besides…you are right about moving both of them…it might embolden whoever this is…..just promise me you will keep me in the loop.”

  Alex was puzzled. It was neither her habit nor her place to update the president on any case. “I’m sure A.D. Tate…”

  “Yeah….well, Tate’s not there, you are. It’s between us. If you’re worried then I know there is something to worry about.”

  “Are you worried about the congressman?”

  The president scratched his head and moved the phone to his other ear, “I’m worried about a lot of things, Alex…a lot of things.” One thing Alex knew about John Merrow was that he was cautious in his assessments and deliberate in his actions. The congressman was an important part of
many public initiatives, but she suspected there was more to this. Whatever it was that was driving her friend’s interest; that was the least of her own concerns. “Alex?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Just …. Well… Cassidy can be… well…good luck,” he said with a hint of levity.

  Alex laughed. “I understand….Thank you ‘Mr. President’.” As she hung up small eyes peered at her.

  “You wanna’ watch Batman?” Dylan asked hopefully.

  Alex smiled and looked over him at the woman outside. Cassidy was gripping the railing with both hands, her face pointed toward the sky. “Maybe in a little while. I gotta’ go talk to your mom.” He shrugged his small shoulders and headed back to his spot on the couch grabbing an action figure on the way. Alex began the short trek to the sliding glass doors, taking a deep breath as she opened them and walked through.

  Cassidy made no movement. “He wants us to come to Washington,” she said with disdain.

  “I know.”

  “I can’t believe this…. I can’t just leave…I mean this is…” Cassidy rambled with frustration but continued to look out over the back yard. Strong hands now placed themselves on her shoulders and she closed her eyes. The feel of Alex touching her calmed her anger and replaced it with something that was almost equally unsettling, yet somehow welcome.

  “You’re not going to D.C.,” the agent assured. Cassidy turned to face her, searching the agent’s blue eyes for an explanation. “But, Cassidy….Dylan…”

  “So, not me…but Dylan has to go…that’s what you are telling me?” Cassidy’s anger began to rise again.

  Alex took a deep breath. “Yes.”

  “Why? Alex …Why? For what purpose…and don’t tell me it’s for his safety.” Alex continued looking directly at the woman before her. This conversation was unraveling exactly as she knew it would. It was strange; she barely knew this woman; yet Cassidy O’Brien was no mystery to the agent. She could anticipate in just a glance what the teacher was thinking. “Well?” Cassidy urged Alex’s response.