Ringer, Season 2

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Chapter Eleven: If There is Any Way I Can Redeem Myself

It had been a few weeks since Victor Machado had been on an airplane. Since Bodaway Macawi's death, he had tried to piece his life back together. He had gone on to other cases and had tried to regain his reputation back in the FBI department. But, now he seemed the case would never leave him.

He was on his way to New York after Henry Butler had contacted him the day before, and to be perfectly frank, he still didn't know what to believe.

He had received a call from the receptionist at the precinct telling him that a man named Henry Butler was on the line. He hadn't known what to expect, as Butler had already led him on a wild goose chase once.

"Victor Machado speaking," he had said as soon as he had taken the phone.

"Agent Machado," the voice on the other end sounded panicked. "I don't know if you remember me, but this is Henry Butler."

"Of course I remember you," the agent said, recalling that Butler was someone he wasn't particularly fond to talk to, but nevertheless, he had to be professional. "How may I be of service?"

"I need you to come back to New York," the scared man said. "Andrew Martin and Bridget Kelly are in grave danger…Siobhan's going to try and kill them."

There was a pause as Machado was taken aback. "How…how do you even know where Bridget Kelly is?" The last time Butler had said he knew where she was, he had been wrong.

"That's what I need to tell you," Butler said, his voice distant. "Bridget Kelly…has been living as Siobhan for the past seven months. Siobhan…went to Paris and Bridget assumed her identity. I know it sounds crazy. I didn't even believe it at first, but it's the truth. Please, you have to come back here. She's really going to do it. She told me herself."

Now, that was a shocker if Machado had ever heard one, but somehow, for some reason, he believed it. The Siobhan Martin he had been interviewing these past seven months had been acting strange, distant; she had lied about having seen Bridget the first time he had interrogated her, and she had been so eager to testify against Macawi. Machado should have known something was up right then.

"Why…why didn't you just call the police in New York?" he finally asked after he had thought it over. "Why call me?"

"Because they won't believe me." Butler said. "They think I'm lying. They hate me because…because I'm already in prison. I'm not going into details as to why—you'll probably find that out soon enough—I just need you to come and help Andrew and Bridget. They don't deserve what Siobhan's trying to do. They don't. I know it sounds like a plot straight out of a movie, but it's the truth. You have to believe me. Please, sir. I have nothing to offer you. No money, no compensation at all, but if there is any way I can redeem myself for all the crap I've done, I think this is it."

So, on a whim, he had decided to come to New York. He knew that if what he was being told was indeed, he would find out soon enough.

His mind was still racing as he got off the plane. He couldn't believe Bridget Kelly could have fooled him so easily. It was insane. He didn't know whether to be angry or not. He knew he should have been angry, but he was honestly more shocked than anything else. That woman was smart, too smart.

Once he had retrieved his bag from the conveyor belt, he decided to call Martin's business to see if he could get in contact with him. He scrolled through his phone until he found the number. Thank goodness he hadn't deleted it upon going back to Wyoming.

"Martin/Arbogast Finances," a young woman's voice came over the other line as soon as it picked up. "Claudine speaking. How may I direct your call?"

Martin/Arbogast? That was strange. Of course, Miss Charles had left, but for Mr. Martin to partner with an Arbogast? He certainly didn't have equal partnership in the company anymore. However, that was none of Machado's concern.

"Hello, Claudine," he said, trying to sound as friendly as possible. "My name is Victor Machado and I'm with the FBI. I need to speak with Mr. Marin. Is he available?"

"Well, um," the young woman hesitated and cleared her throat. "Mr. Martin's not in right now. His daughter's in the hospital, so he's been there for a few days."

"Oh," Machado said. What could have happened for her to have wound up in the hospital? He wondered. "Could you give me the address, please? I need to speak with him. It's urgent."

"Sure," the woman said. "One moment."


By the time Andrew and Bridget reached the hospital, Dr. Patel had already performed an X-ray on Juliet's liver to see if her vital signs were improving, and miraculously, they were.

"The repletion seems to be working," she explained to them outside of Juliet's room. "She's says she's feeling a lot better and her stomach isn't hurting as badly as it was. The only drawback is that she might need to keep the repletion up for a few more months, if not, indefinitely."

Both of her parents nodded. "We can keep it up," Andrew assured. "It won't be a problem."

As long as he could keep his job, that is. In the back of his mind, Andrew was afraid Arbogast would fire him any day now. Now, that he didn't have full control of the company, he didn't know what to expect.

"Well, she's really excited to see the both of you," Dr. Patel smiled. "I'll leave you alone so you can have some family time."

When they entered the room, Juliet began to cry, but Andrew couldn't tell if it was from happiness or despair.

"Juliet, are you alright, sweetheart?" he asked, walking briskly over to her and putting his arm around her. "Is your stomach hurting?"

She shook her head. "No, Daddy. I'm crying because I'm really sorry." She grabbed his hand and kissed it. "I'm really sorry about what I did. I love you guys. I love you so much." She buried her face in his chest and continued to sob.

He kissed the top of her head, feeling a wave of compassion for his daughter flow through his body. He knew that she finally understood the consequences of her actions.

"We love you, too, Juliet," Bridget said as she sat down on the bed next to her.

"Do you guys forgive me?" Juliet asked, her voice nearly muffled by Andrew's body.

"Juliet, of course we forgive you," Bridget said, kissing her cheek. Now, that was something Andrew hadn't expected. He couldn't recall Catherine ever kissing Juliet, even as a baby.

"When can I go home?" the girl asked. "I don't want to stay here anymore."

Well, her question was indirectly answered when the phone on the nightstand began to ring, because what happen next most definitely insured that she would be leaving the hospital soon.

Andrew picked up the phone. "Hello?" he said uncertainly, wondering who would be using the hospital phone to call him.

"Hello," an older woman's voice said. "Is this Andrew Martin?'

"Yes, this is he," he said.

"Hello Mr. Martin," the woman said. "This is Betsy, the second floor receptionist. There's a man here who needs to speak with you. Says he's from the FBI, so I'm gonna send him up, okay?"

"FBI?" Andrew echoed. "May I ask who it is?" Now, that was a stupid question. He knew exactly who it was. Who else would it be?

There was a pause and the woman responded. "He says his name is Victor Machado."

The confirmation made Andrew's heart practically stop. What could Machado possibly want? Was he still after Bridget? He couldn't be coming to arrest her for evading the police, surely, as he couldn't know where she was. Then, what could he want?

"Mr. Martin?" the woman's voice brought Andrew back to reality. "He's coming up."

He slammed the phone back on the receiver and stared at Bridget with concern in his eyes.

"What's wrong?" she asked, squeezing Juliet's hand and rising from the bed. "Who was it?"

"Machado. He's coming up," Andrew responded.

Bridget's mouth dropped."Machado? What does he want? He doesn't need me anymore."

"Exactly," said Andrew. "That's why I'm worried."

There was nothing left for them to do but wait. The two of them sat down on the bed in fear, Juliet continuing to sob convulsively, as they waited for Machado to knock on the door. It felt like an eternity before he actually did. But, as soon as the first knock was heard, Andrew stood up and came at it boldly.

"Hello Agent Machado," he said as soon as the agent with the luminous eyelashes was in view. "Come in."

"Hello Mr. Martin." Machado held out his hand for Andrew to shake, but Andrew was hesitant to take it. To be honest, he was very angry that Machado would come into their lives again. They had just become a family and there he was with some unknown agenda. He turned to where Bridget was sitting on the bed. "Hello Bridget."

Her face paled, as did Andrew's, he was sure. In fact, he felt his face grow hot, much like it did when he was ashamed.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said, grasping Juliet's hand. "I'm Siobhan Martin."

Machado's face looked grim. "No, you're not," he said. "Henry Butler told me everything."

Now, that made Andrew angry, but, in a way, he wasn't surprised of it. Of course, Henry would be the one to rat Bridget out. It was only natural. He was scum, after all. Finally, after a moment or so of silence, Andrew found his voice.

"You're not going to arrest her?" he insisted. He could hear the pleading in his own voice as he spoke, but he made up his mind then and there that if Bridget were going to jail, then he was, too. He would confess everything he could about the Ponzi scheme.

"I could," Machado said. "I could arrest you for a lot of things, including lying to a police officer." Andrew stomach tightened into a knot and he looked intently at the detective, just waiting for him to whip out his handcuffs. But, surprisingly, Machado shook his head. "But, because you got rid of Macawi for me, I feel like I owe you. You're a lot braver than I thought, Bridget." He paused for a moment and Andrew let out a relieved sigh. "I've actually come to protect the three of you."

"From what?" Andrew asked. Now, he was confused. Macawi was dead. What more protecting could Machado offer them?

"From your wife," Machado explained. "From what Butler said, she's capable of anything."

So, Henry had called on Machado to help them, not to rat them out. Andrew was surprised, but it didn't mean Henry was worthy of forgiveness or redemption in any way. Andrew certainly didn't regret that punch he had given him.

"Siobhan's not my wife anymore," Andrew scoffed. "Or at least, she won't be for long. I filed for divorce yesterday afternoon." It wasn't that hard to do. He had cited adultery as the reason.

"You did?" asked Juliet from her position on the bed. She was still holding Bridget's hand.

"Of course," her father said. "I wouldn't stay married to her for another minute." He walked over to the bed and put his arms around Bridget and his daughter. "I have my whole family right here."

"Well, I'm glad to see the three of you are happy together," Machado said, a smile on his face. "But, we need to leave, fast."

"Where are we going?" asked Juliet looking all too eager to get out of the hospital. Now, her answer had come.

"I was thinking Maine," Machado replied. "My parents have a lake house up there. They won't be using it. I could house the three of in it until we caught Siobhan."

But, how were they going to do that if they didn't have the first clue as to where she was? Andrew had to wonder. But, then again, Machado always seemed to know what he was doing. Andrew regretted having called him incompetent.