XI
A phone call was the last thing she thought she would ever get. Especially from Martha. Pressing the phone closer to her ear she listened as Martha was going a mile a minute. She didn't even think she stopped to breathe. Her time here in what was the old Soviet block was now rapidly coming to an end. She had overstayed her welcome by years. She was gathering information on many different groups that were a threat to the United States. Which she sadly found out were many. So she listened to Martha but not really hearing her.
"Martha, slow down. You are talking in one long big sentence. Take a breath and start over again so I can understand you."
Martha did what she was told. She just wanted to get everything out in one breath.
"Okay, start from the beginning, and concentrate, alright?"
"Sofia was murdered three days ago." Martha sadly said.
"Go on..."
"Richard had insisted that Kate move in with us fearing the her safety. Her place is now a crime scene and she can't stay there. The NYPD has banned her from living there."
"Okay continue..."
Martha really does not want to tell her the next bit of news fearing it could destroy everything that this person has done since she has left.
"I'm not so sure that this will be easy for you to hear. Richard has found a link to what you're doing and Sofia. He's getting too close to finding out where are you are and who you are."
Martha, this is unacceptable! He can never find out who I am! I have been so careful and I'm not going to loose everything that we worked so hard for. You of all people should know how important this is! Do whatever is necessary to stop him. Short of killing him I mean... Just kidding."
Martha thought to herself for a minute, and she had one more topic to raise.
"Richard has Mike running Sofia's last known whereabouts before she was murdered. Was she with you at anytime? Because if she was he will have a location to pinpoint your general location. And if I know Richard he will either send Mike or go himself. They won't stop until they find you."
"And you know this how?"
"He received a call during dinner and he went into his office. Usually he takes the mundane calls while we are there. He told us that is was Gina. This one was something else. When he returned I could see that he was trying to find a way in that big head of his to excuse himself so he could find out what Mike had found. I know for a fact that he was lying, because Gina is out of the country. She has no cell service where she is."
"Martha, you need to find out what he knows. This is important. I can't stress how important. He might have an alias, but he does not that it's me. To him I'm only a name, he has no description to go by. Rely on your training and find out. They can't be sucked into this with us. There is to much risk here, trust me when I tell you that they will be next if we don't stop these groups."
"I understand. Can I call you with an update in two days at this same time?"
"I expect it! Thank you Martha for keeping them safe for me."
"You're welcome Johanna." Martha said feeling like the weight was squarely on her shoulders now.
The call was ended and still Martha held her cell phone held in a death grip. She needed to get some sleep because later this morning was going to prove to be a very busy day. Drawing her bedsheets up to her neck she got comfortable in bed and fell off to sleep.
Xx
As Kate laid in bed she wondered if she was right in telling him about Demming and their now non existing relationship. Sure he had expected him to be resentful, but to her he was distant. It's like he had given up. Now all she could do is try to get some sleep. Was he thinking about her? Did he still have feelings for her? God she was a wreck.
When the door to his bedroom closed on his early morning visitor, he got up and headed to his bathroom. He knew that he was not going to get any more sleep tonight. He splashed cold water on his face to get himself free of what was his short nap before Kate came to him. Deciding that he was two chapters behind on his book and he knew he would get a phone call any day now from Gina, chastising him for missing his deadline. He decided to pull an all nighter and write. He walked into his office and sat in his chair. Opening his laptop he pulled up a new document and started typing.
Sometime around 3:30 his phone buzzed. He was so into his zone that he never heard it. It was only the call of nature that alerted him to a text from Mike when he came back to finish up his latest chapter. Picking up his cell he read with apprehension the locations that Mike had found out Sofia had been to. After reading the extremely long list of locations she had been to, he noticed the message from Mike at the end.
"Rick, Sofia had been in contact with some deadly, ruthless people. From the looks of it, I'd say that they could be targeting anyone she knew. This will put Kate at risk for her life. We need to talk sooner then later. Mike."
Rick sat at his desk and thought. Sofia was into more than working for a company that provider an interpreter. Sure she had free rein to travel where they would send her, but in the back of his mind she used this to cover what she was really doing. He still needed to find out what. This was not going to end well.
Looking still at the phone in his hand he shot Mike a quick text and told him he would meet with him by 11 am at their usual location. After sending the text he noted the time on the phone. 4:47 am. Without thinking anything else he saved the fourth chapter of the three he wrote tonight. Closing the laptop and sliding it into the bottom desk drawer of his desk stood up and headed out to start breakfast.
Alexis was the first to wake up at 6: 30 and he offered her a cup of coffee as she stepped up to the breakfast nook.
"Your usual?" He asked. All he got for a yes was a nod.
"Dad, how did Kate do last night?"
"What do you mean, pumpkin?"
"Well, since her cousin had just been murdered she might have had a bad nightmare. And to me she looked a little peaked that's all."
Rick kept forgetting how entwined his daughter was with Kate. They shared moments together, most he had not been privy to. With all that was going on, he never thought to consider how Sofia's death had impacted her. It was something that he would address after breakfast.
"You know how Kate is, right? She does not let on to other people when something is bothering her, well not right away at least. But since you're concerned I'll talk to her later about Sofia's death."
"Thanks, dad! Now how about some scrambled eggs?"
"Coming right up!" He responded.
Martha came down dressed and ready to go. This was odd even for her. She never got up with the sunrise. Rick was curious now. She was hiding something and he needed to know what.
"Morning mother." Rick said happily.
"Richard. Yes it is morning, how observant of you."
"So, off to somewhere? Want something to eat?"
"Not that it's any of your business, but yes. I have an early class to teach this morning! And I'll pass on the breakfast."
Rick knew that she had no class to teach this morning. Her studio was still in the agonies of being remodeled. She had made that fact perfectly clear when she talked about buying the place a week ago. And her hemming and hawing about how to decorate the place.
"Are you sure I can't interest you in some eggs and toast? You know they say that breakfast is the most important meal."
"No that's quite alright darling. Good bye Alexis. I'm off! Ta Ta."
Martha left like a strong wind, the ony sound that Alexis and Rick heard was the slamming of the front door.