Chapter 21- Almost Killed and a Lecture
Brandi and Theresa had just finished eating and Brandi had settled with "Song of the Ovulum" by Bryan Davis when Dad's phone rang. Dad limped over to it and picked up the phone. "Hello?" Dad asked.
"He's coming. Finch, get off that floor," Brandi heard Reese order sharply.
Dad turned to face them and grabbed both hers and Theresa's hands. "We have to go now," Dad said abruptly to Theresa.
They went out into the hallway, Theresa stopping in shock as the elevator numbers showed it was more than halfway there and the bell rang. Dad gripped Brandi and Theresa's wrists and pulled them into a room. He locked the door, panting hard. Dad peered out through the peephole. Brandi stood behind him, latching onto his arm tightly as she dug her fingers into the fabric of his suitcoat.
"I can see him. He's coming down the hall. He's going for the fuse box. He's gonna cut out the lights in the hallway. He's gonna see the lights in our room. Quick, Brandi, Theresa, turn them all off," Dad ordered sharply as he turned off a floor lamp and shut a door.
After all the lights were doused, they went behind the couch. Brandi rested her head against Dad's chest, the killer's footsteps enough to cause a near-death experience. The sound of the door lock being smashed caused Brandi's heart to nearly stop.
"I told you I should have left," Theresa said in a hushed voice.
"You did. I'm sorry," Brandi said in a voice just as hushed.
At the sound of doors opening Dad rose, looking at the door. "Theresa. give me your phone," Dad ordered softly.
"Daddy, what are you doing?" Brandi asked tremulously.
"We're gonna make him think we are still in here," dad said as Theresa gave him her cell phone and Dad pulled Brandi up by the wrist and they went out the back.
"Okay. Do me or Brandi need to help you?" Theresa asked.
"Yes. pretend like we're still in that room and you don't know what we are doing," Dad said.
"What are we doing? I don't understand," Theresa said, following Dad's instructions.
"Just- Just listen," Dad said, before shushing her and they heard gunshots.
"Okay, Dad. This won't work," Brandi said, taking the phone from Theresa.
"Be quiet," Dad ordered sharply.
"He's coming. He's right outside the door," Theresa said fretfully.
"I know. I know he is," Dad said as they stopped by the hotel laundry.
"We could try the elevators," Brandi said, squeezing Dad's large hand.
"No, no, no. Too slow. Come on, this way," dad said, pushing through the doors. Theresa barred the door with a 2x4 while Brandi pushed a maid's cart in front of the doors.
"We haven't much time," Dad warned out of sight. Brandi gasped as the hitman, from earlier, stepped in front of the doors.
"He's here," Theresa said fearfully.
"The fire escape. The both of you can go down," Dad said, pulling up a window.
Brandi and Theresa went out the window. "Go! Go!" Dad ordered.
"You coming?" Theresa asked once Brandi was safely on the metal fire escape.
"I can't get through there. You and Brandi have to go without me," Dad said, touching Theresa's arm. Theresa and Brandi climbed back in.
"Daddy, we're staying with you," Brandi said, wrapping her arms around her father's waist and Theresa pulled out her box cutter. The hitman came around the corner, his gun clicking as he pointed it. Dad tightened his grip on Brandi's neck as a gun went off and the hitman fell. Reese then came into their line of sight, causing Brandi to sigh loudly as she rested her head against Dad's chest.
Brandi stood next to Dad as they stood by the arch where they had first found Theresa. Reese had called someone named Detective Carter and said he would meet her here to talk. In all truth, Carter was going to meet Theresa instead. "So is Theresa gonna be okay, Daddy?" Brandi asked, her arm around her father's waist.
"I'm sure Detective Carter will take good care of her and make sure her aunt is aware of her existence," Dad said, wrapping his arm around her thin shoulders and playing with her hair absently, by wrapping strands of her hair around his callused fingers; a gesture that Brandi found as comforting as his hugs or the warm kisses to her forehead.
Reese came over to them. "Well?" Brandi asked.
"She'll be fine. She's with Carter and Landale and Calhoun are in jail for attempted murder and murdering her father, mother, brother, and her uncle Derek," Reese said. Reese had told them that Grant Whittaker had been killed by the same gunman who had tried to kill them, but at least he hadn't betrayed Theresa to the gunman.
"Thank God," Brandi said, resting her head against her father's chest, his gentle fingers in her hair, starting to make her feel sleepy.
"Call me when another number comes in, Finch. See you later, Brandi. I never thought I would ever say this, but you aren't half bad in a fight," Reese said dryly.
"I just hope the next fight doesn't involve hitmen and guns. I don't think Dad's nerves would take it," Brandi said just as dryly as Reese.
"Very funny. See you when a new number comes in, Mr. Reese," Dad said as Reese walked away and Brandi and her father walked the other direction. They walked for a few minutes in companionable silence
"Dad, are you still upset that I almost got killed when I was with Uncle John?" Brandi asked. tucking her hand in the crook of his elbow. Dad squeezed her hand on his arm with his other hand.
"No. Not any more. Now I think you need to stick around the library for awhile until my nerves, as you called them, are settled. Now there is something else I need to settle with you," Dad said sternly.
"Oh? Did I do something wrong?" Brandi asked with a wince as they stopped by a park bench.
"Let's sit here, sweetheart. It has to do with you and Mr. Reese coming to where I work. Without meaning to, you blew my cover," Dad said, gripping her hands in his and pulling her into a hug.
"Oh. I'm sorry, Dad. I didn't know that you didn't want me there." Brandi said, her father's rebuke stinging.
Dad gently pulled her face from his shoulder and stroked her hair and face with his fingers. "I'm not upset, Brandilyn. You just surprised me is all. You need to realize that you are still in danger and me and you are off the grid for a reason. You need to be careful with what you do in front of others I know or you know. Think before you do things," Dad said.
"I'll try, Dad. I'm not used to having a low profile though. I am sorry," Brandi said in a small, contrite voice.
"It's all right. I forgive you. Now can I have a kiss from my girl?" Dad asked. Brandi wrapped her arms around her father's neck and kissed his cheek.
Finch had just finished putting away his umbrella. it had been raining when Finch had quit his job. of course he had told Dave that he owned the company. Only a few people knew that he had started the company with his best friend from MIT, Nathan Ingram. He told Dave to send him updates about his company and the names of his employees so he could pay them.
Finch felt a smile cross his lips as he saw his daughter. He had left her here so he could quit and now she was sound asleep on the couch Finch had brought to the library for her. Her glasses were still on her face and she had the dragon novel she was currently reading spread open, face down on the table in front of the couch. Finch took the book in his hands and closed it, after marking the page she was on, by folding the top of said page and placing it back on the table in front of the couch. He then removed her glasses and pressed a kiss to her forehead. He covered her with a throw blanket and with a yawn went to his computers, sitting down.