Chapter Twenty-Nine
Amita didn't spare any pleasantries with her parents. As soon as the door closed to the interrogation room and Megan walked away back toward the bullpen, Amita stalked over to the table with a hard look in her eyes. "What are you planning to do?"
The tone of Amita's voice was accusatory. This was not something Sanjay appreciated and his displeasure showed clearly in his voice and manner. "I did not raise you to speak to me in that tone of voice, Bitiya."
Anger snapped in her eyes as she responded, not put out by her father's response at all. "No, Dad, you raised me to think for myself. When the FBI told you that the man who attacked me and Charlie was related to Aditi, why did you refuse to speak to them? They may think that you had something to do with these attacks but I know that you didn't, so why not help them?" Sanjay was about to say something when Amita held up her hand indicating that she wasn't done. "No, Dad, let me finish. If you stopped talking to the FBI even knowing that it would clear you of the charges brought against you, then I am left to conclude that you are planning on dealing with the Pankajakshan family yourself. Given your traditional nature I must therefore conclude that you plan to initiate a blood feud with them."
"The thought did cross my mind, but that is not your concern."
"Not my concern?" Amita shouted. "I am a member of this family. A feud most certainly concerns me! I am the one who was attacked not you!" Amita had never been this angry before and slapped her hand hard on the table. The sting of that contact made her wince and shake her hand. "Do you realize that I left the hospital before I even had a chance to see Charlie so that I could come here and stop you from doing anything foolish? Do you realize that the place I should be right now is with him, not here trying to stop you from doing something that could destroy this family?"
Sanjay looked at his daughter, stunned by her outburst and hurt by her words, but Tapti had heard enough. "Amita! We may have raised you to think for yourself, but we also raised you to show respect for your parents. You will sit down right now and stop shouting like a fish monger!" Amita sat down without further comment at the command in her mother's voice. "We contacted Arnold Porter who naturally came to our aide. We explained the situation to him and he has left to contact Aditi and his mother to tell them what Jitendra has done here. Amita, neither your father nor I desire to get involved with traditional retributions with the Pankajakshan family, but they were our friends at one time. Aditi is the head of the family now that his father has died. He would have the authority to tell Jitendra to turn himself over to the authorities."
Amita stared at her parents incredulously. "You must be joking. Mom, I saw the look in his eyes before he tried to burn me alive. Jitendra Pankajakshan has no intention of turning himself in regardless of who tells him to do so."
Tapti continued undaunted. "That may be so, but we have to try to find a peaceful resolution to this situation, before it gets out of control."
Amita's mouth dropped open at that. Her mother was a strong and intelligent woman, but this was ridiculous and it sounded like a load of bull. "A peaceful resolution? That is what you want? First Dad tells me that he has at least considered a blood feud, then you tell me that you think that a brutal murderer will turn himself in just because his brother tells him to, and now you are trying to say that you are looking for a peaceful resolution. Just how much of this do you expect me to believe?" Amita stood up and ran her hands through her hair in a gesture that was oddly reminiscent of both Charlie and Don. "Do you realize how contradictory that all sounds, not to mention utterly ludicrous?"
Amita began pacing trying to vent her anger and frustration as her mother stood gracefully from the table and walked around to embrace her daughter. "Amita, dear, this is a terrible situation that is true, but we believe that we can get Aditi to see reason and help us to safely bring his brother to justice. We are not prepared to believe that Jitendra is a terrorist."
Amita pushed back from her mother's embrace looking confused and more than a little angry. "What? Terrorist? Mom, what are you talking about and since when are you on a first name basis with the man who tried to kill me?"
Tapti stepped back feeling mixed emotions at the accusation in her daughter's eyes. Sanjay stood up and also stepped around the table to stand beside Tapti. "Amita, we refer to Jitendra by his name because we have known him since he was a child, even though we have not seen him since he was a very young man. The FBI thinks that he is a terrorist because his name is on an Israeli watch list, but we both find that hard to believe."
Amita stared incredulously at her parents. "I have heard enough! I can't believe that you are actually defending that animal! He tried to burn me alive! He nearly killed my boy friend! I shouldn't be here; I belong with Charlie. You two can sort this mess out yourselves." Amita shouted and walked out of the interrogation room ignoring the voices of her parents calling her back.
When Charlie was completely out again Alan explained to Don what Dr. Kloch had said about Charlie recalling the attack on his own. "How is that going to work with the FBI, don't you need a statement from him in order to help you catch this man?"
Don rubbed his face wearily. "Not really. We know where Pankajakshan is and we're setting up an ambush. With any luck he should be in custody within the next couple of hours."
"Well that is good news!" Don and Alan turned at the sound of the physicist's voice. Larry entered the room carrying two hot cups of coffee and Don got up to allow him to take a seat. Larry shook his head as he handed one of the cups to Alan. "No, Don, don't get up. I actually have to leave in a few minutes. Did Amita make it into the office before you left?" Don nodded as Larry continued, hardly taking a breath. "And how is the situation with her and her parents?"
"If you're talking about the possible blood feud between the Ramanujans and the Pankajakshans, then I am not sure how to answer that question. I know that Sanjay Ramanujan had his lawyer contact Aditi Pankajakshan, presumably to order the younger brother to turn himself in, but I honestly believe it was more of a challenge than anything else."
Alan looked between his son and Larry with a confused frown on his face. "Who and what are you talking about?"
"Dad, Aditi Pankajakshan is the man that Amita was promised to when her parents arranged a marriage for her. Since the death of his father Aditi is now considered the head of his household and would presumably have authority over any younger siblings. The man who attacked both Amita and Charlie is Jitendra Pankajakshan, Aditi's younger brother. I am still not completely clear on the dynamics and don't know why Aditi would send a younger sibling to exact an archaic retribution on a woman who thwarted him, or if he even did. Our concern is that when Pankajakshan is contacted he will try to get a message to Jitendra before we can apprehend him. In my experience blood is thicker than tradition. I can't really see Aditi turning on a brother although I don't really have anything to base that opinion on."
Larry nodded and took a sip of his coffee grimacing at the taste and shaking his head at what the hospital cafeteria passed off as fresh coffee. "I would imagine that you are basing your opinion on your own brotherly feelings. You have a younger brother whom you could not fathom turning against. That, of course, doesn't necessarily mean that the dynamic between these two brothers is the same as yours."
Don shook his head and smiled ruefully. "And that is precisely why I am considered too close to the investigation. My thoughts about this are colored by my feelings for Charlie."
Larry sipped his coffee again but decided to give it up as a bad experiment and set the cup on the small table against the wall. "Pardon me for asking, and please do not misunderstand the question, Don, but shouldn't you be at the office right now as the dragnet closes around Jitendra Pankajakshan?"
"There isn't really anything I can do, Larry. Pankajakshan is almost out to Palm Springs. It will be the agents from that office who stop him in a road block. I needed to come here and see how Charlie was doing."
Don didn't sound defensive at all which surprised Alan a little. He was pleased that Don had been able to set his emotions about this case aside and come to the hospital even as the manhunt came close to a conclusion. Alan nodded approvingly at his eldest son, who seemed to finally be finding some peace after a rough year.
As the afternoon progressed, Charlie wavered in and out of a state of confused semi-consciousness and every time he woke he asked about Amita. Alan was becoming very frustrated by the situation, which showed on his face. At one point he muttered under his breath. "I just can't believe that she left. When she was attacked there is no way Charlie would have left her side."
Don could understand his father's frustration but he also knew that Amita wouldn't have left if she didn't feel it was necessary. After speaking with her father, Don was convinced that she did the right thing. "Dad, do you blame Larry for having to leave a little while ago?" At the shake of his father's head Don continued. "Amita didn't want to go either..."
"No, Alan, I really didn't," Alan and Don turned toward the sound of Amita's voice. It was clear that she had been crying and the quiver in her voice was evidence enough that she had heard and understood Alan's comment. "I am so sorry that I left, and now I wish I hadn't." She stepped over to the side of the ER stretcher just as Charlie opened his eyes again.
"Amita. You're here."
She bent down and kissed him lightly on the cheek as fresh tears welled up. "I'm here now and I won't go anywhere, I promise you that. Just try to rest now."
Charlie's eyes closed and he slipped into a less fitful sleep as she held his hand tightly. Alan stepped up behind her and rested his hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry, dear. It's just that he kept asking for you and... well I guess it's just been a really bad day."
"You have every right to be angry with me for leaving. It seems that my family has brought nothing but heartache and pain to your family. I don't know what to say to you, Alan, other than I'm sorry."
Alan squeezed her shoulder. "You have nothing to feel sorry about Amita. You are here now and a part of this family."
David had the Palm Springs office on video conference as he coordinated the spotters and road block. He had authorized one of the LA helicopters to fly out and get a visual on the van. The copter kept to high altitude to keep out of sight and not be obvious to their quarry. The only real concern they had was for other drivers on the highway. If Pankajakshan felt trapped they were unsure what he might try. It was conceivable that he could cause some kind of accident and take another driver hostage, but there was little they could do about that until Colby came up with an idea.
"Why don't we have the local PD out at Palm Springs set up a sobriety checkpoint on the 10 before Vista Del Sur? They can tell each driver to exit at Vista Del Sur except of course Pankajakshan. As soon as he passes the checkpoint shut it down. If they run the checkpoint in two lanes with an appropriate delay they should be able to pull it off without Pankajakshan catching on."
David thought about Colby's suggestion for a moment while he looked over the road map of the 10 running through Palm Springs on the plasma screen. "It's possible, I'm just worried that he'll bolt as soon as he sees the road block."
Colby walked up to the screen and tracked back a little way on the map. "If they do it here between exits 143 and 144 he won't be able to bolt without making a U turn. I think he'll try to bluff his way through a road block rather than bring down a chase. How fast can they get a sign up just past the Jackson Street exit that says there is a sobriety checkpoint ahead?"
David made some calls and within fifteen minutes he had the Palm Springs Police Department dispatched to set up a checkpoint. Their chopper reported that Pankajakshan was just making it out of the traffic jam and should be reaching their location within the next hour depending on traffic. They didn't have much time to get Colby's plan set up but PSPD felt confident they would be able to pull everything together in plenty of time.
Shortly after Amita arrived Dr. Kloch entered with a technician. "Mr. Eppes, we have an opening to fit Charlie in for an MRI. I need you to go with him so that you can go over the history facts with the MRI tech, before they do the study. We do have his old studies for comparison and Dr. Shi is on his way here now."
Don stood up and stepped over to Amita but addressed his comment to his father. "Dad, you go with Charlie. Amita and I will get you some coffee and meet you back here in about an hour."
"Actually Charlie will not be coming back to this cubicle. When he is finished with his MRI he will be taken to the overnight care ward of the ER department. I'll show you where to go in just a moment. Until we see the MRI and consult with his neurologist I am not sure whether Charlie will be admitted to this hospital or transported to UCLA Medical Center."
Dr. Kloch had Alan follow the stretcher and Charlie over to the radiology department while he escorted Don and Amita to the new location and then pointed out the best way to get to the cafeteria and back. Once they arrived at the cafeteria and had their coffee Don led Amita over to a table away from most of the crowd. They sat in amiable silence for a time before Don reached out and took her hand. "How are you holding up?"
Amita looked up into Don's eyes and couldn't stop the flood of tears that began to fall. The past week had been the worst week of her life. Being attacked by Aditi's brother seemed so long ago even though it had been less than a week. Everything that had happened since that attack was like one more stone weighing her down until she felt as though she was being buried under a landslide of hatred, anger and misunderstanding. She understood completely why Alan had been angry with her and Don coming to her defense felt like a ray of hope that she wouldn't be buried for long. Alan forgiving her absence and calling her a member of his family gave her a sense of belonging when her own family was turned upside down by everything that had happened. She had an anchor and for that she was eternally grateful.
"I'll be fine. Just like your father said, it's been a bad day." A harsh half sob half laugh escaped her. "Heck, who am I kidding, it's been a bad week."
Amita wiped her face with the back of her hand wishing she wasn't such an emotional mess but accepting that that it was inevitable given the kind of week she had endured. "I don't know what to say about my parents, Don. What my father said yesterday at the barbecue was not meant the way it sounded. Neither one of them has a problem with your family being Jewish. It isn't you; it's them. My father wants me to be with an Indian man, he wants my children to be raised with his faith and in his culture. It is an old-fashioned belief that he can't help feeling because he grew up in India, not here."
Amita paused for a moment and took a sip from her coffee. Her tears were starting to dry up as she began to compartmentalize all of the feelings that had been bombarding her since yesterday afternoon. "Don, I just wanted to tell you that it meant a lot to hear you defend me to your father back there. I thought that maybe you were unsure about me after what has happened today."
Don frowned in confusion at that statement. "What do you mean, unsure about you?"
"Well, ever since I was attacked there has been a veiled threat to your family and now today it was made real. My father uttered what seemed like an anti-Semitic remark about Charlie in his own house. Then Charlie was attacked by the same man who hurt me. To make matters even worse you arrested my father because of some evidence you had that pointed to his culpability in the attacks. The anger in your face this morning at the hotel when you arrested my father was frightening and I couldn't help wondering if any of that anger might end up directed at me."
Don had not actually considered that Amita might be feeling insecure about everything that had transpired but it made complete sense. She had no idea that Don had suspected her father of being complicit in her attack before today. His emotional response to what her father had said yesterday and what Pankajakshan had said to Charlie made him furious and cemented in his mind his preconceived notions about Sanjay Ramanujan's innocence. "Amita, I'm so sorry that things turned out the way they have. Even when I thought your father had something to do with the attack on Charlie, I never felt differently toward you, but I suppose it is only reasonable given the circumstances for you to worry about that. I actually think that Charlie is damned lucky to have you. I will admit that I allowed myself to come to conclusions about your father based on other information that was pretty damaging about traditional practices in some parts of India. I guess I am guilty of a kind of bigotry in that respect and for that I apologize."
"You have no reason to apologize to me, Don. If anything I should be doing that. I am still very upset with my parents, but I'm worried about them too. They said something about Aditi's brother being on some Israeli terrorist watch list. How dangerous is this man?"
Don didn't want to talk to Amita about this because it was part of an ongoing case, one that he was not supposed to be directly involved with due to his conflict of interest, but she already knew most of it. "You father may have gotten himself into an awful lot of trouble when he had the Pankajakshan family contacted about Jitendra and what he has done here. Amita, please understand that I no longer believe that you father had anything to do with this man or his attacks on you and Charlie, but by contacting his family your father could be charged under the Patriot Act for aiding a known terrorist. The best thing that can happen for your father's sake is for us to bring in Jitendra Pankajakshan before anything else can happen."
TBC
