Promise To Love Me, Even When You Hate Me.
Chapter 26.
The whole courtroom gasped and whispered amongst themselves, the judge hammered his gavel trying to get everyone to settle down.
"Excuse me?"
John rose from his desk and approached them both.
"Your Honour, this has to be some kind of stunt? This woman could be anyone?"
Warren walked up the aisle and waved his hand in the air trying to attract their attention.
"Your Honour, I'm Warren Delaney, I'm employed by the N.I.I.D, and I can confirm that this is Kate McGregor, I have her IDs with me."
Warren placed a passport and a driver's licence on the judges' desk, he picked them up and examined them and looked back to Lisa.
"Okay, everyone, my chambers, now…"
The judge stood behind his desk while, Jack, John, Warren and Kate stood on the other side looking like they were facing the firing squad.
"Does someone want to explain what the hell is going on?"
There was a knock on the door, he let out a grunt and walked over to the door and opened it.
"We're kind of busy in here."
"I'm sorry, Your Honour, my name is Shaun, I am Warren and Kate's boss, and I think you want me in there."
He opened the door, Warren and Lisa's eyes widened as they saw Shaun, he eyeballed Warren who looked away.
"Delaney, I think you know why I'm here?"
He nodded and walked up to Shaun and handed him a package.
"Give this to her when she's ready..."
Shaun nodded as Warren was escorted out of the room by two officers. Shaun cleared his throat and approached the judge.
"Your Honour, I just need to know there was no crime committed here, well not by Dylan Mulholland. I'm sorry for wasting your time."
The judge wrinkled his face and rubbed his hand over his forehead.
"So, you're in charge of this operation?"
"I'm Head of the Undercover Department of the N.I.I.D. Long story short, Lisa was undercover, we 'killed' her to get her out, and it was supposed to be put down as a robbery gone wrong, however, Warren hatched a plan, a stupid, selfish, illegal, plan, and he will be dealt with."
"Right, well, I'll need to gather more information, but I will dismiss the case for now."
"Thank you, Your Honour, and once again, I apologise."
The judge returned to the courtroom and cleared his throat.
"Ah, sorry for the delay, there have been some developments, and this case has been dismissed."
Jack shook Dutchy's hand and smiled, Frankie wrapped her arms around him and gave him a squeeze.
"See, the truth always comes out."
Lisa sheepishly exited the judge's chambers and slowly approached Dutchy, he stopped and looked at her for a minute. She was about to speak but he turned his back and walked off. She watched as the crew left with him, no one acknowledging her presence. She flinched as Frankie stopped in front of her and shook her head.
"Do you know what you put him through?"
"Frankie, I…"
She walked off shaking her head not wanting to hear her excuses.
Lisa stood in the empty courtroom, she jumped as Shaun placed a hand on her shoulder.
"C'mon, I think we need a drink."
They pulled up at the local, Lisa shook her head insistently.
"Not here, this is their place..."
"Oh, c'mon..."
She grabbed his hand stopping him from removing the keys from the ignition.
"Shaun, I can't..."
He sighed and restarted the car and drove to the next pub.
Lisa sat out on the deck looking out over the water, Shaun placed a double vodka on the rocks in front of her.
"Vodka for your thoughts?"
She picked up the glass and took a sip.
"You aren't mad?"
Shaun slid into his seat and sighed.
"As your boss, maybe, but as your friend, not so much..."
She turned back to face the water and rubbed her hands over her face, Shaun swirled his drink around in his glass and let out a chuckle.
"So, I was right..."
She frowned and turned her body round to face him.
"Huh?"
"You loved him..."
She let out a hiss and took a large gulp of her drink, he raised an eyebrow at her silence.
"I'm not hearing denial..."
She still didn't respond, he nudged her in an attempt to get a response.
"You love him, love him in a really, really, big, pretend to like his taste in music, let him eat the last piece of chocolate, hold a radio over your head outside his window, unfortunate way that makes you hate him, love him."
Lisa let out a groan and sculled the rest of her glass.
"Ugh, why do you use my favourite show against me?!"
"Because, I'm right."
He slid the package Warren gave him over the table as Lisa signalled to the waiter to get them another drink.
"Warren gave this to me to give to you."
She shook her head and pushed it back towards him.
"If it's from him, I don't want it..."
He shrugged and pushed his drink aside and ripped open the package, she snatched it out of his hands, she didn't know what was in it, but was afraid it was something personal.
"Hey!"
She flipped it over and sighed seeing the photo of her and Dutchy, it was the one she had disposed of in Hawaii. Shaun peered over her shoulder trying to take a peek of what it was.
"You look pretty happy..."
She immediately put it face down on the table hiding the photo.
"Yeah, look where it got me?"
The waiter placed two more glasses in front of them, Lisa immediately took a large gulp. Shaun knew she already had a rough day, but he needed to prepare her for reality of the situation.
"So, umm, you know there will be some backlash?"
She slammed her glass on the table causing him to jump.
"Shaun, he was going to jail for murder, what was I supposed to do?"
He put his hands up in front of him as a defense.
"Hey, I'm not saying it was the wrong thing, it's, well it's the way you did it so publicly."
She exhaled sharply, she didn't want to take her anger out on Shaun, he didn't deserve it.
"I didn't know who to trust..."
"Yeah, look, I get it, it's fair enough after what Warren did... I mean, I'll try to..."
"It's okay boss, I'll face the consequences…"
"I'll do what I can while you try to sort things out here, I may need you back in Melbourne though..."
"What do you mean? I'm coming home anyway."
Shaun shook his head at her stubbornness.
"Ah, you took off and ditched your first day of your new job, you broke protocol and risked your job to set him free, you're telling me you did this because, what, you felt like it?"
"I did it cos he didn't deserve to go to jail..."
Shaun pursed his lips together and stared her down.
"And..."
Lisa rested her head in her hands and mumbled into them.
"And, because I love him..."
Shaun clapped his hands together and clinked his glass with hers.
"Oh, there it is!"
Lisa lifted her head enough for Shaun to see she was truly distressed, he couldn't help but feel a little responsible.
"I'm sorry..."
Lisa lifted her head and tilted it to the side.
"What are you sorry for?"
"Do I push you too much?"
She let out a scoff and swallowed the rest of her glass.
"I push myself, to be right, to be the best, I push people away because I'm scared of getting hurt."
Shaun placed a hand on hers and gave it a squeeze.
"For what it's worth, I'm proud of you!"
"Thanks..."
"So, what now?"
"I beg for his forgiveness, that I don't deserve."
"Lis, you deserve to be happy... you are a good person."
She swallowed the rest of her glass as tears welled in her eyes, Shaun didn't want to push further, she was going to have enough to deal with in the coming weeks.
"You want a lift back your hotel?"
She nodded and rose from her chair.
"Where are you staying?"
"Ah, a bit out of town, but umm, can you drop me back to the local?"
"That a girl, go get your man!"
Lisa rolled her eyes and grabbed her bag.
She stood in front of the entry doors, she didn't know if they were in there but she felt like she needed to start somewhere.
Walking in she immediately felt eyes on her, she could hear the whispers as she placed herself at the bar.
The bar tender gave her a nod and continued to dry the glass in his hand, he did a double take fumbling the glass.
"Kate?"
She smiled sheepishly and took out her wallet.
"Hey Dan... how are you?"
He leaned over the bar checking out her new look.
"Ah, I heard a rumour about the court case, that something weird happened, but I didn't really hear the details."
"Yep, well, I'm alive, now you're all caught up."
He poured her a vodka and placed it on the bar.
"Well, welcome back..."
She picked it up and downed the lot.
"Thanks, I'm not sure everyone will be as kind as you."
At that moment 2Dads and Dutchy walked into the pub, Lisa instantly recognised the voices and spun round. They stopped dead in their tracks seeing her, Dutchy immediately turned and headed for the door. Lisa lept off her seat and went to follow him but 2Dads grabbed her arm stopping her.
"He's not ready."
She dropped her head, the tiniest part of her hoped he'd be glad to see her, but she knew she was kidding herself. She turned to face him, she wasn't sure what his reaction would be.
"2Dads, I, I…"
He broke eye contact not wanting to betray his friend.
"I'm glad you're alive, but, I can't do this…"
She nodded and stepped away.
"I understand, but can you just, tell him I'm sorry."
He gave her a half-hearted smile before walking away. She sat back at her stool and ordered another drink, leaning her head on her arms on the bar, she closed her eyes trying to decide what to do. She sat up straight hearing a familiar voice order a drink beside her, she looked over her shoulder and smiled seeing Frankie. Frankie picked up the scotch in front of her and swallowed the whole glass and turn to face her.
"Don't smile at me, I'm here because I need to know how, how and why you could do what you did to someone you love."
Lisa broke eye contact, she couldn't look Frankie in the eyes because she didn't want to tell her her reason, it felt pathetic and unworthy. Frankie cleared her throat waiting for an answer, Lisa went to speak but she was interrupted.
"And don't you dare lie…"
Lisa swallowed the rest of her glass and took a deep breath in.
"I did it because I love him…"
Frankie let out a hiss and went to walk away, Lisa grabbed her arm.
"Please, I, I don't know what to do."
"I'm not going to help you weasel your way back in."
Lisa was a little taken aback by her words, she knew it wasn't going to be easy, but she hadn't stopped to consider how it was making everyone else feel.
"Frankie, please just know that it wasn't supposed to go down like this. I mean, I panicked, I never felt the way I felt when I was with him."
"So you were scared? And that gave you the right to, to destroy him?"
"No! I, I didn't know what was happening, I didn't know he was arrested."
"Seriously? It was all over the news for weeks? How could you not see?"
Kate focused back on her glass knowing her answer would sound heartless.
"Ah, I, I was umm, in Hawaii…"
Frankie scoffed and shook her head.
"Of course you were…"
"Frankie, please, I was told that it was a robbery gone wrong and, Frankie, you have to believe that I had no idea about this, I wouldn't do that to him…"
Frankie took a moment, she knew that deep down she wouldn't purposely hurt him, but she couldn't get over the fact that she continued to lie.
"But you still planned to leave like this?"
"I didn't know what to do, he was going to leave the navy for me, I couldn't let him do that…"
"Yeah, especially because you were lying the whole time you were together."
Lisa knew she was fighting a losing battle, she had nothing to lose by telling Frankie everything.
"Look, this is going to sound, well, like a shitty thing to say, but you're all lucky I was the one assigned to this case, that dating him was a part of my plan."
"Oh, give me a break…"
Lisa re-gripped Frankie's hand afraid she would walk away.
"It is, because I got to know the person he was. They had already decided he was guilty, because of Warren, he was out for revenge and I challenged that. I proved that he was innocent, and I knew that I couldn't tell him the truth, that he would never trust me again. So, they killed me off, so it could be a clean break, so that he wouldn't come looking for me. Don't tell me he wouldn't, if I had just left you know that he would have tried to find me. I was best for both of us, and it would have worked if Warren hadn't interfered. He was doing this for revenge, i think he blames Dutchy for the death of his brother, they served together in the gulf. Look, on one hand it was best that I was on the case, but on the other, probably the worst."
Frankie sat there trying to absorb Lisa's explanation.
"Okay…"
She rose from the stool, Lisa grabbed her arm again.
"So?"
"Okay, now I know…"
She walked off, Lisa had hoped that she would offer to talk to Dutchy, but she kept walking. She slumped back into her chair and nodded towards Dan.
"Keep em coming…"
Frankie walked in Dutchy's front door, he was on the couch beer in hand, she sat down next to him deep in thought.
"Where have you been?"
She glanced over to him and grabbed his beer and took a sip.
"Now, don't yell, or storm off, or…"
He snatched the beer back.
"Frankie…"
"I saw Kate…"
"What?"
"I had to know…"
He slammed the bottle on the table and paced the room.
"Know what? Why she pretended to love me, why she wanted to make a fool out of me, why she wanted me in jail?"
"I don't think she pretended…"
He stopped in front of her, glaring down at her.
"So what, you're on her side now?"
"No, I wanted to hear the truth from her…"
"The truth? How can you believe anything that comes out of her mouth… her name isn't even Kate, it's Lisa."
She pulled on his arm making him sit beside her.
"Apparently she didn't know about the murder charge, she was overseas."
"And that's supposed to make me feel better, she was off holidaying and I'm rotting in jail or her murder? What else did she say?"
"She said that she was scared, she really fell for you and if she couldn't just walk away cos you would have tried to track her down."
Dutchy shook his head and took a mouthful of his beer.
"Apparently her coworker was out for revenge, Warren? You served with his brother in the gulf."
Dutchy froze and lowered himself back onto the couch.
"Revenge? Oh my god, he was Will's brother…"
Frankie placed a hand on his arm seeing he was going to a dark place.
"Dylan, you know it wasn't your fault."
He shook the thoughts out of his head.
"So, she's hanging around?"
"I dunno, I think she was hoping that I'd convince you to talk to her."
He sat there focused on the TV, not knowing how to respond.
"Is there a chance you still love her?"
There was silence, she nudged him and he snapped his head in her direction.
"Of course I bloody love her, that's why I'm so mad."
"Okay, well, murder charge aside, do you understand why she did what she did?"
Dutchy frowned looking in her direction.
"You are on her side?"
She moved closer and squeezed his hand.
"Dylan, I'm always on your side, but being on your side also means wanting you to be happy and, I dunno, I guess I see why she did what she did, it was messed up but…"
"I just don't know… I mean, how is this happening?"
"Maybe you should see it as a second chance?"
"And what? I'm just supposed to forgive and forget?"
"No, but I saw how you two were, Dylan, that was real. She wouldn't have done what she did if she didn't love you. I don't think she would have ever gone through with her plan if she knew what Warren was going to do, and her revealing herself, that's going to have consequences."
She picked up his keys and handed them to him.
"She's at the local."
He shook his head and pushed her hand away, she grabbed his hand and placed the keys in his palm.
"If she leaves would you regret not talking to her?"
He glanced at her out the corner of his eye and let out a huff and rose from the couch.
Dutchy stood in the pub's entrance scanning the room, he spotted her sitting at the bar and watched her for a moment, he would do anything to erase the past and start again with her.
Sliding into the chair next to her he cleared his throat, she turned her head slightly and jumped at the sight of him.
"Dutchy!"
He sat there staring at her, tears welled in both their eyes, she slowly moved her hand towards his.
"Dylan, you have to know how sorry I am…"
He moved his hand away and exhaled sharply, he wanted to hear her explain, he wanted an apology, but hearing her voice, all he could hear were lies and betrayal.
"I'm sorry, I can't do this…"
He rose from the stool and walked away, she ran after him and stood in front of him stopping him from leaving.
"I'm not going anywhere, I, I love you…"
He looked up and caught her eye for a second and walked off without saying a word.
She shook her head, she knew it was a lot to ask, but she had risked her career to come back for him. She ran after him and grabbed his shoulder spinning him around.
"Did you hear me? I said I loved you! I have never said that to anyone in my life."
They stood there staring at each other, Lisa could feel her heart pound against her chest.
"I can't believe I'm telling you I love you for the first time while I'm yelling at you!"
She hoped he would thaw for a second, it was the exact way he had told her he loved her. Letting out a grunt he continued to eyeball her in silence, she was about to speak again when he walked way. She panicked, she needed to do something, she yelled out after him.
"You were like coming up for fresh air, it's like I was drowning and you saved me."
He hesitated for a moment then turned and stormed back up to her, she held her breath and took a step back frightened by the look in his eyes. He stood centimetres from her, she could feel the heat from his body.
"Seriously? You want to use a quote to fix this? A quote from a fictional, ridiculous program? Okay, I have one for you... You don't destroy the person that you love!"
She exhaled as tears spilled from her eyes, she knew there was nothing she could say to make it better, she dropped her head in defeat. He let out a hiss and shook his head and walked out.
End Chapter 26
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