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Chapter 27
It was supposed to be a relaxing weekend in Georgia; fishing and having guy time, but Tom could tell Mike was conflicted about something. Mike finally told him about the ordeal with Hannah and what had happened with Christine. She suspected he was mistaking her for Maddie and Tom wasn't entirely convinced that Mike wasn't trying to replace Maddie with the next best thing; Christine. It was a mess.
At Russ' cabin, cellphone reception was spotty at best, so it was extremely surprising when Tom received a collect call from the prison where Wilson was at and the person identified himself as Wilson. Tom dodged to where he would have good cellphone reception and away from Mike. He had thought Wilson was dying and from the sound of his voice, it wasn't too far off.
"Wilson, I wasn't expecting to hear from you. What's going on? I got all the associates." Tom asked.
"You didn't. There are still a few. I thought you had too. If I had realized they were still out there, I would have called you immediately, but they are blindly still reporting back to me…Admiral; they are using Hannah Slattery to get to her father. And they had a nurse working at the hospital where his fiancée died. It is unknown if that nurse had anything to do with Miss Rawlins death, or if it was just a cruel twist of faith." Wilson explained.
"How are they using Hannah?" Tom asked.
"One of them; Todd, has been leading her on. She thinks they are dating. I suspect he is using a young girl's love to find information out all while causing problems, planting seeds against Mike in Hannah's mind. I understand they don't get along?" Wilson asked.
"There have been some misunderstandings." Tom supplied, not wanting to give any details.
"I have told him to quit, but I doubt that it will help. The only thing that is going to stop this is my death. Then they will have no one to report to. They think this garners approval and creed." Wilson explained.
"Why Mike?" Tom asked.
"Former CNO, Admiral of the Fleet? They want him to crack up. Knowing his daughter betrayed him, even without knowing it, and possibly killed his fiancée; would be enough. They also alluded to having caused the wife's accident. Of course, there is no proof without a confession. You are going to have to get Hannah to turn against them, something that might not be easy." Wilson said.
"May not be easy because she doesn't realize what's happening?" Tom asked.
"She's a young girl who is in love and will not see that he is taking advantage of her. I honestly don't think she knows what is happening." Wilson told Tom.
"Alright, well thanks. Try to get this stopped from your side. Its bound to cause some harder feelings between Mike and Hannah. And I need information on this nurse." Tom said.
"I honestly don't know on that. He just mentioned that he had had a nurse in that delivery room. Surely a nurse wouldn't have been able to do that much. But, I will see what I can find out." Wilson promised.
"If she didn't hand things to the doctors fast enough, gave a wrong medication, any number of things." Tom answered.
"Or it might have just been a cruel twist of fate. Its hard to say, but I will see what I can find out." Wilson said before hanging up. Tom took a deep breath, explained things to Russ and walked out to the dock where Mike was fishing.
"Mike, that was Wilson that called. He received some informatio that one of the associates has been dating Hannah and is that is what is causing the issue between you and she. He believes she is feeding him information, not knowing he is connected to the associates. He also suspects that the associates might have had a nurse in the room when Maddie died. He isn't sure if she was connected to the death or if it was just…as he put it, a cruel twist of fate. He also alluded that they may have had something to do with Christine's accident." Tom explained. He could see the emotions change on Mike's face, first pain and then anger.
"Hannah caused this?" Mike asked.
"We don't believe she knew that this Todd was an associate. We believe she is a young girl who fell in love with a man trying to take advantage of her father. Wilson believes that their purpose is to make you crack. He is trying to make them stop, but believes it'll only happen once he dies." Tom explained.
"So, in the meantime; what am I supposed to do about Hannah?" Mike asked.
"Well, obviously; we need to stop her from seeing this Todd. Her being grounded might help." Tom remarked. They began walking back to the cabin and Tom could feel the anger emanating from Mike.
"I will never forgive her if she caused this." Mike said.
"I don't think she did intentionally. I think she was taken advantage of." Tom said.
"She should have known better. First Maddie and then her mom?" Mike said angrily.
"Mike; stop! I get that you're mad, but Hannah may also be an innocent victim in this. Do not ostracize her." Tom demanded.
"She's my own damn daughter. If she was stupid enough to fall for this, then she deserves anything I dish out. She will never be forgiven." Mike said.
"And what about Christine? Hannah is still her daughter too." Tom asked.
"We will have to figure that out. Right now; I can't even stand the sight of her. For all I care; she will be on the street." Mike said.
"This is the daughter you grieved for for six years. You cried on her birthdays. Take a breath before you throw her out. Think about your wife and other kids. She maybe completely misguided." Tom argued.
"As far as I am concerned; she is dead to me. Somehow, rather she knew it or not; she caused Maddie's death and almost killed her own mother. Two women I love." Mike said.
"And the daughter you love? I don't think its gonna be so simple. Just take a breath and let her explain." Tom said. He knew he was getting through to Mike and as soon as they walked in, Russ had everything packed up. They were on the road within a half hour, but Tom could tell Mike was simmering. Thankfully, Russ was calming and by the time they reached Christine's house; Mike was at a dull roar. Tom and Russ followed him into the house, where Hannah was sitting on the couch holding Joy.
"Did you know?" Mike yelled at Hannah. Christine looked at Tom in complete confusion.
"Know what?" Hannah asked.
"Katie; take Joy. Now." Mike demanded. His oldest daughter took the baby and took her into the kitchen where Christine was standing.
"Mike; what is going on?" Christine asked as she touched Mike's arm.
"Christine; while we were in Georgia; I received a call from Howard Wilson, one of the regional leaders. Turns out that Todd, the guy Hannah has been dating is one of the associates and there may have been a nurse associated with them in the room when Maddie died. He thinks that Hannah accidently revealed information about the family and that might have contributed to Maddie's death and your accident." Tom explained. Hannah had a totally shocked look on her face and Tom knew she had been clueless.
"No, I didn't know! I met Todd at the coffee shop. He never asked that much about the family. I told him Dad and I really don't get along and…" Hannah said before bursting into tears. Christine nodded at Tom and sat down next to her daughter. Mike was pacing around in anger.
"Its okay, honey. You didn't know." Christine said. She had her arms around Hannah and was rocking her back and forth.
"No, its not okay and even if you didn't know; you should have known better. Go to your room until I can decide what to do with you. I don't want to see you or hear you." Mike said. Everyone in the room looked at him in shock.
"I'll break up with him, Daddy! Please don't do this. I didn't know." Hannah begged as she stood up. She tried to hug Mike, but he pushed her away, almost knocking her back into Christine.
"Mike…" Christine started.
"Room, now! You're lucky I'm not just throwing you out completely." Mike said. Hannah looked around in shock but finally complied.
"Mike; that was uncalled for. She didn't know." Tom said.
"I'm going to check on her. I suggest you calm yourself down." Christine said before walking away. Kaitlyn followed her with Joy.
"I am completely justified." Mike said.
"No, you aren't. Hannah never meant for this to happen." Tom argued.
"You find me proof she didn't know, and I might forgive her. Its doubtful, but I might. Until then, I won't see her." Mike said before walking away. Tom went to Hannah's room and quietly explained to Christine. Hannah was laying on her bed, sobbing. She might have been angry at her father before, but Mike had done something far worse then anything she had done.