Promise to Love Me, Even When You Hate Me.
Chapter 11.
Think, Kate, think!
Dutchy's eyes widened as he waited for her to answer.
"Kate?"
"Ah, umm…"
She rubbed her hands over her face trying to remember the story she had told.
"He's umm, he's one of the guys from Daniel's crew…"
"Another one?"
Dutchy stood from the couch in a panic and ran to the window, he darted from one to another looking outside for any sign of him. Kate rushed to his side and pulled him back to the couch, they sat and she grabbed the phone from his grip.
"It's okay, Dutchy…"
He wrinkled his face not believing her.
"Kate, seriously, you need to go to the police."
"I can't, you just need to trust me, they won't do anything…"
Dutchy stared at her in total bewilderment not understanding.
"What?"
"Look, I know how it sounds, but they just show up and make sure I see them, make sure I know they're there, but they never do anything…"
Dutchy threw his hands in the air unable to see reason in her answer.
"That sounds totally crazy, this isn't a movie, Kate, this is real life…"
She crossed her arms over her chest, she didn't need to be reminded that her reality was insane.
"I'm well aware of that, Dutchy!"
They sat there in silence, Kate didn't need for them to fight again, she had just got him where she needed him. She sighed and tried to change the subject.
"Hey, it could be worse, I could have someone else on the side…"
Dutchy scoffed, he knew what she was trying to do, Kate nudged him.
"Yeah, I know, it's ridiculous, like I'd have time for another boyfriend."
He was frustrated with her secrecy but couldn't help but smile.
"Boyfriend? I'm your boyfriend, I thought you didn't like labels?"
Kate's body stiffened, she hadn't used the term boyfriend in a long time.
Dutchy saw the anxiousness in her eyes and gave her a mocking nudge.
"No, it's okay... well, actually, it's not. Kate, please don't hide things from me, after all the things we have told each other..."
"Exactly, then you should trust me when I say it's under control, anyway, can you just shh, I'm missing it..."
Kate lay her head back on Dutchy's shoulder hoping that he'd drop it, her hear beat a million miles an hour. Shaun was right, it was getting harder and harder to keep track of all the stories. She closed her eyes for a moment trying to calm herself. Dutchy exhaled sharply and wrapped his arms back around her.
3 episodes later Kate had fallen asleep on the couch, but Dutchy's mind still raced about Shaun and her situation. He took out his phone and searched for any articles about Kate's parents being killed, he frowned as her scrolled through the results, there was nothing. He didn't know her exes last name, so he couldn't search that. She began to stir as he mumbled to himself, she sat up rubbing her eyes.
"Everything okay?"
He locked his phone and placed it back on the coffee table.
"Ah, yeah, I, umm, I'm just a bit bothered about these guys, Kate. I just don't understand."
Kate crossed her legs beneath her and sighed, she knew that in order for him to stop asking about it she knew she had to give him some more details.
"What do you want to know?"
"Can I ask how he got involved?"
She broke eye contact and picked at her nail beds, should she tell him the truth or another lie?
"Ah, he umm, he uncovered some dodgy sailors and began to investigate them. He didn't realise what he was getting into, the drug ring sent Daniel so they wouldn't be able to connect the murder to the group. I never found out what he got out of it but…"
Tears welled in Kate's eyes, Dutchy felt guilty for asking but it was too serious not to discuss.
"But why did they target your mother, and you?"
Kate took a moment to find her words.
"Collateral damage, well, that's what the cops said he said. I was just, in the way…"
Dutchy winced, he still had questions but was unsure to whether to continue.
"So, I would have thought they'd stop at nothing so you couldn't say anything."
"Yeah, well, that's what I was talking about before, the unspoken rules. Daniel wouldn't name names else he would be a target, that's why he got the maximum, he refused to cooperate."
"So, why can't I find anything about this?"
Her eyes darted up to meet his.
"Huh? You're checking up on me?"
He grasped her hand in his in an attempt to show support.
"No, it's just, I want you to be safe..."
She snatched her hand back annoyed.
"I am safe, I've been looking after myself for 10 years, Dutchy, I don't need protection."
"I'm not saying you need it, I'm just saying that you don't always need to deal with everything on your own, that's all."
Kate let out a grunt and rose from the couch feeling patronised.
"They're leaving anyway, case closed… anyway, I better go."
Dutchy worried that he had pushed too far, that she was leaving because he had made her feel uncomfortable.
"Are you sure? It's late, I'll sleep on the couch, you can take the bed."
"No, it's okay... I'll see you tomorrow..."
She went to walk off but Dutchy pulled on her arm not wanting her to leave on a bad note. She fell into his lap, he smiled and brushed his hand over her cheek and leaned in and kissed her. She pulled away and looked into his eyes for a moment but then kissed him back.
The next morning Dutchy walked into Navcom, he sat at a free desk and glanced around to check if anyone was watching him. He moved in front of a computer and opened the personnel files and searched for Kate's details. He frowned as he scanned the page, the details were basic, name, age, current base and rank, hometown, blood type. He jumped as he felt a hand on his shoulder, he quickly clicked out of the program and swivelled around on the chair.
"Oh, Boss…"
Mike sat down next him and dragged the mouse towards him and opened the database, he raised an eyebrow as he saw Kate's name in the search field.
"And why are you checking the X's file?"
Dutchy's eyes darted around the room trying to think of an excuse.
"Ah…"
"What's going on Dutchy? You guys seemed to be getting along…"
"Ah, it's not that, Boss, I'm actually…"
He stopped himself, unsure of he should tell Mike the whole story.
"Did you ever hear of a guy in the Navy who was killed by a drug smuggler in his own home?"
Mike glanced over at him strangely not expecting that to be the subject of his question.
"Ah, why?"
"Well, do you?"
Mike thought about it for a minute and shook his head.
"Umm, maybe something when I was going through ADFA, but, umm, why?"
"Well, umm, it was Kate's father…"
"Oh…"
He sighed and scribbled on the notepad avoiding Mike's questioning glare.
"I just thought if I could find her file then I would know more, she doesn't want to talk about it, which I get, but…"
"Dutchy, do you really think it's a good idea to pry into the X's private life?"
He knew it wasn't, but if they were going to be in a relationship he needed to know the truth, but he couldn't use that reason with Mike. Mike's brow furrowed thinking of his conversations with Kate.
"Wait a minute, the X told me her parents lived in Perth… I mean, that was the first day, maybe she made it up cos she wasn't ready to talk about it…"
"Do you think Commander White will know?"
"Dutchy, I highly recommend that you drop this…"
Dutchy exhaled loudly and rose from the chair.
"Yeah, I guess you're right…"
Kate knocked on Frankie's front door, she hated that she was using innocent people but she needed to find the truth. Frankie swung open the door and a large smile appeared on her face seeing Kate.
"Kate! What a lovely surprise…"
"Hi Frankie, I actually needed a favour, I don't think Dylan is home, you wouldn't happen to have a spare key to his place would you?"
"Ah, I do, but I'm only supposed to use it for emergencies…"
"I actually wanted to surprise him and make him breakfast…"
Frankie's eyes widened full of excitement, she immediately grabbed her purse and fished the key out.
"Do you smell smoke?"
Kate frowned and stuck her nose in the air.
"Ah, no…"
Frankie rolled her eyes and passed Kate the key.
"I smell smoke, I think you'd better go check it out…"
Frankie gave her a wink, Kate smiled and gave her a hug.
"FYI, we're just friends…"
Kate walked back down her front path, Frankie stood at her door shaking her head, she called out after her.
"I better get an invite to the wedding…"
Kate let out a scoff and headed over to Dutchy's house, she swung open the door and stood there for a moment feeling uneasy. She closed her eyes trying to get herself into work mode, taking a deep breath in she headed into his bedroom. She rummaged around in a few drawers being careful not to disturb too much, but she found nothing. She lay herself flat on the floor and peeked under the bed and shook her head, nothing.
She let out a groan as she hauled herself off the floor and walked over to the wardrobe and flung open the doors. Shuffling the coat hangers aside she scanned for any signs of a safe or a lockbox, but again, nothing. Walking back into the lounge she spotted his laptop on the coffee table and ran over and opened it as she sat on the couch. She froze and took a sharp breath in as the background was a picture of them, she shook her head ignoring the guilt and opened the internet search history. Her eyes examined the results, she frowned seeing he had searched multiple times for information on her and her family. She clicked on a few links and sighed with relief as the results revealed nothing. She found his email program and searched through the subjects, not a suspect email in sight.
She flinched hearing the front door unlock, she slammed the lid of the computer shut and ran into the kitchen, She flung open for cupboards and hid herself out of sight. Dutchy cautiously walked into the kitchen hearing strange noises.
"Hello?"
Kate pop up from behind the kitchen bench holding a wok looking apprehensive.
"Surprise?"
He let out a laugh and walked into the kitchen.
"What are you doing here?"
Kate fiddled around in one of the drawers avoiding his gaze.
"I thought it was my turn to do something nice, I was trying to cook you breakfast…"
He glanced at the wok in her hand.
"With a wok?"
Kate looked at the wok in her hand and place it back in the cupboard.
"Well, it's not my fault I can't find anything in your boy kitchen."
Dutchy laughed and opened the cupboard opposite her to reveal a perfectly organised pots and pan area.
"I'm not just a great buffer…"
"Oh, so you're a chefo too?"
Dutchy shrugged as he took out a pan and spun it around in his hand.
"I've been known to sail through, and cook up a storm, at the same time…"
Kate rolled her eyes and sat at the bench.
"Okay, and for that terrible joke, you're cooking…"
Dutchy walked over to the fridge and took out the eggs.
"So, how d'you get in here, anyway?"
"Ah, Frankie…"
He shook his head and placed the pan on the stove to heat up, he turned and leaned on the bench towards her.
"So, have you been through my medicine cabinet and my bedside drawers? What have you discovered about me?"
Kate couldn't help but look guilty, Dutchy laughed and walked around to her side of the bench and gave her a hug.
"It's okay, I know you can't help it. But, just to let you know, I don't have any secrets. I'm pretty boring…"
He turned back to the stove and cracked the eggs into the pan, she smiled as she watched him seamlessly make his way around the kitchen, like a well-oiled cooking machine. For a moment she forgot who and where she was, for a moment she was normal, just a girl watching her boyfriend cook breakfast.
Dutchy turned back around and waved a hand in her face snapping her out of her daydream.
"Earth to Kate…"
"Sorry…"
"Where d'you go?"
"Nowhere, err, just thinking how hungry I am…"
She was grateful for the knock at the door, she got up and answered it forgetting she wasn't at her house. She swung open the door and watched as 2Dads face twitched.
"X! Sorry, wasn't expecting it to be you…"
2Dads looked around for any signs of Dutchy.
"Ah, is Dutchy here?"
"Oh, of course, come in, you're here early…"
It was exactly what he was thinking but about her, they walked into the kitchen, Dutchy was serving breakfast.
"Hey! Want some breakfast?"
Kate headed to the bathroom, 2Dads waited for the door to close and pulled Dutchy towards him.
"What's she doing here?"
Dutchy continued to serve the plates undeterred by his question.
"What do you mean? We're friends…"
"Yeah, but it's like eight in the morning…"
"Ah, yeah, that's why I'm making breakfast…"
"Did she stay over?"
Dutchy laughed and offered him a plate.
"Ah, no, what are you talking about?"
"Okay, just checking, I mean, I know you're friends now, but that would just be plain weird."
Dutchy tried his hardest not to look offended, 2Dads stepped back from Dutchy as Kate returned from the bathroom, she cleared her throat trying to think of something to say.
"So, what's happening?"
"Oh, some of us guys are going fishing, we just wanted to see if Dutchy wanted to go…"
Dutchy glanced over to Kate feeling a little bad about the invitation while she was there.
"Ah, yeah, Kate, you wanna come?"
Kate glanced over to 2Dads who looked nervous.
"Oh, no that's okay, you guys go…"
2Dads felt a little bad, maybe he should make more of an effort too seeming Dutchy had been able to form a friendship with her.
"Nah, come along, X…"
She waived her hands in the air dismissing him.
"No, it's okay.. you guys go, it's fine…"
Dutchy stepped towards Kate and leaned in.
"Are you sure?"
She stepped back a little feeling like he was too close in front of 2Dads.
"Yeah, go!"
"Catch up with you later, but stay and eat…"
She grabbed the plate from the bench and opened the top drawer for a fork.
"Oh, yeah, I'm not wasting this food!"
10 minutes later Dutchy walked out of his bedroom wearing his fishing gear, 2Dads exited first and Dutchy turned and blew her a kiss as he shut the door.
He got into the passenger's side and looked over to 2Dads wondering what he was waiting for.
"Err, are we going?"
2Dads turned to face him and raised an eyebrow.
"You're letting her just hang in your place?"
"Yeah, why not?"
"I dunno, it's just such a girlfriend thing to do…"
"2Dads, do you remember what happened last time when we were discussing the X?"
"Yeah?"
"So, shut up!"
Kate paced around Dutchy's living room, her phone to her ear.
"There's nothing here… don't believe me? Come look for yourself…"
She jumped as there was a knock at the front door.
"Kate?"
The voice sounded familiar, she cautiously opened the door peeking through the gap, it was Shaun.
"Seriously?"
She swung the door open looking unimpressed, she smirked and shrugged.
"What? You said come look for yourself?"
He pushed his way past her, she sat on the couch while Shaun searched the house. 30 minutes later he walked back into the lounge room and sat beside her.
"Well, so far he's clean, but it doesn't mean there isn't something…"
He reached for the laptop, but she pulled it away from him.
"I've already looked on there…"
He frowned and pulled it back towards him and opened it.
"Yeah, but it won't hurt if I…"
He stopped seeing the background photo, a large grin crossed his face and flipped the laptop around to face her.
"He's smitten, isn't he?"
Kate shrugged trying not to let it get to her, he nudged her and shook his head.
"You're a surprise… anyway, we're still trying to track that last deposit, and trying to get through the red tape to talk to the witness. If nothing comes out of that we may have to do something else to test him…"
Shaun plugged an USB into the laptop and transferred the contents of the hard drive.
"Just in case…"
"So, what happens if we can't get anything?"
"Well, we'll take it higher and they'll make a decision, but if there's a witness, we'll need an official statement. He didn't want to make one if he didn't need to that's why we're were doing all this. But, we may just keep you here for a bit longer, in case anything else develops. You don't mind do you?"
She shook her head, Shaun placed the laptop back on the coffee table and unplugged the USB.
"But, just be careful, Kate. I get a feeling you're hoping he's innocent and generally it doesn't end the way we want it…"
"No, it's more that if he's innocent I don't want to, well, I don't think it's right to persecute an innocent man."
Shaun glanced from Kate to the background picture on the laptop, he hoped that she wasn't getting soft. Kate could read him like a book, she knew she needed to change the subject.
"So, umm, after all of this…"
"I know, I know, you've been pestering me for some leave…"
"Well, I think I deserve it!"
He gave her a pat on the shoulder as he rose from the couch.
"You do, after we charge him… I'll be in touch…"
End of Chapter 11.
