Chapter Sixteen
"No," Minya whispered in anguish. She pulled out of Frank's arms and collapsed beside the prone body. "Misty! Why!?" She cried, touching her friend's cheek.
Misty's hazel eyes fluttered open and she gasped for breath. "Everything...you have..." She coughed raucously and blood trickled from the side of her mouth and nose.
"I don't understand; you're my best friend. I love you." Tears streamed down Minya's face.
Monica and Alex mouthed the words "the President's daughter" in unison. Frank and Jake just shook their heads in disbelief.
"Everyone loves...you. Only know me...President's daughter." Misty explained through the pain. "Hate you," she spat with her last breath.
Minya's body wracked with tears as she clung to her dead friend. "No, Misty..."
************
"Here we are again," Jake said, glancing around the emergency room. "We always wind up in a hospital one way or another."
"Actually, you should count yourself lucky to be here," Alex commented.
"Why do you say that," Jake asked, perplexed.
She grinned. "Oh, it might come in handy to have doctors available when Donovan remembers you making it with his girlfriend."
"It wasn't real," Jake replied, casting a wary glance at Frank.
"She's not my girlfriend," Donovan replied, irritated.
"That's not what Cody says," Alex taunted.
"Cody has a big mouth," Donovan observed. "And Jake...touch her again and I will shoot you."
Monica chuckled. "Boys, boy...behave yourselves."
"I wonder how she's doing?" Alex asked. "She was pretty torn up over Misty. You just never can tell what jealousy will do to a person, no matter who they are."
"Imagine the ramifications...the President's daughter," Jake remarked.
Monica rubbed her chin. "I can only imagine her reasons for doing what she did by what little she said before she died. She resented Minya for all that she had achieved; knowing her only mark in life was whose daughter she was. She never felt any worth of her own."
Donovan pointed to the doctor headed their way. "Here's the doctor; he should be able to tell us more about Minya."
"Agent Donovan," the doctor began. "We gave Miss Sheridan a mild sedative to calm her, but you can go to her room now."
"Thank you."
************
"How're you doing, Minya," Jake asked as they entered the room.
"Fine," she said, groggily.
"You know," a voice sounded in everyone's ears. "What I can't figure out...is how Misty sabotaged the headphones in Minya's studio."
"Yeah, Cody," Jake agreed. "That's a good question."
"What?" Minya asked, grasping Frank's left hand and making a face when she contacted the rough stitches. "I didn't hear anything."
"It was Cody, in the earpieces. Rest now, Minya," he said soothingly.
"No. What did he ask?"
"He was wondering how Misty sabotaged your studio," he replied.
"Degree in broadcasting," she replied, sleepily. "Broadcast journalism."
"Huh?" Alex said.
"Minored in electronics. Wanted to make sure she could handle equipment if there was a problem," Minya explained through her drug-induced haze. She jerked her head suddenly, remembering something important. "Misty had the codes to my security system. She stayed at my house frequently; even if I was out of town."
Donovan nodded. "Enough talk now. We'll talk more in the morning."
"Kiss Sammie for me," she said, drifting off to sleep.
"I will, Diva. I will."
************
"What did the AG have to say?" Monica asked as Frank exited the room he shared with Cody at Minya's apartment.
He shook his head. "He said the President is in mourning for his daughter who died in a climbing accident."
"What!?"
"How exactly are they explaining what happened at the Kodak Theatre?" she demanded.
"Crazed fan. They're claiming to be withholding the name until his family can be notified," he replied with a shrug.
"Cover up," Jake commented.
"Yes," Frank agreed. "It was at Minya's request. The Secret Service handled everything from hospital and morgue records to confiscating any incriminating video at the theatre."
"It wasn't being broadcasted?" Alex asked.
"No. Apparently they jumped to commercial right after Jake and Minya's performance."
************
"Sashka just called," Jake said. "They'll be here in five minutes."
Donovan nodded as he continued to pack Sammie's clothes and toys. Sashka told him Minya insisted he take them with them when they left for Chicago.
"Sammie, what are you doing?" he asked, watching her remove the items he had already packed.
"Don't wanna go," she pouted, crossing her little arms across her chest.
"I know you want to stay with Minya, but it's time for us to go home. You do want to see Nana, don't you?" he reasoned. She nodded although her bottom lip still pooched. "And besides that, Minya is going to be traveling a lot over the next six months. She won't be here, baby."
"Don't you like her, daddy? Don't you think she's pretty?"
He picked her up and sat down on the bed with her on his lap. How do you explain complicated emotions to a child? "Sammie, I care for Minya, more than I could ever have thought possible. But, our lives are too different; it would never work."
"Does this mean Miss Minya doesn't want to be my friend, 'cos we're different?"
Her little brow was creased in a frown and her lips pursed as she tried to reason through the problem. Donovan almost smiled as he recognized his own trait in his daughter.
"We'll always be friends, darlin'," Minya replied from the doorway. "No matter where you are or how far away I am, our hearts will always be together." She took Sammie from Donovan and hugged her tightly.
"I'll miss you," Sammie whispered, touching her forehead to Minya's.
"Me, too," she replied. "But, if it's okay with your dad, I'll call you every day." Minya looked over Sammie's shoulder and questioned Donovan with her eyes. She smiled brightly when he nodded.
"You promise?"
"Promise," Minya replied, kissing Sammie's little nose before setting her down. "Now, go find Sashka—she has something for you to take with you."
"Okay," she said, running from the room yelling Sashka's name.
"It's a photo of Sammie and me, from the house in Chicago. Sashka had a couple copies made up for me from the surveillance videos," she explained when Donovan arched a questioning brow.
He nodded as he stood and placed his hands on her shoulders. "You're genuinely fond of her, aren't you?"
"I love that little girl," she agreed. "I'm going to miss having her around." She blinked back the unshed tears that were forming behind her eyes.
"We'll both miss you, Diva," he stated, drawing her into his embrace.
"Thank you for everything you've done for me," she said, wrapping her arms about his waist.
"You won't be coming back to Chicago before the
tour?" he asked, hopefully.
"No," she replied, pulling out of his embrace. She picked up a jumper and folded it before placing it into the box. "The tour starts soon. I have a lot of rehearsing to do."
He took the shirt she was folding and tossed it into the box. "Diva, there's something I need to say," he began, turning her to face him.
"Why do you keep calling me that?" she asked, exasperated. "Do you still think I'm self-centered and temperamental? I mean...I know you did when we first met."
"No," he replied huskily, trailing kisses along her neck and jaw. "You're my heart's diva."
"What do you mean?" she sighed longingly.
"The only woman I've let touch my heart since Theresa," he said before covering her lips with his.
Although Minya wanted nothing more than to stay in his arms forever, she pulled away from him knowing that was impossible. "Go...now. Before I beg you to stay," she whispered. When he didn't move, she said, "Please! I'll send Sammie's things to you."
He sighed heavily. "Okay, Minya. Take care of yourself."
"You, too, Frank. You, too."
*****Epilogue to follow