Chapter Eight

"This is the CSRFM News at 2pm, I'm Diane Hylands."

"Reports are coming in of violent clashes between police and protestors outside the Lester Clinic. Eyewitnesses say the trouble flared out of nowhere, with bricks and other missiles hurled at a couple arriving at the clinic. A police spokesman he suspected that there was a racial motive to the attack on the couple, who were mixed race, and called on Rights of the Child to denounce the racial assault."

A spokesman for the organisation refused to condemn the attack, saying that the judgement of God would fall on the murderers of children."

"Three protesters and four police officers were hurt in the disturbance, which was the third serious incident at the clinic. A number of arrests were also made."

"In other news, the game at Pasadena's Rose Bowl between the Huskers and the Schooners is now sold out. College football fans have quickly snapped up all the available tickets, promising a red hot atmosphere when these two old rivals clash in the Rose Bowl decider."

"Its 205pm, I'll be back with more news at three."

xxxXXXxxx

He felt the strength drain from his legs, her office spinning around him. He groped blindly for the couch. "You're what?"

"I'm pregnant." It felt good to say it again. Made it real, made it a little easier to deal with.

"When?" He ran his hand across his face. It had suddenly gotten so hot in her office. "How long have you known?"

"Just since this morning." She tried to smile, hesitant, unsure, insecure. "What do you think?"

"I'm…you're…." He grinned suddenly, brightly, his face stripped of the lines of worry and doubt, suddenly boyish. "You're going to have a baby? We're going to be parents?"

"That's usually what it means." Her smile died and she bit nervously at her lip. "Are you happy about this Tony?"

"Happy?" He sprang to his feet, leaning across the desk, kissing her, not caring that she hadn't darkened the windows, that all of CTU could see him kissing his wife. "Of course I'm happy about it! How could I not be?"

"It's just….that things have been difficult…"

"I know, I know." He kissed her again. "But this is different Michelle. This isn't about CTU or Jack or….any of that shit. This is about you and me." He laughed briefly, and nodded at her stomach. "And junior, obviously. You understand me? Just us."

She nodded.

It was never going to be like that, never going to be that easy. But just for a moment, Michelle Dessler allowed herself to dream of a beautiful life with her husband and child.

xxxXXXxxx

"Are you okay, sweetheart?" The nurse knelt next to the chair she was sitting in, clutching a clipboard in her hands.

Her throat dry, she managed to nod. She could sense him looming behind her, an avenging angel.

The nurse made a note on the clipboard. "I need your name sweetheart. Just for our records."

She swallowed hard, trying to make her throat work. "Ashley."

"Well, Ashley, if you just want to wait here. Dr Lester will be with you shortly." She reached out and squeezed Ashley's hand. "Do you have any questions? It's not too late to change your mind. I know it's a very big decision and no one will think any less of you if you have changed your mind."

"She hasn't changed her mind nurse."

The nurse glanced up angrily at Jackson Alexander, then swallowed her words, looking hastily down at her clip board. She made another quick note. "I'll just pass this on to Dr Lester. Excuse me for a moment, please Ashley."

"Okay." She closed her eyes. Trying to think her way through this. Trying to formulate a plan. Even with her eyes closed, she could still sense him. Could hear his deep even breathing. Calm. In control.

"Not long now, Ashley."

Eyes still closed, she nodded. What the hell was she going to do? She had to slow things down, had to give CTU a chance to….

Inspiration struck her quickly.

"I want to talk to my father." She allowed a tear to slide down her cheek. "Just to…"

xxxXXXxxx

They had made their mistake.

Just one man left with the car. He had been easy to dispose of, quickly, silently, efficiently. Leaving him plenty of time to finish his task.

He worked quickly, carefully.

Crouching, working at the side she had exited. Glancing occasionally over his shoulder. According to her schedule, he should have plenty of time to finish this without rushing, but why invite complications?

He normally didn't use methods like this. They were too cold, too crude, too imprecise.

Too impersonal.

Normally he preferred to deal with his prey face to face. Easier to slip away, to maintain his reputation.

There. Finished.

He straightened, wiping his hand fastidiously on a handkerchief, tucking it into his trouser pocket, examining the car critically. Not his best work, but it would have to do.

He took another look around and walked away, past a carefully hidden body.

xxxXXXxxx

"Hello, newsroom, can I help you?"

Silence. Just a steady, even breathing.

She sighed heavily. "Hello?"

"It is today."

"What is?"

"The Child has been neglected too long, their rights forgotten, ignored by the demands of their sinful parents. Today we reassert the rights of the child. Today we speak for countless children, whose blood stains the hands of murderers like Dr Lester."

"Sir…"

The phone line went dead.

She sighed again, rubbing wearily at her eyes, leaning back in her chair. "Jim? You better come take a listen to this. I think we just got a warning."

xxxXXXxxx

"Listen, we've had a few people calling in, looking for Rose Bowl tickets. I'm sorry, people, they're all gone, you're too late, too bad, you aren't going to the big Huskers-Schooners game.

Except that I have managed to get my hands on four pairs of tickets for the big game, and I'll be giving those away in the next hour. So stay by your radios for the chance to win those tickets."

"So keep it tuned to CSRFM, it's 245pm."

xxxXXXxxx

Nathan leaned over her shoulder, speaking directly into her ear. "Time to go Amy."

She nodded, still smiling. Forcing herself to swallow another mouthful of food. She'd only picked at the lunch, made a show of eating food that turned to dust and ash in her mouth. Her smile twisted. Judging by the appetites of the people around her, she was the only one struggling to eat.

Delicately, she wiped her mouth and stood up. Almost instantly, the room fell silent, every eye focused on her.

She wondered if he was watching her as well.

She cleared her throat. "I would just like to thank you all fro attending. I greatly appreciate this display of support, especially as the campaign enters its most critical phase. So thank you all very much."

A brief round of applause interrupted her, and she waited patiently for silence to fall again. Conscious of Nathan, checking his watch, impatience written clearly across his features.

"Unfortunately, I am going to have to leave you for today." She raised her voice, throwing it to the back of the room, dragging everyone into the speech, infusing them with her words. "But I promise you, I will see you in a month or so and we will be celebrating all night long! Thank you all so much."

She stepped back, smiling, as chairs were scrapped back, the room exploding into applause.

She stepped up to Nathan's side, her face still flushed with excitement.

"Ready to go, Tom."

"Copy that Nathan."

xxxXXXxxx

"This was phoned into a Los Angeles news room about fifteen minutes ago." Michelle pressed play, and the harsh, distorted words of the threat filled the room.

"So there is a direct threat against the clinic?"

"Looks like it." Michelle leaned forward, covering her mouth as she fought off a wave of nausea. She felt Tony slip his hand into hers, hidden beneath the table, linking his fingers through hers. She held on for as long as she dared.

She wasn't ready for CTU to know yet.

Hastily she gathered her thoughts. "Chloe I want a full spectrum analysis of the recording. I want where it originated, who the caller is, whatever you can give me."

"Got it Michelle."

"Adam, keeping working on the hitman. I need something that links him to Rights of…"

A phone in Tony's pocket rang suddenly. He lifted it out. "It's Ashley."

"Put it on speaker." Michelle gestured at Adam. "Get a trace started."

Tony slid the phone into the holder and pressed the answer button. "Hello sweetheart."

"Something awful's gonna happen."

"Where are you? Your mother and I just want to talk to you."

"Lesters clinic."

xxxXXXxxx

Mike Peterson walked out into the sunlight. He turned quickly, checking their angles, checking for blind spots. "All clear." He put his shades on and walked towards the car.

Amy Gardner followed, keeping pace between Nathan Gault and one of Peterson's men.

"We're just leaving the lunch now." Tom Baker stepped out of the building, blinking rapidly. He shielded his eyes against the harsh light. "Where's Sykes? Nathan, do you know where Sykes is?"

"I don't know. Isn't he…." Nathan tugged his pistol out of its holster. "Stay behind me Amy." Hastily, her other guard pulled his own weapon out, looking around him. "Tom, do you see…"

"Wait, Mike no!"

Tom's voice, broken, infected with panic.

The car exploded, bright, hot and angry beneath the afternoon sun.