Clara didn't want to go with Lisa. She would rather have spent the rest of the day sat in the apartment, hiding from the outside world like she had been doing for the past three days. But Lisa had told her that she needed to go out. She needed to get some fresh air.
Lisa had thrown a navy blue dress onto her bed, sleeves coming down to her elbows and a pair of tights along with smart black heels. Clara had looked to them once she had come out of the bathroom, her hair wet and tied in a towel as Lisa stood in the doorway, looking at her with a knowing stare as she folded her arms over her chest.
"What is this?" Clara wondered from her cousin.
"You're coming with me," she said to her. "I do this event…Eagles & Angles. It's to remember the fallen police officers in LA. It's a charity event and I think it would do you some good to attend with me."
"I don't think so," Clara responded, still sounding hesitant as she held the towel tightly around her body, her brow arching as Lisa shook her head, refusing to take no for an answer from her. "I mean, I'm not exactly in the mood."
"Well, get in the mood," Lisa urged her, "because you are coming and we are going to have a nice meal and smile and converse with people. Listen to me, Clara, I won't leave you alone, okay? I'll stay by your side."
"You must think I'm pathetic," Clara whispered. "I can't even handle myself, can I?"
"You can," Lisa said. "Look, just believe me. This will be good for you. Get dressed and I'll see you in the kitchen for breakfast. I have some meetings to go to this morning but I will pick you up this afternoon for the event."
Clara had no other option to argue as Lisa walked away and into the kitchen. Glancing down to the dress, Clara let out a deep breath before sighing and wondering if her cousin was right. Perhaps this would be a good thing for her. She didn't know and she wasn't convinced, but she went along with it.
…
Clara had done what Lisa had said. She had changed into the navy dress, standing in front of he mirror and looking at herself. It fit perfectly, a silver button on each side of it with small pockets. It flared out slightly and Clara was grateful for the sleeves. The shoes were slightly higher than Clara had anticipated, but she didn't complain, instead she practiced walking, wondering when the last time she had worn heels had been.
She had sat at the dressing table, pulling at her hair and daring to pull it into a loose bun on the back of her head so that it dangled by the nape of her neck. She finished pinning it into place before she heard Lisa come back into the apartment, standing in the doorway and looking impressed with her cousin's appearance.
They had chatted about nothing of importance on the drive to the charity event and Lisa had told Clara about how her husband had offered to take her to Paris for their next anniversary. Clara had played along, smiling and telling her how great that sounded. Lisa had even gone so far as to ask Clara if she wanted her to set her up with someone. Clara had scoffed and shaken her head.
The event was in a hotel, tables with white tablecloths lined over them. There were officers dressed in uniforms at every turn, holding onto drinks and conversing animatedly. Clara had stuck by Lisa's side as her cousin introduced her to everyone, telling them who she was and her job.
Clara had smiled politely and shaken hands, answering questions when they were asked of her. She had picked up a glass of wine from a passing tray as Lisa took a moment to herself with her cousin, sipping on her wine.
"You holding up okay?" Lisa asked of her and she nodded her head.
"Yeah," Clara responded. "I mean…I'm fine."
"Good," Lisa responded. "Listen, I had an extra place set at my table and I ordered you a chicken salad. I don't know if that's okay…"
"It's fine," Clara replied, a smile on her face as she moved to run a hand down her cousin's arm. "I'll eat whatever. I've never been picky."
"Good," Lisa said as someone behind Clara's shoulder caught her attention and she moved a hand to her shoulder, holding it softly for a second. "Listen, I'll be back in a moment…sorry…just a minute."
Nodding, Clara turned her head over her shoulder in time to see Lisa stand across from some man who was just wearing a suit. She remained on the spot where she stood, one arm folding over her waist while the other held the wine glass. She sipped on the liquid slowly, her eyes darting around the room before she looked to the entrance.
It was then when she saw them. She said nothing, her mouth gaping slightly as they caught sight of her and she shook her head. How was this even possible? They were supposed to be in prison. They were supposed to be locked up. What had changed? Clara knew that she should go over and speak to them, but she had no time.
Lisa was back by her side, commanding her attention as the three men in uniform dispersed around the room, going their own way.
"Sorry about that," Lisa informed her cousin with a smile. "Boris is an old business colleague. I'd have introduced you but he's pretty cantankerous."
"Don't worry about it," Clara said to her. "Listen, I just need to go and freshen up for a minute."
"Everything okay?"
"Yeah," Clara nodded. "Everything is fine, you know…just need a moment. I'll be back in a minute."
Placing her wine glass down on a table, Clara moved amongst people, smiling and nodding her head politely as she went. She said nothing, instead choosing to keep silent, wondering if one of them would follow her to explain what the hell was going on. She made it to the bathroom door before she felt someone tug on her arm.
Turning around, she nodded at him before he took hold of her elbow and steered her down another corridor in between the kitchen and the function room. Clara didn't know what to do, instead all she could find herself doing was stare at him as he pulled the cap from his head and his other hand remained on her arm.
"What are you doing here?" he asked from her.
She scoffed. "I could ask you the same thing," she told him. "I thought that you were in some maximum security jail."
"Yeah, that's the cover story," Alex told her. "We're in hiding…me…and some others."
"Like Lincoln and Michael?" Clara wondered from him. "They're outside there too, aren't they?"
"Yeah," he responded to her. "We're working to bring them down still, Clara. We're working against The Company."
"Good," Clara nodded, looking back down the corridor as Alex moved to bring her gaze back to his, his hand going to her cheek as he searched her stare with an intensity she had never seen before. It took her a moment before she arched a brow. "What is it?"
"You don't…Clara…I can't tell you what we're doing here, but meet me tonight and I'll explain, okay? I'll explain everything to you."
"What do you mean?" Clara wondered.
"I mean that the woman you were speaking with a moment ago-"
"-My cousin?" Clara interrupted him. "Lisa?"
Alex's eyes widened then as he shook his head with haste. How could she have just said that to him? It made no sense. That woman was her cousin. That woman was her cousin and she worked for The Company. Clara watched on as she saw Alex's face continue to pale, contrasted to the dark uniform he was wearing.
"What do you know about Lisa?" Clara demanded.
"That she is part of The Company," Alex said and Clara shook her head with haste then as Alex saw her begin to move away from him, but he grabbed her back. "Clara, you need-"
"-No," Clara interrupted him. "I don't believe that. Lisa is my cousin. She doesn't work for The Company. She can't."
"She does," Alex continued to protest. "Listen to me, Clara, she has private security with her and I'd bet it's only a matter of time before she-"
"-We need your help." A new voice entered the fray and Clara frowned as she saw Michael approach her along with Lincoln, both of them also dressed in officer's uniform. "Clara, you-"
"-Why the hell would I help you?" Clara demanded from Michael. "You wouldn't help me when I begged for your help to find Alex. You left me behind. Both of you left me behind."
"We want you to help us because we're trying to get to the bottom of this," Alex said, knowing that he had more of a chance of getting through to her than Michael had. He took hold of her hand, but she slipped her fingers from his, clearly upset. "Clara, all we need is for you to eat with her and put this in your pocket."
Michael held up a device that Clara had never seen before. "It picks up data from the card that she keeps on her."
"What card?" Clara demanded.
"A card to Scylla," Alex said. "Listen to me, Clara…if you do this…and meet me tonight then I can explain everything. I promise you…please…we just need your help."
"She is not part of The Company," Clara said, still sounding determined.
"We'll see if you do this for us," Michael said, challenging Clara.
"Please," Alex urged her again.
"We need your help," Lincoln added on and Clara took a deep breath before snatching the device from Michael's grip and placing it into her pocket.
"So what do I do?" she demanded. "Not that it matters because she is not part of this organisation."
"Sit with her for two minutes and when I walk past and pat your shoulder, you know that we have what we need," Michael told her. "And we will pick you up tonight after the event two blocks from here on Fitz. We'll explain everything then."
"Fine," Clara huffed, hand going into her pocket as she held onto the device. "But Lisa is leaving tonight on a red eye so it shouldn't be difficult to leave her."
"Thank you," Michael nodded and Clara began to turn around and move back into the event, but Alex was walking by her side as the brothers stayed behind. Clara said nothing for a moment until she realised Alex was next to her.
"You need to go," she told him. "Listen, I have told Lisa about you…I don't want you to risk getting caught."
"Fine by me," Alex said, placing his cap back on his head before Clara shot him another glance.
"You have a lot of explaining," she told him.
"I know," he nodded in agreement before she left to head back into the event, fixing a smile back on her face as she went to sit by Lisa's side, the salad already on the table.
"Everything alright?" Lisa asked of Clara.
"Yeah, sorry," Clara said. "I just needed a few more minutes, but this looks delicious."
"Tastes it too," Lisa said before going back to conversing with the officers around the table as Clara laughed when everyone else did and spoke when she was spoken to. It felt like hours before she felt someone brush a hand over her shoulder and she relaxed, not turning around and giving away Michael's location.
Instead she remained seated before her cousin said that she had to leave for a flight.
"I can drop you off on the way?" Lisa said and Clara shook her head, finishing her wine.
"No," she said with a shake of her head. "I might go for a walk…see the city before going home. You were right. I should get out more."
Lisa seemed encouraged by that, moving to bid her goodbyes to everyone. Clara waited until she was certain that she had gone before she left the event, walking with haste down the sidewalk to make sure she wasn't being followed by anyone. She had her hands stuffed in her pockets as she let her clutch remain underneath her arm. Walking the necessary blocks, her heels clicked on the ground as she searched for any sign of the brothers. She found them after Alex climbed from the back seat, still dressed in the uniform as he motioned over to her.
Nodding, she crossed the road and moved towards the car, sliding into the backseat as Alex followed her, shutting the door. Clara pulled the device from the pocket of her dress and handed it to Michael who was sat in the front seat.
"So, what the hell is going on?" Clara wondered, shrugging her shoulders.
"We're working with Homeland Security," Lincoln answered, beginning to drive off. "They're offering us our freedom in exchange for Scylla."
"What is Scylla?" Clara continued with her questioning.
"The Company's black book," Alex responded. "It has all of their clients and secrets on it. Homeland want it so that they can bring The Company down. Anyway, Scylla can only be accessed with six cards before being placed into this machine to decode the cards."
Clara frowned. "And you think my cousin has one of the cards?" she wondered.
"Yeah," Lincoln responded.
"That's madness," Clara complained. "Lisa…she's taken me in and I told her everything about The Company. She never said anything about them or what they do. She sat and listened to me…she…she isn't part of this."
Alex could see her begin to sound worried and so he did the only thing he could think of. He moved his hand to her arm, but this time she didn't shrug him off. She remained staring out the window as she tried to take in all of the information they had given her. She was quiet, her eyes narrowed as she felt Alex staring at her.
"So how many cards do you have?"
"With this one it makes two," Michael told her.
"And the other four?" Clara continued.
"With four other people," Michael responded. "I saw them all meeting this man who I assume is in charge. We have their faces and we're slowly identifying them. Of course, if you know anyone then that might help."
"I doubt it," Clara scoffed and Alex ran his hand up and down her arm slowly.
"Clara, it would make sense," he told her. "You know someone inside of The Company. Who else could it be?"
"Anyone but Lisa," Clara protested, "because I don't want to believe that she was the one who ordered that man to torture me. I don't…it wasn't her…it couldn't have been her. It has to be anyone else but her."
"I know," Alex told her and they lapsed into silence once more until they pulled up in a port.
Clara opened the door and climbed out as the others did the same. Looking out to the water, Clara then turned around as Lincoln and Michael began to move into a warehouse. Clara arched a brow before she saw Alex come to stand by her side, looking out over the port.
"So this is where you're all hiding out?" she asked from him and he nodded.
"Yeah," he said, hands on his hips.
"Doesn't look like five star luxury," she said and Alex managed a small smile.
"It's got communal showers so I'd say it is more hostel like," he responded, drawing a laugh from her before he turned serious. "I should have been in contact with you earlier, Clara…about everything."
She shrugged. "Last I heard you were locked up in some jail, but that's clearly a lie."
"Clearly," Alex agreed. "I'd been working with Whistler, but he was shot by someone from The Company. When that happened then I went back to Colorado…to see Pam and my son…Clara…you don't…"
Moving to look to him, she saw him shaking his head. She moved to stand in front of him as she saw his eyes grow with water and he shook his head, sniffing loudly as Clara understood what had happened. It didn't take a genius to put two and two together. Moving with haste, she scrambled to throw her arms around him, holding him to her as she hoped that she could offer him some form of comfort.
"What did they do?" Clara whispered into his ear, her voice low and soft as Alex moved to wrap his arms around her waist, letting her move to cradle his head against her shoulder and neck.
"They killed my boy," he sniffed out, his voice breaking as tears rolled down his cheeks. "They killed my son."
Her grip on him increased then and she held him to her, unable to let go of his body as Alex let his sobs consume him. Clara managed to push a hand into his hair, holding his locks in her fingertips as she ran her fingers through them. She didn't know how long had passed before Alex looked up to her, his hands going to her shoulders as he held them in his grip.
"I'm going to find whoever did this," Alex informed Clara.
"I know," Clara whispered to him. "I know you will. I don't know what to say, Alex…I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…"
"Yeah," Alex whispered. "So am I."
"This wasn't your fault," Clara reassured him, grabbing hold of him by the face as she dried his tears from his eyes. "None of this was your fault. This was The Company. They ordered for your son…for…Jesus…you didn't do this. Do you hear me? You didn't do this."
"I got involved," Alex said in a small voice. "I got involved and now my son is dead."
"And we will find whoever did that to him," Clara said to him. "Listen to me, Alex. We will find them."
Nodding at her, Alex let her move to hold him once more before they heard the door to the warehouse open. Clara turned her head over her shoulder to see Michael stood there. He was watching her with intrigue before he beckoned for them to come inside. Pulling back from her, Alex moved a hand down to her back, leading her forwards and into the warehouse.
"So who's involved in this plan?" Clara wondered.
"Burrows, Scofield, Scure…Bellick…the guard from Fox River. And there is this this new guy who is a hacker. He's a pain in the ass."
"Sounds like quite the collection," Clara mused and Alex chuckled at hearing that.
"Yeah," he said as they opened the door into the warehouse.
Alex let Clara in first as she saw Lincoln and Michael stood by a whiteboard. Moving over towards them, she could make out Sucre and, she assumed, Bellick stood in the corner near a row of plush red seats. She glanced over to them before standing in front of Michael and Lincoln, a young man with long black hair typing away on a keyboard at the table. She chucked her bag onto the table and then folded her arms over her stomach.
"We retrieved the data from her card," Michael said. "Clara, your cousin is part of The Company."
"No," Clara said with haste, shaking her head. "She can't be…Lisa…she isn't capable of doing this…of sending someone to kill a child…to hurt me…she isn't…"
"Why are you currently staying with her?" Michael wondered and Clara shrugged her shoulders before looking around nervously, not entirely wanting to discuss this with Michael with everyone listening in.
"My ex came to my house and we…well…it doesn't matter," she said, choosing to not divulge the facts. "But I am telling you, Lisa is not a bad person."
"Yeah, well, seems like she is," Lincoln responded, arms folded over his chest as Michael pointed to the board that they had been staring at.
Clara looked to it. The photos weren't that clear. They were mainly difficult to see if she had to be honest. She peered at them as Michael looked with her.
"These are the members of The Company I saw the other day," Michael told her. "Your cousin wasn't there, but does anyone else look familiar? I need you to think, Clara."
Nodding, Clara agreed, her eyes scanning over the faces before she saw him. He was stood in the middle of the circle, dressed in a suit. He hadn't changed. She recognised him straight away. Moving her hands to her mouth, she shook her head, taking a step back as Alex saw the horrified expression on her face. He moved over to her, sensing her distress as he dared to take hold of her by the shoulders, his grip light as he looked her in the eye.
"What is it, Clara?" he asked from her.
"No," she said with a shake of her head. "It can't be…it can't be him."
"Who?" Michael asked of her as she took a deep breath, her body continuously shaking as she felt her eyes begin to water. She couldn't stop herself. She didn't know how it could be true. The balding man in the photo, with his thin lips and whispy eyebrows was a man she knew.
"Him," Clara said, voice hoarse as she moved to point to the man in the photo. "Jonathan Krantz."
"How do you know him?" Michael wondered.
Clara stared at him. "He's my uncle," she whispered. "Lisa's father."
Nodding, Michael nudged the man at the computer, urging for him to begin researching. Clicking his fingers, he nodded his head as he set about working and Clara thought she was about to be ill. Her hands dropped to her hips as she moved from Alex's grip and began pacing.
"How is this possible?" Clara demanded. "How can it be him?"
"How well do you know your uncle?" Lincoln wondered and Clara shrugged.
"Not very well," she admitted. "I mean…as a kid I used to know him because Lisa and I were close, but then we grew up and I moved away. He…my mom was always close to him. I mean, she was his sister."
"Well," Michael said, struggling not to feel some pity for the woman pacing before them. "We think he might be the one in charge. He certainly stands like he is and acts like it. We're not sure."
"But if that is true," Clara said with her hands held up as she looked to Michael, "if that is true then that means he…he sent someone to my house…he…how many people has he killed? How many people has he hurt?" Clara moved to look to Alex then, her tears now openly falling down her cheeks as she met his gaze. "Your son…Alex…"
That was the final straw for her. She moved with haste, nearly tripping in her shoes as she headed for the exit. Michael and Lincoln began to move, but Alex held his hand up at them, stopping them from going anywhere as he looked between the pair of them.
"I'll get her," he said with a nod of his head. "I'll go."
Alex chased after Clara, seeing her heading outside as she seemed to move towards the waterfront. She didn't get too far as he caught up with her, his hand going to her arm as she turned around and shook her head, trying to move away from him as he watched her look around, her eyes flitting all over.
"You shouldn't be here," she told him with haste. "After what he did…my uncle…he…"
"You're not him," Alex said to her.
"But he's my uncle!" Clara snapped back. "And she's my cousin and she's been sitting there and lying to my face. She had to have known…I told her everything, Alex…everything."
"Listen to me," Alex demanded from Clara, his voice harsh as he spoke and took hold of her by the shoulders again, his grip firm as she shook her head. "Clara, come on, listen to me."
He bent down, his forehead pressing against hers as he forced her gaze to his and she tried to stop herself from shaking.
"You have nothing to do with him," he promised her. "You…what he did to you…Clara, you have nothing to feel guilty about."
"But your son," Clara whispered, her breath hot as she whispered to him. "Alex, your son…"
"I know," Alex responded, "but do not for one moment think I hold you responsible for what happened. You're nothing to do with him."
She struggled to stand upright then as she sank downwards, all of it becoming too much. Moving with her, Alex knelt by her side as he also felt his eyes become wet, his mind going back to his son. His arms wrapped around her waist, holding her to him as both of her hands went to one of his arms that was still clad in the uniform. She let her grip remain tight on him as Alex saw her curl her legs underneath her body. She continued to sob as Alex rested his chin on her forehead.
"My parents," she said in a small voice. "What did he do to them?"
Alex gulped then, unable to give her the answer that she probably wanted. Instead he could only shake his head at her, his throat dry as he did so.
"I don't know," he told her. "I don't know."
"His sister," Clara whispered. "She was his sister…my mom…dad…"
"We'll find out," Alex promised her in a whisper as he felt her head fall to his shoulder. "We'll find out and we'll make him pay…both of us…we'll make him pay."
Alex didn't know how long he was sat with Clara outside in the yard, his arms encircled around her as she continued to cry and Alex also let out his grief, his tears silent as they fell down his cheeks. It was only as he heard her begin to quieten down did he speak once more.
"You can't go back to her apartment," he told her and she nodded in agreement with that.
"She's away for a couple of days," Clara said. "I don't know how long for."
"Then we go back and get your stuff and you leave," Alex said, his voice full of determination as Clara felt herself grow with worry.
"And what if she suspects something?" Clara wondered. "I don't want to lead her to you."
"Do you have your phone?" Alex asked.
"In my bag," she nodded.
"Then toss it," Alex said. "We'll throw it on the way back so she can't trace you. Just text her and say you've had to go back to Chicago for work. I'm serious, Clara, you cannot go back to them."
"They don't want me dead." Clara reminded him.
"No, but they sent someone to cut up your back," Alex reminded her and she shuddered. "I can't let you go back there…not now…I can't lose you too."
Clara clung tighter onto his arm then as she closed her eyes and nodded her head, peering out to the water as she tried to compose herself and stop her eyes from feeling too puffy after her crying. Instead she pulled herself from Alex and got to her feet, his hands steadying her as she looked him in the eye and slipped her heels from her feet, standing on the ground.
"I want to help," she said to him.
"I thought you might want to," Alex said, not entirely sure how to feel about that as she slipped her heels onto her fingertips as they began to go back towards the warehouse and Clara knew that she had to get to the bottom of whatever was going on. There was no option now.
…
A/N: Do let me know what you think! Another double update!