Deception (Chapter 13)
A/N: Well, some of you had already guessed who the culprits were so kudos to you. I loved everyone's thought processes on weeding out the bad guys. As always, thanks so much for reading. I appreciate each and every one of you.
"Please. Don't hurt my son any more. It's all my fault and I'm so sorry. I just….I got in trouble and I didn't know what to do," Deanna tries to explain.
Morgan's mouth drops open in disbelief. "Deanna….what are you saying?"
The older woman's lips tremble with emotion as tears trickle down her cheeks. "I couldn't think of another way. I….I needed money so I…."
"STOP! Stop this right now," Michonne demands, afraid of what she was going to hear.
"No Michonne. We need the truth," Rick states.
She grows silent and braces herself as Deanna continues.
"I'm in debt…..severely but the blame's on me. The gambling, the drinking, bailing Spencer out time and time again….it has all become too much and now I stand to lose the business because I've used it as collateral for loans I can't afford to pay off. They'll take my homes too." She sighs heavily. "How can I just allow everything I've built to be taken from me? I needed another option, a sound solution. I have one of the most lucrative clients in the business. She was the answer. Everyone loves Michonne right? She'd be worth more as a dead icon than a living one."
Michonne feels as though her very heart is being ripped out of her body. Deanna?
Shane rubs his head in aggravation. "So you and Spencer planted this fucking bomb trying to kill her and nearly killed Maggie?!"
"All for money?!" Rick yells.
"I….the bomb wasn't my plan. I had Spencer hire a hitman. He tried to call it off but…" She is interrupted as Michonne rushes toward her and lands a crushing blow to her face.
"All of this bullshit is because of you! I have trusted you with everything! EVERYTHING!"
Rick moves toward her and holds her closely, trying to sooth her. He brushes his fingers over her knuckles, ignoring the pain his own bloody, bruised hands are experiencing. He turns to Deanna. "What did you say about a hitman?"
Deanna tries to recover, working her jaw slowly. "I changed my mind. I swear. I couldn't go through with it but Spencer's connections said the hit was already in play, that they don't even know who the hitman is or when he'll strike. They said it was for anonymity so no one could be implicated."
"Who are these connections?" Rick demands. "Somebody knows something."
"Mom don't!" Spencer mumbles from the floor. "If we give out names, we're dead too."
"You sorry sack of shit!" T-Dog yells as he gets down into Spencer's face. "Give us the names. It might keep your ass out of jail."
"It was his prison friend, Tiny. He knew someone on the inside that could get it done so we gave him half the asking price up front with a promise for the rest after the deed was done. I would give Spencer her whereabouts and he would relay them to Tiny but we stopped that weeks ago. Maybe that put an end to it all," Deanna hopes. "Maybe if we threaten not to pay the rest, they'll stop."
"Tiny? The manager for the R&B star?" Morgan asks.
Deanna only nods as Shane speaks.
"Wait a minute. If you're broke where'd you get money for a hitman?"
Deanna drops her eyes, the guilt rolling through her like never before. "I requested an advance from the network as part of our negotiation deal. They would've done anything to get Michonne so I used it to my advantage."
"All you had to do was ask," Michonne offers softly.
"What?" Deanna asks.
"I would've given you whatever you needed Deanna. You should know that about me by now," Michonne tells her calmly.
"Michonne…..I'm sorry. Please believe me. I…"
Rick cuts her off, unwilling to listen to any more of her bullshit. He realizes there is only one way to end this debacle. "We have to plant a story and weed this guy out. We have to be sure this is over once and for all." He thinks back to the first time he met Deanna. He got a certain vibe from her then especially when he asked about the investigation and she tried to shut him out but he never would've guessed she was capable of this.
Morgan shakes his head in disbelief. He doesn't want to believe Deanna would devise something so heinous but what choice did he have? It's obvious that her greed and selfishness took precedence over anything they'd ever built together. He looks to Michonne. "I'm so sorry."
Michonne is absolutely numb. She wants to believe that this is all a bad dream but the man holding her in his arms, squeezing her is very real. The tremors rolling through his body, the restrained anger feels like an electric current passing between them. She clings to him, wondering if he is the only person she can trust now.
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Automation is the name of the game as she tries her best to get through the next day without screaming or crying out her frustration. She stares at her cell phone, wanting desperately to contact her parents but afraid she'd dissolve into a blabbering mess at the first lilt of either of their voices. The same with Maggie plus she's not ready to reveal to her friend who was behind the misguided attempt on her life.
She finds herself in the gym, making use of the punching bag. She hits it so hard she can feel the connection reverberate through her body but she continues to land blow after blow, trying to exhaust herself beyond anything but sleeping.
Meanwhile, Rick and Morgan are working together to devise a plan to get the hitman on their turf somehow. Shane and T-Dog were watching over Deanna and Spencer. They couldn't afford to make any mistakes at this point and they all knew Spencer would try to make a run for it. Rick confiscated their passports and threatened to kill them if they didn't help in making this right for Michonne.
Morgan wanted to involve the authorities immediately but T-Dog suggested that bringing in the cops would only prolong what they needed to do or may even hinder them if they didn't have free access to Spencer and Deanna. They even had Michonne's new assistant on lock down to ensure he wouldn't breathe a word of this to anyone.
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"Why didn't you just keep your mouth closed?" Spencer demands of his mother.
"Because I want this over. I knew it was wrong from the beginning. If we cooperate and help them find this guy then maybe there's some redemption in that," Deanna relays. "You fucked this up in the worst way with that stupid bomb. What the hell were you thinking?"
"I was only trying to scare her. I didn't mean to hurt anyone. I didn't even make the bomb. I paid some kid to do it. I took the photos and I guess that was a mistake."
"It was ALL a mistake Spencer," his mother advises him.
"She was supposed to….I don't know maybe confide in me, trust me to help her. That Rick dude was probably already in her bed. I showed up and she didn't even look twice at me," Spencer admits.
"I told you it was never going to work. You tried it. She didn't fall for you and that's that. Now we've got to make the best of this so we don't spend the rest of our lives in jail."
"I'm not going back to jail. That's why we have to leave," Spencer informs.
"Listen to me son. We've got to choose the better option now. Our plan didn't work and I won't live my life looking over my shoulder, wondering when or if I'll get caught. What we did was wrong and we have to face up to it. We owe her that much."
"I don't owe her shit," Spencer spits.
Deanna sighs. "This jilted lover crap has to go. She never led you on or made you believe she wanted anything with you. Don't sit here and tell me you were pining away for her while you were fucking your way through the Bahamas. Let's salvage what we can and try to get out of this with something. We have to cooperate. Understand?"
"Fine but when this shit is said and done, I'm pressing charges against Rick Grimes. Look what that son of a bitch did to my face."
Deanna rolls her eyes heavenward, wondering what Reginald would be thinking if he could see them now.
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Days later finds them at a remote cabin near a lake owned by Shane's parents. They wanted some place off the grid so to speak. Spencer made the call just like he was supposed to, planting the information for the negotiator who would pass it along. Now they are sitting and waiting to see if the hitman would make a move.
Rick knows they are taking a huge risk but doesn't see another way out. Identifying Spencer's connections would only sound an alarm and they need to end this. He is going to ensure that Michonne gets her life back if it's the last thing he ever does. The object of his thoughts materializes in front of him as he witnesses her walking into the kitchen. He knows she has been under a lot of stress lately and wishes there was something he could do. His eyes pop in disbelief as he distinctly hears the opening and closing of a door.
He rushes into the kitchen and opens the back entrance to find Michonne outside on the porch. "What are you doing? You can't be out here like this." He tries to keep the panic out of his voice but knows that things could go from bad to worse in a matter of seconds.
"I just needed some air. How can you expect me to be in the same vicinity as them knowing what they were trying to do to me, what they did to Maggie?"
He pulls her toward him, leading her back inside the cabin. "I know it's a lot but we need to keep an eye on them. We can't allow them to walk away and we need them to get this guy."
"I know that. I do. I just can't help thinking how I contributed to all of this. I've….I've always tried to do the right thing and it seems like it doesn't matter. Like it never did."
"It matters. Just hold tight. It's almost over." He dips down slightly to look directly into her eyes. "You with me on this?"
She nods gently. "I'm with you."
Her team of bodyguards felt like they'd done all they could in preparation for the hitman to strike. Battery operated motion lights were placed outside at each corner of the cabin. The doors were set with blockades to ensure any intruder would be heard and temporarily detained. Shane showed them a trap door that led to a space underneath the cabin. It was a good hiding place to ambush the hitman in case he gained entrance.
Rick knew he would have a hard time convincing Michonne to stay put in a room behind closed doors but he wouldn't accept any argument. Her safety is all that matters to him and he tells her just that, letting her know that she could not and would not change his mind on the matter.
She sees the determined glint in his eyes and wants to push back but realizes that he is at risk just as much, if not more, as she is. She silently resolves that she will not lose him so quells her resistance and agrees.
They all convene in the living area of the cabin, going over plans. Michonne didn't like the idea of Deanna and Spencer listening in but she was going to remain silent and allow Rick to do his job. She was relieved to hear that Deanna and Spencer's 'safe room' would be downstairs while she would remain upstairs.
Her stomach is in knots but she needs something to keep busy so she waits patiently for them to get to a stopping point and asks, "I could whip up something for dinner if anyone's hungry. We all need to keep up our strength right?"
Rick recognizes her need immediately. "That's a great idea." He nods his head at T-Dog, an indication that he should guard her while she's in the kitchen. He watches as the two move off then gets back to planning.
Morgan and Shane are in the space underneath the cabin ensuring they could use it as an escape route if needed. Spencer and Deanna remain in the living area while Rick, T-Dog, and Michonne are in the kitchen. The latter had just asked T-Dog to search for some plates when the power went out, casting them in complete darkness.
"Shit," Rick exclaims as he wonders if the generator would automatically switch on or if they'd have to power it on manually. He almost breathes a sigh of relief when minuscule slivers of light give him the ability to make out Michonne. He pulls her to him, ready to get her upstairs when he realizes the light is coming from the motion lights on the outside.
They hear a loud clicking noise before several things happen almost simultaneously. A smoking can is thrown through the front window, shattered glass falling to the wood floor as the canister rolls and falls into the trap door. Morgan goes for the ladder to climb out while Shane tries to defuse the canister.
Spencer grabs his mother and was about to exit the living area when he sees Morgan's head pop up through the door. He thinks quickly as smoke lingers in the room and drifts up from below. He races over, kicks Morgan in the face, slams the trap door, and pushes a huge bookcase over to land on top of the trap door.
"Spencer what the hell are you doing?!" Deanna shouts.
"Trust me!" They hurry down the hall to their safe room where Spencer locks the door and prays that the hitman is able to get rid of the others.
Shots start to ring out rapidly so Rick, Michonne, and T-Dog hit the floor and try to crawl out of the kitchen, unsure of where the bullets are being aimed. Before they could make it half way through the hall area, a bullet ricochets and hits T-Dog in the thigh. He lets out a groan but keeps the noise at a minimum, not willing to give away their position.
Rick looks around frantically, wondering where Morgan and Shane are, his hold on Michonne never faltering. The shots suddenly stop and he whispers to T-Dog to get to the bathroom and be ready for anything. He takes the reprieve to get Michonne upstairs.
Her heart is racing uncontrollably and she has never been more frightened in her life but she listens intently to her boyfriend's instructions. She accepts the gun he hands to her, checking the ammo and ensuring that the safety is off.
"Stay here. Lock the doors. Don't open up for anyone but me. Understand?"
She nods quickly. "Yes."
He checks his gun then looks at her intensely. "Anyone gets in this room that you don't recognize, you unload every bullet into his body."
"I will." She watches as he goes for the door then desperately reaches out and grabs his arm anxiously. He lifts his eyes to hers, barely able to see anything but he can decipher what she wants to say. He gives her hand a reassuring squeeze before he leaves the room. He stands on the other side of the door until he hears her lock it then places his back against the wall as he slowly descends the stairs.
He can hear a distant knocking noise and wonders of its origin but can't concentrate on that now. His eyes search the semi darkness for any type of sign, cursing inwardly as the noise interferes with his ability to hear anything or anyone else moving about. He doesn't believe the guy is inside but…A huge crash interrupts his thoughts and he can hear distinct movement, realizing that someone has breached one of their blockaded entrances.
He drops to his haunches, squinting in the dark as he peeks around the corner. The long hallway leads right into the kitchen so he hopes that's where the intruder entered. The narrow area would leave the latter open for Rick to put a few rounds in him only after several beats there is no sign of the intruder, noise or otherwise and the knocking from moments ago has ceased as well.
He is temporarily distracted by a creak off to his left. He checks the area as thoroughly as he can, noting that the room at the end of the hall is where Deanna and Spencer should be. He turns back toward the hallway only to see a cloud of white smoke flying at him. He ducks and looks past him to see that it's some kind of canister. He makes a mad dash to retrieve it, hoping it's not tear gas. He picks it up and throws it through the nearest window, shattering the glass and alerting the intruder of his position. His eyes tear up but not profusely and there is no telltale stinging that comes with tear gas. He is relieved that it was only a smoke canister.
He hears him before he sees him. A figure dressed in all black, brandishing a gun and firing it. Rick dives for the floor, lifting his gun and pulling the trigger twice. The black form falls face first and unmoving. Rick keeps his gun pointed at his mask covered head and kicks the gun away. He drops down to one knee and taps his back to see if he'd move, discovering a bullet proof vest.
The house grows quiet again and at that precise moment the generator kicks on with a loud hum and restores selected lights inside the cabin. For some unknown reason, those behind closed doors took the restored lights as a signal to come out of their rooms. Rick flinches his nose, his irritation evident but he can't break concentration with a hired killer right in front of him.
Shane barrels into the hallway, his clothes disheveled and dirty, holding his gun at the ready. "You got him? Tell me you got him man."
T-Dog limps out of the bathroom, Spencer and Deanna step cautiously outside their room, and Michonne waits calmly at the top of the stairs, holding her gun out in front of her, ready to fire.
After ensuring that Shane had the gunman in his purview, Rick places his gun in his belt at his back and turns the intruder over. He was just about to remove the mask when Spencer grabs the intruder's gun off the floor and points it at Rick.
"Get your hands up! Get them up right now!"
"Spencer what are you doing?" Deanna demands.
Morgan joins T-Dog in the hallway, his weapon drawn. He'd been outside taking care of the generator and couldn't wait to have some words with Spencer.
"We can still come out of this ok. It's him. He has to go. With him out of the picture, we'll be fine," Spencer announces.
Rick holds his hands up slowly. He tries his best to keep a neutral expression but Spencer just sent his blood pressure up. "Listen Spen….."
"Shut up!"
Michonne aims at Spencer's head, praying she can end him if she has to. "Spencer….don't."
The latter looks up at Michonne and notices that she has her gun trained on him. He brings his eyes back to Rick and gives a simple scoff, lifting his gun to Rick's head.
A single shot rings out and Michonne jumps at the noise then looks at her gun, knowing that she wanted to fire it but didn't.
The bullet from Shane's weapon lodges in Spencer's chest, the impact taking him by such surprise that he drops the gun he is holding and lands on his back, writhing in shock and pain.
Deanna gasps, throwing her hands out in front of her as she watches her son go down. "Spencer! Oh Spencer no! No, no, no…." She falls to her knees beside him and cradles his head, whispering reassuring words. "Just hold on. We….we'll get you to the hospital."
Morgan utters under his breath and rushes past Rick and the intruder to join Deanna and determine if there is anything he can do to help. He was just about to look at Spencer's wound when he hears a grunt and jerks his head in Rick's direction.
The latter's head explodes with pain as the intruder double hands him across the face. He is stunned but lands a blow of his own as the two men start to struggle.
Morgan gasps and watches the two, looking for an in to help subdue the guy.
Shane and Michonne prepare to fire but can't get a clear shot without risking Rick. T-Dog waits a few feet behind Shane, watching as it unfolds.
Sweat pops out on Michonne's forehead as she watches her boyfriend fight with her would be assassin, the punches, grunts, and scuffles drifting to her. Deanna's moans and Spencer's whimpering join in as well as the hum of the generator. She blinks rapidly as her stomach starts to roil and she feels sick.
A glint of silver draws her attention and she realizes the intruder has a knife. Morgan springs into action, grabbing the guy from behind while Rick takes his gun and clips him across the face, rendering him unconscious.
Rick steps back, his breathing harsh and rapid as Morgan allows the assassin to drop to the floor heavily. The former wipes his sweaty forehead and looks up to finally put his eyes on Michonne.
She sees the smeared blood on his forehead and the splatters of blood on his shirt and reaches for the banister for support as her vision grows blurry and her head starts to spin. She hears her name faintly as everything fades to black.
