Double Take

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Chapter 68

"Did it ever occur to you that Kori's been wanting to talk to you?" Vic said incredulously. This whole thing had been ridiculous in his opinion. Even if Dick had cheated on Kori with Babs, things couldn't be beyond repair between the two, could they?

Dick ran a hand through his hair. "What am I going to say at this point? She's been gone for weeks. She probably was just calling to get Bruce's number so he can send the jet so she can get back for your wedding."

"I don't think so. She called the house; I'm sure she has Bruce's number already. You were the idiot that changed your cell number."

It certainly wasn't the first time it had occurred to him. "Maybe."

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Kori did her best to just put her conversation with Kitten out of her mind. She spoke with Bruce on his cell phone soon after, making no reference to it, and they arranged for his jet to come and get her so she would return in time for Karen's bachelorette party, the Thursday before the wedding.

The rest of Kori's stay in Greece was a whirlwind. She was half expecting Ph'yzzon to contact her again, but he never did. Not that she minded, but she thought he was going to be more persistent. Part of her liked the attention, she admitted to herself, but she was too in love with Richard to allow herself the complication of even opening a dialog with Ph' at this point. So she spent her remaining time tying up loose ends, saying good bye to the people she had been in contact with. She visited the women she met on Paradise Island and thanked Hippolyta again; she visited the University's faculty she had met with; and she went to the hospices she had both observed and inserviced at to say good bye. It was all too soon that it was time to return to the States, and to finally face Richard.

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"Pardon me, Ms. Anders?"

"Yes?"

"I'm Agent Rogers, and this is Agent Anthopolous. We're with INTERPOL and we need to speak with you before we can allow you to leave Greece."

Kori paled. She hadn't done anything wrong, but INTERPOL, as in the International Police? What could they have to do with her? "Very well. I will do the cooperating."

"I will have the tower radio Mr. Wayne's jet. Would you like him to meet you at the Greek Embassy? That is where we will be conducting your interview this afternoon."

"Yes, of course."

Diana had remained silent up to this point, and would in no way inflame the situation, but decided speaking up on Kori's behalf. "I am-"

"Ms. Diana Prince, of course. You may ride to the embassy with Ms. Anders if you like or follow us there. Would you also wish to say anything on her behalf concerning her stay in Greece or her character in general and anything you know about her contacts with any Tamaranean nationals."

Diana tried not to take umbrage to being spoken for. This was obviously INTERPOL's show and they knew all the players. She was certain that Kori had done nothing wrong and was not going to let her disdain for such firm handling of such situations potentially damage Kori's chances of getting home on time. "That would be lovely. If I could get a ride back to the airport with Miss Anders after she is finished with her interview, I would prefer to ride with all of you, thank you."

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Kori tried not to fidget too much on the way to the Embassy. Her mind could only wrap itself around two things: her meeting with Ph'yzzon and perhaps something with her sister. INTERPOL meant that it was international: not just a Tamaranean-only matter. If this were the Citadel, her sister's terrorist cell, it would mean they were now regional or even global. Things had been quiet with them as far as she knew for a number of years. But wasn't that how these things worked? Just look at Al Queda. Could Ph'yzzon have played a role? Was he trying to find out if she knew anything?

No sense anticipating the questions, she told herself. She knew nothing and had nothing to hide. She couldn't shake the feeling of dread, nor the feeling that if she had been able to keep her royal status under wraps and that she had not taken this trip to Europe, she wouldn't find herself being questioned.

Kori shouldn't have been surprised that she was held for three hours alone, with only coffee and water to drink and a female agent who repeatedly stated that she did not have any information for her. Bruce's jet would have landed before they had reached the Embassy. As it was they had cut it close for Karen's bachelorette party. If they lost a full day, what about Karen and Vic's rehearsal dinner?

Time ticked by and Kori and Diana were allowed to see each other and had lunch. It was obvious that the agents were seeing how Kori would react to being held essentially without charges. She remained calm and polite. Diana assured her she was acting appropriately and they spoke fairly openly, opining about the reasons for being held: was there something going on that she hadn't heard about? – she had been on Paradise Island, after all.

Finally, another six hours later, Bruce was allowed to see her. Bruce had not kept his mouth shut about his unhappiness with the situation or the fact the Kori was being detained without any charges.

"Kori, I'm so sorry. I don't know what this is about. I've made some calls, and I'm trying to pull some strings. I know we are due home. There was some other matter that is holding up the Regional Director and they refuse to let you travel back to the US until they talk to you. I'm pressuring our government to talk to INTERPOL's director, but because of the time difference, well... it will work out."

"Thank you, Bruce. I am sorry that I am being so much of the trouble. I have no idea what they wish to ask me about. Other than meeting a General Ph'yzzon from my homeland, I have not been in touch with anyone from Tamaran. As far as I know Karras and Taryia have not been in touch with anyone from Tamaran either, and they are the only other Tamaraneans I know other than Galfore. If this is concerning my sister, well, I have not spoken with her since prior to the bombings, since I was a child." Kori held back a sob; things were getting to her.

There was no further word. Kori stayed at the Embassy, essentially under house arrest. Bruce went to a hotel and Diana left to her hotel as well. Kori prayed that she would just get home soon.

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After waiting out much of the next day, finally the Regional Director of INTERPOL from the South Pacific met with Kori and interviewed, or rather interrogated her with two other agents. It had been a long time since Kori had met a person from one of the neighboring island nations near Tamaran, but Director Tso was from Okaara, and was as fierce as she remembered someone from that country could be.

"Koriand'r, you have waived Counsel, correct?" the director opened with, speaking in Tamaranean.

"Yes." Kori's tone was sedate.

"And you agree to this being both video and audio taped?"

"Yes."

"Please tell me about your last days in Tamaran, Koriand'r."

Kori was thrown by his use of Tamaranean, and answered in English. "I wish to conduct this interview in English, and I am certain that your translators would prefer it. Although I make an occasional error, I am truly bilingual."

"Very well. Please go on with your answer."

"The bombing was on a Sunday morning. We were on our way to Mass. I was running late, having returned to my room to change at the last minute. When the bomb went off, I was not yet in the foyer, so whilst my mother, father and brother were killed instantly, I was relatively unharmed."

"How convenient for you."

Kori gasped. "Sir?"

"So your sister Komand'r warned you?"

Kori shed some tears. "No. I had not spoken to her. I had not for more than a year. Do you think I would not have warned them? Do you not think I wished many times that I had not died as well that as well that day? To be so young, without family or a home or even a country any more?"

"So your statement is that you had no prior knowledge of the bombing? I am sounding insensitive I do realize that, but you were never interviewed at the time. We must gather all that information and there is no statute of limitations on murder or terrorism." Director Tso showed no compassion.

"I understand."

"Since that time, have you spoken with your sister, Komand'r, also known under the alias as Blackfire, who associates herself with the Citadel?"

"No sir."

"Have you communicated with her in any other way?"

"No sir."

"Have you communicated with her through a intermediary?"

"No sir."

"Are you aware of any activities of the Citadel?"

"No sir."

"Are you aware of where the cell is currently located?"

"No sir."

"And when General Ph'yzzon approached you the other evening, had you met him previously?"

"No sir."

"Was there any reason that you were so adamant about no returning to Tamaran or discussing Tamaran?"

Kori processed this: so Ph'yzzon was cooperating with INTERPOL. "I tend to not discuss Tamaran often. I do not have many happy memories from Tamaran."

"But yet you reside in the Tamaranean Embassy in Washington, DC."

"Yes, for it is where my Uncle Galfore lives. He is my only blood relation – well, the only one that I speak with."

"Thank you Miss Anders. Give me a few minutes to review these answers and if I have nothing further, I will let you leave with Mr. Wayne."

"Thank you, sir."

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A little later turned into another night, and finally Kori was released and would be able to make her way back to the US with Bruce in his jet, nervous about missing the rehearsal for the wedding.

Kori called ahead to Karen, doing her best to stay composed as she explained without detail that she was detained in Greece and likely wouldn't make it for the rehearsal dinner. She'd already missed the bachelorette party, but at least she would be back for Karen's wedding. It was going to be tight – she'd have to head almost directly over to Karen's to get ready. Luckily her shoes and dress were with Karen. Karen was understanding, which eased Kori's mind. By the time the plane was taxiing down the runway, exhaustion had taken over and Kori was fast asleep.

The reason for the interrogation wasn't completely clear and the only good thing about it was that it kept her mind off facing Richard again.

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Dick wasn't sure how he ended up taking Babs as his date to the rehearsal dinner. She had assumed so and they were going to the wedding together after all, plus he didn't have the wherewithall to fight her on it. He sighed. Kori hadn't made it to back yet and it became clear that he wasn't going to see her before the dinner. Having Babs there with him without any warning was not how he wanted things; it wasn't what he wanted Kori to come home to.

Babs had enough. It was obvious that Dick was watching the door after surveying the church, looking for Kori. Even after all this time, he was still pining for Kori. Babs knew that the chances of hooking up with Dick were slipping through her fingers, and she was none too pleased. She tried to hold herself in check, but the snipey comments had a way of coming out of her mouth, especially after her lunch of oxycodone which was mixing nicely with the drinks being served prior to the rehearsal.

"Di-ick," Babs whined, "I really need you tonight. We're still spending the night together, right?"

Dick brought his attention to Babs. "What?"

"Tonight, like you said, I'm staying over."

"I never said that."

"Di-ick, come on."

Other members of the wedding party were looking on curiously. "We'll talk about this later, Babs, alright."

She kissed him, surprising him by the gesture. "Oh, we will," she cooed.

Dick had no intention of Babs staying the night, he never had. Kori would be home, or so he thought, and he did not want Babs with him when Kori was there. He didn't want her with him at all. He hadn't given in to her, well not entirely, the entire time that Kori was gone, and tonight was not the night to start. He had tried to make it clear, but Babs was insistent.

"Where is the princess?" Babs mumbled.

"What did you say?" Hearing her, Dick's tone was angry.

"Kori. Really, she's late to Karen and Vic's rehearsal? How rude of her!"

"I'm sure there's a reason. Bruce called and said something about her return trip being delayed."

"How would he know?"

"He went to pick her up."

"What?"

"Just drop it, Babs." A couple people were looking at them curiously again. "It isn't really your business, is it?"

Babs just glared at him and went off to sulk.

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Roy came over to Dick. "Trouble in paradise?"

"Leave it, Roy."

"Where's Kori?"

"She was delayed in Europe. I'm sure there's a good reason."

"Yeah, there's no way she'd miss this."

Just then, Karen and Vic arrived with much fanfare. They apologized profusely for the hold up. Dick was looking around and then looked over at the couple. Vic decided to head over and talk to him right away.

"Come over here with me, man."

Dick followed Vic deeper into the pews. "I take it you didn't know that Kori wasn't going to be here."

"She's not?"

"No. I'm sure she'll tell you about it when she gets here tomorrow, or Bruce will. There was a hold up with returning to the US."

"There was?"

"I don't know the details, I'm not sure that Karen does. What are you doing here with Babs?"

Dick rubbed the back of his neck. "She tagged along?" he said with a wince.

Vic had to laugh. "You better shake her off, man. Do you really want Kori to come home to the two of you together?"

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To be continued...

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Please read and review. The INTERPOL thing is salient to the story. Next up is Kori's return. I'm hoping to update very soon although I'm scheduled for surgery this coming Thursday and I'm not sure I'll get a chapter posted before then. I'm not sure when I'll be able to post after my operation - I've posted before while medicated and that wasn't always my best work...