Hidden Away

Chapter 12

So Donnie was covertly on the move again.

Max was following Donnie in the rented Volvo. Naturally, Donnie would have recognized Kate's car, so Kate kept a safe distance behind Max's car, communicating with Max through speaker phone.

"Donnie is headed down the exact same way as yesterday," Max announced by cellphone as he made a turn, "he took the bus and is going all the way to Lincoln Avenue again!"

"Okay," Kate told him, "now hang up your cellphone so that you can concentrate on tailing him. Let me know if anything new develops And whatever you do, don't lose him!"

"Sure thing," Max said, "Man, I love playing detective!"

Kate drove silently on, with Daniel sitting on the passenger side.

At last he turned to Kate, "Kate, you sure you want to be here? What you may find out about Donnie, you might not like."

When she turned to him, she looked so tantalizingly vulnerable. It took his breath away.

"At least I'll know the truth," she turned back to face the traffic, her head high.

Daniel turned away from her because otherwise, he'd do something crazy like grab her hand for comfort. As he gazed forward, however, he heard a familiar voice coming from the back seat of Kate's car.

"Ahhhh, the complications of love!" Hercule Poirot stated. Daniel turned around in time to see Poirot sniffing a rose boutonnière before pinning it on his lapel, "something we try to avoid, yet it keeps calling us back! But perhaps it is because to be alone means the mind will shrink away, leaving a person to only hear his own thoughts. Or his own illusions."

"That is advice I really don't need," Daniel accidentally blurted out loud.

Kate snapped her head to look at him, "What? What advice?"

Before Daniel could make up an excuse, the phone rang and when Kate answered it, Max's voice was suddenly yelling out of the cellphone.

"Get ready for the next exciting level! Our person of interest is getting off the bus!"

Kate leaned forward as she spoke into the speaker phone, "Is he with anyone?"

There was a pause, "Nope, doesn't look to be," Max stated, "this time I'm parking and I won't lose him!"

"Where is your car park, Max?" Kate asked him, "I'll park there and wait for your further instructions."

He informed her of his location and Kate drove over there. Maneuvering her vehicle, she parallel parked directly behind Max's car. All they could do now is wait.

Kate turned off the engine. She was silent, but from her expression, she was in deep thought. Daniel didn't know what to say, so he stared straight ahead.

In the quietness of the car, Kate finally blurted out, "I'm thinking of calling off the wedding."

Upon hearing the words, Daniel at first felt a lightness to his heart, but it quickly dissipated. This wasn't a moment to be happy. He didn't know how he should respond to the news.

"Your silence is telling me that this is extremely awkward for you to hear," Kate said. She then turned to him, "but to be truthful, Daniel, I've been so dedicated to my work, I haven't had a lot of time to develop friendships with women, " she turned to give him an awkward smile. so, basically, you've become my best friend."

He swallowed hard, "I...I think of you as a best friend, too," Daniel lied, since he knew it was more than that.

"Really?" Kate seemed pleased, but soon enough her smile disappeared, "and regarding Donnie, I do love him and I guess I always will, and...I'm even if he's involved with Yuss, but it's just... it's just that I feel I can't trust him! Maybe I've always felt that way about him. He's always been a little secretive, but I thought it was just part of the nature of his job. But I see now that it really is a part of him and if we can't tell each other everything and rely on one another, then we shouldn't be together, right?"

She wasn't asking a rhetorical question.

"That's not for me to answer, Kate," he said, "but I know you'll do the right thing. All I can tell you is that your heart's in the right place."

She turned and studied Daniel's face. And once again, she felt warmth permeate throughout her body.

"My heart's in the right place? Thanks, Daniel, I needed to hear that."

"Well, it's true... except you've also done a great job of always hiding it there, too."

Kate tilted her head, not sure how she should take what Daniel had said, and not sure she really should find out. Her head was already so full of other ideas and facts that she felt it was ready to explode.

She didn't have to ponder any longer for her phone then rang and suddenly both of them were all about the case again as she answered it.

"Max?"

"Destination accomplished!" he said, sounding quite pleased with himself, "I just saw Donnie entering some type of brown building on the corner of Addison Street and Western Avenue."

"I know exactly that area, we'll be right there," Kate stated as she hung up and started up the car again and maneuvered it back on the street. Ten minutes later she and Daniel had arrived at the designated corner.

There was only one building matching that description at that corner. It was a 1980's style two story stucco building with a long wheelchair ramp on the side. Elm trees the surrounded the place. It gave the area a tranquil, welcoming feeling.

They needed to park and walk up to a small plaque by the door to figure out what kind of business was conducted in the building. Max was already there, so he had read the plaque.

"It says here that the name of this place is 'Park City Cancer Center'," he informed them, "Do you think maybe Yuss used this as a cover to hideout?"

"We'll never know until we go inside," Kate said, as she began walking towards the entrance.

.

Kate boldly walked up to the counter and asked the receptionist where she might find a Mr. Donnie Ryan.

The receptionist behind the desk recognized the name immediately.

"You'll find Mr. Ryan in room 142," she told them, without referring to any records. She pointed them in the right direction and then she got back to her work.

They walked down a long hallway and the place reminded them more of an apartment complex than a hospital facility. There were several people walking about; some were just regular people probably visiting and others were employees.

One man approaching them had a beard and looked exactly like the man they saw on the bus with Donnie the first time Daniel and Max was following him.

"Hey!" Max leaned into to Daniel and Kate, trying to not make it seem obvious, "Isn't that the guy? Could it be Yuss? Kate, you need to have him arrested!"

But Kate nixed that idea.

"On what grounds, Max? Of walking down the aisle of a cancer center?"

By then, the man had walked past them, totally oblivious to the fact that he was the subject of their conversation. As he continued on, he didn't notice the three pair of eyes that turned to watch his back.

"So we just let him go?" Max asked.

"For now, Lewicki," Daniel responded and then pointed out, "besides did you see what he wore? A uniform from this place; he's definitely an employee here. If that was actually Yuss, how could he have found employment so quickly?"

"He could have stolen the uniform from the employee stockroom," Max theorized.

"But then the other employees would've called him out on it," Kate pointed out.

"-and, Lewicki, what you've just stated only verifies that you have been watching too many spy shows," Daniel stated.

Max looked unconvinced. He definitely wanted to see some action today, "Yeah, but-"

"Let him go," Kate said, more interesting in finding Donnie. She walked a ways, "here it is, room 142."

And she knock on the door.

"Come in!" they all heard Donnie's voice from the inside, shouting out through the door.

.

Daniel, Kate and Max entered. Immediately they spotted Donnie seated next to the bed, giving looks of encouragement to a slight blonde-haired woman in her early 30's. She looked as if in healthier days she would have been considered beautiful, but the ravages of cancer had taken its toll and she looked frail and sickly.

Donnie stood.

"Kate..." he looked totally shocked, "how did you...what are you doing here?" He then gave a quick glance at Daniel and Max and asked accusingly, "Were the three of you following me?"

The blonde haired lady spoke out, her voice sounding soft yet tired.

"So, you're... Kate?" she tried to smile, but it seemed an effort, "you're just like Donnie described you."

Kate stepped forward.

"Yes, I'm Kate," she politely greeted the ill woman, "and you are...?"

"Let me make all the introductions," Donnie stated, "Kate, Daniel and Max," he motioned to the person in bed, "I'd like you to meet my ex-wife, Stacy."

Kate looked completely shocked, "Your EX-wife?"

"Yes," Stacy verified, her voice sounding even more tired, "I married Donnie after you divorced him the first time. I'm sorry if I don't have much energy to receive visitors this afternoon. I've just had my third round of chemo this week."

Donnie looked tenderly at Stacy, "and she's done very well so far. Not a complaint from her at all," he then faced Kate, and his expression turned more serious, "is there a way I can talk to you, privately in the hallway, Kate?"

Kate determinedly lifted her head.

"Anything you have to say, you can say to my friends," she stated.

Donnie nodded, "Fair enough. I suppose Kate, you must have some questions for me."

That was definitely an understatement. Kate didn't want any drama, especially in front of someone so sickly as Stacy, but yes, there were so many unanswered questions, especially as to why he kept this part of his life so secret from her.

"Donnie, you never told me you had re-married after we divorced."

He looked as if he didn't want to answer, and when he did, his expression was sorrowful.

"I was lonely, Kate," he explained, "and Stacy was there to pick up the pieces," he looked lovingly Stacy's way, "she was kind and she listened to me and I was her whole world. I loved that about her and we got married. Then she became sick, and well, truthfully, we got a divorce so that she could be covered with government funded health insurance."

"Donnie didn't want the divorce," Stacy added, "but I didn't want him paying the medical bills for the rest of his life."

Kate couldn't believe everything that was happening. It was like a nightmare, yet it explained so much. His distractions, his secrecy.

"So you two never wanted to get a divorce?" she asked, realizing that she may have been used.

Stacy took a deep breath in and out before she responded, "It's not like that, Kate. You'll always be his one and only. I came into the relationship, eyes wide opened. I know I could never fill that void that you made when you left. But I was happy with what he could offer me and now I'm dying. It won't be long. You were his first, and hopefully, his last. I've accepted that fact. He deserves to be with the one he truly loves. I want him to be happy."

The explanation seemed to take the last of the strength as she closed her eyes and laid her head deeper into the pillow. Her face had turned colorless. Donnie leaned over and squeezed her hand.

"Rest now, Stace," he said as he brushed some hair away from her face. He turned to face the other three people, "let's go out to the hallway."

When they got out the hallway, Max was the first to speak.

"Before you say anything else, I just gotta know," Max looked directly at Donnie, "who was that bearded guy we saw you with on the bus yesterday?"

It took a while for Donnie to understand.

"You mean Kurt?" Donnie said as realization set in, "You mean, you were following me yesterday too?"

He looked accusingly at Kate.

"You answer Max's question first," she told him.

Donnie sighed and gave a logical explanation, "Kurt is a nurse here at the center. Stacy had an adverse reaction to the chemo so I went out to get some special medication and he met me halfway to retrieve it and administer it to her, okay?" he sounded impatient,

Kate had a very confused look.

"Donnie, I don't understand why you didn't explain any of this to me," she stated, "especially the part about being previously married."

Donnie sounded defensive, "and what, risk losing you again? At what part during our second time around relationship could I have told you and you not walk away? When I had first asked you to give us a shot, during our courtship, when I proposed or during our engagement? Tell me which of those times would have been the best time to tell you?"

Kate looked away. She had no answer.

And that gave Donnie his opening.

"Katie pie, don't be mad."

She looked at him, "So many reasons not to trust you, Donnie."

"But I didn't lie to you Kate."

"Omission is lying, Donnie."

He tried another angle.

Kate, don't you see? I've kept quiet about the marriage with Stacy for HER sake. She needed my support."

Kate quickly blinked, "Is that the truth?"

"Yes! She wanted me to be happy! And I could only be happy with you! Please, Kate, don't give up on us!"

Kate had to admit, Donnie was showing he had a big heart.

"It's good that you can care for others," she admitted.

"I can," Donnie concurred, seeing now that he had a chance, "You're always talking about how self centered I could be, well, here's the other side of me," he took her hand, "Katie pie, tell me that you understand and that I have a chance with you."

Daniel hated to, but he interrupted this private scene, "Look, Max and I should head out."

Max gave Daniel the 'but this is the good part' look.

Kate barely noticed them leaving as her attention was on Donnie.

"Sure," she vaguely stated, "Later, Daniel; bye Max."

And the last image Daniel had of the two of them was Donnie holding Kate's hand, his eyes pleading for her to understand.

So of course, that meant Kate would forgive him.

And the wedding would go on as scheduled.

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