It's a short one! I'm really grateful to those of you who have stuck with me during this period of sparse updates. I appreciate the feedback, and hope to get more, because I really love to know if I'm doing well. But, as always, it's totally optional. I don't expect it. Anyway... Enjoy!
A bell jingled as the door to the diner flew open, and an impeccably dressed man crossed over the threshold. Walsh's deep gray Armani suit was freshly pressed, and his black Ferragamo shoes glowed in the fluorescent lights. A black and silver Gucci tie was knotted perfectly at his throat. A silver clip holding the tie to his pressed white Armani shirt was just barely hidden beneath the three button suit jacket. His hair was slicked back with hair gel, and he was clean shaven. But all the work Walsh did to make himself look perfect did nothing to hide the uneasiness in his eyes. Still, he held strong to his smug look of entitlement, and Catherine wanted nothing more than to wipe it off his face.
Preferably with a fist.
Before Catherine could lose her temper, Warrick squeezed her hand. He gave her a look that reminded her how this meeting would go. Any dealing power Walsh may have had was gone now that they knew Gedda's true intentions. With the plan amended, Nick had opted to stay home with Mandy, who was having a hard time dealing with their new reality. Instead, Greg accompanied Gil to Catherine's house to stay with Lindsey, while Sara stayed at the lab with Ray and Michelle to help ease the caseload that had piled up.
Catherine noticed Warrick nod to the agents that had been waiting by the entrance. They followed Walsh to the table and stood on either side of him when he sat.
As much as Catherine wanted to see the son of a bitch squirm, she simply cut to the chase. "We know you're only here as a distraction, Walsh. We were able to trace Gedda's call. From where we traced it, meeting you here would leave Lindsey alone just as Gedda arrived in Vegas. So if you're thinking you have any leverage whatsoever, you better think again."
The look on Walsh's face didn't change, but she noticed the glimmer of helplessness resting in his eyes. A victorious smile tugged at her lips, and she didn't resist. Catherine wanted to rub this in his face.
Warrick gestured to the two burly agents, who forced Walsh to his feet and cuffed him. The smug look was quickly replaced by embarrassment fueled anger. He kept his mouth shut tight in a thin line, glaring at Catherine and Warrick until he was turned away roughly and shoved out the door by the two men holding either of his arms.
The cell phone in her pocket rang abruptly, and she checked the ID. Gil.
"What's going on over there? Is everything okay?" she asked, a little worried that he was calling so soon.
"That's the thing. Everything's fine," he replied, undertones of frustration marring his otherwise calm voice.
Before he could continue, a beep prompted her to check the call waiting. Lily. After everything that had happened over the past few days, Catherine had completely forgotten about her mother. The question presenting itself now was simply: Why was she calling now?
"Catherine!" Gil's voice sounded from the cell phone, shaking Catherine out of her reverie.
"Sorry, sorry. My call waiting went off. What were you saying?"
Gil was silent for a moment. Then, "Just that it's odd that no action has been taken. There's no sign of Gedda here. I called Sara to check at the lab, and there's no sign of him there, either. Are you sure he hasn't gotten it into his head to just go after you and Warrick directly?"
"I'm sure. Witnesses said that he was severely ill. He's not strong enough to come right to us. He's going to attempt something that doesn't require much effort on his part." She paused. "Now that I think about it, it wouldn't make much sense for him to go after Lindsey, even with Drake down a shoulder. And the lab is heavily guarded."
Just then, Warrick's cell phone rang, and she looked at him inquisitively. "It's a local number," he said, answering her unspoken question. Then he answered the call. "Lily?"
Okay, why the hell was her mother calling Warrick? How did she know his number? How did she know he was alive?
And then it hit her.
"Oh, fuck," she all but shouted, earning a few glares from the parents that were trying to coax their children into eating their food. Her eyes welled up with tears, and she was mentally berating herself for not answering the call waiting when she'd had the chance.
"What is it?" Gil asked, concern thick in his voice. When she didn't answer, he coaxed, "Catherine?"
Cathereine was reeling violently when she answered him.
"Gedda's got my mother."