Chapter 9

Six days later, Saturday 28th February, Ivan left his apartment early and by invite drove to Horatio's apartment where he was going to spend a couple of hours with Horatio, his best man, and get changed for the wedding, thus leaving his own apartment to the ladies to get ready out of his sight. Though not having a big fancy church wedding Olivia and Madison had told him firmly that he couldn't set eyes on Suzie until they reached the Courthouse because it would be unlucky. He had booked a white Mercedes wedding car to take Suzie, Madison and Olivia to the Courthouse as he wanted Suzie to at least have the pleasure of arriving in style. He was going to drive to the Courthouse himself as he needed his car after the ceremony; Horatio was going in his own car as by arrangement, he was going to run Madison and Olivia back to Ivan's apartment.

Aileen was not joining them but would be at the evening function with Tommy and Hannah.

At 1:45 pm Ivan and Horatio had arrived at the Biscayne Courthouse, parked their cars and both looking smart, Ivan wearing his new navy blue suit, Horatio wearing a light grey suit, and cream carnation sprays in their suit buttonholes stood outside the Courthouse waiting for the wedding car to arrive. While standing there Ivan started to get edgy and double checked he had his marriage licence and asked Horatio more than once if he had the rings safely in his pocket and Horatio chuckling assured him more than once that he had them safe and sound. Five minutes later, Ivan visibly relaxed when the wedding car arrived, and beaming all over his face now opened the left back car door wide and held his hand out to assist Suzie as she stepped out of the car looking radiant. Ivan felt emotional and his eyes moistened as he looked at her - her normally straight long blonde hair now had slight waves, and in his eyes she looked more beautiful than ever. She was wearing a very feminine mid length soft chiffon teal dress, with a delicate ivory lace overlay bodice, with short unlined sleeves, the full skirt lying in soft folds and offset by a matching chiffon belt. This was paired with dainty ivory high heel sandals. Suzie was quite tall at 5 feet 8 inches, and with her heels on, she was a perfect height for Ivan who was six feet two tall. She was carrying a large bouquet of ivory and pink mixed flowers with some greenery off setting the flowers, a large bouquet deliberately chosen because it had another purpose following the wedding.

Meanwhile Horatio helped Madison out of the car and as he did so he thought she looked even prettier than usual and so grown up. She was wearing a delicate chiffon denim blue embroidered knee length dress, with a scoop neckline and short sleeves. This was matched with semi high heeled navy blue sandals. Horatio smiled at her and gave her a gentle hug, and then twirling her around said, "When did you get to be so grown up Sweetheart? You look amazing?"

Madison beamed at the compliment and said," Thank you uncle Horatio."

Then Horatio helped Olivia out of the car and told her how nice it was to see her as he gave her a welcome hug and a peck on the cheek, and then grinning broadly he said, "You look gorgeous Olivia." She was wearing a plum colored fitted dress and matching jacket paired with black patent court shoes, and was carrying a small matching purse.

Olivia smiled and said, "Go away with you Horatio." Then chuckled and with her twinkling eyes she used when being irascible she added, "But thank you, it's never too old to get a compliment, especially from a good looking younger man like you. You have quite made my day Horatio."

Horatio and Madison chuckled. Olivia was being her normal outward spoken self and they both loved it.

"Where are the family Horatio? I was hoping to see them."

"You will later, they will all be at the wedding party this evening."

Horatio tipped the driver… then holding his arms out Olivia took hold of his right arm and Madison his left as he smiled and said, "Here we go ladies. " Then they followed Ivan and Suzie inside the Courthouse and at precisely 2:00 pm they were ushered into the private room reserved for Marriage ceremonies. The photographer Ivan had hired following close behind.

Thirty minutes later the civil service was over. Olivia and Horatio had witnessed the bride and bridegroom's signatures; photographs had been taken, and they were all back outside for more photographs. It was a lovely afternoon and pleasantly warm. They stood around chatting for a few minutes during which time Horatio took hold of Suzie's left hand and said, "You look stunning today Suzie Vetrov." Suzie smiled and replied, "How nice, I like being called Suzie Vetrov," turning to beam at Ivan at the same time. Then looking back at Horatio, she added, "Thank you so much for everything Horatio. And I mean everything you have done for Madison and me over the years."

Horatio nodded his head he understood what she meant.

Looking on Olivia smiled and nodded her head in approval at Suzie's words. Over the last few days she had confided in her about all her mistakes in life and how caring Horatio had been about her welfare from the day they first met, and at a time when Madison was not yet on the scene and she had said, "He cares about victims Olivia. He truly does."

Five minutes later Suzie and Ivan looking very happy said goodbye for now, and from there Ivan drove Suzie to the Holy Redeemer Cemetery, as just a few days earlier she had told him that she would like to lay her bouquet on Malcolm Trent's grave although they would always think of him as Andre Ivanov.

In the meantime, Horatio drove Madison and Olivia back to Ivan's apartment, went inside for a few minutes to have a welcome coffee that Olivia made for him, and while there he discreetly asked her if Madison would be wearing the same dress in the evening.

"That's the plan Horatio …why?"

"I have something to give her later on and it would go with that dress perfectly."

A few minutes later Madison appeared all smiles and said, "Just changed, saving my dress for this evening." On hearing this Horatio out of sight of Madison winked at Olivia, and she chuckled just as Madison moved out of earshot.

Fifteen minutes later he left and when he arrived home he told Aileen and Tommy that the wedding had gone well, and that Olivia was looking forward to seeing them in the evening, and then showed them some pictures he had taken on his cell phone.

Elsewhere - arriving at the Holy Redeemer cemetery Ivan parked to the left of the church and then holding Suzie's left hand they made their way slowly to Malcolm Trent's grave, remembering exactly where it was, how could they ever forget? The grave was right next to his mother's and father's joint grave as he had requested. For a few minutes they stood in silence under the tree where on the day he was buried a distraught Suzie had sat in a wheelchair with tears in her eyes, Ivan kneeling down comforting her. Then they moved a few steps forward and quietly stood in front of the grave for a while reading the inscription on the headstone, and remembering Dennis Sackheim's poignant words that day.

A few seconds later Suzie knelt down and laid her bouquet at the base of the headstone and said, "I'm so, so very sorry Andre. You died because of me. Had you not tried to protect me you would not have lost your cover and would still be alive today. Then wiping a few tears away she stood up and Ivan wrapped his arms around her. Then he added a few words of his own. "I hope you are resting in peace Andre, alongside your mother and father. If you can hear me, I just want you to know that Suzie recovered well and we fell in love and got married just today, and we came to visit you on this special day to honor your memory. Suzie and I will never forget you Andre, never."

Unknown to them someone had been watching them. Coincidentally Agent Glen Cole had come to visit Malcolm Trent's grave but stayed back for a while when he saw them so they could have their privacy. It looked like Suzie and Ivan had been to a wedding, and then remembering how good Ivan had been to her when the tragedy happened, he thought that maybe it was even their own as Suzie had placed what looked like a wedding bouquet on the grave. It was remarkable at the change in her, she looked beautiful today and it was a lovely sight, because until today when he thought of that incident he only ever saw her beaten body in front of him. The last time he had seen her was actually right here sitting in a wheelchair, on the day of Malcolm's funeral, with Ivan comforting her. That was such a bad day for her and everyone else including him.

Then seeing they were about to move he slowly walked towards them and smiled when Ivan turned and seeing him looked surprised as he uttered, "Agent Cole, what a coincidence? We just got married and Suzie wanted to lay her flowers here in memory of Andre, we will never forget him. Sorry I meant Malcolm."

"Doesn't matter Ivan you both knew him as Andre."

Then Glen shaking hands with them in turn said, "Congratulations, I am very happy for you both."

"I must say you're a sight for sore eyes Suzie, you look remarkably well now."

"Thank you Agent Cole."

"How are you?"

"To be honest I continue to struggle a bit Suzie, I come here now and again to remember Malcolm and to say sorry we let him down."

Suzie stepped forward and spontaneously gave him a hug and saying, "You are a good man Agent Cole. It wasn't your fault any more than it was mine intentionally, but I was the cause of it and though I am in a much better place now with Ivan's help, I will never forget."

"The one good thing to come out of it all was that Ivan and I met and fell in love. I hope he would like and understand how and why this happened."

"I'm sure he would Suzie, he was the most decent guy you could ever wish to know."

"Anyway you two were just about to leave so go and enjoy the rest of your special day."

Shaking hands again Ivan and Suzie left and as Glen watched then walking away holding hands he had to agree with Suzie, something good had come out of the whole tragedy, and they looked happy and clearly ready to move forward now. He actually admired Ivan Vetrov. The man had shown considerable restraint when Horatio had allowed him into the interrogation room to look Zalesky in the eye, he had been angry and let fly with words at Zalesky, and when Zalesky spat in his face he had raised his fist but the man totally in control off himself backed away when everyone else in the room thought he was going to hit out…and no one would have stopped him. Then he gave a grimace as he remembered how close he had come to hitting out himself, only to be retrained by Dennis Sackheim.

Then as he laid his own flowers down on the grave, he said, "We miss you Malcolm." Then Glen walked away thinking that he really should move on himself now. If those two could after all what they went through he surely should be able to. Deep down he knew he had not been personally responsible for the feds not supporting Malcolm on that dreadful night, no one could have known the damned air waves that night had not picked up that Malcolm had turned his wire on, but he was the one who had persuaded him to wear the wire that night, and against his will. He wasn't sure though that he would ever be able to lose the guilt he felt about that.

TBC