The little key for the cuffs was right in the center of the table and Kate was eyeing it.
She shifted, turning toward me a little so she could see Rocko out of the corner of her eye and attempted to block his view of the key with her forearm.
"Gee, Officer Krupke, what now?" She said sarcastically, directing her attention, and hopefully his, to me.
I shrugged. "It sounds like if I play her game I'll be fine. It's you who should worry." What did she think she was going to do with the key? Throw it at me? Nonchalantly walk on over here? He'd be all over her before she could get close. Still, at the moment, it was the only opportunity available.
"Sounds like you're saying I'm on my own."
I rattled the handcuffs. "You looking for me to do something?"
Kate's chanced a glance at Rocko, who sidled casually over, plucked the key off the table, and, putting it in his pocket, gave her a look that said, "Nice try." He was observant, disciplined for the most part…he'd had some sort of training.
Kate looked down at her hands, clearly vexed. Rocko went back to his place: up against the brick wall a little bit behind her.
She'd untucked her legs and tentatively put her toes on the floor. I could tell she was cold, why couldn't he? She was beginning to look uncertain and defeated.
Don't give up, Kate. Believe we'll get out of this.
This guy obviously had sympathy for her. How could I exploit that, make it work against him? By attacking again and making him fell sorry for her.
"Can I ask you – why is it always your past that's the problem? What is it about you that makes people so crazy they spend years of their time trying to get back at you? I tick people off all the time and I've never had anyone do something like this."
"Maybe they don't think you're worth the trouble." Kate snapped.
"I mean, I even have an ex who'd love to see me dead."
"You also have an almost-ex who'd love to see the same thing."
Kate! Be more of a victim!
"There are so many things about you I hate."
"Gimme a list."
Oh, she was going to make me think? This would be a disaster. She was better at this than I was.
"Well, for starters, when you cook, you chop the vegetables too big. That drives me crazy."
Her face said, "That was lame."
She said, "With your mouth that shouldn't be a problem." Rocko tried to hide a smile. No, no, no. This was not the way things were supposed to go. How do I make her understand?
"How about this: you've turned your four-year –old daughter into an entitlement machine. She's a spoiled little bitch, just like you." That made him frown and Kate suck in her breath. She stared at me for a minute, thinking, and I could see her trying to figure out what I was trying to do.
Finally, I could see her eyes well up with tears. "How could you do that?" she asked in a hoarse whisper, "How could you bring the kids into this?" She exhaled and blinked up at the ceiling in an effort to keep the tears in her eyes. She looked back at me and let two tears roll down her right cheek. Way to go, Garbo.
Why she'd chosen to be behind the page instead of in front of the camera, I'll never know.
"That's enough." Rocko stepped between us.
"Do you mind? I'm talking to my wife."
He didn't move. Said nothing.
"What, you can keep a woman captive, but you can't handle it if she cries?"
He pointed a finger at me. "I do not like you, sir."
Sir? Finally the respect I deserved.
"Join the club." Kate coughed, letting the tears flow freely. How did she do that?
He turned to her, and she sniffled, and when she looked up at him he realized his sleeves would be woefully inadequate this time.
"I'll go get something." He said, and left quickly, slamming the door behind him. Did he expect to find a box of tissues in an abandoned building?
"Check the door." I said.
"It's got to be locked," Kate said, trying it anyway, with no luck.
"What are we going to do?" She asked desperately, coming over to me and taking my face in her hands.
"I don't know. You've got to get me loose. There's no way you can take that guy down!"
"With all due respect, hon, he's a really big guy and you're not armed-"
"David and Goliath, baby."
"He'd kill you. I don't think he'll hurt me."
"What are you thinking of doing?"
"Reducing his child-bearing capabilities."
"That won't do it –you need to get that key and have enough time to get me out of these."
"Let me think." She said, and the look in her eyes made my stomach ache. She kissed me.
She whispered, "I love you." And she stepped back, knowing we didn't have much time left before he returned.
"I know." I said, and she smiled and gave me a look that was so pure and innocent that it reminded me of the Kate I knew back when I wanted what I thought I could never have.
"Empire Strikes Back." She said, and we heard the key scrape in the lock, she leaped back over to the chair.
When Rocko came back in, Kate was sitting, head bowed, hands in her lap, actually sobbing. In spite of her hair hanging in her face I could see actual tears dripping down onto her hands.
He gave me a 'What did you do?" look and brought, of all things, a golf towel over to her.
She looked up at him, mascara smearing her face. "Where did you get this?" she asked.
"My car. It's clean." He offered.
"Thank you," she said. Kate patted at her face and gave a few shuddering breaths that seemed very real. Was she acting, or had she worked herself up that much?
"You seem to be a pretty nice guy." She looked at him gratefully. "How'd you get involved in something like this?"
"I worked security for Mr. Benedict. About a month ago, she just kinda came in and took over."
"And that's when you decided kidnapping was something you were okay with?" Kate was using a very gentle, coaxing tone.
He cleared his throat. "I'm, uh, actually not all that okay with it."
"Yet you hit me in the head." Kate said in the same reasonable tone.
He gave a look that was both pleading and apologetic. "I didn't want to, but you fought so hard… It was all I could think of to do."
"You could have just let me go," Kate said, and paused. "You could just let me go now."
He shook his head. "Can't. I'd never survive it."
"You could come, too." Kate suggested.
"I'm not going to live with this guy!" I protested.
"I don't believe I included you." Kate said coolly, and turned back to him. "I know how to disappear. I've done it before. She'd never find you. And this guy can only find people by accident." Well, that almost hurt.
For a moment the guy actually looked as though he were considering it.
Kate watched his thought process and, when he looked as though he was about to rule it all out, she jumped back in, asking him if 'Rocko' was really his name.
"No, my last name is Rockwell. My friends turned it into a nickname when I was a kid."
"Really? Turning your last name into a nickname….you shouldn't let them do that - it really makes you sound kinda stupid." She was looking at him very seriously, but I could tell she was having a hard time not smiling.
I had to cough to cover a laugh.
Nice. And gratuitous. We'd have to have a conversation about that little comment later.
"What's your name?" she asked gently.
"Michael.'
She bit her lip. "That's my son's name. Michael." She mused, looking at the floor. When she looked back up at him, she was giving him the look she used with me any time I really didn't want to do something. The one that always got me.
The one she used whenever she wanted us all to go visit Sully at the cabin for the day.
"He's a year old and I'd like to see him again. Do you think I'll be able see him again, Michael?"
"That's not my call." He said, not without sympathy. His eyes never left hers.
She nodded and turned her head away a little and I could see him studying her profile, the graceful way she held herself in spite of the circumstances.
"But it could be." I pointed out. "Look, you've only known her for a couple of hours, but I can tell that you know she doesn't deserve this."
Kate was giving me a fierce look: shut up!
"I don't care what happens to me, but she's a mother to two children and they need her. She's a good person, and she doesn't have a deceptive bone in her body. Let her go and I'll back up whatever story you want to give."
He looked at me sharply. He'd figured out our game.
No.
I'd given it away.
Kate dropped her head back, eyes closed and massaged her temples.
We were back at square one.