Kelly was at her wits end, and her temper was ready to explode. She never knew a plane flight could be so long. Between the looks Sabrina and Jill kept giving her, the snickering from the CBI agents and Tommie's constant attention she wanted to shoot someone. She had tried to kill time playing chess with Sabrina who of course beat her quickly. Jill had charmed the CBI agents and Tommie into playing poker with her and they had lost most of their money. Some things never changed, Kelly had never seen a man who could concentrate on his cards while Jill was flirting with him, and it had gotten them into and out of several fixes. Next Kelly tried to read, but finally gave up and then tried to sleep but she was too restless. She knew the problem and she had done it to her self, her conscience was bothering her. She was using Tommie and it wasn't right and it didn't help that her two best friends knew she was using him and they did not approve. Kelly just hoped she could distract them enough this week so they would not figure out what was going on, Kelly thought the odds were slim, but she needed Tommie to manage the pain and she couldn't let them know how much pain she was actually in right now. Kelly turned to look out the window, noticing the flashing light a top the Washington Monument in Washington DC through the window and sighed. Kelly silently prayed, "Just a few more days, I just have to hang on a few more days. Please Lord just let me finish this without anyone else getting hurt."
They had finally gotten to the Kelly and Carl's brownstone in Georgetown, Kelly was hoping to escape everyone, she wasn't lying when she said she had a terrible headache and wanted to go lay down, unfortunately her friends weren't buying into her request.
Kelly stepped into her room, thanked her butler for bringing in her luggage, and gently lowered herself into the small sofa with a huge sigh of relief that was quickly interrupted by a knock, Kelly thought to her self, 'I knew it wouldn't be that easy?'
Sabrina knocked again more insistently, "Kelly we aren't leaving until you let us in."
"Bri I need to rest. Can we talk about it in the morning?" Kelly tried hoping, but knowing they were just stubborn enough to stand out there all night and make a scene.
"We are not going to discuss this through the door. Kelly, open the door, NOW," Jill said in exasperation. Kelly sighed, "Come on in, it's not locked." Sabrina and Jill stormed in.
Jill started pacing the sitting room, "What the hell do you think you are doing? I have seen some low things in my time but this is low, especially for you."
Kelly was taken back by Jill's anger and found her own anger growing. "What is that suppose to mean?"
"Tommie, you are using him. He obviously adores you and you are using him. I never thought I would see the day you took advantage of an innocent and naïve boy that clearly worships you." Jill stared at Kelly, throwing her arms out to emphasize her point as she started to pace again.
"First keep your voice down he is in the other room and second what I am doing is my business not yours and let's not talk about misleading men Jill, because you are the queen there, I couldn't hold a candle to all the men you have led on."
Jill stopped dead in her tracks, eyes piercing into Kelly's, "That was low and you know it."
Kelly lifted her chin a little and looked at Jill with determination in her eyes, "Maybe it was but I am not using him for my personal amusement or satisfaction."
Jill looked at Kelly wondering what to say next, stinging from Kelly's accusation. Jill realized how much Kelly had dug her heels in and how much she must be hurting under all her anger. Kelly would never admit anything if Jill kept charging at her. Jill sank down in the chair as she put her head into her hands trying to slow down her breathing before she did or said anything else she would regret. She sighed in frustration thinking she really wanted to wring her best friend's neck right now.
Kelly felt the guilt gnawing at her conscience again but she pushed that thought away as she turned to Sabrina and raised an eyebrow at her in question, your turn.
Sabrina had watched the exchange in stunned silence, surprised at the anger from both her friends, "Hey, Kelly, we are your friends; we just want to know what is going on. This is so not like you. What are you doing?"
Kelly looked at Sabrina and replied in a calm and measured voice, "I'm trying to catch my husband's killer without getting my best friends killed. I've become close to Tommie over the last few weeks. It's nice to be around someone, I can relax around. I'm tired of arguing." Kelly finished.
Sabrina nodded slowly, she didn't believe her completely, but arguing was not going to get her any where and she was tired of arguing too. Sabrina sat down on the couch, "So why don't we play cards or watch a movie?"
Kelly sighed as she ran her hand through her hair, "Not tonight."
"Kelly I can't keep doing this. Back and forth, pushing us away and then letting us in. My nerves can't take it anymore. You have to make up your mind that we are in this together." Jill said with tears of frustration and concern in her eyes.
Kelly quickly looked away from Jill, uncomfortable with what she said and the emotions she saw in Jill's eyes. "I'm not trying to jerk you or anyone else around and if it helps any I feel like I am on that roller coaster too. I feel responsible and if someone else gets hurt or killed; I don't think I could live with myself. I'm the cause of all of this Jill; I'm the center of it."
Jill looked up at Kelly and started pacing around the room, her anger growing again, "No, Kelly. Karazna is after me because of Dino, because his brother was killed when he tried to kill Kris. That part has nothing to do with you. Bartone is upset because I influenced his daughter and I tricked him, Sabrina tricked him. Pablo was after Sabrina because of his father. So stop blaming yourself for everything. Kelly you can't take responsibility for the world. We made a lot of enemies as a team. A team! Can't you see it isn't all your responsibility?"
"No, I can't. I can't change everything but I can change what is in my power to change and I can use the shipments. Right now this revolves around me."
"Maybe it will work and maybe not, but stop taking the blame for everything. You didn't pull the trigger on anyone and if something happens to one of us, you won't have pulled that trigger either."
Kelly looked at Jill, "You know I can't accept that, neither could you in my place. This is a mixed up case that has got so many people from our present and past lives mingled in together. I'm the constant here Jill. I'm the person they all hate."
Sabrina looked from Kelly to Jill, leaning against the arm of the sofa and sighed in frustration and despair. She knew there was more to the Tommie issue but her and Jill would just have to handle that issue directly with Tommie and the guilt and anger would just have to work itself out when the case was over. "When are you meeting Bartone and Karazna, Kelly?"
"Tomorrow morning, Bartone at 10 and Karazna at 10:15, I want them to see each other. The swearing in ceremony is at 11; Charlie is supposed to be getting in touch with Kris, Tiffany, Julie and Bosley. I had my office get clearances for everyone."
Sabrina and Jill exchanged a look of concern, knowing the swearing in ceremony would be hard on Kelly.
Kelly noted the look, "Look guys, I will be fine, really."
Sabrina nodded at Jill, who also nodded; they knew they would not get anything out of Kelly tonight. Jill walked by Kelly giving her a hug, "I love ya Kel." Sabrina walked by too, "Love ya, Kel. I hope you get some sleep. Call me if you need anything." Kelly nodded and gave Sabrina a little smile, "I'll be okay Bri, and you get some sleep." Ruefully Kelly thought, hope, hope was the only thing keeping her going right now. Hope and Hate, what a strange combination.
As Sabrina and Jill moved to their rooms, Sabrina whispered to Jill, "I think you need to give Tommie a chance to win his money back."
Jill looked up at Sabrina as a mischievous smile spread across her face, "You know, I think that is a terrific idea. Let's change and go find him." Sabrina nodded in agreement, there is more than one way to get information.
Kelly looked out the window as the streets of Georgetown turned into the government buildings around the capital. She thought back to the last hour, as soon as Sabrina and Jill had left her room she had gone down to Tommie's room and gotten a shot in her back and some pain pills. He had been worried about the combination, but she had assured him she would be careful and she also warned him not to tell anyone about the shots or the pills. Then she had called her driver and headed to Carl's office.
Kelly had wanted to do this alone; she needed to see Carl's office for the first time by herself. She took a deep breath and let it out as she turned the handle. Jonathan had told her no one had been in the office since the assassination. She slowly stepped into the office, her senses were assailed with so many memories, Carl's swearing in ceremony, the first time they had stepped into this office when it was bare, except for the desk and chairs. Kelly had such a good time decorating, so much excitement and feeling of purpose those first few months. She walked toward his credenza and gently caressed the pictures there. Each one had a special meaning for Carl, he had handpicked these pictures to remind himself where he came from and the people he was trying to help. There were old pictures of family and friends, new pictures showing his California campaign staff, pictures of him at a Habitat for Humanity kickoff project, Kelly thought he looked so cute with his tool belt, hard hat and hammer in hand. She smiled at the memory of how sore his thumbs were after that day, he was a wiz at negotiations but he was not a carpenter. Kelly picked up each picture remembering the story behind each one. Finally she turned and pulled out his chair, caressing the top of the chair knowing his head had been here and would never be again. Slowly Kelly sat down and looked down at the desk, her eyes were drawn to a note pushed under the glass, it was a note she had given him the day he had been sworn in,
Shake a tail feather and cut a rug!
I know you can achieve change for everyone and make the world a better place. I believe in you!
All my love,
Kelly
She flipped through his calendar noting he had circled their anniversary date and blocked out the whole week. As she continued to flip through the calendar it brought back so many bitter sweet memories, of how short their time together had been, but how much fun they had together, trips to Europe to watch Jill race, Napa to tour the wine country with Sabrina and Bill, weekends in New York and skiing in Vail. How much they had accomplished together, they had both had worked to help children and the Lost Angels home had been her idea but they had worked on it together. So many memories in such a short time. As she closed his calendar, mentally trying to concentrate on the now, she moved to put the calendar back in his desk, as she turned she felt a tingle on the back of her neck, someone was behind her. She chided herself for leaving her purse and gun across the room. Slowly Kelly moved around putting the desk between her and the intruder. She discreetly grabbed an antique letter opener and tried to casually turn around, wondering where her security detail had disappeared to. As she turned around, she was surprised to see familiar dark green eyes looking back at her.
As she looked into those familiar green eye, warily she said, "Nicholas?" as she moved closer she became more excited, "Nicholas, it that really you?"
The tall handsome dark haired man nodded as a big smile spread across his face and he opened his arms, "It's me Kelly girl."
In two exuberant strides Kelly was in his arms, hugging him tightly, trying to convince herself he was real, tears gathering in her eyes and choked her throat as she turned her face into his neck and whispered, "I thought I had lost you. Oh I have missed you so much. I can't believe you are here."
Nicholas held on to her tightly, giving her a minute to adjust to his presence. She felt good in his arms. She slowly loosens her grip, keeping her hands around his neck she leaned back to look him in the eyes. Nicholas smiled, "I've missed seeing those sparkling green Irish eyes all though I must say they aren't sparkling right now."
Kelly put her head down on Nicholas' shoulder, feeling safe for the first time in weeks. "It has been a rough few weeks."
Nicholas ran his hand up and down her back, "Ahh now, surely you are exaggerating. Worse than when old man Johnson locked us out of the house for the weekend, in the worst storm Texas had seen in 100 years?" Kelly nodded, not raising her head from his shoulder remembering days they would try to cheer each other up by going through their on private list of survival experiences. One horrible night they had decided to make a list of the worst situations they had ever been through and when ever they were in another bad situation they would compare with each other to see if it belonged in their hall of survival. The game had always reminded them how much they had survived and if they could survive all the neglect, torture, beatings, hatred and thoughtlessness, they could survive anything.
Nicholas broke into Kelly's thoughts with his soft voice, that held a slight Irish accent, "Worse than the night I found you at the circle, all bloody and beaten. As I recall that little incident took 2 weeks in the hospital and another 4 weeks in a cast, plus 4 broken ribs." Kelly slowly leaned back looking him in the eyes, but not letting go his shoulders. "My husband was killed right in front of me, and then I was shot twice. I lost my baby and I may not be able to have children again."
Nicholas' eyes sobered and took on a look of solid steel as Kelly finished, "I'm so sorry love. You didn't deserve all that, but you have never gotten a smidge of what you deserve as far as I can see." He gently pulled her back into his embrace. "Its okay love, Nicholas is here and nothing is going to hurt you. We will make them pay. No more just surviving, we are going to get justice this time."
"Nicholas, you don't understand everything is so complicated right now. Such a mess." Kelly moved away to start pacing the room, the more she paced, the more emotions flowed through her, she tried to contain, she stopped suddenly realizing there was one question she had to have answered- what was he doing here. "How did you get past my security detail? What are you doing here?"
Nicholas pulled a badge out of his breast pocket, "I showed them this."
Kelly walked over to look at the badge, "Interpol, you're with Interpol? Since when? Where have you been all these years? The police picked you up and I never saw you again. What happened? What brings you here?" She finished firing questions and looked at him expecting some kind of answer.
"That Kelly my dear is a long story and will take more time than we have. Let's just leave the catching up until we have dealt banished Bartone, Doyle and Karazna to the hell they so richly deserve."
Kelly's eyes narrowed as she pierced Nicholas with a look, "What do you know about them?"
"I've been trying to breakup this smuggling ring for 2 years now. This is the first time I've gotten them all on the same continent with the evidence."
Kelly looked at Nicholas curiously, "You've been working on this case for 2 years? Were you in contact with Carl?"
"I haven't been in contact with him directly, my superiors kept your state department informed. I didn't know about your connection until after the assassination. I'm so sorry, love." Nicholas could see Kelly was gearing up for more questions as she worked through the different scenarios and he could not afford too many questions. "Listen, you have had a long day but I need to talk to you about your meeting with Bartone and Karazna tomorrow."
"My meeting with Bartone and Karazna is scheduled for tomorrow morning. How did you know about that?"
"Because I am Mancini."
Kelly looked at him stunned, "What? You are Mancini? What are you talking about Nicholas?"
"I told you I have been undercover for 2 years, trying to arrest these guys. They are bad men Kelly, dangerous men." Nicholas walked up to Kelly, "I need your help. Can you help me?"
Kelly looked at Nicholas in confusion, with a sinking feeling, unsure of why she suddenly didn't trust her oldest and dearest friend in the world, but she had to listen, he had been there for her. "What do you need?"
Nicholas smiled, he knew she was wary and that was good, but the important thing was she was listening. "I want you to set up the meeting with them for tomorrow night at the old shipyard off highway 10 at midnight. I want you to arrange to have both containers at the shipyard." He held his hand up as Kelly started to interrupt. "I will have my team positioned to cover us. They will have the high ground to make sure nothing happens to you and the shipments will not get out. Also I want Sabrina and Jill to drive the containers in. I will arrive with you in a car that I will pick you up at your house. When we get there, I will tell them that we have made an arrangement for the shipments in return they will leave you and your friends alone."
Kelly looked at Nicholas thoughtfully, "What about the vote, my senate seat and more importantly Carl's killer?"
"I will tell them I have made sure the bill will not pass using other means and that you have agreed to not run for the seat next year when Carl's term is finished. Then I will demand that they turn over Carl's killer to me."
Kelly walked around the desk sorting through what Nicholas had said. She leaned against the back of Carl's desk chair and met Nicholas' eyes, "How do I know you are on the up and up Nic? No offense, but the last time I saw you the police were taking you away in a patrol car after we got caught stealing a car. Car thief to Interpol detective is a big jump."
Nicholas smiled, "Isn't that kind of hypocritical on your part? You were a car thief too and tomorrow you will be sworn in as a US Senator. What makes that change so different? I promise you, if you help me out neither man will bother you again, and your friends will be safe."
"I want that more than anything Nic, I really do. But I also want to know who killed my husband and who ordered it. No lose ends, just plain old fashion justice." Nicholas looked into Kelly's eyes seeing cold hard steel behind those emerald green eyes, she meant what she said and it was non-negotiable.
"Are you sure? I can help you make that happen but I need you to be sure." Nicholas moved over beside Kelly, grabbing hold of her shoulders and looking into her eyes. "Is this what you want? For you I will make sure they are dancing to the devil's fiddle by morning."
Kelly's eyes had never wavered from Nicholas' eyes, "I'm sure. Sometimes you have to make your own justice." Nicholas nodded as he pulled her into his arms thinking, sometimes you do.
