Kelly knocked on Kris' hotel door before sunrise; at least she hoped it belonged to Kris. Kelly wasn't ready to see Julie or Tiffany just yet. The door finally opened, revealing a sleepy rumpled looking Kris, Kelly had obviously woken her. Kelly tilted her head and looked at Kris, "I'm sorry I woke you. Can I come in?" Kelly hesitated before going on, "I need to talk to you before the others got up this morning." Kris opened the door wider so she could enter and Kelly walked across the room to the coffee pot.
"What's up, Kel?" Kris mumbled as she walked back to the bed on auto pilot. Kris pulled the covers back up and lean back against the wall wondering what Kelly wanted to talk to about at the crack of dawn, Kris started rubbing the sleep out of her eyes trying to focus her still sleepy brain on what Kelly was saying.
"How did the trip go?"
"Uneventful, actually it was kind of good to be away from everything for a few days. I forgot how much fun Tiff and Julie can be." Kris said as she yawned and lifted her arms over her head to stretch out the kinks from the night before.
"Good, I'm glad ya'll had a chance to unwind." Kelly looked hesitantly at Kris. "How is Julie?"
"Hurt; confused. You were rough on her."
"I know, I promise to make it up to her after all this is over."
"There is going to be a lot of that going around when this is over." Kris said looking at Kelly's back, noticing how Kelly quickly stiffened. Kris decided to change the subject, because she did not think she was up to a confrontation right now. "Where did you leave Jill and Sabrina? I'm surprised you got out without them."
Kelly shrugged her shoulders, "I left before they got up this morning." Kris cocked her head to the side assessing Kelly, knowing there was more to the story but not wanting to push right now. If there was one thing Kris had accepted on her trip across country, it had been to let things go. She couldn't control everything and she couldn't change Kelly no matter how much she wanted it. She was going to take her big sister's advice and not push, at least for now.
Kelly kept herself busy fiddling with the coffee maker, "I need a favor and I wanted to talk to you alone."
Kris hugged her legs, looking at Kelly, noting that Kelly was uncomfortable about something and wondering what she had to say, "Sure honey. What is it?" Kelly turned toward Kris biting her lip, she handed Kris her coffee cup, leaned back on the counter and told Kris about meeting Nicholas, and his plan to arrest Bartone and Karazna with the containers that night. Kelly conveniently omitted the fact Nicholas was the Mancini they had been looking for. Kris listened in silence trying to put all the pieces together, leery of where this guy had come from at the 11th hour. Amazed at how Kelly seemed so willing to let him help, especially when she refused help from her friends. Kris had a bad feeling about this forming in her stomach and she desperately tried to work out a solution in her head that Kelly would go along with.
Kelly left Kris alone with her thoughts for a few minutes, knowing Kris needed time to work it all out in her head. Kelly moved over to the window, watching the sun come up, she hoped that by this time tomorrow this would all be over with and her friends would be safe. Kelly looked back at Kris, who was still deep in thought. Kelly knew Kris didn't like the plan and probably wanted to object and was working on her argument now. Finally Kelly thought she had given Kris enough time to think and she still had more to ask.
"Kris, one more thing - I don't want you coming to the swearing in ceremony today. I don't want you, Tiffany or Julie there. Jill, Sabrina, and Bosley will be there, and there will be so much confusion and so many people..." Kelly stopped talking as she noticed Kris was looking down so Kelly could not see her eyes.
Kris didn't notice that Kelly had quit talking, she was lost in her thoughts, Kelly didn't want her there tonight. She wanted Jill and Sabrina. Kris tightened her arms and took a deep breath.
Kelly sat down on the bed by Kris. Kelly turned her head to the side and looked at Kris with concern, understanding slowly registering in her eyes. Kelly mentally said a quick thank you to Jill for their talk last week about how Kris was feeling left out. She put her hand on Kris' head and gently ruffled her hair. "Penny for your thoughts?"
Kris put on a brave smile and looked up, "They aren't worth that."
"Come on kiddo talk to me." Kelly said as she moved her hand to squeeze Kris' knee and gave her an encouraging smile. "Have anything to do with you feeling left out because I'm going to be there with Jill and Bri?"
Kris looked up quickly and a spark flew in her eyes, she looked in Kelly's eyes and saw her answer, "Jill had no right to talk to you about that!" Kris moved off the bed and across the room, not looking at Kelly.
Kelly took a breath in and turned toward Kris, "She was worried about you, about us and she wanted to help. Besides I'm glad she did. I..."
Before Kelly could finish her sentence, Kris threw Kelly's hand off and got off the bed, "Just more secrets between the 3 of you, that I am not included in."
Kelly sighed and looked down at the floor wondering why relationships always seemed to be so complicated, especially for her, so much baggage from her past always seemed to hurt the people here cared about most. Kelly exhaled, "Kris I'm sorry if you feel excluded, I never meant to do that, none of us meant to make you feel like an outsider. Personally, I think you and I have a close relationship and in a lot of ways I am closer to you than Sabrina or Jill. Sabrina, Jill and I have definitely gone through a lot of stuff together, but I always felt like you and I bonded in a different way than I did with them. We met at a time in my life when I was more open and trusting of people. Jill and Sabrina got me to that point. You know all my little quirks better than anyone else. You bring me soup from my favorite restaurant when I get sick, you must of have driven me to every antique store on the east coast shopping when I was recovering from my heroin addiction, you added that funny ring to my phone after the case with Margo." Kelly stopped for a minute her emotions getting the better of her as she thought about how much Kris meant to her and how much she hated to see her hurting now. Once again it seemed like someone else was hurting because of her. Kelly felt so defeated and tired, she just wanted to get through one more night and then she could rest.
As Kelly sat there in silence Kris slowly walked away from the window and sat down on the bed beside her. "So why do you shut me out, Kel? Why won't you let me help you?"
"Kris, I don't mean to shut you out, but I do that with everyone – even Sabrina and Jill. I wish I didn't do it sometimes but it is instinct when I need to sort out my feelings. You only seem to get upset about it when they are around. Kris, after the heroin addiction and Margo, I pulled back too, but you just supported me, you didn't try to make me talk or try to run my life! And as far as letting you help me, I have. I asked you to stay in California with me and then to help with the case, go to Europe and if you will let me I am going to ask you to help me tonight. I do trust and love you. I need you to believe that Kris, I need you to know how much you mean to me."
Kelly tried to get Kris to look at her but Kris was still firmly focused on the carpet. Part in desperation and part in frustration Kelly not so gently hit Kris on her shoulder with her own shoulder forcing her to move to keep her balance. Kris smiled a little as she looked up.
"Kris you are important to me. My friendship with Jill and Sabrina is what made it possible for us to have the friendship we have. They opened the door, they taught me how to trust. That doesn't mean I care about them more than you, just that we have a different friendship than you and I do." Kelly once again pushed Kris trying to get her to talk, Kris started pushing back and before they knew it they were giggling as they tried to push each other off the bed. Kris finally pushed Kelly on to the floor and they dissolved in giggles. Between gasps for breathe Kelly said, "Besides whom else am I going to hang around that I can actually finish my dessert or beat in a game of chess!" Kris swatted at Kelly's head and replied, "Who else do I know that can spot a Louie Vuitton fake from a mile away and knows all the best discount shop owners by name." Kelly laughed; knowing her obsession with shopping would come in handy one day.
"Alright Kel, I get it. No more feeling left out or at least I will try."
Kelly smiled, "Good, I can't stand this sober whiny Kris."
Kris poked out her lips, "Hey, that's not fair?"
Kelly didn't want to start another argument, "Kris, seriously, I would never intentionally hurt you in a million years. You have to believe that! Honest." Kelly held her hand up in the Boy Scout promise.
Kris laughed and pulled Kelly's hand down, "You were never a boy scout. Okay I get it, I have been too sensitive." Kelly started to respond and then thought silence was the best option right now, especially since she seemed to be getting her way.
Kris sobered as she looked over at Kelly, "Honey, I have to tell you this plan worries me. I know you trust this guy, I realize ya'll have a history together, but you are putting a lot of faith in him when you have not seen him in years and ..." Kris stopped.
Kelly looked at Kris trying to prompt her to continue, but she quickly realized what Kris did not want say, "and he could be in on it. A trap!"
Kris nodded and went on in a stronger voice, "Yes, I do think that. Put this off. Just for a day. Let Charlie look into his background; find out if his story checks out. Let me make some calls."
Kelly wanted to blow Kris off, but deep inside she knew Kris had a point and Kelly could not shake the feeling that something was off. She got up and stood looking out the window watching the sunrise. Kris looked on biting her lip so she would not say anything. Finally Kelly turned around to look at Kris. "I'm not postponing the meeting tonight, but you and Charlie can look into his background. Next, you, Tiff and Julie can go scout out the site this morning and work on our best plan. I want you to pick a good point where you can observe everything but not so you can be noticed. One other thing Kris, next to me you are the best shot on the team, I want you to find a good sniper position and set up to cover Sabrina and Jill. I will feel better if we have someone out there no one knows about. I won't tell Nicholas about you, so that could put you in danger. If Nicholas' team doesn't know I have someone out there they could mistake you for one of Bartone or Karazna's men. Are you willing to take that risk?"
"I'm sure. Besides, I will be covering you too. Don't forget that and I learned a few things about Interpol tactics the last few years; I'll make sure I stay out of their way. We can keep radio communication, if you need to tell them where I am you can. But Kelly the big question is are you sure you can trust him? This is a big gamble honey and I'm worried about you."
"I'm sure Kris. Besides if anything goes wrong you will be there to provide cover for Sabrina and Jill. I will be fine, Nicholas won't hurt me. I promise. Why don't we meet in Carl…" Kelly stopped for a second and swallowed, "I mean my office about 5pm that should give you enough time to scout out the sight, Charlie to look into Nicholas' past, I will be finished with all my obligations and the office should be quiet by then."
Kris looked up at Kelly and quickly gave her a hug, "Ok, that sounds as good as I am going to get. I will go wake up Tiffany and Julie so we can scout out the site."
Kelly started to leave and then turned around, "One more thing Kris. The reason I do not want you there at the swearing in ceremony is to keep you, Tiffany and Julie off Bartone's radar. I want them to think you disappeared."
Kris nodded, "I know it makes sense. I just wanted to be there for you. Ya know."
Kelly gave Kris a hug, "I know. You will be there in spirit." Kris nodded letting Kelly go, "I will."
Kelly quickly left Kris' room and headed back to her house to talk to Jill and Sabrina. She felt relief that things had gone so well with Kris and hoped her luck held when she talked to Jill and Sabrina. She also needed to see Tommie; her back was starting to throb.
Kris watched Kelly get into her car, feeling relieved that they had worked some things out, but she could not get rid of feeling that tonight was not going to go their way. She just hoped they all made it through okay, especially Kelly. She did not think her friend could handle much more. Kris shook herself out of her thoughts, time to go wake up Tiff and Julie and get this show on the road.
Kelly walked back into her brownstone 30 minutes later to find both Sabrina and Jill eating breakfast at the dining room table. Neither one looked up at her, they just kept eating. Kelly swallowed and slowly started walking toward them.
"Good morning guys. Did you sleep well?"
"Sabrina, did you hear something?" Kelly looked at Jill in surprise, "C'mon guys."
"I did hear something, I think it sounded a little like a friend we use to have." Kelly rolled her eyes as she sat down at the table.
"I know the one you are talking about! The one I use to trust. The one that would never sneak out without us."
"Or go behind our back when we were working on a case together."
"Or not tell us she is in a lot of pain."
"Or that she brought Tommie along to control the pain."
"Or made plans behind our back, when it is our lives on the line too."
Kelly threw her hands, "Alright! I get it! You don't want me going off on my own. We are in this together. Can I at least explain before you convict me?"
Jill looked over at Sabrina, "Think she has gotten the point yet?"
Sabrina raised her eyebrows and then took another bite of food, "I don't know. Depends on whether she is going to come clean with us about everything, including Tommie."
Kelly was beginning to become impatient with this game; she did not have time for this. "Look alright you win! Tommie is here to manage the pain in my back, it is worse than I have been letting on. There is more damage than I admitted to either of you. Yes, I snuck out last night to go look around Carl's office, I didn't want to do that with a lot of people around today and this morning I went to see Kris. And I came back here this morning to fill ya'll in on everything that happened and the plan." Kelly finished looking from Jill to Sabrina.
Jill held her up her hand, "Wait you went where this morning and whose plan?"
Sabrina held up her finger to stop Jill from erupting, "First things first. We know about your back we know you are in more pain than you are admitting to and we know that if you are not careful you could wind up in a wheelchair permanently."
Kelly looked calmly over at Sabrina, "So? It doesn't change anything."
"Kelly how can you say that? It does change things. You can't risk putting yourself in a wheelchair for life. Bartone and Karazna aren't worth it."
"Sabrina, I'm not risking anything for them, I'm doing it for Carl and for you and Jill, Kris, Tiffany, Julie, Bosley. Now if you will just listen to me, maybe this will all be over with by tomorrow morning and I promise I will sit around, rest and go to therapy."
Jill looked from Kelly to Sabrina and shrugged her shoulders, "she has a point. Besides short of drugging her and tying her to a chair we aren't going to sideline her."
Looking back at Kelly, Sabrina said, "Okay, let's hear it Kelly. What is the plan?"
Kelly brought them up to date on her meeting with Nicholas last night, his plan and then her discussion with Kris this morning. As she was finishing up she could see the resistance on both their faces. "Look, I know this sounds risky, working with someone I have not seen in over 10 years. You just have to trust me; Nicholas would never let anything happen to me. He just wouldn't, we have been through too much."
"I know you trust this guy Kel, but this has come out of the blue, you have to let us catch up. So let me see if I got this right, Kris, Tiff, and Julie are going to check out the shipyard this morning. You are going to meet with Bartone and Karazna as planned this morning before the swearing in ceremony, and then we will meet with Kris, Tiff and Julie to discuss our plan on where they will set up. Nicholas and his men will not know about Kris being there. Then we will meet up with this Nicholas tonight, go with him to the shipyard, and arrest Bartone, Karazna and their men when they accept the containers with the drugs and guns."
Kelly nodded.
"Kelly I don't buy it, nowhere in this plan do you get Carl's killer to confess and I know you want that. I can't believe you are going to let this go without arresting someone for his murder." Sabrina's eye bore in Kelly's eyes looking for answers.
"I can if it gets this behind us. If it makes sure that everyone is safe and this stupid revenge non sense it stopped. Nicholas has assured me they will not get out of jail anytime soon." Kelly looked away from Sabrina to Jill hoping she could pull this off, it was partly true, and she had every intention of making sure this was over tonight. She would not need a court to give her justice. "I want this over and this is the quickest most direct plan I can find. It is not much different than what we had talked about. I need this over with." Kelly finished with a plea that her friends had rarely heard before.
Jill looked thoughtfully at Kelly for several minutes and then got up from the table, "Well let's get dressed we have a big day ahead of us."
Sabrina looked at Jill like she had lost her mind, "What do you mean? You aren't buying that are you?" Jill ignored Sabrina and started to the stairs, "Better hurry up Kel, it takes you forever to get dressed!" Kelly felt relief wash over her as she also got up and headed to the stairs, she looked over her shoulder at Sabrina, "Coming?"
Sabrina shrugged her shoulders in defeat, "Why not. I always said we had to be crazy to work for Charlie. This just proves it." Sabrina got up and went upstairs with her friends. It was going to be a very eventful day.
