Kim took a deep breath and steeled herself as she entered the federal courthouse. Bo walked in front of her, clearing the way through the reporters. She tried to shut them out, ignoring the questions they shouted at her.
There were more of them inside and, in the tight hallways, it was harder to push past them.
"Let us through," Bo growled. A minute later, Roman came to aid them. He put an arm around Kim's shoulders.
"Come on, Sis."
With her brothers escorting her, they carved a path to the courtroom where Shane would be arraigned. Just outside, Kim saw Jack Devereaux. She glared at him, almost daring him to approach her, but he flushed and looked down at the floor. He almost looks embarrassed, she thought.
They entered the courtroom and pushed past a TV camera. Kim spotted Mickey on the other side of the rail that separated the spectators from the attorneys.
"Have you seen Shane?" she asked when she got close enough to him.
He nodded. "We met this morning and discussed the arraignment." He hesitated and took a deep breath like he was debating telling her something, but then he said, "Kim . . . You should know the indictment's not going to be pretty. They're charging Shane with everything they can."
"What's that mean?" Roman said.
"Murder and conspiracy to commit murder for six of the people who died in that compound-"
"But the article says they were shooting," Kim said. "How can that be murder?"
Mickey shook his head. "The government says these six were unarmed scientists. They're also charging him with treason and espionage, plus violating some other laws that you might never have heard of." He gave her a sympathetic look. "I just want you to be prepared. This is just a show of force. Things can change between now and trial."
After her experience with Tarrington the day before, she understood. They were trying to ratchet up the pressure to force Shane to plead guilty. They did not want the truth coming out about the mission. "Okay," she said. "Thank you, Mickey."
Bo and Roman helped her to a seat next to Marlena. Kim glanced around at the numerous spectators. Maggie Horton and Julie Williams were on the other side of the room. Jack had entered and once again looked away when their eyes met. She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned around to see her mother. Her father was right next to her. She smiled up at them, grateful that they had come. Despite everything that had happened between them, and all their anger at Shane over the past year, they were here now, where they were needed.
"Ms. Brady," came a voice to Kim's right. She turned to see a dark-haired woman in a burgundy suit. She had a notepad in hand.
"She's not talking to reporters," Bo snarled.
"Please, just hear me out," the woman said. "My name is Rachel Knight. I'm from the Boston Globe, and I know Captain Donovan. We met last month in Saudi Arabia."
Saudi Arabia? Kim was perplexed for a minute, then remembered the mission Shane had taken to escape from Donovan Manor. To escape from me, she thought.
Rachel lowered her voice. "I suspected he was ISA, and knew there was more between him and the Special Forces unit." She looked at Kim carefully. "I know there's more going on here than meets the eye."
Kim could not process that now. ISA. Special Forces. She just shook her head.
"Look, lady," Bo said. "My sister's not talking to reporters, so leave her alone."
"Fine," Rachel said in a haughty manner. She glanced around the room. "Perhaps I'll just ask Mr. Johnson."
Kim jerked her head around to see where Rachel was looking. Just inside the door, Steve and Kayla had entered the courtroom. Kim felt her body grow hot as her rage built. How dare they show up here, she thought. After their lies and betrayals, they had no business being here.
She started to rise, but Bo stopped her. "Don't do it," he warned.
Roman obviously knew what she was feeling, because he added, "Yeah, Sis. The last thing you want to do is make a scene in front of a bunch of reporters."
Knowing he was right, Kim sat and stewed until the bailiff ordered everyone to rise and the judge entered. He was an elderly, white-haired man, who, from the way he spoke, made her think he could rival Shawn Brady as Salem's biggest curmudgeon. He took the bench and ordered that the defendant be brought in. Kim leaned forward expectantly, anxious to see Shane.
The door on the opposite side of the room opened and Shane entered. She felt a burst of relief that he seemed okay. That turned to anger when she saw that his hands were cuffed and shackled to a chain around his waist. Roman had warned her this might happen, but it still made her furious. The first glimpse most people got of Shane would be on the news tonight, and he would be cuffed like he was a dangerous criminal. She turned her head to where Steve was sitting. I hope you're happy now.
The next few minutes sped by. The court clerk read a long list of charges. Exactly as Mickey had said, they had included just about everything they could. Kim kept her eyes on Shane. He stood almost perfectly still. To almost anyone else, he would have appeared to be showing no emotion, but Kim saw the slight tremor in his jaw and the way he grew pale when the clerk said certain words like "murder" and "treason."
After the charges were read, Shane pled not guilty. Kim suspected that only she noticed the tiny waver in his voice. Then the AUSA stood up. According to Roman, his name was Pasqua. Kim just knew him as the man outside the house who warned her to keep back as they dragged Shane away. Pasqua began arguing that Shane should be remanded without bail.
"Former Captain Donovan is a flight risk," Pasqua argued. "He's a foreign national, with training in covert operations. He also is quite wealthy and could easily falsify a passport. Under these circumstances, bail should be denied."
Mickey rose to Shane's defense. "Captain Donovan is a respected member of this community, where he has lived for most of the past decade. His actions have saved numerous lives, including by stopping Stefano DiMera's plot to blow up part of this city, by rescuing Salem residents who were stranded after a shipwreck near Italy and after that train accident in the mountains a few months ago, and he was responsible for shutting down a major drug operation that would have greatly damaged the fabric of Salem society - a mission, I may add, that nearly cost Captain Donovan his life. I could go on, but those events alone should prove his strong connection to Salem. However, I will add that Captain Donovan has a young son in Salem to whom he is very devoted and would never leave. He is no flight risk."
When Mickey finished, the judge thought for a moment. He looked at Pasqua. "Counsel, I assume the authorities have removed any equipment and materials the defendant received from the ISA?" When Pasqua answered yes, the judge mulled things over briefly then said, "I think that should limit the defendant's opportunity to flee. Due to the seriousness of the charges, bail is set at $10 million, cash or bond. The defendant is to surrender his passport and any ISA travel credentials, including any he might have from the United Kingdom." He looked at Shane carefully. "You're fortunate that I am in a good mood this morning. Don't do anything to make me regret granting you bail."
With that, the judge dismissed the proceedings. Kim was on her feet in an instant, but Shane was led out of the room before she could get close to him. She reached Mickey. "Ten million dollars? How's Shane going to come up with that much?"
"It's okay," Mickey said. "We're arranging a bond. It's just going to take a little while."
Marlena took her hand. "I'm sure Mickey's right. Let's get you home."
"No," Kim said. "I'm not leaving until Shane is freed. I don't care how long it takes."
"Look, let's not have an argument in front of the press," Mickey said. "Okay, you'll stay. I'll call my associate to see if we can speed things up." He glanced at Roman. "Why don't you all go over to the conference room across the hall and I'll let you know when we have the bond arranged?"
That was good enough for now, so Kim turned and headed for the door. She passed the female reporter, Rachel whatever-her-name-was, and Jack, who kept his head buried in his notepad. Steve and Kayla were standing near the door.
"Kim," Kayla said, the apology plain in her voice, but Kim ignored her. I can't talk to her here. I'll lose control. Bo stopped to say something to them, but Roman remained with Kim and escorted her to the conference room.
"It really would be better if you went home," Roman said. "Mickey or me. One of us can drive Shane home as soon as he makes bail."
Kim shook her head. "I said I'm not leaving without Shane."
For the next few hours, she stayed there with her parents, Roman, Marlena, and Bo, who came in a little while later. Kim kept telling them they could leave, but they refused. Time seemed to creep by as Kim waited anxiously.
Finally, just after noon, the door opened and Shane walked in with Mickey. Kim could see Shane was exhausted. Trying to remain stoic in the courtroom had probably sapped the last of his strength.
"Are you okay?" he asked her. "Andrew?"
"We're all fine," she said, smiling.
Shane stood there silently, as if searching for something else to say. Kim wanted to hug him, but stopped herself. She did not know how Shane would react.
"It's okay, lad," Shawn said, breaking the silence. "We're all behind you."
Shane nodded slightly and Kim detected a faint trace of a smile pass his lips. "Thanks," he said quietly. His eyes did not meet her father's.
Kim stepped forward and took Shane's arm. "Let's go home," she said and led him to the door.
"Why don't I pull the car around the back?" Bo asked. Kim nodded. It was a good idea. The last thing Shane needed was to be surrounded by a swarm of reporters.
After giving Bo a head start, Roman led them out the back and Bo met them with the car. Mercifully, the reporters seemed to be in the front of the courthouse or over at the police station. Gratefully, Kim climbed into the back seat of the car with Shane, while Bo joked about always wanting to be a chauffeur.
Shane said nothing during the drive home, but just stared silently out the window. Kim had no idea what he was thinking, but she did not push. This was not the time to try to get him to open up.
Instead, she reached over and squeezed his hand. "Andrew will be so excited to see you." She realized that was probably the wrong thing to say when he blanched and pulled his hand away.
"What do I say to him?" Shane said, his voice so soft, she wondered if he even realized he was talking aloud.
"He loves you," Kim replied. "Just having you there is all that matters. Just tell him that you love him."
Shane closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. When he opened his eyes, he just continued to stare out the window. He said nothing further until they drove past the crowd of reporters, who were being kept back by a couple of Salem's finest, and pulled up in front of the house.
Mike and Simmons met them at the door.
"It's good to have you back, Sir," Simmons said.
"Thank you," Shane answered with a tight smile. Then he turned to Mike and thanked him for staying.
"I don't know what we would have done without you," Kim added, sincere in her gratitude. Mike said it was nothing and headed out the door to check with the police officers outside.
"Andrew's upstairs with his tutor, Sir. Would you like me to get him?" Simmons asked.
Shane seemed to tense.
"Shane, it's okay," Kim said.
"No. . . . It's not okay," Shane said, his voice rising sharply. He stopped short. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that." Then he looked at the stairs for a moment, as if he was debating going up to the second floor. After a few minutes, he said, "I . . . I can't see him right now."
He did not get a choice. An instant later, Andrew's voice echoed from the staircase. "Daddy!" he shouted as he came barreling down the stairs.
"Hey, Sport," Shane said, crouching down and enveloping Andrew in a hug. Kim could hear the tension in his voice.
"I missed you so much, Daddy," Andrew said, and Kim wondered if his anger at Shane was gone or just forgotten momentarily.
"And I missed you," Shane replied. "But everything's okay now," he said. To Kim's ears, it sounded forced. "Everything's okay."
"Where were you?" Where did the bad men take you?" Andrew asked, stepping back from Shane.
Shane tensed up again and stammered, "I. . . ."
Kim came to his rescue. "Andrew, your father just got home. Why don't you let him get cleaned up and you can play later? Besides, I believe you're supposed to be reading with Mrs. Thompson."
Shane looked momentarily grateful, then turned back to Andrew. "Just give me a little while, Sport."
"I'll take Master Andrew back to his tutor, Sir," Simmons said. He took Andrew's hand and they started up the stairs. Andrew looked back over his shoulder with a scowl, giving Kim the answer to her earlier question. Andrew's anger had just been momentarily forgotten.
Once they disappeared from view, Kim turned to Shane. "You have to talk to him."
"I know," Shane said. "I . . . I just need to figure out what to tell him." He backed away from the stairs. "I . . . I think I'm going to go outside. Maybe some air will help."
Kim decided not to push. "Do you want me to come with you?"
"No," Shane said quickly as he started for the back door. "I think I need to be alone."