"One Last Love" PART FOUR
(final part)
Katheryn nodded in agreement and began searching for a way out. "Oh no," she stopped short.
"What is it?" Carlos turned around from where he stood, shaking the barred window in hopes of it being just a bit loose.
Katheryn stood to face Detective Sandoval. "The satchel. It—it's still in the other room."
Carlos lifted a hand to calm Katheryn's fear. "Not to worry. I don't think they could get anymore hints about us than they already have."
"But…" she interrupted. "You don't understand. I slipped my little notebook in there before we left Leo's bookstore earlier today. And—and my real name is written inside."
"Oh," Detective Sandoval now fully understood Katheryn's implication. "Well…" he turned back to the barred window. It's frosted panes didn't budge one bit as he pushed on them. He grunted softly and sighed. He felt the hope of getting out of there slipping through his fingers as he jostled the bars yet again. He heaved a sigh and then rested his weary body against the stucco wall.
Katheryn slowly crossed the room to where he stood and reached a hand to his shoulder. "We'll get out of here," she whispered and put her hand back to her side as quick as she had lifted it. She took a step forward and shook the bars herself with both hands. Nothing. She heaved a sigh as well. "The Rangers should be on their way soon though. Shouldn't they have heard everything through my mic?"
"Technically, yes."
"What do you mean?" Katheryn faced him directly.
Carlos gently turned the pendant over on Katheryn's chest, glanced it over, and turned it back. "That's what I thought." He sighed and turned back to the window.
"I didn't want to worry you." Carlos bowed his head and turned back to meet the young woman's gaze. "But…I think the pendant stopped working just before we reached the other room."
Katheryn's heart nearly sank, but she refused to give in to the notion. "But surely…"
Carlos shook his head and turned to the opposite side of the makeshift prison. "But I have every confidence that we will get out of this." He noticed a rug with a corner turned slightly upward resting easily in one corner of the room. "Well, what do you know," he said with light-heartened relief and lifted the carpet to reveal a trapdoor.
Katheryn hesitated as she watched him attempt to pry the latched open. "Detective Sandoval…surely those men would not have left us in a room that had an easy escape."
The Detective sighed and dropped the carpet back over the door. "You're right." He ran a hand through his hair as he thought through what he should do next.
Katheryn's thoughts seemed to drift, taking her away to just days before today when Miss Cahill had introduced her to the idea of going undercover and the task force that would help her along the way. She had never imagined it would lead to this. But somehow she could not picture herself having gone through it any other way. She chided the notion. She should not be enjoying this. She should be frightened and afraid. But somehow all Katheryn felt was peace and safety in the knowledge that God would see them through.
Somehow…she also felt safe with Detective Sandoval. She had come to admire the man in the days since. And it was an odd thing to think of all they had gone through so far in such a short amount of time. Yet they somehow could flow together and put their reasoning together to make a clear, unadulterated thought.
Katheryn shook away her reverie and found herself in a stare. She quickly looked away for fear of embarrassment and went to work. Walking to one side of the room, she began tracing the perimeter of the room, running her finger along the wall as she walked and glancing about herself.
Detective Sandoval also set to work in his own way, examining the door and windows for possible ways to open them both. "You wouldn't happen to have a match, would you?"
"No," Katheryn responded limply as she continued her slow walk. "Anything I would have brought, I quickly put in that satchel so…so we wouldn't lose it." She stifled a broad smile, bringing her hand up to cover her lips.
"It's no laughing matter." Carlos teased.
"Oh, I know." Katheryn freely showed her smiled as she turned back towards the door where Carlos remained. "But I got to do something to lighten my mood."
"True," the Detective grunted slightly as he reached behind for the pocket knife and gently inserted it through a small hole. "Darn it," he exhaled. "It's too big."
Katheryn frowned slightly to herself and ambled to the corner and slid down to the floor. Carlos did the same except from where he remained at the door on the opposite side of the room.
"Nothing like a late night date in a dungeon." Carlos attempted a joke.
Katheryn wanted to chuckle but it would not come as she stared into space, Carlos' voice echoing in her mind while she never could make out the words that he had said.
Five minutes turned into ten and then twenty before an hour had already passed. Katheryn had since surrendered to the drowsiness that overtook her and had leaned against the desk nearby for a bit of shut-eye. Carlos forced himself to remain awake and see that she was safe, all the while reflecting on the young woman before him with admiration. He remembered the words of Ranger Trivette who insisted that she had Carlos wrapped around his finger.
The Detective still disagreed with the statement. But he did think highly of her. Detective Sandoval shook his head in disgust as he smiled, remembering all the dates he had in the past and the damsels in distress he had always insisted upon helping. Well, except the damsel that turned out to be a con-artist. Surely she didn't count in the number of hopefuls he had considered.
For the first time in a long while, Carlos Sandoval reasoned he had seen perfection. Yet he quickly dismissed the thought as just another moment of setting himself up for disappointment. After all, he had done it to himself so many times before.
A loud thud jolted Carlos from his deep thoughts. His sagging posture straightened as the young woman stirred.
"What was that?" she queried.
"I don't know." Carlos wrinkled his forehead in thought before rising to his feet.
Another loud noise.
"That sounded like a gunshot." Carlos' thoughts were focused and his demeanor steadied as he listened. "It's getting closer." Carlos bent down and began working the latch that secured the large door shut, holding them captive.
Katheryn watched closely, her eagerness piqued and her eyes dilated as the gunshots became clearer to hear by the second. "Carlos?" She spoke with a bit of unseen fear edging her voice as her eyes caught of glimpse of a shadow across the frosted window that had denied them exit time and again.
"Carlos?" She spoke once more. But Carlos' focus remained on the lock and getting them out there safely.
The shadow grew darker and darker as Katheryn watched. She took one step back and another as she attempted to get closer to Carlos before the shadow overtook the little window.
Her steps were altered as she nearly tripped. Recovering quickly, she shielded her face from the shattering glass that broke forth seconds later. This time, she actually did trip. Carlos' arms reflexed, catching her as her body fell towards him. She braced herself for the fall but was met by the detective's helping hand.
"Carlos!" a raspy whisper emanated from the now shattered window.
Carlos steadied Katheryn back on her feet, looking her in the eyes. "You okay?"
Katheryn nodded vigorously, catching her breath, as his words could barely be heard amid the distant gunfire.
Carlos hurried towards the voice and strained to see a face. "Trent?! Is that you?"
"Sure is, buddy." Trent beamed. "You got a way out?"
Carlos rolled his eyes sarcastically. "Do you think we'd still be here if we did?"
Trent chuckled and reached towards his back paint waist and drew out a pistol. He slipped it through the narrow opening beyond the window's iron bars.
"Thanks, buddy." Carlos was relieved to have a weapon in hand.
"Just in case," Trent insisted. He lowered his voice, "How's your partner?"
"A bit shaken, but she's a trooper." Carlos hid a smile from the corner of his lips before pressing onward.
"The Rangers are just beyond the door," Trent continued. "They should be here any minute. I'm going to go make sure they don't need my help. You got it here, Carlos?"
Carlos nodded firmly and slipped the gun in behind him just at his jeans' waist at his lower back. He let his black leather coat fall back over it. "You ready?" He steadied himself, listening as the gun fight ensued beyond those four walls.
Katheryn nodded, a brief smile caressing her lips. "Yes. I'm ready." She crossed the room from where she still had stood in shock at the shattering pieces of glass and stood side-by-side with Carlos as they readied themselves for whomever might come through those doors. It wasn't yet a sure thing that a foe wouldn't try one last attempt at their deaths.
The door moved slightly. Someone had slammed into it. And another. Or was it the same person?
Carlos' hand hovered at his side, ready to draw the gun at any moment.
The gun shots continued and rang out amid the silent tension that rested in that small, secluded room. Then they ceased. The door hinge creaked a bit as the door seemed to be being drilled upon. Someone was forcing their way in.
"You hear that?" Carlos relaxed his hand by his side.
Katheryn focused her listening ears on what the detective may have heard. "I do." A small smile played at her lips.
"Hello?!" Carlos raised his voice.
"We'll have this lock undone in no time!" It was Trent's voice.
Carlos smiled broadly and so did Katheryn as they waited. Suddenly the door burst open and small dust cloud gave way to movement as Trent made his way into the little secluded space.
He coughed lightly and was catching his breath quickly. "You both okay?"
Carlos and Katheryn nodded in unison.
"Let's go." Carlos steadied himself and started forward.
More gunshots rang in the distance and set Katheryn on edge as she pushed forward. Trent followed her closely as they made their way through the warehouse. Dark shadows bared down all around them as they ran forward.
"The satchel!" Katheryn sighed roughly as she remembered they had left it behind.
They came to a turn and rounding it were met with rapid fire.
"Down!" Carlos called out as he ducked back and covered Katheryn by near instinct.
"The satchel!" Katheryn called out, searching for his eyes despite the chaos around them.
"We'll have to leave it!" He returned as it quieted down. He eased upward to his feet. He gripped the gun in both hands and rounded the corner, pointing it outstretched. "Clear!" He called over his shoulder.
"Katheryn!" Trent called out and started towards her.
Carlos returned and peered towards his friend. "What is it? Where did she go?"
"She ran off back towards the back room."
Carlos sighed, holstered his gun roughly, and retraced his steps to follow her. "You stay here, Trent."
Trent nodded and remained watchful as Carlos slowed his step, tracing the steps back to that room with careful observation and caution.
"Katheryn?" Carlos called loudly in a whisper. His voiced echoed and returned to him to no avail.
A gunshot rang out yet again. Carlos dove behind some nearby pile of crates and raised his gun over the boxes to return fire. Four shots later…his gun clicked once…then twice.
The villain let out a hearty laugh. Carlos remained hid and focused to hear what the criminal was up to next.
Footsteps pounded against the concrete floors…and came closer and closer.
Carlos devised his plan, stepped into character, and slowly eased to his feet with hands up in surrender. He sighed. "Well…looks like you got me."
Katheryn then suddenly appeared, round-house kicked the leather-backed man high in the back with all her might. Carlos swung a punch at his face. The man resisted as expected and planted one on Carlos' eye. Katheryn kicked high again with an audible resistance. The man circled on his heel and raised a hand to Katheryn. His hand lowered as Katheryn found she could not defend herself. She braced herself for the coming blow.
"Oh no you don't." Carlos drew out his useless handgun and struck the villain on the back of the head. The criminal cascaded to the ground in front of Katheryn with one swift motion.
"Thanks." Carlos sighed as he re-holstered his pistol, still slightly upset with Katheryn for running off. The detective circled the bad guy and jerked both of his hands behind his back, cuffed him, and read him his rights.
The detective stood to his full height and walked towards Katheryn who stood to the side. "You shouldn't have run off." He finally said after a brief inward struggle and instantly regretted how harsh it had sounded.
Katheryn's eyes told him she was disappointed as she couldn't make eye contact with him. She gripped the satchel in front of herself and started forward. "I'm sorry," was all she said, throwing the words over her shoulder as she walked.
The detective sighed, running a hand through his air in distress. He started forward after her. "Wait!" He halted his step as soon as was in front of her. He faced her, paused, and thought through his words for a split second. "I shouldn't be upset with you. I—I just didn't want you getting hurt."
Katheryn nodded…yet still did not lift her eyes to meet his. She understood fully. And she appreciated his coming after her more than she dared admit. But her independent streak had shown its true colors in such a short amount of time.
"Forgive me for being so harsh?" Carlos offered, focusing on the young woman's disappointment which gleamed from her eyes. It tore into him. Yet he could see how much it had meant to her to have helped them. He just wished she would not have put herself in jeopardy. But what is courage without some risk?
She nodded again and raised her emotionless face to meet with his longing eyes. Another smile tempted her expression. "No."
"No?" Carlos was confused and creased his eyebrows.
She smiled. "I would only forgive you if there were something to forgive." Katheryn started walking forward and past Carlos…A wider smile played at her lips this time as she went.
Carlos stood in shock for a moment unable to move as he raised his eyebrows in surprise then furrowed them again in confusion. He shook away the thought and issued a breathy chuckle as he turned around to follow the young woman who had almost already made it back to where Trent waited.
"Pretty quiet this way. You both alright?" Trent updated and asked with concern.
Katheryn nodded, a smile still playing at her features.
Trent was tempted to inquire further but held his tongue. "All right…Let's go." And with that he started around the corner.
Katheryn followed closely as did the detective. Their brisk steps sounded against the concrete. Each one stayed alerted to their surroundings and didn't waver as they went forward in search of the way out. Moments passed swiftly as each step brought them closer and closer to what they prayed would be the morning light.
The forever search came to halting end as sunbathed shadows could be seen as the threesome emerged from the building. Clusters of police cars, Ranger vehicles, and even FBI agents swarmed the little area right where they exited.
The light of day could not have felt any better than it did to Katheryn and the detective after spending the night in that dank place. Katheryn smiled broadly and paused, closing her eyes and inhaling sharply as she breathed in the new day.
"Katheryn!" A voiced awoken her from her reverie.
Miss Cahill approached her swiftly and offered a broad smile. She searched for the young woman's eyes. "How are you? When I heard what had happened, I decided to accompany the Rangers here."
Katheryn returned her smile. "You're too kind. I'm alright. A little shaken. But I am alright." She lifted her eyes and turned to see the detective, Trent, and Rangers Walker and Trivette in conversation. Miss Cahill wrapped a jacket around Katheryn as the brisk morning air swept against them both, causing Katheryn the slightest chill as she glanced. The detective raised his gaze only briefly and issued a reassuring nod to her. She stood emotionless and unsure of what to do as Miss Cahill remained with her. Katheryn turned back to the kind woman and smiled. "Thank you."
Miss Cahill was surprised. "Whatever for?"
"For giving me the opportunity to do this."
"I don't think I'll ever know why, but you're welcome." Miss Cahill smiled.
"Not because of the danger," she continued, "but because of the people. I never knew people like you all were really out there. I had always envisioned law enforcement as distant and nerving. But I was wrong. You guys really care for people. And it shows in everything you do."
Miss Cahill offered another soft smile as she listened and received the young woman's words. "Well I am glad. And you got along with the detective well?"
Katheryn nodded. "I do believe we did. He is a good officer."
"And a good man," Miss Cahill continued.
Katheryn nearly blushed and turned her face away for fear of this.
"Well, I must be going. I'm due in court in about an hour." Miss Cahill placed her hand on Katheryn's shoulder softly. "Are you sure you're alright?"
Katheryn nodded firmly, assuring Miss Cahill of her safety.
Trent excused himself from the group and crossed to Katheryn. "I just wanted to let you know that you are more than welcome to come home with me and freshen up. I think it's closer than your place. And my mother insisted." He smiled.
"I would like that." Katheryn smiled and tipped her slightly, accepting his gracious offer.
"Great. I'll be right back, and we can be on our way."
She nodded once more as Trent turned and weaved his way through two patrol cars and out of sight. Two uniformed officers gripped the collars and handcuffs of two of the criminals they had just defeated and led them to the back seats of two DPD cars that flashed its blue lights onto the area around them. The one names Parker growled her way as he was led to the car. Katheryn shivered unseen and held a straight stare at the man as he passed.
Quickly becoming restless, Katheryn sat on the edge of the unmarked car before her and sighed, looking the vast warehouse over as a ray of sunlight streaked the path before her. She could hardly make sense of it all. How had she survived? How had she gotten here in the first place if not by some divine intervention? It all seemed so surreal. But then it all came sweeping over her again…every moment…every conversation…every encounter…from the past week. It was indeed real. And for some odd reason…she cherished every moment.
Detective Sandoval began walking her way. She bowed her head and cleared her throat nervously.
"I just wanted to say how proud I was to work with you."
Katheryn raised her eyes upward. "Me too. I've never had so much adventure piled in one week."
The detective chuckled softly but then became serious again. "I mean it. I greatly enjoyed your company. You handled yourself well."
Katheryn nodded once and rose to her full height off of the car.
Carlos nervously cleared his throat. "Do you need a ride?"
Katheryn smiled. "Trent offered to take me to his place. His mother insisted."
"I see." Carlos nodded. "Then I'll be seeing you?"
"I hope so," was all the young woman could seem to say through the lump that formed in her throat.
"Me too." Carlos nodded one last time and shifted his step, continuing forward as another officer called his name.
Katheryn turned fully and watched the detective head off in the other direction toward the officers who had needed him. She inwardly warded away the thought that she wished he could have stayed. It was selfish.
Taking a deep breath of the morning air once again as Trent halted his sky blue Corvette Stingray in front of her, she hopped in and situated herself on the comfortable leather seats. Oh how good they felt to her aching back!
Trent finally put the car in drive and they sped away. A bit of exhaust was left behind in the wake of their departure. But that's not all that was left behind. For an entire new future had been awakened in Katheryn's life that day that she had yet to discover in full and would, unknown to her that day, spend the rest of her life discovering in its fullest measure.
##
"I'd like to raise a glass to our newest friend Katheryn. Shoot, heaven knows she's got the gumption to belong with us old hoots."
"Hey! Who you calling old, Big Dog?" Trivette cocked his head to one side with a smirk on his face as he glared at C.D. from in front of the bar.
Soft laughs drifted through the little crowd consisting of Miss Cahill and Ranger Walker besides Ranger Trivette and Katheryn who was surrounded by her new friends at the bar.
"Thanks, C.D." She smiled broadly to the Rangers on one side of her and then Miss Cahill on her other side.
"Here here," Miss Cahill chimed in and raised her glass.
The Rangers did the same in unison.
"Well, look here. Aren't you two a sight for sore eyes?" C.D. announced loudly as Trent and Carlos ambled into the little restaurant.
"Hey, guys." Ranger Walker greeted.
The twosome eased up to the bar next to Miss Cahill.
"We miss anything?" Trent asked, his eyebrows raised.
Carlos slapped the bar playfully. "Yeah. You didn't start without us, did you?"
"Not a chance." C.D. grinned and lifted his mug which half full. "We were just inducting this pretty little lady into our elite group."
"Oh?" Carlos stole a glance at the young woman.
"Indeed." Miss Cahill answered.
"I know I speak for all of us when I say," Trent looked towards Katheryn, "that we are more than happy to have had you with us this week."
Katheryn smiled, her lips tight as she swallowed hard.
"And we hope this isn't the last we'll see of you." Carlos inserted.
"Oh, I wouldn't dream of forgetting my new friends." The young woman meant those words with the deepest sincerity.
"Good! Then that means you'll be able to take my place on the kayaking trip next month?" Trivette spoke up with a broad smile.
The rest of the group laughed at his little notion.
Katheryn stifled her own laugh. "I'd love to come. But you'll have to come to."
Miss Cahill smiled. "She got you there, Jimmy."
"Yeah, yeah." Trivette rolled his eyes playfully.
Katheryn turned and was met with Detective Sandoval's knowing glance. He nodded toward her as if to say he was proud of her. She nodded in return and lifted her mug into the entire group's toast to her and cherished the first victorious moment of many with her newfound friends.