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Chapter 11
All too soon for Christine's liking, Mike was deployed. At least he was able to call home. Most of his calls home were for the girls, but he would talk to Christine for a moment or two. That is what carried Christine through. She had realized after he left, that she still cared very deeply for him. Even loved him. She felt like a lovesick teenager.
There was stuff they needed to deal with. Emma being at the top of the list. Mike had not grieved properly for her. He needed to. And then there was Katie. There was no way that Katie would be okay with Mike and Christine being together.
It all fell apart so fast. Christine happened to look up at the TV screen and saw Mike's bruised and bloodied face. He was saying he was a prisoner of war…and giving the wrong serial number. Hannah was beside herself and Katie just kind of shut down. It was everything Christine could do to keep the girls going. And then came the news that President Michener had committed suicide.
Christine had her doubts about the story, but there was a government take-over, and suddenly Allison Shaw's people showed up 'to take them to shelter.' They didn't want to take Christine but Hannah refused to let her go. Finally, Christine came face to face with Allison Shaw.
"Ah, the ex-Mrs. Slattery. You do realize that you have no standing now. You can't even ask how your husband—excuse me, ex-husband is." Allison said.
"I can ask. I just don't expect that you would answer. So, what's your idea here?" Christine asked.
"Well, your daughters are blackmail…you, you will be collateral damage. I wonder what your ex-husband's reaction will be?" Allison remarked. Christine saw an opening then.
"Mike probably won't care much. He doesn't care about me anymore." Christine said. She knew it wasn't true. Mike still loved her, but Allison Shaw didn't know that and Christine would use that to her advantage.
"Sure, he doesn't." Allison remarked as she pulled a file out. She handed Christine a photo, taken the day Mike deployed. It was of them kissing. "That hardly looks like he doesn't care." Allison remarked.
"He took me by surprise. I was the one that filed for divorce." Christine said.
"Ms. Slattery, I would say that you were well on your way back to being married. The question is—are we going to use you as blackmail or use you as collateral damage? See, if we kill you; Captain Slattery will do anything to get his precious daughters back. If we keep you alive, it gives us more leverage. Of course, my men would not mind making things miserable for you. They don't like Captain Slattery too much." Allison explained.
"If you think I am going to beg for my life…you have another thing coming. But, as for my daughters…" Christine said.
"Right, the loving mother. Alright…but you aren't just taxed with keeping your brats alive. You also have to keep Captain Chandler's alive too." Allison said. Just then there was a commotion at the office door and Sam, Ashley, Katie and Hannah were all pushed in.
"That is fine. They need food and water." Christine said as she stood up. She pulled all four kids close. Ashley was sobbing into her shoulder.
"They killed Grandpa." Ashley sobbed. Christine looked up at Allison Shaw.
"Is that true?" Christine asked.
"He was collateral damage." Allison said.
"What a world you live in. People fall into two categories. They are either collateral damage or to be used as blackmail." Christine replied.
"That is the world we've always lived in." Allison answered.
"How cynical." Christine said.
"Better than living with rose-colored glasses. Take them away. She lives for now but if you feel the need to rough her up a bit, that is fine." Allison told her henchmen. They pulled Christine and the kids out of the room, down into a basement and threw Christine down the last few steps. She hit her head and passed out.
She woke up a few minutes later and had a splitting headache. Ashley helped her take a drink while Sam examined her wrist. It was obviously broken. At least Shaw's men had brought them bread and food.
"Your dads will find us." Christine tried assuring the kids.
"How? They can't possibly know where we are." Katie asked.
"Katie, just have a bit of faith." Christine said. Both Sam and Hannah were terrified. She had to keep all four kids going, somehow. And she also wasn't sure how Tom or Mike would find them.