Capital Offense

“What?” Carolyn gasped, feeling as if the wind had been knocked out of her, “You can’t do this.”

Warner stood and turned to Katherine. “I’m very impressed with your work. Hopefully, we’ll be able to come back to these issues someday.” He shook her hand.

Struggling for control, Carolyn stood as well. “Please excuse us, Katherine.”

Katherine shut the door behind her.

“Someday? Someday. Warner?” Carolyn shouted. “There’s a press conference scheduled for this afternoon.”

“So, give the press conference. Then we’ll let the program die a silent death.” Warner walked to the door, a condescending smile on his face. “The polls just don’t support it.”

“That’s a lie, and you know it.” The bastard was enjoying this, she thought. “I won’t let you get away with this. Warner. I swear it.”

“You don’t have the balls to fight this war. And, Carolyn, like you said, it is war.”

SIXTY-NINE

Jack paced from one end of Katherine’s town home to the other. He couldn’t prove that Carolyn had issued the orders to have him beaten, or that she’d had anyone else killed, but the evidence against her continued to mount.

How was he going to tell Katherine? He believed she was in danger, and needed to quit her job. She was going to be furious when he told her that he suspected Carolyn was behind these reprehensible deeds. She probably wouldn’t believe him, Jack realized, but he knew he had to try.

One thing was sure, he had to distance himself from Katherine. Jack headed for the bedroom to pack his few possessions. Every minute he stayed with her jeopardized her safety. Carolyn, or whomever, wanted him dead. He feared that if Carolyn and her cronies connected him to Katherine, she might become another in a long list of casualties.

SEVENTY

Carolyn’s hand shook as she reached for the phone on her desk.

She held her breath until she heard the sound of her lover’s voice. “What’s wrong?”

“He shut down my program.” A sob broke her voice. “I swear he planned it all along. I felt like a trapped fly watching my own wings being pulled off. And he enjoyed it, he actually enjoyed it.”

“I was afraid this would happen.” he said.

She rubbed her forehead with the fingertips of her free hand. “My God, it’s everything I’ve worked for, my life’s commitment. The entire reason I’ve stayed married to the son of a bitch. Now, I have nothing left. Nothing.”

“Will you finally agree to let me help you?” he asked.

“How?”

“You let me worry about that. Do you still have access to treasury funds?”

“We’ll be doing our final invoices for the task force in the upcoming weeks.” Carolyn said.

“Perfect.”

SEVENTY-ONE

April 9, 2001 – Washington, DC.

“What’s going on, Jack?” Katherine asked as she walked through the front door and encountered his luggage on the entry floor.

Jack came out of the kitchen, drying his hands on a dishtowel.

“Taking a trip?” Katherine put down her briefcase, not meeting his gaze. He could tell she was trying desperately to hide her hurt.

He shook his head. “We’re taking too big a risk. If they find out we’re involved…”

Her eyes wide, she said, “What are you talking about? If who finds out?”

“I’m not sure. But I think your boss has something to do with it.”

“Carolyn?” Her voice rose in volume. “Are you out of your mind?”

“Please, sit down,” Jack said, “and we’ll discuss this.”

“I’m fine where I am. I’m not sure what you think Carolyn has done, but I can assure you she would never do anything to hurt anyone.” She stood, fists propped on her hips, her chin set at a defiant tilt.

“Kate. I know she’s your friend, and that may be the very reason you aren’t seeing the truth.”

“Can you prove these accusations?” Anger resonated in her voice.

“Not yet. But I have substantial evidence.” He walked to the desk, and showed her the E-mail to Cain signed with a C. “And. I have Adam Miles’s journal that links Carolyn to Cain.” He didn’t bother telling her about the recording that he’d gotten at the bridge. Without the tape, he’d never prove it was Carolyn’s voice.

“I don’t believe any of this.” Katherine said. “There has to be a logical explanation.”

“Maybe there is. But until this is resolved, we should live apart.”

“You’re not responsible for me. I can make my own decisions.”

He sighed, then approached her. “I’m afraid I’m putting you in danger,” he said softly. “In fact, I know I’m putting you in danger. Regardless of who put out a hit on me, I can’t, in good conscience, expose you to this kind of danger.” He pulled her to him, but she stood stiff in his arms. Putting his hand under her chin, he lifted her face so he could look into her green eyes. “Okay. I should have talked to you before I packed. I apologize.”

She met his gaze. “I’m afraid, Jack.”

“Afraid of what?”

“Afraid that you’re irrationally obsessed with this whole thing. First, a complete stranger meets you at the Golden Gate, and you take his word as gospel. Then, you’re convinced it’s Mark Dailey.”

“I know it all sounds odd.”