Capital Offense

Fear propelled her forward, away from her office. But where to go? She searched her pockets, then realized she’d left her mobile phone on her desk. Damn.

She walked about three blocks when she finally spotted a pay phone. Please, oh please be there, she thought as she dialed Jack.

He answered on the third ring. “Rudly.”

“Jack, thank God you’re there.”

“What’s wrong?”

Katherine told him the entire story, including the E-mail log she’d retrieved from Carolyn’s computer that proved her communications with Cain. “I’m sure it’s all right. There’s got to be a logical explanation. I should probably just go back to the office.” She desperately wanted Jack to tell her everything was fine and she should return to work.

“Don’t go near the White House.” His voice rose a decibel. “Are you at home?”

“No, I didn’t go home.”

“How far from the White House are you?” The tension in his voice reached out, causing her heart to race.

“About three blocks.” Her hand shook. “You’re scaring me, Jack, really scaring me.”

His voice became silky smooth. “It’s going to be fine. But you must listen to me. You’ve got to think rationally.”

“Okay.”

“Now, you need to remember that if they’re tracking you they’ve already checked the cab companies, and know that you’re probably still on foot.”

Katherine looked around. People strode briskly past her, seemingly intent on their own destinations. “Do you really think they may come looking for me?”

“They might once they figure out you left early. Are you sure no one followed you out of the White House?”

“I don’t think so.” She glanced over her shoulder. “I don’t see anyone.”

“Here’s what I want you to do. I want you to act like you’re just out for a walk – go in and out of some stores, or whatever. Scan the people around you. You can tell if anyone is following you that way. If it looks like someone is staying with you, lose them. Crawl out a back window if you have to. Just lose them.”

“All right.”

“Make your way to my hotel, and go straight to the women’s restroom off the main lobby. Go into a stall, lock the door, and stand on a toilet so no one can see your feet. Once I can confirm it’s safe to move you, I’ll get you out of there. Got all that?”

“Yes, I… Oh my God!” Two men, in dark suits, were coming toward her from across the street. They were about a block away but cutting diagonally through traffic.

She heard Jack calling, “Katherine. Katherine…” as she slammed the phone into the cradle.

She exited the phone booth. Don’t panic. Think. She glanced back over her shoulder. Three quarters of a block, but walking fast.

A café sat twenty steps away. Stay calm. Katherine pasted a smile on her face and entered the restaurant.

“Do you have a restroom?” she asked the server behind the counter.

“Through the swinging doors and down the hall.” The server pointed.

“Can I have a cup of French roast when I return?”

“Sure.”

Slow. Relax. Katherine walked through the pass through doors and into the bathroom. She heard the bell chime on the front door of the café as the two men entered.

Cracking the restroom door, she eavesdropped. The café was small, so it wasn’t difficult.

“Has a woman come in here in the last minute or so? Long, curly auburn hair, green eyes, about five-foot-seven?”

“Yeah, sure,” the server said. “She just went to the restroom. That’s her coffee right there.”

It’s not my imagination, Katherine thought. They are after me. She eyed the five by six tile room. Shit, no windows.

She cracked the door open, again. They were still talking to the server.

Katherine slipped across the hallway and into the men’s bathroom. They probably won’t start with this one, she thought, looking for a way out.

Light shone from the last stall. She entered the cubicle where a small window was open. Thank God.

She slid the bottom sash up. Standing on the toilet, she placed her hands on the window ledge and lifted herself up to sit on the sill. Curling into a ball, she squeezed her left leg through the window, skinning her shin.

Katherine heard footsteps down the hall.

Quickly, she slid her right leg out as she rolled to her stomach. Then she pushed off the ledge and dropped six feet to the ground.

Her legs buckled.

‘There she is,“ a voice above her yelled.

Katherine struggled to her feet, and slipping on trash, took off running. Even though it was afternoon, the alley was in shadows, and the stench of refuse burned her nostrils.

She tried a door. Locked. She ran on.

The sound of running feet thundered in her ears.

Another door. She pulled, but it was stuck. Katherine looked back, the men were gaining. Taking a deep breath, she yanked. The door swung free.

She ran through the stockroom of a clothier and onto the sales floor. Katherine caught a glimpse of a surprised salesclerk as she dashed out the front door.

One street over from the café, she turned left and ran right into a Secret Service agent.

SEVENTY-FIVE