Deadline (10 page)

“
Sshhhh, Andrew. Be
careful. The old bat’s probably listening at the door.”

“
Oh, pshaw, honey. I don’t
care and neither should you. It’s about time we came out in the
open about this relationship. I can’t keep carrying on this
charade. We need to talk about our future together.”

“
I know and we will soon.
But this is not the time or the place, Andrew. There is something
much more urgent I need to talk to you about. The Wolfman sent me
another e-mail this morning and this time he may be coming after
me.” Katie handed him a printout of the e-mail.

Andrew read the message with horror.
“My God, Katie. We need to call the police and get you some
protection.”

“
I’ve already forwarded it
on to Homicide and they’re running a trace. I’m OK and can take
care of myself. I doubt he can get at me at the paper – too much
security and too many people around.”

“
Well, I don’t want you
going anywhere alone, sweetie. We can’t afford to take any
unnecessary chances with this nutbar running loose.”

“
Come on Andrew, I’m a
reporter. I need to do my job and I don’t need a babysitter or
bodyguard. The police already offered that and I refused. Don’t
worry I won’t take any unnecessary chances. I guess though you’ll
have to come over every night and sleep with me until this creep is
caught.”

Katie smiled while raising an eyebrow.
She was trying to offer a braver front than she felt. The e-mail
was unnerving and had her on edge.

Andrew gave a lascivious grin in
reply. “I’m always at your service, madam. It will be my pleasure –
yours too I hope!”

Then the grin disappeared and Andrew
took on a more serious visage. He felt he owed it to Katie to
discuss the financial situation facing the paper and the offer from
Rupert White.

After he finished relaying details of
the paper’s financial situation, Katie had a horrified look on her
face. “Oh, Andrew you can’t sell the paper. Especially not to that
robber press baron. He’d gut the Daily Express and turn it into
another of his profiteering rags. This newspaper is your dream –
it’s your life, darling. You can’t sell.”

“
I don’t want to, honey.
But I may have no other choice if I can’t come up with another cash
infusion. The paper’s just not making money and I can’t continue to
keep sustaining the losses indefinitely.”

Katie reached out to hold him and
offer reassurance. “Braden Young is turning things around.
Circulation is up and the advertising will follow. You just have to
keep the faith and give it a chance. Things will turn out for the
best.”

“
I wish I had your
optimism, Katie. But I’m going to have to make a decision soon. No
matter what happens, I know I want to be with you. I hope the
feeling is mutual.”

“
You know it is, Andrew. I
love you and want to always be a part of your life no matter what.”
Cannon gazed caringly into Andrew’s eyes and grasped his left hand
in hers.

Chase glanced at his watch. 11:45
a.m.

“
I’m afraid I have to
leave soon, dearest. I have a business lunch at 1 p.m. I should be
back by 3 p.m. at the latest. Perhaps we could get together for
dinner later.”

“
Sounds good. I’ll be here
working on the Wolfman story. Just phone and let me know where and
when to meet you. You can reach me on my cell phone if I’m not
here.” Katie started toward the door.

“
Be careful out there when
you leave the building,” said Chase in a concerned voice. “I don’t
want my star reporter to become our next headline.”

Katie left the room, closing the door
quietly behind her.

Chase started to get ready to leave
for his luncheon with Ashley. He hadn’t mentioned this to Katie,
not sure that she would take it well that he was meeting his
ex-girlfriend for lunch. No need for her to know until he found out
what it was all about. He would catch a cab to Antonio’s and get a
table before Ashley arrived.

What could she want after all this
time?

Chase was curious but also a bit
apprehensive. He had cared deeply for Ashley once. He blamed
himself and his erratic work schedule for the schism that led to
their split.

He was deeply hurt that she betrayed
him in the arms of another man. Ashley had ended their relationship
rather abruptly without discussing the reasons or trying to work
out their differences.

Now out of the blue, suddenly this
call came.

Why?

Chase had an uneasy feeling that it
might mean trouble.

Chapter 26

Daily Express Parking
Garage 12:15 PM

THE WOLFMAN smiled with
anticipation.

She would be his greatest
prize yet. He could imagine the headlines already:
KATIE CANNON WOLFMAN’S LATEST
VICTIM
.

The news bitch had it coming. A plan
began to form in his mind. She thought she was safe at the
newspaper. Nothing could be further from the truth. She had to
leave sometime.

He would be waiting. The Wolfman could
be patient, very patient.

He had been watching her for some
time. Watching and anticipating getting his hands on that supple,
firm body.

His excitement grew just thinking
about her. He would take his time with this one. He wanted to fully
enjoy his prize catch before the inevitable disposal.

He knew exactly where she parked her
car. The Wolfman stood beside it now fixating on the Gulf blue
Grand Am. He took a six-inch knife from his jacket pocket. He
swiftly jabbed the left front tire.

Whoosh! The sound of the escaping air
was sweet music to his ears. Then he did the same to the left rear
tire.

The vehicle was useless to her
now.

He only had to wait.

Chapter 27

Al-Qaida HQ 10:30 PM
(Pakistan Standard Time)

TREVOR TREVANIAN felt
refreshed.

He had eaten some of the food placed
on the table. He had spent the last hour thinking of questions he
could put to his interview subject – whoever that might be. There
were many questions he wanted to ask about al-Qaida and its
objectives.

Trevanian had an inquisitive mind and
a passion for unearthing the truth. He saw this as a golden
opportunity to obtain a better understanding of this terrorist
organization and its overall goals.

He had been a bit tired from the long
journey, but the adrenaline surging through his system kept him
alert and eager for the task ahead. Just a few hours ago he had
been kidnapped and expected the worst.

Now he was being given an opportunity
that any journalist worth his or her salt would give their eyeteeth
for.

A sound at the door to the room caught
Trevanian’s attention.

The door opened.

Kaffir Al-Ghazi calmly walked into the
room followed by three other men. Two of them were obviously
bodyguards in long, black robes, with AK-74s slung over their
shoulders.

The third man walked slowly behind
them. He was tall and of slender build. He wore a long white caftan
and a white cap on top of his head. His thin face had a beard with
greyish streaks. He looked older, but that face had adorned
thousands of newspapers and posters.

It was a well-known face. It caused
Trevanian to stop breathing for a few seconds.

The man entering the room was Osama
bin Laden.

Chapter 28

The Mizzen Restaurant 12:35
PM

MEGAN YOUNG saw Dennis Newman seated
at a corner table of the restaurant.

She frowned as she observed him
casually chatting with a young blonde waitress serving him a drink.
Dennis was flashing his pearly whites and seemed to be overly
friendly with the girl.

Young marched toward the table and
Dennis observed her out of the corner of his eye.

“
Darling, there you are.
Come join me.” He gestured to a chair across from him.

The Mizzen was decorated in warm brown
hues with a distinct nautical theme. Pictures of wooden sailing
ships adorned the walls and the décor was an homage to the age of
sail, with lamps and anchors strategically placed around the
restaurant.

The young waitress gave Dennis a broad
smile and turned to Megan. “Can I get you a drink,
ma’am?”

Megan ordered a Chardonnay and sat
opposite Dennis.

“
Still chatting up the
girls, I see,” she said tartly.

“
Oh, come on, Megan. I was
just being friendly. You get better service that way. I’m not
trying to pick her up.”

“
I would hope not if
you’re trying to salvage this relationship,” said Megan with a
scowl.

Dennis smiled warmly at her. His
deeply tanned face flashed sparkling white teeth. Megan still found
his wavy blond hair and rugged handsome looks very attractive. She
fully understood why he was such a magnet to women. Their attention
must be a constant temptation for him. She could understand
that.

“
Of course, I want to
salvage our relationship. You mean the world to me, Megan. I’ve
been a fool and weak. But I still love you and want to be with you.
This thing with Heidi Harrison was a big mistake. We’ve been
working a lot of long hours together and it went a lot further than
I wanted. It just happened. But it was just physical, Megan. You
are the one I love and want to be with, I can assure
you.”

“
I wish I could believe
that, Dennis. You’ve hurt me so deeply. I don’t know if I can ever
get over it and forgive you. You’re always such a flirt with women.
How can I ever trust you again?”

“
That’s just the way I am,
baby. It’s the nature of the beast. I love women and they love me.
But you’re the one who has captured my heart.”

Megan had to laugh. “That’s so sweet,
Dennis. It’s also so much bullshit.”

The waitress returned with Megan’s
drink. Dennis ordered a club sandwich and house salad. Megan just
ordered a Caesar salad.

They dined and chatted. Megan felt
herself warming up to him again. Dennis certainly knew how to
spread the charm.

After a while, she felt the resentment
and hurt begin to dissipate. She began to feel close to him
again.

Perhaps they could put this all behind
them and start afresh. Maybe she should give him another chance.
Should she throw everything away because of one indiscretion –
well, actually several indiscretions with the same
woman?

After they finished their meals, they
ordered another round of drinks and continued to chat. Dennis was a
good salesman and soon had Megan warming to him.

“
Say, why don’t we go back
to my room? I’m in 1116. We could have some dessert or afternoon
delight if you get my drift.” Dennis reached out to hold her left
hand, lifting his eyebrows in a hopeful manner.

“
I don’t think so, Dennis.
I’m not that forgiving just yet.” Megan smiled at him, but clasped
his hand with her other one. “But I appreciate what you’ve said and
the fact that you flew all the way up here to see me. I need some
time to take in what we’ve talked about and to think about us and
where we go from here.”

“
Fine, sweetie. You do
that. But don’t take too long. I can only stay overnight. I have to
be back at the television station tomorrow night to do the show. I
plan to fly out in the morning. I’d like you to come with
me.”

“
I’ll think about it
Dennis. Bye for now.”

Megan left the restaurant. She felt on
a high. She was in a much better mood now.

Perhaps things would work out after
all.

Dennis paid the bill and left the
waitress a generous tip. He exited the restaurant into the hotel
lobby. As he walked by the Chartroom bar and lounge in the lobby,
he noticed a statuesque beauty seated alone at the bar.

The auburn-haired buxom lady looked to
be in her late 20s. She was dressed in an attractive gray business
skirt and jacket and sitting alone on a stool at the bar. Dennis
noticed her long, lithe legs stretched out against the
bar.

He slipped on to the stool next to her
and ordered a Jack Daniels.

“
Hi there. My name is
Dennis. Are you new to Toronto?” he asked the woman.

“
Yes, I’m here on
business. I’m between meetings right now. My name is
Teresa.”

Dennis flashed her a warm smile with
his pearly white teeth.

“
It’s nice to meet you,
Teresa. You look like you could use another drink.”

Chapter 29

Al-Qaida HQ 10:35 PM
(Pakistan Standard Time)

OSAMA BIN LADEN appeared without a
smile as he entered the room to meet Trevor Trevanian.

Al-Ghazi spoke Arabic introducing
Trevanian to bin Laden. Trevanian extended his hand in greeting,
but bin Laden merely nodded his head in acknowledgement.

Bin Laden was a tall, thin fragile
looking man. He wore a long white caftan and a white cap on top of
his head. His bearded face showed signs of strain and
aging.