Intersection (58 page)

“What the hell?” Fallon looked at Ferro.

“Definitely two….What did Toles say when you told her?”

Brian Fallon shook his head. “She wasn’t really surprised.”

“I think,” Ferro pointed out into the yard as they traversed the short distance to the tree fort, “that one came from here.
Probably the one that hit the counter.” Ferro moved to his right and pointed off a short way. “The one that hit him…. from over there.”

“Did you find anything? Fallon asked.

“No. Clean as a whistle.” Ferro said as Fallon inspected the area. “Only thing I got was some Energy Plus truck was in the neighborhood.”

“So?” Fallon asked.

“So… Energy Plus has no record of being in the area,” Ferro smirked.

“Huh…really? Spooks?” Fallon asked.

“Maybe…..This O’Brien…what’s his deal?” The detective asked.

“Don’t know,” the agent answered. “Toles is pretty sure he’s into something.”

“Well, yeah… that’s pretty obvious,” Ferro remarked.

Agent Fallon took stock in his friend. Pete Ferro was a good cop and he was both smart and perceptive. “You don’t like the congressman much, do you?”

Ferro shrugged. “I don’t know him….but no…not really. Pompous ass. Seen his kind. Only one thing matters to a guy like that.”

“What’s that?” Fallon asked.

“Himself.”

“So, can we trace that truck?”

“Already in the works, Agent. Don’t count on much. I have a feeling we might find more off of what Fisher left.” Ferro winked with a sly smile.

“What did Fisher leave?”

“Just some breadcrumbs….but you know breadcrumbs, Agent, as small as they are, if you follow them they always lead you somewhere.” Fallon was curious. “Ahh… Fallon, there were some handwritten directions in that bag. I suspect not his writing based on some of the notes and letters there.”

“Traceable?”

“Everything is traceable, Agent…If you’re willing to take the time,” Ferro led his friend back to the house.

“You sound like Toles,” Fallon laughed.

“Smart woman,” Ferro complimented with a twinkle in his eye.

“Detective, do you have a crush on my partner?”

“Eh, I’m too old for crushes,” he laughed. “I know a good investigator when I see one. She’s sharp. I had a partner like that once, long time ago; and she’s got good taste in women,” Ferro smiled.

“Well, I can’t argue with any of that.” As they stepped back into the kitchen the agent’s expression turned pensive. “We need to figure out who put this son of a bitch in play,” Fallon said with an uncharacteristic harshness in his voice.

Ferro handed the agent a piece of paper and Fallon’s eyes fixed onto it. He scanned it for several moments. “What the?”

“Ummm… follow the breadcrumbs, Agent.”

“So,” Alex started, “what do you think?”

Cassidy walked through the door and stared. The house was beautiful. It was smaller than the house in New York, but it was almost perfect. It was older and it was charming. It was so perfect that Cassidy wasn’t certain what to say. It was set back slightly from the road and surrounded by large oak trees. The yard was beautiful and there was a narrow stream in back that Alex pointed out. The kitchen was large, just as Alex had said. It was completely modernized but the appliances were set amidst subtle brick and white washed cabinetry that gave it the feel of being somewhat antique. The teacher was breathless.

“Cass?” Alex called again gently.

“Alex…it’s gorgeous.”

“But?’

“No….no but….it’s just….”

“You’re not certain about a move?’ Cassidy looked at the agent and then closed her eyes. “It’s all right, Cass,” Alex continued. “You don’t have to decide now.”

Cassidy nodded. “Can we look upstairs?”

“Of course.” The agent led the teacher up the stairs and watched as Cassidy slowly moved from each room until they reached the last room at the end of the hallway. It was the smallest room with a slanted ceiling and a skylight. Cassidy stood in the middle of the room and looked up. “Are you all right?” The agent asked.

Engaging green eyes looked to the agent’s and Cassidy smiled. “I love you, Alex.” Alex seemed confused and the teacher let a soft laugh emerge. “I can’t decide anything now.” Alex nodded her understanding. Cassidy could see just a hint of disappointment in Alex’s eyes that she knew the agent was determined to keep concealed. She made her way to the beautiful dark haired woman across the room and put her arms around Alex’s neck. “I just need to breathe, so much is…”

The agent interrupted her lover’s thought with a sweet kiss of understanding. “It’s okay, Cass. Now you’ve seen it. You don’t have to decide anything right now.”

“Alex, this isn’t just my decision,” the teacher reminded the agent.

“Yes. It is.”

“No. No, it’s not. It’s our decision.” The words penetrated Alex in a way that she could not have anticipated. Gentle eyes caught the agent’s expression and Cassidy took both of her lover’s hands in her own. “I just need to think, before we can talk….about school, my school, about my students. Alex…and Dylan…I just need to…”

“I know,” Alex said. “I don’t care where we live, Cassidy. Whatever you….”

Again the teacher shook her head. “Alex, there is no
me
in this, it’s
we
. Okay?” The agent started to speak and Cassidy
stopped her. “I can see it in your eyes. I promise we’ll talk about all of it. I promise. I just need to process all of this.”

Alex kissed the woman’s forehead. “I’m not going anywhere, Cass….We can stay at Nick’s this week.”

“I have to figure out Dylan’s….”

“What if I told you I got Dylan’s assignments for the week already?” Cassidy looked at the agent in surprise. “Mmm. What if I told you that Barb spoke to Cat’s school and Dylan can go to the after school program the next few days? You know, so at least he gets to see some kids.” Cassidy’s eyes began to water. “What’s wrong?” Alex asked.

“Nothing…nothing…I just can’t…..when did you…..”

“I had Barb make the calls yesterday.” The agent answered.

“When yesterday?” Cassidy asked.

“When I was on the way to Andrews.”

“The Air Force Base?” The couple had not truly had a chance to discuss the details of Alex’s return in all of the chaos and emotion of the last twenty-four hours.

“Yeah… That’s how I got here…”

“Alex… you’re on suspension…”

“You forget. I have friends.” The small blonde woman reached up and brought the agent’s lips to her own. Alex gave over to the wonderful sensation that Cassidy’s kiss and touch always commanded. “What was that for?’

“Just for being you.”

The agent smiled. “Well…Why don’t we head back? I’m sure Nicky will be back with Dylan from the restaurant and the beach tour by the time we get there.”

Cassidy took a deep breath and sighed. “Alex will you promise me one thing?”

“Anything?’

“Whatever
we
decide… we’ll tell Dylan together.”

“Of course…. Just be prepared.”

“For what?” Cassidy asked.

“For him to send you down the aisle,” Alex laughed. Cassidy shook her head and placed it against the agent’s chest with a smile. There were so many things to consider she couldn’t imagine where to begin. Somehow just that one sentiment; the idea that Dylan wanted them together; made the teacher understand that whatever was to come to pass they would be all right.

“Congressman! Congressman! Over here! Sir!” A barrage of questions and swirling voices all demanding attention filled the air.

“Over there…Rick,” the congressman pointed.

“Congressman… how do you feel about your ex-wife’s new relationship?”

“Well, Rick…. Cassidy is her own person….as we all know,” Christopher O’Brien joked.

“But…was that a reason for your divorce?”

The congressman pretended to ponder the question carefully. It most certainly was not a cause of his marriage’s demise. If anyone knew the truth it was Christopher O’Brien. The press certainly was aware of his many infidelities, or at least the implication of those affairs. Cassidy had never made public comments about the marriage. That was not a courtesy the congressman intended to return to his ex-wife. “Well, Rick, I support Cassidy in her decisions.” Snap and click the cameras popped off as more questions and similar cryptic yet interpretable answers were given.

“Jesus,” Pete Ferro muttered under his breath. “Is this guy for real?”

Agent Fallon shook his head. “What the hell?” He said watching a clip from the news conference. “Why would he do that? After everything she’s been through…. I mean…”

“Guy’s a prick. That’s why,” Ferro said turning off the television and reaching across the coffee table in Cassidy’s living room for a piece of paper. “So, who do you think it leads to?” He looked at Fallon. “Other than that jerk,” he nodded toward the television.

“Well...whoever Fisher met with on Sunday is the key. He met with that person here…in New York. So I doubt it could be Brackett and it can’t be O’Brien either.”

“Hummm.” Ferro groaned. “Could it be FBI?”

“What?” Fallon snapped in surprise.

Ferro shrugged. “Well, Fallon… look at that. You saw it. Why would he have FBI credentials?”

“He was a spook, Ferro… I agree it’s strange…”

“No, it’s not just strange. It’s a trail. He met with someone. He has an FBI badge he shouldn’t have…if it smells like…”

Brian Fallon ran his hand back and forth over the top of his head. Ferro was right. He took out his cell phone and dialed. “Toles?”

“Hey, Fallon,” Alex said lightly, glancing to Cassidy across the car with a smile of reassurance.

“Sorry,” he apologized realizing that Cassidy was clearly nearby.

“No…she’s doing better, thanks,” Alex said.

“She’s right there, isn’t she?”

“Yeah…we’re going to stay at Nicky’s this week.”

“I understand. Toles… He had FBI clearance…met with someone it appears in the field office on Sunday, and Toles the badge…the ID number? It looks like it was meant to get him… well, as cover.”

“Wow.” Alex said making certain to keep her tone even. “Well, I hope you can get back to D.C. soon. Kate’s going to kill me.”

“Look Toles…I’ll work it the best I can but your contacts might….”

“I’ll check in with you. Tell Kate I am sorry,” Alex offered. “I owe her a dinner.”

“I got it. Alex, I do hope Cassidy is okay…with the congressman’s news conference and all.”

Alex was stunned. “What?”

“You didn’t know?” He asked.

“No.”

Fallon sighed. “Shit, Alex…I’m sorry.”

The agent sighed. This she could not hide from Cassidy. “What did he say?”

There was a brief and hollow silence before Fallon exhaled. “Nothing specific, and that said everything.”

“Christ.” Alex kept her left hand on the wheel and her right thumb moved to her temple. The woman in the seat next to her took notice and looked at Alex with concern.

“I’m sorry, Alex… I assumed you knew,” her partner said.

Alex tried to press down her anger. “It’s all right, Fallon. Seriously, though…get home to Kate, okay?”

Fallon rubbed his face in frustration. “Yeah. Alex, tell Cassidy… well… you know.”

“Yeah…I do.” She hung up and felt the heat of Cassidy’s gaze on her.

“And?” Cassidy looked at her lover for an explanation of the conversation she had just overheard. “Alex… whatever it is…”

“He held a press conference.”

“Chris?” Cassidy asked.

“Yeah.”

“About what?” Alex stayed silent. “About
us
?” The teacher let out a sarcastic chuckle. “Of course he did, and he said nothing at all… which is exactly what will make them all think there was something to say, right?” There was still no response. Cassidy licked her lips and then shook her head.

“Cass…”

Cassidy laughed genuinely. “I don’t care.”

“Yes you do,” Alex observed.

“Alex… I don’t even want to talk about it. I’ll look when we get back.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t.”

“Oh no… I want to know.” The teacher said flatly.