Guardians of the Secret
copyright © 1998 by Cary Shulman
All Rights Reserved
25.
Michael made arrangements for the safekeeping of copies of the documents. He and Tess crossed the border into Canada. They picked up fake passports and visas from a specialist Tess knew in Montreal. His dream remained forging art works, but this was still his bread and butter.
The Montreal international airport was crowded with afternoon commuters. Michael and Tess had picked the time in the hopes that the crush of passengers would provide cover and distraction. They merged with the crowd as they made their way to an escalator.
A riflescope found them from a high angle and began tracking them. They momentarily disappeared into the crowd. Another scope immediately picked them up. They reached the escalator and ascended.
At the top of the escalator the family in front of them lifted their two small children off of it and turned to their left. That opened a line of sight for Michael and Tess that included Everett. He appeared out of a group of people and stepped toward them. A shock wave of recognition and hatred hit them both as they went for their guns.
"There's three rifles on you," Everett warned.
Tess pointed her gun at Everett. "I couldn't care less. I'm ready to go, are you?"
"Quite, but you'll only get other people killed."
"That shouldn't concern you," Michael said with venom.
"Let's move," Tess said motioning with her gun.
"Why not?" Everett replied. "If you're interested in slaughter, we can at least keep it private."
The three stepped away from the passing crowd as it rushed by them, oblivious to what was happening.
"I'm more interested in talking," Everett continued. "Kit told us about your forger and..."
"You killed him," Tess interrupted, threatening Everett with her gun.
"You want me to finish or do you want to finish this now?"
"Go on," Michael said.
"You undoubtedly have Sara's papers tucked away with a friend or encrypted on the internet, so you can play footsy with Pierce from across the Atlantic. And I thought before you foul things up in your typical fashion you might want to know the truth."
"The truth is what's about to ruin Coulter's breakfast and your health."
"Not once they find out her source worked for the mafia."
"Bullshit."
"It was Hollings. He's been cosy with them for years. They wanted to destroy March and Black Forest so they threatened him. Not his life, he wouldn't have buckled, but they threatened to kill March. Handing over the militia stuff was nothing, in fact he hoped it would force March to part ways with the militia. And when it came to Black Forest, he figured better a dead program than a dead friend. So he agreed to pick up a woman of their choosing. Your partner here owed them a favor, and they asked her to steal Hollings' attaché case. It's ironic. You almost gave your life for the DEA and now you're helping drug dealers".
"That's novel, a new found morality."
"Nothing has changed. You still don't begin to know."
"Enough to realize that Hollings may have been responsible for the theft, but there's no way he could have gotten all of Sara's stuff. That had to come from somebody in close. Close to you, close to Coulter."
Everett didn't say anything as Michael thought it over.
"It was Jack, wasn't it? He thought it would stop his father before he got in deep."
"I don't propose to get between father and son. When he passed that information he had no idea what he was getting into."
"And you killed her."
"Don't be obscene. Sara was killed by that frecklefaced gentlemen you skewered in the motel."
"A militia goon of yours."
"He was an insane criminal who liked the word militia better than bank robber. I had nothing to do with killing Sara."
"You never kill anybody," Tess nearly spat at Everett. "What about Kit?"
"We're the only reason he's still alive. He's got almost as many enemies as you do. After the robbery we assumed that Tess and he...well let's say we made some assumptions. But it turns out Kit and I have a lot more in common than I ever imagined. And I believed what he told us about Tess. In fact he had very nice things to say. So it turns out you don't know anything that would cause me any problems."
"That's a nice speech, but you wouldn't be here if it were true."
"Sara's papers will cause us some grief, if that's what you want. But it comes down to this. My friends and I were bowling the night of the attack. I think the government will sweep it all under the rug along with the charges against you. Pierce has his Colombians and his place in history doing Black Forest."
"The last time I looked, this country wasn't built on 'We hold these half truths to be self evident."
"Does Pierce want the truth? He's a pragmatist. The truth is what's simple and keeps him President. You'll just muck up the works at this point. I gambled he wouldn't do Black Forest and lost. March will have other issues."
"I'm sure you'll see to that."
"Why not? He's actually trying to do something. You'd wait until the American dream's a memory and nobody's safe but the rich. Hopefully before then you'll wake up and carry the torch. I'll leave you two to sort out your secrets. I have a country to save."
Everett waved off his unseen marksmen and started to leave.
"Everett!" Tess yelled out.
Everett stopped and faced her. Tess raised her gun and pointed it at him. Everett stared at her.
"It's your choice, freedom or revenge."
Tess thought it over as her hand tightened on the trigger. Michael reached over and grabbed her arm, deflecting her aim from Everett. She started to turn to Michael with a look of betrayal when she saw Kit walk up.
He smiled at her. His smile was full of the pleasure of reunion and friendship and still had room for something more. It seemed to offer up something to her and deny it all at once. She was trying to read it as he and Everett turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd.
* * *
Coulter was passed the news of what might happen. The sky wouldn't fall, but they would definitely get rained on.
They had some factors in their favor in their effort to head it off. They had access to some large contributors to Pierce's campaign. Sara's files contained disinformation that Everett managed to get in through Hollings after he learned of Hollings' duplicity. Maybe enough manure to make the whole thing stink. And they had files of their own on people in Pierce's camp.
Coulter went to his study and began reading one of his favorite books on history. Accounts of others facing its ebbs and flows would prepare him for what was to come.
* * *
Nimé had made up his mind to go to South America. He had heard the rumors about a halfsister before. In the past they had always been raised for political motives and so suspect. He brought it up a few times in the letters he exchanged with his father over the years, but he was told it was a closed subject. Any thought of pursuing it himself was precluded for three decades by the Berlin Wall.
When he was able finally to go home, the reunion with his father absorbed his energies. It was now time to return, made obvious by his reaction to Arens' words. It was small satisfaction that he told Arens nothing about Michael or Sara. It was not bravery that motivated him, he was afraid. It was pure hatred. He wondered if he would have been steadfast without it.
Nimé collected his writings that he was going to bring with him and prepared for the trip. The woman he was searching for was scheduling no such trip. After her husband's campaign she had other plans.
* * *
It was a beautiful afternoon as Michael waited outside the US embassy in Paris. Two government officials appeared. He could tell by their expressions that it was over. The negotiations had been protracted and tedious, but each side got what they wanted. Michael left with the government's guarantee of immunity, some money and a feeling that a bitter part of his past had finally some resolution.
Tess had kidded him about what money the government would offer. "I know you want me to change my ways, but I think you're going to have to change yours. You'll pick it up in no time."
Michael stopped at a newspaper rack. He had spotted a French paper with a bold headline that contained Pierce's name and the words Black Forest. There was a photograph of Pierce in front of a research facility. Michael studied the paper for a moment and continued walking. Further along the street he bought some roses.
From a distance he saw Tess talking to children by the river's edge. As he approached, the children ran off to their mother. Michael handed Tess the roses. She was touched, but tenderness was too rare and strong to take straight. She started to say, "If you're asking me to eavesdrop," when he kissed her and they embraced.
They walked along the Seine at the same time together and alone. Tess couldn't help thinking about Kit's smile and what it meant. Michael was wondering how his life would change. Each confined by their own thoughts, but hoping the splendor of the day would prevail.
The End
copyright © 1998 by Cary Shulman
All Rights Reserved