I
“I wonder if she’s going to be tall like your sister,” mused Lisa one afternoon about four weeks before hers and Matt’s baby girl was due.
Matt just shrugged; “I have no idea, Lis. Sandy is pretty tall, but you’re no slouch yourself.”
“All of you are really tall, though,” Lisa said. “Should I be worried?”
“About what?”
“Whether I can do this the normal way, or via C-section,” Lisa said.
“Lisa, you’re worrying too much,” Matt said; “My mother didn’t need a C-section with any of us except Sandy, and that’s because she was coming early whether my parents were ready or not. Mom had regular vaginal deliveries with Pete and Danny.”
Lisa sighed, “I know, Matt. I’m a little nervous.”
“And I’m not?” asked Matt. “I’ve never been a daddy before. True, I don’t have to give birth. But all your doctor’s visits have been fine, so unless something unforeseen happens, you’ll do just fine.”
Lisa wanted to get off the subject of giving birth (something that still kind of scared her), and onto the subject of Karina’s nursery.
“You think there’s too much pink in this room?” she asked Matt.
“The room is perfect the way it is,” Matt said; “You picked out everything. I just worked to put it all together. The only thing that my mother suggested is to not use the bumper pads, or leave toys in the crib.”
“I do like the block letters you painted for Karina though,” Lisa said. “They’re cute.”
“I can’t take all the credit for that, Lis,” Matt said; “Your dad helped a lot. I think that his impending grandfatherhood is keeping his mind off his grief. He really likes the name Karina though.”
“That was Mom’s name before the Occupation,” Lisa said; “She was always called Karly. Had it not been for Julia Terranova, God only knows what would have become of us.”
“I know she arranged for you and your mom to escape,” Matt said; “You were really little then.”
“About a year old,” Lisa said. “Mom never got the chance to thank your Aunt Julia properly for everything she’d done for us. She was sorry that when the New Army captain she worked for got his freedom via Dad’s Hit-n-Run team, he died in a car accident.”
“True, true,” Matt said; “But we can’t go back and change the past. We have to live in the here and now and plan for the future. And our future includes a little girl named Karina Kiera.”
“Yes,” Lisa said. “I can’t wait to meet her!”
===
Miri just wanted to take a nap, because if she looked at another book, or at any more notes, or any more pictures of old paintings, she was going to go mad.
Finals were the following week, and even though Miri had opted out of several of them because of her A-plus GPA, there was still one in Art History, and another one in Design that she had to take.
Kelly was not fairing much better. She had three finals to take; two of them were back to back. She felt like her head was going to explode.
“I think,” Kelly said, “we need a meal break.”
“I know we need one,” Miri said; “That or a long nap. I’m exhausted!”
“Should we go out, or order in?”
“Let’s order from that Asian place in town,” Miri said; “I could use some Pho.”
“Oooh, yes!” Kelly said; “Our secret weapon! And those crab and cream cheese things, too.”
Miri closed her books and put her notes and pictures away. “We split the cost as always. I’ve got twenty bucks.”
“I’ve got about that, too,” Kelly said as she slid her books back into her bookbag; “And enough for a tip. I’ll even call.”
Kelly got on the phone to Asian Dee-Light, and placed their order. She got a price and a delivery time. They were usually pretty prompt with their deliveries, but with Finals coming up, Kelly thought that maybe it would take a little longer.
“I can almost smell the Pho,” Miri said.
“I can, too, Mir,” Kelly said looking out the window; “Someone else had the same idea, because there’s a delivery driver walking into the building as we speak.”
“Drat,” Miri said, laughing; “And here we thought we were the only ones who knew about that place!”
“I wish,” Kelly said; “It’s pretty popular here. They must do a ton of business from Northwestern alone!”
“That,” Miri said as she walked to her room to put her books away, “wouldn’t surprise me in the least!”
===
II
“Excuse me,” Jeremiah said to the state senator who came to visit him at the Times-Tribune; “You want me to what?!”
“I’m retiring, Jeremiah,” Senator James Vincent Carlson said; “and I want you to run for my vacant seat.”
“But, why me?” asked Jeremiah; “I’m a freaking journalist, not a politician!”
“That’s why you’d be perfect,” Carlson said; “You have a rock solid reputation, you’re a family man, and then there’s your service during the Occupation.”
“With all due respect, Senator Carlson,” said Jeremiah, “I did most of that ‘service’ while still a teenager. I’m nearly 40 years old. I hope to God I’ve become known for more than being a gun toting teen assassin!”
“But your reputation is well earned, young man,” Carlson said; “You’ve never been sued for libel, your reports are more factual than anyone expects. Fact checkers can’t find anything to use against you. That would be perfect for the state house, in my opinion.”
Jeremiah sighed. Jasmine’s going to kill me for even mentioning this, he thought.
“Say I do agree to consider it, Senator,” he said; “How long would I have to decide whether to do it or not?”
“You’d have to let the State Board of Elections know by the end of March,” Carlson said; “That will give you about four months to talk it over with your family and come up with plans.”
“For right now, I’ll just say I’ll discuss it with my wife,” Jeremiah said; “That’s all I can promise at this time. Meanwhile, Senator, news never sleeps, so I must get back to my duties.”
“Of course, Jeremiah,” Carlson said; “But think about how nice ‘State Senator Jeremiah M. Donovan’ sounds.”
After the senator left, Jeremiah thought, there’s a lot more involved with that job than how it sounds. Senator, you must think I’m in your pocket. Well, I’m not, and if I decide to run for office, it will be against anyone you convince to take your vacant seat.
And with that, Jeremiah considered the matter closed.
===
Carlson was a little disappointed that Donovan didn’t jump on the chance to run for elected office. He was sure the younger man would be chomping at the bit to do so.
Maybe he really isn’t interested, Carlson thought as he got into his car. He does have a solid position at the Times-Tribune and an unshakeable reputation. He could write his own ticket, if he wanted it.
The senator learned quite a few things about Jeremiah Donovan in the few minutes he was in the veteran journalist’s office. He hated praise he didn’t earn; he doesn’t want his past to dominate his entire life; he would talk over any life changing decisions with his wife and family before making any kind of statement.
The boy was raised by good people, Carlson said to himself as he negotiated through Chicago’s impossible noontime traffic. They encouraged him and his siblings to think for themselves, and not rush to judgement. The older that Donovan got, Carlson realized, the more he took those values to heart and made them a permanent part of his make up. His children probably held the same ideals their parents did.
I won’t push him, Carlson decided; if he wants to run for office, it will be on his time and on his terms.
And the more convinced Carlson became that Jeremiah Donovan would write his own ticket. All the way into the White House.
If he wanted it.
===
Another man had already decided that politics was the way to get where he wanted to go. After moving to another state and establishing residency there, Richard Pike decided to run for Congress.
He didn’t have to worry about his past as Charles DeWitt, because as far as anyone was concerned, Charles Richardson DeWitt was dead. There was a body buried in his “widow’s” family plot under that name. No one would be the wiser, Pike thought.
The State of Connecticut had never seen the likes of Richard Pike. He spoke forcefully, outlined his plans, convinced his potential constituents that he was the man for the job. The fact that he was relatively young, an accomplished lawyer, and community minded sealed the deal for most people. And his being single didn’t hurt, either. Women were falling all over themselves to be seen with him at the various events he attended as the candidate. Pike knew that upon his election, the attention that women lavished on him would only increase.
He only had eyes for one, and she was five years away from the age of majority.
That was his one dirty secret that no one but him knew- his obsession with a young girl named Jameson. And if he had anything to say about it, no one would ever know about that part of his life that he kept hidden. Not the voters, not the lawyers he worked and socialized with; not even the young women he would “practise” on until he got his moves perfected so that Jameson would be his pet forever.
Pike had no idea; no clue there was one person who could find out anything she wanted about him. No idea that another would end his sick desires forever.
And, no idea that a former rival would come back from the dead and point the finger right at Richard Pike.
All he cared about presently was the upcoming election. But Jameson was never to far from his thoughts.
Nor he from hers. She didn’t know his name or what he looked like, but she knew he was watching her.
And it scared her to her core.
===
III
Niki and Drake were making plans for their vow renewal ceremony in June, after Drake got his Masters. Niki was sending emails back and forth from Danica and Sandrina about who to contact for whatever it was they needed; the hall, the church, catering, dresses. Once a week, she and her nieces held a conference call.
“Niki, go to bridal shows and find out who is the best at what they do,” Danica suggested; “Get their business cards and brochures and send us the information. We’ll do all the leg work. You shouldn’t be stressing out over this.”
“Stressing out over her wedding is what brides do, isn’t it?” Niki asked.
“Not you, Niki,” Sandrina chimed in from another phone; “All you should be worrying about is your dress. Something simple, since you’ve been married a while.”
“Are we going to have to pay you like real clients?” Niki asked; “Drake wanted me to ask.”
“Actually,” Danica said hesitantly, “your folks already signed a contract with us, so you don’t have to worry about money. But you didn’t hear it from us, okay?”
Niki laughed; “Okay, my lips are sealed!”
“Good,” Sandrina said; “because the last thing we need is Granpa David jumping down our throats!”
“That would not be good,” Danica agreed.
After the conference call ended, there was a knock at the door. Niki went over to answer it. On the other side stood her brother, Sam.
“Hey, brother, what brings you here?” Niki asked.
“I have to tell Mom and Dad something, and I’m not sure how to go about it,” Sam said as he stepped inside and his sister closed the door behind him.
“Being direct usually works, Sam,” Niki said; “Dad hates it when you hem and haw about something. So, what is it that’s got you all flustered? You didn’t get Lauren pregnant, did you?”
Sam shook his head; “No, Niki I didn’t, but it does involve Lauren and Ashley.”
“Dad’s pretty impressed that you’ve taken on the dad role in Ashley’s life, Sam,” said Niki; “She’s an adorable girl, and hopefully she’ll be my niece for real someday.”
“Is ‘now’ too soon for you then?” asked Sam.
That got Niki’s attention. “Now?”
Sam said, “That’s what I have to tell Mom and Dad, Niki. Lauren and I went to Vegas two weeks ago and got married.”
“But you’re barely 19, Sam!”
“It was the right thing to do, sis,” Sam said; “Lauren and I are meant to be together, and Ashley makes our little family complete. Until we decide to have one or two of our own.”
“I strongly suggest then, little brother, that you tell Mom and Dad now, and not wait til Christmas or Hanukkah to tell them,” Niki said, still in a bit of shock. Her brother, married? To a girl two years older than he with a little girl of her own?
“Then that’s what we’ll do,” Sam said; “Lauren went to get Ash from the sitter, then we’re going to the house to see Mom and Dad. I hope they’re as understanding as you are.”
“I think you’ll be surprised how they’ll take it, Sam,” said Niki; “Dad, I’m pretty sure, has been expecting it.”
Sam sighed; “I never was good at hiding my feelings for Lauren, was I? I was hooked from the first time she said hello.”
“Dad knows exactly how that feels, if the stories he tells about meeting Mom are any indication,” said Niki; “Now go, tell them they have another grandchild to spoil!”
===
Todd arrived home to a very emotional Christine. When he asked what was wrong, she told him nothing was; it was just hormones. “I cry at the slightest provocation now,” she said.
But Todd knew her too well. He knew there was something bothering her. When he brought up the fact that her twin sister called him that afternoon, Christine dissolved into tears.
“Hormones, right?” Todd asked, knowing there was more to it than that.
“Todd,” Christine sniffled; “I saw my baby brother on the news today. I don’t usually watch the afternoon news, but there he was, all grown up. He’s a reporter for Channel 6. When I fled from home after my marriage broke up, he and Dannie were freshmen in high school.”
“Dannie’s his twin sister, right?” asked Todd; “The one who is hearing impaired?”
“Yes, Chris and Dannie are twins,” Christine said; “They were named after one of my great uncles because they shared a birthday.”
“Both of them?”
“Yes,” Christine said; “My great uncle was Daniel Christopher; Chris’ full name is our uncle’s in reverse, and Danniela’s is the feminine version of it, or Danniela Christina.”
“And Chris is a reporter now?” asked Todd. “Wonder who he got that idea from?”
“He always liked the news business,” Christine said; “when he was in high school, he was the youngest ever editor of the school paper. No freshman had ever been Editor in Chief before or since.”
“Christine, what if your twin wanted to come see you? Would that be okay?” asked Todd, changing the subject.
Christine looked at him. At first she felt scared. What do I tell Brittyn after all this time? she asked herself. Then she thought that it would be a good idea. She could get a lot of her questions answered. The main one Christine wanted an answer to was if her grandmother was still alive.
“Todd,” she began, choosing her words; “Nothing would make me happier than to see my sister again; to see my family again.”
“You’re not afraid anymore?”
“No,” Christine said, realizing that she was free from her fear at last; “For the first time in over ten years, I finally feel safe.”
I
“How did she know that, Mir?” Kelly asked when she called the following afternoon. “It’s a good thing you sent me that text message, or I might have been right in the thick of it.”
“Kel, I have no idea how Rachel did it,” Miri said: “It’s kinda spooky, just like my Sixth Sense. Maybe that’s hers, I don’t know.”
“And you are usually spot on,” Kelly said; “That’s what always gets me.”
“I don’t understand it myself, to be honest,” Miri said; “Mom seems to think it’s because of the weapons training I’ve gotten my whole life. That I’m more aware of my surroundings. But that dream thing that Rachel did; Kel, that scares the shit out of me!”
“Probably not as much as it scared Rachel, though,” mused Kelly.
“Oh, you know it!” Miri said; “She practically crawled into bed with me, asking me to keep her awake.”
“Poor thing,” Kelly said; “She must be exhausted now.”
“She’s taking a nap,” Miri said; “She told Mom what happened and Mom kinda freaked out a little herself. And you know nothing scares my mom!”
“But it’s her baby that’s having these visions, dreams, whatever they are,” Kelly said; “I’d probably freak out, too, if it were my child.”
“I know that’s right,” Miri said, “and I’d be right there with you!”
Miri and Kelly discussed whether the older girl would make the trip from Evanston to visit with Miri’s family. Kelly said she’d leave the following morning around 10am. That way, she and Miri could ride back to school together on Sunday.
“Zach will be happy to see you,” Miri said; “When I got here on Wednesday, first thing out of his mouth was, ‘What, no Kelly?’ like we’re joined at the hip or something!”
“I’m glad Zach likes me,” Kelly said; “but it’s just a crush. He’ll find a girl his own age and forget all about me!”
“I hope that’s soon!” Miri said, laughing; “Or else it will make for very awkward visits home.”
“For once, I’m glad I don’t have any pesky little brothers,” Kelly said; “Though for Christmas, I think I’m going to spend it with Kathryn and Christian and the girls. I’ll get to see Helene dance.”
“Awesome!” Miri said; “My cousin Sandy used to dance when she was younger, but she did something to her ankles and had to give it up.”
“She’s the Graphic Arts major, right?”
“Yeah,” Miri said; “She and I had the same future goals growing up. She designed everything for our aunt’s wedding last summer. Blew a lot of people’s minds, she and Danica did.”
“They should go into business doing that!” Kelly said.
“I think they plan to,” said Miri. “Probably after the first of the year. Danica’s done all the research and is trying to secure funding. Now to decide on whether to rent a storefront or try and do it from home.”
“I hope they succeed,” Kelly said; “That would be awesome if they can pull it off!”
“Indeed,” Miri said.
===
The phone rang, and Nico couldn’t get to it fast enough. “Hello?” she said when she answered it.
“Nico, it’s Britt,” Brittyn said; “I have some information about where Bethanie might be.”
Nico sat up in her chair, then asked, “Where?”
“She’s in Washington, DC,” Brittyn said; “Rafe found some evidence that she and Todd may be there. She’s still using ‘Christine Travis’ as her name.”
“Is she still in the Army or whatever branch of the service it was?” Nico asked.
“Rafe said that Christine Travis has been in the Army for about ten years, is an Army nurse working at Walter Reed, and that she may be pregnant,” Britt said; “That would be great to have another niece or nephew!”
“You’re sure it’s Bethanie, though,” asked Nico; “The same woman we all saw on TV at Jacob Ross’ state funeral?”
“From what I’ve been able to find out, Nico, that I’m almost positive that Christine Travis is our sister.”
Nico sat for a moment to think about that. Bethanie had been missing for a long time. How are we going to convince her that she’s no longer in danger? she asked herself. Nico knew that her sister’s ex husband was dead. She asked Brittyn that same question.
“Nico,” Brittyn said; “I don’t know how we’re going to do that. It’s not like we can waltz up to her front door and spring that on her.”
“Maybe we can,” Nico said; “Do you have an address for Christine Travis?”
“Rafe’s checking on that for me,” Brittyn said; “She no longer lives in the house that she was at when Rafe informed her of Jacob Ross’ death.”
“How in hell did she get involved with Jacob Ross of all people?” asked Nico.
She heard Brittyn sigh on the other end of the line, then said, “I have no earthly idea. Maybe we should ask her that when we meet her.”
“That sounds weird, Britt,” Nico said; “We’re going to meet our own sister. She’s your freakin identical twin for God’s sake!”
“We’ll have to tread lightly, sis,” Brittyn said; “Maybe we can make contact through Todd. He still has that protection service he started after the Occupation was over. Maybe I’ll toddle on down there and see if he’ll see me.”
“That’s a good idea, Britt,” Nico said; “It’s not like I can just take off and do it myself.”
“If it IS her, would you?” asked Brittyn.
“Is the sky blue?” Nico asked in reply.
===
II
Julia sat down at her computer and thought about how she was going to break into the locked file with her name on it.
She could play with the password to see if she could guess it, but that was an amateur’s trick. Ryan picked passwords that were nearly impossible to crack, and most times, weren’t even a word, but a series of numbers and letter, and case sensitive.
So that way was out.
Ryan had developed software that could crack passcodes, but it hadn’t been updated since Ryan’s death, so that method was out because it was out of date.
There was one way that Julia knew to bypass a password. That method got her into numerous secure websites during her tenure with Homeland Security. She tried it, and wasn’t really surprised it didn’t work on the file.
Her last resort was to implement the code that Ryan developed and taught to Julia and their children. If the password was in this code, then Julia could open it easily.
Julia brought up the file and chose it from the listing titled “locked files”. Once the file was on the screen, the first thing it asked for was the password. If it was like any of the other files Julia was familiar with, it would have more than one password. Unlock one, and another screen came up asking for another password. Ryan was known for having layers of these password screens before one would be able to access the file in question.
Julia typed in a password in the first screen requiring one. The first five tries yielded nothing except a message: “YOU HAVE ENTERED AN INVALID PASSCODE. TRY AGAIN? Y/N”
Julia hit “Y” on the keyboard and tried again. More failures. Whatever was in this file, Ryan certainly didn’t want anyone opening it without his okay.
Finally, after an hour, Julia came upon the correct sequence and the message read: “YOU HAVE ENTERED THE CORRECT PASSCODE. PLEASE ENTER YOUR NAME, LAST NAME FIRST.”
Julia entered: SUMMERS, JULIA.
“YOU HAVE ENTERED AN INVALID NAME. TRY AGAIN? Y/N” the message read.
“Huh?” Julia said; “What other name could I put it besides Terranova?”
She tried: TERRANOVA, JULIA.
“YOU HAVE ENTERED AN INVALID NAME. TRY AGAIN? Y/N”
What the fuck is this all about? Julia thought.
She tried again: TERRANOVA SUMMERS, JULIA.
Same error message came up.
This is getting really irritating, Ryan, Julia thought. What name did you put in here?
Again she tried: TERRANOVASUMMERS, JULIA.
Julia was about to give up when she had an idea. She tried:
WHITEFEATHER, JULIE.
The message then read: YOU HAVE ENTERED THE CORRECT NAME, WHITEFEATHER, JULIE. PLEASE ENTER PASSCODE.
A new password screen came up. Julia entered a password, and got more error messages. She then used the code Ryan made up and entered Ryan’s hometown.
YOU HAVE ENTERED THE CORRECT PASSCODE. PLEASE ENTER DATE OF BIRTH: DDMMYYYY
Julia entered 10062000.
YOU HAVE ENTERED THE CORRECT DATE OF BIRTH. PLEASE ENTER MOTHERS MAIDEN NAME.
“Which mother? Kiera or Mom?” Julia said half to herself. She decided to try Jordan’s name and see if that worked, since she’d already used Kiera’s in her name.
TERRANOVA.
YOU HAVE ENTERED THE CORRECT NAME. PLEASE ENTER ALL SURNAMES YOU’VE BEEN KNOWN BY.
“Huh? Okay, I’ll do it.”
TERRANOVA SUMMERS WHITEFEATHER.
YOU HAVE ENTERED THE CORRECT NAME SEQUENCE, the message said. A new message came up asking:
ENTER FILE? Y/N
Julia pressed yes, and the file opened.
All it contained were three videos. The first one was marked “RLS VIDEO WILL”. The second and third were designated by the numbers “2” and “3”. Julia hit the link for the “2” video, and a message popped up:
YOU MUST WATCH VIDEO RLS VIDEO WILL BEFORE YOU PLAY VIDEO 2.
Julia clicked the link to the video will video. Ryan was shown on camera in his office at the house on the Compound that Kimber and her family lived in.
“My name is Ryan Lawrence Summers. I was born February 2, 1996. I am 34 years of age. Today is October 8, 2030. This is my last will and testament...”
===
III
Danica rushed over to Sandrina and Alex’s apartment to give her cousin some great news.
God, she thought, please let Sandy be home! Danica prayed.
She knocked on the door and soon, her cousin was standing there... in her pajamas and bathrobe.
Danica looked non-plussed, then asked, “I didn’t wake you guys, did I?”
“No, we’ve been up all night, cousin,” Sandrina said; “We both have the flu. We’re not going to make it to Thanksgiving at Aunt Natasha’s.”
“You should get back in bed, then, Sandy,” Danica said; “What I have to tell you can wait til you feel better.”
“As long as you tell me that you’re not pregnant or you and Bryan have eloped and not told me,” Sandrina said with a wan smile; “I hate to see you waste a trip over here on my account.”
“Can I come in, Sandy? It’s freezing out here!”
Sandrina shook her head as if to clear out the cobwebs, then said, “Sure, just put this on.” She handed her cousin a surgical mask.
Once Danica had it on, Sandrina let her into the apartment. Alex was laying on the couch, covered with three blankets. “Oh, hi Danica,” he said cheerfully; “We have the flu!”
“He seems in good spirits,” Danica observed.
“He’s on meds and they make him kinda chatty,” Sandrina said. “I’m on the same stuff and I just feel tired.”
Danica got right to the reason she was risking getting the flu over. “Sandy, we got approved for a business loan! So with the money my grandfather is investing in our little business, we can get started looking for a storefront to set up shop in!”
“That’s great,” Sandrina said. “When do you want to get started?”
Danica looked over at her cousin and said, “As soon as you’re over this damn flu!”
“We still going to call it ‘It’s Your Day Wedding Planners’?” Sandrina asked.
“All the bank paperwork has that name on it, and I’ve done the business name search and there isn’t another business that has that name, so yeah,” Danica said, realizing that the flu was making Sandrina a little hazy.
“Okay. Sorry, I’m a little fuzzy-headed today,” Sandrina said apologetically.
“Maybe I should let you guys rest, and we’ll talk more about this when you’re feeling better,” Danica said. “I’ll contact some of the vendors that helped with Aunt Tash’s wedding and see if they’d be willing to take a chance on a business run by two almost 20 year olds. I’ll have more for you when you’re feeling better.”
“Okay, Danica,” Sandrina said; “Sorry I’m such a stick in the mud.”
“You’re sick, I understand that,” Danica said as she headed towards the door; “Now go lay down and I’ll see myself out. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Okay...” said Sandrina as she sank onto the couch with Alex, who said, “Bye Danica!”
Danica laughed to herself as she took off the surgical mask and stuffed it in her pocket and went out the door.
She got into her car and drove back to her apartment. Bryan was out, so Danica thought a nap was a good idea.
As she lay down on the bed, she thought, I don’t want to get the flu. That would suck!
===
Julia had watched Ryan’s video will. It was the same as the written will he signed the same day the recording was made. So that was old news.
She was about to click on the video marked “2”, but then something was going on downstairs that needed her immediate attention.
“Mom, Kelly’s here and she thinks she was followed!” Miri called up the stairs.
“Just a sec, Miri,” Julia answered, and closed the file. She put the list of passcodes and answers in a locked drawer, locked her computer and headed downstairs.
Once downstairs, Julia saw a visibly shaken Kelly Hope.
“Kelly, what happened?”
“Julia, someone was following me most of the way from Evanston,” Kelly said. She was on the verge of tears. “I tried to lose them, but they kept on my tail the whole way here, only to go straight when I turned on your street.”
Jaime, who was sitting on the couch with Rachel and Zach, had a weird feeling. It’s the guy who was shadowing me during Grandpa Jacob’s funeral, I know it is. Now he knows where we live!
Julia was trying to calm Kelly down, assuring her that it wasn’t her fault that someone followed her. Julia wasn’t convinced that it was a coincidence that another driver had friends or family in the same area as her family did who started out in Evanston. That only meant to Julia that someone was stalking Miri and Kelly.
“I’ll have someone check the area to make sure there’s no one lurking about the property,” Julia said; “The caretakers of the barn and stables will make sure of it. You’re safe now, Kelly. Still, we’ll call the police so that if the same person has plans to follow you and Miri back to school, they can deal with him.”
Kelly seemed to be relieved. Still she wondered if someone knew who her great grandmother was, and wanted to use that knowledge to either threaten her or get her to join the Occupational movement. Kelly’s grandfather wanted nothing to do with his mother’s presidency. He had told her for a long time, that he even thought of changing the family’s name to something else.
But now, she was with Miri and her family, and she was safe.
===
IV
“Todd, there’s a call for you on line one,” the receptionist said when she called Todd’s office.
“Who from?” he asked.
“Brittyn Parkerson.”
“Brittyn Parkerson?” Todd asked; “I’m not familiar with the name. Is she a perspective client?”
“Todd, she said it was personal and that she only wanted to speak to you,” said the receptionist, Hailey.
“Put her through, Hailey,” Todd said. Then, as the call was connected, he said, “Todd Travis.”
“Hello, Todd. This is Brittyn Crowley Parkerson, how are you?”
Bethanie’s twin sister, Todd thought; of course.
“I’m fine, Brittyn,” Todd said; “I didn’t recognize the last name. Married?”
“Yes,” Brittyn said; “For twelve years now.”
“I see,” Todd said; Why is Brittyn calling me? he asked himself. “What do I owe the pleasure of this call?”
“Cut the crap, Todd,” Brittyn said; “Does the name Christine Travis sound familiar to you?”
“Yes, it does,” Todd said; “Why?”
“She’s Bethanie, isn’t she?” Brittyn asked.
Damn, Todd thought, she’s been doing some serious searching for her twin sister.
“Yes, Brittyn,” he said; “Christine is your sister. But how did you find out?”
“She was contacted by Secret Service after Jacob Ross died in October,” Brittyn said; “My father-in-law was the Agent who visited her, and noticed a photograph on a table in her home that is similar to one I have.”
“I see,” Todd said.
That pissed Brittyn off some. “Todd, all of our siblings except Kaycee and our grandmother saw her on TV during the coverage of Ross’ state funeral. I’d know my own twin sister anywhere!” she exclaimed.
“She’s not receiving visitors, Brittyn,” Todd said lamely.
“Bullshit, Todd;” Brittyn said; “Look, her husband is dead and she has nothing to hide from anymore. She can come back to us if she wants.”
“I know her ex is dead,” Todd shot back; “I killed him and three of his buddies about a month after she left to join the Army.”
“We just want to see her, Todd,” Brittyn said; “I know you’re only trying to protect her. She doesn’t have to be afraid of us. We have all missed her and want her back in our lives. All I’m asking for is a chance to see her.”
“Just you?” asked Todd.
“For now, yes,” Brittyn said; “The rest of us are scattered hither and yon. Actually, Chris works for the local news station in DC. You’ve probably seen him on the news. He’s been with them for about five years now.”
“We don’t watch much news,” Todd said; “I’ll talk to Christine and ask if she’s up to it.”
“Is she not well?”
“She’s fine,” said Todd; “She’s pregnant, is all.”
Brittyn sat speechless for a moment, then said, “Oh...”
Todd continued on as if he didn’t hear Brittyn’s response; “Give me a number to reach you and I’ll call if Christine wants to have visitors. She’s still working at the hospital and she’s pretty worn out by the time she gets home.”
“Fine,” Brittyn said, and gave Todd her secure phone number.
She then hung up. Brittyn sat at her desk and went over the conversation with Todd in her head. All she kept going back to was the statement that Bethanie was pregnant.
“She’s finally going to get the little one she’s always wanted,” Brittyn said half to herself. “I have to see her!”
===
It was Christine’s day off, and she was watching the midday news.
It was the same old garbage the news usually was in her opinion, but then, she saw something that caught her eye.
It was a report from Baltimore about a three alarm fire in one of the historic homes there. Apparently it was arson. The story wasn’t as important as the reporter who was on scene with the story.
...police found an accellerant in the charred remains of the home, which was built in 1863. No further information is currently available. This is Chris Crowley for 10ActionNews. Back to you, Catherine...
Christine looked at the young reporter and gasped, “That’s my baby brother!” Then she started to cry.
===
