Intersection (11 page)

“Mom!” A small voice called from the bottom of the stairs snapping both the women back to their senses.

“In here, Dylan,” she called back still looking at the agent who was trying to conjure a smile. Cassidy slowly broke the exchanged glance and returned to her task as Dylan entered. Alex took a deep breath and headed to the cabinet for a mug; desperate to do anything that seemed ‘normal’ to help her regain control.

“Can I watch cartoons?” The boy asked standing behind his mother.

“Yes, you can go watch some cartoons, Dylan.”

“Alex!” He said excitedly, “wanna’ watch Kung Fu Panda?”

Alex looked over at Cassidy who shrugged. “Go on,” Cassidy smiled now. She squinted slightly at the agent. “Kung Fu Panda and banana pancakes, what do you think?”

Suddenly all of Alex’s fear vanished. She didn’t know why, but something in Cassidy’s eyes was telling her that everything would be all right. She didn’t know how and she didn’t know when, but in that simple moment she understood. She was not recusing herself from the case, not running away. Dylan pulled on the agent’s hand. “Be right there, Speed Racer,” she said. She walked back across the kitchen and stood in front of the woman who had unexpectedly captured her heart. Cassidy looked up at her and Alex smiled. There was nothing to say now. Alex kissed Cassidy’s forehead and Cassidy closed her eyes reveling in the loving gesture. As Alex pulled back, slowly her gaze narrowed a bit. “No matter what,” she began searching the smaller woman’s eyes, “I will make sure you are safe.” She brushed some flour from Cassidy’s forehead.

The smaller woman’s lips crinkled into a knowing smile. “Where did you come from, Alex Toles?”

“ALEX!” A small voice beckoned. “It’s starting!”

Alex raised her eyebrow playfully and shrugged. The agent grabbed her coffee off the counter and headed for the next room. She jokingly answered Cassidy’s question to herself, “I would have thought Rose would have given you THAT lesson.”

“I heard that,” Cassidy called back playfully.

“I know,” Alex quipped, making her way into the living room.

“That too!” Cassidy called as Alex smiled taking a seat on the couch with the boy.

“She hears everything,” he offered, never turning his attention from the television.

“I’ll remember that.”

assidy had stepped out onto the deck to take a phone call and Alex was absorbed in observing the woman’s mannerisms. “She’s mad,” Dylan offered in his typical matter of fact way. Alex smiled at the boy as he continued to shovel the pancakes into his mouth. Looking back at the display unfolding just beyond the sliding doors, the agent knew the boy was right. There was no mistaking Cassidy’s disapproval of whatever conversation was transpiring. She was pacing back and forth shaking her head. The grimace on her face occasionally changed to a sarcastic smile as she would close her eyes and grab her bottom lip with her teeth. The agent wondered what was transpiring, though she could guess it was the congressman by Cassidy’s demeanor.

“No!” Cassidy pressed her tongue against her cheek with force in an attempt to quell her anger. “This is crazy, Chris… of course I understand that…..I can’t do that…what about Dylan?”

Alex’s phone rang. She pulled it from her pocket, still focused on the woman outside, “Toles,” she answered. “What’s up Fallon?.....What?” The agent took a deep breath and let out a slight groan as she watched Cassidy’s reactions move from what seemed to be frustration to unmistakable anger. She took another deep breath and stood. Dylan questioned her with his small eyes and she gave him a sideways smile. “Finish those pancakes,” she said.

“What the hell?” The voice on the other end of the phone asked. “Are you listening to me?”

“Yeah….I heard you, Fallon,” Alex answered as she made her way into the living room where she had the perfect vantage point to keep an eye on Cassidy.

“Tate wants you here tonight…all of you.” Alex now completely understood the conversation that was transpiring outside. “Toles?!” Fallon called over the phone loudly causing the agent to wince.

“I heard you,” the agent answered taking a deep breath. “So, what then? Why D.C.?”

“It isn’t him, Toles. It’s the congressman. You know…he has the president’s ear…and when the president calls… well…”

“She’s not going to agree to that,” Alex said with a slight chuckle.

“It’s only for a couple of days, Toles. Tate says they want to…”

“Yeah… listen, Fallon…I gotta’ make a call….”

“Toles….” Brian Fallon took a long time to say his partner’s name, cautioning her interference.

“Fallon, it’s a bad idea and we both know it.” Alex looked out to the deck where Cassidy was still in the midst of an argument.

“Doesn’t matter what we think…if the pres…”

“Yeah… look…I’ll call you back.” Alex hung up the phone and rubbed her forehead. She knew exactly what was happening. The congressman wanted his family nearby and the excuse to make that happen would come in the form of a need to fit the house with some type of surveillance. The cover would be a simple maintenance issue, perhaps a burst pipe, and the family needed to vacate. A team would come in and fit the outside with hidden cameras. The problem was there was no reason for Cassidy to leave New York. For the sake of the case, and even of her safety, this was a mistake and Alex knew it. She had never called in her relationship with John Merrow, but now it was time. The agent dialed the number and waited, exhaling slowly. “Mr. President…”

“Alex…How are you?”

“I’m fine….I need to talk to you.”

President John Merrow smiled at the sound of the agent’s voice. He had always loved Alex. He was engaged by her strength and intelligence, and of course her beauty. Over the years the two had remained friends, quietly. He admired her and she respected him. “I assume this is about Mrs. O’Brien then?”

“Listen, Mr. …”

“Alex,” he said softly, “drop the formality, will you?”

The agent pinched the bridge of her nose. She hated doing this. “John…moving the family to D.C. right now…it doesn’t make sense….and it isn’t best for the case….at all.”

John Merrow sat down on the love seat in the corner of his private office. “Alex… the congressman is worried about his family….you can understand….”

“Of course I do but there is no reason why Cass…Mrs. O’Brien would leave her job, pull Dylan out of school so abruptly….We are already exposed to some degree…”

“I heard,” he interrupted.

“You know this makes no tactical sense. If the house needs to be addressed, let’s move them to a hotel or a rental of some kind for a few days.”

The president was silent for a long moment. “I know…. look….I’ll tell you what…the congressman and I have a joint appearance with my family Wednesday…. How about we agree that he flies home tomorrow and takes Dylan for the week?”

Alex shook her head. This wasn’t even about worry; it was about politics. “She’s not going to like that.”

“I suspect not, knowing Cassidy,” the president chuckled with a hint of affection for the woman. “Listen, Alex… I promised him. You’re really worried about this guy, aren’t you?”

The agent licked her lips, “I am.”

“All right…look …. I will talk to the congressman.” Alex remained silent. “I will talk to Tate… but Dylan needs to come
here…and maybe that’s best, Alex…just for the week. It’s less distraction for you.” Alex laughed inside at the president’s assertion. Dylan was a distraction, but he certainly wasn’t the source of any interference with her
job
. “But, Alex,” he continued, “she needs to stay safe…if that means she…”

The agent new exactly what her former commander was saying. “I know,” she answered plainly. Cassidy might
have
to leave work for some time if things continued to escalate or they didn’t locate the source quickly. The teacher might have to agree to constant protection, even in the classroom, and Alex already knew that was a battle she did not want to fight. The truth was that a personal family appearance did give a good cover story for Dylan going to Washington with his father, and with Dylan away she would not need to relocate Cassidy. She looked toward the deck as Dylan was just making his way back to the living room.

“Alex? You there?” The president asked.

“Yeah…sorry….look, John…I can call Tate…I know that…”

John Merrow laughed. “No…no Alex…I will tell him that I called you…besides…you are right about moving both of them…it might embolden whoever this is…..just promise me you will keep me in the loop.”

Alex was puzzled. It was neither her habit nor her place to update the president on any case. “I’m sure A.D. Tate…”

“Yeah….well, Tate’s not there, you are. It’s between us. If you’re worried then I know there is something to worry about.”

“Are you worried about the congressman?”

The president scratched his head and moved the phone to his other ear, “I’m worried about a lot of things, Alex…a lot of things.” One thing Alex knew about John Merrow was that he was cautious in his assessments and deliberate in his actions. The congressman was an important part of many public initiatives, but she suspected there was more to this. Whatever it was that was driving her friend’s interest; that was the least of her own concerns. “Alex?”

“Yeah?”

“Just …. Well… Cassidy can be… well…good luck,” he said with a hint of levity.

Alex laughed. “I understand….Thank you ‘Mr. President’.” As she hung up small eyes peered at her.

“You wanna’ watch Batman?” Dylan asked hopefully.

Alex smiled and looked over him at the woman outside. Cassidy was gripping the railing with both hands, her face pointed toward the sky. “Maybe in a little while. I gotta’ go talk to your mom.” He shrugged his small shoulders and headed back to his spot on the couch grabbing an action figure on the way. Alex began the short trek to the sliding glass doors, taking a deep breath as she opened them and walked through.

Cassidy made no movement. “He wants us to come to Washington,” she said with disdain.

“I know.”

“I can’t believe this…. I can’t just leave…I mean this is…” Cassidy rambled with frustration but continued to look out over the back yard. Strong hands now placed themselves on her shoulders and she closed her eyes. The feel of Alex touching her calmed her anger and replaced it with something that was almost equally unsettling, yet somehow welcome.

“You’re not going to D.C.,” the agent assured. Cassidy turned to face her, searching the agent’s blue eyes for an explanation. “But, Cassidy….Dylan…”

“So, not me…but Dylan has to go…that’s what you are telling me?” Cassidy’s anger began to rise again.

Alex took a deep breath. “Yes.”

“Why? Alex …Why? For what purpose…and don’t tell me it’s for his
safety
.” Alex continued looking directly at the woman before her. This conversation was unraveling exactly as she knew it would. It was strange; she barely knew this woman; yet Cassidy O’Brien was no mystery to the agent. She could anticipate in just a glance what the teacher was thinking. “Well?” Cassidy urged Alex’s response.

The agent released her breath in a rush. “I can’t tell you all the reasons why. I suspect you might know that more than me.” Cassidy closed her eyes and pressed her lips together trying to calm the anger that was rising within her again. Alex wanted so badly to make everything all right for Cassidy that she spoke without thinking, “That’s the best John would…”