Thin Ice 5 - Checkmate (28 page)

24

The woman was on time the next day, showing up at exactly 11:35AM sharp.

“
I’m Olivia,” she said simply as Kaitlyn nodded slightly, introducing her to the girls.

Olivia smiled as she regarded the babies. “We’ll be fine,” she addressed Kaitlyn, assuring her she would take great care of the children in her absence.

Really having no choice, Kaitlyn told her all right and left them alone, heading to the elevator arriving outside where, as she suspected, the darkly tinted vehicle was waiting for her. Getting inside, the door being held open for her by the unusually tall and well-built bodyguard, she tried to relax as they rode.
Odd place,
she thought as they pulled up to the ancient building, looking very much abandoned. The door was once again opened and Kaitlyn helped from the car.

“
He’s waiting for you in the sanctuary,” the bodyguard spoke, pointing toward the large weather worn wooden doors.

Summoning her courage, Kaitlyn forged ahead and walked toward the opening her mind conjuring all sorts of scenarios of the why for her being summoned, and not liking any of them.

Pushing forcefully, Kaitlyn managed to get the heavy door to open far enough to squeeze her body through. Walking inside she took in the remaining artifacts that were still inside the once grand orifice. Most of the statues of the various patron saints were chipped and broken, looked to have been vandalized by people taking refuge in the building or simply kids with too much time and no respect. Kaitlyn heard the leaves, mingled with plaster and dirt crumpling under foot with each step. She saw him kneeling before the huge cross that still hung, untouched, on the cathedral wall. Surmising he was praying, she didn’t interrupt, simply waiting patiently for him to finish and acknowledge her. He kneeled silently for another ten minutes before rising and turning toward her.

“
Hangman’s daughter,” the man greeted her pleasantly.

“
Socrates,” Kaitlyn returned, forcing a slight smile.

Even now, almost twenty years later, he still scared the hell out of her. Socrates was her father’s right hand. He was as deadly and demented as Carlo had ever been.

“
How have you been Lauren,” he addressed her once more using her given name.

“
I’m okay Socrates, and you,” she replied calmly, her heart racing.

Gesturing toward the front pew, Kaitlyn followed his lead and sat down.

“
You’ve grown into a beautiful woman Lauren,” he told her, never taking his eyes from her face. “I had no part in your torture, I wanted you to know that,” he apologized profusely. “Carlo kept those horrors very well hidden from me,” Socrates told her, the thoughts angering him all over again.

“
It’s the past now Socrates, I’ve moved on,” she told him.

“
So you have,” he replied smiling slightly again.

“
May I ask a question,” Kaitlyn began carefully.

He smiled slightly and began speaking. “For all intents and purposes I am dead to the system,” he answered her yet asked question.

Kaitlyn knew they had given Socrates a triple life sentence without possibility of parole, yet he was sitting here in the flesh talking to her.

“
I see,” she replied, knowing that the right amount of money had exchanged hands to secure his release.

“
Socrates, you seem to know a lot about me,” Kaitlyn began again.

He nodded and murmured slightly, telling her it was his promise to Carlo on his deathbed to look after her.

“
Which is why you’re here today,” he added calmly as Kaitlyn frowned again.

Handing her the manila envelope, he returned his focus to the crucifix once more as she read and comprehended.

*****

Ian was still furious as he began assembling forces and putting searches in place for Kaitlyn.

“
Where do you think she went,” Ryan asked.

They’d immediately bonded Ian out yesterday after the altercation. All charges were dismissed when the hotel was paid and neither man would agree to charge the other.

“
Atlanta,” he said flatly.

It was the only place Kaitlyn knew like the back of her hand.

“
I already have six men on it,” he told Ryan who nodded his understanding. “I’m flying there myself later this afternoon,” Ian added.

Ryan told him that was straight and he would of course be there as well.

“
What did you tell Ray to do about the court,” his brother asked.

The judge’s clerk called early this morning asking if the custody transfer had taken place.

“
I told him to tell them we had a mutually agreed upon postponement,” Ian replied. “I don’t want her locked up Ryan,” he told his brother who spoke aloud his understanding. “I know KiKi’s scared right now that I’m going to take the babies, but I want her too,” Ian mused aloud.

Ryan told him he understood and not to worry. “We’ll find her,” Ryan told him as Ian again nodded.

“
When do you want to make time to see the old man,” Ryan threw out, switching gears. Ian sighed deeply. He honestly hadn’t thought anymore about meeting their biological father since the night Ryan first told him the man was alive.

“
Shit,” Ian murmured. “Let’s go ahead and do it before we go to Atlanta,” he told Ryan already making rearrangements in his head. “I don’t want to be on anyone’s time schedule when I look for my family,” Ian added as Ryan nodded thoughtfully once again and dialed the number he’d been given, having pulled his cell out.

“
He’s ready,” Ryan said simply when the party answered. “Mhmm, yeah,” he continued as they party spoke in his ear.

Ian half regarded the conversation his mind still on his daughters and their mother.
Baby, stop running, I just want to love you, not hurt you,
he thought wistfully. He was hoping the search was quick and Kaitlyn was immediately found, but he wasn’t counting on it. She was smart, cunning, and she knew the streets. Kaitlyn wasn’t an amateur at the game or the playing of it.

“
We’re set,” Ryan told him disconnecting finally.

“
OK, when and where are we meeting him,” Ian threw out.

“
In two hours, and I’ll tell you on the way,” Ryan replied as Ian shrugged slightly and followed his older brother out of the door.

Ian was surprised when they arrived at the airport moments later.

“
We’re flying,” he asked as Ryan told him yes. “Are you serious,” when he saw the destination.

“
Yes,” Ryan again answered.

Ian shook his head, but said nothing else as they boarded the flight, took off and he waited for them to land.

“
Tell me what to expect,” he asked Ryan as they began descending having reached their destination.

Ryan told him everything he himself knew of their father over the years.

“
So why’d he take off all those years ago,” Ian asked.

Ryan looked him squarely in the eye and told him that should be his first question when they met him for the talk he wanted to have.

“
Hmph, you’re right,” Ian replied taking another deep breath and letting it go as they disembarked and made their way through the airport.

They were approached moments later by two well dressed, heavily armed, men who asked them to follow them to the waiting car. The men followed without argument getting inside as the armed men got in front and the drive began. Ian didn’t like being at a disadvantage or unarmed, but he was forced to do both this time.

*****

Kaitlyn was livid as she finished the packet, returning her attention to Socrates, the fury in her face.

“
How did you get this,” she asked trying to remain calm and respectful.

“
I know you’re angry Lauren,” he told her. “But this situation calls for a clear head and calm, you know that,” Socrates advised.

She nodded slightly, knowing he was right.

“
It also needs to be extinguished and quickly,” he began again.

“
You got that shit right,” Kaitlyn replied still furious.

Socrates smiled slightly. “You are your father’s daughter,” he told her softly, gently stroking her face. “Olivia is available to you at any time, you need only call her,” he advised as Kaitlyn nodded and thanked him. “There is also the other situation you must face,” Socrates began again.

She sighed deeply hating how philosophical he was, but again, how right he was all the time. That was how he earned his nickname. Even though he was a cold blooded killer, who showed no remorse in his kills, Socrates was very logical in his process.

“
As much as we may try sometimes Lauren, we cannot run away from who we are, from what we were destined to be, or who we were destined to be with,” he told her, maintaining eye contact once more. “I think the fates have shown you that more times than you’d like haven’t they,” he threw at her as Kaitlyn sighed softly, the errant tear rolling down her cheek.

Socrates hugged her gently, kissing her cheek softly. “Settle the issue first,” he told her, looking in her eyes again. “Then work out the fate,” he finished, rising and leaving her alone in the sanctuary.

Kaitlyn sighed deeply, closing her eyes and praying silently as she continued to sit. She didn’t worry about the car; she knew it would be there whenever she was ready to leave. Glancing again the folder she still held, the cold fury returned.

“
Gotta take care of this bullshit, like yesterday,” she mumbled quickly apologizing to God for swearing inside the sanctuary.

Still in use or not, it was still his house, and Kaitlyn respected that. She walked back outside into the sunshine and as expected the car was still waiting for her. The bodyguard again got out and opened the door for her, politely closing it once she was inside. Kaitlyn’s mind whirled the entire ride knowing what she had to do and how quickly she had to do it. Arriving home, the man let her out, bid her a good afternoon and waited for Olivia to come down. Kaitlyn arrived at the condo and let herself in. The girls were sleeping peacefully on the couch as Olivia read.

“
Thank you,” she said softly as the woman smiled, handing her a card with her number.

Kaitlyn nodded her understanding as the woman saw herself out. Taking a deep breath, Kaitlyn gave Olivia enough time before calling her downstairs and telling her she would need her tomorrow.
The quicker the better,
she thought of the task at hand. Pushing it away for now, she headed over to the couch, picking them up one at time, putting them in bed, and joining them there as they all slept peacefully together.

*****

The trip was rather long and boring. Ian was more than sick of seeing trees when they finally arrived at the small wooded structure off the beaten path.

“
Is this where he lives,” he asked Ryan ask his brother smiled slightly and told him he wasn’t sure.

Ian said nothing else as the car stopped and the two men got out, each opening a door for the two brothers and pointing toward the small structure they now recognized as a small parish. Going inside the men were immediately assailed with the smell of now stale urine and feces, both human and animal it seemed.

“
Why the hell are we meeting in a place like this,” Ian groused, frowning deeply.

“
Because this is the kinda shit I came from,” Cartier Lemmings replied as he walked into the room and regarded his sons.

Ryan took his coloring from him; the smooth dark chocolate skin still wrinkle free on the man. Ian however was almost the spitting image of him facially, in his earlier years.

“
We’re here, so what do you want,” Ian threw out irritably.

Cartier smiled slightly before addressing his son. “First of all, check your tone,” he told him no nonsense. “Secondly I will tell you in due time why the fuck you’re here,” he added acidly.

Ryan didn’t interject. He’d been on the receiving end of his father’s tongue lashings more times than Ian and knew well enough to leave it alone. His brother was a quick study immediately picking up on the underlying danger of the man standing in front of them.

“
Now, that I’ve made my point,” Cartier began again, let’s go up to the house,” he threw out walking outside as Ryan and Ian followed.

Ian was impressed with the mansion that stood hidden by trees a few hundred yards away. The large golf cart carried them all up the long driveway as Cartier pulled out a cigar and lit it, inhaling deeply. They all walked inside and Ian was again impressed, as was Ryan. He’d never been in this house that he could recall. All their meetings were at a far darker and more dismal house.

“
Sit down and make yourselves comfortable,” Cartier instructed. Ian and Ryan both noticed the bodyguards didn’t venture far from the man at any given time.

“
What exactly do you do,” Ian ventured to ask.

Cartier again smiled. He loved his son’s doggedness. It was in his blood, he was the same way.

“
Ryan has known about me for some years, you however, are new to the party,” he told Ian as the man sighed softly.

“
OK, but that doesn’t answer my question,” Ian returned as Cartier laughed aloud this time.