Mary Margaret's side throbbed and she had a splitting headache. Her entire body felt like an aching bag of bones and she worried that she looked worse than she felt. She finished cuffing the thug with the broken wrist to a Dumpster before she knelt beside Bill and held his hand. Though Kermit had assured her Bill's vital signs were fine and even covered him with his jacket in case of shock, Mary Margaret worried that her friend did not yet regain consciousness.

"Thank you again, Kermit. I owe you big time for this. As soon I know that Bill is okay, I'm out of here."

Never taking his eye off his prisoner, Kermit asked, "Where are you going?"

"I don't know. But I'll figure it out."

"Skalany, don't go anywhere. You don't know all the facts."

Mary Margaret rubbed Bill's hand. "What facts can you give me that will make me feel better?"

"It is time for the truth."

The quiet voice shocked her: Kwai Chang Caine. She watched him approach from the dark alleyway, as the wail of the sirens grew louder.

"No. No thank you, Caine," she said. "Peter filled me in. I've had enough facts for one night." She didn't know why the priest was there, and at the moment, she didn't care. She rose to her feet. Damn! I wish I could just disappear. Become invisible.

The priest said nothing, but he knelt down next to Bill. Caine touched the man's face and forehead and felt his pulse, and then looked up at the detectives. "He has had much alcohol and has suffered a heavy blow, but he will recover fully from his injuries."

Kermit nodded. "Good. That's what I thought, too. But how'd you know we were here--never-mind."

Caine stood. "I arrived at the end of the confrontation. I would not have been in time to..." The priest took a deep breath then folded his hands in front of his body. "Kermit, you saved her life. I am in your debt."

Just as Caine said that, two black-and-whites and an ambulance pulled into the narrow side street, screeching to a halt. Four officers and two EMTs jumped out. Caine stepped away and the technicians went to work tending to Bill's injuries and moving him to a stretcher. Two cops ran to Kermit and the thugs. One stayed at the cruiser, talking into the radio; one approached Mary Margaret.

"Were you hurt?" he asked.

"No, I'm fine."

"Skalany," Kermit started.

"I said I'm fine. Really."

The cop nodded and then looked questioningly at Caine. Mary Margaret finally met Caine's gaze; his eyes narrowed with concern. Once again, she felt the strong pull of being emotionally drawn very close to him. She shut her eyes and shook her head. It wasn't the time and she was still very angry. But there was the matter of the cops, so she opened her eyes. "No, not him. He's with me."

Then she looked directly at Caine. "I don't suppose you'll let me sneak out of here."

Caine shook his head, and took her hand in his. She tried to pull it away but she found she could not break free of his grasp.

"May I talk with you?" Caine tilted his head in the direction of Kermit's Corvair, which was parked a good bit away from the hustle and noise of the crime scene. With a sigh, Mary Margaret nodded, and they walked till they stood next to the classic sedan.

"Okay, Caine. Say what you're going to say. Then let me leave."

"Mary Margaret, I..." Caine released her hand and for a moment, he looked up at the stars. Then he looked back at her. "I thought it would be safer if I did not tell you or Peter everything I know."

"Everything? So there's more to this than Peter told me?"

"Yes."

"I'm finished here, kids." Kermit's booming voice interrupted them. "Skalany, you can make your statement first thing in the morning. Let's get the hell out of here."

As Skalany climbed into the car she groaned with pain and wondered if she had broken a rib. "Hell of a way to sober up. Did you get the license plate of the truck that hit me?"

Already buckled up in the driver's seat, Kermit laughed. "It wasn't a truck, my dear. It was a fist, and a rather large one at that."

She felt gentle hands help ease her into the seat and then carefully fasten her seatbelt. "Your rib is not broken, merely bruised."

She looked up, but Caine was already gone. Turning painfully in her seat, she saw he had somehow squeezed into the back. "How do you know that?"

Caine shrugged. "Once the full effect of the alcohol wears off, you will experience more pain."

"It can't be as bad as the pain of the last few hours."

"Now would be good, Caine," Kermit prompted, and he steered the Corvair onto the main road. "You said it yourself; it's time for the truth."

"It may be helpful if she heard the truth from you."

"All right," Kermit sighed. "Skalany, the picture of Laura Caine is not legitimate. And before you ask me how I know, I'll tell you -- because I made it myself."

"You, Kermit? Why?"

"I'm gonna need to type this up and print handouts," Kermit muttered. "The reason I made the phony picture was to stay on top of a dangerous situation. I knew something ugly was about to go down. Skalany, the fact is -- and Caine, I'm sorry if this is blunt - but the fact is that Laura Caine is dead. Period. And someone is spending a lot of time and money to make it look otherwise.

"And Caine has been trying to find out why while trying to protect everyone at the same time."

Mary Margaret leaned back against the leather seat and closed her eyes. She felt foolish and angry at the same time. Maybe she did overreact, but how was she to know? It was almost like she'd been set up for a fall. She wished Caine had told her everything, wished she'd never met him, wished she'd met him ten years ago . . . wish, wish, wish. If wishes were dollars, she'd be a millionaire.

Feeling movement at her side, she looked down to see Caine's arm snaking in between her seat and the door. She hadn't realized how tightly she'd been gripping the armrest until Caine pried her fingers away and then linked them gently between his. As lousy as she felt, she couldn't help but smile. The Shaolin said nothing and she realized Kermit had stopped talking, too. For the most part she was relieved, because she needed the time to put things in their place. But after the night she'd just had, she felt shook-up and still a little frightened. When Caine gently squeezed her hand she returned the pressure as she reached up to wipe the one tear that trickled slowly down her face.

~~~

"I need to speak with Kermit."

Mary Margaret stood next to Caine and Kermit in front of her apartment.

"Of course. Do you want me to wait inside?"

"No." Caine gently touched her face, and she could feel her anger start to dissipate. "I will not be long."

Mary Margaret watched as Caine turned and rested his arm on the side of the Corvair. "Thank you again, Kermit. I will stay with her tonight."

"Don't thank me, Caine. And that's a good idea." The detective rubbed his jaw. "I gave Jody an update. It was necessary."

Caine nodded. "And . . . Peter?"

"He had a rough night. I talked to him, briefly, to tell him we found Skalany, and that she was fine. He was worried and nervous, but nothing unusual for Peter. He'll have a ton of questions tomorrow, though."

"I would prefer to talk to Peter myself. However, if the need arises, I trust your judgment. And Kermit..." Caine said, then hesitated.

"What is it, Caine?"

"In the car, you stated with certainty that...Laura is dead."

"Yes, I did. I wondered if you'd ask me about it."

"Then you also know this for a fact?"

"Before I made the fake photograph, I had to be sure. I still have connections, and... Caine, are you satisfied if I tell you it's definite? Or do you want the details?"

"It is something I have always known. I am satisfied with your word."

The priest squeezed Kermit's shoulder once and Kermit pulled away. Caine turned toward Mary Margaret and she opened her arms. Despite the pain she pulled him into an embrace.

"I am so sorry," she said, "that you're going through this. I didn't think about how hard this must be for you."

The priest quickly stepped back. "Mary Margaret, all this was over a long time ago. It is you I am worried about."

She sighed. "Let's go inside, Caine."

Arm-in-arm, they walked toward her apartment. She never imagined the evening would end like this. Be careful what you wish for, she thought, and was afraid to wonder just what tomorrow would bring.

~~~

The blow dryer stopped and Mary Margaret came in the living room wearing her robe. "I'm distinctly experiencing Deja Vu all over again," she teased, and they both smiled. She slid onto the sofa and carefully leaned into his arms.

"We must get ice on that bruise."

"Nah. It's fine.

"Mary Margaret, if you do not--"

"Caine, trust me." The priest started again but Skalany pressed a finger on his lips. "I'm used to taking care of myself. Now be quiet and listen to me. I need to tell you that I'm sorry. I thought Laura was alive and I-I just wanted to drop off the face of the earth. I know that in your own way you tried to warn me, but I didn't understand."

Touching the curve of her chin, Caine seemed to struggle to find the words. Finally, he said, "Tomorrow, I must be on the plane to France." Looking deeply in her eyes, he gave his words great emphasis. "Too much has happened to propel me toward this event. I must follow my path. I fear dire consequences if I do not."

"I understand. In my own way." Leaning over, she kissed his cheek and did not move away. Caine stroked her face, sliding his fingers into her hair, pulling her close so he could kiss her. Opening her robe he caressed her tingling skin. She broke the kiss, allowing his mouth to move down her neck to her chest, and she sighed when his lips attended to her sensitive flesh.

The telephone ringing broke the moment. Mary Margaret shifted and attempted to rise, but Caine tightened his hold and continued his attentions with increased vigor.

"Caine," she murmured, "I gotta get this."

With a final nip and kiss, the Shaolin relinquished his grip.

"Hurry."

~~~

A short time passed before Caine heard her voice. "Caine?"

"In here."

Caine watched as Mary Margaret entered the bedroom and found him lying under the sheet. "You Shaolins don't waste any time!" She said with smirk. "That was Kermit. Bill is fine. His sister came to the hospital to be with him. The two jerks that attacked us have long records but aren't affiliated with anyone we can trace. Kermit is coming at five in the morning to give you a ride to the airport and won't take no for an answer."

"Very well," Caine said. He extended his hand and said, "Now, come to bed."

Standing next to the edge of the bed she took off her robe, blushing as Caine's hungry eyes scanned the length of her body. "You are so beautiful, Mary Margaret," he whispered softly.

Mary Margaret slipped into bed with her lover and snuggled close to his nude body. He knew she felt loved and secure in his embrace and the press of her warm curves caused him to become fully aroused.

"You put yourself in great danger tonight," Caine said seriously. "We must discuss your stress reduction techniques. But not now."

"Yeah? And what're going to do now? Try to get me to put ice on my ribs? Because if you do--"

It was Caine's turn to silence her with a finger to her lips, quickly replaced by his mouth covering hers for an urgent kiss. Caine rolled to his back and carefully maneuvered her on top of him. His hands traveled down her body till they cupped her flesh and pushed her against his hard length. He made love to her tenderly, kissing her intimately and stroking her gently until they were both completely satisfied. It was almost dawn before they fell asleep in each other's arms.

Part 1   Part 2    Part 3   Part 4   Part 5   Part 6   Part 7

Back to author's index      Back to Story index