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“That isn’t all is it?” Downing encouraged her to continue.
She swallowed hard, her gaze falling to the cold floor beneath her feet. "I know I'm suffering from battered woman's syndrome and need to set my life straight. Helping Alex, helping all of you... it's a start. A start to make things right."
Her voice had an air of finality, a determination to move past her haunting memories. She looked at us, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. But there was a spark in her gaze, a flicker of resilience that showed her resolve to rectify her past mistakes.
Suddenly, Downing reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a set of papers. He glanced at Alex and then at Kathy. "We need to move quickly. Based on what you two have told us, it's clear we're running out of time. We have to move while Carter is out of town.”
Agent Downing looked over the documents, his face grave. "These papers provide for Alex and Kathy to be placed in protective custody immediately. We can't afford any delays." His decision, swift and resolute brought a new level of urgency to our situation.
We rose from our seats—reality setting in as Downing hurriedly led Kathy and Alex out of the room to agents waiting in the corridor. When Alex stepped out of his cell, Meagan cast a lingering look of sorrow toward him. A mix of regret, empathy, and grief crossed her face, her silent tears speaking volumes of her shared sorrow.
As the door swung shut behind them, an overwhelming silence claimed the room. It was a silence fraught with revelations, marking the point of no return and the beginnings of a journey that was riddled with uncertainty and imminent danger. The act of confession had come to a close, but the storyline was still unfolding.
"Let's get out of here,” Meagan's whisper sliced through the stillness.
I directed my gaze toward Downing. "You had your suspicions from the start, didn't you, Agent Downing?"
"Well, Courtney," he replied, "I wasn't sure until our swift getaway on theTit for Tat II. It was essential for me to find a secure place to link up with my resources. The Russo family had to pull quite a few strings to orchestrate this meeting. Kathy and Alex were insistent on meeting with both of you to ease their conscience. However, we had to ensure Carter was out of the picture first."
A new question bubbled up in Meagan's mind. "Are you planning to arrest Carter?"
Downing's nod was firm. "As soon as we've secured Kathy and Alex in protective custody. We've got a team keeping a watchful eye in San Jose. We're tracking Carter's movements continuously."
"So, does Courtney still need to meet with Clint?" Meagan asked.
Downing sighed, "I'm afraid she does. We don't have substantial evidence to bring him in for questioning, let alone secure an indictment."
"I'm ready!" I declared defiantly, gripping Meagan's hand as we quickly navigated our way back through the underground labyrinth toward the awaiting embrace of Brad and Chase.
ChapterNineteen
Brad
The vast sprawlof the San Diego private airport lay out in front of us like a challenge, its runway shimmering like a sword under the cold light of the early morning sun. Courtney was there, a sleek figure by my side, her eyes hidden by the sort of sunglasses that could deflect laser beams.
She looked like the action heroine in a world that had suddenly turned into a gritty action movie. Yet, all around us, the morning was quiet before the storm as we waited for Giuseppe's charter flight to take Courtney on her collision course with Seattle and Clint Tyree.
Navigating through the maze of the airport, I couldn't help but steal glances at Courtney. She was all about contrasts, an intoxicating mix of danger and charm. It was as though a secret agent had been carefully hidden in the guise of the girl next door. She seemed calm, but I knew better. Beneath that collected exterior was a storm brewing, a testament to the hellish roller-coaster ride we'd been on.
Her steely resolve was apparent, the determined set of her jaw and the resolve in her stride reflecting a damn impressive courage. We were waist-deep in danger so thick you could cut it with a knife, yet here we were, two people finding a moment of peace amidst the chaos. We had the Rosedale crimes breathing down our necks, and it was time to kick some ass.
Only days back, Courtney had been cooped up in that dingy makeshift jail they'd set up in the hospital, with Alex and Kathy bearing their souls like they were at confession. Downing, that grizzled old warhorse, had kept hammering on about how Courtney and Meagan were like two pillars standing strong in a hurricane of earth-shaking truths. That whole sordid mess was what nudged Courtney to pick up the phone, dial Tyree for round two, and arrange the meeting she was about to walk into today.
As we found ourselves at the baggage check-in desk, the weight of reality crashed down on us like a ton of bricks. Alex and Kathy were safe, but the calm was deceptive. An insidious storm was on the horizon, threatening to wreak havoc on our already tangled lives.
The roar of a plane's engines sliced through our heavy thoughts, yanking our attention back to the present. The sleek aircraft soared into view, coming in for a landing like some metallic predator. Its presence was a beacon, an unspoken challenge that stirred a thrill of anticipation within me.
Turning to Courtney, I broke the silence, my voice as soft as the whispering wind. "You know, you don't have to do this," I said.
Her hand slipped into mine, fingers weaving together in a dance as old as time. The connection sparked something inside me, a warmth that served as an unspoken promise of assurance, more eloquent than any words could ever be. Amidst the chaos and the drama, quiet moments like these pushed us beyond the confines of mere comrades-in-arms and into something deeper.
"You're the toughest cookie I know," I murmured, my voice barely cutting through the thunderous drone of the plane's engines.
She swiveled toward me, her sunglasses slipping down a notch to unveil those captivating eyes, a cocktail of bravery and softness that was pure, unadulterated Courtney. Her smile was like a flashlight in a dark cave, illuminating the bleakest parts of our predicament.
"And don't you forget it," she shot back, her words laced with a playful edge that was distinctly her own. Her wink was like a balm, easing the tension of the moment.
We had come a long way since our Yosemite adventures and her cheeky response clearly showed her unwavering spirit.
