Chapter 22

Frank Brodie was annoyed with himself as he clambered painfully out of the jeep and began to limp up the ramp into the administration block.

After a stress-fraught day dealing with Katy's fears, coupled with an hour in the pool re-establishing his relationship with the child, Brodie felt drained. He wasn't used to baring himself emotionally, but he had come to realise that Katy needed to know at a fundamental level that she was cared for and loved, and Brodie had to finally come out from behind the wall he had carefully built up all those years ago and declare his love for her. Katy needed to know that she was his. Frank Brodie had, after all the years of pain and loneliness and hardship, found himself not only with a woman who loved him deeply, but also with a little girl who was his daughter in everything but blood.

After their hour splashing and laughing in the pool, Brodie and Katy had joined Tara and they had eaten a quiet, content supper. Katy had spent a little while curled up between Tara and Brodie as they watched 'Ice Age' on the TV, then she had a bath and went to bed, tired but happy.

Brodie and Tara sat together in the still sparsely furnished living room and talked. They talked of Katy and her murderous father, and of her future here on the island with them. They talked of the plans Cunningham had for the island, and what part they would play in them. Brodie did not tell Tara of his suspicions about the man he had met at the market, as he was waiting for information from Rick Mahoney, his contact at the DEA. Rick had been intrigued by Brodie's suspicions, and was now looking through their databases for anyone matching the stranger's description. He was also surprised to hear of Katy's one and only meeting with Sonny Esposito.

But as the night drew in Tara decided to clear away dishes and load them into the dishwasher, and she wanted to go over some paperwork before bedtime. It was then Brodie discovered he had forgotten they had a visitor the following morning - Charles Cunningham was coming to see the King Cheetahs. Cunningham visited regularly but never disrupted the running of the island, happy to fit his schedule around Brodie's. But this time he was visiting very early in the morning and Brodie wanted to settle the details for the arrival of the Rothschild's giraffes, which were coming from a private zoo in Zimbabwe. The upheaval in the country had made their tenure there unsafe, so their owner had contacted Cunningham, who had leapt at the chance to buy them. But unfortunately the details were in Brodie's office in the administration block.

And so he found himself wandering into the dark offices at ten thirty at night, a time he usually crawled into bed beside Tara and curled into the warmth of her welcoming embrace. There he usually slept like a log until six in the morning when the alarm went off.

Muttering to himself he headed along the dimly-lit corridor with its huge, airy windows looking out over the newly-landscaped compound and limped into the main work area, a small secretarial unit with the main offices leading off it. Brodie's office was next to van Guelder's, and as he made his way beyond the secretary's station he frowned. There was a dim light glowing through the venetian blinds covering the big window in van Guelder's office. He limped closer, holding his swordstick in both hands now, ready to slip the Solingen blade free of its sheath. Perhaps Pieter was working late, he thought. He heard a soft cry. Highly suspicious now, he crept carefully along the corridor and flattened himself against the wall, peering warily around the edge of the window. As he looked through the small chink in the blinds his eyes widened in surprise.

Two bodies were sprawled on Pieter's sofa bed. In the few seconds it took to understand what the hell was going on, he saw glimpses of gleaming chocolate skin against muscled white, an elegant, long-limbed body astride rocking hips, van Guelder's big hands cradling flexing buttocks as Zelle Smith arched her body backwards, breasts firm and aroused, head thrown back and dark eyes closed in ecstasy. Beneath her Pieter van Guelder was in heaven. His soft groans as Zelle worked on him were rumbling and lusty, and Zelle cried out with each thrust of him inside her. As Brodie blinked in surprise he saw Zelle work harder and then call out van Guelder's name as she reached climax, Pieter shuddering his own beneath her as he pumped his seed into her welcoming body.

Frank Brodie flushed a little in embarrassment and let a rueful grin twitch his moustache. He turned away silently, slipping the sword back into its sheath and headed into his office. Retrieving the papers he needed, he quietly eased the door shut behind him and slipped past van Guelder's office. As he did so he could not resist glancing through the gap in the blinds once more, and saw Zelle and Pieter lying entwined and sated on the sofa bed, touching and kissing gently, the bond between them surprising the hell out of Brodie. But then, he thought as he headed out of the building and into the jeep, who'd've thought it would be Pieter and goddamn' Zelle Smith?? Shit, I thought he didn't even like her!

Snorting in amusement, he slid painfully into the driver's seat of the jeep and drove back along the tarmac road and up the hill to the house above the bay where Tara was waiting for him.

*****************

The house was dark apart from a small light coming from the main bedroom as Brodie turned the jeep into the drive. Turning off the engine after parking beside the garage he eased himself out of the vehicle and wandered into the silent house, papers in hand. He limped through the darkened living room, then opened the door into the master bedroom to find Tara standing in front of a mirror drying her hair, her slender body wrapped in nothing but a towel. Brodie thought she looked delicious.

"Nice," he said, full of appreciation. Shutting the door behind him quietly so as to not wake Katy in the bedroom opposite, he dumped the papers on the bedside table and sat on the bed, slipping off his sneakers. Tara turned at his words and smiled sweetly at him through the tousle of her dark hair.

"Are you coming to bed?" she replied, lifting an eyebrow in query.

Brodie gave her a wolfish grin.

"You betcha." He cocked his head to one side as Tara began to brush her hair dry, and studied the rhythmic movement of her slim shoulders as she brushed. He felt his manhood stir.

Tara heard the throatiness in his voice and stopped brushing, turning towards him.

"Why Frank, you ol' romantic you …"

Brodie straightened and stripped off his teeshirt, much to Tara's delight. She let her gaze drift over his broad shoulders and muscled chest as he sat watching her. She knew he was aroused, and was even surer of his desire when he gestured at her towel.

"Take it off ... I want to look at you ..."

Tara's eyes dropped shyly and Brodie smiled as she let her fingers drift to the edge of the towel tucked around her body. Slowly but surely she teased the corner from its place against her left breast, and the towel suddenly whispered away from her body and she stood naked before him. Brodie's mouth went dry. She was glorious. Slim but curvaceous, her body sent licking flames of desire through him as he studied the small, firm breasts and flat belly. Long legs set off her shapely hips, and he found his eyes straying to the soft dark curls at the apex of her thighs.

"God ... Tara ..." He held out a hand to her. "C'mere ..."

With the love shining in her velvet eyes she went to him and Brodie wrapped his arms around her, his face nuzzling in the still shower-damp skin between her breasts. Tara bent her head to kiss his soft curls and her hands stroked the tanned skin of his back and shoulders, tracing the scars there with tender care.

They stayed like that for long moments, Brodie sitting on the edge of the bed and Tara standing between his knees, holding each other so tightly that Tara thought she could never let go. Frank Brodie was her life, she knew that now, and she murmured soft words of love to him as she held him. His reply was to stroke her body with big, gentle hands, cupping her buttocks one moment and running his fingers down her spine and hips the next. His mouth started to send sparks of desire to her loins as he trailed needful kisses over her breasts and nipples. He latched onto one and suckled eagerly, the dark bud of flesh rising and tightening, Tara's head dropping back with a low moan. He raised a hand to cup the other breast, kneading gently and running a callused thumb across the turgid nipple, the texture of her skin making him harden even more.

But he gave a small groan of frustration as she gasped and pulled away, and she tugged at his hand urging him to stand up.

"What … what's wrong?" he said, worried in case he had done something to upset her.

"Shhh … stand still for a moment …" Tara replied, and smiled as Brodie stood obediently before her. She stepped back and looked at him, letting her gaze linger over his body. She studied him with such intensity that Brodie began to shift in embarrassment, but she spared him any more discomfort when she reached out and began to unbuckle his pants belt. The pressure on his erection as she tugged the belt through the buckle made Brodie wince with desire. He was incredibly aroused, and he gasped as Tara's deft fingers undid the button of his pants then slid down the zipper. She could see his obvious arousal but did not touch him, sliding her hands instead into the waistband of his pants and shorts and easing them slowly down from his hips. Tara loved the soft skin on his flanks and stroked it gently, Brodie unable to contain a groan of pleasure. But she still did not touch his erection and slipped her hands around to stroke his buttocks, pushing the pants and shorts far enough off his hips for them to slide down and rumple around his bare feet. Brodie stepped out of them in a second and stood still as Tara took her exploration further, her eyes and hands sweeping his eager body in tandem.

Leaning forward she kissed him, suckling his luscious bottom lip gently. Brodie felt her teeth nip in feather-soft caresses as she began to kiss him more deeply and he caught her face in his hands, returning her kiss with increasing desire. Her felt her hands stroke his pectoral muscles and slide lower, teasing his heated skin and sending delicious shudders through him as she came closer to his rigid arousal, now arcing away from his body and pressing urgently against Tara's flat belly. One of her hands enclosed him, causing Brodie to thrust with a surprised groan at the touch of her cool fingers and his hands left her face to grasp her to him. He wrapped her in his arms, feeling the silken texture of her skin on his and she moved her hand on his erection with increased need as it was caught between their heated bodies. Brodie's hand slipped between them to cover her fingers with his own as Tara stroked him into thrusting need. For a moment or two his hand moved hers on his penis, smoothing away the drops of semen on the tip. But he could not wait any longer as a sudden image of Zelle and Pieter writhing on the rumpled sofa bed filled his mind.

"Gotta be inside you …" he muttered and lifting Tara he turned and tipped her onto the bed. Leaning over her he nuzzled and kissed her small, firm breasts and eased onto the bed beside her, his hand sliding between her hot thighs to tease and stroke the secret place he loved so much. Tara arched upwards, her cry soft in the muted light, and Brodie drank in the musky scent of her greedily, his mouth hungry to taste the salty tang of her skin.

Tara gasped as he felt his fingers slide from her and his knee insinuate itself between her thighs, opening her to him. She opened her eyes and watched eagerly as Brodie shifted over her, his face intense with something that aroused her even more … she saw his lust, mingled with the intensity of his love, and she responded instantly by widening her thighs even further to allow his body to settle between them.

His entry was sudden. With one hard thrust he was buried deep within her and he began to move immediately, a sighing, soft grunt of ecstasy coming from him with each powerful movement. Tara ran her hands over his chest as he strove above her, tracing his ribs then allowing her fingers to drift down to his working hips, feeling the muscles tense and relax rhythmically under her touch as she stroked the hollows of his flanks.

Brodie groaned and shifted his angle slightly so he rubbed against the nub of nerves that sent Tara shuddering up into his embrace and he gritted his teeth, trying to hold onto what little control he had left. He was so desperate for her it hurt, and heedless of the pain in his leg he rocked back onto his knees and cupped Tara's thrusting hips in big hands, lifting her so he would not have to withdraw from her slick channel. Once he had spread his knees a little for comfort he eased her legs up onto his shoulders and leaned over her, his hands straying now to cup her breasts as his thrusting increased in pace.

Tara was writhing with pleasure, each rocking movement sending little, throaty whimpers from her as Brodie thrust harder and harder, as though he could push even deeper within her tight sheath. He was wild with need now, and he gave her breasts one last, gentle squeeze then shifted his hands back to her hipbones, each thrust wringing a groan of desperation from him.

Brodie managed to look down at her body prone beneath him and focused on the place where they were joined, and watched with fascination at his steely length moving urgently in and out of her body, his soft brown curls mingling with her darker hair. Glancing up as the sensations began to take him over he saw Tara gazing at the same place, her body glistening with perspiration and her hands bunching the sheets in anticipation of her orgasm, her mouth open slightly and gasping with awe at the sight of Brodie's manhood buried within her.

But when she lifted one of her hands and began to stroke herself in tandem with his thrusts, Brodie lost all control. Her fingers drifted over the soft folds of her femininity and touched the rigid base of his penis and he let loose a feral grunt, his thrusts becoming ragged in his need to finish.

He felt a soft, almost imperceptible flutter around his shaft and he heard Tara gasp.

"Frank … oh, Frank!!"

And she convulsed around him and beneath him, the grasp of her sheath tightening unbearably on his maleness as he bucked against her, hands tight at her hipbones as he held her to him. He felt himself swell and become even more engorged in the split second before he exploded inside her.

"Tara!" He managed to say her name only once before his climax was upon him.

Giving a flurry of short, hard thrusts he arched his back as he came inside her in spurts of thick viscous seed, his breath hissing from him as he gave vent to his desire, hips quivering as he emptied himself. Tara's fingers still stroked the base of his shaft and their bodies stilled, each overwhelmed by the touch of the other.

The aftermath was all soft murmurs and gentle touches as Brodie withdrew, still semi-hard, from the woman he loved. Collapsing beside her he felt Tara drape an exhausted arm across his heaving chest, her forehead resting against his sweat-slick shoulder. She kissed his heated skin and said something which Brodie couldn't quite make out, but he was too breathless to ask her to repeat it.

They lay entwined for a while as their breathing evened out, but Tara shifted and pulled back the rumpled sheet. Brodie lazily lifted his body to allow the sheet to be pulled from beneath him and Tara slipped in beside him, pulling the sheet over them both. Brodie turned onto his side and cradled her in his arms, Tara feeling the wetness of his penis against her hip and smiling at the evidence of their passion.

"Mmm …" she sighed contentedly. "That was … well … a bit urgent, wasn't it?"

Brodie kissed her lightly and grinned.

"Yeah, I suppose."

"What brought that on? Not that I'm complaining, you understand …" she hastened to add, smiling.

Brodie opened drowsy eyes and nuzzled at her hair.

"Let's just say I saw something tonight that made me realise how much I love you … and how much I want you," he added, barely awake.

Tara lifted her head. She was about to ask him what it was he had seen but stopped before she uttered a word, shaking her head in amusement.

Frank Brodie was sound asleep.

*****************

"You want to do WHAT??"

Frank Brodie sat at his desk and stared in amazement and anger at Zelle Smith, who sat opposite him with Pieter van Guelder beside her. Zelle was completely unfazed. All she did was arch an eyebrow at Brodie's ire.

"I said … I want to trap him and bring him home alive. Is that so difficult to understand?"

"Hell, yes!!" Brodie was incensed.

He had come into his office early this morning, hoping to finish off some paperwork before Cunningham's arrival, only to find Pieter and Zelle waiting for him. His amusement at the shyness they both exhibited in the light of this sudden and unexplained passion for one another soon turned to disbelief when Zelle told him about the old baboon. And then anger took over as Zelle explained about her plan to trap the beast. Brodie wanted nothing more than to blow the big bastard to smithereens.

"Now listen boss - " Van Guelder tried to intercede.

"Don't even think about it Pieter!!!" Brodie interrupted, his eyes sparking with anger. "Jesus, man, are you fuckin' crazy?? One of those things just about killed you, and now you want to save its sorry ass? No! It's to be destroyed and that's the last I want to hear of it!" he slammed his coffee cup on the table to emphasise the point.

"Now just you wait one damn minute - " Zelle Smith stood up, her anger roused.

Levering himself out of his chair Brodie leaned over the table, eyes locked on Zelle's.

"No! You just wait one damn minute here, lady! You have no idea what you're suggesting, and I don't want to hear about how gentle and fluffy and cute the sonofabitch is! I have people on this island that rely on us to keep 'em safe, and that's just what I'm gonna do. How the hell we missed him I don't know, but he sure as hell ain't gonna be out there for much longer! Pieter, I want you to get some men together and go look for the bastard. As soon as I'm through with Cunningham - "

There was a knock on his office door, halting his tirade and just as effectively stopping Zelle Smith's explosion of righteous indignation.

"What is it??" he growled, annoyed at the interruption.

The door opened and Logan showed in Charles Cunningham, the man efficiently steering his electric wheelchair around the still un-packed boxes of files stacked on the floor ready to be stowed in the new cabinets.

Brodie saw Cunningham's black eyes study him with amusement.

"I take it I'm interrupting something here?" he said archly.

Brodie scowled at the man in the wheelchair, then gesticulated at Zelle and Pieter.

"You have no goddamn idea, Cunningham! This is so fuckin' crazy I can't even believe they're thinkin' about it!"

Charles Cunningham stopped his chair beside Brodie's desk and looked at the three people before him.

Pieter van Guelder was sitting stiffly in his chair and Cunningham knew the big South African was trying hard to control his temper. Beside him, Zelle Smith was not attempting to control her anger one little bit. She was on her feet and leaning over the desk, and Cunningham didn't think he had ever seen her look so confrontational. And as for Frank Brodie … Cunningham frowned. His Chief of Security was incensed … and he could see that Brodie was trembling. Whatever all this uproar was about, it was bugging the hell out of the big ex-soldier. He sighed. Up until now his team on the island had worked well together, despite one or two problems that Brodie had managed to sort out. The man was straight as a die and unafraid of speaking his mind, but Cunningham had been surprised at the diplomacy Brodie had used in his dealings with people used to running their own show and unused to being team players. But right now diplomacy was the furthest thing from Brodie's mind.

Cunningham turned to Zelle and Pieter.

"Would you two excuse us?" He saw Zelle open her mouth in anticipation of another rant at Brodie, but he held up a hand, the look on his face stopping her in her tracks. "Please, Doctor Smith, let me find out just what's going on and then we'll discuss this later, all right? On your way out, could you ask Mr Petrowski for some coffee and scrambled eggs please? I haven't eaten yet today."

He held back a grin as Zelle bristled at his request. He could hear her now …

What the hell does he think I am??? Some sort of house slave?

But she held her tongue and touched Pieter's arm, Cunningham not missing the gentleness in the unexpected gesture.

Pieter van Guelder had not spoken much during the argument, but as he rose to leave he turned to Brodie, his handsome face set with anger.

"Brodie, remember when you hired me, and you told me you did it because I would tell you the truth and no bullshit? And you trusted me because I would do just that? Well, take it from me … you're wrong on this one. I thought she was crazy too … perhaps I still do. Maybe she's right, or maybe the whole bloody plan will be a waste of time and fucking dangerous to boot, but … I think you should give it a try."

And before Brodie could answer Pieter turned on his heels and walked out of the room, shutting the door quietly but firmly behind him.

Brodie gazed after him, muscles working along his jawline, eyes smouldering with fury.

Cunningham watched him for a moment, weighing up the situation. This was serious, he knew.

Brodie stood drawn up to his full height, anger oozing from every bone in his body, and Cunningham watched as Brodie's fists clenched and unclenched. The trembling had subsided a little, but it was still painfully obvious that Brodie was deeply distressed.

"All right, Frank," Cunningham said finally. "Cut the crap and tell me what the hell is going on."

Brodie glanced at him and Charles Cunningham almost winced at the ferocity in the big man, Brodie's eyes shining a deep, hot blue. He took a deep, shaky breath before he answered.

"There's a baboon out there."

Cunningham's eyebrows hit his hairline.

"Good God in the goddamn' foothills! You got to be kidding!"

Of all the things he was expecting Brodie to say, finding one of Doc Matthews' baboons still alive on the island was not one of them.

Brodie scowled.

"Do I look as if I'm fuckin' kidding? Zelle and Pieter found it in the North-West section we're gonna use for the Mountain Gorillas. But that's not all. Just listen to this … she wants to trap the sonofabitch and bring it back here to study it."

So that was it. Cunningham let out an explosive breath as he thought about it. One of Matthews' first test animals was still loose on the island, and no matter how hard Charles Cunningham tried to convince himself that the best thing to do would be to blow the big bastard to Kingdom Come, he had to admit that he couldn't do it. He knew the baboon was lethal … he knew how big the animal must be … but the opportunity would be too unique to pass up. Even if the research possibilities were ignored, the caché and attraction of having this remarkable beast on show in the research facility opened doors in Cunningham's mind that he had thought closed forever. The baboon was a failed experiment, a disaster, but Cunningham knew the animal would attract visitors in droves.

He nodded to himself.

"Do it, Frank. Tell Zelle and van Guelder to set it up."

Brodie could not believe his ears. Cunningham was as crazy as the others! Didn't the man realise how dangerous this was? Didn't he understand that the baboon was a killer, and an intelligent one at that? He towered over the man in the wheelchair.

"No! No, I won't do this! No way on earth, Cunningham. If you want to do something as dumb as this you can do it without me." There. He had said it.

Letting out an noisy sigh he limped over to his chair and sat down heavily, his legs leaden with shock. He felt washed out with fear. Fear for the people on the island, fear for himself … but most of all, fear for Tara and especially Katy. Nothing could happen to Katy … nothing. He had made a promise and he would stick to it.

Cunningham snorted.

"For Christ's sake Brodie, don't be such a damn' asshole! Listen, if the creature turns out to be unsafe, it'll be destroyed. If it's a pussy cat then Zelle can poke and prod and coo over the sonofabitch all she likes." The older man's voice softened. "Listen Frank … I know you have concerns … grave concerns. I understand that, and completely agree. But …" he continued as Brodie opened his mouth to speak, "I think Zelle needs to try this. I didn't bring her out here just to babysit a few rhinos and cheetahs … I brought her out here to try and save some of the rarest goddamn animals on the planet, and I'm not about to destroy an animal that happens to be the last of his kind. I can't do it, Frank. You know I can't."

Brodie glared at him … but he allowed the words to sink in. But he still wasn't convinced.

"I got responsibilities, here, Cunningham … I got …" His voice dropped a notch. "I got family. I can't have this critter hangin' around loose while Katy's here. I just can't."

Cunningham nodded in understanding.

"All right. How about this? Tara and little Katy go to stay at my penthouse in Santa Teresa until the animal's caught and assessed, and as soon as that's done and the animal is secure then they can come home. How does that sound?"

Brodie rubbed the bridge of his nose with long fingers and thought about it. Then he looked up at Cunningham.

"Okay. I'll go with that. But if that big bastard of a baboon shows just one sign of losin' it I'm puttin' a round right through its head. You understand me?" His jaw tightened stubbornly.

Cunningham grinned.

"Yeah, I understand, you crazy Scotchman. So, you're in."

Brodie stared at his hands for a moment, then nodded.

"Yeah, I'm in." He winced as he levered himself to his feet, and lifted his stick ready to head out of his office. "So, I suppose I'd better go put Zelle and Pieter out of their misery and give 'em the green light."

Cunningham smirked in satisfaction, then thought for a moment.

"Brodie … Zelle and van Guelder. Are they … y'know … doin' it?"

Brodie grinned, the tension easing for a moment.

"That noticable, huh? Yeah, they're 'doin' it.' Like goddamn bunnies."

And he headed out of the door to break the news to the two love-birds.

********************

The day had gone quite well, Brodie thought, despite the trauma of the morning's revelations about the baboon.

Zelle and Pieter had been delighted that they were being given the chance to capture the aged animal, and had disappeared into Zelle's office to make plans and sort out some kind of trap.

Cunningham had been very happy to see his cheetahs, and even more delighted to see the detailed and meticulous plan for transporting the Rothschild's giraffes from Zimbabwe. They would arrive on the island in less than a week.

The old man had been enchanted by Katy, and the child had in turn been shyly delighted at Cunningham's pleasure in her company. She had joined them for lunch and Cunningham had charmed the little girl to bits, surprising the hell out of Brodie, proving that a man couldn't be judged by appearances.

He sighed then winced as he relaxed back on the sofa. It had been a traumatic day, but in the end a fulfilling one, and that was all that mattered. Katy curled next to him, watching Monsters Inc on the TV. Tara was still at the medical centre taking stock of medical supplies and would not be home for another hour.

Brodie was on the point of falling into a light doze when the telephone rang in his office. He tried to lever himself out of the sofa but his leg protested, and he knew he shouldn't have made love to Tara so energetically the previous night. But, he thought, it was worth every twinge and ache.

Katy was on her feet in a trice and wandered through to Brodie's office and retrieved the phone, bringing it to Brodie who pressed the receive button.

"Yeah?"

The voice on the other end was tinny but familiar.

"Hey, Frank. Rick Mahoney. How are you?"

Brodie was tense. The DEA agent had been looking into the identity of the man who had talked to Brodie that day in the market.

"Hey, Rick … you got something for me?"

"Sending a fax through right now. Tell me what you think."

"Hang on …" Brodie cupped his hand over the mouthpiece and looked at Katy, now sitting expectantly beside him on the sofa. "Katy gal, can you go fetch a fax that's comin' through? Save my bad leg …"

"Sure!" Katy grinned. She heard the fax machine beep and begin to feed through the paper, and she ran back into the office only to return moments later with two sheets of paper. On one of them was a picture. "Frank, is that the man you were talking to at the market?"

Brodie looked down at the picture. Yep. Same beige hair and beige eyes. He checked out the information on the other page. Artie Lindstrom, aged forty-two. Brown hair and eyes, five-ten, stocky build. Ex-infantry, ex-cop, left the force under a cloud. Something to do with a gambling scam. Now a private dick in Fort Worth, Texas.

"That's him,' he said, partly to Katy but in answer to Mahoney's query. "Rick, do you know where he is now? I'd like to talk to the sonofa …" he cleared his throat. "Ah … fella. Katy, can you go get me a soda? My throat's kinda dry." With Katy out of the way for a few moments, he continued. "Where can I get hold of him?"

He heard Mahoney sigh.

"That's the problem, Frank. He's in the morgue."

Frank Brodie suddenly felt a deep, shuddering chill run down his spine. This was bad. Very bad.

"What happened?"

Mahoney paused for a minute and Brodie guessed he was referring to the coroner's report.

"He, ah … he had a run-in with an express train. Literally. Someone tied him to the tracks north of the city. Jesus, Frank, he was scattered over a mile down the track. But we found something in his pocket … a piece of paper with your name written on it."

Brodie's mouth went dry.

"Esposito. He was working for Esposito."

Mahoney was apologetic.

"Sorry Frank, we can't tie Esposito to Lindstrom, if you'll excuse the expression. Esposito was supposed to be in Bogota at a party that night. Can't prove a goddamn thing."

By the time Rick Mahoney had rung off, Brodie's stomach was churning, and when Katy returned with the soda the little girl was alarmed at the paleness of his face.

"Are … are you okay, Frank? Is your leg sore? I can get your pills for you - "

Brodie shook his head grimly.

"No, Katy gal. I'm fine … just fine." Pulling back the tab on the soda he took a long swallow and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Putting the soda can on the coffee table he looked at Katy. Esposito was going to come for her, he was certain of that now. But when? And how was he going to do it? He swallowed his fear. He couldn't let it overwhelm him, not now. He had Katy and Tara to take care of … he had his family to keep safe.

"Katy …"

She looked back at him with big eyes.

"Yuh-huh?"

"Katy, this crippled-up ol' soldier needs a hug. You know anyone who gives good hugs?"

Her face broke into a delighted, elfin smile and she leaned forward, flinging her arms around Brodie's neck and holding him tight. In return Brodie held her to him, feeling the fear recede a little as Katy's love for him washed through his tired body. He took a deep breath and exhaled, letting the stress ease as he held Katy in strong arms. His Katy. His little girl. As he held her close, he realised that there would be no other way for Sonny Esposito to take Katy from Frank Brodie other than to kill him.

To Chapter 23

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