Chapter 21
“Victor, I’m sorry, I have to leave,” Callie explained, turning off her phone and putting the second part of her plan in motion. The first part had been coming over to see him with Jonathan today. She’d arranged for Heather to call her at this time.
“But you’ve just arrived a few minutes ago, Callina,” he complained. “I haven’t seen my grandson in close to a month. Whoever that was on the phone, tell them you’re currently occupied.”
“I wish I could.” She filled her voice with regret. “But it’s my boss. Apparently one of my accounts has some problems they need cleared up right away. If I had my laptop, I could do it here, but I never thought to bring it.”
“Do you need your laptop, or will any computer do?”
Victor was playing right into her hands. Appear thoughtful. Really sell it. Picking up her purse, she dug through it. “I think I might have the flash drive with the information I need. Yes, here it is.”
She held up the metal in her hand. “I would need access to the internet and an hour or two of uninterrupted time. If you could keep an eye on Jonathan, then I can do it here. But I hate to put you out. We can always come back another day.”
“Nonsense, I was planning on spending the day with both of you anyway, Callina. I can take Jonathan to the playroom, let him bounce around for a while then Oscar can feed him lunch. Would that give you enough time?”
“It should, hopefully. My boss is e-mailing me the account sheets they’re having problems with then I need to find the errors and fix them.”
“Then let’s get you started. This young man is itching to go play.”
They walked down the hall to Victor’s office and she hid her smile. This was working out perfectly. But would she be able to access Victor’s files? What would she find in the safe?
Victor switched the computer on and she looked around the room. “Could I use the printer? Sometimes it’s easier to see mistakes when they’re in print. I might be able to work faster that way.”
“Of course, dear.” He typed in his password and the screen came on. “It’s all hooked up and ready to go. Use whatever you need.”
“Thank you, all I need now is access to the internet and maybe some pencils and a calculator.”
Victor pulled a key out of his pocket and unlocked his desk drawer. “There should be office supplies in there. Make sure to remind me to lock that up again when you’re done.”
She spied a few flash drives and discs in the drawer. Bingo. This could be exactly what she needed. As long as no one barged in while she was working, she might be able to find some good information, if he did indeed keep it here.
Sitting down at the desk, she logged onto the internet then gave Victor a big smile. “Thank you, this should be perfect. As long as my little friend here is occupied, I can get this done with no problem.”
She reached out for Jonathan, who had been remarkably patient while they were in here. “Give Mommy a kiss and be good for Grandpa. He’s going to take you to the playroom.”
Jonathan wrapped his arms around her neck and planted a wet kiss on her cheek. She hugged him tighter. If this went as planned, she and Jonathan might finally be free of Victor. It needed to work.
“Go have fun,” she said, kissing his cheek.
“Pay woom, Dampa,” Jonathan shouted and jumped up and down. Victor sighed, took the boy’s hand and walked out the door.
Waiting a few minutes, she finally got up and locked the door. She’d come up with some excuse for it being locked if Victor tried to come back in. For now she didn’t want to be disturbed.
First item on the agenda was the safe. It took her a few tries to get the brick out but success came about and the wall safe was exposed. Turning it to the correct numbers, she was rewarded with the click of the tumblers unlocking. There were many things inside but what caught her attention the most were the stacks of banded money. She picked one up. Hundred dollar bills. Holy cow. There had to be half a dozen stacks of these.
Taking a deep breath, she put them down then flipped through the documents inside. She wasn’t sure exactly what some of them were but she made copies on the printer/scanner then tucked the copies into her purse. There was a flash drive in there also. Plugging it into Victor’s computer, she made a copy onto her own flash drive. E-mailing it to herself would be smart also so she spent some time doing that as well. After putting everything back exactly the way it had been she closed the safe and replaced the brick.
Moving back to the desk, she took out the flash drives that were in Victor’s drawer. She inserted them and started searching through the files. Within minutes she had found dozens of accounts like the ones she’d discovered on Angelo’s computer years ago. She inserted another flash drive and copied everything over then began a search of Victor’s computer.
By the time it came up on two hours, she felt triumphant. If this information couldn’t get Victor put away, nothing could. Plus, she’d found the names of everyone who was on his payroll. This was what they really needed. These were the people hiding evidence and getting Victor off on any charges against him. Judges, lawyers, bankers, cops, and even a few FBI agents. Bank statements of their payoffs were doctored to look legitimate but Callie had found the originals too. She couldn’t wait to get this to Jack.
Of course she couldn’t wait to see Jack period. It had been a few weeks since she’d seen him but after spending so much time together at Christmas, she missed him even more. Jonathan had asked about him incessantly too. And telling him she was pregnant was of utmost importance. Would he be happy about it? Hopefully.
If all this information worked, then Jack would be able to see his son whenever he wanted. But would he want to be with her permanently? He’d worked out of the New York office when she’d met him. Could she live with him always being in danger? Risking his life daily?
Callie tucked her flash drives safely away in her purse then made sure everything else was exactly as it had been. It wouldn’t do to have Victor know what she’d been doing in here. But if this information was as useful as she thought it was, soon she wouldn’t have to worry about Victor Cabrini at all.
* * * *
“Holy shit. This is amazing, Callie.” Jack beamed then pulled her in for a huge hug. “This is exactly what we need to put Victor away. I can’t believe you did in two hours what the Bureau has been trying to do for a decade. And since you had Victor’s full permission to use his computer there shouldn’t be any problem with the evidence.”
They had met in a park halfway between her home and New York City. Callie had brought her laptop to show him the information she’d gotten and he was impressed. He continued to scroll through the data and she simply watched him.
The serious FBI agent was back on the job. And with this information he soon would be. Could she do it? Live with a man who craved adventure and excitement the way her parents had? Always afraid to lose him, always unsure if he would come home.
Reaching over, she pressed a few keys. “Victor kept a list of everyone on his payroll. I recognize a few of these names. I thought you might know a few more.”
When he scanned the document, his face got redder as the names scrolled by. Muttering a few expletives, he banged his hand down on the picnic table they were sitting at.
“Judge Proctor? I can’t believe it. The man seemed to be with us every step of the way to nab Cabrini. No wonder most of the evidence we managed to get disappeared. And this one,” he pointed to a name Callie didn’t recognize, “Jeff Curry. He was my boss at the Bureau. The one in charge of the Cabrini case. It all makes sense now. Right down to my being compromised when I was in witness protection. The bastard.”
He looked through a little more then removed the flash drive and closed her computer. “Is this your only copy?”
She shook her head. “No, I made a few just in case. I gave one to Heather, but I have the rest. Do you want them all?”
He squeezed her hand. “No, you keep one and I’ll take the others. I need to get this to the Attorney General as quick as possible. If for some reason I don’t manage to get there, make sure you get it to Scott or one of these guys. I trust them with my life.” He pulled out a card, scribbled some names and numbers and handed it to her.
She gazed at him with concern and his face softened. Lifting his hand to her cheek, he stroked her skin. “But you probably won’t need to. I’ll be fine. I plan on going there right now. You should get back in the car. It’s too cold to be outside right now.”
With Jack’s hand on her, she was far from cold. “Please be careful. We need you around. Hopefully more often.”
“Sweetheart, this information is going to ensure I can come see you and Jonathan whenever I want. No more running and hiding. Soon, those days will be over.”
He could come see them? Not live with them, stay with them or be with them always, only come see them. Is that what he truly meant or was he simply thinking of the past and how it had been? Should she give him one more reason to stay and be with them?
“Jack.” She laid her hand on his arm as he started to rise. He turned curious eyes her way. It was obvious he was anxious to go. But she needed to let him know.
“I um, wanted to tell you something important.”
His eyes narrowed. “More information on Cabrini?”
“No, it’s about me. I’m pregnant.”
* * * *
Jack’s heart stopped, or felt like it had. Callie was pregnant. Well, they’d certainly done enough during their week at the chalet to warrant it, though they had used protection. But not that first night. She’d said the timing was off, but she obviously was wrong.
Callie’s anxious eyes focused on him, asking for something. Was she happy about this or not? It wasn’t apparent. How did he feel about it?
If you’d told him even a few days ago, he would have been freaked out. How could he let Callie go through another pregnancy and delivery without being by her side? But he could hardly be there for her while he was hiding out from Cabrini. With the information she’d handed to him, they finally had a chance. A chance to be together and be a real family. She was having his baby.
A smile crept onto his face and turned into a grin. He must look goofy but she’d given him an amazing present.
“We’re having a baby? Another baby. A brother or sister for Jonathan.”
Yep, goofy grin was definitely going on here. On her face too. She gave a tiny nod.
There was no way he could contain himself any more. Grabbing her around the waist, he pulled her close and swung her around in the air. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tight. When he set her on the seat of the picnic table, his lips plundered hers. This dream was finally within reach, all the time, and they were having another baby.
Easing back, he looked deeply into her eyes. Joy radiated from them and his own happiness flowed through him.
“So, you’re not upset?” Her voice held uncertainty.
“Upset? The most gorgeous woman in the world, the mother of my son, is giving me another child. Why would I be upset?”
“It wasn’t exactly planned.”
“Neither was Jonathan but I wouldn’t wish him away for anything. Would you?”
“Of course not. I wasn’t sure how you’d react though.”
He kissed her sweet lips again. This is what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. Touching her face gently, he said, “I thought this new evidence against Cabrini was the perfect gift but now I see I’m wrong. You managed to top it in spades. Once I get it to the Attorney General and everyone is rounded up, especially Cabrini, we need to celebrate. And now we have even more to celebrate. I get to see you all big and round with my child, be at the delivery… You’ll never know how much I regretted not being there for you with Jonathan.”
She nodded, her eyes watery. Blinking, he pushed back his own emotions. Everything was starting to fall right into place.
Pulling out his phone, he held up his index finger. “I need to call Shaunessy and tell him what we have. Some of my old Army buddies were planning a big surprise for Victor. Now it looks like we may not need to.”
He pressed the buttons and waited for his friend to pick up. “It’s Jack. Callie managed to get into Cabrini’s files and hit the jackpot. Everything we need.”
“We keep letting our women do all the dirty work, Jack, and we’ll soon be out of a job,” Shaunessy joked.
“I’ve been out of a job for almost three years. Can you meet me at the Attorney General’s office in Jersey? I know it’s not your typical territory but I want back-up in case anything goes wrong.” Glancing at Callie, he touched her face, trying to reassure her.
Hanging up the phone, he jumped off the table.
“I need to go, Calico,” he said. “But as soon as I can, I’ll be back.”
After one last long kiss he turned to get in the truck. Yes, he’d be back and hopefully, with Callie’s permission, be back in her life for good.
* * * *
Callie juggled the grocery bag as she slammed the car door shut. After leaving Jack, she’d had an appointment at the OB/GYN to officially confirm her pregnancy. The doctor had congratulated her, taken way too much blood then sent her on her way with a prescription for pre-natal vitamins. Since Jonathan was still at school, and Scott was picking him up to have some manly uncle bonding time, she’d stopped for her prescription and picked up some food. Was it too much to hope Jack would be back by dinner time and they could eat like a regular family?
Impatient, yes, but she’d waited so long to have Jack in a position to freely be with them. She didn’t want to wait any longer.
The back door was open and Callie froze, dropping the bag. Maybe Scott had stopped by to get something and forgotten to lock it up again. The crime rate in this small town was low but she didn’t want to take any chances. She pulled out her phone, ready to dial 911 if she needed to.
The kitchen was undisturbed but when she entered the living room, her breath left her. Victor Cabrini stood there, the photo album of Jack and Jonathan in his hands.
“Shit.” The expletive jumped from her mouth before she could catch it. There was no way to bluff her way out of this situation if Victor had seen the pictures of Jack and Jonathan together. She turned to run but Victor grabbed her hair and pulled her back.
“You bitch!” he screamed as his hand flew across her face and she fell to the floor with the force of it. His enraged expression told her all she needed to know. Bluffing would definitely not work.
Stumbling to her feet, she tried to run but he grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her into the recliner. He moved closer and leaned over her, mad enough to kill. Had she gotten enough evidence to put this monster away only to be murdered before she could enjoy a life with Jack?
Fear crisscrossed through every nerve in her body as he glared at her.
“I noticed something on my computer this morning, Callina.” His voice was now composed. She wasn’t buying it though. It was the calm before the storm. “Several of my files had been read recently. Files I know I haven’t touched in more than a few weeks. I took the opportunity to check more of them. The ones on a flash drive I have in my desk.”
His eyes narrowed and lips sneered. “And do you know what I found? I’m sure you do. I found that almost every file I had was recently accessed. And the day they were accessed, the very same day you used my computer for your extremely important work project. Coincidence? I didn’t think so.”
She wanted to scream but no one would hear her. Maybe Bess next door would if she screamed loud enough but if she came over here, what could she do? Get killed herself. No, that wasn’t an option.
“I decided to come over here and ask you myself why you would possibly be looking at private files on my computer. I took the liberty of letting myself in and checking things out. I found that little book.” He pointed to the photo album he’d dropped on the floor.
Damn her for not putting it away. Jonathan had been looking at it last night and she’d simply forgotten. Hoping she would never need to hide it again. Stupid mistake. One she might pay for with her life.
Victor’s calm façade started to break. “There are pictures of my grandson cavorting with the man who murdered his father. Then as I looked closer, I saw a remarkable resemblance between them. I couldn’t believe my eyes.”
Reaching down, he pulled her from the chair. He shook her a few times then threw her on the floor. She tried to crawl away but a foot met her side and pain streaked through her. He’d kill her. Right here, right now. How could she get away? Her eyes darted around the room looking for an opening. Any way she could make it past Victor and to the door.
“You slept with the man who killed my son,” he thundered, moving dangerously close again. “He fathered your child. How could you do that to Angelo? He cared for you deeply.”
She covered her stomach protectively, tears leaking from her eyes. It was silly protecting her new child when she probably wouldn’t live long enough to deliver it.
“Angelo was only using me to hide his affairs from you,” she cried, hoping to buy some time, to somehow save herself. “That’s how much he cared for me.”
Looking around, she searched for her phone. It must have dropped when Victor had slapped her. Where was it? Could she reach it and dial 911? And if she did, would help arrive too late? What would Jack think if he came here and found her beaten body, limp and lifeless? How would Jonathan survive without a mother?
“Then you must not have satisfied him. If you had been more of a woman, he wouldn’t have needed to go looking for female companionship.”
Could she distract him with the truth? “Angelo didn’t want female companionship. He liked men.”
“Don’t say that,” Victor screamed and turned away for a second. Her phone was on the floor by the kitchen door so she lunged for it. Right as she grabbed it, Victor stepped on her hand and pulled her hair again. He held a small gun pointed right at her.
“I don’t think so, my dear. We don’t need someone coming in on their trusty steed to rescue you. You need to pay for your sins. Maligning my son and cheating on him.”
Victor pocketed the phone then tugged on Callie’s arms. She found herself on the couch, the curtain ties being fastened around her wrists. Victor remained close.
“I’m wondering what to do with you. First, I must ask if you gave the data you stole from my computer to anyone yet?”
Should she tell him? Or should she make it sound like she hadn’t? Which would buy her more time? Maybe he’d keep her alive longer if he thought he had more time.
“I was planning to give it to Jack tonight. He’s probably on his way now. But I also put one in a safe spot. The authorities will get it either way. If you leave now, you can pack up and get away before they arrest you.”
Victor stared, hard and angry. “I’m not sure I believe you, Callina. All this time, I thought you were such a sweet girl, trustworthy and loyal. Now I find out you planned on stabbing me in the back. After all I did for you and your bastard son.”
He pulled her cell phone out of his pocket and began flipping through her contacts. “Do you have his number on here? Jack, you called him, huh? I don’t see that anywhere. Let me check your text messages. Perhaps I’ll find something there.”
Her heart pounded like a drum as Victor searched through her phone. Jack’s name wasn’t there but it would be easy enough putting two and two together. She hadn’t had time to erase her latest messages.
“Hmm, you have one here about meeting someone in the morning. Aunt Agatha? She lives in Maine, doesn’t she? And if my memory serves me right, she’s quite elderly. I can’t imagine you’d be meeting her at a park nearby. So why don’t we give Aunt Agatha a call and see how she is.”
Victor pressed the buttons on her phone and all she could do was watch.