Commitment (54 page)

“There are plenty of lambs to be led to the slaughter. We just have to find the right ones,” Brackett said. “Starting with those who were closest to John Merrow.”

“Cassie, who was that?” Rose asked.

“Eileen,” Cassidy said softly.

“O’Brien?” Rose gently urged.

“Yeah. They’re planning a service next Thursday in Southampton,” Cassidy said.

“Are you going to go?” Rose asked.

“Yes.”

“And Dylan?” Rose wondered.

“I need to talk to Alex and Dylan about that. Eileen has always been good to Dylan, Mom. It’s not her fault Chris turned out the way he did,” Cassidy observed. She had never been close to her former mother-in-law, but she did not dislike the woman. “I did make it clear that if we attend; Alex will be accompanying us.”

“How did she respond to that?” Rose asked.

Cassidy shrugged. “If she wants to have Dylan remain in her life in any way, she’ll have to accept Alex.”

“I’d like to be there,” Rose said.

“I would appreciate that,” Cassidy admitted.

“Are you going to call Alex?”

“Yes. For some reason, I think she’ll want to know,” Cassidy said.

“Do you think it will be a big affair?” Rose asked.

“She said private; family and friends. I don’t know how much of either he has left,” Cassidy sighed.

“How was Dylan when you dropped him off at school?” Rose asked.

“I don’t know. I didn’t. Alex and Pip took him,” Cassidy said. “They could convince him of just about anything; I think.”

“Probably so,” Rose admitted. “I’ll leave you to call Alex. I have an appointment to get to.”

“Are you headed home?” Cassidy asked.

“In a way,” Rose winked. “I’ll see you later.”

Cassidy waved goodbye to her mother. “Always so cryptic,” she laughed as she dialed Alex. “Hey, got a minute?”

“Any changes?” an older man asked.

“None; everything is secure,” Agent Brady replied.

“Well, Agent Brady….I’m sure this is not what you imagined your reward would be,” the older man chuckled slightly.

“I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage,” Brady said.

“That is both a fair assessment and a significant understatement,” the older man said with a smile. “It’s not the most exotic place for an assignment, but it won’t be forever,” he said.

“Forever can be defined different ways,” Brady responded evenly.

The older man laughed. “I can see why she chose you,” he said. “Come on, Agent Brady. Let me buy you a cup of horrible coffee. We’ll get to know each other.”

hat did Cassie say?” Krause asked as he and Alex rounded the corner of the hallway.

“O’Brien’s mother called. Wanted Cassidy to know about the service they are planning,” Alex explained.

“I hadn’t even thought of that. Probably be pretty bare,” Krause said.

“Oh, I don’t know. You know how curious people can be, “Alex replied. She led Krause into an elevator and pressed the button for the basement. “I’m more curious about this meeting,” she said.

“Yeah, well….we’ll see what Jane and Edmond bring to the table,” Krause replied.

Alex stepped out of the elevator with Krause following closely behind. They walked through a wide corridor, passing through several doors before Alex stopped. “I still can’t believe this place sometimes,” she said as she pressed several numbers into a keypad and then lifted her thumb to it. “How did he even build this without anyone knowing?” Alex wondered aloud. The pair passed through the door into a small room. Alex stepped forward again and placed her eye in the appropriate position. Krause followed suit. A panel finally rolled upwards, revealing a long tunnel. “Have you spoken to Eleana yet?” Alex asked as they continued their trek.

“No, but I’m certain she will be here,” Krause said.

“I hope so,” Alex admitted. She stopped abruptly and turned toward the wall. A few seconds passed and a screen
appeared. Alex pressed her thumb to it. Within seconds, a door was revealed and opened. She stepped through first and nodded a silent greeting to the room. “I see you all made it safely,” Alex said.

Jane moved to Alex and embraced her. “How are Cassidy and Dylan?” she asked.

“As well as can be expected,” Alex answered truthfully. She turned her attention to Brian Fallon. “Glad to see you in one piece, Fallon. Welcome to my humble abode,” she said sarcastically. “Let’s sit and skip the pleasantries. Pip and I have some questions, and no one is leaving this room until I am satisfied we have some answers,” Alex said bluntly. “So, who wants to start? How about we start with who made the call to remove Michael Taylor and plant drugs in Christopher O’Brien’s townhouse.”

There was no pause. “That’s an easy one. I did,” Jane said flatly.

“Hi,” a small voice said.

Dylan looked up from the paper he was coloring. “Hi, Jamie,” he said.

The little dark haired girl took a seat beside him. “I’m sorry about your dad,” she whispered. Dylan just shrugged. “I don’t think you’re a villain,” she told him.

Dylan smiled at his friend. “Thanks.”

“Are you sad?” she asked him.

Dylan shrugged again. “Kind of. Sometimes he played video games with me and stuff.”

“Yeah. I never see my dad. He left when I was a baby,” Jamie said.

“But I see your dad all the time?” Dylan looked at her in confusion.

“Oh yeah; you mean Jimmy. He’s my mom’s boyfriend. He’s nice,” she said. “He picks me up sometimes and he even reads to me. He doesn’t live with us, though. Maybe someday.”

“Alex lives with us,” Dylan said.

“Yeah, so is she like your dad then?” Jamie asked innocently.

Dylan laughed. “No, she’s a girl,” he stated the obvious.

“Yeah, but isn’t she like married to your mom?” Jamie asked. “That’s what my mom said.”

“Yeah?” Dylan was confused now himself.

“So then, what is she?”

“My mom,” Dylan answered.

“But you have a mom,” Jamie pointed out.

“Yep. I have two. I have two uncles too…and two cousins,” he said.

“That’s cool,” Jamie said. “I have a brother, but I’ve never met him…at least that’s what my mom says.”

“How come?” Dylan asked.

“He lives with my dad, and she doesn’t know where they are,” Jamie said.

“I wouldn’t like it if I didn’t know Mackenzie,” Dylan said.

“Who is Mackenzie?”

“My brother. Well, Mom says Mackenzie might be a girl, but I don’t think so,” Dylan said. Jamie looked at Dylan as if he had two heads. He laughed. “My mom is having a baby. He’s not here yet,” he explained.

“Which one?” Jamie asked curiously. Dylan wrinkled his nose in confusion. “Which mom?” she asked him.

“Oh…Mom, not Alex,” he giggled. Jamie nodded. “I can’t wait to meet him,” Dylan said.

“How come you tell everyone your name is Toles?” Jamie asked.

“I don’t know,” Dylan looked down at his paper. “Cause Alex is my mom, and she lives with us. Mackenzie will be. My mom is a Toles too.”

“I think that’s cool,” Jamie said.

“You do?” Dylan asked.

“Yeah. I have my mom’s last name,” she told him. Dylan smiled. “You’re lucky,” Jamie said a bit sadly.

“How come?” Dylan asked his friend.

“I don’t know. I don’t have a dad, or any uncles or brothers. I just have my mom…and sometimes Jimmy, if he’s not working,” she explained.

Dylan looked at his friend and smiled. “You can share mine if you want,” he offered.

“Really?”

“Sure. We’re friends; right?” he asked her. Jamie nodded. “Alex and Mom say you can love as many people as you want to. Do you like video games?” Dylan asked.

“Sure,” she said.

“Do you like tacos?” Dylan questioned his friend.

“Yeah, but my mom hates them,” Jamie complained.

“Maybe you can come over when my mom makes them. They’re the best,” Dylan said proudly.

“Which one?” Jamie asked. Dylan shook his head “Which mom makes tacos?”

Dylan laughed. “My mom…not Alex. Alex makes cereal and eggs. YaYa says she’s missing a gene.”

“Who’s YaYa?”

“She’s my grandma. I just call her YaYa,” Dylan explained. “It’s Greek, like Alex.”

“Wow. You know a lot of people,” Jamie said wide eyed.

“I guess,” Dylan said. “I’ll ask my mom about the tacos.”

“What are you making?” Jamie asked, looking at Dylan’s picture.