Secrets Among the Cedars (Intertwined Book 2) (21 page)

"You do?"

"Yes, ma’am. There may be a million good women out there, but the one I want to get to know better is sitting right here with me right now." Phil leaned toward her and placed a tender kiss upon her lips. Then he rested his head on the headrest and closed his eyes.

Kathryn sighed. Great. He picked now to take a nap.

Chapter Twenty-three

At midnight, they landed, despite the nearly-empty fuel tanks and the bumping around due to turbulence. Kathryn released her hands, which she’d clasped and pressed against her stomach while they landed. Flying wasn’t her favorite activity, but she’d learned this week that flexibility was a good character trait to have.

Phil opened the hatch and climbed down out of the plane onto the lot. "Second time getting out here today."

"You poor thing." Kathryn hooked Sadie up to her leash, grabbed her things, and prepared to exit the plane.

"I'll sleep well tonight. Whenever I get back home, that is."

"Sir?” The pilot joined them on the ground. "I hope you're able to put those people to justice. The man who shot at my plane needs to be punished, and he needs to pay for damages or he’ll be sued."

Phil whacked the pilot on the back. "What's your name?"

"Fred."

"Fred, thank you for getting us here in one piece. It's a miracle we landed safely with a busted fuel tank."
A bead of sweat dripped down the side of Phil’s face, proof his nerves had been as rattled as Kathryn's.

"I guess you could call it a miracle. There’s no other way to explain our safe arrival. It was my pleasure to be involved in a matter of justice."

"I guarantee you that charges will be filed against the man who shot at us. Do you have a business card so we can get in touch with you?"

Fred pulled a card out of his pocket. "Here you go. Will you need a lift back to Cedar Key tonight?"

Phil scratched his chin, now covered in a three-day-old beard. "Are you available to take us back?"

Fred stretched each arm behind his head one at a time and rolled his obviously stiff neck. "Yes. I need to get another plane first and some caffeine in me, but I'd be happy to fly you two back. I might just stay the night there in Cedar Key instead of trying to return so late though."

Phil offered his right hand to him. "Okay, great. It may be within the hour that we’ll be ready to go. And don’t worry about finding a place to stay. I’ve got some available rentals. I’ll put you up for the night and treat you to breakfast in the morning."

Fred shook his hand and then saluted Phil. "Thank you. I'll be ready. Just call." He tipped his hat up at Kathryn where she waited with Sadie to climb out of the plane.

Phil motioned for Kathryn to hand him Sadie's leash, lifted Sadie out of the plane, and then reached up and grasped Kathryn by the waist. Kathryn, with laptop bag and purse in tow, landed on the pavement, flashes of light blinding her. News crews formed a line behind several police officers, detectives, the D.A., and…Mom and Dad, standing together and seeming cordial for once.

Kathryn held her hand up to shield her eyes, and Phil stepped up behind her shielding his eyes too. She held tight to Sadie's leash to ensure she didn't run off in the excitement. "Mom was right about our faces being plastered all over the news." She giggled.

D.A. Schwartz came to their side and held out his hand to Kathryn. "Glad to see you safe, young lady."

"Thank you, sir." She smiled. Until this moment, she'd forgotten how she was dressed. Here she was on television, probably national television, looking like a shabby unprofessional touristic woman. They both were dressed for a day of exploring and painting without worrying about suits and briefcases, appointments, or wins in the courtroom.

"And you must be Phil Tagliaferro?"

"Indeed, I am." Phil accepted Mr. Schwartz's outstretched hand, a smile of pride on his face.

"Thank you for getting her home safely. I was skeptical of your involvement with her at first, but now I’m grateful she met you."

Phil pressed his lips together and then grinned. "I was skeptical of her for a while too.” He elbowed Kathryn and her mouth dropped open. “But it turned out to be a delight getting to know her and work with her. Completely my pleasure. We owe our safe return all to our pilot. He did an amazing job of getting us here without a crash landing."

“Good, good.” Schwartz turned to Kathryn. "Do you feel like answering a few questions for the press?"

Kathryn bit her bottom lip and scrunched her face. "I'm so exhausted."

"Just a few? I've already told them that no names will be shared until formal charges are brought against the men. Also I told them your involvement with each other is not up for discussion."

Kathryn directed her gaze up to Phil's and smiled. He placed his hand on her back for support. "Thank you."

"So you’ll answer a few?”

“Sure.”

“And before I forget, do you have something for the detectives and me?"

Kathryn laughed and pulled the grocery sack containing the gun from her laptop bag. She'd collected it from the well with the care of a brain surgeon, wrapped it in the bag so as not to smudge any evidence, and had hidden it under the kitchen sink thinking she'd transport it back to Georgia in her car. My, how her plans had changed.

Kathryn handed Sadie off to Mom, introducing Phil to her and to Dad, and they answered a few of the reporters’ questions about the ordeal. D.A. Schwartz announced the arrest of two men in Cedar Key moments before on charges of accessory to murder and the reckless endangerment of Kathryn and Phil.

Phil grabbed Kathryn and twirled her around in the night air. Now they were safe to fly back to Cedar Key and get her things. If she had her car, she’d drive home the thirty minutes, crash on to her bed, and never leave it for the next week.

"Ms. Bellamy?"

Phil stopped spinning Kathryn and set her back onto the pavement, the flashes from the press cameras capturing the whole thing.

"Yes, sir?" Why did Schwartz have to interrupt her moment of bliss? She sighed when Phil captured her hand and squeezed it.

"You're reinstated to the case. Even though your methods were a bit unorthodox, you deserve to win this. That is, if you want to."

She circled her right elbow with her fingers.
Did she want it? What did it matter if she wasn't sure if she'd want to further her career in law? Kathryn closed her eyes and asked for peace and wisdom. From God. There she stood with Phil holding her right hand and God holding her heart. This was crazy. Had a transformation really taken place in such a short time? It didn't matter if she went to trial against Louie Ezzo or not. God had a plan for her, and He would fulfill that plan.

"Kathryn?" Phil squeezed her hand again.

She opened her eyes and focused on Mom and Dad. What would Dad say if she passed on this opportunity? What would Phil think if she moved forward against his uncle and cousins?
She turned to Schwartz and nodded. "I'd like that."
She mustered a smile and held out her hands in surrender. "I want it."

"Then go get 'em, tiger." D.A. Schwartz whacked her on the back as if she were one of the good old boys.

Phil grabbed her again and swung her around. "Bravo, Kathryn!"

"You don't care if I prosecute your family?"

"Not at all. I want you to have this victory."

Mom, with Dad trailing behind by a few steps, scurried over to her and joined in the embrace. Her moment had finally come to shine in Perkins County against one of the most notorious families in the country, and she was actually ready for it.

“I’m proud of you, Kate,” Dad said as he kissed her on the top of the head.

“And I’m proud of the two of you for being here together tonight for me. Thank you for putting your differences aside.” Mom and Dad would never be friends again and they’d never reunite, but at least they’d learned to pull together when it came to her.

“You’re our Katie-bug. Nothing’s more important to us than you.” Mom squeezed her.

Although that wasn’t true of Dad since he now had a new family and couldn’t place more importance on one child over another, he loved her and wanted what was best for her. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have been there.

"Mr. Schwartz, if it's okay, I'd like to go back to Cedar Key and get my luggage and car before we move forward."

“Kathryn, why don’t you go home and rest for the night? Your dad will take you tomorrow.”

“Mom, I want to go back tonight. If I wait until tomorrow, I might not have the energy to get up off my couch.” Kathryn laughed and then yawned. Plus, she wasn’t ready to let Phil out of her presence.

Mom and Dad acquiesced, and Schwartz nodded, the smile on his face the biggest Kathryn had ever seen from him. In fact, she couldn't remember when she'd seen him genuinely smile at all. "The trial is set for Monday. The jury selection starts at 9:00 a.m. Just be back in time to prepare."

"Thank you. Mom, do you mind keeping Sadie for a few days? I'm going to fly back with Phil, rest tomorrow—well today technically—and come back Thursday."

"I don't mind. I'd love to have her."

After Kathryn answered a few more questions, Phil tapped her on the elbow. "We'd better get going. The pilot won't want to fly us back if it gets much later."

"Oh, okay." She hugged Mom and then Dad.

"Kate, I'm real proud of you for risking everything to solve this case."

Heat flooded her face at the unexpected compliment, such an unusual thing from Dad. "Thank you. Love you guys." She knelt down and scratched Sadie's ears. "Be a good girl." Sadie pawed at her leg. "No, you can't go with me this time." She touched Mom's arm. "You know where I keep my spare key. Sadie's food is in the pantry."

"Okay. I'll take good care of her."

Phil pulled her by the arm. The members of the press snapped final photos of them, their flashes illuminating the parking lot. Kathryn waved to everyone and followed Phil to the plane.

Fred stood outside the replacement plane, a jet complete with an actual staircase to ascend, and reached for Kathryn's hand. "Let me help you up into the plane the proper way. Last time you shoved your dog in and somersaulted to get inside."

“How did you get a new plane so quickly?” Kathryn curtsied, gave him her hand, and allowed him to assist her. It was true her last entry had not been a ladylike one.

“I’ve got friends in all the right places, ma’am.” Fred winked.

Phil climbed the stairs after Kathryn, took the seat beside her, and pressed his arm against hers. While Fred prepared the jet for takeoff and taxied down the runway, they rested their heads against each other and both yawned.

Kathryn stretched. "Can you believe it's one in the morning?"

"Yes, I can believe it. Last night was a long, sleepless night of watching you for signs of anaphylactic shock."

"You mean Monday night. Last night was Tuesday night."

Phil shook his head. "I've been awake since Monday morning except for a brief nap during the night." He yawned.

"Well, rest your weary head against mine, and we'll sleep until we get home—I mean back to Cedar Key." Cedar Key was a place she could call home. But she couldn't think about making a change in her life until she finished what she already had in the works.

Kathryn's heart thumped wildly, and her stomach fluttered. She was going back to Cedar Key. Now that the danger was gone, maybe she could spend the day with Phil exploring the quaint city as she'd planned to do when she'd arrived on Friday night.

Phil's phone rang. He opened his eyes and rubbed them with his fists. "Is it okay if I take this call, Fred?"

"Sure, we're flying low enough."

"Thanks." Phil unlocked his phone screen. "It's my pops. Why's he calling so late?"

"You'd better answer it before the call is lost."

Phil hit the accept button. "Hello?"

Kathryn ran her fingers through her tangled hair and wiped away the smudged eyeliner from underneath her eyes. She rested her head back on the headrest and closed her eyes. Phil's voice lulled her to a place of no worries.

"Hold on, Pops." Phil nudged Kathryn with his elbow. She opened her eyes and turned to face him, the plane's engine humming outside in the night sky. "Pops says Drew and Barney have asked me to represent them, and Uncle Louie wants to talk to me."

Kathryn yawned. "Really?"

"Yes, but I want to know how you feel about it."

Kathryn pointed to her chest. "Me? How do
you
feel about it?"

"Personally, I still don't want to represent people who are guilty, but selfishly, I'd love to be present when you win the case against them."

"How do you know I'll win?"

Phil cocked his head. "Come on, Kathryn. It's you. Of course you'll win."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence. If you want to represent them, then you should do it. Maybe you'll decide to come back to the dark side." She laughed.

“Never.” Phil shook his head. "Pops, sorry for the delay. Tell them I'll see them Monday morning."

#

Kathryn and Phil stood on the pier soaking in the afternoon sun. Other than two fishermen at the west end, they were alone. Her car was packed, but her heart wasn’t willingly leaving this paradise. Paradise. Was she really calling it that even though she’d had her life threatened? Yes, she was. “I wish I could stay and see one more sunset.”