Im sorry, Cathy, he said softly. I cant think of any other way-
-But to get rid of me, she finished for him.
He released her. She stepped back, and the sudden gulf between them left her aching. She couldnt bear to look at him, knowing that the pain she felt wouldnt be reflected in his eyes. So how does it work? she said dully. Do I leave tonight? Will it be plane, train or automobile?
Ollie will drive you to the airport. Ive asked him to buy you the ticket under his name-Mrs. Wozniak. Hell have to be the one to see you off. We thought itd be safer if I didnt come along to the airport.
Of course.
Thatll get you to Mexico. Olliell give you enough cash to keep you going for a while. Enough to get you anywhere you want to go from there. Baja. Acapulco. Or just hang around with Jack if you think thats best.
Jack. She turned away, unwilling to show her tears. Right.
Cathy. She felt his hand on her shoulder, as though he wanted to turn her toward him, to pull her back one last time into his arms. She refused to move.
Footsteps approached. They both glanced around to see Ollie, standing a few feet away. Ready to go? he asked.
There was a long silence. Then Victor nodded. Shes ready.
Uh, look, Ollie mumbled, suddenly aware that hed stepped in at a bad time. My cars over by the boathouse. If you want, I can, uh, wait for you there
Cathy furiously dashed away her tears. No, she said with sudden determination. Im coming.
Victor stood watching her, his gaze veiled by some cool, impenetrable mist.
Goodbye, Victor, she said.
He didnt answer. He just kept looking at her through that terrible mist.
If I-if I dont see you again She stopped, struggling to be just as brave, just as invulnerable. Take care of yourself, she finished. Then she turned and followed Ollie down the path.
Through the car window, she glimpsed Victor, still standing on the lake path, his hands jammed in his pockets, his shoulders hunched against the wind. He didnt wave goodbye; he merely watched them drive away.
It was an image shed carry with her forever, that last, fading view of the man she loved. The man whod sent her away.
As Ollie turned the car onto the road, she sat stiff and silent, her fists balled in her lap, the pain in her throat so terrible she could scarcely breathe. Now he was behind them. She couldnt see him, but she knew he was still standing there, as unmoving as the oaks that surrounded him. I love you, she thought. And I will never see you again.
She turned to look out. He was a distant figure now, almost lost among the trees. In a gesture of farewell, she reached up and gently touched the window.
The glass was cold.
I have to stop off at the lab, said Ollie, turning into the hospital parking lot. I just remembered I left the checkbook in my desk. Cant get you a plane ticket without it.
Cathy nodded dully. She was still in a state of shock, still trying to accept the fact that she was now on her own. That Victor had sent her away.
Ollie pulled into a stall marked Reserved, Wozniak. Thisll only take a sec.
Shall I come in with you?
Youd better wait in the car. I work with a very nosy bunch. They see me with a woman and they want to know everything. Not that theres ever anything to know. He climbed out and shut the door. Be right back.
Cathy watched him stride away and vanish into a side entrance. She had to smile at the thought of Ollie Wozniak squiring around a woman-any woman. Unless it was someone with a Ph. D. who could sit through his scientific monologues.
A minute passed.
Outside, a bird screeched. Cathy glanced out at the trees lining the hospital driveway and spotted the jay, perched among the lower branches. Nothing else moved, not even the leaves.
She leaned back and closed her eyes.
Too little sleep, too much running, had taken its toll. Exhaustion settled over her, so profound she thought she would never again be able to move her limbs. A beach, she thought. Warm sand. Waves washing at my feet
The jays cry cut off in mid-screech. Only vaguely did Cathy register the sudden silence. Then, even through her half sleep, she sensed the shadowing of the window, like a cloud passing before the sun.
She opened her eyes. A face was staring at her through the glass.
Panic sent her lunging for the lock button. Before she could jam it down, the door was wrenched open. A badge was thrust up to her face.
FBI! the man barked. Out of the car, please.
Slowly Cathy emerged, to stand weak-kneed against the door. Ollie, she thought, her gaze darting toward the hospital entrance. Where are you? If he appeared, she had to be ready to bolt, to flee across the parking lot and into the woods. She doubted the man with the badge would be able to keep up; his stubby legs and thick waist didnt go along with a star athlete.
But he must have a gun. If I bolt, would he shoot me in the back?
Dont even think about it, Miss Weaver, the man said. He took her arm and gave her a nudge toward the hospital entrance. Go on. Inside.
But-
Dr. Wozniaks waiting for us in the lab.
Waiting didnt exactly describe Ollies predicament. Bound and trussed would have been a better description. She found Ollie bent over double in his office, handcuffed to the foot of his desk, while three of his lab colleagues stood by gaping in amazement.
Back to work, folks, said the agent as he herded the onlookers out of the office. Just a routine matter. He shut the door and locked it. Then he turned to Cathy and Ollie. I have to find Victor Holland, he said. And I have to find him fast.
Man, Ollie muttered into his chest. This guy sounds like a broken record.
Who are you? demanded Cathy.
The names Sam Polowski. I work out of the San Francisco office. He pulled out his badge and slapped it on the desk. Take a closer look if you want. Its official.
Uh, excuse me? called Ollie. Could I maybe, possibly, get into a more comfortable position?
Polowski ignored him. His attention was focused on Cathy. I dont think I need to spell it out for you, Miss Weaver. Hollands in trouble.
And youre one of his biggest problems, she retorted.
Thats where youre wrong. Polowski moved closer, his gaze unflinching, his voice absolutely steady. Im one of his hopes. Maybe his only hope.
Youre trying to kill him.
Not me. Someone else, someone whos going to succeed. Unless I can stop it.
She shook her head. Im not stupid! I know about you. What youve been trying to-
Not me. The other guy. He reached for the telephone on the desk. Here, he said, holding the receiver out to her. Call Milo Lum. Ask him what happened at his house this morning. Maybe hell convince you Im on your side.
Cathy stared at the man, wondering what sort of game he was playing. Wondering why she was falling for it. Because I want so much to believe him.
Hes alone out there, said Polowski. One man trying to buck the U.S. government. Hes new to the game. Sooner or later hes going to slip, do something stupid. And thatll be it. He dialed the phone for her and again held out the receiver. Go on. Talk to Lum.
Hes alone out there, said Polowski. One man trying to buck the U.S. government. Hes new to the game. Sooner or later hes going to slip, do something stupid. And thatll be it. He dialed the phone for her and again held out the receiver. Go on. Talk to Lum.
She heard the phone ring three times, followed by Milos answer Hello? Hello?
Slowly she took the receiver. Milo?
Is that you? Cathy? God, I was hoping youd call-
Listen, Milo. I need to ask you something. Its about a man named Polowski.
Ive met him.
You have? She looked up and saw Polowski nodding.
Lucky for me, said Milo. The guys got the charm of an old shoe but he saved my life. I dont know what Gersh was talking about. Is Gersh around? I have to-
Thanks, Milo, she murmured. Thanks a lot. She hung up.
Polowski was still looking at her.
Okay, she said. I want your side of it. From the beginning.
You gonna help me out?
I havent decided. She crossed her arms. Convince me.
Polowski nodded. Thats just what I plan to do.
CHAPTER TEN
For Victor it was a long and miserable afternoon. After leaving the lake, he wandered around the campus for a while, ending up at last in the main quad. There in the courtyard, standing among the buildings of sandstone and red tile, Victor struggled to keep his mind on the business at hand: exposing Viratek. But his thoughts kept shifting back to Cathy, to that look shed given him, full of hurt abandonment.
As if Id betrayed her.
If she could just see the good sense in his actions. He was a scientist, a man whose life and work was ruled by logic. Sending her away was the logical thing to do. The authorities were closing in, the noose was growing ever tighter. He could accept the danger to himself. After all, hed chosen to take on Jerrys battle, to see this through to the end.
What he hadnt chosen was to put Cathy in danger. Now shes out of the mess and on her way to a safe place. One less thing to worry about. Time to put her out of my mind.
As if I could.
He stared up at one of the courtyards Romanesque arches and reminded himself, once again, of the wisdom of his actions. Still, the uneasiness remained. Where was she? Was she safe? Shed been gone only an hour and he missed her already.
He gave a shrug, as though by that gesture, he could somehow cast off the fears. Still they remained, constant and gnawing. He found a place under the eaves and huddled on the steps to wait for Ollies return.
At dusk he was still waiting. By the last feeble light of day, he paced the stone courtyard. He counted and recounted the number of hours it shouldve taken Ollie to drive to San Jose Airport and return. He added in traffic time, red lights, ticket-counter delays. Surely three hours was enough. Cathy had to be on a plane by now, jetting for warmer climes.
Where was Ollie?
At the sound of the first footstep, he spun around. For a moment he couldnt believe what he was seeing, couldnt understand how she could be standing there, silhouetted beneath the sandstone archway. Cathy? he said in amazement.
She stepped out, into the courtyard. Victor, she said softly. She started toward him, slowly at first, and then, in a jubilant burst of flight, ran toward his waiting arms. He swept her up, swung her around, kissed her hair, her face. He didnt understand why she was here but he rejoiced that she was.