The crack of collapsing timber made him glance skyward.
He was still staring up in astonishment as the beam crashed down on his head.
Cathy tried to cry out Victors name but no sound escaped. The smoke had left her throat too parched and swollen. She struggled to her knees. Polowski was lying beside her, groaning. Flames were everywhere, shooting up from the floor, clambering up the last untouched drapes.
Then she saw him, stumbling toward her through that vision of hellfire. He grabbed her arm and shoved her toward the exit.
Somehow, they managed to tumble out the door, dragging Polowski behind them. Coughing, choking, they pulled him across the street to the far sidewalk. There they collapsed.
The night sky suddenly lit up as an explosion ripped through the theater. The roof collapsed, sending up a whoosh of flames so brilliant they seemed to reach to the very heavens. Victor threw his body over Cathys as the windows in the building above shattered, raining splinters onto the sidewalk.
For a moment there was only the sound of the flames, crackling across the street. Then, somewhere in the distance, a siren wailed.
Polowski stirred and groaned.
Polowski stirred and groaned.
Sam! Victor turned his attention to the wounded man. How you doing, buddy?
Gotgot one helluva stitch in my side
Youll be fine. Victor flashed him a tense grin. Listen! Hear those sirens? Helps on the way.
Yeah. Polowski, eyes narrowed in pain, stared up at the flame-washed sky.
Thanks, Sam, said Victor softly.
Had to. Youtoo damn stupid to listen
We got her back, didnt we?
Polowskis gaze shifted to Cathy. We-we did okay.
Victor rubbed a hand across his smudged and weary face. But were back to square one. Ive lost the evidence-
Milo
Its all in there. Victor stared across at the flames now engulfing the old theater.
Milo has it, whispered Sam.
What?
You werent looking. Gave it to Milo.
Victor sat back in bewilderment. You mean you took them? You took the vials?
Polowski nodded.
You-you stupid son of a-
Victor! said Cathy.
He stole my bargaining chip!
He saved our lives!
Victor stared down at Polowski.
Polowski returned a pained grin. Dames got a head on her shoulders, he murmured. Listen to her.
The sirens, which had risen to a scream, suddenly cut off. Mens shouts at once sliced through the hiss and roar of the flames. A burly fireman loped over from the truck and knelt beside Polowski.
Whatve we got here?
Gunshot wound, said Victor. And a wise-ass patient.
The fireman nodded. No problem, sir. We can handle both.
By the time theyd loaded Polowski into an ambulance, the Saracen Theater had been reduced to little more than a dying bonfire. Victor and Cathy watched the taillights of the ambulance vanish, heard the fading wail of the siren, the hiss of water on the flames.
He turned to her. Without a word he pulled her into his arms and held her long and hard, two silent figures framed against a sea of smoldering flames and chaos. They were both so weary neither knew which was holding the other up. Yet even through her exhaustion, Cathy felt the magic of that moment. It was eerily beautiful, that last sputtering glow, the reflections dancing off the nearby buildings. Beautiful and frightening and final.
You came for me, she murmured. Oh, Victor, I was so afraid you wouldnt
Cathy, you knew I would!
I didnt know. You had your evidence. You could have left me-
No, I couldnt. He buried a kiss in her singed hair. Thank God I wasnt already on that plane. Theyd have had you, and Id have been two thousand miles away.
Footsteps crunched toward them across the glass-littered pavement. Excuse me, a voice said. Are you Victor Holland?
They turned to see a man in a rumpled parka, a camera slung over his shoulder, watching them.
Who are you? asked Victor.
The man held out his hand. Jay Wallace. San Francisco Chronicle. Sam Polowski called me, said thered be some fireworks in case I wanted to check it out. He gazed at the last remains of the Saracen Theater and shook his head. Looks like I got here a little too late.
Wait. Sam called you? When?
Maybe two hours ago. If he wasnt my ex-brotherin-law, Id a hung up on him. For days hes been dropping hints he had a story to spill. Never followed through, not once. I almost didnt come tonight. You know, its a helluva long drive down here from the city.
He told you about me?
He said you had a story to tell.
Dont we all?
Some stories are better than others. The reporter glanced around, searching. So where is Sam, anyway? Or didnt the Bozo show up?
That Bozo, said Victor, his voice tight with anger, is a goddamn hero. Stick that in your article.
More footsteps approached. This time it was two police officers. Cathy felt Victors muscles go taut as he turned to face them.
The senior officer spoke. Weve just been informed that a gunshot victim was taken to the ER. And that you were found on the scene.
Victor nodded. His look of tension suddenly gave way to one of overwhelming exhaustion. And resignation. He said, quietly, I was present. And if you search that building, youll find three more bodies.
Three? The two cops glanced at each other.
Musta been some fireworks, muttered the reporter.
The senior officer said, Maybe youd better give us your name, sir.
My name Victor looked at Cathy. She read the message in those weary eyes: Weve reached the end. I have to tell them. Now theyll take me away from you, and God knows when well see each other again
She felt his hand tighten around hers. She held on, knowing with every second that passed that he would soon be wrenched from her grasp.
His gaze still focused on her face, he said, My name is Victor Holland.
Holland Victor Holland? said the officer. Isnt that
And still Victor was looking at her. Until theyd clapped on the handcuffs, until hed been pulled away, toward a waiting squad car, his gaze was locked on her.
She was left anchorless, shivering among the dying embers.
Maam, youll have to come with us.
She looked up, dazed, at the policeman. What?
Hey, she doesnt have to! cut in Jay Wallace. You havent charged her with anything!
Shut up, Wallace.
Ive had the court beat. I know her rights!
Quietly Cathy said, It doesnt matter. Ill come with you, officer.
Wait! said Wallace. I wanna talk to you first! I got just a few questions-
She can talk to you later, snapped the policeman, taking Cathy by the arm. After she talks to us.
The policemen were polite, even kind. Perhaps it was her docile acceptance of the situation, perhaps they could sense she was operating on her last meager reserves of strength. She answered all their questions. She let them examine the rope burns on her wrists. She told them about Ollie and Sarah and the other Catherine Weavers. And the whole time, as she sat in that room in the Palo Alto police station, she kept hoping shed catch a glimpse of Victor. She knew he had to be close by. Were they, at that very moment, asking him these same questions?
At dawn, they released her.
Jay Wallace was waiting outside near the front steps. I have to talk to you, he said as she walked out.
Please. Not now. Im tired
Just a few questions.
I cant. I need to-to- She stopped. And there, standing on that cold and empty street, she burst into tears. I dont know what to do, she sobbed. I dont know how to help him. How to reach him.
You mean Holland? Theyve already taken him to San Francisco.
What? She raised her startled gaze to Wallace.
An hour ago. The big boys from the Justice Department came down as an escort. I hear tell theyre flying him straight to Washington. First-class treatment all the way.
She shook her head in bewilderment. Then hes all right-hes not under arrest-
Hell, lady, said Wallace, laughing. The man is now a genuine hero.
Hell, lady, said Wallace, laughing. The man is now a genuine hero.
A hero. But she didnt care what they called him, as long as he was safe.
She took a deep breath of bitingly chill air. Do you have a car, Mr. Wallace? she asked.
Its parked right around the corner.
Then you can give me a ride.
Where to?
To She paused, wondering where to go, where Victor would look for her. Of course. Milos. To a friends house, she said. I want to be there when Victor calls.
Wallace pointed the way to the car. I hope its a long drive, he said. I got a lot of gaps to fill in before this story goes to press.
Victor didnt call.
For four days she sat waiting near the phone, expecting to hear his voice. For four days, Milo and his mother brought her tea and cookies, smiles and sympathy. On the fifth day, when she still hadnt heard from him, those terrible doubts began to haunt her. She remembered that day by the lake bed, when hed tried to send her away with Ollie. She thought of all the words he could have said, but never had. True, hed come back for her. Hed knowingly walked straight into a trap at the Saracen Theater. But wouldnt he have done that for any of his friends? That was the kind of man he was. Shed saved his life once. He remembered his debts, and he paid them back. It had to do with honor.
It might have nothing to do with love.
She stopped waiting by the phone. She returned to her flat in San Francisco, cleaned up the glass, had the windows replaced, the walls replastered. She took long walks and paid frequent visits to Ollie and Polowski in the hospital. Anything to stay away from that silent telephone.
She got a call from Jack. Were shooting next week, he whined. And the monsters in terrible shape. All this humidity! Its face keeps melting into green goo. Get down here and do something about it, will you?
She told him shed think about it.
A week later she decided. Work was what she needed. Green goo and cranky actors-it was better than waiting for a call that would never come.
She reserved a one-way flight from San Jose to Puerto Vallarta. Then she packed, throwing in her entire wardrobe. A long stay, thats what she planned, a long vacation.
But before she left, she would drive down to Palo Alto. She had promised to pay Sam Polowski one last visit.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
(AP) Washington. Administration spokesman Richard Jungkuntz repeated today that neither the President nor any of his staff had any knowledge of biological weapons research being conducted at Viratek Industries in California. Virateks Project Cerberus, which involved development of genetically altered viruses, was clearly in violation of international law. Recent evidence, gathered by reporter Jay Wallace of the San Francisco Chronicle, has revealed that the project received funds directly authorized by the late Matthew Tyrone, a senior aide to the Secretary of Defense. In todays Justice Department hearings, delayed four hours because of heavy snowstorms, Viratek president Archibald Black testified for the first time, promising to reveal, to the best of his knowledge, the direct links between the Administration and Project Cerberus. Yesterdays testimony, by former Viratek employee Dr. Victor Holland, has already outlined a disturbing tale of deception, cover-ups and possibly murder. The Attorney Generals office continues to resist demands by Congressman Leo D. Fanelli that a special prosecutor be appointed