Kenneth looked across the table at Jenny. Slowly, everyone’s gaze settled on Jenny. Jenny looked around the table at each face.
‘OK, OK. We are now involved. That’s obvious. So what’s next?’ Jenny finally blurted out.
‘Kathy has to go,’ Kenneth said quietly.
Kathy looked up, raising her head from Marshall’s shoulder. ‘What?’
‘You have to leave now.’
‘What? You’re kicking me out of your house?’
‘No, no, the second message was for you. They are coming for you.’
‘What?’
Marshall sat up in his chair. ‘Kenneth, have you been drinking? What are you talking about?’
Sean chimed in, looking at Marshall and Kathy, ‘Of course, how did I miss it? The K is for Kathy,’ he said softly.
Kathy involuntarily shivered. Marshall hugged her.
‘You have to go now, and you can’t risk going home,’ Kenneth said.
‘Go? Go where?’ Kathy asked.
‘I think you should go straight to the airport. I’m taking Jay to the airport, and you should come. Buy a ticket to Miami.’
‘Miami? And stay where?’’
‘You can stay at our house there. You should go with her Marshall. It won’t take them long to make the link between the two of you.’
‘I can’t do that. Do you know what you are asking?’ Kathy blurted out.
‘Hey man, you’re asking a lot,’ Marshall pointed out.
‘Look. Whoever these people are, they don’t joke around. If,’ Kenneth looked across at Jay, ‘if, as it appears, that the police is involved, who do we trust and who do we seek help from?’ Kenneth said.
Kathy began to protest, when her phone rang again, which caused her to jump. Kathy let it ring a few times as she composed herself. She looked at the display and frowned.
‘Hello.’
‘Ms. Foster?’
‘Yes. Who is this?’
‘This is Inspector Albert, from the Special Investigation Crime Unit.’
Kathy covered her mouth with her hand, and dropped the phone on the table.
What’s the matter? Malcolm mouthed and he reached for the phone.
‘It’s the SIC squad. Inspector Albert.’ She whispered frantically.
Kenneth hurried across the room and came back with paper and pen. He scribbled on the paper – You have to talk to him!
Kathy shook her head. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She kept her hand over her mouth. She was hyperventilating.
Kenneth circled the words on the page, and underlined them vigorously. Kathy shook her head. Marshall hugged her tightly. Kenneth scribbled on the paper,
He will know that you know.
Kenneth glared at Kathy. He scribbled again,
You must!
Kathy shook her head vigorously. Kenneth picked up the phone and hung up.
‘Listen!’ Kenneth said firmly.
‘Hey!’ Marshall objected. ‘Take it easy.’
Kenneth took a deep breath. ‘Look. Inspector Albert is going to call back shortly. We don’t know if he is involved in this.’
‘Yes we do,’ Kathy rebutted defiantly.
‘How can you know that?’
‘This is an unlisted number.’
‘And that makes him guilty of murder?’ Jay quipped. Jenny spun around and glared at Jay, who quickly found his navel interesting again.
‘Kathy. Kathy dear,’ Jenny said soothingly. Kathy was sobbing in Marshall’s chest. ‘Kathy, we need to use this opportunity to find out if Inspector Albert is involved in this,’ she said quietly. ‘Can you do this?’
‘Tell him you dropped your phone and it disconnected the line,’ Kenneth blurted out. Jenny looked at him sternly. Kenneth looked at Marshall, pleading with him with his eyes. Marshall rubbed Kathy’s back, and then pulled her away from him.
‘Kathy, listen. Kenneth is right. You have to do this,’ Marshall said softly.
‘I can’t,’ Kathy sobbed.
‘You can. You’re strong, and I know you can do this,’ Marshall said soothingly. ‘And you have to,’ he said with some emphasis.
Kathy’s phone rang again. Kathy’s red and puffy eyes grew wide. Marshall picked up the phone and held it out to her. ‘Come on Kathy. You can do this,’ he said quietly, but firmly. He pulled out his handkerchief and softly wiped her eyes. He smiled, ‘I know you can do this.’
Kathy took the phone and the handkerchief. She took some deep breaths and answered the phone.
‘Hello?’
‘Ms. Foster?’
‘Yes. Is this Inspector Albert?’
‘Yes.’
‘I’m sorry. My phone dropped and disconnected your last call.’
‘That’s OK.’
‘How did you get this number?’
‘I am the police.’
‘This is an unlisted number. I know that it isn’t possible for you to get this number.’
‘Your office gave it to me. Can’t remember who it was, but the person was very helpful.’
‘Oh … OK. How can I help you?’
‘We want to speak to you about some murders that took place last night and today. Can I send a car for you?’
‘Some murders?’
‘Yes. Very unfortunate. Anyway, if you tell me where you are I can send an unmarked car to bring you down to the station.’
‘There’s no need. I can just drive down to see you.’
‘No, I don’t want to put you to so much trouble. Let me send a car. I am sure you will be distressed by the pictures and our discussions. It may be hard for you to drive back afterwards.’
‘OK. I’ll be at the office in about an hour. You can send a car to pick me up from there.’
‘I have a car near your home right now, if you are near there it would be easier for us to pick you up there.’
‘No, I am not near home at the moment. Much better to meet me at the office.’
‘OK. Tell me what you are wearing, so my team can identify you. I don’t really want them going into an office with guns. It may be alarming for the other employees.’
‘Sure. I’m wearing a red jacket over a black pants suit.’
‘OK. Good. You should see my officers waiting outside when you arrive at the office. They will show themselves when they see you. Thanks for your time.’
Kathy hung up. The tears were gone, and her eyes were steely cold as she looked around the room at the alarmed and inquiring expressions on everyone’s face. ‘Busha George is involved,’ Kathy said with finality.
‘How do you know?‘ Jenny was the first to get the question out.
‘He said he got my number from my office. There is a company policy to never give out our unlisted numbers, to protect our journalists. He was also insisting that I be picked up by one of his unmarked cars, instead of allowing me to drive down to the station.’
‘Humph! That’s why you lied about what you are wearing?’ Jenny nodded, an admiring smile broke out across her face.
‘Yes. And everything just feels wrong about this.’ Kathy was wearing a blue mid-calf-length shift, with a yellow jacket. She turned to Marshall. ‘Are you ready?’
‘Ready?’
‘Yes. To go to the airport. I think we should take Kenneth’s advice.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Absolutely. I think we better make tracks before Busha George gets suspicious.’
Jenny walked out of the room and returned with some keys. ‘These are the keys for the house.’
‘I have to swing by my house and pick up my passport,’ Marshall said. ‘Do you have yours?’
‘Yes. Always walk with it. A journalist is always supposed to be prepared for the unexpected.’ Kathy smiled wryly. She turned to Kenneth, ‘So what’s the plan?’
Kenneth suddenly looked very tired. He stretched, rubbed his head, and with elbows on the table, he rested his head in his hands. ‘Go to Miami and get to our house as soon as possible. Don’t worry about clothes. You can go shopping after you settle. I would suggest getting a new phone when you get there and throwing away the one you have right now. Call us when you get there. The rest of us will try and find out what is going on and meet you there in a few days.’
‘What’s the address?’ Kathy asked.
‘Let me write it down for you.’ Jenny reached across the table and tore a sheet off the pad in front of Kenneth.
‘Guys, are we sure about this?’ Jay asked insistently.
‘The evidence is very flimsy,’ Sean concurred.
‘Hey!’ Jenny exclaimed. ‘Isn’t that Busha George on the TV?’ She pointed the remote at the flat screen TV on the wall, and turned up the volume.
‘… lunchtime breaking news – Jeremiah Walker was shot and killed by police in the vicinity of Spanish Town Road earlier today. Reports are that he pulled a gun and opened fire on a police patrol as it drove past. He was pursued on foot into Tivoli Gardens where a gun battle ensued. A search of the area revealed Walker’s body with gunshot wounds to his head and torso. Inspector George Albert said that Walker was a notorious gunman who the Special Investigation Crime Unit had been tracking for some time. Walker is reputed to have been involved in the shooting deaths of three young men in Arnette Gardens last week, and the brutal murder of a Gleaner journalist, Jeff Tymson last night. Inspector Albert congratulated his team on their effective work, reporting that their closure rate of gun related crimes stands at an impressive 85%, significantly higher than the 30-40% reported by the rest of the police force. Inspector Albert said that his team’s methods may be a little unconventional, but the statistics show that they deliver results.’
The face of a clean-shaven young man on screen, dressed in a suit and tie, replaced the pictures of Busha George and Walker. He smiled briefly as he read the next news item about increased foreign currency reserves.
Jenny muted the TV. ‘I guess that’s our proof.’ She looked at Sean and Jay, who simply nodded. ‘Sick by name and nature.’ They all headed for the front door.
Kenneth took Jenny’s hand as they walked towards the car, ‘I can fix this,’ he whispered in her ear.
‘I know. I know you can.’ Jenny kissed him on the cheek.