TRADEWIND

By Wendy de-Veryard

Part Three

Catherine had never been so happy to be in New York.

After the week spent with Elliot in Bermuda it was great to be home, even if that did mean she would need another excuse not to make love with her husband.

Her period generally lasted seven days and even though in Elliot's calculation that would mean that it should be finished he did not doubt her when she told him it had not. So Catherine found that she was getting away with it for longer than she'd hoped.

Still though with three days grace left to go, she had to make plans to stop the consummation of her marriage for the days ahead.

That only gave her three days to find another reason for the building work on the tower to be halted and the sooner she got started the better.

From the moment their plane had landed Elliot had given her a quick kiss and had gone straight to his office leaving her with the day free.

He assumed that she would be going to her apartment to pack the last of her belongings but nothing was further from her mind. As soon as Elliot left for his office Catherine left for hers, arriving shortly after Joe Maxwell.

"Hi Joe, did you miss me?" Cathy waited for her boss to turn. He did slowly. "Radcliffe! I never expected to see you here so soon. When did you get back?"

"Just today. Elliot thinks I am packing my belongings at the apartment, but I wanted to see you."

"Don't tell me you missed me Radcliffe?"

Catherine smiled, "Actually yes." Her smile faded and Joe was quick to notice that something was wrong and took her elbow to escort her into his office, "What gives Cathy? You two fallen out already?"

"We never actually fell in Joe. But it's complicated and I can't give away any details, but I would really appreciate your help."

Joe scratched his chin thoughtfully, "It would be a darn lot easier if you would fill in the gaps Radcliffe, but no doubt you are protecting someone again, right?"

"Got it in one Joe. So will you help me?"

"Depends what you're after Cathy."

"The Burch Tower. Has there been any developments while I've been away?"

"Yes and no. You know that all building work stopped a month ago, but then a few days after you left for your honeymoon the blasting started again. I thought it was funny because all the heavy machinery was still on site. It never gave the impression that the project had been terminated."

All the while he had been speaking Catherine's eyes had grown wider and wider and her temper had risen with every drawn in breath.

"They've been blasting?" She didn't like to think what they had discovered. "Is it still going on?"

"No, that's the funny thing about it, as I say you hadn't been gone two days when it started again, and then overnight it stopped again. There has been a lot of activity in the area though. A few times I went to look, there were officials crawling all over the place."

God what had they found? Catherine was frantic with worry.

"Has there been anything in the papers?"

"Nothing. The tower hasn't been mentioned all week. Actually Cathy I find that kind of strange, I mean with the sudden activity and then stopping as suddenly, all those officials, something must be going on, but there hasn't been a dickie-bird, not in the papers or on the broadcasts. I find that somewhat strange don't you? I wondered perhaps if they have found treasure down there or something.

Catherine was growing chilled. Fear consumed her, she had to get down there as fast as possible. "I have to see it for myself. Want to come?"

"What now?"

"Yes."

"I can't Radcliffe, I'm due in court in ten minutes. Maybe this afternoon?"

"No Joe don't worry I'll go alone. "

"You'd do better seeing that husband of yours, he will have all the answers. You out of anyone would have a finer chance of finding out what's been discovered. It's his building plot after all." Joe wondered why she hadn't thought of that. Things were very peculiar here that was for sure.

"Yeah Joe perhaps you're right." But Catherine didn't want to see Elliot, not yet, not until she had established how much had been uncovered by the blasting. The last time she had been in the tunnels, the blasts were cracking Elizabeth's painted tunnels. Had they been discovered?

Joe was gathering his papers and reports into his briefcase, "Would love to stay and chat Radcliffe, but I've got to go. Call me if you find anything out huh? At home mind, don't go leaving any messages on the machine. Whatever has happened it makes you wonder if the promise to halt the building work on the tower was just a lie doesn't it."

"It certainly does Joe." Catherine felt a jolt of fear did Elliot want to see if she would fulfil her part of the bargain entirely before he had all the machinery removed? It was indeed a great possibility.

They walked to the elevator together and Joe went on. "After that day Burch, er sorry Radcliffe, I mean your husband. After he came in here to speak to us about Max Avery being behind the funding of the support group headed by Luz Corrales, it seemed that Luz did have new members to support her group almost overnight as it were. Burch was right, sorry again, I mean your husband was right, Luz was behind much of the sabotage and theft of equipment on the building site, but he was wrong about the cash donations coming from Max Avery Cathy. You see Avery's assets have been frozen. He can't move a dollar Cathy." Joe paused and watched the lights on the elevator panel move up towards their floor.

"Then who Joe, do we know who?" Catherine's eyes were wide she hadn't expected this.

"Not yet Radcliffe, but I'm on to it."

"Any clues Joe?"

"Some but none that make any sense right now. Still as something exciting seems to be going on in that area now, maybe the tower will be stopped after all. Perhaps he won't be able to use that plot now. Burch that is. I mean your husband." Lord would he ever get used to that? "Then again the time it was delayed resulted in an even larger petition against its being erected by the citizens of New York. That place might create thousands of jobs Cathy, but its gonna be one hell of an eyesore around here. Maybe we don't have to worry about finding a way to halt its progress anymore in light of that Cathy." The elevator arrived and they stepped inside pressing the button for the ground level.

"I think we do Joe I can't tell you how I know, but believe me if things don't go the way Elliot expects within the next few days that tower will be started on again. Maybe not in that location, but certainly in another. You've got to keep on it Joe, got to find a way to stop the tower being built and the sooner the better." Catherine was adamant, and did he detect fear there in her eyes? Joe couldn't be certain, but he knew he would help Catherine no matter what, no questions asked if need be.

Besides he owed Burch one for stealing the woman he loved from under his nose.

It was pay back time.

*** *** ***

As luck would have it when Catherine arrived at the building site the entire plot was empty. The heavy machinery stood like giant monsters about to attack her and everything had a ghostly feel about it.

Picking her way carefully over the site, Catherine searched through the debris nausea rising with every step she took. It was clear that the painted tunnels had been discovered. But what was worse was that fragments of a painting Elizabeth had done of Vincent had also been unearthed. Much of it had been taken away and she found a few tickets saying 'exhibit ten or twelve, or some other number', and knew that each piece of tunnel wall would have been taken away in bags for analysis.

Fear tightened around her throat. She had to find out what had happened, and Joe was right. Elliot would know.

Turning on her heel she made to walk back to street level to hail a taxi, when a movement caught her eye. She turned staring with disbelief at the figure of youth darted away from her. "Mouse!" she cried, stumbling after him, "Mouse wait!" But the youth did not seem to hear her and she had soon lost against his able footed movements and that of her high heels upon all the debris.

Nonetheless Catherine moved toward the direction he had gone, knowing that if he had risked showing himself on the site in daylight, then he would have an escape route close at hand.

Slowly she picked her way over the loose earth and shattered ground, bits of tunnel wall, and puddles of water looking for a gap that Mouse may have crawled through, but though she searched long and hard she did not discover where he had gone.

Dismay warred with anger. He had heard her, he had to have done. She knew Mouse, his hearing was perfect he had to be considering the scrapes he got himself into. So why had he run from her?

Catherine picked her way back across the work site, bending only once to turn over a piece of tunnel wall that had lain upside down upon the earth. It was muddy and she had to rub hard to reveal the picture beneath and then gasped with horror and pleasure as Vincent's face came into view.

It was a large piece of masonry but Catherine knew she couldn't leave it behind. She couldn't believe her good fortune to know she had found it, and tucked it beneath the jacket of her suit as she climbed out of the site and back onto the street.

Once there she hailed a taxi to take her back to her apartment.

Taking the shortest route, Mouse fairly galloped through the as yet undiscovered tunnels careering straight into Father and almost toppling the older man over had it not of been for Vincent's restraining arm as he darted into Father's chamber some half hour later.

"Mouse you know not to run like that. Whatever is the matter with you boy?" Father reprimanded the youth, when he had got back his breath.

"Saw her. Saw Catherine." Mouse cried a touch of dread in his voice. "You saw Catherine where?" Father asked.

"In the tunnels?" added Vincent his eyes growing wary.

"No not tunnels. Up top. Saw her on tower site."

"You were up there? Mouse how many times have you been told to stay out of that area in daylight."

"Need to." Mouse told them, "Can't find pictures without sunlight. Too dark. 'sides lanterns would be seen in the dark."

"Yes I know Mouse, but our helpers have said that they will look."

"No difference. Mouse a helper too. No one know. Just looking, no problem."

Father drew in a deep breath. The boy had a point, who would know who he was? There wasn't any reason to connect him to life in the tunnels, even if his dress did fit the part. Who would know that? Who would know that was the way they dressed down here?

"Did Catherine see you?" As Father clearly wasn't asking anymore questions Vincent wanted to know the answer to this, desperately.

Father looked from Vincent to Mouse, "Yes Mouse, did Catherine see you?"

"Think so."

"What do you mean you think so. Did she or not."

"Might have."

"Mouse!" Vincent growled losing patience, "Did she see you or not?"

"She called to me." Mouse told them somewhat sheepishly.

"By name?"

"Yes."

"Then she saw you." Father told him.

"And what did you do?" Vincent wanted to know.

"I ran."

"Away from Catherine?" Vincent was speechless. "But why Mouse, Catherine is your friend?"

Mouse looked at his long time friend and protector as if he had gone of his rocker. "No more. Catherine turned traitor married Elliot Burch. Should have been you. She's not my friend."

Vincent had no words. He could see the boy's loyalty but his heart ached that he could treat Catherine this way. He tried to pacify the lad, "Mouse, what Catherine did was to save our home. Mr Burch promised to stop building the tower if she married him." Vincent had to close his eyes tightly before continuing, "Mouse try to understand, what Catherine did might have seemed traitorous to us, but she did it believing she could save the tunnels."

Father stepped in, "And ultimately save Vincent's life. Mouse you know what would happen if Vincent were discovered?"

Mouse nodded, but could not help retorting, "But she never did she. She never saved us. Now the painted tunnels are gone. I hate her."

"MOUSE!" Vincent growled, his voice softening as he saw his friend cower away, "I'm sorry Mouse, but you mustn't hate Catherine."

"Why not? You do."

Vincent stared at Mouse long and hard. "No Mouse, I could never hate Catherine."

"But you have had the tunnels sealed so that she cannot come down anymore."

"Is this right Vincent?" Father turned to his son.

"No not to stop Catherine. When the painted tunnels were discovered, I had protective measures installed at all our entrances. You know that Father you agreed?"

"I know I did but what of the entrance beneath Catherine's apartment? Only she and you knew about that. None of the helpers from Above did, and it was very remote that the authorities would discover it down there. Is that one still open Vincent?"

"No." Vincent hung his head so that his mane fell over his face to conceal the sorrow in his eyes.

"But why Vincent. Surely you knew that under the circumstances it would be the only way Catherine could come to see us?"

"Of course I knew! But Father don't you see? Catherine and I are finished we could never have what we had before. It is better this way."

Father looked to Mouse still hovering ready for flight and bid him leave them, "Its all right Mouse you may go, but promise me, keep away from that site." He looked at the boy sternly, and Mouse nodded before disappearing like greased lightening. Father chuckled, "Where he gets his energy from I'd like to know." He turned to Vincent, "Now let us talk about this, it's a subject long overdue. Sit down Vincent."

Vincent refused to sit, "There's nothing to talk about Father. Catherine is lost to me now."

"No Vincent I don't believe that. What Catherine did was honourable and courageous but her plan backfired. Elliot double crossed her and when she realises that do you think she will stay with the man?"

"Even so Father she cannot come back to me. Even if she should leave Elliot Burch, she still belongs to him now. It is too late for us."

Vincent sat down his legs seemed incapable of supporting him all of a sudden.

Father shook his head. "I thought so too at first. Peter led me to believe otherwise. Vincent we all knew that your relationship was not without limits. Though you loved one another desperately, though you still love one another desperately, you both knew that what you shared was just a dream. That the dream could not become reality for you." Father stroked his son's hair tenderly. It was an action he had done thousands of times and it always helped to calm his son. "Vincent what I am trying to say is, that you must learn, both of you must learn to turn that love you felt for one another into nothing more than friendship. Perhaps this was the answer for you. Perhaps with Catherine belonging to another man it would dampen the feelings you had for her. This way at least Catherine can stay in our lives and continue as a valued helper. Surely you understand that?"

A sob broke free from Vincent's throat, as his body quietly shook, and Father's heart was breaking to see his son in such distress. He continued to stroke his son's long mane of tawny hair.

After a while though neither spoke, Father could feel calm stealing throughout his son's large frame, the shaking lessened, and Vincent was making to stand. "We have a lot to do Father, there are many boxes yet to pack."

"And that's all you will say on the matter Vincent?" They both knew Father wasn't referring to the packing.

"Yes Father."

Drawing in a deep breath and exhaling it slowly Father nodded, "Yes you're right there is still much to be done."

But though they continued sorting and packing the books and other belongings into boxes for the rest of the day neither of them spoke much again, though both their minds was filled with thoughts of Catherine.

*** *** ***

Elliot wasn't in his office when Catherine arrived but his secretary asked her to wait, explaining that he had called to say he was stuck in traffic but was returning.

As she waited Catherine mooched around his office looking at things and wondered how this man that she had married could be such a stranger to her. In fact it did not feel as though she was his wife.

At that moment Catherine decided that if Elliot didn't get the marriage annulled then she would. Simply as the blasting on the tunnels had recommenced after their marriage, Elliot had double-crossed her and to her that meant the deal was off.

But had she of expected Elliot to waltz in there all goodness and light to find her waiting for him she was disappointed. After his secretary told him his wife was waiting Elliot stormed into his office, shouting, "Cathy what the hell are you doing here?" Though he shouted at her she saw his eyes go to a cabinet beneath one window, and knew instantly that there was something within that he hoped she had not seen.

"Elliot, hello to you too." She tried to sound calm, but inside she was equally annoyed with him. His face softened, "I thought you were at home packing?"

"I needed a break." She told him. It wasn't totally untrue. She had been to the apartment but only to unload the fragment of tunnel wall and hide it away.

"Its too late for lunch Cathy and too early to leave for the day and I am very busy." The brush off was obvious.

"Too busy planning the continuance of the tower?"

He looked up sharply, "What do you mean?"

"The tower that you promised to halt if I married you was started on again while we were away." She accused him.

"Yes. I'm sorry about that. It was an unfortunate mistake. It has stopped again now." He laughed "Perhaps permanently. Those final explosions uncovered some artefacts that a bunch of archaeologists want to start excavating. I've been down to their offices all morning, but they just won't budge. Seems they have discovered some exciting stuff down there, some paintings or something and want to check out the dates etc. If it turns out to be painted within the last few decades I can go ahead with the building, but if they are any older the building plans will be terminated."

"They should be terminated anyway. Elliot you promised!"

"Yeah. Well so did you! Did you think that 'marriage' encompasses only a band of gold on one finger!" he was shouting again now.

Catherine winced sure his secretary would overhear everything. "Until you make this a proper marriage Cathy the deal is off! Do you hear me?" he seethed.

"I hear you Elliot but you backed out of the deal before I did. I had a period you knew that, yet the explosions started again two days after we were married. Why Elliot?"

"You think I didn't notice that day we went sightseeing that you were avoiding being with me? You think I really believed you had got lost? I gave you until lunch-time Cathy, and when I saw you in different clothing so obviously avoiding me, I rang back here and had the work recommenced." Catherine groaned inwardly. That day, that wonderful day she had felt free had cost the tunnel dwellers their home. Tears slipped from her eyes, "Elliot how could you?"

They stared at one another for several long minutes neither speaking, then Catherine took off her wedding and engagement rings and slapped them down on his desk. "Here you can have these. I'll get the papers drawn up for you to sign. Our marriage is over Elliot."

Panic gripped Elliot, " Cathy no. That's not fair we haven't given it enough time."

"You've had all the time you are going to get Elliot. You double-crossed me. You didn't even wait to see if we would have a proper marriage when I was able." She felt a heel for saying all this there had never been any possibility of it being a proper marriage. "You could have waited Elliot!"

"I will wait. Cathy don't go, we can resolve this. Look I know you don't love me, and its not important, just stay married to me Cathy please don't go Cathy please." But Catherine was already walking out the door, noticing as she ran from the outer office Elliot's secretary's shocked expression as her fingers stilled over the typewriter keys.

Elliot continued to shout after her but Catherine did not look back. She would collect the wall fragment from her apartment and go into the tunnels. That was the only place left for her now.

*** *** ***

As she stepped out of the taxi outside of her building she was stunned to see Elliot's limousine pull up at the curb. How had he done that? He must have followed her out and taken a shorter route to have arrived at the same time.

In silence they entered the building together but the moment Catherine tried to prevent his entry into her apartment Elliot barged his way inside slamming the door behind him.

Catherine ignored him, going instead into the kitchen to make herself some lunch. She had bought some fresh salad and salmon earlier and literally tossed them onto a plate before joining Elliot back in the lounge. He watched her without a word as she picked at the food as if he wasn't there, except he could see by her countenance that she was very aware that he was.

"Weren't you going to offer me anything?" he asked at last.

"You know where the kitchen is." She waved a fork in its direction.

"Forget it." Elliot flared. ""For God sake Cathy, what's wrong with you? I've tried to be patient, but that patience has worn thin. Don't you even love me even a little?" He whispered the last and Catherine detected the note of sorrow in his voice.

"No I'm sorry Elliot." Catherine told him simply, refusing to look up at him. Suddenly she lost interest in the food upon her plate and she toyed with it. Pushing smoked salmon around in circles, and covering the pink fish with leaves of crisp lettuce, as if she was tucking it into bed.

"So who is he? It's not Joe Maxwell!" Elliot blurted as the thought suddenly hit him.

Catherine did raise her eyes then, "Of course not!" she flared, but Elliot could see by her answer that there was someone.

"So there is someone." He spoke softly, tears forming in his eyes. "Someone that lives in those goddamned tunnels perhaps?"

Catherine's head snapped back, and Elliot knew he had caught a raw nerve but she denied it instantly.

"Then tell me…" Elliot began sarcastically, "Why was it so important that I halted the work on the tower, in fact so important that you would contemplate marriage to me to ensure it?"

"It was the only way to stop the tower…" Catherine faltered. "Elliot there are things that I can't tell you, but I do owe you some explanation."

"Damn right you do." His eyes flashed with his fury. "Come on then I'm waiting."

Catherine took a deep breath, there was only so much that she was prepared to say. "You remember that night I led you through the tunnels to safety?"

Grim faced Elliot nodded.

"I'd been in those tunnels before."

"That was obvious." His eyes narrowed "You knew them almost as well as you know the back of your hand. It's why they are so important to you that bothers me now."

"There are people that use those tunnels as their home Elliot. Good people. People who have been affected in a detrimental way by society, but they're not criminals. They will not tolerate criminals living among them."

"So some of your witnesses live there, bully for them." His voice rose "Cathy my tower would house thousands of people. If it suits you I can even make allowances for vagrants and abused people, I can give them a reduced rent so they could afford to live there. The building will provide luxuries unheard of, employment unseen. Cathy don't you see, while you sacrifice your life for a few no hopers, my tower will bring employment and homes to thousands and create billions of dollars for the city. There is no comparison Cathy." He belittled her now, humouring her, believing her sacrificing spirit was ridiculous.

"No!" Catherine's temper flared, "You don't get it do you? These people have tried such a way of life, but they can't live like that. The tunnels are their home, their only way of living. How can you be so callous as to wipe it away so thoughtlessly?"

"Rubbish Cathy. My tower encompasses a few square feet, when there are hundreds of miles of those tunnels. Anyone that lives inside them could simply move to another area."

"And what if your tower inspires other people with building projects in mind to do likewise. What if your building is only the first of many? Once one is up, this whole city could be filled with towers within a few years!"

"Now you are being ridiculous Cathy, just like your reasons for marrying me in order to halt the building work of the tower. I kept my side of the bargain Cathy." He spoke softly.

"What do you mean, I married you didn't I?" Catherine knew she had trapped herself, she knew what was coming next and regretted her words.

"In name only!" Elliot flared, not disappointing her they were back to that again.

In desperation Catherine grabbed the only opportunity open to her at that moment. "When I see that you have removed your heavy plant from the site, when I see that the crater already excavated is filled in, then I will believe that the tower is halted. And then our marriage will become a genuine one."

Elliot sat for long moments contemplating this bit of news. "Tell you what Cathy." He told her at long last, "Your period should be almost finished by now. Let me love you tonight and I'll get the gear removed tomorrow."

Catherine shook her head. She would not, could not make love to the man.

If Joe found a way to terminate the tower full stop, non-consummation of their marriage was the only way she would get an annulment. She knew it was unlikely that the archaeologists would ever find that the paintings were more than a few decades old. Other than that the fact remained that she balked at making love to Elliot.

Only Vincent had that right. It was probably too late for them now, but if she couldn't make love with Vincent then she would never make love to any man ever again.

For long moments they glared at one another tempers rising and falling, until Elliot exhaled a huge sigh and walked to the phone. Catherine watched as he dialled various numbers and listened as he gave orders for the machinery at the tower site to be removed and the foundations to be filled in whether or not the archaeologists gave the go ahead for the building work to recommence.

Catherine could not believe she was hearing right. She gave a huge sigh of relief but she wasn't entirely happy. It only brought her situation much closer.

Three days from now when her period had ended she would have nothing to stop Elliot trying to make love to her so she desperately needed another way before then to permanently halt the work on the tower. When he got off the phone, he asked her, "Satisfied?"

She played for time. Catherine shook her head, "Not until I've seen it with my own eyes."

Elliot glared at her. "Tomorrow Cathy, tomorrow or else. I'll take you to see the site myself, then we will come back and start to make this marriage work. Now get the things you will need for tonight and come back to my apartment with me."

Catherine knew exactly what he meant and she wondered if going to the electric chair would have been less daunting.

*** *** ***

All that night Catherine tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Elliot lay beside her for once refusing to touch her. Tomorrow would come soon enough he had told her before edging to the other side of the bed. Catherine didn't know if she should leave now or wait until the morning.

What if Elliot did carry out his promise and have all the plant removed what if he did have the crater filled in? What then? Would he take her by force if the need arose?

And when she refused to make love with him surely he would begin building the tower again with a vengeance undoing all that she had gained so far.

For the umpteenth time she chided herself on her cowardice and her stupidity at believing that marriage to Elliot would have solved all the problems.

Leaving the bed for a glass of water, Catherine decided not to return to bed. There was something she had to do.

It would be stupid to go into the park at that time of night, especially doubting that Vincent would be waiting for her, but Catherine knew that she had to try to get into the tunnels. With the painted tunnels now discovered, she didn't doubt that the tunnel residents would be in a flap wondering what to do. She had to know that they were safe. More importantly right now, she had to know that Vincent was safe.

Dressing quickly, she was soon ready and left the apartment silently. She took the elevator, and hailed a cab to take her to her own apartment building, and after speaking briefly to the night watchman she made her way silently down to the basement.

It was just as she had left it. No one seemed to have been there since she had last used that entrance to the tunnel world, but the moment Catherine descended the steps to the threshold, she sensed rather than saw that something had in fact changed.

On turning she saw immediately what it was.

The entrance had been bricked up!

And some time ago too as the cement was quite dry and rock hard.

Even the spy hole was no more.

There were no pipes to tap on either, and Catherine knew it had been done to stop her going to the tunnels that way.

Catherine slumped to the ground her heart aching.

She had given up so much, sacrificed her whole life for those people and for Vincent yet they had treated her this way.

She didn't think she had ever wanted to die so much until suddenly she wondered if it had been closed off because the tunnel dwellers had assumed that she no longer lived in this building. Her hope restored Catherine went back out of the building and hailed another cab to take her to Central Park Drive Through.

Despite the great risk she undertook in going that way at that time of night, her gun gave her a merit of comfort, and she was soon within sight of the drainage tunnel with hope once more in her heart.

*** *** ***

Elliot rolled over and his arm reached out for his wife, and met nothing but cold satin sheet. "Cathy?" he queried, coming slowly awake, "Cathy" he called louder. He alighted from the bed and drew on his robe, opening the bedroom door.

"Cathy" he called again. There was nothing but silence, and the apartment was in darkness. He flicked on the light and as his eyes became accustomed to the brightness he saw Catherine's night robe draped over the arm of a chair and noted that the boots she had worn that day were missing.

"Damn!" Elliott swore beneath his breath. Where on earth was she? He checked the clock it was three in the morning. Where would she go at that hour?

Making himself some coffee, Elliot prepared for a long night ahead. He would sit up and stay awake until she returned, if he had to, and if she hadn't returned by morning he would search everywhere until he found her.

*** *** ***

Inside the drainage tunnel, Catherine searched for the mechanism that opened the door, and found that it was not there. In fact several locks and chains had padlocked the iron grating leading through to the huge metal door.

Catherine began to grow worried now. First the threshold, now this. She did know of other ways in, but now was not the time to pursue them. It was dangerous enough being where she was at this hour.

Slumping to the ground, she tried another alternative.

Opening the Bond that she shared with Vincent, she probed deep, but as before when she had tried all she met was a solid wall of denial.

Vincent had erected this, and nothing she could do would tear it down. The tears gathered and fell, and Catherine felt desolate, she was completely alone now, and not for the first time she berated herself on her folly. By marrying a man she didn't love and sacrificing the love she had for another, she had lost everything.

And as cold as she was, she would wait there until morning, knowing that her apartment would be the first place Elliot would look once he found her missing.

*** *** ***

Hour's later stiff and cold Catherine noted the approach of dawn and guessed it would be safe to move away from the drainage tunnel.

A few joggers were enjoying the early morning sunshine, but paid scant attention to her as she emerged from the shadows.

She padded gently, soundlessly along the pathway until she felt capable to break into a run. Once outside of the park she avoided her apartment building though the temptation to go and make herself a coffee there was a strong one. Instead she hailed another taxi and had it take her to Jake's store on Third Avenue.

Jake she knew was an early riser and he had an entrance to the tunnels via his basement, but he didn't seem pleased to see her. Catherine detected this the moment she greeted him good morning. "Cathy?" he queried stilling in his progress of erecting his awning, "When did you get back?"

"A few days ago. Jake can I use your basement?" Catherine whispered with a cheery smile.

Jake took his head and looked uncomfortable, "Sorry Cathy I can't allow that."

"Why ever not?" This was beginning to look more and more like some conspiracy to keep her out of the tunnels.

"Orders." He replied.

"Orders. Whose?" Catherine demanded.

"His. I'm sorry to tell you Cathy, but he doesn't want to see you." The way he had replied made her draw her brows together, "Vincent?" she husked.

Jake nodded. "I think you'll find pretty much all the entrances barred to you Cathy. I'm sorry. But he was adamant that you weren't to go down there."

"But I saved him!" Catherine flared, "If it wasn't for me he would have been discovered by now. The tunnels would be no more."

"You under estimated the council Cathy and Vincent. Taking it upon yourself like you did, well they deemed that you had planned it all along, you just needed an acceptable reason that's all."

"I don't understand Jake, what do you mean?"

"That you wanted to marry Burch, and the tower gave you the excuse that you needed."

Catherine gasped, holding a hand to her throat. "No! I don't believe it. How could they?" Jake's heart went out to her.

He had never doubted this woman's love for the unique man living inside the tunnels. And he had thought their request a trifle hard. What if they were wrong?

Almost as if she had heard him Catherine choked back her anger, "They're wrong Jake. I despise Elliot Burch, I married him purely to save their necks, and its I that has suffered through that mistake."

Jake looked at her long and hard, "Come inside Cathy, we can't stand about talking on the street, come inside and let me make you a drink. What'll it be, coffee?" he smiled, and Catherine could only nod through a blur of tears.

Over her coffee she told him the whole sorry tale.

"You haven't slept with him!" Jake exclaimed when she had finished.

"I can't." Catherine told him sincerely, "I love Vincent too much." The tears escalated now, cascading down her cheeks, "but if I don't sleep with him soon then Elliot is going to resume work on the tower today no question about it."

"The tunnel dwellers have planned for this Cathy. They have moved to a lower level. They didn't believe that the man would halt the work just by marrying you. Too many dollars are at stake here." Jake looked at her sadly.

"I've got to speak with them Jake. Let me use the basement please?" Catherine begged already standing up and heading for the door.

Jake caught her arm; "I don't know Cathy. I promised. And what use will it be if I did? How will your being down there help?"

"It won't. That is it won't stop Elliot from rebuilding his tower. My keeping away will certainly seal that fate, but at least the tunnels will provide a safe place for me to escape him. He wouldn't look for me down there."

"You mean he knows about the tunnels?"

"Yes, I led him to safety through them once." Catherine wasn't about to let on that she had spoken to Elliot about them recently that would give rise for Jake to mistrust her. But Jake wasn't convinced. "Tell you what Cathy, I'll tap out a message and see what the answer is. You wait here." Catherine sat down again, and watched as Jake made his way to the bathroom. Once he had closed the door behind him, Catherine spared no time for further thought. Leaping to her feet she knew only that she had to see Vincent, had to see Father and the rest of the council, had to make them understand, and she doubted that they would heed Jake's message in time.

Elliot was adamant about making love to her today, and she had run out of excuses to stop him. All she could think of was to disappear, and hopefully that would provide her with more time.

Surely Elliot wouldn't begin building the tower until she had been found?

Taking the basement steps two at a time, Catherine crashed her way through the door leading into the tunnels and started running as fast as her legs would carry her. The more headway she made before Jake returned and realised what she had done, the better, for once he had tapped out another message that she had tricked him, the sentries would intercept her and send her back before she had reached her destination.

*** *** ***

Continued in part four.