Part 1
Breezing into her office Catherine walkedstraight to her desk with the firm resolve that nothing would stopher finishing the pile of files Joe had plonked there the day before.Nothing but nothing was going to make her stay beyond five p.m. thisday. She simply would not be late for another date with Vincent foranyone.
As she saw Joe heading her way out of hereye corner Catherine groaned, if he attempted to shove more filesonto her she would let him have it.
Ready for him, she tried to ignore hisadvance, showing him a steadfast concentration that she hoped wouldsuffice to turn him in another direction. But Joe was not fooled andhe continued to advance, disregarding her pose completely. He knewshe was trying to avoid him.
"You seen the papers this morningRadcliffe?"
Catherine pretended not to hear him. Shecontinued to write faster, furiously now. Joe put a hand onto hers,"Morning Radcliffe, you had a lousy night or something?"
A ghost of a smile touched the corners ofher mouth, he was teasing her and she wasn't immune to his tactics.She raised her eyes, settling the pen down onto the pad in front ofher, "Morning Joe." She smiled a smile that reached her eyes, "Yes Idid have a late night, but it won't affect my work."
"I didn't say it would besides I've neverseen you scribble so fast. Got a hot date tonight?"
Catherine drew her brows together, "Why doyou say that Joe?"
"Oh come on Radcliffe. You come in earlylike you couldn't sleep or something and the way you are taking amachete to these files, what is a man supposed to conclude? You aimto leave on the dot of five am I right or am I right?"
Catherine's eyes creased at the corners,"You're right Joe." She laughed.
"Well I don't mean to spoil your plansRadcliffe…" she didn't give him a chance to finish. Though hecarried no files, she jumped down his throat, "Oh no you don't Joe.I'm not taking any more files this day and that's that. You try tohand me any more and I swear I'll walk out of this office and nevercome back!" Her furious eyes flashed fire.
Joe backed away holding up his hands indefence, "Hey hey, calm down Radcliffe. I wasn't about to hand youany more work, not this morning anyway." His eyes twinkled withmischief. Catherine glowered at him, "Okay, okay" he teased, "Notthis afternoon either. I just wanted you to know that your primesuspect got his comeuppance last night that's all. The papers arefull of it this morning."
"What do you mean my prime suspect?"Catherine drew her brows together. Always she had to feign ignorancewhen something like this happened, and it had happened all too oftensince Vincent had become her guardian angel.
"The guy you suspected of being themurderer, well someone got to him last night." Joe waited for hisinformation to sink in. Cathy as always remained beyond suspicion.Joe suspected at times like these that she was a very good actress aswell as a very good lawyer. Somehow her cases always came uptrumps.
"Do they know who killed him?" Catherineasked. Joe had known what she would say word for word and he mouthedthe question with her, silently mind. But this time he had a definiteanswer. He almost gloated, this time he would see a differentexpression cross her face. "Actually yes." He told her and almostrejoiced by the look on her face. But the response was short-livedand not quite as he'd expected.
First horror crossed her face and then astunned expression giving way to fear, and then he thought that shemight start screaming or something. "Radcliffe? You all right?" Hewished now he had said nothing.
Her eyes were filled with something he couldnot put a name to. Anxiety sure, there was that, but he didn't everthink he had seen anyone more scared. Her question when it camestartled him. "Who?" It was all she could say and that word by itselfcracked in her throat.
Joe didn't want to tell her and at thatprecise moment he would have loved to have walked away and spare heranymore anguish, but she caught his arm suddenly and shook himfuriously like a puppy with a rag doll. "Joe tell me!"
Joe shrugged, why the big deal anyway?"Seems some guy in drag did it."
Catherine's heart plummeted. She couldbarely say the words, "In drag?"
"Yeah some kind of cat uniform."
"A cat?" Catherine's mind was spinning. Itcouldn't be Vincent. It couldn't. She had left him in the tunnelssafe and sound, and she would have heard something from Father by nowsurely if it had of been him?
Shaking her head Catherine told Joe, "That'simpossible."
"Is it? You tell me Cathy?" He didn't knowwhy he'd said that, but he suddenly had the distinct feeling thatCatherine Chandler knew far more than she was prepared to say.Perhaps she had always known. When Joe thought back to the amount ofcases she'd been involved in where the victims had been ripped toshreds, he lost count of how many there had been.
At least for once someone had been caughtred handed. Joe almost laughed at his own pun. Red handed, that was agood one. Caught with blood on his hands. Only this time perhaps thatdidn't quite ring true. The papers had revealed that though someonehad been arrested, someone dressed as a cat complete with claws, noblood had been found on him from any of the victims.
Joe spread the morning's paper ontoCatherine's desk, "Read it for yourself Radcliffe. Do you know thisguy?"
There was a photograph. And Catherine almostcollapsed with relief to see that it in no way did it resembleVincent. A good likeness true, but more of a lynx than a lion. "NoJoe. I don't know him."
"You want to interview himCathy?"
Catherine looked up at Joe the question inher eyes if not on her lips. "Hey I know you got a lot of work toshift by five o'clock Cathy, but if you want to go and see this guyI'm sure I could take some of this pile off your hands."
"Why would I want to interview him?"Catherine felt there was something she was missing here. Joeshrugged, "Thought perhaps we could go together." He told her.Secretly he hoped that by going with her he might be able to detectwhether or not she knew the guy.
"I can handle it alone, unless you reallyneed to come. But I just wondered why you thought I should go atall?"
"Well it was your case Radcliffe, I justthought you would want to know why he killed your suspects that'sall. Maybe he knows something that you don't?"
"And you think he'll tell me?"
"Who knows?" Joe tried to remain indifferentlike he cared neither way, but Catherine knew him better than that."Give Joe. What's really on your mind?"
"Look at his picture again Cathy. You sureyou don't know him?"
"I'm sure Joe."
"Could you swear to that on theBible?"
"Joe?" Catherine looked at her boss hard"Don't you believe me?"
"I want to Radcliffe. But hey even you can'tdeny that there have been an awful lot of unexplained deaths aroundthe city where the victims have been ripped to shreds. Nor can youdeny that every one of those cases have been ones that you have beenworking on. I think you know more than you let on Cathy. It's just ahunch, but someday soon the cops are going to start to think the sameway. So do you know this guy or not?"
Catherine did not need to look at the photoagain, it wasn't Vincent and that was all that mattered. "I don'tknow him Joe. I've never seen him before, and if you happen to have aBible in your pocket, fish it out and I'll swear on that too." Hertemper rose and Joe believed her. He didn't want to do, but he did.Catherine was telling the truth he knew it, she didn't know the guythat the police were holding. But then if he didn't kill all thosepeople, then who did? And what's more to the point did Cathy know whothe real murderer was? Joe would stake his life on it that she did,but hey when it all boiled down to it, shouldn't the guy be getting amedal rather than the electric chair? After all it was thanks to him,whoever he was, that the streets were a whole lot tidier these days.A whole lot of scum had died beneath his hands that was forsure.
"Okay, okay" Joe backed away, "I believe youRadcliffe. Come down off your high horse, boy Radcliffe if lookscould kill I'd be dead." Joe attempted a smile to soften his words,and Catherine relented and smiled back. "All right Joe I'll interviewthe guy. What's his name do you know? The papers don'tsay."
"He calls himself Myhr. I think Myhr Derwould be more appropriate under the circumstances." Joe laughed andCatherine joined him, "Oh Joe, trust you. Look I'll just tidy my deskand then I'll go down there. Did you really want to come?"
"No it's okay Radcliffe, I'll await yourreport." He didn't need to go now, he was pretty certain that Cathydid not know the fellow. And she wouldn't reveal anything to him nowby his being there in the remote chance that she did. She was toogood an actress he knew that. Going with her would be to waste histime. Valuable time too.
"Right then I'll go within thehour."
Joe knew he'd been dismissed and walkedaway. He felt troubled but there was nothing he could do about it. Ashe had told himself moments ago, could he really blame who ever itwas that protected his best investigator?
He knew the answer to that because he lovedCatherine Chandler too.
A little over an hour and a half laterCatherine was being shown into an interview room and a man she hadnever seen before was led through a door in the opposite wallhandcuffed to a police officer.
"Can we dispense with the cuffs?" Catherineasked the officer adding, "And you?"
"He's a murderer madam, I cannot leave himalone with you."
"Then can you handcuff him to the desk andleave us? This interview must have privacy."
The officer nodded. He wasn't pleased aboutit, but he knew full well that suspects often opened up when therewere no police present. "I'll be right outside the door so if youneed me just shout." He told Catherine as he handcuffed the suspectwith one hand to the desk and the other to the chair.
When he had gone, Catherine attempted totell the suspect who she was but was spared the chance.
"You're her aren't you?" he asked, "You arealways with him right?"
Catherine regained her composure remarkablyquickly, "What do you mean? I don't understand?"
"Oh come on. I've seen you together. Heprotects you doesn't he, just as he protected me once?"
"I'm sorry." Catherine tried to remain cool"I don't know who you mean."
"Should have guessed the protection would gotwo way. I should have guessed your loyalty to him. Don't worry Iwould never say anything. That guy is my hero. Don't suppose youcould tell me his name?"
"How about you telling me about yourself andlet's keep to the facts at hand, eh? "
The man nodded, "What do you want toknow?"
"Your name would be a start?"
"As would yours." He replied.
"I'm sorry, you are right. My name isCatherine Chandler. I've been assigned to your case."
"I know I requested you."
"You did?" Joe had said nothing. No wonderhe thought she knew the guy. "Then if you knew my name why did youask?"
"I knew your name from news reportsconnected to cases where he's ripped the victims to shreds, but Ihave never seen you before. I wasn't certain it was you they'dsend."
"Despite your questions."
"Yeah despite my questions. So you do knowhim?"
"I never said that."
"You didn't have to."
"Then we are at odds, you know who I am, butI don't know who you are. Can you tell me?"
"My name is Myhr."
"But that's not your real name?"
"It is. And don't go wasting time checking.I had my name changed by deed poll years ago. There is nothing toconnect me to any other name. Myhr it is and Myhr it willstay."
"When did you do this, and why?"
"I told you he saved my life. I saw him, andI wanted to copy him. He's my hero. I couldn't take his name becauseI didn't know it but Myhr is a derivative of my old name and so Iused that."
"Was it Frank?"
"Very funny Miss Chandler. You seemsurprised? Well its not the first time that someone has asked thatquestion. Some have even gone as far to say my name was once FrankGold. I must admit I have thought about using that. Have I lostyou?"
"Somewhat yes."
The fellow smiled at her, "You know the twowise men?"
Catherine nodded and smiled, "Of course, Iget it, one brought Frankincense and Myrrh and the other broughtGold."
He smiled too. "Nice touch don't youthink?"
"I think Mr Myhr that it would go more inyour favour if you used the name Frank Gold than the name of acat."
"Why? Don't you see, if they think I am nutsI would get a lighter sentence?"
For the life of her, and she didn't knowwhy, Catherine actually laughed out loud. The door at the oppositeend of the room opened and the officer peeped in "You all right MissChandler?"
"Yes I'm fine, Don't worry."
"I heard a noise. Were youlaughing?"
"Me laughing? What do you take me for? I'minterviewing a murder suspect here."
The officer closed the door, his faceperplexed. He could have sworn he'd heard her laughing.
The moment the door was shut again, bothCatherine and Myhr broke into suppressed laughter.
"I like you." Myhr told her when they hadboth caught their breath, "And…" he went on pausing beforecontinuing, "You and I both know that I am not a murderer. You and Iboth know that he killed those men, and by the look on your face youknow that. You do know him don't you Miss Chandler?"
Catherine denied knowledge ofthat.
"Its okay Miss Chandler I know you can't sayanything. But hey I'm not about to expose him either. If it wasn'tfor him I wouldn't be here now. I owe him my life and I'd do anythingto protect him just like you would, but hey I'm not about to carrythe can for his crimes. You've got to get me out of here MissChandler. You know I am innocent." It was the first time he hadspoken seriously and Catherine knew he was right.
"Don't worry Myhr I promise I'll get youfree. I don't know how right now, but I promise you won't go down forthis."
Myhr nodded, "If I can help I will, just letme know what I have to do."
"When I know how you can help I promise youcan do something. Now can we just go over the facts for the benefitof my report?" Catherine opened her pad and picked up herpen.
"You know about as much as me, you werethere. I only know what happened afterwards."
"How do you know I was there?"
"Wasn't you?"
"Did you see me?"
"No. But I presumed."
"Then don't presume Myhr it can get you intoa whole lot of trouble."
They glared at one another for long moments."You were there." Myhr told her adamantly, "You had to have beenthere just like you were there all those other times. He protectsyou. If he was there so were you."
"Prove it."
"I don't have to do. I'm not telling anyone.This is between you and me. You know he did it, you know he killedthem all, and I'm not carrying the can for all the deaths this cityhas seen these past three years, not even for him. But I tell youMiss Chandler I would never ever tell anyone about him. My hero heis, and my hero he stays, but I don't want to die for hiscrimes."
Catherine nodded she could understand that."He wouldn't expect you to." She whispered, and Myhr's eyes lit up."So you do know him?"
"Yes."
Myhr exhaled a huge sigh of relief "I knewit. Who is he? Where does he live? Where did he get such a greatdisguise?"
Catherine could have almost cried withrelief. He thought Vincent wore a mask! Her relief wasn't missed,Myhr was too intelligent "I take it that is a disguise?" heasked.
Catherine did a very good job of convincinghim even Joe would have been impressed. Her face registered completeand utter surprise and humour, "Are you kidding? Do you think hereally looks like that?" she laughed out loud. Somehow Myhr believedher for he laughed too. "Guess it was a dumb question?"
"Just a bit." She laughed heartily now, morefrom relief but this time very careful that he did notnotice.
The opposite door opened again, for acertainty it was laughter. The officer looked around the door, hecaught their reddened faces, but he shut the door again withoutcomment. Catherine laughed harder, holding a hand tightly to hermouth to drown out the sound. Her laughter bordered on hysteria,brought about by relief. She could hardly breathe.
"It wasn't that funny?" Myhr looked at herquietly wondering again.
Catherine detected his interest, "It was."She told him, "You didn't see the officer's face."
Myhr grinned he understood now.
Catherine took a deep breath, "This won'tdo. I really must get this report made up. Can we start with thethird degree?"
Myhr smiled. He liked this woman, she wasfair and she had humour. She was also very beautiful he couldunderstand why his hero felt the need to protect her.
"Yes. Fire away."
"So you heard a sound. That's what thepapers say. What sort of sound was it do you know?"
"Yes and so do you. You could describe it somuch better."
Catherine nodded, "Did you tell the policehow it sounded to you?"
"Some of it. I didn't tell them that itsounded like growling though. I told them there was a strange soundthat was muffled by the sound of a blood-curdling moan. Like whensomeone has their hands around a victim's throat but wetter if thatmakes any sense. I could hear the sound of bubbling, squelching ifyou like. Obviously it was blood-letting. There was a scuffle, peoplescreaming, "What is that?" and then that sound again, and again, andthen nothing. All went quiet. I knew then that it was okay tolook."
"Why did you look?"
"As I told you before he saved my life once.I knew those sounds, but it was the first time I had been in thevicinity to hear them again. Oh I've looked, and I have followed thepapers, I have even tried to follow you."
"Wait a minute you said you didn't know whatI looked like?"
"I didn't. That's not what I meant. Ihaven't followed you literally, what I meant was I followed the casesyou were assigned to. I tried to be one step ahead of you all thetime, doing my own spot of detective work and last night it paid off.I was there before you were Miss. Chandler and I heard everything.You were set up too do you know that?"
Catherine paled, "Tell me what youknow?"
"I'm not the first person to have worked outthat our mutual friend works for or with you. Other people have grownsuspicious. That guy you were supposed to meet, well that wasn't himthat died. He was in the car watching from the other end of thealley. That's how the police arrived in time to arrest me. I justhappened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Irony what? Thefirst time I actually get one step ahead of you, and I drop myselfright in it. Literally. The guy called the cops the moment he saw hismen fall, and they thought it was me."
"The report says that you had no blood onyou to connect you to the crime. I would have thought that was enoughto cloud any suspicion of your involvement?"
"It should have been. But that guy in thecar had run footage of the whole event on a video camera and left itfor the cops. The whole episode is on there. Your friend is seenripping those guys to shreds, and in the semi-darkness I was mistakenfor him. You can't blame them when you think of it. I was there, hewasn't. I was dressed as a cat claws an all and the victims had beencaught on camera being shredded by something resembling me. But how Icame to have no blood on me or beneath my claws beats them silly. AndI can't tell them can I? I mean if I said it wasn't me they wouldassume I had an accomplice who did do it, someone I know. They wouldassume we go out in pairs dressed like cats."
"So you told them you had been to a fancydress party?"
"It was true enough. I did pop into one,mainly for the alibi if ever I needed one. I never believed I everwould. Still though someone noted when I left and as it coincideswith the time of the deaths I could still have done it. But I wouldnever have had the time to discard the bloodied gear and change intoclean stuff even if I had of hung around to do so. The police can'twork it out. They are completely baffled, but that damn video groundsme. With that as evidence I am denied bail."
"Its going to be a tricky one Myhr, but youwon't carry the can for this I promise. Look I'll come and see youtomorrow okay, hopefully I'll have a plan by then."
"You're going to see him?"
"Yes."
"Give him my regards."
"You can say that, even though you are inthis mess?"
"As I said before Miss Chandler. I owe himmy life. I never got to thank him, and I wish him well. Tell himthat, tell him hi from me?"
Catherine nodded, "Yes I'll tell him. NowI'll see you tomorrow."
"I'll be here."
Catherine's mind was troubled as she madeher way from the county jail and hailed a taxi back to her office.She couldn't for the life of her find a way out of this one but sheknew she had to think of something.
Joe was waiting for her when she got back,and that worried Catherine too. He seemed to be taking a larger thanlife interest in this case, more so than ever. It began to worryher.
"So Radcliffe what did you find out?" heasked even before she had taken her coat of.
"Actually nothing more than the papers havereported Joe. But I'm going to see him tomorrow."
"He agreed to that?"
"Yes. And why didn't you tell me he hadrequested I defended him?"
"Didn't I tell you that?"
"You know damn well you didn't."
"Cathy!" Joe spoke sharply, "So I forgotokay?"
"No its not okay, and I don't believe you,and you know what else?"
"No but I've got a feeling you are going totell me though." He grinned sheepishly trying to appease the woman.It worked, her anger evaporated, "Oh Joe I'm sorry."
"Want to talk about it Cathy?"
They stared at each other long and hard.Catherine knew that Joe suspected she knew far more than she wasletting on, and as much as she would have loved to have confided inhim, now wasn't the time. She shook her head, "No its all right Joe,don't worry I can handle it."
Joe wasn't convinced but he knew Cathy ofold. When she wanted to do she could be so tight-lipped aboutsomething especially if that had anything to do with personalstuff.
"All right Radcliffe but I expect you tokeep me up to date on this one okay?"
Catherine nodded, "Now are you going to getme a cup of coffee or do I have to wait here until my tongue dropsoff?"
Joe burst into laughter, "That'll be the dayRadcliffe." He laughed harder at the look of menace that she issued,but was pleased to see the corners of her mouth twitch with mirth. Hewent to fetch her coffee obediently. He was her boss but he'd be herlap dog any day.
At five p.m. she was off, and Joe did notattempt to delay her. He watched her go and wondered many things butrefrained from saying anything witty. Her aura gave off the distinctimpression that he might get his head bitten off if he'd tried. Herexpression was serious and she had looked troubled ever since herreturn from the county jail.
So he watched her go without saying a word,wishing he could see inside her head for not the firsttime.
Catherine stepped out into the recedingsunshine, smiling wistfully at the orange and pink glow that heraldedsunset was near, and headed straight for her apartment.
It was a long walk, but she felt likewalking, besides she needed to deliver a message. She stopped onlylong enough to drop a message rolled inside a ten dollar bill to aNegro playing a trumpet on a street corner and with a quick smile shehurried on. As soon as she was gone he snatched up the bill andgathered his things before hurrying to the nearest deposit spot todrop off the note.
The note was picked up by a helper andhanded from one man to another until it finally found its way to itsdestination, handed by father to son deep in the tunnels beneath thestreets.
Vincent took the note to his chamber to readit in peace.
Vincent,Don't come to the balcony toinght meet me at the threshold at 7 instead
There have been some developments after last night
I need to see you and Father urgently.
Catherine.
Vincent's heart hammered painfully againsthis ribs. He had felt and wondered at Catherine's anxiety allday.
He had absolutely no idea what she needed tosay to him and Father so urgently, but he knew that whatever it wasaffected him. Nothing else would make her so frantic with worry, andthat in turn worried him greatly.
When Vincent met Catherine at the thresholdless than two hours later he could see by the grim set of her facethat something was very wrong. He held open his arms and she wentinto them willingly. "Oh Vincent this feels good, I've needed thisall day."
"Something has happened?" He asked hergravely.
"Yes."
"Tell me?"
"Last night when you…" she pausedknowing how he hated reminders of his killings.
"When I killed those men?"
"Yes." She hesitated trying to form theright words unwilling to hurt him further.
"Go on?"
"You were seen." She felt him stiffenagainst her. "Have you seen today's papers?"
"No."
"Vincent someone filmed you killing thosemen." Catherine flinched when Vincent's drew in a sharp breath. Shecould almost picture the images as they raced through his mind. Shehastened to reassure him, "They know nothing of you Vincent don'tworry." He calmed a little then.
"Come Catherine we must go to see Fatherbefore you tell me anything else. He has been anxious since I showedhim your note."
Catherine nodded, grateful when Vincentthreaded his arm around her waist to walk towards the home chambers,grateful for his support. She suddenly felt very weary. In fact ifshe were honest with herself she had felt like this for some timenow. This latest event just secured the feeling and made her faceit.
For so long Vincent had protected her andthe man that called himself Myhr had proved to her something that hadniggled for some time. People were noticing people were connectingthose very strange deaths with her. Even Joe had implied it. And sheknew that so long as she continued with her line of work then Vincentwould protect her. A year ago she might have questioned her loyalty,a year ago she might have balked at the idea of choosing between herjob and Vincent, now she knew there simply was no contest. She couldlive without being a lawyer but she couldn't live without the man sheloved. It was time to move on. In fact it was time to move Below butwhat would Vincent say to that?
They arrived at the home chambers havingwalked the distance very much each to his own thoughts. Vincentlistened in to Catherine's turbulent emotions trying to establish areason and afraid to know if everything he thought of was correct. Hewas afraid now, and waited anxiously as Father bade her good eveningand watched impatiently as Father poured her tea.
Vincent took a cup himself and was dismayedto find it rattle in the saucer, what was worse Father noticed ittoo, and his shrew eyes asked a million questions.
"So Catherine?" Father began when everyonewas settled with a cup of herb tea, "Please tell us what's goingon?"
Briefly she outlined to him the things shehad told Vincent earlier and then continued, "They have arrested aman found on the scene."
Both Father and Vincent spluttered on theirtea and looked at her in amazement.
"Its true." Catherine told them. She drew adeep breath, "This man was in costume he had been to a fancy dressparty, and heard the commotion and went to look." She didn't think atthis stage it would be appropriate to tell them that Myhr thought ofVincent as his hero.
"Ordinarily the arrested wouldn't standespecially as the fellow had no blood stains on him or any fleshbeneath his nails, but for that video. I'm afraid that implicated himas being the killer, and he has been refused bail."
There was silence for some moments, finallyFather asked, "What would you have us do Catherine?" He wasn't surehe wanted to hear the answer.
"I don't know." Catherine surprised him. "Ireally don't know Father. Obviously Vincent can't give himself up,but neither can an innocent man face the death penalty. I'm afraidthe police are linking all the unexplained deaths to him. If foundguilty he will go down for the lot just so those files can beclosed."
Vincent sucked in a breath this was makinghim feel sick. He was to blame and another was suffering. And thoughhe was no coward there were too many reasons why he could not turnhimself in. Catherine understood that and so did Father, but itdidn't make him feel any happier.
They were all three quiet for some time,when Catherine told them, "There is something else."
Father and Vincent looked up at herinstantly, "I hoped to say nothing." She told them, lookingapologetically at Vincent, "This man, this Myhr he has seen Vincentbefore." Father snatched a lung full of air and was about to retortwhen Catherine turned to Vincent and told him, "Apparently you savedhis life once Vincent and he has searched for you to thank you eversince."
Father nodded he could understand this, andhis anger evaporated.
"Do you have any ideas Catherine, do youknow what we should do?" Vincent asked.
"I have ideas Vincent yes, but as to whetheror not you should do them is up to you." She watched him carefullyanticipating his response, but Father beat him to it. "Is itdangerous?"
"To Vincent?"
"Yes."
"Possibly. But I can see no other way, andit would mean…"
Father cut her short, "Just tell us what youhave in mind."
Catherine collected her thoughts together,"As it stands this fellow is in the county jail and cannot be seenwithout going through the correct channels. Short of knocking downseveral walls and drawing the maximum attention to himself Vincentwould not get away with setting him free, that way." Those last twowords had Father and Vincent looking from one to the other, they hadcaught her drift.
"You expect Vincent to free him?" Father'svoice rose.
"That's about it." Catherine toldhim.
"Flippancy doesn't become you my dearespecially in these circumstances."
Catherine apologised, "But don't you seethere is no other way. This fellow is going to the electric chair forcrimes he did not commit, just because he wanted to thank Vincent forsaving his life. What irony huh?"
Vincent had listened to the exchange anddrawn his own conclusions, "Catherine you said as it stands it cannotbe achieved that way, is there another way?"
"You aren't seriously considering this!"Father fumed. "Vincent I forbid you!"
Vincent stared at his father withoutcomment, before turning back to Catherine and awaiting heranswer.
"If there was some way to get him into thesecurity prison, you know the one they took Kanin to and if theyallowed him to use the yard for exercise, I believe we could pull itoff."
"You'd involve yourself?" Father wassurprised.
"I'm not letting Vincent do this alone." Herwords were so determined that they brooked no argument.
After a few seconds silence Vincent asked,"Please continue Catherine."
"I haven't all the details Vincent, but Ibelieve from things Kanin told us about the place that it could bepossible for one such as you to get in there. Who would think thatsomeone would try to break into prison after all? The security is onthe inside not on the out. Though there are cameras of course, butthat's the beauty of it Vincent, the way you look is taken for adisguise."
Father leapt from his seat, "And that's theworst idea I have ever heard. If Vincent were caught and they foundit was no disguise what then? Huh? Have you thought of this, wellhave you?"
"I've thought of nothing else Father, butwhat else can we do? Can you think of another way? Because if you canI'd like to hear it?" Catherine snapped back.
"All right so let's assume we play it thatway." Father strutted around his chamber sarcastically, "And letsassume that nothing happens, that Vincent very cleverly breaks intothe prison, and equally as cleverly smashes through a wall to helpthe fellow escape, then what?" He spun on Catherine his eyesglowering at her, "Then what!" He snapped, and was about to go on,until Catherine cut him dead, "I know I know!" She jumped to herfeet, "I'll be in there and I will help give him the time he needs.But the cameras will have picked it all up, they will see Vincent doall of that, and we have only mere minutes to pull it off, and FatherI know, I know what your fears are."
"Oh you do do you?" Fathersnapped.
"Yes. I do understand the implications ofthis Father. This man Myhr will be unable to walk the streets or showhis face again, and will have no alternative but to live down here inthe tunnels. You have to offer him sanctuary Father, and Vincent willhave to stay Below for as long as it takes the authorities to worryabout some other matter. And as for me…" Her words trailed away,and both Father and Vincent looked at her long and hard neithersaying a thing, waiting for her to continue. She did so slowly, "Ifwe do it this way, if we pull it off, I know it implicates me and Itoo will need sanctuary down here, but that won't matter," sheaverted her eyes from Father's and looked at Vincent only, "Because Iwas coming anyway." She whispered.
Vincent gasped, but before he had time toargue Catherine went on, "I love you Vincent and I don't plan for youto risk your life or the lives of the people that rely on you justbecause you have to rescue me. I can live without my life Above, butI cannot live without you. I'm coming Below Vincent and I won't takeno for an answer."
Father looked from one to the other of them.Well that was unexpected but he had to admit not entirely unpleasant.In fact he could get quite used to the idea but what of Vincent? Hisson hadn't spoken and Father found the look on his son's face quiteinteresting.
Catherine hadn't said another word, she felta trifle silly, she hadn't meant to come out with her plans likethat, it wasn't the time. Or was it? She stole a look in Vincent'sdirection, surprised to find him looking at her a stunned expressionon his face.
She could almost hear his mind ticking over.Catherine smiled impishly. There they had been discussing ways tobreak an innocent man out of prison and there she was pledging herundying love to a man that probably had no idea she felt that wayabout him. Well not enough to contemplate giving up everything shehad recently held dear just to be with him.
She stole another look in his direction, hewas still watching her and Father watched them both with amischievous look upon his face.
"Did you two want to go somewhere anddiscuss the finer details of this latest proposal." Father laughed,huh proposal, now there was an apt word if ever there was one. Helooked from one to the other of them and saw Vincent shuffle as if tostand. Vincent hesitated, then reaching out a hand to Catherine, hetold his father, "I think you are right. Catherine and I will be inmy chamber if you should need us."
Catherine took his hand but was unable tolook at him, she still felt decidedly silly and a little afraid too.She wanted no argument on this for she had made up her mind. Thislatest incident had just brought it to a head.
In silence she allowed Vincent to lead herto his chamber not quite knowing what to expect, she trembledslightly and Vincent squeezed her fingers. He understood, of coursehe would, he would have felt her turbulent emotions through theirconnection. Three years on and sometimes she still had difficultyaccepting the strength of their Bond.
Once inside he turned her to face him andshe shivered when he drew her into his arms. It wasn't until thatmoment that she noticed that he too was trembling.
Neither spoke.
For long satisfying minutes each drewstrength from the other, and then Vincent drew back slightly to lookinto her eyes, "Catherine." The way he spoke her name as alwaysmelted her heart. "When your father died…" she knew what he wasgoing to say, she finished for him, "I asked you then if I could livein your world. And then when I let you down and decided I needed togo back I asked if there would ever come a day when we could betogether, really together."
"I remember." Vincent told her softly,letting her take the lead now.
"And you said that when we could confrontthe fears and move through them there would be that possibility."Vincent nodded. He found it difficult to breathe. He had dreamed ofthis moment for so long. Though he still had doubts and fears he knewthat he loved her and nothing else mattered.
"Vincent I've done a lot of thinking lately,and I have confronted my fears. They were nothing like the fears youhold. Mine were in turning my back on the life I have led, on myfriends on my career. Vincent I came to accept that those things aremeaningless by themselves. Oh I love my friends but even they wouldunderstand how I feel if they knew. I meant what I said Vincent Ilove you, and in loving you I can live without all those otherthings, but I cannot and will not live without you."
Vincent looked into her eyes, and he readher heart through the Bond. He found no doubts within her, she spokefrom the heart and she meant everything.
He drew her close against him breathingdeeply of her hair, holding her tighter than he had ever held herbefore. She felt so good against him.
For long moments they were happy to stand insilence, just being together enjoying this new closeness was adelight in itself, but bit by bit both became aware of the closeproximity of the other and finally Vincent held her at arms lengthand started to speak.
"I still have fears my Catherine. But theyare my fears, and I know that with you here by my side we can tacklethem together. If you are certain Catherine, if you are reallycertain then I would love to have you live in my world."
Catherine collapsed against him and had notrealised her anxiety until that moment "You doubted I'd agree?" hetilted her face to meet his.
"Yes."
"Oh Catherine." He drew her back againsthim, "Oh my love, surely you know I am incomplete without you?" Helooked back into her eyes "I love you Catherine."
Catherine's whole face lit up and sheexhaled a sigh of pure pleasure, before hugging him closer to her,tighter and tighter needing the contact, needing to feel him closerthan she had ever felt him close before.
"Do we have a future Vincent?" She asked himstill somewhat nervously. It wasn't unknown for him to run ratherthan face his fears. But he stood his ground sure of her now, surethat she wouldn't let him fall if he spoke of monsters and dragonsand the dark side of himself.
"With love Catherine, anything is possible."They held one another tighter, happy to stand that way, conscious oftheir bodies moulding and revelling in every moment of it.
He felt her softness, the curves he hadcaught only glimpses of through her satiny gowns as she had stoodupon her balcony, and he marvelled that one such as she could loveone such as he.
She felt his hardness, the strength of theman. The undulating muscles rippling beneath her hands and againsther thighs, his arousal pressed tightly between them. Never had heallowed such contact before between them and Catherine delighted init.
Everything would be all right. They wouldhave a future. They would have their happy life, but right now therewere other things to discuss. An innocent man depended on them forhis freedom.
Catherine knew it, Vincent knew it and noamount of joy in one another at that moment could stop the thoughtstealing its way into their happiness.
Vincent drew away and lead her to a chair inhis chamber seeing the sense of distance between them for the timebeing. Her nearness enflamed him as it always had, but in light ofher declaration more so this night. He wanted her and she knew it.That thought almost made him ashamed but the love in her eyes stilledhis rapidly beating heart.
Sat opposite one another with the tablebetween them they were able to discuss the finer details of theirplan without the encumbrance of Father's feelings on the matter andwithout the feeling of stimulation that being so close to one anotherbrought. Nonetheless they could almost taste the differences betweenthem now and the air seemed fraught with suppressedexcitement.
It was hard to keep to the matter in hand,especially when they had to make eye contact, then other thoughtscrept in and both clamped down on the Bond to spare theother.
"I don't know how yet Vincent, but I mustrequest he is given a transfer to the state prison."
"Wouldn't that involve you more when I sethim free?"
"Possibly."
His eyes were a beautiful shade of blue, thebluest she had ever seen, and she wanted only to drown in them. Oh hewas such a darling.
"I can't allow you to do that." Vincent toldher unaware of her thoughts "The less you are involved the better,there must be some other way Catherine."
"We could take the chance of waiting untilafter the trial, but it is a high risk. The chances of him being sentto the state prison are fifty/fifty to his being sent straight toDeath Row, and believe me sweetheart you'd never get him out ofthere."
Vincent gaped at her.
"What? What's wrong?"
His mouth fell open, had he heard her right,did she really just drop an endearment for him within her statementor had he misheard? But Catherine was backtracking and she wassuddenly smiling and apologising…no! She must notapologise!
"I'm sorry Vincent I got carried away…"she smiled sheepishly and adverted her eyes.
"Don't be sorry Catherine." His wordscaressed her "I liked it."
She lifted her head then and met his eyes,surprised to find that they were an even intense shade of blue thanthey had been moments before. Lord if she was ever going to speak tohim rationally again, she didn't know when it would be. Just his eyeswere doing things to her she had never deemed possible with just alook.
He was smiling again, laughing even, "ThoughI must admit I lost sight of whatever it was you were speakingabout." Catherine laughed out loud and reached forward to grasp oneof his hands laid upon the table. The touch sent shock waves coursingthrough the both of them, and they stared down in surprise at theirclasped hands.
"Vincent?" Catherine's voice trembled, andVincent didn't think he had ever heard such desire evident in thespeaking of his name before. His eyes rose to meet hers, and he waslost in them.
They were misty emeralds, he could step intothem and be lost and wish never to be found again. Oh how he lovedher.
Catherine rose from her seat, mesmerised byhis eyes, and Vincent watched her approach without question. Sheremained holding his hand, and walked around the table and afterhesitating for mere heart stopping moments, she let go of his hand toslip onto his lap. At once Vincent brought his other arm up tosupport her back, and shivered as she traced his face with the tipsof her fingers. Her eyes spoke volumes. They were filled with love alittle humour and a lot of desire. Vincent stiffened as fear consumedhim, but he forced it resolutely away. He'd had enough of fears.Catherine obviously had no fear of him, and surely that was all thatmattered?
He watched her warily and shuddered as herfingers traced the edges of his lips, and the shuddering increased asshe slipped one fingertip into the cleft on his top lip. Catherinemoaned slightly at the slick wetness she found there and Vincent felthis arousal pulse beneath her as she rested across his legs. She feltit and took delight in it, her eyes registering something he hadnever seen directed at him.
"May I take a liberty with you my love?" Herwords caught him unawares, and he merely nodded, afraid of speaking.In fact he wasn't sure at that moment if he could.
He watched her through eyes of disbelief asher mouth inched closer and closer to his, and he froze as a statuewhen their lips made contact. His heart hammered wildly, andCatherine ever knowing of the affect she was having upon him placedher hand upon his chest and massaged lightly, tenderly, whisperingagainst his lips, "Its all right sweetheart. I love you."
The pressure of her mouth increased andVincent felt his head spinning, his body trembling with anticipation,his arms hanging loosely by his sides now void of strength. SlowlyCatherine's lips moulded to his, finding the best contact, teasingwith the tip of her tongue probing his lips apart. Vincent panted nowthus offering her the path she sought and her tongue swept inside totaste him further. At the feel of her there his mind exploded and thetrembling that had started somewhere in his toes escalated toencompass his entire body, his breathing grew rapid and his armsregained their strength. He brought them up and around her crushingher against him and as his mouth moved in tune with hers he foundthat could not get enough of her sweetness.
Catherine squirmed on his lap desiringcloser contact with him and she could clearly feel his hardnessbeneath her and delighted in it. A moan escaped her, and she knewonly desire only need, her body was on fire for him, "Take mesomewhere Vincent I need you. I need you." She sobbed against hismouth, "Please my darling I want you." She rocked against him, andtears fell down Vincent's cheeks. The Bond fully opened now wassweeping him away with her desire. He could deny hernothing.
He stood, lifting her with him, and walkedacross to his bed, laying her gently down upon it, bending as theirlips refused to break contact. Her arms refused to let him go. Theywrapped around him, and he had no choice but to lower his body downbeside her. It had not been his intention, but he wentwillingly.
Their kisses increased, grew wild,passionate, and Vincent's mind reeled at the sensations pulsingthrough his blood. His need matched her need, he wanted her, andnothing like the simple act of extinguishing unwanted candles orplacing a lantern outside his chamber to issue a warning of privacywas further from his mind now.
Their hands were every where, Catherineexplored and Vincent let her, following her example with his ownhands upon her.
Their hearts sang.
This joy, this bliss was unimaginable.Vincent had known nothing like it ever before. He did not want tostop, did not want the feelings to stop.
He had never dreamed that he and Catherinecould share such ecstasy.
The feelings she inspired in him were soexquisite they reduced him to tears.
Neither knew or cared that their clothingwas discarded it was only when the thrill of their naked bodies sentpure heat spiralling through them that they knew of thecontact.
Their loving was wild, out of control, andVincent thrilled to learn that Catherine's need matched his ownminute by minute.
Somewhere far away he remembered the darkone, remembered his long consumed fear of his passion speeding out ofcontrol but he knew now that his ferocity paled into comparison bythe ferocity of Catherine's need of him.
And he almost smiled to know that shepossessed within her such unbridled passion for him. Forhim!
He took her then, stilling only for mereseconds to gaze into her eyes. What he read there screamed at him.Her love was intense, her need brutal, her desire for completionsavage, and he matched her stroke for stroke, taking them higher,higher until they touched the edges of heaven itself and spiralledaway into infinity on the golden wings of cherubs.
Slowly, slowly they came back down to earthfalling weightless through clouds, sinking softer and softer into oneanother, drifting effortlessly down, until they came to rest in aboneless heap beside one another totally spent.
Vincent was the first to wake. He opened hiseyes knowing that something beautiful had possessed him and seeingCatherine laid naked at his side a rush of love filled his heart.This woman, this beautiful woman had given herself to him. That onesuch as he could have her love in such a way filled his eyes withtears. She had given him everything, everything, and now she hadgiven him the ultimate gift of all. How he loved her.
Gently wiping a lock of hair from herforehead he kissed her there, leaning over her to watch her face insleep. Her features were tranquil now in fact he had never seen sucha look of complete and utter fulfilment on her face. She looked atpeace, a soft pink glow tingeing her skin.
Carefully Vincent stood, and padded nakedaround his chamber extinguishing candles, placing the unlit lantern afew yards outside his chamber, and then covering the entrance with alarge dusty tapestry which up until that moment he had never used,before he hurried back to his bed.
Catherine had not moved from where he hadleft her, and carefully he pickled her up and deposited her beneaththe quilts. She stirred then as the coolness met her skin, but hesoon slipped in beside her and drew her against his warmth. Sheremained sleeping peacefully, and he cuddled her close. They were asone now, he and his Catherine, she was his, as he was hers, and afterthis night nothing would part them ever again, they would be togethernow for always.
With that happy thought in mind, Vincentslept.
