Part 3
"I believe him." Catherine paced the chamberin front of Father, Devin and Vincent.
"You believed him before and look whathappened. Look what could have happened?" Father told hergravely.
"I know, I know, but this time I reallythink he is telling the truth."
"It's not our problem Catherine. He took arisk getting involved for a pay off, and he knew what he was doing,he knew they wanted to flush someone out to kill them. I say we lethim take his chances with the rest. He's not your responsibilityCatherine."
"I know that, but he's an innocent victim.His only crime being that he was tempted to earn an easybuck."
"A bloody buck. Catherine you have got tolet this go. You are becoming obsessed with it.Its got nothing to dowith us."
"I can't. I'm sorry Father but Ican't."
Vincent had said nothing. He had listenedgravely while Catherine, Father and Devin had reasoned for andagainst being involved, but now he had a valid interest. "You will donothing Catherine."
All eyes turned to Vincent. The air wasfraught with tension. Catherine rounded on him, "I'll damn well do asI like. This is my job its what I'm good at, and I can put him onwitness protection or something like that."
Vincent never raised his voice, he wouldnever do that with Catherine, but he stood his ground, "And this ismy child, while you carry our child everything you do risks the lifeof that child. You will stay away from this Catherine." His wordsbrooked no argument, and Catherine knew when she wasdefeated.
She backed down graciously. He was right ineffect, but she still didn't like it.
Father was impressed. Never before had heknown his son to be so masterful and confident enough to issuedemands. Father was proud of his son.Truly overnight Vincent hadbecome a man.
Catherine was still peeved two hours later.Vincent could sense that she was cross with him but said nothing.They were in his chamber each reading, or at least pretending to bereading, neither could to save their life have told anyone what thebook was about, for all they knew they might have been reading itupside down.
No one had told Catherine what to do sinceshe was a child. She didn't like it, but in a quiet way coming fromVincent it thrilled her. He had never asserted his rights before, butthen before he had no rights. Before they'd become lovers they wereseparate people with their separate lives, now they were as one, andsoon the would be parents. That thought alone sent a warm pulsingglow running through Catherine. She signed with gratitude and loveand raised her eyes in time to find Vincent observing her. His facewas expressionless and she wondered what thoughts lay behind thosebrooding eyes. It was time to make amends.
"You're right I know you are, but I didn'tlike it."
He smiled then, laying down his book at hisside and rising to come across to her, he pulled her up into hisarms, "I didn't like doing it, but Catherine we can no longer thinkonly of ourselves. From now on everything we do we must consideranother. We created this child between us Catherine, it never askedto be so, and we alone must make sure it has a safe passage bothbefore birth and afterwards."
Catherine lay her head on his shoulder, hewas right she knew that. She agreed with everything that he said, butwhat of Myhr? Wasn't there anything they could do for him?
"I know how you feel my love I too wish thatthere was something we could do. This man got himself into this mess,but indirectly I am to blame. If I had never killed at all I would beguiltless but as it is I am not. I too wish there was some way ofhelping him, but dare we take that risk now?"
"When I try to think of a way, my head goesround and round with the ideas and I dismiss them as fast as theycome, I don't know Vincent, I can't seem to think about this, and yetI must think of something. The trial is hours away. This timetomorrow night Myhr could be dead and how would that make usfeel?"
Vincent nodded, "You don't have to try toconvince me, I too wish I could think of something."
"What would you do if it were anyoneelse?"
"If I were protecting someone you mean.Standing ready to kill if the need be?"
"Yes."
"Possibly I would bring them here if Ithought their lives were still in danger. I certainly don'tanticipate going out to kill the men that will threaten Myhr however.I don't even know who they are."
"If I was with him, that would leadyou."
"No Catherine." Vincent's voice was firm.Catherine understood that would be taking them back to squareone.
"If he was a witness I could find protectionfor him. And he is a witness in a way. He's a witness to us. He knowsthe men that have been hired to kill you. But he can't take thatknowledge to the police because that would mean exposing you, and hewon't do that because he appreciates the things that you do.Whichever way you look at it Vincent, this man Myhr has affection foryou enough to risk his life to keep you safe."
Vincent was nodding, "Yes that's the way Isee it too. He's a good man at heart, and he has been used because hechose a disguise for whatever reason he chose it that just happenedto resemble me."
"A disguise…" Catherine murmured, "Iwonder?"
"What have you thought of?"
"A disguise got him into this mess and adisguise could get him out. He would never be able to use the catoutfit again, but that would be a small price to pay for his life. Ofcourse he wouldn't be able to walk from the court in any particulardisguise or he'd be spotted, but if we could get him so far and thendisguise him, that might work." Her voice trailed away as she formedthe plan in her mind, "Yes" she mused, "It could be the answer.Vincent what time is it?"
Devin was the only one that could doit.
He was the only one who had enough brains,guile and downright mischief to carry it through.
Posing as a rabbi and keeping his fingerscrossed that Joe Maxwell did not make a sudden appearance and havethe slim chance of recognising him, Devin waited at the court withhis copy of the Holy Writings tucked firmly under his arm for Myhr tobe brought in from the prison.
No one would try anything near thecourthouse that was a fact. There would be absolutely no reason forany killer to draw attention to himself like that. In a case such asthis, with an unsuspecting man they would likely wait until hereached his hotel room, or perhaps wait until he was heading for theairport. So Devin felt pretty certain that they would have time topull it off.
With Catherine and Vincent both promisingnot to make an appearance, he felt positive about the whole thing.With a lot of luck it could be accomplished without anyhiccups.
Catherine had written Myhr a letter, it wasdelivered to the jail and simply said, "Don't wait for me,something's come up. Sorry I couldn't say goodbye. Next time use yourhead and good-luck for the future."
Myhr read it with some distaste, she had lethim down at the last moment, or had she? Was there a hidden messagethere?
What had she last said to him?
Wracking his brains, in the armoured van onthe way to court he drew to mind the last of the previous day'sconversation, and he remembered. She had told him that he wasn't toleave the court until after dark. He had assumed at that time thatshe would get her friend to help him and at that moment had marvelledat her trust, now he could see she had had second thoughts aboutthat, and if she trusted him not at all, could he really blameher?
So if he didn't have to wait for night-fallto leave, he could go as soon as they pronounced him innocent. Thenhe would be out on his own. The thought scared the hell out of him.Surely she wouldn't leave him to it like that, surely shewouldn't?
At the court his brief awaited him. Theywent over the notes, and he waited in a cell until his name wascalled. There were several cases to be seen that day there was notelling when it would be his turn.
He thought he should do something. There wasno one down here that might get a message to him. He took out thenote again, had he missed something?
Use your head? Why had she written that? Ithad rankled when first he'd read it. He thought she was beingsarcastic. Now he realised that would be unlike her. He read itagain. What did she mean, use your head?
Myhr had no mirror so he touched his face.There was nothing there that gave him any clues and without hisdisguise he had just an average sort of face.
He drew his brows together. Is that what shemeant? Was she referring to his disguise? But the police hadconfiscated that and besides the killers knew him by it. AndCatherine Chandler knew that.
If then he was to use his head then he wasto change his appearance…was that it? Myhr's heart beatfrantically now, surely that would be a way? But how could he changehis appearance now?
He had no razor, he could not shave off hisbeard, he couldn't dye his hair or change the style. So what could hedo to look different? He couldn't even walk out of there in thedisguise of another animal even if that were possible, for that wouldbe as good a give away as wearing a Tee-shirt with the slogan 'shootme' on the back.
Whatever happened he had to wait until afterthe court hearing. He couldn't disguise himself just yet and walk outnow. Whatever happened he had to wait until then. It wouldn't givehim much time to change, he could have been watched at anytime.
So he sat in his cell and counted theminutes not really knowing whether each one that passed would be thelast one he would see go by at that time of day everagain.
He'd been there four hours when theyadjourned for lunch. He was starving but could not eat a thing. A fewvisitors walked down between the cells they were mainly holy men comethere to say prayers over the convicts. Myhr found that he watchedeach one with avid interest, was help in the form of anyone of thesemen? He had almost given up hope when he a rabbi came right up to hiscell and spent longer moments than was necessary looking at him. Myhrheld his breath. There was nothing unusual about this man. He worethe typical dress and had the same black beard and beady black eyesthat he would associate with one of this religion but as he movedaway Myhr could have fainted with relief. The rabbi had winked athim!
From that moment on he ate his lunch withrelish. He was ravenous and he saw the necessity for eating as muchas he could. It might be some time before he could stop to eat againfor several hours.
Another two hours went by, and Myhr grewworried. The clock on the wall showed him it was almost four p.m. Thecourt usually finished for the day about this time. He had beenwarned that this might be the case, that he might have to go throughit all again the next day.
He had just about convinced himself of thissome half an hour later when he heard his name called and in a funnykind of way it made him laugh.
'The state versus Myhr." He pursed his lipstightly together to stop any sound coming out and handcuffed to anofficer he made his way toward the courtroom.
The rabbi was nowhere in sight, not that hehad expected him to be, and neither did he make a big thing aboutsearching for him. Merely with his eyes he looked without turning hishead, but was not able to discern if the fellow was in the courtroomor not.
He half listened as his case was read to thejury and he half dwelt on Catherine Chandler's note for thethousandth time. Use your head. If someone was here in the court tohelp him then they would need secrecy to carry it off. There was onlyone possible place. The gents toilets.
His mind reeled, of course that had to beit. And if it wasn't then wherever the rabbi was, he would no doubtbe watching and he would follow him into the toilet and they could dowhatever needed to be done in there. It had to be the only placepossible.
"Sir?" Myhr was spoken to several times andtouched on the hand before he realised he was being spokento.
"What? Oh er sorry your honour. I was milesaway." He wished that were true.
"I said what have you to say for yourself,do you plead guilty or not guilty?"
"Not guilty Sir."
The judge nodded and scribbled somethingdown in his book, "Why was this man held in the state prison for thepast month when there was only circumstantial evidence againsthim?"
"It was believed Sir that he was the personresponsible for all the mysterious deaths over the past three yearswhere the victims were ripped to shreds as if by a largepredator."
"And there has been no evidence ofthis?"
"No Sir. None. All of the defendant'salibi's have checked out."
"So the wrong man, an innocent man was heldin custody and denied bail for a whole month?"
"Yes Sir."
"Mr Myhr do you seek compensation for unfairtreatment?"
Myhr had not expected this.
"Compensation?"
"Yes. A claim must be made within the nextninety days. Perhaps you would prefer to take time to considerthis?"
"Yes Sir."
"Then you are free to go."
"Free? You mean I can walk out ofhere?"
"Yes. Through that door over there if youlike." The judge indicted with a nod in the oppositedirection.
Myhr wanted to whoop with joy, but he wasn'thome dry yet. He very much wished that compensation could buy him asuit of body armour and now.
So he walked away with as much dignity as hecould muster intending to head straight for the gents, but wasunprepared to meet a crowd of reporters eager to take his story andpay him for it too.
"Excuse me gentlemen but there is simplysomething I must do first. A trail of laughter followed him to thetoilets and words of 'We'll be right here.'
Inside Myhr leaned upon the door withrelief, and at first felt a stirring of fear when he believed thetoilets were empty. He had been so sure the rabbi would be here. Butalmost as soon as he had thought it, he caught a reflection in themirror just around one corner and sighed with relief.
"Miss Chandler sent you?" heasked.
Devin nodded, and put a finger to his lips.Myhr understood at once, he mustn't say a word, even walls had earsespecially in court-rooms.
Quickly Devin discarded his robe to reveal asuit beneath, and placing his book of Holy writings on the counter heopened it to reveal inside a smaller note book but running all aroundits edges was a frame in which was placed makeup of varyingdescriptions.
Deftly Devin made up Myhr's face. Darkeninghis skin and his beard as Myhr shrugged into the robe and secured hishead-wear in place. Within the time it takes to use the toilet andwash one's hands Myhr was for all intents and purposes an ordainedrabbi and Devin was just an ordinary reporter with his notepad andpen at the ready.
Devin pointed inside the robe to a hiddenpocket that opened to reveal a thousand dollars and an airline ticketbound for Colorado. Myhr understood, as much as he wanted to go home,that too would be a dangerous place right now. Maybe he would neverget that compensation either for the risks of applying for it werealso too big a risk to take on his life. Someone would be expectingthat too.
Next Devin slipped the Holy Book into therobe, just in case Myhr should drop it and it should fall open butneeded to keep it with him. He might need a fresh touch up of make uplong before the day was over or during the next few days.
That done they shook hands and Devinindicated that he would go inside a toilet and wait there for halfand hour before coming out. For all intents and purposes, the rabbithat went into the toilets had come out, and Myhr that had gone inafter him was still sat on the loo.
It worked. Myhr in his new disguise walkedfree from the court and out into the late afternoon sunshine. Hewanted to run and shout but could do no such thing.
Instead he walked on looking at life anew,everything seemed that much brighter, that much sharper, life lookedgood when you suddenly realised how close you came to never seeinglife again.
Whoever that fellow was he owed him, and hejust hoped that he could get far enough away before anyone discoveredthe deception.
"Got anything for piles Pop?" Devin camedown the stairs slowly startling the three sat waiting for him withhearts in their mouths.
"Devin!" they cried as one, "You'reback?"
"Here take a seat you must be exhausted"Catherine stood up to let him have her chair.
"No keep it please. I don't want to sitanywhere ever again, well not in a good long whileanyway."
Catherine smiled at him curiously, whateverwas Devin on about now?
"I told him I'd give him half an hour, but Ididn't think that was long enough. So I stayed in the toilet sittingon the loo for the next two hours to give him a better chance. Howwas I to bloody well know that the court house was locked on the dotof five!"
"Oh Devin!" Catherine exclaimed withlaughter creeping into her voice.
"They even locked the toilet doors. Therewas nowhere to sit. The loos had no lids, I had to sit on the damntoilet the whole time, until the cleaner arrived at seven o'clock tolet me out."
"So you don't know if Myhr madeit?"
"Nope. And I doubt we ever will. He'll notknow how to contact us after all will he?"
"No I guess not. But do you think he gotaway?"
"Well there was no blood on the street, andI listened to the bulletins before I came back, oh and one anotherthing I checked with the airline that the guy bearing that particularticket number had actually boarded. They confirmed that hehad."
"Oh Devin why couldn't you have told us thatstraight away?"
"Cos, little Miss Chandler I like to see youstew a little. It somehow makes up for the way my backside feelsright now."
Catherine burst into laughter, as didVincent and Father. Perhaps Devin's choice of words weren't so badreally, Father mused, in fact sometimes his son really made himlaugh.
Of course though, he would never tell himso.
All of Catherine's belongings finally madetheir way from her apartment to her new home in the tunnels bit bybit over the next two weeks, until only the cumbersome furniturewhich was impossible to slip through the threshold doorremained.
Catherine organised for a removal team totake it away, and had all her mail diverted to Peter's address, butafter the day Vincent had told her not to risk their child she neverwent Above again.
It was a little after two months whenCatherine sorted through the latest batch of mail Peter had broughtfor her when she came across a postcard addressed to her at the D.A'soffice. Obviously Joe had had it sent onto her apartment not knowinganything about Peter handling her mail.
Catherine turned the postcard over and itshowed a wonderful scene of rugged snow capped mountains and valleyfull of columbine. Catherine recognised the area and her gasp ofdelight had Vincent's rapt attention at once.
"What is it Catherine?"
"This." She held up the card and made herway to his desk where he sat filling in his journal.
"It's a postcard, and it answers all ourquestions. See?"
She turned it over and draped one arm aroundVincent's shoulders as he began to chuckle with relief.
Myhr had got away then.
And what was more he was obviously making anew life for himself in another part of America.
"Its great isn't it?" Catherine's eyes werebright with happiness.
"It certainly is." Vincent replied drawingher onto his lap and laying his hand upon her gently roundedbelly.
Catherine read the words again and again,laughing all the more as she did so. It was sweet and to the pointand no one would ever see it and suspect a thing.
"Life's just purrfect in Colorado."
