Running with Secrets

Untitled Part 27

"But I"m worried Sir." Sally said. "He basically wants a stand off to get rid of his alter ego, then he has to stay at the morgue for a few days for inspection, so to speak. I don't like it."

"You don't have to like it, Sally, but people who are higher than me, who have more power than me want this to happen. Paul is the best I have and if killing Benson to reinvent him is what it takes, then I'll have to take the risk and he'll understand the consequences. Someone is already ready to make the necessary changes on his dummy when we get him back here for the morgue."

"Wait! Michael Paul has a mannequin?" She leaned over his desk and with both hands on it she questioned Captain Vanderson. "I don't understand. Why does Paul have a mannequin?"

Captain Vanderson sighed a great sigh. "We decided when he went in that if this kind of thing ever became a possibility, he'd need a double, with all scars and tattoos and everything. Basically, in that locker over there," He pointed to the corner, "There is an exact-sized silicone double of Michael Paul. When he gets in tomorrow, we're taking him to the morgue and they'll update any scars, open and sew him back up and pop him in a drawer in the fridge while Steele looks for him and hopefully finds the body he wants right here. We'll even provide photographs for Steele, if he wants them. I'll give him almost all the information he wishes to have."

"I'm really impressed." Sally said. "But I still don't like it!"

"That's fine, Loveridge. You don't have to like it, but that's what's happening any way. I have several other plain clothes detectives going to be there, feeding him the false information."

"You do realize that The Electrician won't allow him to come alone?"

"Of course I do. They're expert sharpshooters and minimum injuries will be expected, enough to not hospitalize, but 'Benson' will be wearing Kevlar and he's got it rigged to bleed." He looked at the doubt across Sally's face. "I trust him, Sally. We're going to get him back."

"I hope you're right sir, and I hope this plan of yours pans out."

*****

" I can't believe how well you held up in there, Kristin. You're amazing!" He looked at her in complete awe for a couple of seconds as he drove. Kristin said nothing, but curled up into as small of a space as she could. It kind of deflated the smile Heath was wearing "I know you're not doing well right now, but I think you were awesome! We have to go to the West side of town for the hotel, but other than that, we're done for the night."

It was clear to him that Kristin was not going to be responsive for the rest of the night so he drove in silence.

When he got to the hotel, he checked in then helped her to their room. He did realize because of her confused state that he'd be accused of trafficking if anyone saw them, and this was not something she needed today. Not after two nearly identical incidents.  When they got to the elevator doors, they didn't have to wait very long for the doors to open. four more floors and they'd make it to their floor. He decided to try to reason with her, but as many words he said, were as many as she didn't say in return. He had to trust that she knew what to do if they saw anyone.

When the bell on the elevator chimed and the doors opened on the second floor, two ladies, obviously dressed up for a night out stood in the hallway. They couldn't have been much older than Kristin. Being not so discrete, they looked Heath up and down like a farmer at the livestock auctions. "Syl," one said to the other as Kristin grabbed his hand and laced her fingers through his. "She's a lucky one tonight."

"Yeah, Donna." Her friend said. "Really lucky."

"What's your floor?" Kristin said, ready to punch the number for them.  Heath tried to close out the new people in the space.

Seeing the five lit up already, the one name Syl responded, "Too bad you're going up. We could really get down with you, hot stuff."

Heath raised a single eyebrow and Kristin rolled her eyes. "We've been driving all day and I was just assaulted at dinner. We're not in the mood for a party, but you two go have fun."

Not knowing what to say, the two women pushed the button of the next floor to get off. Kristin's words made them obviously uncomfortable.

When they left and the doors closed again, Heath turned to Kristin. "You're amazing, you know that?"

"I'm really not in the mood, Heath."

"I don't care. I think it's important that you hear things like this. You handled the situation very well. And I'm impressed. He pulled her closer to him. She hadn't made any effort to drop his hand, and he tried to make it obvious that he wasn't going to let hers go either.

"Come on, Heath. I'm so tired. Exhausted. I've had two identical situations today and I'm pretty sure I have PTSD. I'm surprised those women didn't trigger and episode. I need to sleep."

"We're almost there. It's room 529." He pointed to the left when the doors opened. Luckily there was no one there when they stepped out. When they got to the door and Heath opened it, They were greeted by an nice sized room with a single king-sized bed. There was a couch on the other side of it covered in standard upscale upholstery, and a television. "This is nice." he said, surveying their new surroundings. "You can go to sleep, or wash your face or whatever while I bring things upstairs. I'll try to hurry." He pulled Kristin in for a hug and kissed the top of her head without thinking. And also without thinking, thought how well she physically fit in the space under his arms.

After he closed the door behind him, he shook his head and scolded himself. "She's an assignment, Heath. pull it together." To which he tried as he pulled out his cell phone and sent a single text. "..." to Captain Vanderson.