I stayed in Washington DC for another few days and suddenly got the news of my aunt's death. I left for her supposed funeral. There was no one who bothered to look me up since I had sling and was limping which meant that I wasn't the killer by a long shot. Cleo was happy to see me. The think tank reached out to Jake and they requested my return to New York since the pandemic is more likely going to assist the bad guys than the good ones. He said that he will think about it. An hour later he came and emptied my possession to his truck. The speed was inhuman at best. He snuck me out and soon we were driving towards the Marina. He bribed the harbor master to leave for ten minutes as he loaded a witness to one of the boats to transfer elsewhere. We hopped on a speedboat. He drove till we could no longer see the city. We boarded a yacht. He sped towards international water and then he requested that I throw the wig and prosthetics. I threw away the wig. I pulled out the fake fingerprints and the fake scars and threw them into the sea. He sailed the thing reached the shore and we boarded a private plane. A small plane that would require a few stops for fueling. Soon we were back in the water again. He took me on a cigarette boat to international waters. He ordered me to raise my arm. He injected something into my body. I was told to take a deep breath. I barely managed to inhale when he shot me. He said my cover story is that I escaped pirates. I took the boat's comms and called Mayday. I gave my general location and I was carried to an inflated lifeboat and I was dropped in. He towed my boat and then he removed the rope and called his buddy who works as a fisherman. Jake disappeared into the smoke as blood loss was starting to take its toll on my body. I barely heard the sound of engines as I blacked out.
I woke up in the hospital surrounded by concerned loved ones. A man from the Coast guard said that the lifeboat I was found was previously hijacked by pirates. I was lucky to be alive. The police said that they had recovered the bullet and were screening for suspects. Van Pelt came and promised to find the creep and give him the harshest punishment that she can think of. I asked her if she was doing ok. She seemed a little bit uneasy. She told me that Brody was a serial killer and I told her that I know someone who ain't one and he would rock her world. She chuckled, "Here you are with a gapping hole in your abdomen and my personal life is your priority. I miss you." I gave her a smile, "Everyone deserves a happy ever after. Even you." Then a stranger walked in and DD went from docile to hostile. I asked her to beat it and she said that she was his secret girlfriend. I started laughing, "Sweetheart I could go to Mars and back with the guarantee that my husband is not the cheating kind. So do the world a favor and take your tall tales to someone more gullible." DD grinned and so did his security. She looked like I had slapped her dentures to Pluto. She stammered as she tried to talk and I smiled, "Sweetie pie. The woman you are talking to is an ex-cop. Your body language and vernacular tells me you are a lying liar who lies. Besides I've had coworkers who have faced women like you. So I can tell you are a dishonest person out to hurt my dearest. So please do the world a favor. Heed my advice just shut up and get lost." She looked scandalized. I threatened to cuff her and drag her out to the public where reporters were waiting for me. She gave a look of contempt before she walked away and the men in the room gave me a round of applause. I waved them off and laid down to enjoy the peace and quiet. I asked for painkillers and a nurse came with an injection.
The next day Cheryl came in with hot chocolate, cheeseburger and a Mount Everest size platter of fries. I was drooling. She got permission from the nurse and the doctor said that I will be here on observation for another five days before I am discharged. I told her to climb on the bed so I can give her a hug. I asked her why she snuck out of class since it could go badly on her record. She said that she called in sick. I hugged her and caressed her. And soon she broke into tears. She asked me if I remember anything and I said that the last few days have been a blur. I remember being on a boat feeling depressed and I remember hearing a horn but nothing after that. She kept crying and I held on to her. I kissed her hair and she refused to budge even when the nurse came to help me use the toilet. She came too but turned around till I finished. I looked in the mirror to see SHE was pleased to be home too. SHE didn't however like the hole in our shared body. SHE looked like she wanted to find the person and peel them like an onion. SHE laughed delightfully and made a hand gesture that says that SHE is writing it down. Henry was waiting for me. He asked me if I could give him Tanya's new address. I laughed, "I was out at sea for the past few hours. How do I know if she has switched apartments in under an hour." Henry explained for clarification sake, "You have been missing for the past nine months. So a lot has happened since you were absconded by pirates." I started laughing, "Be serious man. I was out for maybe an hour or five at most. But nine months? That's enough time to give birth. I wasn't out at sea that long I was only out there for a little while." Cheryl started crying again and so more hugging was required to soothe her. I asked for proof and I was shown news reels and Cheryl's please for help in search and rescue.
I gave her a hug and asked him why he wanted her help since she is very specific about who she helps. He said he can persuade her. I firmly told him that he should try someone else. I am not comfortable with the feeling I am getting from this conversation. He took a moment and explained that his hero was murdered and he was hoping to find the person. The problem is that he knows no one who has the capability to handle filtering huge amounts of data like her. He just needs a face so he can track them down and make them face poetic justice. I said that I will ask around. A nurse came and said that it was time for my bath so everyone was evicted. I was surprised to see that it was Lauren. I gave her a hug and she gave me an ear piece. I slipped it on and I was briefed. The secret mission with the US Marshals, tracking the sanctuary killer, Henry's involvement and the disguises. Tanya requested that I never tell Henry her location. I promised to keep it a secret. She guessed my sudden reappearance will be taken into account and people will come to inquire. Henry could put two and two together. Which means he will kill us without flinching or hand us over to the authorities. The bad guys will probably make us look like the enemy of the state. We might get killed off randomly and no one will bat an eyelash. I promised to keep her a secret. She congratulated me for shanking the enemy. Not my finest hour but I did regardless. After my sponge bath Lauren left and Henry came in. I told him that I will help him but I can't involve Tanya. She lost a family member and left to grieve. She called me during the sponge bath to tell me that she is going away for a while and she isn't sure when she will be back. She said she will let me know when she returns. He gave me a sad face and accepted my excuse. He was pleased that I offered to assist but he just wants a name. Unfortunately I am the culprit so I just kept my mouth shut and showed him some sympathy. I gave him a hug to show moral support. He leaned on my shoulder and took a deep breath. I promised him that he will get his justice. He grinned, "Dan is lucky to have you as his significant other." I blushed red and sat down to eat my lunch. Cheryl came and ate too. DD came around for dinner and he was looking exhausted. So I massaged his feet and shoulders. He gave me a thank you look before I hugged him. He leaned on me and took it all in.
When I was discharged I was taken home where my family and friends were there to celebrate. I waved shyly when everyone came and dragged me to my seat. Cheryl was sitting with her friends and enjoying a glass of soda. Van Pelt came with her brother. Both came bearing flowers. Van Pelt gave me a candy bar and I introduced her to Alex. He is a teacher for special needs children. I made it clear that I did a vigorous background check before making this introduction. She blushed red and stammered as she continued talking. Henry introduced me to his brother. Tanya started coughing as she was certain he would recognize me. But thankfully he didn't. Maybe because of my brilliant disguise or maybe he didn't inherit his brother's photographic memory. The party lasted till midnight and slowly everyone walked out except Maxine. I can sense that something was wrong. So I asked her to stay back. She said that she is now a foster mom so she has to get going. The conversation continued as we walked towards her car. She nervously talked about setting house rules for her new babies to follow when she is away. I smiled, "In my house the rules were simple. Don't add to the population nor subtract from the population. Don't destroy public or private properties. Avoid landing yourself in the newspaper, hospitals or jail." This had the nearest taking a moment before they really understood the sentence. As realization dawned some had unusual expressions. Some laughed as others wrote it down. DD was grinning ear to ear as his security laughed loudly. Even Cheryl was laughing too. I waved her off as I walked back home. I laid down and sat down to enjoy a bowl of popcorn and orange soda. I flipped through the TV till I saw a shark show. It was about the cookie cutter, nurse sharks and lemon sharks. There was nothing gruesome but educational. I switched off the TV and flipped through my phone looking through pictures of manta rays and sea turtles. I felt someone staring at me.
It was the entire house. I gave them all a weak smile. Everyone leaned forward and some burst into tears while others just stared. I waited till the tears subsided to extend my hand. "Guys I am really. I am not going to vanish like a ghost" the housekeeper asked me what I wanted for breakfast. I pursed my lips, "Scrambled eggs, hash browns, all beef sausage, a couple of toast. A glass of orange juice. I saw a weird omelette while searching YouTube. They put potato chips on top. I like to see if it's any good. Maybe I'll go and whip it up." She was offended that I would go to the kitchen as I was still in recovery. I had to show her the video and she made it for me. Everyone agreed that a crispy exterior would have been better. The real question was how to achieve it without drying out the interior. I decided that I am going to have a crispy omelette with a runny yolk and a drizzle of vinegar and chili on top. Henry's wife decided to make one just to be sure. Everyone agreed that adding the vinegar chili on top was a good idea. With breakfast out of the way I asked if I could join DD in his office since staring at the ceiling would drive me nuts. He said he is working from home for the rest of the week. If they were fumigating his office after I had found huge spiders roaming around. He immediately said yes and his security concurred. The phone for the landline rang and Cheryl asked why we even have such a dinosaur considering the advancement of technology. I smiled, "Sweetie. I was a rookie police officer when someone hacked nine one one call center. Those used cellphones to call for help that day watched their lives die. Because the call would freeze the phone so no one can hang up or do redial. About forty or more people died that day while many more were hopeless and helplessly as they flagged down cabs to take their loved ones to the hospital. While those who were lucky enough to use a payphone or a landline were able to get actual help. Turns out to be a disgruntled ex-employee. He wanted to show them that firing him was a serious mistake. So after that I don't care what anyone says. I keep a CB radio and a landline phone so I won't lose anyone I love." Everyone was terrified. DD asked his security to reinstall the landline in his office. Henry said that he will have it done before the exterminator arrives.
I picked up a phone and a woman demanded to know why I survived while the others are still missing. I said that I have no recollection. The woman said to yell and I hung up. She called again and I hung up. Henry asked it was and I explained. He picked up the phone and used a frog horn. He waited a minute before telling her to never call back. The audience gave him a pat on the back. DD carried me upstairs and tucked me in bed. He wrapped his arms and me as he fell asleep. Sleep was a problem because of the sharp pain. But after finding a position I was able to sleep. The next morning I was woken up with breakfast in bed. DD made me his precious blueberry pancakes and browned butter. I adjusted my body to the least painful position. We ate together and Cheryl was sent to school. She promised to call me when possible. I sat and Henry asked what was going on in my head. I said, "I was remembering my apartment. I shared it with someone who was trying to be a lawyer. She would ask me which folder carrying what stain she needed to look for to identify the correct folder for her to take to work. Mostly it is the cream cheese stain but occasionally it is the jelly stained one. One time it was a mustard stain. The last one had Bolognese stains." The employees laughed as DD recalled having days just like that except it was when he was sharing a dorm with one of his classmate. All his homework had stains from glazed donuts or coffee or hamburger grease. I smiled, "I remember coming over to hangout. You let me in and I remember sitting on your bed only to get up because I sat on a box of chocolate donuts." DD chuckled, "Hey I lend you my shirt and pants and I told you to send me the cleaning bill. But you were too nice." Henry was snickering as I got a phone call from a reporter. I told her that I am unavailable for an interview and quickly hung up. DD said that he will have someone handle it. I was carried downstairs to his office where I rested peacefully on his couch. DD started to do video calls. The housekeeper came and said that the governor was on the news talking about a city wide lockdown due to a virus called Corona.