Episode 89
(Washington D.C., August 7, 2019)
There would be no time for lengthy explanations. Obviously, Katrina knew of Rin’s existence. Even if this reflected a betrayal of sorts by Daryl, Rin hoped he at least had told her enough to be useful. She also hoped he had omitted some of the more colorful details. Well, if he’d said too much or too little, what befell his family would be his own damned fault.
Katrina recovered her poise and looked at Rin. “Who are you exactly?”
“Do you think it would be wise to answer that while they’re listening?”
“You said they’re already coming.”
Rin was relieved that the woman had finally come to her senses.
“I suppose that’s true, but the less they know the better. What did Daryl tell you?”
Katrina contemplated the gun. “He said there was somebody who can’t be killed. I thought it was a story he made up for the kids.”
Rin’s jaw dropped. He told the goddamned kids?!!? What was she supposed to be, the bogeyman? What sort of sicko would tell his kids about all that? Well, they’d definitely be ahead of their class in some subjects.
She smirked. “I somehow doubt that. But I can guess what you did think.”
“What’s that?”
“I’ll bet you thought it was a metaphor for an ex who wouldn’t let go.” Rin leaned in and whispered in her ear. “Oh say, hypothetically, the homicidal ex-girlfriend he most definitely doesn’t want to show up.”
Katrina sprang back. “You’re here to take him back?”
It wasn’t the reaction Rin had hoped for.
“I haven’t fucked Daryl in almost twenty years, and I have no desire to. He made his choice, and I made mine.”
“What was your choice?” Katrina asked, her voice marginally less anxious.
“That should be obvious. I let him live.”
The woman eyed Rin warily. “And that choice hasn’t changed?”
“Keep convincing me that his wife is a complete moron, and it may.”
Katrina was suddenly sobbing again. “There is no ‘they’, is there? He said you would find him one day. You finally killed him, and now he’s gone.”
Rin grabbed Katrina by the throat. Her voice was ice. “Do you imagine I need to lie to something like you?”
It was impossible for Katrina to speak or move her head, so Rin wobbled it for her. “No? Good, you’re finally beginning to make sense.” She released the woman, who immediately collapsed onto the couch, coughing violently.
Rin smiled at her. “Now, ask me again whether I killed Daryl.”
Katrina shook her head.
“No, really, do,” Rin insisted.
Katrina gasped out the question.
Rin leaned in. “No.”
She offered Katrina a hand and pulled the woman to her feet.
“If I had killed him, why would I ask where he is? You’ll need to think more clearly if you hope to get through this. Do you understand?”
Katrina nodded.
“Good. Now that that’s been settled, let’s focus on saving your pathetic lives.”
“But how did you know Daryl was in trouble or where we live?” Katrina ventured, her voice retaining a note of skepticism.
“Well, I’ve been watching you,” Rin replied, as if stating the obvious. She smiled. “I mean, who isn’t?”
In response to the look of disgust on Katrina’s face, Rin gave an awkward smile. “Not like that. I just kept tabs. Though, I can’t swear these people aren’t watching you fuck or shit or whatever it is you’re so put out about.”
Oddly enough, this seemed to reassure the woman. Was she the type who liked that sort of stuff? Rin wished she had paid more attention to her precise reaction.
“If we leave, what will happen to Daryl?” Katrina asked. “Will they hurt him?”
The question took Rin by surprise. So far, Katrina had exhibited surprisingly little concern for Daryl’s well-being. Rin had begun to wonder whether the woman was more anxious about the personal affront his infidelity could represent. Did she care about the man at all?
Rin felt a certain sense of relief. The only thing more pitiful than Daryl wedding himself to such a woman would be if she didn’t even care about him. Perhaps this was some perverse form of self-flagellation on his part. Rin wondered whether he had been scarred by their own time together. Had he concluded that he did not deserve love, and chosen the most lackluster woman available? Or was he just afraid to fall in love? Rin could see how being with Katrina would avoid that pitfall.
“Daryl can take care of himself,” she replied proudly. “I trained him.”
Katrina gave her a desperate look.
“And I can get Daryl back.” Rin thought for a moment. “Maybe. Now, where are the kids?”
“Shouldn’t we call the police?”
Rin looked at her watch. “Actually, they’re probably on their way. I have a pretty good guess who has Daryl. We need to move. The kids?” Her watch read 3:11. Why were they taking so long? Rin suspected they wanted to get everything in place before moving. Perhaps there also were jurisdictional issues.
“The kids aren’t here, are they?” she asked when Katrina failed to reply. “I haven’t heard them, but you don’t act like a mother who has lost her kids.” She gave the woman a hard look. “Yet.”
Katrina’s internal conflict was clear. Her children’s lives depended on her answer, but she had no way of knowing which was the right answer. Rin did not envy her choice.
“Have they been taken?” Rin asked after a few seconds, her voice acquiring an impatient edge.
Katrina seemed to reach a decision. “They’re upstairs.”
Rin gave her an incredulous look. “They must be the best behaved children on the planet.”
Katrina shook her head and guided Rin up the stairs and down a hall.
When they reached the room at the end, Rin understood the children’s unnatural calm. Raoul was playing a video game, while Susan watched a music video on another TV. Both were wearing headphones.
“I gave them playtime just before you showed up,” Katrina explained. “It’s the only way I get any peace.”
Rin laughed. “Smart woman.” She heard a car pull up outside.
“Get them,” she instructed, pointing at the kids. “And keep them quiet.”
“Those are the cops,” Katrina protested weakly.
“You and I both know what they are. Now get the kids. Your basement has a rear exit?”
“A what?”
“Those flat doors that open into the yard. I thought I saw some in other yards on the way over.”
Katrina gave her a puzzled look, but nodded.
Rin didn’t have time to explain how a home invasion typically unfolded. In her experience, it rarely happened like in the movies — with attackers storming the place. Maybe druggies or overmilitarized local cops would rush in like idiots, but that’s not what they were dealing with here. Anyone sensible would take their time, slowly and methodically progressing through the rooms until they found what they sought.
Most likely, these were highly trained operatives. They would proceed quietly and carefully. The kids’ room upstairs would likely be last, but that didn’t make it a good place to hide. They’d still be found, just a few minutes later. And it would be a terrible place to get trapped if a fire broke out. The basement was a better choice. If Rin succeeded in clearing a path, they’d get out easily enough through the rear cellar door. If not, it wouldn’t matter where they hid.
“Good. Get to the basement and lock the doors, especially that flat cellar door. But be ready to unlock it in a hurry. When it’s safe, I’ll call out to you.”
“What are you going to do?” Katrina asked.
Rin grinned. “Greet our guests, of course. It would be rude not to. I’m sure you won’t mind my playing the hostess in your stead.”
She turned to leave, but Katrina grabbed her arm.
“Promise,” she insisted. “Daryl said you keep your promises.”
Rin wondered where the idiot had gotten that idea. The boy was like an untrained puppy, piddling nonsense everywhere. She rolled her eyes. “Fine, I promise not to hurt you or your kids for now.”
“For now?”
Rin gently pulled free. “I have no current plans to harm you, but who knows what the future may bring? Maybe you’ll turn on Daryl or your children will be too noisy or I won’t like your hairstyle. Maybe you’ll annoy me, like you’re doing now.”
“And Daryl?”
The slamming of car doors could be heard.
“He already annoys me. But I fucked him, so I let him live. I’m a sentimental gal. I don’t recall fucking you, so you don’t get to annoy me.”
Katrina said nothing, but had a piteous look. Rin sighed. “Look, I’ve made my promise, and it’s the best you’ll get.” She smiled at the woman. “But feel free to see if they do better.”
“Can you protect my kids?” Katrina pleaded as Rin made her way toward the stairs. Well, this was a change of attitude. Apparently, desperation could make a mother anyone’s fool. Somebody was knocking loudly on the front door.
“I’ll do my best,” Rin replied. Katrina gave her a grateful look, but Rin scoffed. “Save your thanks. It’s no skin off my back, and that’s the only thing I can guarantee. Now hurry up and get them to the basement.”
Katrina still seemed unsure, but nodded and entered the kids’ room.
The knocking had grown more insistent. They’d breach any minute now. Another car had pulled up behind the first. It looked like a police car, and probably was what they had been waiting for. Rin was glad they needed to keep up appearances. It had bought her just enough time.
She smiled and opened the front door.