WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN?
by
PiperMerlyn
Chapter 6
The Chapters
3 May 2006
Brighton,, England
7:46 a.m.
Casi stared at the half-full contents of her suitcase, completely undecided on what clothes to bring. Is it warmer in Greece this time of year? she wondered, so distracted she didn’t hear the knock on her open door.
“Cassandra.”
She spun around, instantly feeling guilty. “Chad.”
He hovered at the door, as if unsure of his welcome. “Do you...want me to come with you?”
Casi stared at him, stunned. “Chad, I—“
“Of course. I understand.” He let out an almost relieved sigh and turned to go.
Casi dropped the sweater she’d been folding and hurried after him. “Chad, the answer is yes. But why would you?”
“You are my wife until you say otherwise. I don’t want you doing this alone.”
Casi searched his face, noting he’d shaved and his eyes were clear – haunted but clear. She tore her gaze away and focused on the burgundy carpet. “I don’t deserve you.”
Chad reached out, placed a gentle hand beneath her chin and tilted her head up. “Cassandra...I love you.”
Tears filled her eyes. Slowly, a teardrop inched down her pale cheek. She moved to shake her head but his hold on her chin kept her from moving. “Chad—“
He kept his gaze locked with hers and lowered his head until his lips barely touched hers. “I love you,” he whispered and kissed her.
Her tears came harder now, sliding down her cheeks. As he deepened the kiss, she could taste the salt from those tears and shuddered. After a moment, she pulled back, her whole body trembling. “Chad, don’t.”
Chad’s hazel eyes hardened but he didn’t move, didn’t let go. “He bloody well doesn’t deserve you,” he muttered. He let go of her so quickly she almost lost her balance. “And you are a damn fool,” he added, stalking out of the room.
Casi watched him leave and sank to the carpeted floor, tears still streaming down her cheeks. How could her life have gone so wrong?
*****
3 May 2006
Athens, Greece
9:41 a.m.
Dan Hargrave felt like punching something and the man standing across the room would make an ideal target. Dan clenched hands into fists and glared at Jake. “Just tell me why.”
“She deserves to know.” Jake Brogan was hardly cowed by the other man’s temper. He’d known Hargrave too long.
“So to hell with the mission?”
“What mission?” shot back Jake. “The assignment was over two years ago.”
Dan growled low in his throat and slammed both his fists on the back of the sofa. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Just remember Jack’ll fry your ass, not mine.”
Jake looked unconcerned. “Do I look worried?”
“When will she get here?”
“She’s coming in from Heathrow. Probably won’t get here until around noon or so.”
Dan grunted. “You’re meeting her at the airport.”
Jake shrugged. “Fine.”
“Fine.”
The two men stood there, glaring at each other, neither refusing to back down. A knock on the hotel room door made Jake blink. “That can’t be her.”
Dan stalked over to the door and opened it a crack. “Yeah?”
“Let me in,” growled a low voice.
Dan got one look at the man and opened the door fast. “Hey...”
The man shoved his way into the room and slammed the door so hard the pictures on the wall rattled. “Secrets, damn, I’m sick of secrets.” The man shoved a hand through graying black hair and glared at Dan. “It’s not right.”
Dan gave a jerky nod. “I know.”
Grant Peters walked to the window and took a deep breath. “Jack told me. He at least had the decency to do that.”
Dan and Jake shared an awkward look, then Jake stepped forward. “Sir.”
Grant shook his head. “Right now, I’m his only family, leave the rank and title by the wayside.” He turned to Dan. “I want to see him.”
“Of course. I’ll take you.” He gave Jake a pointed look and motioned the Maryland senator to the door.
Grant Peters eyed him for a moment. “You couldn’t have at least told me? When it happened? You know Jon went after the shooter and got killed for his trouble.” His face hardened. “Their parents are dead. Do you know that?”
Dan cleared his throat. “It wasn’t my decision to make, Senator. That was Jack’s.”
“Yes, damn it, and he explained it all away the same damn way he explains everything else.” Grant took a deep breath. “Take me to him.”
Jake watched the two men leave the hotel room and sighed, wondering if Casi had shared the news. He hadn’t told her to keep quiet about it and if the senator was the only family left.... He cleared his throat. Jack had been wrong two years ago. Jake only hoped that that one mistake wouldn’t make for more trouble now.
*****
3 May 2006
Paris, France
9:34 a.m.
“Yes, everything is up to specs. I’ll have the designs on your desk within the hour.” Donovan MacFairlaigne fiddled with his tie as he talked to the design department manager. “Yes. Of course.” He didn’t quite sigh as he finished the call and hung up the phone.
Donovan got up and walked to the bank of windows facing the Seine. He’d been CEO for nearly two years but he still considered the room his father’s office. He turned his back on the view and glared around the room. He was bored. As the head of the entire company now, he had numerous people he could delegate to, everything from design ideas to who was buying the donuts for the next big meeting.
He sighed and began to wander around the room. He’d tried golfing but it was nearly as boring as boardroom meetings. How had his father handled the sheer volume of doing nothing? Donovan blinked, finally understanding. No wonder Dad takes off with Mom whenever he can. Archeology’s got to be a hell of a lot more fun, thought Donovan, turning back around to look out the window.
His intercom buzzed and Donovan stalked over to his desk. “Yes, Sandra?”
“Your sister’s on line two.”
Donovan blinked, startled. It was Monday. Catherine never called on a Monday. “Thank you, Sandra.” He sat down at his desk, took a deep breath and switched phone lines. He hit the button for the speakerphone. “Cat, everything all right?”
“Donovan, are you sitting down?”
Donovan frowned. “Yes. Cat—“
“Joe’s alive. We’re flying to Greece within the hour.”
Donovan felt ice-cold. “Casi?” he asked in a hoarse voice.
“It hit her hard. Joe’s been in a coma for two years.”
He sank back against the leather of his chair. “Oh God. Joe’s...alive?”
“Yes.”
Donovan felt himself choke up. “I’ll...I’ll meet you at the airport in Athens.”
“Donovan, Casi’s pretty fragile right now. Hell, we all are—“
Donovan shook his head. “I won’t lecture, Cat. I’ll be in Athens.”
“All right. Can you call Marc? I don’t have his number.”
“I’ll call him. Cat—“
“We have to go, Donovan.”
Donovan swallowed hard. “Tell Casi...tell her I love her.”
“I will. See you in Athens. Bye.”
“Bye,” whispered Donovan as his sister hung up. He switched off the phone and lowered his head in his hands. Joe was alive. But what the hell had happened?
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Disclaimer
The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The authors have just borrowed them for an adventure or two. The authors promise to put the boys back when they are done with them. The authors do claim copyright to the original characters in this story. Please do not borrow original characters without express permission of the authors.