Chapter 26 Chapter Twenty-Four

Dana's cell phone rang. "Jeff!" "Hi, honey." His voice warmed her like a blanket wrapped around her. "Oh, Jeff!" she found herself shaking. "How are you?" how am I?I am running for my life.But she couldn't tell him that.There was nothing he could do to help her, not now, it was too late. "I—I'm fine, dear." "Where are you now, Globetrotter?" "I'm in Chicago. I'm going back to Washington tomorrow." When will you be with me? "Ray—how's Rachel?" "She looks good." "I miss you."

Rachel's bedroom door opened and she walked into the living room.She was about to call Jeff's name and stopped when she found him on the phone. "I miss you more than you can imagine," Jeff said. "Oh, I love you so much." A man nearby seemed to be staring at her.Dana's heart was pounding. "Honey, if—if something happens to me...remember me forever—" Jeff immediately became alert. "What do you mean what happened?" "It's all right. I—I can't go into details now, but—I'm sure it'll be all right." "Dana! Nothing can happen to you! I need you and I love you more than anyone else in my life. I can't stand losing you."

Rachel listened for a while longer, then went softly back to her bedroom and closed the door behind her. Dana and Jeff talked for another ten minutes.When Dana finally hung up, she felt better.I'm glad I had the chance to say goodbye.She looked up and saw the man was still staring at her.There's no way any of Jack Stone's men are going to get here so soon, I have to get out of here.Her panic surged. Dana's next-door neighbor knocks on Dana's door, and Mrs. Daly opens it. "Hello." "Leave Kenmore home, we'll need him." "I'll take care of it." Mrs. Daly closed the door and called to Kenmore. "Your oats are ready, dear."

Mrs. Daly went into the kitchen, took the oats off the stove, and opened a drawer at the bottom of the cupboard filled with medicines labeled Buspar.There are dozens of empty boxes at the bottom of the drawer.Mrs. Daly opened two new boxes, hesitated for a moment, then added a third. She mixed the powdered medicine with the oats, sprinkled sugar on top, and brought the cereal into the dining room.Kenmore came out of the study. "Here, honey. Good hot oats." "I'm not very hungry." "You must eat, Kenmore." The severity in her voice startled him. "We don't want Miss Dana to disappoint us, do we?"

"yes." "Well, I'm sure you can eat it all for Miss Dana." Kenmore sat down and ate. He'd sleep about six hours, Mrs. Daly estimated.Then I see what they want me to do with it. Dana raced through the airport until she passed a large clothing store. I need to hide my identity.She walked in and looked around, and everything seemed normal.Customers are busy buying goods, and clerks are waiting for them.Then Dana looked out the door of the mall, and she could feel goosebumps on her body.Two fierce men stood on either side of the gate.One of them was holding a walkie-talkie.

How did they find out she was in Chicago?Dana struggled to control her panic. She turned to the clerk: "Is there another exit here?" The clerk shook his head: "I'm sorry, miss, it's only for employees." Dana's throat was dry, and she looked at the two men again.I have to get out, Dana thought desperately.There must be a way. Suddenly, she grabbed a piece of clothing from the hanger and started walking towards the door. "Wait!" the clerk yelled, "You can't—" Dana was approaching the door.Two men started walking towards her.When Dana stepped through the door, a sensor on the price tag of the clothing set off the siren.A store security guard rushed out, and the two men looked at each other and backed away.

"Wait a minute, miss," said the security guard, "you have to go back to the store with me." "Why?" Dana protested. "Why? Because shoplifting is against the law." The security guard grabbed Dana by the arm and dragged her back.The two men stood there, very discouraged. Dana smiled at the security guard, "Okay, I admit it. I just shoplifted and sent me to jail." Customers began to watch what happened.The manager hurried over: "What happened here?" "I caught this woman trying to steal clothes." "Then I'm afraid we'll just call the police—" He turned and recognized Dana. "My God! She's Dana Evans."

There was a murmur of whispers from the growing crowd. "She's Dana Evans..." "We watch her news every night..." "You remember her report from the war zone?" The manager said, "I'm sorry, Miss Evans. Clearly there was a misunderstanding." "No, no," Dana said quickly, "I'm shoplifting." She held out her hands. "You can arrest me." The manager smiled. "I would never have dreamed of this. You may keep this dress, Miss Evans, a little of ours. We are honored that you like it." Dana stared at him incredulously, "You're not going to arrest me?"

He smiled wider. "Let me tell you. I'll trade this dress for your autograph. We're your big admirers." A woman onlookers exclaimed: "And me!" "Can you sign me?" More people gathered around. "Look! She's Dana Evans." "Can you sign it for me, Miss Evans?" "My husband and I watched your show every night when you were in Sarajevo." "You really did bring the war to life." "I want an autograph too." Dana stood there, and as the seconds passed, she grew more and more desperate.She looked around, and the two men were still waiting there.

Dana's thoughts raced.She turned to the crowd and smiled. "Let me tell you what I'm going to do. Let's get outside in the fresh air and I'll autograph each of you." The crowd cheered excitedly. Dana handed the dress to the manager: "You can keep it, thank you." She walked toward the door, followed by her admirers, and the two men outside backed away as the crowd closed in on them, Puzzled. Dana turned to her admirers, "Who's first?" They crowded around her, pens and paper in outstretched hands. The two men stood there, very uncomfortable.Dana signed while walking towards the exit.The crowd followed her outside.A taxi pulled over to drop off passengers.

Dana turned to the crowd: "Thank you, I have to go now." She hopped into the cab and it disappeared into the traffic in an instant. Jack Stone and Roger Hudson were talking on the phone: "Mr. Hudson, she escaped from us, but—" "Damn it! I don't want to hear this. I want her to disappear right now—now." "Don't worry, sir. We got the taxi's license plate number. She won't go far." "Don't let me down again." Roger Hudson dropped the microphone with a bang. The Changsen, Peary and Scott department stores in Chicago were packed with customers.At the scarf counter, a clerk puts the finishing touches on Dana's package. "Would you like to pay in cash or on account?" "Cash." There's no good in leaving traces of papers. Dana grabbed her package and was about to walk to the exit when suddenly she stopped, terrified.Two other men were standing outside the door with walkie-talkies in their pockets.Dana stared at them, her lips suddenly dry.She turned and rushed back to the counter. The clerk asked, "Anything else, miss?" "No. I—" Dana looked around desperately: "Is there another door to go out?" "Oh yes, we have several exits." It's no use, Dana thought.They'll get them all under control, there's no escape this time. Dana noticed a female customer in a battered green coat staring at a scarf inside a glass frame.Dana studied her for a moment, then walked over. "Pretty, isn't it?" Dana said. The woman smiled slightly, "It's really pretty." The man outside watched the two women who were talking.They looked at each other and shrugged.They have controlled every exit. Inside the store, Dana is saying, "I like this coat you're wearing. It's just the color I like." "I'm afraid this old dress is almost worn out. Yours is very pretty." Two men outside watched the conversation take place. "It's freezing cold," one of the men complained. "I wish she'd get out of here so we can end this thing." His companion nodded. "She can't—" He broke off abruptly.He saw two women in the shop begin to change their coats.He grinned. "God, look how she's going to sneak away. They're changing coats. What a stupid bitch." The two women disappeared for a moment behind the hanger.One of the men speaks into the walkie-talkie: "Target is changing her red jacket for a green one... Grab her. She's walking towards Exit 4 and intercept her there." At exit four, two men were waiting.Moments later, one of them spoke into the walkie-talkie: "We saw her, bring the car over here." They watched her go out into the cold air.Wrapping her green coat tightly around her body, she walked down the street.They surrounded her.When she came around the corner to hail a taxi, the two men grabbed her arms. "You don't need a taxi, we have a nice car for you." She looked at them in surprise: "Who are you? What are you talking about?" One of the men glared at her: "You're not Dana Evans!" "Oh, of course I'm not." The two men looked at each other, let go of her hand, and ran back to the store.One of them "clicks" on the walkie-talkie: "Wrong target, wrong target. Did you hear me?" Dana had disappeared as others swarmed into the store. She's trapped in a living nightmare, plunged into a hostile world hunted by unknown foes.She is caught in a web of terror, almost paralyzed with terror.Dana started walking briskly as soon as she got out of the taxi, trying not to run so as not to attract attention, she didn't know where she was going.She passes a store with a sign that reads "Fantasy House. Fantastic Dresses for All Occasions."On impulse, Dana walked in.It was filled with all kinds of clothing.Wigs and cosmetics. "Are you okay?" "Yes, call the police and tell them someone is trying to kill me." "Miss?" "Oh—yes. I'd like to try on the blonde wig." "this way please." A minute later, Dana was looking at her blonde image in the mirror. "It's amazing how much it changes your appearance." I hope so. Outside the store, Dana hails a cab. "O'Hare Airport." I had to get over to Kenmore. The phone rang, and Rachel picked it up: "Hello...Dr. Yang?...The final result of the examination?" Jeff saw her face tense suddenly. "You can tell me on the phone, wait a minute." Rachel looked at Jeff, took a deep breath, and took the phone into the bedroom. He could hear her voice, softly. "Go on, doctor." There was a full three minutes of silence, and just as Jeff was about to go into the bedroom, worried, Rachel came out, flushed with a flush he had never seen before. "It works!" she almost gasped with excitement. "Jeff, I'm recovering. The new treatment is working!" Jeff said, "Thank God! That's great, Rachel." "He wanted me to stay here for a few more weeks, but the crisis is over." Her voice sounded cheerful. "Let's go out and celebrate," Jeff said, "I'll stay with you until—" "No." "why no?" "I don't need you anymore, Jeff." "I know, and I'm glad we—" "You don't understand. I want you to leave." He stared at Rachel, extremely surprised: "Why?" "Dear, sweet Jeff. I don't want to hurt your feelings, but now that I'm recovering, it means I can get back to work. This is my life, and that's who I am. I'm going to fight Give me a call to see what work is on hand. I feel stuck here with you. Thank you for helping me Jeff, I really appreciate it. But it's time to say goodbye. I believe Da Na misses you. So please, why don't you just walk away, honey?" Jeff looked at her for a moment, then nodded, "Okay." Rachel watched him walk into the bedroom and began to pack his luggage. Twenty minutes later, when Jeff came out with the suitcase, Rachel was on the phone. "...and I'm back in the real world, Betty. I'll be back at work in a few weeks...I know. Isn't that nice?" Jeff stood there, waiting to say goodbye.Rachel waved to him, then got back on the phone. "I tell you what I want...Let me hear beautiful tropical shots..." Rachel watched as Jeff walked out the door.She slowly let the microphone slip from her hand. She went to the window and stood there, watching the only man she ever loved walk out of her life. Dr. Yang's words still echoed in her ears: "Miss Stevens, I'm sorry, but I have bad news. The treatment didn't work...the cancer has metastasized...it's spread too far and I'm sorry it's gone It's late...maybe in a month or two..." Rachel remembered Hollywood director Roderick Marshall telling her, "I'm so glad you're here. I'm going to make you a big star." When excruciating pain began to torment Rachel's body again, Roderick Marshall should be proud of me, she thought. When Dana's plane landed, Dulles Airport in Washington was packed with passengers waiting to collect their luggage.Dana walked through the luggage carousel to the street and got into a waiting taxi.There are no suspicious men around, but her nerves are extremely tense. Dana took out her bag and looked in the small mirror to regain her confidence.Her blonde wig really gave her a completely different look.It has to work now, Dana thought.I have to go to Kenmore. Kenmore slowly opened his eyes, awakened by voices coming from outside the closed study door.He felt dizzy. "The boy is still sleeping," he heard Mrs. Daly say. "I gave him medicine." A man replied: "We have to wake him up." "Maybe it's better to move him there while he's asleep," said the second man. "You can finish him here," said Mrs. Daly, "and dispose of his body." Kenmore woke up completely from the cold. "We've got to keep him alive for a while, and they're going to use him as bait to get that woman, Evans." Kenmore sat up and listened, his heart pounding. "Where is she?" "We don't know for sure. But we know she's coming back here for this baby." Kenmore jumped out of bed.He stood there for a moment, transfixed with terror.The woman he had always trusted wanted to kill him.asshole!It won't be easy, Kenmore swore to himself.They couldn't kill me in Sarajevo, and they couldn't kill me here.He started dressing like crazy.As he reached for the prosthetic arm on the chair, it slipped from his grasp and fell to the floor with a sound that sounded like a thunderous crash in Kenmore.He was stunned, the men outside the door were still talking, they didn't hear.Kenmore fitted a prosthetic arm and quickly dressed. He opened the window and was caught by a gust of cold air, his coat was in another room.Kenmore climbed onto the ledge in his thin jacket, his teeth chattering.A fire escape led down to the ground, and he climbed to it, carefully hunched over to avoid the view of the living room window. When Kenmore came to the ground, he looked at his watch. It was 2:45, and he had already slept for half a day before he knew it.He starts to run. "We strapped up the kids just in case." One of the men opened the study door and looked around the room in surprise. "Hey, he's gone!" The two men and Mrs. Daly rushed to the window just in time to see Kenmore galloping down the street. "catch him!" Kenmore ran as if in a nightmare, his legs growing weaker and limp with each step, and each breath felt like a knife in his chest.If I can get to the school before they close at three o'clock, he thought, I'll be safe.They dared not hurt me in front of all the other kids. There is a red light ahead.Kenmore paid no heed and rushed across the street while dodging cars, ignoring the angry honking and screeching of brakes.He came across the street and kept running. Miss Kelly would call the police, and they would protect Dana. Kenmore was out of breath, and he felt a tightening in his chest.He glanced at his watch again. It was two fifty-five.He looked up, and the school was right in front of him.There are two more blocks. I'm safe, Kenmore thought.They haven't finished class yet.A minute later he reached the front door, and he stopped in front of it, staring at it incredulously, it was locked.Suddenly, Kenmore felt a firm grip on one of his shoulders from behind. "It's Saturday, fool." "Stop here," Dana said.The taxi was two blocks from her apartment.Dana drove the taxi away.She walked slowly, her body tense, every sense on high alert.She watched the street carefully, looking for signs of anomalies.She believes Kenmore is safe.Jack Stone is protecting him. When Dana came around the corner of the apartment building, she avoided the main entrance and walked into the alley that led to the back door of the building, which was empty.Dana walked into the staff corridor and climbed the stairs gently. She came to the second floor, walked along the aisle, but stopped suddenly.The door to her apartment was thrown wide open, and Dana felt a surge of fear.She ran to the door and rushed in: "Kenmore!" It was empty.Dana frantically dashes around the apartment, wondering what's going to happen.Where is Jack Stone?Where is Kenmore?In the kitchen, a cabinet drawer fell to the floor, its contents scattered.There are dozens of small boxes, some full, some empty.Dana picked one up curiously and looked at it. The label said, Buspar 15 mg tablet NDCD087D822-32. what are they?Is Mrs. Daly taking medicine?Or give them all to Kenmore?Does it have anything to do with a change in his demeanor?Dana picked up a box and put it in her coat pocket. Dana slipped out of the apartment in deep terror. She came out the back door and walked down the alley to the street.As Dana turned the corner, a man hiding behind a tree called his accomplice on the opposite corner on a walkie-talkie. In front of Dana is the Washington Pharmacy.Dana walked in. The pharmacist said, "Oh, Miss Evans, can I help you?" "Yes, Cokina, I'm a little curious about that." She pulled out the locket.The pharmacist glanced at it: "Buspar, this is an anxiolytic. White crystals, soluble in water." "What does it do?" Dana asked. "It's a laxative, it has a sedative effect. Of course, if taken in excess, it can cause drowsiness and fatigue." He's sleeping, do you want me to wake him up? He was tired after school and I thought a nap might help him... So that explains what happened, and it was Pamela Hudson who sent Mrs. Daly. And I gave Kenmore to that bitch, Dana thought.She felt sick to her stomach. She looked at the dose: "Thank you, Cokina." "You're welcome, Miss Evans." Dana went out back into the street when two men approached her. "Miss Evans, we can talk to you about—" Dana turned and ran, followed by the men.Dana came around the corner, where a policeman at the intersection was directing heavy traffic. Dana rushed to him in the street. "Hi! Go back, miss." Dana kept running. "You're walking against the light! Did you hear me? Go back!" Two men waited around the corner, watching. "Are you deaf?" the policeman yelled. "Shut up!" She slapped the policeman hard.Angry cops grabbed Dana's arm. "You are under arrest, miss." He dragged Dana to the sidewalk and, holding her in his arms, spoke into the radio: "I need a police car." The two men stood there looking at each other, bewildered. Dana looked at them and smiled.The siren sounded closer and a few seconds later a police car pulled up in front of them. The two men watched helplessly as Dana was stuffed into the back of the patrol car and drove off. Inside the police station, Dana said, "I have a right to make a phone call, don't I?" "Yes," said the officer. He handed Dana a phone.She made a phone call. Twelve blocks away, a man clutching Kenmore's collar was dragging him toward a parked limousine with a roaring motor. "Please! Please let me go!" Kenmore pleaded. "Shut up, son of a bitch." Four sailors in uniform approached. "I don't want to go into the alley with you," Kemore cried. The man looked at Kenmore suspiciously: "What?" "Please don't take me into the alley." Kenmore turned to the sailors and called, "He wants to give me four dollars to go with him into the alley, but I don't want to. " The sailors stopped and stared at the man. "What's going on? You dirty pervert..." The man turned back, "No, no. Wait a minute. You don't understand..." One of the sailors snapped, "No, we understand, buddy. Get your hands off that kid." They surrounded the man.He raised his hands to protect himself, but Kenmore slid away quickly. A little postman with a parcel just got off his bicycle and was walking towards a house.Kenmore hopped on his bike and pedaled like crazy.The man watched in dismay as Kenmore turned a corner and disappeared.The sailors were still coming towards him. Inside the police station, the door to Dana's cell slammed open. "You may go, Miss Evans. You are bailed." It's Matt!The phone worked, Dana thought happily.He will never leave her alone. As Dana walked toward the exit, she froze in surprise.A man stood there waiting for her. He smiled at Dana and said, "You're free, sister. Let's go." He took Dana's arm firmly and began to pull her toward the street.They had just stepped out the door when the man stopped in shock.A full interview team from Washington Tribune was waiting at the door. "Look this way, Dana..." "Dana, did you really slap the cop?" "Can you tell us what happened?" "Did he harass you?" "Are you going to press charges?" The man backed away, covering his face at the same time. "What's the matter?" Dana yelled, "Don't you want to take a picture?" He fled. Matt Baker appeared beside Dana: "Get out of this ghost place." They're in Matt Baker's office in the Washington Tribune corporate building.For the past half hour, Elliott Cromwell, Matt Baker and Abby Rathman have listened to Dana's statement in stunned silence. "...and the FRA was involved. That's why General Brewster tried to stop my investigation." Eliot Cromwell said. "I'm so shocked, how could we get Taylor Winthrop so wrong? I think we should inform the White House of what happened and ask them to inform the Attorney General and the FBI." Dana said, "Elliot, so far we've only had my verbal allegations against the Roger Hudsons. Who do you think they'll believe?" "Don't we have any evidence?" Abi Lassman said. "Sasha Shadanov's brother is alive. I'm sure he will speak. If we just pull a thread, the whole truth will come out." Matt Baker took a deep breath and looked at Dana appreciatively. "When you're looking for a story, you're really looking for a story." Dana said, "Matt, what do we do with Kenmore? I don't know where to find it?" Matt said firmly: "Don't worry, we will find him. In the meantime, we have to find a place for you to hide where no one can find you." Abby Lassman weighs in: "You can use my apartment, no one will think of looking for you there." "Thank you." Dana turned to Matt: "About Kenmore..." "We're notifying the FBI of their involvement right away and I'll send you a driver to Abbie's apartment. The situation is still under our control Dana. Everything will be fine and I'll let you know as soon as I hear Call up." Kenmore pedaled his bike along the cold street, looking back anxiously every few moments.There was no trace of the man who had just caught him.I have to go to Dana, Kenmore thought desperately.I can't let them hurt her.The problem is that Washington Tribune's studios are on the other side of downtown Washington. Kenmore came to a bus stop, jumped off his bike and pushed it onto the grass.When a bus approached, Kenmore fumbled in his pockets, only to realize he was penniless. Kenmore turned to a passerby for help. "Excuse me, can I have a—" "Go away, kid." Kenmore tried it on an approaching woman: "Excuse me, I need a fare—" The woman hurried away. Standing in the cold, shivering without a coat, no one seemed to care about him.I must get fare money, Kenmore thought. He jerked the artificial arm down and lowered it onto the grass.As another man passed by, Kenmore held out his stump and said, "Excuse me, sir. Can you give me a fare?" The man stopped. "Of course, kid," he said, handing Kenmore a dollar. "Thank you." When the man walked away, Kenmore quickly put on the prosthetic arm.A bus is approaching, only a block away.I've made it, Kenmore thought gleefully.Just then, he felt a sting in the back of his neck.He was about to turn around when everything became a blur.But he heard a voice screaming, NO!No!Kenmore fell heavily to the ground, unconscious.Passers-by began to gather around. "What happened?" "Is he unconscious?" "Is he all right?" "My son is diabetic," a man said, "and I'll take care of him." He helped Kenmore up and put him into a waiting limousine. Abby Rathman's apartment in Northwest Washington is spacious and comfortably furnished with new furniture and crisp white carpet.Dana paced the apartment alone, distractedly waiting for the phone to ring.Kenmore will be all right, they have no reason to hurt him, he will be all right.where is he?Why can't they find him? When the phone rang, it startled Dana.She grabbed it and said, "Hello?" The phone was disconnected.It rang again, and Dana realized it was her phone.She felt a sudden sense of relief.She pressed a key: "Jeff?" Roger Hudson's voice said softly, "We've been looking for you, Dana, and I've got Kenmore." Dana stood there, unable to move, unable to speak.Finally she whispered: "Roger—" "I'm afraid I can't control the people here anymore. They're trying to cut off that good arm of Kenmore. Should I agree with them?" "No!" it was a scream, "what—what do you want?" "I just want to talk to you," said Roger Hudson reasonably. "I want you to come to my house, and I want you to come by yourself. responsible for what happened to you." "Roger—" "I'll wait for you in thirty minutes." The phone hung up. Dana stood there, paralyzed by a combination of terror and numbness.Nothing can happen to Kenmore, nothing can happen to Kenmore.Dana pressed Matt Baker's number with trembling fingers.Matt's recording came from inside. "You called Matt Baker's office. I'm out today, but please leave a message and I'll return your call as soon as possible." There was a short, sharp signal from within.Dana took a deep breath and spoke into the phone, "Matt, I—I just got a call from Roger Hudson. He's holding Kenmore hostage in his house. I'll be right there, please. Get moving before something happens to Moore. Call the police. Hurry up!" Dana shuts her phone and heads for the door. Abby Rathman is putting some letters on Matt Baker's desk.That's when she saw the message indicator on Matt's phone blinking.She punched in Matt's code and played Dana's recording.She stood there for a moment, listening, and then she smiled and hit the erase key. As soon as Jeff's plane landed at Dulles, he called Dana. Throughout the flight, he thought about the strange tone in her voice and the unsettling "what if something happened to me".Her cell phone kept ringing.Next, Jeff tried her apartment, but no one answered.He got into a taxi and gave the driver the address of Washington Tribune Television. When Jeff walked into Matt's reception room, Abbie said, "Oh, Jeff! Nice to meet you." "Thanks, Abbie." He walked into Matt Baker's office. Matt said, "So you're back. How's Rachel?" The question caught Jeff a little off guard. "She's fine," he said dully. "Where's Dana? She didn't answer the phone." Matt said, "My God, you don't know what's going on, do you?" "Tell me," Jeff said nervously. In the reception room, Abby put his ear to the closed door.She could hear only fragments of the conversation. "...Attempt to take her life...Sasha Shadanov...Krasnoyarsk-26...Kenmore...Roger Hudson..." Abby has heard enough.She hurried to her desk and picked up the phone.A minute later she was on the phone with Roger Hudson. In the office, Jeff was astonished listening to Matt's speech. "I can not believe it." "It's all true," Matt Baker assured him. "Dana's at Abbie's house. I told Abbie to call her apartment again." He dialed the intercom, but before he could speak, He heard Abby's Lu Yin. "...Jeff Connors is here. He's looking for Dana, and I think you'd better get her out of there. They're going there in a minute... Yes, I'll take care of it, Mr. Hudson .if--" Abby heard a sound and turned his head.Jeff Connors and Matt Baker stood in the doorway, glaring at her. Matt said, "You bitch!" Jeff turned to Matt frantically. "I've got to get to the Hudsons. I need a car." Matt Baker glanced out the window. "You're never going to make it in time. There's one car after another on the street." From the heliport on the roof, they heard the Washington Tribune helicopter landing.The two men looked at each other.