Bam! Bam! She hit it twice more, widening the hole, breathing hard. She couldn’t lift the trashcan another minute. She let it fall, and it dropped loudly to the floor.
She broke off pieces of the jagged plastic with her hand, then reached through and twisted the lock on the knob. It turned. She yanked her hand out of the jagged hole, opened the door, and ran inside.
“Eileen!” she screamed. Smoke made it almost impossible to breathe in the small room. She prayed she’d gotten to Eileen in time and that the security guys hadn’t taken her away. She went to the door, and it was unlocked.
She twisted the knob and burst through the door.
Chapter Seventy-nine
“Eileen!” Rose cried out in relief. The office was smoky but Eileen was alive, struggling against rope that bound her to a metal chair. Her eyes were wide above duct tape covering her mouth. A bruise on her forehead showed fresh blood. She made guttural noises, trying to talk.
“Don’t worry, I got you.” Rose rushed to Eileen’s side. Duct tape bound her ankles, and her arms were wrenched behind her back.
“Hang on, this’ll hurt.” Rose yanked the duct tape from her mouth. It came off with a zzzp, leaving a wide red welt.
“Oh, God.” Eileen took a huge gulp of smoky air and started coughing.
“Wait, we need oxygen.” Rose looked around. There was a windowless metal door between metal bookshelves on the back wall, and she hustled to it. “They brought you in through this door, right?”
“Yeah.” Eileen coughed, her face turning red.
“Hold on.” Rose turned the knob and pushed the door open. The bay was empty. The white security sedan was gone. Sirens sounded louder, closer. Fresh air whooshed in the office, making a whirlwind of the smoke that set Eileen coughing harder, and Rose went back to her side, kneeling. “You okay?” she asked, touching her back.
“Get your hands off me!” Eileen coughed. “Don’t think we’re friends now. You should have saved Amanda, instead of me.”
Rose didn’t have time to discuss it. She grabbed a scissors from the desk and wedged the blade between the rope around Eileen’s hands. They had turned bright red, her circulation cut off.
“You left my daughter.” Eileen kept coughing. “I’d give my life for hers any day.”
Rose sawed through the rope, thinning it. She yanked, and it broke, then she started to cut and unravel the rest.
“Bastards.” Eileen squirmed and shimmied, struggling to free herself. “They killed Bill. They were gonna kill me when Mojo got back. I bet he took off.”
“No, he didn’t.” Rose snipped the last rope, flashing on that awful sight. “He’s dead.”
“How?” Eileen bent over and undid the tape on her left ankle. “In the fire?”
“More or less.” Rose bent down and ripped the tape off of her right ankle.
“Sorry I hit you, but you deserved it.” Eileen jumped up and shook off the pieces of rope.
“I’ve had better apologies, but let’s get out of here. I’ll show you the way, once we get outside.”
“Gimme a break. I know this plant like the back of my hand.” Eileen scooted out the door, with Rose on her heels.
Chapter Eighty
Rose and Eileen raced around the corner of the plant toward the lights and activity in front. The campus was in a state of emergency, abuzz with motion, shouting, and sirens. The air reeked of burned rubber, plastic, and oil. Black smoke leaked from the exhaust vents and stacks on the plant’s roof, sending sparks and cinders into the night sky. Thirty-some firetrucks were already fighting the fire, raging at the opposite side of the plant. Firefighters in heavy coats with reflective stripes ran this way and that, hauling thick hoses that lay on the asphalt like a snakes’ nest.
Rose and Eileen ran toward the access road, parked up with state police cruisers, ambulances, black sedans, and boxy white newsvans, forming an improvised cordon between the burning plant and the Homestead corporate offices. A massive crowd filled the corporate parking lot, and Rose and Eileen hurried toward it, out of harm’s way.
Tears filled Rose’s eyes when she realized that they were finally safe, and all she could think about was Leo and the kids. She felt a surge of deep emotion, a profound and unreasoning yearning to see them all, to be together again, whole and happy. She didn’t know if Leo had gotten her message before the battery died, or if he could make it here in time. She looked for him in the crowd, but they were shapeless silhouettes, backlit by the emergency vehicles and illuminated windows of the offices.
Someone started shouting, and Assistant District Attorney Howard Kermisez, his young assistant Rick Artiss, and a cadre of state policemen, FBI agents in navy blue windbreakers, and black-uniformed EMTs came running toward Rose and Eileen.
“Help!” Eileen shouted, with Rose behind, and the first to reach them were the EMTs.
“We need to get you away from this building.” An EMT eyed Eileen’s forehead on the fly. “Is that bruise impairing your vision? Can you see?”
“I’m fine.” Eileen hurried toward Howard, Rick, the state policemen, and the FBI agents, as a second EMT hustled to Rose.
“Let’s get you to the hospital,” the second EMT said, taking Rose’s arm and hustling her forward. “We need to get you treated.”
“Thanks.” Rose kept looking for Leo, but the crowd was still too far away.
“Thank God you’re here!” Eileen met the state police, the Assistant District Attorney, and the FBI on asphalt wet from the firehoses. “I’m Eileen Gigot and I was almost murdered tonight. Three men, security guards at Homestead, tried to kill me. I have their names and descriptions. They killed my husband, seven years ago.”
“Mrs. Gigot, come with us,” said one of the state policemen, his eyes alarmed under the wide brim of his hat. “You can give us a statement later. Please come away from this area. It’s too dangerous.”
Howard Kermisez took Eileen’s arm, falling into step beside her. “Mrs. Gigot, we’re fully briefed at my office—”
“No way, Howard.” The FBI agent grabbed Eileen’s other arm, flashing a brown billfold with a shiny badge at Eileen. “I’m Special Agent Jacob Morrisette, from the Wilmington office of the FBI. This is a matter of federal jurisdiction, and we’ll handle this.” He turned to Rose. “I know you’re Rose McKenna, and we have Kristen Canton at our office in Philadelphia. Come with us, please.”
Howard hurried along. “Jake, this is our case. It’s a matter of state law, and the criminal acts took place in Reesburgh County—”
“Not now, gentlemen,” the first EMT said firmly, on the fly. “These women need medical attention, first thing.”
“No, I said, I’m fine.” Eileen waved him away. “We have to catch those men. They left about twenty minutes ago.”
“Here’s the plan, people.” Special Agent Morrisette hustled them along, followed by the authorities and EMTs. “The staties will put out an APB, and we’ll get you ladies some medical attention, then we’ll sort this all out at our offices. Hurry, come with us.”
Rose let herself be hustled toward the crowd, scanning it for Leo. She didn’t see him among the state policemen, Homestead employees in yellow jumpsuits, Harvest Conference executives in glittery gowns and tuxes, and Reesburgh residents, of all ages. Everyone’s gazes were riveted to the fire, and every face showed shock, pain, and heartbreak. Some Homestead employees cried freely.
Rose thought of Juanita, June, and Sue, who’d been so kind to her, and she wondered if they’d be out of jobs now. She passed the crestfallen executives and sales reps, thinking of the enormous loss to the employees, the residents, and the town itself. She realized with a shock that somewhere along the line, Reesburgh had become her home.
“Eileen, Rose, over here!” someone shouted. Tanya Robertson and her TV crew hurried toward them, their videocameras whirring and klieglights blinding. Tanya held out her microphone, but the state police rushed to prevent her from crossing the cordon.
“Eileen, why were you in
the fire?” Tanya shouted. “What’s going on? How did you and Rose get together?”
“Tanya, here’s the scoop,” Eileen answered, facing the camera. “My husband, Bill, was murdered seven years ago, and tonight they tried to kill me, too.”
“What?” Tanya said, shocked. “Who?” The crowd burst into excited chatter. People in the back craned their necks, trying to see and hear. The FBI agents tried to pull Eileen away, but she didn’t budge, grabbing the microphone.
“We need to find the men who killed my husband. The ones who tried to kill me are Roger Foster, Paul Jensen, and Deke Rainwater. They were in a conspiracy with Joseph Modjeska, who was killed in the fire. I want them arrested for murder and attempted murder.”
“Do you have evidence to support these allegations?” Tanya asked, barely containing her excitement.
“I sure do. So does Rose, who saved my life.” Eileen jerked a thumb at Rose, and Tanya turned to her, with the microphone.
“Did you really save her life, Ms. McKenna?” Tanya held out the microphone. “Don’t you have any comment for me, this time?”
Suddenly, Rose spotted a motorcade of black sedans, behind the crowd. The cars were gliding away from the campus, heading out the access road and toward the highway. It had to be Senator Martin and his entourage.
“Yes, I do have something to say.” Rose pointed to the motorcade. “There goes Senator Martin. He’s the mastermind behind the conspiracy. He’s responsible for the murders of Bill Gigot and also Kurt Rehgard and Hank Powell, of Bethany Run Construction.” The crowd gasped, but Rose didn’t stop, her voice ringing clear and strong, like truth itself. “He’s even behind the fire last week at Reesburgh Elementary School, which killed three people and put my daughter and Amanda Gigot in the hospital. The fire wasn’t an accident, it was premeditated murder, by Senator Martin and his coconspirators.”
Tanya’s mouth dropped open, Eileen cheered, and the crowd erupted into gasps, chatter, and shouting. The FBI agents looked at the state police, the state police looked at the Assistant District Attorneys, and all hell broke loose.
“That’s enough of that, ladies,” said Special Agent Morrisette, clamping a strong hand on Rose’s arm and trying to tug her from the microphone.
“Hey, wait a minute,” she said, tugging back, until she saw Leo fighting his way to the front of the roiling crowd, his tie flying.
“Let her speak!” he shouted, struggling past a state policeman, and Special Agent Morrisette turned on him.
“Sir! Get behind that cordon! Who do you think you are?”
“I’m her husband. And if she has something to say, then let her say it. Honey?” Leo turned to Rose, his eyes shining. “Like your new hair, by the way.”
“I do have something to say.” Rose felt tears come to her eyes and reached for him. “I love you.”
Chapter Eighty-one
Rose and Leo left the FBI offices at dawn, holding hands as they walked along Market Street, in Philadelphia. The city was just waking up, and the sun was rising behind the buildings, painting the sky with swaths of yellow, like fresh latex from a roller. Only a few people were on the street, and two uniformed cops stood talking in front of the federal building. A street-cleaning truck with a rotary brush whirred water at the curb, and a SEPTA bus hissed past, half-empty. The only store open was the Dunkin’ Donuts across the street.
Rose breathed in fresh air, carrying the scent of glazed doughnuts and the first chill of autumn. “Smells good.”
“For a city, yes.” Leo looked around. “But I spent all week here. I’ve had enough.”
“Congratulations on your settlement.”
“Thanks.” Leo looked over with an easy smile. His eyes were tired, and his chin sported stubble, but he looked happy and relaxed, his tie loose and his khaki jacket catching the breeze. “I’d tell you how it went, but it doesn’t compare with chasing murderous senators and exposing corporate conspiracies.”
Rose smiled. “Not bad for a week’s work.”
Leo squeezed her hand. “Has it only been a week?”
“Yes.” Rose couldn’t believe it herself. “It’s Friday morning. One week ago today, the cafeteria caught fire.”
“Jeez.” Leo shook his head, and Rose sent up a silent prayer that Amanda would be okay. Last night, she and Eileen had been questioned by the FBI and the Assistant District Attorneys, but they’d been in two separate interview rooms, and Eileen had left for the hospital before Rose was finished. “Too bad we didn’t get to say good-bye to Eileen.”
“What?” Leo looked at her like she was nuts. “She punched you in the face, babe.”
“I would have done the same thing, if someone left Melly in a fire.” Rose was oddly fine with it, maybe because her face didn’t hurt that much. She’d iced the bump last night with a gel pack and felt like herself again, having washed off her makeup disguise. Although she was thinking about keeping the red hair, which suited the new her.
“Still, please, don’t do anything like this again.” Leo shuddered. “You could have been killed.”
“It’s all over now.” Rose squeezed his hand, and she could feel his love in the warmth of his palm. “I’m fine.”
“Never again, promise?”
“Promise.”
“Nothing can happen to you. I’ll never get another wife as good-lookin’.”
“Stop.”
Leo smiled. “One thing I don’t understand. Why would Campanile let Mojo do all the stuff he did?”
“I don’t think they knew.” Rose had a worry, too. “It really bothers me that they might not be able to prove that Kurt and Hank Powell were murdered. Howard said they don’t have the blood to do a toxicology screen, but I bet it would show that his new friends slipped him a drug.”
“Maybe they can check out his car, see if it shows evidence that he was hit, like a paint scrape.” Leo looked over, brightening. “I have an idea. When this all dies down, why don’t we offer to take his niece out, with Melly? Baseball’s over but I can get some Eagles tickets.”
“That’s a nice thought.” Rose squeezed his hand. “I wonder when it will die down. I can’t wait to see Senator Martin indicted. He played it smart, didn’t he? Kept the conspiracy to just a few guys on the night shift and Mojo, who did the dirty work.” Rose felt disgusted. “What is it with corporations? Aren’t they just made of people? Don’t they have kids?”
“They don’t think that way when it comes to money. And it’s somebody else’s kids, not their own.” Leo shook his head. “They’ll get Martin. He’ll be going away for life. Not only for his role in the murders, but for the corruption that was involved in the blackmail. It’s just a matter of time.”
Rose thought he was right. Late last night, the FBI had arrested the three Homestead security guards, in Virginia. “Maybe one of the security guards will flip.”
“Flip?” Leo looked over, eyes narrowing.
“I heard it on Law & Order.”
“Don’t mess with a lunch mom.”
“Exactly.” Rose smiled. “I hope they can rebuild the plant. It was awful to see it burn. Would they be insured for that?”
“Sure. The bad guys will go to jail, the board will replace them, and the company will rebuild. It’s too successful not to.” Leo squeezed her hand again. “And by the way, we’re in the clear, eh?”
“Thank God.” Rose breathed a relieved sigh. The D.A. wouldn’t hold her responsible for Mojo’s death or for what had happened to Amanda. “And I really doubt Eileen will sue me now, on her own.”
“It better go without saying. You saved her life.” Leo smiled. “All’s well that ends well.”
“Except for one thing.” Rose’s thoughts kept circling back to the same place. “I hope to God that Amanda comes out of this.”
“Me, too.” They both lapsed into silence as they reached the corner and turned right toward the parking lot.
The wind disappeared, and they approached the grim gray column of the Federal Deten
tion Center, with its slitted windows. Ahead lay the Police Administration Building and the expressway, where rush hour was starting. Rose felt the pulse of the city beginning to beat, but she didn’t miss the excitement. She felt as if her life was starting over, in Reesburgh. She hoped that Melly would have it easier now, but that could be too much to ask.
“Wow.” Leo shook his head, musing. “I still don’t get how you figured all this out. A school fire that’s intentional, set to kill a teacher who’s having a senator’s baby, and a forklift accident that’s no accident, to cover up a scheme that would kill children.”
“So many people are gone now.” Rose sighed, sadly, thinking of them all. Marylou Battle, Serena Perez, Ellen Conze. Kurt Rehgard, Hank Powell, and Bill Gigot. Even Mojo. All that death, all so tragic and pointless.
“But still, you figured it out. I’m proud of you, and more importantly, I’m sorry.” Leo stopped and turned to face her, eyeing her directly. His expression grew serious, and his entire body seemed to still. “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have vetoed you with Oliver. We’ll get him to make a statement that we won’t be suing the school.”
“Good.”
“And from now on, you and I will talk about everything, until we’re sick to death of talking, and we’ll make no moves without agreeing. Forgive me, partner?”
“I do.”
“You said that already, at the altar. And I do, too.” Leo smiled, and Rose smiled back.
“Does this mean we’re getting married, all over again?”
“Yes. So now I can kiss the bride, for keeps.” Leo leaned over and gave her a soft kiss, then more deeply, and Rose kissed him back fully, feeling them reconnect as a couple, renewing their vows, on the fly.
“I love you,” Rose said, when Leo released her.
“I love you, too. And I miss the kids.”
“Me, too.”
“Let’s go get our family.” Leo looped an arm around her shoulder, and Rose slid her hand around his waist.
And they walked to the car, together.