“I can always tell when something isn’t right. My crystals haven’t led me wrong yet.”
“If you must know, I quit my job today.” It would be simpler just to admit it and be done with it.
“You quit your job? But why? Kyle, you’re beginning to make a name for yourself at KUTE. You and Carrie are the two most popular morning personalities in Kansas City.”
“Mother, if you don’t mind, I have to get off the phone.”
“You’ll call me?” She used the low voice that let him know he’d hurt her feelings.
“Of course, I’ll phone you soon,” he promised. He glanced at his watch to gauge how much time he had before he had to meet Richards. “Don’t worry about a thing.”
“Don’t forget to call me.”
“I won’t.” By this time he would have willingly agreed to just about anything. “I’ve really got to go now.”
“Okay, okay,” Lillian agreed reluctantly. “I want you to know you can come to me for anything. You know that, don’t you?”
“Of course.”
Kyle replaced the receiver with a sigh of relief. Once more he checked his watch. His rendezvous with the Secret Service agent was scheduled for a movie theater. The location had been Richards’s choice, not his. Kyle had agreed, although he didn’t understand why they couldn’t meet at his house the way they had before.
The sooner he got rid of the key, the better he’d feel. He wasn’t much for these cops-and-robbers games, especially now when his personal life was a mess. Although Carrie and he had been warned about being in danger, Kyle hadn’t sensed that it was anything immediate. Perhaps he should be more concerned, but he hadn’t seen any real evidence of trouble. At any rate, it would soon be over, and frankly he was just as glad.
Kyle reached for the telephone and punched out Carrie’s number. She answered on the third ring.
“Hello.” It sounded as if she had a bad cold.
“It’s Kyle,” he said stiffly. “Would you like to go to the movies with me?”
His request was followed by an intense silence. “You’re asking me to the movies?” she asked, as if she wasn’t convinced she’d heard him correctly.
“Yes.” His first inclination had been to explain what they’d be doing at the theater and state that it was her duty to see this fiasco through. He’d really invited her as an excuse to be with her. Such times would be precious few in less than two weeks.
“You handed in your notice this morning,” Carrie said in a clear, crisp voice, as if she were a professional reporting the news. “You came right out and told me you’re walking out on me and the baby, and now you’re asking me to go to the movies?” The last few words came out high and mildly hysterical.
“Basically, you’re right. I’m meeting Richards there to give him the key I found. Do you want to come or not?” He took exception to the way she suggested he was abandoning her and the baby but let it pass.
“I’ll come.”
“Fine. I’ll pick you up in fifteen minutes.”
She was ready when he arrived, and he was struck by how radiantly beautiful she looked in her pale blue cotton dress. An oversized bag was draped over her shoulder. She wore her hair down and tied at the neck with a silk scarf.
He tore his gaze away because he couldn’t look at her and remain unaffected. It had been that way from the moment the pregnancy was confirmed. Even before. He couldn’t look at her without having to fight down the desire to hold her and make love to her.
They drove in silence to the theater complex, which was adjacent to a nearby shopping mall.
“Richards suggested we meet him here?” she asked after they’d parked and were in line for tickets.
“Yes. I was surprised too, but he must know what he’s doing,” Kyle said. The stupid key felt as if it were burning a hole in his pocket.
“I’ll be glad when this whole thing is over.”
Kyle shared her feelings. The movie was some ridiculous good-guys and bad-guys thriller he never would have paid to see otherwise. Apparently Richards had an ironic sense of humor.
“Do you want popcorn?” Kyle asked as they passed the snack bar.
“I brought my own,” Carrie whispered, looking from side to side to be sure no one overheard her. “Drinks too.”
Kyle couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “You can’t do that,” he said, cupping her elbow and directing her to a corner of the lobby where they could speak privately. “Didn’t you read the sign on your way in the door? It says no one is allowed to bring food into the theater.”
“Sure, they want you to spend three bucks for a soda and twice that for a bag of popcorn. It’s highway robbery. I refuse to pay such outlandish prices.”
“Then don’t eat.” Kyle was fast losing his patience.
“I like popcorn with my movie.”
“Carrie, they could kick you out of the theater.”
“Let them,” she said with a defiant tilt of her chin. “Don’t worry, I promise not to implicate you.” She regarded him in a way that suggested she’d gladly stand before a firing squad before she so much as hinted he was involved in her hideous crime.
“Fine,” he muttered, but it wasn’t. Perhaps he should count his blessings that Carrie had refused to marry him. Heaven knew she could find the most unique ways of irritating him.
A teenager with a bronze tan that Kyle suspected came from a tanning both took their tickets and directed them to the appropriate theater.
“I suppose you’re one of those people who like to sit way in the back,” Carrie said as they entered the theater, which was fast filling up.
“Generally I do sit in the back.” It went without saying that little Carrie would prefer a front-row seat. “This evening we don’t have any choice. Richards told me exactly where to meet him.”
“What if someone is already seated there?” Carrie asked.
“No one is, so we don’t need to worry about it. I’m to take the aisle seat.” Kyle stepped aside at the third row and allowed her to go in first.
At least the seats in the first few rows were wider and more comfortable, Kyle noted gratefully.
“When’s Richards planning to arrive?” she asked, knifing into his thoughts.
“I don’t know.”
“I was just thinking,” Carrie said, in that easygoing way of hers that was indicative of anything but nonchalance. Kyle had been taken in far too often not to know how serious she was.
“Thinking about what?” he asked, making sure he sounded interested. A teenage couple claimed the two seats directly in front of them. They had both dyed their hair jet black and then let someone with a Weed Eater style it for them. The girl wore hoop earrings that were so big a seal could have leaped through them.
“I was thinking about doing some traveling myself,” Carrie continued. “I’ve always wanted to visit the South Pacific. The baby and I could come visit you, and you could show us around.”
“If that’s what you want,” he said, noncommittally.
“Would you like it if I came?” she asked, with the same nonchalance.
“I’d like it very much.”
That seemed to appease her, but it did little to ease Kyle’s mind. He wanted to take her by the shoulder and shake some sense into her. The words to suggest she marry him were on the tip of his tongue, but he’d vowed he wouldn’t ask her again. When and if they married, the proposal had to come from her.
“Cough,” she said under her breath.
“Excuse me?”
“Cough,” she repeated, taking a soda can from the bottom of her purse.
He coughed once politely and she used that as a diversion to open her soda can. Unfortunately his faked malady did little to disguise the popping and fizzing sounds. Nervously, Kyle turned around to see how much attention they’d generated. He was relieved to notice that no one seemed to care.
After taking a deep swallow of soda, Carrie looked at him. “Want some popcorn?” She opened her purse
, and he saw that the inside was stuffed full of popcorn, carefully packaged in a plastic bag.
“No, thanks,” he said, worried Carrie was going to get them kicked out of the theater. He wished he had thought to ask her to wait until after meeting Richards.
“Suit yourself.”
The minute the lights lowered, she began to munch happily on her snack. Kyle’s stomach grumbled. He hadn’t had dinner, and he hadn’t realized how hungry he was. He hated to admit how good the popcorn looked and smelled.
Previews were being shown when he reached over. “Are you still willing to share?”
“Of course,” she said, working a handful of kernels toward her mouth.
Kyle took his first sample, surprised how weak his principles were when it came to his stomach.
“Do you want a soda too?” she asked.
He might as well hang for a sheep as a lamb. “Sure.”
She dug around in that bag of hers and came up with a root beer, his favorite. “Thanks,” he said and when he went to open it, she coughed as if she were having some kind of seizure. Unfortunately his soda can wasn’t any less noisy than hers had been. The sound seemed to reverberate around the theater like the gun of a warship.
When he’d finished, their eyes met in the dimly lit theater and she smiled. Kyle didn’t know what it was about this woman’s smile that affected him so profoundly. He felt the power of it go through him like an electric shock. He tried to think of what his life would be like without her. Pride had demanded that he make his trek to the South Pacific sound like a lifelong ambition, but in reality he would give it up in a heartbeat if Carrie agreed to marry him. Half a heartbeat.
But even without factoring in her pregnancy, Kyle wasn’t sure he was keen on a long-term relationship. There was too much pain involved, especially when the other party might not return his feelings. There was nothing left to do but to cut his losses and remove himself from more potential misery.
“Excuse me.” A flashlight was aimed at the purse that rested in Carrie’s lap. The butter on the contraband glistened like diamonds under the glow. “Could I speak to both of you in the lobby?”
It was the same tanned teenager who’d taken their tickets earlier.
“What’s this about?” Carrie asked in a loud whisper.
“Shh.” The teenage girl with the hula hoops for earrings turned around and pressed her finger over her lips.
“Please, we prefer to talk to you in the lobby,” the usher insisted.
“They’re kicking us out of the theater,” Kyle muttered under his breath, blaming her. He could feel the stares of those around him, including the teenage boy with the weird haircut. Kyle glared back, although he felt like a first-class fool.
“They won’t actually kick us out, will they?” Carrie asked in a whisper as they followed the usher into the lobby.
“You’ll need to discuss that with the manager,” the usher explained.
Kyle reached for Carrie’s hand. For all he knew this could have something to do with Richards, although if it did, he certainly intended on making his opinions known. There must be ways of obtaining the key without publicly humiliating them.
They were directed into the manager’s office and told to sit down and wait.
“I knew this was going to get us into trouble,” Kyle said uncharitably as he paced the small office.
The manager, a middle-aged, overweight man, appeared in the doorway and hesitated when he saw them. “This generally happens with kids,” he said, frowning at Kyle as if to say he should know better. “This is the first time I’ve had to ask two adults to leave the premises.”
“Exactly what have we done that’s so terrible?” Carrie demanded, the picture of innocence.
“You smuggled soda and popcorn into our theater,” the manager said, as if this was a well-rehearsed speech. “Our parent company has a strict policy against such behavior. It’s posted throughout the theater complex, so don’t try to say you didn’t see the signs.”
“But…” Her indignation died a fast death, Kyle noted, as the manager held up her soda can and removed the plastic bag of popcorn from her purse.
“You’re welcome to come back to the theater with a written permission slip from your parents that states—”
“My parents? I beg your pardon,” Kyle said.
“Sorry.” The manager’s smile was apologetic. “As I explained, this generally happens with youngsters. You’re welcome to patronize our theater again as long as you understand that any food you consume must be purchased from our snack facilities.”
“Now that you have the contraband we’d like to return to the movie,” Kyle said sternly. He was an adult and refused to be treated like a juvenile.
“Then you shouldn’t have smuggled in goodies.” The manager’s voice rang with righteousness. “If you care to watch the movie, you’ll need to purchase another ticket.”
Kyle was not appeased. “I’ll see my attorney about this.”
“You do what you feel is necessary,” the manager said, without revealing the least bit of concern over a lawsuit. With that he escorted them to the front door and held it open. Once they were on the other side, he all but brushed his hands as if he were pleased to be rid of them.
Kyle was outraged at the way in which they’d been made to feel like criminals. The fact that they’d been forced off the premises and instructed to purchase a second set of tickets didn’t sit any better.
“Come on,” he said to Carrie, ushering her back to the box office.
“I’m sorry, Kyle,” she said.
“Don’t worry about it.” Hell would be sponsoring ice skating competitions before he’d ever visit this theater again.
“Everything I do backfires,” she murmured, her eyes avoiding his.
“It’s no big deal,” Kyle said.
“It isn’t just the popcorn,” Carrie continued, sounding close to tears. “It’s everything. Look at what’s happening with us.”
Now was not the time for this. They needed to get back inside the theater. Richards was looking for them.
“Nothing’s happening,” Kyle said, glancing at his watch and wondering if they were going to miss the rendezvous with the Secret Service agent.
“That’s my point,” Carrie continued. “I’ve messed up our relationship so badly I’ll probably never see you again. I don’t know if I could bear that.”
“Do you mind if we discuss this another time?” Kyle asked, impatiently studying the line. It could take them another five minutes or longer to get back inside the theater.
“It dawned on me how much I’m going to miss you and how much I need you, and all at once nothing else matters,” Carrie continued, undaunted by his lack of enthusiasm. “I talked to Cathie when I got home from work this afternoon, and she helped me see that I was fighting the very thing I want most. For once in my life it’s the same thing my father thinks is best too, and because of that I started to doubt myself. You see, Dad and I never agree. You and I don’t either, but we can work around that.”
Kyle froze, unable to trust what he was hearing. He gripped Carrie by the shoulders and studied her upturned face. “Are you telling me you’re willing to marry me?”
Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she nodded. “It isn’t just because of the baby, either. I love you, Kyle. I honestly love you. I don’t know when it happened or how, but the trip to Dallas was the best thing that’s ever happened to me. The baby is a bonus.”
Kyle was speechless.
“If you’re still set on traveling to Australia, I’ll go with you. Only I’d prefer the baby be born in the United States. Otherwise he or she can’t be President.”
“President of the United States?”
“Yes,” she said, nodding eagerly. “In case you didn’t know this. It’s the law of the land. And with your intelligence and my knack with people, it seems natural to expect great things from our child.”
Kyle brought his arms around Carrie and hu
gged her close. He would have much preferred to kiss her, but with the way matters were going he might be expelled from the theater for a public display of affection.
“You buying a movie ticket or not?” the man behind him in line asked.
“Yes. Sorry,” Kyle said, reaching for his wallet. He’d taken out a twenty-dollar bill when the theater door flew open and a young girl, the one with the weird haircut, staggered out. She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths.
“Someone was just murdered in the theater,” she cried and bent over as though she was going to be ill. Her boyfriend came out and stood beside her, holding her shoulders, but he didn’t seem to be in any better shape than the girl. Both youngsters looked pale and badly shaken.
The manager stuck his head out the door and calmly instructed the pair to return to the theater. “The police said no one could leave until they’d been questioned.”
Kyle exchanged meaningful looks with Carrie.
“What happened?” Carrie asked the girl and her boyfriend.
“These two guys were whispering behind us, and it seemed one was upset with the other, and then all at once there was this popping sound.”
“A silencer, I guess.” Her boyfriend spoke for the first time. “But it didn’t really hide the noise.”
“All at once this guy from the seat directly behind us fell into the aisle.” The girl covered her face with her hands and trembled. “There was blood everywhere.”
“The seat directly behind you?” Carrie repeated, gripping Kyle’s hand as if it were all that kept her from fainting right then and there.
“I think we’d better get back inside,” the youth suggested to his girlfriend.
A siren could be heard screaming in the distance. Kyle stepped away from the cashier’s window, his thoughts whirling at laser speed. That bullet might possibly have been intended for him. If it hadn’t been for Carrie getting them kicked out of the theater, he might be the one who was shot. Or Carrie.
He put his arm around her and drew her away from the crowd.