The Aftermath

51

Tom sped along the freeway in the rented Mustang, following Kemp's Hummer, through I8 traffic past SDSU heading for I5 and then Little Italy. When he heard that Teri was attacked and that she was concerned about her wife, he told Kemp that he was going. "I owe her Kemp." Kemp sighed but got in his Hummer and Tom followed him as the man weaved in and out of traffic with a touch of expertise Tom had never experienced before.

Before they left, Kemp patiently explained that one of his men would be at the restaurant in Little Italy, and another would be at the Union Tribune building. Tom nodded and headed for his car anyway. He wanted to see her, apologize to her, and didn't want to do it on the phone. The best way he could make amends for dragging her into this mess was to show up. That's what he was going to do. Tom knew Kemp understood this because he was doing the same thing. He didn't send one of his men to help Tom, he showed up himself.

Tom clicked on his ear piece and dialed Samantha to bring her up to date on the news.

"Yes, I know about Teri, its all over the news. Even CNN is playing the video segment of her being attacked in the parking lot. They are also showing pictures of a Bobby Anderson and Jim Stewart along with an image of their van. Police are all looking for them, and people are sending in camera shots of tan vans from all over the county. It's like Boston all over again, with the bomber back in April, you remember?"

Tom did remember. He was impressed then at how quickly the public tracked down and found the terrorists in that case. "I want you and Angie to get ready to go to Paris on Monday. Kemp is sending a man up there to stay with you until then."

"I thought you had to stay?"

"I do, but you don't. I want you far away from this mess. I'll follow as soon as I can. Probably a week or so. I'll give a full deposition and then take off until they need me back for the trial, if it goes that far. Hold on, Kemp is ringing me."

Tom switched over to Kemp's call.

"Hey doc, that little reporter of yours is a smart woman. She tracked down four rental agencies that have rented vans to Jim Stewart in the last four days."

"Shit. All different colors and makes I'll bet."

"You aren't that dumb either doc."

"Yeah, ok. I'm on the phone with Samantha, I'll ring you back."

"We are almost to the Trib building now."

"Right." He agreed and switched the phone over.

"Are you sure we wouldn't be just as safe here Tom?"

"I am. You said I would think of something, well I have, and this is the best I can come up with. Once you are in Paris, you are disappeared. Even if he somehow follows you there, he can't find you. He'll have no leads and nothing with your new ID's to locate you. I won't even know what your names will be. You will be totally off the map and free to roam around and shop and do whatever you want to do for a few weeks, and then I'll be there, and we'll all go do things together. Alright?"

She was quiet for several seconds, "Alright. I just hate leaving you here."

"Of all of us, I'm the safest right now. He wants to hurt me through you. If you are gone, I'm safe to hide in a safe house and then follow you. Is Angie there?"

"She's out with the horse again, and that dog. She's having a great time taking care of them and living the life of a ranch girl."

"Sounds like fun."

"She thinks so. I'm ready to get back to the city."

"Paris is one hell of a city."

"Well, you got me there. If it is between being stuck here or being free over there, Paris is certainly the better of the choices. What about Drew?"