The Red Herring

Chapter 16

Dmitry heard the second gunshot. He hoped Beth had shot Vladimir and not the other way around. He ran around the corner and spotted Vladimir's bloody face. He breathed out a sigh of relief.

He turned toward the park. He saw Beth sitting on the bench in the same position he'd left her. No way could she have made that shot from there, he thought. He jogged across the street.

"I didn't see anyone. I looked but no one looked suspicious. No one was in a hurry. I just didn't see anything," Beth said.

"We need to get out of here. Let's go to your old house," Dmitry told her. She nodded and they departed.

"Hey, buddy," said Tommy from beside Mike's ICU bed.

"Where's Beth?" Mike asked.

"She had to go see about some Russians but she'll be back. She said to tell you she loves you," said Tommy.

Mike smiled. "I don't know what I'm doing."

"Well, for now, you're in the hospital until you get better," Tommy told him.

"No, I mean with Beth. I still love her. I've been pushing it into the darkest recesses of my brain for so long but now it won't stay hidden. I'm the reason she joined the CIA. I broke her heart and she went as far away as she could."

Tommy placed a hand on Mike's arm. "We wouldn't be where we are today if you hadn't broken her heart back then. Whatever the reason, sometimes we do things that make no sense. We hurt people and betray them and ruin them and we don't know why. But one day, we'll know. I believe there's a master plan for all if us and I believe you hurt her so that we could one day track this Soviet sleeper cell and take them out just like they tried to take out our agents."

Mike blinked. "Or maybe I was an asshole kid who didn't realize that she was the love of my life. She kissed me earlier. I felt it."

Tommy shifted. "Yeah... about that, uh, Jim kinda walked in on that. He's pretty angry at Beth about it even though it wasn't really a big deal, you know?"

"Is he mad enough to leave her?" Mike asked hopefully.

Beth led Dmitry into the townhouse. She found it empty and panicked. She called Devin. "Where are you?!"

"We're down the street at the park. Do you need us?" he asked.

"As much as I want to hug my babies, it's better if you stay there. Your uncle and I need a private place to sort out some things. I'll text you when we're done."

"Yeah, no problem. Hey, why can't you meet at Dmitry's hotel?" he asked.

"That's a story for another day," she said and hung up.

She walked into the living room and sat down. Dmitry did the same saying, "I think my mom is doing some crazy things."

"Why is that?" Beth asked.

"She was always secretive but it's worse now. I think she might be this ghost you all keep talking about." He rested his head in his hand.

"You think your mother is the ghost? Interesting. Well, she is technically a ghost since she's dead and all," Beth reminded him. "Did you know she was alive?"

"Not always," he said, looking up at Beth. "She came to me about three years ago because she needed help. I was so mad at her I couldn't see anything but red. I was only eleven years old when she left me. An eleven year old should not be forced to raise himself. He shouldn't be forced to dig through trash cans for food. He shouldn't have to search the streets for clothing and shelter but she made me do it. I almost shot her myself when she barged into my office."