Read Love at First Flight Online

Authors: Marie Force

Love at First Flight (27 page)

“To the hospital.”

“But your boss told you to stay here.”

His jaw clenched with tension. “I can't
just sit here and do nothing.”

She reached up to caress his face. “Don't
shut me out, Michael. Let me help you.”

He got up. “There's nothing you can do.
Just stay here. I'll be back.”

She heard him go downstairs, activate
the alarm, and shut the front door. The phone rang not a minute after he left.

“This is Tom Houlihan. May I speak to
Michael, please?

“He went to the hospital.”

“Damn it! I told him to stay home.”

“He's very upset. He felt like he needed
to do something.”

“All right.”

“Mr. Houlihan?” Juliana swallowed hard. “Is
she suffering?”

“She's been vomiting for the last hour,
but she seems to be doing better now. They got her to the hospital before any
permanent damage was done.”

“Oh, thank God.”

“I'll call Michael's cell,” he said. “Thank
you.”

Juliana dragged herself out of bed and
into the shower. She tugged on sweats and a T-shirt and went downstairs to make
coffee. The story was all over the TV news. Reporters and legal analysts
predicted Michael would request a continuance of the trial until he figured out
how to proceed with his star witness in the hospital.

“Luckily,” one talking head said, “the
jury was sequestered earlier in the week, so they won't hear about this.”

“Will the defense move for a mistrial
anyway?”

“I think they'll try, but Judge Stein is
tough. If he can find any way to finish this trial he will.”

“Will the jury be told of the attack on
the witness?” the anchor asked the legal expert.

“Since it would color the current
proceedings— unfavorably for the defense—the jury won't hear about today's
events until after they've reached a verdict.”

“To recap,” the anchor said, “the star
witness for the prosecution in the Benedetti murder trial was poisoned in an
Annapolis hotel room where she was being held in protective custody. A
Baltimore police officer is in critical condition from what police believe was
arsenic poisoning. The fifteen-year-old city girl is the lone witness to the
shootings of three Baltimore teenagers last year. She was due to testify this
morning in Baltimore City Circuit Court.

The girl and three members of her police
detail, sickened by a poisonous substance, were discovered unconscious by the
girl's mother just before six o'clock this morning. Two of the officers are in
stable condition. Chief of Police Dennis Noonan and Baltimore City State's
Attorney Tom Houlihan will hold a joint press conference within the hour. We'll
bring it to you live.”

Juliana muted the television and called
the salon. Apologizing for all the rescheduling the administrative staff would
have to do on her behalf, she explained to one of the owners that she'd had a
personal emergency and needed some time off. Since Juliana rarely asked for
anything, her boss granted the unusual request.

“Take as much time as you need, Juliana.
I hope everything's okay.”

“Thank you.”

Next she called Mrs. Romanello to assure
her that she was safe despite this latest development in the trial.

“Do you know this girl? The one who was
poisoned?”

“Yes,” Juliana whispered. “She's
adorable, the most wonderful kid. Michael and I love her very much.”

“I'm so sorry. What a terrible thing.
You know you both can come here if you need to, right?”

“Thank you. I'll call you tomorrow,
okay?”

“Be safe, hon.”

Juliana put the phone down and tuned
into the press conference. Michael and Tom stood behind Chief Noonan, their
faces grim with fatigue and anger.

“This morning the entire city of
Baltimore is praying for three decorated police officers and a fifteen-year-old
girl who were attacked while in service to this city.” Chief Noonan paid
glowing tribute to the careers of the injured police officers. Their photos
were shown as the chief talked about them.

Juliana gasped when she recognized Scott
Brown, the officer who laughed at Michael's haircut.

The chief paused for a moment to collect
himself. “I know there will be a quick rush to judgment in this case, but I
urge everyone to let the detectives do their jobs. We'll find the person or
persons who perpetrated this crime, and we'll bring them to justice. I'll let
Mr. Houlihan give his statement, and then we'll take a few questions.”

Tom stepped to the microphone. “The
witness to the shootings is a brave, spirited, intelligent girl with an amazing
zest for life. Every one of us who has worked with her has been forever touched
by her amazing courage under the most trying of circumstances. We know that
courage and determination will get her through this crisis as well. The hearts
and prayers of everyone in my office are with her and her family this morning.”

“Can you give us her name?” a reporter
shouted.

“In an effort to protect her and her
family from further recrimination, we'll be maintaining her anonymity,” Tom
replied.

Juliana's heart broke as she watched
Michael look down in a failed attempt to hide his anguish.

“We will not rest until justice is
served on behalf of these victims.”

Reporters began shouting out questions
the moment Tom stepped back from the microphone.

“Chief, how do you know it was arsenic?”

“A variety of common symptoms.”

“Can you be more specific?”

“No.”

“What's the theory on how the poison was
delivered to the victims?”

“We're checking the room service and
take-out delivery logs to see what they ate, when it was delivered, and by
whom. We had video cameras in the hallway and the hotel rooms. Those tapes are
currently being reviewed.”

“What hospital is the witness in?”

“No comment.”

“Do you have any word on her condition?”

“Her injuries are not considered life
threatening.”

“Do you believe the Benedettis are
responsible for this attack?”

“No comment.”

“Mr. Houlihan, what're the odds of a
mistrial?”

“We don't believe there will be a
mistrial, but that'll be up to Judge Stein after he's heard arguments from both
sides.”

“Mr. Maguire, can you comment on your
ability to secure a conviction without the witness's testimony?”

Tom gestured for Michael to take the
question. Michael cleared his throat. “I'm hopeful she'll make a full recovery
and be able to testify. We'll request a continuance until she's recovered.”

“How well do you know the witness, Mr.
Maguire?”

“Very well,” Michael said softly. The
room quieted while the reporters waited for him to go on.

Juliana swiped at tears as she watched
him struggle to find the words he needed to pay tribute to his young friend.

“She's a terrific kid. Like Tom said,
all of us who've worked with her have grown to care for her very much.”

“That's all for now,” Chief Noonan said.
“We' 11 keep you informed of any developments.”

The news cut away from the press
conference for more in-studio analysis, but Juliana had heard enough. She
turned off the television, put down her coffee cup, and curled up on the sofa,
thinking of Rachelle and her Queen Bee T-shirt, her love of fashion, the way
her face had lit up when Juliana cut her hair, the story she had told about the
night that changed her life forever, her adorable crush on Michael, and her
haunting last words to Juliana. “I think you belong with Michael,” she had said
before saying good-bye. Not her usual “be cool” or “lata, gata.” No, she'd said
good-bye, as if she had somehow known that something might happen.

The house phone rang, and Juliana got up
to answer it.

“Hello?”

Silence.

“Hello?”

“Your boyfriend's next, Juliana,” a
raspy voice said. The phone went dead.

Juliana screamed and dropped the phone.
She ran for the door, and with shaking fingers she punched in the code to
deactivate the alarm. In light of the day's events, her police detail had moved
from across the street to the sidewalk outside the front door.

“Juliana, what is it?”

In a halting voice, Juliana told them
about the call. She pleaded with them to find Michael and warn him of the
threat. One of the officers reached for his shoulder microphone to report it.

“You'll tell Michael's detail?” she
asked the officer who escorted her back inside.

“Yes, my partner's taking care of it.”

“He knew my name,” Juliana whimpered. “They
know my name.” She jolted when the phone rang again.

The police officer answered it. “Hello?
Yes, she's right here.” He handed the phone to Juliana. “It's Mr. Maguire.”

“Juliana,” he said, sounding
panic-stricken, “tell me exactly what he said.”

'“Your boyfriend's next, Juliana.' He
knew my name, Michael.”

“I know, baby. I'll be home in a few
minutes.”

“Be careful.” Tears fell from eyes
already swollen from crying. “Please be careful.”

“I'll be right there.”

CHAPTER 23

 

MICHAEL RUSHED THROUGH THE DOOR TWENTY
minutes later.

Juliana was so relieved to see him that
she burst into tears as he wrapped his arms around her.

The police officer who had waited with
her returned to his post outside, closing the front door behind him.

“Okay, baby.” Michael smoothed a hand
over her hair. “It's okay.”

“They're going to kill you, Michael!”
Juliana knew she sounded hysterical but didn't care.

“Killing me won't stop the trial. They
know that.”

She wiped her face. “What about the
call? What he said?”

“They're just trying to scare me. And
you.”

“It worked.” The doorbell rang.

Michael went to answer it. “Tom? What
are you doing here?” He stepped aside to let his boss in.

“Hi there.” Tom extended his hand to
Juliana. “Tom Houlihan. Nice to meet you.”

“Juliana Gregorio.”

Tom cast an admiring eye around the
room. “Nice place.”

“You have time for social calls today,
Tom?”

Tom put his hands in his pockets, his
shoulders stooping as he turned to Michael. “I want to get you out of here for
a while.”

“I'm in the middle of a trial. I'm not
going anywhere until those bastards are convicted.”

“I'm not asking you.”

Michael stared at his boss. “You're
ordering
me out of town?”

“Either you leave for a week, maybe two,
or you're off the case.”

“You can't do this!”

“Yes, I can. Maybe you don't care about
your own safety, but what about hers?” He nodded at Juliana. “They have her
name, Michael. Are you really willing to risk her just to prove a point?”

Michael sagged as the fight went out of
him. “Of course not.”

Tom put a hand on Michael's shoulder. “The
trial is in recess for now while we sort all this out and until Rachelle gets
out of the hospital. Your detail will be taking you both to my house at Dewey
Beach tonight.”

“I want to go to the hospital,” Michael
said. “I need to see her... And her mother.”

“I'll get you over there this afternoon.”

“They followed us to Newport. What's to
stop them from following us to Delaware?”

“That's why you're going in the middle
of the night.”

“And when the trial resumes?”

“I'll bring you back. This is
nonnegotiable, Michael.”

Juliana watched them lock eyes in a
ferocious battle of wills.

Michael finally looked away. “Fine.
We'll go. But I'm coming back the minute the trial starts up again. No one else
is arguing this case, Tom. It's my case. Do you hear me?”

“Yes.”

“And
 
you'll
  
keep
  
me
  
informed
 
of every development?”

“Absolutely.”

Michael glanced at Juliana. “I guess
we're going to the beach,” he said, but she could tell he was still fuming at
being exiled.

After Tom left, Juliana told Michael she
needed to get a few things from the Collington Street house. The weather had
taken a chilly turn in the last week, and she needed a winter coat and some
warmer clothes if they were going to the beach. He insisted on accompanying her
and her detail for the short ride around the block.

Michael followed her as she unlocked the
door and deactivated the alarm. She tossed the mail, including Jeremy's
letters, into her purse.

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