Trifecta (30 page)

A paramedic had been standing by, watching, and he came
forward and began patting her arm and shoulder.  "Hurt here?  Here?"

"Yes," Julia grimaced when he got to her shoulder.

"Dislocated.  I can fix it now, but it'll be painful
for a moment."

The medic did something violent to her arm that hurt like
hell.  Julia tried not to cry, but she could feel tears running down her cheeks. 
The medic was checking her head, parting her hair to look for lacerations.

Robin looked like it hurt him too when the guy relocated
her shoulder.  He handed her a handkerchief. 

"These things gave you away, you know," Julia
said as she wiped her cheeks.  She saw Robin's quick grin for a moment.  She was
breathing in little gasps from the pain.

There was a swelling noise from the crowd.  She had to
push through the police barricading her to see the real Quijada emerge from the
mansion, handcuffed.  Robin took her camera and wordlessly took the pictures as
Julia told him exactly what to do.  He was tight-lipped and angry again.

"You do these things on purpose," Robin said,
between camera shots.  "Put yourself right in the line of fire.  McQuery told
you to stay back."  He was shaking his head.

Julia felt guilty for a moment, but it was because she
might have endangered the baby.  "I've been in South America, with rebel snipers
all around.  I've been in Russia and Bosnia.  This situation was nothing in comparison. 
Besides," Julia smiled at him and pointed out another shot, "you wouldn't
like me if I changed."

"You don't understand," Robin answered grimly. 
"I thought some bastard shot you.  I swear, you'll give me a heart attack one
day."

"This was personal, getting the pictures of Quijada's
arrest.  I had to do it."

"I know," Robin said.  "But you walked right
up to that guy impersonating Quijada.  He might have killed you himself.  These
drug people are crazy.  You knew Quijada had a contract out on you."

They were silent for a while, taking it all in.  Two policemen
were carrying an arsenal of weapons, guns and rifles, out of the house.

"This is so satisfying," Julia whispered to Robin,
as the real Quijada passed them on the driveway.  They could hear him talking to
Jay, imperiously asserting that he wanted his lawyer with him before they took him
downtown. 

Unlike his double he was looking around him haughtily,
saying this was all some impossible mistake.  He stared at Julia and Robin in the
pathway with narrowed eyes as he passed.  Julia felt herself shiver.  She glanced
down and saw the shredded edge of the huge, thick branch lying at her feet, but
pushed the image away.  She had been fighting not to look at it, how the heavy branch
had been savagely tattered by bullets.

"I never really believed it would happen," Julia
said with pleased satisfaction.

Robin rolled his eyes and took more pictures.  They watched
as Quijada was guided into a police car and it drove off.  Julia could hear a helicopter
thumping up above.  It was making an amazing cyclone of wind and she could feel
her hair blowing around wildly.

People were leaving their viewing positions at the gates
and rushing back to their vehicles.  McQuery was talking with the policemen around
them, who would be meeting downtown at Parker Center, where Quijada would be taken
for questioning. 

"We should take you to the hospital.  You might have
a concussion," the medic was saying as the press closed in like hungry sharks. 
Flashbulbs were going off in her face.  She tried to blink away green afterimages
as they shouted.

"What's your name?  What's your relationship with
Quijada?""How do you feel about having miraculously avoided being mowed
down by automatic rifle fire?"

"Why would a sniper be after you?"

Julia grabbed Robin's arm.  "We have to leave.  Right
now."

Robin turned to her with a questioning look.  Her face
had blanched white and perspiration sprang out on her upper lip.

"Please, Robin.  Get me out of here."  She started
moving toward the gate and almost fell over when her knees buckled.

"What's wrong!  Are you all right?" Robin asked
urgently.  He grabbed her around the waist when she almost fell.

"This is embarrassing," Julia whispered to him,
looking up at him pleadingly.  She leaned against him.  The press were still circled
around them, snapping pictures, lights flashing in their faces.  "I can't walk. 
Please take me to your car."

Robin put his arm around her and half carried her outside
the gates.  Her feet were barely brushing the ground as Robin rushed her away. 
McQuery followed them with his gun still drawn, looking tensely around in the trees
and squinting back at the house. 

Robin leaned her gently against his car and opened the
passenger door.  Julia slid inside.  Then he ran around the car and got in, too.

Julia was shivering so much her teeth were chattering.

"What's wrong?" Robin asked anxiously.  "Does
something hurt?  I'll take you to the hospital, right now."

Julia smiled but she didn't stop shaking.  "I'm fine,
Robin.  You diagnosed it before."

"Oh."  He slid over and put his arms around her
and hugged her tightly, stroking her hair.

"An emotional reaction," Julia said.  She buried
her head into his neck where it was warm.  She felt cold all over.  His skin was
wonderfully warm against her face.  "It usually doesn't happen this fast. 
But no one's ever come close to cutting me in half with a machine gun."

"You were like an ice woman out there," Robin
said soothingly, propping his chin on top of her head.  "So very brave.  Anyone
else would have been cringing on the ground.  But you had me aiming those shots
like a movie director."

"Now I'm falling apart.  Can't control my own body. 
It's shaking, and I can't make it stop."

"Shh.  Shh.  It's like combat fatigue.  It'll pass."

"I didn't mean to make you angry."  It was wonderful
to be held when her mind had finally realized it was terrified, and was now overreacting
belatedly, with a serious case of nerves.  If she hadn't bent over to get film from
her camera bag, she would be dead right now, cut in half like that oak branch. 

Before, when Julia had been on photography assignments
in war zones, she had to hide her fear.  Now she could let Robin know how she felt. 
He would protect her, and he seemed to have an uncanny ability to understand just
how she was feeling.

"I wasn't angry," Robin said.  "I was out
of my mind.  My response was inappropriate.  Getting mad at you.  Stupid.  I wasn't
angry at all."

"Maybe a little peeved?" Julia said.  "How
about exasperated, or greatly annoyed?"

"You do seem to get yourself in some awful tense situations,"
Robin acknowledged.

"Tense," Julia repeated, nodding at his understatement
and snuggling closer.  They were quiet and content for a few minutes.  McQuery was
standing outside Julia's window with his back toward them, guarding the car from
snipers but considerately turned away.  Robin rubbed Julia's back softly and she
could feel herself starting to calm down.

"We have to watch out.  We could end up having a serious
misunderstanding," Julia said with some irony, trying to keep from laughing. 
Now she felt hysterical.  She wanted to laugh, but thought if she started she might
not be able to stop.

"Yeah.  Like getting separated for months and months,"
Robin said gloomily.  "Now that would be really dumb."

"Only two.  I don't like being one of many,"
Julia said.

"It was more like years and years."  He stopped
talking to push her away from him so he could look seriously into her eyes.  He
held her shoulders and gave them a little shake. "You were never one of many. 
I was trying to explain that last night.  I made sixty-two calls to you in Boston. 
I counted.  And each night, you were right here with me, in my mind and thoughts."

"I promised myself, each day, that I wouldn't listen,"
Julia said.  It seemed like danger made her understand things more lucidly, like
it had at the cabin when Juan Carlos had almost killed her.  That time it had been
the realization that she was in love with Robin.  This new danger had brought that
back into focus.  She had to fight to keep him and make him love her again.

"Each night I vowed I would go out someplace, so I
wouldn't hear your voice.  But I was always at home, waiting.  I counted too, and
it was sixty-three calls.  I'm sure, Robin."

"Are you counting last night, when I said Quijada
was being arrested?"

"Of course," Julia said.

"Oh.  I wasn't.  That's the most important one, I
guess."

"No.  The most important one was the night when I
went to a play.  At the intermission I called up my answering machine, sure you
wouldn't have called again."

"What did I say?" Robin asked.

"You found out why I went back to Boston.  You said
we shouldn't throw everything away.  After that call you got kind of impersonal."

"By that time I realized I would have to come and
get you myself.  Dam, it's good to have you back here.  Even when we fight."

"With all the drug busts you guys initiated, Quijada
should be broke by now.  Fifty-eight arrests.  Everything you told me on the phone
calls is in my book.  That information was my excuse to listen to your calls.  Over
and over again."  She glanced up and could see him smiling.

"You're such a stubborn, willful person.  But you're
right about one thing.  I wouldn't like it if you changed."

"I am going to change," Julia said.  She was
thinking about the amount of traveling she usually did for her work that would be
curtailed since she was having a baby. 

"Well, don't," Robin said gruffly.  He looked
down at her hand.  "I see you're still wearing that silly fake ring."

"Didn't want to take it off last night, for some reason."

"Are we talking around each other?" Robin asked.

"We're just being very careful, now." 

"I like it when we're not being careful," Robin
said.  He had pulled her against him again and was talking into her hair.  His arms
tightened around her.  "I want to get you somewhere where we can be alone. 
I know how to stop the shivering."

It was interesting how near fatal danger, past and survived,
made her want to be close with Robin, Julia thought  It had never happened that
way on dangerous photography assignments before.  She took a deep breath and decided
she better remain cool.  There were policemen, press and officials running around
the car.  Some guy from the news media had already tried to take pictures of them
through the glass.  McQuery had stopped him.  Robin was pretty well known, being
the son of a senator, as well as a prominent defense attorney.  Whatever he did
turned into headlines in this town.  It didn't hurt that he was a handsome and eligible
bachelor either.

"That time it was from the cold," Julia reminded
him gently.  "Besides, your magic's already worked.  I'm not shaking any more."

"It was magic," Robin whispered.

There was a knock on the window.

Julia turned around reluctantly.  McQuery was leaning down,
looking into the car. 

"Can you come outside?  We need you to see if you
recognize someone," McQuery said.

"Are you okay?" Robin asked.  "You can do
it later."

Julia nodded at him and got out.  There were three policemen
behind McQuery with another man who was handcuffed. 

"He's the sniper," McQuery said, indicating a
muscular young man wearing old jeans and a work shirt.  He was very dirty, smeared
with black all over his face, hands and clothing.  "The police in the helicopter
spotted him up on the roof.  They caught him with the semi-automatic, trying to
climb inside one of the chimneys." 

The sniper looked ordinary, not like a deadly hired assassin,
with his brown hair and eyes.  He had been roughed up some.  His left eye was reddened
and almost closed by swelling.  The police hadn't been very gentle with him.

Julia was greatly relieved.  She wouldn't have to be wondering
when she would get a bullet in the back.  "I don't know who he is." 

"He's from Boston.  Probably one of the people who
ruined your apartment," McQuery said.

Julia felt sad and sick when she thought of the small,
bloody decapitated animal on her bed.  Robin was whispering in her ear, "Come
home with me now.  The caterers will be at my house soon, and then I'll have to
get everything ready for my dad's party."

Julia looked up at him and shook her head.  "If I
went with you now, you'd lose all respect for me later."

He laughed.  "You think I would take advantage of
you?  After what you've been through today?"

Julia smiled back at him sweetly. "I know you would." 

J
ulia hurried into the shower as soon as she got back to
her hotel room.  She had agreed to arrive early and help Robin with the cooking
and party arrangements.  Maybe it would make her feel less nervous about meeting
his friends, and especially his parents. 

When she got out and glanced in the mirror she let out
a piercing cry, horrified to see that her hair had turned a hideous bright orange. 
The brown-colored dye, which was supposed to come out with one shampoo had left
her looking like a circus clown.  Julia got back in the shower and lathered frantically. 
This time it was almost as light as her real color so she washed it a third time
and it finally appeared natural.

Julia agonized over what to wear.  White was too virginal,
pink too youthful and prissy.  Her black suit was beautiful, but all wrong for an
outdoor celebration by Robin's pool.  After trying and discarding many outfits,
strewing clothes all over the hotel room, she finally she chose a summery, blue
flower patterned dress with a flared skirt and pearl buttons down the front.  As
she shrugged into the matching jacket she stood sideways, peering in the mirror,
and didn't think she appeared pregnant. 

Julia grabbed her camera bag, making sure she had plenty
of film.  She didn't have a present but decided she could be the official photographer
and make an album of picture memories for the senator's birthday.

Julia drove west down Sunset Boulevard toward Beverly Hills
in her rental car.  As she turned up the hill toward Robin's house she remembered
the last time she had gone over this road, driving like a maniac in her own little
blue car with Robin.  Quijada's goons had been chasing them.  At that time she'd
had a fantasy of Robin being the ideal man for her, believing it was a playful illusion. 
Now she knew that her subconscious mind had already recognized the truth.  With
the fear she had experienced during that crazy chase it leaked the true facts about
Robin, before they were almost killed in the cabin at Lake Arrowhead.  She wouldn't
have had to go through all the agony in Boston if she had just trusted her instincts. 

Julia was still worried and tense as she parked near the
gate and pressed the button to the intercom.  If Robin actually was serious, and
this wasn't just a physical type of infatuation, she would have to spring a baby
on him. 

Even with all Tony had said about Robin being miserable
without her, he'd had plenty of time to change his mind and let himself be consoled
by many beautiful women in the last couple of months. 

The gate opened and Julia started walking up the long driveway. 
The seasons changed almost imperceptibly in California and she could barely perceive
a difference in the beautiful green trees in the enormous front yard.  The lilacs
had stopped blooming, which was the only indication that it was now officially winter,
because the sky was bright blue without any clouds and the thick flower beds along
the driveway were blooming riotously. 

She saw the front door open a few inches and Scooter dashed
out.  The little dog bounded down the stairs and ran straight to her.  Scooter jumped
up and down in front of Julia until she picked him up.  She couldn't avoid the pink
tongue, which washed her face enthusiastically.  And very thoroughly.

"Hi sweetheart, aren't you the best doggy," Julia
said, smiling into button brown eyes.  The dog was totally quiet and content to
be held, only swiping with a doggy tongue occasionally, as Julia continued up the
driveway toward Robin, who was now standing in the open doorway.  She didn't see
any catering trucks around.

"What a welcome," Julia exclaimed, laughing up
at Robin as she went up the steps.  He looked just as welcoming, with his light
magnetic eyes on her.  "You look absolutely fantastic, Julia.  I'll give you
an even better welcome than Scooter, any time you want."

Julia thought Robin looked magnificent as he put his arm
around her, gave a little squeeze, and guided her inside.  He fit the white mansion
as though it had been built for him, which it probably had.  He was wearing old
soft jeans and a tee shirt, but with his wide shoulders and tall athletic build
he would appear statuesque in rags.

Robin took the dog from Julia and put it down in the entrance
hall.  Scooter trotted off toward the kitchen. 

"When a dog licks you like that," Robin explained,
"it's actually aggressive behavior.  Scooter was claiming you as her own personal
possession."

"I'm hooked.  I absolutely adore that dog."

"Scooter's very particular.  She doesn't greet everyone
that way.  And some people get annoyed at her affectionate behavior.  Seems it takes
off make-up and all that stuff women wear."

Robin had been leading her through the entrance hall to
the living room.  "Scooter is the official welcomer.  But I'm glad you're here,
too."

"You don't really need to demonstrate," Julia
said quickly, suddenly feeling shy, and Robin laughed.  She was looking through
the living room windows to the large pool area in the back yard.  There were many
white, wooden folding chairs stacked against one wall outside.  She could see several
large tables, one that was stacked with tablecloths, linen napkins and large folded
umbrellas.  But there were no real preparations for a party.  The whole house was
totally empty.

"Where is everyone?" Julia asked.

"They'll be coming along," Robin said vaguely. 
He took her on a tour of the downstairs of his beautiful home, finally leading her
outside to the pool area.  "We can go swimming later, if you like.  After everyone
leaves."

"But when will they arrive?" Julia asked, finally,
after he had explained about how he was planning to decorate the back yard.

"You know, I have this problem now," Robin said
as he took her back inside. 

"I can see you aren't going to answer my question. 
I think you got me here early on false pretenses."  She tried to sound severe
but he seemed oblivious.

"See I don't know if there was a virgin birth, several
births I should say, or if Scooter's just a sneaky little slut."  He was leading
her through the kitchen and took her into the laundry room. 

"What a way to talk about Scooter," Julia protested,
sitting down on the floor in front of a washing machine.  Scooter was lying contentedly
in a large basket in the corner of the laundry room, on a giant red pillow, with
six little puppies around her.

"Do you want a puppy?  I have to make sure they have
proper homes."

"Yes.  I want a puppy," Julia said happily, reaching
out to pet the babies.

"I kind of suspect the tramp that lives across the
street," Robin said, leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets,
watching Julia with pleasure.  "He's a poodle and jumped the fence a few times. 
I think they'll be kind of cute."

Julia had already picked up one of the squirming babies
and was cuddling it under her chin.  "They look like animated toys.  I've never
seen anything so darling."

"I thought you'd like them," Robin said.  "That's
your second present."

"I really can't take two," Julia said.  She wanted
to stay and watch the puppies for a while, but Robin was pulling her up.

"The first present is upstairs."

"Are we talking around each other again?" Julia
asked.

"Do you like my home?" Robin asked abruptly.

"It's gorgeous.  I love the backyard, the way you
can see all the way to the ocean.  I bet the sunsets are magnificent."

As they reached the stairs, Robin swooped her up into his
arms and started carrying her up the stairs.  "I've always wanted to do this. 
Like Rhett Butler in 'Gone with the Wind.'"

Julia was thinking it was terrifically romantic of him,
but she was afraid he would seduce her before they would be able to talk.  With
his arms around her, holding her so close, she knew she didn't have a chance.  Her
body was already responding, making her feel weak and warm.

Robin got to the top of the stairs, still carrying Julia,
and went to the study, which she had seen before.  "Office," he said abruptly,
passing it after pausing at the door.  "Guest bedroom," he nodded as they
passed and paused at another luxuriously appointed room.  "Library," Robin
said as they went by a large room lined with bookcases overflowing with books, and
big comfortable chairs with reading lights over each one. 

Robin turned around and went back down the hallway, past
the stairs in the other direction.  "This is where I exercise."  Robin
had stopped in front of a gym filled with exercise equipment, weights, and a treadmill. 
The walls were covered with mirrors.  Then he walked a little further along the
hallway.

"This room is going to be the nursery," Robin
said, as they stopped in front of a bedroom room decorated in pastel shades.  "What
do you think?" 

"You're planning to have a family?  Ah...children?"
Julia asked very cautiously.

"Tell me.  You can be honest."  He gave her a
little squeeze and then pretended he would drop her, swooping her down threateningly. 
"I want the truth."

"You have a beautiful home, Robin.  It looks like
you have your whole life planned."

He turned around and crossed the hallway, standing in front
of a closed door.  "Could you open it?  My hands are full."

Julia leaned forward, turned the door knob and pushed. 
In front of her was an enormous bedroom, tastefully decorated in muted blue, grey
and soft green.  On one side of the room was a large fireplace, across from the
king sized bed.  There was an alcove with love seats and a small table with a glittering
chandelier over it.  One whole wall was glass and she could see all the way to the
Pacific ocean.  There was a patio outside the sliding glass doors with a built-in
jacuzzi.  Steam was rising up from the water.  Robin walked her through the bedroom
into the bathroom.

"Aren't you getting tired of carrying me?"

Robin shook his head.

The bathroom also had floor to ceiling glass windows which
revealed the same spectacular view.  The floor was marble and there were two sinks
on either side of a large mirror, which divided the room in half.  "Bathroom,"
he said unnecessarily.

Robin walked out of the bathroom.  He looked down at Julia
and stood in the center of the bedroom, turning around and around slowly, shaking
his head, frowning.  "Don't you think there's something missing?"

"You have the most beautiful home I've ever seen." 
She was telling him the truth.  Julia had seen larger houses, but never one so carefully
thought out, and none which had been so exquisitely decorated.  She wanted to study
the paintings on the walls.  Having majored in art in college she knew they were
originals.

"Seems pretty empty to me," Robin murmured so
softly that Julia almost didn't hear him.  He took her over to the master bed and
finally put her down on the end of it.  Then he sat down beside her and picked up
her left hand.  "Damn, this is harder than getting in front of a jury and making
a plea for someone's life.  I was carrying you around so I wouldn't be noticeably
nervous."

"I've never seen you nervous, Robin.  Not in the slightest. 
You can be overbearing, and arrogant, but never nervous."

"I'm never arrogant," Robin said seriously. 
"Or overbearing.  And you've messed up my carefully prepared speech."

"Go right ahead," Julia said.  Her heart felt
like it was leaping in her chest but she wouldn't anticipate what would happen next. 

Robin got up and paced, quite agitated, in front of Julia. 
Then he looked like he remembered something and went to the side of the bed, kneeling
down by the table at the side of the bed.  "See here?  I installed a refrigerator." 
He opened the door and pulled out a champagne bottle and two iced glasses.

Julia watched him as he popped the cork and it bounced
off the ceiling.  Then he poured the champagne ceremoniously and handed Julia a
glass.  "I never drink in the daytime.  But this is a very special occasion."

"Your father's birthday."

"You keep interrupting," Robin said severely. 
"And then I lose my train of thought."

"I'll be quiet as a mouse," Julia said, smiling
when the champagne bubbles tickled her nose as she bent her head to take a sip.

"And don't laugh," Robin warned.

"Sorry," Julia answered, biting her lip.

Robin walked a few paces away.  He had his back to her,
sipping the champagne, and suddenly he turned around and fixed her with his electric
blue eyes.  She could imagine the effect on a jury of his peers.  He could just
stand there and make her hair stand up on end, with one serious look.

"I want to fill this house up," Robin said, "with
Scooter and her puppies.  And babies of my own.  A real family.  I want this to
be a place of happiness.  I work long hours and I'm very good at what I do.  But
I want to be able to put all that aside and have a life away from the office.  I
would be a good husband and an excellent father."

He stopped and looked at her expectantly.  Evidently he
was waiting for some kind of response.

"Am I the jury in this case?" Julia asked.

"Yes," Robin answered tensely.

Julia looked at him seriously, as though considering. 
"No hung jury here.  We are in accord," she vowed, lifting her glass up
in a toast.  "You win the case...the prize, or whatever."

Robin finally smiled at her, his whole face lighting up. 
"I love winning."

"I'm sure you do it often," Julia commented.

He sat down beside her on the bed again and took her right
hand in his.  He slowly took the ring he had given her last night off of her finger. 
Julia felt a pang.  It really wasn't meant for her and she felt like she had been
stabbed in the heart. 

Robin held the ring up so the light filtered through it,
making a rainbow of colors on the wall across from them.  "Pretty isn't it?"