Trifecta (69 page)

"No.  And I see where you're going." 

"I want you to remember that, because we do look exactly
alike." 

"I don't believe I look like you."

"Jack thinks so, and he's known you for years.  He
couldn't tell us apart."

Sabrina smiled at Eve.  "I remember when I first saw
you at Ferd's.  I thought you looked exactly like me.  And then you went into the
bathroom and saw yourself in the mirror.  You said you liked looking like me.  Now
I like looking like you."

"Would you check up on Ferd?" 

Sabrina nodded.  "The first time I was drugged I got
you.  The second time, a tattoo.  Life is really strange."

"Strange and extremely wonderful.  I have a present
for you, since we don't want to say good-by.  Two really.  When I went into Hashimoto's
safe, I took a lot of money.  Hundreds of thousands.  I'm putting it in your name. 
Ivar agrees and said you should have it for what was done to you today.  That's
why I'm going to the Bahamas.  Tax advantages are excellent.  We'll be a corporation."

Sabrina was speechless.

"The second present is nothing tangible.  But something
much more important."

"How mysterious.  I hope it's that you plan to come
back next week."

"Not next week.  But you'll see me again.  We'll have
a vacation together.  With Mark and Ivar.  At first, someplace out of the country. 
Maybe Australia or Switzerland.  We'll find a way.  But you already know that. 
The present is something you don't know.  It's about Mark."

"Oh, no." 

"Something good,"  Eve said smiling.

"Tell me quick." 

Eve could see by the way Sabrina's shoulders hunched and
her eyes narrowed she was waiting for a lethal blow.  Even her heart rate had gone
up alarmingly.

"Mark is madly in love with you.  He adores you, is
totally passionate about you, delights in the way you look, loves everything about
you."

"No,"  Sabrina said, shaking her head, looking
sad. 

"Yes." 

Sabrina just stood there shaking her head for some time. 
Finally she said, "I was just brainwashed today.  A few hours ago.  Please
don't do this to me."

"I would never hurt you by telling a lie.  Mark's
hearts skips when he sees you.  He has trouble telling, so he has shown you in many
ways.  He thinks you already know and that you are rejecting him.  Mark does love
you.  And he will do anything you want.  Even leave you.  So give him a chance,
Sabrina.  And try to believe me."

"I can't,"  Sabrina said almost helplessly.

"You have to.  You know you love him, but you're pushing
him away.  Just let him."

Sabrina was still shaking her head as if she could not
stop.

"He said just today that anyone would want you.  His
words were, 'She's talented and beautiful.  She's funny and sweet.' So give you
and Mark a chance.  Promise me." 

"It's really true?"  Sabrina asked, starting
to smile.

"How's that for a present!" Eve asked triumphantly.

Sabrina shook her head helplessly and laughed.

A few horns blared when a yellow taxi with black and white
checks on the doors spun across several lanes of traffic and skidded to a stop in
front of Sabrina and Eve.  The taxi driver got out and helped put the bags in the
trunk of the car.  It was all happening too quickly and Sabrina felt tears stinging
her eyes.

Eve winked at Sabrina and got in the back.  She rolled
down the window and leaned out, waving as the taxi started moving.  "Remember
what I said."

The traffic was jammed and Sabrina watched as the taxi
was slowly immersed in the heavy flow.  She could see that Eve was talking to the
driver.  She was leaning over the seat.  Sabrina watched as Eve climbed over the
front seat to sit next to the driver.  Her long legs had trouble and she seemed
to be laughing.

S
abrina felt tears falling on her cheeks, so she
walked quickly around the long block, wiping her eyes on her sleeve and muttering
that she should never have let Eve go.  It was too dangerous.  Eve would probably
eat gigantic amounts of food in front of people, forget herself and growl when she
got angry, or hurt someone unintentionally.  It was scary to contemplate.  She could
imagine Eve gulping syrup out of the pour spout in the wrong place, revealing her
genius to the wrong person, or forgetting to blink for minutes at a time.  She still
did that when she was concentrating.

On the other hand, Sabrina laughed out loud at the memory
of Eve's ungainly climb over the front seat of the cab. 

Sabrina was back at the front of the building before she
realized it.  She walked around the block again slowly. 

She wondered if what Eve had told her was true.  Mark's
heart skipped when he saw her? He thought she was funny and sweet? And beautiful
and talented?

Then what about last night? He had left her.  Sabrina found
herself tearing up at the memory again and blamed the drugs for her highly emotional
state.

She took a deep breath, trying to be logical.  Eve could
certainly hear it if someone's heart beat accelerated.  But as for the rest of it,
it was hard to believe.  Mark had been upset because she had been drugged and near
death.  It was easy to feel extreme emotion that way, after someone was dead, Sabrina
thought self-righteously.  Mark probably said those things when she had been unconscious
and they didn't know if they could revive her.

One thought kept recurring, though.  Eve told her to give
Mark a chance.  Being rational, she could do that in case the preposterous was true. 

Sabrina decided on the third trip around the block that
she would give Mark a chance, as a final promise to Eve.  But she was not going
to make a fool of herself or be at the mercy of a man who loved her only when he
thought she might die.

Sabrina was still confused and sad when she walked back
into her apartment. 

"Damn it, where were you?"  was her greeting. 

"I took a walk,"  Sabrina said coldly to Mark. 
She went into the kitchen and poured some tea and fought back tears.  Same old,
same old, she thought cynically.

Mark followed her into the kitchen.

"I was worried.  I thought that Hashimoto character
might have grabbed you again.  Jack said you just ran off after Eve got into the
taxi.  They said you could have a heart attack, or seizure, or convulsions from
withdrawal.  I couldn't decide whether to go after you or stay and wait for Ivar
to call."

Sabrina was silent, so Mark added, "Sorry I yelled."

Sabrina nodded.  "You want some tea?"

"No.  I want strong black coffee.  You really pissed
me off Sabrina.  You were entirely thoughtless."

Sabrina watched the bunched muscles of his back as he rummaged
for a cup and made instant coffee, banging things a little unnecessarily to punctuate
his feelings.

"I guess I was.  I was so sad about Eve I wanted to
walk around for a while.  You didn't hear from Ivar?"

Mark sat down at the table.  "No, not yet."

"Well, you don't have to stay.  I'll wait for him
to call."

"If you think you're going to get rid of me now, you're
totally nuts."

"How charming,"  Sabrina said, smiling.  "But
really.  You can go."

"I'm not leaving until those damn drugs are entirely
out of your system.  And I'm sorry Eve had to leave.  We talked today and she is
truly amazing.  I never understood your loyalty to her.  I just thought she was
endangering you in a very scary situation."

Sabrina suddenly jumped.  Morris, who had been sitting
on her lap, had stabbed claws through her jeans.  "Ouch! Bad cat, Morris."

"Did you hear something?"  Mark asked.

They heard a light tapping at the door.  Sabrina got up
to answer it and Mark shook his head.  He made her wait out of sight, to the side
of the entrance hall.  They were both worried.  No one got past Jack.

"Who is it?"  Mark asked through the door.

"Ivar Cousin."

Mark cautiously opened the door, leaving on the chain,
and peered out. 

"Excuse me for bothering you.  I thought Eve might
be here." 

For the first time Sabrina detected the slight accent. 
Maybe because he was under stress.  Ivar's eyes seemed to dart around and his presence
was surprisingly large. 

"Come in Ivar.  We were being cautious because Jack
didn't call."

Ivar smiled wolfishly.  "Spy tricks."

He looked at the two blank faces and said, "Sorry,
just joking."

The three of them went into the living room.  She wondered
really how Ivar had gotten past Jack.  Spy tricks? He probably knew them all.  It
was hard to imagine such a large person being a shadow.

"Eve was trying to reach you,"  Sabrina began. 
"She wanted to tell you she was leaving the country for a while."

"Where'd she go?"  He was already heading for
the door.

"Wait, Ivar,"  Mark said.  "She told us
everything.  She called Burgess Whitcomb's office and they're searching for you. 
So she said for you to use her apartment if you were in danger.  Then, when the
heat's off, you can leave.  She'll be in the Bahamas for two weeks."

Ivar stood at the door looking at them.  "How much
did she tell you?"

"Everything.  You're from Russia.  Probably the KGB. 
There's going to be a manhunt."

Ivar stood and looked at Mark and Sabrina for a while,
not saying anything and not moving.  Finally he said, "You don't despise me?"

Sabrina smiled and shook her head.

Mark said, "Ivar, we're grateful for everything you
did.  You may have saved Sabrina's life today.  If we can help you in any way, just
ask."

Ivar took a deep breath and seemed to relax a little. 
"I believe you.  So.  Okay.  I think I am not yet in trouble.  I want to be
with Eve.  I think I can protect her, but if I ever endanger her, I will have to
leave her.  You understand?"

They nodded. 

"I'm going to be hunted by two powerful governments. 
But Eve and I may be safer together because there will be people looking for her,
too.  A couple is always less suspicious.  So if you can do one thing, you may give
me a little more time."

Sabrina made the call to Burgess Whitcomb's office with
Ivar's coaching.  Ivar had just stopped by to make sure that she was all right. 
Ivar had mentioned that he had a date that night with a girlfriend who lived in
West Hollywood, but no, she didn't know who the woman was.

"Now we have covered for tonight,"  Ivar said,
visibly nervous and pacing.  "I don't think they will began seriously searching
until tomorrow, when I don't show up for work."  He went over to the balcony
and stood looking down at the street from between the curtains.  "There are
some people out there.  Burgess has started another surveillance, so you will be
safe, Sabrina."

Ivar turned around and faced Sabrina.  "Mr.  Hashimoto
and his gang are being escorted by federal agents to the airport right now.  He
has already been read the riot act by Burgess Whitcomb, himself.  He won't even
be allowed off the plane on the layover in Honolulu.  And as for the Soviet threat,
I think I've taken care of that.  Sergi Malcovich and another man covertly inside
the CIA are being deported.  Normally the CIA would keep them here for trial, but
they want the whole thing hushed up, so they are sending them back through very
secret government channels.  It's a diplomatic embarrassment they are trying to
avoid.  It will happen to me also, the deportation, if I am caught."

Sabrina noticed Ivar's sentence structure was a little
backwards sometimes.  Like he was from a European country. 

"What are you going to do?"  Mark asked.

"Go to the airport and hire someone to buy tickets
on my credit cards.  New York.  Boston.  You can always find someone at the airport
willing to buy tickets for a little cash.  Might as well use them up.  I'll then
pay cash for a trip to Texas tonight.  And from there, Florida.  Then on to the
Bahama Islands." 

"Can I give you some money for the trip?"  Mark
asked. 

Ivar shook his head, "Thank you.  I knew this was
coming and liquidated.  I'll just leave my car at the airport.  I wish I could tell
you to go to my apartment and get my beautiful chess set.  I couldn't bear to sell
it, and you might enjoy it, but I'm afraid my apartment is already being watched."

"I can't believe everything you've sacrificed," 
Sabrina said.

"Oh no,"  Ivar said, smiling at her distress. 
"You're entirely wrong.  I had been thinking for a long time about disappearing. 
It was either that or become a triple agent for the United States.  It is very hard
to appear to be one thing and be another entirely.  Always pulled in two directions. 
In that, Eve and I are alike.  She is one way and has to act another.  I'm happy
now.  I will be with Eve.  It's like I'm off to a great adventure."

Sabrina was finally convinced by his smile.

Sabrina and Mark walked with Ivar to the door.  Sabrina
held out her hand, but got hugged and kissed on both cheeks.  Mark got the same
treatment.  Very Russian.  Then Ivar pulled the door open, checked the hallway and
walked rapidly and almost soundlessly to the staircase.  Sabrina and Mark watched
as he cautiously peered down the stairwell, then turned and waved and was gone.

As soon as Ivar disappeared, Sabrina ran to the closet
and yanked a wind breaker off the hanger.  Then she ran to the door.

"What are you doing?" 

"Lets get out of here!"

"Oh.  Right."  The agents outside would have
to follow them.  It would give Ivar an edge.

In the lobby they greeted Jack ostentatiously.  Mark nudged
Sabrina and nodded at a man reading a newspaper just outside the entrance.  As they
got into the garage elevator they saw the man lower the paper.

Mark drove so fast the wheels squealed and the car slid
in controlled, four wheel skids on the slick surface with each sharp turn.

"Do you think Ivar will make it?"  Sabrina asked,
holding onto the dashboard and door handle to keep from being thrown around in the
hurtling car. 

"You better believe it,"  Mark said as he negotiated
at top speed up the ramp that led out of the underground garage.  "If he was
in deep cover as long as Eve thinks, he's really a pro.  KGB are supposed to be
very tough, dirty infighters when cornered."

"I can't help wondering if he'll be more dangerous
to Eve than if she was alone.  At first I was so relieved, but now I'm not sure."

"The KGB and an android."  Mark had settled down
to a more controlled speed once they were on the public street.  "Are you kidding?
What a combination."

"She is human, Mark."

"I know.  But their abilities combined will be awesome,"

"I miss her already."

Mark nodded and they rode in silence.  Sabrina didn't have
to ask where they were going.  They followed Santa Monica Boulevard until it ended
and then turned on the Pacific Coast Highway.  Mark drove over the wooden beams
of the Santa Monica pier and onto a cement lot next to it.  Then they walked down
into the sand.

It was almost twilight and the gulls screamed and circled
in the sky.  Sabrina had to squint her eyes because the sun was almost down and
glinted on the sea, making her eyes water.  There was a brisk breeze.  The vast
expanse of almost empty shoreline was made of pastel colors, the wet sand and water
both reflecting colors of the waning sunset sky for miles.  They watched tiny, long
legged birds run along the shoreline, poking sharp beaks into holes in the sand.

"Work cloths are not de rigor here,"  Mark said
after they had walked about a half mile.  "Especially my shoes.  They're already
squashing with sand." 

They went almost to the water's edge.

"I'm going to have to wake you up every hour tonight,
Sabrina." 

"You don't have to stay."  Sabrina wondered if
he felt an obligation or was really concerned.  She also felt shy.  They had argued
and he had left her last night.  She wanted to just keep going, walking along the
beach with Mark forever.

"Like hell.  Chemicals have hit you over the head
like a big club.  To be safest you should be awakened often tonight to see if you're
okay.  Not confused or anything.  I'm almost afraid to let you sleep."

"I feel fine.  You know how my metabolism is.  It's
probably all burned out by now."

Actually, she really was a little scared of staying alone. 
What if she had a grand mal seizure and never woke up.  It was a creepy thought. 
She still felt a little dizzy, but maybe it was due to lack of sleep.  Plus the
fact that she had to fight off the effects of the various drugs.  She was very tired. 
If her legs stopped moving she thought she would fall asleep standing up.

"Sabrina, they wanted you in a hospital.  You wouldn't
go.  Now I'm going to take care of you.  This is serious."

"Torture me every few hours?"  Sabrina asked.

"Exactly.  A few days at the very least.  It won't
be that bad.  I'll program my watch to beep.  Then poke you and make sure you haven't
lost it.  Go back to sleep."

"You know you never wake up to that thing.  I always
have to wake you.  Then you'll be grouchy.  I think I'd rather stay alone."

"That's not an option, Sabrina.  Unless you'd rather
go to a hospital."

"Come on.  You know you'll never wake up."

"Probably not, after last night,"  Mark mumbled. 

"What?"

"I don't ever want that to happen again.  I hardly
slept at all."

"You poor thing,"  Sabrina said, trying not to
smile.  He had suffered and she was guiltily pleased and felt a little vindicated
with her own unhappiness.  "After you left I went right to sleep.  It was terribly
refreshing.  In the trampy black teddy.  And the dreams, you wouldn't believe. 
All night long."