He didn’t mention Kat yet, but he would. He sensed that would be too much at the moment. Once he got the kid to agree to the test, he’d tell him the rest of it. There was time. He hoped.
Kazimir swallowed. Then he nodded.
Mendez’s heart thumped. “A cheek swab for you, one for me, and we’ll know something soon. What do you say?”
“I know your name. I was forbidden to ever say it, but I know it. Yes, I will take this test.”
Ian went to the door and a medical assistant was there in moments, taking cheek swabs from them both and putting them into tubes. Then the assistant was gone, and they were alone again.
“It’ll take a couple of hours, John. My lab techs are good, but it still takes time.”
“I understand. Maybe you could take those cuffs off Kazimir and we’ll spend the time talking.”
Ian tossed Mendez a key. “Your call, John. I’ll be in my office.”
Once Ian was gone, Mendez unlocked the cuffs and Kazimir shrugged out of them. They stared at each other across a chasm of possibilities.
“Tell me your story,” Mendez said softly. “And I’ll tell you mine.”
19
Kat was getting worried. Johnny had been gone for nearly four hours and the food was approaching done. The turkey was almost ready to come out of the oven, though it would need to rest at least an hour before carving. The mashed potatoes were baking—yes, she baked her potatoes after mashing them with butter and cream cheese, thank you Pioneer Woman—the corn was nearly ready, and the green beans were next. They were also having rolls, gravy, sweet potatoes and a pumpkin pie. It was basically a Thanksgiving feast at Christmas, but that’s what she’d wanted. It was her first Christmas as Johnny’s wife and she’d wanted it to be special. Plus, she’d always adored an American Thanksgiving. She hadn’t had that growing up in Russia.
She’d helped Evie set the table, and Matt had arrived to help finalize everything. Whatever Johnny’s work issue was, it didn’t involve Matt Girard and his squad. Evie was relieved that her husband wasn’t heading off for a mission. Kat didn’t blame her. That was one of the good things about Johnny being in charge of HOT—he didn’t do missions anymore.
Kat fed Elena and put her in the bassinet she’d pulled into the great room. She’d managed to fix her hair and makeup and she didn’t feel quite like death warmed over anymore. She looked down at her sleeping baby, then gazed at the twinkling Christmas lights and the fire burning in the fireplace. Outside the snow blanketed everything in white, but inside it was warm and pretty. Carols played softly in the background and the house was filled with love, laughter, and friendship.
“Thank you both for coming today,” she said when Matt and Evie joined her. Evie was waiting for something to finish cooking and Matt was just doing as he was told.
“Thanks for inviting us,” Matt said. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know, but I like having friends to share a meal with. I couldn’t let you cook all this food and then not eat any of it.”
“We would have been happy to do that, too,” Evie said. “But we’re also happy to share it with you.”
“You should have brought the kids,” Kat said. “It would have been fine.”
“They are sooooo rambunctious right now,” Evie replied. “I’m glad for the break quite honestly.”
Matt grinned at his wife. “They’re boys, honey.”
“No, they’re Girard boys. You were a very rambunctious kid,” Evie said. “And Christina says you were hell on earth to her when you were both small.”
He laughed. “Typical big brother shit. And don’t forget, missy, that you sided with me over her when we started playing together as kids.”
“I know,” Evie sighed. “You were such a bad influence.”
Kat loved the banter between them. They’d known each other a very long time. From friends to lovers and partners. It was so romantic. Like a Hallmark movie….
Matt cocked his head. “I think I hear the garage door.”
“Oh thank God,” Kat breathed. “I was worried he wouldn’t make it back in time.”
A few moments later, they could hear the door opening. There were voices, as if Johnny was talking to someone, except he entered the room alone. He’d been on his phone, of course. Kat’s heart swelled with love, like it always did, when she saw him. He smiled at her. He looked like he’d been through a wringer in a way, but he also looked happy.
“Hello, honey. Dinner is almost ready, so you didn’t miss a thing,” Kat told him as he headed her way.
He glanced at Matt and Evie, then focused on her again. He knelt in front of her seat and took her hands. “Baby, I have something to tell you. It’s not going to be easy at first, but I promise it’s an amazing thing. A damned miracle really.”
Kat smiled. “A miracle, Johnny? What on earth could be more of a miracle than this little pumpkin right here?”
He grinned. It was almost as if he couldn’t contain it. “She is a miracle. An amazing miracle. But I have another one for you. Trouble is, I’m afraid of how you’re going to take it.”
“Uh, maybe we’d better...” Matt said.
“No, please stay,” Johnny replied. “Both of you. We could use some friends right now.”
“Johnny, you’re scaring me,” Kat said. “Just spit it out.”
He squeezed her hands. “Dmitri Leonov lied, Kat. Roman didn’t die in that car accident. He didn’t die at all. He’s alive.”
Kat stared. Her brain wouldn’t process the words. And then it did and she burst into tears. Johnny wouldn’t tell her such a thing if it wasn’t true. No way. But how was it true? How did he know?
“I’m sorry,” she said on a sob. “Sorry. I can’t help it.” She didn’t know who she was apologizing to. Maybe
