The Blue Zone

CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE

Fergus dragged Kate on the leash as they headed into the park.

She’d thought about it all night. What Greg had said. Not only about his offer, which she knew he had to accept. But about going forward. Trying to put the past behind her. And what had she decided?

Yesterday afternoon she’d called Packer. She said she was ready to go back to the lab for the first time. Her shoulder was still pretty stiff. She’d had the sling off for a couple of days, and there were weeks of physiotherapy ahead of her. But she could still help out. It would be good to get her mind off things. She hadn’t been able to run or row in weeks, and with all the stress from Sharon ’s death, and what Howard had told her, her blood sugars were off the charts. But Greg was right. This was slowly killing her. They had to face the future, get back to something approximating a normal life.

“C’mon, boy.” Kate tugged Fergus. “Just a short one this morning. Mommy’s going to be late.”

She had to lead Fergus carefully with only her left hand. She jogged with him on a loose leash for most of the run. After just a block or two, she grew winded. Jesus, Kate, that’s bad. She dropped the leash and let Fergus run after a squirrel. She sat down, took out a PowerBar, bit off a square, and waited for her strength to return. It would be good to get back to her routine.

A man with slicked-back dark hair, wearing a black leather jacket and sunglasses, took a seat on the bench across from her.

Kate stared edgily at him. Okay…

For a second she tried not to be aware. But the warning bells started going off. Something didn’t seem right. Kate looked around for Fergus. She’d had this sort of feeling before.

The man looked over, catching her gaze. Kate’s pulse quickened. Where the hell was Fergus? It was time to go.

As she got up, she heard a voice from behind her. “Kate.”

Kate spun around, her heart lurching. Then, as she saw who it was, she exhaled in a nervous sigh of relief. Thank God…

It was Barretto, the bearded man she’d met here before. She knew she must’ve looked like a ghost.

“I didn’t mean to startle you.” He smiled. Dressed as always in his rumpled corduroy jacket and familiar golfing cap. He was always so reserved and polite. “I haven’t seen you in a while. Do you mind if I sit down?”

“I actually have to run,” Kate said, her eyes darting across the path toward the man on the bench. The old man seemed to take notice of it.

“At least let me say hi to my old friend,” he said, speaking of Fergus, but she got the feeling he was trying to make her feel at ease. “Just for a short while.”

“Sure.” Kate felt herself relax. “Okay.”

Generally they talked about her job and her family. Fergus always seemed to like him. But this time it was a little strange. It almost seemed like he was waiting for her.

“You’re hurt,” he said, concerned. He sat beside her, a respectful distance away.

A mother with two children walked by. Fergus trotted up. He greeted Barretto like an old friend. “Fergus!” The old man smiled, patting the dog’s snout. “It’s been a while.”

“It’s nothing,” Kate said. “I’m afraid I’m late for work. I haven’t been there in some time…”

“I know.” The old man looked at her. He put his hand on the dog. “I was sorry to hear what happened to your mother, Kate.”

Kate recoiled, her eyes widening sharply, as if she hadn’t heard correctly.

How could he possibly have known? She hadn’t seen him in weeks. She’d never revealed her real name. Even if he’d read the death notice in the papers, that wouldn’t connect her to her mom.

“How could you possibly know about that?”

Then the man did something that surprised Kate. He nodded across the pathway to the man sitting on the bench. The other man stood and dutifully stepped away. Kate’s heart started to pick up. She didn’t know what was happening, but she knew this wasn’t right. She looped the leash around Fergus, starting to rise. Her gaze darted around toward the park entrance.

For a cop. For a passerby.

“Who are you?” she asked him warily.

“Please.” The man reached out and put his palm on her arm. “Stay.”

“Who are you?” Kate asked again, her voice almost accusing.

“Don’t be afraid,” the bearded man said. His blue eyes shone with a sudden importance Kate hadn’t noticed before. His voice was soft, but what he said cut through her like a saw hacking through bone.

“I am Oscar Mercado, Kate,” the man replied.