Under a Rock
Or in a ditch
It was three days since her press conference and Halo was going crazy about not getting any information about Xander. She couldn’t sleep and was constantly sick with worry.
She had pleaded several times over the phone with Special Agents Sizemore and Moyer, who were assigned to the case, but they told her she was not Xander’s next of kin and legally could not discuss his situation.
Then, all of a sudden, this morning she received a call from Special Agent Sizemore, asking for a meeting at her home with her parents in attendance.
She was curious as to why they wanted her parents with her.
Maybe they had information about Tom Rafferty.
Hopefully, they would tell her where Xander was being held, as no one could find out anything about where they took him.
Even the media was at a loss as to his whereabouts.
Sizemore had refused to explain the reason for the meeting, but she was damned sure they would not leave her home without at least a tidbit of information about Xander.
Chen let the Special Agents in and Halo immediately saw by their looks that something was amiss. She and her parents greeted them and showed them to her living room. They took seats together opposite Halo and her parents on a couch as Simo watched from the hallway.
Moyer spoke first. “Thank you for seeing us on short notice, Miss Raines.” He nodded to her parents. “Normally, we wouldn't be doing this… but it seems a certain Senator and the CIA have taken an interest in this case.” Moyer looked at Ronson and gave him a slight nod.
“Special Agent Moyer? This isn't about Rafferty, is it?” Halo asked quietly.
Moyer looked to Carly Sizemore, who took over the conversation. “We have some tragic news, Miss Raines. It's about Xander Kostinos...”
Halo's hands covered her mouth and tears welled up in her eyes. Jillian quickly wrapped her arm around Halo's shoulder, as did her father. Halo couldn't speak; her throat had tightened up and she felt paralyzed by her fear.
Sizemore took a few moments, then continued, “Miss Raines, the following are the facts from the reports and personal interviews with a Commander Sawyers of the USS Hopper, Ensign Hernandez, and Petty Officer Mueller.” Sizemore took a breath and continued, “Please prepare yourself… Xander Kostinos escaped his guard and was running to catch your helicopter before it left. Petty Officer Mueller thought that Xander Kostinos was trying to affect an escape by trying to jump to the wheel of your helicopter. Unfortunately, previously, Mueller was visited by Tom Rafferty earlier in the morning, who gave Mueller erroneous information that Xander Kostinos was going to be charged with terrorist activities and arrested, and to watch for his escape attempt or an attempt to harm you.”
Halo began to shake as she covered her face with her hands. She finally found her voice and muttered, “It's all my fault, all my fault.”
Sizemore paused and gave Jillian and Ronson time to console their daughter.
Jillian spoke to Halo. “Love, let's hear what the agent has to say, ok?” Halo nodded, still hiding behind her hands. Jillian nodded to Sizemore.
“Petty Officer Mueller, fearing that he failed in his duty by letting Mr. Kostinos escape, fired and shot Mr…”
Halo let out a loud, choking sob. With her blue eyes full of fear and tears, she looked up at Sizemore, who looked back at her with concern for having to explain this to her. “Oh, God, no….” She sobbed and cried, holding onto her mother’s blouse for dear life.
Jillian looked at Ronson as Halo cried desperately onto her shoulder.
Ronson spoke up, his voice cracking, “Please… carry on, Special Agent.”
Sizemore gave him a nod. “Ensign Hernandez was able to tackle Mueller before he took another shot. According to reports, Mr. Kostinos dragged himself to the rear rail of the ship…” Sizemore was interrupted by another loud sob from Halo.
“Commander Sawyers was able to pull Xander away from the rail and get him to safety. Miss Raines, are you well enough to hear the rest?” Sizemore asked worriedly.
Halo nodded through her hands covering her face, unable to look at anyone.
“Ensign Hernandez asked me personally to convey this to you: She apologizes for not getting to Xander in time. Mr. Kostinos’s last words to her were to tell you: 'It was Athena, not Evie.' Apparently, from his phone call you overheard…”
Halo couldn't hold back. Crying, she ripped herself from her mother’s embrace and ran to the kitchen with her mother on her heels.
She made it to the kitchen sink, promptly heaved, and threw up.
She was shuddering and crying while heaving violently into the sink.
Jillian grabbed a dishcloth, quickly wet it under running water, and began dabbing Halo's neck.
Ronson escorted Sizemore to the kitchen, then came up to his daughter and began rubbing her back. “Halo, you need to let Special Agent Sizemore finish…”
With her face still in the sink and crying, she nodded.
“The ship’s doctor operated on Mr. Kostinos’s chest wound.
They all feared he would not make it. Ensign Hernandez stayed with him while he was evacuated to Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu. As she was leaving him, he regained consciousness long enough to apologize for knocking her over on his run.”
Halo normally would have laughed, but all she could do was mutter to them all, “Yeah, that's my Xander. P—please finish,” Halo implored as she desperately wiped her mouth and tears, her face still in the sink.
“Well, Miss Raines, here is where it gets, well? Please prepare yourself. Here it is simply: we don't know where Xander Kostinos is.”
Halo spun around, her wet hair spraying everyone near her, and gasped, “S—so, he’s n—not dead?”
“Not that we know of. If you would, may we please finish this in the living room?”
Her mother and father helped her back onto the sofa in the living room. She saw Simo standing off to the side; his eyes were sad.
“Miss Raines, we don't understand how he left or if he was abducted. I will now read you details from the report given to us from the hospital: Patient Kostinos… vomited and began going into grand mal convulsions…”
“Oh? H—he convulsed? That’s what happens when he throws up…” Halo said. Her mother shushed her and held on tighter, trying to console her.
Sizemore continued, “Patient was being prepped for a cerebral MRI scan and left alone for a few moments with his shackles removed. Patient was found missing… The only thing missing of his personal effects that we know of is one of his bags. He did not have much of a head start. All the authorities have been notified.”
“Oh, my God, why was he shackled?” she sobbed.
“Apparently, they thought he was trying to… ah, jump off the ship. He was on a psychiatric hold.”
“No! He promised me he would never do that! Oh, God… he might be laying in some ditch somewhere! I—I need to go there!” Halo cried out.
“Miss Raines, all available agencies are all still searching for Mr. Kostinos. Homeland Security is on the alert for him. He will be detained if he tries to leave Oahu. I have to ask this, Miss Raines, do you think he will try to get back to the island you two were marooned on?”
Halo stared at Sizemore, trying to process it all.
She pushed her guilt and fear down and weighed the situation and the facts in her mind, then replied, “It's possible, but unlikely. I think he would try to see his daughter. I—I guess he won’t try to see me...
“ Halo leaned against her father’s shoulder and looked down at her new white Keds.
“Why is that, Love?” Jillian asked.
“Something I didn't tell you all…” Halo sighed and wiped more tears.
“In the beginning on the island... I—I was not acting right. I got really angry at Xander for… for not wanting to stay with me in the little house he built for me, I… hurt him badly.” Halo tapped her chest over her heart, “Here.” Then she gently pushed her mother's hand away.
“I wrote him that, when I heard him talking to Evie, I wanted to scream things… and hurt him again... in my letter, I told him he didn't deserve to be treated that way… and to go back and have a family again… and that I couldn’t bear to see him again.” Halo sighed and she watched what seemed like her millionth tear fall from her eyes and splash on the carpeted floor.
“I see,” Sizemore said quietly.
Moyer stepped up and took over the conversation.
“Miss Raines, we couldn't miss seeing what transpired at both press conferences the other day.
For your information, we are expanding the investigation into the connection between Joel Miller and Tom Rafferty.
Not very many people knew that Mr. Kostinos was going to be turned over to the Marshal's Service directly and brought back to Los Angeles for arraignment.”
Halo nodded to Moyer.
“Also, you mentioned JJ, uh, Jenny Marie Jones in your statement to Joel. Is she in the United States?”
Halo glanced at Simo, who shook his head discreetly. “No, she is someplace very safe and remote. She will be here as soon as she can. I will notify you personally when she is here, Special Agent Moyer.”
Moyer started to say something, then cleared his throat. “Very well, Miss Raines, I will hold you to your word. Also, please let us know if Mr. Kostinos contacts you.”
“He won't, but if he does, I will. Thank you for letting me know all of this personally. I think I need to go lay down now, please excuse me.” Halo got up and quickly walked out of the living room.
When she was out of view of everyone, she ran the rest of the way to her room, flung herself on her bed, and began working toward her second millionth tear.
They silently watched Halo leave the room, then Ronson spoke. “Special Agents, what is Mr. Kostinos’ status, legally speaking?”