Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 15:40:16 -0600 (MDT) From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" Subject: Mirror - part 26 Message-ID: Quantum Leap Mirror of Deception by Katherine Freymuth and Gary Marsh Copyright 1998 Part 26 Cathy stood quietly by Dr. Drescoll's side as he made one final adjustment. "There," he announced, standing and looking at Zoe with a small smile. "The connection is made. As long as our friend Albert is alive, we'll be able to track Dr. Beckett anywhere in time." Zoe smiled widely. "Excellent, Doctor." Her eyes shifted to Cathy and her smile widened at the growing helplessness she saw in her eyes. "So, why don't we use it?" She turned to Al, who stood beside her. Al gave a small smile at her words and nodded before walking away for a few minutes. When he returned, he was dressed in the tight-fitting Fermisuit necessary for leaping. The others, in the meantime, had spread out, taking their proper posts. Cathy stood to the side, watching everything that was happening around her, wishing there was something she could do to prevent what she knew was about to happen. When she saw Al passing her, she quickly yet cautiously approached him. "Al?" she questioned to get his attention. Al turned his head to her, stopping his walk towards the Accelerator. "Do I know you?" The question brought tears to Cathy's eyes. "Cathy Kellington," she told him. He reacted to the name as if she had told him the sky was blue. She gently took his hand, bringing about a confused look. "I know you don't understand this now but... I am truly sorry for everything and I hope that someday you'll find it in your heart to forgive me." "Forgive you for what?" he questioned, concerned by her words. "Albert!" Zoe called out. "It's time, darling. Don't keep us waiting." Al gave Zoe a nod before looking at Cathy. He said nothing, just looking into her eyes and seeing her pained sorrow. A moment later, he walked away, heading towards Zoe. Zoe gave him a passionate kiss. "See you soon, darling." Al gave her a small smile before going into the Accelerator and into the past. Janet shivered slightly at Mark's report. "Are you absolutely certain, Captain? Do you know the implications of what you're saying?" Mark nodded somberly. "Yes, ma'am, I do and it's as much of a shock to me. But the evidence is too strong against him." He paused, finding the words. "I'm afraid Admiral Calavicci beat Aaron Lomar to death, probably while under the influence of the drug that was in his food." "Is there a warrant out for his arrest?" she questioned. He nodded. "I'm afraid so, ma'am." She exhaled at the news. "Terrific," she muttered. "What about this woman he ran off with?" Mark opened a small notebook and read from it. "Catherine Louise Kellington. Born in Dublin, Ireland. Has a doctorate in chemistry. She had a run-in with the London police several years ago for producing methalamphetamine in her own private basement lab. The courts were pretty lenient on her; they bought the story that she had been blackmailed into cooperation by some low life drug dealers." "Blackmailed with what?" "She had apparently had an indiscreet relationship with one of her professors in college. She didn't want it to be on the cover of the tabloids and thus ruin her lover's career." Janet huffed a bit at the news. "That's not the profile of an ill-meaning seductress. More like that of a gullible woman." "She certainly has the knowledge, ma'am, to create that composition which is effecting Dr. Beeks and, most likely Adm. Calavicci." Janet noted Marks' comment with a nod. "Have you been able to track them down?" Mark took a breath. "No, ma'am. After London, the trail went completely cold. I am keeping my channels open but, personally, it doesn't look very good." She exhaled in frustration. "Thank you for your report, Captain. Dismissed." Mark stood up and at attention. "Aye, aye, ma'am." Janet leaned back in her chair as Mark left, thinking about all that he had told her. The thought that Al killed someone and that he was probably still under the influence of a drug, which his companion had probably created, was almost too much to handle. No matter what happened now, if Al returned, his career would be over at the very least. At the most, he faced the death penalty for murder. It was very ugly for him on both fronts. She closed her eyes and exhaled, wishing there was something - anything - she could do to help her friend. Sam spent the rest of his day in veritable isolation, going through Keith's papers and trying to update himself in case he had to act as the Senator he replaced. It amazed him how much the young Senator took upon himself. From the environment to gay rights, Keith Hatcher was a proponent of many causes, some of them extremely unpopular with his fellow Senators. One of those causes was research, or more specifically, research spending. When Sam had come across the rough draft of a bill proposal to allocate an additional two billion dollars a year to government projects, he instantly could see how the bill was vital to Project Quantum Leap and why the other project so desperately wanted to make sure Keith Hatcher died before submitting the proposal to Congress. Although the bill would give money to ALL government projects, it still meant $2.5 billion a year instead of $2.2 billion a year for PQL. Sam had also spent time eliminating suspects. He paid attention to other people's behavior, trying to determine who could be trusted and who could be a leaper. The results as yet were discouraging. Of the fifty something people Keith knew, Sam had only been able to eliminate four or five of being leapers, mostly because of pats on the back or handshakes. He had difficulty trying to determine who would have the best opportunity to kill him, or rather Keith. That eliminated no one. So, after six hours of being in the persona of Keith Hatcher, Sam still had no idea who around him with the evil leaper. "Senator?" a voice came from the office door. Sam looked up to see Daniel Pole, Keith's assistant, standing in the doorway. "Yes, Mr. Pole?" Sam replied, having learned earlier that Keith did not call him by his first name. The latter seemed a little out of sorts, as if he wasn't sure of what he was doing. Sam instantly had a funny feeling about the assistant, who became a prime suspect. "I'm on my way out, sir," Pole answered. "Is there anything you needed?" Sam gave him a small smile, all the more concerned about Pole's seemingly sudden nervousness. "No, thank you, Mr. Pole," he told him carefully. "Go on home." Pole nodded quickly before disappearing from the doorway. Sam stood and followed him from a distance, making sure the latter didn't see him. However, after Pole entered an elevator, Sam lost track of him and was forced to return to Keith's office without any kind of answer. He was a little surprised to find Janet, still dressed in military whites, waiting for him. "Any luck on your end?" she asked as Sam sat at the desk and sorted the papers he had been reading. Sam shook his head. "Not really. Except..." He paused for a moment. "What do you have on Keith's aide, Daniel Pole?" Janet raised the handlink and tapped a few buttons as she spoke. "Daniel Pole, no middle name, twenty-six years old. He was Keith's aide since before Keith was elected Senator. If anyone has been close to Keith, it's Pole. At least, proximity- wise." She looked at Sam firmly. Having some suspicions about him?" she asked for confirmation. Sam nodded. "What does Ziggy say?" She took a breath, reading the handlink. "Eighty-three percent chance the other leaper leaped into Pole. He's the most likely candidate right now so watch out for him." Sam exhaled with a nod. "Anything else?" She gave him a small smile. "I believe you have an appointment to keep with Mr. Thomas, don't you?" Sam looked at her with a little surprise. "I heard the end of your conversation with him," she explained. "He's a little too chummy for my tastes." Sam smiled in amusement. "I still have two hours" "You mean you ONLY have two hours. Keith's house is forty- five minutes away. And then you have to change your clothes, tidy the house, and make dinner or reservations." She gave him a smile. "I'll guide you to the house but I'm afraid the rest is up to you. Based on what I saw at Keith's place a couple of minutes ago, You're going to have your hands full so I suggest you leave right now."