Chapter 5

William and Laura were chilling in their suite, enjoying some grub, when Laura suddenly went into labor. Panic set in for Laura, but William? He was cool as a cucumber. Having been through this drill plenty of times in Italy, he knew there was no mad rush to the hospital. He gave the front desk a buzz, telling them to snag a limo pronto because his wife was in labor. Taking Laura by the arm, he grabbed the bag at the door, and they sauntered slowly to the elevator. Hitting the lobby, the manager was on deck, ready to help them to the waiting limo and send them off with good wishes.

At the hospital, staff were on standby. The moment the limo rolled up, they swooped in, got Laura into a wheelchair, and whisked her to a private suite in the maternity ward. William took care of the paperwork, handed the admissions clerk a fat check (way more than needed), and gave her the lowdown on what to do with the extra dough. Then he joined Laura, and her doctor was already on the scene.

Dr. Belavoir filled William in, saying Laura was in the early labor stages, and it would be many hours before the baby made its grand entrance.

William pulled the doctor aside and laid it out, "Doc, I don't want her going through hours of labor. I don't want her suffering. Do whatever it takes, get that baby out quick. Money's not an issue here. Just don't put the mother or the baby at risk. Get it done, and get it done fast. You catch my drift?"

"Absolutely, Mr. Zabo, I'm with you."

Dr. Belavoir had the nurses set up a saline IV drip while he grabbed the necessary meds from the cart himself. The nurses eyed him, wondering what was up, but weren't about to question this highly respected doc.

He shot the labor-inducing medicine into the saline and waited for it to kick in. Flipping Laura onto her side, he hit her with a potent anesthetic to dial down the pain of childbirth.

The nurses exchanged glances, as this was not the usual playbook. The doc shook his head, and that's when the nurses figured he was under some kind of pressure to do things differently.

A little over two hours later, William and Laura welcomed their baby girl into the world. A healthy 6 lbs. 2 oz. bundle of joy who made her entrance with some serious vocal cords, clearly not thrilled about leaving the cozy womb for the cold, cruel outside. Initial tests gave her a clean bill of health, and she was handed over to her mom for a midnight snack.

Laura turned to William, asking if he wanted to name their daughter.

"No, you do it. One day, I'll have to leave you both, and I'd rather you name her after someone you love."

"I'm gonna name her after my grandma, Patricia. She was always good to me, even when my parents weren't."

William grinned, saying, "Her birth certificate will read: Patricia Laura Garrett. Two women I'll cherish forever. And I'll be officially listed as the proud dad of this beautiful kiddo. Just look at her, so fair—she's gonna inherit my hair and skin color. But those eyes and that face? That's all you. She's gonna break so many hearts, leave 'em scattered in the dust. I just wish I could stick around to see it happen."

Laura suggested, "You could always come visit whenever you want."

"Yeah, I know, but my job doesn't always play nice with my travel plans. Right now, it's been almost two years since I left Italy. No permission to visit my family. It's that kind of gig. They tell me where to be, throw a boatload of cash my way, but I've got no say in where I go or what I do. Zero say in the matter."

Laura questioned, "Why don't you just quit, William?"

"I could, but the fallout would be a total disaster. My rep would go down the drain, and everyone I care about would vanish."

Laura couldn't help but wonder if she heard him correctly. Did he say 'everyone' or 'everything' he loved would disappear? She held off on probing until they were back at the apartment. The ambiguity about whom he truly worked for lingered in her mind.

Leaving the hospital with the baby, Laura sensed they were heading the wrong way. The hotel was in the opposite direction. "William, the driver's going the wrong way."

He flashed a smile and replied, "Nope, he's heading in the right direction."

"Are we going to the pediatrician's office?"

"Nope, not the doc's office."

"Could you at least tell me where we're going?"

"You'll find out when we get there."

A sleek limousine rolled up in front of a gorgeous brownstone building in the heart of Manhattan. Laura's eyes widened, and she asked, "William, what did you do?"

"You can't raise a baby in a hotel room. It's just not right. A baby needs a home, and so does her mother."

Laura practically tackled him, throwing herself across the seat to kiss him. She inquired, "How much did this cost you?"

Standing in front of the building, William explained, "Actually, your father bought this for you. I managed to retrieve the money from his offshore accounts and transferred it here without the government noticing. I made this purchase from the account with the money from the sale of his business to make it look like a legitimate transaction. I replaced that money with your father's, and it's now in a safe in a bank in Vermont. It's in the form of Bearer Bonds. I added a bit to it to ensure you'll be safe and secure for life. I have both keys and am crafting special jewelry for both Patricia and you. You must wear yours at all times—never take it off. When Patricia comes of age, give her the same instructions. The password to the vault is the name of my favorite movie: Swordfish. It's a John Travolta movie where a man uses computers to move money around the world. It's exactly what I do. Remember that name, and have Patricia watch the movie, memorize that name: Swordfish."

Upon entering, Laura discovered that the home was fully furnished—well, almost. One room stood empty, with white walls, bare wooden floors, no window coverings, and no plates on the wall sockets or light switches. The room was stark and barren.

Laura turned to William and asked, "What's the deal with this room?"

William, holding Patricia in his arms, grinned at her mother.

The light bulb went off in Laura's head, and she exclaimed, "Oh, it's the nursery, and you left it for me to do. Thank you, William, thank you so much."

Laura became engrossed at home, juggling between taking care of Patricia and decorating her room.

William found himself caught up in long work hours, leaving early in the morning and sometimes not returning home until seven or eight at night.

Several months passed like this, and lines of worry and exhaustion etched across William's face. He was so fatigued at times that he couldn't even muster the energy to touch Laura. Despite his weariness, Laura tried to comfort him by massaging his back and neck, showing her understanding and patience.

One evening, William came home with a look of panic in his eyes, prompting Laura to finally gather the courage to ask him who he really worked for.

He replied, "Laura, I love you with all my heart, but you've already figured out who I work for. I need you to pack up what you need for yourself and the baby to leave here at a moment's notice. If I call you and ask, 'Did you buy apples today,' this is what I want you to do."

William explained everything in detail, having her repeat it until she got it exactly right. Laura sensed he was in significant trouble and refused to let him off the hook until he spilled the beans about what was going on.

Eventually, William gave in and spilled the whole story. He had stumbled upon a paper trail leading to a mob boss named Paulo Valentino, who had embezzled over $100 million over six years from members of rival high-ranking families. William had a moral obligation to expose him, even though he knew the dire consequences. If the Valentino family discovered he blew the whistle, he'd have to run for his life unless the commission could provide protection. The danger extended to Laura and Patricia; they'd have to go on the run and vanish. William was in the process of creating new identities for them, including changed names, driver's licenses, birth certificates, credit cards, and everything essential for survival. He stressed the importance of never taking off the crucifix now hanging around her neck. The key to the safety deposit box, containing vital documents, was hidden inside the crucifix, with Patricia's key in hers. The password: Swordfish.

They listed the Brownstone for sale, attracting five bids within weeks. Opting for a lower bid, an all-cash, as-is deal, they agreed to let Laura stay for three months until the buyers needed to move in. Laura paid rent upfront. Movers packed 90% of William's clothes, shipping them to his home in Italy. Laura sent her clothes to a fake address in Aurora, Oregon.

William handed over all the paperwork necessary for Laura's new life. She was instructed not to use it until she and the baby got off the train in Buffalo. There, she was to shred every trace of her past identity—checkbooks, pictures, driver's license, credit cards, college certifications, and diplomas. In her new life, she was born in Philadelphia, armed only with a GED High School diploma, a painful erasure of her hard-earned accomplishments.

As Laura shed tears over the situation, William comforted her, saying, "This doesn't change who you are. It just tells the world that you're 'Laura Parent, single mom of Patricia Parent, whose dad passed away in a car accident two months before Patricia was born. You now own a small ranch east of Glen Falls, New York. The bank is in Saint Johnsbury, Vermont, off the interstate heading to Canada. Leave a paper trail leading to Montréal and then to Milan, Italy. Don't come to me; they'll follow you here. Go to the FBI in Washington, D.C., spill the whole story, including me. I'll catch wind of it, step into Switzerland, and vanish. Do this for me; I need to know you'll be safe."

Laura promised to follow his instructions, dreading the day the phone call would come. Six weeks later, it happened.

In a cheery voice, William called, "Laura honey, did you remember to buy apples when you went shopping today?"

"No, William, I forgot. I'll take the baby and go buy them now. I'm sorry; I know they're your favorite."

To an eavesdropper, their phone conversation might have seemed like a normal husband and wife chat. However, it marked a life-altering moment for both of them. He'd be running for his life, and so would she.

Laura dialed the number plastered on the fridge, throwing on her jacket with $20,000 stitched into the lining. A taxi rolled up 15 minutes later, and the driver lent a hand with her two suitcases. She scooped up Patricia, locked the front door, and climbed into the cab. "Penn Station, please." At the ticket booth, she requested a compartment for her and the baby on the next train to Chicago, paid with her MasterCard, and expressed gratitude to the attendant. Two hours and fifteen minutes later, she hopped aboard the train and settled safely in her compartment as it departed shortly after.

In the parlor car, Laura deliberately drew attention to herself, nursing the baby while many observed. The Amtrak train made numerous stops, and at Albany, she approached the conductor with a plea. "I'm taking my baby to the Mayo Clinic. She's very ill, and I'm attempting to put her to sleep. Can I give you the tickets to Chicago, put up a 'do not disturb' sign, just in case I manage to get her to sleep?"

The conductor, sympathetic and kind, replied, "Ma'am, I'd be happy to help. I'll tape your tickets outside your door, punch them for anyone else, and leave you in peace. I'll add a note to your door, saying 'do not disturb,' and sign it. I hope your daughter gets well." Laura handed him $20, which he initially declined, but pocketed nonetheless. "You're a blessing," she told him. He would remember that phrase.

At Buffalo, she enlisted the aid of a friendly young man to assist with her bags since she had the baby in her arms. Leaving the tickets and the note in place, she closed the door as she exited the train.

Gathering all her Laura Garrett documents in a manila folder, she snagged a taxi and headed to the local FedEx office. Requesting to use their shredder, the manager hesitated until she slipped him a $20 bill. "Of course, ma'am," he said with a smile. In a matter of moments, Laura Garrett ceased to exist, replaced by Laura Parent. Next stop: the bus station.

At the bus station, she purchased one ticket to Albany and another to Glens Falls, New York. Luckily, there was no charge for a baby sitting on a mother's lap on the bus.

Upon their arrival in Glens Falls, exhaustion settled in, and Patricia was understandably cranky. Rather than heading to the ranch, Laura opted for a local hotel. Under her new name, she signed in, paid cash, retreated to their room, changed, and tended to the baby. Soon, both of them succumbed to sleep.

Patricia woke up first, hungry and impatient. The milk machine (Laura) was still knocked out on the bed. Patricia let out a series of screams until Laura stirred. Eyeing the little blonde bombshell in the crib, Laura joked, "Couldn't give me two more hours, huh?"

Approaching the crib, she checked the dirty diaper and remarked, "Yuck! Double duty this early in the morning; you sure know how to kickstart my day."

Laura took care of the diaper routine, giving Patricia a thorough wash from head to toe. She moisturized, powdered, brushed, and re-diapered her little one. Creating a makeshift pillow arrangement at the head of the bed, Laura ditched her nightshirt, allowing Patricia to feed to her heart's content. However, there was one constant issue: nursing Patricia seemed to awaken a different need within her. With William no longer available to satisfy her desires, Laura found herself wrestling with the dilemma of finding a suitable replacement or facsimile. Neither option appealed to her at the moment.

After Patricia had finished nursing, Laura placed her back in the crib, hoping for some rest. Returning to bed, she let her right hand wander down, opening the doors to her pleasure palace. With two fingers, she pressed on the sensitive spot that William used to tease her. Closing her eyes, she imagined him between her thighs, utilizing his techniques to enhance her pleasure. Starting with slow circular motions, she gradually increased the intensity. Squeezing with her nails to replicate his biting, she couldn't help but lift her hips in search of pleasure. Her body responded with a growing wetness, and her fluids began to drip down, following the path over her backside.

Her left hand reached for her nipple, mimicking the sensations William used to create. Hands moving faster and stronger with each passing moment, she eventually removed her hand from her breast. Guiding it down to her intimate area, she inserted three fingers and began a rapid, self-induced rhythm. Feeling her abdomen tighten into a knot, she quickened her pace until her hand became a blur. Using her nails to exert pressure on her clit, almost drawing blood, she screamed in ecstasy, reaching an orgasm reminiscent of William's desires.

Unfortunately, Patricia was abruptly woken up by Laura's scream and got scared, bursting into tears. Laura, still coming down from her moment of bliss, couldn't move or speak properly. Attempting to soothe her baby by singing, she struggled to get the words out due to her shortness of breath. Eventually able to stand, or more like wobble, she held onto the bed and slowly made her way to the crib, only to discover that Patricia had managed to calm herself and fallen back asleep.

"Honey, when you grow up, we're going to have a real conversation about what happened today. I swear, one day, I'll catch you in bed with a boyfriend. Right before you're about to, you know, hit the high note, I'm gonna burst into your room and scream like crazy. I hope I leave you hanging right on the edge, with your boyfriend diving out the window. You totally ruined the best moment I've had in weeks."

Laura kept staring down at the crib, as if expecting Patricia to answer back. After that, she scooped up her daughter, settled her on her shoulder, and tenderly swayed with her as she dozed off. In her thoughts, she mused, "Gotta get you a car seat today. Heck, maybe I should buy a car first."