Invisible Wind – Part III
By
Over the course of the next three days the FBI monitored Michael Carson, the bugs that Gillian had planted on him had given them access to all sorts of privy information. Tyler and Henderson were both over the moon, the bugs had worked out even better than they expected. The one thing that was still out of their grasp was Michael’s admission to the jewelry store robbery. The only thing they had to link him to the crime was MacGyver witnessing his get away. In order to convince the DA of Michael’s guilt, they had to get evidence of some kind that would prove he was behind the robbery.
Gillian was sitting on the other side of the stove, on one of the stools, she was watching her husband cook. MacGyver was standing at the stove with a wooden spoon in his hand, he was stirring meat and vegetables in a skillet. For the past three days the couple didn’t leave their house, they had spent all that time just being together. This whole thing with Michael Carson had taught them both to appreciate the smaller things in life, it was a lesson they wouldn’t soon forget.
Gillian leaned forward. “So what are you making?”
Mac smiled. “Beef Veggie Surprise.”
It looked good, it was cut up steak with a bunch of different vegetables, potatoes and chopped onions. “So what’s the surprise?”
Mac cleared his throat. “Well, the surprise is if you live after you eat it.”
She shook her head at him. “Oh very funny, you don’t cook that bad Mac, I’ve eaten everything you have made and I’m still here.”
The couple was in tank tops and t-shirts, both in their bare feet, it was so nice to just forget everything that was going on, they were both finally able to relax.
MacGyver added a little garlic to his mixture and scooped some up in his wooden spoon, he lifted it towards his wife. “Care to try it?”
“Sure.” She took the spoon from him, she was about to eat it when he grabbed her hand.
“You do have life insurance right?”
Gillian looked at him sideways. “Hilarious Mac.” She ate the mixture, it was good, she swallowed it and suddenly grabbed her throat, she keeled over backwards off of her stool onto the kitchen floor.
Mac sighed and walked around the stove, his wife was lying on the floor, her legs in the air. “You know its stuff like this that makes it so much fun to be married to you.” He crouched down and touched her shoulder. “Gill?”
She didn’t move and he shook her a little harder. “Gill?”
Gillian still didn’t move, he leaned down close to her face, she suddenly grabbed him around his neck. “Trying to kill me are you? Now you must pay!” She started kissing him roughly, making loud smacking noises as she did so.
MacGyver was being assaulted, he was laughing as he tried to get away from her. “Will you stop it? I’m going to burn dinner!”
Gillian stopped kissing him and let him go. “Okay okay go finish dinner.”
Mac got up and pulled his wife to her feet. “Thank you, now that I have been ravaged.”
She sat back down on the stool. “Oh please you loved every minute of it.”
“No comment.” He stirred his mixture a little more and turned off the stove. “Okay! Done!”
He turned around and opened the cabinet, he got out two white plates, he scooped some of the mixture out and handed it to her. “Here you are Madam, take caution when you eat it.”
Gillian shook her head. “Will you stop already? I told you that you don’t cook bad.”
Mac served himself some and opened the drawer next to the stove, he got out two forks and handed one to her and he walked around the counter and over to the dining table.
Gillian set her plate down on it. “I’ll get the drinks, what do you want?”
MacGyver sat down across from her place. “Cow juice on the rocks please.”
“No problem.”
Gillian got out two small glasses of milk and opened the freezer, she got some ice cubes and put them in the glass. She opened up the fridge and took out the milk and filled the glasses with it.
“Cow juice on the rocks.” She walked back over to the table and handed one to her husband.
Mac was eating his creation, it had come out pretty good. “Think we are going to hear from our friends?”
Gillian shrugged as she started eating. “I don’t know, I’m sure if something goes wrong or they want something else they’ll be in touch.”
“Yeah that’s what I’m afraid of.” He had a sip of milk. “They will probably want you to contact Michael again.”
Gillian got up from the table and got a couple of napkins, she handed one to her husband. “Maybe.”
Mac took the napkin from her and wiped his mouth. “If they do want you to see him again, will you do it?”
“I don’t know Mac.”
He put his fork down and sat back in his chair. “I don’t think you should.”
“If I just stop he might get suspicious.”
MacGyver sighed. “And what if he wants you to come over and, I mean he thinks that you two...” He wiped his hands down his face. “What if he wants a second helping from the dessert tray?”
Gillian was eating, she was in mid swallow, she coughed and covered her mouth, she couldn’t believe her husband had just said that. “Mac!”
He laughed and shook his head. “Well its true Gillian, he’s going to want into your pants again.” He saw the look his wife had on her face. “If I were him I know I would want to take you to bed again, especially if I didn’t remember what it was like the first time.”
Gillian sighed, her husband made a very good point. “Okay, well that is definitely not going to happen, if he tries I’ll just tell him that we are moving too fast.”
Mac had a sip of his milk. “And you think he is going to just buy that?”
“Why not?”
MacGyver shook his head. “Gill, he’s already had you once, that line is not going to fool him.”
She put her fork down. “Great, so what do I do?”
Mac thought about it for a moment, the answer came to him and he reached out across the table and touched her hand. “Sweetheart you have been blessed with something that makes any man instantly panic.” He thought about what he said. “Well maybe not this man.”
Gillian creased her brow. “And what might that be?”
She was rather curious as to what he could possibly be talking about. “My abilities?”
“No, better.”
“So what is this wonderful ability I have to make men panic?”
MacGyver grinned. “Tears, the one thing in this whole world that will turn a grown man into a complete boob, just turn on the faucets and he won’t know what to do.”
He picked up his fork and continued eating his dinner.
MacGyver and Gillian were sound asleep, they had both fallen asleep on the floor in front of their fireplace, they had spread a blanket out and were watching a movie. The television was nothing but static, the tape they were watching had rewound itself. They were lying on their backs, Gillian was snuggled up close to her husband, he had his arm across her shoulders. The phone started ringing, it woke them both up and Gillian slowly got up and stumbled into the kitchen, the phone was near the dining room table, she picked it up on the 4th ring.
“Hello?”
“Hi.”
Gillian was still waking up, she rubbed her eyes. “Who is this?”
“It’s me.”
She suddenly realized who it was. “Michael?”
“Yeah, sorry did I wake you up?”
Mac got up from the floor and turned off the TV; he walked over into the kitchen and leaned against the counter.
Gillian pulled out a chair and sat down. “I fell asleep watching a movie.”
“I’ve been thinking about you ever since the other night.”
“Yeah, so have I.” She saw her husband and she curled her finger at him, he walked over and sat down on the table, she leaned her head against his thigh.
“I think we should get together again Gillian, I want to see you.”
Gillian put her free arm around Mac’s waist. “I don’t know Michael.”
“Please, I really want to see you.”
MacGyver reached down and stroked his wife’s hair, trying to make it easier for her, she sighed. “All right Michael, tomorrow night, 9 o’clock at your house.”
“Good, I’ll be waiting, bye.”
“Bye.” Gillian hung up the phone, she put both arms around his waist now. “He wants to see me tomorrow night.”
“I heard.” Mac was still stroking her hair. “You better give Tyler and Henderson a call and let them know.”
Tyler nodded his head, he and his partner were sitting on the couch, MacGyver and Gillian were sitting on the loveseat, Gillian was on her husband’s lap.
“Good, I’m glad he called, there is something we need to talk to you both about.”
Mac shook his head, he didn’t like the sound of that.
The two FBI agents were over at their house within the hour, it was now almost 10 o’clock, Tyler had explained to the couple why they had been scarce for the past few days.
MacGyver had been right about not liking what Tyler had to say, he sighed and briefly pinched the bridge of his nose. “Just hold it a second Tyler, now you wouldn’t be telling us all this unless you wanted something, so why don’t you spare us the long version and get to the point.”
Henderson didn’t like his tone. “What’s with the attitude MacGyver?”
Mac turned his attention to Tyler’s partner. “I don’t have an attitude Henderson but what I do have is lack of patience, I’ve been dead for two weeks now and I’ve watched the two of you do nothing while my wife does your job.” He put his arms around her. “She has done more to help me then the two of you and now you are back to ask her to put herself in a compromising position yet again, is that right?”
Gillian wanted to say something but she decided not to, she let her husband get a few things off of his chest, she simply sat there and let him give the FBI a hard time.
Henderson started to say something but Tyler reached beside him and touched his arm. “All right MacGyver, you’re right, we have put Gillian at risk but she has really helped us a great deal. Believe me if we had an alternative we would take it but unfortunately we are in too deep to stop now.”
Mac was frowning at the older man. “No, you mean she is in too deep to stop now, what do you want her to do this time?”
Tyler sighed and closed his eyes briefly. “We need proof that he robbed that jewelry store.”
“You mean to tell me that all that bugging hasn’t given you one shred of proof?”
The older man shook his head. “No, we’ve gotten everything but that, and that is the one thing that the DA needs to complete his case and arrest him.”
MacGyver sighed and leaned his head back against the love seat. “Great, that’s terrific.”
Gillian touched her husband’s face. “Don’t worry Mac, it’ll be all right.” She turned to the two men, she had finally decided to join the conversation. “If you want me to find proof then that’s what I’ll do.”
Gillian was back in the guest house bedroom, she was sitting on the edge of the bed, she had worn a dark blue dress, it was very plain. She looked down at the white carpeting, Michael was sitting beside her, dressed in a light grey polo shirt and dark grey pants, he touched her knee, he could see the look on her face.
“What’s wrong?”
She shrugged. “Nothing, I’m just having a bad day.”
“Want to tell me about it?”
“Not really.”
Michael touched her chin and turned her face towards him. “Try.”
Gillian lifted her eyes to look at him. “The funeral home called me today, my husband’s tombstone is ready, they wanted to know if they could put it on his grave.”
He nodded and touched her cheek. “I’m sorry, why don’t you let me make you feel better.” He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers, he put his arms around her waist and drew her closer to him. He titled sideways and they both fell over onto the bed.
Gillian could feel his hands start to go down her body, she struggled against him and pushed him away. “Michael, stop.”
She sat up and covered her eyes with her hands, she leaned forward, Michael sat up. “What’s wrong?”
Gillian suddenly burst into tears, Michael could hear her crying, he put his arm around her shoulder. “It’s okay Gillian, I’m sorry.” He let go of her and got up. “Let me get you some tissues.” He left the room in search of tissues.
MacGyver, Tyler and Henderson were in a blue van just outside the access road that led to the beach, he didn’t put the rinse in his hair this time, nor did he wear anything to disguise himself. He was in jeans and a blue t-shirt, he started laughing. “I told her that would work, stopped him dead in his tracks.”
Tyler shook his head. “So that was your idea huh?”
“Yeah, just in case Mr. Charming wanted to play the horizontal version of Twister.”
Henderson was sitting behind the wheel of the van, he started laughing. “You have a way with words MacGyver.”
Gillian finally pulled herself together, she wiped her face. “I’m sorry.” She had her head down, she was looking at the floor.
Michael shook his head and stroked her hair. “No, it’s okay, I shouldn’t have done that.”
“It’s just been such a hard day, watching them put that stone on his grave.” She shook her head and started crying again. “I’m all alone now Michael.”
She leaned towards him, he put his arms around her and held her against his chest, he kissed her head. “No you aren’t alone, I’m here.”
Gillian took a shuddering breath. “What am I going to do?”
Michael put his chin down on top of her head. “You’re going to move on.”
“Everything just seems so hopeless, it’s like being in a dark tunnel and there isn’t any light at the end.”
He moved back from her and put his hands on her shoulders. “No, don’t think like that, you’re young, you have a lot of life ahead of you.”
Gillian’s face was streaked with tears, they were catching the light, her cheeks were shiny, she dabbed them with a tissue. “I want to believe you Michael but I just can’t right now.”
Michael wiped her face with his hands, he was looking down at her, his eyes went to her chest and he suddenly noticed the necklace she had on, it was a long silver chain with a silver heart on it. He thought back to the funeral, he had been sitting in the middle, he had watched her take something off of her neck and put it in her husband’s casket. He remembered seeing a flash of a silver as she bent over the coffin.
Gillian saw the way he was looking at her. “Michael? Are you okay?”
Michael’s face suddenly became dark and dangerous, he grabbed her by both arms. “Your necklace, tell me how that necklace got from your husband’s coffin to around your neck?” He was squeezing her arms hard.
“Necklace, what are you talking about?” She tried to pry his hands from her arms.
He shook her a little, he let go of her left arm and grabbed the heart. “This Gillian, I was at the funeral I saw you put this in his casket, if it is buried how did you get it back?”
MacGyver’s heart starting beating hard, his wife sounded like she was in trouble. “Oh my God.”
Tyler shook his head. “Just calm down MacGyver, let’s see if she can talk her way out of it before we start panicking.”
Gillian was breathing hard, she was terrified. “Necklace, I…” She swallowed hard, she knew there was no way to explain away how she got her necklace, she closed her eyes briefly. “Michael, I want you to know this wasn’t my idea! They made me!”
Michael was glaring at her, he reached out and opened the drawer on the nightstand that was beside the bed, he took out a gun and pulled the hammer back. “Who’s idea was it Gillian?”
She looked at the black gun that was being stuck in her face. “The FBI, they said if I didn’t do this they would kill me.” She lifted her eyes and looked at him. “Michael, please, I didn’t want to do this, you have to believe me.”
Michael was scowling. “Oh so I’m supposed to believe you?”
MacGyver shook his head, Gillian was in very big trouble and he couldn’t just sit there. “Damn.”
He was sitting in the back of the van, he reached out and went to open the doors, Tyler and Henderson both grabbed him.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m going in there! I’m not going to let him hurt her!”
Tyler shook his head. “Oh no you aren’t! We need you!”
Mac moved their hands aside. “And I need her, I’m going in there and there is nothing you two can do about it.”
Henderson started to pull out his gun, Tyler grabbed his wrist. “No, don’t.” He looked at MacGyver. “All right, go.”
MacGyver nodded and opened the doors, he ran down the road towards the beach house.
“I’m telling you the truth Michael! I didn’t want to do this but the FBI said that I had no choice, what was I supposed to do?”
Michael stuck the gun under her chin. “And just what is it that they made you do?”
Gillian felt the cold metal press into her skin. “Please, don’t hurt me Michael, I’ll tell you everything.”
“Let her go Michael.”
The two people turned and Gillian saw her husband standing in the bedroom doorway. “Mac.”
Michael realized who it was, this only made him angrier, he looked at Gillian. “He isn’t even dead! That’s how you got your necklace back! Your husband’s not even dead!” He was yelling in her face, pressing the gun deeper into her skin.
Gillian cried out, she was sure she was going to have a bruise from the barrel of that gun. “I told you they made me! He did too! He is working with the FBI on this!”
MacGyver nodded. “She’s right, this has nothing to do with her Michael, she had no choice.”
Michael took the gun from under her chin and aimed it at him. “Well, now she can really bury you.”
Gillian reached out and put her hand on the gun. “Michael wait!”
He turned towards her. “What?”
Gillian licked her lips. “I want to do it.”
The two men both blinked a few times and looked at her. “What?”
MacGyver’s eyes widened a little. “What did you say?”
Gillian’s face went from scared to almost wicked. “I said I want to do it.”
Michael looked at her. “More lies Gillian?”
She shook her head. “No, he forced me to do this, he made me get to know you and make love to you.” She grinned. “What he didn’t know was that I liked it, I liked the excitement, the danger.” She reached out and touched his face. “I know all about you Michael, the crimes, the cons, the mob connections, all of it.”
MacGyver couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Gillian you are my wife, it was because of this man that I had to fake my own death.”
Gillian turned her attention to him. “Your wife? What wife? I’m not your wife, you don’t even appreciate me! Michael has shown me more tenderness and kindness in the couple of weeks I’ve known him then you have our whole married life!”
Michael smiled. “So all that, you weren’t lying to me?”
Gillian shook her head, she put both hands on his face and kissed him deep. “No, I wasn’t, it’s probably the most fun I’ve had in almost a year and a half.”
Michael looked at her, a wicked look in his eyes, he passed the gun to her, still keeping the aim of it at MacGyver. “Go ahead Gillian, pull the trigger, you and I can leave the country tonight.”
Gillian took the gun in her left hand, she wrapped her fingers around it and pointed it straight at the center of her husband’s chest. “Goodbye Mac, it’s been fun but I got a good strong taste of danger and I liked it, it excited me, sorry but you are just too dull for me.”
Her husband looked at her, he was breathing hard, he was staring down the barrel of a gun and his wife was the one pointing it at him, he swallowed hard. “Gill, I love you, don’t do this.”
The young woman shrugged. “Sorry.”
Gillian looked straight at her husband and pulled the trigger.