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Through a Shattered Image

By Linda Widrick

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Early March

Karina flinched when someone touched her shoulder. Her breath quickened and her heart raced with sudden fear—the kind of fear that causes a person to jolt in their bed from a deep sleep, their thoughts all askew. ‚I’m sorry to startle you. Are you finished with your juice?‛ Karina shuddered and then breathed a sigh of relief when her eyes focused on the flight attendant who waited in the aisle. AJ said I’d be safe. I need to be less jumpy. People will notice. ‚I am. Thank you.‛ She handed him the plastic glass. ‚Care for some fresh coffee?‛ ‚That’d be great,‛ she answered. ‚Cream?‛ he asked as he poured it for her. ‚Yes, please. And honey if you have it.‛ She pulled the seals from the creamers and emptied them into her mug, swirling a package of honey into it. The warmth felt good as she swallowed the smooth liquid. Her throat was heavy. Heavy with emotion. Weary of the questioning. Karina was grateful no one was assigned to the

seat beside her. The extra cost for first-class tickets discouraged travelers in this tough economy. At least something worked to her advantage. She didn’t want to talk. Didn’t want to think about what to say. Didn’t want to think about what not to say. A familiar ping sounded over the speaker. ‚Hello, folks, Captain Stevens here. We’re in for some turbulence as we make our way over the Blue Ridge Mountains this morning. I’ll skirt around it the best I can, but please fasten your seatbelts until we’re through it. At this time, we’re on schedule to get you into Syracuse by eleven forty-five where it’s currently twenty-eight degrees with an expected high of about thirty-four. Thanks for your cooperation. Thank you for flying with us.‛ Karina cringed at the announcement of the brutal temperatures awaiting her. South Beach rarely dropped below the mid-fifties, and when it did, the coat and boots came out. She reached for the tablet in her bag and pushed the headphones to her ears. The plane bounced as it maneuvered through the turbulence. If the plane fell from the sky and she blended in with the dust of the earth, would it matter? Would anyone miss her? She thought back to the day her parents’ single-engine plane went down. Reliving the memory still brought with it a weight of pain. If she joined them soon, she’d tell them everything that happened to her, particularly during the last twenty-four hours. Karina pulled the courtesy blanket around her a little tighter and tried not to worry. The tablet came to life when she tapped the icon to view the video clip that she hadn’t watched yet. Despite her misgiving, she

was glad she downloaded and saved it before the order came to remove all traces of the case from the web—one of the many back doors that AJ strategically shut to keep her safe. If anyone searched for her now, all details about her since that day in the elevator would be nonexistent.

Breaking news tonight on News Channel 7. Let’s go live to Marisa Crawford, who is covering the story for us from the Miami-Dade Courthouse.

The scene changed from the studio shot to the attractive Latino reporter who stood at the steps of the familiar courthouse. Several reporters stood at attention, the call letters of their stations wrapped around their microphones in hand.

Thank you, Stacey. It’s been a long day in the courtroom for prosecutors, defense attorneys, and family members of slain, prominent attorney, Vic Trebari. Trebari, as you recall, was murdered early last year. He was the lead prosecuting attorney in a case that sparked a statewide debate over the misuse of funds that were earmarked for a special Fair Trade project under the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services division in the state’s capital. To recap, the department works in tandem alongside coffee farmers in Central America to ensure a fair price is paid in exchange for organic beans that are imported to Florida’s east coast. The FDACS assures sustainable farming techniques are taught and utilized by the growers as part of the state’s cooperative extension program. As we reported previously, like a chain reaction, things went awry when the misappropriation of these funds forced the struggling coffee farmers to convert their crops from coffee to

poppy, resulting in a surge of heroine production.

Karina could almost narrate the story herself. The reporter provided the background of the case as footage continued with video clips from the courtroom to candid, still shots of family photos of the decedent.

…and while that case is still ongoing, after days of deliberation in the courtroom, late last night, the jury came to a verdict, convicting Edward DeFresnio of the murder of Vic Trebari. Sheila Trebari, the widow of the deceased, was clearly shaken, although much relieved, when the verdict was announced.

Karina pulled a tissue from her pocket and dabbed at the tears that fell as she continued to take in the report.

While this new development provides Trebari’s widow and family a sense of justice, the courtroom battle is far from over. Prosecuting attorneys will resume on Monday as the search continues for other accomplices in the case. We tried to reach Karina Rubenski, the emergency room nurse who took the stand two weeks ago, but she’s been unavailable for comment. One thing is certain. Her testimony clearly proved to be the nail in the coffin that moved the jury toward the final verdict against Edward DeFresnio. More on this as details become available. Now back to you, Stacey.

The video panned out across the courtroom steps. Karina’s eyes were drawn to the far left of the screen where two figures stood in the distance at the edge of the frame, half inside, half outside the camera footage. While their features were difficult to distinguish, they

appeared to be deep in conversation. One man was in uniform. His stance was vaguely familiar. The seatback shifted as someone behind her braced themselves to stand. ‚Interesting story. I caught that on the news earlier,‛ the woman offered. Karina dropped her head, hoping her hair would cover her eyes. She waited until the woman made it into the aisle. Then Karina pulled the earphones from her head and clapped her tablet case shut. The woman probably meant no harm. Still, she must be cautious. AJ warned her, and for now, he was the only person she was supposed to trust. He was the one who could strip her of her life to give her another that was worth living—or so he said. Everything will be taken care of for you. We’ll get you settled in a new place, and no one will find you. It’s the only way we can guarantee your safety. Well, she understood a lot about guarantees. Nothing was ever really guaranteed. Slick words were designed to deceive the trusting public. Some assurance. Already, she doubted her choice to leave her past behind to step into the new life AJ planned for her. The plane rose and fell abruptly as it hit another pocket of turbulence. She gripped the armrests and held her breath. No doubt this rough patch of air space was the first sign of an ominous new beginning. One she claimed no power—or wherewithal—to control. ~*~


Scordino glanced around the concourse one more time. How had he lost her, especially after he’d gotten so close? Mariucci would kill him. The reflection of a 747 in the tall glass window to

his side caught his attention. He slicked his fingers through his hair—his attempt to appear unobtrusive. Passengers were boarding, yet there was no sign of her. He’d managed to follow her from Miami to Atlanta, and one hour ago was the last he’d seen of her. The trail was growing cold. Dozens of flights were taking off, creating a spider web effect all across the country. She could be on any one of them by now. If not for his extra wait for the tram at the last concourse, he might’ve spotted her at the gate. But now, he didn’t have a clue which direction she’d gone. He cursed under his breath into the newspaper in front of him. Certainly, a woman like her should be easy to spot. Her wispy, shoulder-length hair draped nicely across her white collar. She was dressed in a pair of dark jeans and a black jacket that complemented her frame. He knew her style. He’d studied her meticulously over the last few weeks. The details of her life were imbedded into his mind: where she lived, what car she drove, her parking space number at Miami General, and yes, even her preferred spot in the courthouse parking lot. He and Mariucci had waited as long as possible. But now, Scordino feared they’d waited too long. If tipped off, she’d definitely make a run for it. He was inches away from having her in his clutches last night. If only Patrick’s blunder hadn’t sparked the chain reaction. Scordino rolled up the newspaper and stood. He reluctantly reached for the phone in his pocket. Mariucci wouldn’t be happy, but there was no alternative. It was time to move to plan B.


~*~

‚One iced caramel macchiato, light on the macchiato.‛ The barista slid the drink across the counter. ‚Thanks, man,‛ AJ answered. ‚Tomorrow. Same time.‛ The warmth of the morning wrapped around AJ as he stepped outside the South Beach Drive Starbucks and headed for his unmarked car. His phone vibrated at his belt. The sun was too bright to read the caller ID. He clicked the accept button. ‚AJ Lang speaking.‛ ‚Everything’s ready to go.‛ ‚Fantastic. I really appreciate your doing this. She’s extremely fragile, and she’s on high alert, as well she should be. You saw her photo so you know who you’re looking for?‛ The silence from the other line made him wonder if he hadn’t lost him. ‚I did. And, of course, I’m up for it. Did you think I’d lost my touch?‛ ‚Just making sure, buddy. It’s been a while,‛ AJ reminded his colleague. ‚Worry not. I’ve got this. Discretion is my middle name, and when it’s all over, I’ll remind you every day how successful it was.‛ AJ laughed in spite of his concerns. ‚Good deal. She’s going to call me after she arrives. Let me know after you’ve made your first contact.‛ ‚You’ve got it. Talk with you then.‛ ‚Later, man.‛ AJ ended the call and tucked the phone back in his belt. Karina should be landing shortly. He hoped she was going to be OK. Life for his witness was about to change forever.

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