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CHAPTER 3

"Damn it Bill, it's all I've done for close to twenty years! Now he wants me out of the field!" slamming the empty tumbler on the desk. He was a handsome man very little gray peppering his hair at the temples, intelligent blue eyes, and a thin scar running down his left cheek. Even in the office he prefers a suit 'more options in a well-tailored suit' as his tailor says.

"It's a younger game James," answers his friend, a larger man, balding with genial jovial eyes.

"Younger… stupider more like.." James grumbled under his breath.

"Young does not mean.."…BEEP…"Just a second James." Quickly picking up the phone. "Yes. Yes, he's still here..No, put it through here if it's important. James it's a call from someplace called Fortunada."

"That's odd," taking the phone. "Yes... WHAT? Yes. OK. What's the information?" He motions to Bill for a pen and paper. "Yes I've got it. No. You did fine. Thank You."

James slumps back into his chair, staring at the page. "Well?" asks Bill "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I may just have. One that just may bite me in the ass."

James arrived at Heathrow airport very early, pacing the arrivals area. 'What does she need? Is she in trouble?'

"NOW ARRIVING FLIFGHT 689 FROM NASSAU THE BAHAMMAS" rang the announcement.

He started scanning the crowd for a face he hadn't seen in... what eighteen years? He had done so much since then, as he thought back his mood darkened as it tended to when he thought back on the years. Tracy.. the only woman he had tried to give it all up for.. when she was killed his world shattered, all that was left was the work, the next job. That is what kept the pain at bay, this job and the next, but what was he to do now? They want him out of the field, tied to a desk.

He saw her exiting the gangway into the main terminal, her hair was just as dark black as he remembered but was no longer long it was cut neatly just at shoulder length. Dark eyes that sparkled with intelligence and mystery, and a beautiful crooked smile Petite and slender she would be a man killer if she understood how attractive she was. He just had to smile as she shivered and rubbed her arms against the chill of the early November London weather, she was dressed for Nassau, complete with sun hat.

He let her pass in the crowd then approached quietly from behind.

"My dear Solitaire, what brings you to the shores of England?" he whispered from just behind her left ear.

She spun quickly, and James just managed to block her knee from hitting his groin and he noticed her keys held tightly between he fingers like tiny knives, he was impressed she had learned to defend herself.

The fierce look in her eyes passed quickly as she looked at him, she suddenly launched herself at him with a squeal of "JAMES!" and landed a kiss square on his lips. As she slowly broke the kiss she inhaled his scent deeply, the smell of his aftershave, and leather. She loved it! The feel of him in her arms again.

"James, it's good to see you again, but its Terry now Terry Summers. Solitaire is in the past."

James frowned down at her."I'm sorry Sol.. Terry. I wouldn't.. If I'd known.."

"No, James. It's OK. It was time. I regret nothing, you shouldn't either." She said with a large smile. "So. How are you James?"

He smiled it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'm good." She knew he was lying but let it go. "Let's get your bags and get you out of here." He reached out and took her hand and led her to the baggage claim area while she snuggled up to his arm.

James pulled his new Aston Martin Vantage onto the M4 and headed west.

"James how did you know I was coming?"

"I got a call from Marta."

"I'm surprised you were in town I was planning to visit the area till you came back from your current trip."

"Well," James ran his hand through his hair nervously. "That won't be any longer. I got the word this week, no more field jobs for me,"

Her heart leapt, no longer would she need to wonder if he was safe. "Any reason why?"

"They seem to think my experience could be of use somewhere else, I'm too old for the road."

"What do you think?"

"I... I don't know. I don't think I remember how to do anything else, it's been my life for over twenty years. How about you? I don't know what you've been up to much less why you need to see me so badly."

"Mmmmm we'll get to that later over dinner. As to what I've been up to. Well, I'm living in Miami now and own a couple of small florist shops and they are doing well. I have a beautiful daughter Janet, she's seventeen and very intelligent, even skipped two grades in school and is a Senior at the University of Florida. She's my little star, I'll show you pictures."

He merged smoothly onto the M24 south. "A daughter! That's great I bet she's a lot like you? I imagine you and your husband are proud."

"Oh, we never married, and he was never part of our lives."

James could hear some bitterness but not as much as he would have thought. "That's too bad it sounds like you did an amazing job though."

"It was hard in the beginning, with getting the first store running, but I wouldn't have missed a second."

As the miles rolled past, she spoke more of Janet, her pride evident as she became more and more animated as she told of each of the accomplishments. James chuckled lightly at the stories. Her life had been good to her it seemed and he was glad - her life had been a nightmare when he first met her.

"James, do you think we can stop for dinner? Airline food isn't really food. Nothing fancy I'm not the foodie you are."

"That's not a problem I know a couple of places around."

"Terry, is she... like you were?"

"Yes, James she is, and that's why I'm here."

With that silence took over the conversation, as James pulled off the highway into a sleepy subdivision.

The wine had arrived at the table, while not up to James's normal standard it was good, and their orders were taken. No longer could the topic be avoided.

"James, Janet came home a few days ago unexpectedly and did a reading it was given to me for delivery, to you." She hesitated but continued. "Her gifts are different than mine were, more forceful I guess. Mine needed prompting, a question to be answered. Hers can be just out of the blue and directed more or more general depending on what the power directs. I do know that this reading will rest heavily on your future but you are not its focus." With that she passes him a sheet of paper that she had pulled from her purse.

James took the paper from her hand, and smoothly opened it.

"Any idea what it means?" He may not put much stock in this stuff but the woman in front of him at one time had been amazingly good a predicting his actions.

"Well it's a personal reading in the 'Celtic Cross" style."

"The first positions do have meaning, the description after is what Janet's connection to the power told her to pass to you.

The Present: The Tower, an old life burned away, a new on will come forth.

Immediate Challenge: The King of Cups, fortune favors the prepared but not all preparations can be trusted.

Hope for the future: The Knight of Wands, nature may guide to the future.

Past Experience: The Wheel Of Fortune, life is in flux the soul of an innocent is on the battlefield placed there by fate, it my be tipped in any direction or it may find another path.

Opposing Force: Five of Swords, arrogance unbridled led astray

Influence of the future: Queen of Swords, protection of the realm and service to them.

What is desired: Page of Swords, a life of balance is best.

Direction: The Moon, vigilance is the first hallmark of wisdom, do not be diverted from your goals.

Family: Two of Pentacles, burdens must be shared or all may be lost

Outcome: Five of Cups, pray for the beginning."

"The last she had to say on the subject was that once you brought destruction, it is time for you to become more." With that dinner continued quietly and finally with dessert moved back to more pleasant topics.