Chapter 3
When they had arrived at the diner it was closed. Athos pulled out his phone making a quick call. "I can't wait until Constance gets back to work," he said when he was finished with his call. Constance worked at the precinct. She was amazing with a computer. The amount of information she could find with a few strokes over the keyboard impressed all of them.
"Did you find out where Sylvie lives?" Aramis asked.
Athos nodded looking disgruntled.
"It might be a while," Porthos said. "Constance just gave birth to triplets."
TM
They arrived at an old apartment building. They found her door and Athos knocked.
The door opened. Sylvie stood in the doorway, her hand coming up to cover her mouth and before Athos could figure out what was happening she collapsed against his chest. A sob wrenched from her. He could feel her shaking as his arms came around her.
"He's gone," she managed to say through her tears.
TM
When Sylvie couldn't cry anymore; she pulled back wiping her face with her hands. She let them in offering them something to drink.
"Sylvie," Athos placed a hand on her arm. "We're investigating the waste management company you were protesting against."
"What?" She sat down across from the three men. "Have you found anything?"
"Not yet, but we're working on it?" Athos said.
"Sylvie, is there anything you can tell us?" Aramis asked.
Sylvie sighed. "Not much either, but I worked for them for about three months."
Athos' eyes looked sharply at her. "You didn't tell me that."
She shrugged. "Didn't think it would do much. But I came across some papers that didn't look right while there."
"You didn't take them did you?" Athos asked.
"No," she huffed. "I didn't think that would be a good idea."
When they were getting up to leave, Sylvie wrapped her hand around Athos' wrist. "Would you come to the funeral?" She asked. "He liked you."
Athos rested his hand over the one she had wrapped around his wrist. "Of course, your father was a good man."
TM
The next day the search warrant for the waste management company was served. Standing in the middle of one of the board rooms of the company's building, the three men couldn't help their shock.
"Shit," Porthos breathed out.
Arrests were swift. The entire business was shut down. Environmental agencies moved in.
TM
Athos stood next to Sylvie, her hand tightly wrapped around his. They were outside with many of her father's neighbors.
Sylvie had had her father's remains cremated as was his wish. In her free arm she held them close to her side in a silver urn.
They were standing at a garden outside his apartment building. It had been tended by Sylvie's mother until her death when Sylvie was fifteen. Her father took over caring for the garden and spread her ashes around it. Now Sylvie would do the same with her father's ashes.
When the service was over and ashes had been spread most of the people attending had dispersed. Most of the apartment building had been abandoned. It would soon be completely empty.
"Where will you go?" Athos asked walking Sylvie to her car.
"I have a hotel room. I'll be looking for an apartment. I need to move things out of here and put them in storage," she stopped to look at the building one more time.
"This might be a little forward and I'm not sure if this is a good idea, but you're welcome to stay in my extra room in my flat," he said.
He really didn't know what he was doing when it came to Sylvie. He had been in a bad marriage a few years ago and he didn't think he could be in another relationship again. Of course he didn't even know how Sylvie felt and he wasn't about to push her now when she had just lost her father.
"You may be right," she said. "But I accept," she leaned in pressing a kiss to his lips.
He closed his eyes leaning into the kiss. His thoughts were confused, but he shut those thoughts off and savored the kiss.
When they parted they said nothing and continued towards the car.
TM
Athos let Sylvie in to his flat first. She walked around the living room, eyes wide. "I've never been in such huge flat," she said.
Athos shrugged uncomfortable at the attention. He didn't really care. He didn't know why he chose it.
"I'll show you your room," he led her down the hall. The room was sparse, but clean and had a descent bed.
Sylvie had carried a suitcase with her she had put in her car earlier in the day. She placed on the floor near the foot of the bed.
"Athos," she turned around walking up to him. They kissed again. It was even more passionate. She shoved his jacket off going for his tie and buttons.
Athos was equally busy. He searched for the zipper on her dress behind her back. He pushed it down her shoulders and she stepped out of it when it hit the floor.
He shoved his trousers down while toeing off his shoes before following her to the bed.
TM
Athos woke to a weight on his shoulder. He looked over trying to focus on his alarm clock, but it wasn't there. His head turned to his other side solved the mystery of the weight on his shoulder.
Dark curls spread out over his chest and shoulder. He sighed thinking this was a bad idea. But he couldn't completely bring himself to feel that way.
He liked this woman. He liked being challenged by her. She had enormous strength and heart.
"Hi."
He looked down at her face smiling up at him. "Hi," as morning after's it was going all right he supposed.
"You're not freaking out on me are you?" She asked.
Athos huffed a slight laugh. "Oddly, no. Although I feel like I should. You just lost your father."
"Athos, I don't regret it and no, you did not take advantage of me," she leaned over him kissing him on the lips. She lay down on her side looking at him.
He turned on his side facing her. He noticed her necklace she still wore. The pendant was resting on the pillow. It was one of the first things he noticed about her. She often times had her fingers touching the pendant.
"Where did you get this?" The tips of his fingers barely touched the pendant.
She cradled it in her hands. "My mother gave it to me. It was given to her by her mother who came from Alsace."
A phone ringing interrupted them. "It's mine," Athos said.
Sylvie leaned over the edge of the bed pulling up Athos' suit jacket and handing it to him.
Athos fished it out of his inside pocket. He grunted. "d'Artagnan. Lunch right, I forgot. Yes. I'll ask," he pulled his phone from his ear and turned to Sylvie. "I had plans for lunch with Constance and d'Artagnan today. I just remembered."
"Go, I'll be fine," Sylvie said.
"How would you feel coming with me? You don't have to; Constance was extending the offer," he said.
"I won't be in the way?" She looked pensive.
"No, I think Constance would be thrilled in fact. I'll make sure they don't harass you."
"Will your other friends be there too?" She asked.
"No, they have other plans," he said.
"All right, I accept," she moved to climb out of the bed.
"Where are you going?" He asked.
"To get dressed," she laughed.
He put the phone back to his ear. "Sylvie accepts your invitation. Just be nice," he grimaced getting an ear full from Constance. He should know better; Constance was one of the kindest women he knew.
When he finished the call he had to admit he was glad Sylvie was coming with him.
TBC
