Ch 9
The lunch crowd was thinning out. A few tables were still busy. Duncan had come in to sit with Joe and Rob. Angus, Doogal and a few family members were talking at their table. Shirikawa was here with Gary, trying to pretend they weren't watching anyone.
Kaede noticed something, Shirikawa now had two full length arms. Going over to them, she asked in Japanese, "You got a prosthetic?"
Skirikawa looked up and nodded. "Hai." she pulled back her sleeve to show a fairly realistic arm and hand. She flexed the fingers.
"Very nice," Kaede said in Scottish. "Yer stayin outta trouble I hope?"
Sticking to Japanese, Shirikawa said, "Yes. We observe but do not interfere. Have you seen Amanda? We can't find her."
"I saw her near Vancouver a few months ago. She was causing trouble so I buried her in the ground fer a day or so. Took the wind outta her sails. She promised she'd be good. we'll see."
"You buried her alive?"
"Aye, I wanted ta impress upon her how bad I wanted her ta stop causing trouble. Doan worry, I dug her up."
Gary was gapping at Kaede.
Shaken by this news, Shirikawa asked, "Do you know where she is now?"
"Nay, she fled after we got back to Seattle. Can't blaim'er, I did kinda rattle her some," Kaede explained. "Want me ta let ya know if I se'er again?"
"Please do," Shirikawa said. She pulled her phone out and with her prosthetic hand, punched in her number and showed it to Kaede.
Kaede pulled out her phone and copied the number. "Got it. I'll give ya a ring if she comes round."
"Thank you."
"Kaede! You seen Nana and Mayu?" Inari called.
Kaede turned around. "I haven't Mum. Wan'me ta go look?"
"They're missin lunch, an so are you." Inari stated. "Me an Rachel got it. Yer taking a bit of time off."
"Ok, Mum, be back in a bit."
Kaede didn't bother to change. She could sense Nana was nearby. Heading out in the direction she sensed Nana, Kaede passed by the athletic tent. Right, Mayu had seen them there. She went around back and noticed feet behind crate. Going over to the feet, Kaede stopped and covered her mouth to keep from laughing. Jeff was on his back, an arm each around Nana and Mayu who were cuddled up to him. All three were sleeping. Nana looked content, and Mayu looked out hard, drooling on Jeff. All of them were topless, their shirts under them.
Who'd have ever thought?
Kaede walked around the other side of the crate and banged on it loudly. "Lunch time!" she yelled. "Get up an dressed, let's go!"
Mayu let out a yelp, Jeff a short cry of pain, and Nana called, "Coming!" Kaede walked away with a grin, listening to them.
"You … you pervert!" Mayu cried.
"Hey, you laid down with us!" Jeff yelled back.
"Mayu, you're the one who insisted Jeff pay attention ta ya too!" Nana cried.
"That was just ta save ya from bein molested!"
"Nana likes Jeff molstin… what Nana means is Nana likes Jeff's attentions!"
"This could get complicated," Kaede said with a chuckle as she went back to the tent.
.
"Kaede's serving up here," Kouta told the Inspector and Roberta as the bracketed the girl Cindy.
"Don't worry, if anyone can protect you, we can," Roberta told Cindy gently.
"But, they shot Ellen and Summer in their own flats," Cindy said meekly.
The Inspector firmly said, "They won't shoot you. Even if they can find you way up here, I highly doubt they will be able to get near you. These Mc Cleods are tough people."
"Not someone to mess with," Roberta said from experience. "How about that woman who got you out of there? You said she didn't give her name?"
Cindy shook her head, "I asked, she said she was nobody. All I remember is the big, fluffy hair and those red eyes."
"Contacts," the Inspector said. "She was probably wearing a wig as well to masked her looks. We're still looking for the weapon she used."
"She got away, so it could be anywhere," Roberta said thoughtfully. "By the hole in that wall, she had some kind of explosives."
"Well, she came to play, and I don't think those men wanted anyone to find out what happened. It was these escaping girls who blew the whistle. That makes them dirty, if we can find them."
"In here," Kouta said and went in.
Cindy went in after the inspector to hear, "Hey! It's Mr. Kaede!"
An old man with crutches and casts waved a casted arm in greeting.
"Over here, Kouta!" one of the red headed women standing by a table woman called. "Seen Kaede?"
"He must have, they got a baby," Another older man announced to a round of laughter.
"Behave Doogal!" the other red had chided with a grin.
Cindy was sat at a group of tables near another man who was holding a baby. Kouta asked him, "Want me to hold her a while?"
"Nay, Lad, I got'er. Doan git the chance ta do this much. Grab a bite, they we kin switch."
"Thanks, Duncan."
Looking at the red head that was putting a pan of food on the table, Cindy noted her red eyes.
"Inari, Kaede is here?" Roberta asked.
"Aye, Lass, she's comin," Inari said, then went over by Duncan. She kissed him and sat down.
Kaede burst into the tent with a wide grin and sat between Duncan and Kouta. With a mischievous grin she put an arm around Kouta and said, "Yew'll never guess what I saw!"
"Nana an Jeff making out?" Inari asked with a crooked grin.
"And anoter," Kaede beamed.
"Who?" Kouta asked wondering if Nana had two boys.
"Mayu!" Kaede announced.
"Mayu?" the table exclaimed.
"Yup! All three cuddled up tagether an takin a nap," Kaede said. "Sure surprised me."
"Mayu hates lads," Inari noted.
"Couldn't hate'em too bad since she snoozing on his shoulder across from Nana," Kaede said with a grin. "An doan let'm know I told on'em. I aint sure what's behind it, but we gotta let'em sort it out fer themselves."
Kouta's face went blank. "Mayu?" he asked in disbelief.
"Yeah, kinda unbelievable, aint it?" Kaede said with a grin.
"To say the least," Kouta agreed. "She's been trying to beat him away from Nana ever since they met."
"You sure it was Mayu?" Inari asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Aye, I watched them a bit," Kaede said with her grin.
"This might get interesting," Duncan noted dryly.
"Ta say the least," Rachel said with a smirk.
"Kaede," the inspector said, "We have someone here who need protection. Criminals are after her."
Kaede looked over at them. She turned to Duncan. "Dad, kin we take care'o Cindy for a while?"
"Fine by me. She should be safe enough at home."
"I'll watch out fer her," Inari said. "Who's the bad guys?"
Roberta picked up that Kaede knew who she was. "Kaede, you know Cindy?" she asked.
"Seen her round. Doan worry, she's in good hands," Kaede replied.
Cindy recognized the face. Her eyes widened. This was the one who'd ripped through that place! Her hair and even her eyebrows were now a pink color, but that was her!
Kaede also notice Cindy's reaction and said, "We'll talk at home tanight."
"Come…on!" came a cry from Nana. Then the tent flap opened to show Nana was dragging a meek Mayu in, who was looking down, and Jeff on Nana's other side.
With a frustrated look. Nana said, "Mayu, no one knows anything so relax!"
Mayu blushed. "Nana, doan go sayin anything!"
Kaede let out a snorting laugh, as did Inari and Rachel. Kouta only pressed his lips together.
Mayu saw this and her face went beet red. "Mama! You told them?" Mayu cried.
"Nay lass, didn't tell-em all of it. Only you were nappin."
"Can we please not say anything else?" Kouta asked.
"Ohh!" Mayu cried.
Nana towed Mayu around and planted her in a seat. Nana then sat down by Mayu. Jeff held her chair and took Nana's other side.
Casting a grin at Mayu, Inari asked, "So? What was 'all of it'?"
"Gramma, Mayu's embarrassed enough," Nana pleaded.
"Rachel, kin I work this afternoon?" Mayu asked meekly.
Rachel chuckled, "Sure I'll find something fer ya to do. Gotta keep you kids busy." With a grin she added, "Or you'll keep yourselves busy."
Mayu turned red again and slouched down a bit as chuckles sounded.
.
After lunch the inspector left Cindy with Roberta and her guard force. Since Nana and Mayu were going to help Rachel and Jeff offered also, Kaede was going to take Kaene and Cindy home with Roberta.
Seeing Roberta headed for her car, Kaede said, we should walk it."
Roberta eye her. "That's ten miles, even by foot over land."
"I'm sure no one knows your car right?" Kaede asked. "No one ever followed ya or the inspector? This aint no Sunday drive. The wrong person sees Cindy, it'll git nasty, quick."
Roberta eyed her, then Cindy. "You up for it?" she asked Cindy.
"Aye she is," Kaede stated.
"Ten miles?" Cindy asked weakly.
Kaede eyed her and asked, "Ya wanna git there quick, or git there safe?"
"Safe," Cindy said.
"Then let's go. Roberta, we'll see ya up there. Watch fer tails."
Kaede went off road and around a bog to the back of the Leuni Inn. She checked the lot for cars, and anyone around. A shape passed a window. Kaede turned and led Cindy uphill through the trees. Once over the hilltop, she returned to her path.
"It was you, wasn't it?" Cindy said quietly.
"Aye lass. Would ya rather I left ya there?" Kaede asked.
"No. I'm glad you got us away. How did you kill all those men, and bust that big hole in the wall?"
They were coming up on a downed tree that wasn't quite all the way to the ground. Kaede usually jumped over it. Today she blast it out of the way, sending trunk pieces flying. "Ya mean like that?" she asked.
"Ahhh, yeah," Cindy agreed.
Walking through the debris, Kaede said. "Some call me a witch. To others, I'm the wind'o'death. Those people who ya took a job from intended to kill all of ya. I killed them instead. Someone's still tryin ta kill ya, most likely to keep ya quiet. That means I didn git'em all."
The way was much longer being walked than just bouncing over hills. Coming to the top of a hilll after a couple hour's walk. Kaede found a place to sit down. Kanae was getting cranky, so Kaede set her on her lap and changed her.
Watching, Cindy asked, "Why does your baby have those things on her head? She have a birth defect or something?"
Kaede eyed her. She was getting sweaty anyway, so she took her wool cap off, wiped her sweat off with it and stuffed it in the baby bag. "No defects," Kaede told her. "We all got horns."
Cindy remembered the other woman, Inari had a cap on. So did that Nana girl. "But … Nana had a boyfriend?" she asked.
"And why not?' Kaede asked.
"I just never seen nothing like that before." Cindy quickly said. "He knows?"
Kaede grinned and said, "Those aren't the only tips he's seen," Kaede stated. She finished changing Kaene then got up. And pulled her shirt out to let her baby feed. "Come on," Kaede coaxed.
Cindy go up. She was tired, but was afraid to be left behind out here in the middle of nowhere.
.
Roberta drove to her office watching the rear view mirror. In the parking lot were a couple guys in a land rover just sitting there. She drove past the lot and called Frank.
He answered. Quickly, she said, "There's two guys in the lot. Brown land rover. They watched me go by."
"Wait, ok, I se'em. They're pullin out, going left."
"The way I went."
"Find a place to duck into, side street, behind building. I'll follow them. Stay on the line."
Roberta took the next corner. It was all houses. She pulled up into a driveway, partially hidden by a fence.
"Roberta? Found them. They are going below the speed limit, watching to the sides. Where are you?"
"Driveway, McCullock street."
"See it … they're turning around. Lay down on the seat until I get there," he said and hung up.
Roberta hugged her seat. She heard a car roll past. Peeking to, she saw it was the brown Land Rover. It stopped. A man looked to be getting out. He changed his mind and got back in and it took off. Right after that, Frank pulled up and got on his phone.
Roberta picked it up on the first ring "Did you get their plate?" she asked.
"Sure did. I'll follow you part way home. They have to know they got made and will probably get another vehicle. When you get home, stay there," he said firmly.
.
Kaede was getting tired of walking by the time the made it up to the flats the castle was on. Cindy was panting her brains out.
"Only a a lit'l farther," Kaede assured her.
"Well..(pant pant) at least we git to see some nice countryside," Cindy offered as she looked at the castle.
"Tis a good way ta look at it," Kaede agreed. "Hardly anyone comes round here, so it's safe too."
Walking towards the castle, Cindy looked up at the towers with the windmills. "It would be nice to get a look in that place. I bet it's awesome. It looks functional."
"It's nice," Kaede agreed. Going around to the front Kaede walked in the gate.
Cindy stopped. "You're going to take a tour now?"
"Nay, I'm going in, putting Kaene in her crib and gittin a shower." Kaede replied.
"They'll let you do that here?"
Kaede eyed her and said, "Why not, it's our castle. Take a roam if ya want, just stay inside." Kaede shut the gate behind them.
Cindy looked back at the gate, then up at the castle, then at Kaede. "You own a castle?" she asked in a squeak.
"Nay, me Dad does. We live here."
Kaede noted Roberta's car. Walking through the courtyard, Roberta came out and held the front door open.
"You were right," Roberta told Kaede. "I got followed. We got a make on the car. It was a rental."
"Figured," Kaede replied. "Keep a watch on the drive from the second floor. I'm barrin the door. Git me if someone comes."
They went on. Roberta shut the door, Kaede looked at the heavy timber and it floated up across the door in the steel brackets. She led Cindy, who was trying to take in whole entryway at once, up the stairs.
"You have this whole place to yourself?" Cindy asked in amazement.
"Nay, the family lives here. "I'll show ya ter yer room." Kaede told her.
.
At the Highland games, Jeff's sister came looking for him. Nana walked Jeff out and gave him a tight hug. "Thank ya fer being nice ta Mayu," she said softly.
"Anything for you, Nana," Jeff told her. They kissed.
Mayu ran out and threw herself on Jeff in a hug. Then hurried back in the tent.
Claire eyed Jeff and asked, "How nice to Mayu were you?" she asked in a musical tone. "Does Nana gotta be jealous?"
"No, Nana doan have ta be jealous!" Nana said with her nose in the air.
"Wow," Claire said.
Ignoring his sister, Jeff said, "See ya, Nana. Need help tamorra?"
"Sure, Jeff's always welcome," Nana said with a smile.
"I bet he is," Claire said with a wicked grin.
Nana frowned at her.
"I'll be back," Jeff assured Nana. He walked off before Clarie could get another comment in.
.
Cindy stayed up on the second floor, wandering around until she saw the lounge and balcony over the courtyard. Roberta was on the balcony doing some work at a small stone table when Cindy came out.
Roberta noticed her and said, "You need to stay out of sight."
"I just wanted to see outside," Cindy said.
Roberta pointed up with her pen and said, "Take the hallway to the left. At the corner, there' a small door. That's the steps up to the top of the tower. Fantastic view from up there, and you're less noticeable."
"Thanks," Cindy said and do as she asked.
Roberta was right, it was a climb, but once Cindy got to the top, the view was incredible! She could see for kilometers in every direction! Looking down, the height was dizzying, it gave her a chill down her spine and made her back away. Still this was a real castle! She want back down, noting the construction. All cut block stone. Even the steps were stone slabs.
For a while, Cindy just wandered around, taking in the arched ceilings and the structure. If anyone would have told them she would be living in a real 15th century castle, she never would have believed them.
.
The next day, Nana was eager to get down to the gaming fields. Before breakfast when her and Mayu were brushing each other's hair, Mayu said, "Nana, it was nice just being there with Jeff. He dose treat ya real good, doesn't he?"
"Aye," Nana said as Mayu ran the brush through her hair, "Ya doan gotta be afraid of nice lads like Jeff."
"I still aint comfortable round boys. Could I hang out with ya later on?"
"Of course, Mayu," Nana said confidently.
"Even when yer … doin things?" Mayu prodded.
"Ya want Jeff at do things with ya?"
"Please, Nana?" Mayu asked.
Nana frowned. "Mayu … we need ta ask Jeff. Jeff knows Nana cares for ya. Ya are askin a lot."
"I know," Mayu said in a pout, "But I'm not brave enough, unless you're there."
Nana wasn't liking this conversation. "Mayu, Nana's Jeff's girlfriend."
"Can't I be too?"
"Yer asking a lot," Nana said again.
"Sorry, but …" Mayu fell silent.
Nana wanted to do anything she could for Mayu, but this seemed too much. Nana wanted Jeff's attentions on her. Still, if this was the only way Mayu might be happy, Nana couldn't ignore it. "I'll ask Jeff," Nana finally replied.
"Thanks, Nana. You're the very best friend I could ever have."
.
Today, Kaede was staying home with Roberta to protect Cindy, so Nana and Mayu were going to serve for Rachel. When they got there, Jeff was already there wiping off tables and helping Rachel set up.
"Hi Nana!…. Mayu," Jeff said happily as the girls came in.
Nana returned Jeff's smile until Mayu ran into him for a hug. Jeff noted Nana's smile disappear when Mayu did that. He quickly hugged Nana next. When he did, Nana squeezed him a little tight.
"Morning, Jeff," Nana said, not sounding very happy.
"What is it, Nana?" he asked.
Nana put on a smile that never made it to her eyes. "Nana's fine. What kin we do?"
Rachel made Jeff 'the runner'. Nana was a server, she'd helped her mother before. Mayu was the dishwasher, she had to keep up with the endless pile of dirty dishes and mugs during the day.
The morning went fine. Of course Doogal had to tell Nana she was a 'fine young lass'. The caber team came in and stacked their first round of empty mugs in a tower. Nana had seen Kaede flip them off and into the tray, one after the other to their delight, so she did the same and got a round of applause for it.
Rachel gave them a mid morning break before the rush of the lunch crowd. By this time, Jeff knew something was bothering Nana. Sitting at a table with their drinks, Jeff leaned close to Nana and asked, "Nana, what's up with you today?"
Nana gave him a half smile and quietly said, "Mayu needs attention … an Nana wants Jeff ta give her some."
"Ya nay sound happy about that," Jeff noted.
"But, it's fer Mayu," Nana said, casting him a pleading look. "Mayu's real lonely."
Jeff slipped his arm through hers, making her loosten her tight grip on her glass to tightly clasp her hand. Looking into her eyes, he told her, "I love ya, Nana. Ya want me ta do something, sure, I'll do anything fer ya. If yer askin me ta do something that's gonna hurt ya, Nay, I won't do it."
Leaning into him, Nana let out a sigh. "Nana'd nay ask, except it's Mayu."
"I know," Jeff agreed. "Ya love Mayu, an ya should. How bout if I talk ta Mayu? Make her understand that she needs her own lad?"
"Nana doan want Mayu hurt any more," Nana said weakly. "Nana's afraid if Jeff rejects Nayu…" her words fell off as she gripped his hand.
"Aye, I know." Jeff said softly. "Talk ta her both of us then?" he asked.
Nana nodded.
A thought then hit Jeff. "Hey Nana? Ya doan think Mayu's tryin ta drive us apart … do ya?"
"Nay. Mayu wouldn't do that."
Jeff had to wonder. He'd gotten a few lumps on the head from Mayu. Was she wanting to cuddle as a last resort to keep him away from Nana now that her other attacks on him had failed? It was a possibility he had to consider. Nana was sweet and innocent and nearly perpetually happy. For Nana to be feeling down, Jeff thought maybe Mayu was pressuring her. Nana would give in, seeing how she cared so much for Mayu. It just didn't make sense to him that after hating him all this time, Mayu would suddenly latch onto him, wanting affection.
Jeff finally said, "Nana, after we git the after lunch break, I'll take Nana fer a walk an talk ta her. I want ya to follow and listen."
Nana frowned and asked, "Why?"
"Fer me, please?"
Nana nodded. "If that's what ya want."
.
The mid afternoon break seemed to take forever for Jeff, he wanted to get this thing with Mayu straightened out. For Nana, she was nervous and wasn't looking forward to it. For a short while, Mayu would have Jeff all to herself. She buried herself in the lunch rush and tried to forget about it. Too soon for Nana, the afternoon games were starting and the tent emptied out. Rachel thanked them for their help, and Inari told them to go take a break.
Nana left the tent holding one of Jeff's hands with Mayu on his other side. When Jeff nodded to her, Nana stopped and let her hand slip out of his. Nana didn't like that feeling.
Jeff turned and headed for downed log and said, "Let's sit over there."
Knowing Jeff wanted Nana to listen, she jumped up in the tree over them and sat on a branch.
Mayu notice Nana was missing when Jeff sat down. "Where's Nana?" she asked.
"Mayu, please sit, we need to talk," Jeff told her.
Mayu sat down, but looked around, searching for Nana. "Nana's coming, ain't she?" she asked.
Jeff let out a huff and said, "We need to talk first … Mayu, why are you so nervous?"
Mayu stared at Jeff, then looked down and said, "Ya kin do anything wit me. I doan mind."
"Mayu, I didn bring ya out here to do anything," Jeff said firmly. "I brought ya out to talk. Mayu, you hate me. Ya shown that clear for how many years? Why this sudden thing of wantin ta be wit me and Nana?"
Mayu gaped at him.
"Ya did, Mayu, Nay deny it. Why the sudden change?"
Mayu fidgeted and looked away. She then frowned and said, "Yer gonna take Nana away, ain't ya?"
"Huh?"
Snapping her head back to him, Mayu barked, "Yer gonna take Nana away! Yer gonna marry Nana an go live someplace else! If Nana goes, what do I have? NOTHING!" Tears formed in Mayu's eyes as she went on. "Nana has been my best friend … forever, not yers! It wasn't ya who huddled in some dark corner at night, trying ta keep dry in the rain! Ya weren't grabbed by soldiers an…" Mayu stopped talking an turned away from him to frown at nothing.
Mayu was quiet for a moment, then in a shuddering breath, said, "Nana is … Nana. There ain't no one, lad or lass that kin compare ta her. I know Nana loves ya. Nana loves everyone. There aint a mean bone in Nana."
"Yer scared," Jeff concluded.
"Aye, I am, caus'a you!" Mayu snapped. Mayu then softened and said, "I doan care bout me. I'll do anything to stay wit Nana. Yeah, ya treat Nana good. She deserves it. It's a crying shame Nana can't have babies. I'll do for Nana. I'll do anything fer Nana."
Above them, Nana couldn't take it any more. Jumping down in from of the, Nana grabbed Jeff an Mayu and pulled them into a hug. At first, all Nana could do was cry as she gripped her loved ones. Mayu cried on Nana's shoulder as they developed a three way hug.
"Nana's nay gonna leave Mayu!" Nana said in a sniffle. "An Nana's nay gonna leave Jeff!" Puling Mayu back to frown at her, she added, "An Mayu cuddles or has babies only if Mayu wants to!" She then pulled Jeff back and said, "Same wit Jeff! Nana wants ya both ta be happy. Mayu, Jeff, ya both make Nana happy, so Nana wants the same fer you."
"How about you, Nana?" Jeff asked. "I want ya ta be happy too."
Nana cast him a teary smile. "Nana is happy. We'll work it out, but Nana doan want Mayu or Jeff bein mad at each other. We're gonna be a family." Nana then pulled them back to her. "We're gonna be a family," she said again.
An arm around Nana and one around Mayu, Jeff said, "Aye, Nana, we're gonna be a family."
"Aye," Mayu agreed, hugging Nana tight with one arm an Jeff with the other. "We'll be family." After a pause, she asked, "Do we git naked now?"
Jeff burst out laughing as did Nana.
.
The games were winding down. Kouta was directing his trucks on loading on equipment. In the serving tent, ale flowed as some came in for a rest after packing up and athletes got a drink to celebrate their victories.
Soon it was Rachel's turn after most of the crowd left. Kouta arrived with the truck to pack up the kitchen. Mayu stayed out front to continue serving the few remaining patrons, Inari, Kouta, Jeff and Nana helped get the kitchen supplies and food on the truck.
Since Jeff's parents knew he was working, they stopped by to let him know they were headed home. Jeff also got permission to have dinner with Nana.
The cleared field with only the stone hearth standing alone seemed strange to Jeff, knowing that only a hour ago, there was a complete kitchen in back of the main tent. With the last patrons gone, Jeff, Nana and Mayu were left alone to stack up the tables and chairs as the adults took the full truck down to the Inn to put things away.
It didn't take long to stack the tables and chairs outside. They even disassembled the bar and had that ready to go. The tent now was just an empty shell, waiting to come down.
Jeff sat down against the stack of tables. Nana joined him and slipped his arm around her. Automatically hey kissed. Jeff felt Mayu lean against his other side and lift his arm to put around her. They both looked at Mayu.
"I just want to be accepted," Mayu explained.
"That's fine," Jeff replied with a smile.
"And… I want to be rubbed," Mayu added.
By her pleading look, Jeff saw she was serious. He looked at Nana. Nana slid down a bit, pulled her shirt out and put Jeff's hand down her shift. "Nana wants to be rubbed too."
His other hand was put down Mayu's shirt.
Jeff kissed Nana again as he gently fondled her. While Nana was a full handful plus, He has to rub on Mayu some to find her much smaller cones. Unlike Nana's full chest, Mayu's were softer mainly because there wasn't much there. He brushed their nipples lightly, making them prune up. Feeling every contour, he was in heaven, petting and gently kneading.
Seeing Mayu watching him, he kissed her. Mayu kissed back deeply and led out a moan.
"Mayu does like attention," Nana noted with a grin.
"Aye, she does," Jeff agreed. He kissed Nana then asked, "are you sure you'e OK wit this?"
Nana nodded. With a grin, she said, 'It's bett'r than Mayu hittin Jeff wit a stick."
Jeff laughed.
"I wanna do something," Mayu said. She turned and straddled Jeff's lap and one of Nana's legs. This time she put Jeff's arm up her shirt. Looking at Jeff, then Nana, Mayu asked. "Kin I kiss Nana while Jeff rubs us?"
"Huh?" Nana asked, staring at Mayu.
Her cheeks pink Mayu asked, "Please?"
Jeff felt Mayu's nipple become hard as she leaned slowly towards Nana. Jeff slipped his hand around under Mayu's shirt to rub her back as their lips met. The hand Mayu had on his shoulder gripped as she kissed Nana. She then put her head down on Jeff's arm around Nana's shoulder, giving Nana a one armed hug. With a sigh, Mayu said. "This is so nice."
Hot, is what it was. Jeff got a raging one on watching them kiss. Mayu felt it too, she pushed down on him some.
"This is what it's suppose to be," Mayu said quietly.
"Aye," Nana agreed. "Bein nice ta each other."
"We will be," Jeff promised. He got a surprise kiss on the cheek from Mayu.
"Nana? Jeff? Mayu?" came Kouta's call.
They burst apart, Jeff got his wrist twisted a bit and Mayu got catapulted away as they all scrammed up to see Kouta looking for them.
"We're here," Nana said. All three were red faced.
"Ahhh, yeah," Kouta agreed and scratched the back of his head. "We're loading up tables and chairs now."
Jeff helped Kouta load tables, Nana and Mayu took chairs over to give them to Inari and Rachel on the truck. Once they were on and stacked, they started on the tent. The tent came down and was folded, ten put on the truck an died down. They walked the ground to be sure they had everything. A stop at Rachel's warehouse and they loaded it all in.
At the warehouse, Inari took the kids in the car, Kouta took Rachel back to her Inn in in his truck.
"So what do ya think of this latest development with Mayu?" Rachel asked with a crooked grin.
Kouta winced. "I'm kinda confused by it," he admitted. "I don't know what to think. I mean they were making out when we got back… all THREE of them! Mayu did her best to drive Jeff away, and now she's right in the middle of them?"
"Kaede thinks they'll sort it out. Ya know young'uns do experiment. Who said it's Jeff Mayu wants at make out with?"
Kouta shot Rachel a shocked look. He then shook his head and said, "No! That's a mental image I don't even want to picture!"
Rachel laughed. "Ya know, Kouta, think about it. Many lasses who've been abused do seek out other lasses, and Mayu has been solid on tryin at keep Jeff away from Nana. Could be Mayu wants Nana fer herself?"
Kouta scrubbed his face. "It's gotta be something else," he insisted.
"Ya should think about it."
Kouta groaned and said, 'I'm getting a headache."
"Ya want Mayu ta be happy doan ya?" Rachel prodded.
Kouta was never so glad to see the Lenui Inn come into sight.
.
Since Roberta and Cindy were the only other ones here, Kaede enlisted their help in making dinner.
"You cook with this stuff?' Cindy asked, looking at the ancient kitchen.
"Aye, doan see no stove, do ya?" Kaede asked her as she swung the pot of water on the arm to put it over the fire.
"It's gonna take hours," Cindy noted.
"That's why we start early," Roberta told her. "Stew's best." With a crooked grin she added, "Just be glad the bread's made."
Cindy peeled potatoes, then shucked peas as Kaede chopped up the meat and Roberta mixed spices with flour. There were no pre-made dinners here, it was all from scratch. Cindy didn't know making a simple beef stew was so complex. After the stew was in the pot, she followed Kaede down to the cellar to get a bottle of Scotch (Single malt only), an a small keg of ale. Coming up, there was a knocking at the door.
Kaede had Cindy go into the kitchen. She lifted the bar and let Ritchie in. "Hey Ritchie, come on in."
He came in and watched her put he bar back down. "Why are you locking the door during the day?" he asked.
"We got someone needin protectin," Kaede told him. "Roberta's in the kitchen.
Ritchie went in, gave Roberta a kiss and sat down by her. "We got trouble?" he asked.
Roberta nodded to Cindy and said, "Bad guys are after her. They're serious too. I got followed, so they know she's in the area."
"They're not getting in here," Ritchie stated. "Even if they did, they'll wish they hadn't."
"That's true, but time will come when Cindy has to go to court to testify," Roberta said firmly. She'll be vulnerable then."
"Nay so," Kaede said. "I'll just go wit'er."
"And you'll stop a sniper?" Roberta asked.
Kaede eyed her and said, "Aye, I will."
"Kaede's bullet proof," Ritchie said.
"So's everyone around me, if I want'em ta be." Kaede added.
"My sister's a bad-ass," Ritchie said with a smirk.
Kaede frowned at him and replied, "Kouta likes my ass."
"Bet he does," Ritchie agreed. "Anything I can do to help with dinner?"
Pointing to the garbage can Kaede asked, Take the peelins to the mulch pile?"
"On it."
.
Eddie closed his shop and went to the meeting in down in Manchester. Gong through the ID check, then the metal detector and X-ray machine, he got to the sound proofed room where the agents sat around a horseshoe table. In fron t of them was a map. Theirs Boss greeted them with a nod and said, "Gentlemen, a short while ago, Mr. Smith was planted by one of our operatives. What we didn't know then was addition to his other nefarious activities, he also ran a snuff club. What this was, was coaxing women to come work for him, then client paid him substantial amounts of cash to be able to kill these girls. After they were killed, we found the incinerator where the bodies were turned to ash, then sent out on a freighter to be distributed in the ocean. Of the seven women of his last haul, five have been hunted down and killed to keep them quiet. The last two are in protective custody, as secure as we can make them. By the aggressiveness of the ones after them, there is no guarantee they will be safe. Tina Westfield was in a safe house. A gasoline bomb was thrown inside, she was killed as were the officers present when they tried to escape. This was right about the time Erica Nolan was shot in the head by a sniper leaving a London police station."
He motioned to the dots on the map. "These people, and we know there is a group, appear to be hunting these girls down at all costs. Four men were killed when they performed their executions, another committed suicide to avoid capture. Two have been seen close to a protected witness, but they have disappeared. We have their names. They've gone dark. Due to the extreme nature of their actions, we are authorized to capture and extract information from them using any mean necessary. Apparently the information our operative got showed Smith was not the leader, but only a Lieutenant. The folders in front of you have all the information we have. The only think we know is this, Mr. X is very rich. I doubt he lives in a city flat. We need to catch one of these guys and get information. Wiretaps, surveillance, beat them bloody, no method is off the table to find out what they know. We have to find the one at the head and take them down."
.
Amanda left her bank in London, having just transferred all her money from different accounts around the globe into one account. She had more that she thought she did. Now, to get Duncan to sit with her and explain this whole investment thing. Although she didn't like to admit it, Kaede was right. Very time a job went bad and she got in over her head, she'd run to Duncan. He was her shield when angry people came after her. He did deserve better, and one of these times, she just might loose her head over it. It was time to settle down and become obscure. If nothing else, when Inari died, Duncan would be mourning her like he did that French woman. She wanted to be there for him.
Approaching her car, she felt the smack of a bullet drive into her chest. Gasping, she dropped. It was mid day, people screamed and ran when she fell.
Shit! Her mind racing, she could not remember anyone who was after her. She laid still, hoping whoever shot her was sure she was dead. Whoever it was, missed her heart. Her blood was on the ground, but she was alive.
A van pulled up beside her. She was grabbed and thrown in. Inside, her head was tilted up, a bucket shoved under her. A knife appeared.
Enough playing dead!
Jumping up, he punched the knife weilder hard, then kicked the driver in the back of the head. A roundhouse foot to the knife wielder's face, then drop and punch to the other man who was gaping at her. The van slew as the passenger tried to control the van. Amanda shot to the back, opened the back doors and swung out on one. She lost her grip and flew into a signpost. The signpost bent and broke a few ribs. Amanda tumbled into the tall grass on the side of the road, but she was free.
Gasping and holding her ribs, Amanda got to her feet and ran back the way she came. The van hit another car. She heard it, but kept going. Her blouse was ripped and now sported a huge blood spot on it. She was getting weak. Looking for a suitable place, Amanda hid under a bridge abutment. It was painful crawling up in, but she managed to before she passed out.
It was dark when Amanda awoke. At least her ribs and the gunshot were healed. She'd lost her purse, but still had her keys. Crawling out of her space, she checked carefully that no one was watching, then made her way back to her car.
Luckily her car was there. She got in planning, no stop at her apartment, there could be a trap there. She put the key in the ignition to have a rope drop down around her neck, She was yanked back hard, the rope crushing her throat, cutting her air off. Amanda struggled and fought. Whoever was behind the seat stayed low. She couldn't grab them or release the tension. She flailed until she passed out.
The next time Amanda woke up she was stuffed head first into the passenger foot well. Her peg was beside the gearshift she rammed it into park with her knee. The car went out of control, the man driving was wide eye. She kicked him in the head. The car spun and flipped. Bouncing in the rash, Amanda landed on the roof, the car upside down. The driver was groaning. Seeing the pistol on the roof by her she grabbed it and shot him in the head, then crawled out through the broken back window.
Who in the hell were these guys?
The man behind his rosewood desk in the bank picked up his phone when it rang. "Yes? …" AS he listened, he frowned and asked, "You're telling me this Amanda was shot, in the van, then wrecked it got back to her own car, got strangled THEN killed that one too?" … "Stop fucking around! Shoot her in the head, then cut her head OFF!" … "Yes, she's dangerous … Do not assume she'd dead, Make god-damned sure! You know what to do, DO IT!" He hung the phone up.
Jason Heisman Knew this Amanda was the one who'd killed those men in their play house and brought the investigators down on them. She'd foolishly given her name to him at the gate. He was going to silence every survivor of that debunkle, but Amanda's head, he was going to had stuffed and put on his trophy shelf.
