They headed upstairs to change into their pajamas.
"Darling, look at it this way. I came home at 4. He got here at 5. We have a gated yard, with a buzzer system. We didn't buzz anyone in or out. I was the last one to come home before he got here. I did not see anything on the driveway. I would have definitely seen that. There's no other explanation, darling. He has to have been the one that left it."
"Darling, isn't it possible on some level that if someone came on to the property last night and dropped the note that Max found, that they could do it again this afternoon and drop the one that Chris found?"
"I suppose it is possible. Anything is possible. But is it probable? I don't think so".
She slipped on a nightgown and then started putting on a coat of baby oil.
"I just hate to suspect my friends. I mean, let's say it is him. What does he have to gain out of this? I am not leaving you, and if I was, it wouldn't be for him. And leaving me notes and sending me unsigned chocolates and flowers isn't going to get me to leave you or go to him, so what's the point?"
"My fear is that he wants the inheritance. And he will stop at nothing to get it".
"Well, I hope you're wrong. Because if you aren't, then he isn't the Chris I grew up with, nor he is a Chris that I recognize."
"I don't want to be right about him or his bad intentions. But it's hard to ignore the signs when they are so obvious to me. And I think they are obvious to me because I don't really know him".
"That's probably true".
She climbed into bed next to him.
"Darling, it doesn't bother you that I wanted to open a separate account for the trust, does it?"
"No, I actually think that's a great idea. We can keep things separated that way".
"That's what I was thinking".
She snuggled up to his chest.
"I don't mean separate as in mine and not yours. What's mine is ours, darling. I just mean it will be easier to keep track of what we spend out of the trust that way".
"I know that. You want me to go with you to the bank?"
"No, that's alright. What bank should I use?"
"Well, how much are we talking?"
"Excess of 570 million".
"Citibank. They are more substantial than Piedmont".
She sat up on one elbow and looked at him.
"Darling, I know that you weren't particularly thrilled with the idea of him coming to dinner. I just want you to know, I appreciate you being a good sport".
"Oh you do?"
"Yes. Want me to show you how much I appreciate it?"
"That's what I had in mind".
He leaned up and kissed her and then turned out the light.
She giggled and kissed him back and then he made love to her a few times before they fell asleep together.
***A few days later***
Jennifer was at home, working on an article, when she heard the gate buzzer.
"Hello?"
"Delivery for a Jennifer Hart".
"Come on up".
Jennifer buzzed the gate open and then opened the door.
"Hi, sign here please."
She signed the form and then he handed her a box.
"Thank you".
She took the box to the coffee table and opened it.
It was stacks of paperwork that she tried to decipher but couldn't make out. There was a note on top.
"My darling Jennifer-There are only three clues left after this. I am positive by now that you know exactly what is going on and how this will end. Hidden somewhere in this paperwork are the instructions that tell you what to do. I am sure that you will find them in no time, you were always the smartest girl in every room, not to mention the prettiest. I love you immensely-Pa".
She decided to see if Jonathan could figure it out. If not, she would call Chris and get him to tell her.
She went back to her article and worked till Jonathan got home.
He came home around 5, and she was so focused on her article that she didn't even realize it till he was kissing her.
"Hi. When did you get here?"
"Just now".
He took her hand and led her to the den and made her a glass of wine.
"I'm sorry honey, I'll make your cocktail".
"No, it's alright. I'll get it".
He started giving her a foot rub.
"Darling, I got this package today, and I can't make sense of it. I tried earlier, and it made my head hurt. Will you help me with it?"
"Certainly".
She leaned forward and grabbed a stack of papers.
"Ok, so it looks like everything is in sets of two. Two pages stapled together. The front page of each is French, or German. It's just that the font is so small I can barely see it and it's smudged and it was making my head hurt".
He sat back and looked at it and then reached over and got the magnifying glass.
"Darling, this isn't in French or German. It's in code."
"Code? What kind of code?"
"I'm not sure yet".
He turned the page over and found that it was all in English.
He turned the page back over and then got up and got a legal pad and pen.
He handed it to her.
"Darling, I'm going to call out a letter and I want you to write it down. Let's do a few and see if they start to spell something out".
"Alright".
About 15 minutes later, she had a word in French.
"Arrosoir".
"What does that translate to in English?"
"Watering Can".
He turned the page over and found that it was titled "Watering can".
They did a few more and found them to have the same pattern.
"Darling, I think these might be art pieces."
She started to make a list of all the titles and when she got to the bottom of the stack, there was a pink piece of paper.
"My darling Jennifer-take these papers to this address. Ask for the manager, follow her instructions. I love you, Pa".
"Well, I guess that's what I am doing tomorrow".
"No darling, it's what we are doing tomorrow. I will work a half day and then come take you to the address".
She leaned up and put her arms around his neck.
"You're wonderful".
She kissed him several times, and then they started putting the papers back in the box.
"Darling, where is Max?"
"I'm not sure. He said he was going out, that was a few hours ago".
"He's probably at the track".
"Which means he won't be home for a bit, and we have the house to ourselves".
"So we do. And how ever are we going to entertain ourselves, Mr. H.?"
"Well, why don't I take you to dinner?"
"You could. Or we could get comfy and order in".
"Marvelous idea".
He started kissing her and had just moved his kisses to her neck when the phone rang.
He sighed.
"I'll get the phone, you just keep going".
"Hello?"
"Jennifer? Hi, it's Davy. Davy Wilson. I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time".
"No, not at all, this is actually a wonderful time".
She ran her fingers through Jonathan's hair.
"Well, I just wanted to tell you that I have been promoted. I am now going to manage the Piedmont bank in Los Angeles, on Alameda and 3rd. Is that the branch you do business at?"
"Well, sometimes. There is a closer branch to our home, but that one is close to my husband's office".
"Well, I just wanted to let you know that if you ever need anything, I will be more than happy to help you out".
"Thank you. And if you ever need anything, you can always call us".
"Thank you".
They hung up and she returned her attention to Jonathan.
"Was that your lovesick friend again?"
"No. It was Davy".
"Oh I see. Admirer #2".
"Would you stop? He was just calling to tell me that he is being transferred to Los Angeles, and will be managing the Piedmont bank near your office on Alameda and 3rd".
"I see". He continued to nuzzle her neck.
"And besides, I am only interested in admirer #1, and he's a little busy right now".
"Oh he is? What is he doing?"
"Kissing my neck".
"Great answer".
He pulled her back on top of him, as she giggled.
"Jonathan, you are going to hurt yourself".
"Well, then you are going to have to nurse me back to health".
"With pleasure".
She leaned down and kissed him nice and slow.
They made love right there on the couch, and then got up and went and changed into their pajamas.
"Darling, how about we order in from Espana?"
"Great idea. I'll even make some margaritas to go with it".
She put on a black lace nightgown and black lace robe.
He called and placed their order and then they headed back downstairs.
He played the piano some while she sat next to him and rubbed on his arm and finished her wine.
Freeway started barking to let them know their dinner was there, so she went and buzzed him in, and paid for the delivery.
He found a movie on tv for them, and they ate on the couch.
She fed him bites of her chicken quesadilla and he fed her bites of his enchilada verde.
After they were finished, she took their plates to the sink and put them in the dishwasher and then came back and snuggled with him.
She nestled back against him and he wrapped his arms around her.
"Darling, do you remember the first time you and I were in New York at the same time?"
"Yep. We spent an evening just like this at your old apartment".
"That's right, we did. One of my most favorite dates of ours".
"Really?"
She turned and put her head on his chest.
"I mean, I love all of our dates, don't get me wrong. But you and I had met in London and things were so chaotic, and then all of a sudden, we were in love and getting married and you were meeting my father and then I had to go back to the city and work out my notice and sell my apartment and you had to go back to California. And then you called and said you were coming to the city and I was so excited, and when you showed up at my place in jeans with roses and pizza and a bottle of wine, I was so happy that we could just be us for an evening".
"Yeah, that was a fun evening".
They watched the movie for about 30 minutes and then the phone rang.
Jonathan reached behind him and picked it up.
"Hello?"
He talked for a few minutes and then hung up.
"Darling, we should probably change, we are going to have company".
"Who?"
"Stanley".
"At this hour?"
"Yes, it's important. And he gets flustered when he sees you in real clothes, so I can only guess what will happen if he sees you in a lacy nightgown".
She took his hand and led him upstairs.
He threw on some jeans and a t-shirt. She threw on a t-shirt and some yoga pants.
They were sitting on the couch when the gate buzzer rang.
She got up and buzzed him in and then opened the door.
"Hi Stanley".
"Hi Mrs. Hart. Hi Mr. Hart."
He came over and set up his computer on the coffee table.
He pulled up the document and showed it to Jonathan.
"5 properties for sale by Hart Industries. 5 of them were bought by the same person. And that person is using the same IP address as the person buying up all of the Hart Industries stock".
"I thought we suspended the stock sales".
"We did. But it still tells me who is trying to purchase some and what their IP address is".
Jennifer curled up on the couch and read a little while they worked on that.
A couple hours later, Jonathan looked over and found her fast asleep.
"Take 5 Stanley. Let me take her upstairs and get her settled and I'll be right back".
"Sure, Mr. Hart".
He got up and picked her up and carried her upstairs.
He got her into bed and gently took her yoga pants off her and tucked her in.
He leaned down and kissed her softly.
"Goodnight darling, I love you".
He went back downstairs with Stanley and worked a few more hours.
They finally called it quits around midnight, and then after he had seen Stanley out, he came upstairs and joined Jennifer in bed.
***The next morning***
Jennifer heard Jonathan's alarm go off and nestled closer to him as he turned it off.
"Morning darling".
"Morning".
She gave him a quick kiss and then headed for the shower.
He got in behind her and she was downstairs when he came downstairs.
"Morning Max".
"Morning, Mr. H."
"Darling, how late were you and Stanley and I up last night?"
"well, you clocked out about an hour into it."
"I did?"
"Yes, you did. So, I carried you upstairs and tucked you in, and then Stanley and I worked till shortly after midnight".
"Oh. Did you get it all fixed?"
"No. But we are keeping an eye on things and we have a plan in place".
After they finished breakfast, she walked him to the door.
"I love you, honey. Have a good day".
"I love you too, darling. I'll see you tonight".
He gave her a few kisses and then left.
She was working on an article around 11, when the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Jennifer, it's Chris. Listen, my office was broken into. And all of my files were destroyed. So, I called the bank that has the trust, and their Los Angeles office is going to send a copy of the trust paperwork within the hour by courier to your house. Is there any way you could sign it and overnight it back to me?"
"Certainly. I will call you as soon as that takes place".
"Thank you so much, Jennifer. I apologize for any inconvenience".
"It's no trouble at all. I'll call you back in a bit".
She hung up the phone and got back to work, and about 20 minutes later, the gate buzzed.
"Hello?"
"Urgent delivery for Jennifer Hart".
"Come on up".
She buzzed them in and opened the door and signed for it.
"Thank you".
She went and told Max she was going out and would be back soon, grabbed her purse and keys and headed to Jonathan's office.
***Hart Industries***
Jennifer walked into Jonathan's office and found him on the phone.
He motioned for her to come to him and was confused as to why she was there.
He stood up and hugged and kissed her.
"Listen, Frank, something's come up. I'll call you right back".
He hung up.
"What a pleasant surprise".
"Hi darling".
She kissed him a few times.
"You just can't keep your hands off me, can you?"
"Nope, not at all".
She kissed him again and then leaned against his desk.
"Darling, Chris called this morning. He said someone broke into his office, and destroyed all of his files, so he sent me new trust fund paperwork by messenger to sign and we have to overnight it back to him. Can we add it in to the office overnights?"
"Certainly".
She turned around and called him and put him on speaker.
"Hi Chris? I'm here in Jonathan's office. I got the paperwork, and I'm going to sign it. I just need an address on where to send it".
"2424 Crestview Circle, in Hill Haven. And Sparkles, is there a third party who can witness your signing the papers?"
"Yes, we can use Jonathan's secretary. Her name is Deanne Stewart".
"Wonderful."
"We will do this and then send it within the hour".
"Great. Thanks again, Jennifer".
"No problem. Thanks, Chris".
She hung up and then he buzzed Deanne in.
"Yes, Mr. Hart?"
"Can you please witness my wife signing these?"
"Certainly".
They signed in all the right places and then Jennifer addressed the envelope and applied the postage and Deanne took it to the mail room to be sent out overnight.
Jennifer and Jonathan were in his office chatting when Stanley burst in.
"I went to that address, from the papers in the box. They are closed till October 15, so I will have to go back".
"Well, as soon as they open, we will be there".
Jonathan turned to Stanley.
"Mr. Hart, I got a hit on the IP address. It belongs to a Mark Walters, of Salisbury, Maryland".