ASE-36
Wakefulness tugged at Anna but she resisted afraid to lose the feeling of warmth and safety she was currently enjoying. Another tug. She groaned out loud. "Um, no."
"All right, sleeping beauty, have it your way," said Robert. His voice seemed to be near and far at the same time.
Cold air hit her face and her eyes fluttered open then closed again. "Robert?"
"Hush. We're going home," said Robert softly.
A little smile tugged at the corners of Anna's mouth. "Home ... "
He strode through the back door of Delafield's and the kitchens with Anna securely in his arms. Angel held the door open and had made sure the way to the elevator was devoid of staff. Remi and Marino moved and opened the elevator.
"Thank you, officers. You may return to the station. I'll take care of things from here," said Robert getting into the elevator. "And remember mums the word on Anna and, ah, the other thing."
Remi led Friday inside the elevator then pressed the top floor. "You can count on us, sir."
Robert tried to put Anna on his bed but her arms which were wrapped around his neck held fast. He'd forgotten how strong her grip could be.
"Anna, let go before you strangle me," wheezed Robert half standing and half bent over the bed.
"Not ... letting ... go," muttered Anna.
"When you're on to a good thing of course not." Robert was forced to his knees to get Anna level with the bed. "See. Nice bed. You can get some rest before-"
"Bed? Hmmm." Her eyes opened and his face was the first thing she saw. Anna's arms unwound from Robert's neck. She said shyly, "Hi."
"Back to the real world I see." He straightened up. "Let's get your shoes off. You'll be more comfortable."
Quick as a cat, Anna grabbed Robert's belt and pulled herself to her knees. In this position, she was nearly eye level with Robert. She looked at him. "When I got out of that ... that van, I promised myself one thing. Immediately."
"What's that?"
"You." Anna arched towards Robert and touched her lips to his for a kiss that left no doubt of her intentions. Her left hand clutched at his belt and pulled him even closer to her. Their mouths played insistently and plundered outrageously. Anna felt Robert's hands caressing her neck and back. "The ... zipper. Undo ... undo me."
"The undoing's the other ... other way around," said Robert between kisses. His fingers obeyed on their own and did away with the zipper. Breathing heavily, Robert broke their kiss.
Anna took the moment to shrug off her evening gown leaving herself bare save for a smidgen of fabric down below. Eyes dancing with mischief, she asked, "Care to try for a home run? Once? Twice?"
Frozen to the spot, Robert took his visual fill of her. He sighed. "I can't believe what I'm about to do."
"Doing is believing and I WANT to believe." She wound both her arms around his waist. She pressed her head against his chest. His heartbeat, faster than normal, thundered in her ears.
Gently, he stroked her hair. He returned her embrace.
With love shining from her eyes, Anna looked at Robert. "Ready to jump?"
He cupped her face in his hands. "You're making this so difficult."
Anna laughed. "I think it'll come back to you while I go take a quick shower."
"Come back, yeah, about that, luv," said Robert. "Sean and Robin are due any minute. And Monica ..."
"Just lock the door." Anna began to unbutton his shirt. "They can wait. I can't."
"But ... but we HAVE to stop." Robert stepped away.
"Stop? Now when I'm literally throwing myself at you?" asked Anna.
Robert rambled on as he ducked into his bathroom to get his bathrobe. "You could be injured. I know you're tired. You fell asleep in the car. And I need to know what happened the night of the ball."
SLAM!
Robert ran back into the bedroom. The bed was devoid of Anna and her recently shed clothing.
"There goes the extra innings tonight." Robert marched to the guest room. The door was locked. He knocked. "Anna, I have my robe here for you."
The door opened a crack and Anna stuck a hand out. Robert put the robe in her hand. The door closed. No words were exchanged.
"I'm not going to need that cold shower after all," said Robert.
BUZZ!
Sean, Robin and Olin came out of the elevator. Both Robin and Olin carried overnight cases.
"Dad? How's Mom?" asked Robin.
"Back to normal," replied Robert. "She's in the guest room. Try to cheer her up will you?"
Sean, Robin and Olin went to the guest room leaving Robert alone in the living room. Robert endured five minutes of solitude before he was driven to action. He called the station.
"Guy, give me an update," barked Robert.
"I've just released the joint fire and police statement about the explosion," said Guy. "I put in that we found charred remains that we have yet to identify and that the property is a total loss due to fire damage. The medical examiner isn't too happy about things but he'll follow the story."
"Good. Wait twenty-four hours before declaring the body is Anna's," ordered Robert. "This and the news on Cassandra should be more than enough to keep the press busy."
"Don't worry about things here, Robert. How's Anna? Have you done the deed - proposed I mean?"
Sean entered the room. Robert motioned for him to take a seat.
"Absolutely nothing is going on. Nada. Zip," said Robert. "I need to work. I'm going to debrief Anna then I'm coming to the station. I'll want to interrogate the junk man. Is Frisco back?"
BUZZ!
Sean moved to the elevator. He led Monica to the guest room.
"Yeah. Just a few minutes ago," came Guy's answer.
"Send him over here and tell him to bring his maps. Bye, Guy." Robert ended the connection and dialed downstairs. "Angel? I need some room service. Can you send up something for dinner for five, no six. Frisco always works better with food around. And, uh, a gourmet meal for Friday. Forty minutes? Yeah, that's fine. Thanks, Angel." He hung up the phone.
Sean returned a minute later. He smiled at Robert. "Isn't it great that things are getting back to normal?"
"I suppose." Robert sat down. "After we've had dinner and Anna's rested a bit, I want the two of us to debrief her."
"Fine," said Sean.
"The sooner this case is done, the sooner other things can ... can start."
Sean covered his ears. "No personal stuff, Robert. I don't want to hear it."
"You're in luck 'cause nothing is happening on that front," said Robert. "Catch me up on everything the WSB told you about Ferris. There has to be a connection between that and my case."
"I agree. Too many coincidences," said Sean.
"Anna said that Brewster is innocent and that this is a frame job on him and on me. It's pretty clear to me that Cassandra and Bettina were used and then taken cared of. Question is who's the mastermind?"
"I have to urge some caution here," advised Sean. "Whoever he or she is, has made a big move with the explosion. Obviously, he's set on covering his tracks and eliminating those in the know. He doesn't lack for sheer gall and daring."
"All the more reason to move fast."
"Not too fast, Robert. I can't help thinking that he or she isn't done yet. Let's hope Anna can fill in the blanks."
"More like shoot blanks."
"What?"
"Nothing." Robert rose as Monica and Olin came into the room.
"Commish, I'm going to get some clothes and things for Anna. Be back soon," said Olin in passing as she made a beeline for the elevator.
"Didn't you bring some clothes with you already?" asked Robert.
"Well, uh, Anna wanted some other things. Yes, that's it," said Olin. She waved goodbye as the doors closed.
"How is she, Monica?" asked Robert.
"Considering what she's been through, Anna's remarkably in good shape," said Monica. "No obvious injuries but I can't absolutely rule out internal injuries. I want to have full scans and tests done when she's back from the dead."
"Will do. What else?"
"She has some general weakness due to her experience overall but that should be taken cared of with a few days of rest and good nutrition. Just to be on the safe side since I can't do any lab tests right now, I've given her some antibiotics. There are minor abrasions on her palms. I've had to bandage her right hand. I'll come back in a few days to take the bandages off. In the meantime, have her rest and no strenuous exercises until I can get her into the hospital for a full examination."
"Got it," said Robert.
"How long will this, um, mission take?"
"I'm going to make this the shortest mission on record, Monica. I promise you that."
"Anna should have someone with her 24/7. She may not be feeling much pain now but tomorrow could be a different story," warned Monica.
"She won't be left alone for a minute, a second. Scout's honor."
"I'll take what I can get." Monica began to walk towards the elevator. "I'll fill Steve in on this case."
"Any updates on Bettina?" asked Sean.
Monica's expression turned grim. "She hasn't regained consciousness. She had a series of seizures two hours ago. Her vitals are highly unstable. To be frank, I don't have much hope that she'll pull through. I had to tell her sister that Bettina may not make it through the night. This drug whatever it is is a killer. You have to get whoever is responsible."
Robert nodded. "We will."
"Should the hospital be concerned that this drug is ... is out in the wild?"
Robert and Sean looked at each in alarm. That had not been a possibility they had thought of.
"Ah, I ... I don't know," admitted Robert.
"Monica has a point. If this goes out uncontrolled and undetected, it's going to be a disaster."
"We'll stay on top of this, Monica. We'll beat an answer out of the WSB if we have to," said Robert.
Robert knocked on the guest room door. "Anna?"
"Come in!" came her voice from within.
"She speaks." Robert opened the door and stepped through. The room was empty. "Food's here. Where are you?"
"In the bath."
SPLASH!
The sound seemed as loud as a gun shot to Robert's ears. Images and sensations he really shouldn't be thinking of flooded his mind. He paused at the open bathroom door.
"Where's Robin? You're not supposed to be left alone. Anything could happen."
"Robin wanted a milkshake. She went downstairs to Delafield's kitchen," said Anna. "Why don't you come in, Robert?"
"I can't."
"I'm not mad anymore."
"You have to stop. I'm only human and a man."
"Stop what?" asked Anna perplexed.
"Trying to seduce me," said Robert.
"You think THIS is a seduction?"
"It has all the classic symptoms."
"Then your standards aren't very ... refined."
"Meaning?"
SPLASH! SPLASH!
"I need your help."
"Wait for Robin."
"I can't. My hair is dripping wet and I need someone to help me dry it."
"Ah, er ..."
"I can't get my hand wet remember? You can close your eyes you know," said Anna. "My back is to the door. You won't see much at all."
"Oh, all right." Robert opened the door and found things exactly as Anna said. Her back was to the door. Her soaking wet hair cascaded down her back like black velvet.
"Wring out the water please," instructed Anna.
Robert knelt down and did as he was told. He didn't deny himself the sensual enjoyment of the action. "I remember doing this once or twice."
"Hmm, yes. Once on our honeymoon and again when we were in Paris," said Anna. "It's a chore to wash and dry. I should get it chopped one of these days."
"No, don't touch the hair."
Anna laughed. "I'm talking about my hair and not yours."
"I love your hair long. It's very ... Anna," said Robert. "Some of my best memories have your hair spilling out over a pillow."
"Sounds like we have the same favorite memories."
"What do you like best about me?" asked Robert as he dried her hair with easy movements.
Anna sighed. "Your hands. Strong yet capable of much gentleness. I love the way you touch me with them."
"You're killing me here."
"I don't mean to."
"Sure you don't. You were trained to be the ultimate honey trap."
"Honey is sweet. Am I ... sweet or salty, Robert?"
Robert stood up so fast he felt a touch of dizziness. He called out, "Robin!"
"Something wrong?" asked Anna in all innocence.
Robert stepped out of the bath then said, "I'll get Robin to help you."
Anna's laughter echoed through the room as Robert made good on his escape.
Anna wrapped a towel about her hair and got out of the tub. She opened the second case Olin had brought over.
"Seduction is not about sex, Robert," murmured Anna. "It's about eliciting and expressing desire. Sex is just one of the possible end results."
Anna drew out a long silky black robe with red lining and tie. Next, she selected something red and lacy. She put on the clothing then studied herself in the dresser's mirror. "Ready or not, Robert, the lessons are about to begin."