Chapter 36--Hi, I finished another installment. I hope you enjoy it and thanks for the comments!

C.J. woke up to see the sun rising over the horizon and her head resting on Matt's shoulder. He still slept beside her, his breathing slow and even. She sat up carefully, so she wouldn't disturb him. Her body ached from the strenuous exercise the day before and she winced as she rubbed her shoulders.

She felt better for the first time in a long time, as if a weight had been lifted off of her. The day had started fresh, with few clouds speckled across the blue sky and the ocean appeared calm. The pungent smell of tropical flora wafted around her. She stretched her arms gingerly trying to ease the soreness out of them.

"What time is it," she heard the voice say next to her.

She looked over at Matt who sat up.

"About 7," she said, "Did you sleep well?"

He grimaced as he shifted his body to make it more comfortable.

"A few hours," he said, "How about you?"

She smiled softly.

"Better than I had in a while," she said, yawning, "Thank you for coming for me."

He looked at her as she stood up, brushing the dried mud off of her clothes.

"C.J., you're my best friend," Matt said, "I wouldn't be anywhere else."

She leaned over the railing of the boat, her back to him.

"I don't know what happened to me," she said, "I don't know what I was thinking."

He stood up and walked over to stand next to her and they looked out at the placid ocean which reached out forever.

"Delayed shock maybe," he said, "I've experienced it myself a time or two. You can only hold something inside of you for so long."

"Maybe," she said, "I spent so much time trying to forget it but I couldn't and then yesterday, it just hit me all at once."

"You were scared, you've been running on adrenalin for a long time and you've lived through a nightmare," he said, "But you're going to survive this and come out the other side."

She turned her head to look at him.

"I'm not sure I know how," she said, "I always thought I was strong enough to handle anything but this is different."

"You've got your friends," he said, "and you've got me. It's just going to take some time but you'll get home."

She smiled and rubbed his back.

"I know that," she said, "And I know all of you have been working hard to help me get back there."

He put his arm around her.

"We'll get there," he said, "We'll figure out a way to get the goods on Andre and then we're going home."

C.J. sat in a chair of the state police station in Phoenix, Arizona. She had changed her clothes out of the awful getup that Sheriff Bunz had made her and the other woman wear to Semour Piser's party at his estate. Her borrowed clothes were over-sized and hung on her figure but were much more comfortable. She just wished her mind didn't remain fuzzy as to what had happened to her and how she got here.

At least she knew her real name now, not that she could figure out why everyone had called her Bunny for the past several days. She had known that wasn't her name even if she didn't know anything else.

Rhonda and the other women sat with her in the same room, waiting their turns to be processed as the state police handled the paperwork after the huge bust at the ranch.

"Your head still hurts," Rhonda asked C.J.

C.J. shook her head.

"My head just feels heavy, fuzzy," she said, "I don't know what's wrong."

"Honey they probably drugged you," she said, "It sounds like they planned to kill you and this Houston guy after Piser had his fun."

"Houston," C.J. said, "My friend."

"Some friend," Rhonda said, "I wish mine looked like that. None of them ever took on a pack of corrupt cops and randy politicians single handed to save me."

C.J. looked at the man by the vending machines across the room.

"I wish I remembered more about him," she said, "He seems very nice."

"It'll all come back," Rhonda said, rubbing C.J.'s shoulder, "It always does."

Matt walked towards them, bringing some sodas.

"I got these out of the vending machine," he said, handing one to each woman.

C.J. opened hers and took a long sip to ease the dryness in her throat.

"Thanks," she said, "I know that I know you but I'm not sure how or from where."

He smiled and sat down next to her.

"We go back a long ways," he said, "Back to when we were very young and I first saw you punch a bully's lights out at school."

She thought about that.

"Some first impression," she said.

"A memorable one for sure," he said, "I'll never forget it."

"Can you tell me more about us?"

And he did.

Matt stood by the railing remembering that day and how C.J.'s memory had returned when he shared with her memories about their past while they waited in the police station to go home. She told him about her experiences since she had lost her memory after wrecking her car. After her ordeal in Bannon County, she had seemed different. Something she had tried to tell him outside the penthouse suite of the office building the night of the party welcoming her home. But he hadn't really listened to her words. He hadn't meant to brush her off but he believed that dwelling on what happened in Bannon County would just make her feel worse. It had been a difficult stretch of months for her, what with discovering the man she loved wasn't who she thought he was, getting shot by religious cult leaders while working on a case and then her bout with amnesia. He had believed he was making things easier for her but thinking back now, he realized he'd been wrong about that.

It must not have been long after coming back from Arizona that when she had decided to help the federal agencies in their probe into Houston Enterprises to protect him. It was about that time that he had felt her pulling away from him bit by bit. Of course, he had been too busy with his caseload and then later Elizabeth to pay much attention to it even when they had worked on a case together involving her long-time friend Julia only to find out that she had died. After that, she had become more busy with that project she had mentioned any time he had tried to talk with her. It became a wall between them.

Thinking back, he wished he could have done something differently. Anything to have avoided the path they were traveling now. But what could he have done?

Chris arrived at the diner to meet Rhonda and Fran and found them seated in the booth in the far corner of their favorite breakfast spot.

"Hey Chris," Fran said, "You look sharp in that getup."

"It's just a business suit," she said, "I've worn it before."

"There are business suits and then there is that," Fran said.

Chris sat down and ordered a coffee and omelet.

"I can't believe we're doing this," she said.

Fran cocked her head.

"You think we should call it off?"

Chris shook her head.

"No, not at all," she said, "We've got one chance to see if we can find out anything."

Rhonda sighed.

"Have you two made your minds up yet?"

Both women looked at her.

"We're just trying to hammer out the logistics," Fran said, "Have you familiarized with the recording equipment?"

Rhonda smiled.

"No problem," she said, "I have an ex-boyfriend who was a roadie for a rock band. It can't be much different than figuring out all that sound equipment. "

"Good," Chris said, "the meeting with Andre's several hours away. We'd better go over what we're going to say."

"We're just going to talk about partnering our foundations," Fran said, "And in between, find out if he's involved in anything else."

"I don't think he's going to admit to doing anything illegal," Rhonda said, "The guy's slick. He's going to know five minutes into this that you're up to something."

"He might slip if we can catch him off guard," Chris said, "That's what we've got to try to do."

"I plan to do my best," Fran said.

C.J. brought out some sandwiches and tossed one to Matt. He deftly caught it and unwrapped it.

"Not bad for breakfast," she said, taking a bite, "But I miss a good Texas omelet."

Matt nodded.

"Me too," he said, "When we get back to Houston, we'll have to go out and have a dozen of them apiece."

She held up her hand.

"One will do just fine for me," she said, "Remember I ceded the title of omelet king to you some time ago."

"That's true," he said, "But I'm up for any challenges when we do get back."

"I think I'll take a couple of chili burgers to go," she said, and some fries."

"Sounds good to me," Matt said.

"And a thick chocolate malt," she added.

"Make that two," he said, "You think they deliver out here?"

"I want it all back," C.J. said, "I want to do all the things I took for granted. Everything I ever complained about. I just want my life back."

He stroked the hair off her face.

"I want that too," he said.

"What about you," she said, "You were gone for so long."

"I didn't even get to unpack my bags in L.A," Matt said, "In fact, I can't remember where I left them."

She smiled.

"That's nothing new," she said, "One adventure ends, the next is always beginning."

"All I could think about since I got back was trying to find you."

"Well, you did," she said, "I'm sorry I made it so difficult."

He paused.

"You've got nothing to be sorry about," Matt said, "You were just trying to protect yourself and me."

"I didn't want anything to happen to you," she said, "I still don't. This could be very dangerous from this point out."

"We'll try to come up with a plan to minimize that," he said, "We've some people to help us."

"You can't underestimate him," she said.

"We won't."

She nodded.

"I think that means going back," C.J. said, "Going back and finding out what this Antonio guy wants with us."

He watched her trying to hide the fear in her eyes behind her smile.

Chris and Fran walked into the restaurant lobby and told the waitress there that they would be meeting someone .

"Do you see him," Fran said, looking around.

"I don't think so," Chris said, as they followed the waitress to a table.

"I hope Rhonda knows what she's doing with the equipment," Fran said, as they sat down.

"We're going to find out," Chris said, "I'm more worried about not saying the wrong thing during this meeting."

"Let's just stick to the script," Fran said, "And hope he doesn't bring his own with him."

"We're going to have to be prepared for that."

"Hey look, he showed up," Fran said.

They both watched as Andre and two other men approached the table. Chris and Fran looked at each. It was now or never.

Jonathon sat in his office and Brad walked in with some paperwork for him to sign. He read it over.

"I didn't ask for this," he said.

"The boss told me to bring it in for you to sign."

Jonathon flipped through the pages of the document.

"It's a federal warrant," he said, "against Matt Houston for obstruction of a federal investigation."

"He seems to think this might help uncover where he's hiding out with the witness."

Jonathon tossed the papers aside.

"A lot of good it's going to do," he said, "They're probably not even in the country."

"The boss wants us to do something," Brad said, "He's getting a lot of heat on this one."

"He's going after the wrong guy," Jonathon said, "He needs to focus on Andre Duval."

"There's nothing on him," Brad said, "Unless you want to go by what his half-brother allegedly told Mr. Houston at the prison."

"He didn't buy that act that Duval put on at the charity gala," Jonathon said.

"Even Interpol came up empty on him," Brad said.

"I know Duval's a really bad guy," Jonathon said, "And I don't think focusing the attention on bringing in Houston on some obstruction charge is going to bring justice in this case."

"Then you better take that up with the boss," Brad said, "because he's very serious about this warrant and moving forward with it."

Matt steered the sail boat up the coast. The sun had risen in full force and the birds glided over the ocean back to the beach. C.J. stood next to him.

"So you really think we should contact Antonio and set up a meeting with him?"

She nodded.

"At least to hear what he has to say," she said, "I don't really want to see him again but I don't see what choice we have."

"He did seem to be understanding about you hitting him on the head," Matt said, "I got the sense he regretted his role in what happened."

C.J. looked out into the water.

"That might be," she said, "But it doesn't change anything."

"No it doesn't," Matt said, "But if he can help us find out where Andre's at and how to get to him."

"If he handled Andre's security for him, he would know how best to get at him," C.J. said, "But the question is would he be willing to do this and if so, why?"

"He hasn't told us what his price is if he does agree to work with us."

"We'd better find out what that is too, before we give him an answer."

Matt nodded.

"Definitely."

Andre and his two men sat down at the table with Chris and Fran. A waitress walked up to the table.

"Would you like anything to drink?"

"I'll have some of the house wine," Andre said.

"Two mineral waters with lime," Chris said.

The waitress wrote this down and then left them.

"You don't mind if I brought two of my aides with me," Andre said, "We just completed a business transaction this morning."

Fran and Chris looked at each other.

"Oh no, that's fine," Chris said.

Fran nodded.

"I asked for this meeting because I am interested in expanding my foundation's work with organizations like your own that address the needs of women."

Chris opened up her folder.

"Okay, well we've been operating a center right here in Houston that works with women to rebuild their lives after they've been in difficult, traumatic situations. Economic problems. Domestic violence. Sexual assault and child molestation."

"I see," Andre said, "All areas where women need to seek assistance about, yes?"

Chris nodded.

"Then that might be an area in which we can benefit each other then," Andre said, opening a leather folder, "The gala raised a lot of money for our foundation and we have other sources of income as well flowing into it."

"I see," Chris said, "So what were you thinking of proposing?"

"I'd like to work on it for a few days and then maybe bring it to your next board meeting?"

Chris hedged.

"Our board hasn't met in a while," she said, "Several of its members are on leave."

Andre frowned.

"When will they return," he said, "It would be best if I presented any proposals to the full board."

"That might not be possible," Chris said.

Fran flipped open her planner.

"One board member's on vacation," she said, "She won't return for another month and the other is on extended leave."

"What a shame," Andre said, closing his folder, "I had hoped to get full approval on this."

"Wait," Chris said, looking at Fran, "We could get in touch with Ms Parsons and see when she's coming back."

Andre tensed and looked back at his folder. Chris looked at Fran who lifted a brow.

"Where is this Ms Parsons," he said, "Perhaps you give me her contact information and I could send her a copy of any proposal and she wouldn't have to come back early."

"She asked us not to give out her address," Chris said, "Surely you can understand."

He looked at the two women then nodded.

"I'm sure our paths will cross in the future."

"You said you were leaving the country," Chris said.

"Ah yes, I will be heading to some place warm to spend some time with friends," Andre said.

"I'm sure that you must work very hard," Chris said, "It must be good to get away from it sometimes."

"Yes indeed," Andre said, "They don't know I'm coming yet. It will be a wonderful surprise."

C.J. and Matt moored the boat and went ashore. They saw Brady and Zeke working on one of the fishing boats.

"Hey you're back," Brady called from the boat.

He and Zeke joined them on the dock.

"Did you hear from Antonio?"

"He left his number where he can be reached, "Brady said, "He's still on the island recovering from that blow on the head he received."

"I don't know what got into me," C.J. said, "I wanted to talk to him."

"Don't worry about that guy," Brady said, "I'm not sure what to make of him. Do we trust him, or do we worry that he's on the phone with Duval right now giving us up."

C.J. shook her head.

"I don't think he's in contact with Duval or else we'd know for sure by now," she said, "Andre doesn't sit around waiting to act."

"At least that's been his track record so far," Matt said, "Why don't you give him a call and set up a meeting with us for tonight if he's still interested?"

Brady nodded.

"Oh, and Serena called about the disk," he said, "She needs to talk to you about that and something else."

"I'm heading into the village tomorrow," Matt said, "I'll meet with her then and find out what's going on."

"I've got to go shower and change," C.J. said, "I'm a mess."

"It's great to see that you're back," Brady said.

C.J. jogged off to her bungalow.

"She seems to be feeling okay," Brady said.

Matt looked in C.J.'s direction.

"Yeah…"

They walked into the main house.

C.J. showered and changed into worn jeans and a long-sleeved tee-shirt, then looked in the mirror. She brushed her hair and clipped it back off of her face. The face that looked back at her appeared guarded, as if waiting for the wrong person to walk in behind it. She left the mirror and sat down in a couch in the living room, picking up one of the pieces of driftwood that Matt had carved into a piece of art. She rubbed the refined wood with her fingertips and then looked at her hands.

Most of the time the scars didn't bother her. Each day, they faded a little bit more and her own hands began to reemerge as she remembered them though they would never be entirely gone. She wondered if the same were true of her memories. Would they remain a part of her even as each day they might grow less vivid? She hoped that were the case and that the day would come when she could walk back into the life she had nearly lost as if she hadn't left.

"Miss, I brought you some extra food today."

C.J. looked up from where she sat on her bed to see Elena bringing in a tray which she placed on the table.

"Thank you," she said, as she walked over to the table, "I seem to have found my appetite."

Elena smiled.

"That's good," she said, "There's some croissants that the cook just did this morning and fresh orange marmalade."

C.J. broke apart a croissant and spread the marmalade across it. She took a bite and had to admit it tasted good.

"The senor left on one of his business trips this morning," Elena said, "He left everything in the hands of Mr. Piser."

C.J. heard the distaste in the younger woman's voice.

"You don't like him?"

Elena looked uneasy.

"I don't trust him," she said, "I don't know why he came back."

"Obviously your senor needed or wanted to employ him or he wouldn't be here," C.J. said, finishing the croissant and starting in on the eggs, "I don't like him either."

"You sound almost like you know him."

C.J. nodded, pulling her hair back with her hand.

"I met him several years ago," she said, "It was a very confusing time in my life."

"He's after the senor's business," Elena said, then looked almost as if she'd said too much.

But C.J. had seen through Piser too and hoped that what she had seen was right on the money. Her life might depend on it.

"If that's the case," she said, casually "He's got his work cut out for him."

C.J. suddenly felt tired and lay back on the couch to rest for a few minutes but found herself fading off to sleep still holding onto the driftwood.

"I will have my associates write up a proposal and fax it to you when it's finished," Andre said, as he stood up.

"That will be fine," Chris said, "We'll put it on the agenda for a board meeting as soon as we look it over."

"Then our business is concluded for now," Andre said, shaking his hand with both women.

"So will Elena be working on this project?"

He looked surprised at the mention of her name.

"No, she's back at one of the estates working on another business deal," he said, "I'll be joining her in a day or so."

Chris nodded and watched Andre and his men leave.

"Well, didn't look like that meeting amounted to much," Fran said.

"We know he's looking for C.J.," Chris said, "I wonder if he thinks we know where she is."

"We don't," Fran said.

"He may not know that," Chris said, "And he mentioned joining some friends in a warm climate."

"You mean when he said, he would surprise them."

Chris picked up her coat.

"I've got to hit the restroom," she said, "I'll meet you up front."

Matt walked into the bungalow and saw C.J. asleep on the couch. Careful not to disturb her, he walked into the kitchen to get something to drink. When he came back to the living room, he saw her sitting up and stretching her arms.

"I'm sorry, I meant to just rest and I fell asleep."

"Zeke contacted Antonio," Matt said, "He'll be coming by in a couple of hours."

"Oh…," she said.

He sat down next to her on the couch, and pulled her against him. She nestled her head against his shoulder.

"Are you going to be okay with this," Matt said, "We'll set some ground rules for him…"

She shook her head.

"No, it's okay," she said, "It's not him."

"Then what is it?"

"Before I fell asleep, I was thinking of Semour Piser," she said.

"What about him?"

"I knew that he was after Andre's business," she said, "He had been furloughed after Andre's connections pulled some strings for him in Arizona but he just used him to plot the day when he would take over."

"Do you think Andre knew this?"

She nodded then paused before answering.

"I made sure he did," she said, "That last time that Andre left on business, he had his misgivings about leaving but he had a lucrative business deal involving a brothel in South Asia so he left Piser in charge anyway."

"In charge of you?"

She grew silent, then she took a deep breath.

"Until he came back to kill me or he said I would hope he did," she said, "That's when his men caught me trying to escape. I almost made it except for Piser."

"That's why you killed him," Matt said, "So he wouldn't get that chance again."

She nodded.

"But you left him there," Matt said, "And if that's the case, then it still doesn't explain how he wound up floating inside a box off the coast of Washington months later."

"I don't know anything about that," she said, quietly.

Chris left the bathroom and started to walk to the front when she heard his voice. Andre stood near the back exit of the restaurant and spoke with the two men.

"So do you think that either of these two women know where she is?"

"I couldn't tell, and we're limited in the interrogation tactics we can use in a public place," Andre said.

"I still say we follow that lead we got a few days ago," one man said.

"It wasn't very specific," Andre said, "We need to find out more details before I send another team of men in."

"She's with that man," the man said, "And he's proven to be quite formidable."

"It won't matter," Andre said, "It's only a matter of time until we find out where she is and bring her back to me to deal with."

The men stopped talking and walked out the exit, not knowing that Chris had been standing there listening to every word.