TALES FROM THE CITADEL CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
THE COMMISSIONERS DAUGHTER
CHAPTER SEVEN
Warning: Parts of this chapter will be M rated.
Sitting in the farthest back seat of the limo, Rick and Erin snuggled and kissed, but held it to that. Stopping at the Reagan house, Rick carried Erin and Nikki's bags to their rooms. He said;
"I'll have the Land Rover here at five o' clock tomorrow afternoon. I think that we can bring most of the things you need in one trip. If not, a second trip won't take long. Thinning my wardrobe will open up closet space for your clothes. The bathroom has double sinks and vanities, one of which is empty, so there is space for your toiletries and cosmetics. There is even an enclave between the bathroom and bedroom with a mirror, dressing table and chair. I had it revamped after Gina left, so this one has never been used.
"Nikki's room also has its own bath." Rick didn't notice the Freudian slip, with Nikki's room. Erin did, and thrilled at it.
I'll schedule dinner at seven-thirty. We'll order in. We should be done by then.
Rick kissed Erin, then kissed Nikki on the cheek.
"Good night, Sleep well. I love you."
"Good night, my love." Erin replied.
Nikki was the most hopeful she'd been in a long time. She needed a father or rather a father figure who loved her and took time to show her that, every day. Mike Boyle had never done that. Not really. Oh, he'd been there before the divorce but rarely talked with her or showed more than the minimally required interest. He was big about showing it on her birthday or the holidays but not day to day. Then when he left the DA's office, he was rarely home. Spending his free time with his mafia princess. After Erin had enough and divorced him, Nikki had seen him a few times, and those, months between.
"Is this real, Mom, will Rick be there for us, really be there?"
"Yes, Nikki, he will. It will. It will take a few months before he can be fully with us, he has business to finish and he has to clear all the bad memories away, but he me that he will. I've known him since we were both twelve. In all those years, he never broke his word, once given."
Tuesday morning Erin walked into work, humming an old song, a favorite of her mother's. Somewhere my love. Her secretary smiled.
"You look happy, Erin, good Memorial Day weekend?"
"A very good weekend, Ava. Best in a long time."
"Are you going to tell me about it?" "Not now, maybe later." Erin found it difficult to focus on work, she kept thinking about the weekend. Fortunately, there were no new cases on her desk, just reviewing a couple of recent ones that had already gone to trial. She checked out as early as she could get away with and headed to the house. Nikki had already packed her things and started packing Erin's. Erin just packed wok and casual clothes, no evening or party dresses. She wouldn't need them until Rick returned. She had no intention of going out, with anyone for drinks or to parties while Rick was gone. Too many risks.
Rick showed up at five o'clock and they loaded everything into the Range Rover. As predicted, it was spacious enough that they got everything loaded in one trip. At the loft, Martha and Alexis helped carry Nikki's things to the guest room while Rick ad Erin carried hers into the master bedroom, she first put her shampoo, body wash and other hygiene products into the En Suite, her make-up into the drawers in the enclave. That would be a luxury for her, being able to sit at a lighted make-up table rather than having to stand in front of the bathroom mirror.
When she had first entered the bedroom, she'd been surprised at it's elegant. Masculine simplicity. The lighting was recessed, three walls paneled in ash or hickory, she wasn't sure which, one wall painted a light beige with a white ceiling. The bed frame, the dresser and the nightstands were all golden oak, inlaid with strips of ebony. The carpet was a dark beige.
There were four large photographs on the walls. A lion, a wolf, an eagle in flight and an Orca broaching. Opposite the bed, was a large fireplace, set up with a gas lighter, but made to burn wood. She loved the room, yes it was masculine themed but the colors were light enough that she could easily add feminine touches to it, to make it theirs.
Erin carefully laid her clothes on Rick's bed and her shoes in the closet. Rick had cleared out two drawers in his dresser for her lingerie and t-shirts. He had placed a large mover's type box on the floor. Then they went to begin thinning his wardrobe. It took them an hour and a half to do it. The flamboyant, playboy clothes and trendy Armani suits were gone as were most of the silk shirts and three tuxedos. He was left with six suits, six sports oats with slacks one tuxedo, one white dinner jacket with a second pair of tuxedo trousers. Also gone were the fancy designer jeans. Rick had already replaced those with Levi's and Dockers. When they were doe, the mover's box was packed full. But the remaining clothes were conservative, giving a quietly professional look, with two exceptions that surprised Erin. One was the two Stetson western hats, one black and one tan. The second was the four pair of Luchese western boots.
Rick laughed on the look on her face.
"Every little boy wants to be a cowboy at one point or another. I just have the money to indulge in it. There's a sport called cowboy action shooting. The competitors have to dress in old west or movie cowboy clothes and use two single action revolvers, a lever action rife and a double barrel shotgun. It's more fun than plain range time."
"You've done it?
"Yeah, but not in a couple of years. I've been too busy. You see that partition at the end of the closet? There's an addition. Beyond that is another closet with a hidden door. Inside are my "cowboy clothes and a gun safe."
"Erin smiled. That I've got to see, but after we hang up my clothes than have dinner.
She smiled a sultry smile when she looked at the bed, once it was cleared of clothing. A king-size bed, there would be plenty of room for vigorous activity, or to spread out, in sleep if she wished to. She probably wouldn't. She preferred being held close as she slept, another thing Mike hadn't done often enough.
Rick had arranged for a moving service to come and collect the box of clothes. Two men came in with a hand truck and removed the box, promising delivery to the charity tomorrow.
Diner was taking -out from Mama Rosa's. Simple, hearty Italian food. After dinner, Martha went out for the evening, and Alexis went upstairs with Nikki, to help get Nikki settled in and listen to music. Finishing her wine, Erin said;
"Show me your outfit, Ricky two-gun."
Rick led her back to the bedroom and pressed a hidden button. A panel swung open and a light came on. Several outfits were hanging. A black frock coat with pinstriped dray trousers. A blue officer's sack coat with lighter blue trousers, a tan civilian sack coat two pair of trousers, one tan whipcord and one corduroy, two vests and two pair of boots, one black and one brown. A shelf held a black slouch hat, a tan flat crowned hat and a top hat, gauntlets and gloves.
"What, no jeans?" Erin asked.
"Other than miners, most men didn't wear jeans until about 1900."
In the closet was a gun safe. Rick opened it. He took out the various guns, and explained them.
"This one is a Colt single action army, .45 caliber, nickel plated with ivory grips. I have its mate. They are mostly for show. He took out another gun. It looked the same as the Colt, to Erin. "This is a Ruger Vaquero. It and its mate are what I compete with. It's more durable than the Colt. He put the revolvers away and took out a rifle.
"A reproduction of the 1873 Winchester, by Uberti. It's also in .45 Colt. He put it back and took out a very similar rifle, larger than the first. "Another Winchester clone. 1876 in .45-70 for long range rifle competition. And finally, a double-barrel coach gun in 12 gauge."
"You're really into this, aren't you?"
"I was and I probably will be again. We could go to a match when I get back. That is, if you want to. You know, quite a few women compete as well."
"It might be fun. I could go as a dance hall girl."
Rick growled. "Like hell, I don't want to have to shoot anybody for real."
Erin laughed, merrily. "Yes, that would be rather messy." Rick closed everything up then called the girls and asked if they wanted to watch a movie. The offer was declined.
"We're watching a music video on my computer." Alexis said.
Rick and Erin watched the first episode of an old series titled Spenser for hire, then decided to retire early. They both went up the stairs and bid their respective daughters' good night. Erin thought: Soon, I hope, we'll be bidding our daughters good night. Not his and mine, but ours and maybe someday, our son.
"I'm going to take a nice, hot shower, Erin. Do you want to use the bathroom, first?" Erin grinned, saucily. "I want to shower with you, but before we do, I want us to really need that shower." Erin knew that she was pushing it, but she really needed Rick and wanted to show him, how much. True, sex was only part of what she wanted with him, but it was the best way to show him, this early on in their renewed relationship. His grin matched hers. "Lead on, my Lady."
"Gladly, my Lord." Erin reveled in the fact that Rick could be so playful with her, even after all that had happened to him. Erin shed her clothes in record time, not giving a damn where they landed. He wasn't undressing fast enough for her. She was already completely naked and he'd just dropped his t-shirt on top of his shirt. She unbuckled his belt, popped the waist button, yanked the zipper open and ragged his jeans down his legs, taking his boxers with them.
He stepped out of his jeans. He was a little off balance, so Erin giggled as she shoved him. He landed on the bed and she jumped on top of him.
He let out an oof, then laughed.
"I said lead on, but you surely took advantage of that. Not that I mind."
"Shut up and kiss me. Fewer words, more action."
He happily obliged her. Taking her mouth, roughly, not that she minded, she gave as good as she got. She nipped his lip, and thrust her tongue into his mouth, tongues meeting, twining, dueling
The first kisses were quick and intense, until Rick slowed it down, a little, pulling away from her mouth and gently nipping a sensitive spot just under her ear, then soothing it with his tongue. He placed soft, open mouth kisses down the sweet column of her neck, stopping at her pulse point, sucking at it. She let out a breathy moan, then returned the favors to him. He caressed her breasts, until the nipples hardened then he took one into his mouth, swirling his tongue around it and suckling it repeating the actions on the other. Her first orgasm hit her, from the attention to her breasts, that had never happened before. "Oh God, Baby, give me more, I love you so much.
His kisses passed from her breasts to her stomach, lingering for a moment at her navel, swirling his tongue there. She felt more kisses on the inside of her thighs and she began to pant, needing even more. He was going to give her a gift, Mike was never willing to do. He liked getting oral, but the selfish bastard wouldn't give it in return. Rick was more than willing, he was enthusiastic. Erin was flying, it had never been this good, not once. She bit down on Rick's shoulder, to keep her scream from waking the whole loft. He gently stroked her, bringing her down from her second orgasm. Still short of breath, she whispered,
"Take me up, again Baby, in me, please, I want you to come inside me. I want to be so good for you." He did, and she was. They showered, together, but simply bathed each other, Erin, almost purring as his strong hands massaged her back, even as he washed it. She felt totally pampered as she lay in bed, snuggled against Rick, until she fell asleep.
Erin awoke, yawned and stretched, smiled at the man sleeping beside her. He'd said that he couldn't be fully committed to her until his head was clear of thoughts of Beckett. Jesus! If This wasn't fully committed to her, she couldn't imagine what fully committed meant! They'd probably have to pry the smile of her face with a crowbar. She got up, applied the little make-up she used, dressed and went into the kitchen. She put coffee on, and then went upstairs to wake the girls.
"Alexis, please come to the kitchen and help make breakfast for everybody. And get Nikki. She has to help too." When breakfast was almost ready, Erin sent Alexis to wake Rick, while she put the finishing touches on the waffles.
Dressed in pajamas and a robe, Rick came to the table, just as Erin set the warming plates in place Rick came to the table. Erin poured coffee for him and for herself. She, unlike Beckett, didn't need anything special. Just a little cream and sugar. The breakfast was Waffles with fresh strawberries, bacon and orange juice. After breakfast, the dishes done, Erin called in for a personal day. Rick did a little paperwork, talked with his attorney, then He Erin, Nikki and Alexis drove to the Cadillac dealer. He traded in the Mercedes for a Cadillac CTS sedan in crystal red with a tan leather interior. The car had every feature available, including a top of the line security system. He paid cash for the difference and then put Erin on the insurance.
The rest of the week flew by, getting everything arranged, and settled. On Saturday morning, Rick packed his one bag and his laptop. He had a multi-state recognized CCW, so he too the Officer's ACP with two spare magazines and the Remington 870 with him, a Gerber Guardian tucked into his boot. Erin and the girls drove him to the private airfield.
When Rick had the Cessna rebuilt, lightening the aircraft and adding slightly larger fuel tanks, and increased fuel efficiency of the more modern engines, the Cessna's range had increased from 920 to 1050 miles with a safe reserve.
"I'm going fly to Prescott Arizona and from there rent a car and go to Sedona. That's probably the last place anyone would think to look for me, if anyone does, which I doubt. If I flew straight through, it would take about five hours, but the Cessna doesn't have the range. So, I'll break it down into three stages. I'll land and refuel twice, at Evansville Indiana and Lamar Colorado. From Lamar to Prescot. I'll call after each stop. It will take a little longer, that way but it will be safer."
He hugged and kissed each of the girls and said, "I love both of you. Be careful and behave yourselves. Have fun, but be careful." He took Erin in his arms.
"I love you Erin, I don't know why it took me so damn long, to realize how much. I know that it doesn't really make sense to you as to why I have to do things this way. But I promise you that I've never loved anyone like I love you. When I come back, we'll build the rest of our forever. You will be my third wife, but my only true wife."
Erin smiled." In old Gaelic you would be Ruiseart, my Anamchara, my soulmate, my M'fhiorghra, my eternal love. Go carefully, M'fhiorghra, you carry three hearts with you. Their kiss was brief but passionate. The three women watching Rick walk across the tarmac already considered themselves Rodgers women. He waved a he began his pre-flight checks. despite the gleaming green and gold paint, there was no disguising the little ex-warbird's origin.
The starters whined and the engines fired up, Rick tested the controls and waited for all the gauges to read "in the green" Then waved as he started to taxi the aircraft. He lowered the canopy, held a moment at the threshold, then began the take-off roll. The three ladies waved again as the jet climbed out. They watched until it was out of sight. Rick ate lunch at his first refueling stop. He'd been lucky and had brisk tailwinds all the way to Colorado and the flight to Prescot was in calm air. He Landed in Prescot, arranged hanger space of the Cessna, rented a Jeep Wrangler and drove to Sedona. He booked a motel for overnight, ate at a local diner (over-priced), called Alexis and Erin, then slept like a log. In the morning, he Ate breakfast, called Erin and Alexis again and at the suggestion of a friendly waitress bypassed the over-priced Sedona lodgings and drove to the neighboring town of Cottonwood. He rented a nicely furnished two- bedroom apartment on a month to month basis. He took a couple of days to tour the area, seeing historic Camp Verde and the Old mining town of Jerome. He then drove to Tombstone, somewhat disappointed in it. Back in Cottonwood, He sat down at his laptop, determined to write the last Nikki heat book. Unlike most of his previous books, there was no procrastinating, no spending hours playing games. He was somewhat surprised at how the words just seemed to low, as if the book wanted to write itself.
For the first time, though he felt no pleasure in writing this book. It was good, perhaps, technically, the best he'd ever written, but it was dark. He let his anger flow. In it, he through the Nikki, Rook, Donner triangle the viciousness of the two three detectives, (Ochala, Esposito's alter-ego included) was fully laid out. IN the book the robbery detective was named Tod Donner. He laid out the last case, as closely to the real one as he could get away with and he part of Nikki allowing Donner to arrest the wrong man. He didn't write the assault or the suspensions. Rook gave the name of the real criminal to Detective Robin Kremplewsky and walked out of the precinct without talking to the captain. He sent in his resignation, by e-mail. In the final confrontation, Nikki and Donner walked into Rook's bar. They were both angry about Rook's naming the right man. Nikki9 tried her usual tactics, they didn't work. Rook's complacent manner was long gone.
"Shut up and get out of my bar. Your screw up is your own fault. And none of mine. Donner tried to have the last word.
"Whatever, writer-boy, you're gone and I got the girl."
"Congratulations, you've got her until a better badge comes along. Good luck with that. Now F***-off and get out of here, you're trespassing." Donner, red-faced with rage launched a round-house punch at Rook. It never connected. Rook grabbed his arm, using his momentum, threw him to the floor. When Donner tried to get up and attack again, Rook skin kicked the idiot, breaking his jaw.
White-faced Nikki drew her gun and yelled;
"You're under arrest for assault on a police officer." One of the men sitting at the bar stood up and flashed his badge.
"Stand down, Detective." Holster your weapon, before I arrest you. I'm Lieutenant Morell of the commissioner's office. Mr. Rook's actions were a clear case of self-defense."
Groaning and holding his jaw, Donner sat up.
Lieutenant Morell said;
"Detective Donner, you are under arrest for assault and battery.
"It was an ending. Controversial and not a happy ending, but an ending, nonetheless.
Rick thought hard about it, thought about revising it, but in the end, edited it himself and sent it in. It was the fastest he'd ever written a book. With the book, he sent an e-mail to Gina Cowell. Gina, you have the final book in the Nikki heat series. With it, I have fulfilled my contract with Black Pawn and am ending my association with Black Pawn I haven't titled the book, because I don't give a damn whether you publish it, or not. If you do, title it anyway you want. I'm done.
He sent another e-mail to his agent. Paula, you've been a great agent and a good friend. I' don't know if I'm going to continue writing or not. If I do, I will rehire you, if you want. But for the time being I'm on hiatus. I am authoring you a severance check of one hundred thousand dollars. Rick.
After sending them in, he changed his pone number and his e-mail address, sending the new ones only to his family, his closest friends, his business advisor and his attorney. He also closed all social media accounts. That ended the first month.
Clearing his thoughts of Beckett and the 12th, was not easy, but he never expected that it would be. She'd been a major part of his life for over two years. Unfortunately, the final month's bitter memories outweighed what few really good ones he had. Slowly, though constant calls to Erin, and the memories of all the beautiful times they had, both long ago and recently, pushed Beckett from his mind. He spent the following two months flying around the country, seeing historic places he'd always wanted to see and just indulging his love of flight. He even managed to get the Cessna into a couple of last- minute entries to air shows.
On September, he called Erin.
Using her own terms, he said;
Erin, M'fhiorghra, my Anamchara, I'll be home tonight. It is time for forever."
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