CH 50

Gathered around the bar at the Lenui Inn, Rachel beamed happily at the women on the other side. "Yes, Tom proposed!" She then held her hand out to show her new engagement ring.

The waitresses squealed in joy. Kaede leapt over the bar to hug Rachel, as did Nana. They each gave Rachel a hug.

"That's great news!" Mayu offered.

"Congrats, Boss!" Katy said.

"So, when's the day?" Kaede asked eagerly.

Rachel looked at Kaede and winced. "Well, Tom wants ta take me on a week long honeymoon. He's got an assistant ta cover fer'im. But..."

"I got it, hon," Kaede told her. "I'll watch over the place fer ya while yer gone."

"It's not just tendin, but takin stock an..." Rachel said. She fell silent when Kaede interrupted her.

"Just show me what ya need done an tell me when," Kaede assured her.

Rachel breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank ya Kaede."

"Got a nice place ta go on yer honeymoon?" Nana asked eagerly.

Rachel shrugged. "Well, neither of us have ever really gone on a vacation. Tom's like me, work bout every day and hardly ever take a day off. We ain't sure where ta go."

"You can go see the horseshoe crabs," Mayu offered. "That was a fun trip!"

"What kinda honeymoon ya want?" Kaede asked. "Excitin or relaxin?"

Rachel frowned at Kaede. "Kinda quiet an relaxin, actually. Maybe see some sights. We was thinkin Paris, but the hotels are expensive."

Kaede grinned. "If ya wanna go see Paris, lemme talk ta dad. Doan bother with hotel reservations."

Rachel offered her a smile. "Ya know, after hearin bout yer adventures at sea, we was thinkin bout goin on a trip ourselves."

"We kin arrange that too," Kaede replied. "We found sailin's a ton-o fun and relaxin."

"Kin we go too?" Nana asked.

They all laughed. "Nay Nana, a honeymoon's just fer two," Kaede told her. "Rachel, soon as ya know when yer tyin the knot, let us know. We'll set up yer transport an a place ta stay in Paris."

"Kaede, ya doan gotta pay fer our trip," Rachel told her with a frown.

"What payin?" Kaede asked. "Me boat and Dad's barge are already paid for."

.

The next day when Tom got off work, he stopped by the Inn as usual. The dinner crowd was coming in and Katey and Nana were hustling to fill orders. Rachel had time to serve Tom his ale and get a quick kiss. "How was yer day?" she asked.

"Great," Tom told her. "I got the first two weeks of October off, aaaand, I talked ta Duncan McLeod. Him an Kaede have arranged our trip ta Paris."

"Kaede said somethin bout that earlier," Rachel agreed. "So, ya got details?" she prodded.

Grinning widely, he said, "We take the train ta Brightsea, a Captain will be waitin ta take us ta Paris on the Sea Witch. Once we git there, we'll be stayin on Duncan's barge. Duncan said consider it a weddin present. Except for the train tickets, sightseeing and stores, won't cost us a penny."

Rachel let out a chuckle and covered her mouth briefly. "Two whole weeks?"

"Aye, me lovely lass. Duncan figures three days ta git there, three more ta git back, we'll have a full week in Paris, an we git ta do that sailin ya been talkin about too. Duncan also said Kaede's fine with bein at the Inn here long as ya need'er. We kin take walkin tours, and see alot in a whole week."

Beaming Tom a big smile, Rachel said, "I doan know what ta say."

"Say ye'll come with me," Tom coaxed.

Rachel giggled, "Aye I certainly will!"

.

Preparations for Tom and Rachel's wedding was a community effort. This was a big event. Two of the town's most famous dedicated singles were getting married to each other. Many people wanted to come just to see if it was true. By the time the guests were counted, 350 people were going to attend the wedding and reception. This was going to be a big affair.

Kaede watched the Inn while Rachel was towed off by Inari, Cameron and Roberta to get her wedding gown and get her hair and makeup done. While at the Inn, Kaede called the Yacht club and let them know when Tom and Rachel were coming, and managed to get Captain Ron to take them.

Doogal supervised David, Kouta and John in delivering and setting up the tents Rachel normally used for the Games, into a reception area, complete with a kitchen and one of Kouta's flatbed trucks as a stage for the local band. Doogal even prodded Inari into singing. Charlie arraigned for the drinks, Tod was in charge of the food from his catering service and the Inn. A gaggle of women, including Nana and Mayu, got the decorations together in the church and reception area. Some men and women who worked with Tom came to Kaede to ask how they could help. Kaede found jobs for them helping to set of for the reception.

Tom got his new tux and stopped by to see Duncan to get the location of his barge and the keys to it. Tom was also warned about Maurice, not to give him money or let him stay on the barge. Tom then went to see his sister and mother, who arraigned the church services.

Due to the size of the crowds coming, the wedding was going to be held outside the church, the inside was too small. The reception 'hall' was three long tents and a large canopy put together. Kaede had a crew of eight to make and man the serving lines. Tod and his catering people would be the cooks.

Tom's last work day was a Friday. That Friday, Kaede kicked Rachel out of her office at the Inn so she could get ready for her wedding day and her trip. Kaede now had the 'manager' job for the Lenui Inn.

The wedding went off smoothly. Luckily the air was cool, but no rain or snow interrupted them. After their vows when Tom and Rachel kissed there were cheers and applause from the large group attending. While Tom and Rachel were greeting their friends as husband and wife, Kaede got the reception crew to get 'on station'. For how she feared something might go wrong, Kaede found everything went smoothly. Harried a bit due to the amount of people, but smoothly. Even the band after dinner, played well as Inari sang 'From this Moment' by Shania Twain for Tom and Rachel to slow dance to. After that song, calls went out for Inari to sing more songs. Inari sang every song she knew well, much to the crowd's approval.

In the wedding presents, Tom got the keys to the Sea Witch, their 'float' plan, and news Captain Ron would meet then on board when they arrived. Jacob in his formal driver's tux, stood by with his limo to drive the newlyweds to the train station, their luggage already in the car. Kaede swore most of Glen Finnen was present to give Tom and Rachel a cheerful sendoff.

.

The first place Tom had Jacob go, was to his place so he and Rachel could get out of their wedding clothes and get more comfortable things on to travel in. They checked their packed suitcases, made sure they had the keys for the sailboat and the barge, then headed out to get a ride to the train station.

On the way, Tom asked, "Hon have ya seen this boat or that barge? Sounds like something ya'd haul coal in."

Rachel shook her head. "Nay either of'em. I know Duncan has a barge he redid on the inside. Kaede's boat well, depends who ya talk to. By Kaede's description the thing's barely able ta float. Nana and Mayu thing it's real pretty."

Tom was thinking this sailboat was like the ones he'd seen on the Loch here and at Loch Eil. Small boats with a sail on them that fit two or three people. "Can't imagine goin across the ocean and back in a thing like that," he said in a mussing tone. "Should be safe ta git across the channel though."

Rachel grinned at him. "They made it over ta America an back. I'm sure it's safe ta sail."

Tom grinned back and hugged her. "Well, if we end up in the water, just hold tight."

"Do that anyway, lad," she said and kissed him.

.

The train pulled into Brightsea and a cab ride got them down to the Yacht club. Passing rows and rows of boats at the dock, Tom wondered which one the Sea Witch was. Finding the reception area, they went in and Tom announced, "I'm Tom McGregor, this is Rachel McGregor. I heard we were suppose to meet a Captain Ron here?"

The man behind the counter in a maritime looking suit smiled and said, "Yes! We're expecting you. The Sea Witch had been loaded with all the food and drink Dame Kaede requested. Captain Ron is at the boat now." Pointing he said, "Go down the first dock to the right. It's moored at slip number 19."

"Thank you, sir," Tom said with a smile. With all these big boats, he was sure they would find it quickly.

Arm in arm carrying their luggage in their free hands, Tom went down the dock looking for a small sailboat, not paying too much attention to the numbers on the electrical boxes. Seeing a larger yacht that had sails, he noted the golden mermaid on the front, and how shiny the rails were. Even the brass cleats were new looking. The main mast was tall and the paint job was well done. "Wow, wish we could get a ride on that one."

"Ah hon," Rachel coaxed and pointed to the electrical box. "This is number 19."

Tom looked at the boat, the box that read 19, then at the boat again. "This is the Sea Witch? This is a yacht, not just a sailboat!"

Rachel giggled. "It is pretty, isn't it."

A man wearing a loose long sleeve shirt over his T shirt and jeans came up out of the cabin. When he turned to them they saw he had an eye patch. He smiled and asked, "You the McGregors Kaede told me about?"

Tom was still gazing at this … yacht that was Kaede's sailboat. This thing was big!

Rachel answered, "Aye, I'm Rachel, this here's me husband, Tom."

"Well, come on aboard! Let me show you around," Ron said with a wave to beckon them on.

Tom followed Rachel down the aluminum walkway onto the boat. "This is some boat," he said vacantly.

"She is at that!" Ron heartily agreed. "The boatyard workers did an amazing job on her. When Kaede brought her in, the foremast was gone, the mainmast was just a stub, holes in the hull and it had a blown motor. They did her up right, except for some modern additions for navigation and a bigger motor, she's all original. Oak hull and mahogany interior.

Looking at the steering wheel with the old style pegs all the way around it, Tom asked, "Brass coated?"

"Nope, solid brass," Ron told him. "All solid brass fittings and high grade stainless rails."

Expensive woods in it's construction, solid brass and high grade stainless metals. "This boat must be worth a small fortune!" Tom exclaimed.

Ron nodded. "Yeah, I'd say around a million, million and a half pounds. Come on down let me show you below decks."

Taking them below, Ron showed them around. "Back here is the kitchen, fridge, crock pot and stove is here, on both sides is the dry food storage, freezer's just past the fridge here. Spice cabinets, liquor cabinet, back there is the head and shower…"

"Head?" Tom asked.

"Yeah. Landlubbers call it a bathroom, except there isn't any bath. Just the shower there, midships. That hatch in the back goes to the engine room. Besides the engine and generator, the desalinater is back there and the batteries and various pumps. All the storage tanks for fresh water, dirty water, the fuel tank and all the piping is under the deck here. Up towards the bow are the bunks … beds if you will. Up forward of those is the forward storage compartments. The bunks have draw storage under them, the storage for the hammocks is over top. Each one will sleep two. Over them are the hammocks. If it gets rough, you might want to use the hammocks. The hammocks are better sleeping when the boat's rolling and crashing through waves. Munschin found that out. She loved her hammock. Giggle her butt off, she did when the rest of her folks were trying to sleep in that storm."

"Storm?" Rachel asked.

"Yeah, that was a pretty good one," Ron said with a wistful nod. "Waves up to fifteen feet, wind was around 30 knots. Had to put the safety belt on at the helm. Couple breakers over the top were strong enough to knock you down. If this had been one of those fiberglass pretenders, I'm sure we would have gotten some damage. Getting beaten by the waves, we still made great time."

The more Tom saw, the more he was impressed with the Sea Witch. It wasn't a sailboat, this was a ship!

.

After the Inn closed at one (no dart games that day), Kaede looked at all the things on Rachel's desk. Everything that was here was marked down in inventory. Even the number of glasses and mugs. The food had a full page of what was currently here, and the 'reorder' points for every item. After every day, it looked like Rachel inventoried the food, drink and special items (t-shirt, sweaters, hoodies and mugs bearing the name of the Inn) against what was sold. The ledger for the rooms was another item she kept close track of, and cleaned the rooms after a guest had left. It amazed her Rachel did this by herself. Kaede was imaging Rachel was closed Sundays to catch up from the week!

She got busy and took the sales tape from the register and totaled up the day's sales first, then did an inventory count to match up what was sold with the inventory. There was nothing close to the low limit, so she didn't have to worry about reordering yet. Still, it was 3 AM by the time she was done. Rachel opened at 7 for breakfast.

Rachel did this ever day? Kaede found a new respect for how hard Rachel worked.

.

Without a 'crew', just a couple passengers, Ron used only the engine to get them across the Channel. Before he cast off, he went down in the cabin where Tom and Rachel were still admiring the woodwork inside the cabin.

"Hey guys," Ron called getting their attention. "Is there anything you want before we leave?"

"We're leaving today?" Rachel asked. "It's late afternoon."

"Don't matter at sea. Besides, sunsets at sea are a sight to be seen." Ron told her.

"Do you anchor at night someplace?" Tom asked.

"Naw, we keep sailing," Ron told him. "We got GPS and way markers for the auto pilot, and a five mile warning beacon on the radar when we're in auto-pilot. Heard you folks want to see Paris and some other stuff on the way, right?"

"We do," Tom agreed.

Ron nodded, "So do I cast off?"

Tom grinned and said, "Captain, cast off!"

Ron nodded and went back up topside. Curious as to what he did, they followed him up.

Ron started the engine, which had a throaty sound to it. They watched him go back on the dock to shut off the box then disconnected the shore power and wrapped up the cable. He tossed the front and back lines onto the boat then came back on an lifted the aluminum gang plank onto the boat and put it in place alongside the rail and fastened it down.

He cranked the wheel and gave the engine some gas. The rear of the boat swung out, he reversed the wheel fast and gave it a bit more gas. They backed up to straighten out, then as he cleared the docks, he turned hard again and swung the boat around to point out. Going forward now, they left the harbor.

"You must do this a lot, that was smooth maneuvering," Tom said.

"Yeah, had a few years of practice," Ron told him. "Been a sailor pretty much all my life."

"You don't have a crew?" Tom asked.

"Nah. The last trip, when I took Kaede and her family around the Atlantic, I did. Every one of them wanted to help. Even the little Munchkin. To keep her safe, I had her stand up in front of the main mast to watch and make sure no one fell overboard." Grinning, Ron added, "She was serious about her job too! Every time we pulled in or left port, she was right there at her station, watching us. Real cute she was, taking her job seriously."

"Kin we help?" Rachel asked.

Ron beamed her a smile. "Aye Lassie, so ya wanna be a sailor?"

"Aye lad!"

"Then we'll start soon as I get us out into open water. Until then, come on over here at the helm, I got some things ya need to know."

They got on either side of Ron, and he began explaining the controls and readouts on the panels. Tom and Rachel listened as he explained the complicated looking displays.

Out of the bay and into the Channel, Ron checked the radar, then put the helm in auto-pilot and showed them how to properly stow the mooring lines. Next, since they were not going to use the sails, he showed them how to lower the main mast, which was too tall to go under some of the bridges they would encounter on the Seine river. They would do hat after they got into the Seine. Until them, they needed the mast up for the radar.

The newlyweds were having a fun time out on the water with their very first boat ride. As the sun touched the horizon, they watched their first sunset at sea standing at the bow. Rachel leaned back in Tom's arms.

A placid smile on her face, Rachel said, "This is kinda like that scene in the movie Titanic."

Tom hugged her tighter briefly, then chuckled, and said, "Yeah, but let's not play with the icebergs."

.

The director saw Agent Barber peek his head in his office.

"You wanted to see me, Sir?" Clarence asked.

"Yes, have a seat," he replied with a wave of his hand. He got out a notebook. Opening it, he said, "Your report on Kaede Kikumura was fairly good. Where she works, where she lives, who she associates with. There are some things you failed to mention," he said and cast Clarence a glare.

Clarence took on a surprised look. "I did what you sent me to do," he said defensively.

"You did. The question I got, is who are you and who are you working for? This Kaede?"

Clarence frowned at him. "I work for you. I happened to know Kaede's father, so I knew I could find out where they lived just like you wanted. As for who I am, it's all there in your files."

The director shook his head. "Clarence Barber died when he was two years old," he stated heavily. "There is no one with that name around until you showed up with the dead boy's name and social security number. We've known that for a while. The only reason you're not in prison is we have been tracking you to find out who you really are. You aren't the only one we sent to Scotland. We have your private meeting with Kikumura behind a warehouse on video from the drone that was watching you. Obviously, you already knew her well. You didn't need to go see her father, or do any spying. You just went and had one mostly private meeting with her. Isn't that right … Adam?"

Clarence's face paled as his boss spoke. He sagged down in his chair. "So, now what?" he asked.

"We have enough on you for a nice long jail term. Impersonating a dead boy, falsifying official records, treason, shall I go on?" The Director asked. "Depending on what you tell me that I can verify isn't another lie, depends on what will happen with these charges. Tell me about Kikumura's motorcycle accident."

With a huff, he said, "She wrapped herself around a tree and ended up in the morgue. Scared the hell out of the doctor who was about to do autopsy on her when she sat up, confused on how she got there. Her mother took her home."

"She died and got back up. How did she do that?"

"She's a Witch, you'll have to ask her how," Adam said flatly.

"What's your real name?"

"Adam Pierson," he said with a tired huff.

The Director wrote that down. "What are you doing here?"

"I needed a job, and I wanted to do some good," Adam replied.

"Not good enough." The director stated.

"It's the truth! I've never been a spy before, I thought I'd be good at it."

"You don't work for British Intelligence or Kikumura?"

"No!" Adam said, sounding exasperated. "I was working for you."

"Tell me all about Kaede Kikumura that you know. Leave nothing out. When did you meet her?"

Adam frowned at him. "I do not want her coming after me," he stated.

"Would you rather be in a nice, safe jail cell?"

Adam left out a snort. "What makes you think I'd be safe in jail? If Kaede wants someone dead, they get dead. If you want to make my life easier, just shoot me now and get it over with," he said with a shrug.

"How can when and where you met her be a secret?" The Director asked.

"Because that may lead to other things. Kaede was wanted by the SDF, Japanese defense forces. She was broken out of the vault they had her in and she slaughtered damn near everyone there. Due to that, she has to be very careful who knows too much about her. You know one of her daughters was beaten and rapped by men coming to look for her. Of course she slaughtered those men. That incident alone has made her very protective, as in even asking too many questions can get someone disappeared."

"So, you're scared of Kaede Kikumura."

"Anyone in their right mind is," Adam stated. "Look, I'm not going to go into any more details about her and I don't work for anyone else. Frankly, I took the job so no other agents would be seen snooping around her. I was saving the life of one of your other men."

The Director nodded. Holding his hand out, he said, "I'm going to need your side arm."

Adam made a show of pulling it out and said, "Be sure to wipe the blood off it." He then racked a round in the chamber, put the gun under his chin and shot, spattering the Director with his blood.

"Jesus!" the director cried.

.

Adam woke up and kept quiet. No hearing anyone, he unzipped the bag he was in. It was still midnight black around him. He reached out and felt cold steel walls around him. Great, he was in a cooler. He felt the door over his head. Of course, no handle in the inside. He zipped the bag back up and waited.

It seemed forever before he heard the door open. His tray was pulled out.

"Seems this coward shot himself instead of being tried. Blew the top of his head right off. You up for this, Miss Decker?"

"Yes, sir."

He felt the bag drop slightly as he was slid onto a table.

"Very well, I'll get the tools. Open it up and get him ready."

Adam kept his eyes shut and stayed relaxed as the zipper came down. He opened one eye slightly to see a dark haired female turned to pull the instrument cart over. He sat up. When she turned back, he said, "Hello."

The young woman threw her hands in the air and screamed her lungs out briefly before he punched her hard, knocking her down and out. Jumping off the table he went to the door and listened. Someone was coming. Adam squatted on the hinge side of the door and waited. An older man came in and stopped short. Another sucker punch and the man joined his assistant out cold on the floor.

Adam checked the hallway, clear. He shut the door and sized the man up. The man was short and thick. Damn it, he couldn't steal the man's clothes. Finding his own cut apart clothes, and a bag of his wallet and keys, he grabbed his keys and the money out of his wallet. Adam then grabbed a sheet and wrapped it around him. Slipping into the hallway, he looked for a locker room. There was only two other autopsy rooms and a small conference room. He did find a long coat in a locker room. He put the coat on over his sheet and found a stairway with an exit sign over it.

Coming out on the side of the building, Adam went to the back and climbed a fence into an alley. There was only him and some trash bins here. He looked in each and found a worn out pair of boots. He forced them on. The coat was long enough, he took the sheet off, wadded it up and stuffed it into a dumpster, pushing it in deep into the trash. Clarence Barber was dead, he'd have to break into his own apartment and grab some clothes before he left town.

As luck would have it, his apartment had police tape over the door. He'd been dead long enough that someone had time to come search his place. Damn it! It was late in the day, he went to his emergency supplies in a storage place. Going in he got a spare set of clothes on, grabbed his emergency cash, ID and the case with clothes and his spare sword in it then left.

This was his own fault for wanting to play 'spy'. He should have known better. Well, at least Costa Rica was nice this time of year.

.

Kaede wondered why Rachel wasn't dead from exhaustion from running the Inn by herself. It had only been a week. Kaede hadn't left the Inn all week. Sunday morning after staying up all night and catching up from the week to make sure the books were right, she was able to go home, fall into Kouta's arms, grab a bite to eat then go pass out in her own bed.

Kaede woke up to Kouta gently rocking her. "Kaede, hon? Where's the keys for the Inn?"

Mostly asleep, Kaede softly mumbled, "Skirt pocket…" then fell back asleep.

When Kaede woke up, she stretched, very thankful just to get some good, solid rest. Gazing over at the clock, she saw it was quarter after seven. She then wondered, morning or night? She didn't know. She came home Sunday morning, so if it was morning ….

Kaede shot up with her heart in her throat. She was late! Still in her underwear from yesterday, she grabbed fresh clothes and ran to the bathroom. A fast shower, dressed and she flew back to her and Kouta's room to get they keys from her dirty skirt pocket.

They weren't there. "Aww no," she whined. Did she leave them at the Inn? Did she lose them? In a panic, she searched their room. Not finding them, she flew downstairs, thinking maybe they had fallen out in the dinning room.

Getting to the dinning room, Kaede frantically searched the floor, hoping to find those keys.

"Kaede, what are you doing?" Kouta asked.

Snapping up, Kaede saw Kouta and Duncan over by the fireplace. Running over, Kaede said, "I lost the key ta the Inn! Rachel trusted me an I lost the keys, and I gotten git down there, we're supposed to be open at seven!"

"Kaede, what day is it?" Duncan asked. When she only stared at him, he added, "Ya doan know, do ya? Yer so tired ya doan know it's Sunday night. Kouta brought me yer keys. I'll go down an open up in the morning. Ya need some rest."

Kaede sagged in relief, looking like she was about to fall down. Kouta got up and brought her over to his chair and sat her on his lap. "Let Duncan open for you," he said and kissed her. "You've been working too hard. We're going to work out a schedule so you can at least sleep at home every night."

Kaede let out a long sigh and collapsed into her husband. "I told Rachel I'd take care'o the place, but …. thanks Dad, and Kouta. I didn realize how much werk i'tis ta run the Inn."

"That's why I'm going to open it in the morning, an when ya come in, we'll go over all the paperwork," Duncan told her. "I'm sure there's plenty."

"Aye. I doan see how Rachel does it," Kaede agreed. Now that she knew where the keys were, and she wasn't late in opening, her heart slowed down. She relaxed and fell back asleep on Kouta's lap.

.

Sleeping most of the day, Kaede wasn't tired when they went to bed. Luckily, Kouta wasn't either. They had a good long -and to her much needed- romp before they went to sleep. In the morning Kaede got to spend some time with Kanae who liked to be called 'Kaene' before she went down to the Inn.

Kanae's reason kind of made sense. Some things she made up her own names for. Since her mom was Kaede, she wanted to be Kaene. She also liked 'flutterbys, in stead of 'butterflies', and things she sat on were 'comferterful' - full of comfort. Thinking Kaene's interpretation were cute, neither Kaede nor Kouta corrected her.

Getting down to the Inn, Kaede helped Duncan with the last of the breakfast crowd. Mid morning, he asked what she'd been doing. Kaede told him how Rachel inventoried every day.

"Physical inventory, every day?" he asked.

Kaede nodded. "Yes, she had the daily inventory right here on every item."

Duncan smirked. "Hon, the daily inventory comes from what you sold each day. You deduct items from that. You don't go around and count everything that's left, every day. Normally, that is done once a week."

"oh."

"No wonder you're so tired," Duncan said with a grin. "How about if I come down and work with you for a few days?"

Casting him a sheepish smile she said, "I'd like that."