Chapter 26

"Hello, it's Pete."

"Oh, finally!" laughed the man in the phone. "What took you so long to call me back?"

"Are you kidding me?!"

"Why?"

"Because I just wanted to say that you used to be faster," he had to shoot back.

"Well, then it seems I'm getting older." he remarked cheerfully. "But as you know, I'm always ready for a big story, so I hope you've brought me something special."

"Yes of course, what else? Actually, something REALLY special."

"But just for fun... how special is this story of yours?"

"I think you can let your imagination go," his voice was very promising.

"Oh, just not a..."

"... front page story," answered Pete confidently.

"Wow! My three favorite words in the whole world, so come on tell me the details."

"Right... Did you hear about the First Lady's disappearing?"

"Yes of course, who didn't?" laughed the man. "It's in the news non-stop since this morning," then he lowered his voice. "Maybe you know where she is? Because that would be a real jackpot for me..."

"It's much better than that, believe me."

"I see, then I'm all ears..." he was really excited now.

"Actually what matters is not where she is now, but why she is missing."

"Oh, so it's a background story. Those are the most valuable ones."

"Exactly, and those are the ones which require the hard work."

"Which means?"

"Which means you have to investigate a bit in the mud about the president..."

"Oh Pete, it's like gold-digging," he sighed. "Many people is trying with it non-stop, with not much success."

"Yes, that's right." agreed Pete. "But the point in gold-digging is... the knowledge to know where to dig."

"Then why didn't you start with that?" he chuckled and picked up his pen. "So tell me what should I have to check and leave the rest on me..." and with that Pete gave him all the hints what he needed to make a real front page story...

OOOOOOO

A little later in the kitchen...

"So how did it go?" asked Martin as he sat down to the big kitchen table, finally relaxing a bit. "Can he help you?"

"Well, I really hope so." sighed Pete and poured two glasses of wine. "He is a legend in his profession."

"I have no doubt about that, but do you really think a reporter is right for the job?"

"Actually, I think reporters are the best detectives and everybody has secrets."

"Yeah, that's true. And you know what else they say?" he accepted the glass gratefully. "As the position grows, so does the weight of the secrets."

"Exactly," they clinked the glasses and exchanged a smile.

"And... where is your Sarah?"

"Uhm, when I finished with the call and went up, I saw that she's already fell asleep."

"Oh, no wonder... she could be awfully exhausted after these hard times with her husband, and after all it was her first real day here... I mean without stress."

"Yes, she really needs some recreation, mostly mentally." remarked Pete. "The psychical terror what her husband uses totally destroying her, and the worst is he makes her think it's her fault... that damn bastard!"

"Poor woman," sighed Martin. "How can anyone treat her like that?"

"I don't understand it either, but I'm going to get him... I swear."

OOOOOOOO

They sat there like that until midnight, just relaxed and talked about everything. It was a real father and son time, what they really enjoyed as always...

"Are you here?" murmured Sarah with eyes closed as she was laying on her left side in the semi dark room.

"Yes..." whispered Pete, slipping under the blanket carefully. "Did I wake you up?"

"No, I just feel when you're near me, that's all." she smiled still eyes closed.

"Like now?" he teased her, kissing her neck what made her giggle. "And now?" he continued on her shoulder.

"Hey... just hold me," she chuckled and nestled comfortably into his arms. "Now, it's perfect..." she sighed dreamily.

"The place where you belong?"

"Or with other words you are my "well"."

"Uhm... I don't think I understand it," he smiled, still holding her close to him.

"In the ancient times..." she started, still eyes closed. "The most important place was where you get the water from, the well... and if the well gets dirty everything is in danger... you get sick, you can't drink etc... So you have to protect the well, you have to keep it clean... Figuratively "the well" is the center of you... it can be your soul, a place where you belong, or... actually I've been trying to find out for a very long time what is it exactly, a thing or a place... but now, as you embraced me I finally understand it, it's a feeling... like the feeling of being at home. So "the well" for me is what I feel when I'm close to you... that unlimited happiness and security..." she said and opened her eyes, turning to face with him. "So the feeling of being in your arms is the center of me, where I can hide from the rest of the world."

"And I'll protect you from everything as your hiding place..." he whispered, stroking her face lovingly before he gently guided them into their own little world again... where now, everything was so slow... their kisses... their fondling... their hugging... they literally hid in each other... their lovemaking was always different, but now it was pure intimacy... and those slow kisses sent her over the edge like never before...

OOOOOOOO

Meanwhile in the White House's kitchen...

"You're still working?" asked Tom, pouring a big cup of coffee, preparing for a long night.

"Yes, it seems I'm too restless for sleeping," sighed Jill. "I... I'm terribly worried."

"About Pete and the First Lady?"

"Uh-huh... I can only hope that they're okay."

"Oh, don't worry about that. Pete is a smart guy." he winked and sat down next to her. "He knows how to hide, believe me."

"That's reassuring... at least they are together. That's the only thing what matters."

"You're too romantic Jill, you know that?"

"Yes, maybe I am, but I really do think they are perfect for each other. I still remember their shining eyes that morning when we had breakfast together... I'm wishing them all the bests."

"That's sweet of you, but actually the best would be never coming back."

"I know..." she nodded and they exchanged a sad look. "I wish they could find a safe place."

"Somewhere far away?"

"Yes, the farther the better... but I'm sure somewhere near that sanatorium, because I know Pete grew up in the neighborhood."

"Oh, really?" asked the President firmly at the door...

To be continued...