Chapter 29

"I'm pretty sure I put his card on the table in our bedroom. I'll go get it." Jennifer said as she headed towards the doorway.

Jonathan, as he stood looking into the box, began thinking out loud, "I'm wondering why we didn't notice this box before and when exactly it made its way into our bungalow? Was it with Nico when he and the inspector showed up? Or when Hazel and Paul came in? The masked intruder, maybe?"

"Jonathan?" Jennifer interrupted his conjecturing.

"Yeah," answered, not looking up from the box.

"Jonathan," she said again. She was closer this time, and there was an edge in her voice he hadn't heard before. "I think maybe we should put off making that call just now."

"Why would we do that, Sweetheart?" he asked, finally looking up to see her.

"I think he wants to make a point." She replied, pointing behind her as she stepped into the living room, followed closely by Nico, his gun pointed at her ribs.

"So I see." Jonathan, looking the situation over, began to set the box down. "Nico. What exactly are you doing?"

"I'm looking for the rest of the cocaine. Paul told me he hid it from the Captain." He spotted the box Jonathan just set on the table. "I'm guessing you just found it for me."

"So, you killed both men?"

"Honestly, that wasn't my objective. I laced your drinks, hoping to keep Paul and Hazel out long enough to find it on my own. However, I guess he wasn't as sensitive to medication as the women. When he came into his bungalow living room while I was searching, I had to keep him quiet. It was right before I killed him that he told me he hid it, trying to keep Captain Paul from getting it," Nico confessed as he and Jennifer moved closer to where Jonathan stood. "Hand the box over to your wife. Slowly."

Jonathan began moving slowly, trying desperately to come up with some way to get Jennifer out from Nico's hold. He needed his wife away from the gun. Nothing he could think of fit the bill. Jonathan's options were coming up short. His heart pounding in his chest made it hard for him to think.

Nico was irritated by the way he was moving. "Now, Hart!" He jabbed the gun into Jennifer's ribs hard enough to make her cry out.

"Take it easy, Nico. You said slowly."

Suddenly a pounding on the outside of the door and a call of "Monsieur Hart" reverberated in the room. Jonathan, hoping Jennifer would move, threw the box and its contents at Nico's face. Instinctively, Nico moved his arms to cover his face, and Jennifer dove away from him. Jonathan plunged into Nico's midsection, knocking him backward onto the floor. In the scuffle, the loud bang of exploding gunpowder echoed through the room.

The noise of the scuffle and the loud clap of gunshot served as an invitation to Inspector Severac. The door flew open, and a team of constables swarmed the bungalow and surrounded Nico. Jonathan stood up and backed out of their way. Jennifer jumped up and ran to his side, "My hero! You were wonderful, Darling!" She threw her arms around his neck and planted a big kiss on his mouth. Jonathan pulled her closer to him and returned the kiss.

The inspector turned just in time to see the kiss. "If you Honeymooners need a moment, I can have Pierre drop you back at your bungalow." A slight grin crossed his face. Jonathan was pretty sure it was the first one he had seen.

Jonathan smiled back, "Inspector, we are in our bungalow."

Looking out the window from his office chair, Jonathan decided since he had been back in the office for a week now, and even though it was only two in the afternoon, he was ready to be done for the day. He reached up and pressed the button on his phone, "Deanne."

"Yes, Mr. Hart?"

"Why are we here on an amazing Friday afternoon like this?"

Was this a trick question? She'd been working here for about a month and a half, and this last week was the first time she'd spend any time working with him. She was still trying to figure him out, and on more than one occasion, she found herself flustered by this man. "Um. We are working, Mr. Hart…" was the only response she knew to give him.

"Do we have anything else that has to be done right now on the calendar today? Anything that can't wait until Monday?"

"No, sir."

"Fantastic. Take the rest of the afternoon off. I'm going home."

"Uh. Yes, sir."

Jonathan packed up his briefcase and headed out the door. Deanne was still sitting at her desk. "I'm not kidding, Deanne. Don't sit there much longer," he called to her as he strolled past.

"Yes, sir."

Thirty minutes later, Jonathan was pulling up the drive on Willow Pond Road. He loved this drive more and more each time he made it. The view alone was worth it, but Jonathan could feel his shoulders relax as soon as the gate closed behind him, and he knew it wasn't just the drive. Pulling up to the front door, he threw the car into park and headed into the house.

"Jennifer?" He called as he walked in. He had enjoyed their honeymoon, but he loved coming home to her every day.

Jennifer looked up from her desk by the fireplace when she heard the door open. "Darling! What a wonderful surprise. I didn't expect you for a couple of hours yet."

Setting the briefcase down beside her desk, Jonathan sat on the corner. "What are you working on?"

"I'm finishing up the piece on the whales and the whaling from our honeymoon." She smiled at him, and added, "I'm so excited, I have editors interested in it from The Times and National Geographic."

"Hey, that's fantastic." He pulled his top lip over his teeth. "How much longer."

"Well, I probably would have been done, except I got a call from Hazel today."

"How's she doing?"

"Better. She's still pretty shaken about Paul's involvement in all of the drug mess. She's so thankful the Inspector was willing to listen when he showed up at the airport. Nico really scared her that morning."

"Such a shame. I'm so glad things are going to work out for her."

"Me, too, Darling."

"So… how long?" He put his hands in his lap and leaned slightly towards her.

"What did you have in mind?"

His eyes twinkled at her, and she knew she wasn't going to finish the story today. "It's a gorgeous day. I have a gorgeous woman in my house. I have a gorgeous pool in the backyard. I think we need to enjoy it."

"Well," she said, placing her hands on top of his, "I guess I should go get changed."

"Nuh-uh," he grunted at her.

She looked at him, a bit confused. "No, I shouldn't get changed?"

"Nope." He leaned in closer to her, nearly whispering, "Did you know Max is out of town for the rest of the night?" He let his lips brush hers.

Jennifer swallowed hard, "He is?"

"Uh-hu." He kissed her a bit deeper, as he reached over and unbuttoned the first button on her blouse. She kicked her heels off and reached up to start loosening his tie. Jonathan pulled back just enough to break the kiss. "The last one in the water buys dinner." He took off for the pool, leaving a trail of clothing in his wake.

"Ah! You are going to regret that, Jonathan Hart!" She hollered after him, stripping as she went.

Jonathan dove headfirst into the cool water followed closely by Jennifer. She surfaced with a loud gasp. "Oh, that's cold!" She shivered, "Bora Bora was much warmer."

"Do you need me warm you up, Mrs. Hart?"

"Absolutely." He pulled her body to his and kissed her. "I'm so glad you are home," she said when she caught her breath.

"Coming home to you is the best part of my day," he smiled at her before kissing her again.

The End