"The Children's Corner

Chapter 45

After a late-night feeding, Kate settles contentedly against Rick's shoulder. "I still can't believe the twins slept through the night yesterday."

"If you call six hours sleeping through the night. But it's more continuous time in bed than either of us has had since they were born." He holds up crossed fingers. "Here's to a repeat performance."

"Amen to that. But you said you were going to elaborate on more enjoyable things to do in bed than sleeping."

Rick's eyebrows dance. "I did, didn't I? How about tic tac toe?"

"What?"

"We've both got Os in the middle, not as prominently as our youngest offspring, of course, but they're there. And I believe you have one a bit lower down. And one above. I could try my best to connect them."

Kate wiggles against his increasing warmth. "That could work. But unless you've had some surgery I don't know about, how about you?"

"We could always adapt the rules a little to allow for anatomical differences. After all, it would be our game. We can play it any way we like."

Kate nips at his ear. "Yes, we can. So, who gets the first move?"

Rick's breath tickles Kate's lips as he brings his mouth close to hers. "I think we get that one together."

As the couple floats in the netherworld of satisfaction, sirens scream past the building, followed immediately by Jake's howls and Reese's somewhat less intense protests. As Rick and Kate grab for robes, Lily knocks on the door of the bedroom. "Daddy, Mama, what's happening? After a quick descent from her room, Julia joins the group. As Kate and Julia pick up Jake and Reese, Rick takes Lily to one of the loft's tall windows. "Daddy, look!"

While Rick boosts her in his arms, Lily points through the reinforced glass. Flames light up the night as Rick struggles to identify their origin. "I think that's the Schnelling House."

"The one Miss Bambi took our class to see?"

"I can't be sure in the dark, but it looks like it. But," he hurriedly adds, "if that's where the fire is, it means no one will be there to get hurt. They only do tours in the daytime. The firefighters will put it out, and everything will be all right."

"But we saw all those doggy pictures there. They could burn," Lily worries.

Rick hugs her. "You're right, Sweetheart. They could. But they're only pictures. Someone can paint some more."

"I like to paint doggy pictures," Lily considers. "And pictures of F'licia and Gamoee and Pegin. Miss Bambi said I'm very good with activity paint."

"Yes, the picture you painted of Gamoee that I put on the refrigerator is very colorful."

"Julia said so too. She said she mined in art, and she could teach me more about painting."

Rick suppresses a chuckle. "I think you mean minored in art. That means she took a lot of art classes while studying to be a teacher. And I think it's a great idea if she teaches you about painting." Before carrying his daughter back toward her room, Rick makes a mental note to find out if Julia recommends any particular pre-school art supplies. "Mama and Julia quieted your brothers down. So I think we can all go back to bed now. The firefighters will take care of the Schnelling House."

"I want to paint doggies tomorrow," Lily declares.

Rick lays his daughter in her bed, pulls up the covers, and kisses her forehead. "We'll talk to Julia about that in the morning."

Rick smiles at Lily, already starting on her breakfast, and plunks a plate of French toast sticks in front of Julia. "So, my artistic daughter tells me you've offered to give her painting lessons."

Julia takes a sip of orange juice. "That's true." She winks at Lily. "She has quite a feeling for color."

"Yes, that became evident when she fell in love with Gamoee. So, how are the lessons going to work? Do you need an art corner? Do we lay in a stock of the world's brightest pigments?"

"Kids' paints tend to be very bright anyway, and we would only get the ones that have been ASTM D-4236 tested. That means anything toxic would have to be spelled out. Some un-certified products are labeled as 'safe,' but the manufacturers stretch the definition. I want to make sure that Lily doesn't get any nasty surprises. And I'd look for washable as much as possible too. So with that, I don't think we'll need a special corner. But she could use a smock or two."

"Blue and red with pockets," Lily adds. "Miss Bambi's smock has pockets. She keeps scrunchies in them, so we don't get paint in our hair."

"Very sensible," Rick observes before turning to Julia. "Do you have a place in mind where we can obtain the required materials and wardrobe?"

"Blinken's Teaching and Art Supplies uptown would be a great place to start. We can put the order in on the website, and if you have time, you and Lily could pick it up when she finishes with school this afternoon. Then she could check if she likes her smocks."

The clap of Rick's hands resounds through the loft. "Excellent idea!" He extends his hand to his daughter. "It's a date."

Kate scans through a printout of Malka and Yossi Fink's real estate holdings. When Rachel-Leah said Malka appreciated her husband as a good provider, she wasn't kidding. With a main house and office in Brooklyn, several rental properties, and the summer home, the Finks did well. And Rick had been right about the Catskills. The summer home was there. But Myron sold it to a resort. So it wouldn't be available to Michael. Another lawyer purchased the Brooklyn home and office. That leaves the rental properties. Michael's name isn't attached to any of them. But one belongs to Bass Clef Enterprises. "The bass clef is the F clef," Kate murmurs to herself. "It could be the name the wannabe Fink musician might choose for a company."

The Bass clef's purchase is in 12th Precinct territory. After working through the holiday, Sully is off, but Kate can take Ryan and Esposito to check the place out.

Like much of lower Manhattan, the area around the building Kate seeks is gentrified. If the property owned by Bass Clef were updated, or at least properly maintained, its value would skyrocket. As it is, the stone structure badly needs power-washing or possibly sandblasting and sticks out like a sore thumb among the better-kept residences.

With Ryan and Esposito behind her, Kate presses the doorbell. "I don't hear anything," Esposito notes.

Kate looks at Ryan, who shakes his head. "I don't hear anything either," she agrees, rapping loudly.

Michael looks up from forcing more cottage cheese on Myron. "Damn! Nobody knows anyone lives here. That's got to be some of those "F*****g Bible bangers. They'll probably just leave a stupid pamphlet and go away." He grits his teeth at continued pounding. "Why don't they go away?"

"They're trying to save sinners – like you," Myron taunts.

Michael snorts. "Look who's talking." Michael resecures Myron's wrist and sticks an extra piece of tape over his mouth. "I'll get rid of them." He stomps up the stairs and checks the face through the door's spyhole. At his first view of Kate, he jerks open the door.