Chapter 6 One and Only

Kami's shadow program was able to gather enough data on Dexter for the couple to have a fair idea of what his life was like in the years between the last time he communicated with Kami and now. The ladies sat together as they read the information on the screen.

Approximately two years after Kami left Dexter he got married. The computer showed a copy of the marriage license and his wedding picture on the screen. When Kami saw Dexter's bride she arched her eyebrow because the person in the picture was one of the women who use to be her friend back in the days when she and Dexter were at university.

Hildy saw her reaction and asked, "What is it Kami?"

"The woman he married is…. well actually was my friend Elizabeth. We were friends at university before I met Dexter. Then I met Dexter in a couple general education classes we had together. He and I began studying in the library and eventually I introduced him to my other friends who were majoring in computer sciences like me. They all liked him as he was a likeable guy and before long we all socialized together".

Hildy wondered if this long-ago friend liked Dexter while Kami was involved with him. She decided to ask the question on her mind. "Do you think Elizabeth had a crush on Dexter while you were involved?"

Kami got a faraway look in her eyes as she thought about the question. "Looking back at the times we all spent together …... I suppose it is possible. I remember Elizabeth always sang Dexter's praises to me and told me how lucky I was to be marrying him. I did not think it odd at the time because the other girls in our clique said similar things. However, when I finally broke up with Dexter, the person to attack me verbally, to barrage me was Elizabeth. She told me I was a fool to leave a man like Dexter".

Kami's face took on a hurt expression as she relived the scene in her mind. Hildy reached out and squeezed her hand by way of encouragement. "When I explained to Elizabeth that I could no longer live a lie and she realized the real reason for our break up…she told me some really nasty things about 'people like me'. That was the last time I saw her or spoke to her".

Hildy sighed as she pulled Kami in for a hug. "I am sorry you experienced that my love. Elizabeth was a fool. But then look at it this way, at least she showed you her true colours, she was not a friend worth keeping".

They sat in silence for a few moments before Kami said, "Let's get through this information quickly so that we can figure out if Dexter could be involved with these crocked cops". As the ladies waded through the information it became apparent that the marriage between Dexter and Elizabeth was not a happy one. Their financial records indicated the couple broke up and reconciled at least twice before eventually filing for divorce after about eight years of marriage.

The financial records also indicated that Dexter's business eventually failed as he had to dip into the company's revenue more and more to cover his personal debts. Elizabeth had a taste for the finer things in life and her spending placed the couple deeper and deeper in debt. After their divorce Dexter filed for bankruptcy and got a job working for the Congressman's company. His banking accounts did not show any anomalies, by all intents and purposes, it appeared that every cent Dexter had saved could be accounted for.

"Well if these financial records are anything to go by it does not seem like he is making any money on the side from illegal activities. But then again, he is a financial analyst, he can find creative ways to invest his cash to not draw attention". Hildy said as she bounced the information on Dexter around her mind. "Kami I think we should go pay Mr. Dexter a visit and read his features while we ask him a few questions".

Kami looked at her lover with a thoughtful expression on her face. "Hildy, I know it makes sense from the case point of view to go visit but how do you feel at the thought of meeting Dexter, given the fact that we were once engaged?"

Hildy spoke without hesitation: "I feel annoyed and a bit jealous that your path and Dexter's path will cross today. The fact that he was your first is something that is a little challenging for me to accept. But I got this, I am cool. I just want to either throw him in jail or clear his name so that we can be done with Mr. Dexter Phillip Matthews".

Kami nodded as she stood up pulling Hildy with her. "Yes, he was my first but there is no need to be jealous because you are my one and only. Let's get this over with".

One hour later the ladies sat in the reception area of Congressman Sanders' company waiting to see Dexter. The receptionist explained that all the senior analysts were in an emergency meeting and it might take a while before Mr. Matthews was available. Hildy informed the receptionist that she did not mind waiting.

Hildy used the time to check in with Terry and he brought her up to speed with the case. Hildy then whispered to Kami that Barbara was able to cut a deal with Luis Boyle, and that Wendell issued a search warrant to the Congressman's office a short time before they got there. Hildy correctly surmised that the search warrant preceded the need for the emergency meeting. Hildy walked around the reception area under the pretense that she was reading the certificates and awards that lined the walls of the outer office. But in fact, she was gathering data on the mood of the office staff. Employees walked past her repeatedly as they went about their duties and based on the snippets of conversation she overheard, the mood was tense as workers whispered amongst themselves.

Eventually the meeting came to an end as several men and women left the conference room. Hildy stayed standing against the far wall of the reception large foyer where she could observe the facial expressions of these employees. Everyone had either a worried look or a forced guarded expression on their faces. As a trained police officer, Hildy immediately sensed that this team of financial experts was under major stress. She could feel the tension emanating from their collective bodies in waves.

As soon as Dexter stepped into the open reception area she recognized him. He was in shirt sleeves and his tie was loose. He looked neither worried nor guarded, his expression was one of …. Hildy could not place the correct adjective on it but there was something there that was different from the others.

Just then the receptionist approached him and told him someone wanted to see him. Hildy could not hear the words clearly as the receptionist spoke softly but she heard Dexter's response.

"Not now Lisa, ask the person to come back another time. I have to write up reports for the Congressman on that CIA invasion this morning".

Before Hildy could step away from the far wall she saw her lover step up and take a tentative step towards the man who used to be her best friend all those years ago. Hildy's heart felt like the muscles clenched in her chest as she watched Kami's expression. Hildy knew for all her lady's brave words about seeing Dexter today, the actual meeting would shake her emotionally. Her face was a blend of expressions as she looked at her former fiancé. She looked cautious, yet hopeful, and her eyes had an expression that was a kind of sad affection.

"Hello Dexter" Kami said in a clear voice that carried across the space in between them.

Dexter stopped speaking to the receptionist immediately and slowly half turn his body to look at Kami. All the previous expression on his face that could not be accurately described by an adjective dropped, and were replaced with shock, disbelief, amazement and unadulterated pleasure. The pleasure of his expression hit Hildy like a horse's kick right in her stomach. Then in a move that neither she nor Kami had anticipated, Dexter stepped with his long legs across the distance between them and pulled Kami into a hug that lifted her up as he swung her completely around.

Hildy made a growl deep in her throat as she witnessed this action but she stayed where she was. Dexter put Kami back down and took a step back as if he caught himself as questions began to flood his mind.

"KamKam, I can't believe it is really you! What are you doing here? I thought you lived in England?"

Hildy's body went ridged as she reacted to Dexter's use of the sweet name KamKam.

Kami smiled at him as she remembered the happier times they once shared. There was hardly a person who was not affected by one of Kami's smiles because her inner beauty showed through when she did so. In that moment Dexter also remembered their happier times from so long ago and he in turn smiled at her with love in his eyes.

"Dexter, yes, it is really me, and I am living back in the States for awhile now. As for what I am doing here I need to speak to you. Actually, we need to speak to you".

Dexter frowned as he asked "We? We who?"

Kami looked over at her lover and smiled, Hildy took this as her cue to step away from the wall and approached the former couple. She extended her hand to Dexter as she said;

"Mr. Matthews, I am Hildy Mulligan. May we speak to you in your office please?"

Dexter looked at her and frowned because he had no idea who Hildy was or what she wanted. But as she appeared to be associated with Kami he acquiesced.

He led them into a comfortable office with a window overlooking Manhattan's financial district. They all sat down and Dexter's eyes was once more drawn to Kami's face.

"She looks more beautiful than I remember. She has more confidence and maturity now than so long ago. The biggest regret of my life is how I spoke to her that last night we were together. What a fool I was." These thoughts crossed Dexter's mind as he looked at the woman whom he loved and never stopped loving.

One of the biggest mistakes Dexter ever made was marrying Elizabeth. He was not in love with her but she was intelligent, and ambitious like him or so she led him to believe. He thought she would be an asset to his upward mobility in the business and eventually the political world but what a joke that turned out to be. He realized that marriage to Elizabeth was a mistake within the first month of their union. The first few weeks of marriage opened his eyes to how jealous she was of Kami, a fact that did not dawn on him when they began dating. Elizabeth told him all the things he wanted to hear, she stroked his ego and he loved it. Dexter was not a man to take failure easily so he determined to make the best of the marriage. When they began to have an intimate relationship, she was the opposite of Kami. Where Kami's response in bed was lackluster, Elizabeth was just as enthusiastic as he, and their sex life was really good. It was the only pleasurable thing in their marriage that was slowly disintegrating.

A lot of financial debt and emotional exhaustion later, he finally threw in the towel and filed for divorce. Now sitting here and looking at Kami all the what ifs flooded his mind. He knew Kami told him she was a lesbian and could not love him the way he wanted or deserved. But still his heart wondered if they had gone through with the marriage if their time together would have been less stressful than his marriage to Elizabeth.

Hildy watched with keen interest all the expressions that crossed Dexter's face. She knew exactly when his mind began to wonder 'what if'. It was at that point she decided to get this interview up and running.

"Mr. Matthews, Kami and I are co-owners of a private investigation firm. We recently solved a robbery case that we were working on. That case incriminated several police officers in the crime. In furthering our investigation, it became apparent that several of these officers received financial advice from your firm. As a matter of fact, you were the lead financial analyst for several of their investments". With these words Hildy looked at Dexter's face for anything that would indicate if he was hiding something.

Dexter looked at her in surprise and then turned his face back to Kami.

"KamKam, you are a private investigator? What happened to all the computer plans? I remember you made a fortune when you sold the innovative program you wrote in college to The Apple Company. KamKam please do not tell me you threw all that genius away". Dexter looked at her in horror.

Hildy looked at him in disbelief. She had just about accused him of being involved with dirty cops and the only thing he took away from all of that was that Kami is now a private investigator. Hildy sat back in her chair as she mulled this over in her mind. Dexter did not seem to be effected one bit by the accusation and she wondered why.

Kami looked at him and chuckled as she responded "No, no. I still write programmes and I also write articles in some of the leading Computer Science magazines. But being a part of the investigation team, solving crimes, has given me a sense of really helping right the wrongs in the world". Dexter looked at her as he tried to reconcile this new career with the career he remembered she was so passionate about in the past. He then turned his gaze back to Hildy as if the rest of Hildy's words slowly sunk into his consciousness.

He cleared his throat and sat up straighter in his chair as he said in a professional manner "I am one of the lead analysts for this firm. I interact with a lot of companies and private individuals Ms Mulligan".

"I am sure you do Mr. Matthews and no doubt you do an excellent job as Congressman Sanders' company is one of the top in the state if not the country. My firm is just wondering if you are as clean as KamKam believes you are". The use of Dexter's sweet name for Kami was not lost on him.

Dexter narrowed his eyes as he looked at Hildy. He tried to read her features but as a trained investigator Hildy was good as keeping her walls up and only showing what she wanted a suspect to see. Dexter could not put a handle on Hildy so he turned back to Kami and looked at her.

"So, this visit out of the blue after so very long is not a social call but rather to ascertain if I am somehow mixed up in this sordid business. The CIA was here this morning searching for evidence. Now you are here to ask me questions. I can assure you that have done nothing illegal". Dexter stated softly but with authority in his voice.

"That is good to hear Mr. Matthews because I would not want KamKam's memory of the upstanding man you were from her past to clash with the reality of who you are now". Hildy couldn't not resist using Kami's name to taunt Dexter even though it upset her that he said her lover's name in such a tender way.

Kami picked up on Hildy's tightly controlled feelings under the professional air she was emitting. Kami decided to hurry the interview along as she did not want her lady to feel distressed. She leaned forward in her chair and spoke softly in her most appealing voice;

"Dexter, when your name popped up on the computer screen at our firm in connection with this case, to say I was shocked would be an understatement". Kami paused as she took a deep breath.

"So many memories and emotions filled my mind and heart when I saw your face. I could not believe the man I knew so long ago, the man who was my best friend at that point of my life could be mixed up with the crooked police officers and CIA agents. I do not know what experiences you had between then and now Dexter, I do not know if the man I knew is still the same man sitting in front of me but I need to know".

Dexter looked at Kami as if he was spellbound, heck Hildy felt spell bound by the plea in her lover's voice.

Dexter looked her Kami for long moments without saying a word. It was as if he was trying to decide how much to say rather than what to say.

As his eyes slowly moved from Kami's eyes to look her over he noticed for the first time the hickey on her neck. It could partially be seen just on the inside of her open Oxford Shirt collar and Dexter lifted his left eyebrow in surprise. The sight caused his mind immediately to go back in time to when he used to kiss Kami. She was young and innocent then, and shied away from too much public displays of affection. She also never allowed him to kiss her neck for fear of leaving a bruise for folks to notice. Apparently, she no longer cared what people knew or thought.

Dexter was so happy to see Kami that he did not stop to consider that she might be a married woman and maybe even had children. The sight of the prominent love bite was an immediate reality check for him. He then pointedly looked at her ring finger and saw the elegant engagement ring.

"It seems congratulations are in order on your engagement Kami. I take it your spouse to be is female based on what you told me the last time we saw each other". Dexter commented.

"Yes, she is" Kami answered and wondered how much information to give him.

"She is a lucky woman. I hope she loves you and appreciates the treasure she has in you Kami. Marriage is serious business and when it is entered for reasons other than love the chances are it will not stand the test of time". Said the man who had tried and failed at marriage.

Hildy had had enough of what she considered to be beating around the bush and decided to end the pussyfooting.

"I consider myself to be blessed rather than lucky. And yes, I do love and appreciate my Kams. When we have our wedding ceremony later this year I assure you Mr. Matthews it will be for the correct reasons". Hildy said is a firm no nonsense tone of voice that was a unique mix of businesslike and loving.

Dexter looked from Kami to Hildy as realization set in. There was a pregnant pause in the room that seemed to grow as the seconds ticked by.

Hildy exhaled in exasperation; "Look, Dexter, let's cut to the chase. If you are not involved with the Congressman's illegal activities, we are your best bet to make sure you aren't drowning in the flood that is coming, and believe me it is coming". Hildy said in her best no nonsense police inspector's voice. "And if you are involved, and Kami's hope in you is misplaced then say your prayers because I will make sure you are buried". With those sobering words Hildy stood and Kami followed suit. Hildy stepped to her lady's side and placed her hand in the small of her back as she began to lead her to the door.

"Wait". Dexter for the first time since Hildy and Kami entered his office fully realized the magnitude of the storm that was coming to his employer's office. Hildy's tone and body language told him that her words must not be taken lightly. He was just beginning to see his way out of the red financially after years of struggling in debt. The last thing he wanted as to have his name associated to any wrong doings that he was not a part of.

"We cannot talk in here, and I do not want to be seen leaving with you. I have not gone for lunch as yet and I usually eat outside of the building so it would not look odd today of all days if I decide to get away from the office for a little while. Can you meet me in thirty minutes at Cipriani's on Wall Street?"

Hildy looked him in the eye with a stone-cold stare. "Thirty minutes Dexter, we will be there God's willing".

"God's willing? Are you going to be there or not?" Dexter looked at Hildy as if he was trying to figure out if she was setting him up somehow.

"Yes, God's willing".

And with those words Hildy ushered her lady out of the office. Kami looked over her shoulder and gave him a reassuring look.