AN: Sorry it took so long to update the story.

Chapter 9 Know Your Competition

Dexter stood on the pavement outside the Manhattan multi story building that housed Kami's and Hildy's firm. In the time between meeting with the couple and now, Dexter did a Google search on both Kami and Hildy. His search indicated that Kami had taken back up residence in the US less than a year ago. This fact surprised Dexter because Kami and Hildy looked like they had been together for years. The wheels in Dexter's mind began to turn as he considered the relatively short time Kami and Hildy had been a couple. He wondered how they could look so committed to each other after only knowing each other for a short time. When he thought about his failed marriage, his filing for bankruptcy, and how his life was not on the road he had meticulously planned he became extremely dissatisfied with his lot in life.

Seeing Kami just made him feel worse because she appeared to have everything going for her. Over the years Dexter thought about Kami often as he wondered what her life was like after she left him. Pride kept him from ever seeking her out in the States to apologize for the way he spoke to her that fateful night so long ago. Then when he heard she moved back to England he convinced himself that there was no need to apologize.

The Google search also provided a great deal of public record information about Hildy's career with the San Francisco's Police Department. The more he read the more he realized that Hildy was not just a private investigator but rather a highly decorated and well respected former police inspector. This fact did not please him at all because he secretly hoped that Hildy was beneath Kami's level, socially and intellectually. If Hildy was in some way not up to Kami's standard, even though she was presently 'in love' it would be a matter of time before the relationship waned. Dexter really hoped that the spark would die for the couple when their life together became mundane and routine. As the old saying goes 'misery loves company', and without consciously realizing it, Dexter wished Kami's life, especially her emotional life was half as miserable as his.

He knew he should feel happy for her but Dexter never really got over the fact that Kami walked out on him. She did not need him and she did not love him the way he loved her. It took a long time for his anger against her to cool down. When it did and he began to reflect on their friendship and then their relationship, he felt that Kami had led him on. From his perspective, the love of his life used him to hide the fact that she was a lesbian.

"Well, she is no longer hiding", Dexter mumbled to himself as he slowly entered the building's large lobby. He kept thinking of his life and Kami's life and how their paths had diverged. Dexter stood in the middle of the lobby as he wondered what the future held in store for him. He had done nothing illegal and he was determined to keep his name clean in all this sordid mess that was swarming around him. Before the CIA's investigation, Dexter had his timeline worked out for getting back on an independent footing. He wanted to have his own business once more, and was on track for breaking free of the mountain of debt that tried to drown him. His future career looked hopeful, then this morning happened with the CIA and Police swarming the office.

As he entered the elevator his mind left the ongoing investigation and returned to Kami and Hildy.

"I wonder if their relationship will last? They have been together for less than a year and they are already getting married. Unbelievable! Besides the fact that Hildy is a woman…. I wonder what Kami sees in her? Yes, she is an attractive woman in an intense sort of way if you are into that kind of thing, geez, but to be engaged already?! I wonder what her parents and grandparents think of this? I wonder if the grandparents are still alive? I remember them as being very devout church goers. Somehow, I can't see someone who is an active Christian condoning a homosexual lifestyle. I need to check out more of what is going on with Kami's life now".

Dexter exited the elevator as he arrived at the floor with the firm and entered the reception area where Abbi stood to greet him as he was expected.

"Mr. Matthews, we have been expecting you. Let me show you to the conference room where everyone is waiting".

Dexter was introduced to Barbara, Wendell, Terry, Jim, Edgar, and David by Hildy. Then Wendell took the lead in the interview with the other persons in the room adding a question here and there. Dexter was confident as he entered the firm, as a matter of fact he could even be described as a tad bit cocky because he knew he was innocent of any wrong doing. He looked forward to figuratively thumbing his nose at Hildy when she realized he was truly innocent of any illegal activity. In his heart Dexter saw Hildy as his competition even though intellectually he knew he was not involved in Kami's life.

However, as the team of trained law enforcement personnel began firing questions at him his confidence began to wane, the cockiness dropped off at the wayside as he looked at the case from the police perspective. Dexter began to understand that he could still be charged, he was culpable because he was the main signatory on all the questionable documents.

The interrogation lasted twenty solid minutes and within the first five minutes Dexter broke out in a light film of perspiration as he got more and more nervous. When Kami heard the voices in the conference room she quietly entered and took a seat at the side with Abbi as she observed the proceedings.

Hildy keep her questions to a minimum as she did not want to over step Barbara's and Wendell's authority in the investigation. She did however keep her intense gaze on Dexter. Every time he looked in her direction he was met with a serious expression that bordered on cold. When this happened Dexter quickly averted his gaze and his eyes sorted Kami out. She in turn gave him a reassuring nod and a small smile of encouragement.

Terry, Jim, Edgar and David all noticed the effect Hildy was having on Dexter and they saw how his eyes looked towards Kami for reassurance. After twenty minutes of questioning Wendell directed Dexter to the firm's sophisticated computers to show them the files he had on his thumb drive.

Dexter spent the next several minutes walking them through his files and pointing out the inconsistencies that he observed. Both Barbara and Wendell felt that Dexter had had enough evidence on his copied files to greatly assist them in their investigations. They did not believe he knew about the human trafficking ring the Congressman was suspected of being involved in but the officers felt Dexter understood perfectly well that illegal activities were going on.

They told him that he should have contacted the Fraud Squad or the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Wendell explained in detail to Dexter that he could still be in trouble because he knew a crime was being perpetrated and did nothing to stop it. The fact that he covered his butt, on one hand would save him from human trafficking charges but on the other hand proved he understood the money laundering was taking place. The officers then made Dexter and offer he could not refuse. He was going to be their eyes and ears in the Congressman's office in exchange for not charging him with anything.

Dexter felt a mixture of relief and fear by the time the interview was over. Relief because he was not going to be charged with anything and fear because he was pushed deeper into the sordid mess by the police and CIA basically as their spy. The meeting ended and the team of investigators stood telling Dexter they would be in touch with him the following day.

Kami looked at him and thought "I am glad he agreed to cooperate with the police and CIA. I do not want him to be in trouble because if this mess with the Congressman. He use to be my dearest friend once upon a time and even though I am not in love with him and never was, part of me still cares about him and wish him well".

As Dexter prepared to leave, Kami walked towards him, and thanked him for helping them with the case. He nodded and looked at her as he weighed what he wanted to say.

"Kami, is there somewhere we can speak privately?" Kami looked at him wondering if to grant his request. Then Dexter said please and that tipped the scale in his favour.

"Follow me Dexter", Kami said as she directed him to Hildy's office. As she got to the door of the office Kami looked in Hildy's direction and saw her eyes were trained on her with a raised eyebrow. Kami softly said, "It's OK" to her lover as she ushered Dexter in the room leaving the door ajar behind them.

Hildy felt instantly annoyed that Dexter wanted to speak with her partner alone, however she consoled herself with the fact that Kami kept the office door ajar.

"I trust Kams with my life but that Dexter….he just gets under my skin. I know there is no need to feel jealous because Kami is mine, and only mine. But seeing Dexter in the flesh today and knowing that they once shared a life together just makes me want to hit him, and hit him, and then hit him again." Hildy sighed and gave her head a slight shake.

"Come on Hills, you are allowing that man to get to yo. Come on change the mental channel. Think of fun times with Kami." As these thoughts flooded Hildy's mind, Kami and Dexter stood in the other room.

The two former lovers looked at each other in silence for several moments before Dexter cleared his throat. "Kami, when I left my home this morning I never thought the day would have been so traumatic. Seeing you today after so many years has left me in a state of shock as I experience a range of emotion that I cannot adequately describe".

Kami stood silently as she listened. She then replied, "I can imagine what you are feeling to some extent because when I saw your face on the monitor yesterday I was shocked." Kami wanted to say more but she held her tongue to give Dexter the opportunity to set the pace for this private meeting.

Dexter wanted to apologize to Kami for the things he said years before but it was like the words were stuck in his throat, he did not know how to begin. Kami looked at him and saw the struggle on his face but kept quiet. For a moment, she was tempted to make it easy for him my telling him what happened between them was years ago and water under the bridge but as she looked at him she remembered the hurtful words he uttered. She remembered them without emotion but she remembered them none the less.

Finally, after a few more moments of silence Dexter cleared his throat once more and said; "Kami, I apologize for the unkind things I said to you the night you broke off the engagement. I was angry at you for a long time after that but eventually I cooled down. I wanted to apologize to you when I was thinking rationally again and I tried to get in touch but you had gone back to England by then. After that I decided to just leave it like that because I convinced myself that you probably would not return to the States and our paths would not cross again".

Kami looked at him for a long time before she said "Thank you for apologizing Dexter. I also owe you an apology. The period of my life that I shared with you was one in which I felt so afraid and conflicted about my sexuality. Your friendship was my comfort zone and I loved you. We were good friends and I wanted to confide in you about my attraction but I was not sure you would understand. Then you proposed, I asked God to take away my attraction to women, and I had faith He would. I thought in time, when I received deliverance from my same sex attraction, I would begin to enjoy the intimate part of our relationship. But the deliverance did not come and the enjoyment didn't come either".

Dexter listened with rapt attention. The night over twelve years ago when Kami tried to explain what she was feeling he was too shocked and deeply hurt to understand what she was telling him. But now so many years later Dexter listened with an open mind to try and understand.

" You can't begin to understand what it felt like Dexter to walk in my shoes. Growing up in a Christian home with Christian values added another dynamic to the negative feelings I carried for a long time. The day came when I literally reached the end of my rope and I cried out to Heavenly Father like I never had before. From then on, I have had a love relationship with my Creator because I understood for the first time in my life that He made me, He understood me, He loved me with a love that passed my understanding. That was when I found peace for the first time in my life as it related to my sexuality. I knew in that moment I had to end our engagement. I had to tell you how I felt. The rest as they say is history. You did not take the news well". With her final statement Kami gave him a sad smile.

Dexter felt a new wave of shame for not understanding when Kami initially tried to speak with him long ago.

"I truly am sorry Kami for the way I spoke to you. Please forgive me". Dexter looked at her with pleading in his eyes.

"I forgave you long ago Dexter", Kami said sincerely. He looked at her and nodded his head as he stepped forward and softly pulled Kami into a hug.

"Nana is here Kami", Hildy said gently pushing the office door open in time to see Dexter with his arms around her lady.

Author's Note. Reviews are welcomed.