Chapter 5

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Saturday

"...she doesn't want to tell you, because she thinks you'll be mad." Sophia said as the three of them, her, Aria and Olivia were in the kitchen making dinner.

"Be mad at what?" Olivia asked as she prepped the roast for the oven. Putting the vegetables in the pot.

"No. That's not why!" Aria defended.

"Why, what?" Olivia asked again.

"Yes it is!" Sophia teased Aria, who responded with:

"It's not!" She said, holding her ground.

"Hey, hey…" Olivia interrupted their little yelling match by banging the pot with a wooden spoon, creating a bell sound that annoyed the girls into silence, just as their mother intended. "Aria, what didn't you want to tell me, sweetie?" But before she had a chance to speak…

"She-" Sophia started, but one look from Olivia hushed her, quickly, and had her sitting at the counter, quietly.

"Ari? Baby, what didn't you wanna tell me?"

"I didn't didn't want to tell you, mommy. Soph's being mean."

"Okay. Do you mind telling me what you didn't didn't want to tell me?"

Aria got quiet for a minute as she looked down. But quickly looked up at Olivia. "A boy at school, he likes me "

"A boy?" She said, trying not to freak out as Sophia got up and went to the fridge. "Really? How old is this boy?" She said, thinking the worst, but praying that it wasn't.

"He's seven, like me."

"Oh?" Olivia gave a sigh of relief inwardly. She thought for a minute that there was an older boy, preying on her baby. and for a minute, she was about to go nuts! But when Aria saw that her mother seemed to handling it well, she loosened up and so did her mouth.

"Yes. He's in my class and his name is Malik and I asked him yesterday if we could be boyfriend and girlfriend!" She smiled.

"Well, that's bold. What did he say?"

"He said he'd ask his mom… so, can I be his girlfriend?"

Olivia smiled as she added the broth to the roast and covered the pot. "You really like him, huh?" She said as she put the pot in the oven.

"Yes." Aria laughed. "He lets me use his crayons, even though I have my own."

"Well…" She laughed. "I don't think it would be a problem if you had a little boyfriend." Olivia said, thinking back to when she was about that age, and her first crush.

"Thank you mommy!" Aria said excitedly as she hugged Olivia's middle; as much of it as she could get her arms around. "I love you! And I love you too, baby brother!"

"Ari's got a boyfriend!" Sophia teased, as the phone rang and Olivia went to answer it while the girls argued in the background.

"Hey Fin." Olivia answered, smiling at her girls.

"You sound busy."

"Hi, uncle Fin!" Both girls shouted, and went right back to arguing.

"Hey babies!"

"Uncle Fin says hi."

"Mommy, tell her to stop!" Aria whined.

"David!" Olivia yelled as she held the kitchen door and ushered the girls out. It was suddenly quieter, though the baby was now kicking up a storm, and she could still hear them arguing in the next room. "Just world war three! What's up?" She said to Fin, finally able to talk, as she rubbed the side of her belly.

"Another lead just died."

"What are you talking about?"

"Pablo."

"Thomas' driver? Oh god, tell me he hasn't skipped town."

"You ain't hearing me Liv, he's dead! The cops got a call complaining about a smell and they found him. Three days dead in his apartment."

Liv sat down on one of the stools at the island counter to take the pressure off her back. "How?"

"...I deserve..." Without another word, she kissed David.

"What are you doing?" He asked, already feeling like an overzealous teenager.

"Kissing you."

He could remember just a few months ago when he and Liv reconnected after so many years. He wasn't sure if they should, even though he wanted her so bad.

"Liv, maybe we shouldn't."

"Why? This is what you wanted and I need to forget."

He was struggling to hold it together and tried to talk to her. "You're not thinking straight. You don't want this."

"I am thinking straight and this is what I want."

"Are you sure?" Olivia looked him in his eyes and kissed him, he needed no further confirmation and took control of the kiss, cupping her face in his hands and going deep, the two of them desperately clawing at each other. He pulled her shirt off over her head and went back to kissing her as she unbuttoned his shirt and took it off him, sliding it over his muscles, never pulling her lips away. David, while they were kissing, undid the clasps on her bra and threw it across the room, laying her down on the oversized sofa and climbing on top of her.

Now they hadn't been intimate ever since they lost one of their boys in the miscarriage. And he wondered if they ever would.

"You're so beautiful." He said caressing her face. "Still so beautiful..." She looked up at him and smiled before he dropped...

"Daddy" Aria called, sounding frustrated and interrupting David's thoughts as she walked into the den with Sophia following closely behind. He immediately snapped back to the present when he saw his girls.

"Hey. I Thought you guys were helping mommy make dinner."

"We were. It's in the oven, and mommy's on the phone with uncle Fin." Sophia said as she went to sit on the couch, and grabbed the remote from the coffee table. Aria, on the other hand, came around to sit on their father's lap at his desk, and she put her arms around him, and kissed his cheek.

"Aw, thank you, buttercup! Daddy was just thinking how he needed a kiss from his baby girl." He said. "What's wrong?"

"Sophia is teasing me." Aria quietly said to David as she lay her head on his shoulder. He got up from his desk, carrying Aria on his arm and sat down next to Sophia, with Aria on his lap.

"Hey, Soph, what'd we talk about?" David asked the child, who was busy watching Spongebob. But quickly muted the TV, and turned around to look at her father.

"I wasn't bad teasing." She said, with big, sad eyes.

"Aria, is that true?"

"Kind of… but I didn't like it, and I asked her to stop."

"Okay. We've talked about this, right? Now, if one of you is doing something to the other, that the other doesn't like, we agree to…?"

"Stop it." They both said, Sophia a little guiltily.

"That's right. You guys are sisters. Best friends…"

They thought about it, curiously having a silent discussion with each other, and once they came to an agreement… "I guess so." They both said, and smiled warmly at one another.

"You guess? That's it?" David said as he tickled them both, and they exploded with laughter. "You only guess?"

"No… we are… Daddy, we are!" Sophia howled, with Aria agreeing before David stopped.

"Glad you agree. Now, what was it that you were politely teasing your sister about?" He asked Sophia as they collected themselves, and Sophia looked at Aria.

"Guess what?" Aria asked David.

"Uhhh, it's my birthday?"

"No..." Aria laughed.

"Oh, then is it your birthday?"

"You're so silly, Daddy. Not till June."

"Then…?"

"Mommy said I can have a boyfriend!" She uttered bashfully and hid her face in the collar of his shirt.

"You're seven."

"Daddy!"

"He probably had nothing about Amanda to offer us anyway." Olivia said out loud, to an empty kitchen, trying to convince herself. She hadn't moved from where she sat since hanging up with Fin, just needing to breathe. This happened every time they ran into a possible lead that turned out to be nothing.

He probably knew exactly where she was, or god forbid, where her body lay. No, she's not dead! Olivia would feel it if she were. And even though Fin and even Nick felt that they were looking for her remains, although they'd never admit it to her; Olivia knew better!

"You let her have a boyfriend?" David asked as he came into the kitchen, but Liv was so lost in her own head, she didn't hear him. "Queenie?"

When she realized he was there, she snapped to attention. "What?"

"I was asking why my baby has a boyfri-" He started, but when he saw her face, he knew that something was wrong. "It's Amanda, isn't it?"

"We had someone. He was going to give us a possible location, but he was found dead in his apartment before we could interview him; heroin overdose."

"Baby… I'm sorry!" He said and pulled her into a hug, holding her tight. "Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine." She insisted, pulling away. "It's just so hard knowing she's out there somewhere, and I can't do anything."

"I know, Queenie."

"I'm sorry to dump all this on you."

"It's okay. How about I go run you a bath and you can relax? Dinner's gonna take a couple of hours."

"But the girls…"

"Dont worry; I got this."

"You're a godsend, you know that?" She said, feeling terrible. She still didn't know how to tell him that she was leaving, but it had to be soon. She couldn't see herself trying to do this after the baby was born. She knew herself. She would probably be an emotional mess after the birth, like she was with the girls, but she had Elliot to lean on then. Now, she was with David, and if she had to lean on him…

"You are the mother of my children, and the love of my life. I'd do anything for you!" He said and kissed her head. "Besides, if you start getting ready now, we won't be late."

"Ever the funny guy!"

"I try." He said smiling. "Come on." She took his hands when he held them out to help her up, and together, they exited the kitchen.

Los Angeles

"Nick, are you listening to me?" Maria said as they sat outside the restaurant having lunch with Zara, and discussing what her schedule would be. But Nick was preoccupied with his phone.

"Yeah, I'm sorry…" He said, giving her lip service. He was texting Olivia, who was filling him in on Rollins' case, and the newest developments. "It's just, things are a little crazy at home. We just lost a potential lead in Rollins disappearance case."

"I'm so sorry that this is still going on."

"Me too. Especially since both me and Fin think we're looking at a recovery if we do find her."

"Nick…"

"Daddy, what's a recovery?"

He and Maria looked at each other for an answer before he spoke. "Why don't you finish your burger and we'll see about heading over to the American Girl store. How about it?"

"A new doll?!"

"Maybe. Now eat your lunch!" He told her as he smiled. When she had turned to her food, he texted Olivia. [I know one more thing we could try.]

When David entered their bedroom sometime later, he was absolutely mesmerized by Olivia. She had finally finished dressing for the fundraiser event they would be attending that night, and she was nothing less than stunning! She wore a long, black, off the shoulder gown that was draped and showed off her magnificent cleavage. She dressed the gown with a diamond, question mark shaped necklace, that had a huge round sapphire as the period. And a sapphire and diamond bracelet. She wore her hair down and curled, and her makeup was perfect. She was truly a vision.

"Wow!" He said.

"Doesn't mommy look beautiful, daddy?" Sophia said as she and Aria played with Olivia's makeup on her vanity.

"She looks breathtaking!" He said, unable to stop smiling, he was so giddy!

"You don't look so bad yourself." Olivia said to David. And he did look dapper in his tuxedo. "When you're done smiling, I could use some help with my shoes." She said, referring to the five inch stiletto, silver sandals that sat in a shoebox on their bed.

"I got it." He said and came over to her, kneeling down in front of her, the split in her dress falling open and revealing her beautiful silken thighs. David was mesmerized, looking like he wanted to bite it, before he calmed himself and took her foot in his hand.

"Daddy, when I'm a lawyer, will I get a humatarian award too?" Aria asked as she turned around with Olivia's makeup on her face.

"Humanitarian award baby." Olivia said as her eyes went huge at Aria's reveal. And David, who had just finished with Olivia's shoes, giggled silently. She had makeup literally blotched all over her face, and it was all Olivia could do to keep from laughing.

"...you will, as long as you remember to look out for people less fortunate." He said, kissing her and Sophia then heard the doorbell ring. "That's Bridget, I'll get it."

"I'm gonna be a police officer like mommy, and Aunt Amanda." Sophia claimed proudly to Olivia.

"Really?" Olivia asked, somewhat proud, but fearful at the same time.

"Uh huh. I wanna help people, like you do."

"Aww, baby!" Olivia was truly touched. And Sophia smiled as she hugged her.

"Mommy, when is aunt Aunt Amanda coming back? We miss her so much!"

"I know baby, and soon. I promise." Olivia said and kissed them both. Silently praying that she wasn't lying to her daughters.

"Mr. Answari, hi, it's Nicolas Amaro…"

"Nicolas! It has been a long time. How have you been?" The man answered as he sat on his private plane, flying to Asia.

"I'm fine sir, thank you for asking."

"You are the man who brought justice for my Amira. for that, I will always be indebted to you."

"You're very welcome, I'm just glad that we could make things right. Sir, the reason I'm calling is because you said that you'd owe me a favor?"

"I did indeed. And I meant it."

"Well, I'd like to collect on that, if I may."

"Of course you may. Tell me, what can I do for you? Anything at all!"

"I have a friend that's missing. She's been gone for quite some time, and so far, every lead we've had had fallen apart."

"Does this friend have a name?"

"Amanda Dawn Rollins. She's a police officer with the NYPD, who was involved with Thomas Kirkland. We think he did something to her when she broke it off with him, but even if he was alive, he'd deny it."

"And you need me to find her?"

"Yes sir. I know it's a lot-"

"Nonsense. I just wish you had come to me sooner."

"So do I. But Mr. Answari, Sir, any info you can find on her-"

"Dont worry. I'll get in touch with you when I know something." And just like that, he hung up and Nick was left staring at the phone for a second.

"God, let this work!" He said before he went back to Zara and Maria.

"...Sir, if you're implying what I think you are-"

"I'm implying exactly what you think I am. Now, how much?"

"Look, Mr…"

"Haden."

"Haden. I don't know what kind of operation you think about I'm running. But trust me, if I were running that type of business; you couldn't afford my services!"

"Tell you what. Why don't you, hypothetically, give me a number, and we'll see if if we can work with it."

Was this guy serious? Stanley asked himself as he looked David over. Nails perfectly manicured. Hair neatly trimmed, subtle but expensive cologne. And when he looked down at David's shoes; Berluti, $2600 a pair, at least! This guy could be bullshitting, but he could also be very real. Hell, expensive Cartier watch? Tailored suit? Stanley decided to take a chance.

"Hypothetically? $100,000." Stanley said nervously, then waited for David to respond, though the already knew what the response would be. Alas, it was nice to dream. Even if just for a moment.

"Done." David said without batting an eyelash. "...hypothetically speaking, of course!"

Standing now in the ballroom of the swanky hotel, near the kitchen where he snuck in; Stanley knew that he made a huge mistake in that he didn't seize the moment and get more. But that was about to end!

Looking out and scanning the crowd, he spotted David. He was whispering something to his wife and she nodded. His very pregnant wife. Man, she looks like she's gonna pop at any moment, but man, she's beautiful! He thought. "I bet you wouldn't want to lose everything you have, Haden." He mattered so that no one would hear.

When he looked at David and Olivia's table, he saw that Olivia was walking away. He followed her with his eyes and saw that she was headed to the closed in terrace, with the phone to her ear. As soon as she was gone, he hurried over to David.

"...I can't think of anyone who deserves it more! Congratu-" the senator started when Stanley interrupted.

"Excuse me Senator, can I borrow Mr. Haden?" He asked as David looked like he were seeing a ghost. "Thanks." He said, and ushered David away, leaving the Senator standing there speechless in his spot.

David was absolutely livid as he snatched his arm away from Stanley.

...

"What the hell are you doing here?" David whispered, but mad as hell, and looking around the room as he pushed Stanley out into the hall.

"I have my ways." Stanley bragged. "You haven't exactly been very accommodating on the phone, so I decided to pay you a visit.

"You listen to me-"

"No you listen to me, Mr. Haden!" Stanley said. "You see, I did some research, and it turns out you're a very rich man."

"So?"

"So… If I would have known that upon our first meeting, I surely would've asked for more than a measly hundred grand! See the way I see it, you owe me! I risked my job; my very freedom to provide you a service, and I just want what's mine! So you WILL give me $250,000, or let's just say... other arrangements will have to be made!"

David let off a laugh. "Are you threatening me?"

Stanley was scared out of his mind, but he had to remember why he was here. He had to get that money. "Call it whatever you want." Man, he suddenly felt bold. So bold, that he didn't realize the mistake he was making. But then, that's the problem with desperation and greed!

"That's what I thought."

"Tell me something, what do you think is gonna happen if you come out with all of this?"

"I… I…"

"You…?

"I was just-"

"No one ever saw us together, there's no record of our transactions, I made sure of it. So what do you have? Nothing!" David said as he looked around, scratching his brow, then shocked Stanley with his next move that involved pushing Stanley up against the wall, causing him to let out a small scream.

Oh god… He's gonna hurt me! Dammit, why didn't I set my phone to record?!

"You think you've lucked onto some rich sucker? Is that what it is?"

"I'm sorry… I am so sorry!"

"You're gonna be!"

TBC…