Chapter Eight
Jake and Alex managed to make it back to the hospital at the same time, eager to report their findings to Donovan, although they knew he would not be pleased. Opening Minya's hospital room door, they found their boss sound asleep cuddling both his daughter and the diva in his arms.
"Ahem," Alex cleared her throat loudly startling Donovan and Minya awake; Sammie continued to sleep.
"Wha...huh?" Donovan muttered.
"Eloquent words from our fearless leader," Alex joked. "Wakey, wakey, sleeping beauty."
Jake grinned when Minya broke out in laughter, barely awake herself.
"Keep it up, Alex," Donovan said harshly.
"Or what? You'll make me stay after class?" She said, tauntingly. She laughed wickedly as she plopped onto the nearest chair. "Ready to hear what I found out about the timer?"
"Hours ago," he replied briskly.
"Yeah, right. You sure looked ready," she teased.
"Alex!"
"Okay, okay. The timer was ordered by phone. The clerk couldn't say if the caller was male or female. It was picked up the next day and paid for by cash."
"Well, that helps a whole helluva lot," he retorted, sitting up with Sammie sleeping on his lap. "Who picked it up?"
Alex shrugged. "The clerk couldn't say. Whoever it was wore a long trench coat and a floppy hat that shadowed their face. He said he was extremely busy and just didn't pay attention."
"Fabulous," he said, clearly irritated.
"Sorry, Frank. I asked until I was blue in the face, but the guy just didn't know any more than that."
"I know you did your best, Alex. I never questioned that." He hoped Jake had better news. They needed to get a handle on this guy before he followed through with his latest threat.
"I didn't fair much better," Jake admitted. "I went to that flower shop, Majestic Florist, and asked about the arrangement sent to Minya but it was the same as Alex's situation. They were busy and didn't pay much attention to the patron. They took the money and ran, so to speak. All I can confirm is the same lame description that Alex reported."
Donovan's expression was guarded. He was irritated beyond the point of distraction, but he kept it under control. If he let them know how at a loss he felt at the moment, they would lose confidence in him and themselves.
"We need to get ready for a trip. Our little Diva here insists on heading to LA tomorrow, so get together what you need and then get back here so I can..." he was interrupted by Minya.
"You don't really need to worry about that. I can send Sashka shopping for you when we get to LA. Just give me a list," she insisted.
"I don't think so," Donovan said, frowning.
Minya shrugged. "Fine, but she's already shopping for Sammie. She'll have everything ready for her when we get there."
Donovan sighed. "I wish you wouldn't do that."
She shrugged. "Its only money."
"Well, in that case," Alex said with a grin. "I could use a little shopping time on Rodeo Drive."
Minya laughed. "Alex, I promise. After the awards show, we'll go shopping. You, Monica and me; we'll make it a girls day out. In the meantime, I've got tons of clothes in the apartment I've never touched. You're welcome to them."
"Whoo hoo," she said, laughing.
"If we're done with the girl talk," Frank snapped. "I'm heading back to the estate to see what Cody and Monica have come up with. Alex, you stay with Minya. Jake, you're driving." By the time he had finished barking the orders he was already out the door.
Minya wrinkled her nose. "The mean and mighty Donovan is back. You better hop to it, Jake. He might beat you with a wet noodle."
Alex and Jake laughed at the diva. "He's not so bad," Alex said. "He's like a Care Bear with huge claws."
"Later, Minya. I don't want those claws tearing at my throat!" Jake exclaimed as he headed out the door.
************
"Been over every second of tape since we set it up in the studio. No one entered other than Minya, Dalton, Jake and Sammie. Followed by you," Monica informed him.
"So, how did the headphones get sabotaged? It wasn't some divine freak of nature," he said sarcastically.
"You never know," Cody quipped.
"Well, I know," Donovan insisted. "Give me a better answer, Cody."
"It's possible that it was done between the time I checked the place out and the video equipment was installed."
Donovan growled. "That's not much better than your freak of nature theory."
"Sorry, best I can do." He shrugged. "I went over the equipment again, and everything checked out."
"Wonderful. Well, we're back to square one. We don't have a decent lead, we have no idea who the stalker is and we're off to Los Angeles tomorrow to prepare for a ridiculous award show," he ranted. "Be ready," he barked as he left the room.
"Any that is all," Cody said, mimicking a newscaster. "Sheesh, who pissed in his cornflakes?"
"Everyone, apparently," Monica replied with a grin.
************
Minya checked herself out of the hospital after a severe argument with her doctor. Sashka had everything ready to take her and Alex directly to the airport, where the rest of the team joined them. The private jet was fueled and ready for takeoff as soon as the diva arrived and the team's equipment was stowed on board.
Minya was ready to celebrate her departure from the hospital and called for the steward. "Oh, Garcon! How about a beer?"
"You mean ice water?" Sashka corrected her, laughing, knowing she wouldn't be drinking that early in the day.
"Yeah, that's what I said...ice water." She winked at her assistant. "Besides, I'm forbidden to drink while I'm on these antibiotics and such."
She noticed Donovan sitting quietly watching Sammie play at the far end of the plane with Jake and Cody. The little girl had them wrapped around her little finger. Minya made her way over to the couch and sat next to him, handing him a bottled water. Just when he took a sip of water she asked, "So, mean and mighty Agent Donovan...you a member of the mile-high club?"
Frank spit water everywhere, not expecting to hear those words from her. "Hell, Minya, I'm starting to think you're a little touched, if you know what I mean."
Minya was laughing so hard she could barely see. "Oh, man. You're just a little too easy to shock, Donovan." Minya heard the laughter from the others in the cabin. "I'm not touched, I'm crazy. Get it right." She winked and slapped him on the thigh. "Explore that sense of humor you claim to have, buddy."
She picked up the towel the steward was holding out to Frank and began to mop up the water from his pants until he stilled her hand on his leg. "Maybe I should do that," he said, his eyes twinkling.
Minya laughed. "Have it your way." She stood and started to walk away, making a face at Alex and Monica. "To boldly go where some woman fear..."
Alex and Monica busted out laughing again. "Man, I thought I was rough on him," Alex said, wiping the tears from her eyes.
Monica nodded. "I'm not sure he'll survive this assignment with all his faculties in tact."
"Goodie for us," Alex laughed and abruptly sobered when she saw the murderous look on Donovan's face. "Shutting up now," she said with a grin.
To be continued....