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Chapter Ten
Four hours after the "Mexican standoff", Dalton left the studio, followed by Jake and Minya. All three were laughing, making Alex, who was waiting outside, wonder what could possibly be so funny.
"You can't be serious," Jake said to Minya.
"I swear, that's what the set will be; kind of cozy, huh?" She replied, still laughing.
"Might get cold," he said with a grin.
"Nah, it won't be for real," she said, slyly.
"What's so funny?" Alex asked. Curiosity was getting the better of her.
Jake grinned. "Minya was just telling me about our costumes and how the set will be decorated."
"So...dish," she insisted.
Minya shook her head as she took Alex by the arm. "It will be more fun if it comes as a surprise to you."
"How did the rehearsal go?" she asked knowing Minya wasn't going to divulge their secret.
"Great! Jake's a pro," she said, winking. "Hey, where's Dapper Don-ovan?"
Alex grinned. "You shouldn't be so hard on him, you know."
"Yeah," Jake agreed. "That's Cody's job."
Alex rolled her eyes. "That was lame, Jake. Donovan went back to your place to put Sammie to bed. I can't believe how late it is. I didn't think you guys were coming out of there."
"Sorry, Alex," Minya replied. "If I had known it was just you out here, I would have had Dalton let you in."
They reached the elevator and everyone piled in and Alex pushed the button for the underground garage. "Why's that?" She asked.
"Umm...no reason," Minya stammered.
"Makes you nervous, doesn't he?" Alex assumed.
"Extremely."
"You hide it well," Jake stated.
"The fighting? Can't help it, he's presumptuous and overbearing. We're like oil and water...we don't mix well." Although It might be fun to try, she thought to herself.
"He's neither of those things," Jake defended. "Well, maybe overbearing, but he has your best interest in mind. You can count on that."
Minya nodded. "I have no doubt about his dedication. His methods and attitude are what get my dander up!"
"No, really," Alex quipped sarcastically as the elevator door opened to the garage and jumped back in surprise when something came sailing into the elevator.
"Grenade!" Jake yelled and with quick reflexes he picked up the small, olive green sphere and tossed it back through the elevator doors as they began to close.
Alex tossed Minya to the side of the elevator, throwing herself on top of the diva. Jake and Dalton huddled over them as the world exploded around them.
Dust and debris flew into the elevator through the slightly opened doors, choking the occupants. "Is everyone all right?" Jake asked, coughing.
Dalton nodded as he helped Alex to stand. "I'm fine," she said. "Minya?"
Minya grinned. "I'm alive, thanks to you two." She rubbed the back of her head gingerly. "Only now my goose egg has a goose egg."
"Sorry, girl," Alex said, shaking her head.
"Hey, better a bump on the head than to be dead," she reasoned. "Ugh, I didn't just say that, did I?"
Jake and Dalton were struggling with the damaged elevator doors. The nearing wail of sirens could be heard. "Cops are on the way," Jake said. "It'll be hard keeping this latest attack under wraps."
"We'll do what we have to," Alex stated.
************
"What the hell happened to you three?" Donovan demanded when Alex, Jake and Minya arrived at the apartment.
"Suck it up, Donovan," Minya remarked. "Your people saved my life again today." She flopped down in a chair and kicked off her shoes.
"Well," he said to Alex and Jake, still waiting for an answer.
Before they could answer, Minya continued. "Grenade. Big boom. Get the picture?"
"Hey!" Cody yelled from the room next to Minya's bedroom. "A special report on the news...Minya was almost killed by a grenade exploding in the underground garage at the recording studio."
"Thanks for the update, Cody!" Minya yelled and laughed loudly when he came running out of the room.
"Wow, you guys are a mess," he stated the obvious.
"Yeah, it was hard to stay glamorous with all the dust and debris flying around," Minya joked.
Donovan frowned. "This is nothing to joke about."
"Laugh or cry...live or die...you know how it goes," she said flippantly. "Where's Sammie?"
"She's asleep in the room you had overly prepared for her," he replied. "Now, stop changing the subject."
"What subject? Jokes?" She wrinkled her nose. "Okay...this guy, see...he goes into this bar..."
"Minya!" Donovan groaned. "Did you see anything? Anyone?"
"Oh...no. Just some little green ball being tossed at us. Thank God Jake's reflexes are so good, or we'd all be dead." She sighed and rested her head on the back of the chair. "I'm really sorry I got you guys into this mess. It just seems to be getting more dangerous for everyone."
"It does seem that your stalker doesn't care who gets hurt now," Donovan agreed.
"Yeah. Listen; if you don't mind postponing the third degree, Mr. Agent Man, I really could use a soak in the tub. I ache everywhere." She punctuated her remark with a groan as she stood.
"There's not much to tell, anyway, Frank," Alex said. "We really didn't see the person and the explosion destroyed any evidence, if there ever was any."
He nodded in agreement. She was putting up quite a front, but he knew underneath her dismissive veneer she was terrified. If he pushed her too hard, she might loose it and maybe that's what her assailant wanted.
"Where's Monica?" Alex asked, looking around the apartment.
"She left a few minutes ago for the hotel the three of you are staying at. Cody and I will stay here, so if you'd like to take off and get some rest..." he trailed.
Both agents nodded. "Sounds great," Alex said. "I'm beat...literally."
"Me too," Jake agreed. "Let's go, Cross."
"Sure thing, Shaw," she replied, winking.
"See you in the morning," Minya said, walking toward her bedroom. "And, thanks again, guys." She stopped and walked back to Jake, kissed his cheek, and then left the room without another word.
************
Spare a little candle
Save some light for me
figures up ahead
Moving in the trees
"Cody, turn off that damn radio," Frank ordered through a haze of sleep.
"It's not me."
Awake now he looked at his watch. 1 a.m. "I'm going to check on Sammie," he said, tossing the blanket aside.
White skin in linen
Perfume on my wrist
And the full moon that hangs over
these dreams in the mist
"Okay, give her a kiss from Uncle Cody."
Darkness on the edge
Shadows where I stand
I search for the time
On a watch with no hands
Donovan rolled his eyes and left the room. He paused a moment outside the door to let his eyes adjust to the darkened apartment. He noticed the door to Minya's bedroom was open and realized that was where the music was coming from. He made his way silently across the apartment to the room Sammie occupied. She was sleeping peacefully, so he closed the door hoping Minya's singing wouldn't wake her.
I want to see you clearly
Come closer than this
But all I remember
Are the dreams in the mist
These dreams go on when I close my eyes
Every second of the night I live another life
These dreams that sleep when it's cold outside
Every moment I'm awake the further I'm away
He found himself at Minya's bedroom, leaning against the doorframe, watching her. The stereo was on and he realized that was what woke him. Minya lay on her back, sideways across the bed, with her head hanging over the edge. She motioned expressively with her hands as she sang.
Is it cloak 'n dagger
Could it be spring or fall
I walk without a cut
Through a stained glass wallWeaker in my eyesight
The candle in my grip
And words that have no form
Are falling from my lips
These dreams go on when I close my eyes
Every second of the night I live another life
These dreams that sleep when it's cold outside
Every moment I'm awake the further I'm away
A slight movement from the doorway caught her attention and she glanced sideways to see Donovan standing in the doorway watching her. Well, if he wants a show...
She rolled gracefully off the bed and walked slowly toward him, singing.
There's something out there
I can't resist
I need to hide away from the pain
There's something out there
I can't resist
Minya observed the intensity in his dark eyes deepen as she walked closer to him. She wore a thin, ankle length nightgown, which left little to the imagination.
The sweetest song is silence
That I've ever heard
Funny how your feet
In dreams never touch the earth
She stood directly in front of him and lightly touched his cheek with her right palm.
In a wood full of princes
Freedom is a kiss
But the prince hides his face
From dreams in the mist
He pulled her into a crushing embrace, his lips silencing the remainder of the song. Minya moaned her desire and pulled him into the room, closing the door behind them.
************
"Minya," Cody heard through the speaker hooked up to the security system. "Hmmm...guess they're going to have a little chat," he said out loud.
"Oh, Frank, that feels wonderful," Minya's voice cooed through the speaker, followed by distinctive kissing noises.
"Ew...ew...ew," Cody yelled, switching off the speaker. He threw himself onto the bed and smothered his head with a pillow, screaming his frustration into it. A mental picture of his boss doing the horizontal bop with Minya formed in his mind. "Ew...ew...ew!" He screamed again.
To be continued...
*** "These Dreams" by Heart from the CD titled "Heart"