MOVING OUT
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WEBB'S APARTMENT – 7am
Webb was sleeping on his back with his arms around Zoya as she rested her head on his chest. Since the shower encounter a month ago, Zoya had taken up residence in his bed. Webb had no problem with this at all. It was actually his decision. Webb rather enjoyed waking up next to her warm body than a cold empty bed. As he woke up, he stroked her hair, which covered his chest like a blanket. He watched her sleeping and thought about that night…
He entered the guest room where she was sleeping and picked her up out of bed.
"Clay what are you doing?" Zoya said waking up.
"You're coming with me." Webb said.
"Where are we going?" Zoya asked.
"You're sleeping in the wrong bed." Webb smiled.
"I am?" Zoya yawned.
"Yes," Webb said and placed her in his bed.
"Is this just for tonight?" Zoya asked as Webb joined her. "After this morning…"
"No, it's for as long as you're here." Webb said and pulled her to him.
A ringing phone brought him back to the present. Before he could shift to answer the phone, her blue-grey eyes opened and stared at him before she quickly moved away.
"Are you going to get that?" Zoya asked and picked up the phone, "Nassar."
"Nassar, this is Tom Connors. I need to speak with Webb." Connors stated.
"Good morning to you too Connors," Zoya laughed. "What do you need Webb for? You can tell me anything you need to tell him."
"I need to discuss something with him," Connors said. "Before you say it, I know you're the boss."
"Hmmm," Zoya replied. "I'll go get him."
Zoya crawled over Webb, knocked on his dresser and smiled.
"Webb, wake up Connors is on the phone for you." Zoya called out.
"Webb," He said as he took the phone.
"Webb, we ran into a problem." Connors said.
Zoya put her head back on Webb's chest while he was on the phone. She had a devilish look on her face as she began to lightly kiss his chest.
"Connors, would you hold on a moment?" Webb asked and mouthed cut it out. Zoya just smiled and rolled away.
"Is everything okay?" Connors asked.
"It's fine," Webb said as he reached for Zoya and pulled her over. "What's going on?"
"We believe that the attempt at your place was a decoy." Connors said. "The conclusion is Zoya is the only target."
"Are you positive?" Webb asked.
"We ran tests, whoever touched the coffee maker would have gotten a shock, but it would not have been fatal." Connors assured him.
"That's interesting," Webb said.
"Clay, there's more." Connors stated.
"What else," Webb said as he sat up and released his hold on Zoya. She got up, threw on his robe and mouthed coffee to which Webb nodded.
"The contractor found a bomb in her air vent. The minute she turned on the AC or the heat, it would explode." Connors advised.
"You have no idea who is behind this?" Webb asked.
"It's like nothing we've ever seen." Connors said. "At least you know no one's trying to kill you."
"That's little consolation," Webb replied.
"She'll have to have someone on her place when she goes back." Connors said.
"She's not going back there," Webb stated in a protective tone.
"Something you want to share?" Connors asked with a hint of suggestiveness.
"She's my partner, I would act the same way if it were you," Webb stated.
"If you say so, they had to pull apart her HVAC system," Connors said.
"When did this happen?" Webb asked.
"Two days ago." Connors replied.
"Two days ago and you're just telling us now?" Webb yelled.
"We wanted to be sure," Connors said.
"In the future, we want to know as soon as you do." Webb snapped.
"Will you let Nassar know?" Connors asked.
"She's going to explode," Webb stated.
"That's why I wanted to speak to you. I figured you could tell her." Connors said.
"Thanks," Webb said sarcastically and hung up.
Zoya returned to the bedroom with two mugs and sat down on the edge of the bed.
"I'm the target aren't I?" Zoya asked calmly and handed Webb a mug.
"How did you know that?" Webb asked.
"Connors wanted to talk to you. That meant it was about me and it probably wasn't good news." Zoya said.
"Very perceptive and very calm," Webb smiled. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you."
"That's not your job, I can protect myself." Zoya said. "Don't lose your objectivity."
"Countess, I think we've both lost a bit of objectivity." Webb smirked.
"Then maybe it's time I went back to my place," Zoya stated.
"You can't go back there," Webb said. He then told her about the bomb and that they were pulling apart her HVAC system.
"I can't stay here," Zoya said.
"Why not?" Webb asked. "We're partners. If someone was trying to kill me, wouldn't you let me stay at your place?"
"Probably," Zoya said.
"Zoya, since you've been here," Webb began.
"A lot has happened." Zoya interrupted.
"Would you let me finish," Webb sighed. "Since you have been here, there have been no attempts."
"Maybe it's because we haven't been out of this apartment in about a month. Maybe it's because there is someone watching this place at all times." Zoya said. "Maybe because they figured I would be going back to my apartment and their job was done. Maybe it's because…"
"Zoya, where are you going to go?" Webb asked.
"You interrupted me," Zoya frowned.
"Annoying isn't it?" Webb smiled. "Now where do you plan on going?"
"I was thinking a hotel," Zoya replied.
"That sounds secure," Webb said sarcastically. "You're safe here, why risk it?"
"Clay I need to find out who is trying to kill me and why," Zoya stated. "I can't do that by hiding out here."
"We need to find out." Webb said. "Do you really think I would sit back and let someone kill my partner?"
"No," Zoya said. "But I can't stay here."
"What's going on?" Webb asked.
"It's not because of this." Zoya smiled and then turned serious. "Someone is going to a lot of trouble to kill me, don't you think? The best way to draw them out is to be accessible. I'm not accessible here. I am also going stir crazy!"
"I understand that," Webb replied. "Zoya looking at the weather, you might not have turned the heat or the AC on for weeks."
"Who would make a correlation between the two?" Zoya asked, "If I was blow up a month or even two after the first attack, who would link it?"
"I would." Webb said. "You're right though. You should leave. Staying here we're not going to find anything."
"Looks that way," Zoya said.
"I'll come with you," Webb said.
"No, if you're there, they won't try anything," Zoya said.
"That would be a good thing," Webb replied.
"Then how are we supposed to catch them?" Zoya asked. "Having a bodyguard with me is not the way to do that."
"So you want to be a sitting duck," Webb said.
"Not exactly, I need, we need to get back to work." Zoya stated. "This can't be the focus of our lives. There's always a risk of death. I am not about to sit around and wait for it to happen."
"I understand what you're saying, I just don't think painting a bull's eye on your back is the way to go about it." Webb replied.
"Clay it's only a bull's eye if I don't know they are coming." Zoya said. "I'll be ready for them."
"I'll be there to watch your back." Webb said.
"I can handle this myself," Zoya said. "We've ignored our jobs long enough."
"Zoya, under the circumstances, I think Wellington has assigned our cases to someone else." Webb replied.
"I better start packing," Zoya said and went to the guest room.
Webb leaned back against the headboard and shook his head. Zoya was taking control of the situation and there was no way she would back down. Over the course of the past few weeks he had learned a few things about her.
She constantly interrupted him. She had a strong will and was stubborn. He learned right away not to argue with her. He hated to admit it, but she was smarter than he. Being a lawyer she could out debate him on almost any issue. He also learned that nothing came between her and the people she cared about, although that list was short. To be on that list was an honor. She didn't put her career above everything, but it was a big part of her life. She was brilliant, but tempered her book smarts with street savvy and a sense of humor.
She had to be in control of everything, except when it came to private moments. She let him take the lead and never interrupted or complained.
Zoya also liked the concept of being taken care of. She craved it. The need came out when she was asleep. She was like a lonely child and Webb had become her security blanket. She would cuddle up next to him in her sleep, resting her head on his chest or he would spoon her. However, this only happened while she slept. When she woke she pulled away and became independent again, but while she slumbered her subconscious took over. Webb assumed this was because she spent most of her life taking of care of herself and this was the only time of day her defenses were down. Webb liked being her protector, even if it only happened while they slept.
He was stunned when she told him she became an emancipated minor when she turned sixteen. She never relied on anyone. He had a surprise for her. She was going to have to rely on someone now. Webb got up threw on a pair of pants and went to the guest room.
"Zoy, that's my shirt you're packing," Webb said entering the room.
"I like this shirt," Zoya smiled as she put it in her bag. "Did you just call me Zoy?"
"Yes and am I going to have to check your bags before you leave?" Webb teased.
"Do you have a warrant?" Zoya shot back.
"At least the rest of my clothes will be safe." Webb said. "Not to mention, I can get my place back in order."
"What does that mean?" Zoya asked.
"No more strands of your hair all over. I will have all the hot water and can take a shower in peace. I can put my kitchen back the way I want, I won't have to deal with the way you put things away." Webb smiled.
"Me? You're the one who has to have everything at right angles. Oh and let's not forget your other fetishes." Zoya laughed.
"What fetishes?" Webb asked folding his arms and leaning against the door frame.
"Should I start with your shoes? Or should I start with your sock drawer? No I think the fact that you have to sleep on the right side and can't sleep if the bed isn't neatly made." Zoya laughed. "What is that all about?"
"Do you know you never deviate from routine?" Webb asked. "You get out of the shower and you towel off. Not wiping with the towel but patting it over your body. Then you put on deodorant, and then you put on your lotion. You go up the left leg, then to the left arm across your neck line, then down the right arm and then the right leg. I won't even get into the fact that you have one lotion for your body, one for your face and another for your feet."
"So, did you ever notice your routine?" Zoya asked. "You turn on the shower, and you undress and then put on a robe. You go pick out what you are going to wear. It's not like that's a difficult decision, should I wear the light three-piece suit or the dark three-piece suit. Then you shower, shave and brush your teeth."
"Yep, it's going to be good to get rid of you." Webb smiled.
"Are you sure about that?" Zoya asked with a sultry look. "You know there is something I want right now."
"What's that?" Webb asked.
"Breakfast and it's your turn to cook." Zoya laughed and went to the kitchen.
"Right behind you countess," Webb laughed.
They sat in silence as they ate breakfast, neither really wanting to say what was on their mind. Webb looked at Zoya across the table, have I lost my objectivity here? I've never let my personal life affect my professionalism before. There is nothing personal about this, it was a tension buster. Technically, she is my boss. How do I make her realize she needs to let me take the lead?
"Oh here, before I forget." Zoya said handing Webb a key. "I guess I won't need this anymore."
"Zoy listen, I know you can take care of yourself, you've been doing that most of your life, but just this once, let someone help you." Webb said quickly.
"We're not going to discuss this," Zoya said and got up.
"Yes we are," Webb replied. "Where are you going?"
"Home," Zoya said. She got dressed and returned to the living room, bags in hand. "I'll call you when I get there."
"Zoya, you don't have to do that." Webb said.
"Gee and I thought you were worried." Zoya replied with sarcasm.
"I mean you don't have to call me, I'll be there. I have to…" Webb said.
"That is not necessary," Zoya interrupted.
"Would you let me finish?" Webb groaned. "I will be there because I have to drive you. You're car's not here. Or did you plan on walking."
"Right, let's go." Zoya said.
"Can I put on a shirt first?" Webb asked.
"If you must," Zoya laughed. "By the way, what would mother say if she saw you at the breakfast table sans shirt?"
"She's say put a shirt on," Webb replied sarcastically and went to the bedroom.
Ten minutes later Webb was ready to leave.
