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CHAPTER 10Alex stepped out of the taxi and waited patiently as Ezra paid the fair. After returning Rosie's car and a quick meal at the diner, Ezra had called for a cab to take them to his townhouse in the southwestern suburbs of the city. She had questioned the return to his home, but he had just smiled and said that sometimes the best place to conceal oneself was in plain sight and that home was really the last place anyone would think that he would go.
She had been properly awed as the cab pulled into the drive of the housing complex and stopped outside the small convenience store located to the right just within the gate. On the other side, a one story brick building, built in the same traditional architecture as the rest of the buildings in the complex and clearly labeled 'Business Office', stood dark and silent, while a two story, more modern building rose up behind it, well lit and very active at six-thirty on a Sunday evening. The sign on its front proclaimed it to be the recreational center. Behind it, off in the distance, the shimmering waters of a small lake danced in the fading colors of the sunset, while the mountains towered majestically in the backdrop. She could just make out a playground and park lining the water's edge. To her right, the drive wound its way up a small knoll, lined on both sides by stately homes. The landscaping was manicured and well kept, even though it was still the middle of winter. All in all, the place spoke of prosperity and affluence, and she eyed her companion curiously, wondering how he came to live here.
Ezra led her around the back of the recreation center to a semi-concealed path leading along the water to the wooded area that extended three-quarters of the way around the lake at the far end of the park. He had her wait there for him while he climbed the grassy hill to the last apartment building and, after pulling the gun from his pocket, disappeared around the side. A few minutes later he reappeared at the corner and with a low whistle motioned for her to join him.
He led her across the patio of the right-most unit on the end of the building and after checking for tampering, he quickly unlocked the sliding glass door, entered the pass code into the alarm that had still been set, and led her into a short hallway that ran parallel to the patio. A small half-bath occupied one end of the hall to the left of the patio door, while the kitchen stood at the other end. The hall then took a ninety-degree turn to run the length of the unit to the front. Alex stayed close to the patio door and glanced back over her shoulder at the silent playground and calm lake scanning the area to be sure they hadn't been followed while Ezra crept through both floors and the basement garage of the dwelling, ensuring that no surprises awaited them. "We're alone," he announced as he came back down the stairs from the second floor a few minutes later, un-cocking the gun and slipping it back into his pocket. "There is no surveillance in the front, either, but we will keep the lights down, just in case."
Alex nodded and followed him into the kitchen, where he pulled the window curtains shut then flipped the light above the stove on. In the faint glow, she could see the dining room across a bar and a small foyer through the doorway leading from the dining room to the hallway. Ezra adjusted the thermostat and the heating system kicked on in response, filling the air with a soothing hum and a promise of warmth soon. She followed him into the dining room where he pulled the drapes and turned on the desk lamp before setting the briefcase on the table. He then turned to her with a smile. "Welcome to my humble abode."
"I'm impressed," she said as she looked around, noting the fine mahogany dining room set and the marbled counter tops, ceramic floor tile, and state of the art appliances in the kitchen.
He took his coat off and headed for the foyer and the closet underneath the stairs directly across from the front door. Alex followed behind him and stopped in the doorway of the living room. Light from the street lamp on the corner spilled in from the large bay window overlooking the street and in the soft glow, she could see two leather recliners sitting in front of the window and a small fireplace on the opposite wall. Wooden floors lined the hallway and the foyer, and even in the dusk, she could tell that the soft blue carpet of the living room was thick and plush. Ezra hung the coat on a hanger and placed it in the very back of the closet then turned and, noticing her observations, shrugged self-depreciatingly. "I must apologize for the condition of the premises. It has been a while since I last occupied it for any length of time. May I?" he asked as he reached to help her out of her jacket.
"Oh, sure," Alex answered shyly, quickly shedding the jacket and handing it to him to hang in the closet. "And I think the place looks fine," She assured him with a smile as they walked back into the kitchen. "Actually, it's very nice. Comfortable. You been here long?"
"About seven months," Ezra answered over his shoulder and he opened the refrigerator door and frowned at the empty shelves. "I'm afraid I have nothing in the way of refreshments to offer you except for water," he smiled at her apologetically. "I suppose I'll have to make a quick trip back down to the store later," he said with an exaggerated sigh. "I'll need something to appease the rabble that will be invading in a few hours."
"I don't need anything right now, but thank you." she murmured a little shyly.
"Well, then, allow me to show you to your quarters so that you may freshen up and rest if you so choose." He led her out the opposite doorway into the hall and up the stairs.
They passed the master bedroom to the left at the top of the stairs and a large window overlooking the street below before turning down the hallway and entering the room opposite the master bedroom. He pulled the thick drapes closed and turned on the small lamp on the nightstand just inside the door. "It's not much," he explained as he went to the closet and pulled down a set of sheets and a quilt from the shelf, "I don't have many guests, and as such have never really taken the time to completely finish setting this room up." He set the quilt down on the chair beside the closet and proceeded to make the bed.
"That's alright," Alex replied, setting her backpack on the floor and helping him with the chore. "I'm not really particular about where I sleep as long as it's dry."
"Yes," Ezra mused, remembering the chapel. "I suppose that would be a vital consideration." He pulled a pillow from the closet and fitted a case over it while she spread the quilt down. He placed it against the headboard and stood back. "There. Is this to your taste?" he asked.
She hesitantly sat on the edge of the bed and bounced a little then ran her hand over the quilt and the high-quality pillow case. "It's very soft," she said, a touch of wonder in her voice. Ezra winced a little at her words, a pang of sympathy settling in his heart. When was the last time she had slept in a real bed? he wondered.
He cleared his throat. "Yes, well, they are the best money can buy. One should indulge in the pleasures of life once in a while," he grinned. "Now, let me show you to the bathroom." He led the way back out into the hall and passed a shut door further down.
"What's in here?" Alex asked, her curiosity getting the better of her as she pointed at the door.
"Nothing," he grinned at her, opening it for her to see. "It's just an empty bedroom, though I have plans to turn it into an office one of these days."
"If you don't mind my asking, why does an obviously single man live in a three-bedroom townhouse?" She peaked into the room and took note of the moving boxes stacked neatly along one wall. Has he not had any time to unpack? she frowned.
"That would be because of this," he motioned her to follow him back out into the hallway and opened the French doors at the end of the hall leading to a balcony over the patio.
Alex gasped lightly when she stepped out onto the small balcony and saw the breathtaking view of the last rays of the setting sun behind the backdrop of the majestic Rockies and its reflection on the calm waters of the lake below. It was a picture-perfect panorama suitable for any postcard or travel brochure on the scenic wonders of Colorado. "Beautiful, isn't it?" Ezra asked as he came up beside her.
"Absolutely," she agreed whole-heartedly.
"I was in dire need of a dwelling place on very short notice upon my arrival to this fair city, and was on my way to tour another property when I passed this complex and decided to stop. I found that I liked the place and made inquiries into the vacancies they had. They had this unit and a two-bedroom one across the street, but once I saw this view," he shrugged, "I knew this was what I was looking for."
Alex leaned against the rail and watched the final golden hues of the sunset give place to the dark navy of twilight. She looked up and examined the stars that were coming out and smiled softly. "It's so peaceful," she confessed softly. "There's just something about the mountains that always draws me to them. Something safe, that whispers of home. I never feel quite comfortable anywhere else. Of course, the Rockies and the Appalachians are two completely different things, but they both have the same effect on me." She glanced over at him and smiled slyly. "I guess it's true what they say," she went on.
Ezra leaned his back against the rail with his hands in his pockets and cocked his eyebrow at her in question. "And what is that?"
She gave him another side-ways glance, and her smile grew larger. "You can take the girl out of West Virginia, but you can't ever take the mountain spirit out of the girl."
He raised his other eyebrow to join the first in mild surprise at the newest small bit of trust she had just placed in him and smiled back at her. "West Virginia?"
She nodded as she leaned back against the rail herself and crossed her arms. "You had already figured out I was from the Appalachian region. Born and raised in Southern West Virginia, to be precise. And if I hear just one hillbilly joke, I will not be responsible for my actions," she warned with a shake of her finger.
Ezra laughed and held his hands up in defense. "No jokes, I promise, as long as you never mention redneck in my company."
"I can agree to that," she answered with a laugh of her own. "Of course, that term has been applied to me as well."
He noticed her shiver and motioned her into the house. "A West Virginia girl, then," he mused as he shut the door behind them and made sure the curtains on the doors were pulled tightly shut. "If I remember correctly, that state was comprised of several rebellious counties traitorous to the glorious cause of the confederacy."
She nodded in agreement and grinned at the comment. "Yeah, but at least we were on the winning side."
"Indeed," he answered as he led her to the bathroom immediately to the right of the balcony doors and turned on the light. "But I've been informed that winning isn't everything."
"If that's the case, then you can just let me win all the hands the next time we play cards," she shot back.
"But where would be the fun in that?" Ezra grinned at her as he reached into the small closet for clean towels. "If you would like to take a shower, I have toiletries in the master bathroom. I don't use this one very often and thus do not keep it stocked," he explained as he handed the towels to her.
"That's fine. I have my own," Alex indicated the backpack she carried on her shoulder. She glanced around in admiration at the marbled basin, ceramic tile, and glass shower doors as well as the thick rugs at her feet and the plush towels and wash cloths in her hand. "It's all very nice," she complimented.
"It suits me," he smiled. He stepped back out into the hallway, pulling the rolls of film out of his shirt pocket. "I'll leave you to your ablutions, then. The washer and dryer are downstairs in the garage, if you would like to clean your clothing. I will get these started before I change myself." He pulled at the shirt and looked down at his dirty clothes in distaste, a grimace on his face. "Yes, it will be quite agreeable to be back in my own clothing once again." He sighed long-sufferingly. "I do detest some of the situations I find myself in because of my present occupation. Felons these days simply have no sense of fashion whatsoever."
She shook her head with a laugh at the expression on his face. "No, I guess not." She glanced around the small room again then looked back at him shyly. "Thank you," she said softly.
He returned the smile with a reassuring one of his own. "Think nothing of it, my dear. Call if you need anything." He turned and headed back downstairs, leaving her standing in the doorway.
Alex stood there for a moment, clutching her bag to her, feeling unsure and very out-of-place. She looked at the shower longingly, but hesitated. A nice, long, hot shower would be just wonderful! It had been such a long time since she had last had one, having relied on quick cold, wash ups in public restrooms or the occasional brief sojourn at a mission or shelter. And to have the luxury of privacy and cleanliness—it would be simply heavenly! But a small voice inside warred with the desire, cautioning against being an imposition. It was not her home, after all. She shouldn't take advantage.
She gingerly rubbed her hand on the thick towels and her resolve wavered.
Maybe just a quick one—just this once.
Heading for the kitchen, Ezra smiled to himself as he heard the shower start. He knew from experience the uneasiness of entering the residence of another and the hesitancy to intrude, no matter how welcome one was made to feel. It was difficult to accept assistance from others when one had depended on one's self for so long.
He gathered the supplies that he would need out of a cabinet and headed for the small half-bath across from the kitchen to set up his darkroom. He hastened his pace, hoping to get the chore done as quickly as possible.
A long, hot shower sounded simply divine to him as well!
* * * * * * *
A few hours later found him stepping off the last stair, buttoning the black velvet shirt he now wore over a pair of kakis and finger combing his wet hair as he looked for his companion.
It was wonderful to feel human again!
He found Alex in the living room, fingering the old upright piano in the corner and examining the contents of the entertainment center. She had closed the blinds and the drapes hanging on the bay window and had turned on a lamp beside the couch on the far side of the room. She was dressed in her familiar jeans and t-shirt, her hair again pulled back in a tight French braid that he was coming to associate with her. "Do you play?" he asked as he entered the room.
She heard him come in and quickly turned to face him, a slight blush coloring her cheeks at having been found out. "No—I mean, not anymore. I used to, a long time ago," she answered with a shy smile. "Do you?"
"Once in a while, I will indulge myself. I will admit—it is quite soothing." He motioned to the instrument as he took a seat on the couch. "Feel free to renew yourself with it. It was tuned at Christmas and has a pleasant sound to it, for an upright."
She took a step back away from it and shook her head. "Oh no, really. I wouldn't want to impose—"
"You are not an imposition, my dear. The instrument was made to be used, and I don't mind," he interrupted her.
She looked down at her hands for a moment, the slight blush on her face turning a bit darker. "Maybe later," she answered softly. She looked back at the huge television set occupying the entertainment center, as well as the high-tech stereo system resting on the shelf beside it. "You really have a nice set up," she commented, motioning toward the solid oak shelving.
He nodded, allowing the subject change. "As I mentioned earlier, I do enjoy the finer things in life," he grinned.
She gave his CD and movie collection another once over and smiled in amusement. "And an interest in a wide variety of music and movies, too." She motioned towards the shelves holding an array of CD's in several genres including country, classical, rock, jazz, the blues, and even blue grass, not to mention the wide range of DVD's and VHS tapes, from action to drama to old classics, that also occupied the spaces to either side of the television equipment.
"Yes, well, I find that my taste reflects my mood," he shrugged in reply.
She smiled disarmingly at him. "There's nothing wrong with that. I like a wide range of styles, myself." She slipped her hands into her pockets and turned her attention to more serious matters. "So, how did the pictures turn out?" she asked, getting back to the matter at hand.
"Very well. They should be dry by now," Ezra answered at he climbed back to his feet and led the way back down the hall to the bathroom. He took the 8 x 10 photos out of the dryer and began flipping through them, handing them to her as he finished with each. "Better than I hoped, really, considering the quality of the generic film from the pharmacy," he nodded as they walked back to the dining room.
Alex tapped the photos together into a neat stack and them down on the table beside the briefcase as she took a seat at the table and turned sideways in her chair to face him. "We have the ledgers, the photos, and the tape. I guess all we need now are the cavalry."
Ezra smiled at her ruefully and stepped toward the two phones that sat to the side of the bar separating the kitchen from the dining room. "Indeed. It is time to call out the troops." He dialed a familiar number from memory and leaned back against the wall behind him as he waited for the connection. "Let's just hope they wait to kill me until after they hear us out," he muttered to himself.
* * * * * * *
"Alright—we have two large pepperoni with mushrooms, three large super supremes, and one medium plain cheese for Nathan. JD's right behind me with the beer and hot wings, if someone will get the door," Buck bellowed as he shoved his way through the front door of his apartment. After spending another fruitless day working on the case, he and JD had decided that they all needed a break and made a quick food run to the little pizzeria on the corner.
"Keep it down! Chris's on the phone," Nathan, who was sitting on one of the sofas, frowned at him, motioning toward the dark-clad leader as he paced in front of the dark floor-to-ceiling window taking up the front wall of the living room, the cordless phone glued to his ear.
"Oh, right," Buck dropped into a loud whisper as he used his foot to clean off a spot on the coffee table and set the pizzas down.
A sharp pounding on the door announced JD's arrival. "Hey, someone open up! My hands are full!"
Buck rolled his eyes and jerked the door open. "Pipe down, kid! Lawd a mighty, you tryin' to wake the dead?" he scolded.
Josiah smirked at the comment while Nathan just shook his head. JD shoved the stack of pizza boxes over to make room for the huge bucket of hot wings and the three six-packs in his hands. "I ain't the one who couldn't whisper in a church!" JD shot back hotly.
"Are you kidding, boy? I can be as quiet as a mouse if I need ta be. Just ask Courtney Stevens!" Buck answered as he took a seat on the back of the couch behind Nathan.
"You mean the sweet little receptionist for the law office across the street? Doesn't she have four brothers all in special ops in the military?" Josiah asked from his position in the old recliner.
"Yep, and she still lives with her old man, who happens to be a retired marine who thinks real high of his only daughter," Vin answered with a smirk of his own from his seat on the arm of the other couch. "I heard tell he's mighty particular about who his baby girl dates."
"Sure is. He ran off that hot shot new lawyer over there just last month. You know, the one whose dad is a Wall Street billionaire and his mother a senator. And it wasn't a pretty situation, either. That boy couldn't get back to DC fast enough," Nathan grinned.
"I heard he keeps a real close eye on that girl, and that he sleeps with a shotgun under his pillow at night," Vin pointed out.
"Do tell," Josiah mused as he settled himself more deeply in the recliner.
"Yeah, well ol' pop can be a pretty sound sleeper," Buck answered. "And let me tell ya, that girl knows her stuff! And she's got a daring streak through her, too. Invited me over just the other night, right under her daddy's nose. We sure had us a time," He stroked his mustache and smiled dreamily at the memory.
"You're full of crap, Buck, do you know that?" JD gave him a friendly shove off the couch on his way to the kitchen for some napkins.
Buck growled, reaching out to grab the boy around the throat as he passed, and, knocking his cap off, began to give him a sound noogie as the others laughed in the background. "I'm full of crap, huh?"
"Oww, Buck, lemme go!" JD whined as he struggled against the bigger man's grip for a moment before aiming a light kick for his shins. Buck yelped but didn't let go.
Chris looked up at the commotion and snapped his fingers once then held his index finger up in the air in warning while aiming a glare at the noisemakers. Buck immediately let JD out of his grasp and shrugged an apology. JD picked his cap up off the floor and put it back on his head, straightening the brim of it defiantly in the older man's face. He then deftly reached up and flicked Buck on the back of head before racing for the kitchen with a laugh. Buck let out a roar and took off after him.
Chris rolled his eyes in a 'Why me?' fashion and turned his back to the room and his attention back to the phone. "Uh-huh…Yes….Alright. Thanks for the help, Kelly….No, no word yet…Yeah, well, sometimes no news is good news…Let me know if you find anything....Thanks." He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes tiredly as he turned the phone off and tossed it on the couch.
"No luck, huh?" Vin commented casually.
"No," Chris answered with a sigh. "D**n-it! It's been three days, and we still haven't gotten anywhere!" he growled and pounded a fist on the back of the couch.
"Hey, don't go abusing my furniture, now!" Buck protested as he re-entered the living room, grabbed a beer, and settled back on the couch beside Nathan with a pleasurable groan as he swung his booted feet up on the coffee table and rested his arm on the back.
"Like you're going to notice one more dent in the thing," Chris shook his head.
"It's a good couch! It took me years to get it where I like it."
"You like it as a lumpy sink hole?" Nathan asked in disbelief.
"It's not that bad!" Buck defended.
"Brother, you could lose the city of Atlantis between those cushions," Josiah offered with a grin.
Vin's cell phone chose that moment to ring, interrupting Buck's next retort, and he flipped it open as he smirked at the argument going on around him. He keyed it on with his thumb and gave a short 'Tanner' in the form of a greeting—and stood up sharply in surprise at the voice that answered him. The others looked up at him apprehensively.
"Buck, what did you do with my—" JD complained as he re-entered the room and stopped shortly as the others shushed him.
"Yeah, Cuz, I hear ya. Been a long time. How ya doing?" Vin began pacing slightly back and forth in front of the couch, an intense expression on his face. "Ya don't say?...So, how was the flight into Dallas?...Uneventful? Good, good. How's your brother doing? Heard he did a number on himself in that airplane accident…Well, that's good to hear. Sure, I'd love to get together with ya next time you're in Denver. Where'd you want to go?...Sure, I can bring him. He's been kind of on edge lately…Yeah, one his pups got out a couple a days ago, and he's been searching high and low for the thing….Yeah, he'll be glad to hear that…Okay…See ya soon…Yeah, you too…Talk to you later," Vin flipped the little phone shut and let out a relieved sigh as he rubbed a hand down his face.
The others stared at him, amazed at the flood of words that had just poured out of the usually reticent sharpshooter.
"Vin, was that—" JD started to ask the question that was on the tip of everyone's tongue.
Vin met JD's gaze and let a wide grin split his features. "Yeah, kid, it was him."
Buck let out a whoop and Josiah a "Thank the Lord!" While JD gave a shout, Nathan a laugh, and Chris a relieved sigh as he leaned on the couch in front of him and sent his own silent thanks skyward.
"Where is he? Is he okay? Where has he been the last three days? Why hasn't he checked in? Did he say what happened?" Everyone began bombarding Vin with questions until he held his hands up in surrender. "Hey, hey! No, he didn't say where he's been. He did say that his cover had been blown. But he's fine, Nate," he warded off the medic's concern.
Nathan snorted. "Yeah, sure. He could have two broken legs, four gunshot wounds, and a bashed-in skull and he'd still say he was fine."
"Really, Nate. He said he wasn't hurt," Vin assured him.
"So where is he?" Chris asked impatiently.
Vin grinned. "At his townhouse. He did say that we should be on the lookout—someone could be watching. That's what all that was about on the phone—he was afraid it had been tapped. Oh, and he asked if someone would be kind enough to stop by the grocery store and get him some milk, bagels, cream cheese, and kiwi. He doesn't have anything for breakfast tomorrow."
"I swear I'm going to kill him!" Chris growled in exasperation as he pulled his jacket on, fished his keys out of his pocket, and strode purposely toward the front door, jerking it opened with force.
"So what are we standing around here for? Let's go!" Buck grabbed his own keys off the coffee table and headed for the door behind the blond along with the others. JD had one arm in his jacket and was trying to pull the other arm on as he ran out of the apartment behind them, slamming the door shut as he went. Five seconds later, he swung the door back open and grabbed the pizzas and the hot wings while balancing the beers on top before rushing back out the door, closing it with his foot.
"Hey, Buck! Wait for me!" he yelled as he took off down the hall.
* * * * * * *
Ezra stood up from where he had been sitting in the faint glow of the lamp on the computer desk in the corner of his dining room and positioned himself beside the window, cocking the gun he had laying beside him. He used the barrel to gently lift the curtain away from the window, giving him a clear view of the street below. Alex looked up from her seat at the dining room table, where she had been organizing the evidence they had while he had been sorting through the various internet files they needed to go along with what they had in hard copy. "It's them," Ezra answered, letting the curtain fall back into place as he slid the gun in the waist of his pants at the small of his back and went to open the door. Alex stood up and shuffled the papers together a little nervously before rounding the table to stand in the doorway.
He took a deep breath then tossed a reassuring smile over his shoulder at the girl as he unlocked the door and pulled it open. "Ah, Mr. Larabee." he greeted the man on his doorstep.
He had prepared himself for a wide variety of reactions from his boss—anger, shouting, seething rage—and he had spent the last thirty minutes composing a plausible excuse in his head—an excuse that he was not able to even begin to articulate.
For as he opened the door, a wide smile on his face and the words on his lips, he received the one greeting that he was completely unprepared for—a good solid punch to his jaw that sent him careening back into the closet door behind him with a crash. He slumped down to the floor, his eyes widening in complete surprise.
Chris didn't say a word as he calmly stepped over his agent's extended leg and walked into the living room.
Ezra reached up to gingerly touch the tender spot on his face, poking his tongue in the side of his cheek to test for any damaged tissue caused by catching the skin between his teeth and his boss's fist. A pair of scuffed cowboy boots stopped in front of him, and he looked up into a pair of twinkling blue eyes as Vin Tanner squatted down in front of him, resting his arms on his knees. He grinned widely at his fallen teammate. "See, Ez? I told ya Chris missed ya."
