NOIR

Chapter Three

Secrets

By Steve Edward

Randy let Mireille drive, as he had other things on his mind and he had calls to make. Mireille concentrating on the driving put the Crown Victoria through its paces, with a near repeat performance of not allowing the speedometer to drop below 100 MPH. Mireille briefly glancing at the clock on the dashboard frowned, it was nearly 9:50 PM, they had less than 1 hour or less to prepare for the call, pressing the accelerator nearly to the floor she pushed the car to 125 MPH as they were still 15 minutes away from the Baldwin farm.

Ashley smelled the dampness around her, intermingled were the odors of motor oil, gasoline, diesel and that of rotting hay. A small dim nightlight was all that she had to see with. Hanging from an extension cord it barely illumined her feet much less what was covering her body, which was a thin and empty sack made of burlap that had once held potatoes.

Reaching upward, Ashley tried to move the plywood that covered the irregular sized pit that she had been placed in, but to no avail. Unknown to her, a tractor weighing nearly 12,000 pounds had been parked atop 4x4's placed crosswise across the plywood. Briefly crying out for help, she shortly gave up and rested. Seeking solace she said a small prayer then closed her eyes, imagining a piano before her she began to hum.

Inside the kitchen of the Baldwin farm house stood Jill Nagel with Angelina Lopez who were preparing coffee and snacks for the deputies now massing at the Baldwin farm. Jill's husband Sheriff Phil Nagel had been in the kitchen when the back to back calls from Randy Baldwin and Sheriff Janice Ferrell had been taken by him. Janice had been with her husband long enough to tell from his body language that the news was not good.

Randy Baldwin and Mireille Bouquet went through the kitchen without greeting anyone and headed to the study where Sheriff Nagel gave a brief run down, "Ok Randy, Gina's phone line has been rerouted directly to the phone line you gave me. It has been tested and when he calls he will not be able to tell the reroute has been done. Bellsouth is at full alert and ready to start a trace, if it originates from a cell tower we will at least be able to triangulate the area as Bellsouth has alerted all carriers serving this area. The GBI is on the way, but their SWAT team won't get here before at least 12:30 to 1:00 AM. The Amber Alert has been issued, but so far no bites and since we don't have any vehicle information for now; Gainesville PD is hoping the 11 PM newscasts might trigger or jog someone's memory."

Randy nodded then placed the Olympus digital recorder into the charging and data port and transferred the digital recording to his desktop. Quickly dumping the first two messages to a separate file, Randy tapped the play back button with the mouse and let Sheriff Phil Nagel listen to the messages.

Angelina Lopez followed by Jill Nagel walked into the study with food and coffee as the last of the messages played out, Jill stopping briefly frowned "Now I understand why you are worried Phil," as she turned and set the coffee tray down on the table.

Randy glanced up at Angelina, "Angelina there is a change of clothes in the backseat of the Crown Victoria would you see to it that those get to Corey and Gina please? I brought Corey's pajamas as well."

Angelina Lopez turned to leave, "Yes Mr. Baldwin I will see to it immediately."

Leaning back and rubbing his temples Randy finally asked about Gina and Corey, "Phil how is Gina and Corey doing?" Phil Nagel taking a seat, "Gina is regaining her composer. She fell asleep in the ambulance during the ride up, but is awake now. Corey had been napping off and on and kept asking about you, Ashley and Mireille. Doctor Francis and Darla are upstairs with them both as is Kirika. Kirika has by the way refused to budge from them both."

Mireille getting a sign from Randy nodded and walked out of the study. Heading upstairs behind Angelina, Mireille followed her to the bedroom where she found Kirika sitting between the beds, "Kirika, Randy wants us downstairs. Come with me."

Gina asked Mireille to stay a moment and asked Angelina to take Corey to another bedroom for him to change clothes, "Mireille, I know about Randy's past but I do not know how well you do know him. Please don't let him get too involved. I feel it could unleash something from within that he might regret later."

Mireille sat on the edge of the bed, "From his behavior that I have already observed, Mr. Baldwin cares deeply not only for you but Corey and Ashley as well. I and Kirika will become his sounding board if you will, so that we can try to deflect anything that may be unorthodox. Ok?" Gina nodded, "Thank you, Mireille."

Mireille stood then looked at Doctor Francis, "Harold, will it be ok for Gina to come downstairs after she changes. We will need her to answer the phone when the time comes." Doctor Francis nodded, "I and Darla will get her ready, please go back to the study and we will bring Gina there."

GBI Agent Brent Chrisom had managed to arrive at the Baldwin farm by 10:30 PM, and exiting his car he surveyed the massed law enforcement units of Hall County. Entering the home and directed to the study by Angelina Lopez, Agent Chrisom meets Gina Frazier as she is wheeled out of the elevator by Darla Francis, "Mrs. Frazier? I am Agent Brent Chrisom with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. I am here to assist with your daughter's recovery."

Darla directed Agent Chrisom to follow them to the study.

Sheriff Phil Nagel smiled at the appearance of Agent Brent Chrisom, "Brent good to see you come in and have a seat and I'll brief you on what we've got so far."

Brent observed the surroundings, the man at the desk likely Mr. Randy Baldwin. The two women on either side of the desk looking at him, seemingly boring holes through him sent chills down his spine. Musing if looks could kill, he would be dead twice over.

After being briefed, Brent listened to the recordings and was given a copy of the recordings on CD as evidence. Turning to Gina Frazier, Agent Brent Chrisom thought a moment then spoke, "Mrs. Frazier, when the call comes in try to remain calm. You have already heard the ransom demand and the threats. Money is no issue in the matter, and we have access to that sum of money. Keep the caller on the line, don't kowtow to his ego, and try to keep him rambling, but tell him that you will get the money. The longer he stays on line the better chance of a trace. Frankly this was not a professional kidnapping nor was it well thought out. We want him to make more mistakes so that it will be in our favor and not his."

At 10:55 PM the phone rang, Randy cueing Gina had her pickup the handset. In the sitting room, a one way speaker emitted the voice of the kidnapper as Gina having to bear the brunt of the foul language being spoken briefly closed her eyes then spoke, "Darrell why did you take Ashley?"

Darrell Frazier, the half brother of William Frazier chuckled then spoke, "Because my half assed brother did not give me any of the money that's why. You fought us tooth and nail for the money which should have been rightfully ours. What the fuck did you think we would do? Sit on our ass forever? Well it's time to pay up and you had better make it quick because I have decided that I want the money tomorrow by 9 AM." Gina sighed, "Where do you want me to bring the money?" Darrell snickered, "At the old "Crossroads", you damn well know it is. Oh yeah Gina, no cops, Sheriffs or anybody else. If I see anyone but you, Ashley will die in the frigging pit where I put her. Do you understand? Bye."

Randy tapped the mouse and the laser printer spat out a page. On the page in bold letters and numbers was the address and phone number of Darrell Frazier. Sheriff Phil Nagel returning from the sitting room with Mireille and Kirika picked it up from the printer as he walked by and handed it to Agent Chrisom.

Agent Chrisom looking at the printout, "Well he knows we are here or least knows law enforcement is involved. Phil, get your SWAT team ready to roll right now. I am not giving him any time to act." Randy stood, but a hand placed on his shoulder by Mireille said otherwise. "Randy stay here with Gina. I and Kirika will go instead."

Randy sighed, and then sat back down. Sheriff Nagel walked over to the desk, "Randy it will be better this way. Mireille, Kirika both of you come with me." Agent Chrisom turned to Gina Frazier and asked her about Darrell, "Mrs. Frazier who is this Darrell?"

Gina bowing her head, "He is the half brother of my late husband William. William died in a farming accident three years ago. There was a life insurance policy that William had bought for himself and had made me and my children the sole beneficiaries. Darrell had been furious with William about being left holding the bag or debts if you will; none of which were the responsibility of William."

Agent Chrisom getting a clearer picture, "So he blamed William for his own troubles, and gets wind of the insurance payoff and tries to have it paid to him instead of you?" Gina nodded, "But the Last Will and Testament of William stated it as his final request, and the courts upheld the Will and the insurance company paid the amount in full."

Randy having never heard of Gina tell of the insurance money, "Gina, how much was the insurance payout?" Gina replied, "2.5 million dollars."

Sheriff Nagel's cell phone rang and answering it he got news from the lab in Gainesville, "Sheriff this is Detective Brewer, we got a match off of AFIS on a couple of prints lifted from the beer can, they belong to a man named Darrell Frazier." Phil replied, "Thanks Sean. He just called demanding the ransom and we have his address. Log everything that you got as evidence and cross all the T's and dot all the I's. We are on the way to take him down now."

Agent Chrisom turned to Randy Baldwin, "Mr. Baldwin thank you for your assistance. We will talk later." Sheriff Phil Nagel with Mireille and Kirika following lead them to his car and opened the trunk, "Hold up your right hands. Please repeat after me..."

Darrell Frazier celebrated the phone call by getting another bottle of beer from the fridge and returned to his battered Lazy Boy recliner. Punching up a porno flick on the satellite, Darrell laughed to himself imagining his future with all the money he would get and how he would spend it. He would go out later and take care of little Ashley, Gina would be scrambling around now trying to get the fucking money; his money that his half assed brother never wanted to give him. Would serve her right for fighting him in court and screw that restraining order and the judge who signed it, she would not need it now.

Sheriff Nagel pushed the cruiser hard up Highway 365, Kirika and Mireille following behind in Randy's Crown Victoria stayed a respectable 5 car lengths behind matching his speed, "Ok folks, the turn off is coming up, kill all the strobes and headlights now. Deputy Bouquet stick with me. Team One and Team Two take your positions as briefed.

This will be a felony take down. Remember the victim may be inside the house so all engagement rules apply. Let's get Ashley the hell home."

Mireille and Kirika were supposed to be on vacation at least that had been the goal of Randy Baldwin a little more than 48 hours ago in Paris, France. Mireille glanced at Kirika who like her now sported a Deputy Sheriff's badge that hung from a short nylon strap from her neck; the gold badge softly reflected the light from the dashboard.

Stopping the car briefly, Mireille let Kirika out and then accelerated after Sheriff Nagel who pulled off the road ahead of her. Kirika trotted up the driveway leading to the farm house and took position to cover Sheriff Nagel and Mireille's approach. In her ear the communications from the SWAT teams signaling that they were in place, was her cue to move forward.

Darrell Frazier's loud belch as he stepped out onto the ramshackle porch of his house caused both Sheriff Nagel and Mireille to freeze, Kirika having taken position near a small pump house for the well water watched as Darrell Frazier stepped off the porch and headed directly towards her. It was 12:30 AM.

Darrell with a beer buzz and still daydreaming about the money, walked directly past Kirika who was crouched next to the pump house. Kirika did not wait for the order, stood and challenged Darrell Frazier, "Darrell Frazier! Deputy Yumura Hall County Sheriffs Department stop where you are!"

Darrell spun and tried to kick Kirika who easily avoided the attack. Kirika lashed out with feet and hands scoring direct strikes to Darrell's face breaking his nose, fracturing his jaw and when he sent a wild punch her way, Kirika grabbed and twisted the offending arm and drove her right knee upward as she moved the arm downward. Sheriff Nagel winced at the sound of bones breaking and the screeching of Darrell Frazier as he was punished even further by Kirika when his broken nose was messed up even more when she slammed Darrell into the ground.

Running up to the battered man, Sheriff Nagel turned Darrell over onto his back and lifted him off the ground by his shirt collar, "Ok you sick bastard, where the hell is Ashley Frazier?" Darrell wheezing tried to spit, but Sheriff Nagel not having any of it let fly with a fist of his own, shattering the jaw much to the dismay of Agent Chrisom who had entered the back of the house with SWAT Team One.

"Sheriff Nagel! That is enough!" as Agent Brent Chrisom ran up to Sheriff Nagel and pushed him away. Mireille shaking her head no, "No it is not Agent Chrisom" and stepped around Brent and knelt down next to Darrell then placed her Walther's barrel on his forehead, "Where is she Darrell?" as the sound of the hammer being cocked back came to Darrell's ears he wet himself, Darrell turned his head in the direction of the barn, and painfully uttered, "She's in the barn under the tractor."

Mireille smiled and moved the Walther slightly to the side and pulled the trigger, the 9MM round narrowly missed his right ear, but the muzzle blast did not. The stench of singed and burnt hair came to the nostrils of those standing over Darrell Frazier.

Mireille stood and looking at the shocked GBI agent smiled, "If he is lying or if Ashley is already dead he will die by my hand."

Mireille and Kirika walked off to the barn together leaving Sheriff Phil Nagel looking down at a far different man, "Darrell you had better hope that Ashley is alive, as frankly I could care less if you live or die; because if Ashley is dead I will not stand in her way when she puts a bullet through your freaking skull." Mireille and Kirika approached and studied the door, then carefully opened and peered within the darkened barn.

Ashley was dreaming, she had finished playing a recital and the audience was standing and applauding her performance. The strange wooden sound though was odd to her; it was as if someone was pounding on wood.

Ashley woke with a start to her real surroundings, someone was pounding on the plywood above her yelling her name; Ashley screamed back.

Mireille heard the faint scream from beneath the plywood sheet and felt the faint vibration of the wood being hit on from below. Looking at Kirika who was also on her hands and knees, Mireille asked her if she knew how to drive the tractor.

Agent Brent Chrisom walking in and shining his flashlight onto the tractor interrupted, "Deputy Bouquet. If she does not know how, I certainly do. Stand clear, I am going to move it off those 4x4's." Agent Brent Chrisom climbed onto the tractor and started the engine and eased it forward out of the barn. It was 12:45 AM, Sunday.

Randy steered the Mercedes Benz southward following the ambulances and the procession of Sheriff Cruisers, sitting next to him Gina Frazier and in the rear seat Doctor Harold Francis and his wife Darla. The phone call from Mireille had been simple and to the point. Ashley was alive as was the kidnapper who was now in custody. They were taking the victim and the kidnapper to the hospital, would Randy meet them there? Randy had acknowledged he would and hung up.

Kirika riding with Ashley held her hand during the ride. The paramedics had cut all her clothing off because it had become soaked in old motor oil that had been drained into the pit over the years by Darrell Frazier. Administering skin ointments to ease the skin irritation and doing a brief examination the female paramedic had announced that Ashley had not been molested sexually.

The ambulance containing Darrell Frazier backed up to the emergency room entrance first. Inside the rig with Darrell Frazier and the paramedic were two heavily armed Sheriff Deputies neither of which held little sympathy for the battered kidnapper who was not only well strapped to the stretcher but sported leg irons and a handcuff waist belt keeping his hands forcefully to his sides.

Four more deputies gathered at the rear and opened the door. Standing on either side of the stretcher the deputies followed by Frazier's consorts wheeled him into the emergency room where an intern eyeing the heavily armed deputies motioned them into his treatment room.

The news crews filming the arrivals were treated to the highly charged emotional reunion as Gina Frazier jumping out of a Mercedes Benz and running to the ambulance. Embracing her daughter then another woman exiting the ambulance with the stretcher, the news crews filmed as medical personnel rushed the young victim inside. Sheriff Phil Nagel approached the gathered news crews and offered to do a news conference to brief them on what had transpired.

Randy with Doctor Harold and Darla Francis slipped into the emergency room unobserved and joined Gina in the treatment room. The emergency room physician recognizing his old colleague invited Doctor Francis to assist which Harold gladly did.

Mireille slipped in unobserved as well, passing the treatment room where Darrell Frazier was being treated, she offered a smile to a nearby deputy who nodded in return. Mireille standing in the doorway looked at Darrell Frazier whose eyes returned the stare but were filled with fear. He would remember her last words to him before being put into the ambulance till the day he died.

Randy observing that Ashley was in the capable hands of two doctors whose combined medical knowledge and skills exceeded nearly 110 years, walked out of the treatment room followed by Kirika and entered the waiting area. Randy sat in a plastic chair then turned to Kirika, "Ok Kirika tell me what happened up there."

GBI Agent Brent Chrisom entered the waiting area and sat next to Randy Baldwin and waited for Kirika to finish then asked to speak with him privately, "Mr. Baldwin, I guess you saw the condition of the suspect already?" Randy nodded, "Yes I did. What did you see?" Brent smiled, "I saw the suspect grab a deputy's weapon which during the ensuing struggle and fight discharged rather closely to his head. The fight turned into a close in hand to hand combat scenario which resulted in the injuries sustained by the suspect who subsequently admitted to the location of where Ashley Frazier was hidden. I and two deputies entered the barn where I drove a tractor off of two 4x4's holding a large piece of plywood to the ground from whence Ashley Frazier was removed from a pit that had been dug into the ground which had previously been used as a place to dump used motor oil. That is what my report will state and as will any Sheriff Deputy who was present will testify to in a court of law."

Randy mused a moment, "Agent Chrisom? Thank you for your help in this matter. It will not be forgotten." Brent stood and glanced towards Mireille Bouquet and Kirika Yumura standing at the vending machines, "You are welcome Randy. Besides whom the hell in their right mind is going to believe the word of a kidnapper and a felon who committed such a heinous act? No one, Good day sir and try to get some rest. It has been a long day for a lot of people."

Agent Brent Chrisom walked out of the emergency room and briefly stopped to chat with Sheriff Phil Nagel. Shaking hands the two men had a brief conversation and each went their separate ways.

Phil took a seat next to Randy who had been given paperwork to fill out, "Brent advised the GBI crime lab team was at Frazier's farm house gathering more evidence. Also Detective Brewer advised that Gainesville PD had an eye witness come forward describing a vehicle leaving the park at a high rate of speed that nearly ran the witness over. It was a woman walking her dog. We found it sitting behind the Frazier's house and Ashley's jacket was found inside."

Randy looked up as Mireille with a cup of coffee in hand gave it to Randy and sat next to him, "What about Frazier? Do you think he will fight the charges?" Mireille, her eyes showing a bit of humor interrupted "Very doubtful. He got the message loud and clear."

Randy glanced at Phil who nodded, "Darrell will not fight anything. I believe he will prefer the relative safety of prison life than risk fighting for his freedom because he knows if he ever sets foot outside he won't be alive for very long."

Darla Francis entered the waiting room and announced that Ashley was being taken up to her hospital room, "Randy? Harold wants to keep Ashley here for observation to make sure that the skin irritation clears up. It'll give you a chance to get a change of clothes for her." Randy stood and walked towards the treatment rooms, then turned to Mireille and Kirika, "Thanks to the both of you. Go ahead and head back to the house and get some sleep. We'll be fine. Would you drive Doctor Francis and Darla to their house please? It would be appreciated."

Walking into the hallway, he met Doctor Francis and issued his thanks. The stretcher bearing Ashley was wheeled out of the treatment room followed by Gina Frazier who paused for Randy to join her. An enterprising news camera man captured the emotional embrace then panned to a wider shot as Gina Frazier leaning on Randy Baldwin for support followed her daughter to the elevator. Using a simple fade to black, the camera man concluded the filming by timing the closing shot with the unseen sound of elevator doors whispering shut.

Sheriff Phil Nagel watched the doors shut then turned and exited the waiting room to the outside air and opened his cell phone and called Jill, "Hey, just wanted to let you know Ashley is doing fine. Randy is going to stay down at the hospital with Gina. Mireille and Kirika are taking Doctor Francis and Darla home now. How's Corey?"

Jill sitting next to Corey's bed replied, "He is asleep Phil. Come on back and I'll get you something to eat." Closing the cell phone, Jill began to slowly rock in the chair and issued a silent prayer giving thanks for all those who had gone in harms way, especially giving thanks for Mireille and Kirika.

By 5 PM Sunday afternoon, the doctor who had been caring for Ashley Frazier cleared her for release and with Randy, Gina and Ashley left from a side entrance. Exiting the hospital grounds Randy observed an ambulance being followed by a marked sheriffs unit. Darrell Frazier his jaw wired firmly shut had been seen by the magistrate and had declared his guilt in writing. For the time being he would incarcerated at a prison infirmary near Athens, Georgia far away from Hall County. His sentencing would come later and it would be harsh.

Driving at a leisurely pace and at the posted speed limit, Randy occasionally glanced in the rear view mirror at Ashley pondering the events of the past 24 hours. The emotional highs and lows that everyone had experienced were tempered with the successful resolution of bringing Ashley back home safe.

Entering the driveway of his home Randy took in the welcome home banner strung up on the porch railing. Several cars scattered around the yard belonged to close friends of Gina and her son and daughter. Their friends gathering on the front porch watched as Randy wheeled the Mercedes Benz 600 to a stop.

Corey standing with Kirika ran off the porch and joined his mother and sister at the car. Mireille walking with Kirby from the stable, joined Randy, "Randy, how did it go?" Randy gave a grin, "Ashley is fine. Except for the minor skin irritations she is good as new. Emotionally she is a bit overwhelmed, but I think with her friends being here it will help her get over things. How about you and Kirika? I regret having to get you involved in this."

Mireille stepped closer and place her hands on his shoulders, "Our involvement was irreverent. I and Kirika were able to discuss some of the issues that you brought up previously, the change of pace seems to have helped as well; neither I nor Kirika have ever felt better. We have decided to stay for the suggested period of time; after all you did offer to take care of our expenses."

Randy closing the door chuckled, "Yes I do recall saying that. Ms. Bouquet after you, Shall we go inside?" Kirika standing on the porch by herself greeted Randy and together they entered the house.

The celebration lasted till 9 PM where adults and children alike had helped bring forth a happy memory for Ashley and to help her forget the less pleasant ones.

Gina Frazier asked Randy to speak with her in privacy after the guests had left. Whether it was the pent-up frustrations of a woman who had little control over the past events or something else entirely, Gina unloaded everything on Randy at once. Kirika had taken Corey and Ashley out to the front porch away from the one-side argument so as to keep the children from seeing their mother's anger.

Mireille finally deciding that she should intercede, knocked on the door and walked in, "Mrs. Frazier, a word please." Gina Frazier spun around, "What is it Ms. Bouquet?"

Mireille stood before her, "Mrs. Frazier, what happened was entirely unexpected and beyond the control of anyone present. Randy did what he had to do as did I and Kirika.

It is perhaps in your best interest that you should return to your own home tonight and think things over and perhaps let the children decide for themselves."

Randy interrupted, "Mireille, Gina is venting her frustrations on me and not you or Kirika. Gina, I'll help you pack and get the kids in the car." Gina turned back to Randy, "Mr. Baldwin, I don't need anymore help from you. I'll do it myself. Good night."

By 10 PM, Gina Frazier with Corey and Ashley had driven off into the darkness of the Georgia countryside. Randy watching the taillights disappear, pondered her comments. Had he brought violence into her family's lives one too many times? Was it fate to have this happen in his life? Should he not have become so close to Gina? Randy lost in thought, walked off the porch into the darkness with Kirby walking by his side.

Mireille and Kirika observing from within the house wondered just what Gina Frazier had said to Randy Baldwin while alone in the study with him.

Gina Frazier had ignored the pleas of her children and left the Baldwin farm to return to her home with them. Had Randy played her for a fool all these months? The arrival of his so called associates with him from Paris, in all likelihood was coincidence even though he had called her to let her know they were coming for a visit. Why had Sheriff Nagel sounded alarmed at the mention of their names while Randy spoke with him on the phone? Randy had openly admitted to his past, a past that had been filled with unimaginable violence and death yet the question she asked of him to tell her who Mireille Bouquet and Kirika Yumura really were was meet with an alarming silence, yet Randy had kept insisting that both women were no more than associates of his who he had worked with in the past.

Randy had walked from the farm and strolled down the country road with Kirby. He chuckled to himself as he wondered what Kirby would say if he could talk. When Gina made the demand of knowing who Mireille Bouquet and Kirika Yumura really was, his reaction was of silence. Not counting himself, there were only five people living within the United States that knew the true identities of Mireille and Kirika and that did not include the Lopez's. Anyone from the Agency that had been involved last October had only assumed that Mireille and Kirika had been special operatives.

Gina was a good judge of character and perhaps she sensed something about Mireille and Kirika hence what had been a discussion about his and Gina's future together had spiraled into a one sided yelling match. Pausing briefly, Randy realized just how far he had walked. Shrugging his shoulders, Randy turned about and started walking back to the farm house.

Mireille glanced at the clock on the mantel noting it was nearly midnight, yawning she got up off the sofa and headed for her bedroom. Kirika had already gone to bed an hour before so Mireille looked out the window one last time for Randy. Seeing nothing she too headed upstairs. Mireille wondered what troubled Randy Baldwin. He was wrestling with something that was giving him fits. Was it something to do with her and Kirika?

Randy returned to the house at 12:30 AM, and walked to his study to review any e-mails that had come in. Checking the fax machine, Randy found a request for his services from a company in Birmingham, Alabama that had discovered an internal accounting error that could be the result of malicious activity. Noting it had been sent directly from the company president himself, Randy faxed a return reply stating he would accept the job to investigate.

Seeing that there were no e-mails of importance, Randy headed upstairs to get some sleep. He did have a bit of a drive ahead of him and it made no sense to fly the Gulf Stream for that short of a distance. Passing the closed doors of Mireille and Kirika's bedrooms, he silently wished them pleasant dreams.