NOIR

Chapter Six

Secrets

By Steve Edward

Kirika whose hands were nearly the same size as Gina Frazier had patiently gone through the fitting process for Randy Baldwin. Mireille helped pick out the ring and the jeweler sized the ring itself slightly larger than Kirika's ring finger. Leaving the jewelry store, Randy with Mireille and Kirika returned to the farm.

Roberto Lopez had been alarmed when the female sheriff deputy arrived with Angelina after driving her back from the shopping center. After being assured by Angelina that she was unharmed, Roberto returned to his chores keeping a wary eye out for Randy Baldwin to whom he wanted to thank.

Briefly meeting with the Lopez's, Randy assured them that the men responsible would be held accountable and getting a hand shake from Roberto and a affectionate hug from Angelina; Randy bid farewell to them for the day and diverted his attention to other matters.

Mireille ventured out to the stable with Kirika and after examining the saddle and halter fitted it to Toby. Randy working in his study paused briefly to wave as Mireille atop Toby rode past the study with Cumquat following, Kirika having decided that she would do some reading was sitting out on the front porch.

Mireille rode out to the country lane that passed the Baldwin farm and then let Toby decide where he wanted to go. Toby made a right onto the road followed by Cumquat, and now Kirby who had scampered from the back porch where he had been relaxing.

Except for the distant sounds of cars and trucks on the nearby highway the sound of the hoofs made any disturbance.

Mireille felt more relaxed than she had in a great while. The stresses of her career had been indeed taking a toll. Though she and Kirika had talked already about the future, they had not done so in great detail. Randy Baldwin's chance encounter in Paris had hammered that home to Mireille. Had Randy and Kirika not met on the Paris street would she and Kirika be somewhere else carrying out another assignment for the faceless contract holders? In all likelihood, Mireille acknowledged to herself that they would have.

Toby ambled off the country road into a well worn trail that led into the woodlands behind the Baldwin farm. Coming to a brief stop at a spring, both Toby and Cumquat refreshed themselves. Mireille watch Kirby jump around in the underbrush, what tail the dog did have was happily wagging.

Toby picking up his head snorted to Cumquat and both horse and mule resumed their walk along the path. Mireille noted several homes as they passed, on the back porch of one, an elderly woman waved in greeting as she worked on a needle point project. The large wooden hoop in her hands held a colorful cloth.

Reaching a branch in the path, Toby paused then turned right. Ducking a couple of low branches, Mireille found herself entering the farm from the southwest corner. Toby ambled along back to the stable where he stopped before entering. Kirika watching Mireille dismount put the John Gresham novel down and joined Mireille who began removing the saddle and harness from Toby.

Mireille brushed Toby and Kirika followed up with brushing down Cumquat. The women then led both animals to their respective stalls.

Randy mused how he was going to propose to Gina. The issue of being able to leave on a moments notice would come into his and Gina's future as well as Corey and Ashley. There would be no more of that, and the risky consulting jobs which pay well would have to be by-passed for safer assignments. Randy well off as he was, still craved the adventure that certain assignments brought, but weighing those with the needs and wants of Gina Frazier would come first. Randy had no desire to make Gina a widow two times over.

Randy had been concerned with Gina eventually finding out the true career's of Mireille Bouquet and Kirika Yumura. That had been an error in judgment on his part after the brief argument with Gina. She knew his secrets as well as theirs now. Corey and Ashley knew that Randy had worked for the government but what specific agency and his occupation had been held back by agreement with Gina. Both children were far too young to be told and last thing he wanted was to give them nightmares.

Mireille and Kirika entered the study together; Mireille noted Randy seemed lost in thought. Coughing quietly Mireille spoke "Randy? Is there something wrong?" Randy Baldwin returning to the present, "Yes and no Mireille, I am having a bit of trouble on how to propose to Gina. On one hand I am ready to ask her right now, on the other hand I ponder if it is the right thing to do."

Mireille took a seat taken aback by the man before her. It had been through the actions of her and Kirika that Randy had been brought out of a near self-imposed shell of no relationships. The photograph of Julia Summers behind Randy came into focus as Mireille remembered the story that Randy had told. Neither Murielle nor Kirika had any ongoing relationships themselves.

The painful memory of Kirika's brief relationship with a painter in Paris came to mind, the man brutally murdered during a drive-by shooting meant for Kirika. The killer eventually died by hand of Kirika who shot and killed him inside his own criminal hang-out. The murder left the Paris Police puzzled over the criminal's killing; yet the Paris Police declined to pursue the matter further and closed the case believing it had been a revenge killing by another criminal organization.

Then Mireille's own painful memory of having to kill her Uncle, which she found out later worked for the Soldots. He had been tasked with assassinating Kirika and had tried to use her to get to Kirika. Mireille reflected back to that moment, had it been her bond with Kirika forged over a period of time that transcended the love that she had felt for her only living blood relative to kill him and thus saving Kirika's life?

Kirika placing a book marker in the novel that she had borrowed placed it on the shelf and sat next to Mireille, "Randy, it is perhaps that you have fear of change?" Randy sighed, "Perhaps Kirika. The decisions we make in life if later determined to be wrong can not be undone. We can not undo the chance meeting we had nearly 5 years ago. Mireille could have killed me on the spot and neither of you would have given second thought to my death. Our friendship with each other has been forged in an unusual way but I would not want to change the way we did meet."

Mireille leaned forward, "Randy, I believe that you will make the correct choice because you have already taken the first step towards it," as Mireille nodded in the direction of the ring box. Randy leaned back and eyed the box as well, "Yes Mireille, I have indeed taken the first step."

Kirika removed a tourist brochure and handed it to Randy, "Randy that place is interesting, can you tell me about it?" Randy eyed the brochure for Six Flags Over Georgia then looked back at Kirika, "It is an amusement park on the west side of Atlanta. They have rides like roller coasters and entertainment shows. Many of the shows have southern themes and are rather popular with the young and old alike."

Kirika smiled, "Is it far?" as Mireille turned to her partner and took in her expression, Randy shook his head no, "From here it is about a three hour drive." Mireille looking at Kirika replied "You really want to go there?" as Kirika replied that she did.

Randy chuckled, "Ok Kirika, but they are not open on the weekdays yet. Just the weekends till June, but you will have fun nevertheless." Mireille looked at Randy, "Did you say it has roller coasters?" Nodding that he did indeed say that, "Yes, it has roller coasters several as a matter of fact, but I am not the roller coaster type of guy anymore."

Mireille had never ridden a roller coaster in her life looked at Kirika, "Kirika those things sound like fun. Shall we go and give them a spin?"

Randy chuckled, "Ok I tell you what. It will be my treat, I'll order the tickets on-line and that way we can by-pass the ticket windows. It will give me a chance to take Gina and the kids that is if you don't mind having company."

Mireille and Kirika both thought that the joint trip would be perfect for everyone and thanking Randy left the study to plan for short day trips on Thursday and Friday.

Randy turned to the desktop computer and called up the website and placed the order for the tickets. Clicking the print button to print out his confirmation of the purchase and to print the tickets; Randy turned briefly and looked out the window. Julia Summers came into focus and with the glow of the setting sun surrounding the frame; it seemed to acknowledge that what Randy was about to do was the right thing.

Thursday morning came with Mireille and Kirika headed for Chattanooga, Tennessee to see the aquarium. Randy had printed out driving directions before they had left and saw them off. He reflected back to his original invitation that he had made to both in Paris. Mireille seemed more rested than before as did Kirika. Offering them both a chance to rest and get away from the assignments that involved killing seemed to do both a wealth of good. Randy had pondered the implications of involving himself with Noir and that carried over even more with Gina. For better or worse he and Gina were part of the elite few who knew of Noir. That knowledge could not be taken back and both would have to bear the burden of that said knowledge.

Returning to the study, Randy sat at his desk and opened the manila envelope that Sheriff Nagel had given to him the day before. Phil had the right idea, but in order for it to work there would have to be involvement from others in the community. Politicians would have to buy into it as would business leaders and then it would have to be sold to those who would benefit. Setting pen to paper, Randy began to outline what would have to be accomplished.

Mireille and Kirika arrived in Chattanooga and took in the Tennessee Aquarium. With its assortment of eco-systems, it hosted a wide variety of creatures from around the world. Kirika and Mireille had during their travels had encountered some of these very same creatures. Mireille dryly noted the warnings on the placards describing some of the more dangerous inhabitants. The coral sea snake which she and Kirika had an encounter with during a foray in Australia still proved just as menacing as it counterpart had.

Gina Frazier having been able to leave school early drove towards the Baldwin farm. Randy Baldwin had called and left a message for her to stop by on her way home as he had something he needed to speak with her about. She wondered if it had anything to do with what had happened the day before at Mama's Kitchen.

Jill Nagel had told her that Randy and his two friends had tangled with two hoodlums in the parking lot along with Phil after Randy's housekeeper had been accosted in the parking lot. Gina realized that it was in Randy's nature to get involved, it was his way. Randy would not be one to sit on the sidelines for long. From her perspective, she had come to understand why Randy had involved himself with the two women who she now knew as Noir.

Stopping briefly at the bottom of the driveway, Gina took a deep breath then drove up into the farm yard. The Lopez's car was there, but the rental car belonging to Mireille and Kirika was gone. Gina was greeted by Roberto as she exited her Explorer, "Mrs. Frazier it is nice to see you again." Gina taking the proffered hand and shaking it asked where Randy was, "Is Mr. Baldwin in the house?" Roberto smiled, "Yes he is. Mr. Baldwin has been in his study most of the day. He said to that you were to meet him there."

Thanking Roberto, Gina walked towards the house and upon entering the porch before she could knock, Angelina had already opened the door and was ushering Gina in. Randy had seen Gina come up the drive and had returned to the study where he picked up the ring box. Turning to the door which was opened by Angelina, he smiled at the sight of Gina and thanked Angelina who quietly left.

Mireille and Kirika having taken in the aquarium had taken the scenic road tour back instead of the faster interstate route. On assignments there would be precious time to explore their surroundings. Making the most of their vacation, Mireille and Kirika had found a roadside pick-and-go market specializing in strawberries. Taking in the odd American custom of picking your own strawberries had absorbed nearly two hours of their time. The elderly proprietor eyed the number of buckets that had been picked by Kirika, but only shrugged his shoulders when she confirmed that she was buying all of what she had picked. Mireille who added her own pickings wondered how they would fit all of it in the car.

Gina was shaking and crying the tears blurring the ring that had been placed on her finger by Randy Baldwin. Randy watching Gina hold out her hand before her eyes, the tears streaming down her face. Embracing her, Randy hugged her tightly. For both there would be no going back he had made his commitment to Gina and her children Corey and Ashley. In the hallway, Angelina had watched at the moment Randy had presented the ring and placed it on Gina's finger. Shedding her own tears of happiness, Angelina hurried out of the house to find her husband Roberto.

Mireille and Kirika returned to the sight of Angelina and Roberto Lopez jumping up and down in the farm yard hugging each other. Kirika pointed out the Explorer, "Mrs. Frazier is here." Exiting the car, Kirika and Mireille were informed by Angelina that Randy Baldwin had proposed to Gina Frazier. Mireille with Kirika walked to the house and entered. Coming down the hallway towards them hand in hand, Gina Frazier and Randy Baldwin.

Mireille smiled, "Gina did you accept?" Gina nodding started crying again. Kirika walked up to Randy and embraced him then Gina. Stepping back Kirika smiling, "This means you are part of his family and that he is part of yours; please relish this memory."

Mireille approached Gina and embracing her whispered, "Gina you are and shall be considered a true friend. I will cherish this moment as well."

Mireille stepped back, "Randy have you told Corey and Ashley yet?" as Gina turned to her future husband, Randy replied "No not yet. I thought about breaking the news to both of them tonight at her house."

Mireille looking at her watch, "Well Mr. Baldwin if you are going to do so, then I might suggest you and Gina proceed to her home. Corey and Ashley will likely be coming home shortly if they are not already there." Randy turned to Gina, "Why not go on ahead and I will meet you there. It might be a bit odd if we drove up together in the same car."

Gina nodded and hugging her future husband hurried out of the house, her future home to make preparations.

Picking up the keys to the Chrysler 300 C, Randy followed by Kirika and Mireille exited the house and walked to the garage. Stopping briefly to accept congratulations from Roberto and Angelina, Randy pausing next the rental car glanced in and saw the stacks of strawberries in the back seat then the partially open trunk.

Mireille shrugged her shoulders when Randy looked at her questionably, "We got carried away." Randy chuckled, "I should say so. At least you did not have the Kodiak, because if you had we might have a bit of a problem."

Turning towards Angelina and Roberto, "Mrs. Lopez, Mr. Lopez would you assist my guests with storing their purchases. I guess you can start with the freezer in the smoke house and then go from there." Randy walked off shaking his head and getting into the Chrysler drove off. Roberto cutting the string that was holding the trunk closed looked first at the buckets of strawberries then at Mireille and Kirika and wondered how they were all going to eat all of them.

Corey and Ashley Frazier had gotten off the separate buses and were walking up their driveway when their mother arrived. Ashley could see that her mother had been crying, but she did not appear sad but happy.

Randy kept his speed down to give Gina time to prepare the kids. Crossing over into Habersham County, he pulled to the side of the road and placed a brief call the Sheriff Nagel. The whooping and hollering that came thru the ear piece nearly left him deaf. Jill Nagel watching the antics of her husband snagged him by his belt and pulled the phone from his hands, "Mr. Baldwin what did you do?" Jill joined in too.

Saying goodbye, Randy wondered if that had been such a good idea as he drove off. Randy figured by morning everyone in the county would know. Correcting himself he mused, "Nope by 9 PM tonight, my phone will be going nuts. The only ones who won't know will be happily too drunk to care in the first place."

Gina had hurried around the house that was already tidy. Admonishing Corey for leaving his shoes in the floor, Gina placed them in the closet. Ashley and Corey sitting on the couch watching the antics of their mother looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. Corey was the first to see the black Chrysler as it drove up. Hopping up from the sofa, Corey followed by Ashley ran to the door to greet Randy Baldwin. Behind them their mother watched as Randy walked through the door patting the heads of her two children.

Mireille and Kirika had overdone the strawberry picking by a wide margin and had in the end given several buckets to the Lopez's as they left. Kirika wondered how long strawberries would keep unrefrigerated, as she munched on the berries at the kitchen table.

Corey and Ashley sat across from Randy Baldwin and their mother. Ashley watched her mother take Randy's hand and place it into hers then Randy nodding to her mother he turned to look at Corey and Ashley, "Corey, Ashley. For a long time I had pondered the decision that I made earlier today with your mother. There were certain things that I had to think about before I did so." Looking one last time at Gina, Randy turned back to Corey and Ashley; "I have asked for your mother's hand in marriage."

Corey and Ashley did not move, but only blinked their eyes back at Randy. Corey was the first to speak, "You are going to be my Dad?" Randy nodded yes to the question, "Yes. Corey I will as well as your sister's." Both children jumped up and piled onto Randy hugging him. Their mother smiling joined in as well. Randy gazed out the window of the Frazier home returning the hugs of the children. For them all there would be no going back.

After assuring both Corey and Ashley that the marriage proposal was true, they sat and discussed their immediate future. With the school year so close to being complete, Randy wanted both Corey and Ashley to finish their current grades in the Habersham County School System. Corey and Ashley would move to the Baldwin farm as soon as school let out for the summer. Ashley brought up the question of when Randy and her mother would marry, which left Randy looking at Gina who chided Ashley for asking laughed "It is when we can set a date, but it will not be before school is out."

Randy noting the time, looked at Corey and Ashley and had them prepare for bed. Corey about to complain stopped, "Yes sir. Mr. Baldwin." Getting up and going to his bedroom Corey stopped and turned, "Sir? Can I go ahead and call you Dad?" Randy standing and looking at his future step-son replied, "Yes you may as can Ashley," who looked up at her future step-father and replied with a hug, "Thank you father."

Gina stood next to her fiancé and waited for the children to close their doors, "Well Randy that went better than expected." Gina standing on her tiptoes to kiss Randy felt her self being lifted and held. Planting a kiss, Gina spied both doors had partially opened and in between the kissing warned Randy who replied, "Well let them look. They will see a lot more of this." The muffled shouts of "YES!" came to Randy's ears who turned around with Gina still in his arms. He caught sight of both bedroom doors closing.

Putting Gina down, Randy stepped back "I am going to treat the kids a little early. Be at the farm at 6 on Saturday. We are going to Six Flags." Gina giggled, "They will like that. What about Mireille and Kirika?" Randy chuckled, "I kind of invited them too." Gina feigned looking cross but smiled, "Corey and Ashley will enjoy their company. They always have before."

Randy nodded then bending over kissed Gina again and said farewell for the evening. Gina walked with Randy out to his car, looked towards the children's bedrooms where both Corey and Ashley were peeking out through the curtains, "Thank you Mr. Randy Baldwin" and hugged Randy again before he got into the car.

Kirika and Mireille had divided their attention to different phone lines. Mireille in the study and Kirika answering the kitchen line, Mireille wondered who Randy had called to announce the engagement. Sheriff Nagel perhaps, as the phone calls began coming in after 8 PM. Beginning page three of the phone messages, Mireille caught sight of the headlights coming up the driveway and disappearing into the garage.

Randy exiting the car, sniffed the air. "Strawberries?" as he exited the side door of the garage he took in the buckets stacked on the work table and walked past the smoke house, the table there inside also piled with strawberries garnered his attention. Glancing at the Chevrolet Impala, Randy wondered how Mireille and Kirika had managed to cram so many baskets in the car which meant every freezer and refrigerator he had was at capacity as well.

Entering the house he found Kirika sitting at the table in the kitchen munching on a strawberry, "Ah Kirika? Try not to eat all of what you got in one sitting." Kirika smiled and dipped another strawberry into the Cool Whip. Randy shook his head at the sight and head towards the study where he found Mireille who was looking at the strawberries in the dish before her.

Mireille glanced up at Randy, "You have had a lot of phone calls," as she pushed the pad across the desk. Randy reviewed the number of calls, "I guess I should have not called Phil." Mireille sighed then elicited a pronounced burp. Cocking an eyebrow at Mireille, "Um just how many buckets have you eaten?"

Mireille trying to overcome the unlady like burp held up two fingers. Randy looked on in shock, "Two buckets? Jeez. Do you know how many pounds that is?" Mireille belching again and blushing shook her head no. Randy replied, "Way too many. Don't worry about the berries. I'll pay for them. Toby and Cumquat will eat them and I'll give the others away. You might go to the kitchen and have Kirika stop as well, before she turns red."

Randy stood aside and let Mireille walk by then sat at his desk. Looking the notepad over again, Randy noted that he was not far off the mark when it came to the county finding out about his engagement. Pushing the pad aside, Randy activated the e-mail and watched in dismay as the computer began to download. Groaning, Randy leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes as the e-mail count exceeded 200. Mixed in the massive number of e-mails was a message of congratulations from Tabitha Alexander marked urgent and high priority, Randy opening his eyes just missed it as it scrolled upward.

By 6 AM Friday morning, Randy having risen early had been sitting at his desk answering and replying to the huge number of e-mails. Spotting the message from Tabitha Alexander, Randy opened it and was greeted by an animated dancing character with a squeaky voice congratulating him on his engagement. Then after the dance routine, the character disappeared and Tabitha's voice followed by a scrolling message with a question at the bottom that asked, "Why is Noir at your house?"

Randy noted that there was a phone number to call, which pretty much said without asking him directly that he needed to call her. Well if he did not call, she would call him and if he did not answer, Tabitha would resort to sending in the storm troops. Sighing, Randy picked up the phone and dialed.

In Langley, Virginia Tabitha Alexander sat at her desk reviewing the reports from the previous evening when the phone rang. Glancing at the enhanced caller identification she noted Randy Baldwin was calling and immediately picked up her private line, "Hello Randy. It is about time, you had me worried. Congratulations again on your engagement."

Randy scratched his head as he wondered how Tabitha had found out, "Ok Tabitha thanks. Your little e-mail was entertaining to say the least. What do you want to know?"

Tabitha turned serious, "Why are they there?" Randy replied, "Vacation, at my invitation." Tabitha stared at the phone, "Vacation? Are you serious?" Randy sitting and scrolling through the list of messages replied again, "Yes Tabitha I am serious. Vacation, both needed a break and I invited them when I was in Paris last week. They accepted and I flew them to the United States onboard my Gulf Stream."

Tabitha startled her assistant when she laughed, "Well if that is the case, so be it. Do try to keep them out of anything that may arise." Randy winced at that comment and mused to himself aloud, "Too late for that." Tabitha thought Randy had said something, "Randy did you say something?"

Randy recovered, "Uh no. But I do have a question for you." Tabitha leaned back, "Go on. What is it?" Randy replied, "Do you like strawberries?" Tabitha pondered the question and replied that she loved strawberries.

Randy smiled, "Ah good. Send me an address where I can send some to you. We got a bumper crop and I really don't want them to go to waste." Tabitha said she would and saying goodbye to Randy she hung up the phone satisfied with Randy's answers but wondered since when was he growing strawberries?

Sighing with relief, Randy hung up the phone. Checking the e-mail a few minutes later Randy received the shipment address from Tabitha, printing it out with a sly grin Randy left the study headed for the smoke house. Tabitha was going to get visited by the strawberry fairy.

Packing the strawberries into shipping boxes with disposable freezer bags, Randy loaded them into the Chevy 2500 with the help of Roberto and he drove into Gainesville where he paid a considerable shipping fee for same day delivery. On his way back he stopped at a rental agency specializing in vans and rented a GMC Conversion Van and requested that it be delivered to his residence. The rental agent assured Randy it would arrive by 12 PM that day.

Mireille Bouquet had over done it. She mused Randy had been correct, too much of a good thing would lead to less than desirable results. After rising late, Mireille found Randy Baldwin gone. His smaller pickup absent from the farm meant he was doing something that required the use of it modest cargo carrying capability. The much larger Kodiak still parked within the garage had not been moved.

Roberto rounding the back side of the garage, issued the morning pleasantries as he went by. Mireille stopped him and asked where Randy had gone. Roberto tipping his hat in reply, "Ms. Bouquet, Senior Baldwin drove to Gainesville this morning with a load of strawberries that he was shipping to a friend. He said he would be back later in the day."

Kirika Yumura her eyes open stared at the ceiling of her bedroom. She had gorged herself on Georgia strawberries. Having picked a large number of the berries, so absorbed in the relaxing way to pass the time Kirika had ignored the large amount she had picked until Mireille had told her it was time to leave.

Mireille entered Kirika's bedroom and sighed as she saw Kirika spread eagle on the bed, "Kirika? You too?" as Mireille pulled over a chair, Kirika turned her head "I think we both ate too much." Mireille remembered the astonishment from Randy when he had found out how much she had eaten agreed, "I think we both need to recover from yesterday and prepare for tomorrow. No more road side berry picking, leave it to the Americans with their strange buying habits."

Randy returned to the farm in time to meet the delivery driver, who had been followed by a co-worker in another car. Signing for the van, Randy turned it around and backed it into the garage next to the Buick. Getting out after casually looking at the numerous captain chairs he headed for the house.

After being told by Angelina that Murielle and Kirika were upstairs, Randy found Mireille with Kirika, "I suppose that neither of you want lunch?" Mireille and Kirika shook their heads no. Tempted to crack a joke, but deciding against it Randy left them alone. Randy mused, "No need to get shot over something like that, especially by Kirika."

Gina Frazier the soon to be Mrs. Gina Baldwin had been receiving congratulatory best wishes nearly the entire day. Jill Nagel had even brought in a small cake to celebrate the news with her in the staff lounge.

With everyone in a happy mood, it seemed to make the school day pass much faster. Several of her students had accidentally or deliberately started calling her Mrs. Baldwin in class much to her embarrassment. It was not lost on anyone that Randy Baldwin had been one of the most eligible bachelors living in the county.

Leaving school, Gina drove straight to the piano teacher's home to wait for Ashley. Picking Ashley up and heading home Gina had been tempted to stop at Randy's but continued on. Corey having already arrived was waiting for his sister and mother when Randy called, "Hey Corey, remind you mother not to forget to be here at my house in the morning bright and early." Corey already knew they were all going to Six Flags said he would and happily hung up the phone.

Delivered as promised, the boxes of strawberries arrived undamaged. After being screened they were delivered to Tabitha Alexander. Bemused by the amount Tabitha wondered how many jars of jam they would make.