Hardcastle motioned for Agent Morris to follow him around to the pool. When another car pulled in, a young blonde stepped out and bounced over to the judge. "Is Mark here? I'm Katrina."
"Sure, follow me; he's around the back by the pool." God, if this is the bombshell he was with all day yesterday; I can imagine why the kid's got his mind on other things. I wonder what she actually cooked him for dinner, someone who looks like that can't be able to cook or clean.
Mark was still lazing in the sun. It felt great to relax; maybe he could actually get some studying done today. He would eventually have to tell Hardcase about what had happened yesterday, but hey he could chicken out for a while and tell him when the subject came up again.
"Mark!" Katrina exclaimed, getting his attention so quickly that he almost fell out of the chair. Soon she was in his lap and kissing him passionately, which despite his confusion, he returned without hesitation.
Katrina. What is she doing here? And what's with the lovey-dovey routine: we all know that she was paid handsomely to set me up yesterday. Is this Uncle Pat's idea, giving the girl back to me after I complained he should wait until after I made out with the girl? I definitely like this guy, uncle or no uncle.
Mark looked up as she broke the kiss to see Agent Morris over her right shoulder. Oh man, now what is he doing here again?
"Judge, what is this guy doing here?" he asked, more than a little irritated.
Katrina interrupted, "Hey, Mark, you promised to show me the ocean from here; we'll be back in just a minute. Your friends can wait, after all, I can't stay long remember; I've got that trip planned today."
"Sure, not a problem. Judge, Agent Morris, if you can give me a few minutes here. I did promise Katrina that we could watch the sunrise down by the ocean and since I kind of had that screwed up for me this morning. I guess you will be patient and wait on me now," Mark challenged.
Agent Morris had no choice but to nod in agreement, after all he was the cause of Mark missing his date this morning. He could wait for them to return.
Walking down the path to the ocean hand in hand, Mark and Katrina made their way over to the rocks. Mark showed Katrina a nice spot to sit down.
"What are you doing here?"
"Mr. Martinelli heard that you had a problem with the feds last night so he sent me over to make sure you were okay and see if there was anything he could do."
Mark began to laugh, "No, I think I have it handled for now. Of course you just validated my story by showing up that I was with you all day and evening; by the way don't forget that you made me dinner last night, okay?"
"Cool, and what did I make you for dinner?" she giggled.
God, that was a nice sound; I could get used to this.
"Spaghetti, with meatballs, garlic bread, salad, and cherry cheesecake for desert, don't you remember?" asked Mark with a smirk.
"Sure, after today is over maybe you want to call me sometime and I could actually make you that dinner that, now that I think about it, I do owe you." As she reached into her pocket of her tight shorts, "Here's my number that you asked for," she handed him the piece of paper, "and maybe this time we can get to know each other better under slightly different circumstances."
Don't you dare screw this opportunity up. "What about this weekend? Say, Saturday, if you're not busy?" Mark shyly asked. He safely stored the paper in his pants pocket.
"Okay, call me Saturday morning and tell me when you're going to come over, and a spaghetti dinner it is," she smiled, making her face light up even brighter than before. "Who knows, maybe this set up was meant to be after all."
God, she is beautiful when she smiles like that, her eyes take on the blue of the ocean and her hair reflects the sun. This might be the start of a great relationship.
"Maybe I'll have to call and thank my uncle for setting this one up?" Mark quietly remarked as he studied her beauty.
"Your uncle?" she questioned.
"Yep I'll explain it to you sometime . . . By the way, what was the little speech about you not being able to stay long because of a trip you have planned today?"
"Well, that's what Mr. Martinelli told me to say, he said you would understand the meaning," she looked at him, questioning.
I guess that mean he's at the villa. Mark smiled broadly, "Yep, I do understand. Okay we had better get you outta here before someone gets too suspicious."
He assisted her up over the rocks and onto the path leading back to the house. Walking hand in hand, he escorted her past the two men beside the pool and to her car. She reached up and pulled him into a deep kiss. "See you on Saturday, then, Mark," she told him, her eyes sparkling, as she climbed into her car and drove away.
Mark slowly made his way back to the poolside. I don't know if I can take anymore from this asshole; although, that was a nice little interlude with Katrina. Wow, maybe something really good could come out of all this anyway. He was grinning from ear to ear as he approached the poolside. He looked up and saw Agent Morris and his smile faded.
"Okay, I'm back now, what is the dire emergency today, Agent Morris?" he said, gritting his teeth.
"Mr. McCormick, I realized this morning that maybe your connection wasn't to Mickey Spangoletti at all but rather his boss, Patsy Martinelli. Does that name ring any bells for you?"
Mark tried desperately to keep any reaction from his face; in doing so he changed into his ex-con mode again. He felt the old familiar wall slide into place and felt comforted and protected.
Hardcastle watched the change come over Mark and realized that there was more to the whole story than Mark was telling this FBI agent. McCormick, you may be able to hide what you're thinking from this agent but I know now what was bothering me last night and early this morning. McCormick, you are hiding something.
"Well, I believe I saw him on the news several times, why?" Mark asked. Easy, Mark, don't out and out lie; just omit some of the details.
"Patsy Martinelli was the one paying Spangoletti to gather information about you, still no clue as to why?"
"Hey, Judge, I can't remember any cases dealing with these two; anything you remember?" Mark asked, looking for the first time into Hardcastle's eyes. Oh, no, I can see it; Hardcastle has figured out that I'm not exactly telling the truth, now we'll see if he turns me in to this fed.
"No, I can't remember any cases that we had that would have dealt with the two of them," Milt said slowly, keeping eye contact with McCormick. Yeah, kiddo, I do know you're lying, and you had better not lie to me, although I will not point it out to this idiot; you had better come clean with me after me leaves. "I'm truly sorry we can't be of assistance, Agent Morris, but if something does come to mind we will give you a call. We wish you luck with your investigation," Milt kept talking as he guided Agent Morris back to his car.