223
Aligned Design
Ch 41
"All right, where on we on what?" Deakins had finished the paper work to be rid of the uranium case and he wanted to head home.
Bishop began, "Well, the second body at the scene, J. T. Pangborn, has an outstanding warrant from Virginia. I called them and told them the autopsy still had to be done. They said there was no rush, they are short handed this weekend and they'll fax the paperwork on Monday. They'll search for next of kin and oversee disposal of remains when Rodgers is done. Her assistant called and said he was going to remove the slugs from Pangborn and Navicky so that the stippling search can be done. The guys in the lab think it will be done tomorrow afternoon."
Deakins nodded and Bishop continued, "I talked with Larry downstairs in video and he said as soon as the DVDs come in from the storage owner, he'll digitize them. The vehicle from the scene is registered to Navicky, it arrived about two hours ago and the guys in the garage are going over it for prints and trace." Bishop finished and set that folder aside.
"Good, this one is moving at least. What else? How about you, what did you find out about that sailboat?" Deakins said to Sledge.
"No one at the dock is available to take a call on a Saturday. The case liaison at the Coast Guard, Sgt. Richard Camborne, is off today. Sorry, Captain, I could not reach anyone who would talk to me. The sailboat owner is coming in first thing Monday for an interview. He's bringing his lawyer and the lawyer for the insurance company."
"That's it? Did you track down the liaison? Did you find out where he is today? Did you drive out to the dock and see who was available to talk to? What, you rode in on your bicycle today? You don't have a vehicle to go out and interview anyone on a Saturday? No vehicles were available in the motor poll?" Deakins was tired of Sledge slacking off. Ok, he wasn't slacking off; he just, just didn't seem to be doing anything to move the sailboat to the solve list.
Sledge actually looked surprised and hurt. So, he did what he always did when he felt funny in a situation, he did something totally stupid.
"Well, there is one more thing." Deakins looked hopeful. "Bishop here said she wants to go home early."
She had been looking from Sledge to Deakins as Sledge updated the Captain. Her head snapped to look at her partner when he said the last bit.
Deakins looked at Bishop and she looked up at him with complete innocence. "Well, since it seems she did the lion's share of the work, today, I think she deserves to head out early. Good work today, Bishop."
She smiled and said, "Gee, thanks boss." Bishop started to close up her desk and Sledge sat watching, mouth open. He knew better than to say anything else. Deakins turned away and headed back to his office.
"You aren't really going home, are you?" Sledge asked his partner.
"Um, let me think . . . my boss said I did a good job today and said I could go home early. On a Saturday. Yep, I think I'm going home. What time is it?" She glanced at her watch, "Oh, look, it's twenty of three. Pretty early, I'd say."
Sledge sat up and put both hands on the desk top. He looked disgusted. "I cannot believe you are doing this."
"Edward, you told the boss I wanted to leave – which I did not. Why don't you go ask him if you can leave, too? Oh, wait, no, that wouldn't be a good idea, would it? Deakins seemed a little steamed about what you got, or didn't get, done today. Too bad, so sad. Say, since you're staying, how about starting the paperwork on the stippling, the vehicle inspection, and getting the DVDs digitized? You are so good at paperwork."
Edward sat listening to her, hating her for getting to go home early, for being a smart ass, for making him do all that crappy paperwork, and for every other reason she had ever pissed him off.
"Oh, stop it, already. Go home. Enjoy your night off. I'll see you bright and shiny tomorrow. You know, Bishop, you can be such a wise ass when you want to be." He turned to his computer and started filling in the stippling order.
"Bye, bye Sledge. Have fun. See you tomorrow."
"Bitch," he said under his breath. But he said it lovingly. Right.
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"Ok, my battery is going to die here any minute. You'll send the two and a half grand, right? Call me at the hotel desk, I gave you the number, do you have it? Good. Call me right back so we can decide where to send the money. Then I'll go get it and then I'll come to you in New York. Ok? Canvett--? Damn! My battery is dead."
Tillman stood watching and listening, chewing on his fingernails. "So, is he going to send the money? Do you think he will? How are we going to get it? Huh? We have no ID?" He was working himself up again.
"Calm down, he'll send it. Now, I want you to go wait around the corner on that bench. Take the bags and wait there for me. I'm going to speak to that lovely man behind the desk. I may be awhile, so don't panic. If you see me walk out of the lobby with him, do not panic. I'll be going to go get the cash. I will be back for you. Do not panic. Understand? I'll be back. Ok?"
Tilley listened to his partner with eyes wide, fingernails nearly chewed to the quick. "You'll come back, right? You're not going to ditch me?"
Jenese looked at his lover. He really loved this man. "Tilley, I will never ditch you. You know that. Now let's take this luggage over there and get you settled. Then I'm off to work."
Together they dragged the two bags to the stone bench on the side of the hotel. Jenese kissed his lover tenderly and walked back into the lobby.
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Bobby went back to the kitchen and set out their food. Gleason was in the bathroom combing out her hair; it was always a challenge after she washed it. She walked into the kitchen with her hair braided around her head. Bobby was taking the second bowl of soup from the microwave and set it at her place. The salads were on plates, dressing was in a small bowl, and they had water to drink.
"You know, you'd make someone a good wife," Gleason said, coming up behind him, wrapping her arms around, hands flat on his middle. Bobby turned in her arms and wanted to say something in response to her innocent comment. He wanted to say something about a wife. And a husband. He had thought of such things.
"You think so, huh?" he asked, kissing her lightly. "Sit down and eat your soup before it gets cold." He reached for the heaping bread basket on the counter and set it on the table. "Now, eat some soup before you fill up on bread."
She smiled up at him and said facetiously, "Yes, Dad." They both stopped dead. Gleason couldn't believe what she had said. She didn't breathe; her eyes went to her lap. Bobby stood frozen with the butter tub midway to the table. The silence was deafening and seemed to last forever.
He recovered first. "Uh, do you, do you want a soda? Should I make tea?" He couldn't look at her.
Gleason sat with her head down, "No, nothing. Water is fine." It was barely a whisper.
Bobby sat down and cleared his throat. "Uh, I hope this is ok." He reached over and took her hand.
Gleason looked up, stared into his eyes and nodded. Then she reached for a roll.
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"Ok, how about these three choices?" Julie walked into the kitchen holding two sheets of paper. "They're all in the same plex, the one just around from that place where we're going for dinner. And, each one starts between seven forty-five and eight ten. Ready?"
Angie was delighted their youngest daughter was being so . . . so nice. "Ok, whatcha got?"
"Well, just listen to each one before you say anything, Ok?" Julie looked at her mom. Angie nodded.
"Ok, the first one is," Julie read from the papers, "'Orgasmic Dreams – a sensual exploration of a young couple's initiation to carnal awareness. A visually stunning journey of youthful erotic awakenings. Winner of the Patagonia Film Exquisite Award.' That starts at seven forty-five. Or, 'University Chain Saw Killings, Two – another tense adventure of brutal campus slashings. No fraternity or sorority ever had a rush like this. Warning: explicit carnage and high stakes suspense.' That one starts at eight-ten. Or, 'Belemy Hotel – starring Liam Carnahan and Megan Trumpett. The movie with an Oscar buzz. A fast paced action mystery involving a front desk clerk with a hidden past, an undercover police officer with great legs, and a suspected terrorist. A wild ride with wilder twists and turns.' That one starts at seven fifty-five." Julie looked up at her mom. "So, whatcha think?"
Angie had to smile. What a corker. "I think I'm going to wait for your dad to come home. Let's see which one he picks."
"I bet he goes for the sex flick!" The phone rang and Julie, shouted, "I'll get it!" and dashed to the phone in the hall.
Angie just smiled, sex flick – wouldn't she be surprised if he did?
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Alphonse drove on with the radio blasting. He would call Davey when he got into the city. He regretted not taking the cell phone that was lying next to the keys this morning. He could have used it to make a few calls along the way. It didn't really matter.
He'd stopped at a truck stop and counted the cash. Not quite three grand total. It was more than he thought when he had first looked through the two wallets, however. Jenese's wallet contained a slew of credit cards, and not much else. Tillman's wallet had only two credit cards, a picture of Tillman and Jenese looking cozy together in front of some trees, and some other bits of nothing.
Alphonse kept looking at the photo. Tilley and Jenese looked young in it. They had been together for a long time. He really admired those two, having found each other, staying together. Heck, some heteros never got what they had. Alphonse knew he wasn't getting any younger. He knew his chances of finding a loving relationship were slipping. He sighed and turned down the radio. Who was he kidding, people like him didn't find love. They found trouble.
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Bobby and Gleason finished the soup, salad and part of the chicken, rice and vegetables. They decided to keep the rest for later. They saved their desserts as well. Gleason had eaten three rolls and Bobby had had one.
"I'll clean up," Gleason told him. "You go sit down, you must be tired."
Bobby helped her clear the table. "I'll go down to the car and bring up your clothes, how's that?" He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. Gleason backed up against him and relished in his warmth. She tilted her head back against his right shoulder. Bobby kissed the left side of her neck, he sucked gently. Gleason closed her eyes and pressed her bottom against his crotch. Bobby's left hand moved under her top and cupped her right breast, his thumb stroked her nipple. He felt her breathing quicken and heard her moan softly. He began to stiffen.
Bobby's hand left her breast and slid down inside the front of her pants, under her panties. His middle finger found her clit and rubbed. Gleason gasped and opened her legs. He felt her wetness. His right hand went up under her shirt and took her left breast, his thumb doing what it does best. "Unh," she breathed. He stiffened further.
Gleason began to move against his bulge behind her and his hand before her. Bobby's breath came faster and he sucked her neck in earnest. He pinched and pulled her nipple, now a hard little stone. "Bobby, please," she whispered.
Suddenly, Bobby undid her pants and pushed them down; he spun her around and lifted her onto the edge of the table, pulling her pants to the floor. In one move, his pants were open and he pulled himself out. Gleason opened her legs and leaned back, her hands behind her on the table top. Bobby stepped to her and she slid forward, wrapping her legs around him. He set himself against her slit and pushed hard. "Ungh!" he growled and began to pump.
Gleason watched him. His hands held her hips as he drove his cock in and out of her opening. His head hung down, eyes closed, mouth open, panting. She watched him, heard him move toward the edge. She looked down and saw his length – thick, dark and wet with her juice – slide in and out. She felt herself begin. Watching him pushed her toward the edge faster. He was close; his sounds were deep and quick. Oh, she felt him, in and out, in and out; he pumped faster, harder. Yes, yes, oh God, there, right there! Suddenly he pushed hard and stayed, his fingers gripping her ass. Bobby's head flew up and he came, jerking his cum up into her.
That was all she needed. She pushed against him and took nearly his whole length, squeezing him all the way up, feeling him jerk inside. Oh God, good, good! Unnngh! She bent forward, her head against his chest as she came. Bobby settled slowly, breathing hard. Gleason came once and then again. He held her tight, still inside her. She felt him begin to soften and she leaned back.
"Good?" he asked with a small smile.