Chapter 8 : Conversations

Author's Notes: Reviews are welcomed

Prior to arriving for the 5pm meeting with Hildy and the team of investigators, Barbara consulted with Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Cabot. She wanted the attorney to establish the perimeters of the deal that would be offered to Dexter in exchange for his cooperation if he turned out to be more involved in the Congressman's crimes than was first thought. If however he really was innocent of any wrong doing, then an immunity deal would not be necessary. It may become necessary to place him under police protection if they needed him to testify. As things stood at the moment, Barbara was not sure how helpful Dexter could be as she had yet to meet the man and see the copies of the files he claimed were in his possession.

Earlier in the afternoon Hildy had contacted the guys informing them of Dexter's existence. The team tried and failed to discover any more meaningful information on Dexter. Eventually, the work family all sat in the engine room and discussed not the case but the 'old boyfriend' as they called Dexter.

"Well you could have blown me over and called me Tiny when Terry told us that Hildy called him and said Kami's old boyfriend is a person of interest for our case AND they were at his office waiting to meet him", David said in a tone that echoed disbelief as he placed his hands on the top of his head.

"This is one time you are not exaggerating my friend" Edgar nodded as he also looked like he could not believe it.

"He was not just her old boyfriend, he was her fiancé. Isn't that what you said Terry?" Jim asked as he turned to look at his friend. Terry nodded before saying;

"I did not even know she was engaged in the past. I mean she is drop dead gorgeous and I very much doubt she was a virgin when she and Hildy started their relationship. I mean it is expected she would have a past …. you know… but I did not know about the engagement. Heck I did not know she liked men. I thought she was all woman …you know what I mean".

David still looked dazed by the information as he continued in a disbelieving tone, "I do know what you mean Terry, I thought she was strictly all woman too. I thought we knew everything about Kami. We did a thorough background check on her last year when she joined the firm and we did not come across anything like that".

Abbi sat off to the side of the room listening to the men, she just shook her head and smirked. Jim saw her facial expression and asked her, "Abbs?Why are you shaking your head like that? Did you know about Kami's old fiancé?

Abbi got up with an air of privilege as her smirk was replaced with an ear to ear grin as she walked over to the main desk around which the men all sat.

"Of course, I did" she declared as she gracefully sat down.

"What?! You knew? And you did not tell me? Wait a minute, how did you know?" David looked shocked and a bit hurt.

All eyes were glued on Abbi as the guys waited to hear the answer to David's question.

Abbi was thoroughly enjoying the fact that she finally had the upper hand on the guys. They all loved her she knew but most of the time they collectively treated her like their baby sister with emphasis on the word baby. This was not necessarily a bad thing but at times it could be a bit annoying when she wanted to be more involved in investigations or be in the middle of what she considered to be the 'excitement and action' of a case.

"I know a lot of things you all do not know", she answered David's question airily.

"Ahh, come on Abbi. Tell us how you found out about the old boyfriend", Edgar pleaded. Abbi initially was not going to tell the guys anything but she had a soft spot for Edgar as they often ate meals together. You could say they both had healthy appetites and appreciated a good meal, this lead to them having a special bond.

"Alright, only because you asked me Edgar will I reveal my source", she said as she pointedly gave David a glare.

"What? So you will answer Edgar but not me; your old buddy and pal?" David's expression was a mixture of surprise, hurt and humour.

"David, shut up and let Abbi speak". Terry interjected before urging Abbi to continue.

Abbi straightened up in her chair and explained. "I know because Kami told me".

The guys all sat back in their chairs as Jim asked the question that popped into all their minds. "Why would she tell you that?"

Abbi looked at Jim as her confident expression faltered a bit. In Jim's question Abbi heard 'you are just a kid why would she confide something that was obviously private to you'. Abbi straightened her shoulder and replied, "Because she is my friend", and with that she got up and walked out the room.

Jim looked at the others and asked "what did I say? Both Terry and David shrugged their shoulders but Edgar got up and went to his young friend whom he loved like his sister or niece.

"Hey Abbs, the guys did not mean anything bad. They just can be a bit of knuckle heads at times. Their egos were bruised that you knew something they did not", Edgar said with a smile as he squeezed Abbi's shoulder.

Abbi looked at him and shook her head. "I knew they did not mean harm Eddie but sometimes I feel like…. like they don't think I am as smart as they are. I know they are way more knowledgeable about crime stuff and all but I know things too". Abbi looked at him with a forlorn expression in her eyes.

"I know you do Abbi. I will have a word with the guys", and with that he gave her another reassuring squeeze of her shoulder and headed back to the engine room.

The office was abuzz with people taking among themselves, 5pm was just five minutes away. Wendell and Barbara were there and in deep conference with Hildy, Terry and the guys as they prepared for Dexter's arrival. Kami sat off to the side as she listened to the plans and counter plans of how to use Dexter's files. She observed the way her lady was in her element with her take charge posture. Kami licked her lips unconsciously as her mind remembered the passionate lovemaking they shared that morning. She could not wait for this long day to be over. She mentally visualized the plans she had, plans to make her lover whimper when they did their sheet dance later. Just then Nana's ring tone chimed on Kami's cell phone and she stepped out of the conference room and into Hildy's office to take the call.

"Hi Nana", she greeted her grandmother with a smile that could be heard in her voice.

"Hi Baby Girl, I thought I would have heard from you since your return from the California conference. Are you OK?" Nana asked with concern in her voice. Since Kami moved back to the USA several months ago, she made it a point of duty to call her grandparents every few days to just say 'hi', and make sure they were alright.

"I am OK, Nana. I am sorry I did not call. It's just that the last few days have been really busy with a case we were working on". Kathrine Robinson knew her granddaughter very well, and she sensed that something was not quite right.

"Kami, what's wrong? Is Hildy OK?" Kathrine asked.

"Yes Nana, Hildy is fine, she is more than fine", and with those words Kathrine heard the smile in Kami's voice as she mentioned her lover's name.

"Then what is it child?" Nana asked.

"Oh, Nana…I saw Dexter today", Kami answered softly.

It took Kathrine a couple moments to realize who her granddaughter meant.

"Dexter?...Dexter as in the man you almost married? That Dexter?"

"Yes Nana".

To say that Kathrine was shocked would have been the understatement of the year.

"How? ...Why? ….. I do not understand Kami…. Dexter? Why would you have seen Dexter? Did he come looking for you? Did he shout at you like the last time you saw him in person?" And as the questions poured out of Nana's mouth one after the other, she began to get upset as her mind played with different scenarios to explain Dexter's reappearance. Nana knew that for the first time in Kami's life she was in a relationship that truly brought her happiness. Kathrine was very protective of her one and only granddaughter, would not stand by and let anything or anyone cast a shadow on the relationship she had with Hildy. Her memory of Dexter was someone who appeared to be an upstanding young man who was madly in love with her granddaughter. However, the way he verbally abused Kami out of anger when she told him that she was leaving him, made him fall to rock bottom in Kathrine's estimation.

Kami proceeded to tell her grandmother about the case with Mr. Samuel's furniture shop and the possible Congressman's involvement. She shared with her Nana the shock of seeing Dexter's face on the computer monitor when she and Hildy went looking for evidence to tie the Congressman to the crooked law enforcement officers.

Katherine listened as her mind went into over drive. Then she softly asked her precious granddaughter, "Kami, how do you feel about seeing Dexter again?"

Kami sighed and answered "I feel mixed inside Nana. The mixed feelings are a combination of sadness, worry, and a little bit of happiness. Sadness because he reminds me of a time in my life when I was afraid of telling you, Pappy, Mom and Dad about the feeling I had for women. All the feelings I use to have of Bible condemnation rushed to my mind like a storm what I saw Dexter's face Nana…. Worry because I fear that Dexter may have changed over time and could very well be mixed up with the dirty officers and the Congressman…. The little bit of happiness is because for a period of my life, Dexter was my best friend, and we did share laughter and fond memories together".

Kathrine processed this information as she stayed silent on the phone for a few moments.

"Kam Kam, how did Hildy react to this situation? What is she feeling?" Kathrine loved Hildy and was concerned how the appearance of Dexter would affect her.

"She has been very supportive of me Nana", Kami said and the love in her heart for her fiancé could be heard in her voice. "She felt a bit jealous Nana but I reassured her over and over that she is my one and only and there is no need to feel jealous. Even though I told her this Nana, she can't stand Dexter. Not just because of the Congressman but mostly because he was my first, and the way he spoke to me when I ended the relationship. Between you and I, Nana, I think if Hildy has an opportunity to knock him out she would do so just to prove a point to him".

Kathrine lifted her naturally sculptured eyebrow as she listened to her granddaughter describe Hildy's reaction and feelings. As a rule Kathrine was not a woman prone to violence, as a matter of fact she detested people who used brute force to prove a point. She felt that diplomacy and reasoning with someone was generally more effective. However, when it came to her grandchildren especially Kami she could easily see herself shelving her stance on violence.

Just then Kami said "Nana I think Dexter just arrived. Let's talk later because I have to go".

Katherine continued to sit in café of the Whole Foods Store located at the Time Warner Centre where she stopped to have a bite to eat. Both she and her husband James took a mid afternoon buggy ride in Central Park a short time before. They both had more of a consultancy position at their company than an active day to day job. This greatly scaled back work schedule, afforded the octogenarians a lot of free time, and they took every opportunity to do relaxing things together.

As they neared the end of their ride, James received a business call from their son Kalechi. He needed to consult with his Dad on a project their company was presently working on. Rather than going back to their company's main office with James or even home for that matter, Kathrine decided to treat herself to a healthy snack at the Whole Foods Store and call her granddaughter. She never expected to hear the news that Dexter's path crossed Kami's.

As she continued to sit in the comfortable café she felt more and more uncomfortable as she thought of Dexter's possible involvement in this sordid criminal matter. Kathrine looked at the time and knew her daughter would still be up even with the time difference between New York City and Ipswich England. She placed a call to her daughter and filled her in with everything Kami told her. Kalia was as shocked as her mother Kathrine had been a few minutes earlier when Kami told her about Dexter.

"Mama, do you think Dexter might have residual feelings for Kami after all these years? I remember how head over heels in love he was with her at the time", Kalia asked.

"Well based on the what Kami said about Dexter picking her up in a hug that lifted clear off the ground as he swung her around at his office, I would hazard a guess that maybe he does". Kathrine mused. "Kami also told me that he is divorced but she will fill me in on that one in person. I don't know why she said that but I will know soon enough".

"Mama, I am putting you on speaker as Michael just came in the room". Kalia went on to recap everything her mother told her about what was going on with Kami over the last couple days.

Michael listened as memories of a lifetime ago came rushing back to his mind. He turned to the cell phone and began to speak;

"Mama, even though Dexter always gave the appearance of being the most eligible bachelor a parent could hope for, if Kami was into men that is, I always had a nagging feeling that all was not as it appeared on the surface with that young man. After he verbally abused my Baby Girl the way he did when she broke their engagement, nothing he is involved in now would surprise me. I hope their case is wrapped up in quick time and he exit's Kami's life as suddenly as he entered. I did not trust him back in the day, and I don't trust him now. He was overly ambitious, and men like that generally would do anything to get ahead. Plus, he may not take kindly to the fact that Hildy is now in possession of quote, unquote, what was first his".

"Michael, how can you say that. You make our child sound like she is a possession that is being passed from one person to the next", Kalia looked at her husband in surprise.

Michael looked at his wife and took her hand in his as he continued. "Love, I am expressing the way some men think. From the time, a man is sexually active with a woman he often feels that she belongs to him. The fact that Kami was the one to break off the engagement and then he found out that she was not sexually attracted him, that would have been was a serious blow to his ego. The way he handed it by trying to cut her deeply with his words, showed how he felt she had wronged him. Based on the character he displayed that last time, I would not put it pass him to try and taunt Hildy about the fact that he was Kami's first. He strikes me as the kind of man who would say things on the sly to cause discord just to get back at Kami for not appreciating the opportunity she had with him".

Focusing his attention back on his mother in law, Michael said "I wish you were able to go over to their office, Mama, see him for yourself, and make your own assessment of where he is now character wise. But to get from Brooklyn to Manhattan at this time of day will take too long." Michael said and the frustration could be heard in his voice.

"Michael, I was planning to do that very thing, I am glad we are on the same page. I am not in Brooklyn but at the Time Warner Center in Manhattan and you know that is walking distance from the Kami's office. Let me call James and let him know what is going on and where I will be. Then I will walk over there, it should take me just a few minutes".

"Mama, regardless of what time you get back home call us, OK", Kalia instructed her mother as they ended the phone call.

Kathrine called James and filled him in on what was going on and then walked in the few blocks to the investigation firm.